Mardi Gras Inspiration

Day 63

Raise the Roof

They finally finished our new metal roof today.

We love it! The pictures don't do it justice.

I think we're going to have to paint the shutters now.  They kind of clash.

Day 62

View from Here

Day 61

African Romance- The Bachelor Style

I have noticed something about myself over the past few days, weeks, months.  I tend to be obsessive about things.  Like once I get an idea in my head I let it consume my every thought.  I worry and plan and obsess even if I know it is something that is totally not going to happen.  Case in point...Lion Sands Resort.  I mentioned last night that I wasn't sure about the fantasy suite being a tree house in the middle of a private game reserve.  Well after much thought I've decided that it would be amazing to stay in a tree house in the middle of a private game reserve. 

While I was browsing the Lion Sands Resort website I came across a page for the Bachelor Style South African tour.  Can I just say if we had an extra $12,000.00 I would have already booked our flights.  (Which would be the only down fall...30 hours traveling...most of that actually in the air.) 

All the rooms are so airy and beautiful.

Best place to see the "Big 5" Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Buffalo, and Rhinos.

Massage anyone?

All photo credit

Seriously go check out this place...maybe we could get a group rate if we all went together.

(Patrick said for that kind of money he would build us one heck of a treehouse in the back yard that we could stay in any time we wanted!)

I've already looked up the cheapest times to travel and weather conditions for a vacation that I'll never in a million years be able to afford.  (Even if we did come into an extra $12,000.00 I would never be able to justify spending that much money on a vacation.)  See what I mean OBSESSEd!  Patrick and I decided we were going to take a little over night trip to Nashville in June to see a band play.  I'm already planning what I'm going to wear, pack, eat, etc.  I really have a problem!

Throw her a bone

Day 60

At Home Date Night

The sweet husband decided to surprise me with steaks on the grill tonight!

(He loves having his picture made!)

As you can see, Ally and I were so very excited!

We had steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

With, way to bad for me, pie for dessert!

Our grill had been out of gas for months now.  So Patrick got our tank filled and got some steaks.  I love when I get home from work and don't have to worry about what we're going to have for dinner! 

Now I'm watching the Bachelor...how about Chantel and Brad staying in a tree house in the middle of nowhere for the fantasy suite?  Not sure how I'd feel about that!

Dinner is Served

and I didn't have to do a thing.

Day 59

Fam-Wii Time

Typical Sunday afternoon at my parents house...

Day 58

Blast from the Past

We all have things we hold onto from our childhood, high school and even college days.  I'm a very sentimental person.  I still have all of my cheerleading uniforms from when I cheered at the park through high school.  It was such a big part of my life and some of my best memories from growing up.  When I graduated from high school there were in the process of building this Jim N Nicks restaurant.  They used local "stuff" to decorate with.  The entry was filled with jerseys and uniforms from various sports teams in the area.  They wanted a megaphone and some pompoms so they contacted the athletic club at Gardendale.  They said they wanted the best cheerleader's megaphone.  I was the one selected.  Someone called me and I said sure.  So for 5+ years my megaphone has hung in the entry way.  I was so proud!  Well a few weeks ago it was brought to my attention that my megaphone had been taken down.  At first I was sad but then I was concerned that they'd just tossed it.  Last night we went in to eat dinner, after our meal I asked to speak to a manager the conversation went something like this...

ME: "Um you know the megaphone that used to hang over the door?"

Manager Woman: "Yeah"

Me:  "Do you by any chance still have it?"

Manager Woman: "Yeah, somewhere..."

Me: "Really?!?  Can I have it back?  I'm Maggie!!!"

Manager: "Um sure, let me go see if I can find it." looking at me weirdly and almost feeling sorry for me that I want to hang on to the past so tightly.

It was at this point I realized how pathetic this all seemed.  But my friend Brittany reminded me that those things aren't free and I deserved to have it back.

I was so excited when she brought it out to me.

Here I am in all my glory posing so proudly with my megaphone.

After dinner we went back to Kristen and Brittany's house to watch a movie and enjoy cupcakes.  We watched Dinner for Schmucks.  It was pretty funny.  (I have to admit I didn't watch all of it.  Most of the time was spent letting Brittany help me set up my google reader!)  Brittany also built us a little fire outside in the fire pit.  It was a bit cool out so we didn't stay out long.   

Warming up by the fire.

Brittany enjoying her fire. She was so proud.

Pretty good for our first time.  (I've built fires before but usually with adult supervision.)

Glory Days

Day 57

Cupcakes Anonymous

My boss was heading to Vance, AL today (about 15 miles outside of Tuscaloosa) I convinced him we needed Gigi's cupcakes.  He didn't disappoint!

Day 56

Spring is in the Air

We're starting to see it and feel it.

Day 55

Gettin Our Hair Did

Wish I had a before...

