The end of NaBloPoMo and a very unhappy birthday boy.

Well, November has come and gone.  To be honest, I'm kind of grateful.  While I appreciated NaBloPoMo for what it is worth, some days, I just plain have nothing to say.  Some posts I really liked, others I just finished so I could get my butt away from the computer.  Maybe the ol' blog will get a little bit more fun when I've got a cute little mini Kurt or Stephanie running around that does cute things, and says funny things.  Until then, I'm not promising to be cute or funny myself.  Just me.  That's all you get.  Sorry world. 

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday.  He hates his birthday.  I can't seem to wrap my mind around that.  Since it is his birthday, and he had a pretty awful day at work today, I think I will go make him his favorite poppy seed cake. 

                                                                                Not my picture

1 box yellow cake mix

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

1/2 cup oil

4 eggs

1 cup water

2 Tbsp poppy seeds

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

 

Mix all ingredients together in greased bundt pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown.  Dust with powdered sugar.  Eat as fast as possible, or you will not get any.  No savsies.

 

Also not mine

Heaven in a cup

Have you ever tried toasted marshmallow creamer. 

Oh my dear deliciousness!  

I just discovered it and I want to drink hot cocoa

with it until I die these days.  

Does anyone know if this can be purchased for home use? 

If so, I'm in trouble!

I must say, it is helping to get me to hate winter less. 

Week 26

Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful.  I really should be more grateful throughout the rest of the year, but this is the time of year that everyone really thinks about it.  Here is my list of what I am grateful for this week.

Dear Santa...

I'm tired, and I haven't seen my husband all day, so today's post is going to be short.  A friend of mine posted it on facebook, and I thought it was worth sharing.

Dear Santa,

Please bring me a big fat bank account

and a slim body.  And please,

don't mix them up like you did

 last year.

Love, Stephanie

Black Friday post on a Saturday

Black Friday kicked my butt!  I got up at 2:30 and was so tired!  We picked up the ladies and headed to Target.  Now, I have done this before.  I was prepared for crowds.  Huge crowds.  Pushing, shoving, an all around brawl if you will. It's horrible, but it's also hilarious, and exhilarating.  

 We pulled into the parking lot, and there was plenty of parking.  Weird.  We walked into the store, and there was no one there.  They still had a ton of movies and other sweet deals, but the people were gone.  Thank you 12 A.M. opening time! 

After Target we hit up Sill's for breakfast and man o' man! It was good!  After breakfast came a parade of about seven other stores, many of which I'm pretty sure I sleep-walked through. 

I did get a free doughnut from Krispy Kreme though. As well as a delicious lunch at Red Robin.  Overall, it was a success, although, I am still recovering.

Here is a photo of the trunk after the four of us worked our magic. 

Flashback Friday

Where do I want to be tomorrow?

Here are a couple of pictures from my last trip there with my friend Ashley and her family.

I'm dying to go back!

Full is an understatement

Today is thanksgiving and the thing that I am most grateful for right now is that I have not had a gastric bypass surgery. My stomach is SO full and would probably explode had that been the case. Two dinners within two hours was way too much food. Ugh! Hopefully it will digest before 3 A.M. when I'm being picked up to go shopping. :)

The Day Before The Feast

Still no computer. :( I was really busy at work today though so it I really not too big of a deal. I really love my job, but it sure would be nice to have a holiday at home.

Of course, I say this but I still plan on going black Friday shopping. Not until Friday though. I'm not cool with stores opening on thanksgiving day. People deserve to spend the holiday with their families, especially since they are about to start the busy season with a bang the next day.

I thought I would give you a little taste of my favorite thanksgiving clip. You are in for a treat.

Hilarity and a broken computer!

So my computer crapped out tonight. (I'm borrowing one real quickly to fulfill my NaBloPoMo obligations.)   I'm kind of bummed because my husband has to go into work over night tonight, and I had a long night of pinteresting ahead of me.  Hopefully this can tide you over until I can find a solution to my computer woes.

Week 25

My brain never stops.  What can I say?  I'm a woman.  Here is a list of things that keep me up at night.

So Happy Where I Am

I love my husband with all of  my heart.  He is an amazing man and I know that he is the only one for me.  However, in the past I have wondered what my life would be like if I had stayed with a different man. 

We dated when I was very young, and it wasn't so much dating as it was just making out...a lot.  We broke up under not so great of circumstances, and I was heartbroken.  He was probably the first guy that I ever really had real feelings for.  I was upset for a long time, and then I met Kurt. 

