Book signing and girl fun

Hey y'all, I am back home and not traveling for another week and a half.  Did i mention that we're going back to Sturgis again this year? It will be my 3rd time and last for me. Its fun but i told Todd if he wants to again after this, i'm out.  I came back home last Thursday from Ohio and a few hours later after landing, i met up with my friend Julie for a girls night out and book signing from a fellow blogger who recently published a book.
My sister-in-law Sarah introduced me to Brittany's blog a few years ago not long after i created my blog.  After reading her blog , i also started to follow her Facebook and Instagram too.   Her blog is Brittany Herself.  She contributes often to BlogHer and is a TED speaker where she spoke out about loving yourself and being overweight.  Brittany is very inspirational and i wish i had a quarter of her confidence.  Her book is Fat Girl Walking which is a memoir and has already made New York Times Bestseller.
Brittany has a very close friend that lives in Ft Worth and has visited a few times over the years but i was never able to make the events. I planned to see her this time in advance and i am so excited that it worked out.  I invited Julie to go with me because i knew she would love her as much as i did.  Sure enough, she bought her book and was ready to meet her in person.  I honestly knew that Brittany would be just as cool and laid back in person and she is on her blog and her book. She's very real and hysterical.  She talks about her husband Andy and her 3 kids often and they are every bit a normal family from Ohio.
The event began close to 8pm and they served wine so definitely off to good start.  The plan was she would talk and have a Q and A with us, then sign our books and then head to a restaurant a block away to have dinner with her.  I think there were at least 100 of us give or take and was a nice crowd. It took her so long to sign the books because that was our time we could also talk to her about anything we wanted. There was not a time limit and she didnt have an agent shuffling us through like cattle.  The good news was that i was very close in line for the book signing but bad news was that she had at least another 40 people who were still in line and it was getting late.   Julie and i were starving and we needed something to soak up the wine we had.  We went ahead and decided to leave and not have dinner with the group.  We stumbled on this taqueria Salsa Limon and dang was it delicious!! I had 3 tacos and could have gone back for more but i really needed to get home.  The event was in Ft Worth and is about an hour away from where i live.
I had Brittany sign my name and i also asked her to sign Thank you Sarah . I took a picture of that and texted Sarah because i knew she would appreciate that.  It was a great evening with my sweet friend Julie and it was awesome to meet Brittany in person and have her sign my book.

If you want to read a funny but true book, I totally recommend hers!

Battle of the Bands- Round 2

Hey y'all!!! So i'm working this week in Ohio and i've been swamped. Its funny that the BOTB has ended up being both weeks that i've traveled. I almost went to bed when i remembered that tomorrow is the 15th and thats when the battles get posted.   Remember how it was raining cats and dogs when i was in St Louis? Well I brought it with me here and its been crazy storming around me.  Last night the winds and the thunder woke me up.  Stay safe out there if you're in the path of these storms. Its also crazy here with some kind of baseball All Star shindig.  Cincinnati is the host of the sport thing and all the hotels here are packed and tons of people are here.  Meh! Is how i feel about baseball.
Lets get started on the songs shall we.  Its after 11 and i have to get up early. This is my second time to play in the battle and i'm nervous that someone has already done the same battle.  I guess i just need to not worry and also know that i have different followers so your vote will be a new one.
My song this week is called Bad Company by the band Bad Company.  The song was released in 1974.  They were a British band and were considered hard rock back in the 70's.  They also have other hits such as Feel Like Makin Love, Running with the Pack, and Cant get Enough.  I have their greatest hits CD and its a great road trip CD to listen to!!

Ironically 5 years ago on my birthday May 17th, 2010 a very heavy metal hard rock band called Five Finger Death Punch released their album that included a cover of this song.  I ask you to be open minded because quite frankly, i think they do a FANTASTIC job!! Some of their other songs are pretty heavy but they reined it in on this song.  This band started in Las Vegas in 2005 so they've only been around for 10 years. They're doing pretty good and have won a couple of Indie awards, Rock Radio awards, etc.  They released a song last year that i like called Wrong side of Heaven.  I'll play it for you sometime....

I am excited to hear your vote and i will post the results on the 21st i think.  HAHA- i have to check to see when i'm supposed to.  There is quite a few battles being hosted and the list is at Stephen's page.  Please Please go there and vote for other songs. You may hear some new songs and artists that you like.   Have a great day tomorrow!!

My Junkin finds....

Good morning, I'm at the airport about to  board plane heading into Dayton, Ohio. I'm working at our office located at our Loveland location and it's my first time to be there.  I've mentioned my company is merging with another company on several occasions. This office belongs to the "other side".  Let's just hope I stay upright today and I don't fall down like the last week when I traveled. Hahaha! 

