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Monday, February 28, 2011

February Review - a resolutions update!

I'm thinking the reason people do not stick to their new year's resolutions is because they forget about them. I mean, how are you supposed to remember month-after-month exactly what your goals were unless you write them down & go back to them at times? I'll admit, not ALL of my resolutions are going perfectly, but the most important ones are. So...here we go...how did i do in February?

Resolution 1: Read the Bible in a Year = 'B'
If i had not caught up on some missed days, i would have given myself a big fat F. Or maybe a D. (I'm not sure how i can go from an F to a B, but i'm no teacher! Haha!) However, even though i missed some days the week my great uncle passed away, i DID manage to catch up! I got a week behind before i decided to pull it together & get back to it! I knew if i didn't do that soon then i would give up altogether. I started reading two days worth each day & by yesterday i was fully caught up. Yipee! I am really really enjoying reading my Bible. Now, i'll be honest... i kinda skim Leviticus. If that gives me a C, well, then...so be it! Haha. I am SURE there is more i could get out of it if i did some sort of study, but as for just reading, well. Not gonna happen! Skimmer all the way!!

But other than that, i am really glad to be reading some of the Word each & every day. It's good stuff!

Resolution 2: BE HEALTHY = 'B'
I give myself a B, because for the most part, i did my ABSOLUTE best. I missed 2 bootcamp classes, but MORE than made up for it in the other classes by giving it my everything! The trainer started taking us outside once the weather got nice & what do we do outside? SUICIDES! & other crazy stuff! I mean, it is HARD on this body! But it's good for me & i am SO PROUD for giving it my all in class & not giving up, even when i felt like i was being pushed to my ABSOLUTE LIMIT! I did not lose any weight in February. Seriously, i forgot to weigh the first week, but on week 2 i gained 3 pounds, on week 3 i lost 2 pounds & on week 4 i gained 4 pounds! This is not because i have been doing poorly. There are other factors involved which you can read on my weightloss blog if you are interested!  But yeah...my greatest victory is not quitting, for pushing myself in bootcamp class & FINALLY REALIZING that the scale is NOT the best reflection of weight loss. Make no mistake - i AM losing weight. It is just taking awhile for the scale to take notice!

Resolution 3: Learn my  new camera & take a pic a day on FB = 'D'
Yeah, this one isn't going too well. Honestly, i'm okay with that. I have no goals to become a professional photographer (though if that were to happen i wouldn't complain!). I just want to take good pics of everyday life. So the good news is that i LOVE my camera i HAVE been taking pics ALL THE TIME. The bad news is that i have been TERRIBLE about this Project 365 thing. I do not bring my camera to work everyday & that is where i spend most of my time each weekday (unfortunately!). I started carrying my camera to work but that only lasted a day. I am already carrying my workout back to work each day! My Project 365 is really not happening - i have LOTS of skipped days, but i'm just not going to take a picture JUST BECAUSE I SHOULD in the 4 hours i'm home between work & bedtime! That is really my time to relax & do laundry or dishes if need be! 2012 might be a better year to focus on a picture-a-day project. What is important to me is to keep using my camera (which i do, don't get me wrong! It's just mostly on the weekends!) & to read my manual & another book recommended to me by a friend. Which i haven't ordered yet. But i will soon! :)

Resolution 4: Save Money = 'C'
Well, i just saved enough for a new laptop, which i NEED desperately!! So excited for that! But other than that, not much & i know i need to make this a priority.

Resolution 5: Organize = 'F'
I'll get to this. Eventually. February was too crazy. I'm thinking sometime this spring i'll get more done!

Resolution 6: Be On Time = B
This is going well! YAY ME! I am rarely late to work these days & if i am it's 5 minutes late. And that's about once a week. This is A LOT OF PROGRESS, people, believe it or not!

Overall, i'm happy. My MAIN GOALS are resolutions 1 & 2. And on those i did pretty well. The others are things i do need to work towards (especially Resolution 4!) & i'll get there. :)

I also had a bucket list for 2011 & am proud to say i have accomplished a few more things:
Read a lot & try some non-fiction for a change. This is definitely happening! This month i read Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers & i just started the sequel. As far as nonfiction, i'm reading A Woman After God's Own Heart for Bible Study & i also just started Made to Crave, a book about our relationship with God & food. Yay!

