Please Stop, Networked Blogs

Dear Networked Blogs,

Please quit posting my blog to my Facebook page. I've asked nicely, but I will soon get nasty if you don't obey me.

Listen, if you know what's good for you,

Carrie

Weird Word Verification Words

I'm sure I'm not the first blogger to post about this, but what is up with the weird words that they use for word verification when you comment on someone's blog.

I just commented a minute ago, and the word was "flerj". What? Is that Icelandic or something?

So leave a comment with word you are given for verification. It will give a laugh. Thanks!

Saturday Night

Last night Greg and I headed over to Minglewood Hall to see some music. We saw Hill Country Revue and The North Mississippi Allstars. I loved it, but Greg is not as big of a fan of North Mississippi as me. He still had a good time though.

We also got a special treat when Derek Burnside ( son of blues legend RL Burnside) and David Kimbrough (son of blues great Junior Kimbrough) came out and performed the last few songs with band.

It was a fun night, but I've been dragging and tired today.

Today we went and had a yummy brunch and went shopping for a new sleeper sofa for Greg's home office. The one currently in there is pale yellow and we unfortunately allowed the dogs on it over the years. It is disgusting now, and I can't stand it being in there any longer. We figured that would be better use of the Christmas money we get from family than a bunch of little junk.

We have a big day tomorrow with something pretty exciting happening, but I'll have more details later.

Hope all of you had fabulous weekends, and that you have all of your Christmas shopping done! Can you believe that it's already this Friday!?!

Jess and Jess

My little sister, Jessica, has had a big couple of weeks.

First of all she turned 25 a few weeks ago { oh, to be 25 again}. Greg and I helped her celebrate, and I helped her celebrate a little too much.

Jess blowing out her candles that are topping the Muddy's cupcakes that I got her

Jess holding one of the many Jess-tinis we had that evening

Going out with her and her friends that night reminded me that I'm not 25 , but rather too close to 30. I ended up "time traveling" , as my friend Ashley calls it, {blacking out} for the first time in like ten years. I don't really even feel like I drank more than I would for any b-day celebration, but for some reason ( that I may have figured out) it just happened that night.

Last week Jess went on a trip to Vegas with her boyfriend, Ryan. They started dating around the same time Greg and I did about ten years ago. That's right, since they were 15.

Well, while they were there he finally popped the question, and now my little sis is engaged. I can't believe it! I can remember when the only boy she wanted to marry was one of the Hanson brothers.

Her room was decorated and covered with Hanson crap. How embarrassing!! You're welcome Jess!

Jessica's beautiful ring { Sorry to show your chipped nails, Jess!}

I'm sooo happy for you, Jessica! You are the sweetest and most kind hearted person I know, and no one deserves happiness more that you. Love You!

Easiest Way to Help Feed Hungry Pets

A few years ago my friend, Molly, told me about The Animal Rescue Site. It's a great website where you can go daily, click on a little box, and their sponsors give money for food for hungry animals ( without any cost to you).

Here is how the website describes itself:

"The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the eight million companion animals relinquished to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over four million animals are put to death each year in the U.S. because they are abandoned and unwanted.

Each click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need at the Fund for Animals' renowned animal sanctuaries (including Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in California), pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation , North Shore Animal League , and other worthy animal care facilities supported by the GreaterGood.org foundation.

100% of sponsor advertising fees goes to our charitable partners."

They also have other causes you can "click one". They are: Hunger, Breast Cancer, Child Health, Literacy, and the Rain forest.

Please check this out and try to get into the habit of clicking daily. You can sign up for an email reminder if you have trouble remembering to do things, like me.

Probably Really True About my Blog

This is probably a pretty accurate assessment of my blog, and probably a lot of other blogs also.

In case you missed this hilariousness on SNL this weekend, please enjoy it now { scroll down to the bottom of this page to turn of my music player before trying to watch the video}.

New Moon {the movie} Revue

Alright I agree that the New Moon movie was better than the Twilight movie.

Kristen Stewart's acting still made me want to scratch out my own eyeballs, but all the other actors seem to be improving.

I surprisingly thought Jacob was pretty cute in this movie. I didn't really see what everyone else saw in him on the first movie, but he was hot in this one. And it couldn't have been just because he got buff {that's not really attractive to me}.

The special effects were less cheesy this time around, too. There were still some moments that I laughed out loud {like when Edward and Vampire Bella were running in the forest in Alice's vision} but far less than in Twilight.

All and all they are getting better, and hopefully the next one will continue this trend.

New Moon

Today is a pretty gloomy in Memphis, so that makes today a perfect movie day. I've decided that the crowds have probably died down enough to go see New Moon.

I'm a big fan of the Twilight Series of books but was pretty disappointed in the first movie. The acting was sub par, at best, and the effects were down right comical. I've heard better things about the second movie, though.

