I Have Not Forgotten About BlogsGiving

Yeah, pretty sure this is the first and last time I'll say I'm going to blog every day for a month! LOL! I have not even been by my computer since the Wednesday before Thanksgiving! I literally shut down for this holiday, it's been nice.

I'm sitting here with the sweetest dog in my lap.....a dog that I'm allergic to. That's not cool. I still love him and praying to see what the best fit for him is.

Thanksgiving was great. It's nice to be surrounded by some good people. Family is more then just blood. Grateful for The Streets and how much they are like family to us.

Our Black Friday tradition of bowling continued this year. I dominated....enuff said! LOL! I'm glad I still have my bowling ball with my name on it. How cool am I?!?!

Busy week and possibly a busy December with work. I'm actually in the office 3 possibly 4 days this week, although 2 of those days hopefully will just be partial days in the office and the rest spent at home.

Friday, December 1st, is a big day. I my mammogram that day! Yes, it's upon us! Luckily, I'll be driving to Chatt-Town that afternoon, so it will be a fun evening spent with some of my favorite people.

Not looking forward to going back to reality, aka work. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a tough day, adjusting and what not. I'm sure it will be fine. I have a 1/2 day training, which is the only reason I'm going in on a Monday. It will also be Jack Jacks first full day home by himself. I got the baby gate for the bathroom, and he was in there while I went to Church today and then ran errands, about 5-6 hours. He did good. Chewed on some toilet paper....but if that's all he did, I'm ok with it.

Well, Christmas is a month a way and my birthday is 2 months away! Whoop Whoop!

The Day Before Thanksgiving

So, I know I missed writing last night. I sat down and it was blank. I stared at the computer and finally gave up on writing a blog. There was nothing there.

Today is the day before Thanksgiving. I'm working from home and boiling caramel as I type this. The sweet dog is just chilling. He got neutered yesterday and I'm pretty sure all of his anesthesia has worn off!

I'm making a caramel pie for Thanksgiving tomorrow, however I've been eating on one since Sunday. The Vernon Thanksgiving was cancelled, so I made my pie for my community group Sunday night and unfortunately had some left overs. I had caramel pie for lunch today! Whoo-Hoo!

I was thinking back on Thanksgivings of past and thinking how some of them were kind of weird. We had a 3 year period where something crazy was going on, and I remember for a few years afterwards, praying for a normal Thanksgiving.

Obviously, hands down, the best Thanksgiving was the one where Shelby came home from the hospital the night before Thanksgiving. She'd been in there for three weeks and it was somewhat last minute that she was discharged the day before Thanksgiving. Pop cooked up a turkey real fast and mom bought all of the Betty Crocker tubs of sides and we had Thanksgiving at Shelby and Johns house and we had so much to be thankful for that year. I still remember Caroline's cute little Thanksgiving shirt that Shelby got at the outlet mall in Destin a few months prior. She was so precious!

The next year was my grandmother having a stroke and mom and dad spent Thanksgiving at the hospital with her and the following year was when dad spent Thanksgiving in the hospital after developing an infection.

So, to say the least, I'm thankful for any type of normal Thanksgiving!

It Feels Like a Monday

Today totally feels like a Monday, even thought I worked from home. I'm exhausted. I'm sure I can blame this sweet doggy for it, but he's actually doing great, so not sure if I can blame him or not.

This is a short week. Thursday is Thanksgiving, which means only 3 days of work this week, and only 1 of those 3 days are actually in the office. Sometimes these short weeks feel long. I always say I still do 5 days worth of work, just in 3 days! So, today, I feel like I've already done 2 days worth of work! LOL!

Zealand Jack Jack is doing great. Still not sure of a name yet.....I really just call him sweet thing, but I'm trying to alternate between Zealand and Jack Jack. John Mark calling him Zealand was the cutest thing though! ZJJ, did good today. He snoozed in my lap all day. He snores too! He was sawing some logs at one point when I was on a conference call. Luckily, I was muted for the majority of this conference! LOL! May I have do something different when I'm actually more active on these phone calls.

I'm hoping he sleeps all night tonight. Last night he woke up at 1:00 and I took him to pee, but then not a peep out of him until 6:00 this morning. Tomorrow morning I'm dropping him off at the vet on my way to work for him to get neutered. He won't be happy with no breakfast in the morning, but he probably won't be very happy tomorrow afternoon when I pick him up either! LOL!

I'm assuming he is the reason that I'm dragging today, I may just blame him! He is just so sweet though, so far I'm smitten with him.

