Long Time, No Blog!!

Holy no blog!!!  I feel like I am starting all over since the last time I posted was the beginning of October!!
I have NO idea how you bloggers that have kids have any time to blog!  I just have a husband and a dog and feel like I have no extra time at all!!!  Don't get me wrong...I am very happy that you do have time to blog (because I LOVE reading what everyone has been up to), I just don't know how you have the time!

So...here is what has been keeping me so busy lately:
*Work: I recently started a new job!  I am the new Office Manager at Apex Physical Therapy in Chester.  I LOVE IT!!!  It's not what I went to school for at all, but it's a job that is close to home.  I had to give up my job in Herrin (which is good and bad), but oh well.  I was really nervous because today was my first day totally by myself.  The last couple weeks, I have had someone training me, so I hadn't been on my own until today.  I'd say it went pretty well!  I don't think I screwed anything up too bad;)

*Weight Watchers: I know...this isn't really something that should keep me busy, but it does!  I have to weigh in every Wednesday and it takes me a lot longer at the grocery store because I am constantly adding up points.  I will say that I am really enjoying (if you could call it that) the program.  I am actually sticking with it and it is getting easier as the weeks go on.  Drumroll please......I am down 7 lbs!!!  I have been doing WW for about 4 weeks now and I am very happy with the results.

Those are the major things going on in my life right now, but I feel so much busier than that.

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!!

Weigh-In Wednesday {week 3}

It's Wednesday again, and you all know what that means...Weight Watchers meeting and a weigh-in.

Results: I am down 2.2 lbs!!!  I am so excited:)  I know it's not much, but it's a start, and that's all I need.  This last week has been hard.  My body is trying to get used to less food, I am trying to make smarter choices and just get used to the whole WW thing in general.  It's pretty easy once you get used to it, but it does take some getting used to.  I really do like it though!  I think this might actually work!

If anyone has any WW (or weight loss in general) secrets, please feel free to share!

Weigh-In Wednesday {week 2}

So...here we are...back at Wednesday again!  I just want to know....where does the time go???  This last week has been really hard (as far as dieting goes).  I didn't do the best:/  Since I was having such a hard time doing this on my own, I decided to join Weight Watchers.  There is a meeting in Sparta, so it is close.  My first meeting is tonight, so I am excited/interested to see how it all works!  I am hoping that WW gives me the push I need to loose this weight!!!!

So...here are the results of the first week.  My weight as of this morning is 195.5.  Same as last week!!  Oh well...at least I didn't gain anything I guess.

In honor of my starting WW tonight, I am putting this picture on here because it seems to sum up the struggle with weight loss.  I saw this on facebook today and thought it was great!

Weigh-In Wednesday

So....in order to hold myself accountable, I am going to start doing "Weigh-in Wednesday".  I feel like if I have to actually put my weight out there for all of blogger land to see, then it might motivate me to do better.  Kind of like Weight Watchers, but for free;)  I don't expect anyone else to join in, but feel free to if you would like!  I thought maybe we could all put in words of encouragement for each other (or those of us who are trying to loose weight, anyway).  Maybe share some tips of things that worked for you.  Don't worry....there will be no pictures being posted!  lol!!  

So....here goes nothing....

My weight (as of the morning of 9/20): 195.5

So there you have it!  Hopefully the number will be lower next week!  Good luck to all of my fellow dieters out there!

Boring Blogger

I know I haven't been blogging much lately.  I have a ton of pictures on my camera to show you, I just have to make myself upload them!  I haven't been working lately, so you would think I would have TONS of free time on my hands, but that is not the case.  For some reason, my days go by so much faster now.  I have just been playing the "perfect housewife" roll;)  lol  I feel like, by the time I do the laundry, clean the house, get groceries, and cook supper, the day is almost over.  I am not complaining one bit, because I like staying home (and getting to sleep in)!  It's just seems like it has been crazier around here than it was when I was working all the time.  Oh yeah...and about that test, well...I didn't pass...again!!!  Fail #3!!  And let me tell you...that made me feel like the most worthless person on the planet!!!  I let myself feel sad/mad/angry for one day, and then I told myself I had to move on.  I had to or I would just sit and cry and dwell on it all.day.long!!!  I have decided that I will take the test again, but this time I am going to wait a while before I do.  I want to spend my time being a wife and not studying ALL the time!!!

So...what's new, you might ask?  Well, not much really.  I have been trying my hand at some fall crafts (pictures to come) and am thinking about having a booth at a few craft fairs around the area.

