Thursday, February 28, 2013

Adding Character


I found this blouse at a yard sale prob 3 years ago to wear for Christmas and I keep losing the decorations on it. Is it bad that I continue to wear it with missing embellishments, I mean, doesn't it add character? I love the material - feels like a comfortable, smooth, night gown. Of course, I put them with my beloved red ballet shoes that I found a thrift store. You know, that was the only time I ever went to that thrift store. I must admit that lately most of shopping is done online. I am still searching for the perfect Easter dress, Kristine and I are going to hit up Marshall's today for lunch - keeping fingers crossed. If not, one day next week I'll hit Ross's - which happens to be in the same parking lot of the new place I found to tan. It was a real bummer when the gym stopped offering tanning services and I have been doing without and turning into a pasty white girl - me not likey :)

We are almost to the weekend. How has your week been so far?






Wednesday, February 27, 2013

I Smile...



This week's smiles consist of food, dogs, and the idea of getting to walk again all the time outside :)



I made this Sunday for our week's eating - pork chop and potato bake - This is a tasty and easy dish to make. I modified it a little to go with Weight Watchers - I used olive oil instead vegetable oil and if you really wanted to make it more healthy - use lowfat milk, lowfat sour cream, and low fat cheddar cheese. This is also a hit with Mr. Man



This mutt, Gizmo, is too funny. He brings a laugh a minute and he is still vocal and this picture also reminds that I need some new kitchen rugs - I have these picked out I had originally found it at Walmart.com but not there now so I found them again at Wayfair.com. This website is FAB!!




Heathen is not as amused with Gizmo as I am - he pouts alot these days but you can't help but chuckle at the big baby :)




I like this alot :)


This is last year's walking but I can't wait to get going strong again - I smile at the idea of being in the sun, laughing with my girls


I smile at the clean, newly painted guest room or as Shelley calls it my  "shoe closet" - The color has not given me the customary wow factor but I think it's because my bedroom is a darker gray so I'm used to it - so I'm hoping when I switch the house to spring it will be different - but it's clean - only thing under the bed is what I want to be under there for storage.

I hope this week brings you many things to smile about :)

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Tease


The weather is just teasing us here in Tn. Yesterday was lower 60's sunshine, I walked to and from the gym at lunch and then me and my walking buddies got our 30 minute walk in. Now, today is cold and they are calling for lows to be in the 30's, brrrr. I know it's still February but the groundhog said we are having an early spring.....so bring it on :) I only have one more week of school - 7 days that I hope pass quickly. I sure have been wearing my brooch alot lately. Are you tired of seeing it yet? I think I may need to get it a friend since it is an only acquirement. I just have to decide on the color, the purple brooch was bought because my purple duster string broke and I needed something to clasp it and my friend Kristine has so many fabulous brooches that it just made complete sense.

I have had the below jacket and t-shirt, called the Weekender, for probably 10 years or maybe even more. I have a really small skirt somewhere that matches like when I was a size 3 and I'm definitely not that size now. I like that I'm curvy girl at the bottom but sometimes it makes it hard to buy suits because my bottom is so much larger than the top. How is your week going so far?






Monday, February 25, 2013

Getting Closer


How was your weekend? I had an uneventful weekend. Spent all day Saturday sleeping on and off, elliptical, and back to bed and TV. Sunday casually did schoolwork (which I only have one more weekend on doing schoolwork) YAHHHH I am proud to report that I have lost 4 lbs this week :) I told my friend, Kristine, that by June I wanted to be skinny, have my boob job, and have an affair with a young buck. Okay, the last part isn't gonna happen but it was funny to say. She replied that as my friend, she supports my weight loss and the young buck (she could live vicariously through me) but really wanted me to rethink the boobs. I died laughing!!!  I am looking forward to this week going by quickly so that puts me so much closer to the end of my MBA program. What will I do with my time? My wheels are already turning - I think I am going to pursue getting an online teaching job. My brother's girlfriend does that and she makes pretty good for second income. There are so many things I want to do to the house and I think that extra money would surely be beneficial.