Attend our church regularly & get more involved. Happening! :)

Get to know more people at our church. This will happen eventually. Not a whole lot of events at the beginning of the year, but we will try to do this! We are going to dinner with some friends on the 19th & it will include a couple from our church that we don't know very well. :)

Participate in a Bible Study. BBS, baby! (A Woman After God's Own Heart - bloggie bible study)

Walk a 5k. Happened on February 19th! Woohoo!

Have more Girl's Nights Out. I think i had 2 in February with theatre girlfriends. Would love to have more! :)

Pray for others continually. Thanks to BBS, this is happening again. We just finished a chapter on prayer & it was awesome. I am excited to get back to a good prayer life. I want to really mean it when i say "I'll be praying for you." :)

So there you have it! Not bad in February!
Looking forward to March!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

beautiful day, girlfriends & a picnic!!

It has been absolutely beautiful here in Baton Rouge. Beautiful! Of course, it's more like it should be in April. Not February. So everyone's kinda wondering if the heat & humidity will hit early this year. (I pray not. Hopefully it's just a longer spring ahead!) Anyway, my sweet friend Rachel suggested a picnic at the LSU Lakes (my favorite place). We met there today around 1 & got comfy on Lauren's quilt! Pretty day, good food & girlfriends! What could be better than that?!

 Lauren & Rachel

 Yummy spread: veggies & hummus, chicken salad & crackers, chips, cookies & lemonade. Mmmm.

 GORGEOUS DAY!

Fun Times!

 Me & Lauren

Natalie & Rachel



Fievel got to come too. He LOVED it! He was too cute. 

Love days like this! We plan to do it again soon! Great weekend!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

getting ready for a wedding...

Last night we went to TJ Ribs for my mother-in-law's birthday. All i can say is, WHY do we not go there more often?! Well, it's probably a good thing. :) But that food was DELICIOUS! I got my MIL the pioneer woman cookbook. She was so excited. She saw it at my house recently & loved it. :) She is probably the last person on earth to need a cookbook (pioneer woman ain't got nothin' on her! haha!) but she loved it so i got it for her. :)

Today was the day: Bridesmaids Dress Shopping in New Orleans. We planned this early in January & I can't believe it's already February 26th! MAN, time flies! Her wedding will be here before we know it. 


Mom & I met this morning at 9 & headed to Metaire (just outside of New Orleans). But by the time we actually got on the road, it was 9:30. When we finally made it, Michelle & co. had already been to two stores without finding anything. So we met them at the third one, David's Bridal. They didn't have one she liked, but we did find THIS ONE!!!

 Don't you just LOVE IT?!

I'm sorry. We're kidding. That is the ugliest dress I have ever seen!  
I sincerely hope none of my readers have bought this dress, I do not meant to offend! i just think it's terrible!
 

Oh, man. That is terrible. This is Jennifer, the groom's sister. She texted him a pic saying, "We found the dress!" He texted back, "Do not let Michelle pick that dress!" HAHA. (Her favorite color is yellow. But she agrees that this is HIDEOUS!) 

(Again, sorry, david's bridal. y'all carry many beautiful things. it's just that this is not one of them!)

Michelle & her future sister-in-law, Jennifer

Two of the Bridesmaids - Jenn & Erin

So anyway, THAT was fun! Haha. We left there & went to Houston's for lunch. It was delicious!

After we left Houstons, we headed to the northshore for more shopping. About 5 minutes later, i realized something. I LEFT MY CAMERA AT HOUSTON'S!!! Oh my goodness. My heart dropped. We were on the bridge which is LONG & you cannot turn around. So we just had to keep going to the other shop. I called Houston's & they did have my camera & promised to keep it safe until i got back. Praise the Lord! That was SCARY!! 


We found some great dresses at Southern Bride. Beautiful color (wine) & fabric (satin). I love it. We do not have to order till July so we have some time to decide. We can wear whatever style we like, as long as it's the same color & fabric. And they had TONS of styles in the right color/fabric. YAY. :)

After that, mom & i went BACK to Metaire for my camera! I felt bad because that is heading back towards New Orleans, not home! But she was really sweet about it. :) I got my camera back & i think i held it the whole way home. HA!


