Life and Times

I know... I Suck!

2010-07-21T21:59:00.002-05:00

Ok SORRY!!! So I have been a little busy and haven't been blogging on here in Almost a MONTH but to my defense... Justin and I got ENGAGED on the 5th of July and I have been a bit preoccupied since then.

We have been engaged officially for 2 weeks and 2 days and I have been blogging about all of our progress on our very own wedding website :) You should check it out if you haven't!

But seriously on the non wedding topic:

I have still been working at the Owens' every day, however they are out of town this week and next. School starts back on the 12th of August (earlier every year it seems) meaning that I only have 8 days left in my nanny life.

Being that I was off this week and next, I was going to just have to budget really well and save because I would have been without income for that time period.... HOWEVER...

One day last week Debby (step-mother) emailed me asking if I knew anyone who could temp. at this a law firm for a friend of hers this week. Well WHATDOYAKNOW?! I just so happen to be available. I went into the office in Homewood to get acquainted with the office on Friday, and have been there everyday this week. I immediately thought, MAN how great would this be if I could just stay until Justin and I move to his first post. LOW AND BEHOLD... they are looking for a full time clerical person, and would LOVE for me to temp. until we move! (GOD IS SO BIG!!!!)
I mean for real?! How does stuff like that just HAPPEN, it NEVER does for me (Kelli and Daniel yes... me no way!)

So official schedule for the next few months:
Last 2 weeks in July: Law Firm
First 2 weeks in August: Owens
Last 3 weeks in August: Law Firm
First week and a half in September: Law Firm
Second-Third weekend in Sept.: WEDDING AND HONEYMOON!!!
September 20 on: Law Firm (except for boot camp graduation at which point I will be going to Cape May to see Jus graduate)

So I'm all set! YAY!!!

Get back soon I promise! AND I also promise to keep this wedding update free (I mean that's what our wedding site is for)

Look forward to more random goings on in the Life and Times of the crazy Leslie Holmes(well at least till it's not Holmes anymore;) )

This STILL makes me laugh…

2010-06-24T21:54:00.001-05:00

Just thought you should see it ;)

and if you are not laughing there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH YOU!

a real post to come…

Time Flies!

2010-06-23T01:17:00.001-05:00

Look… I realize that everyone tells you that as you get older that the year speeds up and start to become a blur. But seriously? when did I become 65?! I mean WTF?? I think I was wearing turtlenecks and putting the Christmas stuff back in the attic just last week!!!

Friday night I went and saw Fally and Allie (cute how I did that right?? I am sure that’s NEVER gonna get old to AP) and do you know that child is already 3 weeks old? 3weeks! GEEZE!

I have also been working at the Owens for exactly the same amount of time (that’s right for those of you who can’t put it together… I started June 1st)

So what do I do there everyday you ask… a little of this…

and if I had the talent to put a pool in where that TV is I would… but that too. (So just pretend ok? I just didn’t have the forethought to take the same picture at the pool today)

I go in at around 8:15 (usually closer to I leave my house at 8:15 but shhhh don’t tell) by way of McDonalds for a huge cup of coffee, Starbucks isn’t an option in the one horse town that is Helena, Alabama, and stay with 3 boys until one of I am relieved usually around 5:30 or 6. That’s right I said 3 BOYS! and they are nuts!!! but I just love them!

Alex-13, Brannon-9, and Caleb-8

We spend the day watching the Disney channel, playing on the trampoline, playing basketball, playing the Wii, going to the pool…(asking what time it is 100 times, asking if they can call mom or dad, asking if they can eat something 50 times a day….) All in a days work!

Needless to say I have an AWESOME tan, and have read 3 books since I started! (Which are great and I will now shamelessly plug)

1. Bitter is the New Black- Jen Lancaster (Better known as my new favorite…. I think that it may be possible that we are “brothers from another mother” as the saying goes, and Kim and I,even though she has yet to read the book, are already plotting to write our tales of whoa as this has inspired us that A)Kim can write and B)I'm funny…Winning combo!) This Book and Author are TO DIE FOR!!!! She literally had me rolling on the floor laughing out loud in public places… at the pool… in waiting rooms… in my house BY MYSELF! If you do not read this you are just depriving yourself!!!

