First Snow

Not cool. Quite chilly in fact. Nope, not ready for snow at all. Oh bother.

Happy Halloween Eve

Halloween will be here in 1 day and I'm so excited to embrace all that is fall and teach Blake how to love fall as much as I do. Tonight, we will be going to the annual med school Terrortoma Halloween Party. Blake and I are going as Zombie Bride and Groom. And then on Saturday, we're making chili, caramel apples, butternut squash, apple cider, carving pumpkins and watching scary movies...I will be in fall heaven :)

Frosty greetings

Not only did I awake to complete darkness this morning at 5 a.m., but I also awoke to frost on my windshield (and a pile of dog poo by the driver's side door). The only good thing about Tuesday's is the Biggest Loser.

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Wedding Plannings...Its all in the details

Sorry for having not written much lately!! I've been in a whirlwind of craziness since getting engaged and returning from Ireland, which seems like such a long time ago!! Anywho, I've been wedding planning like mad, since Blake told me he had only 1 weekend available to get married and then told me he only had 2 days to get married...yeesh.

So, I got a date set, put money down on a reception and ceremony location, and now, I'm working on the DJ, Pastor, Photographer, Cake, Bridesmaid dresses, Florist and Invitations. Last night, Blake's mom and I worked on Flower Girl and Ring Bearer requests. We loved them so much, I had to post them :) I saw them on my favorite Illustrator's Blog Rifle Design and decided to make them for my 4 flower girls and 2 ring bearers. I still need to make the card that requests them to be in the wedding and the ring bearers garland. I'll post the final products tomorrow!

All 4 Invites/Requests:



Maya's Invite:


Payton's Invite

I'm Engaged!

Blake popped the question at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, and I said "YES!"

Blake is a lucky boy...

Thank me lucky charms! Blake got his passport! And we'll be off to the Emerald Isle tomorrow morning, returning August 1st!!!

A Tale of Two Unlucky Irish Folks

(Spoken in broken Leprechaun...think "They're always after me lucky charms...")

There once was a lassy named Julie, who was planning to visit Ireland for two weeks with her beloved lad, Blake. Julie worked hard and slaved over two jobs to afford a very much needed two week vacation, and by the time the trip rolled around, she had saved enough shillings for a good ole' Irish time in the Emerald Isle.

Blake was working hard too, planning activities, booking accommodations, renting cars, etc. It seemed like Blake and Julie were ready to go...But then, of course, Blake and Julie wouldn't be Blake and Julie without some sort of calamity occurring before a trip to the Lucky Land of Ireland. To make things interesting, Blake was visited by a sneaky ol' Leprechaun who placed Blake's passport in his pant pocket before Blake did a rather large load of laundry. While folding clothes and placing them into his pack two days before the trip, Blake noticed a wadded up piece of paper...aka, his passport. In order to salvage the trip, Blake flew off to Houston and begged a kind old woman to give him a new passport and save him from The Lochness Monster (aka Julie). The lady took pity on Blake and told him he would have his golden ticket by 2:30 p.m., which means Blake would make his flight back to The City of Fountains and the trip to Ireland would be saved...thats considering if Blake has the luck o' the Irish on his side.

Will Blake get his passport in time, will the trip to Ireland be salvaged, will Julie turn into the Lochness Monster? Who knows, but while you're waitin' for your answer, go have a drink for me...preferably Guiness.

Summer

I'm coming home this weekend to relive my childhood by eating lots of watermelon, sipping on lemonade, catching fire flies, swimming in my neighbor's pool, sitting on the swing under the hot summer moon, and talking about life, love, etc. with old friends. God is good :)

Yellow - Cover by Jem

TGIF

Seriously stoked about it being the weekend.

These are all the tears you’ve ever shed. The ones that taught you who you are. That made you grow up. That let you know that what you felt, mattered. And they are all here for a reason.

I love this blog!

Just in case you were wondering...

"Don't eat me!"

Raccoon is 2 pts. for 1 oz. cooked, according to Weight Watchers. Sick.

