Friday's Fancies - Sparkly New Years Eve

Wow it's been a crazy two weeks and I have been completely MIA in the blogging world. I apologize for that. I haven't even wanted to open my laptop while I've been off work, how sad is that?

Oh well I figured today I would ease back into the posting by linking up {av} @ Long Distance Loving

 

 

It's almost New Year, can you believe it? Wow time has flown by so fast this year. It feels like just last week we had our 2012 New Years party at my house! To celebrate the past year and the on-coming new year we are going to rock out the fashion. I have been trying to pick clothes that are a bit edgier, get out of my fashion rut if you will. My sister and I both seem to be stuck in the same thing so to smash that box I picked three dresses that I love but wouldn't normally wear because they may put me outside of my comfort zone. (there are a few areas I am very self-conscious about but I'm working on it). Hey, if you can't go all out on New Year's Eve then when can you? Right?

 



I love all three of these looks! I especially love the awesome shoes. It's so wild how a good pair of shoes can make a woman feel incredibly attractive.

I will try and catch all of you up on our activities over the holidays once I recover from them lol. Have a great Friday everyone and a RoCkIn NeW yEaR!

Its Ok...

I feel like its been forever since I've actually been able to post. Yes, I posted a quick thing yesterday, but I was rushed and I hate that. I have missed my weekly link-ups so much! I love being able to link-up with other people and read what they have posted and look at all the amazing pins from the OHP day. Things in my life have been so crazy busy this last week that half the time I don't know if I'm coming or going. Today is no different. The company I work for is having a Christmas party/training today and I'm here to help host. I know what you are thinkin...why are you online posting if you are "helping host". The answer is simple...there is nothing to do right now and I desperately wanted to get on and join my fav link-up!

 



 

Its Ok

 

...that I have eaten my weight in junk food/candy this last week (ok not really my weight, but a lot, you get the picture)

 

...to want to eat more junk food because my mother in law made my fav...Martha Washingtons..god they are fabulous!

 

...That my eyes decide to water twenty minutes after I apply my fabulous gel eyeliner (that I don't usually wear) so it messes up

 

...to absolutely love Caroline Forbes makeup and hair (from The Vampire Diaries)

 

...that I haven't gotten the chance to go ride my horses in weeks. Its awful and I hate it but I haven't been able to do anything about it.

 

...that this week has been the longest week in the history of long weeks. It can end any day now...seriously

 

...that I have to go cuz my boss is here...yep

 

Have a great Thursday everyone! 

Catching Up

Hey ya'll! I have to apologize for not posting in almost a week. I've hated it but I've been running so much that I haven't had a spare moment to even get online. I am in the middle of getting ready for the Christmas party that I have to throw for my tenants so this post is going to be short. Don't you just wish that you had all the time in the world to accomplish the things you need to accomplish?

 

I wanted to do a quick update of our 25 Days of Christmas for you guys. So here goes...

 

December 13th

We were supposed to write nice notes/letters to each family member and put them in their stockings to be read on Christmas morning, but we were at church that night and didn't get home until after 10pm so we had to postpone this one (still trying to work on making it up)

 

December 14th

We piled up in mom's van and all of us (mom, dad, my sis, my brother in , law, the kiddos& I) went to Thomasville, GA for the Victorian Christmas that they put on. It was super duper crowded, but really nice. There were people walking around dressed up in Victorian 'garb', activities and yummy food. IT was nice to get to spend some time with the family and thankfully it was actually cool outside that night. You just never know here in FL.

 

 

Nana, Papaw, and the three goofy kiddos

 

December 15th

We spent the day in Tallahassee. My mom, my sister, and I got to spend the whole day on the town shopping. I bought me an amazing dress for the my hubby's Christmas party and got an amazingly good deal on it (you can't be $20 for a cute dress). Our activitiy was to have a Christmas movie marathon, however, there was a bon fire party to be held at my sis's house with some amazing friends and since I never get to hang out with said amazing friends I spent the evening with them. THe kids spent some quality time with Nana and Papaw and watched Disney's' The Christmas Carol together.

 

December 16th

We made homemade fudge. By 'we' I mean 'me' seeing as the kids got into serious trouble that day and was sent to bed early. I wound up not adding as much chocolate that was called for in the fudge recipe and the whole batch turned out bad. I had to throw the entire thing away. ugghhh. Oh well.

 

17th December

Monday we were making treats to take to the neighbors. We made peanut butter balls and coated them in chocolate, but they didn't get done until late so we had to postpone delivering them until Tuesday.

