Mardi Gras

Oh what fun we had. It turned out to be a long and busy week....but we had a great time!! We started with my ball on Tuesday night (a week before Fat Tuesday). I was in costume and he wore tails.....how handsome is he!! Then we had his ball on Thursday night and vice versa with the costume, except I wore a formal. Now the thing about these balls is that they are exhausting. Each night begins first with a parade around 6:30pm. A two hour long ride of throwing moon pies, beads, teddy bears, peanuts and any other items people will pick up from the ground. Then the ball begins at around 9:00pm with a "show" and then continues into the late night hours, 2:00am with dancing, eating, and drinking. It's a lot!! So by the time we got to Saturday night, my dad's ball, we were quite exhausted. But my best friends from Birmingham had come down and that made it all the much better!!!

My Valentine Birthday Roses

JC and I were staying in downtown Mobile for Mardi Gras which was spanning both my birthday and Valentine's day! Sooooooo...being the thoughtful man that he is, he had a dozen roses delivered to work on the Friday before. He had been out of town for a week and I was completely surprised. I was actually attending a "work baby shower" and the delivery guy walked in!!! Awww...I was shaking and smiling all at the same time. I Love him!!

World's Famous Taco Dip

Okay...so maybe it's just another layer dip. But mine is awesome. People seem to love it and eat it up anytime I bring it somewhere. Enjoy! Ohhh and it tastes better when made the night before.

Ingredients:
1st layer (mix together then spread)
1 can refried beans
1 package taco seasoning mix
2nd layer (mix together then spread)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 16oz container of sour cream
3rd layer
chopped olives
4th layer
chopped tomatoes (I squeeze them so there is not a lot of juice)
5th layer
chopped green onions
6th layer
cheese

It Might Be Mardi Gras When.....

1. The shoes are ready (mine are gold to match my costume and his are silver to match his costume).

2. The masks have been adhered to eye glass frames for easy wear (me) and the elastic reinforced (him).

3. There are moon pies everywhere! The newest flavors are peanut butter and mint! The mint ones remind me of girl scout cookies!

4. We each have enough cups to host our own little party!

It's ALMOST here!!!

Beauty Tips and Favorite Things...ME? Seriously?

Hahahaha....my beauty tips! I'm just cracking myself up as I think that I may have something to add to this discussion!!! But here's my plan!

(My Anna Nicole Smith Halloween costume)

1. I will second everyone's mentions of the Chi straightening iron. It is awesome. I have the 2 inch Turbo Chi...Amazing (should have been mentioned as one of my simple pleasures)!

2. For my all over body lotion, I love Johnson's baby lotion or Baby Magic (the pink bottle)! I actually buy the generic brand and it's great!

3. My make-up is an assortment of brands! First off, every Christmas I get the Estee Lauder make-up kit and it lasts me an entire year. Eye shadows, mascara, eye liners, and blush! Note: I only use eye liner when going to a special function...not everyday!!
For powder I use Clinique's double matte powder...and that's it. That is all I put on my face (after a Clinique moisturizer...whatever comes in the free gift). It has the foundation in it but it is still very dry and clean feeling.

My lips are covered with Mary Kay's Amber Suede! The best lipstick ever!! AND I love a bright color...just makes me look fun and happy!

4. My Hair!!! Yes...I get highlights. Quite expensive but so worth the feeling of being a bright blonde. For shampoo...I usually go cheap! I'm not too concerned so I typically use Suave! Then for conditioner I choose Treseme, Smooth and Silky (my favorite ever)!! And then after I get out of the shower, I have a hair wrap! It is much lighter than walking around with a towel and it really draws the water out!

So "TA-DA"...Here I am!!!!

Missing Him :(

Thank goodness JC will be getting into town late tonight! My boyfriend is an entrepreneur and such a hard worker. I happened to meet him at one the biggest career moments in his life so far. So with this has brought weeks of traveling! AND I MISS HIM!! I had gotten used to my "single" life, but now that he has come into my life....I prefer to have him with me!

I made him a sign that I will put on the door so that when he gets home he will see it!! I'm not sharing what's inside...nothing dirty...just the mushy stuff!!!

It feels very nice to love someone so much. Even when we do nothing, I just like having him here!

The 4:8 Principle

I mentioned a while back that I had joined a "book club!" Some good Christian girls reading books that teach us more about our Faith and God's word. So, the first book we finished was called The 4:8 Principle, based on Philippian's 4:8

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

One of the most amazing parts of reading this book was actually watching God work through each of us during the process. Some of us had wonderful things happen and some of us had sad things happen...but we know that they are all part of God's plan for each of us.

The one thing I am walking away from this book with is the strategy to think more like God. Positive thoughts!!!! I catch myself constantly thinking something negative...1) If I catch one more red light, 2) How am I going to pay these bills, 3) What if something goes wrong in my relationship with my boyfriend...constantly negative. BUT...this book taught us to think positively and focus on what is good about every situation the Lord has put us in!! Our thoughts are present in our attitudes and our actions...so why not think positively!!!

Thanks so much Joy, Ashley, and Annie!!!
Can't wait for "Calm My Anxious Heart!" and "Crazy Love!"

Simple Pleasures!

Awwww....to think of the things that make me happy...and are very simple!!!

1. Making my bed every morning! I love to make my bed, mainly because I LOVE to get in it at night when it has been made.

2. A full tank of gas!! With money the way it is now-a-days, I just love when my tank is full!

3. Laundry! I know that one sounds crazy...and perhaps will end shortly, but I enjoy doing laundry. For three years while I was in graduate school, I had to carry my laundry up and down three flights of stairs....and I had to use quarter machines!! I hated every minute of laundry day. So now, I love having my machines (graduation gift from my dad) right inside!!! Awww!

4. An organized grocery list! I have just about mastered making my list in order of the store from back to front! Yes, this means that perhaps I have memorized Wal-mart much too well...but my shopping experience is way more tolerable. Milk is usually the first item on the list and bread is the last on the list. Oh how I love this method!

5. Saying "I Love You!" Every time I talk to my loved ones, we always say "I love you!" Mostly at my mom's house. I also love that my baby brother (21) will not leave my mom's until she responds back to him...and he hears her!

6. Driving on a beautiful day!! It's funny how I may make the same trip over and over and never even notice the beauty. And then one day I stop and think, "WOW...thank you God for letting me enjoy this moment!"

7. Sweet Tea! Ohhhh goodness, I have got to stop! I was strictly a crystal light consumer in the house and sweet tea when I went out....BUT, now that the "Love" in my life likes sweet tea so much...I have respectfully taken up drinking it with him!!!

I'm sure there are many more simple things that I enjoy...but for now this is it!!