Oh and rabbit is only 1 pt. for 1 oz. cooked. Rabbit looks like the way to go...vomit.

Here are some racoon recipes! Apparently, people are hungry for raccoon.

Friday, finally!

I have gotten a total of 18 hours of sleep in the past 4 days! That is an average of 4.5 hours of sleep a night. Not only have I been dragging, but so has the week. BUT, Friday IS finally here AND its a 3-day weekend AND I get to spend time with the boy. Life is good.

Happy 3-day weekend...oh and Happy Memorial Day Weekend, too :)

Awkward Tuesday

I've overheard and seen some awkward things today, so I felt the need to post about them.

1. Awkward Family Photos

My new favorite website! Here's a little gem of a photo I'd like to share from this site:


2. Awkward Conversations at Work

My co-worker kept saying "Anal" loudly in the hallway while talking about Farrah Fawcett's cancer. The conversation started off on tanning and quickly escalated to rectums.

3. Awkward Overheard Conversations at Work

Same co-worker was talking about "tweaking" a few things on her project. A different, somewhat creepy co-worker responded "I'll show you some tweaks" in an equally creepy voice. Comment is open for interpretation...it stopped me in my tracks on the way to the copier.

So failing is a good thing? Sweet.

My Boyfriend thinks...

I'm a "sap" for that last quote. I just can't resist anything gooey about love! I'm a hopeless romantic, it's true! I love you, Blakey-Poo, Poo, Dee, Doo!

A dash of lovely

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul." ~ Judy Garland

Rain's Bad Rap

I'm not obsessing over the negative view on Rain, really, I'm not. I just really like these illustrations by Anna Melcon Bond.

“Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.”
~ Og Mandino

I love the Rain

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain."

I was looking for a song to post about rain because I LOVE the rain, and today is suppose to be a very rainy day in the midwest. But I noticed that all the songs about rain are depressing! I find it odd because rain refreshes, renews, makes things grow, creates rainbows, etc. So rather than let this become a depressing post, I thought I'd keep it light and breezy with some happy quotes about rain :) These make me ache for summer!

"I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain; What a wonderful feeling, I'm happy again!" ~ From Singing in the Rain sung by Gene Kelly

"May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."
~ Irish Blessing

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." ~ G.K. Chesterton

"Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain." ~ Billie Holiday

Break me off a piece of Edward Cullen

Seriously! Is there anything Edward Cullen can't do!? I just finished New Moon and if I thought I was obsessed before, I was wrong. This books is my "personal brand of heroine," if I might quote Edward, himself. New Moon will be in theatres on 11.20.09 and I will be there too, dazzled and breathless :)

Asparagus Flambee

I've never claimed to be a great cook...not even a good cook. Some women are just naturally inclined to be great cook's, great homemakers, great "nesters," what have you. I've tried. I've really, really tried, but sometimes, you just have to realize that no matter how hard you try, you should just throw in the towel and stick to frozen TV dinners. I came to that realization last night.

My friend Charlotte had me over for chicken kabobs and grilled asparagus last Friday. It was sooo good and seemed simple enough. Marinade the chicken and veggies and skewer them, and marinade the asparagus and grill it. Easy...for the average person. I did everything, just like Charlotte told me. Smelled good and looked good. Only difference was that I don't have a grill and had to use my broiler. "No biggie," I thought. So, I put the asparagus on the cookie sheet and placed it in the oven. Next thing I know, flames, FLAMES are pouring out of my oven. I panic. I thoughtfully grabbed the oven mit, said a little prayer and pulled the flaming cookie sheet out of the oven. I know, from past experiences, that one should not pour water on a grease fire. So, I just stood there in shock as I watched the flames engross my asparagus and pondered what to do. The flames began to die down so I either sighed in relief OR I purposefully and carefully blew a puff of air on the asparagus (can't really recall due to post-traumatic stress), as if I was blowing out birthday candles in celebration of a great event. "What celebration" you ask...Living to tell the tale and not lose my eyebrows, eyelashes and face. I quickly turned down the oven heat to 120 and ran to the door and began wafting fresh air into my apartment...did this for about 15 minutes. Then, when the oven cooled down, I placed the asparagus back into the oven, checking my poor green veggies. Took me about 30 minutes to stop shaking and 50 minutes for the asparagus to cook since it was on very LOW heat.