Now off to the movies. I'll report back later on what I thought.

Update on the Living Room Rug

A few weeks ago I blogged about one of my puppies eating a hole in the living room rug and my subsequent rage over the situation. Click here if you missed it.

Well, Friday the repair shop called to let me know my rug was back to it's old self and ready for pickup. I excitedly rushed over to get it, brought it home, unrolled it, and it looked great!

A couple of hours later we were watching TV, and Houser was chewing on one of his toys on the recently returned rug. Suddenly I noticed the sound that his chewing was making started to change. I asked Greg what he was chewing on. Greg got up, walked over to him, bent down, and yelled "the rug!".

Yup two hours after I picked up our rug from being repaired he chewed another hole in it.

This also means that the first hole was made by Houser and not Daisy. I feel like crap for blaming her, and I've been trying to make it up to her since. She's basically getting the princess treatment.

So Greg toted the newly repaired, newly disrepaired rug back up the rug place Saturday morning. Of course they couldn't help but laugh.

Needless to say once we pick it up this time, it will stay rolled up and put away for a while { like until Houser is old and toothless}.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

I'm back after taking some time to focus on grieving over the sudden death of my friend. Thank you so much to Sammy, Kimbree, and Alexandra for you kind comments on my last post. Each one gave me a little lift when I read it.

Well, as you can see by my new blog colors, I've been decorating. I thought since my house is looking in the holiday spirit so should my blog. And hope y'all enjoy the new play list with a few of my favorite Christmas songs while you read.

We've also been decorating around the house. We actually started the weekend before Thanksgiving because I just couldn't wait this year. Here are a few photos of some of our decorations:

Our Christmas Tree

Our Sofa Table Decorations

(Thanks, Nell, for our little, frosted candles from last year)

Sideboard in the Dining Room

(with our first Christmas Card)

Our Little Porch Trees by the Front Door

Little Tree in our Bedroom

(still needing a few more ornaments)

I've been enjoying seeing the holiday decoration photos posted by my fellow bloggers, and I look forward to seeing more.

Happy Holidays!!

I got terrible news yesterday that a good friend of mine was in a car accident over the weekend and was killed.

He and I had been friends since I was about 19 but had really gotten a lot closer the past few years. He was kind of friend that was always there for me when I needed him, and I knew he always would be.

I'm having a lot of trouble processing that this has happened or believing that it is true. It seems like a nightmare that I should wake up from.

I've lost people before but no one like this. No one my own age that I've been this close to. It feels really strange. Of course it feels intensely sad at times, but I'm also feeling quite numb and empty more than anything. Perhaps that is just the shock.

I hope that I can process this in a healthy way and understand it soon.

So this week please be thankful for your friends and let them know how you feel about them. Don't take your time with them for granted.

I am thankful for all my blog friends. Reading all of your funny, sweet, and interesting posts about your lives really brighten up every single day of my life. And I am wholly thankful for all of my real life friends. For all of you who are in my life now and all of you who I have been close to in the past { just because I life, time, or distance may have pulled us apart, doesn't change the closeness that we once shared, or the way you're still in my heart}.

And I am so thankful for my best friend, my husband. Thank you for your concern for me and trying to be there for me right now. I know that unfortunately you know how this feels. I love you.

More Good News

Greg got his scores for the the third part of the CPA exam, and he passed. Yaaaaay!!

Hopefully his scores for this past part will come back super quick, so we can put this whole thing behind us!

Thanks for the prayers/encouragement!

PASS It Along

Please re post or pass this info on to everyone you know:

Dairyland Greyhound Racetrack in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing on December 31, 2009. 900 Greyhounds need to be adopted or they will be euthanized. Please help me get the word out; there is only 6 weeks to get this task done. Contact Joanne Kehoe Operations Director P: 312.559.0887 312.559.0887 Or Dairyland Race Track Adoption Center direct at (262) 612-8256 (262) 612-8256

Thanks to everyone and anyone that helps getting this message out in any way!

Turkey Trot?

Hey Memphis folks, are any of y'all doing the Turkey Trot next Thursday?

If any off you have done it before, was the parking crazy?

I'm thinking about doing something for charity and getting a little exercise in on Thanksgiving.

Fit of Rage

How can a day start of so great, and then next thing you know you're running around your house like crazy person?

This morning I woke up around 8, at my leisure, since I didn't have to work. The dogs and I snuggled in bed watching a little 7th Heaven and Matlock {another mamaw thing I do, watch Matlock almost everyday}. I went to Garden Ridge and picked up some more fun, holiday things for the house { will embellish on that in a later post}. Went to the gym and got a great workout in. Came home to have a little tomato soup and grilled cheese. Watched Sammy get her baby back, and Nicole get arrested for stealing Sammy's baby on Days of Our Lives {which I have watch literally my whole life, like from the crib}.

