A little random...

I'm still enjoying my Thanksgiving holiday in NC but I thought I would share a few pics of highlights over the past few weeks...

Alton & Ozell's 50th Anniversary Party

Mrs. Ozell was married to her first hubby for 20+ years. That means the woman has been married for over 70 years! Some people don't even get to live that long!! Amazing!

A bunch of the girlies who went to see Twilight! The nice lady who took our pic couldn't fit us all into the frame and she never actually snapped the other half of the group...I obviously picked a digitally impaired person! The boys didn't want any evidence so they declined to pose for our photograph. We know who those men are and we thank them for their bravery! The movie was so good and I still wanna see it again! I'm a Twilight nerd.

Happy Thanksgiving!

  Thursday 13 Thanksgiving style:

I'm thankful for...

1. An amazing family of 60ish who still gets together every Thanksgiving!

2. All my Ya-Ya sisters who spend Thanksgiving night together.

3. My amazing hubby, Cody, who falls right into my obnoxious family.

4. The greatest church...VL.

5. A wonderful group of friends.

6. Encouraging partners in ministry.

7. A packed FTF schedule in 2009.

8. A warm house and cozy bed.

9. A reliable car to travel the 6 (or with traffic...8) hour drive to NC.

10. Delicious food to eat all day today.

11. Grandparents that are happy & healthy.

12. All the technology that kept me entertained on our drive.

13. A God who loves regardless & changes lives!

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope your turkey and time with family is thebomb.com!! 

Suzi Says Da

I'm that girl. The one who brings her own polish to the nail salon when she gets her mani/pedi. Brittany and I went to get manicures today since I was in desperate need of some cuticle therapy! Now I'm ready for Thanksgiving!

The Cullen Family

Twilight rocked my socks! My hubby, a few of his manly friends and all my girlies went to see the box office hit on opening night and it met all expectations!! The entire cast was amazing and overall, I thought they did the book justice. I could have walked right back into the theater and watched the entire movie over again. Now, I'm on a count down for the 2nd movie which isn't projected to be released until 2010! You've GOT to be kidding me! That is entirely too long to wait for more Bella and Edward (who, by the way, was simply perfect). Cody, I still think you're the hottest! 

7:00 PM cannot come fast enough!!! Edward & Bella in theaters...finally! Our tickets were purchased on Monday. Can we say obsessed? I've been counting down the days with all my "Twilight" gal pals! My hubby even decided to join in to see what all the hype is about! Girls (and a few guys), I'll see ya 6:30ish with popcorn in tow!! Dress warm, I hear Edward is a little chilly! 

Laughing til I cry!

I never post more than one a day so I'm REALLY over my limit with 3!! This was way too funny to pass up!! Enjoy!!

Thankful Thursday

13 people I'm thankful for in no particular order (there are more but this list is limited to 13 due to time):

1. Cody: the man makes me laugh all the time and I couldn't ask for a better person to journey with!

2. Dad: he is humble, generous & full of mercy!

3. Mom: she cooks the best food & spurs us to deeper relationships with Christ & each other!

4. January: we share the best laughs with she & hubby, Patrick! Always wish we lived closer!

5. Kenzie: my cousin (more like a sister)! We've shared everything & I love her!

6. Jenna: other cousin (also more like a sister)! We've also shared everything & I love her.

7. Morgan: another cousin who has made huge changes in her life over the past year! Lots of love to my home-girl!!

8. Tammy Nolan: she will never know how inspired I am by her life. All her encouraging notes/texts come in perfect timing! 

9. My dearest Brittany: too many memories to count, too many cellular minutes to count & too many shopping trips to count! She has the most beautiful smile & beautiful soul! I love her bunches!

10. HHH: we just get each other! It seems like our friendship has lasted a lifetime already! My daily conversation with her is priceless! The next week will be the longest of my life! :)

11. Jessica Smith: the greatest intern ever!! I stand in awe at the young woman she is becoming! She makes me want to live deeper!

12. Jenny B: we share Rita's & preacher jokes! So glad we've grown closer in the past year & that our husbands heart each other too!

