Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wednesday Weigh-In

I am reinstating Wednesday Weigh-In! I need some support and this has been the best thing so far.  I've really fallen off the wagon.  It really all started in the fall of last year.  I blamed the hoildays.  I was still working out twice a week but I'd quit watching what I eat.  After the first of the year I tried to get back in gear.  The working out was still happening but I couldn't control my eating.  I started counting calories using the myfitnesspal app.  I'd lost back down to within 5lbs of my goal weight.  I eventually quit using that and gained again.  So here it sit, 13 pounds heavier than this time last year.  I'm embarassed and discouraged.  I've slacked in the working out department.  Missing more often and not giving it my all while I'm there.  I know that I probably need to add another day of exercise but honestly I don't want to.  I've decided that I need a goal. 

Day 241
While I was working towards my goal weight I was very motivated.  Once I hit it I lost all motivation.  Right now my goal is to get back to my goal weight.  I also want to start running.  Like really running.   

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Fall is in the air

For a second when I came out of the civic center tonight I thought the trees were already yellow. Turns out it was just the lights!


Day 240

Wedding Fun

**I thought I posted this last week obviously I didn't, so here you go**

Saturday night our friends Matt and Nicolette tied the knot.  Patrick has known them both for a long time and we were so excited to get to celebrate with them.  It was outside at Rosewood in Pinson.  The ceremony and reception were both outside, yes in August.  To say it was hot is an understatement.  I made the mistake of trying to fix my hair.  I don't know what I was thinking.  It was looking pretty rough by the end of the night.

Patrick and Tony.  They're so cute!

These were the chandeliers hanging inside the tent.  They also had some hanging from the trees in the garden ceremony site.

Patrick and I with Tony and Carla.  We had a blast!

The beautiful bride!


Patrick and the handsome groom


It was such a great night.  We so enjoyed getting to spend time with friends.  We don't get to do that enough with Patrick's work schedule!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Love Them

I know I talk about them alot but Ally adores Patrick.  When he is home and awake she is usually right beside him.   I think it is so sweet!


Day 239

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Tutu cute!

Monica made Ellie this sweet tutu and it went perfectly with the ones I made for her!  So we just need a baby to play dress up with!


Day 238

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Time to pack a Bag

It's been a long time since I've laughed as much as I did today.  We spent the day celebrating Lorie and Baby Ellie.  We started the day out our house with cupcakes and gifts.  Then we headed to lunch followed by some shopping.  After the shopping we headed back to organize some more.  We laughed so hard about Ellie's arrival and how crazy Aunt Kristen and crazy Aunt Maggie were going to fit into all the action.  It was at this point that Kristen mentioned that she probably needed to go ahead and get her bag packed.  Yes, she was totally serious. Yes, we were crying we were laughing so hard.  But honestly it got me thinking that while I don't plan on packing a bag for the hospital I do probably need to make a list of all the things I know I want to take (mainly my camera but I still need to make sure the battery it charged!).  I am so excited for Ellie to get here.  I just want to hold her so badly.  I also can't wait to dress her in all the super cute clothes she already has!  She is one blessed  baby that is for sure!
Day 237

Friday, August 26, 2011

Cupcake Queen

Tonight (Friday) Lorie and I went to see The Help.  I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with the movie.  I'd heard how it was perfect and how it couldn't have been any closer to the book.  I have to disagree.  There was one main part that was different and I couldn't move past it.  It sort of ruined it for me.  I thought the movie was great and I thought the book was great but I wished I'd read the book after I saw the movie.  After the movie we went to Lorie's to help organize all of baby Ellie's sweet new things.  We made a huge dent in everything!  When I got home I started working on cupcakes for the little shower we were having for Lorie and Ellie on Saturday.
Day 236

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Patrick's 30th Birthday Party

Sunday, August 21st.  I surprised Patrick with a party to celebrate his 30th birthday.  Sunday was his "pure day" and his off day so that's why I chose to do it then.  It was alittle inconvenient for everyone with children and work on Monday morning but I don't think it was to bad!


This is the invitation I designed and had printed at VistaPrint.  They were very affordable and I used the same colors through out the party. 
I knew I wanted to use orange and blue because it would go with the gift I was getting him but being the die hard Bama fan all the serving pieces I wanted to use were red, so I just threw it in and I think it all worked our pretty well!
I knew I was going to make the cake because I just couldn't fathom spending $50+ on a cake that was going to be fairly simple to decorate.  I used a recipe for wedding cake that was delicious that I got here.  The 30 is wooden pieces from Hobby Lobby covered in scrapbook paper.  I used the same paper to make the Happy Birthday banner.  I put rock candy around the bottom of the cake so help cover the many imperfections.  I also wanted 30 candles.  I think it made people nervous to have that many candles but I loved it. 

The candles could have gone in alittle straighter but oh well.

I made these using small paint cans, spray paint and ribbon.  They turned out so cute.  I will be making more of these I think.
This was the birthday boy when he arrived.  I'd arranged for two of his good friends to take him shooting for the afternoon.  I didn't plan it out very well though.  Guests were still arriving when he got home but I knew he would know something was up when he saw the cars there was just no other way to pull it off.



I seriously pained me to buy this for him.  His 30th birthday also marked his 30th day to be smoke free.  He decided to quit smoking when we came home from the beach and has been gradually cutting back and has now been 34 days without a cigarette.  I'm so proud of him.  I wanted to get him something special to mark both occasions.