He lit me up.  He got me to stop caring about that other guy completely.  The problem lies in that Kurt is quite good friends with this former boyfriend of mine.  We are around each other a lot.  It's fine, because I know that isn't what I want in life, but it's okay to wonder. 

Last night, I got my answer.  We spent 3 hours with him last night and I heard about smoking weed, spending all of his money at strip clubs, degrading women, and eating or drinking nothing but rum all day.  I am so grateful that the man I love respects me.

Thank you, Kurt.  You are cut above the rest.  They say a good man is hard to find.  Call me Indiana Jones, because I've got him.

Flashback....Saturday

I know that this barely counts as a NaBloPoMo post, but while I was looking through photos for flashback friday, I came across this gem.  Look how smokin' hot I look in that prom dress!

Think I can get that thin again? I sure hope so!

Flashback Friday

Molly is a great example to me.  She is honest, and sweet, and incredibly fun to be around.  She knows what is right, and what she wants in life, and she never wavers from it.  I love her for that. 

 

 

We are very similar as far as personality goes.  We once took the color test and our outcomes were just about exactly the same - white/blue.  She's my little white friend.  We enjoy the same things, we get frustrated at the same things, and we vent the same way.  She is very good for me, because I can always guess that she is feeling about the same way I am in any given situation.

 She recently returned from serving a mission, and I am so proud of her for that.  She did a lot of good while she was there, and it was a great experience for her.  I was such a faithful pen pal to her while she was gone.  I was really bummed that she missed my wedding while she was out there, but hearing from her each week made it seem like she was there with me.

 

She is so goofy.  She is always making me pose for pictures with her, and we always look hilarious.  We make the same faces every time, but we still enjoy it.  She thinks I am hilarious.  She is always laughing at my jokes, even when other people just don't listen.  She brings out the funny side in me.

I am so grateful to Molly for showing me that life doesn't always have to be hard.  You can take time out from your busy schedule to have a little fun.  On a hot summer day, stuck in traffic with no AC, she would crank up the radio, then sing and dance to anything with a great beat.  I love her!

Awkward Squared

Tonight is the night that I go back in time and become a twelve year old again.  My friends and I are going to see the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn.  I know what you are thinking.  Believe me, I'm thinking it too.  Yes, I read the books.  Yes, I've seen the movies.  I'm by no means like "Oh, Edward. Oh Jacob, what's a girl to do?  I'm not a weirdo, okay.  I just thoroughly enjoy how ridiculous people are at those things.  It's just fun.  I promise I'm not a freak.  I'm maybe a little more excited for dinner at Village Inn before hand.  Just sayin.  

Have you ever watched a conversation between two people, one of which is making a fool out of themselves, and you just feel awkward for that person.  That is how I am feeling about this movie.  I'm no prude, but I'm sure it is going to be seventeen different kinds of awkward, and that the whole theater will giggle during the sex scenes.  Twelve years old, remember.  My stomach is turning already.  Wish me luck.

Puzzles are hard

I have a few different sets of friends.  I don't necessarily feel like I fit in perfectly with any set.  I am different than each group.  However, I love that it doesn't really matter.  I love that I have such diverse people in my life.  It just wouldn't be as fun if everyone was the same. 

P.S. I suck at puzzles.

P.P.S. I also suck at blogging today.  I'm watching Ellen clips on youtube.  That is one funny lady.

Getting closer

I think I'm getting closer to finding a house. We just looked at an adorable old one that I really liked. It had a perfect main floor, but the second and "third" bedrooms were in the attic and didn't have doors separating each other. The basement needed a lot of work. I'm bummed that it's not the one, but I am hopeful that another will come along soon.

Week 24

There aren't many things to love about Monday.  Sometimes you have to look a little harder than other days of the week.  Here is my list for today.

Where the heart is

As I'm sure you are aware, I am dying to have a house of my own.  Yes, that is because I'm in dire need of privacy where I live now.  What you may not know is that another large factor in the house wanting, is my need to decorate it.  I'm sure that I am idealizing it.  It can't be as fun as I am imagining.  And heaven knows, it's pricey!  I just need to nest.  I can feel it.  Here are a few ideas from my "Where The Heart Is" board on Pinterest.  

 

Just like when I was ten, I'm willing to give up the next 3 years of birthdays and Christmases! Just please give me a home of my own!

All I'm missing are the glasses and a scar.

I had some free time today, so I decided to start reading Harry Potter again.  I forgot how easy it is for me to fall into that magical world.  I quickly find myself sneaking around the halls of Hogwarts, cheering on the Gryffindor quiddich team, and watching the love story between Ron and Hermione.  It's more than just a children's book.

