Tree Lighting Wrap Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Once again, trying to win something for Z. Keeping my fingers crossed.


Tree Lighting Wrap Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Dancing Family + Charlotte

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Date Nights

Erin and I decided last week that we need to consciously have a date night once a month. Somehow, in the midst of school, work, Dave Ramsey, and being just plain old busy, we have forgotten to do this. I cook almost every meal (although is very helpful and fends for himself when I'm working) and we usually eat in front of the TV with our laptops on our lap working. Really romantic :)

So, here is our deal:
- Date nights once a month
- A date cannot involve laptops and TV (unless of course we're watching lost/or a movie from our hard drive then it counts)
- If cooking is involved it is a team effort.
- A date does not have to involve money but does have to be something that involved a little extra effort in both appearance and activity.
- Bethany cannot wear her comfy ugly yellow p.j./lounge pants on date night.

Our first monthly date night was this past Wednesday. We went to macaroni grill for dinner, then did a bit of shopping at Opry Mills, and then looked at the Christmas decorations at Opryland Hotel. We couldn't find anyone to take our picture so this is all I've got.

Thanksgiving

A little late and anti-climactic now, but here ya go!

(We were past the tired phase and at the goofy phase)

We spent Thanksgiving in Springfield, MO with Erin's parents and had a nice time.

(Aren't we cute?)

We all took part in the cooking. It was a delicious meal. Erin made pineapple cheese casserole, and I made Mom's (Schenk) stuffing and an amazing homemade butterscotch pie.

We also went rollerskating which was lots o fun.
(Lookin' a little pale and matchy matchy)

(Beautiful pic of Jenn!)

(Sharon rollerskating)

Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Girls Weekend + 2 Guys.

update: Lindsey made me feel bad for putting up the bad pictures of my friends. so to show I'm not a horrible friend I took them down.

I've already been made fun of for my pageant pose...leave it alone :)

This weekend Jessica came into town. It had been 3 months since her last visit which is unacceptable but also unusual.

On Friday, Scott, Brittany, and Jennie came over to the house to hang out with Jessica, Erin, and me. We usually play games or something but it had been so long since we hung out that we just ordered pizza and talked. It was so awesome to see them! We suck at taking pics when we hang out so I was proud of the amount that I took this weekend....that is until I saw the pictures. At least they'll be useful for blackmail :)

Britt's Blackmail Pic

(taken down per Lindsey)

Jess's Blackmail Pic
(taken down per Lindsey)

My Pepto Blackmail Pic


Pregger's Brittany!



The group - No blackmail pic for Jennie - Bummer :)

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

I'm trying to win these adorable little pieces for my niece. How precious!!

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

You down w/ LTP? Yeah, you know me!

Ode to one of my best buds, Lindsey Allison Tapper Pruitt, in honor of another random package I got in the mail today:

Thanks for sending me a package Lindsey Pruitt.

Throughout the week mail helps me get through it.

Thanks for asking"Will you be my friend" on the phone.

I said sure and sang "You'll Never Walk Alone"

When I went to the place where they dispense the mail,

The post office guy said "What the $#@^!

This package is in a box of laundry detergent,

You can't send that unless its really urgent"

Everyone loves popsicle makers, they are the best .

When you say you don't I know you jest.

Is that why you regifted my Walgreen's treasure?

Because you wanted to light up my life with popsicle pleasure?

I'm not sure why you sent me a gross, used washcloth or budreaux's butt paste

But I think I'll take it to the lab and examine it post haste.

Remember what I said about 100 billion bacteria

Coming from 1 gram of something from that

area :)

You know how much I love love food

It always puts me in a good mood.

Next time there's a party I'm taking pesto and mushrooms

So I take care not to meet my imminent doom.

The randomness of the ball marker and the creepy blue guy

Give me the heebie jeebies and make me say "oh my!"

But E's not mad anymore about the cell phone minutes

Because you sent me a package with something for him in it.

Last but definitely not least

Is the treat above all treats.

The Swiss Chocolate made me whoop and holler

I hope you didn't really spend 20 dollars.

Wordle

Check out my wordle. It takes the contents of text you provide (my blog) and makes the words that are most prominent in your text the most prominent in the image. Interesting that the most prominent words in my blog are "coupons" and "pie". No wonder I'm gaining weight. I must be using coupons to buy pie ingredients!

Ministry 2.0

This past weekend was the first kick-off event of Erin's new start-up company, Ministry 2.0. It was a success! The first night was just an early registration kick-off with a meet and greet and Ezekiel presentation and help session. The second day was an all day, hands-on conference where participants got to choose four workshops out ot eight to attend. The participants were bombarded with useful information to take back and implement into their ministries.

The Venue

Some of the Sponsors

Attendee and CEO of Viewzi.com

Workshop

Workshop (who's the hottie presenting?)

Ultra-casual and exhausted after night 1 prep.

Prepping for Day 2!

"Tag" You're It

I've been tagged by Jana for 6 Things About Me. She tagged me ages ago but I'm just now getting around to it.

So here goes:

1. I have a severe gag reflex over certain things. If you tap me on the neck or chest/breastbone I will throw up on you.

2. Touch is not my love language. My love languages are: acts of service, gift giving, with words of affirmation coming in a close third. Erin's love languages are: touch, quality time. I try to remember to sit by him on the couch and scratch his head and he tries to remember to help me clean the dishes or buy me my favorite candy at the store :)

3. I am the Scrabble champion. Seriously. I'm awesome. The secret is in knowing the legal, official Scrabble dictionary 2-letter words. I DARE you to challenge me to a game of scrabble. :)

4. I used to do a political videoblog called "realverse.com". After we got a really big following, Michelle Malkin (thats right...the political analyst on Fox News and of hotair.com) asked me to collaborate with her and do regular spot on her site. I worked with Michelle for a while until we had to shut realverse down. I've recently been talking with Michelle and I'm thinking of getting it going again.

5. I love homemade pie. WAY better than cake. I also like to make pies from scratch. So it works out for my tongue but not for my thighs. Chocolate meringue pie, chocolate chunk pecan pie, cherry pie, fresh strawberry pie, key lime pie, butterscotch meringue pie, pumpkin pie, cheesecake (which is more of a pie than a cake). I could go on.

6. I was a really really ugly child. The ONLY person who thought I was cute as a child was my dad and maybe my mom :) I came complete with a snaggletooth, huge uncontrollable amounts of hair on my head, and thick red glasses. On occasion I wore a fanny-pack. Thank goodness puberty, braces, and contacts finally came into the picture!

Coupon Convert

My mom witnesses to everyone she comes into contact with about Jesus. That includes the cashier's at grocery stores. I used to be embarrassed by that as a kid but now I aspire to be a woman like my mom. I made a big step in that direction yesterday. No I didn't lead someone to the Lord but I DID convert an entire line of people to coupons yesterday. It went something like this.

After ringing up enough groceries to last us over 2 weeks,
Cashier: That will be $220.
Me: Actually I have some coupons.
Lady behind me in line: I used to use coupons but it wasn't worth it to only save $.35 or so.
Me: Just watch my total. You'll see
(Cashier is still ringing up all the coupons)
Lady behind me in line: Man this is taking forever. How many coupons do you have?
Me: I'm telling you, keep watching my total drop.
Cashier: Okay ma'am after coupons that will be $98.06.
Lady: What??? (turns to rest of line) Did you guys hear that? She just saved $120 using coupons!

Another victory for the couponing kingdom :)

P.S. I hope the Lord sees humor in comparing couponing to being fisher's of men. I didn't mean to be sacrilegious Lord :)

Until I get a chance

Jana told me I better get my butt back to blogging. But, alas, this is one of the craziest weeks for me, so in the meantime I leave you with this hilarious video that my MIL (thats mother-in-law for you non-techy folks) sent me.

ENJOY!!!

Amber's Baby Shower

Faith, Megan, and I hosted a baby shower for Amber and baby Will this weekend. I would say it was a success. We had a nice turnout and wonderful food. I really hope Amber enjoyed it because I know that Faith Megan and I had a lot of fun putting it together. I made the diaper cake, rumaki, pacifier candies, and chex mix. (okay so maybe I didn't MAKE the chex mix :)). I also sewed some customized bibs for baby Will. I let Amber open them at the shower but immediately took them back because I didn't have time to finish them in my previously mentioned crazy week! :) I'll post pix of the bibs later.

The diaper cake made totally out of disposable diapers

Pacifier Candies

Petit Fours (how cute are the booties!)

Some of the guests

More of the guests

Tough Crazy Week

This past week was the beginning of my 5 midterms. 2 down, 3 to go this week. Also wrote a few term papers. All this while prepping for a visit from Jordan, hosting a baby shower, hearing about Uncle Tom, starting my new part-time job, and having meal-included study groups at my house! AHHHHHHh!!!!!

Blessed Aunt

I have the best niece and nephew. They are so beautiful and such a blessing to our family. All that has happened with my uncle has made me realize that Erin and I need to take every opportunity to be a part of Zion and Calvin's life. Look how precious they are!!

Please Pray for My Uncle

I would like to ask all of you, my friends and family, to pray for my Uncle Tom. He was diagnosed with cancer about 4 years ago and was told he would not live another year. God is so good because Uncle Tom changed his diet, lifestyle, and tried a holistic approach and it seemed that he had beat the cancer. However, a few months ago he went in for a root canal and they found that they were not dealing with an abscess tooth but that the cancer had spread all throughout his jaw. He has rapidly declined in the past months, the cancer is throughout his entire body, and probably will not live much longer. My heart is breaking for Uncle Tom, a chef and B&B owner. He is such a faithful man who has praised the Lord throughout this struggle. My heart breaks for Aunt Nancy who is losing her partner. And my heart breaks for myself who will probably never get to see him again. I wish I had the resources to go see him. Also Nancy want to plan a surprise for him if possible. I would post the surprise here but am afraid he might read the blog. If you're curious send me a message and I'll email you back. So, if any of you know a Dodge dealer with a generous heart, please let me know.

Please see this message from Aunt Nancy:

First of all, I wish to thank each and everyone who is praying for us and please know that the prayers are felt by the abundance of God's love who wraps his arms around us each day. I know many of you are wondering how Tom is doing and I apologize for not keeping in better communication. Tom's cancer metasized to his bones last may and now has invaded his liver creating enlargement that pushes against his stomach. He is taking chemo every 3 weeks and more frequent blood transfusions and iv's for dehydration. Ever since his radiation treatment on his lower lumbar last summer he has experienced ever increasing stomach problems. His vomiting is now several times a day and has trouble keeping any food or liquids down.
Our doctor, bless his kind heart, is making an house call tonight because tom was experiencing severe pain in his liver. Every week tom's pain meds increase to keep up with the rapid growing cancer.
I have contacted hospice today and they are coming out tomorrow to start Tom on a program. Tom's doctor has given him a couple months max to survive and the next couple weeks are crucial for anyone who desires to see him. I encourage anyone who can to come and visit tom, we have ample rooms to accomodate you. We will understand if you are unable to make the trip. Understand also, that Tom at this time can only handle short periods of visitation for he tires easily. He will totally love seeing anyone who is able. Maybe going down memory lane would be uplifting.
Tom so wanted to travel to michigan or possibly florida to enjoy the warm sunshine and beach one more time but we fear that his health is deteriorating too quicly but we will consult with his doctor tonight and the hospice people tomorrow.
My heart aches as i write this for our lives have interwoven throughout his life and many wonderful and fun memories come to the surface. Our faith and hope is in jesus christ and tom knows that jesus awaits him when the time comes where he will have no more pain, suffering and tears but in the meantime the journey of nearing the crossing of the border of heaven can be
Scary and lonely so please pray for tom to be comforted with peace that surpasses all understanding for god knows our fears and hearts and i am confident that god will provide tom's passage with abundant mercy, grace and love.
We thank god for all your tender love and compassion.
Nanc (mom) and tom

Dear Heavenly Father, If Your good and perfect will is not a miracle then let Tom enjoy his last few days/weeks/months. Thank you for the extra time you've already given him. Surround him with love and comfort from the Lord and friends and family. Let the pain disapate and bring comfort to those that love him. Amen.