In the end, the asparagus was tasty, but I did walk away from the traumatic event with a lesson learned...don't cook without adult supervision and stick to what you know...Frozen TV Dinners! This lady knows what I'm talkin' about :)

I'm Obsessed

No, I didn't go see Beyonce's new movie. BUT, I did just get done reading Twilight...sigh...so I had to write a post about my favorite vampire:

Edward Cullen (aka Robert Pattinson)


"About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him — and I didn’t know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him."
~ Twilight


p.s. I do not condone smoking. There is just something so James Dean about that picture that I had to post it :)

A little spring in my step

“The spring has sprung, the grass is rizz. I wonder where them birdies is?”
~ Winnie the Pooh

Oh my! Could it be! I'm not even going to say that 5 letter word just in case I jinx it...I have that sort of affect on things...But I think it could be here! 80 Degree weather! YIPPEEE!!! I'm in heaven :) Time to bust out my glow sticks (aka my super-hot, ashy-white legs).

Me Likey

I really love art, especially prints, so I thought I'd share some prints that I really love!

She was having a Nancy Kerrigan moment

I went to Nashville, Tennessee, this past weekend for a wedding. I had an awesome time singing karaoke with my brother, vising Vanderbilt University and all the touristy attractions, blending in with the locals and dancing with my cousins. The weather was wonderful as was the company. My good ol' dad was even kind enough to fly me to Music City than make me drive 11 hours! Tennessee was great, but getting to and from Nashville was another story.


Getting to Nashville
I flew out early Thursday morning into Chicago O'Hare, where of course, I was delayed by 2 hours. "Delay smelay," I thought...no big deal. And then, I saw her. A short little blonde, dressed in sweats, no make-up, eating a Big Mac. Could it be!? No! I texted Blake in fervent excitement, "I think there is a celebrity on my flight!" "Who is it?" he asked..."I think its Leanne Womack," I said. "Go sit next to her and start singing 'I hope you dance,'" he said. "Are you crazy! I don't want to freak her out!" I stammered. "Well you better talk to her and have plans made to hang out with her by the next time you talk to me," he said. "Ok, Ok," I said, knowing very well that Blake knows I get nervous about these sorts of things.

So I waited for her to take one more bite from her tasty looking Big Mac and then I leaned over and popped the question..."Excuse me ma'am. Can I ask a stupid question." (This is where I freaked her out, I think). "Yes," said the blonde woman. "Are you Leanne Womack," I said. "Yes," she said very bluntly. Then I began falsely gushing about how great I thought she was and how I loved "Why they call it falling." Before you begin to judge, just pause one second, because she is the first celebrity sighting for me, and I was excited. She could have been Mini Me for all I cared, and I still would have gushed about how great he was in Austin Powers. Anyway, she was less enthused than I, and just stared back at me. I asked her some questions, but it was clear that she just wanted to get back to her Big Mac. "Well, it was nice to meet you," I said. "It was nice to meet you too, sweetheart," she responded condescendingly in her southern accent, obviously not really happy to have met me. Someone is a diva and she's eating a Big Mac with special sauce running down her chin...serves her right. Maybe if she was a bit nicer, I would have warned her about it, but she had already burned my bridge...See if I listen to any of her music ever again...psh. I'm obviously still upset about the encounter.