 

December 18th

I tried again with the fudge and it turned out great! So we packed the cute little christmas containers with our goodies and delivered it to the neighbors together. Our activitiy for that night was to make ornaments, but once again...you guessed it, we had to postpone it. My husband's Christmas party was on Tuesday night and so as soon as we delivered the goodies to our neighbors I had to shower and dress for that. We will definitely get around to the oranaments, but when you have a million obligations to fulfill sometimes you have to prioritize and push things back. I hate doing that but I've learned that it's ok to rearrange your schedule.

 

THings will eventually get back to normal I'm sure, I'm just not holding my breath. However, I will be back on regularly real soon! Ya'll have a great day!

 

 

 



Popcorn & Hot Chocolate...Its all Ok

Howdy my fellow Wednesday survivors! We made it through another hump day!

Thank the Good Lord! Now if I can just get through today I will be doing something super awesome!

Tomorrow is Friday, Friday night I get to go do something fun with my kids, parents, sis & BIL. Saturday I may actually get to go out with my mom and sis for the first time in forever!

I wanted to share with you guys what our 25 Days of Christmas activities have been for the last two days. So here goes...

 

December 11th:

We made Christmas gifts for all the kids teachers. Combined there are 9 teachers to supply gifts for. Now this isn't something that I have to do, but something I enjoy doing. My kids have amazing teachers, and I usually always get good reports from the teachers about my kids and from my kids about their teachers. I wish I could do more for them to show them how much the hubby and I appreciate all they do, but I run on a limited income. My gift this year was something simple, but heartfelt. We took mason jars, put a package of hot chocolate mix, mini marshmallows, and taped a candy cane on the side so they could make peppermint hot chocolate. I took festive napkins and put over the seal then tied jute string around it just to give a extra flare. I added tags that say "Wishing You A Warm Christmas". (I haven't taken any pictures of them, sorry, but I will soon). It's not much, but maybe they'll enjoy it nevertheless.

 

December 12th:

Was marshmallow popcorn and game night. We all like playing board games, we just don't get to do it much. I figured it was a good way for the family to spend some good quality time (without a television going) together. I made popcorn then melted butter and brown sugar together. Once that was melted I added marshmallows then melted them until they were gooey and poured it all over the popcorn. It was super good and we snacked on that while we played Clue. Layla actually played as well, and she was hilarious whispering things to me so I could tell her what to choose to start a "rumor". I really should video her, because she is a natural clown. In the end Lauren ALMOST won, she had forgotten that she actually already had the Guest House before she made the accusation. So she got 2 out of 3 right haha.

 

Stay tuned to find out what we do on December 13th!

 

Now I'm linking up (like I do every Thursday) with Neely 

 

Its Ok

 

...That I have ate cookies every day this week. Those sugar cookies we made are phenomenal!

 

...That I swear I won't eat anymore cookies right after I scarfed like three of them down (and I always wind up eating more later)

 

...To loathe my wardrobe right now. I have nothing cute and nothing that is under 3 years old. That is so sad. Wardrobe overhaul is coming when the income tax comes...for the reelz

 

...That I'm so dreading doing inspections. I have to do them as soon as I finish this post and bleh...I don't want to.

 

...That all my shows are now on their "mid-season breaks" and I have nothing to watch (no it's really not ok...I miss Dean & Sam!)

 

...To never want to hear "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" EVER AGAIN. Ugghh

#worstchristmassongever

 

...To feel as if Barnes & Nobles is a second home, even though you hardly get to go there (I could sleep in that store I swear!)

 

...To still laugh at The Grinch Who Stole Christmas even though I've seen it a hundred times.

It just never gets old. #Whoville

 

Have a great Thursday everyone!

To join in on the fun just click here & link up with Neely!

 

 

The OHP Crush

Have you ever felt as if you just needed a day to yourself?

A day with no responsibilities, a day to just be young and free?

No? Just me? Hmm well okay then.

I'm 28 years old, thats all, definitely not old and lately I feel...like I'm old. No kidding.

Maybe it has something to do with all the running and obligations.

 Last night I was in the shower washing my hair and was like geez...this is just like the night before when I cleaned, showered, straightened everything back up then went to bed. Over and over again.

This morning I needed something different. My desire was to fish up a few bucks and go to the movies (I have no problem going by myself) and just having a free day (since I never get to be young or feel like myself anymore), but seeing as I'm flat broke that was a definite no go.

 I did the next best thing.

I slept in laid in bed later than normal, had hubby drop kids off at school, then got up after 8am and  fixed me some yummy chocolate coffee (aka coffee with a pack of hot chocolate mix...wow) then watched last weeks episode of The Vampire Diaries for the second time.

 

Here is where the crush part comes in.

(excuse my adolescent infatuation for a moment please)

Usually I don't watch the TVD epi's more than once (unlike Supernatural, I watch those over and over and over). However, last weeks episode "We'll Always Have Bourbon Street" was probably one of my favorite ones so far! There were so many things I loved about that episode! Such as:

 

Ehlena & Damon -

I have always been a Damon fan and I love the two of them together. Don't get me wrong I still love Stephan, but there is just something about Damon Salvatore that draws my attention. Personality, smile, the angst? Who knows but I love him! I also love the glimpses that you get of his past and the choices that he's made. He's not the bad guy he wants you to think he is.

 

Tyler Lockwood-

He is super cool and even more so now. I loved seeing him take command and becoming the alpha of the pack of hybrids. That was such a seriously cool part!

 

Ehlena, Caroline, & Bonnie-

I have missed seeing the three best friends being...well best friends. Who doesn't love a girls night and the fact that they had one (though it ended kind of rough) made me smile.

 

Damon "right choices"-

Back to Damon, he's not known for making the best decisions. He's a bit selfish and at the end of the episode he totally admits that becuase he doesn't want to do what he knows is right...but it kills me because I'm screaming at the T.V. "DON'T DO IT!!"

 

Now that I have decided to go into work I throw on a pair of jeans, t-shirt, and sandles (no make-up or neat hair either, it's raining and gloomy...don't judge). To dispell my melancholy I plug in my i-pod. I couldn't tell you the last time that I updated my i-pod but it's cool because when I want to lose myself in music I know just whats on there (even if it is a bit outdated) and just what to listen to that will get me out of my funk. So this morning's playlist went as follows:

 

Justin Timberlake - My Love

Rascal Flatts - How Strong Are You Now

Beyonce- Upgrade U

Jake Owen- Yee Haw

Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby

Crossfade- Cold

 

As you can see my taste in music is very ecclectic.

Now I will link up with Michelle @ The Vintage Apple for OHP



 





 

The Salvatore Brothers are ahhhmazing!

 



Caroline & Tyler (secretely I kind of like Caroline & Klaus too shh)

 



"We'll Always Have Bourbon Street" - Lol love it!

 



I love Caroline, she is hilarious.

 

OMG Damon! hahaha too funny

He's sincere lol 

I miss Alaric sooo much! I want them to bring him back somehow! 

Damon all the way!

 

Hope you guys have a great wednesday.

 For all ya'll in the southeast, don't forget your umbrella, your gonna need it. 

Day 10 - Sugar Cookies

December 10th:

I had on my calendar that Monday night was cookie making night! Now the kids and I make sugar cookies every year, but I can't remember making them homemade from scratch until this year. I found a recipe on pinterest that you can find here. I thought, hey I have everything I need! About the time that I get the butter & sugar creamed and I'm sifting flour I realize that I have absolutely no salt. I had used every bit of it the previous night making play dough!

My hubby, darling man that he is, runs up to the dollar store and picks us up some salt.

Instead of using the icing that you can buy specifically for sugar cookies I purchased just plain ole white cake icing and added food coloring. Dad manned the rolling & supervised the cookie cutting and I mostly took over the baking & clean up and boy was there a lot of clean up to be done.

 

 

Luke's decorated cookie

Lukes candy cane cookie



Layla's decorated cookie

Some of the finished ones

Just some of the mess that I had to clean up

 

 

 

The cookie making business is a tiring one I'll tell you that, but it's also a super fun one. Just remember clean up from these kinds of cookie messes include sweeping & mopping the entire kitchen/dining room floors. By the way I was so excited that my cookies actually held their shape this year instead of rising and spreading! I've never had cookies that actually looked just like they did before I cooked them. If you want to know what I did just ask! I surely don't mind sharing since someone shared these tips with me!

Weekend Review & 5 for Five

Hey Ya'll! I'm linking up first thing with Jenn for this week's edition of...

 



Last week's Goals:

1. Clean my entire room & organize the junk under my bed
Negative. This I was supposed to get done in my free time. Ha! Free time? What's free time? I was super busy every night!

2.Make Layla's scarf for Christmas
Didn't get this done either. I am working on another project that I have to finish first and this past week didn't allow much time to finish it so I'm giving this a red. Poo.

3.Go to bed before midnight every night this week

 I actually did this! Mind you it was only half an hour or so before midnight each night but still a success!

4.Take off bags of donation items and get them out of my way
Total fail. I didn't even have time to think about loading them up and taking them off. Maybe next time lol

5.Start packing lunches to bring to work.
Yes half and half because I did bring my lunch once last week (someone bought me lunch 2 times last week). I did bring my lunch today so does that count?  lol

New Week Goals!

1.Finish current knitting project
I really need to finish up so I can get the other 2 completed before Christmas

2.clean bathroom & bedroom
Maybe I can actually get to the bedroom part this week and the bathroom is a must! Dirty bathrooms...ick!

3.Watch some of the Christmas movies that I've been stockpiling on my DVR
I totally need to watch & delete some because everytime I turn around I'm recording more and more! So yes, make time for those movies, perhaps with hot chocolate and a yummy snack lol

4.Re-polish toe nails
Don't laugh. This is serious. I am horrible about not finding time to take off old nail polish and apply new and I hate chippy nails (though I'm having that problem right now).

5.Find something cute to wear to my hubbys work Christmas party
I don't get to shope much and when I do it's not for me, so therefore my wardrobe consists of items that I've had for years. Sad isn't it? I want to look super cute for the S.D Christmas party so I need to find something new!

 

 Moving right along into my weekend Review

 

I thought weekends couldn't be busier than my previous weekends.

I was so wrong.

It wasn't bad though, I had a good time and I took pictures so I could share with you guys! I have been waiting for two days to be able to share my weekend fun (the internet at my house is really slow so uploading pictures has to wait until I get to work). Our 25 Days of Christmas are combined with the weekend activities.

 

December 7th:

Friday night included a trip up to Georgia to my cousin's house to have the Steele family Christmas get-together. Mom, dad, my sis, my BIL, my three munchkins and I piled in mom's van and drove the hour and a half up there. I so wish we would've gotten picutres or at least videod the 12 Days of Christmas that the whole family did, or the story that my dad read that had him laughing so hard he was nearly crying. Alas, we were all too caught up in conversation with people we don't get to see very much to do the snap & flash.

 

December 8th:

Saturday morning began by taking my son up to meet his music teacher, Mrs. Gayle, at a super gorgeous house in the ritzy part of town where they would perform background music for the Tour of Homes. The Tour of Homes is done every year as a fundraiser for the Symphony and Mrs. Gayle wanted Luke and his friend Ella to sing while she and her sister played for them.

 

Aren't they adorable?

 

Right after leaving the Tour of Homes we ran to CiCi's Pizza for my nephew's b-day party. Once we left there we rushed home to wash the car because the 6th grade band (which my son is a member of. He plays saxophone) was riding in the Christmas parade that night in our home town. My husband and I were able to procure a trailer for them and decorate it (hugs and kisses to Darrell getting the trailer ready) then pull them in the parade. My kids were stoked because the whole family was getting to ride in the parade and throw candy. 

My little Lauren Elf

 

My little Layla Elf

 

Most of W.R. Tolar's 6th grade band! (luke is in the back holding up his sax)

 

The pretty lights, bows, & garland on the trailer

They won 3rd place for best parade entry!
 

 The kids had a blasty blast and you know what...us adults had a blast as well!

December 9th:

Was our night to make homemade red & green playdough. My 3 love getting together in the kitchen to create something new and last night was no different. 

 

Luke had to make him some blue dough since the girls had red & green

Lauren & Layla kneading their dough

The finished product!

Busy using their imaginations

My snowman creation!

 We had a great weekend and I hope you guys did too!

 

 



Day 6

December 6th

Was our homemade peppermint hot chocolate night. I was super excited about this seeing as I've never done any hot chocolate except the Swiss Miss kind. I've always loved the idea of making the rich, velvety, hot chocolate from scratch

(thanks to watching Chocolate with Johnny Depp years ago)

After chuch we came home and used an amazing recipe (found on Pinterest of course) to create our yummy drinks!

 

4 cups of milk

4 oz of milk chocolate chips

4 tbsp of sugar

A pinch of salt

 

Now the recipe called for a homemade whipped topping with peppermint extract but I forgot to pick up the whipping cream (I really have too many things on my mind these days) so we just left that part out, but I can post the ingredients and instructions for that later if you guys like...so just ask!

Turns out Lauren realized that she doesn't like peppermint mixed with chocolate. She likes candy canes/peppermints and she likes chocolate, but she wants to keep them seperate.

The other two munchkins loved it!

 

Excuse me & my pajamas lol The kids look adorable though

My disney world cup filled with chocolatey goodness!

Ya'll have a blessed day and a great weekend!

 

 

Its Ok Thursday

'ello gov'nuh.

Howdy pardner.

Hola Amigos.

 

Hey Ya'll!

How's it going this Thursday for everyone? Good? Yes? Awesome!

Its my favorite link up day which is why Thursdays excite me, other than the fact that its the day that precedes Friday. Before we get into the "Its Ok" madness, I'll share with you guys Day 5 of our 25 days of Christmas.

 

December 5th

The kiddos and I picked up dinner at KFC (it came with mad yummy cookies) and trucked it over to my Nanie's house. My Nanie is actually my great, great aunt. She had no grandchildred before I was born and she had always been close to my mother and grandmother (whom she had helped raise) so my mother asked if I could call her Nanie and thats is how she became Nanie to everyone. She isn't just Nanie to me and my siblings and cousins, she is Nanie to our chuch family, extended family ect.

Anyways she lives in Tallahassee, an hour away from me, and I rarely get to spend time with her.

So we decided that last night we were going to spend quality time with her.

 

We had a great dinner (Nanie made muffins). It was eventful. Lauren accidentally ran through Nanie's screen door because it was dark outside and she couldn't see it so yeah...she broke it, but it will be repaired by their maintenance man, fear not! I spilled the beans on the kitchen floor, literal beans haha. All in all we had a nice night. I was too exhausted (see Lazy) to drive home so we crashed at my mom in law's place. I honestly couldn't have picked a better MIL. She is my second mother and I love her soooo much! Day 5 was a success!

 

 Now I am linking up with Neely & Amber



Its Ok

 

...That I have had 2 cups of coffee & 2 diet mountain dews already this morning

 

...to be obsessed with cheesy christmas movies and the old rudolph shows (I have recorded idk how many movies already)

 

...that time with my hubby is rare and that I miss him like crazy (he works nights, I work days and our days off are different. Always moving in opposite directions...boo)

 

...That once again I am not going to have a weekend. Busy busy busy...bleh

 

...that I ate like four of those cookies we got last night and some pork skins, I definitely need to stop pigging out. gah.

 

...to be in love with Damon & Ehlena together and I'm haven't watched last night's epi of TVD so I am not sure what happened with the whole vampire/sire bond thing and I'm pissed that there even has to be an outside reason for why she loves him in there. Damon frickin rocks...kay? JS

 

...to always go for the character with emotional issues. I love layers (no not like onions, like cakes), a character who seems tough and yet is a marshmellow underneath all the coldness? Yes please!

 

...That the previous "its ok" is why Edward Cullen falls low on my list of fav Twilight characters. He's too perfect. Perfect people (or characters) are irritating. Not saying I don't like Edward, he's just not my fav.

 

...That I want to skip work and go see a movie right now. I would really like some time to do something fun on my own is that so bad?

 

...that this picture below is so me

 



Join us in the Its Ok Thursday fun! We're All MAd Here!

 Happy Thursday ya'll! 

OHP & Paper Snowflakes

  I've been scrolling through Pinterest this morning trying to figure out what I want to post. I have so many boards and great pins its not even funny. While I'm scrolling I'm thinking "I should post something cute, no something christmasy, or neat" Then I see a board titled "hilarious" and I'm stuck on so many funny pins and I want to share them with the world. Really who doesn't need a good laugh?    

Totally what I wanted to say to my extrememly loud kids last night

Had to throw in some snacks during the hilarity

haha Effie Trinket/Pocahontas

I would never tell my husband this but I actualy like this show because Si & Jase are SO FUNNY!

Lord of the Rings...this is too funny

December 4th activitiy - Paper Snowflakes

The kids were super excited about making paper snowflakes and it took a few tries (and the internet) to help us remember how to do it but after about six pieces of paper (or more) and a mess later we were successful!

 

Daddy even enjoyed cutting out the snowflakes
 



Just a few of our creations
 







Tater made her own creations and this one...

She is showing you what it looked like to her...a bra haha

 

Our finished project

I wanted to string and hang them but I didn't have the supplies to do that and I've mentioned before how when I start a project I want to finish it right then lol.

So I used good old fashioned scotch tape.

Works like a charm.