Hodaka Heaven

Today Erin said goodbye to his Hodaka. It was his very first "motorcycle"/dirtbike. He and his dad bought it years ago to fix up. Erin decided to sell it so that he could get his new motorcyle, the Suzuki Cruiser, that we bought a few months ago. It took a while to sell because it is a bike from the '70's and is a collectors item, so there is not a great market for it. It was hard for Erin to get rid of because of the memories associated with it but felt really good about the guy who bought it. The buyer drove all the way from Marietta Georgia and is going to restore it to original condition so that it completes his Hodaka collection. He promised to send E pics of the bike when it was finished. I think that made E feel better. He was glad that it will be taken care of instead of sitting in our garage.

Layla Grayce

Today I went to the christening of my friend Mikeya's baby, Layla Grayce. While I do not believe in child baptism, I was happy to go and support them by promising to pray for Layla as she grows, especially for Layla's spiritual growth. I will pray that someday, when she is old enough to make the decision on her own, Layla will come to know Jesus. And I commit to be a friend to Mikeya and an example of a Christian woman to Layla.

Isn't little Layla beautiful?!

A Sad Goodbye...

I took back the beautiful black pair of shoes I bought two weeks ago. They weren't in the planned budget and I bought them on impulse. They weren't expensive or anything but I was feeling a little guilty since Jordan is coming to visit and I am throwing a baby shower this month. Plus, I saw 2 people at church yesterday who had similar ones on... not that it matters but I decided I didn't need them. Goodbye 5 inch heels....hello old nasty tennis shoes :)

Miss Tennessee USA

Good Luck to the girls competing tonight at the Miss USA competition. I was there last night at the presentation show and you all looked gorgeous! To the J.S. Fields folks, thanks for letting me be there last week to help some of you get ready, it was so much fun. Knock 'em dead!

Love ya! B

Shelley George - Bridal Designs

Today I did a photo shoot for Shelley George's new line of wedding gowns. She is a local designer that has had massive success with her designer bridal shoes, handbags, and flower girl dresses. Her new line of wedding gowns will hit her website soon. For all of you soon-to-be brides out there: she is pretty affordable! http://www.shelleygeorge.com/

She is a hugely talented designer and we had so much fun at the photoshoot today. I'm trying to get back into that world a little bit because it is a great way to make good money while in school plus its lots of fun. So that means that I am trying to drop about 10 pounds (healthily, mom) and get back to the self-upkeep that I have let slide a little.

This pic is for mom...who I know will ask for a pic of my hair. This was the best I could do....what was left of my hair at the end of the day, 6 hrs after the shoot, after my errands, and after all the makeup had mostly been removed. Nothing special, just curled and down and Farrah Fawcett-y.

Commone Sense NOT Chicken Little

The Sky Is Falling!!! The Sky Is Falling!!! The Sky Is Falling!!! Oh sorry, I thought I was a freaked out American who thinks the world as we know it will end because the DOW fell 778 points on Monday. But I'm not :)

Actually I understand that the American economy is in a very precarious place right now. But, I DON'T think the government should be in the business of owning things (socialism) and am glad that they voted the bailout down. But, I DO think SOMETHING should be done.

Please check out the Common Sense Plan and contact your Senator or Representative. The idea was developed by a leading economist and the plan was put together and packaged by Dave Ramsey. Briefly, it involves retro-acting Sarbanes-Oxley by removing mark-to-market accounting for sub-prime mortgages (for 2 years). It also includes doing away with the estate tax and extending additional insurance to the lenders. This would do the trick of creating a market for the buying and selling of the current sub-prime mortgages and free the market back up.

PLEASE DO YOUR PART!!!! Contact your Congressman!!!

Oddities

I succumbed to this silly survey but it is kinda fun. So respond with your answers or post them on your blog!

35 ODD THINGS ABOUT ME

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? Yes! I love all cheese...especially stinky ones
2. Do you own a gun? Yes -2. A glock 23 .40 caliber and a makarov
3. What's a favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee house? A sugar free extra hot gingerbread latte.
4. What do you prefer to drink in the morning ? Juice - especially simple orange or Minute Maid blueberry pomegranate. Or maybe coffee ... :)
5. Do you do push-ups? Yes when Erin makes me
6. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Engagement Ring and my diamond and opal necklace Mike and Marva gave me for my 16th birthday.
7. Favorite hobby? sewing and exercising
8. Do you have A.D.D? Not one bit...although I have had my moments.
9. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? I speak before thinking
10. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I need to get dressed for the day. I have to leave in 15 minutes. This survey is pointless, why am I doing it?
11. Name 4 drinks you regularly drink. Water, Juice, Coke Zero, Coffee
12. Current worry right now? Being late because of this survey.
13. Current hate right now? The "chicken little" mentality of the media and its bias in its reporting
14. Favorite place to be? Vacation!!! Anywhere with Erin or family
15. Do you like to travel? It is my #1 favorite thing in the world!
16. What color shirt are you wearing? White
17. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Not at all...too slippery. I like crisp white sheets
18. Can you whistle? yep
19. Favorite color? Kelly green
20. If you could would you be a pirate? I can and I will for halloween....arrrrrghhh
21. What song do you sing in the shower? Les Miserables and show tunes.
22. Favorite girl's name? I'm not telling.... Erin and I don't want you to steal ours :)
23. Favorite boy's name? Not telling!
24. What's in your pocket right now? "I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one is ....."
25. Favorite bedsheets as a child? Seriously dumb question.
26. Worst injury? Breaking my chin open as a kid
27. Do you love where you live? Nashville...Yes! Smyrna....not so much!
28. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2
29. Who is your loudest friend? Jessica! If you think I'm loud....just wait!
30. How many pets do you have? technically none but we pseudo adopted a stray who lives on our back porch and we pay for food and vet visits.
31. Does someone have a crush on you? My husband better
32. What is your Favorite Book? Bible, Les Miserables, Atlas Shrugged, We the Living
33. What's your favorite candy? Hot Tamales put a smile on my face :) :)
34. Favorite Sports Team? Titans or Steelers
35. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I think my black trousers are clean.

Romans 6:15-23

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 when you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A pretty familiar passage but what an awesome reminder of God's grace. "Thank you Lord for setting me free from my bondage of sin and thank you even more for helping me accept that freedom more and more as I grow." I love the part that says "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness and the result is eternal life." Sometimes it is easy to look at holiness more as a responsibility or sacrifice we have to achieve but holiness is a BLESSING, a benefit that our good and gracious Lord wants us to experience and live in. God is so good.

Free Ice Cream

Cold Stone gave away free ice cream today to benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation. Although it is not part of slim-down plan, Erin and I enjoyed a 4-oz treat today. I just don't have the discipline I used to... I'm workin' on it. But it was free!

Stupid Me

I did something stupid...go figure. How is it that physics, calculus, Anatamy & Physiology, etc are literally a piece of cake for me, but doing daily household chores is like rocket science. I was being a good little wife the other day and had cleaned the entire house while studying and catching up on emails. Pretty proud of myself. I had just started to fill up the sink to wash the dishes when E came home. I went to the living room to say hi and totally forgot about the running water. I think E just thought he heard the washing machine running or something cause he didn't say anything. Thirty minutes later I go into the kitchen to get a drink and realize it is COMPLETELY flooded. I'm such an idiot!!! We thought we had avoided catastrophe because it didn't reach any of the carpet in the adjoining room and we managed to wet vac it off the floor in the kitchen. Thankfully I have the best husband in the world because he totally supressed his anger and was only kind and forgiving to me.





The next day we walked in the guest bedroom and hallway and felt wet carpet. This room butts up against the kitchen and apparently the water soaked through the wall and into the carpet. We are trying to salvage the carpet and the pad until we are ready to put hardwood down as originally planned. We were hoping to do it early next year...but may have to move that up a bit :(





Here's a pic of the drying pad and carpet. I put baking soda all over it and keep a fan on it. I've also been using a blow dryer on it. Please Lord LET IT DRY!!

Char

We had Charlotte again a few weeks ago and I wanted to post these for Sarah to see...





Charlotte is my little buddy...

Before her bath

(notice the empty toilet paper roll...blaming Erin for that one)

She knows she's about to get wet

Wet Dog! hehehe

All Clean!