Me & WD

Snapshots of My Life....

2011-03-08T12:29:00.000-06:00

I haven't had much to blog about lately because I've posted so frequently on FB (which I'm totally addicted to). It's not that life hasn't been rolling along, but I've just been busy enjoying it (or dealing with it depending on the day)! Take a peek into my world...

Cupcake Party at Inspire in Thibodeaux

Me & Barb after work in Lafayette

Cool metal lunchboxes outside the bathroom at "The Hangout" in Gulfshores

Zydeco dance lessons with ol' Cajun friend in Lafayette

Morning beverage options at Queen Anne B&B in Natchitoches

Yeah, my frustrating discovery when I came out of Walmart

The "pot" at the LRC game on the Eastside Saturday night... lots of fun!

Pic of tomatoes & price so I could set the register-girl straight this week ;-)

LSU Baseball games added hilarious entertainment in the form of these huge blow-up characters!

I Think I'll Subscribe...

2011-02-23T08:16:00.001-06:00

I got an email from my Jazzercise District Manager, Emma, this morning. She was sharing an article that appeared in "Shape" magazine. I've seen "Shape" on newsstands before, but I've never really looked into it too much. After seeing the article where they mentioned Jazzercise, I think I'll subscribe... it's good stuff. You know I'm addicted to dancing of any kind, but especially my workouts at Jazzercise. It's always nice to see that something I love is tried and true (been around for 40 years) & is actually GOOD for me! Check out the picture they included with the article (see left)... yeah, she's hot! We work up as much (or more) sweat as she's got, but know that we don't dress quite as provocative in class. I'm LOVING those leg warmers, though!!!

Valentine's Traditions

2011-02-14T13:17:00.001-06:00

Giving a little love to Chewee while sporting her new PJs.

I just have to start by saying having Valentine's Day on Monday is just not so much fun! Kids have school, I have work... just tends to put a damper on festivities. No fretting though... we celebrated early! Last night I pulled out the traditional Valentines for my sweetest of sweethearts... heart-shaped boxes of various chocolates. Erin informed me a couple of years ago to stay away from the Whitman Samplers although those are WD's absolute favorite "Valentines". So I did, and opted for red foiled covered boxes of Russell Stover's for her & Dylan... only to be informed that when they opened them that there was no "key" to the chocolate layout...wellllll of course not... that's only in the Whitman Sampler...there is a little paper that specifically shows which chocolate is what...you know... caramel filled, coconut cream, toffee, chocolate filled chocolate, etc. Maybe next year Whitman's will be what they get! (BTW - my favorite are the milk chocolates with strawberry or vanilla cream). So they just had to nibble each piece to discover the "yummy" inside! Along with chocolates, I always get them each a new set of PJs. This year was no different! The only variation from tradition were the heart-shaped "peeps"... you know those sugary-crusted marshmallows shaped like birds at Easter... well they had them in pink heart-shapes. I gave each of them a packet of peeps, a few Hershey chocolate bars, and a box of graham crackers...they enjoyed the mess of zapping them in the microwave for a tasty Valentine's s'more. (Got the idea from their Aunt Brooklyn one Easter!) Of course no Valentine's day would be complete without the perfect card. I think they were more excited about the iTunes gift cards I slid into them than the message of the Valentine themselves. Oh well... seeing them enjoy the Valentines and each other's company made my Valentine day complete!

Sweet sticky goodness!

Cramming it in... yeah he ended up with pink smudges on his new PJs!

Weekend with Hubby...

2011-01-17T15:47:00.000-06:00

After working out of town most of this past week, I set aside the entire weekend to be with WD. It's unusual for us to be off 4 days in a row together! We started the weekend off Friday by dropping Dylan off with the scouts for an adventure trip to Pensacola, FL... one kid gone... one teen to go... Erin typically runs with her second set of siblings... the Butlers, but this weekend she stayed with Alexis so that they could go to a surprise party for another girlfried. So the kids were occupied in someone else's care so on to the fun for me & WD. Friday night... drinks at Perkins Rowe Wine Loft while waiting for a table at Kona Grill. Absolutely yummy meal at Kona Grill... I don't typically like sushi, but with more and more places using cucumber on the outside instead of rice, I'm becoming a fan! We also shared an entree of beef medallions with grilled brocollitini (sp?) & Kona's mashed potatoes from heaven. Then it was over to the theater for a movie. I was looking forward to a crazy comedy (with the help of a pre-show martini), but "The Dilemma" was far from a comedy. At least my date was interesting!

Saturday morning I taught Jazzercise, plus WD & I ran a few miles and biked quite a few miles in preparation for some real "blowing it out" with the neighbors. We were celebrating quite a few things... Nora's b-day, David's divorce, David's brother & sister-in-law's anniversary, and my pre-birthday! Coyote Blues (of course I got the corn, crab, & poblano soup which is creamy, delicious, sin along with a sangriarita) got the evening started for our group of about 14. Next was a comedy show at the Funny Bone featuring Jen Kober... she was out-of-the-box hysterically funny! Thanks to Nora for being such a great topic for Jen to pick on :-) She was a great sport about being a "Skinny B----"! We danced off some of the calories at the comedy club, but it wasn't enough for this group... so we headed to the Station... I'd never been & never even heard of it, but apparently it's been around for years. It was great with a live band which appealed to the wide variety of partiers that were there. It was a great time with great friends!

Next weekend WD works, so I'm off to enjoy scrapbooking with girlfriends in Lake Charles. I just LOVE the weekends!!!

Being Off...

2011-01-07T13:28:00.000-06:00

Working 9 hour days at the office is hard sometimes, but I soooooo love the every other Friday I get to be off of work. It's really neat to be off of work when most others are working because I can get so much done, plus Thursday nights can be so much more fun, too. Today for example, I slept till 8a.m., and then got up & attended a Jazzercise class (so much fun to be a participant from time-to-time rather than the instructor who has to worry about executing all the moves with precision, cueing, & safety). After class, I put the top down on the car (yes, it was sunny & warmer, thank God) and stopped in at Sonic for a Diet Dr Pepper while I enjoyed the sunshine. I sat for the first time all week without being in a rush and played a few plays with Words with Friends and Chess with Friends on my iPhone. Next up was to get my car cleaned... it's been raining on and off all week, so it really was in bad shape. It's all spic and span now. I was able to run home for a relaxing shower & leisurely get dressed. Lunched on sandwich while catching up on some DVR'd shows. Now I have all of the rest of today to do with as I wish. Kids are still in school :-) Think I'm heading to the mall & to complete a few errands. Of course I don't work tomorrow so there's no rush in getting home & to bed; plus the Tigers are playing tonight! It's a great schedule although I only get to enjoy it every other Friday!

Closest Thing to a Journal for Me...

2011-01-03T09:55:00.001-06:00

Just like every New Year's there's always talk of self-improvement everywhere you look. Most resolutions I've noted have to do with self-discipline & motivation. Some "experts" believe that journaling will help you keep track of life, your goals & aspirations, as well as staying disciplined & motivated. I have to admit, that the idea of taking pen-to-paper seems too much like an assignment or chore, so I reflect in other ways. Isn't that the purpose of journaling?!? Most of you know my love for technology, so of course this blog is an excellent way to "reflect" and is much more enjoyable in terms of journaling. After all, I can type twice as quickly as I can hand-write! I also keep another "journal" of sorts on the web... that's my food/exercise diary (as most of you already know, I've used it for two years now & can't imagine life without it). Accessing my "journals" through the computer and/or my iPhone makes them very convenient & much easier to stay committed to than a paper diary/journal. Some experts even believe that journaling reduces stress... well I don't want to bore my readers with the "stressful" things in my life, so I'll stick to my work-outs for stress-relieving benefits!

I love reading the Pioneer Woman's blog... she's one witty lady! In case one of your resolutions is to start blogging/journaling, here are her entertainingly put tips...

Be Yourself
Blog Often
Be Varied
Exercise More
Allow Your Boundaries to Set Themselves Naturally
Bring Back Retro Phrases like "Hanky Panky"
Don't Be Afraid to Embarrass Yourself
Try Your Best to Spell Words Correctly & Use Proper Grammar
If You Have Writer's Block, Push Through & Blog Anyway
Value Every Person Who Takes Time Out of Their Day to Stop By Your Blog

To read them all in their entirety with her witty commentary, go to her blog here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2010/09/ten-important-things-ive-learned-about-blogging/

It's a Double-Diet-DP Kind of Day...

2010-12-30T09:30:00.000-06:00

Y'all know my obsession with Sonic's Diet Dr. Peppers! I don't drink coffee (wish I did, but I just can't "acquire" that taste), so my caffeine of choice is DDP. Sonic's is the best of course because of the crunchy, perfectly engineered ice, the styro-foam cup (so sorry to my eco-loving friends/fam), and the perfectly sized red straw (which serves to get the refreshing goodness to my lips in just the right amount as well as a chew stick in meetings where I know I could say something, but with better judgement I keep my mouth/teeth busy on the straw). Today was no different... I stopped by Sonic for my morning fix... the difference was that I didn't go by the Sonic nearest my house (where they know my name), but by another location since I was going to work from a different direction. I ordered the "Route 44" instead of the "Large" and I requested extra ice since the day before a long holiday weekend is typically a looooong day at the office. When the car hop delivered my order, there was so much ice that the top was bulging and after only 4 sips, the DDP was gone! I hadn't packed an extra can of DDP in my lunch bag, so what was I to do?!? Well, I made a second stop on my way to work (I'm glad I left for work early)... by Chick-fil-A... another one of my "loves". They sell the best chicken biscuits (which I've blogged about when I was totally addicted to them a couple of years ago) and of course DDP. So I ordered a large DDP-no ice. While sitting in the parking garage at work, I carefully emptied some of the Sonic ice from my cup, and poured in the DDP from Chick-fil-A... now I'm ready for my day!

Gingerbread House Recall?!?

2010-12-29T10:07:00.002-06:00

Ok... so most of you who are friends of mine on FB know about the Davis Gingerbread Village that Erin & Dylan constructed on Christmas Eve... cute, very cute actually, until Chewee gobbled up one of the houses. It frustrated me that our dog had the nerve to sneak up onto one of the dining room chairs where he can grab whatever he wishes off the table. He would never, ever do this with one of us watching him, but if no one is looking... well whatever treat is on the tabletop is history! He's just too sneaky for a dog! So he nabs the little cottage closest to the table's edge... keep in mind I didn't actually witness this action, but by the looks of the crumbs that were left back behind my wingback chair in the living room, we know he's guilty (that's where he always runs to eat any treat or even his monthly heartworm pill... somewhat of a "closet eater" I suppose). He didn't even get sick or an upset stomach which I wished upon him. Crazy dog!!!

Anyway, fast forward about 4 days... I'm sitting at work & I get a news alert from WAFB (if you don't have the GoWAFB app on your phone, you need to get it... it's the best way to get the latest news). The news flash that popped up on my phone reads, "Gingerbread house recall affects Louisiana".

My first thought... how the hell does a gingerbread house recall make newsworthy news alert status?!? And my second thought... what causes a gingerbread house to be recalled (who actually eats them anyway)?!? Then of course my third thought (keep in mind these thoughts flashed quickly through my brain)... OMG, Chewee ate the gingerbread cottage!!! The news alert stated that some of the gingerbread houses sold in Louisiana had possible staph poisoning. Good news though, it's only for gingerbread houses sold by Whole Foods... we bought our kit at Wal-mart. I suppose revenge will not be played out on little Chewee after all... guess I'll just have to more closely watch his sneaky canine-self!!!