Still can't believe Thanksgiving is Thursday. Our Vernon Thanksgiving got cancelled this past Saturday, but hopefully it will be rescheduled soon. For the past few years, we do Thanksgiving with the Streets on actually Thanksgiving, so I am looking forward to that. Side note, since Thanksgiving got cancelled,  I had already made the caramel for my caramel pie. I luckily was able to take it to Community Group last night, however I still have some left over. I just want to eat caramel pie for each meal! LOL! I'm not though, but I want to. So good!

Well, hopefully this is a good, restful night! Maybe ZJJ will want to go to sleep early tonight! Even thought that's all he does....sleep!

Dog Mom

So, I'm sitting here typing this blog with the cutest little 7.5 pound maltipoo sitting on my lap. A maltipoo that will hopefully be my forever dog. This week, I'm on a foster to adopt with this sweet dog and so far, I'm in love!

I actually have a draft that I started a few weeks ago, with the title, I Think I Want a Dog! I didn't finish it, but I guess this can be that blog!

I've always wanted a dog, but knew I wouldn't have enough time to devote to one, plus there is the fact that I'm allergic to dogs. A few weeks ago, when I was at that craft show in Lewisburg, I saw the most perfect dog and I wanted her sooo bad. She was adopted, however I have been looking at rescues since for a dog like her.

Two nights ago, my crazy dog lady best friend called me and told me there was a 3-4 year old maltipoo in Mississippi that was an owner surrender, and asked if I was interested. I of course said yes. Well, today, this sweet little dog was on a transport to Spring Hill from Biloxi, Mississippi.

Caroline went with me to pick him up and sign the paper work. I was immediately taken with this sweet, but scared dog. So far, he is perfect, granted, it's just been a few short hours!

He slept in Caroline's lap the whole way home. We went to Shelby and Johns house where the kids, and the adults loved him. John Mark asked if he could spend the night and also told me that Poppa would probably like  him better if he stayed at his house! LOL! Luckily, I know I have some good babysitters lined up!

Mom and dad seemed to like him, he is too cute not to like.

In Mississippi, he wasn't properly taken care of. His hair was a wreck and he had been vaccinated at home instead of at a vet! I didn't know that was such a thing. So yesterday, after the rescue in Mississippi got him, they took him to the vet to be vaccinated and groomed. He looks completely different. He isn't neutered, but hopefully will be by the end of the week! I ain't got time to have a dog that's a baby daddy!

He is pretty skinny too, he came home and ate like crazy! I didn't want to over feed him though and mess his stomach up. He may not be used to good food!

I also have not heard him bark once! When we got to my house, he just looked at Knievel, didn't even flinch. I'm not sure Knievel realized I was carrying a dog in either! Hopefully tomorrow they are still calm like that.

I'm  not sure he fully understands how to walk on a leash and he is not interested in any toys that I have for him. He has seriously been sleeping in my lap since we got home. He better sleep tonight too!

I kind of felt nervous when I left my parents house, heading to mine with this cute baby.   It's like I was bringing home a new kid, which for me, I kind of am!

I'm thinking it's going to be a match made in heaven. He better not be tricking me with how good he is!

Friday

So, once again, not much to write about today, however, I think tomorrow may be an interesting post. Please come back again tomorrow......

Once again, it's a Friday night and I did middle aged stuff.....Cotsco on a Friday night is still pretty crowded.

Question: Does The Dollar Tree have Black Friday sales?!?!?! I was pondering that as I walked out tonight, can it get much cheaper than $1????

Wow.....I wish you could live vicariously through me and some really cool blog reading, but not tonight, tonight is not your night.

Tomorrow, I think it will be better.

Ramblings From a Thursday

I don't really have much to say today. I probably should, but this is still the world wide web, I don't want all my business out there! LOL!

I'm so thrown off on my days. Obviously, I love working from home, but I forget what day it is. Today is only my 2nd day in the office this week, and I keep forgetting that it's Thursday. I guess that's somewhat of a good problem to have.

I have a feeling this next month is going to fly by. There's a lot that's happening at work this coming up month, so it's keeping me nice and busy, just like I like it!

I found this to be funny, however, it's not really funny. I got an alert from Channel 2 news that said, 2 accidentally shot at East Tenn. church during discussion about Texas shooting. WHAT???? Were they having a re-enactment and forgot the gun was loaded?!?! I need to know more about this headline, cause that just doesn't make any sense at all.

I was excited to see that the Titans played on NBC tonight, you know because that's one of the channels I get. WRONG....I get CBS. I was bummed when I turned my channel to "NBC" and saw Big Bang Theory. I found an analog box that my parents gave me to get more channels. I tried hooking it up tonight, but didn't understand the directions so I didn't. They were TERRIBLE instructions.......seriously, it's the instructions, not this un-tech savvy person trying to hook this box up to her TV....the instructions.

I'm tired....it was another long day in the office and driving to and from the office. Seriously.

Maybe tomorrow I'll have something better to write about.

Caramel Pie

Tonight I went to Krogers and bought the items I need to make caramel pie for my Thanksgivings this year. I have made it for the last 12 years, and I'll continue to make it, cause it's yummy!

Anyone who frequented O'Charley's in the 90's probably tasted their caramel pie. That's my first experience with it and it was amazing. I then found out just how easy it was to make caramel pie and my world has not been the same since!

My first caramel pie that I made was for Thanksgiving 2005. It was the night before Thanksgiving and I had just moved into my house. I had came home from work and started boiling my milk and I started drinking beer. I decided to put my Australia picture frame together (the big collage that always hung in the living room at my old house) and it was not nearly as easy as it looked. This whole time I'm drinking lots of beer and refilling the water for my boiling milk. Ben, Jenna, Brandon, and myself had plans to go to Stampedes in Murfreesboro  that night. Ladies got in free and it was penny beer, aka free beer! Can't beat that! So, Brandon gets to my house first and was like, hey, can you iron my shirt....WHAT?!?!?! Being the nice, half lit friend that I am, I grabbed my iron and ironing board and iron his shirt for him. Ben walks in afterwards and was like, hey, will you iron my shirt too? I'm not sure what I looked like to them, thinking I would iron their shirts, but I did. I joked that I looked like a drunk Betty Crocker, making caramel pie and ironing shirts. Why am I still single?!?!

It just dawned on me, that was the very first night I met Bekah, Ben's now wife. They had just started dating and she met us at Stampedes. I bet it was his freshly ironed shirt that sealed the deal for her!! LOL!

A few years ago, I came home late and still needed to boil my milk for the caramel pie, and it takes 2 hours. It was at least 10 or 10:30 when I started boiling the milk. Next thing I know, I hear the timer going off on my stove! I had completely fallen asleep with my milk boiling. The thing with boiling the milk is that  you have to keep it covered in water, or the can will explode. And, for those who doubted that theory, it's the truth. No sooner then I run in there and see these cans on high heat sitting in an almost empty pot on my stove, does one of the cans of caramel explode! EVERYWHERE!!!!! Until the day I moved out, I was still finding caramel splattered around that kitchen. Caramel is not easy to clean up! Luckily, one of the can of caramel did not explode, however some of the caramel was burnt! So, to say the least, that wasn't the best caramel pie I've ever made!

Some of my Vernon cousins love caramel pie, if there is any left from Thanksgiving, they generally take it home with them. If I'm feeling nice, or actually, if I have the time, I'm always nice, I try to make one for the Saturday that they process hogs. Everyone needs some caramel pie when they are cutting up sausage!

So yes, I have two Thanksgivings this year, so there will be two caramel pies this year. Hopefully no crazy stories to go along with them!

Can't believe Thanksgiving is in a week! WHOA!

Netflix

When I moved into my house two years ago, I did not get cable again. I had it previously, and just didn't watch that much of it. So, when the cable company I liked didn't offer cable at my house, I forgoed cable. Luckily, I bought myself one of those smart TV's a few years prior, so I decided to finally utilize it and I subscribed to Netflix.

Let me tell you, paying $10 and some change every month is so much better than paying a cable bill. The only thing I've missed is watching football, but otherwise I'm good.

My first show to binge watch was New Girl, and that's the show that I like to keep on in the background, so I've seen every episode multiple times! So good.

The Bobby Bones Show has given me some good shows to watch. They are the reason I watched Narco's, even though I decided to rewatch the first two seasons, before watching season 3 that just came out, and I haven't made it through them yet to watch season 3.

They are also the reason I recently binged watched ManHunt: The Search for the Unabomber. OMGeeeee......so good. Granted, there was a part in there that I was disappointed to find out later on that it was not actually based on real life events. I won't spoil it for others, but I highly recommend watching it.

Last year, when the Gilmore Girls, a Year in the Life, came out and everyone was freaking out, I decided to watch it. I had zero idea what it was about, but now one of my favorite shows. It's another show that I keep on just specifically for back ground noise.

Even though I have a long list, I don't actually "watch" tv, so if it's a show I haven't watched, then it's hard for me to find time to actually sit down and watch it, hence the reason I watch Gilmore Girls and New Girls so much, as well as Friends. Always the best!

Last weekend I started Parks and Recreation. I was literally snorting from laughing so much at this show! Seriously! I made the mistake yesterday of watching some of the episodes while I was walking on the treadmill while I was at the gym. I was trying my hardest to stifle my laughing! It's such a funny show, kind of bummed I waited so long to watch it.

I also don't share my password...until recently. I'm not going to let just anyone steal my Netflix, however, I brought my parents up to times (HAHAH...me, that's a stretch!) and showed them how to watch my Netflix on their TV.  I'm pretty sure they watch it just as much as I do. They are the only people who will ever get my Netflix password!!!

Oh, and the best thing about Netflix, I can download a movie on my ipad and watch it while traveling! It's great, being able to watch movies or TV shows while on the plane or waiting at an airport. It makes life so much better. Granted, I also appreciate the airlines that offer free sudoku, because I will play a few games while I'm on the plane....cause I'm cool like that!

Too Much Stuff

Before I get into the fact that I own too much stuff, I saw the sweetest thing today. I was at the gym this afternoon when an older man and, who I'm assuming is his daughter with down syndrome, walk in. He helps his daughter onto the row machine and then just stands next to her as she rows. It was at least 15-20 minutes and she was still going when I left. He just stood there the whole time next to her, it was the sweetest thing! And, as someone who was on the row team for one semester in college, the girl had a really good form!

Back to me having too much stuff.....I have too much stuff! The room in my house, which is now my office, was always my catch all room when I moved in. It just had the random book shelves, I hung up my laundry to dry in here and things just got tossed in here when I wasn't sure where it went and then I closed the door. So, when I decided to make this room my office, I cleared it all out so I can paint it and set It up for my office. I wanted a simple space, not with a bunch of stuff in here!

Unfortunately, my extra bedroom has a lot of this "extra" stuff in it now. I'll get to it eventually. In my office though is a big walk in closet, and I've never been able to see the floor of it. I've had baskets of stuff in there, it's also where I keep my luggage and work out gear that I don't use and whatever else I've thrown in there over the past 2 years! Well, as of today, you can see the floor of this closet. Lots of floor of this closet! I decided to move my linens to the drawers under my washer and dryer and I tossed and good willed a lot of the stuff in there. This is the closet where I keep my dresses and skirts and I'm embarrassed at all that I pulled out to go to Good Will. Basically, if I didn't wear it this past year, it's going away!

My issue is, that I'm sentimental with certain things. I've traveled a lot and I've collected a lot of goodies from these travels. I see pictures and Nick knacks that I got while I was in Australia and I just can't part with them! I have no idea what to do with them, but I don't want to donate them or trash them.

The same with pictures. Any pictures from the last 5-8 years are either on Facebook or still on my phone. I have tons and tons of photo frames that are either empty or pictures from my college days. I don't want to get rid of those pictures, but I don't necessarily want to hang them up either. so, I have a basket with the frames in them and then I bought a small basket to keep the pictures in that aren't in an album. And this is not nearly as cluttered as it may sound like it is.

It's a start. My next goal is to go through all of my clothes and get rid of them. I have 3 walk in closets filled almost to the max with clothes and jackets, many that I haven't worn in a while. Plus, now that the majority of the week I'm not dressing up, I don't feel like I need as many clothes. I need to keep my few really nice, important looking clothes for work and then some going out clothes and call it a day. I also need to stop shopping for new clothes! LOL

So, yeah, it's a hard place to be in. It may take me a while, but I will get rid of stuff and lots of it! Who needs things?!?!

I haven't forgotten Blogsgiving

So, I guess my goal of blogging everyday during the month of November isn't going to happen! I'm back though. I had Friday off, and I completely forgot about it! I basically had a day with nothing on my agenda, which never happens, and I was a bum and totally forgot about Blogsgiving. Yesterday I had all intentions of writing in this thing, and then got busy and forgot and then got home super late and didn't feel like it then. So, I apologize.

Yesterday was Veterans day. I always attend the Nolensville Veterans Day parade. Pop always marches and this year Claire marched with her girl scout troop. It's always a fun time, seeing people you haven't seen in a while. Afterwards, shopping at the shops in Nolensville.

I bought my Christmas candle for the season. There is a specific kind of candles that Peacock Lane carries and their smells are the best and you can actually smell the smell! I bought eggnog this year. My house smells yummy!