She tells a witty (true) story of how she went from a name brand wearing VP living in a luxury penthouse in Chicago, to shopping at Target (I mean that’s a step up for me hahaha) and moving to the '”ghetto.” I only wish I could have been her friend and or a fly on the wall for most of these stories!

LUCKY FOR ME not only does she write memoirs, but she also has a website (dedicated to herself ;) well technically her country… Jennsylvania) so that I can keep up (as if I am a close personal friend and would die if left out of the loop at this point…I might).

Anyway I could continue… but I won’t …READ IT!

2. The Glass Castle- Jannette Walls Not quite sure how I randomly picked out 2 memoirs last year sometime that Justin then ended up getting me for Christmas (and YES I am just now reading SHUTUP!) but I could not have chosen two more opposite books!

This was an equally awesome read however it puts the reader in a completely different place…from sleeping in the backseat of a car in the sweltering Arizona dessert to bathing in a tub of ice water in a one bedroom shack in the West Virginian winter, this family very rarely catches a break! It’s a sad read in that there is always some major obstacle to overcome or hurdle to jump, but it is inspiring that despite all the family ultimately LOVES each other above all, and sticks together even in the children’s escape from the poverty. Jannette Walls came out of a past that most would look at in horror with such grace and more intelligence than the majority of people I run into with much better “rearing” (as my grandmother would say)

Truly a book that makes you think twice before you say “I don’t have,” or “I want” ever again. I think most of us can learn something from this woman!

3. Bright Lights, Big Ass- Jen Lancaster SHE STRIKES AGAIN! Ok so I had to read what I already had first but I quickly scooped up the second of Jen’s series (I mean who are we kidding by page 160 of BITNB I was dying and needed to know if there was more the antithesis of the light at the end of the tunnel! Thank goodness those dang publishers advertise in the back of the book or I may have had a coronary right there!)

BLBA is much of the same antics (just WAY FUNNIER) and she has learned some lessons and genuinely trying to be a good/better person. (collective ‘AWWW’) She and Fletch (the now husband after the Vegas plight for marriage money) live in a much more modest townhome and are living an HONESTLY more modest lifestyle…. but its not without the slip ups and hilarity!!! Her view is just great…

I have to get added to her “girls” email list that she features so prominently… I would kill for that kind of daily humor…. oh wait Jennsylvania how could I forget?!)

Off to get number 3 in the series now :) (Jen—email me k? K!)

AP made it!

2010-06-15T23:27:00.001-05:00

June 1, 2010, 2:11 in the am I got a text from Falon saying that Allie Paige was on her way, by 12:38 I had received another saying that she was here; 6 lbs 6 oz.!!! I could hardly stand it I was so excited! The 1st was also my first day staying with the boys so I had to wait till their mom got home so that I could go up to St. Vincent's and see Fal and AP.

If that is not just the most precious baby you have ever seen… well then I don’t wanna hear it! cause she is BEAUTIFUL, just like her mom!

I couldn’t be more proud to call that tiny little ball of joy my niece ;) (may not be in blood but I mean you get it ;) )

I could just eat her up! And I certainly can’t wait to see her again… free babysitter!!!!

Love you AP!!!

The Entirety of May

2010-05-12T23:06:00.001-05:00

May was a bit packed, as you have already read, I planned Falon’s Shower and went to my very first Crawfish Boil. But after that I got busy and lazy so here’s an overview of the month:

May 15th Justin and I went to the Regions Charity Classic (his very first PGA tour ever!) He was given VIP tickets which was awesome and could have been WAY better if he didn’t have to work that day.

May 21st SO much happened on this day! Kim cam to town (till June 1st) and of course… Hannah’s wedding festivities began!

In the morning of the 21st we had the Bridesmaids luncheon

It was a fun morning filled with good times and great food… and of course LOTS of laughter!!