Good Day! Except for the terror of almost losing my camera!! 

PICNIC TOMORROW! FUN! :)


Friday, February 25, 2011

Quick Chicken & Dumplings

One thing i learned while making this dish: When Taste of Home says quick, they mean QUICK! I seriously couldn't believe how fast this was done! Sure, there was some prep involved, but after that, it was ready in ten minutes. And to me, ten minutes is QUICK! :)

This recipe does not contain real homemade dumplings. But it was delicious. Brad said, "Melissa, there is no difference in this & homemade at all!" And coming from Brad, who was raised on some seriously good country cookin...the boy knows what he's talking about!

And, without further ado...

Quick Chicken & Dumplings
thank you, taste of home.

6 canned biscuits (I use the Pillbury "simply" kind. So good.)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
extra virgin olive oil
4 cups shredded cooked rotisserie chicken
2 cans (14.5 oz each) chicken broth
1 can (4 oz) mushrooms, stems & pieces, drained
1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp. minced fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. dried sage leaves
1/4 tsp. dried rosemary
1/4 tsp. pepper

*all measurements come from the original recipe...i have listed them in case you need measurements. i now just kinda throw it in there, but once upon a time (not so long ago), i'd freak out without an exact measurement. So, i understand. :)

Cut each biscuit into fourths, set aside. (I actually had 8 because that's how many came in the can i got!)


  In a large saucepan, saute onion & bell pepper in oil until tender.


Stir in the chicken. I typically would cook some chicken ahead of time. OR (more often than not), i'll pick up a rotisserie. However, when i stopped at Walmart, they were out of rotisserie chickens! (Grrr.) After a long hard day, i was not up for cooking chicken (i wanted to start the recipe right away) & i was in no mood to stop at ANOTHER store. So, i got these...& they worked just fine! They were good! I would get a rotisserie next time...cheaper & delicious! But if that just isn't happening, this isn't a bad thing. Just in case you were wondering. :)


Stir in broth,  mushrooms, bouillon granules, parsley, sage, rosemary & pepper. Bring to a boil.


Reduce heat; add biscuits for dumplings. 


Cover & simmer for 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center of a dumpling comes out clean. 

OH, and, you may be tempted to make faces like this...


...if you've never thrown biscuit dough into a pot of simmering goodness. You will look at it after it simmers for 10 minutes & question if the dough cooked. But don't. It's okay. It just looks not done because the broth has soaked the biscuits. But it's supposed to be that way. And it's perfect. So no worries! :)

ENJOY!



Mmmmm.

ready for the weekend!

One thing i love. Is that lately, to me, weekends seem to get here really quickly. The days may drag, but the weeks seem to fly! I am not sure how that is possible, but i am glad! Now if only the weekdays would stop dragging & the weekends would stop flying! :)

ANYWAY. I'm ready to get off of work in 30 minutes. First stop? TJ Ribs.

Mmmmm.

I haven't been there in quite awhile, but my mother-in-law's birthday is today & that is her location of choice for the celebration. And that is just fine with me! Mmmm.

Tomorrow, i will meet mom & we'll drive together to New Orleans. Going bridesmaids dress shopping for my sister's wedding this November. Me, Michelle, mom & most of the other bridesmaids. It'll be fun!

Sunday, after church, i'm headed to the LSU lakes for a picnic with some girlfriends. Now how fun is that?! I'm bringing chicken salad & crackers (not my own... calvin's grocery store here has the BEST chicken salad..i'm just gonna pick up some of that!). Lauren is bringing veggies & hummus. Rachel is bringing Lemonade, cups & plates. There will also be dessert. And quilts. And my camera. FUN!

I will probably be tired, but that's okay. I can relax in the sun on a quilt. :) I am looking forward to it!

Hope you have a great weekend, too!

nicknames & cookies & all that jazz


Time for Five Question Friday. {sigh.} I love Fridays.