Saturday I was on my way to a thrift store that (benefits battered women)  to donate bags of clothes when I realized this one neighborhood was bulk trash day.  Yall I have no qualms about dumpster diving and porch picking! I scored a heavy white wicker chest of drawers. FREE!!! It was super fun loading it in my truck by myself.  All it needs is some TLC, new knobs and fresh paint.  Last year I found a white wicker headboard so now I will be selling them as a set.   

I was surrounded by garage sales and my thrift store didn't open for another hour so what's a girl to do!!  Shop. 

I can't believe the great things I found. 

I found a glider rocking chair stripped down of course by the curb.  Easy to fix for sure!  I bought a solid wood desk that is too cute for - 10$!!!! It's not plywood yall it is the real deal.  I bought a globe, a drafting desk (10$), and a ladder bench, and a chandelier(5$) and a head board. 

Have you seen benches being made from headboards? So cute! I bought a twin size headboard and footboard a few weeks ago for 10$.  I found a gorgeous wooden board by the curb. It was just too pretty to leave behind.  

I bought a Victorian love seat last weekend at Canton but didn't post picture. 

I also bought a brand new floor rug to replace our other one that my dog practiced potty training on.  I hated throwing that rug away but the stains didn't come out.  The rug is huge and it was also 10$.  Score! 

I love this old picnic basket I bought. It was made in Iowa. 

A plant stand for 2$

The drafting desk I'll be painting 

Headboard I bought and piece of wood I found 

How cute are these silver salt and pepper shakers? 

So funny story about the lamp- it was in the curb and I only wanted the lampshade for the shade frame. This guy opens the door and yells "the lamp works"!  I thought he was mad for grabbing his trash but actually he came out and said " I know you may think it doesn't work because it's in trash pile but it does work. I just set it out this morning".  So I had to take the ugly lamp because I didn't want to hurt his feelings.  Then the lamp shade ended up being in terrible condition and it crumbled in my backseat.  I may clean this baby up and see her shine! 

Fred Sanford ain't got nothing on me!! 

No room inside the truck either! 

Have a great day yall! My blogging may be slow this week depending on work load. 

Songs for Thursday: Steven Tyler's new country song and another song with Willie and a family member

So last week's Battle of the Bands i had Willie Nelson and his son Lukas as a contender.  The song received very positive feedback and for the most, everyone liked it. Lukas sounds just like Willie.
Now here is a song that Willie sings with his daughter Paula.  Seems like the whole family is pretty talented. Its a cover of song Have you ever seen the rain

Now , lots of hubbub going on about Steven Tyler from the band Aerosmith switching over to the country side on his new album.  Honestly, i have to tell you that i really like Aerosmith! I've seen them in concert 3 times and have all their cd's.  They were just in concert in Oklahoma last weekend to a sold out show ( i didnt go).  They're not going anywhere.  Steven is just branching out like a lot of singers do.   I am in LOVE with his first country release.  It has his flair and not too country at all.
I also really love the video with the old timey truck and the neat gypsy caravans.....
Tell me what do you think?
Its called Love is your Name

Send your kisses my way
Bring your sweet heart to me
I’ve been waiting for so long

Tell me all your stories
Leave some open for me
Write your name into this song

I’ll walk through the fire
I’ll run through the rain
I’ll wait for forever
If Love is your name
Your name

Catch a wind from heaven
Sail down while I’m sleeping
Wake me with the morning sun
Oh, oh- oh
I’ll dream of you until you come

I’ll walk through the fire
I’ll run through the rain
I’ll Wait for forever
If Love is your name

Valentines keep knocking
My heart keeps on walking
Darling I’ll hold on for you
For You, for you

I’ll walk through the fire
I’ll run through the rain
I’ll wait for forever
If Love is your name

If love is your name
If love is your name

Have a great Thursday Y'all!!

A little song for today

Good morning y'all!!! Its been super crazy busy this week with my team in town.  We are all spread out from Illinois, Virginia, Upstate New York  and here in Texas.  While we're in our meetings, i'm getting farther behind in my emails.  Oh the woes!! LOL.  No big deal on the grand scheme but enough to get me frazzled. 

Have you heard of Kacey Musgraves? She's a newer up and coming female country artist.  I really like her! She's sassy and from East Texas.   

I like several of her songs but here are two good ones i wanted to share. 