Christmas from the Shiftworker's Wife's Perspective

2010-12-25T00:53:00.000-06:00

It changes from year to year, so being flexible is a must! With WD's work schedule, some Christmases he wakes with us while others he's working. Tradition isn't necessary in the Davis house... we make our own depending on what life's schedule throws our way. Last year & this year WD works/worked days (4am-4pm) on Christmas day. It's actually pretty great because Santa makes a stop by our house Christmas eve (afternoon-ish) while I make Christmas supper in pj's (matching my girl, Erin, of course). When Daddy WD walks through the door, we all sit down for yummy Christmas supper... and that's not traditional either... this year we had Cheesy-Shrimp soup with Focaccia bread. After dinner, we slip into the living room around the tree for gifts. Starting with the stockings, we all dump them out to discover the neat little treats and the creamy chocolates and other candies (and my favorite the gum!). I try to snap pics while we open gifts and share the stories behind the purchases for each other... sometimes the stories are better than the gifts themselves. This year it was an iPhone for Erin, a laptop for Dylan, Kinect & iPad for WD, and a bike & Coach bag for me. Another Davis Christmas "tradition" are the electronics! We are technology junkies to say the least... this year was no different :-) Although I'll wake in the morning to an empty bed, I'll get to sleep late & enjoy the kids' company when we do leisurely crawl out of bed. WD will join us again tomorrow after he gets off of work... hey, somebody has to earn the money to pay for our "Santa" visit!

Christmas Cheer

2010-12-16T14:05:00.000-06:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know it's been over 6 months since I've blogged! I was so committed when life was a bit slower, but I'm living in 5th gear right now... and loving it :-) The only real way to keep up with me is through FB... which I can quickly update via my iPhone, but I do miss blogging. My friend, Heather, is the blogging queen right now! She has motivated me to try this blogging thing more regularly even though life is busy. Well it's not much, but here are a couple of fun things I enjoy about Christmas:

The movie, "Elf" (I've watched it four times this season already... by "watch it" I mean I multi-task while it's playing in the background. Me & the kids just love it... I even bought the soundtrack from iTunes the other night! Fave song of the movie is of course, "Baby It's Cold Outside!", which I also used to make my ringtone for the season :-)
Finding the PERFECT gift for those I love! I'm so excited about having Christmas with my inlaws Saturday because I feel like I found the perfect thing for them! Can't tell you now, but I'll share after Christmas. Of course buying for Wayne is expensive, but I think he'll give Santa a great big kiss on the mouth this year!!! I can't wait.
Cutting myself a little slack & enjoying a few of the rich, decadent, holiday foods/drinks... yeah, when I teach two Jazzercise classes a day or one class & run for 4 miles, I go ahead and enjoy those foods/drinks on the "naughty" list! I had 1/2 cinnamon sugar funnel cake & cup of hot chocolate the other night while walking along the river in Natchitoches looking at the lights. YUMMY!!!
Christmas lights... I love the way they twinkle and add such a warm feeling to a dark winter season. I hate winter and I hate cold weather (I think I suffer with a bit of seasonal depression or I'm totally addicted to the sun/heat), so the lights make me "happy".

Well these are a few of my favorite "Christmas" things! I'll think of something more
important to blog about next time, but for now, this is all I've got :-)

What's Up?

2010-06-15T12:47:00.000-05:00

Lots of things, that's what! I haven't had time to blog cuz I've been living life. WD & I just got back from fabulous LasVegas. It was so nice only having to plan for time in the gym, by the pool, dinner, & shows! Now we are back to reality... running crazy getting kids where they need to be, working of course, & trying to run our household.

Other news... I bought a new car! As all my FB friends are aware I wrecked the cruiser & now I am enjoying a 2010 Lexus convertible. It's so much fun... I pray everyday for NO rain so I can cruise with the top down :-)

I just heard that the new iPhone is coming out later this month... I won't be getting the upgrade, but I'm going to make WD happy for Father's day (although it'll be a few days afterwards since it's not released until the 24th). I love my iPhone & really don't want to upgrade yet. As a matter of fact I just downloaded a few new apps... Ms. PacMan & a really cool one that stores all of my frequent buyer cards in it. I haven't tried it out yet, but I'm suppose to be able to use my phone to get discounts at places I frequently shop. You know those places where they give you a membership card thingy to put on your keyring (like AutoZone, Winn Dixie, the health club, ect). No more bulky keyring. The app is called CardStar & it lets you easily store, manage and quickly retrieve your reward, club, and loyalty cards on your phone, where they can be scanned directly from your screen at most merchants. Way cool if it really works!

Other news... our beach vacation is cancelled this year... that oil spill messed up those plans. I'm sad that the kiddos won't get to hang out with their cousins for the week & we won't get to lay in the sand with brothers/sisters/mom/dad :-( Mom Barbara said she's planning something fun for next year though! Knowing her, it'll be fantastic & even better than GulfShores or Destin!

Lots of other things going on, but I'll have to blog a little more later! Tata for now!

Day in the Life of a Jazzercise Instructor

2010-04-28T21:23:00.001-05:00

One of my latest passions is Jazzercise. I recently became certified to instruct classes. Cardio, stretches, strength training... it's a great workout. Being strong & being able to dance really helps, but there is oh so much more that you have to do! Like being friendly, confident & aware of class participants' needs. On top of that you have to know all of the dance moves from memory, be able to cue the class before the moves, remember to stay hydrated, don't overuse/abuse your vocal chords, all the safety tips, plus work a sound system with a wireless mic & iPod! It's a lot, but quite fun & engaging. Today I taught the 6:05 class at the Prairieville center. I got the class warmed up & working up the heartrate... then silence! All of a sudden, there was absolute silence! The iPod shut down... leaving me hanging with no music! I kept the class moving, jumped off stage, & ran to get my iPhone out of my basket, only to find that I had left my iPhone in my car! I grabbed my keys & had the class owner run out to my car praying that my iPhone wasn't in the bottom of my purse while still having the class dance to nothing other than my cues & classmates singing the song. She came running back in with it! I was so relieved to find that my routine set of music was on my iPhone... I clicked to it & led the class into the next routine. I held it together & the class participants were absolutely excellent! Lesson learned... make sure iPod is fully charged every single day & always have the iPhone in the building as back up :-)

"Latest News" as Bulleted List

2010-04-15T10:33:00.000-05:00

I've been quite busy lately; what else is new! I noticed that I haven't blogged in over a month! So here it is as a list & in no particular order:

One of our best friend's got a job after being unemployed for quite some time! It's really exciting for them and for us. Congratulations Daven!
Dylan crossed over into "Boy Scouts" from "Cub Scouts". We love his troop in Prairieville, Troop 769... they have lots planned for the boys & they hold the boys themselves responsible for activities. Downside, they have hit us up for money nearly every meeting. We actually participated in a fundraise, which I so desparately despise, but Dylan did pretty well selling coke products. Hopefully the money-collecting is done with for this year.
Erin is done with competition dance at Jete'. She and her team did really well, receiving a number of platinum & high gold awards this year. I'm so impressed with her perseverance & love of dancing! Now to prepare for Griffin Girls (high school dance team) try-outs. I'm sure she'll do well, although I can't believe she'll be going to high school next year!
Wayne is in good spirits now that he has gotten his back to quit hurting. He suffered with back pain, like an old man, for months now. It has prevented him from giving his all to running/working out. He went to chiropractor to be told that his wallet is his problem! Yes, his wallet (which is funny to me since he never has money in it). When he sits at the computers at work for hours on end with his wallet in his back pocket, it causes his pelvis to tilt which has put strain on his back. Solution... a few back adjustments & take the wallet out of his back pocket. Now to shop for a money clip (there again, for what since me & the kids smell it when he has cash).
As for me I just finished the process of becoming a certified Jazzercise instructor! It's so much fun & I go almost everyday anyway, so instructing made sense. It has set me back quite a bit of money for start up costs (clothes, franchise fee, liability insurance, microphone, etc), but it's well worth it. I now get to "teach" without all the crap of being a classroom teacher, plus it keeps me working out with great intensity & fervor! I love it! If you like to have a good time, listen to great music (my favorite Jazzercise routine right now is done to Jennifer Lopez's "Louboutins"), dance, & get fit, you should give it a try. I'm at the Ascension Jazzercise Centers (Prairieville & Gonzales), but you can find a center close to you by checking out Jazzercise's website.

Well I guess I should wrap it up here... my bulleted list turned into bulleted paragraphs! I'll try to blog more often :-)

My New Snack

2010-03-12T09:07:00.000-06:00

I love discovering "new" snacks. Thanks to one of my scrappin' friends, Beverly, I was introduced to the world of wasabi. Beverly brought a small bag of wasabi peas to our latest scrappin' event. Their appearance peaked my interest... small green peas, covered in white coating! I was thinking white chocolate or yogurt covering, but couldn't get my head around the idea of putting either on a green pea! Once I popped one in my mouth, it took me completely by surprise... can you say, "Fire!" It was hot, but best of all, it had a nice little crunch. It gave this burning sensation on the roof of my mouth that was actually pleasant in a weird sort of way! I headed to Albertson's & picked up a bag of wasabi peas, wasabi "trail mix", and then at World Market I found wasabi cracker mix! 1/2 cup serving runs me about 127 calories. To make them even more appealable... I read that spicy foods can actually raise your metabolism. Rev it up & Bring on the wasabi peas!

Yep... that's what Drugs do for you...

2010-03-11T09:28:00.000-06:00

So sad, but it was well known that some of our favorite 1980's & early 90's heartthrobs were living rough lives. Drugs were prevalent and destructive. Today I see in the news that another one of the boys who I just thought was soooo cute (had his poster from Teen magazine pinned on my wall) has died at only 38 years old. Of course the press won't definitively say Corey Haim died from drug use or overdose, at least not until an autoposy is done, but when I saw a recent picture of him, it is written all over his face & body. He looks terrible & it is quite obvious that his lifestyle took a serious toll on his body & looks. I'm sad for his friends & family, and I hope that others will see that you reap what you sow & to make a choice to live drug free.

Smells Nice

2009-12-29T09:12:00.000-06:00

WD likes to buy me perfume and jewelry, but I am fickle and unpredictable when it comes to both. Today I love one kind and tomorrow it's "just ok". I guess I let my mood direct my preferences & it has kept WD from buying me such frivolities. Well this Christmas he found the perfect "fragrant" gift for me. It is a sampler from Sephora. It came in this terrific little hat-box with about 12 different perfume samples. Along with the samples, there is a guide describing each frangrance & its designer. I try a different scent everyday, and then I record my initial opinion of it, my opinion the next day, and if WD noticed or not. After I sample all the scents, I can take the enclosed gift coupon back to Sephora for a full bottle of which ever scent I liked best. So far I really am liking "Stella" and "Cashmere Mist". WD gets a gold star for picking this gift out for me!

Catching Up & Enjoying Life

2009-12-28T13:43:00.000-06:00

Well life has been full of fun & festivities... thus the reason I haven't blogged in a while. I am a huge advocate for recording memories, but living 'em has to come first! If it weren't for Facebook, I don't know if anyone would know what anyone else was doing. Gotta love it!

Our most recent "excitement" was a couple of nights before Christmas... WD came down with a terrible stomach virus. He was geared up to go to work (he had to work days Christmas Eve & Christmas Day... it was the trade off for getting off for our 11 day NYC, Cruise, Bahama vacay in November). Kids were in bed, and he was really sick (I won't go into too many details, but you know symptoms of stomach virus). He tried to stay hydrated, but couldn't stay ahead of it. I went out looking for somewhere to buy medicine... apparently the only place to get "drugs" in P'ville is on the streets, cuz there were no pharmacies or Walmart open at that time of night. I ended up buying ImodiumAD at the Shell station, but he couldn't keep those down for them to work. We finally resorted to St Elizabeth's ER where they gave him a heavy duty shot in the butt. All said, he was weak for a day or so, but he's great now.