Then just as I started to clean the house, which I didn't even mind doing because I was in such a good mood, I saw it. The hole that Daisy had eaten in the center of my most lovely living room rug.

I seriously lost it. I felt like the Hulk or something. I may have even possibly turned green for a few moments.

I cussed out my dog using words only previously heard on pirate ships and Jerry Springer episodes, not that she understood any of them. I thought I might have a seizure because of the extent I was shaking mad, and at the very least, I knew I was having an episode.

After safely securing the dogs in the bedroom away from my rage, which I'm sue they are quite grateful for, I pulled out the phone book to search for rug repair places.

I found a place, called them, rolled up the 9 x 12 rug all by my lonesome, and loaded it into my car. Obviously I had a little adrenaline from my anger still because I 'm normally not that strong.

Thank goodness the repair is actually only going to be $50 because I was just certain it was going to be hundreds.

So just in case this ever happens to any of you pet owners, it apparently is not that costly of a fix. Maybe knowing that, you won't Hulk out like I did today, and let it ruin your day and almost your dog's life.

Oh, did I mention I also called my husband at work to tell him about it, and then cussed him out too? Like he had been in there on his hand and knees chewing up the carpet along with the dog. Whoops....I guess I have some apologizing to do. That sucks!! I hate admitting when I'm wrong.

I feel so much better know after getting that out. Promise to make my next post much sunnier, even if I have to fake it.

Hope all of your days our rage free today! And if not I hope you have better access to Valium than I do.

The End is in Sight

I can't believe it, but Greg is actually taking the last section of the CPA exam in 12 days! I seriously can't believe the long years of him going back to school and studying for and taking this exam is almost over.

I'm absolutely beside myself. If I were any happier I would be twins!

I've got several things lined up for us to do once he has finished.

First off we must take our bad ass dogs to obedience training class. I've got an email into the trainer I think I want to take them to, but that is dependent upon when the next session starts. I want them to start as soon as he is done with that stupid test {bitter much, right?}.

Secondly, we finally get to get serious about making a baby. I am hopping with all my heart that this doesn't drag on forever because I am sooo impatient. Greg of course is hoping to get at least a few months of "trying" out of this.

And I am making Greg take a break from studying this weekend, so we can put up our Christmas tree. Yay!!

Since Thanksgiving is a little later this year, I figure that putting up the tree the weekend before turkey day is completely reasonable. I need a full six weeks with my sparkly tree in our living room. Plus I swung by the music store and got my new Christmas cds. Sooo excited to Christmasfy the sights and sounds of our house this weekend.

Greg is being a little pessimistic about how Houser is going to be with the tree, but I figure if Charlie and Daisy never messed with it than why would he?

When are y'all going to start your holiday decorating?

Skipping Motherhood, Straight to Mamawhood

I'm not even a mom yet, but there are many signs lately that I'm quickly turning into a mamaw {grandmother for those you who aren't southern}.

Exhibit one: The purchases that I'm most excited about, my new fashion obsession, are pajamas, robes, and slippers. I can't make a trip to the Target without meandering over to the sleepwear department. I used to want to find a great deal on cute top or fun pair of shoes. Now I get giddy over a pair of flannel pj pants because they have pockets { assumably to carry around the tissue that I will soon be required to have at all times like a good mamaw}.

New robe that's cotton with fleece on the inside. About as sexy as Rosie O'Donnell.

Some of my new pajama pants. The second ones are the one of the pairs with the pockets.

Exhibit two: I already want to decorate for Christmas. That on its own isn't really mamaw. But the extent I want to decorate, and what I want to listen to while I do is.

I grew up in a house that the entire downstairs was wall to wall holiday decorations from the day after Thanksgiving to the first week of January. I keyed the phrase " It looks like Christmas threw up in here." at a young age, and it really captures the tone of the decor.

Having grown up with that made me adverse to holiday decor in my own home for the first few years. One year we didn't even put up a tree. But in recent years, more and more decorations having been creeping into our abode. This year I feel like Christmas might soon becoming nauseous in our house too. Look out Greg. We may have a wall to wall decorations this year.

I also usually have music that I want to listen to while decorating the tree. Mostly crooners singing holiday songs or traditional Christmas stuff. But this year I'm getting mamaw on Christmas music too. I'm getting these cds:

Yeah, we're having " a hard candy Christmas". If you don't get that reference, shame on you! You need to go rent The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas dvd ASAP, so you can be clued in to the magic that is Dolly Parton.

Don't you think getting out the tinsel and twine while Dolly, Kenny, and Willie are whaling out Christmas tunes is a bit on the mamaw side?

And I'm not done.