Sorry for the boring/rambling post today!  Hope everyone is having a good Wednesday and maybe I will see some of you at Evansville Days this weekend:)

Motivation Monday

Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.   ~Vince Lombardi


I thought this quote was appropriate since it is officially the start of football season.  However, this quote is more than just football.  If you really think about it, this quote sums up the challenges of life pretty good.

Motivation Monday

"If a man does his best, what else is there?"
          --General George S. Patton

I thought this quote was more than fitting for today (for me, anyway) because tomorrow is the day I take my ultrasound registry exam....for the THIRD time!!!  It is getting harder and harder to study for the darn thing and my patience with it all is next to nothing.  But...I just have to keep going and remember that all I can do is my best.  I know that so many people are struggling with much bigger things, but this is my struggle right now, and it is hard, but it will work itself out in the end.  It just may take a while!

Flower Power

To go along with all of the crafting I have been doing lately, I decided my front door needed something new.  I wasn't quite ready to break out my fall stuff, so I thought I would make a flower that could go from summer into fall.  I got the idea from here and then I adjusted it a bit with what I had or could get from Wal-Mart.

So...since our Wal-Mart is awesome and always never has everything you are looking for, I had to use what they had.  Here is what I used:

I had to use a heavy fabric instead of felt.  It worked okay, but I suggest spraying it with heavy starch before you start.  For the circle, I just used some cardboard that we had around the house.  Instead of coffee beans, I used clear gem things that I found in the clearance isle at Wal-Mart.

The finished product:

Motivation Monday

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
     ~Sam Keen

Motivation Monday

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

~ Zig Ziglar

I thought this quote sounded fitting for my first 'Motivation Monday' post.  It is definitely true!  haha

I decided I would start 'Motivation Monday' because I know I can always use some motivation on any day, but it seemed like Monday would be the best choice, because that seems to be when I need it a little more!

If anyone has any good sites to get quotes from, feel free to share.  I still haven't found one that I love yet.

Blah...

I don't know what it is lately, but I have just been in such a 'blah' kind of mood:/  No motivation to do anything and if I could get away with laying in bed all day, I would.  I have so many craft projects I want to do, I have stuff I can/need to do around the house, and (most importantly) I have a huge test to study for.  Maybe the studying is my issue.  I am so scared to take this test again, it's crazy!!  I have failed it twice and am terrified of failing it again.  But hey, maybe the third time is the charm, right!?!  So, to put off studying and to try to give myself some motivation, I have been looking at inspirational/motivational quotes online.  I have found some good ones!  Here is one of them:

~Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.~

~Bernice Johnson Reagon~

I have just been feeling so overwhelmed lately, and for no particular reason.  Ugh...I hate it!!  Maybe I just need a good kick in the ass:)  haha  

I am really liking reading these quotes.  Maybe I will start something like "Motivation Monday" or something?!?  Cause we all know we could use a little motivation on Monday's!!  

Hope everyone has a good weekend!  

Out With the Old...

...In with the new!

During the winter, we decided that it was time to get new windows in our house.  There was a huge draft coming in and we couldn't take it anymore.  Then, after some thinking, we decided it was time for a new roof as well.  And of course, why not build a garage while we're at it!  So, we got some bids, got a loan, and started building.

The garage was the first thing to be done.

Then (a while later) the roof and windows were done.

Then, I decided it would be nice to have a storm door on the front door.  I love being able to have the front door open to let the sun light in!

*Ignore the dirty siding and the light next to the door.  Lights are next on my list and siding is next summer's project (just don't tell Ryan!).*

So, to keep up the theme of getting new things for the house, our oven went out last weekend.  We called around and decided to buy from Wilson's Furniture in Coulterville.  I am SO excited to have a new stove!  I have been wanting one for a while, but Ryan wouldn't give in until our old one broke.

We went from this (which is now in the new garage since the cook top still works):

To this beauty:

She even has 5 burners!!  I never thought I would be so excited about a new oven, but I guess that goes with being an adult:)

Happy 3rd Birthday Austin Jay!!

So...this post is about 3 weeks overdue, but better late than never, right!?!  On July 17th, Ryan's Godson Austin turned 3!!  I can't believe he is 3 already.  He is growing up so fast and is such a fun, intelligent, handsome, funny little boy.  I love getting to spend time with him.  Since Austin's Nana and Aunt B were going to be out of town the weekend of his actual birthday, Jay and Chrystal (Austin's mom and dad) threw him a birthday party the weekend before.  The theme of the party was construction (which was fitting considering they are in the process of building a new house)!  I decided to be different and wrap his presents in plain brown craft paper and then I added some fun construction stickers.