Finally Christmas... we opted for Santa to make his stop at our house early Christmas Eve since WD was working during the day. When WD got off of work, I had Christmas PJs laid out for him (believe me... that wasn't his idea), potato soup cooked, & kids so wound up with excitement they couldn't stand it. The only kink in our Christmas Eve plan was that Santa's helpers left the stocking stuffers upstairs in gift bags so that me & WD could move them to the stockings when it was time. I panicked when I went upstairs & found Erin's giftbag of stocking goodies was missing! Dylan suggested I look under the bed (he thinks like a mischievous puppy) & sure enough, our crazy pup had drug the bag under the bed & attacked it! Well I suppose that's not as bad as some of the other things he's drug out before!

Of course, as most of you heard via FB, I graduated! I'm so excited to have my "free-time" back now. It's so nice not to worry about assignment deadlines & in-field experience logs & research papers that make my head hurt & on & on & on. I'm done with school (at least until I get Erin & Dylan out of high school)! I have to thank my kids & hubby for their support. There were many nights & weekends that I had to pick schoolwork over family time & it was tough!

Santa brought a few fun surprises for us this year! I got a Sony Reader & didn't even know I wanted one. It is really cool. I can carry as many books as I want with me anywhere (I guarantee none of my books will be textbooks...nothing but fictional fun now). I can download them from the public library for no charge or buy books online. It's a great little gadget! WD got a blue-ray player, Erin got a new phone, & Dyl got the PS3. Yeah, we are electronic junkies! Now we are ready for 2010... Happy Holidays, everyone!

Vacation to NYC, Universal Studios, & the Bahamas

2009-12-06T15:04:00.000-06:00

It hasn't quite been a week since returning from our fabulous vacation. It was an exciting time for me, WD, & the kids. There are far to many stories to fit in one blog, but here are some highlights:

NYC was huge. It was so exciting. WD got to experience his hotdog stand "dream". He ordered a hot dog with all the toppings plus a knish (fried bread pocket with some type of hardened potato... very dry). Setting the hot dog on the knish, it slipped and landed on the sidewalk. No matter, remember the 5 second rule... yep, WD quickly snatched it up & took a bite. Yummy! I passed on the hot dog/knish expedition, but enjoyed pizza!
"Wicked" on Broadway was remarkable. The kids sat wide-eyed while we all enjoyed the music, story, costumes, & the whole experience.
Skipping was a "theme" for us while on this trip. You see, I just learned to skip recently (thanks to Jazzercise). So while attempting to embarass Erin (you know how 13 year olds are so easily embarrassed by their parents), I decided to skip from time to time. I told the kids it made me happy, so Erin joined in (when no one was looking), and Dylan adapted it to a "backwards" skip. Fun, fun... WD caught us on camera at Universal Studios (see below).
Boarding the Carnival "Dream" was rather simple. Later that evening, all of our bags had been delivered to our stateroom except WD's. All I could think was, "Uh-oh another cruise going commando!" Those hysterical thoughts were short lived as WD found his bag downstairs at the purser's office... the tag fell off.
My nightly indulgence on the cruise ship was a slice of pizza at or near midnight and frozen yogurt on a cone while sitting on the lido deck. Hopefully all the dancing & time in the ship's gym kept me "balanced". I haven't looked at the scale yet.
Universal Studios was fun, but I think I would prefer Disney next time. We chose to take the day in port in Florida to do something we hadn't done yet. We've been to Disney twice with the kids already, so we did get to experience something new. It's not nearly as grand, but the rides were exciting, especially the crazy rollercoaster where we got to pick our own music to rock out to while squealing through the ups, downs, & twists & turns.
The first day in the Bahamas was a bit windy & chilly, but it was a lovely place. We ended up eating dinner at Senor Frogs, which was a silly little place that served Mexican cuisine. The kids got a kick out of the table decor... it was mapped out where to place your hands, elbows, feet, head, etc. Very cute!
WD wore a "Speedo"! Not the kind you typically think of, although that is a thought that can make one laugh. He found a cute pair of swim trunks (full coverage & nearly knee length) that were the "Speedo" brand. He sported those on the beach, so I can say with complete truth that my husband looks good in Speedo!
The second day in the Bahamas was perfect. The sun came out so Dyl & I laid on the beach (well Dyl swam out & hopped on a water trampoline while I laid out & read), and WD & Erin went out to snorkle. One of my treats was a pina colada served in a real coconut made by locals & sold out of their ice chests on the beach. They peeled the top of the coconut so that you could eat the little piece off the top... refreshing/delicious! No, I didn't get sick although it did cross my mind, "I would never buy a drink out of someone's ice chest on the beach in the states!"
Back on the ship, we enjoyed elegant dining nightly. The kids even enjoyed it. While at supper one night, I noted how handsome Dylan looked dressed up. I also commented how he's going to knock the girls dead with those long eyelashes. He batted his eyes at me, and I told him that's how he can get what he wants (along with good manners & a smile), really not thinking too much about my side comment. A couple of hours after dinner we stopped in the ship's atrium to get drinks at the bar. Erin & Dylan used their "coke cards" to purchase Shirley Temples. Dylan climbed up on the bar stool to place his order and when the female bar tender handed him his drink, he said, "Thank you", smiled and batted his eyes. The bar tender was taken aback while WD & I nearly fell out laughing. It was too cute, and his timing was impeccable!

It's impossible to recount all of the good times we had while on this 11-day marathon vacation, but I've posted a few pics below. I'll try to scan & post the formal pictures soon.

Now on to Christmas preparations!

My First Baby is a "Baby" No More

2009-11-04T13:04:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe that 13 & 1/2 years ago, Erin Madison came into my life. At only 22 years old, I barely was old enough to even have a baby. WD & I were driving blind when it came to parenting (we still are in some aspects, as we learn as we go). I remember how I was terrified to cut her fingernails because I didn't want to hurt her. I also remember getting her ears pierced at only 6 months hoping that she would look more feminine only to have my precious girl look more like Mr. Clean (although her bright blue eyes gleamed bright enough to distract from her smooth bald head)!
My nostalgia stems from a request that I got from one of Erin's 8th grade teachers. Being the last year in middle school, the technology teacher compiles an 8th grade video for the kids/parents. I think they'll even have an 8th grade ceremony near the end of the school year before they enter high school! Yes, I said high school... I can barely say it out loud! The request from the teacher was for me to email 3 baby photos of Erin. I sifted through a few piles of photos last night, and ultimately allowed Erin to select the 3 she liked best (it was too hard for me to select only 3). Here are the three she selected:

My favorite is the third one in her pink gingham dress with the white eyelet ruffles. I see glimpses of that little smirk every once in a while now, especially when I catch her overhearing conversations that aren't meant for her. She insisted on including a dance photo although I advised her that that was not a "baby" photo. She was 3 or nearly 4 years old in that photo. Of course the top photo just cracks me up. She was wearing one of my favorite onsies... "Don't Tell Me I'm Cute, I Wanna Be SMART!"

As you can tell I'm very proud of her, not only then, but now too. She is smart, compassionate, beautiful, and a natural peacekeeper. Don't get me wrong... she tries my patience from time to time with her teen-like forgetfulness, roller-coaster moods (our household can only handle one member who does that & I was that way first :-), & sassy attitude that peeks out every once in a while. Overall, I'm very blessed to have her, and I'm glad to call her my daughter!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T00:09:00.001-05:00

Halloween is a time for pure silliness (for both adults & kids)! We had such a fabulous time selecting our costumes, carving pumpkin, filling treat bowls with lots of yummy candy, and hanging out with kids & friends. Erin & her girlfriends were amazing in their costume selection! Amazing because they pulled off the least expensive costumes using clothes they already had, but purchasing little nerdy glasses/socks. They made being a nerd "cool"! Dylan opted for a scary jester outfit. I don't even think he knew what a jester was, but he just loved the costume. WD & I did a couples outfit (my husband was a great sport this year... typically he wears a t-shirt that says, "This is my Costume"). Doctor & Nurse Davis! Too much fun!

We started the weekend off Friday night by stomping through the rain to our neighbor's house. Yes, the weather was terrible, but with my daughter's suggestion (using Walmart bags, tying one over each shoe) & balancing hor d'ovres & the umbrella we made it down the street without getting absolutely soaked. Erica & Ray hosted the neighborhood Halloween party this year. They did a fabulous job decorating & providing their place where we all danced, karaoked, & acted like kids ourselves. It was such a good time that didn't end until wayyyy too late.

Today, after sleeping late, Dylan, Erin, & I went over to P'ville Middle School to sign Dylan up for basketball season in Ascension Parish. We've tried almost every other sport, so hopefully this might be his "thing". We'll see. We ran a few errands. Lunch was on the run where we splurged on Sonic cheese sticks & leftover pizza. (I'm trying to shock my body's system into breaking my weight loss plateau with a 2-day splurge... crazy maybe, but I don't know what else to do.) After the kids changed into their costumes (WD & I opted for comfy clothes... jeans, t-shirts, sans the medical attire), we lit Dylan's pumpkin & headed out to the street. Erin's a bit old for trick-or-treating, but she & her girlfriends roamed the neighborhood giggling in their nerd-wear. Dylan & WD went door to door collecting all sorts of treats while I sat in a line with my neighbors handing out candy from huge tubs to all the kids who came our way. After closing out trick-or-treating, WD, Dylan, & I cruised on over to Cracker Barrel in Gonzales for a late supper of chicken & dumplings for me, meatloaf for WD, & pancakes/bacon for Dylan. Yummmmmy.

Don't know if we can ever do it up as good as we did this year, but we have an entire year to plan for Halloween 2010!

SoBe World

2009-10-07T16:19:00.000-05:00

Ok... those of you who know me, know that I don't do "designer" drinks... you know drinks like "Monster", "Red Bull", etc. I don't drink coffee; not even the flavored stuff from Starbucks/CC's. I don't like "Gatorade" or any of those types of drinks, either. I just haven't been able to tolerate their taste much less their increased caloric-content in many cases. Well I finally found one that I just LOVE! It's called SoBe lifewater. It's a zero-cal, vitamin enhanced, flavored water. Now I'm starting to sound like a commercial! No they haven't employed me in any way. Anyway, while at Target the other day, I bought one at the register just to give it a shot... after all it was no-calories & it looked so refreshing. Crazy enough it has a lizard on the bottle! What a lizard has to do with water, I have no idea. It was great. I saw a display of them at Walmart the other day, so I picked up a couple of different flavors to try. My favorites are Yumberry Pomegranate & Fuji Apple Pear, although I don't know what the hell a "yumberry" is... it tastes yummy-licious though!

Love the Fall (Halloween, too!)

2009-10-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

Although our days of "cool" weather are few in number, it is so exciting to get a day where the temp drops below 70 (even if it is only for the evening/early morning hours). Along with the cooler weather, Halloween preparation makes for more excitement. Erin's a bit old for traditional trick-or-treating, and Dylan is approaching the "too old" age, too, but we still have fun with it! We took them to shop for costumes yesterday. Erin's determined to make her own costume this year... she wants to be a nerd and is convinced that the thrift stores will have "nerd-wear" like suspenders, glasses, & pocket protectors. Dylan opted for a spooky joker character. Very cute! WD & I are even getting in on the action, but we aren't revealing our costumes until the Eastside Halloween Party which Erika & Ray so graciously have offered to host at their house. I can't wait because it is rare to get WD to play dress up :-)

Another fun thingy for us & the kids is getting "boo-ed"! Last night while watching the Amazing Race, the door bell rang wildly... ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong... really fast & quick. Of course Chewee was up barking & rushing to the door. WD was like, "Who the hell rings a doorbell like that?!?" Erin opened the door to find a precious little Halloween gift bag on the doorstep. It had a sign to post in our front window, letting the neighbors know we've been boo-ed, and in the bag was fun little trinkets & candy! Very cute! We get to "boo" two other neighbors within the next couple of days. I can't wait! I've gotten the treats together & now need to print out the signs/directions. I'll leave the running, dropping the treat, & ringing the bells for the kids to do! Happy Halloween, everyone!