I honestly can't believe Christmas is right around the corner. Sneaking up on me. It's going to be a busy few weeks for me. I also keep forgetting about my famous Tacky Christmas Sweater Party! I've already sent out the invites for it, but I need to start actually thinking about it. It gets bigger and better every year! Hopefully this will be another epic party.

I'm over here talking about Christmas, but haven't forgotten about Thanksgiving! Vernon Family Thanksgiving this Saturday! Whoop Whoop! I've said this many times before and I'll keep saying it. Spend one Thanksgiving in Australia, where obviously they don't celebrate Thanksgiving and I'll never miss another one! I love Thanksgiving!

In the meantime, I'll do better about blogsgiving and maybe I'll actually write about something good.

Uptight Hippie Women

So, obviously, anyone who knows me knows this post is not about me.....I love hippies! This post is actually about my sweet niece Anne Claire, who is also not an uptight hippie women....except when she is in the 3rd grade Veterans program at her school!

The 3rd graders went through different periods of time, and she was during the 60's with the hippies. She was dressed extremely nice and could not get over those hippies. She ruled this part! She was dramatic, loud, and hilarious! After the show, she was beaming with pride and rightfully because she dominated the role of uptight hippie women!

Anyone who knows Claire and is aware of her journey for these short 8 years on this earth, know that she is an amazing child. She has overcome so much, so it makes my heart so happy to see her on that stage, in her element.

These past two and a half years, she has proven how brave and courageous she is. Two and a half years ago, she was in Vanderbilt, fighting off bacterial meningitis. Everyone who knows me, knows that October 30, 2014 until the end of 2015 was a tough time for the Vernon's and this period when Claire was sick was by far the most difficult time.

The saying, "What the devil means for evil, God turns to good", is the truth  in Claire's situation. Two and a half years ago, the doctor told Shelby that she would be blind in one eye, Two and a half years ago, Claire lost complete hearing in one ear and significant hearing in her other ear, all due to bacterial meningitis. One year ago, she lost the rest of her hearing in her good ear. God proved that he is in fact the ultimate healer. She nows has almost perfect vision and even though she no longer has her natural hearing, she is lucky that technology has allowed her to hear again. She had her first cochlear implant 2 years ago and her 2nd implant back in May. She has to work so much harder to hear, but it hasn't slowed her down one bit.

We are all so lucky to see her journey and see how God is working in her life. She knows that God is her healer and although this has been a tough journey, she knows that God has this. The devil might have stolen her hearing, but he did not steal her spunky, outgoing, funny, dramatic, loving, and hilarious self. She is amazing and once again she proved how amazing she was tonight up on that stage as the uptight hippie women. Her future may be on the stage!

CMA Awards

Tonight, I'm sitting on my couch watching the CMA awards. I generally don't watch these types of shows, or any shows for that matter, but decided to watch it. It's all because of Bobby Bones and him making me interested in all of this all over again.

So, after the first minute I was hooping and hollering from my couch. Eric Church singing Amazing Grace, followed by Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Lady A, and then tons of other stars singing some Hootie and the Blowfish! So random, but so amazing!  Darius Rucker is multi talented!

I still remember back when Hootie was pretty popular, my dad telling me that he really liked them. I remember then thinking how random it was and wondering how the heck dad even knew who Hootie and the Blowfish was! Pretty sure he was excited when Darius made the jump to country music.

Speaking of Bobby Bones, he is presenting right now. I love Bobby Bones. He cracks me up, the whole show does! After Gerry House retired, no one filled his shoes until The Bobby Bones Show started up in Nashville.

Total side note, messaging with my sister and was informed that Bobby Bones frequents Street Tuxedo......why has this never been told to me! Evidently my favorite brother in law did not realize my obsession with him!

Oh well, meanwhile, back at the CMA awards. I totally got distracted and missed the first of the Troy Gentry salute. Maybe a good thing, cause I probably would have cried. I watched the Luke Bryan thing with Robin Robins the other night and my eyes were a little misty. If you didn't watch it, totally should go and find it and watch it.

I should finish this blog....if not, I'll be here commentating on the whole CMA awards and home girl ain't getting paid for that! Still need to find a job where I can get paid to travel and blog about it. Anyone want to start this venture and hire me and pay me to travel and blog?!?! I'm your girl if so!

Tuesday

So, today I have discovered the pros and cons to working from home. Trust me, the pro wins out, but still.

