VDay Blunders..and the 100th!

Hey guys! I suppose I'm on a blogging frenzy today but I have so much to say. We're approaching the greeting card, flower, and candy explosion time of year...all the store windows filled with red and pink and lots of lacy doiles...the hallmark corporation goes on a feeding frenzy with young twenty-somethings all out there trying to find the perfect dozen roses and box of chocolates..throw in a musical greeting card and you've spent all your money on something that will die, something that will be eaten, and something that will eventually be thrown away..or recycled if we're talking green here! In other words..St Valentine's day...Single's awareness day...Black Saturday..whatever your fancy. This year I decided to come up with a list of things to do instead of the usual! I am personally one of those people who always hated V-day and even gave out black valentine's one year..I must say, It is nice to have someone to spend it with, but for all those single's out there it's the worst "holiday" (should we really call it that?) of all time! I'm directing this list mostly to the girls..but guys feel free to use some of these ideas as well..there is definetly room for both of you on Valentine's day!

- get a cute heart shaped pancake mold (seen 'em everywhere from Target to Kroger to William's Sonoma and Sur La Table) and make your man some heart shaped raspberry or strawberry pancakes with whipped cream

- go to the dollar store together and split up and spend ten dollars each on supplies to create hand made valentine's day cards for each other in secret. then reveal your masterpiece to each other and laugh at all the weird things you glued/tied/painted/etc.

- surprise your man at work for a cute "picnic" lunch. (don’t forget v-day is Saturday this year!) if it's warm enough you can eat in some local park (maybe pack some cheese, crackers, strawberries and orangina) and if it's too cold you can drive him somewhere scenic and dine in the car together.

- stage a scavenger hunt around the house with clues that lead to other clues that lead to other clues that finally lead to a little something you know he'll love (a new pair of running shoes, a CD you know he'll enjoy, concert tickets)

- enjoy a romantic dinner "picnic" on a blanket set up in the living room with champagne, candles and all the foods that he loves. is he crazy for oreos? (I am) get a whole box. how about pancakes for dinner or hot dogs and twizzlers. whatever he loves, it's on the menu.

- splurge on something in the bedroom that you'll both enjoy like a plush new featherbed, down pilows, high thread count sheets or even a thinner duvet for summer if he's always complaining he's too hot. it might not be something your man would buy for himself, but my man lovse to be comfy cozy so it's something he'll endlessly enjoy in the long run.

these are just a few things I came up with..i sound like a magazine article huh? I have a few things in mind for Lee..maybe a couple of these things..we’ll see! Good luck surprising your sweetie!

PS: this is my 100th blog...and im excited about it!

~The book at the top of the page is real. I own it. I proudly display it in my bathroom every year about this time...its on my to do list. pick up a copy of this if V-day depresses you..its hilarious! :)

happy new year!

Chinese new year that is...! yesterday was the chinese new year! Why am I excited? Because I made chinese food! There's nothing like yummy chinese food all decked out with MSG..that dandy little ingredient that makes everything taste like heaven! I found a couple of chinese recipes that I've managed to make much healthier (minus the MSG and other unhealthy items!) and it actually tastes better than going to the restaurant!!! Last nite I made fried rice...only I used brown rice and no butter or oil and you literally boil the rice and throw it in the frying pan with some sauteed peas, carrots and green onion, some egg and a splash of soy sauce and you're good to go. Lee loved it...this about the third time I made it but last nite was perfect! I also made spicy schezuan (spelling??) and it was FABULOUS! It was a lot of ingredients but basically pretty easy and fun to make! AND it only takes about 5 or 10 mins! It was such a hit...i used shrimp but you can use chicken and it tastes exactly like general tso's only ten times healthier! We are all about our new found recipes and probably will never have the urge to eat chinese food OUT again...PHEW! This Friday, Hope and I are supposed to hang out and she said "I'm craving chinese!" I said perfect we're going to make it!! she said "HUH?" like i was crazy! If anyone wants the recipe let me know! lata! :)

is there life out there?..or death perhaps?