Martha Jane Murray Cutrer (1930-2009)

2009-10-04T20:29:00.000-05:00

This weekend was very long. WD's grandmother passed away. She was known to us as "MawMaw Cutrer". Although we didn't have a deep relationship with Mawmaw (she was Mom Aleta's mother), watching other family members grieve the loss was emotionally draining. I pray for each of them now... may God grant peace & joy in knowing that one day we will be reunited with Mawmaw in Heaven. I know that this temporary season of grieving will fade away to an eternal hope.

Mawmaw was obviously a caring & compassionate woman... she raised her own children & then even raised a couple of her grandsons, too. The thing I recall most about her were her yearly Christmas cards. She would send Dylan & Erin their own card every year which would just thrill them (they loved getting mail addressed specifically to them). I'm thankful for having known her & hope her legacy makes a sustainable impact on her children & grandchildren. You can read her obituary here.

I've Got a Great Life...

2009-09-27T22:40:00.001-05:00

As I look around at the world, I see so many people hurting & struggling in life. It makes me feel guilty when I dare start to complain or become negative about the minute little details in my life that are sooooo obscure & non-essential. Yes, I have bad days (hell, I'd say I've even had bad years), but I am blessed. To combat whininess/pessimism, I've decided to list the great things about my recent days...

WD - he's such a hard worker, fantastic "daddy", & most excellent husband. He's handy around the house, intelligent & is very, very tolerate of my shortcomings.
Erin- she's such a beautifully tender-hearted person who is so responsible & smart (which is difficult to handle sometimes when I do dumb things or am irresponsible :-)
Dylan - he's definitely one of my life's "joys"... he makes me smile/laugh daily. Dylan is God's way of reminding me that I am not a perfect parent... I need to rely on him to raise this boy.
I have some of the greatest friends in the whole world. My scrapping "sisters", the "Eastside" gang, coworkers, and believe it or not, family members who are the best friends a person could have.
I get to earn an education beyond what I ever thought possible (yeah... graduation in December!).
I have a job that makes me feel valuable (& I get to earn a paycheck while trying to help people find jobs & prepare to become teachers which in turn will change the world!).
My home, although it needs a little work here & there, is lovely & comfortable. I just finished getting the furniture for the scrapbooking/office room.
My mother-in-law & I were able to hang out together at Corks n Canvas for a fun time together this past week (checkout photos on FB). How did I get so lucky to have such a fabulous mother-in-law?!?
I get to enjoy a hobby that will leave a legacy for my children & grandchildren... I love to scrapbook!
We are going on vacation for 11 days at the end of November... NYC a few days, then onto a cruise ship to cruise down to the Bahamas for a couple of days, then over to Port Canaveral for Thanksgiving in Universal Studios, & then cruising back up to NYC. I get NYC (Broadway show, sightseeing, shopping, exploring new places), cruise ship (entertainment, sleeping/reading while laying back in a deck chair, eating great foods), Bahamas (tropical paradise... what more can I say), & Thanksgiving with kids & WD in a new place...Universal Studios!
My PT Cruiser is still kicking! I have no car note & although it's not the peppiest or classiest of rides, it has been reliable & affordable (gas & insurance are cheap)!
I am keeping up with school work, kids' activities, making it to the gym everyday, plus I was able to get to the all day crop with my "girls" & take Erin & her friend to the movie all this weekend!

Guess I better get a shower now (hot water at the tips of my fingers & fabulous smelling body soaps to choose from), pack my work out bag (comfy work out shoes along with multiple options for workout attire), pack my lunch (selections from a full pantry with all the good foods I like), & climb into my bed (king-size with fluffy pillows/comforter) to go nighty-night so that I can start my wonderful life all over again tomorrow! I'm not bragging. I'm just grateful... after all, I give thanks to God, because without Him, none of it would be possible!

Ghost

2009-09-16T22:33:00.000-05:00

Upon hearing about Patrick Swayze's death, I thought immediately of one of his best movies ever... Ghost! I made plans to rent the movie as soon as possible. I stopped by Blockbuster to rent it, only to find that the shelf had a "special" movie box that redirected me to a special section in the store. Blockbuster set up an end cap display of many of Patrick Swayze's movies. I sat totally engrossed watching the whole movie from beginning to end (plus watched the bonus features on the DVD), quoting lines from the movie as they came up like... "Ditto", "Molly, you in danger GIRL", and many of the other lines in the movie that made me laugh out loud (Whoopi played Oda Mae brilliantly!) & tear up with compassion. I loved the movie so much when it came out, I attempted to pull off the short haircut Demi Moore worn as "Molly" in the movie. I just didn't have the features of Demi to wear the short boy cut, but she sure made me want to be her... maybe it was the "love story" that I wanted when I was so very young! Yep, Patrick Swayze playing Sam Wheat was just wonderful... his character was all a girl could want... honest, handsome, passionate, caring, protective, and did I mention handsome?!? If you haven't seen Ghost, you must see it... call me & I'll come watch it with you! If you have seen it, watch it again just for the fun of it!

Makes me Smile so Much

2009-09-12T09:21:00.001-05:00

This morning I woke up, started laundry, made a little breakfast, & then sat down to watch TV a while before heading to the gym. I don't have enough time during the week to watch Oprah, but I just love her show. This morning I watched Wednesday's episode & it made me so happy & smile so much that tears came to my eyes. If you didn't get a chance to watch & you need a little pick-me-up, you have to watch snippets of it online at Oprah.com. Oprah is simply a very generous person who gets a charge out of surprising people by making their "Wildest Dreams Come True". From the "Tom Cruise" Lady, to Oprah's friend, Gale who is a huge Josh Groban fan, the surprises were just out-of-the-box! I think my favorite "surprise" was the one she arranged for Jake. Jake Simpson is a singer from Star Search who loves Stevie Wonder. He performs Stevie's music exceptionally well. Oprah had Jake perform "Isn't She Wonderful" (which is a happy song anyway)... & while performing Stevie Wonder came from behind the curtain to join in the performance by playing the harmonica & singing a bit! It was WONDERFUL! You just have to watch it. I've set it as a bookmark on my computer so if I need a "happy" moment in my day, I can just watch Jake, Stevie, Oprah, & her pumped up audience!

"Strawberry" Kind of Memory

2009-09-10T09:58:00.003-05:00

While fixing my strawberries & cream oatmeal this morning, a wave of nostalgia overtook me. It was the strangest thing because I frequently boil water in microwave & pour it over the instant packet of strawberries & cream oatmeal, but I've never experienced this "memory" while doing this task. It was actually the smell of the oatmeal cooking once I added the boiling water that brought me back...

It was a Saturday afternoon (it must have been in the fall), when I went across the street to a friend's house to play. I must have been in the 2nd or 3rd grade because we were still living in Bastrop, Louisiana in a small wood-frame house about a mile from Eastside Elementary. I can only remember my friend's last name for some reason... "Goodman". She was a very lucky little girl (in my opinion) because she had great toys, dolls, & a trampoline. I remember always wanting to play Barbies at her house because she had the actual "Barbie" doll whose legs would bend versus the generic doll I had who had hollow plastic legs that would not. She also had the whole collection of strawberry shortcake dolls! This is where my mind went this morning while making my breakfast, because the strawberry shortcake doll that my friend had could be squeezed on her tummy & she would expel a deliciously exhiliarating fragrance of strawberries. It didn't smell like real strawberries, but it was a unique strawberry-like aroma that only THE real Strawberry Shortcake doll had. Funny enough, the generic strawberries & cream instant oatmeal (Wal-mart brand of course) smells just like that Strawberry Shortcake doll.

It's amazing how the mind works. Fragrances seem to have the most effect on me as far as memories. I actual enjoy most memories triggered by scents, so it's a nice thing to have my mind work like that!

More Gulf Shores Fun & Photos

2009-09-08T19:29:00.000-05:00

While in Gulf Shores during the Labor Day weekend, we explored some of the more popular restaurants in the area. On our first night, we headed on over to Lulu's! It was a great place where the kids could run around & play while we hung out & waited for our table. The food was pretty good, but the atmosphere was excellent! One night we ate in... the guys grilled steaks. Yum, yum! Then the third night we ventured to Lambert's. It was a great time for the kids despite the long wait. I've never seen such large servings of food in all my life! After we left yesterday morning, Dylan & his cousins headed back to the beach with his Granny & Pawpaw. The weather apparently was great!

Gulf Shores Beach Trip

2009-09-07T19:57:00.006-05:00

It was definitely the quickest vacation I've ever had (Friday night to Monday morning)! We did our annual Boudreaux beach trip in Gulf Shores, AL this year. The location was absolutely perfect; a huge, well-layed out beach house that comfortably slept all 19 of us! My dear mother-in-law always arranges the bedroom assignments, rotating us from the good rooms to the best rooms year-to-year. This year WD & I were blessed with the master suite. It was wonderful... huge king-sized bed, a sitting area where Erin & Dylan camped out, a closet big enough to serve as another bedroom, and a bathroom with jacuzzi corner tub (which I never got to test out) & the best part of all... a huge walk-in shower with shower heads on two sides. Our room had three gigantic sliding windows that faced the beach & opened to a balcony that ran the length of the house. It was almost paradise except we had okay weather one day & dreary/rainy weather the next.

The beach was lovely. We set up all of our tents, chairs, ice chests, & beach toys for a grand family outing. The kiddos got sunburned the first day, I cut the inside of my leg up on barnacle covered pipe, & it was cool/rainy the second day, but all-in-all it was a great time. Anytime on the beach is better than being at work!

Here are a few photos I was able to catch on my camera... I'm sure my mother-in-law got better ones... I'll try to post those later!

Dylan in the surf...

Cousins digging a hole... Erin, Titus, Caden, & Zann...Mom Barbara & WD chilling in the beach chairs under the tent...Dad Roddy discovering "treasure" in the surf...Erin, Zann, & Caden stomping out their "Shell Town" masterpiece (sand castles)...I was brave enough to do a bikini in front of the family (slowly gaining my confidence... hopefully by next year I'll have lost the last 20 pounds!)...My sweet sister-in-law, Sherry helping the kids gather shells for their collections... Now I can't wait till next year!!!

Open House, REALLY?!?

2009-09-01T08:29:00.004-05:00

We made it through "Open House" at both the elementary & middle schools this year. Yes, made it through! The middle school open house was well thought out & informative, but I thought I was going to climb the walls, scream, or pull my hair out while sitting in the elementary school "cafetorium" (yes, that was the name posted on the cafeteria/auditorium door... so I guess it's a real word) for over an hour. It was absolute torture. The principal, who is obviously new to the job, droned on and on about things that could have easily been put in a newsletter/flyer including a mini-political speech about voting for more taxes & a mile long list of fundraiser activities. She had very poor presentation skills which made it even more unbearable. After enduring that hour, I finally was able to go to Dylan's classroom, where another 60+ parents were trying to squeeze in as well! Needless to say, I signed the sign in roster (in case bonus points were given to kids whose parents showed up) & slipped out before I said anything inappropriate like what I was thinking... this is the biggest waste of my time! I know I can be a tough critic when it comes to education... after all, it is my business, but this "Open House" was ludicrous. I'm just glad that I have two kids who are typically responsible when it comes to schoolwork. I figured if there is anything paramount that I need to know it'll be posted on Edline anyway.

Art, Art, Art

2009-08-22T21:05:00.012-05:00

I've had a rather artistic-rich life lately! It's been great. Scrapping with friends at Scrappin' on the River, and Scrapbook & Company's 3rd Anniversary Crop & then stealing away to Corks 'n Canvas to paint with other friends are some of my most recent artistic highlights! Check out my latest creations: Portraits have always been intimidating to me to scrapbook, but I finally got a couple of Erin's dance portraits on a page. Just love those stickles & Hambly transparency!

The Spongebob character & title were pieces cut using the cricut. It took hours to piece it all together, but it made for a fabulous "theme" for this page featuring pics of WD on the beach with his seaweed mustache!

