{Thanksgiving}

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It's here, it's here! It's the day that families all over the world get together to celebrate turkey day!


I'm praying you all have a fabulous day with food, friends, family, love, food, laughs, food, food...did I mention food? I'm super excited for some deep fried turkeys today! 

Gobble, gobble!  
 
Remember, on this day and every day, to be thankful for all of the blessings that have been bestowed upon your life. I know I am! It's key to be grateful for specific things all throughout the year, but I just love how prominent thankfulness is on this day! Hope y'all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
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Safe Travels.

Hello last work day of this week! I think {and I'm sure you all agree} that all work weeks should be three days long with a four day weekend! Doesn't that sound gloriouis?! And as an added bonus today, it's only half of a work day! Yep, I'm out of here at noon! Hooray! But then it's home to pack, pack, pack! We have a lot of traveling ahead of us for the rest of this week, and I can't wait!
 
Family.
 
Fun.
 
Food.
 
Friends.
 
Festivities.
 
What more do ya need?!
 
I'm not sure, but wherever you're headed, stay safe {and warm}! :-) 
 
 
 
And in other news, check out the new system for the Cara Box Exchange over at Wifessionals! I'm pretty excited! Sign-up ends December 3rd, so head on over and check it out!
 
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So {Thankful}

So, last week I did so great blogging every.single.day! This week, not so much! The weekend just got away from me, and I've been super busy ever since. Plus, I'm not feeling so great, so I'm trying to rest up so I feel 100% for the rest of this holiday week! Can y'all believe Thanksgiving is only two days away?! And Sunday, it'll be DECEMBER! Holy WOW!
 
So, with Thanksgiving being so close ... I decided to write about things I've been thankful for lately. Just something to boost my spirits and help remind me of the greatness while I'm not feeling so great.
 
Today I'm Thankful For
 
+ my family. Seriously, I can never say enough just how much my family means to me! We support each other 110% through thick and thin, and I absolutely adore my family!
 
+ my husband. He's so amazing and I'm forever thankful to be his wife! He's been so patient and understanding these past few days while I haven't been feeling like myself.
 
+ cold weather! It's no surprise that I absolutely love cold weather, and it hasn't been disappointing this week! It's been in the 30's all week, and I'm in love!
 
+ my health. Although I haven't been feeling the greatest these past few days, I'm so thankful I don't have any major health issues and that I'm generally pretty healthy. 
 
+ scarves. I've had a recent scarf obsession and I'm just loving my monogrammed scarf from Caitlin!
 
+ bloggy friendships. Non-bloggers just don't get it. "You actually talk to complete strangers about your life? Like, serious in-depth life stuff?"  Nope, I don't. Blog friends aren't strangers! You tell so much about yourself in the blog world and really open up, so fellow bloggers definitely aren't strangers! They're friends. And sometimes they know more about me than real-life friends. Sometimes.
 
+ three day work weeks. They're the best! And tomorrow isn't even a full day - we're out at noon!
 
+ unanswered prayers. I know it's cliche, but it's so true! If all of my prayers were answered the way I wanted them to be, I wouldn't be where I am today and be experiencing my life the way that I am. I'm so thankful that God has a plan for my life and I'm not completely in control! Amen!
 
+ Christmas decorations! I put up our Christmas tree last Friday, and my mood was lifted instantly! I just love the ambience from the lights and how comfortable it is with the heater running, cold weather outside, and Christmas decorations scattered throughout the house. Perfection I tell ya!
 
+ Ace. Seriously, our doggy has given me so much joy since we first got him several years ago. He's not a little puppy anymore, though! *sigh* Just this morning, he was loving on me and cuddling with me - I didn't want to leave the house! He just makes me smile when sometimes all I want to do is cry.
 
 
thankful4.png
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Friday Lovin'

I just get so unbelievably excited for days like today. Nothing super special ever really happens, but at the same time, something fabulous happens every week at this time.
 
 

IT'S FRIDAY!

Yep, I'm in love with Fridays. Every single one of them. I never dread them, they never make me unhappy. I'm always ridiculously excited on each and every friday that comes my way. I LOVE FRIDAYS!

