Oh How Pinteresting - This is Halloween!

  Happy Halloween everyone!!! I love this time of the year, some people may not agree with me and thats okay because I don't feel as if I have to agree with everyone. I feel the way I feel, live the way I live and you can do the same for yourself and guess what...we can still be friends! yay! Okay so back to what I was saying...I Love Love Love it! I love the decorations, the weather, the candy and lets face it adults...we like to dress up too which is totally why I wore green & purple eyeshadow today in honor of this asupicious occasion.    

 

Now I have already done a sort of Halloween pinteresting post so today I'm not going to do that. However, I will stick with the Other wordly theme and post pins I have found on my favorite T.V. Show.....SUPERNATURAL!!!

 

I love the show, love the characters, and the actors. Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, & Mischa Collins are hilarious! So if you are like me and you love anything and everything Supernatural then you are going to love this post!

 



I hope all of you have a fantastic and safe Halloween. Pictures of the kids in their costumes will be posted tomorrow! 

Reaching out for help - Girl of the Year

First I want to start this post by saying a great big whopping THANK YOU to all my followers! You guys totally made my week! Now I'm going to dive into what this post is really about.

My sister, Rebekah, entered my daughter Lauren into a Girl of the Year contest put on by Paradise Galleries. The winner of this contest will recieve one of their amazing dolls. Well all of the sudden Lauren is top ten! My sister, my mom, and I were so excited and we've been voting like crazy and posting on facebook constantly to try and get votes. She is currently in second place and I would love nothing more than for her to win this contest. So I'm asking for your help. To vote click here and like Lauren's picture. It's that simple! Two seconds right?! You could also share the page and get others to vote if you would like. For those of you who don't know my precious little girl I'm going to share a few things about her.



Lauren @ the age of 3

Lauren is my middle child, she is 9 years old now and time has flown. Ever since she was little she has loved to help and I couldn't count the times I've heard her say "mom can I help cook? Mom can I help you with that?" Just last week, I had been really sick all week and my housecleaning got pretty behind meaning that things just get stacked wherever and the wherever is usually on my kitchen counter. Lauren knows how I am about the clutter there and without asking she cleaned off the whole counter by herself, though most of it was her older brother and little sister's doing. She is a very considerate child.

Lauren has the most tender heart of any other child I've known. She is so considerate of others feelings and worries over her and her siblings relationship all the time. She told me that she doesn't want to grow up and not like her brother and sister. You see, just like any normal siblings, Luke, Lauren, & Layla argue...alot. There are times that Lauren has just cried because of an argument and was worried that she was being a bad big & little sister.

Lauren is an animal lover. If I'd let her she'd collect every fluffy animal that came across our path...not do disinclude turtles, because she likes those too. She has a pet rabbit, Lola, and she takes very good care of her and loves her fluffy pet rabbit. She loves art, drawing, and coloring. She adores little kids. If there is a baby around Lauren wants to be the one holding it and taking care of it. She also loves music. She used to be really shy in front of people but over the last year she has started to come out of her shell. She now helps me sing at church, and she is singing in programs at school! I am so proud of her!

About a year ago Lauren and Layla started ballet. Layla decided that it wasn't for her, but Lauren has just thrived on dance. She loves her ballet class, is friendly with all her classmates, and goes to help out the younger class every chance she gets. She will be performing in the Nutcracker that her ballet school puts on every year and we are all super excited about it!

Basically I think the world of my little girl. I don't think she realizes just how special she is. Her older brother is a very talented little kid, and she seems to sometimes hide behind him and how out there Luke is. Lauren is just now starting to come into herself and I want her to realize just how loved and amazing she is. I tell her everyday, but I want to be able to win this for her so she can have something to remember for years to come. I'm asking that you please help me reward my Lauren for being such an amazing kid. Thank you all!

This is the picture on the website. So please click here, vote, and help me put a smile on my daughter's face!

Friday Fancies - Party On!

Linking up with {av}

 

This week's assignment is in honor of {av} and her 100th Friday's Fancies! We are to post our party dresses so we can rock out! Well me, I never get to dress up and actually go out to a party or anything like that. So, when I was looking for party dresses I couldn't make up my mind! I picked four outfits. My favorite thing to do is pair unexpected colors together, or to wear a neautral and add bold colors through the accesories & shoes so that is exactly what I did here! They are four totally different looks, but I would wear every one of them! Hope you guys like!