I've always been a huge fan of Ghost Hunters! Lately...another parnormal show has struck my fancy. I've kinda gotten over the ghost hunters even though I admit that I occasionally watch it If I'm flipping channels! There's a show on A&E called "Paranormal State." I LOVE IT. The difference between Ghost Hunters and PRS is this: "Ghost Hunters" focuses on trying to find out if a place is haunted. They try to disprove hauntings to better prove if there is one..if that makes sense. Noise in the attic? is it a ghost? Ghost Hunters will be the first to investigate your phantom or your invasion of rodents.
In "Paranormal State" the focus is somewhat different. First of all..they investigate all aspects of the paranormal..mostly hauntings but sometimes myths or legends, or UFO's..ususally hauntings. They Also investigate and use equpiment and that sort of thing, but their main focus is helping the family. They get more involved with medians and psychics. NORMALLY..I don't like this sort of thing..but in this case..the coincidences are incredible. I'm the type of person who wants to get scared. I will sit at home alone in the dark watching a scary movie..because normally movies and TV shows..they DONT scare me. This one has given me goosebumps SEVERAL times..strange! If you're interested in these types of shows..I HIGHLY recommend this one..I didnt like it the first couple of times..give it a chance and you'll probably change you're mind. Mondays on A&E at 10:00...right after Jon and Kate plus 8! I had a VERY strange/Scary dream the other night that I cannot explain and have had trouble shaking it off...it was so incredibly real that the past few mights I've had trouble sleeping because I'm afraid it will happen again and I have to hold on to something of Lee's..either his arm or hand or leg. I won't go into details but I was seriously terrified!...last night when I watched this show..it made it that much harder to fall asleep..yikes!

"hey ya'll"

So a few months back I told you all that Lee and I were going to Florida in April with stops in Savannah (one of my absolute favorite places!). We decided to forego the trip to Florida because there are so many other things that we need to save money for. Yeah we're bummed but there are so many other oppertunities on our plate...School..Wedding..honeymoon (we're thinking Ireland!)..even buying a house! All of those things cost lots of money and yeah we really wanted to do disney together but we've both done it and why not save it for the kids haha! Anyway this past week I decided we needed to have one of our long weekend gettaways...NOW THOSE are more afordable! WE do this a lot..we've done VA BEACH, Harrisburg/Hershey, Louisville, even the lake...I think we're due! At the end of March we will make our way to Savannah, Georgia! Hope and Bobby are coming with us!! We have most definetly gotten our tickets to do the Paula Deen tour! THAT I am very excited about! ACTUALLY everyone wanted to do this one! I have another suprise up my sleeve too..but you all will have to wait and see!..it's a good one! There are so many fun things to look forward to! My friend Hope is getting married in Jamacia in June! She invited us to come along...HOWEVER it's the same week Jenny is getting married! Lee's mom also invited us to Cancun in May..that month is pretty booked with Wedding stuff for Jenny and we're working on a girls trip to Vegas for Hope..that's not been decided yet! Lee can only have so much vacation time...he gets a set number of days..and I earn my PTO and build it up! We both want to go to Minnesota in late summer to experience the Lake when its not frozen! Also, my friend Kelly is getting married in late August in Chatanooga..and that's another weekend trip! I'd say we're pretty booked up this year..and its only January..I'm getting stressed just thinking about it. Right now, all I'm going to focus on is Savannah..so laid back and full of southern goodness...ahh :) Paula, here I come!

Laid back in the noke!

Don't you just love those weekends where you have no plans and anything is possible? This weekend our plan was just to take it easy and not make any big to do's because I had to work on Saturday..I know..ick! Although it sucks to work for four hours on my saturday there's no denying that the weekend and overtime pay is a great way to earn extra clams!
Friday nite we headed off to have dinner and go see Grand Torino which I had been promising Lee we'd do since he suffered through bride wars (and loved it!) and Marley and Me with me! (read the book first!..I read most of it on my Minnesota trip!) Grand torino was an amazing movie. One of the best I've seen in a while. I gotta hand it to Lee..I never want to go to his movies but 9 outta 10 times (that one time being twilight..UGH) his movies are generally good! I would see this one again..and its a keeper..we'll be buying this one! We havent bought a lot of movies lately like I used to do...its just pointless to rack up on all these movies! Its a waste of money...so Im usually satisfied to rent it and get it out of my system these days! Grand Torino ..however will grace our CD storage cabinet for years to come!
On Saturday slept in (a rarity) and Lee made pancakes for breakfast! Yummy..my man can cook..when he wants to!(yes I can ROYALLY screw up some pancakes!) After breakfast I caught up on a little TiVO and went to work! We used to be able to go in and work any hours we wanted on saturdays..now we are scheduled at certain times. This Saturday in particular I had to work 1-5 (I hate that shift..I like the earlier shift..i dont like to ruin my entire mid-day Saturday with work! After work Lee secured a table at our favorite mexican eatery and I took a shower and got ready to meet Jen! We went over to Jen and Chase's NEW house in Botetourt! It's awesome! Of course anytime we get to spend with Jen and Chase is awesome...Not only are Jenny and I helping each other with our wedding planning..she gives me a ton of great pointers for teaching!! Speaking of school...its going very well..I have my first exam in 2 weeks! Jen if you're reading this, I love you. You have been there the longest..and through everything..it is inevitable that we will always be the greatest of friends..! Jenny and Hope! Those two have been the two that I have always been able to count on...All the others just screwed me straight into the ground! ANYHOW..Saturday was perfect.
Today We decided to run some errands...went to AC moore for some DIY wedding stuff..I KNOW but I'm getting a head start!! September 4 2010! Speaking of...next Sunday My parents and grandparents and Lee's mom are going to meet us at our venue of choice for brunch and to check out the place! I think it was probably the easiest decision Lee and I have ever made...I will give more details on that later...Lee and I do everything backwards so no more secrets will be revealed until we're engaged! (god only knows when!) after AC moore we headed over to Mostly Sofas! LOVE IT! we are looking around for some new couches and living room furniture! We love our wonderful ottoman but now it just needs some spicing up around it. We have yet to order our rug that is the next step but for now we're just browsing our possible seating options! We just got some new great bedding that really brightened up our bedroom and it made a huge difference! Thank you Bed Bath and Beyond..and Pottery Barn! AND thank you John and Sherry for all the fab tips on decorating..it pays to associate yourselves with a couple of great interior designers! We did our annual grocery shopping trip today as well..so for now I'm writing this blog when I should be finishing up some cleaning and while Lee is havin' some fun with Jason I should start dinner! Yummy pepper Jack and spinach stuffed chicken breast! This is a new one..I'll let u know how it turns out haha! Have a great week everyone!

Change has Come...

let me just say this.....
I don't care if you're a democrat
I don't care if you're republican
I don't care if you voted for Mccain
I don't care if you didn't vote at all
I don't care if you're mad or pissed off
I don't care if you have a PHD
I don't care if you're uneducated
I don't care if you make a million dollars
I don't care if you're jobless
I don't care if you're black or white
I don't care if you're Christian, Jewish, or any other religion
There is no denying that today is a HUGE day in our country's history regardless of your own opinions. Our country has been through so much in our history and I think it's something great for us to overcome. I'm so happy to be a part of history...everyone should be!

Eight sweet little faces.. :)

You all know how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jon and Kate Plus 8! I have been watching them since their first special..surviving twins and sextuplets and even managed to find their house!! I have spoken to Kate through e-mail once as well! ANYWAY...the new episodes started up again two weeks ago and they announced that they are moving! That's right! I'm sure as soon as I find out where..or the general area I will let you all know! The episode for next week is yet another question and answer session..I love those, because I've emailed her many questions and some have actually been answered on the episodes..but its always a general question that MANY others have asked as well! So yes, I'm very much looking forward to that episode! The episode the week after that...is supposed to be them seeing their new house for the first time and the following one will be the move! I can't wait! Anyway there is a point to this...Kate was co-auther of her the book "Multiple Blessings" last year! i bought the book and read it in a just a couple hours and teared up multiple times! I'm thrilled to announce that a new book will be out in April! It's called 8 Little Faces! I will buy it the day it comes out of course! :)



Also a few months back I got the season 1 and 2 DVD! Get ready folks because Season 3comes out at the beginning of Feb!! Whoohooo!



So many things to look forward to! hahaha yeah im obsessed but they are just so DURN cute!! Lee and I really look forward to Monday nights!! Sorry..just had to post on my excitement! :)

Dont know much bout history...

Last nite was my first class! I LOOOOOOVED IT! I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my classes at western so far..except the internet classes because they are totally boring. My teacher is amazing. He's hilarious, not boring (which is good because he will be lecturing and its a 3 hour class!) I'm pretty sure I'm the oldest one in the whole class..which gives me another advantage and I feel like it should be yet another easy A! I've really worked my butt off for these grades! Mr Hubbard how do I describe him? Let's just say Franklin County born and raised...graduated from FCHS and now teaches there and coaches basketball and baseball..so you can only imagine. Got his BA from VA tech and his Masters from Radford. He has 3 kids..one of whom is in the air force touring in Afghanistan right now! He has even offered us some VERY easy extra credit! one point on our final grade if we prove that we are registered to vote...CHECK! one point on our final grade if we donate blood...I'll do that! And 1 point on our final grade and 5 points on each test if we attend ANY Franklin Co Girls basketball game! LOL! Suzanne and I have already decided to hit up the Feb 4th game! why not? it can only help right? We have 5 tests and one final and one book report! He gave us a list of 30 books ranging from the colonization/puritan period to 1865...civil war era! I'm excited...you know I love ANYTHING involving the revolutionary war so I'm all about some of that reading! All in all sounds like a pretty easy and fun class!
He didn't lecture last night and we didnt actually start our notes. He did however make a chart on the board....one that really hit home..knowing im in that same situation. he wrote the unemployment rates of a high school drop out, high school graduate, associate degree in college, ba degree, masters degree, and PHD...he also included the hourly rate/salary per year of each of these. Common sense tells you...the more education you have..the more money youll make. Anyone can come into your house and take your flat screen TV, your money, your car...but no one can take away your education. And..with that knowledge you can always earn all of those things back. Ive known for a long time that SCHOOL IS THE PATH I NEED TO TAKE RIGHT NOW. I'm tired of working this dumb job everyday and making just enough to pay the bills and maybe a little extra! I'm actually going to do something with my life and im so thankful that I have the oppurtunity to do that!! I'm reminded of a song... (like I always say, for every situation in life there's either a song, or an episode of FRIENDS)

"I ain't settlin for just gettin by, had enough so-so for the rest of my life, tired of shootin too low so raise the bar high cause enough ain't enough this time. I ain't settlin for anything less than everything!" And that's what I deserve. Lee has worked so hard. He took 5 years to get his BA in engineering from NC State and works his ass off and helps support me! I want to do the same for him and be able to handle myself if anything ever happend to him! I thank God for this wonderful oppurtunity that I've been given!!

back to school!

Well...today's the day I go back to school for the 3rd semester now!! I cant believe I've been in school for over a year...i know that doesnt seem like much but to me it just reminds me that im well on my way to achieving a huge goal! I'm so happy!! I just know I was meant to teach!! I cant wait to go back full time..hopefully in the fall..of course I'll be taking some summer classes as well. Last year I took the summer semester off..mistake.. I struggled in my 2nd math class as a result..but thank god I passed!
Yesterday was such a fun day! Lee and I played Hookey(not sure how you spell that..but thats how i see it in my head haha)! We both called into work and decided to spend the day together! It felt so scandalous :) We had a fabulous lunch and went to see Marley and Me and did a little shopping. Later that night I went to visit Jim Taetz! he's a fabulous florist! We had a two hour long session and he's brilliant! He's come up with so many wonderful ideas! We're meeting again in a few weeks on location! I can't wait! Well thats it for now..time for my 3hr snack! :)

off to a great start! :)

Sorry I havent blogged in a couple weeks! The new year has already brought a lot of good times! Lee and I are so blessed with wonderful family and friends who support us! We've started our workout regimen again! Ever since our trip to Minnesota we've gotten out of the swing of things! We ate so much food on that trip I think we both gained at least 5 pounds! We tried to get back into the workout when we got back but its just too hard around the holidays sooooooo many parties! We celebrated New Years Day with a hike and have continued our workouts ever since! I'm starting to feel better again and my clothes already fit better!
It's exactly 5 months till my best friend's wedding and we're getting super excited! Last weekend I helped her fill out her Save the Date's and we planned when to have the shower and the bachelorette party! Im going to get my dress in the next couple of weeks! They're so pretty! I love helping her plan her wedding..I've given her some ideas and she's given me a ton of ideas as well! This week I'm going to meet her florist! he's ordered samples of the flowers for the wedding and we get to go see them! This florist is totally by word of mouth and doesnt advertise his services and Jen heard of him through a friends mom! She's gotten ALL of her flowers for extremely cheap and I'm talking...ceremony, bridesmaids, groomsmen, centerpieces..everything! Thank God I have a great hook-up! :)
This weekend Lee and I went to see Bride Wars! I love wedding movies! Lee didn't want to see it, but of course it was my turn to pick a movie and that's what I picked! It was hilarious and Lee liked it too! We made a date out of it..dinner with some gift cards we got for Christmas and then a movie! Saturday we had a suprise party for my mom's birthday! Lee's mom was coming into town and she went with us! We're so fortunate that our families love each other so much and that both sides are very accepting! I've seen relationships before where the mother of the bride can't stand the future son-in law and they fought all the time and where the grooms family could see right through the future bride! I just cant believe how perfectly it all worked out for us. God had a definite hand in it all! That night, after Lee's mom left we had wine and snuggled on the couch to a couple of movies! Wonderful! Yesterday we went to the greenwood...a yummy restaurant in Botetourt and had brunch! Then we suprised Jason with some lunch...he had an appendectomy this week! he's doing much better but he had us worried there for a minute! I love jason! he's genuinely a crazy guy but so kind-hearted! he's on a skimpy diet so we bought him a ton of yogurt ..it should last him a few days! Feel better soon, Gimpy! :)
After leaving Jason's we headed over to the grocery store to do our shopping for the week...when we're on our diet we have to plan out our meals and its crazy but we LOVE doing it! most people hate going to the grocery store but I absolutely love it! I love taking my time and reading everything and seeing everything..because I LOVE cooking and I'm always trying to make new things! Last nite I made homemade chicken noodle soup and melted whole wheat cheese bread! YUMMMMMMO! we dipped the bread into the soup and it was fabulous! I made enough leftover for us to have lunch today! Tonite we're going on another date together because Lee is dying to see his manly movie...so we'll probably do dinner too! We have to go tonite because I'm busy the rest of the week! School starts this week! I can't beleive it! it seems like I just finished! I'm sooooo thrilled to be done with Math..im so terrible at it! This semester should be a lot easier..I'm so much better with history (yes US HISTORY!) one of my requirements for teaching! I'm also taking two internet courses along with this class! I will be taking a few classes in the summer and we're hoping by fall that I'll be going full time to school!!
Well..that's all for now...busy busy! Have a great week everyone!! :)

The year of the Ox! it's 2009!

