Christmas Time

I've been busy this week getting my lights, Christmas tree and other decorations up around the house. I'm not going to lie I was very proud of myself for climbing the roof and getting the lights up and I'm happy with how they turned out! I got most of my shopping done this weekend so now it is time to do some wrapping so there are gifts under the tree.

Game Day

Coat, scarf, hat, blanket, cookies, hot chocolate yada yada yada it seems like a lot of stuff for just a day of tailgating and then the big game but when temperatures are forecasted in the 40’s it all seems very necessary. However it wasn’t predicted that OU would dominate Texas Tech with so much energy in the stadium and all our screaming and jumping around I was very warm and didn’t even notice if I was cold.

Living Green

I was so excited when I found this sign at Hobby Lobby this week. I love the idea of living green and minimizing your impact on the environment. While I’m not extreme I do think we can all do a few small things that would make a big difference to take care of this beautiful earth God gave us like bringing your own reusable bag to the store, recycling everything you can, washing a towel or cloth napkin every now and then vs. using a paper towel, energy efficient light bulbs etc etc. I need to get it framed but I think it will look really cute in my bedroom since the accents colors in my bedspread are green.

Peace on Earth...for a minute anyways

PINK and Paisley started off being pretty good buddies however this week they had a few disagreements to say the least. One time it was over food, another was over our attention, and a few times I think PINK was just sick of playing and ready to take a nap and that didn't set so well with the energetic Paisley. Natalie and I quickly did some research on the situation and got some advise from people with more experience then us and we have made a few changes to our routine and SO FAR it has made a big difference. Natalie and Tracey both grew up with sisters and seem to think this love/hate relationship is normal. I caught them both on the couch sleeping and I think this picture proves they really do like each other.

A little baking

I’ve never really been into cooking or baking and I’m not really sure why? Maybe it’s my general distaste for messes I would prefer the kitchen clean and tidy with a candle going smelling like I had been baking vs. a sink full of dirty dishes. Whatever my reasons tonight I got a weird itch to bake some Pecan Muffins from a recipe my grandma (Teeny) sent me. I had told her the story of purchasing a big bag of pecans from this man who was selling them at work that I felt sorry for. Needless to say these muffins only took 1/2cup of chopped pecans so I still have 99% of the bag of pecans left. Looks like I’ll be baking A LOT of muffins! However the muffins were really good especially with a glass of milk.

It's the Weekend

I hate to feel like I live for the weekend………….but… I DO! It’s not that I don’t enjoy Monday-Friday but I always love the freedom and all the possibilities the weekend brings. The trips we could take, hanging out with friends/family, sleeping in, reading a book, conquering house chores that have been hanging over my head since Monday or last weekend or last month ☺. I get excited just thinking about the next 48 hours that are completely mine to fill how I want.

This weekend I have several things on my list that I would like to accomplish

1. Rake the leaves that have filled my yard this week that the dogs have been tracking in with each trip outside.
2. Looking and hopefully purchasing a TV to go over my fireplace that has been empty for the last few months and is just screaming for a pretty TV. My roommates would be so excited to watch TV in the living room.
3. Finding some curtains or drapes for my living room. It is a French door with windows on both sides so it’s a big area and I have been unable to decide what I really want but the time has come to make a decision the empty curtain rod is getting old.
4. Boxing up the Halloween Decorations from the party last weekend that have been setting on the dining room table all week.
5. Spend some time reading. Over the past three months I have started three different books and have read bits and pieces of them all Twilight, The Last Lecture, The Shack.

I’ll start on my list tomorrow but tonight I’m going to go see “Changeling” the new movie with Angelina Jolie.

Have a Happy Weekend

All Dressed Up

We traded in our normal Thursday night attire of sweat pants and t-shirts for dresses and heels last night for the OCCJ (Oklahoma Center for Community Justice) 50 years of service celebration, a black tie event. We felt like quite the philanthropists.

New Friends

My roommate Natalie has a little Yorkie Paisley who has been staying with her parents while we have been in the reconstruction mess. Last week Paisley moved in and needless to say I was very nervous because PINK is use to being the Queen Bee and had developed a bond with Natalie and Tracey so I was scared she would be very jealous of Paisley not to mention Paisley has an unlimited amount of energy and PINK tires quickly and likes to be alone. I could not have been more wrong they have had a few little "arguments" mostly related when Paisley is next to me or PINK next to Natalie but they are quickly becoming good friends. They are very funny to watch run and play and explore the backyard. This morning Paisley jumped in bed with PINK and I and PINK didn't even flinch or seemed bothered. I'm hoping the running and playing will help PINK with the few pounds the vet said she needs to lose.

New Friends .

Costumes

Here are a few pics of the costumes

Halloween Recap

After months of dealing with reconstruction and all the problems that come along with it: contractors who mess up, contractors who don’t show up, paint that turns out looking totally different then it did on the sample and in the can. Needles to say over the last few months a few times I thought I was going to lose my mind and I’m pretty sure on a few occasions I lost my religion. Friday night we finally got to reap the rewards for living in Baghdad for a few months. We had a Halloween Party at our house and it was a blast and the house looked great. Here are a few pics of the party.

Carrie Underwood

I absolutely love Carrie Underwood and Wednesday night she was in Tulsa at the BOK Center. Lou Ann and Lauren and I went and had a great time! She is very entertaining and put on a great concert, with lots of costume changes, which is always my favorite part of any concert, is to see the clothes! She is so skinny it definitely made me think I should think twice about putting some of this Halloween candy in my mouth today! Our seats were up high but if you look close you can see Carrie. The other picture is blurry but I still thought I'd post it. I obviously need to work on some photography skills.

Halloween Prep

We are having a Halloween Party at our house tonight so Tuesday night we decided we needed some pumpkins for our porch. Martha Stewart might not love them but we had a lot of fun and I think they look cute! The battery on my camera was dying and I couldn't get the flash off and the setting just right before it died. I will take a better picture tonight. PINK in the background makes it funny though!

Fall Festival

Recently we had a Fall Festival at work so our employees can show their families where they work and what they do all day. We had games for kids and refreshments as well as a pumpkin decorating contest each department was suppose to enter a pumpkin. We have some very creative people who work here. I decorated the Marilyn Monroe one for us at the very last minute we decided it would look bad if HR didn't participate. I laughed and told everyone my mother the creative school teacher would be embarassed.

A New Day

A little over a year ago I started this blog thinking it would be a great way for my family to communicate and keep up with each others happenings. Turned out they weren't up for the challenge just yet: Meema couldn't figure out how to post a comment, my Aunt Jen claimed that her head was in a fog when I talked about my blog and my cousins didn't have the time and were less then impressed. So that left only my Mom and Lori to look and post comments. Since I talk to my mom everyday and see Lori about 3X a week it seemed like a waste of time to have them read the blog about something I had already told them about. I think they are ready now Mom and Jen both have a blog and are getting familiar with the world of blogging and I think with a little lesson Meema will get it too.

Recently at church the preacher was talking about how you serve God in the small things that you do and it got me thinking that really our lives are made up of all the small things that we do. A lot has happened in my life over the past year a new job, new house, new and different friends and so I hope to share a few of the small things I do everyday with you. So here we go... Round 2