I am not too happy with the pants below but the jacket is a gem. I found the jacket at a yard sale and love the texture and the color - funny I'm not much a  pink girl but this works for me.  I know I am so ready to get into my Spring/Summer closet :) Hope you have  a great week :)






Friday, February 22, 2013

Peace

This is one my favorite sweaters with the birds. I absolutely love the birds - I love to hear them sing and I love to watch them at the feeders (before the cats came) I no longer fill the feeders since my neighbor got cats that Mr Man feeds and they think they live at my house. I also got to see a bird giving himself a bath - I thought that was the neatest thing. My daughter HATES the birds, she hates to hear them singing and everything about them. I find that very strange. I also love to hear church bells and windchimes. I love to see the sun shining in through the window and I especially love to see it through the stain glass at church. These are things that bring me peace, much like walking on the Greenway provides. Of course, the perfect outfit can bring some happiness and make me feel good. What brings you peace?











Thursday, February 21, 2013

Signature


Kristine and I were talking yesterday about her late grandmother and she said she had a picture of grandmother in her youth, martini glass in one hand, cigarette in the other, and wearing her cat eye glasses (all fashionable for her time) and it hit me. That was her signature. Everyone needs a signature and it got me to thinking what  IS my signature? My friend Kristine said when she thought of me she thought of hummingbirds and chocolate mint tea. I could definitely see that. I asked my daughter and she said yellow birds. I can see that one too.

I admire my friend Kristine for many reasons and I am going to share with you one example. Kristine had an elderly lady in her neighborhood that got Meals on Wheels but they did not provide meals on the weekends. Kristine is an excellent cook so when she cooked on the weekends, she and her children would always take Ms. Vickie a plate, every weekend, for many years. I thought that was the coolest thing when I found about it. I found about it causally, Kristine didn't  brag about it or do it for recognition. She just did it because...

Recently, Ms Vickie became ill and was told her time was near, so she asked Kristine to re-paint a picture frame for a picture that she wanted displayed at her funeral. Kristine did an excellent job on it - it was beautiful. Ms Vickie passed away and I know Kristine is at a loss and even still thinks of what to buy for her weekend meals. That is the kind of signature that I think is wonderful and Kristine taught her children the art of giving of oneself and time.

I am going to ponder my signature for awhile and try to remember that we are on not on this earth forever. I want to be remembered for good things - I'll just need to look for opportunities to do good. What about you? What is your signature?

On a lighter note.....my wonderful brooch.....again......







Wednesday, February 20, 2013

I Smile....

I smile at the joy my daughter is getting from setting up little Jaxen's nursery. She ordered this blanket from Disney - isn't it adorable?



I smile at the great time and how blessed I am to have met these wonderful ladies, I call friends

Girls Night Out - Dinner and Ballet

This is Mae going over the menu - our waiter was really nice and patient :)

This Cindy and Mae

 I drank 3 of these - it was called Fate and it was YUMMY



Susie ordered the Bacon Ninja for her appetizer - she shared and it was heaven


I ordered the lobster taco for my appetizer - YUMMY



Another picture of the Ninja Bacon 


 This is Kristine's  seaweed salad YUCKY to me but she enjoyed it, I somehow did not get her picture :(


Statia eating her Godzilla sushi

 I got the Goat cheese salad - num num


Godzilla sushi before it's demise :)

Rita tasting sushi for the first time - when I tell you I LOVE this lady - she is such a hoot and joy to be around




Their version of steak that both Rita and Kristine ordered - Rita was like where's the potato and we all agreed the our respective spouses would not appreciate this as much as we did

And Below:
This is the sushi I got two of (oink oink) it was called the Bomb and oh my it was the bomb of deliciousness




Since this week of smiles has been about my tummy and my daughter's tummy  -

This was the meal I prepared on Sunday. I got this recipe from Kraft  http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/creamy-broccoli-stuffed-chicken-breasts-105196.aspx




Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Pose Challenged








 I dance just like I pose, unless of course I have had alcohol then I can dance, sing, and whatever else strikes my fancy just like a pro :) This  whole outfit was just okay now that I look at in these pictures. I'm not fond of those tops that just hit at my waist but the colors are what I liked about this one. My favorite part of this outfit are the shoes - I call them my granny shoes - I have had them forever and I love them just as much as the day I bought them. I don't have a huge collection of shoes but I have quite a few. I tend to buy shoes like I do pants - I like to have one for every color and then just mix and match. I am starting to be on the hunt for my Easter outfit (see below what I have found so far


