I love it when a weekend comes together

I don't usually consider it a good thing when things don't work out the way I planned but this weekend was an exception. I had anticipated working all day Saturday but was pleasantly surprised when I was able to get it all done Friday night. That left me with a completely open Saturday! I celebrated by being quite lazy and treating myself to a trip to Target where I went down every.single.aisle that struck my fancy. I know, I know... I'm a party animal.

My running partner was on vacation last week which left me running solo. I went to bed Saturday night thinking how embarrassing it's going to be when I tell her that I only ran one time. So I hauled myself out of bed Sunday morning at 5:30 to hit the pavement. And how about it started raining after I took about 10 steps. The greatest thing was that I didn't even mind because surely running in the rain is the equivalent to running 2 normal days, right??

I had a wonderful day at Church, a great lunch, and just an overall great day with Hubs on Sunday. I think my favorite part was when he decided he wanted to learn how to walk on his hands after seeing the half-time show of the Superbowl. Unfortunately, I'm not the best spotter. We'll keep working on that - it's sure to be a crowd pleaser at parties! :)

Weekend Wrap-Up

The past couple of weeks have been busy, busy, busy. I've learned to be thankful when I'm busy at work because that means we're making money - which you know, is kind of good when you have a family business!

(Just a note - that last sentence is a testament to monumental changes the Lord has made in my life in the past couple of years. He is teaching me that changes in my "normal" routine are not cause to cry, be angry and generally feel like the world is coming to an end. This girl has learned that willingness to say, "OK God, You're shaking it up. You must have something really awesome in the works." allows me to ENJOY changes in my day.)

I've been blessed with a wonderfully lazy but productive weekend. Saturday morning I met my running buddy, Melissa for a long run - IN THE RAIN! We missed a couple of days this week and decided that we would run no matter what. It actually felt kind of good.

I kept James and Abbie for Mama Hen till around lunch. We spent the morning making pillow houses in the living room and a trip to Wal-mart to buy things that drive Mama Hen crazy. It's the joy of being an Aunt!

After they left Jay and I cleaned out a couple of closets. I can't tell you how good it feels to just get rid of "junk".

Saturday night the girls in my Sunday School class got together for a painting party. We all found pictures online and hoped for the best. This is my attempt at "Sassy Girl". She'll be making her home in the Laundry room with the rest of my "masterpieces".

After Church  today I was able to get under the covers and just read and read without feeling a lick of guilt. And you know what made it a tish more wonderful? Wearing these sweet treats for my feet that J2 gave me for Christmas.

Hubs even got the toilet fixed in our bathroom. It only took 2 trips to Lowe's for a $7 part. (Sometimes I think they get the wrong part on purpose the first time just so they can go back.)



And that's it for our weekend. We're all settled in for the night waiting for the storms to roll through. I'm even excited about my busy week ahead!

My Pants Feel a Little Tighter

So, I decided to wear a skirt today. That's how I'm dealing with my big, bloated belly full of turkey, ham, dressing, apple pie, etc.

I have LOVED this long weekend. After I got off work Wednesday night I got my hair done, convinced Hubs to go to the grocery store with me and then came home and made a chicken cheese ball. (I refused to go to the in-laws with just ice.)

We had a great time with Hub's family Thanksgiving Day. It was my newest nephew's first holiday and we loved having a baby in the house! It was so sweet to look over and see Hubs with his niece and 2 nephews on his side of the family all on the couch together.

Friday was absolutely wonderful. I spent the entire day in my pajamas napping, reading, and watching TV. I did get online early that morning and did about 95% of my Christmas shopping. Total score for not having to battle the crowds (or get out of my pajamas)!

Saturday, Hubs and I ran a few errands before he went to watch the game with friends. (If you're from Alabama you know exactly which game I'm talking about.) Sunday, I woke up to the most beautiful sound - RAIN - and it hasn't stopped all day. I know it's not ideal to most, but I absolutely love it.

Can't wait to see what this week holds!

It's been a while...

Hello, my name is Jill. You may remember me. I used to post here somewhat regularly.

Well, life got in the way for a while and I let this blog take a back seat. Actually, it's more like I left it crying on the curb. I may not have left comments as much as usual but I have been keeping up with all of you. I think I've now rectified this broken blog relationship and I think we're on good terms again.

I've missed being able to tell you all the mundane details of my life. Like how there's an hour of my life I desperately wish I could get back that was spent watching Top 20 Most Shocking Moments - the Backyard Boneheads edition with Jay. #12 was the story of a man who pulled his tooth by tying a string from his tooth to a board and then taking a hammer to the board. He said he used to use pliars but "it hurt too much". I would expand on that but there are no words.

Thankfully, that wasn't the most exciting part of my weekend. Yesterday, we had Thanksgiving with all my family at my Mom and Dad's house. It was wonderful! I do believe my Mama may be the best cook in the world. Her dressing is out of this world! Hubs and I had leftovers for lunch and it was just as good today as it was yesterday.

Unfortunately, Mama Hen's youngest hadn't been feeling good and threw up not too long after we got there. He spent the rest of the afternoon in the back bedroom watching Kung Foo Panda. He did come out long enough to blow the candles out on his birthday cake but then turned around and walked out of the room. You know a 5 year old is sick when he blows the candles out and then makes his way back to the bedroom without any cake. We all thought about his recent projectile experience, the amount of spit that probably came out while blowing out the candles and decided it might not be in our best interest to eat that cake. I had Mama Hen's apple pie instead. Yes, I think that was a wise choice.

All in all, it's been a great weekend!

Yes, I'm Alive

To those of you that checked on me to make sure I'm still alive - the answer is Yes. I won't post a pic to prove it because I seriously need to get my hair and eyebrows done. If I was a cool chick I would spend the next few minutes recounting the amazing things I've had going on which caused me to have no time for blogging A SINGLE THING for almost two months. But I think we all know better than that. So, I'll just give you the facts m'am, just the facts.

Things that have happened since I last blogged:

1. I joined a 12-week exercise class that has kicked my hiney in every possible way. It meets on Tuesday and Thurday nights and for almost 2 hours I do a workout that causes me to sweat more than I would have previously thought humanly possible. I just completed week 7 and since I'm still alive, I consider that a success!

2. I've discovered PMS in my 30's is completely different than PMS in my 20's. There are now 2 days of every month where my world feels like it's caving in. I think it's in my best interest (and everyone around me) to take a medical leave from life on those 2 days and remain holed up in my bed with books, magazines, the remote control and every possible kind of chocolate known to man.

3. Hubs and I took a quick trip to Tampa a couple of weeks ago to see a Yankees Spring Training game. We flew out on a Friday morning, saw the game Friday night and flew back Saturday afternoon.

4. I'm leading Beth Moore's David: Seeking a Heart Like His study on Wednesday nights at Church. It's so good and I've met the sweetest ladies through it. I'm learning so much. 

5. I've found that having something going on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday nights every week is throwing me for a loop. My homebody self doesn't really know what to do.

So there you have it, all my excuses reasons for not blogging. There are more that include the likes of sheer laziness but we won't get into all that. I missed you guys and thanks to those of you who checked in!



And another week begins

It's 7:06AM and I'm sitting on my couch in my jammies. Obviously, this is not a normal Monday or I would be preparing to go to work. But I'm not! It's a random vacation day because I'm hosting Bunko at my house tonight! Joy and bliss...

I feel like I'm still recovering from the last few days. I'm a creature of habit and when I'm out of routine, nothing about me feels right. Thursday morning I left on an 8 hour drive to High Point, NC to meet with a new client. This isn't something I normally do and I felt really bad for Hubs. I wasn't sure how he would make it 2 nights without me. Right...

I left early in the morning and was loving that the weather was so beautiful. It was probably around 12 or so that it started getting a little warm. But guess what wasn't working - um hmm, that's right, the air conditioner. It wasn't bad though. I kept the fan on and there was a little cool air blowing so I was totally comfortable. I think this was also around the time that my head started hurting - not bad, just enough to be annoying.

I checked into my hotel around 4:00 that afternoon and considered taking some pics to give you a hotel tour like PW, but really, when you've seen one Hampton, you've seen them all. It's just not the same as seeing a pic of this.

Around 5:30 or so I was getting really hungry and my headache was getting worse. I drove around until I found a Wal-Mart so I could get some Tylenol. At this point, I was getting that feeling - that feeling that I might throw-up. It's rare that I get a headache like that but I was well aware of how it would play out if I didn't get some medicine and food in me and I get my hiney in the bed.

I've never been so thankful for a place where you can get your Tylenol and a Subway sandwich in one stop. I got back to the hotel as fast as I could and it's a testament to how bad I felt that I didn't stop in the lobby and grab one of the fresh baked cookies they had just put out for the guests.

Thankfully, my head was much better when I woke up Friday morning. My meeting with the client was uneventful but SO LONG. I think I was probably asleep that night by 9. I wanted to be up and on the road by 7 to get home for my nephew's Crossing Over ceremony for the scouts. I'm sure I would have been well-rested if I had not BEEN WOKEN UP at 1:30 in the morning by some teenagers knocking on each other's doors yelling "house keeping". I kid you not.

I did manage to get on the road by 7 but the ride back did not go as well as the ride up. It was unbelievably hot and the fan was no longer blowing cool air. And then... all traffic on the interstate completely stopped - for 40 minutes. I was hot, I was sticky, I was tired and I was completely "done" with this trip.

Needless to say, I stayed at home Saturday night and didn't make it to the Crossing Over ceremony. After reading this, I think I'll be ok with just looking at the pictures.

40 Years and Counting!

Guess what happened 40 years ago today.... yep, my parents got hitched. All the kids and grandkids descended on their house this afternoon after Church and celebrated. I'm so thankful to have two parents who love each other and have stayed together through thick and thin.

Check them out leaving for their honeymoon.

All I can say is that I truly hope my marriage will be as strong as theirs. I love you Mama & Daddy!

Bliss and Pain

This weekend was total bliss. I had nowhere to go, nothing to do and let me just tell you, it was beautiful to behold. Hubs had weekend coverage so he was M.I.A. during the day Saturday and Sunday. I lit cinnamon candles, turned on all my Christmas lights and read, and read and read as the wind actually howled outside. It was so cold going to Church - there were actually a few little snow flakes on my windshield!

I will say, I don't think I've ever been so glad to get home from Church. I wore a new sweater dress and it was the most uncomfortable thing ever. Well, the dress wasn't uncomfortable - it was what I had to wear UNDER the dress that was the problem. I think we all know that sweater dresses are very unforgiving and I have quite a few areas that need a lot of forgiveness! I thought I would be all smart and wear Spanx - OH.MY.WORD! I think next time I'll just let my stomach hang out. Oh dear, I don't need to do that either. I'll have to give that some more thought.

Just curious, what's the most uncomfortable thing you've worn?