the o'malley cats

The Best $50 We Have Ever Spent

2010-05-27T21:06:00.005-04:00

We have a small zoo in our house. I spend a lot of time cleaning up animal hair- sweeping the hardwoods, washing and re-washing sheets and blankets, lint rolling my dress pants before work, etc. It's another full time job. I wouldn't have it any other way though.

However, we decided to suck it up and buy a FURminator. Yes, $50 is a lot to spend on a dog brush, but dude I think the dog brush is going to be a lifesaver. We've already brushed all three dogs with it (and the one cat we could catch) and ended up with a huge pile of hair...that Sierra had to run through and roll around it several times. Nice. I'm cool with spending the money if it will save my sanity.

I think I'm in love.

How Not to Roast at Disney World in the Summer

2010-05-25T21:43:00.003-04:00

Sweat-wicking shorts and top. Chaco sandals. Bathing suit underneath on days we visit a park with water rides. LOTS of sunblock. If I'm not wearing the aforementioned clothes, I'm wearing a tiny sundress with flip flops. It kills me to see people wearing long pants. It's freaking Florida! In June! I let my hair dry naturally in the morning, and it usually ends up in a ponytail by the time we get on the bus to the parks. I only end up using sunscreen on my face and go sans make-up the entire time. I'm just not a pretty sweat-er, and make-up running down my face would be even less attractive.

Obvious Tips for Dealing with the Heat
1) Start your day early (like 8 am early). You'll see more in the parks before the mob of people get there, and you'll enjoy the ~~cooler~~ not as insanely hot temperatures.

2) Purchase a Camelbak or other hydration type backpack to carry into the parks. Fill it up for free with ice from the resorts/hotels and water. Ta da! You won't buy a bottle of $3 water every 30 minutes. Just put your camera in another bag. The coolness of the hydration bladder (yes that's what it is called) will cause your camera to fog up every time you pull it out in the heat to take a picture.

3) Don't wear jeans. Wear natural and/or sweat-wicking fabrics. And if it's cool when you start your walk to the bus/car, for the love of all that is holy, don't dress for that temperature. It's going to get hotter!!!! It's Florida. Duh.

4) Take a break for lunch and head back to the resort (if your're staying on property) for lunch, rest and a dip in the pool. If you can't leave the park, find a shady spot or restaurant to eat and relax in. Trust me. It will be worth it.

5)

Source

Enough said.

Have a magical day!

2010-05-17T22:19:00.000-04:00

Every few months or so, I wander off and explore the big world of the internets. And then I retreat back to this cozy little spot, because I just can't deal with the other drama out there. This past week I've seen an attack on a healthy living blogger and her good deed of riding for charity go from whatevs to just ridiculous and some crazy, close-minded rant on one of the Disney boards I read. Good grief people. Pull your head out of butt and act like a grown up. If you have nothing better to do than attack others in a public forum (or their own dang blog), you need a life!

RANT OVER.

Anyways, work is going swimmingly. I'll be attending my third NeoCon in Chicago next month. Always a good time. I don't look forward to flying AT ALL. I must find an authentic Chicago-style hot dog to eat while I'm there.

Vegetables are planted...in one of our boxes at least. The mosquitoes are already out in full force. I had three bites on my feet/leg even though I wore bug spray.

Dogs are shedding. Cats come in every day dirty, covered in prickly things, and tired after romping around for hours. Kevin is almost out of school for the year, and Sean is trying to decide on summer classes (and big life decisions). It.never.stops.

A Very Late Disney Recap

2010-04-03T13:11:00.005-04:00

It's been a crazy month since we went to Disney World in March. I jumped back into school and work as soon as we got home and haven't stopped since. I thought I would finally recap the trip while I'm doing my volunteer hours at a very empty teen center at the downtown library. (Pictures will be added later...when I finally download them from the cards.)

I'm too lazy for anything put a list format right now so here we go...

1) Crowds - OMG. We were there the same weekend last year and didn't remember it being this crazy. Everywhere you turned there was a dance/cheerleading team, sports team, senior trip or Spring Break group. Teenagers EVERYWHERE. We thought we were smart by staying in a Moderate resort, thereby avoiding the large groups that stay in the Value resorts. WRONG-O. We just suffered in the parks. So we're not sure if we'll go back the same weekend next year. We are picky about the rides we stand in line for. No ride is worth more than a 40-50 minute wait time.

2) Transportation - We decided to eliminate the Disney bus transportation from our agenda this trip. (Side note: Two wrecks/incidents involving the buses recently. 8 injured. 1 dead. What?!) We drove my super sweet car to each park - free parking with on-property resort stay - and used the monorail as needed. It did sort of suck having to drive from one end of the property to the other on some nights, but it was so worth not having to stand in line (and on the bus) with a ton of other people.

3) Food - We tried two new restaurants on this trip: Sanaa @ Kidani Village and Rose and Crown @ Epcot. Both were...eh. Too expensive for the amount of food we received. The best part of Sanaa was their bread service. Sean and I split three breads- Naan, Onion Kulcha, Paneer Paratha. And three sauces- Red Chile Sambal, Cucumber Raita, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus. The Rose and Crown meal looked like a frozen meal they plopped on a plate. The tastiest thing I ate there was the Raspberry Vinaigrette. Lame.

We did the usual- enjoyed our favorite rides, bought too many pins, trudged through Florida ~~rainshowers~~ monsoons, renewed our annual passes and generally had a great time. We've learned to take our trips a little slower, because we know it's not going anywhere! I feel sorry for those families that drag their little ones through the parks and miss naps and normal routines. Cramming everything in doesn't make the vacation anymore enjoyable. And getting your money's worth with the Dining Plan just makes you miserably full.

And we're going back in June.

Are We There Yet?

2010-03-09T21:52:00.002-05:00

We're in this:

Eating this:

Listening to this:

Going to see this:

2010-03-07T22:54:00.000-05:00

2 DAYS!

I am Liz Lemon?

2010-03-01T21:31:00.000-05:00

Sean and I are usually the last people to start watching great television shows. Mad Men and The Office were two shows everyone told us we just had to watch, and we stuck with Food Network reruns and football/basketball/baseball/every.sport.know.to.man.

We've FINALLY caught up with the times and purchased Season 1 and 2 of 30 Rock on dvd. (An aside: I prefer watching the shows on dvd one right after another anyway. I can wait a few months until the dvds come out. I'm weird, I know.)

Season 1 of 30 Rock started out a little slow for us, and I thought I was going to lose Sean to boredom. Then we started cracking up every now and then. Then I started to do my annoying out loud laugh.

Then we started to notice something.

IT'S SCARY HOW MUCH I AM LIKE LIZ LEMON.

I'm a brunette with glasses.
My world revolves around food. Most of it is junk food.
I like to fall asleep beside my husband while he plays Halo 3. (He's not a tool like Dennis.)
The fear of choking on food while I'm alone. (Shut up.)
The not-very-girl clothes. No bi-curious shoes though. (I really love every outfit Liz wears.)
Awkward geek that severely lacks social skills.
I love Star Wars.
"I just want to go home and watch that show about midgets and eat a block of cheddar cheese." (Um yeah that needs no explanation. I LOVE Little People, Big World and cheese.)
"Gay dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all drive hybrids." ( I drive a clean diesel- it was prettier than the hybrid.)

We're not through Season 1 yet so I'm sure I'll add to this list. I'm hooked on the show already and can't wait to turn it on at night.

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to put on some sweet pajamas and turn on my humidifier. My husband is killing monsters.

Can't read my, can't read my, can't read my poker face...

2010-02-25T22:43:00.000-05:00

I quipped on Facebook the other night that I would love to see Johnny Weir skate to Lady GaGa.

And he has already done it!

The One that Freaks Out

2010-02-24T13:57:00.001-05:00

Deadlines are quickly approaching for both school and work. Vacation is two weeks away. Groceries are desperately needed. Workouts need to be increased. Sleep is needed. Quality time spent with the husband is needed. The 'to do' list is a mile long. And I can feel THE RAGE slowly creeping in (it's SO great being a woman).

Just breathe... Or choke someone.

Spoiled Little Girl

2010-02-21T19:59:00.000-05:00

Spoiled. Lucky. Blessed. Super excited.