13. Christy: we share Dominican! I'm also thankful we've grown closer this year! You inspire me with your patience & sweet heart! It doesn't hurt that our hubby's heart each other too (J would kill me if he saw this)! 

no TV update...

I'm kinda likin' this "no cable" deal! It's been really nice not having the TV on for the simple reason of "just because". I've found myself getting more sleep & getting more things accomplished around the house. How are my other buddies who took the plunge??

Pregnant Man?

On Friday night HHH, Jenny B and I got totally sucked into the 20/20 special "The Pregnant Man". Let me first say that baby Susan is super adorable! What a little cutie pie! Secondly, a man (I still think he's a woman) giving birth? I don't get it! Barbara Walters was speechless and so am I! Trust me, speechless doesn't happen often in my world! Thoughts from the panel??

Trees

"Well, it's Christmas time pretty baby and the snow is on the ground" (well, that last part isn't true but Elvis makes it sound great)! Cody pulled all the boxes out of the attic and Mom came to help me decorate the house! 2 trees are up, the wreaths are on the door, the mantle is decorated and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care. Yay! Cody thinks we are a little premature but I'm lovin' it! My house feels happy and it looks pretty spiffy too, if I do say so myself! 

Smores!!

Some sticks, a lighter, graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate, wire hangers and great friends make for a fun bonfire! Our community group joined up with the Bennett's group for a little bonfire parTAY! It was great to meet some new peeps and build relationships with fellow VL-ers! We might have to make this an annual tradition. Thank goodness we didn't start a forest fire!! The whole time all I could think was "this is why California's burning, right now"!

I didn't end up with tons of pictures. It must be because I was too busy stuffing my face with SMORES!! I love my marshmallows absolutely burnt to a crisp. Ya know, the kind that you have to blow the fire out before you can eat it! Yum!! Next time we will get a group shot! By the way, whoever ordered the green pepper pizza, we love you anyways!! :)

You've got a friend...

I cannot think of one childhood birthday party or school event that didn't involve Kristin Phillips. From K-8, we were pretty much bff's! We always got along beautifully and we both love to sing and, of course, shop!! Since I moved from NC, after 8th grade, we've kept in touch as much as possible and I was privileged to sing at her wedding last year. After months of schedule issues, we finally had dinner with Kristin and her hubby, Christian. They are so cute together! I love how our lives have turned out and I love, even more, that we both live in the same state, again. She and I share so many wonderfully happy memories and I'm so glad we are still friends! Here's my new challenge...to see Kristin more since she only lives an hour away! Yay for friendships that last! It really made my week! BTW, I must give a "shout-out" to Goldfish restaurant for the yummiest California Roll I've tasted!! Have a super weekend!! 

At the ceremony uniting Mr. & Mrs. Guest, Sept. 2007!

Coupon Clippers Unite

The other night at dinner, my Moms friend was telling me all about her "coupon clipping" addiction. She kept telling me all the great deals she gets on things she purchases on a weekly basis. I was totally turned off and thinking "this is way too much work" until she started telling me the amount of money she saved! Cha-ching! Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good deal. One of my mottos in life...if it doesn't have a red line through it, I don't bring it home. However, this motto strictly pertains to clothes and, my more serious addiction, shoes! So, now I'm interested to know how many of my blogger buddies are coupon clippin' addicts?!? I'm intrigued but lost/overwhelmed about these grocery coupons. Give me your secrets!

I need a little Italiana in my life

I love Italian food. Probably more than I should...as is evidenced by my mini JLo (which I've referred to before). Our friends from Nashville, Jason & Lena, were coming through town so we met at Olive Garden to catch up and pig-out. It's the usual spot whenever we dine with J & L! It was great to see them and we shared some laughs because that's just happens when these boys get together! Last night we were reminded of the positive and negative to life on the road...we have friends near and far. To the friends who are far, we miss you!! 

Joy!

I'm want to live like this....

"Blessed are those, then, who hold their earthly possessions in open palms...Blessed are those who are totally dependent upon Jesus for their joy."-Max Lucado

Sunday night snuggle...

Sunday nights have to be my favorite night of the week. Here's why....

A good movie...

A warm blanket...

A comfy sofa...

A delicious cup of joe...