After the luncheon the Chi O’s decided that some shopping was in order (DUH!!!) so we headed out to the Summit

We acquired a few things (found the crazies some Cheer Wine) and came back in time for the rehearsal ;)

While yes we had been warned to be on our best behavior, (I don’t know WHAT Hannah could have meant by that!) we MAY have cut up a bit at the rehearsal and the dinner (which by the way was SOOO good)

(My cute partner for the day Emma Louise)

(The Maids and their flowers)

(There is no explanation… we are just crazy ;))

(All the Bridesmaids)

May 22nd WEDDING DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Chi O’s got ready over drinks and pizza at my house… then we had mimosa’s at the church ;) while we put on our dresses and did our last minute things took pictures and what not… We had an all in all great day, Hannah looked AMAZING, and aside from it being HOTTER than blue blazes, it was the perfect day.

Pictures:

Silly Kacie

Shades

All the Chi O’s

May 25th Since Kim was in town we decided that we would use part of our hang time to get together with Gina too. We hung out on Tuesday after HJ’s wedding and ran some errands then went to Jim ‘N Nicks to meet up with her downtown. Kim was SO excited for some sweet tea! the food was good and we all got to catch up. Turns out Gina is moving to Maine for the summer to counsel a theater camp! SOO fun!!

May 30th

BIG DAY

I MEAN REALLY BIG

TODAY GOES DOWN IN THE HISTORY BOOKS!

MAY 30TH IS MY

LAST

DAY

WINGS!

That’s right ladies and gentlemen, I officially have worked my last shift at Wings. I can now hang up my apron! I can wash those clothes and never smell that smell again!

Why you ask?! I will start nannying three boys on June 1st!! everyday for the summer!!!! YAY!!!!!! No more wings! No more wings!!!

See you in June :)

My first Crawfish Boil

2010-05-05T23:58:00.001-05:00

Friday night… Seether, Akon, a little kid who sounded just like Michael Jackson, and Alice in Chains…(we stayed for 3 songs of that and left quickly)

Saturday night… B-52s, Train, and Goo Goo Dolls!

D and Kelli once again living the charmed life had VIP tickets GIVEN to them for the whole weekend!!! Justin had secured general admission passes from his Bud rep for Friday, which was awesome, but we were probably not all gonna get to hang out together and we were going to have to buy tickets for the second night for sure.

We came up with a meeting place so that we could hang after they got out of the elusive VIP area and Justin and I hung out there for about 30 minutes before we decided they were not coming back till the end of the night and we ventured into the crowd… we got an awesome spot (well according to Justin who could actually see the stage… nothing is a good spot for us short kids)

On Saturday the four of us went separately, Justin and I were standing outside the VIP entrance watching the B-52s… I’m pretty sure that I was the only one singing along… when all of the sudden this woman approaches us and asks if it is just the two of us and if we want free VIP passes!!!!

WELL DUHHHH

I wish that she had her beehive!

This dude was hard core jammin out the whole time… we actually thought he may fall off at one point!

That’s right kids… a slide whistle… don’t try this at home!

After we joined D and Kelli in the VIP restricted zone, we set up some chairs and chilled just lounging for the rest of the night! It was SOO great… Kelli was picking at me saying she never wants to hear this whole “charmed life” crap again because she at least had to send out an email and go meet someone to get her tickets… I said well I can’t help that we are just so BEAUTIFUL that the lady just HAD to approach us and give us things!

I think she about fell out of her chair when I said that…hahaha!

We had a great time… and of course ended up at Courtyard… more pictures

Allie Paige is almost here!

2010-05-05T22:26:00.001-05:00

After a month or so of planning (not really actively the whole time but we did a bit in advance) Falon’s shower was finally this past weekend, May 1, 2010.

ALLIE PAIGE is a mere 5 weeks away and I am so excited! I had so much fun making stuff for Fally

I made the mistake of getting attached to a design that I hadn’t actually tangibly found yet, therefore I was searching high and low for these bad boys only to find out that they were a freakin’ Microsoft download!!

Nicole spent about an hour one Saturday putting this together… a little girl talk and a few supplies, the only thing that could have made it better would have been a bottle of wine ;)

I LOVED MAKING THIS… I am seriously thinking of selling these and the cakes on etsy.com between the two crafts there are 84 USEABLE diapers, so this is a great gift for any expectant mom!