Flashback Friday

There are many things that I love about my friend Natalie.  She is a very strong, caring, and independent woman.  She makes friends so easily.  I have always admired her boldness.  We compliment each other well.

We don't always see eye to eye about things, but she has always been one to love me for who I am.  She has accepted the choices I've made, and respected me despite them.  She is someone that I can talk to about anything.  She won't judge me, and she sincerely cares about what is going on in my life. 

She has so much more life experience than I do, and it makes her such a strong woman.  She went away to school where she knew no one, and made friends.  She moved into the city by herself, and made more friends.  Everywhere she goes, she brings out the best in people. 

Now she is headed on a mission to Tempe, Arizona and I know that she will be an amazing missionary.  She is such a strong example to me, and I know she will be just as great to the people in her mission. 

I will miss her, but I know she will be out doing great things, and I know we will stay friends.  We are just cool like that. 

I'm torn...

I love Thanksgiving.  I'm obviously a big fan of food and this holiday is all about it.  I don't necessarily need plates of turkey, but I will eat potatoes, stuffing and rolls until the cows come home.  I'm not even bummed that I have to have dinner twice so we can see both our families. I want to jump on the bandwagon with these people...

yet I find myself flipping the station to FM100 for some Christmas jams.  I can't help it.  It's feel good music, and it makes me hate the cold less.  It's for the good of mankind.

A woman on a mission.

Let's talk about asses.  More specifically, mine, and even more specifically why i can't find any good jeans!  I know there is a lot of surface area here, but is it really that impossible to find a pair of pants that fit me well.  They either fit perfectly through the legs, and are too tight at the waist, or button up beautifully, and sag in the back.  I don't know who designs plus size jeans, but it's obviously not a plus size woman.  I'm not sure why bigger jeans have to be ugly.  It seems like at a certain size, they stop giving them shape.  And obviously, I'm full of shape! 

The hunt continues, but this is getting frustrating!

Week 23

There are a lot of things that I believe that may or may not be true, but this week's list is definitely true for me.

Pinterest

I don't know if you know, but I am in obsessed with Pinterest right now.  

I get sucked in and can't stop "pinning" crafts, yummy food, and to my different boards. 

I don't know why it makes me feel crafty to basically make a board full of crafts that

I will probably never get around to making definitely be making soon!

Here are a few gems:

You're getting paid for that?

Last night I had a little Twilight marathon with my friends in preparation

for the awkward-fest that will be Breaking Dawn. 

This photo is complete truth.  

That is all.

The one where I'm Amish

10 days ago I got a starter bag of Amish Friendship Bread from my niece. Believe you me, I mocked it. 

10 days of mixing? I don't have that kind of persistance. 

I laughed at it's ridiculous instructions.

You can bake it in a metal pan but can't stir it with a metal spoon in a metal bowl? 

Really, Amish?

All it took for me to change my mind was to put in he ingredients, and begin to stir. 

Almost immediately, it looked and smelled amazing. 

I took a little of this...

Put it in one of these...

And out came this!

P.S. It was delish!

Flashback Friday

If you know me, you know that Beth Anne over at Heir To Blair is my blogging idol.  She is hilarious and I love her style.  She does this thing called Flashback Fridays and I thought that was a wonderful and fun idea.  Look out friends.  It's about to get real good looking around here.

I met Andrea in elementary school.  In fact, I hated her when we met.  We were only friends through another friend, but we quickly became great pals. 

We have been through thick and thin together. 

I walked completely the wrong direction home after school with her, just so we could spend time together.  

There were times when we couldn't seem to get along, but we always got over it.

I always knew she would continually be a part of my life.  I hope she always will be.

Why?

I write for my sanity. 
I write to get out emotion. 
I write to keep people updated. 
I write to remember.

Less a blog, and more a journal. 
I write for me.

I'm going slightly mad...

I grew up as an only child. I have sisters, but they live about 975 miles away. I always wished I had other kids in the house. It was too quiet. It was so boring. I moved into a house that is ALWAYS full! There is never a dull moment. My nieces and nephews here every day, and I thoroughly enjoy them. But can I just say how ready I am to have my own house! The noise is starting to get to me, and I think it's starting to make me a little bit insane. I'm starting to feel a little Freddie Mercury-esque.

Week 22 and NaBloPoMo

Hey folks.  I'm behind...as usual.  However!  Today marks the beginning of National Blog Posting Month {NaBloPoMo for short} where bloggers all over set a goal to blog each and every day in November.  I'm in! Are you?  I can't promise that they will all be long, or funny, or even interesting, but I'm definitely going to try!

Anyway, on to this week's list...