This is Keep it to yourself:

You turn on the light
Then you turn it back off
'Cause sleeping alone, yeah it ain't what you thought
It's the drip of the sink
It's the click of the clock
And you're wondering if I'm sleeping

You heard from your friends
That I'm doing okay
And you're thinking, maybe you made a mistake
And you want me to know
But I don't wanna know
How you're feeling

Keep it to yourself
If you think that you still love me
Put it on a shelf
If you're looking for someone
Make it someone else
When you're drunk
And it's late
And you're missing me like hell
Keep it to yourself

If you see me out and I'm standing alone
Well it don't mean that I'm gonna need a ride home
If you walk up to me like it ain't what it is
I know that it ain't gonna end with a kiss

So keep it to yourself
If you think that you still love me
Put it on a shelf
If you're looking for someone
Make it someone else
When you're drunk
And it's late
And you're missing me like hell
Just keep it to yourself
Yeah, keep it to yourself

Yeah, when you're drunk
And it's late
And you're sad
And you hate going home alone
Cause you're missing me like hell
Keep it to yourself
Yeah, keep it to yourself

Yeah, keep it to yourself

This is my favorite one and it was her first hit. Its called Follow your Arrow

If you save yourself for marriage
You're a bore
If you don't save yourself for marriage
You're a whore-able person
If you won't have a drink
Then you're a prude
But they'll call you a drunk
As soon as you down the first one

If you can't lose the weight
Then you're just fat
But if you lose too much
Then you're on crack
You're damned if you do
And you're damned if you don't
So you might as well just do
Whatever you want
So

Make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, or don't
Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points

If you don't go to church
You'll go to hell
If you're the first one
On the front row
You're self-righteous
Son of a-
Can't win for losing
You'll just disappoint 'em
Just 'cause you can't beat 'em
Don't mean you should join 'em

So make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, or don't
Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points

Say what you think
Love who you love
'Cause you just get
So many trips 'round the sun
Yeah, you only
Only live once

So make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's what you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, I would
And follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points

Have a fantastic Wednesday!!

Winner of BOTB and Creative Blogger Award

Hi Y'all!! Have you already been nominated for the Creative Blogger Award?  It seems to be contagious because so many of my friends and fellow bloggers have been posting about this. Well now its my turn because that sweet crazy lady who I adore over at Cherdo on the Flipside nominated me.  She posted HERE last week but I was being held hostage in a training room every day and had no time on the day or evenings to blog.

Its a pretty easy thing to do and you get to meet other bloggers.

 The rules:

1. Thank and post the link of the person who nominated you.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself to your readers.
3. Nominate 5-20 blogs and notify them.
4. Pass on the rules

I want to start with Rule no.1 and thank Cherdo for nominating me!!! Anytime someone thinks about me and wants to mention my blog, it is a true honor . You're a gem and a keeper and i'm so very grateful our blogs have crossed paths sweet girl.

Now for 5 facts about me.  I am pretty open and at times repetitive so I don't think I have anything new that you don't already know.
1.  I own numerous- I mean countless of blank journals and have bought them since I was a teenager with the hopes of journaling. I was given a diary with the heart shaped lock on it when I was around 8. I wrote in it almost everyday.  Then for whatever reason I stopped.  I envy my friends who have stacks of journals and can see their growth and experiences.  I have 2 day planners that I used for similar purposes when I was in college. Those are funny to read some of my daily events.  Thank goodness for blogging because this is my journal/diary in many ways.

2. My career path as I grew: I went to Catholic school on and off for 8 years. I wanted to be a Nun and would wear my white tshirts on my head when we played.  Then in middle school we moved to Northern California and my stepdads friends worked for Nasa.  I was hooked and wanted to do something Nasa related. Then we moved to Southern California where my love for the ocean began. I was going to be a marine biologist and maybe even join the Coast Guard.  We moved to Texas just before high school and that's when I got back into dance. It was the 80's so I was going to be jazzercise instructor, dance studio owner and if possible Dallas Cowboy cheerleader and /or Radio City Rockette.  I got out of school and was a trainer and restaurant manager for 5 years, then a retail store manager until I got my corporate job where I've been for 20 years this September.  There were a handful of jobs I left out when in college like the video store and hosting at restaurants, then waitressing and a photographer sales assistant.  I also was an executive admin to a door to door business when I lived a few years in my 20's in Florida.  I worked at Walmart on a work program in high school getting school credits for working. I was employed at a dry cleaners and was a Builder coordinator (showing people model homes for the reps on their days off), I was an apartment assistant and rented apartments a few years. I worked in retail for Harley for 4 years.  I worked for Dad at his carpet cleaning business during high school summers and I babysat.  I'm sure I left out a job here and there and many of these I did at the same time.  I always worked 2 jobs up until the time I began traveling with my job. 

3. My first vehicle was a small tan Datsun truck in high school. I drove it for 8 years. Then I got a red Mazda Protégé when I was the coordinator for a home builder. I had to have 4 door car for people to ride with me to the model homes.  I traded that in after a few years for a white Jeep Cherokee. After that I owned a red ford stepside small truck.  A few years later I traded that in for a burgundy red Ford explorer. I drove that for 6 years until I got my red Toyota Tacoma truck that I drive today.   So most all of my vehicles have always been red trucks or Suv's. 

4. I have had my "15 minutes of fame" when I was in dance in junior college. I danced in the Macy's parade in NYC and the next year I danced in Orange Bowl halftime in Florida.  I also danced in the governors inaugural parade in Austin and in Mardi Gras parade. 

5. Years ago when I bought my first Harley ( in '97), I bought it using one of those checks that credit cards send you to pay off other cards or to spend it. So essentially I charged my Harley. I paid it off though fast because as mentioned above, I was working 2 jobs.

Now I nominate:
Deb at Just Keepin It real 
Phil at The regular guy nYC
Lauren at Hope for the Moment
Chris at Tilting At windmills
Laura at We really got this


Now for the Battle of the Bands. I had so much fun being a host of a battle and the participation was awesome.  It was neck and neck and tied for a while.  However the winner is Willie Nelson and his son Lukas.  They won by 2 votes and i didnt vote.  It was so hard to choose so i didnt. I guess if i had to, i would choose Willie. I've seen him so many times and he's local.  The vote was 10 to 12.
Thanks so much for voting yall!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Long Great Holiday weekend

Good morning and happy Monday Yall!

Hope everyone had a lovely and safe July 4th!  My weekend was very laid back and  pretty relaxing.  We had Friday off as a holiday at my company which was awesome! I went to Canton with my friend T to get inspired and see if there was anything I couldn't live without.  I did pretty good. I didn't buy too too much.  Pictures will come later. I bought an old Victorian loveseat and a cool old paper stand. We couldn't stay all day because we had dinner plans with my inlaws. I love Canton and I have gone there for years. Its a famous flea market that has grown to be Huge.  It was a perfect day! We left just as it was getting hot and crowded and then finished the night with family at one of my favorite restaurants. 

Saturday we drove over to my brother in laws and his girlfriend Paula's house in FtWorth. They had a BBQ and grilled burgers.  I brought Watergate salad.  It's the whipped cream with pistachio pudding and fruit and nuts.  It was funny because I kept calling it Nixon salad the night before. When I went to the store I looked on google and realized it was Watergate. I guess when I hear Watergate, I think Nixon.  Hahaha!  I guess you had to be there. My inlaws totally shook their head like they knew what i was talking about.  We renamed it Scandal salad.  It's delicious! 

We took a group family selfie:

We didn't see any fireworks this year which is the first year ever I didn't make a point to watch them.  This is the first year  to have 2 dogs and they are so scared of them. It wasn't worth them being scared and upset.  We watched them on TV in Washington DC and New York.  We had to mute the TV when they would play the pips of the fireworks.  Unfortunately we were 2 blocks away from our towns festivities and we heard them by our bedroom window for hours. Todd grabbed Lila and just held her and that calmed her down.  Jax stayed under the covers near me and barked under the covers. He's so brave!

Yesterday was a fun day. After church we drove up to Denton which is maybe 30 miles north. We ate at Mellow Mushroom which is a pizza place and is so good! It's one of Todd's fave places.  Then we went on a leisurely drive thru the country on some back roads. I used to go the same back roads when I lived with dad in college and went to University of North Texas. I wanted to see if I still remembered and how much it changed.   I did good. I second guessed myself a few times and said I think I was supposed to turn there but I didn't and just kept going.  We had to exchange Todd's wedding ring that I bought him on Father's Day.  That was the direction we were aiming at was to get to the store I bought it at.  We got that done and went home. 

I got a bug to paint.  I painted 3 drawers and a vintage wooden ironing board. 

My goal for the drawers is to turn into shelves.  

The pic on left is from Pinterest and the drawers in right are mine. They're drying outside.  

I painted the ironing board with black chalkboard paint.  I'm thinking of writing Welcome down the length of the board. Or maybe Myers Family..... Endless possibilities. Lol! 

So that's it.  Fun and relaxing. 

This week my team is flying in for meetings here in Dallas.  It's going to be another very busy week at work!! 

Have a fabulous day and if you haven't already, make sure to go vote on my Battle of the bands post from next week.