Exhibit three: Last night on my dinner date with my husband I actually wanted to go to Piccadilly Cafeteria. I'm not sure where all they have locations, but surely everywhere has a cafeteria style restaurant known to be frequented by the 60 and over crowd for the early bird special. Our only saving grace is that we went at 7:30 instead of 4:30 in the afternoon.

And I did it up right getting a salmon patty { salmon, bread crumbs, and other various ingredients deep fried}, mac'n'cheese, mashed potatoes, broccoli w/ cheese, a roll, and we shared chocolate cake. If you're going to be a mamaw, you should be a happy, round one, right?

Hopefully soon I'll participate in some activities appropriate for an almost 30 y/o. If not, at least I'll get some good discounts with my new AARP card {you know at Piccadilly and on SAS shoes}.

You Tube Tuesday... on Friday

" Ooooo I just made a touch down!" Hahaha

What's Happening Peps!?

Wow, I fell off the face of the blog again! Why can't I be consistent with my blogging? Oh yeah, because I'm not consistent with anything in my life. {hehe}

One of the blogs that I read is doing a 30 posts in 30 days challenge, and I'm thinking of doing it too. That sounded pretty non-commital, right? That's because it was.

Anyways, we had the BEST time in Austin. Went to some cool places, including the giant Whole Foods. I want to move there soooo bad...not to Austin but to the giant Whole Foods. We saw some cool people I haven't seen in a while, and we made some new friends, too. That might sound weird to people who have never been to a Panic show, people are really just friendly at them {it may be the chemicals}, or who have never met me. I can pretty much become bff with a lamp post after five minutes, and will be inviting to take a trip to Memphis and stay at our house. The last part really freaks my husband out, and rightly so.

Halloween was a blast! That is except for when I got puked on at the Panic show. Yeah, I said puked on. Some girl was walking past me, leaned over, and hurled salad or spinach all down my leg. I had to announce this to everyone we came into contact with for the rest of the evening, so that people didn't think Eau De Vomit was my normal scent of choice.

Here is me in my rodeo clown costume {pre-puke}. Everyone thought I was someone from Candy Land. Oh well. This is the first year that my costume wasn't overtly slutty. I'm growing up {tear}.

This was the best costume I saw all weekend. Two guys dressed up like douchebags:

Uhhh yeah, those are incredible, hand drawn Affliction t-shirts. They didn't hang out long because they had a UFC fight or something douchey to get to.

Here is Greg and our friend Chris at random bar on 6th street the night before the first Panic show:

No real reason for posting that one, except that I think my husband looks cute in it. We're not the most photogenic couple, so I feel the need to exploit any good pics of us.

Now off to do some solo TV watching. Greg drove over to Nashville tonight to look at buying a new car, a Prius. So proud of him for thinking of something other than his ego on this vehicle purchase.

Wish me luck dragging my self to the gym tomorrow. I haven't been since we got back in town, and I was on such a role, uggg.

You Tube Tuesday

In honor of all the folks who are moving, or who have recently moved. Seems like their is a lot of y'all lately.

Who Eats Half a Can of Soup?

As I was heating up my lunch today, a can of this soup, I checked out the label, as I often do. I noticed that the servings per container was two. The can is only 14.5 oz, so that would mean someone is suppose the eat 7 oz for a serving. What? Who eats half a can of soup? Am I a little piggy, or does that seem like crazy?

So that was my random convo I had with myself today. Thought I would share.

Networked Blogs

This is for all of you bloggers who are on Facebook. Please go to the application Networked Blogs on Facebook and register your blogs. That way I can post your blogs to my Facebook page and help you get new followers. Leave a comment in this post when you have registered, and I'll add you. If you want to add me to your pages too, I certainly wouldn't object.

Weekend Wrap Up

Hope everyone had a super weekend. I know that the peeps around this area had a lovely atmosphere to spend theirs in at least {our weather was phenomenal this weekend! }.

I was pretty lazy this weekend. It was, of course, just because I'm going to Austin Thursday, and totally not because I'm a big, ole bum. Well, maybe it was a little because I'm a bum.

Friday night I did try to get out and do something. I wanted to go to our zoo for Zoo Boo. It's a fun Halloween event our zoo puts on every year. I've never been before, but this is also the first year that we have had a zoo membership. The hubs totally dashed my hopes of going by making a turned-up-nose-face when I mentioned it to him. Oh well, there's always next year.

Saturday I worked for a bit, went to the gym, ran by Pier One { got a cute little apron}, and came home to make some food for family dinner at the parentals'.

Our fam hadn't gotten together in weeks, so we decided to do a Mexican night. I made seven layer dip, which we ate like pigs, and a new dessert I found on my friend Nell's blog, Best Laid Plans. Click here if you want the recipe. It is a Pumpkin Crisp, and we all thought it was delicious. Everyone requested I make it again for Thanksgiving dinner.

Our family is pretty dorky because we l-o-v-e to play board games when we get together {even though it usually ends in me or one of my sister quiting because we are losing, or one of us getting pissed because someone is not following the rules properly}.

What is about siblings that makes you revert back to childish behavior no matter how old you are? I swear I've considered doing some hair pulling recently.....even though I'm almost thirty.

We pretty much made it through this game without any sibling squabbles, but Jessica and Krista both quit before the game of Trivial Pursuit DVD Edition was over, because they were losing.

Yesterday I succumbed to my lazy tendencies and laid on the couch all day. I didn't get out of PJs one time. I watched TV and stalked Facebook. The only productive thing I did all day was wash my face and brush my teeth { you're welcome, Greg}. The only time I left the house, in my PJs, was to go to Baskin Robbin's. Let me just say that we did use the drive-through though. I DO NOT condone pajamas in public!

Today I have to be productive. I must go to the gym, after having a weekend of junk food, and I have to clean my house. At least I only have a two day work week before we leave for Austin. Have I mention that I'm pretty excited that we are going to AUSTIN!?!

Maybe I'll post some pics later of my fall decorations I put out Friday, and the new piece of art I got to hang above our bed.

What did y'all do this weekend? Did any of the you Memphis people go to River Arts Fest? I wouldn't have minded checking it out if I wasn't glued to the couch all day yesterday.

Happy Monday, for those of you in a good mood, and F*** Mondays, for those of who are not!

Loved This!

I went Tuesday to see this movie {by myself, love doing that}, and it was incredible. It was a total strong girl, coming of age movie. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD, so I can buy it and watch it over and over.

It has some great actresses in it too like Drew Barrymore, Juliet Lewis, Kristen Wiig, and the young but great, Ellen Page. Who are all tough, rockin', roller derby chicks in the movie.

And it is set in Austin- whoo, whoo. There is quite an Austin theme in my life lately.

Why I Love Austin

Why do I love Austin, TX? Because this is what they put on their construction signs.

The Size of Our World

I love stumbleupon.com, and while stumbling , I found this to be interseting. The source was unknow, by the way.




This makes me think of some kind of cosmic Russian dolls. I have trouble grasping the vastness of our universe and beyond. It just makes me feel too small and insignificant if I try for too long.

Late You Tube Tuesday

Since I'm so excited about Panic next week, I found this old video to get me in the mood even more.

A Revealing Questionnaire

Lately I've been new blog hunting and found this new blog through this blog that I already followed. There was this little questionnaire posted that Little Ms Blog said anyone could steal. So I am. Maybe this will give some insight into who I am ( probably some things that I never would have revealed on my own). You are suppose to answer the questions saying if you're guilty or innocent of the doing whatever the question asks. It's kind of like the drinking game I've Never.

Asked someone to marry you? Innocent
Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Guilty
Danced on a table in a bar? Guilty
Ever told a lie? Guilty
Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Guilty
Kissed a picture? Guilty
Slept in until 5 PM? Guilty

Fallen asleep at work/school? Guilty
Held a snake? Guilty
Been suspended from school? Guilty ( only in-school suspension)
Worked at a fast food restaurant? ?? (does Chucky Cheese count?)
Stolen from a store? Innocent
Been fired from a job? Innocent
Done something you regret? Guilty
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Guilty.
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Guilty.
Kissed in the rain? Guilty
Sat on a roof top? Guilty
Kissed someone you shouldn’t? Guilty.
Sang in the shower? Guilty.
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Guilty
Shaved your head? Innocent.
Had a boxing membership? Innocent...I think because I don't know what that means.
Made a boyfriend cry? Guilty.
Been in a band? Innocent
Shot a gun? Guilty
Donated Blood? Guilty
Eaten alligator meat? Innocent
Eaten cheesecake? Guilty
Still love someone you shouldn’t? Innocent

Have/had a tattoo? Guilty
Liked someone, but will never tell who? Innocent
Been too honest? Guilty
Ruined a surprise? Guilt
Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterwards? Guilty
Erased someone in your friends list? Guilty
Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Innocent
Joined a pageant? Guilty
Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? Guilty
Had communication with your ex? Guilty
Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Guilty
Got totally angry that you cried so hard? Guilty

Please cut and paste this onto you blog, so I can see just how alike or different we are!

Please Send Us Your Positive Thoughts

I forgot to mention earlier that Greg is taking the third part of the CPA exam tomorrow. So far he has passed the two parts that he's taken on the first try, but it's still very nerve racking for him. Please send some positive thoughts and/or prayers this way tomorrow. Thanks and let me know when I can repay the favor.

Upcoming Travel Plans

In about a week and a half, Greg and I are going here

to see

I'm super excited! I love Austin and, of course, love Panic. The shows are 10/30 and 10/31....halloween! Which I also love. I can't wait!!

I'm hoping some of you have been to Austin and can tell me where to get the best fish tacos. The place needs to be somewhere close to the downtown Sheraton Hotel, since we always walk or take taxis everywhere we go when on vaca { cause you never know when the mood to get hammered will strike when you have no responsibilities}.

I also can't wait to go here when we get there

And here

The Whole Foods downtown Austin is a whole city block. Anyone, who knows me, knows that this is like the mother ship calling me home. Oh, and it just so happens that the Whole Foods and the Anthropologie are right across the street from each other. Austin really is the coolest city ever.

I'm also just beside myself about getting my husband all to myself, with no CPA exam materials anywhere in sight. This will very much help my plan to come home with a little, Panic fan on board. Maybe we'll name it Austin, if it's a boy, or Antrhopologie, if it's a girl. Hahaha. Or Sheraton or Panic or......

Anyways, let me know if you have some favorite spot in Austin that we must see. Or any old wives' tales tricks on how to conceive a boy...... preferably some that are fun and not any that I have to eat or drink anything nasty.

Ow, My Back!

Saturday morning I woke up ready to be productive. I decided I was going to get up early and go to the gym before work. On my last strength exercise of the day, squats, I felt a horrible pain shot up the right side of my back.

Having never had back trouble, I thought I just needed to stretch. No, that hurts worse. Maybe walk it off? No, worse. By the time I made it to my car in the parking lot, I was in tears.

Fast forward to this morning. I'm still in pain, laid up on the couch. This sucks!!

It's actually sunny outside today {which has been unusual around here the past month or so}, and I want to be outside walking the dog. I would also love to be at the gym today, since we're going out of town in a week and a half. I would even love to be able to clean my kitchen and bathrooms or rake leaves. Or anything besides being useless and in pain on the couch.

Have any of you ever pulled a muscle in your back? How long did it take to get back to normal?

Now Tell Me, Who Do You Love?

I need some new blogs to follow. A good bit of the ones I was previously following seem to not be posting as much as they were back in May, when I was on here before, or not all.

So, I was wondering who y'all follow. Whose blogs make you giddy when you click on your dashboard and see that they've made a new post? Who makes you laugh and smile? Who makes your day better because of their blog? Whose blogs make you want to blog more yourself?

I tend to like blogs written by funny girls, girls who love shopping, girls who love their doggies, southern girls, and married girls and mommies who still have a life apart from their spouse and/or children. But they don't have to be limited to those categories.

Pleeeease let me know, and soon, because I love the blogs I currently follow, but I need variety in my life. And with winter quickly setting in, I know I'm going to be having a lot more couch time and getting bored pretty quickly.

You Tube's' Tuesday

I couldn't pick between my three favorite shows from when I was kid, so here are all of their intros.






I unfortunately couldn't find a Fraggle Rock one with the old man talking to his dog at the beginning.

Top 10 Errors Found in Doctors Reports

10. Healthy appearing, decrepit 69 year old male, mentally alert but forgetful.

9. Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.

8. The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1983.

7. Patient has left his white blood cells at another hospital.

6. Discharge status: Alive but without permission.

5. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.

4. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. (Blank), who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.

3. The patient lives at home with his mother, father, and pet turtle, who is presently enrolled in day care three times a week.

2. The patient refused an autopsy.

1. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it had completely disappeared.

And people wonder why I only go to annual appointment and stay as far away from health care, as I can, the rest of the year!

Polyvore Obsession

So here is what else I've been up to the last week or so. My husband is very concerned about this one. He walked into the living room in the middle of the night a few days ago and asked "Are you still up making outfits? You have a problem.".

Panic Concert Outfit by CarrieBeth featuring Old Navy

Fall Brunch Without Breaking the Bank by CarrieBeth featuring Old Navy

Anthropologie-type look for less by CarrieBeth featuring Salvatore Ferragamo scarves

So until my intervention, I'm making as many new sets {or outfits as my husband says} as I can.

Check out polyvore.com and make some of your own. Let me know if you have any on there, so I can check them out.

Bitter Sweet...More Bitter Really Sweet

So we decided that we wanted some "treats" tonight. I went to Baskin Robbins, and I got this:

It's an Oreo Sundae!

I really enjoyed it, and then Greg informed me that it had 1,400 calories. So much for going to the gym today.....or pretty much the whole week. Oh well, I'll just be on a celery and water diet, yummy.

I've Been Gone Soooo Long!

Wow, my first post since May. Do I even remember how to do this!?!

I have something shameful to admit. { dun, dun, dun} I joined Facebook. I know, I know....after all the crap I talked about it for-ev-er. And it is every bit as addicting as everyone said it is. I'm a junkie.