Happy Friday everyone!!

Its OK Thursday

 

This week is almost over and I couldn't be happier about that fact. Not only does that bring me one more day closer to pay day (which is unfortunately still another 6 days away), but I actually get a saturday to be at home, at least for a little while. You have no idea how happy that makes me. So now we move onto Its Ok.

 

 

Its Ok

 

To re-read books from your favorite series over and over because you just can't get enough of them.

 

To want to have a day (or night) to act like a litle kid with no responsbilities and be totally goofy.

 

That my hubby and I have been having a rough time and though we are working through stuff, it still feels difficult sometimes.

 

To want a diet coke or a monster right after your morning coffee and before 9am

 

To crave fried pickles. They have to be from Myra Jeans, the hometown resturant in the county where I work, I would just love some for lunch.

 

That I have totally slacked at work all week and today I'm just now going to crack down and get some things done

 

That the skirt I'm using for my daughters ladybug costume is red with white polka dots. I know ladybugs are red with black polka dots and the shirt will be that way, but hey when your working on a budget you get what you can.

 

To hate having to go pee five minutes after getting to work. Sure the bathroom is literally five feet from my desk, but does that mean that I wanna jump up and go? No. #laziness

 

That I just used a hashtag on my blog, first time for everything I guess lol

 

To hate the outfit you have on but wear it anyway because you just don't feel like changing for a third time

 

To hate politics. Period.

 

That my hubby and I have a difference of opinion concerning local politics. It makes it worse that I hate politics lol.

 

To find a joke hilarious and laugh everytime you read it, even if no one else thinks its funny.

 

 

Well Guys I hope you all have a great great Thursday! You can totally join in the Its Ok fun by clicking on the button at the top! God Bless!

 

 

Oh How Pinteresting! - Hairdo's & Owls

Linking up with Michelle



    Last week I missed out with this link-up mostly because I was sick and last Wednesday I I had a lot going on. I haven't even gotten on Pinterest in...well I don't remember when and let me tell you, I have missed pinning! I knew I couldn't miss out today, which is why I'm postponing the reports that I'm supposed to be doing until after I finish this post ha! I am going to focus my pins on two differen things today. First, I'm pinning owls...because I love owls and anything that can come in owl form, or with an owl on it. Second, hair styles, because lately my hair has been so drab. I haven't been doing anything but straightening it and leaving it down until I feel as if I've forgotten every hairstyle I've ever done. I hope you enjoy the pins!    

 

Have a happy happy Wednesday!!! 

Tears, Dreams, & Trampolines

At some point in your childhood, or even as an adult, I'm sure you've had a special place to go think, dream, or cry. Face it there is a part in all of us that needs to find a place where we can find solace or inspiration. For some of us its our bedroom, a garden, the car, perhaps even deep in the pages of a good book. For me it was a trampoline.

It seemed that growing up the one thing we always had in our yard was a trampoline. My brother, my sister, and I spent 75% of our childhood bouncing around on a trampoline. However, it wasn't in the daylight during the slip 'n' slides, or the popcorn games that made this bouncy contraption so dear to me. It began at dusk, as the sun was all but gone in the sky, my dad home from work and wore out from playing with us three kids in the yard. You see my dad is famous for making up simple games that would entertain us for hours; such as rolling a marble down a felt lined tray from my mothers cedar chest and competing to see who's marble could roll the farthest. It was my dad's idea to climb up onto the trampoline, lay on our backs, heads together and peer up at the ever darkening sky to see who could catch a glimpse of the first star to make an appearance for the night. We would lay there, still and silent, eyes trained on the sky until suddenly "I see it!" one of us would say, we would point while the other squinted until they could make out the faint light of the first star.