The cake was delicious, and really cute, it matched the invites and there was NONE to bring home.

We (mom and I) made these the morning of, from a bundle of flowers found at Publix. It matched the diaper cake and was really pretty on. Fal loved it.

Falon RACKED up! She got sooo much stuff, I seriously asked her if she was considering an add on to the apartment to house it all. That girl is going to be dressed so well it’s not even funny! We had fun with the games, lots of people came, and we had a ton of good food which Nicole and Katie saved for a cookout later. Can’t go wrong with a combo like that!

Maybe I should be an event planner… I am kinda good at it ;)

Rollin on the river…

2010-05-05T22:10:00.001-05:00

I may have taken a TINY hiatus… but I am now back and have a few entries to entertain you all. Justin’s birthday was April 25 and we had all cooked up this big camping adventure… until the great storm of 2010 came in to run the fun!

Justin’s birthday week was planned as follows—

Monday-work

Tuesday-work…pick up D and Kelli from airport late

Wednesday-work… Justin starts vacation mid day

Thursday-Barons game/Thirsty Thursday

Friday -CAMPING

Saturday - CAMPING

Sunday – (actual birthday) CAMPING

After seeing that the weather was going to totally SUCK….

Justin’s birthday week actually played out—

Monday-work

Tuesday-work…pick up D and Kelli from airport late

Wednesday-work… Justin starts vacation mid day……plans to go to the beach emerge…and begin to deflate

Thursday-Barons game/Thirsty Thursday (only me and Justin go cause everyone’s TOO TIRED from LAS VEGAS hahaha WAHHHHH)……beach plans busted STUPID RAIN!!!!!!!

Friday – Shrimp Boil @ Brad and Lesley’s… learn the game of Mölkky…last minute decision to go to Vicksburg, MS to the Casinos… on the Mississippi!! (that’s right we called and made reservations at 12:30!)

Saturday – Left SUPER early for the casinos in MS dodged the tornados by a few inches and made it to Vicksburg for late lunch/gambling/pictures/dinner!!!

the casino

First pull of the trip!

Look at all those 7s!

Justin wishes he had all that money! Franny just wants a Brazilian Beauty!! hahaha!

Typical… me and Francisco fighting…

We are so trying to master the dirty dancing lift :)

AWWW he kinda likes me a little…

Steak was WONDERFUL service… terrible!

Sunday – (actual birthday) at midnight I told Justin what his birthday present is… go ahead and prepare to throw up in your mouth… tickets to the first Alabama game this season :( he was excited! Casinos/driving the scenic drive/coming home

Turned out to be a good weekend ;)

Because they are charmed…

2010-05-05T22:07:00.001-05:00

Daniel and Kelli won a trip to Las Vegas for the ACMs!!!!!!!!!!! One day at work D was bored and signed up for the contest online, got a phone call the day before to notify him he was a finalist and to come in at 6:30 on a Friday. All he had to do was wait till his number was called and pull a piece of duct tape off of a 102.5 the Bull intern to reveal his fate… others before him were seeing words like CD or t-shirt even the word PSYCHE. Then after 7 others he pulled of the tape on the leg to reveal the word TRIP!

They won an all expenses paid trip (except for food and gambling) to Las Vegas to stay in the MGM, see the ACMs, go to the after party, Brooks and Dunn tribute concert, Kenny Chesney movie… you name it they were there!

Kelli called to tell me about it (after D had already told us super early!) and I said yeah it must be nice to live such a charmed life!!! She told me that she’s just reaping the benefits of being a cougar hahaha.

We went shopping for her dresses and she fell in love with some at Renaissance Consignment Boutique but they were UBER expensive…

until… she found out that CBS was filming them and we had the brilliant idea that they should let her just borrow them for the weekend. I mean on what planet did anyone ever think that would work… but we called (I pretended to be Kelli) and they were just all about it. At 4:00 the Tuesday before they left, we went up to the store and the lady was just beside herself excited to let Kelli borrow these dresses! I mean if that's not charmed I don’t know what is… free trip, free dresses, TV spot… GEEZE!