Leaving Nashville
The weekend flew by fast, and my memory of the horrible encounter was far from my mind. What a great weekend with family! Was it really time for me to leave!? UGH! So, I sat shot gun while my dad, mom and brother drove me to the airport (I get severly car sick...Just another characteristic adding to my "coolness" level). I was about 3 hours early to the airport, but my dad likes to play it safe. So, I was checking my bags when I found out my 5 o'clock flight had been delayed to 8:10 p.m. meaning I was going to miss my connecting flight to KC. "I'll put you on standby for the 2:30 flight, but you better book it because...it's 2:30 now!" said the United Airlines flight lady. Thats when chaos began. I ran off with hardly a good bye to my family, stood in security bawling my eyes out as my mom waived good bye to me, fearing the worst that something horrible might happen to them since I didn't get to say good bye properly (No, this was not Nancy Kerrigan moment...It's coming.). I ran, and I ran, and I RAN! I made it to the gate only to find that the 2:30 flight had been delayed by 2 hours and was overbooked. So much for trying to make that flight.


So then, I sat, and I sat, and I SAT. Luckily, I decided to buy a book, Twilight, to be exact, and now I'm obsessed with Edward Cullen, but thats another story. The plane took off as expected...8:10. We landed in Chicago at 10:30 p.m. I missed my connecting flight...bummer. I was on one of those planes where you had to walk down the stairs. Well, it was pouring down rain by the time the plane landed, so not only was I late, tired and hungry, but now I was soaking wet...bummer. I walked into O'Hare airport and stepped into chaos. Literally, chaos was all around me. People were screaming at the airline folks, like it was there fault or something. All the food places were closing...even McDonalds, which I thought was a 24/7 fast food joint...I could have really used a Big Mac...karma sucks. I walked aimlessly through the airport like a lost, wet dog...I smelled like one too. Tears began to drop from my eyes as I contemplated sleeping at the airport...low point. Then...I saw her...she was crying and screaming pathetically to the airlines lady "WHY! WHY! WHY!" She was totally having a Nancy Kerrigan moment. Thats when I decided, "I'm not going to be that girl." So I put on my big girl pants, called a hotel, booked a room for the night and sloshed my way to the shuttle center. I stood out in the rain for another hour. Despite the cold rain, things were looking up. I boarded the shuttle, checked into my room, stripped out of my wet clothes, turned the heat onto 77, climbed in bed, turned the TV onto "Friends," grabbed my book and engrossed myself into all that is Edward Cullen...I fell asleep to the Cullen family at 1 a.m.



The Next Day
I awoke at 4:50 a.m. Threw on my clothes, gave myself a look in the mirror..."Sick," I thought, and I was off to the airport. I was 2 hours early. I watched as weary travellers from the night before waited on stand-by for the next flight to California...There were 40 people on stand-by, only 3 people were cleared from the list. Luckily, I used my "charm" and wooed a nice flight lady, from the night before, into checking me into my new flight. I was golden. No stand-by list for me. I sat for 2 hours and fell more and more in love with Edward. Then, I boarded my flight, sat on the runway for 30 minutes (another flight delay), and then, we were off. I clicked my heels and I was home...not really, but I had made it home, safe and sound...jet lagged, but home and full of stories and memories to laugh about.

What up Doc?

Whoa...I'd like to have a chocolate version of that! I'm referring to the old dude, obviously.

Dose of Vitamin D

"It is the artist's business to create sunshine when the sun fails."

Another gloomy, cold, rainy day in Missouri. I'm so excited for Summer to get here. I'm ready to sit on patios and drink margaritas, eat hamburgers fresh off the grill, get some Vitamin D on my pale, blinding white skin, refresh my soul by cannon balling into a pool of cold water, inhale the ever-comforting and nostalgic smell of bug spray, relax my feet on a deck with a fire pit and talk to old friends on a warm summer's night, look up at stars and recall wishes I made back when, feel cold, dewy grass between my toes and kiss Blake under the summer moon. Until then, I will keep popping my Vitamin D pills and applying sunless tanner on my pasty white skin :)

Snuggie Time

My friend Tony bought me a Snuggie...And its really warm.

Daily Inspiration

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dream. Wandering by lone sea breakers, and sitting by desolate streams. World losers and world forsakers, for whom the pale moon gleams. Yet, we are the movers and the shakers of the world forever it seems."
~ Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy