Just a good ol rainy day

I love rain. It's so badly needed in Texas where everything is so dry and our lakes are so low.  My hair is crazy frizzy but that's what huge hair clips are for. 

Todd had a nice dress shirt on and had appointment today when our little guy Jax added some muddy paw prints to his  shirt. Oops! 

Total unrelated topic, I had very bad strangest dream last night where I lost my diamond wedding ring. I had my band but not the diamond ring. Anyway I leaped out of bed this morning and checked my jewelry drawer where I put it  every night before bed. I was relieved that it was there.  Has anyone else acted on a dream where you know it couldn't have happened? Then , I was putting on one of my diamond hoops in my ear this morning and it wouldn't stay in and I was running a few minutes later than I should. So I put my earring in my pocket and thought I will mess with it once I get to work.  Today at lunch I was fiddling with my ear when I realized the hoop was missing. A few minutes later I remembered that I had it in my pocket and began to panic because it was no longer in my pocket .  When I got back to my desk, I had an email to me and other ladies asking if we lost an earring. I said YES a diamond hoop! Thank goodness someone found it in ladies room and turned it in to manager.  I have already lost the mate to it a while back.  I'm telling you, days like today I wish I didn't have any nice jewelry to keep up with! 

My dream kinda jinxed me. I'm ready to have another dream with no missing valuables.  

Happy Thursday 

This and That

Happy Tuesday y'all! Hope all of you are staying warm and safe. As for us here in Dallas , the temps have been below freezing but totally operating. I am so hot natured and I am truly loving every cold day we have.  I've said it time and time again how much I HATE our summers in Texas. I love being able to wear my boots. I love wearing my sweaters. I love my scarves. I can't wear any of these but a short window of time.  I do feel bad for those who are being hammered with snow and ice.  Our city just doesn't do well in ice and we rarely get the pretty snowflakes. 

Last month we did receive out annual ice storm and it was crazy! We called it Iceageddon and we shut down for a 3 days. All Dallas does is use sand trucks and we don't have many to cover the whole metroplex. We had to call in for help from our neighbors in Oklahoma to send their trucks too. I'm very lucky that what I do can be done from my laptop and a phone so I still had to work buy from my couch.  I get serious cabin fever and it's the whole part of I REALLY want to go to store now that I can't. 

My pickup is the worst for driving on Ice because it's not 4wheel drive. I used to have to put a big tire in the bed if truck to weigh it down so it wouldn't be so light and swerve easier. My husbands little car actually had great traction and we got out of the house a few times. We even went to the movies which was great because it wasn't crowded. It took us a long time getting home though because it was dark when we got out and temps refroze the roads. 

In my boredom I got crafty. I painted, decoupaged , hot glued - you name it. I decoupaged a TV tray with pics of Todd and I , made grinch faces on green balls, mod podged 28 bottles with candy and ribbon for coworkers and or church building, decorated sweaters for ugly sweater party, and I'm sure a few more things I can't remember right now . I love doing crafty things and I wish I had more time to do so . I decided to MAKE the time to do more things I enjoy. 

I actually made a New Years Eve resolution this year which is not a practice I do often. I am "unplugging" now in the evenings after 8pm and reading my books. I have 2 bookshelves that are stuffed with dozens of books that I want to put a dent in. I love to read so much and I get mad that I waste hours getting sucked into my iPad on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  I still do all of those now but in smaller doses. I'm currently on my third book already and I love it! Books are something that I can't stop buying even though I have a hundred and home. 

Having Jax is good for me too because it gets me off the couch on the hour to go outside and walk him. Y'all I have become one of "those" new dog moms. I swear every move Jax makes is photo or video worthy. Maybe it's because I don't have kids of my own and he's so dang excited to see me when I get home. I can't wait for work to be done so I can get home to him. Todd jokes that he remembers the days when he was number one. Lol! 

Anywho, today's post is a lot of nothingness but there ya go! Have a great day y'all! 

My sweet Christmas gift I share

Hey y'all, I actually did not intend to take long break from blogging but it happened that way .  Well so did you survive the holidays mainly Christmas? I have to admit that I'm so relieved its over. Now I'm staring at all my decorations and I have zero energy to put it all up.  

Todd and I did not do Christmas gifts for each other because we are on tight budget and we do so much for each other on regular basis. We both had decided though that it was time to get a puppy.  I follow a group/ organization in Dallas called DFW Rescue Me on Facebook and have seen several dogs and cats posted weekly. I knew I would know it when I saw the one meant for us.  There was a family of puppies that were found first and then they found the mom a few days later. The mom is a chihuahua and we have no idea who the baby daddy is. The group had named the puppies after Sesame Street characters and I first fell in love with Bert. I wanted him and so I completed the adoption forms and crossed my fingers. There was 12 applicants ahead of me and so I was asked if I would be interested in his brothers - Cookie Monster and Elmo . 

We drove to Denton on Sunday a week ago and played with the little guys to decide which one we wanted and we chose Elmo. It was hard to decide and so I let Todd make the final choice since he's never had a dog before.  The foster mom that has the puppies had to travel for Christmas and asked us if we could wait until after Christmas and we said of course . Funny thing is that once we met him , we wanted him right then and it was hard being patient. The group has to do home visits first as a rule before we can pickup the pet and so another foster friend came by on Thursday after Christmas and had brief visit with us. We has Christmas at Todd's family that evening and afterwards I picked him up while Todd dropped off the kiddos. We named him Jax and keeping Elmo as middle name.  He's around 10 wks old and I love him so much! 

My uncle is a welder and made us a customized kennel for him that fits perfectly under the desk in hallway. He won't be in it except when we are at work and he seems to like it.  

This morning he discovered the mirror and I heard him bark for the first time. It was so funny!  So this years Christmas will be in the books as first married Christmas and when we adopted our black furry boy Jax Elmo. 

I took him to Walgreens with me today and carried him in big purse. He was so good. I have had a killer cold this week so I'm gonna go lay down now. 

Big Texas Toy Run and stuff

Disclaimer: Always make sure you hit publish after you write post from phone. I didnt realize it didnt post until last night. Happy Tuesday y'all! I have been wanting to blog everyday and yet I am just now getting to it since last week.  I'm doing this post from my iPhone on lunch hour so I feel a little rushed. Anyways, last weekend was our annual Big Toy run that Todd and I along with group of friends like to participate in.  We start out early in the morning to meet up , then we go have breakfast at yummy diner in Ft Worth before we head to the park where we get wait for ride to begin.  There is a band and food trucks and of course portable potty's to hold us over for a few hours.  This year was not the greatest turnout because of the weather but it goes on rain or shine.  It was rainy and cold all day and windshield temp was 31 degrees. I know it was colder in other parts of the country but stand outside yourself in the cold damp windy weather on a motorcycle for 6 hours. You'll be chilled to the bone. There was still hundreds and hundreds if bikes but I've seen it much more crowded. The ride starts at the same time in Dallas location and Ft Worth location and we meet in the middle in Grand Prairie at a stadium. We get police escort and the onramps get blocked during the ride on highway. People park their cars and bring chairs to wave at us and take pictures . It is so fun! 

Here are some pictures from that day. 

Have a fantastic day! 