They met all kinds of people and saw everyone in concert and of course looked fabulous doing it! UHH so jealous… just glad I can live vicariously by picking out the clothes and looking at the pictures hahaha

Taste beyond my means...

2010-04-07T20:25:00.016-05:00

If you don't know this by now... I basically hate to shop, well for clothes mostly because nothing fits and because things I love are way too expensive! For example... I am pretty sure my entire wardrobe could be found within the walls of J. Crew, Banana Republic, and Anthropologie. However even on a teacher budget (which I currently am not) I cannot afford these things on a regular basis :(
So instead I just look and drool. I also like to look at furniture like Restoration Hardware, Anthropologie, and Pottery Barn. I think that from this point forward... since I have Wednesdays off... I am going to have a Wednesday online shop fest... and you are going to get the highlights/favorites... Wish for it Wednesdays... Want it Wednesdays...Where'd you get it Wednesdays... gotta come up with a name suggestions welcome!!!!Ok so in order to not overwhelm... today I will just take on Restoration Hardware...Justin and I went by the store just to drool (and kill time while Maggle was getting groomed) a few weeks ago. Here are a few things I fell in love with (along with links so you can see why my taste is totally outside my means...

Wouldn't this look great at the end of my sleigh bed!!!Ok this is something I absolutely NEED!!!!! Look at how COOL the wine display is! Makes it look like a built in! If you want to make this appear in my life I won't hate you ;)

Other things that I found on the RH website that I just LOVE...Find this here Find this here

Find this here Find this here

They also have Garden Stuff and Baby Stuff...

I think this collection is just as cute as can be! How fun would it be to go sit on the back porch with a glass of wine and some good friends and of course Maggle and the future weim (and silver lab for Jus, and vizsla cause it's my new love) There are even Pool Chairs and a Dining Set to go with this!!! PERFECT! and look how thoughtful RH is... covers for the winter months.Ok this one I do not love but I do love the extras... I mean LOOK at that CLOCK (I don't know if you all know that I have a super clock obsession, maybe another Wednesday issue ;))!!!!!! and those super cute lanterns!
Well look-y there I found them up close!

We have all seen backyards with those twinkle lights leftover from Christmas... how much better is this?!
They have tons of light strands... classier versions of the twinkle that we are used to.

AHHHH to be able to shop at RH for real... instead of just online drooling...
One day... when I am independently wealthy.... swoon...

Hungry Pup

2010-04-05T11:42:00.003-05:00

OK but for real if you have ANY heart at all... you will LOVE this dog he's a Morkie a Maltese and a Yorkie. and his name is Bennie... this video he's just so hungry you can't help but fall in love... I NEED him in my life! Maggle would love him!

EASTER

2010-04-04T00:59:00.005-05:00

CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY

oh... and I get to drink COKE again ;)

You have to watch this... I wish I were here today...

Brick House

2010-04-03T22:41:00.029-05:00

WOW What a weekend!!!
Thursday night was Hannah's lingerie shower... Chi O's only of course! I made it down to Montevallo by like 3:30 to help Kate get everything together. We made a trip to the dollar store and Lucky's, went to Kacie's to drop off the cake and found out that her fridge was BROKEN omg!!!

My mom and I spent all day Wednesday making this for the party. Mom was totally embarrassed, but I thought it turned out fine. We also did fruit and veggie trays and this really awesome dip Kate calls "summer dip" with chips.

I planned the games as well which were fun... we had prizes for the winners, little wine glasses with dum dums and ring pops in them ;) I really enjoyed making that!
When it came time for presents... we had the whole clothesline for her stuff to hang on (great idea Kate!)

(What did you think I would show it to you full?! I can't do that... Harrison might catch a glimpse! DUH!!!)
Other pictures from Thursday....

Friday night was the BACHELORETTE Party!!!!
Tara
Kacie
Kate
Morgan
Chelsea
Rebekah
Hannah
AND
I
all went to Sekisui Japan in Vestavia for sushi and Sekisui Punch!!!

Our waiter (Nicholas... but I called him David) was TERRIBLE... there was a table of 10 guys right by us that he TOTALLY paid more attention to... HOW is that possible?!

