Girls Night Out!

Every couple of months I have the privilege of hanging out with my girls. I have been friends with these girls between 7-11 years. I have had the opportunity to work with three of them and had the chance to live with the other one. I have learned so much from these Godly women. They are incredible wives, moms (and moms to be one day), mentors, encouragers, prayer warriors, listeners, people to life with, people to cry with and all around fantastic friends - really I could never say enough about what each and everyone of them mean to me. They each hold a special place in my heart and life. They have enriched my life and taught me more than I would have ever imagined. I had a great time last night girls!! Love you all!

Seriously?

I will be the first to admit - I like Halloween (one reason is because that means Christmas is right around the corner) - I am not anti-Halloween at all. I carved pumpkins, dressed up as a kid, went trick or treating - loved it. Brandon and Ella dress up - love it. If I ever have kids - I will allow my kids to dress up too. I know some people who are anti-Halloween and that is fine - to each his own.

Here is where my problem with Halloween comes in...when your front yard turns into a graveyard - I have to say - "seriously?". Why? Why do we need our yards to look evil and morbid? Can't it be cute with pumpkins, scarecrows and hay? I am not a fan of evil costumes - but I can tolerate those better for one day than I can handle your yard looking evil day in and day out for a month.

Why do I say this? Because I now live on Elm Street. It looks so gross, evil, redneck, etc. Now, I am exaggerating here - I know this. You probably think that every house in my neighborhood but mine looks like a haunted house - that isn't true. There are a handful of homes that look like that - but hey - that's too many.

Allow me to show you - what I mean...I found these on the internet.

These are photos of what people have in their yard. I am going to take some actual photos of the yards and post them so you can enjoy them as much as I have.

Happy Halloween!

Fall is Here!!!

I have always gone back and forth about what my favorite season is. This year - I have decided....its FALL!!! I have been anticipating cooler weather for awhile and now that it is here - I absolutely love it! So, here is my top list of why I love fall...

1. leaves changing colors
2. sweater time
3. Christmas decor out in the stores
4. Halloween with Brandon and Ella
5. watching football with my dad
6. windy days
7. driving with my sunroof open and windows down
8. opening windows at night = saving $ on power bill
9. Christmas music
10. Christmas Village with my girls
11. holiday coffees at Starbucks - Pumpkin Spice Latte and Peppermint and Gingerbread
12. Red Christmas Starbucks cups
13. corduroys
14. Thanksgiving and Christmas
15. decorating for Christmas

What about you? Whats your favorite part of the season?

Fall TV

One of my favorite times of the year is when fall tv returns. I have checked out a few new shows, in addition to the shows I currently watch - my DVR is one busy bee.

Here is my fall tv schedule...
Sunday -

• Brothers and Sisters (ABC) - I started watching this when it first came back. The Walker family is full of entertaining drama!

Monday -

• Gossip Girl (CW) - Yes I do love this teen show. I started watching it last year and got a few of my friends hooked too. XOXO Gossip Girl...
• Samantha Who? (ABC) - Loved Samantha Who? last year! Its with Christiana Applegate who has amnesia and has no clue how mean and ruthless she was. Also has a great cast - Matt from Seventh Heaven, Sookie from Gilmore Girls and Jean Smart (president's wife from 24 and Charlene from Designing Women).
• Worst Week (CBS) - very funny show. My dilemna is - its on the same time as Samantha Who?. It basically about guy who has tons of mishaps in his life.
• Jon and Kate + 8 (TLC) - I just discovered this show over the summer. While I do not agree with their parenting skills or the way Kate talks to her husband - it is interesting to see a family of 10 live out their lives in front of a camera.

Tuesday -

• 90210 (CW) - I watched the original and had to try out the new one. Its not as great as the original, but its nice to see some of the original 90210 people (Kelly, Brenda, Nat) on there (FYI - Kelly and Dylan have a son together).
• Priviledged (CW) - This is a new show is with the girl from Reba (Cheyenne). Its another teen show set in West Palm Beach. She is a tutor to two spoiled sisters. So far, its ok.
• Law and Order SVU (NBC) - I have watched this show for years...while most story lines are sad - its a good drama.

Wednesday -

• Private Practice (ABC) - a spin off from Grey's Anatomy - I am a fan. Its a lot like Grey's with the crazy medical storylines...
• Gary Unmarried (CBS) - this show is ok so far. Its about a newly divorced guy trying to make a life from himself. I do not know if I will continue to watch it...but I am trying it out.
• Lipstick Jungle (NBC) - I watched this show last season. It has a great cast - Brooke Shields, the girl from 24 and the girl from Beverly Hills 90210. Follows 3 business women in NYC.
• Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) - I watched this last season. This show is about the Darling family (i.e. the Hilton family). Rich and spoiled. Totally far fetched...but entertaining.

Thursday -

• Survivor (CBS) - I haven't always watched Survivor, but have for the past few years. I have been a part of weekly Survivor parties (which were always fun) and just watched it from home. Its a reality show...what else can you say?
• Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - I have watched this from the beginning. Still love the drama of Meredith, McDreamy and the gang.

Friday -

• Ex-List (CBS) - I had seen tons of commercials about this - a girl who dates her exes to find her soul mate because a psychic told her she would marry an ex. Its not bad. I do think that Bella says dude, cool and man too much and she sounds stupid saying it - but overall not a bad show.

Saturday -

• I do not have any shows because it takes me all week to watch what I have already DVRed.

Looking over this list - I realized I watch too much tv - looks like 13 hours in one week. Wow. Needless to say - my DVR is full and I need to take a full day to watch these shows and clean off my DVR.

So, what are you watching this fall? Any shows I need to check out?

3 months...

Well its September 25 - three months from now is Christmas - can you believe it?!?! It makes me so happy - I love, love, love Christmas!!! I made my first Christmas present purchases yesterday - its never too early to begin. And I am seeing Christmas decor in more and more stores - which is a tad early in my opinion. I cannot wait to pull out my Christmas stuff and put my tree up, turn on the Christmas music - oh it truly is the most wonderful time of the year - it makes me happy!!

3 months and counting!! Merry Christmas!! ;)

Mouse Hunt Night #3

Well another night went by - still no sign of Jerry. I am hoping he is gone. My exterminator came today and placed this stuff around my house that if they eat it - they get thirsty and look for water. If they do not find water they die. So, if he is in the house - hopefully he will be gone soon. I am still doing good with sleep - which is an accomplishment for me. I am going to stay in Jasper this weekend...just in case he decides to come out of hiding! :)

Mouse Hunt Night #2

Well, another day has come and gone and still no new signs of Jerry of the mouse. I went home yesterday with a new mindset - if he has been caught - great - if not - my thinking was - lets act like he is gone. I did fairly well with that new mindset. I didn't mute my tv as often when I heard noises and I turned down staying at the Durant house (thanks Jason and Jamie for the invite) because I was determined to beat my fear. And the best part of it was I got a full night's sleep. Either the new way of thinking worked or I was so tired from the night before my body couldn't take anymore. Regardless, I slept well!

I woke up this morning and still no signs. My exterminator comes tomorrow to see what he can do and I think I will stay at my house tonight - lets see if I can make it two nights in a row of sleep! I have traps set up all through the house - so either he is great at avoiding them or he has left my house for greener pastures!