The TrendSetter....

Please take note of the hottest toddler styles for fall. Your not cool unless you rock it like Brock does: One shoe, pantless, stripes and argyle mix, winter hat with the tag attached and a band-aid for show....Get some of that!

First time for me....

Saturday night was officially a girls night out. My hubby was in Athens at the GA game (Keep rude losing comments to yourself) and I had a babysitter, so I rounded up the girls. Hollie, Jessica and myself headed to the Town Center for dinner and shopping. I had birthday money that was burning a hole in my pocket. The nurse (Jessica) had recently bought some designer jeans and was putting the pressure on me to buy some, but I have a problem with buying one pair of jeans that cost the same amount as two weeks of food for my family, so I denied. Don't get me wrong, they were great, WONDERFUL, made my butt look SOOOO good, but I figured maybe I could find some I liked as good, so we headed to Express (I can always find something there). I tried on a pair of these and I came out looking 10 pounds lighter (so my dear friends told me). So OF COURSE I bought them, they were half the price of the others, but when I had on the new jeans I realized HOW BAD the ones I had on that night looked on me (Banana Republic two sizes too big). They were awful and looked like TWO sizes too big. So I straight up tore the tags off, got the sensors removed and WALKED OUTTA THE STORE WITH THEM ON! IT was really funny b/c when I went to buy them I handed the girl the tag and said "I'm wearin' these" in my sweetest county voice. It must have threw her off b/c she forgot to give me my cash back....After that I felt much better about myself. Not to mention I was walking around with a size zero and a size two...Even if you added up their sizes, it still didn't make mine...but you know..I live to eat, not eat to live!

Grey's....2 hours of DRAMA

Okay for all my fellow Grey follwers what did you think of last night's two hour episode??? (Don't read if you haven't watched your TiVo yet).

The beginning freaked me out (derek dying in a car wreck), but I really hope Mer and Derek move in together. I wish it would work out for them...I love looking at him...hhmmmmmm.

Alex and Izzie-please hook up already...all that tension is killing me.

Yang-GEEEEZ, I thought I was negative and dramatic. She has got me beat. I hope that Dr. Hunt (McIrish) comes back for her...but if they reproduced those kids would be kinda..well..not cute or lets face it...ugly. Please don't have kids with each other.

I love George-he is so not with it...how can he not know that younger grey is in love with him...how cute would they be?

McSteamy (Eric Dane) all he has to do is stand there....Why can't he do this every episode? Bet they'd have more viewers. Check this video out...The song brings me back....BABY!

Can't wait till next week....Will McIrish come back...what will they call him? Will Mer and Dereck move in? Will Izzie and Alex hook up?

And the Award goes to...

Me! My sweet, so like me, friend has chosen me for the SMILE award...Thanks Hollie! Thank you for thinking of me. I really enjoy reading other blogs more than updating my own. But Hollie seems to think I deserve this award, this is why I heart Hollie!

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude.
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.

These are the rules for The Smile Award:
1. The recipient must link back the the award’s creator
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

OKay, like I said I read more blogs and hardly EVER comment on the ones I read (anti-social Owens coming out in me) so I don't really have 5 people to nominate, so I have three....pitiful....I know! I need more friends (that blog).

1. Jobeth-she is such a postive and sweet person. I use to teach with Jobeth and I really do miss her smile on the bus lot at the end of the day. She is an awesome mom and friend. Jobeth and I started to become friends during college. We carpooled and during those rides we discussed a huge amount of different topics and she is ALWAYS positive....so she is definately deserving.

2. Tara-one word to sum up Tara-CALM. I work with Tara (see you next week) at school and even as frustrating and stressful teaching can be, she is so even tempered....It is really amazing. She is also a great mom and I am sure Cale has her smiling alot!

3. Kaci-such an easy going person and wonderful mom. In addition to that, she takes GREAT pictures.Check out her website-you can see lots of pics of our family. http://www.kathrynbrown.net/index.htm

Again...Thanks Hollie:-)

The good stuff

Okay so the last post was kinda boring, so lets get to the good stuff....what I got for being 26. I had a whole weekend birthday fest!

From Jeremy and Brock-A perfectly pink petite IPOD. I feel so technologically advanced, but then I feel dumb because I don't really know how to work iTunes yet....it's coming though. In addition to my PPPIpod I also got a docking station and a cord that you can plug into your car and it will play your ipod, if your car is like mine and is out dated and DOESN'T have a direct hook up to my ipod.