I'm the proud new owner of a 2010 Jetta Sportwagen TDI. Technically, Sean and I are the owners, but it is MY car. My GORGEOUS new baby. It's fuel efficient, sporty, fun to drive, spacious, and it's MINE MINE MINE.

I can barely put into words how incredibly excited I am to drive this car. I've been hogging the driver's seat all weekend, though Sean has already called dibs on Tuesday so he can pick Kevin up from school in it.

Tomorrow is my first day of my commute to work with this car, and I can't freaking wait to turn on the Sirius radio (free for 6 months!) and zone out for the drive to and from.

One problem...it drives like a dream and BAM you look down, and you're going 20 over the speed limit.

This is going to be trouble.

Back on Track

2010-02-03T12:33:00.002-05:00

For a few months, I was two-timing this blog over at Live a Little Better...and I've finally come to my senses.

I'm not a food blogger.
I don't have time (or the desire) to photograph my food.
I have a heck of a lot more going on than my quest for healthy living.

It was stressful to document everything, and I found myself obsessing over calories and getting "the perfect shot." And all the while the boys are wondering when we can eat. I admire bloggers who can do that and read a few great ones on a daily basis. Not for me.

Instead, Live a Little Better will be a feature here. It's an overall lifestyle change. For example, we've talked to Kevin a lot lately about being grateful. We are going to start volunteering and donating our time and money.

More later. It's good to be back.

Things I Don't Understand: Flip Flop Decals/Magnets for Car

2009-11-13T13:39:00.004-05:00

Why?!

Happy Anniversary to us!

2009-11-12T15:32:00.003-05:00

We've been married 4 years today. I love you!

Thank you for putting up with me!

Girls Stick Together

2009-11-11T15:35:00.001-05:00

Sean caught this moment last night. All of the girls in the house on the couch at the same time.

We need a bigger couch. And a bigger bed.

Happy 40th Birthday Sesame Street!

2009-11-10T20:36:00.002-05:00

You were a huge part of my childhood and taught me so much. It's unfortunate that the crap that Kevin watches isn't as good as Sesame Street. Just more brain-numbing and stupid. Just kidding. Kind of. At least he loves shows on Food Network and HGTV.

Here is a Mad Men spoof from Sesame Street. Yay!

Life Timeline

2009-11-09T15:10:00.003-05:00

For my Human Development Applied to Education class, we have to construct a personal timeline that pinpoints 27 important events in our lifetime - from birth to death. I feel weird about predicting my death and how/when, so I simply wrote "death". Anyways, I've found that the majority of important events in my life - real and made-up/predicted - include Disney. Who knew?

Apparently I'm married to a pro bowler. He just doesn't know it yet.

YMCA

2009-11-06T15:29:00.002-05:00

Kevin has a new found obsession with the YMCA. The song. He plays it on our iPhones on YouTube or on our iPod. I was outside cleaning the back porch last week, and I opened the sliding glass door and saw him standing in the middle of the living room dancing to the song. He had headphones in his ears and the iPod in his pocket. It was hilarious.

Yesterday, we drove by the YMCA in Brainerd and he asked if I had been in a YMCA before. I told him my parents were members at the one back home. He was so interested on what the inside of a YMCA is like. If only the true meaning of the song wasn't so dirty. Wow... Maybe he'll grow out of this. At least we have something to tease him about when he gets older!

2009-11-05T15:52:00.001-05:00

Not feeling too inspired today, but I'm screwing around on the computer when I'm supposed to be doing homework. So, in addition to my birthday video above, here are some of the pictures that are making me smile today:

Doing it

2009-11-04T20:11:00.001-05:00

This will be nothing of interest but I'm blogging. Waiting on hubs to get home so we can eat dinner, watching Cake Boss and listening to two dogs wrestling. They only do that when they can sense me concentrating on something. Those little DBs.

Man this is basically a long Twitter. I suck.

Monday, Monday

2009-11-03T09:21:00.002-05:00

Cheating again. I remembered to blog last night as I was drifting off to sleep on the couch.

Monday consisted of:
1) Fieldwork in my friend's second grade class- they were discussing antonyms/homophones and one little girl said that there was more than one meaning for "bar". OMG.
2) Picking up Kevin from school. Uneventful.
3) Football practice- I picked the boys up from the parking lot. They left practice early. Not sure if we'll be at tomorrow's practice or the last game. Drama...or just idiots. Not my boys though.
4) After-dinner snacks of hot chocolate, homemade roasted pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate.
5) Playing with our two rats on Kevin's bed while a fat cat sleeps a foot away. Obviously their indoor hunting skills aren't as great as their outdoor hunting skills.

Joy of Cooking

2009-11-02T19:21:00.003-05:00

Do you know how enjoyable it is to actually cook without being at work during the day? For some reason, I love having the opportunity to really plan what I'm going to cook and spend time in the kitchen without any other distractions. Of course, I'd rather have a job. However, so far today I have:

1) Peeled(?) a pomegranate- this may not sound like a big deal but I have zero patience
2) Roasted our pumpkin seeds using Sean's special sweet/spicy homemade rib rub. These turned out great, and I can't wait until Sean gets home to try them.
3) Put together a meatloaf using this recipe. I'm going to pop it in the oven soon.
4) A butternut squash recipe is pending.

I'm going to open the one bottle of wine that has been in our fridge for over a year and hope that it tastes okay. Sean will drink beer of course.

Some of my favorite food sites:

All Recipes
Epicurious
Rachael Ray
Food Network

National Write a Blog Post Everyday or something...

2009-11-01T22:01:00.003-05:00

And yes, I'm cheating by backdating this to 11/1/09. I was too busy yesterday to really get on the computer, and I'm trying to avoid the desktop until Sean buys us a new laptop. I'm a computer snob. And I like to use the computer while I'm sitting on the couch watching tv. Two brain/soul-sucking activities are better than one.

One Week

2009-10-22T11:01:00.003-04:00

One week since getting laid off. Has anyone called me about a job? No. Have I accomplished anything? No. Well, the house is staying semi-clean and I've cooked several meals. I'm frustrated with the process of finding a new job. I don't understand why everyone and their mom lists jobs all over the internets but can't even confirm that they have received my resume. I'm one of 200 APPLICANTS(!) for a job at the Chamber of Commerce. I won't hold my breath on that one. So choosing marketing as a career wasn't a great idea, huh?

I need something else to keep me busy. Another venture. Another blog? I've been thinking about something but need to figure out if it's a stupid idea or not.

Ugh x1,000

2009-10-18T17:19:00.003-04:00

Last Tuesday/Wednesday, two of our dogs became afflicted with a stomach something. It was beyond gross, and we were quite frustrated after cleaning up after one of them for the millionth time. We were also worried about the funds for our planned trip to Disneyworld this week. Stressed over school work that needed to be done before we left, clothes that needed to be washed, locking down a house/pet sitter, etc. Just an overall feeling of yuck. Boy were we in for a surprise.

Going to work on Thursday morning (after cleaning up after the dogs AGAIN) just felt...off.

And then I got laid off.

So I guess it's a good time to get caught up on blogging, writing for a possible freelance/permanent position, cleaning my house, training for that half marathon and DOING SOMETHING I'M PROUD OF. I just have to figure out what that is first.