1. Can you drive a stick shift?
Um, no. No, i can't.

2. What are 2 foods you just can't eat?
Sushi - i tried it twice, several years apart. Both times i ate what people said is "good to start with" & both times i gagged. Not going to try it again, people! I do not need sushi to make me happy in life! I am just fine without it, thank you!
Clams - & i've never tried them. But GAG, BARF, ew!!! (Lots of people eat those here. Not me.)

3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies?
No. Or else i will eat the whole box. And i just can't risk that much temptation! But my mom used to get them all the time. And i LOVE the samoa's or whatever they're called, the peanut butter sandwich cookies & the thin mints. AMAZING!

4. How do you pamper yourself?
Pedicures, although i am SERIOUSLY overdue. Not necessarily to be pampered. But my feet are in bad shape & flip-flop season is totally back. I should get some pedi money for my bday next week. :)

5. What is your nickname & how did you get it?
Well...i love acting. And one day i was instant messaging my friend DJ who wanted to be a director. And somehow jokingly i acted like i was mel gibson talking to him (this was when Mel was highly respected, i am not sure he is anymore, due to his recent episodes). From that day on he called me Mel. And it stuck throughout my twenties. Most people called me Mel from then on. It even got to the point where i was introducing myself & being introduced as Mel. Which can be a problem, because then people would start calling me Melanie, thinking Mel was short for Melanie, but it is actually short for Melissa. :)

When i got married, i started writing & saying Melissa again, mainly because Mel sounded good with my maiden name, but Melissa sounds better with my married name. :)

My family doesn't really call me Mel, though. They usually say Melissa, Lissa, or LissaRaye (my middle name is Raye). Other nicknames include: Lizzer, Melbelle, Melraye, Melicious (rhymes with delicious haha), Melba, Lemissa, Lilla (from the kids i used to nanny), & Mel P! Usually they add a quick "V!" after saying "P" because they remembered i have a new last name now.

That was a really long answer. Growing up i never had nicknames but now i have them in abudance! And i like them. :)

Hey, your turn! Link up at Mama M's!

Fill in the Blanks... yipee!

Happy Friday, everyone! I am sooo happy it's time for another weekend.

Time to fill in some blanks! You should join in & link up here!


1. I am currently obsessed with Egrets. I know. I'm strange. (I also always hated birds.)

2. Today i am thankful because it's Friday & i have a fun weekend ahead!

3. The age i am is 32 (but 33 on Tuesday) & the age i feel is 25. I don't know why i feel 25, but i guess i feel a lot younger than i am. But still old enough to be in my twenties. But 33 is like, gosh, REAL ADULTHOOD, you know what i mean? I used to think people in their 30's were old. Now i don't even think people in their 60's are old! I mean, my parents are in their 60's & i don't think they're old at all. Anyway, i can't believe i'm going to be 33 next week. That's insane.

4. My favorite place is the LSU Lakes because it's just gorgeous out there & lately the weather is so beautiful. SUNSHINE, a gorgeous lake, the beautiful egrets & not a lot of humidity (yet...haha).

LSU Lakes

5. Something I have been procrastinating on is cleaning out my desk at work, but i am saving that for when we move offices in March. Oh, and organizing various recipes i have cut out from magazines. What exactly am i supposed to do with those? I have a recipe box but i prefer some sort of binder.

6. The last thing i purchased was a Strawberry Banana Smoothie from Sonic & man! It was delicious!

7. The thing i love most about my home is who i share it with - my sweet hubby & silly dog. And it's cozy.

Your turn!!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

it's back... Photographer Friend Show-off - Number 5!

Remember ages ago when i was showing off all the beautiful work of my photographer friends?

If you weren't around then (it was, after all, last september!), i'll fill you in. I had found myself with a plethora of photographer friends & i really loved looking at their work. I love photography & could stalk photography blogs all day. I remember really wishing my blog readers could see these great photos. That's when i had the idea to start showcasing these photos on my blog! I emailed all my photographer buddies for their permission & i got LOTS of responses. Four of them sent me pics right away! You should check them out!