I don't crop in chronological order so I was able to pull out these old photos of Erin & a neighborhood friend from 2006.

I don't typically get to use "pink" in my son's scrapbook, but because he snatched Erin's blanket for his "back up bedroom" during Hurricane Gustav, I was able to use pink on this layout because of the pink blanket in the photos!

Getting a chance to paint a really cool painting at Corks 'n Canvas was a new challenge & treat. Friday night's theme was "Eye of the Tiger". They provided a canvas with a pencil outline, paints, brushes, smocks, instruction, & a very fun atmosphere. Take a look at my painting in the beginning stage & then final stage.

Jennifer joined me on this new experience. Thanks to Karen, Stacy, Felicity, & Felicity's family for allowing us to join them for this night of artsy fun! Who is up for planning another scrapping or painting event?!?

Love my Entertainment!

2009-08-20T08:53:00.007-05:00

Just a couple of days ago, I asked, "When do all the good shows premier this season?" I got no firm answer from anyone... we all estimated September. Well we were right... just heard on the radio that "Grey's Anatomy" will premier this season on Sept 24th! I can't wait to see if George & Lizzie are really dead... I love both characters and would hate to see them "depart" permanently.

Other shows of interest are the Bachelor/Bachelorette which just ended fairly recently with Jillian picking Ed (who is quite questionable to me), so it'll be a while before it resumes. Then there is "Private Practice" and it's been so long since the season finale that I almost forgot the drama there... remember the season ended with a psycho lady about to cut into the belly of the very pregnant Dr. Violet Turner?!? It premiers October 1st!

Currently I've caught on to "Dating in the Dark" which shows on Monday nights. It challenges the whole "first impressions" thingy where looks don't matter... well at first anyway! It's great mindless entertainment that I can have playing on the t.v. while cooking supper, working on the websites I have to keep up, directing the kids, or just finally chilling out in my recliner at night after everyone else has gone to bed.

Sept 27 "Amazing Race" kicks off, about the time I bet "Big Brother" is finishing off their crazy summer! Just can't get enough of Jeff... he's good looking & smart, although he's attracted to a ditsy blonde (she's really is sweet though). Does anyone know when "Survivor" starts?!? I know it's going to be in Samoa, a group of islands in the South Pacific... should be a good season.

Well, I guess I do love t.v. Throw in a few of my favorite news shows like "Dateline", "20/20", & "Nightline", mix in a little music including "American Idol" (Hey did you know Shania Twain is scheduled to be a guest judge? Guess they had to spice it up since Paula is gone), and I'm on entertainment overload. Yes, I've put all the season premier dates in my calendar... WD will freak out when he sees the Google Calendar we share, but at least I won't miss any of my favorite shows.

Thank God I have a DVR & can multi-task or I'd never get anything done!

Life is Busy, but GREAT!

2009-08-13T07:28:00.007-05:00

Over the last few weeks, I've traveled for work, I've traveled for fun, got the kids back in school, & now are trying to find a home for our puppy, Zoe! Yes, life is busy, but I'm very thankful. Last week's trip to Gulf Shores was just what the doctor ordered... while my husband worked & my children were with their grandparents, I headed further south... to the BEACH! My friend Karen has a condo on the beach & was going down for a little time of relaxation. She invited me to join her (and our friend Teri, her husband, & daughter who were there part of the time I was). Thanks Karen!!! It was fabulous. I started my trip Thursday night, shopped at outlet mall & ate at Lambert's Friday, laid on the beach all day Saturday, and laid by the pool all day Sunday.

Upon returning to "reality", I enjoyed some time with Erin & Dylan before sending them back to school yesterday. Erin reluctantly allowed me to snap a few photos of her as she was leaving to catch the bus (she didn't want me taking her to school... I guess I would embarrass her?... after all she's in 8th grade!). Dylan was also enthusiastic to start school. He asked me to take him on his first day, and willingly posed for the camera. It's his last year in elementary school... 5th grade!

Scrapping Friends

2009-08-03T20:36:00.003-05:00

I had a fabulous time last weekend at Scrappin on the River in Natchez, MS. It was my first time cropping at this event, and it was as much fun as other crops I've attended. I'll post a few photos of layouts I did while there once I can snap a few photos. For now, check out the silly shots of my friends... Beverly, Karen (we celebrated her birthday while at the crop), Melanie, Teri, Lisa, & many more... I even got to get a picture with scrapbooking celebrity, Lisa Bearnson... !

First Lady of Louisiana

2009-07-22T14:24:00.003-05:00

I had the pleasure of participating/working at the Educator's Excellence Symposium at the Crowne Plaza Friday & Friday night. At the event, I met some of the most fabulous educators! Teachers-of-the-Year were honored... one even won a Mercedes-Benz! It was great. Throughout the day speakers & panelists shared information. One of the distinguished guests was Supriya Jindal, Bobby Jindal's wife, AKA First Lady of Louisiana. She was well-spoken & represented her hubby well. Did you know she's a chemical engineer & worked in a chemical plant before her husband entered politics?!? She entertained a few questions & photos. Here I am with Mrs. Jindal & my coworker/friend Barbara. After running in & out of the rain earlier in the day, I was reluctant to get too close... perhaps I have "personal space" issues?!? Oh well, how many days do you get to have your photo taken with a political celebrity (at least here in Louisiana)?

Shopping Trip

2009-07-09T07:10:00.007-05:00

One of the things that my mother-in-law does for her grandchildren is to take them shopping on or around their birthdays. This tradition got started as they got older and became harder to buy for. This year Dylan's birthday came & went in June but with every one's very full schedules, his shopping trip ended up happening in July. It didn't matter to him... he had a blast. "Granny" took him to the mall for lunch & for shopping. He hit the game stores first, video games of course, and then the Gap, and then a a toy store. He even took a break in one of the massage chairs & stopped the Chick-fil-A Cow for a photo op! He had a fabulous time with his "Granny".

My "Baby" Turns 10!

2009-06-29T08:55:00.004-05:00

In celebration of Dylan's 10th birthday, we held a swimming party at the house in his honor. He enjoyed lots of friends, cookie cake, presents (the boy racked up on the cash!), and more. Me & WD bought him the iPod Touch which he has quickly mastered. The party was a success even in the 100+ degree weather! We even had a little excitement when the neighbor drove his riding lawn mower into the lake... like good neighbors all the dads at the party helped rescue the lawn mower by wading into the water (jeans, party clothes, no matter). The party was very enjoyable for all! I'm so amazed at how quickly time has past. I guess Dylan's no "baby" anymore!(Wayne, Blane, & Rhett soaking wet, walking back to the party after rescuing neighbor.)

(Sweat rings on the shirt is a good indication of just how hot it was outside; I know, "Ugh that's yucky!" but the good news is that we all were sweating so it didn't matter ;-)

Idina Menzel

2009-06-26T22:13:00.008-05:00

I suppose everyone knows my absolute love of music? Well today, further confirmed it. After stepping it up & working it out at a morning Jazzercise session this morning, the instructor had the group do a cool-down routine to an absolutely beautiful song. I've discovered another very talented musical artist by the name of Idina Menzel. I figured out who she was in a roundabout way, though. After the cool-down, I asked a fellow "jazzerciser" if they knew the name of the song. It's called "Hope". I didn't think to ask who the artist was... I was just going to use my iPhone to search for it in iTunes. I had no luck with that... there are a ton of songs called, "Hope"... some are spiritual/gospel as to be expected... I even ran across an atrocious rap song called "Hope"... I couldn't give up though. I googled "Jazzercise", thinking perhaps they would have a work-out video with the song on it. When I got to the site I found a cool listing of all the current songs used for workout routines at all Jazzercise locations. That's where I found it! I used the artist's name to search in iTunes, and voila'! Listen to the song by clicking the play arrow on the player below. Now to find other songs from Idina Menzel to enjoy. She's apparently in the Broadway hit, "Wicked", too. If ever in NYC, I'll be sure to get a ticket to the show so that I can experience this talent in real life.

Father's Day Surprises

2009-06-22T07:40:00.005-05:00

We had a fabulous Father's Day! Saturday morning I dropped WD's truck off at the car stereo place & had a really cool Pioneer stereo installed... it has CD, iPod connection, HD radio, Bluetooth hands free phone, satellite radio, the works! It is really, really fantastic. I wouldn't mind having one in my next vehicle, but I wouldn't waste the money on putting one in my cruiser (heck, I still have a Cassette/CD combo radio in my car!). WD hopped in his truck Saturday evening after he got home, and was so thrilled with his gift from me & the kids. But that wasn't all... I just love surprises... Sunday he had to work, but afterwards we took him to dinner... Texas Roadhouse (it's nothing fancy, but it is his favorite). Erin & Dylan excitedly carried in a couple of more gifts into the restaurant. WD has been on this "antique shaving" kick lately, so we ordered an old-fashioned straight blade razor with lavendar shaving soap & a sampler pack of blades. Of course a man can never have enough Levis so we picked up a pair & a comfy Nike t-shirt just for him. It was a great evening, hanging out with the kids, and with our most favorite man in the world.

Prayers for Avery

2009-06-18T15:48:00.003-05:00

Please pray for Avery Malatesta... she's a very sick little girl . She's at OLOL fighting for her life. Doctor's are in the process of removing one of her lungs this afternoon. Please pray that God directs their skills to save her. Avery's family has created a site for updates & details here: Avery Malatesta

It is H-O-T!!!

2009-06-15T12:21:00.003-05:00

One of my typical daily activities is reading the news online. While eating my lunch at my desk, I get the scoop on Baton Rouge "going-ons". My source of choice is 2theadvocate.com. I can read news, get news alerts via my iPhone/email, read a little entertainment info, obits, and of course check out the weather. After this weekend, I was curious as to when it would rain again... my lawn has turned brown, my hubby is battling cholorine deficiencies in the pool, my kids are sunburned, and I'm sweating/cranky. Well the good news is that 2theadvocate posted the weather, the bad news is, is that it is going to remain hot, hot, hot with no rain in sight! Can't we have a "weather day" where we get sent home from work for more than just snow in Louisiana?!?

Medical Update

2009-06-11T10:55:00.002-05:00

I've decided to go for a second opinion, after months of playing the waiting game with the doctor's at BR Clinic. As most of you know, I've been trying to figure out what's going on with me physically for over a year now. I have what I refer to as my "episodes" everyday and it seems that they've gotten more frequent lately. Over a period of about 2-3 minutes (occurring 6-7 times per day; typically worse in afternoon/evening), I get a very full feeling in my head, I see black spots/blurry spots, can't speak fluently, and feel as though I'm going to faint. I've been to my internist, ENT, neurologist, rhuematologist, ophthalmologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, herbalist (or whatever you call a "natural" doctor), endocrinologist, and back to some of these again & again, paying outrageous co-pays, but not getting any answers for my "episodes". It was discovered that I have an auto-immune disease which has caused my thyroid to enlarge to 2x it's normal size (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), I have severe B12 & D deficiencies, & I have enlarged water sacs in my brain, & I failed a tilt-table test. I've lost 40 pounds, changed my diet, added large amounts of exercise, take B12 injections monthly, & a handful of vitamin supplements by mouth daily, only to still have episodes get worse. All this said, in the past, I was terrified of offending my "medical team" at BR Clinic, so I wouldn't get a second opinion. I've decided that I have to get to the bottom of this so I've sought the help of other doctors at the NeuroMedical Center. The neurologist there has run a few other tests, EEG, some type of galvanized-shock test, & now another MRI today. I have to say, they handle things quickly, so hopefully diagnosis/treatment will come quickly too! They are suggesting that I may have an issue with my autonomic system, or maybe seizures, or other neuro issue... they are checking it out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed while I wait for test results now. If any of you readers are medical experts or have similar stories, please, please, please share/advise.