I and Love and You

2009-10-07T13:06:00.001-04:00

Girls Night vs. Boys Night

2009-09-30T15:50:00.004-04:00

Girls Night
- Everyone is required to bring some type of finger food.
- Everyone is given a nickname based on personality and/or a former party foul...
- Mickey Mouse or another cutesy character is the theme. You will wear funny sunglasses or other accessories.
- Listen to the Party Hits station on digital cable while gossiping.
- Have a good laugh making your own Mii on the party host's Wii.
- Seriously make the party host's Mii fugly when she is outside smoking.
- No beer (well, except for me).
- Mixed drinks with straws.
- Play charades.
- Nothing crazy and everyone goes home at a decent hour. (well, there was one that got a little crazy and passed out early)

Boys Night
- Run to (good) beer store and come with several cases of expensive beer. Plus, one taped up half twelve pack of Smirnoff Ice. (for your wife to take to Girls Night- not me)
- Pick up a handful of pizzas and two boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts, which you will offer to your wife (me) when she wakes up at 4 am thirsty...AND YOU ARE STILL UP DRINKING/PLAYING POKER.
- Play poker. Unscrew 4 out of 5 lightbulbs in the fixture in the dining room for "ambiance". Freak your wife out (me) the next morning when only 1 bulb appears to work. She panics over $40 worth of CFLs not working.
- Place empty beer bottles in random places around the living/dining room. Computer desk, hutch in dining room, the small table where the cat food lives so the dogs can't reach it. Watch cats try to maneuver around said bottles the next morning to eat, and TA DA they don't knock anything over.
- Take random videos on your iPhone that include you spinning the phone around while filming. Make wife almost puke while watching it.
- Pass out in the middle of the bed - still in your clothes - around 5 am leaving your wife unable to move in any other position for the rest of the morning.
- Not feel like crap the next day, and your wife is annoyed at your superpowers but cleans up your mess anyways.

Stupidity

2009-09-26T00:09:00.003-04:00

Well, it's official. I'm a mean and horrible person. I offended someone on a Disney messageboard today and actually received an 'infraction' for a minor personal attack and name calling (with profanity no less!). And I just quoted the other person with the profanity. I feel like a little kid getting a swat on the butt for being bad. And hey, if you found my blog via my profile (that I have since cleared of my contact information outside of the boards)- hi! Whether you are the offended or just innocent bystanders that got caught in our web of ignorance and hatefulness, I apologize.

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Things I Need to Plan For

2009-09-22T13:42:00.004-04:00

Yes, I'm probably lame for using a blog prompt/meme. I have a post started and saved but lack the motivation to finish it, so you get this via Ten on Tuesday...

(It might actually help me be ready for something ahead of time.)

1. Disney trip in October
2. This weekend: football, family time, homework, etc.
3. Christmas gift buying...ugh. Don't.want.to.think.about.it.
4. Fall Cleaning
5. A couple of larger school assignments due in October.
6. Additional freelance work
7.-10. Life in general. Is there ever a time when we shouldn't be planning for the future?

Don't Miss the Boat

2009-09-21T19:58:00.003-04:00

It's a bit wet around these parts. The rain just keeps on coming, and relief is in sight for...NEXT TUESDAY. So glad we could enjoy the last few days of summer with wonderful weather.

Luckily, we are (mostly) dry in and around our house (fingers crossed). The animals aren't too happy about wading through puddles outside to use the bathroom. Superman has left us a few 'surprises'. We're just fortunate that we aren't being evacuated like other people. I don't know how we would gather up 3 dogs, 4 cats, important pictures/paperwork, computers, etc etc. I don't want to think about it.

Happier news now- below is a possible Betty Draper-ish dress for my Halloween costume from Tulle. Bonus: I can wear it again and it's on sale.

Disney Dining at Home

2009-09-20T16:04:00.004-04:00

I love calling Disney to make dining or room reservations. Want to know why?

It's all about the pixie dust. I can only describe what you hear on the other end of the line as magical. It's like Tinkerbell has sprinkled you as you hear "brrrinnnggg." I'm a dork I know, but it always reminds me of our trips and makes me a giddy little girl even if I'm sitting at my desk at work.

Anyways, the point of the dining reference is that in the past week, I've recreated two of our favorite meals from our June trip. As we chose to venture to resorts using the monorail, Sean and I ended up eating at both the Contemporary and the Polynesian. At the Contemporary, we lounged around at Contempo Cafe and opened our Vinylmation purchase to relax. We ordered the Marinated Beef Flatbread (oven roasted tomatoes, garlic, onions, arugula, and goat cheese) and OMG was it good. Minus the oven roasted tomatoes - which I didn't have the patience for the other night - I made this for Sean and I for dinner. He loved it, and I've made good use of that dang $5 goat cheese in the past week.

For lunch today, Sean requested the other flatbread- the Hawaiian version from the Polynesian. Canadian bacon (not my favorite but I can eat it every now and then), tomato sauce, pineapple, cheddar and mozzarella cheese on a garlic flatbread. Yummy. I quartered the flatbread and ate a slice with grapes and a spinach salad. Sean chowed down on the remaining pieces.

Simple recipes that we will make again that remind us of Disney. Keeping the magic alive when you can't visit the Mouse is so easy and can instantly bring you out of a funk. Now if only it would stop raining...

2009-09-14T08:31:00.000-04:00

This makes me sad. From PostSecret.com.

Hot Mess

2009-09-11T15:54:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I'm amazed at how my brain works. How it doesn't explode right out of my head when the wheels start spinning and the lists are constructed for the millions of things I want to do. Not always the things I NEED to do. I feel like such an idiot when I type and write and my hands can't keep up with what I'm thinking. And I'm too impatient to proofread.

I have a running list in my head of homework, housework, work work, things I need to buy, things I want to buy, people to call, people to email, blogs to be written, emails to be checked...the list goes on. And most of these things in my head are insignificant. Some days I can push them back and completely forget. Other days, I'm ripping Sean's head off because I'm.so.stressed.and.OMG.I.have.to.get.this.done.NOW or all of the puppies in the world will die or something equally as stupid as that.

One day, I'll calm down and get it right. I think this is just how my brain is programmed though. And what's so bad is that I shut down when I can't figure out what to do first. So if I haven't called to tell you thank you or responded to your Facebook comment, I'm sorry. I've read it, I care, but I'm having one of those days/weeks/months.

What's My Age Again?

2009-09-08T22:54:00.006-04:00

Well, another birthday has come and gone. My 27th birthday to be exact. However, I'm not whining about the awesome time that we had out. I had a great dinner with family and friends at the "cool table" at the Terminal, followed by a relaxing time at Nightfall to see Enter the Haggis, and a nightcap (or two or three) at CBC. We stumbled (well I did) back to the car that was still parked halfway across town at the Terminal. I sent a few Tweets I don't remember and probably blurted out a few stupid things, but we made it home in one piece and I felt halfway decent the next day. The rest of the weekend was filled with laundry, eating, bowling, family, eating, laundry, homework, and more eating. I love birthday cake, but I think I've had my fill. I'm going to grab a leftover piece in a minute and send the rest into the trash.

We ended up missing the entire Tennessee game, but apparently everyone is already on the "Lane Train" this year. It's hilarious listening to Vol Calls on the radio on Sunday night. The most redneck fans ALWAYS call in, and DON'T ASK A QUESTION LIKE THEY ARE TOLD TO. There's a lot of praise for the coach, certain players, blah blah blah. I guess us hillbillies can't put together an intelligent question. I'm so proud to be a Tennessean!

I want this! I love "mean Smokey".

Getting Out of Town

2009-08-26T09:58:00.006-04:00

Guess who is planning a fun getaway for her own birthday? This girl. Last year, we were lucky enough to have Kevin the weekend that Labor Day fell on and ended up on a whirlwind Disney trip. This year, however, the weekend is one where we don't have Kevin. So, yay, a fun adult trip. BUT Kevin will most likely have a football game on Saturday morning, and Sean and I have to bowl on Sunday night. Sure we can pre-bowl, but we're restricted to during the week. Planning that around 2 nights of class and 2 nights of football practice leaves us with no time.

I'm considering a night in the ATL with an Ikea visit and Belgian brews at Brick Store Pub thrown in. Getting Sean to commit to travel dates is like pulling teeth sometimes. He wants me to "play secretary" (no, not like that) and put an itinerary on his desk (our computer desk/junk landing area) so he just knows where to show up. That's pretty much how every Disney trip has been planned thus far.

Aaggghhh, speaking of Disney- I'm having trouble finding time to go back. Our fall break doesn't overlap with Kevin's, so we're looking at a revised schedule or taking him out of school for five days. Neither have been discussed with his mom. I don't think she even knows we're trying to go. I'm sure he's let it slip at some point though! If we go in October with David and Robin (Sean's uncle and aunt) and Doug, Tracy, and Marissa (family friends and our bowling partners), WE GET TO STAY FOR FREE. And hang out with some very awesome travel partners. Seriously, we split up or stay together, make plans to meet for food, go back to the hotel, etc etc.- AND IT'S NEVER A HASSLE. Love them!