Saturday-Jeremy and I went out to Carrabbas and ate and afterwards (BEFORE THE DAWG'S PLAYED) he gave my my gift. I was very excited, because I kinda mentioned that I wanted one in passing. Not a serious request, like I so often make.

Sunday-My family and in laws went to my Aunt's house for lunch where we had Beach Road Chicken...mmmmmm and KP's famous white icing coconut cake....If your from 'round here you know this cake! I got some cash and some really cute earrings.

Monday-Started my day at school and one of my very sweet students brought me a mini one of these in the cutest pot. HOW SWEET! I love this kid...he is why I love teaching! Then after school we ate dinner at Tonya's (mom in law). She had a few surprises for me too! A sweater from my FAV store, a new key finder, and the most festive wall flower I have ever seen!

The best surprise was 3 different pieces of Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake and Rice Krispy Treats (by Jer's request). This is all that if left of our dessert! It's only your birthday once a year.

I got a lot of stuff from everyone, including myself. I had to treat myself at Ann Taylor Loft (NEW FAV STORE). They gave me 20% off because I was a teacher (bout time!)

At this time I am reminded of Madonna's song....Material Girl...uh oh!

Birthday Girl-Deep Post

Well I am offically 26...When I look back it's hard to belive that 10 years ago I was getting ready to drive a car and now I have a family getting ready to make coffee for the next morning. I do remember thinking when I was 16 about 10 years from then(I do that each birthday and have always done so...that is the planner in me I guess) and wanting to be married and have a really nice house, a career and maybe a child. Well I have accomplished all those things. Of course when your 16 your nice house is on MTV's Cribs, not in a small town in a 20 house subdivison, but you know!

I feel that now that I am 26 (down slope to 30) I am the following (here comes this list maker in me):

1. Thankful for health and family
2. Happy to have a precious child
3. Curious about what it will be like when I am 36, 46, 56
4. Smart-way smarter than when I was 16 or even 21
5. Becoming more patient-trying to anyway

I am really blessed for these 26 years that I have had and I have loved every minute of it:-)

Itchin' for Fall

Why is it the weekends go by way faster than the work days? I can't belive in less than 12 hours I will be back at school...ugh....

To keep myself in order on this post, I have to put what I want to talk about it number order...same reason I have to write out a "to-do list" even if there is only one or two items on it...

1. The Grape Pics...Jessica finally shared with me our pics from The Grape...ENJOY

Cheers!

2. Fall...I can't wait so I went to Kohl's today (by myself ...me time) and AC Moore (right beside Kohl's...like a "bo-bo" Michael's) and picked up a few things for my kitchen table for the fall...What do you think? The best part is I got all this (candles, candle sticks, and runner) for under $30!!!

You can bet the first thing I did when I got home is cleared off the table and set it all up and asked Jer to get the rest of the fall things out of the attic. I didn't even attempt to clean up this:

Or this....

But I am glad to say I did clean up this mess BEFORE dinner!

3. Last weekend I bought this from HomeGoods for like $7 to add to my Halloween Collection. I also bought a cool clear container to hold my noodles.

4. Say Hello to my two new best friends. I finally got a pepper grinder...Why did I wait so long??? I am also in love with my new salt shaker because she shakes it like I do ....ALOT! My old shaker took FOR EVER to get anything out, but my new one is the junk! I smile everytime I see them...and they take up less room on the stove.

5. Well that about wraps it up. It looks like I did a lot of shopping...oh yea I also played the Grovery Game and saved $45 and Winn Dixie...but I only bought a few things! It was still a good deal. So I did shop, but I also spent alot of QT with Brocky and Jeremy and friends. Saturday night we went to Mr. Jimmy's (Jessica's Dad) surprise 60th party. It was fun and Brock loved Jessica's Granny's baked beans and Callahan BBQ green beans. It was a great weekend, and I look foward to the next one too! (It's my birthday weekend!)

Shop-aholics

FYI-Babies R Us and Toys R Us on Atlantic are moving to the Town Center (YEAH) so they are having a having sale where "everything must go". Just thought I would pass it along!

18 months old

Well Brock was offically 18 months old yesterday and today he had is 18 month check up. He weighed 26 lbs and 10 oz (down 3 punds from 12 months check up) and was 33 and 3/4 " (90th percentile). All good news to us.



Grandma (Jeremy's grandma-Brock's Great Grandma) went with us today. She was such a big help. Brock HATES the dr. now. As soon as he gets into the room, he begins to cry. I finally get him settled, then he cries again when Dr Connolly comes in, screams the entire time until he leaves, get him settled again, SCREAMS again for the shot and then we are done! See why it was essential that Grandma came! But everyone tells me that it is normal. I hope so.