It was a ritual that we partook in many a times througout my childhood. As I grew older I would find myself on the trampoline at night, on my back, looking up at the millions of stars overhead. There were times that I just wanted to lay there and marvel at the wonder of so many stars so close and yet so far away. There were times when I would want to be alone, somewhere could think and try to sort through whatever issue I was facing. I have never thought about the trampoline being my special place until tonight. My children have inherited my love for the trampoline and so I have one in my backyard. I was in a moment when I needed solace and comfort. So I slipped on my shoes and trudged through the damp grass to the trampoline, and instead of jumping I sat down and tilted my head back to look up at a sky bright with stars. Many times I have spoken aloud, whether praying to God or simply talking to the stars I'm not sure, but both are great listeners. I have ranted and cried on that black top, I have laughed and snuggled with kids and hubby on there as well.

As I came back inside, still feeling a bit sad and lonely, I thought of that trampoline....and of all the good times I've had on it. I thought about my little brother and sister, of my mom and dad. Of the games, the fights, the wrestling matches. Sometimes I wish I could go back to when life was simpler and I could lay on my back on that trampoline at dusk with my daddy and patiently wait for the first sign of nighfall, but I can't. I can only remember those times that we had together, and every time I go out to the trampoline I'll remember everything from tears & laughter. I will try to make those same memories with my three kids and hope that one day they will look back at the times on their trampoline with fondness. I hope that each and every one of you find that place of inspiration in your lives, that place that you can cry in, feel hopeless in, feel happy, romantic, sad, loved, alone, or excited in. We all need some sort of place to call our own and for me...it's a simple trampoline.



Me & My Daddy



Starchasers

Happy Monday everyone! Okay so Monday's usually aren't so excited, I get it. Mine are usually pretty ho hum. In fact this morning could be an awful morning because of the circumstances of my life right now, but I'm choosing to concentrate on something else, something positive.

 

 

I've commented before about the Mounted Dril Team that I ride in but I've never went into detail. Today I want to share with you guys what a blessing this team has been to me and my son, Luke. It all started on craigslist. Isn't that to place to find all kinds of great things?
Well it definitely did that for me. Tammy, my drill instructor, had a post on there about the drill team. I am usually intimidated about joining things, but I have always wanted to be apart of something like this so I shot her an email. Tammy gave me a phone call and I was on board.

 

It honestly seemed like God just worked everything out. I didn't have a horse trailer at the time, but I wound up finding a fixer upper for cheap and had it going by the weekend of my first practice. When I got there I was nervous, a bit quiet and unsure, but every member of the team was welcoming and super nice! I've been practicing with them for a few months now, and I've just gotten closer with everyone out there. They have become part of my family and I love them all dearly.

 

Some special shout outs: Tammy, the boss lady (LOL), is so fantastic. She has given me advice, helped me and Luke, she is patient and caring. I know I can call her with just about anything and she'll be there. Debbi, my newest sister! LOL She is as nutty as I am which is why we get along so fantastically. She has been such a great friend to me and I love her. I also love her super adorable daughter, Robyn. Robyn has also been such a great friend to Luke. The Alabama crew, Carol, Lydia, Anna, Abby & Naomi. Gosh there is so much I could say about these people. They are an amazing family, with wonderful personalities. Just beautiful people inside and out. I have never met sweeter kids, or a more caring and open hearted family. Ashley, I just love this girl. She has a great sense of humor, and even though she doesn't like pink, I think she's awesome. Teresa, is such a blessing. I haven't got to spend a lot of time with her but its just so easy to love her. Things just seemed to click with her, especially this past Saturday.

There are other members of the team that I have not mentioned, but I love you all. Such an amazing group of people!

 

 

Here are some pictures from the show we did at Goat Day October 20th.



Me & Luke

L to R - Me, Abby, & Debbi



Ignore my fluffy behind LOL, Paige looks gorgeous though

Luke & Robyn
 



Troopers Abreast

 



Robyn, Luke, & Abby

 

To my Drill team family I just want to tell you how much I love and appreciate every single one of you. God placed ya'll in my life and I thank him so much for it. Thanks for all you do.

 

 

 

 



Friday's Fancies - Halloween Edition

linking up with Long Distance Loving

 

 

Happy Friday everyone and also Happy Halloween! I know it's not Halloween yet, however that is the theme for today's Friday's Fancies. I love thinking up outfits and costumes for halloween. I love picking a character to mimic, whether its from a movie, t.v. show, or cartoon. I picked 2 different ones today though I had a million ideas! I hope you enjoy!