Woe is me. I would be so deprived to not have another Disney trip this year.

Adventures in Pet Ownership

2009-08-24T22:46:00.004-04:00

Let's just say I'm an idiot for not taking the trash out of the back room where the dogs stay while we're not home. And let's just say that Sean came home between school and work to find quite a mess out there. And 2/3 of our dogs aren't feeling so hot right now (ie not so solid poops). Sorry, I sound worse than those STFU Parent posts that Slynnro links to on Twitter.

A large amount of malt extract - leftover and probably very expired from homebrewing days - was ingested. Completely my fault. It shouldn't be toxic to them, and I'm hoping they rid there body of most of it already. They are currently relaxing in said back room, which now has a nice mopped floor. I'll venture to the vet in the morning to get tummy taming chewables. Ugh.

Update (8/26/09): Everyone is back on track (ahem) poop-wise. We had one casualty- a rug from Ikea. But it was $35 so I'm not stressing over that. Dogs just continue to gross me out. They will eat ANYTHING.

Thankful Thursdays

2009-08-13T19:14:00.003-04:00

- Advisors that are in the office when they say they will be.
- An athletic husband that loves working with kids (that doesn't have to scream to get his point across...hint hint loud guys).
- The weekend is near.

Grasping for content here, but I'm standing at football practice in 90 degree weather. No chair, and the grass is irritating my legs.

Can't wait to get home and clean up the headless and only-two-legged rabbit off the back porch. I love my cat.

She Didn't Say Anything About the Hair

2009-08-11T22:32:00.008-04:00

I believe we're both still recovering from a busy weekend. No, we didn't do any crazy partying...well, see the two pictures below for our Friday night.

Hmm...a little blurry (even for my phone)

Sean has been craving a burger from Merv's and fried pickles for quite some time now. We didn't have Kev this weekend so we invited a few friends to partake in this greasy goodness. The burgers were better than we had remembered, and Sean and I actually went back on a slow Sunday morning for round 2. He swears that will be the last visit for awhile. On Friday, we brought our own darts in to play and eventually our own liquor. Merv's only serves pitchers of beer so the guys walked across the street and brought back a bottle of Jager. We drank small shots out of to go sauce ramekins. Classy. We also took over the high tech digital jukebox for a few hours and tortured all of the (ahem) rednecks with Ween, Pixies and Guster.

We continued the weekend of fun (sarcastic) on Saturday by helping my sister move. By "helping her move", I mean my dad and Sean carried the big stuff and the women stood around looking pretty. We really couldn't contribute because Jessica had nothing packed. AND I thought college boys had nasty apartments. Good grief there was some grossness. We couldn't open the fridge without holding our breath. We ended the night with dinner at Sticky Fingers and a quick run through Target to take advantage of tax free weekend.

Before my parents skipped town on Sunday, I was showered with early birthday gifts, and best of all- cake! What a lovely way to end the weekend- besides the many loads of laundry on Sunday night. Here's to hoping I can accomplish more this week...

Hair Decisions

2009-08-05T22:23:00.006-04:00

I've been growing my hair out, much to Sean and my mom's delight, over the last year. And I've had enough of it. It takes too long to dry in the morning and with the exception of working out, I can't wear it in a ponytail because it makes my head hurt. Add that to a pair of new glasses that squeeze my right ear and ALSO make my head hurt and I'm one cranky girl.

I'm fairly low maintenance, use very little "product" and want something simple that can still be pulled back somehow when I work out.

Maybe something like this:

Nothing as extreme as Victoria Beckham but also not too "perfect". There is a fine line. Can't wait to see my mom on Friday when they get in town. She's going to freak!

Operation Skinny Bitch

2009-08-04T12:41:00.004-04:00

So, I joined a gym (FINALLY) in April and have been somewhat consistently working out since then. As mentioned on Twitter, this level of physical activity is the most I have experienced since high school. When I played soccer and pathetically ran track just to have something to do. Well, basically for the letter and pins I received for the school jacket I never purchased. Oh and the little icons on the side of my class ring.

Anyways, I was always teeny tiny growing up. In college I owned a pair of 00 sized pants from Aeropostale. Barely tipping the scales at 100 lb. people. I think I have since gained 20 lb. - over 10 years. BUT I think I'm at a more healthy weight now. I needed to gain a pound or two. It sucked searching for pants that I knew I would never fill out, and I hated the way my bony shoulders looked in strapless/sleeveless clothes.

My goal is to be HEALTHY and TONED. I only weigh myself once at my yearly girly appointment. If I happen to go to the doctor and get weighed in between then, I don't pay attention to it. I will obsess. Honestly, I'm mostly happy with the way I look, so it's not really a true Operation Skinny Bitch. Lose the love handles and potential thunder thighs and I'm cool. Be prepared to stay fit through a future pregnancy. Run a 1/2 marathon or two.

I'm working out - elliptical or running and weights - 2-3x each week. I'll have to ramp this up as marathon training intensifies of course. And I'm trying to watch what I eat. I have a killer sweet tooth. Needless to say, we haven't had any Oreo and milk binges in the last several months.

THIS.IS.SO.FREAKING.HARD.

2009-08-03T14:29:00.003-04:00

So I'll just skip over all the BS about not blogging in forever. It's true. Let's move on.

We've been busy. Sean has 2 jobs now (one gov't deal that is awesome!) and will start school again at the end of August. Kevin is as hilarious and smart as ever and starts school this week. I'm still...me. Indecisive, lazy, crazy and lactose intolerant.

In the past few months, we have:
- gone to Disney AGAIN
- had items stolen from our house
- enjoyed lots of summer cookouts and cornhole
- ...and coincidentally, been eaten by lots of mosquitoes
- started freelance writing...somewhat (me)
- decided we want to move into an almost brand new house- yesterday actually
- decided money should grow on trees and/or we should win the lottery

Overall, I'm working out more and sleeping less. If I wake up between 4-5 am, it is almost guaranteed that my mind will race until AT LEAST 6 am, which leaves me with only another hour of sleep. It's been real fun. BUT I feel good on a daily basis and know we're very blessed. I've never felt so together but still NOT at the same time.

I want to write and document more to get all of this junk out of my head and into some forum. I saw that BlogHer '10 will be in NYC, which sounds like a good time to me. Maybe I'll make it...

Nervous

2009-07-09T14:00:00.001-04:00

I'm about to make an important phone call, and I feel like throwing up!

It's alright 'cause I'm Saved by the Bell!

2009-06-10T12:00:00.001-04:00

This is amazing!

2009-05-27T14:21:00.000-04:00

Just felt like posting this hot picture of us. Haha.

It's Chop Time!

2009-05-23T16:09:00.000-04:00

We're on the way to the Braves game right now...and it's raining. Our last adventure included a three hour rain delay that resulted in us getting home around 3 am. Good times. Sean thinks that the seats are covered. He will have 9 other angry people if he is wrong.

2009-05-20T23:16:00.002-04:00

Sean and I will be back there in June!!!

Anticipation

2009-05-08T17:20:00.003-04:00

The weekend is so close that I can smell it. Exactly 8 minutes until I am free. Well, I guess that's not really true. I could stand to catch up on a few work things at home this weekend. My inspiration usually hits at 10 pm when I'm sitting on the couch in my pjs. I wish I could convince the boss to let me work those hours. It would be difficult to hold client meetings that way though.

Feeling a little better today. The pain isn't that bad- bearable at least. I'm really tired of chugging liquids though, mostly water. I'm not much of a drinker. Like I don't sit around all day sipping on something. I don't really get thirsty unless I'm working out or had a very salty dinner. It was difficult swallowing my medicine earlier, because I just couldn't stand one more sip of water. Ugh.

It's an abbreviated weekend with Kevin due to Mother's Day, but we should still have fun. We're planning to go see Wolverine tomorrow and hang out with Sean's mom, then head to Steven and Misty's to hang out with Patrick before he leaves. Sean (the saint that he is) and I are headed to Clarksville on Sunday to see Mama and Nana and Papa. Daddy and Jessica both have to work so it will be a smaller Mother's Day celebration this year. I'm looking forward to whatever Mama may be cooking. Yes, that's bad she has to cook on "her" day, but she's better at it and it doesn't make sense to go out to eat if we're only there for half the day.