Also, Brock had something to look forward to when he got home today, Daddy. Jeremy has been gone since Saturday for guys trip to Biloxi, MS for some card playing and football watching. They stayed here. IT is one of the only two casinos left since Katrina...But he was so glad to see his daddy! What a sweet bond he has.

The GRAPE and Dessert!

Friday night was so much fun for me. I finally got to have a girls night out (well needed!). Jessica and I got all dressed up (it was so nice to wear "goin' out clothes") and headed to the Town Center for dinner. We went to PF Changs to see what was the chance of getting in without a reservation. It was 6:30 and an HOUR wait! But we decided to wait and go over to the Grape (next door) while we waited. The GRAPE is wine bar. I am not big on wine, but Jessica swore we would find something we liked there. Our waiter "Rick" (rocking his D&G glasses) hooked us up with a few samples and we finally found one we loved! I have always wanted to like the taste of wine...finally I found it. It is called Riesling. It was really, really good. So we had a few glasses and finally our table was ready, so we headed over ready for some food. It was fun because of the two previous glasses of wine. While we were eating, it was quiet, Jessica bust out with "I'm havin' a blast." May not sound funny now, but we died laughing because I said (though my tears of laughter) what did you say? So after dinner we went back to the Grape because they were having live music and of course the wine...and dessert.

This guy, Charlie Walker, was singing and even did a little beat boxin'. A cutie that sounded like Jack Johnson/Ben Harper! He was so good and our great waiter Rick hooked us up with our first table (close to the Charlie). Well he played some great songs! We knew all/most of them. When he started playing Jack Johnson I said "I love Jack Johnson" he replied on his microphone looking at me "So do I"! OMG! Totally embarrased. I guess I didn't realize how loud I was...Needless to say we had a really good time! We are going back. I think he comes on the 22nd. Happy Birthday to KBO. Also, check out his website...he is really good and not bad on the eyes...Justin T better watch out!

My bad

While I was doing my normal routine that I do everynight after Brocky goes down I was thinking of a million different things and not really paying attention, just following the routine (shower, get dressed, take out contacts, wash face). Well I didn't realize until I smelled something really good that I was washing my face with this! My Mary Kay rep would die! What is so funny is it is like a pump and my face wash you have to open and squirt it out. The best part is I didn't even flinch until I started smelling it! After a pause to figure out what was going on I started to laugh! It was funny! Blonde moment I guess! I'll let you know if it works better than Mark Kay..sure is cheaper!

Thankful

Today I just feel extremely THANKFUL for my family. Despite his faults, Jeremy is really a great husband and a super sweet Daddy. I am thankful that he is my husband and my friend (with completely different interests...he's been talking about football for the last 30 min to a friend). I am extra thankful for my sweet, precious and perfect son. He is everything to me and I love him more and more everyday. He is so hillarous...in his own way. Pam (his totally AWESOME second mommy that he stays with while I am educating tomorrows future) said today that he had his leg up on the couch and he FARTED ("not pooted ") SO LOUD that it scared him and he grabbed his butt and ran to her with a freakout look on his face...he thought something had him! I would of loved to of seen that! In 4 days he will be 18 months old. This seems like it is harder for me than the 12 month milestone...I don't know why. He is growing up and I can't stop it...tear..change subject.............

Well anyway I am also thankful for my extended family. They have gotten me through alot of rough times and I know I can always count on them.

Last, I am thankful for my friends. A girl needs her friends, even if it is only a few!

Labor Day Weekend

Well I only have about 14 hours left of my long weekend....Can't you tell I am PUMPED to go back to work....

So this weekend we tried to be constructive and get some things done! I am so proud of Jeremy b/c he has been working so hard on our fence. It is almost done...However he had an unfortunate meeting with some soft grass and his truck in our yard...See he THOUGHT his truck would fit back here so he could unload some stuff...Don't think so bubba...

We are getting so close to getting it done. Today Jr, Papa Jack and Cody came by to help. They got alot done....

I thought it would never happen, but Jer actually got excited about some tools and bought them. He said he needed them for the fence...

He also hung these two HUGE ferns for me on the porch...We'll see how long they last. I have a hard time keeping things alive. Check out Maddie waiting for me to go in....

This is our dog Maddie. She is just like a human...She was ready to go inside!

This is all of the panels that we have left to put up. This has been a HUGE project...hopefully it will be done soomer than later.