So far I have liked this one from Target

And from JCP (trying to stay away from yellow since I wore that last year) The last two are my favorite and the last one is on is on $20 but I really like the middle the best of all three



Monday, February 18, 2013

Brooch Hit



Wow, another weekend has breezed by. I must say it was at least a very sunny weekend - cold, but sunny. I love the way the sun shines into my picture window in the living room in the mornings. I like to sit in my rocker and let it hit my face - as I was sitting there doing my required reading for school  yesterday morning - it dawned on me that I only have two more weekends of doing homework. T-W-O more!! I cannot find the right adjective to describe how quickly I want these to go by. My Friday night with my beloved friends was absolutely fantastic - pictures to come on my Wednesday smile. The show was astounding and the meal - Oh My I was a little piggy and enjoyed every morsel, my wallet cannot say the same but thanks to my children I got it covered :).

Saturday night, Mr Man and I went to see Hansel and Gretal, great movie, and then we went to Rafferty's for dinner. The worst meal in my life, I will be taking a break from going there in the near future. I just watched TV all day Saturday - Sunday - I slept on and off during the day and then made a creamy broccoli stuffed chicken for dinner. This pic will also be on Wednesday, I found the recipe on Kraft  a few years ago and Mr Man and I both really like it. I like that the ingredients are what I usually have on hand and it's pretty easy to make.

I really like the outfit below, I think that brooch really sets if off and those cords look pretty good with it. Hoping that you have wonderful week and would love to hear about your weekend :)








Friday, February 15, 2013

Ballet



I am excited that tonight I am going with my friends from work to see this Ballet. One of my friends had to cancel at the last minute due to health issues. Please pray for her that she gets well. We are going to have dinner at Virago's and then the show. I LOVE the ballet. Mr Man went with my to my very first one - he hated it and I LOVED it. I am extremely tired this week. Last night when I got home from bible study I could barely tell you my name. Not sure why I am so tired again. Do you have any big plans this weekend?Going to be a cold one here in Tn BRRRRR. Hoping you have a great weekend :)

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentines Day



Happy Valentine's Day!! I must admit that I put more value on my birthday than I do Valentines Day :) Mr Man and I are going to go to the movies and dinner Saturday night. I think we will go check out the Hansel and Gretal movie. I'm not as excited about dinner as Mr Man only likes to go three to four restaurants - Chinese being his one and only pick each time; however, he will also go to O'Charleys, Rafferty's, Chili's, and he will go to Red Lobster but complains about it after we leave.

So for Lent I have decided to give up Facebook - sounds easy right? Well....not for me - one day into it and I keep catching myself trying to log on - it was a habit - maybe even an addiction? I am also going to give up sweets - this will be harder. I am planning on having a baby shower for my daughter at work on March 22 - cake will be there. mmmmmm I also have a serious resolve about removing these last 30 lbs from my body. After all, if I want to get married in June (should the money appear) I don't wanna be a frumpy bride JK
My plans for my absence from Facebook is to evaluate those people on friend list that I do not really think are my friends and removing them. We shall see. Yesterday was an amazing day, Shelley's dad owed some back child support, only because he was too lazy to go to court and do the proper paperwork to stop it, and it appeared in my account. I call him to let him know that I have something that belongs to him and he told me to give to my daughter - I was like WOW, he said with her new apartment and baby on the way she could use it. She was thrilled and it made my heart swell in happiness for her. Have you witnessed some niceness lately that made your heart swell?

I absolutely love the scarf/bandit look :) I was quite pleased with this ensemble. Red sweater: yard sale
Blouse - grandmother capris: Chadwicks boots: Kohls scarf: Grandmother






Wednesday, February 13, 2013

I Smile

This week I smile because:

I had a great time at the Shinedown concert



I nodded my head in agreement when I read this one




How I was feeling until my vacation cleared my head :)

I smile at my daughter's happiness beginning the 3rd trimester :)

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Little Snug


Geez, I am so tired this week. I am still struggling to get up in the mornings - my body thinks it is still on vacation. I love this jacket below - it has all the colors that I adore. The pants though mmmm a little snug :( 
After tonight - 3 more weeks of school. I am sooo ready to be done with this. How is your week going so far?