Monday, February 9

Workin' For the Weekend

I am a little behind on posting pictures due to the ice storm. Here is a quick catch up of the last couple of weekends. Two weeks ago we celebrated Theresa's birthday and new home! This included drinks and dessert at her house, shot gunning beer in her new kitchen (thanks Kelvin), and dancing at Fix. The next weekend after the ice we cured cabin fever with girls night at Bordinos then out on Dickson Street. We tried a new bar named "Shots" where everything is served in ice cube glasses, very messy but entertaining. The next night Matt and I headed to Big Cedar for some R&R and outlet shopping. We had a fantastic dinner at the steak house, and enjoyed the drastically warmer weather!

Birthday gal!

After the shot gunning exercise, Kelvin obviously won

Wrigley's Best Friend, Gatsby!

FIX haha

Sarah, Candice, me, and Bethany at dinner

Michelle and Em

Candice, Steph, Sarah and me

Em and Stephanie, notice what the jello shot came in!

BIG CEDAR! View from and on our porch.

And this weekend...low key, movies, cooking out, and finally-my favorite performance during the Grammys...

Thursday, February 5

Match Point


My first (official) tennis match is next Wednesday! After almost 1.5 years of lessons, my tennis team is all signed up for USTA league team tennis. I think this will be a blast, but right now I am quite terrified. We just learned how to score a tie breaker in our lesson last night, and I'm LOST. Thank goodness I am only playing doubles this time, so I have a buddy. Needless to say, we are getting together before next Wednesday for some more practice.

I just have to tell ya'll this, though it might be TMI. I was in TJ MAxx browsing the work out wear, and found a lot of cute Nike tops. As I am in the dressing room trying all these tops on, I bust out laughing, and can't quit. As I look in the mirror I have on tights, knee high black boots, a Nike work out top, and i'm practicing my serve in the mirror to make sure the top was comfortable. Oh god, I looked hilarious. I guess this wasn't the day to wear a dress to work.

Till next week, I'll let you know if we win our first match! We will look adorable reguardless!

Friday, January 30

25 Random Things About Me

I did this on Facebook and thought I'd share here too. It was very fun, and I'd love to read your posts too!

1. I didn't do one bit of assigned homework in 2nd grade, I shoved all take home papers in the back of my desk. The night before parent teacher conference I threw them all away, and my teacher found them. I got mono shortly after and missed 40 days of school. I somehow moved on to third grade, but I think it was because my teacher was terrified of having me again.

2. Everything I did as a child will be multiplied by my own children, so I can only imagine what I am in store for. If they are in trouble, I am totally taking some punishments from the Deacons. I mean who would have thought about making your kids watch documentaries and write reports? Brilliant, they will get smarter and pay for their own school = I can retire earlier.

3. I am very creative but don't make the time for it.

4. I am truly obsessed with home and decorating magazines. I could sit at barnes and noble ALL day looking through them and day dreaming about my future fabulous home I will get to decorate from scratch.

5. I am terrified of decorating a home from scratch.

6. I love food, and the "thought" of healthy food makes me feel good. But not as good as a Sonic grilled cheese and tots after a night on the town.

7. I am convinced I broke my nose on my trampoline, doing a back flip, kneeing myself in the face. My whole face was bruised, and I popped a blood vessel in my left eye, that didn't heal for months. I blame this fact on why I was single my entire 10th grade year. My mother never took me to the doctor, and I have had a crooked nose ever since. Humph.

8. I can't wait to retire and travel the world. I would love to re-trace my steps through Italy, and see the countryside from a more mature, and sober point of view.

9. I have been without power since Tuesday 9am, and told someone today to not feel sorry for me. Laura Ingle Wilder never had heat, AND she had to skin her own meat. I'm doing just fine.

10. I get totally overwhelmed by the wine section in the liquor store. Some people wish they had personal shoppers, I wish I had a wine connoisseur. I always result to a $15 bottle of something random that I don't remember if I liked or not by my next trip.

11. I can type really ridiculously fast, which must been from hours of AOL IM growing up. I knew it would pay off though my parents were skeptical.

12.I had a stalker in 11th grade, who found me online, and drove from Siloam Springs to see me at Lokomotion, where I was a Party Captain. He was not dangerous but freaked me out. He use to e-mail me renditions of his version of Back Street Boys and my friends and I would laugh for hours...

13. I am good at keeping in touch. I wish some people were better at it though.

14. I love sushi, and could possibly eat it every other day. I could eat Mac N Cheese every day.

15. My sister and I are very different, but the older we get, the more I think we are alike and just misunderstood each other. I value her opinion more than most people I know. I am very sorry Meredith that I made you watch all my pom routines over and over in Junior High. I'd be happy to repay that time if you ever want me to watch you do anything equally impressive.

16. I have a fondness for accessories, but chunky bracelets are really hard to organize or store away. They always fall and roll around my closest. Any suggestions?

17. I always wonder what my Grandmother was like, would she inspire me to cook? paint? decorate? travel? laugh?

18. Wrigley has taught me more lessons in patience than anything else. She is stubborn, and doesn't respond well to pressure or harsh words, so I really have to focus my energy. I often wonder what she is thinking, and I know it's not "sausage?? sausages??"

19. Laughter is the best medicine. I cried in the Sex In The City movie scene when Carrie finally laughs again. Well I cried a lot in that movie, but still.

20. I should be working right now, but this is so much more fun.

21. I like to write, that's why I blog. As my friend Kate said, I am sometimes surprised by how much I miss school papers.

22. When I was a freshman in College, my Speech teacher pulled me aside mid semester and told me I was one of the best in the class, and he wanted me to compete Nationally. I stared at him blankly somewhat confused. I didn't eat or sleep the night before a speech, and the entire walk to class my heart raced and I was in a cold sweat. I shook in my seat until it was my turn, and had to focus really hard not to throw up, or faint. I would spend HOURS the night before my speech committing ever single word to memory, and would practice writing and re-writing the speech until I didn't leave one sentence out. It was my most hated class, and I thought I was going to have a heart attack every single day.
I politely declined his offer.

23. I'm sarcastic, and it get's me in trouble often. It also helps me make friends fast, so I don't mind too much.

24. I commented last week on the lost love of the "art" of being a house wife. Not many of my friends can sew, quilt, bake a mean pie, or mend a button. I would love to be wonderful at all those things.

25. I love advertising. It comes with my career, but I'm obsessed with commercials. They usually make me laugh out loud, or tear up. Even a bad one will get stuck in my head for hours...Right now I love the new IHOP All You Can Eat pancake commercial. The actors face is priceless, and I would feel the same way, because I love pancakes.

Thursday, January 29

It's the little things that matter


Over the past few days, it's amazing that when the lights go out (literally) and all is quiet- you remember how to enjoy the little things. It's these blessings that I am thankful for.

-The fact that my landlord, who barely knows me, cares enough to rig up a two story extension cord so that I can have heat (he's getting some Valentine cookies for sure)
-Dogs don't care if the power is out, they don't complain and love you regardless- they'll even jump on your lap to keep you warm
-Uno is such a fun game
-The thoughtfulness of friends (near and far) constantly checking up on each other to offer warmth, light, and a hot shower (Thanks Kathy!!!)
-My Uggs. A life saver.
-My mom for coming over today and cooking up some stew (gas stove) for dinner
-The companionship that Matt provides, making delicious meals in the dark for me and holding my hand through the 6 movies (how you ask? another extension cord from downstairs because only half my building is without power)
-Hot coffee.
-How beautiful the ice is on a late night walk, so that Wrigley can stretch her legs (and pull me around on the ice)
-La Huerta for braving the ice and making me some fantastic cheese dip

I hope everyone is safe and warm, and stops to be thankful for all the little things.

Tuesday, January 20

Party with a Purpose


This past weekend was the American Heart Association's annual Paint The Town Red party. It is a yearly excuse to get dressed up, eat yummy food, and dance it up. We started at The Wine Cellar, and worked our way to the Town Center...ending the evening at Geno's of course for a fresh slice of pizza. We missed you Joanna and Suzanne!!

Me & Matt

Kathy, Em, and Amy standing dangerously close to the outdoors heater!

Group Shot! I am sandwiched between Cody and Kristin. I think this was our 4th year in a row to be at the event together!

Me, Morgan, Sarah, Candice, and Theresa

Kristin, Michelle and Moi!

Tuesday, January 13

Monday, January 12

Life at the lake


We spend a lot of time at the Curry's new lake house on Beaver. Here are some pics of our recent adventures. I can NOT wait until it's warm enough to take the boat out. I know we are going to have such a great time all spring and summer there! I think it's time that my year old fishing pole FINALLY get broken in. It's really cute and pink and I still can't believe I haven't tried it out!

Wrigs & Matt at sundown. She is a HUGE fan of roaming wild, it's the only time in her life when she is outside and not on a leash. We crack up all the time because she looks like a bullet with her ears tucked back running FULL speed all over the place.

Emily & Jeff enjoying the warm weather in January!

Em & Matt

Cookin' it up

Kathy and Natalie taking Wrigley and Bailey on a little ride. HILARIOUS!