So between obsessively stalking people on FB and having a busy summer socializing I haven't been blogging. Now that the summer is officially over {at least it must be it must be because I'm currently sitting on my couch under a cozy blanket with my Uggs on instead of on a patio Sunday brunching on a patio sipping my third or fourth manmosa. That's a mimosa with a shot of vodka.} I'm ready to get back to it. That sentence must be some kind of record for length and lack of proper punctuation!

I can't wait to catch up on the folk's blogs that I follow. I noticed that a few of my favs have also slacked off or shut down their pages all together {tear}.

My other new activity keeping me from my chores is Polyvore.com! If you haven't gotten on this site you must right now. You basically get to pretend you're Rachel Zoe and put together any outfit you want, even the ones you could never afford or fit into. It's like dress up for grown ups. Love it!!

Oh and I got a new puppy!

He is a rescue, that should make Kimbree smile, from Oxford Humane Society. His name is Houser, after the late Michael Houser { Widespread Panic's guitarist}, and he is amazing. He is a mix of god knows what. I think he looks kind of like a black golden retriever. He is the sweetest little boy ever. It warms my heart to have another little boy pup after we lost our Charlie back in January. I'm sure he will be the star of my blog after I plaster it with pictures of him.

I owe huge apology to Sarah, from on the Rhoads of life, because I never sent her the flower pot that she won in my drawing. Sorry Sarah! I will find some way to make it up to you, I swear. I know I suck the most :( .

So anyways....can't wait to start yapping on here again. I'm sure I'll be posting a ton of stuff the next few weeks, changing some things on my page, and updating my songs on here.

You Tube Tuesday....Just a Day Late

In honor of my husbands recent accomplishment........

Funniest Shit on the Planet! Seriously!

One of the reasons that I haven't been blogging and keeping up with things around here like I should is because of this website textfromlastnight.com. It is the best and most addicting thing to come into my life! Please check it out for yourself ASAP.

Here are a few of my favs:

(502): Dude, just got a bummer.
(1-502): What??
(502): A blow job from a homeless chick.

and

650): Just FYI I rubbed poison oak on all your sheets and blankets so we all will know who you hooked up with (in about a day)

and all time fav (poor gay boy's mom...I hope he was out of the closet!)

(214): dude. I'm so drunk.
(972): pete, this is bryce's mom
(214): I can't wait to have my cock in your ass
(972): pete, this is still bryce's mom

I got an iPhone yesterday and just set up my mobile blog setting. This could definitley get intersting when I start sending drunken photos to my blog at 3am!

Greg's Graduation

My husband's graduation from Christian Brothers University last Friday afternoon was wonderful! Not only was it the end of a long journey over the past few years, but he was also surprised with two special awards at the end of the ceremony.

One was for the highest GPA in the school of business, and the other was the highest GPA in the entire 2009 graduating class. To be fair he did have to share the second with another girl because they both had perfect 4.0s.

So that's right.... I'm married to a valedictorian. I know you're probably as shocked as I am that I would be married to such a smarty pants after reading my "lovely" writing style and "extensive" vocabulary in my posts ( especially since I don't even know how to spell valedictorian). I even thought about not using spell check on this post to show you just how dumb I can be, but decided that my hurt my pride a little too much. Well at least I'm the one who married for intelligence!

Because the ceremony was at such a funky time and Greg had to be on site by 2 in the afternoon, this is the only photo I have with him in his cap and gown.

He had to run over while they were walking out to take this photo with me as I was leaning over the railing. You totally can't even see my cute JCrew summery dress. And I have fat arm because I'm smushing it into my side. My priorities are so skewed.

Anyways from here on out Greg will be known as Greg 4.0 or just 4.0! Or at least he says he will!

Better Late Than Never, Right?

I'm so sorry that I'm so late on doing my give-a-way announcement. We have been so busy lately and everything has been getting away from me. 

This morning I wrote out the five pep's names who commented on little pieces of paper and put them in bowl.

And the winner is............

Congratulations Sarah from On the Rhoads of Life

This is an amazing coincidence because today is actually Sarah's birthday. So Sarah happy birthday again and leave your email address in a comment, so I can contact you for your address. I promise I will be quicker mailing your treats to you than I was doing the drawing. 

You Tube Tuesday... and then some

This weekend we had my youngest sister Krista's college graduation, and I threw a combined family party at our house for Krista and Greg's graduations. We had a great time eating, DRINKING, and celebrating. I took absolutely no photos though. I'm just sick about. I now well enough that if I'm hostessing something I should always give my camera to someone else to be on paparazzi duty. Oh well.

After the party was over some of our friends came over and we ended up going out. We went and saw a Guns n Roses cover band, Appetite for Destruction. I'm not a G n R fan in the first place, so this band is not my cup of tea. We still had a great time though, and ended up thinking it would be a great idea to head downtown after they were over at 3 am. For those of you who don't know a lot of our bars downtown don't close until 5 or 6. It's a blessing and a curse.