He got a ton of new stuff to play with and everyone had a great time at the party!  Thanks for the invitation to your party, Austin!  We love getting to spend time with you and your family.  We are so lucky to have all of you in our lives!!  We love you!!

Magnetic Message Board

Earlier this summer, my mom asked me if I could make a message board of some kind that she could hang on the wall in her office.  She said she wanted it to be colorful (since the walls are plain white) and that she wanted a place to hang notes for each day.  I looked through what little craft stuff I had, but none of it was what I wanted to use.  I was in Carbondale one day and decided to stop in to Hobby Lobby.  It just so happened that they had their picture frames 50% off, so I decided I would use a picture frame for the base of the project.  As I walked around the store, I thought about what all I could do with the frame and how I could use the glass (since I didn't want to just pitch it).  Then it hit me....Magnetic Primer!!!  So...I picked up a few other things I decided I was going to need (scrapbook paper, hole punches, Collage Pauge, etc.) and I headed over to Lowes.  That is where I picked up this fantastic stuff:

I have seen this primer used on a few projects on the DIY channel and have always wanted to use it, but I never had the opportunity, until now!  This is perfect for a kids room or a space where you want to display pictures, kids art, etc.  It is super easy to use, and since it is a primer, you can paint over it in any color!!

All I did was put some craft paper down on my counter (with some newspaper under it just in case), laid the glass down on the paper, and rolled the primer on.  It was that easy!

While that was drying, I worked on the frame itself.  I used some bright colored scrapbook paper, a 2 inch hole punch, a 1 inch hole punch, a paper cutter, and some collage stuff I got at Hobby Lobby (it was kind of like Mod Podge, but cheaper).

It took my a while to decide how I wanted to arrange the paper on the frame, but this is what I ended up with:

After I was finished with that, I moved on to the clips for the days of the week.  I had some small clips at home that I wasn't using, so I decided to use those.  I cut out smaller circles and put a sticker on each one to coordinate with the days of the week.  I used the Collage Pauge to put the circles onto the clips.  Then I hot glued them on to the frame.

After everything dried, I put the glass back in the frame and then I was done!  YAY!!

Here is the finished product:

I am really happy with how it turned out!  Now my mom has a great place to keep her papers organized and to hang pictures of her wonderful daughter, son-in-law, and grandpuppy;)

Life's a Beach

Hello again!  It has been a long time since I have blogged, and I want to tell you that we have been super busy doing tons of fun things, but really I have been at home being a bum and I have just had no motivation what.so.ever!!  Sorry!  I guess I have just been in a slump lately.  So...I was loading some pictures onto my computer when I came across this one from a trip to Destin, FL a few years back:

Destin is one of my favorite places to go, and I wish I could say we were going there this summer for vacation, but no such luck:(  Maybe next year!

So...since I was yelled at informed by Kacie that I have been a boring blogger lately, I thought I would fill you in on a few things that we have been up to this summer.  I know the following posts will be LONG overdue, but remember who you are dealing with;)  I am the biggest procrastinator around, so you will just have to deal with it bear with me!!

The Calm Before the Storm

So...as much as I am done with all this rain, the storm provided us with some beautiful skies last night.  Ryan was outside grilling when he yelled at me to come out and bring the camera.  I was confused until I got out there.  The sky was beautiful!!!  It looked like a postcard or a painting.

Here are some of the shots I got:

The one on top is my favorite!  


Hope everyone survived the storm last night!

And The Award Goes To...

I was recently given the Stylish Blogger Award by Cassie and I feel so honored!!  I didn't think anyone even looked at my blog, let alone thought it was 'stylish'.  How exciting!!  Thank you Cassie. 

So...to keep this going....here are 7 random facts about myself:

1. I have been working out with a trainer for a while now, but really haven't seen much results. Guess I need to adjust my diet:/

2. I recently found out I am allergic to nuts and I am pretty bummed about it (mostly because I can't have Reese Peanut Butter Cups anymore)!

3. I just went to the allergist for my 6 mo. checkup and I no longer have to get my allergy shots!!!  YAY!!!  My 5 years is up:)  I know this does not sound exciting to most people, but having to go to the doctor's office to get a shot once a month is a pain in the butt!

4. I have recently developed a love for McDonald's Caramel Mocha!  YUM-O!!!  I am so glad I don't drive by a McD's everyday.

5. My dream job is being a stay at home mom.  I know it is a hard job, but it is something I have always wanted to do.  Maybe some day...

6. I have always wanted to travel to Ireland. 

7. I am finally starting to believe that everything really does happen for a reason.  

So...now I have to nominate someone else.  [Drumroll please]  I nominate Sarah and Laura!  These sisters have SO many great ideas, recipes, tips, crafts, etc. to make your life easier.  I love reading their blog and I have even made some of their recipes.  Keep up the good work girls!!