Resident Scout Camp

2009-06-09T15:44:00.003-05:00

It was an exciting day for all of us... dropping Dylan off at the resident scout camp at Camp Avondale in Clinton, LA. I was excited for him, but also very nervous. There was a group of 5 boys going from our den. The thought that I was going to leave my 9 year old boy to sleep with a "buddy" in a tent was nerve-racking... would he remember where his supplies were, would he keep himself clean, would he keep track of his money & time. I know around the house if his head weren't attached he would lose it, so I had reason to worry. I did snap a few photos, and then reluctantly drove the 1 & 1/2 hour distance home. I'll report on how he did this weekend when I go back to pick him up.

Daughtry Does It AGAIN!

2009-06-04T15:21:00.003-05:00

The other day, WD surprised me with a new release on iTunes (did you know you can "gift" a song to a friend?). Chris Daughtry has come out with a wonderful new song called, "No Surprise". I have it on my iPhone & have listened to it over 50 times since he gave it to me! Yes, it's that good. I just LOVE his voice... a little rough/grovelly (is that a word?), but very rocker. Watch the video & hear the music here!

Dance Recitals

2009-05-23T17:29:00.005-05:00

I'm just now getting my still photos off my digi-camera from the dance recitals held in mid-May so I can actually post this blog-posting! This year the kids' dance recitals were held at the LSU PMAC. It was somewhat awkward (seating, lighting, security), but overall it was a great experience for the kids. Dylan performed his hip-hop dance during the first recital of the day, while Erin danced in both recitals, performing multiple tap dances, jazz, lyrical, & ballet. I was very impressed with their skills although my photos turned out terrible.

Erin's 13th Birthday Party

2009-05-16T11:03:00.006-05:00

Although Erin doesn't turn 13 until May 20th, we held her party last night. The guests arrived at the house around 5:30. The limo arrived to sweep them away at 6:00. The girls were hyped up to ride in such a cool car. First stop was Chick-fil-A... yes, I said Chick-fil-A. They wanted to maximize their time in the limo, so it was a quick stop to pick up to-go chicken, and back in the limo. Off to Perkins Rowe we went. The girls loved the attention they got when they exited the car in front of Frock Candy. Little bit of shopping, and then off to the Mall of LA for a little more shopping. They closed the mall down by grabbing smoothies to go in the car. Back to the house we came for cookie cake, ice cream, and sparkling grape juice in champagne glasses. Erin's friends honored her by giving her great teen gifts... mostly cash! It was a great night. Sleepovers are definitely getting easier... I don't know if it's b/c they are getting older or if it's the great friends Erin invited over... they were all so well-behaved. I think the girls dozed off around 2am while watching Bride Wars in the game room. Check out their photos and video (with yours truly narrating)!

Elliott

2009-05-11T09:05:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite American Idol alum's has a new album out this month! Elliott Yamin's voice is smooth, relaxing, and most definitely soulful. Check out his latest single, "Fight for Love" on his website.

Scrappin' Chicks

2009-05-04T14:06:00.004-05:00

I had an absolute blast this weekend with some of my scrappin' buddies!!! I'm ready to sign up now for the event in November. See the 2 Scrappin' Chicks website for details! You should sign up, too. I'll try to post a few layouts that I completed this past weekend... I have to unpack first ;-)
I also have to thank a couple of my "scrappy" friends for expanding my ribbon collection and getting me hooked on flowers. I ended up buying a huge bag with holes in it to string my ribbon in... it's practical and cute! I also stopped by Target to get the stackable snap-to-close boxes to hold my newly acquired flower collection. I haven't organized those yet, but I plan on doing it this weekend.

Sometimes You HAVE to Dance

2009-04-30T08:25:00.005-05:00

Here's a very cute video that my neighbor sent to me (it had me smiling & giggling out loud). I just love the dance between the girl and the ostrich... very cute!!!

The Shack & a "matching song"

2009-04-28T13:22:00.003-05:00

I recently read the book, The Shack, by William P Young. It was a remarkable story that so dearly impressed upon me a true picture of who God is. It firmly reiterated that God loves me as I am with fault and flaws. I particularly loved the way how a couple of characters in the book referred to God as "Papa". If you haven't read it, you need to take a little bit of time to read it... it's a short, easy read, but it may have a profound effect on you. While commenting on the book on Facebook today, I was listening to my iPod when the song, "Broken & Beautiful" by Mark Schultz came on. It should be the theme song to the book The Shack! Listen to it here:

Broken And Beautiful.mp3

Older Photos

2009-04-19T21:05:00.003-05:00

I went to scrapbook Saturday night, and decided to get a few older photos onto pages. This first layout is of a ski trip we took over 5 years ago, when Dylan first learned to ski:

This second one-page layout is of my niece, Blaise, back when her hair first turned curly:
This third layout is of a business trip I took to San Antonio last July. My coworker & I did a tour of the Alamo:

DOE's Biggest Loser Contest

2009-04-16T08:52:00.003-05:00

Well the Department of Education's Biggest Loser Contest is over. Out of 25 participants, I came in 5th place. I know that's great and all, but only 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place contestants won the cash! That's ok... I'm definitely a winner with a personal weight loss total of 32 pounds since January 5th. In celebration of the contest ending, we had a party. The biggest "loser" was one of my sweetest coworkers, Edeltress (see her below... she was contestant #8... we were all identified by a contestant number throughout the contest, so no one knew who actually was in the lead). A big shout out to Latikka (pictured with me below) for motivating the group while also being a participant. I guess if I couldn't win, it's good to know that someone as nice as Edeltress won... she deserved it anyway... I think she lost 40 pounds! Her weight loss method was to work out 2 to 2 & 1/2 hours each day. She ran track and climbed stadium stairs. I may have to include a little of that into my work out just to switch it up! Way to go Edeltress!!!

Scrapbook & Blogging

2009-04-13T10:25:00.004-05:00

I saw a cute idea for a layout on my desk calendar last year. A girl did a scrapbooking page about her blog. I used the layout idea, changed the colors, photos, & embellishments, and made it mine! I just love this layout, and of course, I love my BLOG!

"Peep" Smores

2009-04-12T22:39:00.003-05:00

Dylan & Erin stayed with their Aunt Brooklyn, Uncle Zach, & Cousin Caden Thursday & Friday night while WD and I took a quick parent getaway. Of course, Aunt Brooklyn had fun activities planned. In celebration of Easter they dyed eggs and made yummy smores. These weren't just any ordinary smore... they were "Peep Smores". You know those little sugary coated marshmallow candies shaped like little chicks? Well this is what they used for the marshmallow part of the smore. They had sticky, good time!

Easter 2009

2009-04-12T22:00:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Easter with Erin & Dylan during the morning, then we headed over to the Boudreaux's for family fun. It poured down rain, so we all sat under the patio and had to have the eggs hidden various places around and under the patio area.

Gone are the days of precious Easter dresses, new spring shoes, and exciting Easter basket treats. Most times it's great having kids that are getting older and more independent, but during times like this I kind of miss them being smaller. I requested that Dylan put on a nice shirt before going to Granny's house, but he threw on an old T-shirt with his jeans. If he were a little kid, I would have dressed him how I wanted to and made sure he had a fresh haircut. Now, I have to allow his own style. Erin used to love hanging out with her cousins, but all day today she moped around asking when we were leaving so she could go see her friends. If she were younger, she would just be happy to play with any other little kids. Any other day of the year (except maybe Christmas) it's cool having older kids now, but today it was just a little sad. All this said, I am thankful this Easter for family, although they are getting older ;-)

Erin's Mishap

2009-03-23T16:13:00.002-05:00

I awoke Saturday morning to the sound of lots of kids downstairs. Erin had decided to race ripsticks (skateboards) with the neighborhood kids before 8a.m. While racing, her foot slipped off and down she fell. The neighborhood kids helped her home and explained what happened. She was saying her wrist hurt. I gave her an ice-pack and two ibuprofens and sent her upstairs to rest. I dressed, headed to the gym, and then I ran to the shoe store to get Dylan's tennis shoes for HipHop class. I called the house to make sure all was well, and Dylan answered saying that Erin was crying really bad. I headed home to find Erin still crying and in pain. Her wrist was really white with very little swelling, but it just didn't look right. I took her to the urgent care clinic where they x-rayed her wrist to discover it was broken. They wrapped it up in a hard splint and referred us to an orthopedic clinic Monday. We just left the orthopedic clinic where they informed us that they will need to put Erin to sleep to move the bone back into place. Tomorrow around noon, we will have her all fixed up! She's tough, but say a little prayer anyway. She's very upset about dance, but hopefully the doctor will at least let her pick the color of her cast to match her dance costume since we have pictures this week. I'll post photos of her and her cast if she'll let me snap a few photos.

Ski Photos

2009-03-03T18:13:00.004-06:00

Yes, it was cold, but boy we had FUN! I loved the vacation, but I'm thankful for my Louisiana winters. WinterPark, Colorado had tons of snow, but we had a great time there!

Candy Shop with a Good Name

2009-03-03T12:50:00.004-06:00

While in Houston this weekend after our ski vacation, we headed over to the Galleria. I was reminded again just how big that place is! While shopping we stopped in a really cool candy store called, "Dylan's Candy Bar". It was great. Dylan and I asked the person at the cash register if kids with the same name get any special priveleges or samples... of course they said "no", but they did tell us that the Dylan the candy store is named after is actually a girl. After bagging up rock candy, sour candies, gummy candies, sweet tarts, chocolates, bubble gum, and pop rocks, I snapped a quick photo of my Dylan and Erin in front of the store's sign. Too bad they didn't offer calorie-free candies!

Colorado Vacation

2009-02-27T10:29:00.002-06:00

It's been a great week! WD, Erin, Dylan, & I have been skiing/snowboarding/tubing in WinterPark, CO. The weather was amazing... from the heavy snows, to the one day where the sky was perfectly blue and the sun shone down on us while enjoying the slopes. Although we had no serious injuries, our bodies are so very sore... skiing requires muscles I had forgotten I had! I'll post a few photos when I'm back home. Right now we are cleaning up the condo and waiting on our shuttle back to the Denver airport. Check out a few videos WD posted on his facebook: Tubing, Tubing2, & Funniest Skiing Video Ever (keep watching after the blackout)!

Paula's American Idol Faves

2009-02-11T08:44:00.007-06:00

I just love American Idol! After watching last nights show, I have definitely picked my favorites (so far). Unfortunately, none of the girls stood out in my mind (at least not in a positive way). The guys have got the "skills" this year! Here are a few that I think will go far:

Danny Gokey Stephen Fowler Matt Breitzke Michael Sarver And of course there is Nick (AKA: Norman) Mitchell... he won't make it all the way through, but he is VERY hilarious. I hope he stays a while because he does provide comedy to the show!

Science Fair 2009

2009-01-30T09:33:00.002-06:00

Just last night, I was invited to view the middle schoolers science fair projects. Erin & her friend Callie had projects on display. After walking around the gym looking at the student displays, I was most impressed; especially with Erin & Callie's projects!

For All of My "Techie" Friends

2009-01-26T14:45:00.002-06:00

Dear Tech Support,
Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.
In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as NBA 5.0, NFL 3.0 and Golf Clubs 4.1.
Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system.
Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.
What can I do?
Signed,
Desperate

DEAR DESPERATE,
First, keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system. Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html and try to download Tears 6.2 and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update.
If that application works as designed, Husband1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5. However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta.
Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.)
In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.
In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend: Cooking 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.
Good Luck !

No Time

2009-01-21T08:32:00.001-06:00

As you can tell, I'm lagging in my blog posts. School started back up, I'm trying to get to the gym, & cook every night, too. I'm short on time, but I'll try to post something interesting as I find time.
Hugs,
Paula

It's That Time of Year, Again!

