Gettin' Scrappy

I have to say a great big ole' thank you to Token Fat Friend for bestowing on me the Honest Scrap award.

The rules are:
1. “The Honest Scrap” award must be shared!
2. The recipient has to tell 10 true things about themselves.
3. The recipient has to pass along this prestigious award to 10 more bloggers.
4. Those 10 bloggers all have to be notified they have been given this award.
5. Those 10 bloggers should link back to the blog that awarded them.

The 10 things about me:

1. I live in Trussville, AL in a small neighborhood that I love. I have 3 sweet widows that live next door and in the 2 houses across the street who are so sweet to us.
2. I am an AVID Yankees fan. Jay and I have been to New York twice to see them play. (CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM FOR WINNING THE AL EAST!!!)
3. I love to read and I consider my books treasures.
4. I've had Jury Duty 6 times.
5. My fingernails grow at the speed of light which is great, but that means my toenails do too, which isn't so great. I have to cut them all the time.
6. I am fascinated with people's lives. I love to watch reality TV, read celebrity gossip, READ YOUR BLOGS....
7. I lost my wedding ring a few weeks ago and it makes me so sad.
8. I recently committed to myself to take better care of my skin.
9. I sponsor a 5 year old little girl in Brazil named Laura Stephany through World Vision. She is the cutest little thing.
10. I'm becoming more like my mother everyday - and that's a GOOD thing!

Now my 10 Recipients!

Mama Hen
Rachel at Grasping for Objectivity in My Subjective Life
Cindy at Peeper's Page
Jennifer at Happiness is Brilliant
Tracy at The Calvert Connection
Abbie at According to Abbie
Paulina at Mona May I
Lianne at Socks are not the Enemy
Kaitlyn at Life of a Busy Wife
Mollie at Mollie's Dog Pound

Who's your hero?

I just got my Monday night fix of Heroes and my brain is all whacked out with superpower overload. Everytime I watch this show I can't help but wonder what I would choose if I was offered a superpower. Sometimes I think I would want the ability to be invisible whenever I wanted. And of course, it would rock to be able to fly.

Now, if I could portray any superhero, I would have to choose Wonder Woman. She is the total package possessing super strength and speed. She could fight like nobody's business with those bullet deflecting bracelets and oh and what I wouldn't give for that lasso of truth. And seriously, who wouldn't want to wear that rockin' outfit?

I'm curious about all of you. If you could be any superhero or have any superpower, what would it be? And... what would you do with it?

S.T.U.P.I.D.

I know "stupid" is a terrible word to use, but ya'll - Sissy is so stupid. Our cats stay in 99.9% of the time but occasionally Sissy likes to venture outside in the front yard. She usually never gets more than 10 feet from the front door but I think it makes her feel adventureous.

Most nights we leave the garage door open after we get home and don't close it till right before we go to bed. (It gets really hot in there during the day.) Sissy uses this to her advantage. I think she feels like she's pulling one over on us by "sneaking" outside. She actually walks through the cat door into the laundry room, out the next cat door into the garage and out of the garage. She'll stay out there for a little bit feeling like she's queen of the world.

Here's the sad part. She can't figure out how to get back in. She stands at the front door and cries until we open it and let her in.

I know this is not the greatest picture to show the front of my house (it's the only one I could easily find on my computer) but it'll do. Imagine this garage door open. Now look to the right of it and you can see the walkway and a sliver of my front door. THEY ARE THAT CLOSE TOGETHER!!! She walks out of the garage door and can figure out how to get to the front door but can't figure out how to walk back in the garage door. I am totally floored. I can't believe she belongs to us.

Guest Bedroom Reveal

Remember when I posted about making my headboards? I've been diligently working on my guest bedroom since then and I finally got enough done that I felt I could show some pictures.

I wish I could have gotten a wider shot but I couldn't get any further back in the corner to get this one. I put my Aunt Gracie's sewing machine in the middle of the beds. I love that thing. It's even still got all her sewing things in the drawers.

I found these curtains and throw pillows on clearance. I couldn't believe I found some that matched the blue in the headboard fabric so well!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do on this side of the room yet. I might put a desk here but for now I just have this screen. It's been needing a home for a long time.

And here's a shot with Callie. She had an itch.

Bunko Baby

Bunko was at my house tonight and it was really fun. I took your suggestions and made chicken salad. I even got fancy and put the scoops on a lettuce leaf. I also made a big pasta salad and I made a fruit tray of grapes and apples. For dessert I made brownies and served that with frozen yogurt ice-cream. I intended to take a picture of my "spread" but by the time I got my camera, the girls had already started digging in.

I love getting together with these girls. Our group has been playing together for about 6 years. Everyone is pretty different which is what makes it so fun. Everyone has kids except me, some are stay-at-home moms, some work outside the home - I love them all. We all struggle with different things and the same things.

You know how you sometimes have a "moment" when you just feel so thankful. Right now I feel really thankful for my friends. I'm really blessed.

Can't Sleep

My stars, it's 4:11AM and I am awake. I woke up a little after two - I think it might have been the bolt of lightning that lit up the universe and the clap of thunder that could wake the dead (or maybe just me) and haven't been back to sleep since. It has literally been raining all night. (I'm not complaining.)

I have much to do this weekend. Bunko is here Monday night and I've got to get the house clean. We do supper before we play. I always stress about what to serve. Any ideas?

And thanks so much to Paulina for The Adorable Blog Award. I love this girl! You totally need to check out her blog.

Happy Birthday to Kerrie

I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my GREAT friend Kerrie. We have been best buds since 7th grade. I have a million and one stories about her so I thought I'd make a list of some of my favorite memories.

1. The perfect white handprint on your oh so red chest after we went to the pool and you didn't rub your sunscreen in.
2. Our trip to Atlanta to see New Kids on the Block. Remember how we wore their favorite colors?
3. The endless nights we stayed up talking about how we couldn't wait till the day we got kissed.
4. When you got sent to the principal's office for clicking your 4-color pen. Oh how I wish I could have seen your face!
5. The endless nights we stayed up playing "What If?"
6. Orientation for college - We actually stayed in our room and played Skip-Bo instead of going to a fraternity party.
7. All the fun times we shared in our apartment. I love it that we lived together when you got engaged.
8. Delta Dawn
9. Gettng to be a part of your precious girl's lives.
10. The memories we're still making because we'll be friends forever!

I love you Kerrie! I hope you've had the best birthday ever!

Hate is a strong word, and I mean it

Dear Taco Bell:

I hate you. I hate you for what you're doing to me. I curse you for every chill and hot flash that has passed through my body since I consumed that stupid Mexican Pizza at 12:30. I am awaiting the minute that I can vomit you out of my body. I vow to NEVER EVER darken the door or drive-thru of your establishment again.

A Little Bit of Heaven

I was going through some pictures today and I came across this:

This is one of my nephews, James. He's Mama Hen's youngest. Those eyes bewitch me and his cheeks are to die for. I can't get enough of this child. He makes me laugh and if I can get him to cuddle in my lap for even a minute, it's heaven.

I think our love for little ones is the closest we can get to knowing how much God loves us. And to think, it doesn't even come close.

Check out Life of a Busy Wife

Just wanted to let you know that Life of a Busy Wife is having a giveaway in honor of her 300th post. I love her blog! She loves rain and loves to read!!! Check her out - she's giving away this cookbook:

It's a Win Win Situation

I'm so excited!!! I won a Christy Nockels CD on BooMama's blog today! How cool is that?

In other news, sweet Hubby Jay is coming home tomorrow. I can't wait!

Also, did any of you watch America's Next Top Model last night? It was 2 hours of sheer happiness in my soul. This season all the girl's have to be shorter than 5'7". Seriously, if I was about 15 years younger and 40 pounds lighter - I would totally have auditioned. But I have been practicing my catwalk and poses just in case they have a season where they need short women in their mid-30's who wear a "normal" size. Crack myself up!

I cannot even tell you how excited I am about Fall TV. Ya'll! All the shows are getting ready to start back up. It's thrills me. I know, little things.

Anyway, this was just a hodgepodge of information. My brain was rambling. Keep it real, ya'll!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

I was in a bit of traffic on my way home from work today. My mind was completely free of any meaningful thoughts as I listened to the Rick and Bubba replay on the radio. For whatever reason, I got to thinking about my first car.

My parents got me a car when I was 16 and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a happier girl anywhere. I had no idea I was getting one. My boyfriend was over late one afternoon when my parents came home and asked us to go get the groceries out of the car. (How sly was that?) We headed down to the garage and when I opened the door - there it was - a 1987 Cavalier Z24! To me it was the cutest car ever, because it was mine, all mine!

It was a white, automatic 2 door with gray cloth interior. It had a pop-up sunroof (you know, the kind that always leaked) which I loved. It had a digital dash that was super cool and don't think I wasn't stylin' with my "bag phone". (The bag phone was only for emergencies because it cost about a million dollars a minute back then.) Even though it was off-limits, I kept it plugged into my cigarette lighter at all times.

Who knew that emergency would come the very first week I had it? I drove solo to church that Wednesday night and drove it right into a ditch on my way home. Lovely. I did some serious damage. As an adult now, I can only imagine what my parents were thinking. They just spent all that money getting me a car and I wrecked it the first week. But, proving that I have the best parents in the world, they didn't do anything but assure me that everything would be ok.

My Cavalier was the car that just kept going and going. My brother wrecked it a few years later. It again got fixed and I kept loving it.

I had that car for 10 years. It took me through high school, college, and the first couple of years of my "adult" job. I sold it before Jay and I got married. The air had quit working and it would have cost more to have it fixed than it was worth. I would tell you how many miles it had on it, but the digital dash quit working sometime during college. I had to watch the tachometer to get an idea of how fast I was going. That too was going to cost more than the car was worth to fix.

I tried to find a picture but came up Nil. Hopefully, my parents have one tucked away somewhere. SO! What was your first car and do you remember it fondly?

New Headboards

I don't think I've mentioned this before but I'm redoing my guest bedroom. Some friends have been using our guest bedroom furniture so I'm starting with a completely empty room.

I ordered two twin bedframes and mattresses a couple of weeks ago and decided to make my headboards. I loved Trading Spaces back in the day and have always wanted to try this.

I dedicated this weekend to that project. Jay and I went to Lowe's Friday morning so I could get some wood cut to frame my foam board. This is Allan, my new favorite Lowe's employee. He did a bang-up job cutting the wood.







Saturday afternoon I went to Hancock Fabrics and found this great drapery fabric that was perfect! (It was even more perfect that it was on sale!)

(Sidenote: Jay left Sunday afternoon to go to Baton Rouge for work. He'll be back Friday. Boo Hoo....)

I got up this morning with a purpose. I was bound and determined that I could do this project. First, I nailed my boards together for the frames. This turned out to be the hardest part. It was a booger to try to hold the wood and nail at the same time. I think I broke a sweat.


Next, I did this cool trick I like to call "duct taping the foam board to the frame". Some people might say this is the redneck way to do it, and I would say they're right.



I used a staple gun to cover the whole thing with polyfill. (I may have gone a little overboard with the staples but honestly, that staple gun rocks!)


And finally, I used the staple gun to attach the fabric and Voila! Here are my two new headboards!



It only took a little less than 3 hours and most of that was trying to nail those dang boards together. I'll keep you posted as the room progresses!

DipTacular!

This is my first participation in a Mister Linky, but I just couldn't pass up Boo Mama's DipTacular! This dip is so easy and sooooo good!

Baked Spinach Dip ***

1 10 oz. pkg. chopped frozen spinach (uncooked)
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
8 oz. sour cream
1 pack dry ranch dressing
8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese grated

Reserve a small amount of grated cheddar cheese. Mix spinach, cream cheese, sour cream, dressing and remainder of cheese. Place in 9 x 13 pan and sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with Tostidos!

***I've made this with fat free sour cream and fat cream cream cheese and it was just as good!

Ashamed

I don't know if I've ever conveyed to you my love of books. It is profound. It is deep. Certain books hold my heart in their hands. When I read, I get lost in the pages and I get transported to other times and places. I feel what they feel and see what they see. Oh how I love the written word. Sigh....

In light of that it is with deep sadness that I must make a confession. I am so ashamed - I mean really, really ashamed. How could I let this happen? What was I thinking?

Do you see this?



Look closer.


Yes, it's true. These are overdue library books. They were due on 8/14 and they're still in the back of my car. Please don't judge me. OK, you have every right to judge me. It's so bad. This is not who I am - I promise. I usually play be the rules and if something is due, I make sure I get it in on time.

And what makes this doubley (is that a word?) bad is that I was a library aide in high school. I actually went to college with the purpose of BECOMING a librarian! Obviously, that didn't work out but that was the original intent.

So, I'm making a promise to you. I WILL turn these in tomorrow and pay my fine. I WILL apologize profusely to the librarian and beg her forgiveness. And then I will check out some more books and put a reminder on my PDA to make sure those jewels of gold get back to the library on time.

The Sinus

I so totally meant to do a post last night but I suffered with "the sinus" yesterday. I know that shouldn't render my hands useless, and it didn't - but I do think it rendered my brain useless.

You would think that the 2 Tylenol Sinus PM I took would have knocked me out but instead, it did the opposite and had me laying in the bed thinking of all the things I wish I could do if I had the time, money, wasn't so lazy, blah, blah, blah. You know, if money and time wasn't a factor.

Unfortunately, I didn't get all the world's problems solved - maybe tonight. I do feel better at this moment but I feel the itchy eyes, head congestion coming on so I'm about to pop some pharmaceuticals and get to work.