We had some wicked rain over night. It was like sheets of rain falling down, hard, accompanied by thunder and lightning. I had originally set my alarm for 5:30 so I could be at the gym at 6:00, but once I heard the rain and thunder and all of the flood warnings in Nolensville, I decided to reset my alarm and go to the gym later. Here comes the pro part of working from home....all I could think about was that I was so THANKFUL that I did not have to drive to downtown Nashville today!!! I know it was a nightmare on the interstate and I wasn't in the middle of it. For the other commuters on 65,  yall are welcome, one less person crowding the roadways!


Later on, I saw a coworker post pictures of the MTA bus stop, which is where my window faces out of. Evidently there was a huge fight with multiple arrest and I totally missed it! I love seeing all the action outside my window. So, the con, can't be in the know and see all the crazy stuff happening in Nashville. Like I said, the pro totally outweighs the con!

I was also able to go to Cotsco on my lunch break. I went so I could buy a chicken pot pie (YUMMO if you haven't had theirs before) to take to a friend tomorrow night for dinner. Guess who got the very last chicken pot pie....this girl! Errands on my lunch break, I'll take it!

I had a 5:00 hair appointment, which means, I did not have to leave work early to make it back to Nolensville in time for my appointment. I worked right up until it was time to leave for my appointment. It was nice.

I went to the gym after the hair appointment. I always like to look nice when I get my hair done, however, I went to the salon in my work out clothes to ensure I would go to the gym. My hair stylist asked if I wore that all day since I'd been working from home. Actually, it was the 4th outfit I had on for the day....that may be a con, I can't be changing clothes multiple times a day while working! However, back to the gym, a pro is that I wasn't exhausted from my commute and I still had energy for the gym at 7:00 at night!

So, as usual, the pros outweigh the cons. I'll take this working from home stuff, I'm loving it!

BlogsGiving is Hard...cont...

Well, here it is November 6th and I'm writing my 6th blog of November, only 24 more to go. Whoo-hoo! I'm not really sure what specifically I should write about. So, this may be another random post with a few rabbit trails in there.

This is my first official week of being AWS, aka, working from home 3 days a week. I'm lucky, I'm off on Friday, which means I only have to drive downtown once this week. Yee-Haw! I feel like it was a productive day, so that's good.

Since I worked from home, I was able to make a massage for 4:30 and it was just what I needed. I'm considering joining the monthly club, so I can get either a facial or massage monthly for a discounted price. Of course, then I'm reminded that I'm not a baller, so that may not be the best idea! LOL! I'm all for some pampering though.

Getting the hair did tomorrow. I generally grow my hair out long, then  chop it off (donating it these last 2 times) and then grow it back out. 2  years ago, I chopped it all off and got hi-lights, for the first time in YEARS. I've actually kept it short for the majority of these 2 years, however, I've been growing it out, for Heather's wedding and because I'm ready to put my hair in a messy bun on top of my head. I'm soooo close. I'm loving the color as well, so even though it's fall, I'll probably keep this blonde in  it. My hair is fairly light to begin with, this just brightens it up. Like I said, I enjoy getting pampered.

The only thing  I'm missing is a pedicure. I'm in dire need of one, but since it's starting to be closed toe weather, I'm not as concerned about it. Granted, I wear a lot of flip flops and all my closed toes shoes are still slip ons and I refuse to wear socks, so I probably should keep them with a pedicure. I'm excepting donations for all of this pampering I feel like I all the sudden need!

Oh, to win the lottery! After I won the lottery and bought my canoe place on the river and got my self sufficient farm up and running, I'd hire a hair stylist, manicurist, and massage person to work for me 24/7!

I feel 25 Again

I've come to the realization the past few years that I have slowed down a lot in my life. I use to be able to go, go, go nonstop, however that's not the case. People use to tell me that they lived vicariously through me and all of my adventures, but these days I feel like I'm a hermit, compared to how I used to be. Well, not this weekend, I was 25 again and go, go, go all over again!

Friday night, after work, I met Angie and Heather to order my bridesmaid dress and then we went to dinner. Pretty chill night, see blog from 2 days ago!

Saturday, Angie wanted to go to a craft show down in Lewisburg that was benefiting a rescue she follows. She picks me up around 9:15 and we head to Spring Hill to pick up Kristi, before making the drive to Lewisburg. We got to the craft show and said, oh, we won't be here long! WRONG! We were there for over 3 hours! Such a great show with some awesome things! I'm excited for my findings.

While there, I almost got Knievel a sister. My dream dog was there and available for adoption! She was a 4 year old poodle mix, hypoallergenic. She was an owner surrender and kept outside in a pen. Who the heck keeps a poodle outside?!?! We bonded, sadly, I think a kid might have rescued her, which is ok, but I still may email to inquire about my dream dog.