 

 











First we have Gemma Teller from Sons of Anarchy
She is such a fantastic character on the show and I secretly love the way she dresses! She's a grandmother on the show and she is still totally rockin!

Next is Effie Trinket. The Hunger Games character that is colorful and funny. I would love to dress as her for halloween, makeup and everything included!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Its OK Thursday

Linking up again with Neely     I'm sorry I've been MIA from the blogging world this week. It's pretty much been the crappiest week this month. I'm posting this "its ok" late in the evening, a little late, but better late than never right? Here goes...     Its Ok...   ...That I'm sick and have been all week...   ...That because I'm sick I can barely talk and its driving me insane...    ...that this week has basically been the week from hell...   ...that October is almost over and I haven't even been able to do any fun halloween/fall activities with my kids. Not even carving pumpkins which they love...   ...to want to get in my car and just drive with no destination in mind...   ...to feel like things will never get better. Yes, I know they will, but sometimes the outlook is just bleak...   ...to be completely broke and begin to frown at people who seem to have all the money in the freaking world...   ...to wish that every god forsaken bug in this whole freaking world would just dissapear! This fly that is buzzing around my head is seriously pissing me off...   ...that over a week has passed and my car window is still stuck 1/4 of the way down, my car needs a front end alignment & new tires and I can't have any of that fixed right now so I must endure the shaking it does every time I drive it...   ...that as of today my husband's truck is undriveable because the bearings on the front end are bad and we almost didn't make it home from the bank today...   ...that my house is never ever clean, that right now I'm sitting around several loads of folded clothes and feeling too crappy to put them up...   ...that this post is depressing. I apologize for that, it's just been the tenor of my week. I hope next week is better...    

Crafty Sunday, Sickly Monday

So I haven't been on here since Friday, and I've felt bad about that but I've had an honestly good reason. Saturday I gone all day practicing for the drill team show that is coming up. Sunday was church, then it hit me....DUN DUN DUN....a darn cold!!!

 

Yep, a cold and its not even cooling off here yet! Isn't it crazy how you can get a cold in 80 degree weather?! I think its absolutely ridiculous! I mean I can understand getting a "cold" in "cold" tempratures...ugghh anyway...end rant.

 

Monday morning I was in no shape to do anything or go anywhere. Throat sore and cloged feeling, head stopped up, I laid on the couch most all day and watched tv while snuggling under the fleece leaf printed throw that is on my couch. Today is Tuesday (Toos'dey pronounced in Irish accent. For you mom), and I'm still feeling crappy but I am no longer on the couch. I am dressed and in my office at work, but I digress. Now that I have shared my health issues and concerns from the past few days I wanted to share with you guys the cutest crafts we made in Sunday school!

 

My mother in law, Julia (who I love as much as my own mother), also teaches Sunday school at our church. We switch out weeks so that its not totally on one person. She found the idea for an adorable owl craft using toilet paper rolls & cupcake liners. I tried to find the link to share with you guys but they do not have it up on their website that I could see. I can list instructions if anyone would like them. We also made paper plate pumpkins which are super easy and still adorable. The kids in my class range from ages 5 - 12 and every one of them loved making these two crafts.

 

 

 

Owls on the table top tree



I stuck the pumpkins in the little table top tree too

 



The finished product.


What are some of your favorite fall crafts? I'd love to find new things to do with my kids and my sunday school class.

Friday Fancies - Lovin some leaves

 

 

Linking up with Long Distance Loving 

If you want to join in on the fun then visit the link!

 

 

Today's theme is Leaf Love meaning whatever inspires you about fall leaves. I love the colors and textures of fall, the leaves are gorgeous and the colors so vibrant and fun. Seeing as its fall I picked something that would be warm but not overly hot because I live in Florida and really...we don't get a whole lot of cool weather (which is such a shame).

 

 

Straight legged jeans
Orange striped top
Tanks in 2 different leaf toned colors to choose from
MAC lipsticks in nude warm colors
Leaf necklace & earrings to compliment the colors
Owl bangle bracelet just because I love owls.

If you love the idea of creating a virtual closet and not having to worry about the shopping and spending the link up with us over at Long Distance Loving