Just Another Manic Monday

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Ryan and I went to see Willie Nelson (and friends) at the shooting complex on Saturday.  We both had a great time and drank WAY too much, so we paid for it on Sunday.  All in all, though, it was a great day spent with some great friends.  

I was told on Friday that I will now only be working when someone takes a day off, so I got to sleep in today!!  I knew it was going to happen, I just wasn't sure when, so it wasn't like it was a total shock.  I only work Per Diem, so I was lucky getting to work 4 days a week for a while.  We recently hired a Full Time tech, so my hours got cut, but I am totally okay with that!!  Now I will have more time to blog study for my big test!  I have made myself a To Do list for today so I can try to stay on track.  I guess I better get to it;)  

Hope everyone has a great Monday (and rest of the week)!

A Little Gift to Myself

I recently decided to buy this little guy as a gift to myself...

I have wanted to buy an e-reader for a while now, but I didn't want one that was a tablet too.  Then, a couple weeks ago, I got an email from Barnes and Noble that they were coming out with a new Nook and it was a decent price, so I decided to look into it.  I did a little research, compared it to the Kindle, and this is what I decided on!  Plus...I got free shipping!


The one thing I liked about the Nook is that the accessories are cheaper then they are for the Kindle.  Here is the quote on the cover I got:

(it is actually pink, even though it looks

red in the picture)

I am very excited to start using my new Nook!!  I am doing my best to leave it along until after I take my test:/  I have a feeling it is going to be hard!

Let me know if you have any book suggestions!!

Mi Abuela

It has been 2 weeks since my grandma passed away and I miss her more and more everyday!  My grandma was an amazing and strong woman.  She grew up in Mexico and moved to the states when she was in her 20s.  She raised 10 children (basically) on her own and was blessed with 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.  I learned so much from her and will continue to remember her when I do or say certain things.  Even though she is gone, she will always hold a special place in my heart.  


I love you Grandma Garcia!!

(Not so) Relaxing Vacation

I have been bugging Ryan since our honeymoon about going on another trip to Mexico (or anywhere warm with a beach).  I finally just went to the travel agent and got some prices and asked him which trip he wanted to take.  I was determined to go whether he was going or not!  lol  So...he finally agreed and we decided on Cancun Riviera Maya, Mexico.  We were both looking forward to getting away and just relaxing on the beach while drinking Miami Vices (YUM!!!) all day.  Well...our trip didn't exactly go according to plan:/  

Here is a run down on what all happened on our trip:

*We decided to stay at a hotel near the airport since our flight left at 6 am, so we reserved a room at the Ramada Inn a few days before we left.  It was pretty cheap...and now I know why.  DO NOT stay there!!  EVER!!!  It was horrible and dirty!!  Don't even get me started!!!

* There were no record of our travel arrangements from the airport in Cancun to our resort

*We thought we were staying at a resort in Cancun, but quickly learned our resort was really in Riviera Maya (both places are basically the same, but still...)

*Once we finally got to the resort, check-in took forever and a day and they first had us in a room with 2 double beds (I don't think so!!!)

**By this time, I am all kinds of pissed off and not relaxed at all!!!

*We finally got to our room and it was okay.  Nothing spectacular and I was a little disappointed because this vacation was not cheap!  Oh well...it was clean and we weren't far from the beach and pool/bar!

*The food was horrible!!!  This disappointed me even more.  I was looking forward to some good Mexican food.  I should have known better by that time;)

*The second day we were there, we were at the swim-up bar for WAY too long and we both got very, very burnt!!!  So burnt, that we were miserable for the rest of the vacation.  

My list could go on and on, but I won't bore you with anything else!  Needless to say, I don't think we will be going out of the country for vacation anytime soon!

On the bright side, we did get some great pictures together on the beach!!  This was the only thing we bought to remind us of this trip!  lol

I'm Back!!

It has been forever since I posted, so I decided today would be a good day to catch everyone up on what has been going on in our lives since my last post......absolutely nothing (fun, anyway)!  lol

So...what have I been up to, you ask?

Studying, studying, and more studying!!!

I have taken my test once, and well...I failed:(  But not to worry!  I am already signed up to take it again! June 25 can not get here soon enough!!

2 Years!!

I can't believe it has been 2 years since our wedding!!  It seems like just yesterday I was walking down the aisle!  How time flies!!  That day was truly one of the greatest days of my life!  

Ryan - I love you more and more each day!  Thank you for making me the happiest girl in the world!!