I did this table downstairs in the den with some of Patrick's favorite things.  It was sort of a bust cause no one really hung out down there.  But I'm still glad I did it!
This was the wreath on the front door.  I loved the feathers.  They were actually found in the gift wrap section at Hobby Lobby and had clips on them so I just clipped them to the ribbon.

This was one of my favorite things.  I found that frame for $18 at HL and loved going thorough old pictures.  There are pictures from Patrick's childhood and it doesn't even look like the same kid!

I didn't get a shot of the table actually decorated. but I used the cake as the centerpiece on this table.  I loved the tissue poms from the ceiling fan.  I think they really added to the festiveness of the party.  I used the blue jars with flowers on the table downstairs, outside and on the mantle in the living room.

I borrowed the old Pepsi cooler from my parents for the soft drinks.  I loved that it matched the colors and it just looks so neat.

This party was a lot of work.  I couldn't have done it without all the help I had.  My mom was a huge blessing through all of this.  She helped me at Sam's while I was trying to figure out how many buns I needed.  (Math has never been my strong suit!)  She helped me Saturday gathering all the final things and again on Sunday before the party.  My dad saved the day my manning the grill.  Which was not an easy task considering it was easily 157 degrees outside.  Carla and Kimmi were life savers Sunday helping me set everything up as were their husbands who took the birthday boy away for the day. 
I think Patrick was really surprised and had a really good time.  I wish I'd taken more pictures of people.  I was so busy I didn't even think about it!

I heard it's your birthday...

Today is my sister's birthday!  She's getting so old :)  Porter was trying to convince his mother that Elizabeth needed a lawn mower for her birthday.  That kid is something else.  I'm so proud of my sister she's growing into a beautiful person.  She's always had such a kind heart and warm smile.  She always sees the good in people, always.  It's something I've always been a little jealous of. 
I hope you have a wonderful day, Sister! 
Day 235

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Surprise Guests

This cutie and his little sister came to visit me at work.  He is so funny and says some of the funniest things!  I love this age.


Day 234

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A House Divided

Patrick's 30th birthday also fell on the 30th day he'd been smoke free.  I knew I wanted to get him something really special to celebrate both milestones.  So I broke down and bought the print of Jordan-Hare stadium that kinda goes with the one he'd given me for my brithday several years ago.  It was tough but totally worth it.  He was so excited. We hung it up last night. 


Day 233

Monday, August 22, 2011

Party Animal

Ally spent the entire day asleep in her bed at work. I think she's still recovering from the birthday party!


Day 232

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Happy 30th Birthday!

 I pulled off the surprise, barely. Here's a shot of the cake, (that I made myself).  I'll have a full recap up later this week.

Day 231

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Date Night

Patrick took the night off to watch two of our friends get married.  It was such a sweet ceremony and we had a ball at the reception.  I love getting to spend nights like these with the man I love.  I came home to find out my cousin got engaged and we're celebrating Patrick's 30th birthday tomorrow!  God is good and nights like this one remind me just how blessed we are!
Day 230

Friday, August 19, 2011

I love lemonade!

I tried the new wild berry lemonade from Wendy's! It was really good! I'm a sucker for a fruity drink and thus one did not disappoint!


Day 229

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Sweet Treats

My sweet friend Carla brought these to me tonight at bootcamp (yes I realize the irony).  A friend of hers from work made them.  Aren't they so cute!  I love good friends that know just what you need when you need it!  I'm afraid I'm one of those needy friends.  Actually I'm pretty sure I am.  Luckily, I've found a few good friends that can tolerate me.  I'm working on being the kind of friend I'd like to have.

Day 228
 
In other news, I was driving home this evening with the windows down.  There was a bit of chill in the air.  Just enough to let you know Fall's around corner.  Tim McGraw was playing on the radio.  I felt like I was 17 again riding home from cheerleading practice when the only thing on my mind was the pep rally and football game on Friday night.  I can remember thinking that was the most important thing in the world.  It's funny to think about now, how something can mean so much to you yet it's really so small in the grand scheme of things.  It also makes me wonder what will be important 10 years from now.  What will trigger memories of today? 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

"There's a Snake in my Boot"

I know this picture is terrible.  But as I was cleaning some things outside this little guy was blocking my way to the trash can.  I called Patrick to see what I should do.  He told me to go get the shovel and cut his head off.  So I got the shovel put my phone on speaker and started swinging.  I think I attempted the decapitation around 10 times.  I missed every single time.  I screamed like a girl the entire time.  Patrick was disappointed I didn't get him.  He slithered off into the side yard. I hope I at least scared him off.
Day 227
No your eyes do not deceive you.  He was approximately 6 inches long and as big around as a pencil.  But I was still scared.

Back to School Family Night

Friday, Mom wanted to get everyone together for a "Back to School" family night.  John was home and Elizabeth was too.  So most of us gathered for dinner.  Mom made some sort of pasta dish and it was delicious.  We had carrot cake for dessert.  I love carrot cake. 
Harper had to take a little cat nap so she'd have energy for the rest of the evening.

This is my thinking pose.
We were playing UNO and I was probably thinking how sad it was to get beat by a three year old. 

Yes, Porter beat us not once but twice.  He was very proud of himself.

I know all you see is blurry head but I love it.  He couldn't believe I beat him.

He was so excited.  Not sure why.
Not as excited to have his picture made with me.


He loves Ally Bama.