Since it was late, we were starving and wanted lunch. Kristi googled Mexican restaurants and we choose El Fuenta in Lewisburg. We knew we'd love this place when we saw the banner hanging outside saying 1/2 price drinks on Saturday! Whoop Whoop! We each had a jumbo margarita!! YUM. The whole time we had wanted to stop at the winery, but didn't have enough time.

I get back home right at 4:00, which gave me enough time to freshen up so I could meet Heather, Lynn, and Kristen and go to Bingo in Kentucky. So, by 6:00 Saturday night, I was in Kentucky ready to play some Bingo.

Bingo is a blast! Just a whole new environment and you see some interesting looking people there! Love it! Heather and Lynn walked away with a little bit of cash, so it was good.

While at Bingo, my cousin in law Susan text to see if I wanted to go to the Titans game with them Sunday. Ummm....yes please! Susan and Jason  buy my parents season tickets, so I haven't been in a few years, and I used to frequent the games. I was at their house at 8:00 and we were tailgating by 9:00. It was an AWESOME game, perfect weather and we won! I'm supposing I'm the good luck. Since I took Blaise's ticket, I told him  he was now blackballed from his ticket since I was good luck and I would be taking his ticket from here on out! LOL! It was like old times being back at the Titans game! I just got home, at like 7:00! Such a fun day, I love my family.

So, yes, I was not a hermit today and I may be regretting this busy busy weekend, but it was totally worth it. Thankful that it's daylight savings time and I'm gaining an hour of sleep this weekend, I'll need it. I'm especially thankful that I am working from home tomorrow, so I can sleep in a little bit. Oh, and I'm getting a massage tomorrow after work. GO ME! Hair appointment Tuesday, which is always a favorite. So yeah, this is "slowed down" Becca! Should of seen me 10 years ago! LOL!

Belly Buttons

Last night, I was perusing through SnapChat and I'm watching the ones that came from my "sister in law" Rachael. They Streets are all in the mountains this weekend, so there were ones of my nieces with balloons in their stomachs pretending to be pregnant and they were dancing around. Pretty funny actually. As I'm watching, I hear my sister start to talk about me! WHAT! I hear her in the background talking about belly buttons during pregnancy and how her sister does not like them and didn't like her belly button when she was pregnant. I had to give her grief about talking about me on the SnapChat, however she is pretty accurate, belly buttons FREAK me out!

I'm not sure when I realized this may be a problem. I've always been some what weirded out by belly buttons, but it's recently dawned on me that I have a weird relationship with them.

When Shelby and I were younger the one thing that I absolutely could not stand was when she would "Pillsbury" me. Poke my stomach and say Pillsbury. Anyone else remember doing this as a child??? It would aggravate me to the point of tears and probably a melt down.

In college, Angie and Ben came to stay with me at my apartment in Chattanooga one Friday night and that Saturday we were getting ready so we could drive to Knoxville for the UT Game. In some freak accident, Angie and I both tried to walk through my bathroom door at the same time and somehow her belly button ring got caught on the door latch of my bathroom door and ripped her belly button ring out of her stomach. There was blood splattered everywhere. Me, the fainting goat, threw towels at her and then promptly went to lay on my couch to avoid passing out. Luckily, Ben was there to take care of her bloody belly button. She had a white shirt to wear to the game and there was blood where her belly button was! ARGH, still gives me the chills thinking about it.

And, with what I'm about to say, I hope I do not offend anyone. I cannot look at an outie belly button. My worst nightmare, if I'm blessed to be able to have babies one day, is that I will have an outie belly button. I'm gagging just thinking about it. Outies scare me!

So yes, please do not show me your belly button, keep it to yourself and we'll be just fine. And also, be careful when you SnapChat to make sure someone in the room isn't talking about someone who may potentially watch your Snap!! LOL!

#MiddleAgedLife

Yes, the title of this BlogsGiving is a hashtag. It's the hashtag my friends and I used tonight to describe our life. Even though we laugh at this hashtag and the situations we use it for, in reality, we are middle aged. Personally, I don't want to admit that.

Here is the TMI portion of this blog that I mentioned in my original BlogsGiving post. I went to my doctor this week and was informed that I fall into the age range that they recommend women to get mammograms. I'm pretty sure I had a blank stare on my face, followed by nervous laughter when she told me this. I knew it was coming, but hearing the words and making an appointment for a mammogram was a slap in the face from reality that I'm not getting any younger. I'm not concerned about the mammogram itself, but the fact that I'm old enough to need a mammogram! #MiddleAgedLife

Tonight, I met up with Heather and Angie so we could get fitted and purchase our bridesmaid dresses for Heather's wedding. Personally, I feel like the fact that I was able to pay cash for this dress because I'm responsible enough to start a Bridesmaid Fund in advance to be better prepared for these expenses that come along with being in a wedding deserves the #MiddleAgedLife hashtag!

Afterwards, we wanted to do dinner and drinks. We couldn't think of where to go and decided on Cheddars. Yes, we went to Cheddars on a Friday night #MiddleAgedLife. We sat and talked about adult things, like HVAC Units, #MiddleAgedLife and wanting to go to bed early #MiddleAgedLife. We discussed how 10 years ago, we would have been clubbing in downtown Nashville all night, and not even be worn out the next day. #MiddleAgedLife.

Tomorrow, I'm meeting Angie to go to a crafts show in Lewisburg. #MiddleAgedLife  Tomorrow night I'm meeting up with Heather and Kristen to go to Kentucky to play bingo. #MiddleAgedLife

Thanks for reading BlogsGiving. It's 9:00 on a Friday night and I'm sitting at my desk writing a blog. #MiddleAgedLife When I finish this blog, I will put my pajamas on, go lay in my bed (which I just bought a new mattress topper for this week, soooo excited) #MiddleAgedLife and watch some Netflix. #MiddleAgedLife

Cleaning Out the Desk

So, I cleaned out my desk today at work, and it's just weird! Starting Monday, I'm officially working from home 3 days a week and 2 days in the office. This means my desk is up for grabs and I'll sit wherever I can. I'll most likely sit in my same desk until someone else is assigned to sit there.

It's so strange cleaning out my desk. Luckily, when I started this job, I knew this would be coming quickly, so I only brought the essentials to my office. This is the least amount of stuff I've ever had to take home with  me!

I kind of feel homeless without a desk. I keep things at my desk, like lotion, tennis shoes, Kleenex, tampons, utensils, plates, hand sanitizer, change, pictures, etc. Now, it's just going to be me, a laptop, a pad of paper and an ink pen! What if I need something?!?! I think this part of working from home will take some getting use to. I feel like I should bring an over night bag with me on the days I do work from the office.

Granted, I'm sure I'll learn how to survive two days a week without all of my supplies!

I filled up my car on Tuesday, and I'm keeping track of when I fill up and how much I spend on gas, to see if I can tell a difference. I generally fill up weekly with gas, I'm hoping to cull that down to every other week, at the earliest. I guess that  is a perk of Nolensville becoming a booming metropolis, I do have a lot of necessities within a few miles from my house.

So, farewell to my office......well, I'll be in here tomorrow. But it's bare as of today. I've loved every minute of this new job and I know that I'm going to continue loving it working from the comfort of my new office at my house.

BlogsGiving is Hard

BlogsGiving is hard.....and it's just Day 1. I have written 2 blogs today and they are both in draft form. I start writing about what I think I should write about and then I change my mind. I think I have writers block, too much pressure of BlogsGiving!

However, I'm going to write anyhow and I'm going to publish this one....I think, if I don't, will you ever know? I have so many drafts in this blog that I've never posted. Some of them are rants, that probably should stay in the draft mode, but some of them have potential and I just never got around to finishing them.

Just like BlogsGiving, life is hard sometime. Granted, if my only complaint right now is that I can't think of anything good to write on this first day of November, then I have it pretty good.

Random fact. Papaw Vernon always said that if it rains on the 1st day of the month, then it's going to be a rainy month. It's raining today, but I sure hope it's not a rainy November. Rain + Cold, Dreary November weather makes my Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) flare up. Random Fact #2: I had to take a psychology 101 my freshman year of college, and that's the only thing I think I learned all semester. I finally had a diagnosis for my dislike for cold weather.

FACT: The only good thing that has ever come out of winter is me!!! If it wasn't for my birthday every January, I would be all about skipping winter as a whole.

Random Fact #3: I once had an 18ish month summer......a dream come true. If only I could justify living between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres every year, then I could  have a life full of only summer.

FACT: I can't stay on topic. This is what happens, I write one thing and it leads to a rabbit trail of something completely different. Story of my life.

This is totally not what I had in mind for Day 1 of BlogsGiving, but it's going to due and hopefully this writer's block will leave me.....or it's going to be a LONG month.