Golly do I ever feel fresh and renewed! January is such a fresh start for us all! its also the beginning of the dreaded no vacation/no holiday, grey-skied winter months! I already have spring fever and its Jan 2nd! I think I get spring fever a little earlier every year! This year it started the day after Christmas! That's a new record.
We rang in the New year with some great friends this year! Jenna and her hubs, Michael..Hope and her future hubby, Chad, and Jenna's friend (and our new friend) Brigette! We decided to keep it somewhat low-key..we didn't want to party and feel poopy the next day! Jenna made us dinner reservations at Montanos! It was yummmmmy! I think Lee had the best steak I'd ever had..and folks im NOT a steak person! It was incredible. I had something shrimp that I couldn't pronounce but it was also exellent!
After dinner we headed out to do some bowling..girls vs guys of course! The guys beat us OF COURSE..probably because Lee was on their team otherwise they wouldn't have stood a chance! haha! I was proud of my TWO strikes! :) I think the last time I went bowling was in Louisville at lucky strikes...and that was a while ago..back in the summer! I can only stand bowling like once or twice a year and then I'm over it..it was fun though having some drinks and spending time with the girls!!
Around 11 or so we headed over to Brigettes new house to watch the ball drop and have some champagne!! I was so excited for the New Year..I'm hoping its the best yet!! Although..nothing could quite top 2008!! After the balldrop we headed home and crashed it was time to sleep!!
Yesterday we got up and cleaned a little and decided to go for a hike! Part of our new years resolutions are to be a little more active...thats NOT including the working out..we are going to try to do something outside everyday or at least 30 mins of activity a day ..post or pre work out! Tonite we may go play some frisbee golf! or Frolf as I like to call it! After the hike we headed over to best buy and Dicks so that Lee could use a couple of his gift cards! Now we both have new headsets for the gym downstairs!! They have those HD tv's ATTACHED to each machine so we can watch TV and run at the same time :) We really needed to go to the grocery store but we didn't have much time so we decided to splurge and troft one last time and ordered some pizza from Papa Johns! What better to way to ring in the new year than by stuffing your face with pizza and watching the biggest loser marathon! hahahaha! Hopefully we'll kick it in gear tonite and go to the grocery store..ive downloaded some more fabulous recipes (a little lighter and healthier) I cant stand any more heavy food after the holidays! I feel bloated!!

So here's a more "official" list of resolutions for 2009...

~Continue the non-smoking! I'm so proud of myself! i can't remember the last time I had one...if that says anything.. :)

~See more of my family! I know this shouldn't be hard because they all live close by..but we all get really busy and it seems like I dont see them enough..im so fortunate to have them close and I really need to take advantage of it!

~Spend more time with my girlfriends!! I see them as often as I can and we all have our scheduling issues...its so healthy to spend time with your friends as well as your significant other..you don't want to get burnt out on one or the other..!

~More DIY projects! Just so all of you can view them on my blog..Plus it gives me another hobbie!

~Be GREEN-er! Lee and i have been trying to do better about being green! for the past year we've been taking our own bags to the grocery store! they look really small but they can hold a LOT and they wont fall apart like a paper or plastic bag..they're durable. Sometimes its hard for us to remember to grab them..but we keep them hanging by the door to remind us! We installed energy efficient lighting into all of our lights in the apartment. We try the no flush rule sometimes (if its yellow let it mellow) but i have a hard time with that..i hate pee! ursula has got me recycling here at work and we've been encouraging others here to bring they're own utensils (plates, fork, cup etc) because the amount of styrofoam that goes thru this building is a day...IS INCREDIBLE! I'd like to do a little more to help the planet this year..I want it to be a healthy happy place for my future children...

~Save more money! This is a big one..with me planning on quitting my job in the near future and going back to school full time...and possibly taking a couple long weekenders with my honey..I'm gonna want to save money and not live on the edge so much!

~Go skiing!! I've never been..and I know I probably wont like it..but I have to do it..at least once..and maybe even tackle snow-boarding even though I KNOW i'm asking for it!

~Learn to knit and wear whatever I make proudly..or make Lee wear it! This goes along with the DIY I believe..

~quit my job and become a full time student!

~Learn to have MORE patience!! This is in all aspects of my life..patience at work..with lee, with myself...EVERYTHING!

~Make another trip to Minnesota! We hope to go back to Minnesota this summer to experience the Lake during the summertime and get our fair share of water sports..since Lee's grandparents seem to have every type of water entertainment you could ever want...this could make for some funny pictures/videos!!

I'm sure there will be some add-ons but that's what I've got so far!! Good luck to all of you and with your resolutions!! Did you eat your black-eyed peas and cabbage?!? Eck! me either!

~Meg