&

Well, this past weekend i got an email from my friend Kyle. We met when we were both cast in Urinetown, the musical and after that we worked together for Steel Magnolias. He is such a great guy & i am so glad to know him! He's a middle school drama teacher, which keeps him busy enough i'm sure, but he also is constantly acting or directing. Not to mention the whole photography biz, which has just completely grown in leaps & bounds! So i guess i thought my little show-off sessions were over, but Kyle didn't forget & he sent me tons of photos this week! And, man, i have no idea which ones i will show you! Guess you'll just have to check out his website to see them all!


You can also check out more of his photos here & read more about his life as an actor & director here!

I hope you enjoy his pics below! There are many because i couldn't choose! It was really fun because i know a lot of these people - there are a lot of theatre people in this post! :)

CHILDREN
i love this one! this is the son of the head guy at brlt on his first bday. so cute!



ENGAGEMENTS

mary & chris

paula & lee

BRIDALS

my dear friend, mary. i love this one.

WEDDING
 this has to be one of my favorite rock shots ever. chris & mary got married in december, so it was all decorated for Christmas. i love this!

 so sweet

HEADSHOTS!

 evan, an extremely talented pianist.

 samantha, an amazing triple threat! acting, singing, dancing - this girl is a star!

 she is, too. unbelievably talented vocally & such a great actress. i love shelley! look at that smile!

I do not know what Kyle calls these. I suppose they are headshots, but they have such an artistic flair. They are just RIDICULOUS. I love them. I want to have my hair & makeup done all crazy & do one like this too!

 Shelley, again...gorgeous!

Zac, another crazy talented person. FUNNY. love him.

Well, that's all! You should contact Kyle of Spaceless Photography if you are interested in headshots or anything else! I think he does an excellent job! Thanks, Kyle, for letting me show off your pics!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Bloggie Bible Study - Week 3 - Prayer

Sneaky Momma Blog Design

I absolutely loved Chapter 3 in our book, A Woman After God's Own Heart. Prayer. It seems that in my late teens/early twenties a prayer life began to take shape in my life. As a youth leader at my church, we were required to attend prayer before service on Sunday mornings. There were times when i thought it was awesome, and times when i had no complaints. However, there were other times when i thought it was a bit too much to expect & that it shouldn't be something "required" but something we did because we wanted to. I remember a lot of the youth leaders did not come to pre-prayer & it annoyed me that they did what they wanted to do, while i showed up early nearly every Sunday morning. I know the purpose of it was that, as  youth leaders, we should be praying for the youth in our church. But now i can see that time as the beginning of my prayer life. It developed it. It got me to do it more on my own.

All through my twenties, i prayed. And prayed & prayed. The pre-service prayer got it going. Then my friend Becca started coming to my house early early one morning a week & we would get on our faces & intercede for the girls at Springhouse, a home for troubled teen girls where we held weekly Bible Studies. That was the purpose of our prayer meeting, but after awhile we were praying for each other, for our families, for our friends & for the youth in our church. Soon i was rooming with Amanda & Ali, and i remember Becca & others meeting us there to pray. Sometimes it was too early & i didn't want to get up. But i was always glad i did!

This post is getting too long already, and i haven't even begun the questions for this week! All of that was just to explain that i once had an awesome prayer life. I knew how to get on my face & pray for those who were hurting. But it's been years now since i have prayed the way i used to. I whisper prayers of thanksgiving & prayers of "help!" & sometimes i may even pray a little bit longer while in the car. But i want to take some time to REALLY pray. This chapter was AWESOME & really inspired me to get back to it!

Ok, so i'll try to make the rest of this quick. HA!

1. What meant the most to you from this chapter or offered you the greatest challenge or inspired you deeply?
Make no decision without prayer & if he doesn't meet it, you didn't need it!

