Mushy High School Romance Flashback

Prom circa 2003

Look at this gem that I found in the bottom of a box today! I posted this to facebook earlier and some folks are saying Tim looks a little like RPat, ha! I see it some. Don't you love that we were so cool and rebellious wearing out Converse All-Stars? We really thought we were something back then. It's so funny to look back  almost a decade a ago and remember who we were then, and contrast it to who we are now. Makes me wonder where we'll be in the next ten years.

Birchbox: I'm running late on this month's box!

Back to school edition! (PS this was me testing out my instagram, ha)

Opening...

The goods!

Here's the skinny on what I got this month:

Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur

per-fékt Beauty Lash Perfection Gel

DDF® Brightening Cleanser

Caldrea Hand Soap

oh, and a Schick hydro silk razor! :)

So far, the perfume smells pretty, but likely not something I'd wear. So far my favorite perfume from Birchbox has been Arquiste L'Etrog from my very first Birchbox. I'm actually a little behind on posting some reviews for these products. I need to be a better planner...I need to stop saying "I need to do this..." :)

Business trip: Mobile AL

So I realized today, that I actually started this post a while back but never posted it. Without further ado- photos from my trip to Mobile from a little while back.

Entering the city.

View from my room.

More of the view...

and more...

annnnd more...

JACKPOT! Look at that hottie...

I'm shy and nerdy, so each night I ordered room service.

It was so yum!

At the conference we had an adorable milk and cookie break!

I participated in a team scavenger hunt as a team builder. The guy in the middle was the hotel  bartender. 

We had to find a U shaped chair.

and all fit on a treadmill!

Get in the pool

get out chalklines made!

Pose with the battleship (we cheated)...

Get our photo with the bar across the street.

and locate plastic Jesus (he's there)!

It was nice, but I hope next time my buddy Beth will come along :) Then I might be brave enough to leave my room at night haha!

Happy Valentine's Day!

<insert same old excuse about not posting here>

Now, for what I came here to blog about...Valentine's! I'm not really a big fan of Valentine's, but I'm not a hater either. But, I will say that this year I'm feeling quite sentimental and *lovey*

Today I woke up to finish making red velvet cake balls for Tim and his coworkers and when I got in the kitchen at 4:30 a.m. to finish them he had left a card in my purse with a huge bag of Sour Patch Kids :) So I went ahead and stuck his card in his bag and finished the cake balls quickly so I could go back to bed for a little while longer.

All day long I've just been reading people's posts on facebook and enjoying seeing everyone in a good mood. I don't think I've even seen the first negative comment about the day. Something I did see on facebook that inspire me was a post from my sweet friend Katie about her parents. Which of course prompted me to think of my favorite love song that I associate with my parents; The Gambler by Fun. I know I've shared it before, but just in case you haven't heard it, click below:



Which got me to thinking about some of my favorite songs that I associate with Tim. So between now and February 23 (our 4 year anniversary) I think I'm going to post short posts about some of our songs and their stories.

I'll start with:



Dashboard Confessional was probably one of the bands that represented the crazy emo-ness of our late 90s early 2000s dramatic teen years. But, this song is great and it makes me feel like a teenager with those crazy PTC kids.

Eleven in 11: Evaluating July

Uhhhhhhhhh! I am such a slacker this summer. I'm honestly just so exhausted from the four-day work week. I enjoy the Fridays off, but I've mostly been using it to recover from the four-day work week! Class has gotten a little crazy, and I'm very excited that tomorrow is the FINAL! Woohoo! I love my students, but the 12.5 hours on Tue/Thur are brutal.

The breakdown:
1. Volunteer opportunity- Still volunteering for SASC. Also, had a debate meeting with my CHS ladies. Hopefully we can get these kids into shape so they can debate at state this year!
2. The weight loss one- Stuck in a rut. Not gaining, but not losing. If I could just get back to tracking the WW pts again and hitting the gym more. We did start doing Pilates at home and I can feel a difference!
3. Plan and take honeymoon- We went to Amelia Island. Collectively, Tim and I decided that we simply didn't ever have a honeymoon. While the trip was a FABULOUS trip, it just wan't a honeymoon. We missed the boat 3 years ago, and it isn't something you can just have 3 years late. It's ok though, we still loved vacationing! You can see our recent trip photos from here and here.
4. Trying four new recipes- Slacker again. But, I did make Ricotta Cheese Chocolate Chip Muffins. VERY YUM!

5. Blog three times a week- Still kind of slow.

6. Student loan- Check!

7. Savings!- Check! I think I've actually exceeded my goal :) But, we're thinking about venturing into home-buying, so I need to keep it up.