We left dinner and the under agers went to Yogurt Mountain (no clue even what that is but they were all about it so it stuck in my brain) and we went to Starz Karaoke on Valley in Homewood.

Ok, aside: since when is EVERYONE charging a freakin cover?! I have a huge problem with this!!! I mean granted its only $5 but I'm going to KARAOKE not to hear a band where people have the talent to deserve the money... right?! I mean I am paying $5 to listen to people who can't sing get drunk and sing worse! And while yes this is one of my all time favorite past times... I just think its a bit ridiculous!!... I'm done now thanks...

So we were there for about 3 hours and only got to sing ONE song!! "You've lost that lovin' feelin" a serenade... she loved it.

ZZ top sang a song to the table and sufficiently embarrassed her... In the air tonight... Kacie and I played the drums.

Some other guy sang Friends in Low Places....

Some couple found it to be their personal mission to get Hannah drunk, she didn't want to play along, but it was a nice offer. They were funny!

I had signed up with her for something and I had signed up by myself but Hannah got tired so we called it a night.

Great evening!!! Last images...

Fun times with Fal

2010-03-31T21:01:00.004-05:00

Today Fal and I ate at Jim 'N Nicks for her belated birthday lunch. It was quite scrumptious.

I bought a top for the bachelorette partyI usually don't wear pink but I just couldn't resist this, it's too cute! This top my cute jeans and black wedges... unstoppable!

I really think I need to add some grey and some brown shes to my wardrobe... i mean I may have a problem but it would complete the collection.

If you aren't watching Cougar Town... you are totally missing out! It is sooooooooo funny!! I hope it stays around.

bored!

Plans

2010-03-30T23:23:00.002-05:00

Making up the birthday to Falon tomorrow :) Jim 'N Nicks at 1!! Then a bit of shopping.

Hannah's lingerie shower is Thursday night so I have to get a present for that, I am also making the cake and doing the games...very fun. I bought my dress for the wedding a few weeks ago when Kim was in town and it is already in... I am going to have to pick it up soon. Friday night is her bachelorette and I am coming up with the "where to goes." So I have to get on that as well.

Maybe I will also find something else to wear tomorrow for the weekend... I hate my clothes.

you may need to sit down

2010-03-28T23:03:00.006-05:00

Last we left... Justin was taking his ASVAB, and I had a new job...

UPDATES:
Justin:
The test went REALLY well... his goal was an 80 and he actually made a 79!! We were both soooo thrilled. And I am so proud of him! Prayers answered definitely, thanks to all who helped out (don't quit yet;))
Now for the not so great part of the visit to Montgomery. He found out that the CG is closed for the fiscal year! (Which is starting over October 1.) Since SK1 (his recruiter whose real name is Barry...SK1 is his CG title and what we call him) is in California for Chief Academy, this news was broken to him by a new guy named Smiley... So Justin had to call SK1 Thursday night to ask what this meant for the future. The next stop now is for him to delay enlist, hopefully in August, and according to SK1, be on the first group out of Birmingham in October.
What does that mean exactly? Well boot camp is 8 weeks and if he picks a job that is being placed as soon as boot camp is over then he'd be placed around a week after graduation.
That's about as much news as there is on the subject for the time being....

Leslie:
Ok so... on to the part where you may need to sit down. I was hired on at said company on a "trial basis" for 90 days to see how I would work out, how I was in the job, how well I meshed with the other employees etc. so what had happened was... I was discussing all of the above mentioned info. with Kim and Jamie in my car on the phone. I had the window cracked in the parking lot at work finishing my convo with one of them, thought nothing of it... until....
I went inside and my supervisor cornered me asking about the CG and moving and October... (the girl who I was replacing overheard and told her!!!) I proceeded to tell the lady that I have no concrete plans as of yet, and that I do not plan on being in the job for over 1-2 years because I want to go back into teaching (which I discussed in the interview.) So long story short... they cut me a check for $200 for two days work and thanked me for my time but told me they felt like I had been dishonest with them and mislead them, ("who's to say I wouldn't do the same if it came to a work related issue?!") and that they would be going another direction!
Friday at 3:00 I was home and changing clothes to go back to Wings... Burn Party CANCELLED :(

During all that mess... I forgot Falon's Birthday! CAUSE I WAS UBER SELF CENTERED this week with too much going on. but I am making it up to her with lunch on Wednesday :)

SATURDAY:
After that crazy week... and working Friday night I woke up at 5:40 to go with Kelli at 6:45 to Sloss Furnace for the RumpShaker 5k. She ran I watched from the sidelines. I was quite impressed... she finished in 31 minutes! There were TONS of people there, I'm talkin' the Start line was packed like sardines! But it thinned out and the man who came in first did so in 14.5-15 minutes...pushing a STROLLER!

We left the 5k Kelli and I hauled it to Opening Day at Pelham Park for all of the little league teams. The Opportunity League was out in full force and cute as can be. Kelli had the news out there covering the event it was a huge success! The kids and parents were so grateful to have the chance to be out there and their team pictures were soooo cute.

I left to come home at about 2:30 and Justin had to be at work at 3:00... at 2:55 I get a phone call...
Justin: "Are my keys still in your car?"
Me: "Seriously?!!!...Probably..."
...so just so you know this is not the first time I have gotten all the way to Helena with his keys still in my possession. Justin has a pocket complex, hates to feel like they are weighted down with too much stuff. Any time we get in the car he puts the keys in the console and... well that's where they stay. Bless him :) I told him that since I was going out to celebrate with Kelli and Daniel later to just have one of the roommates drop him at work and we would bring the car to him on our way out.

Taking his car to Wings was a TRIP! Friday morning his driver's side window shattered so there was a plastic bag and tape on his window, which I could BARELY see out of. I got in to drive and tried to pull up the seat but it wouldn't move any closer, so I had to sit on the edge using the steering wheel not only to steer but also to keep me close to the pedals. Realizing that I would not be able to see from the left I had to lean forward to look at the left oncoming traffic at each intersection before I stopped then hurry as I turned as I chanted "please no cars, please no cars, please no cars." BUT the BEST part... the "window" wasn't completely securely fastened so it flapped in the wind even at the 20-50 mph I was going the 5 miles to Wings. My hand to the sky it sounded like a war zone in that car... so here I am in the middle of open fire, fighting gravity sliding out of my pants, so half my butt was exposed... my only thought to make it better was to put my hand on the plastic to make it a little tighter so that it had a bit more tension... no such luck! By the time I got to Wings, literally a 5 minute trip, my heart was beating out of my chest... I got out of the car, locked the door, looked at Daniel and Kelli and said... it's officially time for a drink! We went to Bellini's and handled it... poor car, it's getting fixed on Wednesday.

BIG DAY

2010-03-24T16:51:00.004-05:00

I GOT A JOB, I GOT A JOB, I GOT A JOB, HEY HEY HEY, HEY!
I interviewed at a company in Homewood on Monday, for a position doing some secretarial work and a bit of internal sales (they are a middle man between suppliers and contractors for interiors). I have been talking to them every day and JUST received the call confirming that I HAVE THE JOB!!! I start tomorrow at 8, regular hours are 7:30-4:30 with an hour for lunch.
What does that mean for Wings one may wonder... well I will work my Friday and Sunday shifts this and next week and then I say see ya round!!! Except I have to talk to Bill about it first :( (no bueno) and it's sure to be ugly... however I am planning a wing's clothes bonfire next Sunday night...so I guess it doesn't really matter what he says.

So excited!

AND

Justin is taking his ASVAB today in Montgomery. He will spend the night and tomorrow take his physical. We would love any prayers and happy thoughts you'd like to send...(I say this as if anyone is reading this hahaha)

Project-ing...

2010-03-16T00:54:00.004-05:00

So I don't know if you do this... but I tend to start projects before I know that I have an end point. You may be wondering what it is that I am specifically talking about at this point because it sounds a bit crazy... but don't worry I will tell you!

SOOO I have all these pictures in the little Wal-Mart packs from like the dawn of time (or like 6th grade whatever!) as well as a ton of mis-matched ugly little photo albums that I hate to look at. Instead of having to look at them or having them out on a shelf so that people might actually be able to enjoy the pictures inside the albums, they have all been hidden away in a drawer, and the packs of pictures in a box. I stole the project idea from Justin's cousin Denise and knew that it would be a bit costly but took it on anyway.
I went to Hobby Lobby and got 4 identical, 200 capacity photo albums and got to work. I put every picture in my possession in date order and started filling up the albums... $30 later I haven't even finished 2003! Geeze!!! Looks like I have much more to do and many more to buy, but when I finish I will be very happy! and super organized!! When I finish I will show you a picture of all of them lined up on the shelf... can't wait!

In the recent past I had printed out my most important pictures of 2009, so those are already in order and there are right at 200 of those. I think this will be a great little tradition.

Been wanting to do this for a while...

2010-03-13T16:06:00.004-06:00

The other day Justin hung this up in my mini kitchen downstairs...

I have been wanting to hang it since I moved in to the house. Now that I have a bottle of wine to hang, it was time.

Cute right!

BEAUTIFUL DAY

2010-03-08T22:48:00.003-06:00

Just so you know... it was 75 today in Helena Alabama... that's right folks! 75!!

At 3:30 I had my hair in a wet ponytail...the only make-up I had on was mascara, I was in the car with the window rolled ALL the way down AND Zac Brown came on the radio... Spring is within reach!! If I hadn't been driving to work... it would have absolutely been the PERFECT drive!

The Big 2-5

2010-03-08T14:04:00.012-06:00

So I turned 25 OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Justin was a DOLL he had tons of surprises for me, and totally spoiled me rotten with a gift certificate to Aura salon and spa for a 30 min massage 30 min facial and a manicure, and a picture like this that spells out my name. Instead of ordering it from one of the places that do it, his roommate Daniel who is a photographer did them, its still getting framed so I will have to show you the real thing later.I had to work during the day :( but we had dinner plans at Mafiaoza's completely his idea... and it was GREAT! if you are ever in Crestline Village you should hit them up... especially on a Tuesday...

They have an extensive wine list a great menu an on Tuesday nights (my birthday)

a band called Goodfellas...check them out here ... so fun! Good choice Jus!

pictures from the evening...

Other highlights of the day... Kim sent me a scrapbook that she made on shutterfly.com and a Celine Dion CD, I got birthday cards from Debby's parents, Aunt Vally and Uncle Stan (Debby's sister). Mom made the cake (chocolate with white icing), she and Dan fixed a lamp for me and are working on fixing my tub into a shower, Jeff and I went to Free Pancake day at Ihop at 8:30 before work... So fun!

A quarter of a century omg!

Over the weekend

2010-03-08T12:44:00.014-06:00

This weekend Justin and I had a blast volunteering for Easter Seals of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa!

Our friend Kelli is the director of marketing for the two cities and so we got to hang out with her and Daniel at the events this weekend and really enjoyed ourselves... Getting up at 7:00 for Walk with Me in Alabaster after having worked a double Friday was not the top of my "fun" list but it was worth it... the kids definitely had fun and the event was a hit. The community came together to raise a TON of money, and we got to eat some free food and drink some free Starbucks so who's gonna say no to that?! There was also an AWESOME (part of a) band there... dudes name was ODIE? (yeah like the dog from Garfield!) SOOO good... you can check it out...
http://www.cedarsgray.com/templates/System/default.asp?id=45199

We spent about an hour playing football... yeah with a real deal like big boy football... and Justin jumped on the moon bounce with Addison who wanted to know where our "childrens" were (sloooow down honey hahaha)

Tuscaloosa was fun as well (even though I am certain my skin burned off having to be in The Zone).

We had mock gambling tables for door prizes, open bar, silent auction, pictures with Big Al, a band, catered BBQ... and a TON of people I've never met ;) we had a great time. I bid on a piggy bank (there was other stupid Bama stuff in there that I would have had to give to someone but the piggy bank was cute) for Fally... it went for $11 more than we put down... stupid black jack tables distracted me!

Not sure how much they raised at the second event but it had to be A LOT! At the end of the night we went to this bar that was kind of like Twist n Shout (R.I.P. man I miss that place!)

All in all a great day/fun weekend!