2009-01-15T09:32:00.003-06:00

In the words of Ryan Seacrest, "Welcome to Aaaammmerican Idol!" Yes, indeed. It's back for, I believe, the 8th season! It's going to be interesting with the addition of a new judge... Kara Dioguardi. She seems to be pretty honest, and has a new, fresh perspective on the talent (or lack thereof). One particular situation she was involved with was on Tuesday night's episode where "bikini girl" tried out. At one point Kara was demonstrating how the girl's chosen song should have been sung, and the girl mouthed off. In Kara's parting comment to the bikini girl, a tossed aside of 'Sing naked next time' she gave us a glimpse of potentially deadly force to come, with an edge that could inject a new energy into the show. I just love her!

In Tara & Heather's Honor... Presenting FRED

2009-01-08T11:35:00.002-06:00

I was browsing a newly discovered (by me at least) website where videos are posted in HD. It's called Vimeo. While eating lunch today, I decided to search for scrapbooking videos and ran across this one by a group called "Paperclipping" about the F.R.E.D. I cracked up laughing because my friend Tara just got a F.R.E.D. and is totally in love with it... so much so that she could be a great spokeswoman for the F.R.E.D. We were at a crop a couple of weeks ago, where Tara used her F.R.E.D. We joked with her about how her husband may get jealous about her new love affair with F.R.E.D. After watching this little video, now I know what the acronym stands for. Heather, you can get your very own F.R.E.D. now if you'd like!

Paperclipping 32 - FRED from izzyvideo on Vimeo.

Happy New Year

2009-01-05T09:30:00.002-06:00

We started 2009 with a party at our house. Firecrackers were fun, but the real highlight of the party was the Guitar Hero World Tour Band. With Zack on the guitar (he's phenomenal!), the rest of us took turns at the drums, bass, & on the mic. The only regret is that we didn't get to play longer!

Another New CD

2008-12-29T11:32:00.003-06:00

I can't wait for American Idol to kick off in January! I have enjoyed almost all of the music from American Idol contestants. My latest CD addition is the new self-titled release by David Archuleta. Sample some of his tracks here.

Back in the Scrappin' Mood

2008-12-28T21:11:00.002-06:00

I kind of hit a lull in my scrapbooking interest over the last couple of months... between school, work, kids, holidays, etc, I've just sort of let my cropping materials sit. With the new office furniture, I've been re-vitalized into it. Crop invites from friends help, too! Here's a rare one-page layout (I typically do double-page spreads) I did using photos of WD, Erin, & Dylan all as infants (well Dylan was a little older) laying in the same dumptruck! The layout idea is scraplifted from one of my old magazines... it worked for me!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T12:18:00.001-06:00

We hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas Day!

Strange, Strange Sight

2008-12-23T07:38:00.003-06:00

I know I should be blogging about the holidays and how wonderful Christmas is... it is, but I just couldn't help but snap a picture while driving home from work yesterday of a strange, strange sight I saw on I-10...

I guess that's a car with "bling"?!? Maybe it's "scales", like a fish?!? I don't know, but I couldn't stop myself from staring and actually laughing out loud. I guess we all have our own "style" (if that's what you want to call it)! To make matters even more hysterical... check out the license plate!

Another Favorite Christmas Movie

2008-12-22T11:51:00.004-06:00

Yesterday afternoon, I really needed to fold clothes... like 7 loads! WD was sleeping (working nights again), while the kids and puppies were stir-crazy & wild around the house. I had a list of things I needed to get done in addition to the clothes, so I piled all the clean clothes in baskets in front of the TV and put the kids to work folding, while I was across the room in the kitchen making lunch. To make it more enjoyable, we popped in the movie Elf. It's a hilarious story. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a regular-sized man who was raised as an elf by Santa Claus. When the news is finally broken to Buddy that he's not a real elf, he decides to head back to his place of birth, New York City, in search of his biological family. We laughed and laughed, and before we realized it, the clothes were folded, lunch was served & eaten, and we were enjoying our new fireplace. If you haven't seen Elf, you just have to rent it during the holidays! It will surely make you laugh.

Treasure Remembered & Found

2008-12-17T08:10:00.003-06:00

While driving to work this morning, I was listening to the 96.1FM River (I've run out of audio books and the newest one I ordered hasn't been released yet) with Murphy, Sam & Jodi. They were reading emails/letters from the Producer's Mailbag. Apparently the radio personalities asked the public to write in to them concerning their favorite all-time Christmas movie. The producer began reading the letter, and noted that this particular listener's favorite Christmas movie was "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas". My brain was flooded with very happy memories as a child watching that movie over and over and over again. I texted WD to see if he remember it, and his response was "??? Is that french or something?" I cracked up laughing, because he is the family's movie buff. Obviously he hadn't experienced this Christmas story. It's a children's classic put out by Jim Henson. I was so excited to be reminded of such a good memory. Once at a computer, I immediately logged onto Ebay, found the movie (re-released on DVD... nice since it was originally produced in 1977!), and bought it on the spot. I can't wait for it to arrive at the house... hopefully before Christmas!

Ink Link

2008-12-16T10:42:00.003-06:00

Okay... now I've found something else to eat up my time! I was looking for free online word games (like scrabble, jumble, etc), when I ran across this game... InkLink. It is an online version of pictionary! It's free (you have to create a login name & password). If you run across me online my "gamename" in InkLink is "LouisianaPaula". I've stayed up way past my bedtime the last couple of nights glued to the computer playing & laughing with the players I've met online.

Lazy Saturday & Enjoyed EVERY Minute!

2008-12-13T23:49:00.003-06:00

Today was an ultra-lazy day. The only productive thing I did was complete my last assignment for this semester (YEAH... I'm out of school until January 12th!). While sitting at my new desk, finishing the assignment, blogging, ordering pictures, and many other things I do on the computer, I realized I hadn't introduced my new office friends to you yet.

These two little buddies are from Houston, Texas... specifically the IKEA store there! Erin positioned one in 5th position (dance move, I think) and the other doing "Happy Hands" from the movie Napolean Dynamite! They don't have names yet, but they are very fun to look at.

And I had to add one more picture that my friend Stacie sent me... it is Dylan and Cameron (my boy & hers). I miss the snow already!

Snow Day 2008 in Baton Rouge

2008-12-11T23:15:00.004-06:00

I awoke this morning to snow falling. Still, I got dressed and headed downtown for work. It was a ghost-town to say the least. At about 9a.m., we got an announcement that work was cancelled! I was happy to be off, but it would have been nice if the powers that be made the announcement before I drove the treacherous path to work this morning. Kids had no school, so it was a day of fun! Our dogs weren't too sure of the snow, but Zoe explored out to take a leak. Chewee, who has been house-trained for over a year now, reverted to pee-ing on the floor inside... he did not like the cold snow at all.

Christmas Tree & a Zoe Update

2008-12-06T22:42:00.003-06:00

I finally put the final touches on my tree today. The traditional ornaments of the past stayed in the boxes for use another year. My favorite ornaments are the huge, white snowflakes which I found in a Christmas speciality store a couple of years ago. I kept the tree decor very simple and clean this year (that's my way of excusing my laziness ;-)

Zoe, the Davis puppy, has been with us a week today! This morning WD & I took her to the vet... she was having some problems with her poop which freaked me out. The vet looked her over, gave us a prescription which should fix her right up, and offered reassuring expertise on her health. The cutest little thing she has learned to do is climb the stairs in the house... the only problem right now is that she doesn't know how to climb down. When we hear her little whine, we know she's stuck at the top of the stairs waiting for one of us to carry her little butt down. Hopefully she'll learn how to get downstairs with Chewee's help and demonstrations.

Zoe

2008-12-02T08:12:00.003-06:00

We headed to Houston, TX, the Friday after Thanksgiving to pick up our new family addition... 8 week old smooth fox terrier pup, Zoe! We contacted the same breeder where we got our beloved Chewee. Now we have two dogs. I never would have thought I'd enjoy animals, but these little pups are just precious. They make us laugh, give us love, & sometimes make us frustrated... especially with housetraining a puppy and yard training a dog. Chewee now has a special underground fence in the backyard that allows him to run and play, but not run off into the neighbors' yards anymore. Erin is like a little "momma" with them so having the dogs isn't a huge burden on me & WD.

Christmas Furniture

2008-11-25T11:32:00.005-06:00

You know you've crossed over from girl to all-grown-up when getting furniture for Christmas is absolutely thrilling. WD has always been very creative and surprising with Christmas and birthday gifts; this year is no different except the "surprise" part. He priced out a set of diamond earrings for me and nixed that idea after thinking about how I would feel if he spent that kind of money... his thinking was, "If I got these earrings for Paula and she found out I spent over $2000 on them, she would have a fit. To think that she could have a brand new Apple computer for the money I spent on these earrings!" He was dead on! So no earrings, and no new computer yet, but he is getting me furniture for our office/scrapbook room! We can't afford to do it all at once, but because the furniture is modular and from Pottery Barn (where I can order pieces offline if I need to) we are doing it a piece or two at a time. Here is what some of it will look like.... I'm going with the white finish since my walls in the office are red... I can't wait!!!

New Music

2008-11-24T20:18:00.004-06:00

WD ran by the store before coming home from work the other day. He picked up a couple of newly released CDs that he knew I was buzzing about... David Cook's & Nickelback's! I was so excited to have the CDs, especially since it was the first day of their release. David Cook's CD has his American Idol hit, "The Time of My Life" which is still one of my favorites, but I think my favorite off his self-titled CD is "Lie". Listen to all of them on David Cook's website. I wanted the new Nickelback CD for one song, "Gotta Be Somebody". When I started listening to the other tracks, I was surprised that some of the lyrics were "adult-themed". I really like the rock-out feel of the CD as a whole, but I have to skip over a couple of songs if the kids are in the car with me.

Christmas Tree Shopping

2008-11-11T19:32:00.002-06:00

Last year our pre-lit, fiber-optic tree which we've had for probably 5 years finally had it. The lights stopped working, the fiber-optic box melted, and the tree limbs themselves sagged. Today I headed to Hobby Lobby with my 40% off coupon to shop for a tree. Since I was getting a new one, I wanted to upgrade to a taller one since we've never had one touch the ceiling in our current home. Well I was bowled over by how expensive they were! I found 9 foot trees which will be the right height but they were between $470 & $560. I think I even saw one that was over $700! All said, I found a beautiful tree and saved a bundle with my coupon making it more affordable. As soon as I get it set up and decorated, I'll try to post a photo here.

Halloween 2008

2008-11-04T19:05:00.002-06:00

We had a great time dressing up and celebrating this year with some of our friends and family! WD didn't join in the costume fun, but we'll get him next year. Erin & her friends were "berry" girls. Dylan was Batman. I had fun dressing as "Raggedy Ann" although most of the young kids thought I was a clown because they don't know who "Raggedy Ann & Andy" were. Chewee was the best of all... a little devil. It was great!

Fireproof

2008-10-23T14:02:00.002-05:00

We saw an excellent movie Sunday night! "Fireproof" starring Kirk Cameron... yeah, I know... what a blast from the past. The other actors were obviously volunteers, but the movie/storyline & colorful cinematography/scenery was so wonderful, that I quickly overlooked the poor acting. If you are married or intend on getting married, it would be a good investment in your marriage to see this movie. It is rather simplistic, but after being married for so long, I've forgotten some of the "basics" of being a good wife. If you don't get to the theater to see it, make sure to rent it later.

Fun Weekend

2008-10-20T19:07:00.003-05:00

We took Erin & some of her friends to the corn maize. It has moved this year... it was over in Port Allen last year, but this year it is WAY north of Denham Springs. The girls had a great time... especially in the spooky section! Sunday evening we ate at Ichiban. Yummy & Entertaining!