Year in Review

I interrupt my normally scheduled Tuesday Tunes to link up with Nicole and post my year in review. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before? I got married! I also witnessed a family member (my dad) receive a double lung transplant. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn’t make one and if I did I don’t remember . Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, My step-sister gave me a beautiful niece named Ava and my Cousin had daughter named Maggie. And my sweet friend Nicole who’s hosting this review is due any minute! Did anyone close to you die? Yes. A close coworker named Fred. I miss him A lot! And to be technical, My father died 3 times and was brought back my medical teams during his stay in hospital. What countries did you visit? Canada was the only one I visited outside the states What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013? I guess more security/stability in my job. We are going thru a large merger and not sure what role I will play. Oh and a honeymoon since we didn’t get one this year. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory? I have 2 dates- July 20 was Dad’s transplant and August 31 was my wedding. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Pulling off a wedding while my Dad was so sick in hospital. ( major theme here can you tell) What was your biggest failure? I would say that I didn’t keep up with some friends like I normally would (but it works both ways doesn’t it) Did you suffer illness or injury? Just my annual crippling migraine What was the best thing you bought? My husband’s wedding band. He picked it out and loves it Whose behavior merited celebration? My husband who was my rock while dealing with Dad’s illness. My mother who struggles with Lupus and came for wedding on hottest day of the year. Where did most of your money go? Wedding, Husbands new car engine, bills, tithes (bought church bathroom stalls), Thrift stores What did you get really, really, really excited about? When we celebrated Daddy’s 64th birthday last month and of course saying I Do! What song will always remind you of 2013? Hey pretty girl- Kip Moore ( My father daughter dance at wedding). Compared to this time last year, are you: Happier or sadder? Happier Thinner or fatter? Fatter Richer or poorer? Poor in money but Richer in spirit What do you wish you’d done more of? Read my books, picked up my guitar to learn again, sent more cards, exercised/worked out What do you wish you’d done less of? Worry, eat bad How will you be spending Christmas? Christmas Eve with my husband’s family and Christmas Day at my Dad’s with stepmom and my brother , sister and my nieces Did you fall in love in 2013? More everyday with my husband How many one-night stands? Zero Who were your best friends? Holly, Di, Wendy, Lauren,Laura, Kimi and Julie What thing did you do that was meaningful to others? I asked everyone for clothing donations and food and was able to help some families out. What were your favorite TV programs? Sons of Anarchy, The Voice, American Horror story, Ellen Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hate is a very strong word but I very much dislike a “friend” that betrayed me. It hurts my heart! What was the best book you read in 2013? I read a few books here and there but not one that stood out. I guess the book from Anne Rice about a werewolf. I don’t remember the title. What was your greatest musical discovery? Imagine Dragons. I really enjoy their music for a newer band. Hard question because y’all know how much I love all music! What did you want and get? I wanted to be married and I got a beautiful wedding ring. What did you want but did NOT get? I want an orange KitchenAid but still working on it. The year isn’t up yet! What was your favorite film of this year? I didn’t see many movies this year but I’ll go with Lincoln and the Hunger Games movies What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I picked my husband up from the hospital ( he had been in for 4 days with bleeding ulcer) and I had a small party at Club Schmitz with about 15 people What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Less drama and stress but it was all worth it! What kept you sane? My husband, friends, church, my quiet time with my flea market magazines Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Charlie Hunham who plays JAX on SOA. What political issue stirred you the most? The health reform act by President Obama , Stupid Dennis Rodman going to Korea, our troops in the middle east Who did you miss? My cousin/best friend Lauren left Texas to move to NC and then back to Georgia. I miss her everyday. I also miss my nieces in Oklahoma. I didnt see them much this year and that makes me sad as well. Who was the best new person you met this year? I would have to say my friend Julie. I met her last year but our friendship truly blossomed this year. Also some blogger friends like Marla, Brittany, Marci, Chris, Deb, Heidi, Lanthie, Lynn, Kathy, and Phil . Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013. Life is a gift and cannot be taken for granted. Be nice and say I love you more! Quote that sums up your year: Two lungs and a wedding!