After a great weekend in TN where we saw so many students make decisions for Christ, we snuggled up on the sofa and watched a movie. It's our Sunday night tradition and my favorite night of the week! 

What's your weekly tradition?

Cut the...

Cut the...CABLE! As of today, we will no longer be chillin' in front of the TV. Well, I guess we could still chill in front of the 42" flat screen but there will be no picture because we made the life changing decision to get rid of our cable bill which in turn means we had to get rid of our cable (that's just how it works). I'm excited to see what will happen.  My husband said "all the smart people we know don't watch TV". Is he trying to tell me something? Regardless, I'm thinkin' I'll be a lot wiser by...tomorrow! Silver lining: the parents have DVR for all the shows I just HAVE to watch (Lipstick Jungle, The Hills and Prison Break). By the way, have you seen Lipstick Jungle? It's sooo good! The fashion is killer and it makes me wanna live in the big apple. I digress. No Cable! This is a good thing...right? 

How 'bout cha ask me in a week!?!

I'm lovin' it!

So, we're going with the McDonald's theme this week..."I'm lovin' it"!

13 things I'm lovin' today!

1. Thanksgiving is almost here! 

2. I have a wonderful husband who walks with the Lord and encourages me to do the same. 

3. I finished the real estate pre-license course in 12 days!

4. I passed the final for the course...on the 1st try!

5. I have some amazing friends and we all have each others back!!

6. It's November and still warm. Cold weather...not lovin' it so much.

7. The trees in my back yard have turned and one is a deep plum color. Beautiful!

8. I met Bill a few weeks ago and his story touched my life.

9. We are part of the best church in the world, VL, where people are genuine and pettiness is replaced with focus on being all the church was intended to be!

10. I haven't had to wake up at 5:30 this week. Early is not my thing!

11. Jeans that fit just right and are so soft I could sleep in them.

12. Bethany sent me the sweetest message this morning. It's amazing how God uses people to speak encouragement into your life when you need it! Thanks, B!

13. Hollie does Thursday 13's which make me stop to think about all the blessings in my life.

Happy Thursday, friends!

And the countdown begins!

I've started my countdown to Thanksgiving, my favorite time of year! We eat our turkey in NC with my Mom's huge family and it's the best! I wouldn't dream of doing anything else! One of the best things about this holiday, I get to see my homegirls (cousins)...especially, no offense to all the other girls, Kenzie and Jenna. It's been entirely too long! Last year we were together tons, with all Kenzie's wedding festivities, so now we joke that Jenna must get married or Kenzie should have a baby so we can have an excuse to be together (b/c I'm surely not...any time soon). So, my dearest Ya-Ya sisters, I hope you're ready for lots of great food and our annual sleepover! 3 weeks, baby! 

It's over!

It's over! The fat lady sang!! I can't tell you how happy I am that the entire election season has finally come to an end! I tend to get a little passionate in political discussions and I can't pretend I wasn't a little disappointed but that's just how it works...it's all about democracy. What are we gonna debate over our meals now?!? Maybe we can discuss what will happen next week on Lipstick Jungle (my new fav)! 

Polling Place

I voted! I've officially earned my right to discuss, complain or approve all government actions that occur over the next 4 years! I have to admit I'm a little weary of all the political jargon and really weary of all the forwards in my inbox. So, let's move on to bigger, better and more important topics!! Hope you vote too!

The Spooks!

We celebrated Matthew's b-day successfully with an entertaining lunch at the Mexican restaurant (where we were joined by the disco king & queen...the only ones in costume in the whole place) and dinner at the Japanese steakhouse (one of our favorites)! Cody & I dressed up as 20's flapper girl & old school gangsta guy! We had so much fun seeing all our friends kiddos in their cute costumes. After the kids were tucked into bed, we had a little party of our own! We just HAD to dance in our costumes...good, clean fun with great friends!! I was super tired when I had to go to class Saturday morning but it was so worth it! Hope you all had a great Halloween and got lots of candy! I suppose we need to start thinking about our costumes for next year!

"Nobody cares if you can't dance well.  Just get up and dance."  ~Dave Barry

Me & The Disco Queen

The Girlies!

Us! He's so gangsta!

Gansta & Disco King

Let's hear it for the boys!