And this Friday, I'm loving a few things...so we'll just get right to it! That's right, five on friday is here once again! Linking up with the good life blog. Don't pretend that you're surprised ... I love sharing a few random things at the end of every week. I look forward to it. I need it. So, it's happening.
{disclaimer: this doesn't mean it'll happen every.single.friday. a girl needs variety!}
 
 
{one}
I don't necessary love Judge Judy, but her show is pretty funny! And this clip is no different. She closes this case in 30 seconds by them disagreeing over what was stolen! HILARIOUS! Can we say dumb?!
 
 
 
{two}
I'm still in awe over what I'm calling our 'holiday bonus' from HEB! They surely surprised me!
 
 
100 ways to say thank you is none other than a crisp, brand-new $100 bill! And being the smart lucky lady that I am, I'm married to an HEB employee, so that means we each got one! That's right. I think I'm still in shock. Perfect timing with the holidays just around the corner! {Thanksgiving is next week y'all!}
 
 
{three}
I'm just absolutely loving on Shay Shull over at Mix and Match Family. She's a girl after my own heart, and her blog is just chalk-full of all things Christmas lately! I'm keeping her Christmas music guide handy this year! Also, she just posted about her all-time favorite Christmas movies, which I love! Some of them I haven't seen yet {gasp!}, so I'll definitely be looking into them this year! Thanks Shay!
 
 
{four}
Speaking of bloggers, Karla over at Forever Newly Wedded cheered me on this week! She participated in the brand-spanking-new linkup, Cheers Not Jeers, and spotlighted little ol' ME! Go here to check it out! She is super sweet and I just love her blog! I pretty much stalk read it every day {and comment, of course!} and I enjoy reading up on her and her sweet husband's {and Tyson's} adventures! They're always up to something. Thanks again Karla! :-)
 
 
{five}
Right now, I'm most looking forward to decorating for Christmas! I mean, there's really nothing better out there! I wanted to get it done last weekend, but that didn't happen. I had hopes for this weekend, but that outcome is looking just as bleak as last weekend! *sigh* It'll happen soon, though, I can promise you that! Seriously, doesn't this picture just scream Christmas, toasty warm pajamas, drinking cocoa, watching holiday movies, laughing, and just not having any worries in the world?
via
 
The answer to that is simply, yes! Yes, it does! I can't wait! Why would you not want that in your life? I need it immediately. And if this picture were my actual house, I'd be in hog heaven! I'm going to try to recreate this feel this year in our own place! Wish me luck!
 
What are some of your favorite things from this week? Are you decorating for Christmas already? Let me know!
 




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It's {Time}...

I just can't take it anymore! I'm seriously annoyed by people continuously using improper grammar. Seriously! Now, I'm not saying I'm perfect, because I definitely make my fair share of mistakes {and ironically, I'm sure there are a few mistakes in this grammar-focused rant}, but is it really too much to ask to just get the basics down? 


From blogs {which are much less common}, to Facebook, twitter, to essays, to speaking ... it seems as if grammar is just not as important to the human race as it needs to be. Seriously! I'm talking about important things here, like the use of "your" and "you're",  "then" and "than", and "their", "they're", and "there", just to name a few! These top ten pretty much sum it up:


I used to try to just ignore it. I mean, the mistakes are everywhere! However, I just can't take it anymore! It's time to take a stand against improper grammar and for people everywhere {from kids to adults} to learn the correct way to speak and write. Is it really too much to ask? I don't think so. 


It's one thing to shorthand in texts or things of that nature, but when it's for all the world to see, can we please try a little harder? I really believe that if things keep going the way they are, we're all doomed! Just think about it, it's only going to get worse and worse. Then, these same people that can't write or speak one proper sentence are going to be running corporate America one day {or, something along those lines}! Is that what we want? Where does it go from there? It's chaos, I tell you! Maybe you don't feel as passionate about this problem as I do, and maybe I'm blowing it a bit out of proportion {although I'm totally not}, but the fact of the matter is that "B4", "goin", or "gonna be" JUST AIN'T CUTE! {improper grammar completely intended there}

 Grammar Ecard
 
With that being said, I'm very thankful for all of you out there that do take pride in speaking proper English {at least most of the time}. I've come across so many blogs that are beautifully written, complete with correct punctuation and everything! Because, let's face it, punctuation saves lives!
 
Poor grandma! I'm sure she might be a little tough to chew...
 