Catching up

Good morning my lovely blogging buddies. I tell you sometimes it just doesn't pay to take a week off work when you have to do 2 weeks worth when you get back .  I love staying busy though it makes the time fly by. So I still haven't told you about my thanksgiving weekend .  It started the Wednesday night before thanksgiving. My friends who  own a chain of diners around Dallas always host a large dinner for their friends and the volunteers who serve the next day.  Typically in all the years past , I always spent the day at their house with Pam and helped cool all day. This year the dinner was at one of the diners so I spent day running much needed errands. One of the errands was driving to exclusive salon in Dallas that makes and styles wigs. The salon partners up with American cancer society also and takes wig donations to give to a woman in need of a beautiful wig. I've asked all my family and friends to give me their clothes  donations for my church and my cute grandma had 6 nice wigs in the bag. I went online to find place who takes wigs and I came across this salon. I had left them a voice mail on Tuesday evening and they called me first thing Wednesday morning . They were so sweet and excited for the donation . My grandma is very particular and spent quite a lot on these nice wigs. When I drove there , the girl I spoke to on phone wrote mine and my grandmas name and address down and will let us know when they find a good home. Pretty cool to know we helped out a few women to look beautiful while they go thru chemo. She even hugged me before I left the salon. 

Todd and I went to the diner for dinner party around 7 and had a great time. It's funny because I see the same people once a year for the last 13 years. 

Thursday morning I volunteered from 9 to 12:30 feeding the homeless and anyone else who came through the doors. I love it so much and I also enjoy seeing the familiar faces there. I waitressed in college but by gosh it all came back like riding a bike. I left earlier than I normally would because I this year is different for me. Haha! I am married now and have another family to think of. So I drove to Plano ( opposite direction of south Dallas) and had lunch with Todd and his family. Todd went and picked up the kiddos so we got to see them for a few hours. After lunch and dessert and a good visit , Todd had to take the kids back home and he met me at our friends house where we watched the Dallas Cowboys win football game. We had great evening with friends relaxing and drinking wine. Ahhhh! 

For some of you who know me well, sit down because this was the very first time I did ZERO shopping on Black Friday . Money is tight this year so it was nice and relaxing day and we put up our Christmas tree and my Grinch table.   We decked our halls on Saturday morning and afternoon and then we had surprise birthday party for my beautiful stepmom turning 60.  My stepbrother and his girlfriend Susie , my stepsister Rachelle and husband Henry , and Todd and I all pitched in and bought her and Dad a trip in a hot air balloon and a bucket with champagne to take . She had no idea that all her friends and family were there at bar for her . Daddy took her to dinner with another couple and were just going to "swing by for quick beer" after their dinner. It was awesome! 

Wrapping up this long post, I am just so excited about my large donation to our church food pantry.  After church in Sunday , Todd and I had lunch with my friends Diana and David and like broken record , I asked them for any cloth ting donation and for them to ask their brothers and sisters.  Well Monday night they called me and asked if my church accepted food. As matter of fact we have a food pantry that feeds those in need in our community . For whatever reason, David's job has a storage with several large cans of food that they aren't using. Score! Todd took my truck yesterday and met him after work and now I have some church members on way to my work to pick up all the cans. It just makes me feel so good when we can all pitch in and help.   

Yesterday in Dallas we got up to almost 80 degrees and overnight it's in the 30's and expected to have sleet and freezing temps by tonight . Crazy weather! 

Gotta run and finish work in case we get to go home early. Stay safe and warm! 

Dad making faces . Geesh! 

Tuesday Tunes

Good morning everyone and Happy Tuesday! I am at work and so totally slammed from being off all last week. Today's post will be brief but i'll have longer one tomorrow with my Thansgiving pics and such.
My song today is one of my most favorites because its a duet with Michael Stipe who is lead singer of REM and Chris Martin who is lead singer of band Coldplay.  Truth is i was flipping channels a few years ago and stumbled on Austin City's Limits and heard them sing this song. It was incredible and i went straight to Itunes and bought it within the hour. These two voices together is so soothing and moved me!
I hope you enjoy it.

Leslyn, Lauren and I have decided that at the end of this month we are retiring our Tuesday Tunes. We've had a nice long run with it and so appreciate all the new blogs we met who linked up.  Luckily we have 5 Tuesdays in the month of December.  :)