8. Read 52 books- I'm awful.

9. Facebook birthdays- I have done very well with this I think!

10. Visit 12 new restaurants- We went to Mandarin Cafe, and I decided NOT to blog about it...because it was soooo awful...

11. Etsy- Consider this one failed too.

I'm going to come out of this goal-achieving slump and do it up BIG in August!

Caturday Saturday: On a Tuesday...

Yeah yeah, I know...It isn't Saturday, but that doesn't mean I can't dream. This week is quite groggy and I can't put my finger on why. Anywho! Here are the fur babies from last week:

That is a clip of Jackson. You may need to turn up your speakers, but in the first few seconds you can hear him chirping. Yes...like a bird...Jackson is by far our quirkiest cat. He chirps, meows and barks/growls. 

I'm always a sucker for a shot of Ellie and her daddy spending time together.

Eleven in 11: Evaluating May

Where is this year going so quickly? Each day seems to zoom by! May was an incredibly busy month for us and I hardly had time to blog. But, let's see how we did.

The breakdown:
1. Volunteer opportunity- Check! I am now an advocate. I am also interested in volunteering for the libraries in town. A dear friend of mine is a librarian and I know he busts his for his patrons. I'm a little saddened by what I've read recently about the funding for the libraries in town, so my philosophy is to always be part of the solution, and not just someone who complains. We'll see.
2. The weight loss one- Ugggg. I have hit a plateau, however, I'm not gaining. Which is good. I'm maintaining the net loss of 33 lbs. Part of the problem is that I'm no longer tracking points as strictly. But, also, I've slacked up on the gym. We have a good incentive though for me to press on and finish my ultimate goal. This fall we are going to NY for a family member's engagement party! 
3. Plan and take honeymoon- We went to Amelia Island. Collectively, Tim and I decided that we simply didn't ever have a honeymoon. While the trip was a FABULOUS trip, it just wan't a honeymoon. We missed the boat 3 years ago, and it isn't something you can just have 3 years late. It's ok though, we still loved vacationing! You can see our recent trip photos from here and here.
4. Trying four new recipes- I think we managed to do it this time:

• Parmesan Parsley Chicken
• Roasted Red Ranch Potatoes
• Cube Steak Rollups
• and another roasted red potatoes recipe, only this time tried a French Onion mix

5. Blog three times a week- Only had 12 posts, but again...we were kind of swamped.

6. Student loan- Check!

7. Savings!- Check! 

8. Read 52 books- I bought another book, this time Chelsea Handler's newest release...but I've still only made it through the introduction...

9. Facebook birthdays- I really am reconnecting with some folks because of this!

10. Visit 12 new restaurants- Koreana was soooo yum! I highly recommend!

11. Etsy- I think I'm going to use Fridays as a crafting day. Did I mention I now work 4 days a week? Yay! 10 hours is a little rough M-Th...but having 3 day weekends is a blast!

I hope many of you are getting to take some time off this summer to do fun things. I want to go to six flags at least once. Any takers?

Caturday Saturday: Elliot's toy box adventure

The other night after the kids went to bed, Elliot decided she would entertain herself. Luckily, I had the camera out to document the adventure:

Elliot walked over to her boxes of toys and clothing. Yes, earlier that night I had been showing off my cats' wardrobe.

Look at how she points with her paw like a hunting dog. She has something in her sight.

Dig dig dig!

Got it! Green fuzzy.

She took it over to her corner.

She stepped on it some.

Then threw it around.

This is after I threw it to her, she likes to play fetch.

Full on attack mode.

It rolled away after a while.

So she rolled over and zonked out.

Caturday Saturday: Sword Fights and Boxes

At Target, Tim and I bought a sword and an ax to use for settling marital disagreements. Tonight, we tried them out on the cats. Scooby was into it, Elliot was more interested in other things.

I love when cats walk around like little humans. 

Elliot's decided to take a turn.

We've been going through a ton of boxes of junk, etc. Elliot claimed this one.

From the back.

And just one more view.

Scooby tried it out too.

Caturday Saturday: Late Edition

So, I actually took these photos for Caturday Saturday...but they are only just now getting posted...sorry for the delay! Me and the cats were wrapping gifts for a birthday party for a 2 year old (Pictures of that soon!).

Scooby attacking the paper. You can see Jackson and Elliot are interested in the gift (btw: it was a teacup piggie).

Scooby wanted me to wrap her...

I finally cut off a piece for them.

Elliot has her own piece.

Watching intensely...

Jackson helped me curl the ribbon.

Caturday Saturday

Elliot found a new spot when Papa brought home the new TV stand... 

Look at this face she made when I shut her in...

How much is that kitty in the window?

Humans *sigh*

Elliot had a guest nap on the back porch.

The kitty was sleeping under the patio table- perhaps for shade from the heat.