2. Read Mark 1:35 for a glimpse of Jesus at prayer. What can you learn about His prayer life?
He goes off to a solitary place. If it is important for Jesus do, it should be for us, too! :)

3. Blessing #1: A Deeper Relationship with God -- As you consider that prayer increases faith, provides a place to unload burdens, teaches us that God is always near, trains us not to panic, and changes lives, which one of these benefits would be the greatest reason for developing a heart committed to prayer at this stage of your life? Why?
Trains us not to panic. There are things i want & feel like i NEED NOW. But if God hasn't met it yet, then i don't need it yet. And i don't need to panic about what may or may not happen in the future. It will happen if it's His will. Let go of it. :)

4. Blessing #2: Greater Purity -- I shared with you my problem with gossip in this area of purity. Now won't you identify your particular problem area and share briefly what you plan to do about it?
Worry. Lack of Trust. & i will start giving these burdens to God & understand that He will meet it when i need it! (I really loved that, can ya tell?!)

5. Blessing #5: Contentment -- Identify an area in your life where you struggle with finding contentment. Now look at Philippians 4:10-13. What can you learn about contentment from these words from the apostle Paul? How can you apply Paul's lessons to your own situation?
We have a trailer. For awhile i hated it & i definitely didn't think in 2 years we'd still be there! Over the last year, i have gotten a lot more content with the trailer. It's cute. It's cozy. But i have two issues. #1 - i cannot stand the area we are in. And #2 - i am afraid that we are going to be there when our kids are growing up. One baby there would be fine, but I have this horrible image of me with ten kids in the living room on sleeping bags because we only have enough bedrooms for 1 (Brad says they could share a room, i beg to differ! TINY ROOM! Also, i want 2 kids, not 10.). =) I really really want a house...i just do not know when that will happen. But this verse means so much to me! So what if all my friends have nice houses?! So what if some people think we are crazy for not getting one now?! Who cares? The important thing is that we are TOGETHER & happy. :) I need to give these worries to God. 

I am going to wrap this up now, mainly b/c it's so long already & i have already hit the main points for me this week. But i do want to get a prayer journal & start really keeping track of my prayers & how God answers them. I know he will answer every one of them in His way & in His time! I will definitely be helped remembering that "if he didn't meet it, i didn't need it!". :) 

SO there it is folks! BBS #3. I am really enjoying this book! Thanks to Rebekah & Monica!  

(Please do not comment that this is the best time for me to buy a house! I think i will scream if another person says that to me. It doesn't really matter if the interest rate is ZERO, if we can't afford the note, we can't afford a house! Kthx.) :)

wee bit wednesday!


Time for Wee Bit Wednesday. Yay! :)

{ONE} Do you always where your seatbelt in the car?
Yes, always.

{TWO} Do you crack your knuckles?
Yep. Sometimes. Not as often as i used to.

{THREE} What is your favorite flavor of gum?
i like orbit sweet mint.

{FOUR} What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?
My engagement ring/wedding band. But that's a given, right?
I also love this pearl necklace i have. My sister had it custom made for me & it is beautiful.

{FIVE} Who is your best friend?
My sweet hubby.
Best girlfriends? Sarah, Laura, Shana, Aimie, Amanda & Becca. :)
i am blessed.

{SIX} What is your favorite smell?
the inside of a bakery.
frosting.
cinnamon.
a real Christmas Tree.
ahhhh.

{SEVEN} What is your favorite lunch meat?
honey turkey - mmmm

{EIGHT} Do you still have your tonsils?
Yes.

{NINE} Do you untie your shoes before you take them off?
Nope.

{TEN} What color is your car?
Red

Your turn! Link up here!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

There are no words.

This past Sunday, we skipped our usual service at Victory Harvest, and went to a catholic church instead. Before some of you start to worry...no, we are not converting. :) We are happy where we are. But we just had to go hear the new pipe organ that was recently given to St. Aloysius Catholic Church. 

Many of you know my husband is a musician. What you may not know about is his love for the organ. Brad's mom saved this article about the new organ for Brad back in November. Weeks later, i got a facebook invite to the organ dedication service from my dear friend Beth from BRLT.


me & beth during sound of music...she played frau schmidt

Beth is the children's choir director at St. Aloysius. She had no idea how interested we would be in coming to this dedication service when she invited us! But it's the only one like it in the area & professionals would be playing it for the service. I mean, SERIOUS professionals! We invited Brad's mom to come as well. I snapped this picture on our way in. :)


We completely enjoyed the service. I didn't really know what to expect as i have only been to one catholic service & it was for a funeral. But this service was just beautiful. The choir sang some hymns & we sang along. Then an improvisational organist took his place at the new organ. As they dedicated the instrument to God, he played from his heart & soul. I cannot even describe it. There was a moment when it brought tears to my eyes. It was beautiful.

It was MAJESTIC. Perhaps that is the word i have been looking for. :)

Casavant Pipe Organ - not my photo.

                                                                       GORGEOUS!


P.S. If you want to hear it, you should go this Saturday night at 7. Dr. Craig Cramer, Professor of Organ at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana will present the first major organ recital. :)


Sunday, February 20, 2011

sunday stealing

I haven't done one of these in awhile... 

1. Make a list of 5 things that you can see without getting up:
Wow...i can see a lot more than 5 things from the couch...i see bookshelves, wedding pictures, a candle, brad's coffee mug & a small lamp without even turning my head!

2. How do you style your hair?
Unfortunately, i do not have the patience to style my hair. I just wash it, dry it, run a flat iron through it & i'm done!

3. What are you wearing now?

a gown. actually it's a dress that i use as a gown. it's kind of like a mumu. i am so sorry to have put that image in your head. i know mumu's are not very flattering!

4. What's your occupation?
'provider relations specialist' - or 'administrative coordinator 2' - i work with the provider agencies & clients in our long-term care program for the elderly & disabled.

5. What do you hear right now?

the dryer...it's loud!

6. Who was the last person you hugged?
Brad. He gives the best hugs!

7. What is/was for dinner?
i don't know...i just bought the stuff for "white bean stew". Maybe that.

8. What did you do today?
Went grocery shopping with Brad (7:30 am on a Sunday is THE best time to go to Walmart!). We don't normally go that early or on Sundays but we woke up & are out of coffeemate, so we decided to go right then! Since then i've done ALL the laundry, taken a shower & did some facebook/blogging. We're going to a special church service today at 2, which is why we didn't go this morning. Because God forbid we go to church twice on a Sunday! (sarcasm, in case you weren't sure.) :)

9. Dog person or cat person?
DOG! I LOVE dogs! I used to hate cats, but lately i think i kind of like them. 

10. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
oh, i don't know...i'm not really interested in changing my name. i think that's something you want to do around age 10!

11. What was the last thing that you bought?
GROCERIES!

12. If you could afford to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Greece. Or Hawaii. I don't know which.

13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself as a wife AND mom! :)

14. Where's your birthmark?
I don't think i have one.

15. What are you doing this weekend?
well, the weekend is almost over...the only thing left on the agenda is to attend a special service at a catholic church. i have only been to a catholic church twice - once for a wedding & once for a funeral! i am kind of excited about this (more about it later)!

16. Which book are you reading at the moment?
Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers. SO good!

17. The last movie you've seen?
True Grit

18. What are you doing tomorrow?

WORKING. blah! & Body BaYou class. I heard they did suicides Wednesday when i wasn't there. Suicides?! Seriously?! Oh, dear...

Saturday, February 19, 2011

right off the top of my head...

I am kind of bored & i really have nothing better to do...actually, i have plenty better to do now that i think about it. :) But i will save that for tomorrow. I feel like taking it easy tonight! :)

just stuff...

Today i did Race for the Cure. It was fun. It was hotter than it has been in awhile. My husband has a sunburn on the back of his neck! I have a mild one across my nose & cheeks. My calves & legs are sore! 
Two Questions. 
1. I have two blisters on my feet. Does that mean my Nike's are old & need replacing? Or is that just normal? I did not get blisters at my last 5k (last May, same shoes). 

2. At the beginning of our walk, i noticed my fingers were SO swollen. They were FAT. I actually took a picture of my hand, because they were both just crazy-swollen. I will spare you the pic, but why is that? Was it the humidity? Dehydration (though i drink plenty of water, i had only had a little that early in the morning)? I don't know what that means. Brad's were swollen too! We'd been standing around for almost 2 hours before the race actually started...

today at the race, LSU

Tonight i was supposed to have a Mary Kay party. I usually do not have these kinds of parties, but i really wanted to help my sister-in-law out! I invited 30 or so good friends & most of them declined. They all had good reasons. A few said maybe. Two said yes, but both of them backed out. So the party was canceled. I remember now why i don't have these parties! Hey, if you're in BR & want a one-on-one facial, let me know! That would help my sis-in-law out so much with her "30 Faces in 30 Days", which she needs done by the 28th!