The next morning I was dying for food since we had served BBQ at the party, and me being a vegetarian, I ate nothing but three cupcakes. Greg was quit immobile in the bed when I woke ravenous at 10.... he is like six years older than me and doesn't bounce back the same after a long day and night and morning of drinking. My friend and previous evening house guest, Dave, was kind enough to take pity on me, drag his ass out of bed, and carry me to the Waffle House. Yeah, I said the Waffle House. Don't be j!

Upon our arrival to the fine dining establishment, I asked Dave if he would play me a song on the jukebox. He said " like what Honky Tonk Badonkadonk?". 

I had never heard of this "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" before. Fortunately our food arrived quickly, as it often does at grease pits, and I was face down in my eggs, grits, hash browns, waffles, and toast..... and yes I ate every bite..... don't judge me! Once I started to eat I forgot about the song until I got to my parents later that day for Mother's Day. 

I pulled this up on You Tube. ( sorry you have to be redirected to You Tube because the record label has disabled the embedding..... because they're obviously douches).

OH MY! How did I ever miss this? It makes that awful "Poker Face" song look like it should win a Grammy. 

The next day I sent a link of the video to Dave and commented that it seemed that the concept of the video shoot was if a rap video and a monster truck rally had a baby. I posed the question: What would such a baby be named?

Dave's answer: Kid Rock

The Count Down Is On

Please look to the left column of my blog and notice the Greg graduation ticker. Yes... it says 7 days! He actually is taking his last test tonight in about thirty minutes. That means he'll be finished with school in about an hour. Yay! I thought this day would never arrive. 

Happy Belated Cinco de Mayo

Oh how I celebrated the Mexican Independence Day. Then this morning the tequila I drank last night declared it's need for independence from body. It was a very violent battle, and it won. Screw you tequila! I vow to never drink you again ...... or at lest not until next May 5th because by then I will have forgotten what I felt like today. 

Also I probably have swine flu because the Mexican restaurant we went to (or I should say the first one we went to) didn't have soap in the bathroom. Like Mexican places don't already seem unsanitary enough, or at least most of them in Memphis do.

Mrs. Potter, 101th post, MY First Giveaway

Yesterday I got my screened in porch all summerfied. I planted a ton of pink begonias and assorted colored impatients in all container pots. I also cleaned of the inch think film of pollen still lingering on everything in there. These are some shots I took of porch and all the flowers. Notice the hand painted pots around the ledge from my post "She's Crafty" post. They may come back up later in this post.

So I thought I had timed everything out to make this my 100th post, but I made a mistake somewhere along the way. Therefore I 'm celebrating my 101th post instead of my 100th. I don't want to be like everyone else anyway.

Yay my 101th post! I've really enjoyed blogging so far. I hope I keep up with it over the summer when my life usually gets a little busier. I'm glad to have a kind of record of what is going on in my life that I'll be able to look back on. 

Thanks to everyone who has been reading my blog so far. Thanks for putting up with my poor grammar, punctuation, and a few misspelled words that manage to get by spellcheck. Thanks for your comments, and making me feel like my life is a bit more interesting than it actually is.

And finally, thanks for letting me into your lives through your blogs. I've really enjoyed getting to know some really cool girls through this whole blog thing. Some from all over the country, and some right here in my own backyard.

To show my thanks, and celebrate my 1-0-1 blog,  I'm doing my first giveaway.

Back when I painted my replacement flower pot, I decided to paint a larger one to give to one of my readers. Here's a photo of the pot one of will be receiving:

I will also be including a few little surprise goodies along with original-CarrieBeth-hand-painted-flower-pot and personal note from me. It's not a super extravagant giveaway, but hell as many post as I've done in this short time, I'm going to be hitting too many milestones to be making my giveaways too extravagant this soon.

To play along in the giveaway just leave a comment over the next week under this post. Next Wednesday I'll do drawing, and post who's name I pull. Whoever wins will have to leave there email address in a comment for that post, so I can contact you for your street address. If your uncomfortable doing that please don't enter for the drawing.

I'm so excited about this, so please comment to win. Don't let me down readers!

You Tube Tuesday

My You Tube Tuesday is honor of my adventure yesterday. 

I had the brilliant idea that since I wax my own brows then I should be able to wax my own "special area". Not such a good idea..... pain and a sticky mess followed. Needless to say I'll be leaving this to the professionals in the future. 

Nashville Pics

My camera finally arrived home today from its extended vacation in Nashville. So now I'm posting some photos of us hanging at our friend Chase's house before the Dave show.

Chase and I

Shane and Mckenzie

Brian and Greg

Me and Greg