Laptop Problems

2008-10-12T20:05:00.002-05:00

I haven't had time to blog lately... ever since Hurricane Gustav, I've been without my laptop. The motherboard apparently went out. WD has offered to let me blog on his laptop, but it's just not the same... I miss my laptop :-(

Hopefully all will be better soon... my boss is suppose to order me a new laptop. I had used my own personal computer for work during the previous 3 years, so it'll be nice to have the state foot the bill on a new machine. It'll be most helpful with my school stuff, too, as I have been doing assignments before and/or after work hours at the office or I've had to do some of it on WD's laptop. After this semester, I'll only have 2 more semesters until I earn that master's degree...finally ;-)

Little Weekend Trip

2008-09-23T09:55:00.011-05:00

While WD is working tirelessly in Pensacola for 3 weeks straight, Erin, Dylan, & I been trudging along through the typical, run-of-the mill activities of life. So we decided to trek off to Pensacola this past weekend to see WD. We spent the weekend exploring downtown Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, & Pensacola Beach. It was all very beautiful. The highlight of the weekend was jet skiing in the ocean. The water was very choppy which made the sport even more exciting. We enjoyed it with almost no accidents... WD hit a wave while riding Dylan behind him, and Dylan went flying off. I was concerned for only a moment, when I realized Dylan was laughing his head off and was hanging on to the side of WD's life vest. Erin & I took turns driving the other jet ski. We also ate crabs by the beach, played putt-putt, and explored beaches and sand dunes that were completely isolated (AKA: The End of the Earth).

We Survived the 2008 Hurricanes

2008-09-16T07:32:00.006-05:00

Gustav blew through and we got water in the house, cracked privacy fence, trees blown sideways, broken ice machine, and the worst was no electricity for a week. We trekked over to Gulfport, MS in search of a generator, window A/C unit, and gasoline (everywhere was sold out here). After blocking off the downstairs area, we all lived in the living/kitchen area downstairs. It was yucky... everyone sleeping in the living room in makeshift beds. The kids missed a week of school and were stir crazy! I ended up hooking the washing machine to the generator to clean a few clothes then hung them on the back porch. After it was all said and done with Gustav, then Hurricane Ike arrived. The only thing we got from Ike was widespread panic in the area because everybody was so freaked out because of Gustav, and another day off of school. I can tell you now, I won't ever take electricity and my comfy bedroom for granted! Check out the photos... Dylan says he didn't want to go back to his "ex-bedroom" because he loved his "back-up bedroom" so much downstairs hidden behind my recliner.

Drinking, Consumption, Whatever You Want To Call It...

2008-09-14T20:24:00.002-05:00

I have led a relatively sheltered life, I know. I have never experimented with drugs and barely with alcohol. Since becoming an adult, I have decided to drink alcohol on an occasional basis depending on the social setting and such. Typical amount I consume is one to two drinks a week... a far cry from dependent, I know. All this said, I have searched and searched for what is an acceptable amount of alcohol one should allow his/herself to consume. I hear extemes from people I love and trust... some say it's wrong to have any, others of them live a total free-for-all in terms of alcohol consumption. Morally, I turn to the Bible to see what it says about consuming alcohol... in the book of John, Jesus gives compliments at a wedding where the best wine was saved for the end of the wedding; in 1 Timothy wine is given in place of water medicinally; there are many more examples of where folks in the Bible are partaking in alcoholic beverage (specifically wine). On the flip side, the Bible clearly speaks out against drunkenness. So my moral take on it is, it's okay to drink alcohol in moderation, but not in excess to cause drunkenness. Hence brings about the question: what's too much? is that the same for everyone? Moral dilemmas aside (because we can argue that facet for years), what is an acceptable amount of alcohol consumption in terms of healthy living? I have found a couple of websites that give some insight:

LA State Police Website
The NIAAA Site (especially questions 10, 13, & 17)

but, I want to poll anyone who is willing to share their views/opinions... just leave a comment here.

What was the Hit Song the Day you were Born?

2008-09-10T11:25:00.003-05:00

Check it out here: Hit Song Look Up
When you get to the site, click on the month you were born, then the day, then the year. It's great to see the way music has changed over the years... I'm going to have to look the song up that was number one the day I was born, because I have no idea what song is "Show & Tell" by Al Wilson... maybe if I heard it, I would recognize it.

World's Greatest McDonald's Ad

2008-08-30T16:31:00.002-05:00

This is too funny!

Going to CROP

2008-08-29T15:02:00.002-05:00

While everyone in Louisiana is all abuzz with Hurricane Gustav and/or LSU football, I am thrilled by neither. I'm sure if the game ends up being televised we will have it on in the background. WD is planning a gathering for guys from his work... I'm surprised they still want to come with the traffic being as horrific around here at it has been (well we shall see just how many still show up). In any event, I'm going to scrapbook tonight. I'm sure we'll talk about the coming hurricane and LSU sports, but I can handle it while scrapbooking ;-)

Here's a fun website a friend shared with me (I've always wanted to live in the 1950's):
Yearbook Yourself

School Starts Again

2008-08-25T20:45:00.003-05:00

I'm gearing up for another semester of school. I love school, but I'm actually worn out lately. I think my summer classes nearly killed me (although I proudly earned two A's), so hopefully this semester will be more enjoyable.
I got Erin & Dylan back into school... I can't believe she's in 7th grade and he's in 4th! I have to brag on Erin... she just brought home a note that asked for a parent to be at the school Thursday to stand in with her for a picture for the newspaper. She is some sort of school representative for the PBS program. No, it's not our old Parkview Baptist School acronym, but I believe it stands for Positive Behavior Support. It's a motivational behavior plan that seems to be very effective. The kids earn "bucks" when they are caught doing something good. These bucks are used to buy fun and unusual rewards. I wish I had used this type of behavior management program when I was in the classroom!

Another Great Song

2008-08-24T15:30:00.005-05:00

Since WD got my satellite radio set up in my car, I have enjoyed getting the names of songs and artists when I particularly like a song. This one came across the other day... I had not heard of the artist (33 Miles) nor the song (One Life to Love), but it was moving:

Medical Update & a Little Humor, Too

2008-08-21T13:41:00.003-05:00

So sorry it's been a while since I've posted... many of my great friends and family have been emailing or calling me for a medical update. Not much has changed, but I'm alive and kicking ;-)

We went to cardiologist's office to spend over 4 hours while they ran various tests. Did the TTT and fainted about 20 minutes into it. My blood pressure plummeted, so they laid me down and got my vitals stable. Then they put me on a treadmill (topless I might add... I know that's a hilarious vision in your mind... my massive "girls" bouncing around the multi-wire leash they had me hooked up to while I briskly walked on the treadmill. Talk about self-conscious!). Anyway, they did an ultrasound on my heart and found nothing wrong with it. Surprise, surprise... the cardiologist doesn't know anything either. He suspects some medicines that the other doctors had me on may be the culprit of my bizarre symptoms. He ordered me off the medications and onto a handful of vitamins and daily exercise. I'm walking everyday around the top 3 floors of my office building, but I don't last too long until I get the lightheadedness/faint feeling. I'm still going to do it.... my philosophy is if simply walking causes my symptoms then I am going to walk until the symptoms are severe enough to incapacitate me. Thanks for all the prayers, calls, & emails. I'll try to post more often... and hopefully about a brighter subject than my health! Here's a funny picture for you... I cracked up laughing (I can hear WD now, "It doesn't take much does it?"):

Tilt Table Test Tomorrow

2008-08-13T15:40:00.003-05:00

I have an appointment with the cardiologist's office tomorrow, where they are going to perform a TTT... that's short for Tilt Table Test. I decided to "google" it to see what I was in for... hmmm it's going to be interesting to say the least. I am very frustrated with the doctors guessing what's going on with me. Here's a brief recap (as brief as possible considering this has been going on for months now): I went to the doctor with lightheadedness/dizziness and a pressure between my ears. I could prevent fainting by taking slow deep breaths and by sitting/laying down. The internist referred me to an ENT, who said nothing was wrong with my ears (although she sent me for inner ear tests which came back clear) and ordered an MRI. When the MRI came back with a few "white spots", she suspected MS and sent me to a neurologist. The neurologist reviewed the MRI and said, no it's not MS. He did a few autoimmune tests and sent me to a Rhumatologist (because of a positive ANA test). The Rhumatologist did more tests and ruled out autoimmune disorders. She sent me back to the neurologist who did a spinal tap (which sent me to out-patient surgery for a blood patch). He further confirmed no MS (no meningitis, no West Nile, no Lupus) with the spinal fluid tests, but couldn't find anything else either. While in his office, his nurse checked my blood pressure and found it different when I was laying from when I was seated. Now he's sending me to the cardiologist for this tilt table test. I think that some of the most frustrating things are: never feeling "well", exhaustion (although the doctor found Vit B-12 deficiency so I'm on tablets to help with that), fear of fainting in public, waiting between tests for results, and second guessing if stress or hypochondria is getting to me. I'm only 34 years old... I don't have time to be "sick". I'll keep everyone posted on results.

Really Cool Programming

2008-08-07T15:21:00.002-05:00

A techie friend of mine sent me this link. Amazing what people have time to make up! (I'm just jealous b/c I can't do it ;-)

Animator Vs. Animation

Satellite Radio

2008-08-05T11:38:00.002-05:00

WD surprised me the other day by ordering a satellite radio for my car. He has one in his truck, which I think is neat, but really didn't want to spend the money on one for my car because I listen to so much local radio. The other day, he called XM to get his account set up for this year, and they offered him a special on a radio and service for me... something like $9.99 for the radio. He installed it yesterday, so I was able to listen to commercial-free tunes all the way to work this morning!

Very Unique Ministry

2008-08-03T10:17:00.003-05:00

Someone sent me a link via email the other day... you know you get tons of emails that are boring, and at the most "so-so". When I opened this one, I was mesmerized. I'm definitely a lover of music so this spoke to me through one of my favorite songs, "Who Am I?" by Casting Crowns. It's long, but at least check out a little bit of it (you can get the jest within the first couple of minutes)...

Ichiban & Mamma Mia

2008-08-02T17:53:00.002-05:00

I've had a wonderful last couple of days. WD took me, Erin, & Dylan to Ichiban's Japanese Grill Thursday night. I was not looking forward to it because I don't like sushi, but I knew the kids would enjoy the entertaining grill scene. Well I ended up loving the food and the atmosphere! With the exception of the final bill, it was absolutely perfect. If you want to go, make sure to have money to burn.

Friday night, WD & Dylan had a cub scout den meeting at the house. Erin had been worried to death about getting her school clothes, so she and I went to shop. We planned to shop just a little, eat Chick-fil-A, then see Mamma Mia (I had a couple of free tickets). We ended up shopping a lot, eating Chick-fil-A, and seeing Mamma Mia at 10:05. It was actually a great movie... I wasn't looking forward to it, but then the music was wonderful (I had no idea the music was going to be from ABBA, which I love!) and Glenn Close was hilarious. Definitely a chick-flick which made the Erin-Mom night a lot of fun!

Work for School

2008-07-28T21:57:00.002-05:00

Since I've been stuck at home and in bed, I've been able to get a lot of my school work done when I wasn't sleeping. Last week, I had to create a webpage about myself (I couldn't use a blog or some webpage creator on the Internet). It was tedious because I have to house all my files on the school's server which is contrary to upload to (most of the time). So far this is what I've created:

Paula Bell Davis

My professor and classmates have been very complimentary, which has really lifted my spirits... not to mention the research paper is COMPLETE for my other class. By the way, thanks for all of your prayers... I'm feeling better and I'm going to work tomorrow come hell or high water ;-)

Second Life

2008-07-27T20:52:00.003-05:00

Ok... maybe I'm actually a little behind the times with this one... I just discoved "Second Life". It's a virtual world that I heard about the technology convention I attended earlier this month. I hadn't taken the time to explore until now... since I've been confined to bed for the better part of 7 days! Anyway, you have to check it out... I created my avatar... her name is "pdavis105 Zapatero"... I know it's a weird name. Here's a screenshot of her: