New Year. New You.

Christmas is over and I find myself with a small case of Postpartumchristmas Depression. This Holiday seems to have flow by and I somewhat feel that I missed it? Presents under the tree and the anticipation of opening are always fun. Not to mention giving and actually receiving. Spending time with family is beyond enjoyable. But was I in a coma for a week?
My birthday passed and this is the first year I did nothing. On the day of my birthday, I went to work, hoping for the best, but as the day progressed, my sickness took over. Later, I sat and cried to Mom because I missed the days of going shopping, getting the perfect outfit for a night of celebration, going out on the town to celebrate with my friends... I'm left curious if I should expect a lifetime of "I miss..."
After talking with Mom, I realized I had everything I needed at home. My family was here, for goodness sake! So I sat and enjoyed the time I had with them and with the woman who GAVE me a birthday. I think I will always miss the good ole days but rather than "I miss..." I want to say " I love..." I love my life. I love my husband. I love my friends. It may be different now, but different doesn't mean worse. 28 marks the age of a new outlook on life. I can do this.

Resolution #1
Positive Patti. I will look at my life with a positive outlook and count my blessings as often as I can. There will always be someone skinnier. Someone prettier. Someone younger. Richer. Smarter. I will be the best and happiest ME I can be and know that I am lucky and blessed.


Resolution #2
Jesus Freak. I will talk to God more often. I will set aside my 'precious' time for just Him and I. I miss Him.

Resolution #3
Virginia Woolf. I will take time to recount my thoughts and write in my journal (that Jamie bought me for Christmas) or on my Blog. In addition, I will cut out some TV time to turn my brain ON and read.

Resolution #4
Slim Jim. I will lose weight. Rather, I will gain muscle. 27 was pretty sloppy. Let's make 28, GREAT and IN SHAPE. Jessica Biel, I'm coming for ya!

Resolution #5
Loosey Goosey. I will focus on making my husband happy. I will cook more. I will make decisions and compromise better.

Resolution #6
Friendly Freida. I will be the BEST friend I can be. I will listen more and talk less. I will not hold grudges and know everyone makes mistakes. I will realize everyone is different with different outlooks and wants, I will accept that. I will not take things personally or keep score, rather I will move on and treat others as I would want to be treated.




Resolution #7
Daughter Dearest. I will be a better daughter, a better family member. I will make time to spend with family. I will call my Mom at least once a week. I will make time for Birmingham trips. I will send EVERYONE a birthday card, even my cousin's children. I will keep in touch.

Resolution #8
Frugal Freddy. I cannot make any promises when it comes to my fashion purchases, but I can proclaim that I will save. I will find my 401K and invest. I will put something back each pay check, but aim for $50/check.



Resolution #9
Debbie Debtless. I will get out of debt. I will pay off all store credit cards, one at a time. I will stop paying the minimum on all credit cards. By 2012, the only debt I want, is that of a mortgage.

Resolution #10
Selling Sally. We will have the Florence House SOLD, or rented with full mortgage covered. We will have a home we can call our own.

Resolution #(20)11
Traveling Treva. I will travel. I will vacation. I WILL book a cruise with my folks for August.

I'm fairly certain I could use the remainder of my working hours to talk about the different places I want to travel but I'll just round it off here. Here's to a better 2011!! 

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I Wish!!...list. Round Duece!

...uh oh. I wonder how many rounds I can go before I get 'knocked out.' Eek!

I have quickly realized that shoes are my weakness. I want shoes. All of them. In every color. And I want them NOW NOW NOW! h.e.l.p.m.e.

Since the lovely and gorgeous Christian Louboutin pumps are just a tad out of my budget, I could definitely settle for these Steve Madden Scandall glitter pumps.

In addition to a good pair of 'party pumps,' I really need some nice Black Work Shoes for winter. I am really liking this style pump that resembles a wedge. Neat-o!

I found another version from Alloy that I really like too.

And ok, speaking of wedge-ish shoes, I really find myself attracted to these boots from Target. They come in Black and Brown as well.

Funny you mention Grey - These Michael Antonio Pumps from DSW are the bees-knees. And cheap!

Oh look! More shoes from the 'grey' family! I love Aldo.

I don't want to discriminate on my "Cold" Winter Boots so here are a couple I have been glaring at.

Did I mention I love Aldo? I'm thinking these are more for when I up and move to Oregon.

And lastly from the random drool list, the lovely Time Teller P Nixon watches. :)

...And that'll do. Thank you, Blogger, for allowing me to waste some time while at work this morning and revisit the items I love. To be continued....

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I Wish!! .... list

It seems every 2 weeks I get an 'itch' to shop till I drop. I go to all my favorite online stores looking to 'scratch' and all I i end up with is a puddle of drool all over my keyboard. FAIL! The issue is simple. I need therapy. Or a sugar daddy.
In my efforts to convince myself that there is still a Santa (that reads blogs), I am going to list all those that I am currently lusting after and, just maybe, Santa will decide to come out of retirement for my $2000 I WISH...list.
I would like to start out by listing a couple things I NEED vs. WANT. This season, I NEED a new coat!

This Express Coat - in camel - is adorable. I love the tiered bottom and the versatile color that can go with both black and brown. NEED!
Another MUST have is a purse. My poor poor NY&C purse is falling apart. Not to mention I lose everything inside. I don't have an everyday purse I am going lady gaga over, but I have been - and am still - in the market for a cross-body, black, gold chain purse. I recently found one for 70% off on Hautelook (denim, gold-chained cross-body) but chickened out in the Checkout. I told myself that I have yet to purchase my family and sweet hubbie their gifts so they take first priority. *GAG* ;)
Another season must-have (for me) are scarfs. I'll take one of each color, please. :) Target has a nice grey scarf I am wanting and it's cheap-cheap!

Ok, now I have no idea where I am in the NEED vs. WANT category so I'm just gonna keep going. I really like this 'look for less' from Piperlime of this MinkPink Knit Cardigan. 

Although here is another version I really like as well - for about the same price. It comes in Ivory too.

...And since we're already on the Express Website, I am still kicking myself for not taking advantage of the Buy 1, get 1 50% off when I recently purchased, what Brandi calls, my Full House jeans (Acid Black Wash Leggins from Express). Their leggings are so comfortable and are actually 'jeans.' I am now in the market for the black pair. (Size 8, Santa)

Ok, I have quickly realized I could go on and on and on and... but I will end this post with ONE pair of shoes on my NEED list. I do LOVE my heels (especially when married to a 6'4 fella) but I find myself wearing my Frye look-a-like boots (from Target) every other day, so I will conclude this post with some flat boots...

These Steven by Steve Madden boots, in Cognac rock my socks. OH, and if you get these boots, you HAVE to have the belt to match, right? See, told ya I could go on for days... MAKE IT STOP!

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Florence or Bust?

The summer is officially over and Fall is here! This means, the trees are changing, Basketball season is upon us, my 1 year anniversary is around the corner... but where did the 'nice' weather go? I feel like we had 2 days of that spring time feeling and now BrRrRrRrRrRrRrRrR....
Oh well. I guess the cold weather brings Christmas so I can't complain too much. :)

In thinking of Christmas, I am reminded that our Apartment Lease is almost over - December 31 to be exact. Jamie and I first thought we would re-new our apartment for another year, but now that summer has passed and we no longer need our fabulous pool, we want a fireplace. Basis for a move? Not exactly, but at least it brought some things to our attention.

Jamie's house in Florence is still for sale. Correction - Jamie's house is off the market due to a family of 4 whom is renting his house. Renters are all fine and great but their Lease is up, and they are now renting month-to-month as they wait for their own house to sell. So, here we are faced with two options. We can attempt to make them sign another year lease, in which they don't even cover the entire mortgage (we're out an extra $200 of our own money as we are also paying towards something else...) - OR, we can give them 45 days notice to get out, and we can move in.

Jamie's house is too cute. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Fenced in backyard. 2 car garage. Cute Neighborhood. But it's in Florence?? Don't get me wrong, Florence is such a cute city and only an hour and a half away from Hsv... but on the other hand, it's an hour and a half away from Hsv.
Jamie has recently applied for a new job in Hsv and it looks promising. I too have a Hsv job. The daily commute of 3 hours doesn't sound like the most journey I've ever taken.... but, it's doable. We have talked about the options and we would car-pool - obviously - and leave one car in Hsv throughout the week and one would come home with us everyday. This would give both of us a car during workdays so that we could make our 'rounds.' Not too bad.
Another 'Con' is that I would have to cancel my gym membership. :( I have my lovely workout partners and my usual classes that I attend and I would definitely miss this. There is a Golds Gym about 2 miles from jamie's house that we would join but I would miss my classes, instructors (Hot Gloria) and workout partners. :(
Besides all the potential Cons, I feel the Pros outweigh in this situation. First of all, we would move in the first of December. This would allow for us to get settled, paint a bit, get it "homey" and have a nice home for my parents to visit over the holidays. In addition, after we have fixed it up a bit, we would put it back on the market and be able to actively sell it. Once sold, we could move back "home."

Did I mention Jamie's house has a fireplace? SOLD! :)

If we didn't go the Florence-Route, we plan to move into Taylor's house who has said that we can Rent his 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house for $600/month - half of his mortgage. He is having some selling woes as well and would just appreciate the help...as we also appreciate the hook-up. This is the route that is most attractive to me, but having the house in Florence hanging over my head and the potential for Taylor's house to sell at any time and we would have to pack up and get out, just seems like Florence is the best option at the time.

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Feel Good Friday

As the weekend approaches, I can feel myself getting antsy with all the possibilities of what this fabulous weekend will hold. First and foremost on my agenda, RUN.

Ever since Kelsie's Bachelorette Trip to the A.T.L., my friend 'Exercise & Diet' has been asking, "Where-oh-Where did my friend Lindsey go?" First I answer her (yes, my friend 'Exercise & Diet' is a her - DUH) with the line from Friends "WE WERE ON A BREAK!" But we all know that never works (thanks a lot Rachel), so I try a different approach... I say it's me not her, and that smooths things over. In fact, we still remain friends and plan to hang out in about 30 mins. I'm pretty excited to see her again.

After kickin' it old school with my long lost friend Exercise, I draw a blank about where to venture onward. Actually it's the opposite of Blank. There are several different ideas running thru my head.

Shall we go to Hog Wild at 7 for another lesson in Line Dancing?
Shall we go to the $1 movies and see Grown Ups (which I heard is hilarious, btw).
Shall we rent RedBox and watch Iron Man II?
Shall we get dressed up and hit a bar?

Most of the time my life consists of the ever-so entertaining option of NOTHING, so this is a nice change of pace. Unfortunately, my body has gotten quite used to doing Nothing and tends to crave this. Not good. Especially when I have a HAWT little Bebe number I've been meaning to wear but have yet to have an occasion. Is tonight the night? Could it be?!?!?

Maybe we can start the night with a drink outside at Scene and see where the liquid courage takes us. Yes, this sounds like a plan.

...but I'll swing by Redbox, just in case. :)

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Babies, Brides & Bachelorette Bashes, OH MY

After getting word that one of my best friends was finally engaged, I received even more great news that she had chosen me to be the Matron of Honor. This 'Honor' has motivated me to do several things for my dear friend so that she can enjoy every moment of her short engagement. Just coming off a wedding myself, I know how excited she is, filled with SO much emotion and wanting to share it with all her friends and family. I just hope we can help create such great memories for her during this once in a lifetime event and celebration.

As I have several 'tricks' up my sleeve for our new Bride, I find myself putting it all on HOLD until we all can come to some sort of agreement in regards to her Bachelorette Celebration. Getting multiple women to coordinate their calendars has proven to be some what of a task.
Women. ;)

In addition to this fun filled future occasion, I have also volunteered to co-host Alicia's Baby Shower with Genny & Mariah. We have come up with some really cute ideas and I just can't wait to see Momma on the day we honor her and baby Briley.

My task for the shower is to provide the games and I am the "lead during the shower." My first, simple game is a crowd favorite - Jelly Bean Count. I plan to make a cute paper design and print several copies, and have everyone fill in their answer on the paper provided. Not sure what the winner will receive but I am thinking I may give them the decorative vase that contains the jelly beans... I'm thinking this will depend on the cost of the vase I find. :)

Another suggested game is the Toilet Paper Game, which needs no explaining. My prize for this game will, hopefully, be a DIY project that is known as Cowgirl Cookies. I have since purchased pink (and brown) M&Ms but haven't tried out the recipe just yet. I also am not sure how much this will cost me so that is something else I will be considering. I have already made a mock logo for this as well. Instead of the cowgirl hat as pictured in the first picture, I am sticking with the theme and using a cute butterfly. :)

I have other ideas for games and prizes but have yet to narrow them down. Other prizes may include an Ulta Gift Bag, Bath & Body Works candle and hand soap (I just love that stuff)... any other ideas for cute, cheaper prizes please pass it along!

I am also going to try my hand at a diaper cake! Wish me luck!

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Money Hungry, Yet Starving...

"The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money."

My buddy Tom sent me this quote yesterday and it really hit home. I've been spending a lot of $$ in the past month either on decorating my home or decorating myself. I follow totes of fashion blogs and 'looks for less' and find myself HAVING to have many items that I see. I sure hope I grow out of this fashion phase.
One in particular are these fabulous (yes, I said fabulous) 'natural' patent leather shoes from Aldo....for $75. :-/ After drooling over them for a month or so, I come across an Aldo store in Cinci and, well, Sold.
...What? I was on vacation!
My first 'experience' wearing them was glorious. They seemed to be comfortable and I love them dearly. After many cocktails and stumbles around the concrete, I find them tore up from the floor up the very next day, with no recollection of how this happened. I managed to wipe down a few scuffs but it's the nicks in each shoe that are irreversible. Long story long, what was the purpose of me HAVING to have those shoes? If I died today, I can't take those with me, so why do I find myself investing myself in fashion. I sure hope this isn't what I'm slowly becoming. I will definitely have to get a second job... or a Suga Daddy.

In other spending news, I am slowly starting to decorate my home. I use the term 'home' loosely but will do the best I can in the meantime. I have found myself loving GREEN colors lately. And I'm not talking about one GREEN in particular, it's the whole family. From light sage to teal to aqua and slate-blue. This whole love-affair came about from finding a clearance curtain at Pier1 while browsing this week. I usually don't 'go' for something like this but it really spoke to me. Could it be that I am finally moving on from my love for deep reds, golds and browns? Say it ain't so!

After my curtain find, I casually walked around with no intention to purchase ANY of these items, yet I found ONE pillow that yelled at me as well. I played with it and paired it up with a couple others until I convinced myself that I needed them. Besides, after all these items speaking and yelling at me, I just had to take them home.
I then purchased two supporting cast members for this lil guy that consist of a light sage pillow and another with a mixture of the two colors as well as browns. Love them. In fact, I love them all so much, I plan to switch bedrooms... today (sorry Kelsie and Brandi).
My new inspiration >>

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Closing...

...of a chapter...of 3 years of my 20s...of the front door of my condo. Today is the day I close on the sale of my first 'home.'

It's a tad bitter sweet saying Farewell to my lil ole condo. I have some fond memories - pool side, being neighbors with Lala, grilling out, game nights, late nights out, getting Bailey... *sigh* good times.

However, after spending an entire week focused on moving every trinket out of that TINY condo, walking away wasn't too difficult. :) All that is left is the extreme clutter in our new apartment at Emerald Ridge.

The new venture is exciting, but I can't help but find myself a little frustrated... or maybe anxious is a better word. The allergies caused by the "stirring up" of dust while moving, in addition to the pollen, have left me snotting my way through the clutter. I can't wait to go through the mess, brush it off, sort it out, put things in its place and start living. Unfortunately, one of our main attractions - the pool view - teases us with every glance out of the window.

Hopefully we can get our new home set up just in time for Kelsie's arrival in May, and then my folks right after.

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The 5 'WATCHES'

Watch your thoughts; they become your words.

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Watch your words; they become actions.

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Watch your actions; they become habits.

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Watch your habits; they become character.

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Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

-Frank Outlaw

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Sunday 'Satisfaction'

Went to church on Sunday morning expecting to hear the awesome teachings of Pastor Mark, only to find that he was out of town. If Pastor Mark is ever out doing Mission Work or what have you, Jamie & I always turn to each other in disappointment because we know we aren't going to leave satisfied. I was pleasantly surprised.

 “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy,
the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” - C.S. Lewis

The "sub" (I can't seem to remember his name) was great! It wasn't till the end of the sermon did it really 'touch' me. He spoke on how a lot of us are "Christian" bc we are looking for a 'get out of Hell free card' and just bc we "pray" for forgiveness or pray in general doesn't mean we really know Jesus. We may THINK we're good-to-go bc we shoot up a prayer or 2 but that isn't the case at all. Usually when someone preaches on this I react confidently knowing that I AM Christian and I KNOW Jesus... today this was not my reaction.

“It was a beautiful letdown, the day I knew, that all the riches this world had to offer me, will never do.” - Jon Foreman

I pray occasionally and ask for direction but when I think about it, I don't listen. I can't honestly say that I have never heard God speak to me...
[Well, with the exception of once - driving into work I was having a hard morning (personally) and i was somewhat praying asking for direction to move on from this... then the radio started to talk about the Love & Marriage seminar in Nashville. It didn't occur to me till later that, just maybe, God answered my silent prayer. It was very comforting.]
... I guess I just thought if I asked, I would automatically do His Will...

I really struggle with some things that are weighing on my heart and it is literally a day-to-day battle for me. I can't even listen to R&B some days bc the words just bring me to a bad place. It's during these songs that I immediately change the channel to 88.1 and listen to Christian. I used to really dislike Christian music but these days I really enjoy it! I have found several songs that really help me get through the day or get through a negative thought I may be having about myself.

What Faith Can Do - Kutless
More Beautiful You - Jonny Diaz
Slow Fade - Casting Crowns
10th Avenue North  - You Are More
Unstoppable - Rascal Flatts (I realize this isn't Christian but here are the words that really hit home... )

"So, so you made a lot of mistakes
Walked down the road a little sideways
Cracked a brick when you hit the wall
Yeah, you've had a pocket full of regrets
Pull you down faster than a sunset
Hey, it happens to us all

When the cold hard rain just won't quit
And you can't see your way out of it

CHORUS
You find your faith has been lost and shaken
You take back what's been taken
Get on your knees and dig down deep
You can do what you think is impossible
Keep on believing, don't give in
It'll come and make you whole again
It always will, it always does
Love is unstoppable"

I started off today by running across this Blog Entry about Satisfaction from a band I really like - 10th Avenue North. 88.1 played a song of theirs (that is not out yet) and it really touched me. I've been trying to find it somewhere other than a Live Version but no luck. The song is called 'You Are More' .

A dear friend of mine who has helped me through a LOT these past few months said that it will be a day-to-day battle and to approach it as such. So far, he has been right. During this process I have realized that I can't fix this myself. I can't. And putting things in God's hands is easier said than done. Walking through the motions in TRYING to put things in God's hands is not actually doing it either. I'm only fooling myself.

I really want to try and start off each day with direction. Not my own direction but knowing that God is leading me. Tomorrow starts my morning prayer...
“Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love” - Psalm 90

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Fashion Forward

 For all my ladies out there, I'm sure you can attest to my Boy-ish Style. Mariah, I know you feel me, gurl. :) Whether that be wearing Jeans on nights we all are "dressed up" (please see image to left), wearing sweats (and uggs) EVERYWHERE or reppin' basketball shorts and a cut off at the gym - I think it's safe to say that I am the official "lesbo" of the group...or as my S&TC fan friends call me, "Miranda." I wonder if it's a coincidence that she is Lesbian in real life? Uh Oh!

As a wee-tyke, I had NO clue what my 'style' was. In fact, I remember somewhat Boycotting Fashion by wearing a Plain White T-shirt and jeans on the first day of my Junior or Senior year in High School. kOoL!!
When my mother would take me School Clothes Shopping, I was the absolute worst!! I had NO clue about clothes and was very much motivated by the acceptance of my peers. I honestly don't know how my mother survived with my indecisiveness.

I am writing this to say that I have FINALLY figured it out at the young age of 27. I like to say that I am 'Rihanna motivated' in which Jamie's response is "you would..." :-) I think she is stepping out a little TOO much for my taste but you get my drift. It's not her alone that I follow, rather her distinctness. I also see this in the Kardashian's clothing as well. Do we see a theme here in my taste?? :)

In saying that, I find myself falling in LOVE with certain things I see on TV. For instance, as I was watching American Idol, I fell in love with Randy Jackson's watch (again, that pesky theme). I researched for, probably, an hour until I found them. Have I ordered one yet? Alas, No. But rest assured, one of these days I will be very eccentric... on my wrist. 

What motivated this Blog Post was that I recently watched After the Final Rose from the Bachelor (seeing as we religiously watched it this season) and, again, I fell in love with a specific item -  Ali's one-shoulder black dress. I researched until I ran across a Blog called The Possessionista that described this Michael Kors dress that retailed at $1195. "Ain't gonna Hap-pen!" The Possessionista is great in helping find a similar look for less and even suggested a 'Look for Less' that i was dying to try. In fact, it was found on The Look For Less Blog - that I now follow as well. Needless to say, I did end up ordering the look for less this time, and hoping for the best. :)

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Father of the Bride Speech

My sweet sweet Daddy didn't get a chance to give a speech on our wedding day. This came as somewhat of a disappointment to me but I know his heart and know he loves me so I tried my best to brush it off. Much to my surprise, he had a FULL speech written out that he had planned to give at the Reception but things just didn't play out like he thought. He sent it to me last night and it filled my heart with joy to read it.

I miss you Daddy!!


Good evening, everyone.

On behalf of my wife and Lindsey’s mother, Patti, it is my distinct honor, as the father of the bride, to welcome each and every one of you here as we celebrate the marriage of Lindsey and Jamie. We thank you all for coming.

We have people here from 9 states:

Alabama
Florida
North Carolina
Ohio
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin
and, of course, Oregon

Of course, no distance would be too far to be at our only child’s wedding.

I’d like to give a special welcome to Jamie’s parents, Dick and Donna Gardner, and their family, most of whom traveled up from Birmingham. Over the course of many UAH basketball games, we got know the Gardners. They are indeed very special people and have raised a very special son in Jamie

This being a very special occasion, I think it’s appropriate to tell you a special story about our daughter. I decided not to tell a story that would embarrass her, like the time she got her belly button pierced.

Instead, I thought it best to talk about sports. As most of you probably know, Lindsey has always been a very athletic person, contrary to Patti’s hope that she would grow up to be a dancer. She played just about every sport known to woman – soccer, softball, swimming, track, tennis, and, of course, basketball. She excelled in all of these, even making it to the national level in track when she was in middle school. She broke her pinky finger, which still has a curl in it, and her foot twice, once as a cheerleader and once in basketball - she actually played basketball with a cast on her foot in grade school.

Out of all those sports her real passion was basketball. She earned the title Most Valuable Player when Buckhorn won the state championship in 2000. That was an especially significant event as it also resulted in a full athletic scholarship to UAH. Of course, this saved us a lot of money, which she is now getting payback at this wedding.

It was on the court that Jamie began courting Lindsey. They first saw each other in high school but didn’t really meet until they both ended up on the UAH Chargers basketball team. So, in my best announcer’s voice, here’s the play-by-play of how it went down.

Jamie Gardner takes the inbound pass and dribbles in circles before getting the courage to drive to the basket. He looks around for the easiest route to score and spots Lindsey Schlosser, playing guard. Lindsey considers blocking the shot but decides to try and draw the personal foul. She notices his fancy footwork and his faster hands. She side steps another player, and another player, and positions herself in front of the charging Jamie, who is impressed with Lindsey’s ability to deflect his every move. The two players go left, then right, they’re up, they’re down - nobody knows where they will end up. With one final leap, Jamie and Lindsey meet in the air, both jumping to the hoop together, with both of them making the big score.

There’s an old saying in basketball – you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Thank God they both decided to take the shot.

On behalf of Lindsey’s mother, I would ask that everyone now stand and join me in a very special toast to the health and happiness of Lindsey and Jamie.

To Lindsey and Jamie.

Thanks again for coming and please have a fun and safe evening.

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Love & Marriage

Jamie & I ran off to Nashville this Saturday for a Lifeway Marriage Seminar called Love & Marriage. When we pulled up, we were a little hesitant seeing as we were 1 of probably 4 cars in the parking lot. Jamie said, "Where have you taken me?" At first glance we assumed we would be among a few couples and have lots of participating to do. If anyone knows me, they know I am NOT comfortable in a public setting, so I was slightly taken back. EEK! :)

We walked in the HUGE Lifeway Building in downtown Nashville and were greeted by LOTS of coffee. Turns out, about 400 people came to this seminar and filled up the church. At $90/couple, I think these speakers came out alright. :)

We listened to 3 speakers touch on issues that relationships may be experiencing, may experience down the road or are currently experiencing and not even realizing it. The first 2 speakers were Les & Leslie Parrott who have been married for over 20 years. They are both professors at a University, Counselors to couples who are to be married or are already married, and authors of several books.

Originally I was very excited about Dr. Gary Chapman speaking, who is the author of Five Love Language. As much as I enjoyed his speech and teachings on the Love Languages, I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 speakers even more so. Les, the husband, was hilarious! He kept my attention the entire time and frequently referred to their personal conflicts, failures and learning experiences that him and his Wife face or have faced. It was comforting knowing that this Christian Couple that was speaking before us, has also been down a wrong road or 2.

The seminar was done around 3pm. Jamie & I drove across the street to our hotel - Union Station - checked in, changed clothes and walked about 5 blocks to get us some grub. We had some good BBQ and then proceeded to walk back. On our way back, we stopped and grabbed us a 6 pack...just in case. :) We had NOTHING to do so we climbed in bed and turned on a movie. After a little while, we determined that we may go out and have a couple drinks. This turned into $50 at the hotel bar, then another $40 at Cadillac Ranch. Oops! Needless to say, we had a good time...together. :)

The next morning we went to Big River and enjoyed a GLORIOUS cheeseburger then walked down to the river for a little R&R in this beautiful weather. Unfortunately, we missed Kristen and the tour of her new home, but promise to invite ourselves to see it, eat all her food and drink all her liquids come April 16. :)

I took a ton of notes from the conference that I would love to jot down but I don't have them in front of me. When I get them, I will make sure to come back and share. :) 

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Sudafed is not for bed

Good Morning?
Let me start out by saying that Sudafed is a miracle drug. I've been having some Sinus issues and I was willing to take anything to make it go away before our big trip to Nashville. SO, I consulted my dear friend/pharmacist at Rite Aid and he gave me some generic Sudafed. I took one at dinner around 7pm. Around 9pm, Jamie & I climbed in bed hoping to get a good nights rest for our 5am wake up call. Around 11pm, I was getting frustrated that I could not sleep but somehow managed to doze off. At exactly 3:30am I woke up. It is now 4.59am and I have been WIDE awake since. My mind has been racing and all I could think about while laying in bed was why people use this for Meth Production. Not entirely sure what Meth 'does' but I'm sure keeping you awake is one of the side effects. I CAN say, however, that I am not groggy and can happily get ready to leave for Nashville in one hour. I'm hoping I don't 'crash' during one of the speakers' speeches.
Have a Happy Saturday!!

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March Madness

With the motivation of my friends, I have reaffirmed my faith in blogging. We're hoping this will serve as a way to keep us close no matter how many States are separating us.

Regardless of the fact that I have seemed to contract the Common Cold, today marks the first day of a grrrrrrrrrrrrrr8 month! March is 'the most wonderful time of the year...' Seasons change, the winter blues 'melt' away & the NCAA Basketball Tourny begins. Let me just throw out there that I am the Office Pool Winner of the 2009 NCAA Basketball Tourny. *toot toot* I have high hopes for a Repeat Win. Not to mention, Momma needs the $$!!

In the days to come, I hope to share things about my new wonderful MARRIAGE, my great friends, my journey to lose weight, document the many trips I plan to take this year, and hopefully the selling of our condo and the purchase of a New home to start a family...

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