My birthday is almost here! I'll be 33 & i do not feel 33 at ALL. People do not believe i am 30, much less 33! Holy crap. I have been told the 30's are the best years & i would have to agree. I realized recently that i am always excited to see what we have on the calendar. I'm always looking ahead to what i get to do next! I realized i really like experiencing life with my husband. And i love his family.And i have so many great friends! Good times!

I love down time, too, don't get me wrong! But i have lots to look forward to right now!

Things currently on my calendar that i am excited about!

Tomorrow (20) - Tomorrow we are going to a catholic church. No, we're not looking for a new church! We are happy where we are! But in the newspaper recently they had an article about a new custom-made pipe organ that was being donated to St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Brad's mom saved the article for Brad, because that kind of stuff is right up his alley.Well, later i got a facebook invite to the organ dedication service at this church! My friend Beth goes there & she invited us. I asked Brad if he wants to go & he said yes. We're going tomorrow with his mom. It's only an hour long. There will be another one on the 26th, so we may go back. (P.S. I have only been to a catholic church once in my life!)

Friday (25) - dinner with in-laws for my MIL's birthday.
Saturday (26) - all day shopping in New Orleans for bridesmaid's dresses for my sister's wedding.
Sunday (27) - going on a picnic to LSU with some girlfriends of mine! :)

Wednesday (2) - my birthday!
Saturday (5) - we'll probably do something for my birthday. :) 
Sunday (13) - granny's 80th birthday celebration!! (brad's granny, that is. but i call her granny, too.)
Sunday & Monday (20 & 21) - auditions for It Runs in the Family, which is a comedy at BRLT that am stage managing. I have not SM'd a show since JUNE! I'm ready!! 
Friday (25) - the Portland Cello Project - you may not know this about me. But i LOVE the cello. I just LOVE IT. I saw "the portland cello project" on the Manship schedule & showed Brad. We are going! I can't wait! It should be a fantastic date night! : )

Okay, so that is what is on the schedule for the rest of February & March! The year is flying by, y'all!

I am loving Sara Barreilles right now. Have you heard her music? She is really good. She writes her own music & the lyrics are great. This song is currently stuck in my head (not a bad thing, it's a fun song!). I had to use google to see what inspired the song. Apparently it's a general statement to all of those who have given her unsolicited advice. I hate unsolicited advice! So i love this song.



P.S.
Sheri posted some marriage dont's & i thought they were just great! Check it out!

The Pioneer Woman is doing a photo contest & the subject is love. Have you seen the finalists? Ohmygosh. How can you possibly choose?!

Well, i guess that's enough random for now!


Race for the Cure with Body BaYou

We had a great time today at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure! It was held at LSU. We got there a little after 7 this morning & did not get home until noon! Crazy! We had a good time. It was SO foggy this morning! But the sun came out & i even got a bit across my nose & cheeks! I was so excited to be a part of this with my Body BaYou bootcamp class. We had the cutest shirts, too! (Don't you think?!)

 Me & Brad...seriously..my eyes look terrible. That's just how it is at 7 am! :)
 Me with Sarah (my personal trainer) & Ashlie (my personal cheerleader). Haha! Ashlie is actually on her way to being a personal trainer, too. I say she's my cheerleader because she is a HUGE support for me in my weightloss journey...both of these ladies are! Love them! :)

 People celebrating being cancer free!!

 Lauren & Ashley - Lauren & I are always in each other's group for bootcamp class! I love her! Ashley is not in our class but she is awesome. :)

 Sarah with her mom, Jennifer

Ashlie & her little sister, Aubrey 

 My friend Jenny sang the National Anthem! She did great! :)

 Mindy & her husband Kyle - the back of our shirts! Cute!

My gorgeous trainer!

After the 5k! Sweaty! & freckly! Haha!

Team Body BaYou! We came in 3rd place for the amount of money raised! YEAH!