So, the next time you type up a blog post, Facebook status, tweet, research paper, journal entry, or what have you, think about using the proper form of words and putting punctuation where it needs to be! Run-on sentences aren't cute, people! They make you look stupid. Point blank. I'm not saying that you have to be correct 100% of the time, but when it counts, make your writing count! You're already going through the effort to form paragraphs and put thoughts down on paper, why not do it correctly?!
 
Just some food for thought today. :-)
 
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{Pops}

He's gone.  He's really gone.  And it hurts. 

My grandpa was one of the strongest men I've ever known, and I truly know where my dad gets his strength - no question.  And these last 10+ months have been hard.  Let's face it, the last two years have been hard when it comes to my grandpa.  Two years ago on November 7th, my grandmother passed away tragically.  Now, I won't get into that again since I've already discussed it...read more here.  My cousin said it beautifully recently at my grandfather's funeral.  When Granny passed away, a huge part of Pops died along with her.  Who were any of us to blame him? He had just lost the love of his life and soulmate. They had been married almost 60 years! They lived on a farm and took care of cows, chickens, baled hay, and loved it all.  Now, remove a huge piece of that - your partner through it all - and what do you have left?  Heartache.  That's what.  Although the shock really hit me, I can't even begin to imagine what my grandfather felt and went through in the short time he lived without her.  I tear up every single time I think about it. He witnessed her death. He was reminded of her every single day living in their house, with all of her trinkets and pictures everywhere...

Following the death of my grandmother, he repeatedly told everyone over and over that 'he was going to the wedding on Saturday, but after that, 'he just didn't know.' The wedding. My wedding. Although it would break his heart to experience this occasion without his bride, he knew how much it would mean to me, his granddaughter, and my future husband to attend our wedding. And he did so, without hesitation and without question. My cousin captured this picture beautifully, and I will treasure it forever.
He lived in their house for many months after her passing and loved his dog, Max, to the moon and back.  The smile that the dog put on his face will be one that I will never forget.  And then, before I knew it, he was admitted to the nursing home.  At first, it was only to recover from a fall he had taken a few days prior, but he never did.  Before I knew it, the nursing home was his 'home', and that's where I would go to visit him for the next nine months. 

My grandfather was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer this year, and the man never smoked a day in his life (that I'm aware of). 19 years ago, he was diagnosed with and beat prostate cancer.  This time was much, much different. Through all of the doctors and tests and tears, these past 9 months have been a rollercoaster, to say the least. And I only experienced it as a granddaughter. I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like to go through all of that with a parent or spouse, and just thinking about it absolutely breaks my heart.  My dad was so amazing through the ups and downs with his father after losing his mom, and again I am reminded at just how amazing of a man he really is - not only as a father to me and my siblings, but as a spouse, sibling, and son. 

Knowing what was going on with Pops, I took advantage of every free weekend that I had. Did it take a toll on our financials? Absolutely. Did it put a strain on my marriage? You betcha! But my amazing husband understood what I was going through - and if he didn't, he supported me and knew that I needed to be at my grandfather's side, visiting him and showing him that I cared and loved him every chance that I could. That made for many, many trips home, all during the summer working overtime and already being stressed out. Needless to say, my anxiety was through the roof! But, I am blessed to be strong in my faith and to have an amazing family that pulls together in difficult times, as well as such great friends!

But with that being said, death really is a rollercoaster! I lost count of just how many times I prepared myself for my grandfather's passing. It's utterly exhausting, both physically and emotionally. But in those moments, I chose not to be selfish. After preparing my mind, heart, and soul to lose him when things were looking bleak, God was not ready for him just yet, and then a few more weeks went by with him seemingly improving.  Then, I fell into complacency yet again, into a routine of visiting my grandpa as I had over the years when I'd go home to visit my parents.  This happened time and time again, but I refused to allow myself to be selfish and hope for it all to just be over. I wanted the suffering to end for Pops, yes. But was I ready for him to really be gone? Definitely not. I just kept showing up - no matter what was happening, whether it was a good day or not, I would be there as often as I could living two hours away. And I cherished every minute I had with him, even if no words were exchanged. The smile on his face when I'd walk in was more than enough to let me know just how much he appreciated the time and effort I put into being sure I was there for him as much as possible. I knew I couldn't do much to help him, to ease his pain, but if sitting with him for a few hours, talking with him, or playing cards and dominoes with him helped in any way, I am happy to have eased his burden, even if only a small amount.  I will live the rest of my days with no regrets in regard to Pops; I saw him as much as possible. I visited every chance I could. I chose him over so many other things that were going on in my life (spending time with my husband, friends, sleep, and other commitments). My response to everyone else in my life was that I was going home that weekend to visit with my parents and grandfather. And they accepted it because they know me. They knew how important it was for me to be there when I could.  For that, I am forever grateful!


So, for months and months, that's what I did. I showed up. If he was back at home in the nursing home, I made the trip to visit. If he was here in town at the E.R., I went straight after work to just sit there. And although I couldn't be with him, as only one person was allowed back with him at a time, I showed up for my family. Whether my dad needed someone to talk to, or my aunt needed someone to walk around with to take a break - whatever was needed, I was more than willing to spend my evening in the waiting room with them to be of whatever help I could. And, it was my grandfather, whom I've been close with since before I can remember! I wanted and needed to be there, for myself too.  I just hope and pray that I didn't overstay my welcome in those moments; I know that there were so many dark days that my grandfather and his children needed to be together and to make difficult decisions - and sometimes having anyone else there is the last thing they'd want...I just pray that I didn't burden any of those days or decisions in any way, and in my heart, I know I didn't.  That's just who I am - I show up. Even if it's just to sit with a loved one or to take care of some chores around the house because they just emotionally aren't up for it - whatever the case may be, I show up.  But in all of those moments that I chose to show up for my family, and especially Pops, I don't regret a single one. I am thankful that I was able to be there as much as I was, and those are memories that will last me a lifetime! 

Pops lost his battle with cancer on August 7, 2013.  I remember that day like it was yesterday, even though it was three months ago. I can't believe he's already been gone that long! Pops was given 2 weeks to live by hospice, and he was determined to beat that timeline. He was so sure that he was going to live longer than what they said he had, and he didBy three hours. It was one more way, after he was gone, that he put a smile on my face. Although he was no longer with us, he was his normal, stubborn self, up until the very end. He lived 2 weeks and three hours from the date he was given only 2 weeks. For that, I am eternally grateful. I needed that joy in those dark moments of grief, and to this day, it makes me smile.  He passed away peacefully in his sleep after receiving some pain medication only minutes before.  And now, he is no longer suffering.  No more tests.  No more doctors.  No more nurses.  No more pain.  And knowing those things right there is what makes it easier for me to accept and begin healing from his loss.  He is happily in Heaven with his wife, dancing away, pain free!  How joyous a thought!  Colten and I drove to my hometown that afternoon and spent time with family. The rosary was beautiful, and it was amazing to really see and feel the support of family and friends that made the trip to pay their respects. And to them, I want to say thank you.  Again.  It truly means the world to me to know that people love on my family and that my grandfather had touched the hearts of so many people during his days on earth. The funeral the next day was an amazing service.  I agreed to do one of the readings, and I was nervous! Although I had done it less than two years ago at my grandma's funeral, for some reason the nerves got to me this time. But, I stumbled through it and am so glad that I did it. And then it came time for the grandchildren to say a few words about our cherished grandfather. My cousin had me in tears before it was my turn to speak, and he had pretty much covered everything.  But I told myself I would say something and that I wanted to honor Pops as I had with Granny.  So, with eyes stinging with tears and my hands shaking, I told everyone in attendance that my love for him was ever so deep, and that no matter what was going on in any of our lives, my grandparents never judged us. They were never disappointed by anything I had ever done and were always happy to see me and hear about what was going on in my life.  We laid my grandfather to rest to the sounds of the 21 gun salute and taps being played in the distance. It was the first military funeral I had witnessed, and it was beautiful. He is finally at peace with his love and his Creator.

Pops,
I am so unbelievably saddened by your loss but am thankful you are no longer suffering. I am proud to be your stubborn granddaughter and to have laughed, loved, and cried right along with you throughout the years. Your love for your family and your faith have been carried on and live in me. Thank you for showing your love and support through anything and everything I did, from sports and school, to my wedding day and the sacredness of marriage that I now share with my husband. I have a lifetime of memories that I will cherish forever. I can still hear your laugh, and I know that you are laughing in Heaven alongside your bride and Creator, no longer brokenhearted or in pain. I will miss you every day of my life and look forward to the day I will see you again.  I love you.
Always, and forever. 
Bri

Today, it is painful to drive past his house and know that neither him nor my grandmother will ever be looking out of the kitchen window to see what's going on, to know that I will never sit down to an amazing home cooked meal in their kitchen, by their hands. Today, I miss the joy and laughter that both of them brought to my life. Today, I am having difficulty accepting that I've experienced the first Grandparents Day that I did not have any living grandparents to celebrate with. Today, and every day, my heart hurts.  But every day is easier. Time truly does heal, and one day, the raw pain of losing him will be gone, and I will only feel joy and love of remembering him.

One day.

But until then, it hurts. 

 
This will be the first holiday season without any of my grandparents, and I know it's going to be hard, to say the least. It's going to be tough to be in his house and him not be there. All of the memories of my childhood, visiting that house, spending summers helping him and my grandma on the farm, picking eggs from the chicken coop, watching him put out hay, checking cows...they're endless. I know he is in a much better place now, without pain, but this is going to be one tough holiday season! I'm requesting prayers and comfort for me and my family during this time, as we take life a day at a time without our loved one and try to celebrate the joy of this holiday season.  He's gone, but he will never be forgotten!
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It's Fall Y'all! {Cara Box Reveal}

It's that time again! But this time, things are different! That's right, I'm talking about the Cara Box Exchange hosted by Kaitlyn over at Wifessionals! It's a swap between bloggers and non-bloggers alike, and a way to get to know some amazing people! For more information, head over here.
Grab button for Cara Box
 
I've participated several times before, and I just keep coming back for more! And now, there's a new schedule; instead of a monthly swap {let's face it, that's just not enough time to really get to know someone, shop for them, and mail a box!}, it's hosted four times a year, every three months. This current theme {September - November} was all things fall.

I was paired up with Brenda from Totally Brenda and sent her a box. She lives in the Dallas area, so it was nice to get to know someone sort of close by! She has a heart for children and helping in any way she can! She definitely made me want to do more! To "meet" her and see what she got, go check her out!

I received a box from Caitlin over at My Life As a Long. She is married to her best friend and that girl is always, always, always on the go! I just can't keep up... But the box she sent me was simply amazing, and she definitely outdid herself! Seriously!

She started it off with a $15 Starbucks gift card to my email account. Umm, yes please! This allowed me to get my first red cup of the season! :) Thanks Caitlin.

I immediately fell in love with everything in this box! She sent a great assortment of fall scents - my favorite! I took the room spray to my office and it's just glorious! It's Scentsy's scent of the month - cedar mill. Definitely a perfect fall scent.

The Essie nail polish is a perfect fall/winter color! I'm loving the dark colors lately, too, so it was perfect! I also adored the fuzzy socks. Who doesn't like a good pair of warm, fuzzy socks?!

She also hit the nail on the head with the EOS lip balm she sent! I've recently fell in love with their mint balm and Chapstick has become a thing of the past. So, to now own EOS in a pomegranate raspberry...just perfect! I haven't tried it out yet {I'm almost out of my current mint, so I'm waiting to jump into the new flavor}, but I'm pretty excited! Colten just looked at me like I was crazy when I saw this in the box. Haha! The only kinds I ever see are the mint and strawberry. I'm afraid I'll fall in love with the pomegranate raspberry and won't be able to find it anyway. So, *hint hint* Caitlin, I may be asking for a regular shipment! ;)

And the absolute best part of the box was my amazing, monogrammed scarf! I've recently began an obsession with all things scarves {I even bought a scarf hanger/organizer a few weekends ago}, and this fit right in! First of all, it's pink! Second, it's the softest scarf ever! Seriously. And lastly, {but not least} she monogrammed it with my initials. So sweet and personal! I'm in love, y'all! I wore this thing the very next morning. That's how much I loved it! And I got sooooo many compliments on it, too!

Thank you Caitlin! You outdid yourself, but {obviously} I love absolutely everything! :)
 
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You Know You Live in {Texas} When...

Umm, isn't it NOVEMBER?! The last time I checked, it was. So will someone please tell me why it was 90 degrees yesterday?! Seriously, y'all. The A/C was cranked down low, and I was clad in shorts and flip flops. No joke!

Just a few days ago, it was close to freezing - 40 degrees! And then, out of nowhere, BAM! Upper eighties/low nineties. Which, if you know me at all, you know that I was sad, sad, sad! Praying the next few days cool off! Bring back the sweater weather! 

I'm bound and determined to bring back the cooler temps {and so far, it's working...it's 63 this morning!}. I know there are pros and cons to every type of weather, because those that live in cold temperatures where it snows every day tell me to enjoy the heat because having everything wet and shoveling snow is just no fun. Well, neither is sweating to death! Ha! But seriously, I need to contemplate this whole living in Texas thing. It's for the birds!

Fellow Texans always look at me like I'm crazy when I'm loving the cooler weather without a jacket and exclaiming that the weather is just perfect, all while they're freezing and can't add enough layers to warm up! It's true, I'm not a stereotypical Texan. I run away from the sun and I love me some cold weather! It's no surprise. I keep telling my family I'm going to move to Alaska - so I hope they're not surprised when the day comes I actually do! {it's not something serious right now, but you never know!}

I long for a 'White Christmas' and to have those memories attached to holidays of snow, cold, big puffy jackets, mittens...the whole nine yards! One day {most likely once we have kids, so they can experience it too!}, we'll have to take a trip to somewhere snowy and have our own white Christmas! Doesn't this look magical?! {it's also no surprise that this beauty that I loved at first site is of Central Park in New York *sigh*}

I'm willing the cold weather to come back to Texas today by listening to some instrumental Christmas music in my office. Yes, I'm that girl. And proud of it! You can also bet that I have a snowy, wintery scene as my desktop. I'm not ashamed! 

Are you a cold-weather loving person like myself or do you love the heat? I'd love to hear from you!

Also, be on the lookout for my Carabox reveal tomorrow! :)

HAPPY MONDAY!


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What You {Should} Be Watching

It's really no surprise that I love, love, love my television shows. Seriously, I even have an app for new episodes and ones I haven't seen yet, etc. To get in on that lovin', check out the iTV Shows app for iPhone and iPad! It sends alerts when new episodes will air, keeps track of all shows, upcoming seasons, shows that have ended, and so on. It's $2.99, but it's totally worth it! With that being said, today's Friday Five will be five shows I'm loving right now {in no particular order}!
 
 
 
one|| Arrow on the CW (Wednesdays)
Spoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea; he returns five years later as a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow. via IMDB. Cast: Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, Emily Rickards as Felicity Smoak. It's a great cast and an intense show! Just when you think you know what's going to happen next...you're completely blown away by a huge twist! And Stephen is pretty easy on the eyes...you're welcome! :) The show first aired in 2012 and is currently in its second season.
 
two|| Nashville on ABC (Wednesdays)
Set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene, the drama revolves around a 40-year-old superstar Rayna Jaymes, whose star begins fading. She is forced to team up with Juliette Barnes on tour in order to maintain her label's support for her latest record, whose sales have been underwhelming. via IMDB. Cast: Connie Britton as Rayna James, Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O'Connor, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne. This is a fun, dramatic show with lots of flair and real-life circumstances, all revolving around the country music industry. Of course, there's also an on again off again romance intertwined in it all! You won't be sorry for getting hooked on this show, which first aired in 2012 and is currently in its second season. {which means there's plenty of time to catch up!}
 
three|| Chicago Fire on NBC (Tuesdays)
This show is about a team of firefighters in Chicago's Fire House 51. Every episode is jam-packed with intense, blazing flames {in more ways than one} and leaves you with burning questions. Cast: Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, Jesse Spencer as Matthew Casey, Monica Raymund as Gabriela Dawson, Lauren German as Leslie Shay, Eamonn Walker as Chief Wallace Boden. Looking for a hot guilty pleasure? This is it! No two episodes are the same, and each one always leaves you wanting more! You get an inside look of how a fire house is run, including every professional and personal development along the way. The show first aired in 2012 and is currently in its second season. {is this a recurring theme or what?!}
 
four|| Witches of East End on the CW (Sundays)
The witching hour is here! This show centers on the adventures of a mother and her two adult daughters, both of whom unknowingly are their family's next generation of witches, who lead seemingly quiet, uneventful modern day lives in Long Island's secluded seaside town of North Hampton. When one of the daughters becomes engaged to a young, wealthy newcomer, a series of events forces her mother to admit to her daughters they are, in fact, powerful and immortal witches. via IMDB. Cast: Julia Ormond as Joanna Beauchamp, Jenna Dewan-Tatum as Freya Beauchamp, Rachel Boston as Ingrid Beauchamp, Madchen Amick as Wendy Beauchamp, Eric Winter as Dash Gardiner, Daniel DiTomasso as Killian Gardiner. This show first aired on October 6, 2013 and is only 6 episodes in, but I'm completely hooked! Yes, it's a show about witches, but it's done in a very modern, not-very-supernatural kind of way. It's perfect. Seriously, go catch up now! And since it's a new show, every episode is definitely different and introduces new, fun witchy problems!
 
five|| Grey's Anatomy on ABC (Thursdays)
A medical drama set at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle. The series covers the stories of the interns and residents at the hospital as they try to balance their personal lives with the demands of their medical training. The main character is Meredith Grey, who is married to a neurosurgeon at the hospital. The show {now} follows her life as a third year resident at the hospital in the surgical department. It covers not only her relationship with her husband, but also with her best friend Christina Yang and her interactions with the other doctors and staff. via IMDB. Cast: Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Sandra Oh as Christina Yang, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd. It's really no secret that I'm 100% obsessed with this show! Some have stopped following as they feel everything has been done already, but not me! I will be faithful to this show until its very last day {which I pray is not anytime soon!}. Although its main focus is Meredith Grey, the writers and producers do a great job really showing the lives {both personal and professional} of all the characters! The show first aired in 2005 and is currently in its 10th season! It will have you on the edge of your seat laughing, crying, and cringing all in the same episode.


So, there you have it! My top five favorite shows right now! Don't be fooled, though, I watch many more than just these five. :) What are your favorite shows right now?
 
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Awesome Sauce is {AWESOME}!

We did it! We pulled off a surprise 50th birthday party for my mom this past weekend! Hooray! It was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it! Here's how it all went down:

For months, we planned and bought decorations and did some diy projects and planned some more and lied. How do you not have a surprise party without having to lie?! I tried my best not to, and I did pretty good right up until that weekend, which I consider a success! I digress. To make the party a little bit more special, Hilary and I worked on several DiY projects to add a personal touch. She worked tirelessly on a balloon wreath she had seen pinned on Pinterest. Little did we know just how long it would take or just how many balloons it would take! She seriously bought out every black balloon Hobby Lobby had at one point! I came up with a photo booth idea which involved some butcher paper, foam letters, and a little table set up explaining what the heck it was. And, we both {along with the help of dad compiling photos} created a black and white '50' photo collage of mom's 50 years of life! Seriously, it was a lot of mom's face! That thing was the most frustrating, stressful, and difficult thing! But, we didn't give up {even though it took an entire day}, and she loved it! Or so she said...

So, the day before the party, my sister and I left Austin at like 6:30 in the morning. Y'all, that's way earlier than I ever leave for work! Have I ever mentioned that I am not a morning person?! No? Well, now I have. I don't do mornings!! But, we hit up Starbucks {and I got my first red cup of the season!} and we were on our way. We stopped in Bastrop for some grocery shopping, which was entertaining all in itself. Picture this: Hilary and I in HEB at 7:00am. Hyped up on coffee. Me looking rough as I basically just rolled out of bed and threw on a sweater. Hilary skipping through the aisles. Spending dad's money. You're welcome. :)

After that, we finally made it to the burg, like 4 hours later! But that's what happens when the two of us go shopping freakishly early and get to spend other people's money! {disclaimer: I will probably mention my joy of spending other people's money like five billion more times, okay? Okay.} Dad had also stayed home from work that day - there was a lot to do to prepare for the big day! We also remembered to hide our locations on our Find My Friends app. Go us! I think it would've been pretty suspicious if mom were to see that both dad and I were at their house on Friday morning...hmm... While at home, we baked up a storm! We made two cream puff cakes, dipped oreos in some melted chocolate, and we diy'd. Yep. We made a "photo booth" {without the booth} for guests to sign and to take crazy pictures in front of. Just something fun! Dad cleaned out the kettle for stew, and we dropped off everything party related at our cousin's house down the road - it's like we were never even there! We even had to have covert trash, because if mom were to find empty cartons of white chocolate pudding, cream cheese, chocolate chips, and so much more, she would've been a bit curious, to say the least. I even went as far as to not use their restroom - again, she would've been suspicious if she saw a day's worth of tampon trash in her bathroom, knowing it wasn't hers and praying it wasn't dad's! Yep, I went there. You're welcome! :)

Luckily, mom had a few stops to make on her way home, so if we were at the house when she eventually got home from work, it wasn't a big deal! Needless to say, dad, Hil, and I had a blast cooking and preparing for the party and having to hide it all. Sneaky, sneaky! 

The PLAN was to go shopping for a little girls' day on Saturday. Up to this point, it had gone off without a hitch! We left the house at 10ish that morning, which was right on time! However, this meant a lot of the cleaning and decorating was left up to dad and Josh - good luck guys! Ha! Us girls headed out for the day and had a blast! We hit up Maurice's, JC Penny's, Best Buy, Dress Barn, and Marshall's, stopping only for a delicious lunch at Olive Garden! Well, mom literally would not stop shopping! How the heck were we supposed to get her to go home without any urgency behind it?! We didn't have a clue. Eventually, we became 'tired' and it was getting late. We left Rosenburg at 5:00pm, which is what time we were supposed to be arriving at her party! Fail. Just fail. Hilary and I were literally freaking out while mom was trying on some clothes in the last few stores. Texts were also exchanged between the two of us and dad - she just wouldn't stop shopping! It did make for a good laugh though - but it also caused my stress level to fly through the roof! After the months of preparation and planning, we couldn't let the whole thing unravel now!

Well, we didn't, thankfully! We stopped at Wal-Mart for a few things before heading home, and boy was she surprised when we arrived! Since it was then 6:30pm instead of 5pm, it was already dark {thank you daylight savings!}, so the party-goers had a great plan...my cousins went into town and pretty much bought out every glow stick/bracelet/necklace they had! So, when we drove up {in the dark}, all we could see was a distant greenish/blueish glow from under the trees... At this point, Hilary and I didn't even know what was going on, so we definitely didn't lie when mom asked what the heck was going on! :) Win-win! Everyone gathered at the cattle guard, complete with a million glow sticks, to surprise her! I rolled the windows down, and they began singing 'Happy Birthday'. Mom finally realized what was happening and she was truly in shock! Haha! She was planning her party for next Saturday, so she was shocked everyone was already there to celebrate two weeks early! Gotcha!! {side note: it was hilarious, as my cousin recently had a surprise bday/graduation party when she was planning her own party for later this year. Mom thought this was hilarious, and we thought it was even more hysterical becasue the exact same thing was about to happen to her...she just had no idea!}

So, she was surrounded by family and friends and had a great time! There were lots of laughs, jello shots, tons of food, lots of drinks, gifts, more laughs, and lots of pictures! It was definitely a party she'll never forget! Afterward, she said the only thing she regretted or was unhappy about {I forget how it was worded...it was a long day!} was that she was late to her own party! Ha! Dad also kept saying that she was spending his money all day! Boy, do we really like to spend his money ;) haha! And now, lots of pictures!!!

As you can tell from the last set of pictures, Chelsea didn't disappoint! She made and brought about a million {so it seemed} jello shots! She was highly entertaining, to say the least! Thanks, Chels!

I seriously slept almost the entire next day! All of the stress I had been carrying around for the past month was finally lifted away after the party and I was able to relax. I even slept most of Monday... Yes, I'll admit it! And no, it wasn't because I was hungover. I was just tired! 

And to absolutely EVERYONE that helped in any way at all {there are a lot of you!}...

THANK YOU!

Without the help of family and friends, this party would not have been possible. From making and bringing cakes and desserts, to showing up early to help decorate, to helping us celebrate ... thank you so much! Not only did Dad, Hilary, Josh, and I really appreciate it, but most importantly, I know Mom absolutely loved all of the time and effort that was put into a party just for her! Thank you to everyone again! The surprise was a huge success! :)  
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Snakes Don't Have Armpits!

So, everywhere I turn today - technology problems. Slow performance, network down, etc. etc. So, for today, just a few fun pictures from my iPhone. Just a lot of randomness for a random day! It is what it is, and when life happens, you eat it and move on! Go ahead, try it!
















 
Happy hump day!
 
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