Well, I'm about to pack up for the weekend. The boss probably thinks I'm working hard over here as I type away. I was for most of the day and plan to later. That counts, right?

2009-05-07T20:30:00.000-04:00

This is the part where I freak out and think I'm dying. According to my doctor, I have a "raging" bladder infection. Is it raging like a hormonal douchebag teenager at a hardcore concert or like a river you go rafting on? Based on the many times I have peed (in agony no less) in the last two hours - almost every 5 minutes - I'd say it's more like the river.

THIS SUCKS. I'm not sure I will survive at work tomorrow if this doesn't let up. I don't want to miss any work, but seriously how productive can I be without bringing my laptop to the bathroom.

I wish Sean would get home soon to baby me. He's had a stressed week of finals so I don't think he's in the babying mood. Sigh. Maybe he will at least bring me something to eat. Please?

2009-05-05T14:51:00.000-04:00

I really need to be a better blogger. There are so many fun times we have had recently that I don't document. Our Flickr account is slowly being updated.

Right now all I can think about is a cupcake. I am going to try and sneak out to get a few later.

All Over the Place

2009-04-14T12:57:00.003-04:00

I'm such a slacker on this blog as I have said many times before. Work is still chugging along, school is great, and the boys and I are all awesome. The weather is warming up, and we have a ton to do in the yard. I'm hoping to live off of our veggies this summer. We'll have to if something doesn't change around here with the moola situation. It's not bad- just tight. Too tight for a person with two degrees and what is seemingly good experience. I'll leave it at that.

I'm having Disney withdrawals of course. Sean and I are back in June for a pin trading event. Such nerds we are. I've yet to book a room, but usually have good luck with a last minute deal. Fingers crossed.

Working out is going well. I've actually joined a gym and am putting some effort into it. My ultimate goal is the Disney Half Marathon in January 2010 or the Princess Half in March 2010. We'll see how my knee holds out. Just want to be semi-buff and look good in a bathing suit. Should probably start working on a tan too, because the pastiness just isn't cutting it.

Beware- random cuteness ahead. This is Chewie, our big manly mutt, on a very girly pillow...

2009-03-25T12:39:00.000-04:00

I'm heading to Dalton as we speak to visit a client. Of course, I'm not driving right now. Though the driver (my boss) is chit chatting on his iPhone and driving. He's a pro at this though. I'm more worried about this dang meeting than his driving. Though I could use some motion sickness medicine right now. Blogging probably isn't helping.

Busy day ahead still. Busy night with Heather's birthday dinner and hopefully some XT (cross train) workout. I can already tell that my dress pants fit a little more comfortably. Yay!

I'll write you once a week, she said...

2009-02-18T10:20:00.003-05:00

So excited about music in 2009. Blink-182 is getting back together(!), Guster will release a new album, and we already have tickets to see the Avett Brothers in April.

I'm working and listening to my Blink-182 station on Pandora radio. Love it!

It Always Comes Back to the Cupcakes

2009-02-11T13:19:00.003-05:00

I have a voracious appetite for sweets. My most favorite of all are cupcakes.

I want to own and run the most bad-ass late night cupcake shop. Of course, I'll need Dana's baking expertise. Holy crap, we need to do this and SOON.

25 Things are Sweeping The Nation (of Facebook)

2009-02-05T11:40:00.005-05:00

Yes I filled out the 25 Things meme and have enjoyed reading what my friends have written. Below is a list I found on Time from someone that is really tired of people tagging her. It really made me giggle at my desk.

Note: THIS IS NOT MY LIST. I'M NOT THAT WEIRD.

Note #2: I laughed the hardest at #15 and #16, which makes me childish AND mean.

1. I eat tacos with a fork.
2. I was fat in middle school. The wake of that horror has yet to subside.
3. I keep forgetting that Barack Obama is our President.
4. I have been pooped on by a monkey.
5. I am addicted to the ass-slap dance move. Sometimes don't even notice I'm doing it.
6. When I finally told my now fiancé that I liked him (as in, liked him liked him), I drunkenly gave him the Anchorman line, "I want to be on you." He had only seen the movie once and had no idea what it was from.
7. Just because I realize that Asian women are smarter, more attractive, and have about themselves a generally superior level of class does not mean I have a fetish. Just that I'm racist.
8. I eat gummy bears by tearing them limb from limb and eating their heads last.
9. I can't grow hair on my arms.
10. Two of my best friends are under five feet tall and I have an intense fear of midgets.
11. I think yoga is incredibly spiritual. I know the Lord is with me in my downward dog.
12. I was born with jaundice.
13. I was born pigeon-toed.
14. I was born with an extra kidney. I wish I could have sold it on the black market and made some money but it was underdeveloped and did nothing but cause me to wet the bed until the third grade.
15. I like to tape my thumbs to my hands to see what it would be like to be a dinosaur.
16. A horse once fell over while I was riding it.
17. I don't believe in democracy.
18. I cried when Spock died in Star Trek II.
19. I drink two glasses of wine every night before bed. Wait, did I just admit to alcoholism?
20. If you asked me to tell you my favorite movie, I would have a hard time not saying Titanic.
21. I once sent a teacher into early retirement by pretending to be a cheetah and swiping at her from under a desk.
22. I once ran into New Kids On the Block's Joey McIntyre in the lobby of an off-Broadway show. I told him he was the first boy I ever loved. He laughed and kind of smiled. This was the most gratifying moment of my life.
23. My friends say that when they shave my back I purr like a walrus.
24. I don't understand what people see in the Godfather trilogy.
25. Sometimes I think pee smells like Cheerios.

It might help the clutter situation

2009-01-29T09:53:00.003-05:00

It's a sad day in the publishing world. Mother freakin' Domino magazine folded yesterday. Very few style or home decor magazines make it into our home. I'm simple. I wear clothes from Old Navy and Target. Crocs Mary Janes and Wallabees, flip-flops throughout the summer. I like clean lines and unpretentious design. I gobble up every detail in that dang magazine.

So I've received a grand total of TWO magazines from that subscription and now they are gone. I guess it should have clued me in when Conde Nast threw that in for $8 when I subscribed to Cookie. Gah.

Mountaineers

2009-01-28T12:21:00.004-05:00

Just sent an urgent text message to Sean about returning to Disney before April 19. That is the day Space Mountain closes for refurbishment- for most of 2009.

In our spoiled world, it's not a trip to Disney without riding Space Mountain. We hadn't planned on returning until September or October, but my mother-in-law from Long Island (she likes to call people "chucklehead") called and said she wanted to see us. And wouldn't it be awesome if we met her in Disneyworld. Well, yes, I think that is a great idea. Husband rolls his eyes and I start checking for hotel rates and updates at AllEars*. But hot dang, we were spoiled by non-peak rates at the end of 2008, because anything after the beginning of February gets expensive.

So we'll suck it up and pay the inflated prices, because we love Disney. We'll just complain about the amount of money we spend when we get home.

*Best Disney information site ever! I've been using that site since 2005 and am always amazed that no matter how many times I read through it, I always learn something new. A great resource for tips about food, attractions and resorts.

When I Really Should Be Studying

2009-01-27T22:26:00.006-05:00

Today while shoving my lunch down my throat, answering emails, and proofreading my homework, I somehow found time to upload the new blog design. Kudos to Delicious Design Studio for having the perfect design to fit my permanent color scheme...brown. It kills Sean for me to pick out another brown dress or shirt, but dangit, Virgos like brown!

We're still chugging along here on homework and housework. I never did this much reading or online discussions for my MBA. I guess they really want teachers to be good at what they do. Imagine that.

Sean has to send an email to his English Comp instructor once a week to let him know he's "still in the game" (it's an online class). Which is odd, because you have to participate in discussions and other activities ONLINE EVERY WEEK. Seems obvious that if you are doing that, you are "still in the game". Sigh. Idiots abound.

Well I'm off to read 4 chapters. Dinner with Ms. Suggs tomorrow night. My teacher friend/former roommate/drinking buddy from college. She's excited that I want to do this, because I used to tell her that she would look so hot in one of these:

Grace in Small Things: Day 3
1. There is a roast in the crockpot.
2. White Cheddar Cheez-its
3. Family/Rock Band time tonight
4. New blog design
5. Checking things off my list- both personal and professional

When I get home, I put on pajamas

2009-01-26T14:00:00.001-05:00

I have to be comfortable to start all of my nightly activities- dinner, homework, housework, hanging with my hubby, etc.

Grace in Small Things: Monday and PMS Edition

2009-01-26T12:54:00.004-05:00

1. Although Chewie did have an accident in the house this weekend, I didn't have to clean it up!
2. Pink Lady apples
3. Leaving work at 4 pm today.
4. A bit of warmer weather today.
5. My favorite show comes on tonight. Just need to remember to DVR it.

Grace in Small Things: Day 1

2009-01-23T12:41:00.004-05:00

I've decided to join the Grace in Small Things Challenge for 2008. I come from a long line of worriers. And I'm tired of my negativity towards many things on a daily basis.

1. L'occitane shea butter
2. Chewie not having an accident in the house in a long while now.
3. Amy's frozen meals
4. It's Friday!
5. Good food and friends on the agenda for tonight.

1.20.09

2009-01-20T14:25:00.001-05:00

Image from www.obamacorn.com.

I have a cleaning problem

2009-01-19T13:48:00.003-05:00

Actually I'm not sure if it's really a cleaning problem or an OCD organizing problem. Sean calls me his little cleaning gnome. Everything has a place and should be put away after use. It just makes sense if you want to be able to find something later.

I can be late for work, because I stop to straighten up one room or another. I have to readjust the pillows and cushions on the couch before I go to bed. Things get touched, moved around, or put away almost every time I walk through a room.

Today after lunch, Sean and I were sitting in my car trying to thaw out, and he mentioned that he was looking for something in our bedroom. He had a look on his face that I know well. It's the "I tore through every drawer and both closets and now everything is resting on our bed" look.

I could feel my eyes tearing up and my heart racing. I like to relax after work! Not worry about cleaning something up! Oh my gosh what am I going to do?!

He thinks I'm absolutely crazy and took this opportunity to make it worse for his own pleasure. He finally agreed to have everything cleaned up before I got home. Hopefully, it won't all get shoved under the bed or in their respective places. I'm going to worry about this until 5:30 pm. Maybe I am crazy.

2009-01-17T14:45:00.002-05:00

I like to watch shows like Deadliest Catch and CSI. Right now, we're watching a show about the Blue Angels.

I like to play Guitar Hero. And drink good beer. Not that watery, light crap.

My husband is so lucky.

The part where I'm really excited, but really freaking out.

2009-01-15T14:52:00.003-05:00

So in addition to more work at work, I've decided to take on more work after work. In the form of school. Again. Since apparently two degrees isn't enough already. However, I'm hoping to only take a few foundation classes and work my way into the field through an alternate route without obtaining another degree.

Ladies and gentleman, I want to be a teacher. Which is really hilarious because in high school everyone would always ask me if I was going to college to be a teacher. I was nerdy and smart (but not a loser thank you very much) and quiet and sweet, so I guess they assumed I was "teacherish". I would always laugh and was actually offended at times. Advanced classes, AP Biology, 13th in my class- I wouldn't waste that on a teaching degree. I see lots of money in my future. Sigh. Man, am I stuck up and dumb.

So I chose Marketing, after Physics knocked down my Engineering dreams. A field that is vast and like a black hole with little nuggets of opportunity here and there. Many job ads lump everything in and call it Marketing. Making sales calls is not Marketing. That IS SALES.

I've been lucky though and have loved my jobs and have worked with great people. Just don't see myself doing this long-term. So I enrolled in two ONLINE classes. Full-time work = no time for class during the day. Both classes require 20 hours of fieldwork EACH. So I use my vacation for school? Ugh. I'm excited to learn but not excited about school taking away my Disney time.

Scattered, Smothered and Stressed

2009-01-14T12:10:00.004-05:00

I've put myself on a self-imposed "work break" at lunch time. Which is funny, because you're supposed to eat your lunch and enjoy your time away from work. I have recently been given more responsibility which has increased my workload by a billion- with an added sense of urgency because I actually have people (clients) depending on me.

Don't get me wrong, I secretly LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF THIS. Feeling important, needed, and oh so awesome. However, I'm a freak about details and stress over every email, phone conversation, meeting, etc. Am I doing a good job? Are the clients happy? Gah, it's tiring.

My desk is actually organized. I have a 3 ring binder with color-coded tabs, one for each client. I have a notebook for notes (duh). And no less than 3 calendars to keep up with meetings and due dates. Hmm, could I be overly organized. Possibly. Will I give up any of this? Nah, probably not.

If I learned anything in 4 years of high school Latin, it was how to keep a planner organized with my homework assignments and extracurricular activities. No wonder I don't remember a lick of Latin.

Et tu, Brute?

I do know the songs in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" though!

2008-12-24T12:32:00.003-05:00

It's been an eventful week. On the phone with the various insurance companies and finally getting my window fixed. Shopping for Christmas presents at last minute (as always). Finally putting the tree up and admiring it's dwarf-like qualities. Seriously I'll have to post some pictures.

Now I'm just counting down the hours until I get out of work. There will be Krispy Kreme doughnuts purchased tonight for Christmas morning consumption, and I might be able to sneak a Starbucks Gingerbread Latte in there somewhere.

And crap... New Year's Eve is next week and we are supposedly having a party. Of course plans aren't firmed up for that yet.

Why we always come blazing through the holidays and feel insane on the other side I have no idea. Maybe we need to resolve to become better planners in 2009.

The part where we get violated.

2008-12-18T12:17:00.005-05:00

Instead of the planned yay-we-had-a-great-time-at-Disney post (complete with pictures), I give you a pre-Christmas busted window and stolen personal items pity post.

I would love to post pictures from our vacation... but they were on the digital camera and laptop that were stolen out of my car. In my driveway. Every photo we had taken this year was also on the laptop.

Also stolen were 3 Nintendo DSs. I had just purchased mine a couple of months ago. A cute white one with a pink Breast Cancer awareness ribbon. Kevin's special Zelda edition DS that I ordered from Amazon last year- last minute of course- and drove to my work on Christmas Eve to retrieve from UPS. And last but not least, the DS Kevin received at his Mom's house last year for Christmas. Well, crap.

The car is in the shop and will be ready today. Sean just purchased a new digital camera to replace the other. A MacBook may be in my future. I had been lobbying for a different laptop recently- though the one we had was perfectly fine- but I didn't want to get a new one under these circumstances. Everything can be replaced but the pictures, which is devastating.

We're already talking extra security at the house. I'm not opposed to putting "A proud member of the NRA" sign in the front yard or printing up a large vinyl banner with several expletives to show my feelings for the worthless pieces of crap that did this. Probably won't go over too well with the people that are "working" to make this area of town a great place to live. Just keep pulling the wool over your eyes people. It's a great starter neighborhood for new homebuyers but we will move to a better area when we have the chance.

Bah humbug.

We Should Just Move

2008-12-12T12:17:00.004-05:00

The three of us are headed to the most magical place on Earth tonight... Disney World. Yes, this is trip #3 for Sean and myself- since September. This trip is to celebrate the holidays, just the three of us. We always end up rushing from house to house, encouraging Kevin to rip open his presents, say Thank You, and with a smile on his face. It gets way too hectic to really enjoy each other on Christmas Day. I'm hoping we will have a memorable trip to look back on that day and be able to relax at our house for a few hours.

Mostly, I can't wait to see this:

Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at DHS

*photo from AllEarsNet.com*

It wasn't MY husband this time!

2008-12-10T09:40:00.005-05:00

An innocent basketball game between two 7/8 year old teams almost turned ugly last night in Ringgold. And it was freaking hilarious. Well, not the part where the 7 year old was reprimanded by a grown man for accidentally running into said grown man's child. Grown man was also coach of the other team. You should have heard the ripple of disgust go through our team's parents when he said "You need to watch where you are walking."

The child on our team became upset at this point, and his mom (one of our coaches) had to comfort him. Our head coach went over to check on the hurt child (who boo-hooed for 20 minutes until his mom came to get him- and did not appear to be hurt) and was immediately yelled at by the other coach. The other two coaches for our team went over to talk to the coach and it was a big mess. The dad's on our team started standing up in the bleachers and heading down to the floor. When the other coach got in our head coach's face, one of the dad's on our team (not even the dad of child reprimanded!) got in his face. It was touchy there for a minute.

What was funny is that the refs for this game were high school kids. They were probably saying WTF, how do we handle this? Sean and I were cracking up. The other coach ran his mouth complaining about something the rest of the game to someone from Ringgold Middle School ( a coach?). He ran out of there pretty fast after the game was over. Our head coach apologized after the game for her outburst, but she was completely right in how she handled the situation.

Anyways, they won 20-2. Actually, 22-2... but the high school kids running the scoreboard weren't paying attention.

2008-12-09T11:02:00.004-05:00

My brain is obviously in a gutter today as a I alternate between singing "I Jizzed in My Pants" from SNL and the wrong lyrics to "Jingle Bell Rock". This weekend, Kevin was singing away in the backseat to a few Christmas carols (not on the radio- only by his little 7 year old memory) and "mix and a-mingle" became "dicks in a mingle". Luckily, he doesn't know the alternative meaning to that word yet so we were able to straighten him out on the correct lyrics.

Update on the weekend to follow when I have more time. It was very sporty and boy-ish.

Spotted at the Christmas Play

2008-12-05T12:17:00.006-05:00

If you have given birth and you have a little extra weight in your midsection, you should not wear a belly baring shirt with a dangling belly button ring. To a school event.

If you are a grown woman with children, you should not wear a ribbon in your ponytail like you are an 8 year old cheerleader in a competition. Your makeup should also not look like you are an 8 year old cheerleader in a competition. All you were missing was the glitter.

I don't understand leather jackets either. They aren't very warm or comfortable. I was given one for Christmas when I was younger and remember wearing it to my grandmother's house. It was one of the few years it actually snowed, and I was so worried about getting it wet. There is video of it somewhere, and my little redneck voice is horrible.

Bootcut jeans with tennis shoes where the woman is a little on the short side, so the jeans "stack" on top of their beloved pink Nikes.

And the crowning glory... Mom Jeans! Shirts that cover up part of your butt are a little more flattering. I'm no fashionista, but I TRY to dress to flatter my figure.

And the kids with blue vests on looked like Walmart greeters. They just need the "I'm a Walmart shopper." stickers they used to give out. Why did they stop that? Oh yeah, they're cheap. I used to avoid the greeters because it would embarrass me to get handed a sticker. Like I was too old for it.

Thankfully, the program was short (but still great) because the gym was standing room only. Headed from there to a basketball game at 8:00. On a school night. Realized we had to pay to get in and borrowed money to do so. The rest of the games for the tournament aren't scheduled out, so we'll probably find out last minute when we are playing on Saturday.

Tonight is going to be a hang out night with the Ratto's. Hopefully good beer will be consumed and fun will be had.

BMI is such an ugly word

2008-12-03T11:04:00.003-05:00

The stupid Wii Fit step aerobics song is stuck in my head. According to the game, I'm a calorie torcher. I better freakin' be because all my pants are getting tight.

The days of shoveling complete crap in my mouth and complaining about not being able to hold up my double zero pants from Hollister (seriously) are long gone. I LOATHE working out and would get a Coca-Cola IV if it was possible.

Three days in a row. Ambitious goal by Dec. 31. I'm kicking my New Year's resolution's butt BEFORE the new year.

Turkeys and Pumpkins...

2008-12-02T12:56:00.006-05:00

One thing... it's December already?!

Unfortunately, I was away from my boys for Thanksgiving this year. My Nana is sick and the family logistics didn't quite work out where we could be in the same city to celebrate together. Lunch with my family was relaxed, and I was able to see some of the Davis family. We visited Nana in Nashville that night, and though she doesn't look like her normal self, she is doing much better. Amazing what electroshock treatments can do (I will not Google how this works because I don't want to know). Fortunately, her body is relatively healthy. Right now they are working on getting her mind to be the same. We're not sure if she was overly medicated- causing her to basically lose it- or if it the onset of something worse. PawPaw should be bringing her home today, and hopefully she'll be home for a long while before a nursing home setting is needed.

My Black Friday shopping was fairly disappointing. The one item I went to Target for at 6 am- a LEGO Star Destroyer- wasn't even offered at that store! So now I have lots of cheap DVDs and a new Rubbermaid container set. Gah. I'm glad though that I was able to actually shop with my mom and sister so they can get an idea of what we want. I wondered how many people would be getting a cheap DVD player or Shop Vac just because they were on sale. I'm holding out for a MacBook or concert tickets for Britney Spears.

Sean and I made the trek (ie. long boring drive) to Knoxville this weekend to bid Phil aka The Great Pumpkin goodbye. It was pretty nasty outside but we were lucky enough to have covered seats. Sean wore his vintage UT Starter jacket. I wore "the ugliest jacket in the world" according to Sean. It may look like a dead purple animal, but it keeps me warm.

2008-11-30T22:27:00.001-05:00

I'm not so great at updating this blog. My mind is full of great ideas that I can't execute. How do I funnel that into a business idea?

Accomplished

2008-11-23T20:38:00.007-05:00

I FINALLY used my Cuisinart Stand Mixer this weekend. I've had it for almost a year, and Sean was threatening to sell it. The poor mixer had never been turned on, and the first thing I made was a dough for rolls- Parmesan Herb Knots to be exact. For a mixer that is as large as it is, it shook all over the counter. But it worked as it should, and we ended up with great rolls to go with our Sweet and Spicy Lentil Chili... that we added ground beef to. Lots of leftovers though (of both).

Today, we made the cake balls that I have seen at Bakerella and Pioneer Woman. Wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy free cake mix from Greenlife, which was surprisingly good, with plain ol' canned frosting and melted milk chocolate. Kevin helped with the chocolate dipping, and he and Sean were more than willing to help taste. I see a future of making many of these for holidays and any special occasion.

After unsuccessfully trying to upload more pictures- and getting frustrated making me uninterested in posting anything else- I need to figure out how to transfer this to Wordpress. Seriously.

2008-11-20T22:14:00.005-05:00

Playing around with Picnik photo editing.

Simma Down Now

2008-11-18T13:55:00.003-05:00

I'm really hoping the two boxes didn't disappear off my porch with a random person strolling by. Sean pointed out that no one could carry those two boxes together anyways, let alone keep walking down the street with them. Dangit I'm going to be ticked off if I happen to glance into a window on the drive home and see a bunch of grown men playing with a kid's karaoke machine (complete with grainy, black and white video).

Karma people. It will get you.

Hey Jealously

2008-11-17T11:20:00.003-05:00

My little sister is probably bee-bopping through some swanky store right now (or at least something like Urban Outfitters, which we don't have here in the Nooga). For someone that sleeps until 2 pm, it was unreal for her to be up and ready at 9 am this morning.

Enjoy it while you can. Be sure to bring me something and hire an apartment search agent while you're up there. I'll help you pack when you get back home, and you better have room for us to visit. Oh wait, we have camping supplies galore. I'll have a suitcase packed, like a "rush to the hospital bag", but without the baby.

You think I'm kidding?

Excuse me, did you just say that?

2008-11-13T09:15:00.003-05:00

Our anniversary was absolutely perfect. Italian for lunch, Chinese for dinner, and magazines and video games to end the evening. Oh, and Top Chef! We're pretty easy to please, though Sean is prone to "getting bored" if we're sitting around watching TV. At 11:00 pm, on a school/work night....um, what do you want to do now, honey?

We're headed to Ikea on Saturday to shop for the house- a somewhat anniversary present to each other. There were cards last night, and two different types of flowers. Roses that led around the house and a bouquet of fall flowers like the ones I had when we got married. All of the animals had to be shut in the bedrooms so they didn't mess with anything. Rigby (my black cat) "guarded" the vases of flowers last night in the kitchen. I expected to wake up to broken glass and water all over the floor. She was a good girl. For now.

The title of this post is dedicated to the person who could have ruined my night. I didn't let them though. I don't understand what you don't understand about our life. I'll leave it at that.

2008-11-12T08:15:00.002-05:00

Happy 3rd Anniversary! I love you.

We are Beyond Lucky

2008-11-11T13:59:00.006-05:00

The cluttered state of our house has been a point of contention in our household from almost the beginning. I know it's mostly me though and try so hard to take deep breaths before getting upset. I'm the girl that puts my purse and work bag in the same spot everyday. My morning routine has barely changed since high school- only modified for living situations and the need to get up earlier or later. I live and work much better with order. We aren't particularly messy as a family but have way too much stuff.

Last week, I posted a free ad on Craigslist titled "We would love to help a family in need." I figured we would get rid of few things and call it a day. The wheels in my head started spinning as I plotted what could go.

We received responses from almost 10 families! Many have very little and their children are almost guaranteed nothing for Christmas. One family wanted four bar stools so they could sit down to Thanksgiving dinner in their trailer this year with their sons that are 3 and 6. Another woman requested any kitchen items we could gather as they had just moved here and basically had nothing. It's hard for us to fathom not even having a set of dishes or pots to cook in.

Sean and I spent time last week bringing items downstairs from our storage room and going through Kevin's room for unused toys. He had a hard time at first with giving away a few toys (that he doesn't even play with, mind you), but he was easier to convince when told his toys will be their Christmas, period.

Through this ad I was also connected with a gentleman that is putting together a local website that will match donors and needy families in an anonymous setting. I'm going to assist him with setting up the site and marketing it to the community. Some of us can't give financially but do have many gently (and barely) used items that others would love. I have used Freecycle before with great success, however, there is a limit to how many "WANT" posts you can have. If you have nothing to offer, you are barred from getting anything else.

On an aside, the radio program I listen to in the morning, Kidd Kraddick, has a group of terminally ill children they help each year. Kidd's Kids children receive a trip to Disneyworld with their families, free of charge. This morning one of the parents was talking about her little girl's struggles with congestive heart failure. I couldn't turn it off and ended up pulling into work in tears. Stories like that suck me in every time.

We are so lucky to be healthy, have a roof over our heads, and have the opportunities that we have worked hard for. Some people always work hard and never catch a break. And others don't do a dang thing their entire lives and get lucky. I hope we've found the middle ground.

1 Republican + 1 Republican = 2 Democrats?

2008-11-06T10:34:00.003-05:00

Seems a little weird, huh? I was thinking about this while I was getting ready this morning. My parents are a little more conservative and could be considered Republicans. My mom is the Army brat with conservative values and my dad is a gun totin', country boy (but not a redneck). Politics were never really discussed in my house growing up. You don't mention politics or who you voted for in front of my grandfather (mom's dad)- I made the mistake once and he almost ate me alive.

Maybe the lack of political conversation allowed Jessica and I a chance to make our own decisions about the subject. To a certain point, however, I do feel uneducated about the whole matter and usually don't get involved until right before the election.

I've voted Democrat in the last three Presidential elections. I'm not some, super-liberal treehugger. My parents have both influenced me in how I feel about certain situations and how I view the world. I do think my dad would lean more towards my side in some of his beliefs. My feelings may change as I get older, as I make more money (crossing my fingers), or depending on how the next 4 years go. It's just been really hard to support someone that couldn't pronounce "nuclear" the correct way or likes to make up his own words.

Jessica's text message to me on Tuesday night after the announcement included a few expletives of joy and was actually very hilarious. This is her first election, and she was excited that her candidate won. I will miss Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live though. And Amy Poehler.

Jammies and Elections

2008-11-04T22:34:00.003-05:00

With my allergies set to suffocate me at any moment, I'm lounging on the couch watching the election results. I'm hopeful. My candidate has never won. I never win contests like the lottery or the McDonald's Monopoly game. It's easy to assume we'll lose. Sean was here beside me but wondered off a few minutes ago. Hmm...

Well I'm way behind with this. Still haven't blogged about our trips to Disney (and the upcoming "Kevin's Awesome Christmas Trip" we have planned). There are a ton of pictures to post to Flickr. Need to blog about my Craigslist giving soon.

Bundles of Joy

2008-10-12T09:36:00.004-04:00

I was browsing a blog I read on a daily basis and noticed an ad in the sidebar. It was for Prego, the tomato sauce, but somehow in my head I read it as "Preggo". Like preggers, knocked up, bun in the oven...pregnant. Wow I have babies on the brain. It's hard not to after a night of hanging out with two girls with children, a newlywed couple talking about children, and a friend who just became an aunt. Good grief.

On another note, I'm glad I ate all of that crap last night- chips, dip, "pillow" cookies, veggies, hot dog, pretzel at Hair of the Dog. Alcohol consumption wasn't too crazy, but all of that food really helped.

Anxious

2008-10-08T14:29:00.003-04:00

Oh my goodness. This time next week Sean and I will be (or almost be) at Disneyworld. I can barely concentrate on anything else- I'm such a little kid. This will be an "adults only" trip so it will interesting to see how many attractions we will see that would normally bore the heck out of Kevin. Poor thing doesn't know we are going yet. I'm sure he'll be upset, but we'll just have to tell him that sometimes adults need a vacation and this is an early anniversary present to each other... and we'll bring him back something cool!

RIP iPhone

2008-10-03T09:10:00.004-04:00

This is the part where my love for Apple products cannot outweigh my hatred for AT & T/Cingular. We've had no problems with Verizon, but on my birthday I batted my little eyelashes and talked Sean into buying iPhones. Our 30-day trial period is almost up and those bad boys are going back to AT & T tomorrow. Calls drop out of nowhere, and for a couple of days my phone didn't work at all. "The number you have called is not a working number" is not a pleasant thing to hear. So this is the end of the road for us. Functionality-wise the iPhone was ok, although Safari loved to shut down whenever it felt like it.

I did appreciate one part of the crappy functionality last night though. Kev was calling his mom before bedtime and he started talking really loud and giggling. He asked who the girl on the other end of the phone was and why was she repeating everything he said. Sean held the phone to his ear and started talking and he heard the echo of his own voice. The "girl" on the other end of the phone was Kevin! He's only 7 so I guess he has a long way to go before he gets rid of that voice. It was hilarious. We'll be laughing at that one for awhile.

Thanks for the laughs iPhone....and the email that I can't move from my Inbox for some reason. I might miss you a little bit, but I doubt it.

Productive much?

2008-10-02T07:58:00.005-04:00

So I've been at work this morning since 7:30 and have managed to accomplish nothing. Except catch up on my celebrity gossip. I forced myself to go to bed earlier and felt great when I got here this morning. Reading on the computer has sucked the life out of me. I think it's time to start baking cakes or testing water.

The up side to this is that I'll be leaving at 4:30, I'll get an actual home cooked dinner on the table, and I get to start my night earlier!

Ikea tomorrow to do a little damage. Also need to find the rest of my farmer Halloween costume this weekend. This is my date (well not this guy. will be Sean in the suit):

EDIT: OMG They killed Pratt on ER. Yes I cried like a baby. Sean and I are going to miss that show when it's over. The part where he was sitting up and had tears streaming down his face.was.horrible. It looked like his character knew he was going to die. So sad.

Back in the Saddle

2008-09-29T12:29:00.002-04:00

I'm once again trying this blog thing. We need to document our outings and fun days at home. I've upgraded our Flickr account to Pro so I can post as many pictures as I want. And hopefully I'll make it worth the money I spent. I'm good at starting projects and then not following through. That could be a sign of Adult ADD, though I wouldn't know because I always put off making the appointment...haha. I'm working on it.

We have a few busy months ahead, definitely enough for blog content. Maybe I'll just forward this link to both sides of the family and this will suffice for us not calling (I'm not a big phone person, sorry. Text message me anytime though!).

Mmmm wish I had packed one of those pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes for lunch today.

We'll be back soon...

2008-03-25T15:32:00.001-04:00

We had "technical" difficulties with the original theomalleycats.blogspot.com so we had to start over. Still have difficulties with GoDaddy and our custom domain. I need to repost old entries when I have a chance.