Thanks Daddy!

(Yes, my dad is who I turn to for all my color needs!)

Day 54



Happy National Margarita Day

It's a faux  Margarita.  Just limeade...trying to be festive.

Day 53

Would you like some pizza with that grease?

Day 52

New Stuff

One of our new products at Signs of Sophie.

Day 51

Tuscloosa Love

I love Tuscaloosa.  Like really love it.  Which is kind of funny to me because by December 2007, I could not wait to get out of that city.  I'd been there for 4.5 years and I missed home.  It wasn't until I actually got home that I realized how much "home" had changed.  My sweet little 13 year old brother had turned into a 17 year old high school senior that was counting the days until he headed to Tuscaloosa.  My pesky sister was not there anymore she'd firmly planted herself in Tuscaloosa.  My older brother was three children richer (or poorer depending on how you look at it. ha!) with one more on the way.  My parents were still crazy as ever but had already started adjusting to an empty nest (and didn't appear to be the least bit sad about it).  Finally, I was finishing up planning the wedding of my dreams and decorating our first home together.  It was hardly the "home" from August 2003 when I first flew the coop.  Not that it was a bad thing it was just different.  I knew all those things were happening but when I thought of home I only imagined how it used to be.  I quickly realized all the things I was so anxious to get back to were no longer there and they'd never be back.  These are all things that I didn't realize right away but over the course of that first year I was back.  It really hit me during football season when I was back in Tuscaloosa that I realized that it wasn't so bad that I'd actually {gasp} missed the place.  It was then that I rekindled my love for Tuscaloosa.  It was like an old relationship where all you can remember are the good times.  All you think about are the flowers and perfect dates, you don't remember the fights and tears.  All I thought about were the tailgates and springtime on the quad.  I, for the life of me, couldn't recall walking to class in the rain (and the way Tuscaloosa floods when it even sprinkles) or the parking ticket for my bumper hanging over the sidewalk at my house.  I remembered how I loved my morning runs around the neighborhood on the sidewalks, something I will always regret not taking full advantage of. 
This is all nothing new.  I talk about it each fall when I head down for the first game of the season and my mind is flooded with all the great memories of my favorite time of year in Tuscaloosa. 
I was reminded again last night when I took my sweet niece Ava for the gymnastics meet.  We made it a Girls Night Out: Aunts/Nieces style with Kristen and Kaley.  Elizabeth came along for the fun too.  We had a blast!  We had dinner at Mugshots and then drove right through the heart of campus on the way to Coleman Coliseum.  We went by Bryant-Denny Stadium, the Quad, the Presidents Mansion, and the newly renovated Foster's Auditorium.  Ava had been to this part of campus during football season but Kaley hadn't seen it.  It was fun to share that with the girls.  Some things look completely different and some things will always look exactly the same. 
We finally got parked and started the long walk.  All the lights at Coleman were pink in honor of Breast Cancer.  It was beautiful.  We go to our seats to catch the very end of warm ups.  The cheerleaders and Big Al came out to get the crowd pumped.   They recognized the alumni (I got to see Ashley Miles one of my favorites from when I was there) and the 1991 National Championship team who were celebrating their 20 year anniversary.  We loved seeing the footage from the '91 season.  The hair was amazing and Sarah Patterson's dress was over the top.  Finally, it was time for the team introductions and the competition to start. 

Lit up all pink. 

Kristen, Kaley, Me and Ava. 

Me, Sister and Ava. 

The girls as we were leaving Mugshots.

Kaley and Kristen waiting on the meet to start.

The 91' team.  I should have taken my better lens in I'm mad at myself for not.

Cheerleaders and Big Al.  I loved the pink poms. 

The team coming out.  This is my favorite part.

The girls sitting outside.

We had so much fun.  The tide won which is always exciting.  Kaley fell asleep and she was really out.  She had to be carried to the car.  We couldn't wake her up enough for her to walk.  We dropped Elizabeth off and headed back home.  Home to my house.  I feel like I have so many "homes".  I still call my parents house "home" and my house.  The girls slept the whole way.  Ally was so excited to see Ava when we finally got home.  We put on our pjs and hit the sack.  But not before a little cuddle time with our favorite poodle.

As much as I love Tuscaloosa.  I love home too.  I still love "home" at my parents even with all the emptiness.  I love my own "home" more than I ever thought was possible that first year.  I thought I'd never adjust.  I thought I'd never appreciate home for what it is not what it was.  I do appreciate it now.  It makes the past that much sweeter and my home that much homier.

They totally love each other.

My view most every morning.  Aren't they precious.

Day 50

Think Pink

Bama gymnastics goes pink.

We went to the 7th annual "Think Pink" meet in Tucaloosa tonight.

Day 49

Toes in the Sun

First pedicure of the season...

Day 48