Pages

Friday, April 30, 2010

I Want One! Friday {April 30, 2010}





{Vera Bradley Apron in Symphony In Hue}



Grab the Button & Link Up Below! 
Click here for the rules to play by.

post signature

Thursday, April 29, 2010

She's Here!!

Sorry I've been MIA this week. This little gem joined our family on Tuesday morning at 5:45 a.m. Central time. Hannah Grace weighs 6 pounds 1.5 ounces and is 16 inches long. She's a petite little thing that joined us 4 weeks early, but she's healthy and happy! Momma's doing well, too.

Try not to die of the cuteness!




{all photos by me, except for that one I'm in. my mom took that one.}
post signature

Thursday, April 22, 2010

I want one! Friday {Rules to Play By}







I want one! Friday has become a bit of a trend around here, and I decided it was high time to make it a feature that I share with my bloggy friends! The rules are simple: Post a single image, with a single-line caption that includes a link to what you want (assuming you post an image of something you can buy). It's that simple! No long drawn-out explanations. No need to justify why you want it--just post! Then come back and link up on my post for that week. As always with Linky posts, be sure to link directly to your post, and not to your blog's primary URL. (Click on the title of your post to copy the URL to your direct IWO!F post.)

And then, once someone you know says "Gee, I really need some gift ideas for you!", you can just point them to your blog!

We're starting this week, so come back in the morning to link up your first I want one! Friday post!

Hope you'll play along!

post signature

I'll be back soon

But first I have to make my desk NOT look like this anymore.


post signature

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Top 2 Tuesday: Under $15

It's that time again! Head on over to Taylor's to play along!





This week Taylor wants to know: What are your top 2 favorite items under $15?

Mine are:
Dionis Vanilla Bean Lotion, available at Cracker Barrel for $11.99

I don't know what it is about this this lotion, but I.Love.It. It has just a strong enough scent to be lovely without overpowering. And it makes my skin feel yummy. It's definitely a favorite.

And, inspired by Honey, Sugah, Dahlin

24-ounce Monogrammed Tervis Tumbler for $15.00

I'm drinking out of this one today (we also have one with a C on it). I love this because it's big enough that I don't feel like I have to fill it up every 30 minutes to stay hydrated while at work, and because it doesn't sweat all over my desk! Tervis will change your life. Really! Just ask Sarah!

What are your favorite products for $15 or less? Click on Taylor's blog to link up!
post signature

Monday, April 19, 2010

Today I Wish...

That I could sit on my porch and just read...maybe all week long...

See, this sweet girl posted about needing some book ideas for her book club to read next, so that got me thinking about what I want to read next. And now I just want to sit outside and read...

It's supposed to be cooler and a little rainy tomorrow. I'd sit out on my porch with a blanket and a hot drink and read in the rain...(Our porch is covered, don't worry).

This is what I'm reading right now:



And here are some books I'd like to read soon:



And have you discovered Goodreads? Hilary introduced me to the program, and while it's taken me a little while to get used to, I am really starting to enjoy it! You can see what your "friends" are reading, what they want to read, and what they have read. Plus, all the books listed are rated by other readers! I'm keeping my "to-read" list on here, and I plan to keep it updated and print it out each time I go to the library or to our used book store here in Knoxville.

If you've already joined Goodreads, friend me! If you haven't joined yet, go sign up! Then friend me! 

So, what are you reading? What's on your list to read next? What needs to be on my "to-read" list on Goodreads?
post signature


PS: Please vote for me!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

ABCs - Wait, that's me!

You had to know it would only be a matter of time before I hopped on this bandwagon! 

A. Area Code: The 865. Yes, that does spell VOL on your keypad. Welcome to Knoxville, y'all!
B. Bed Size: Queen
C. Chore you hate: Anything requiring me to touch dirty dishes. Dirty dishes gross me out.
D. Dog’s Name: No puppies at our house, but our cat's name is Chesney
E. Essential “start of the day” Item: Caffeine in some form or fashion
F. Favorite Color: Turquoise, blue, green, pink, purple...
G. Gold or Silver: Silver or white gold
H. Height: 5 even! I'm a short little thing. (Fun size, as I was dubbed in high school. Or Space Efficient, I liked that one, too)
I. Instruments you play: Violin, for about 9 months in the 6th grade. I was bad at it, so I quit. Yes, I'm a quitter. That's why I didn't learn to ride a bike till I was 23. When I'm bad at something, I quit.
J. Job: Web Analyst for a newspaper company, and free-lance graphic designer








{I designed Julie's button!}

K. Kids: Not yet, but definitely one day! We want two.
L. Living Arrangements: 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment.
M. Mom’s name: Ginger.
N. Nickname: Ash, Ashcakes
O. Overnight Hospital Stay: I was in the hospital with Strep once when I was little. I don't remember if it was overnight or not though.
P. Pet Peeve: Terrible drivers, bad grammar, hang nails, chewing with your mouth open...I could go on...
 {source}

Q. Quote from Movie: "The man is the head of the household, but the woman is the neck, and she can turn the head any way she wants." -My Big Fat Greek Wedding
R. Righty or Lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: One (pregnant!) older sister
T. Time-you wake up: Alarm goes off at 6:00. Out of bed by 6:45. Yeah, I'm that girl.
U. Underwear: No comment
V. Veggie’s you dislike: Most cooked veggies. And tomatoes. I hate tomatoes. But not tomato products.
W. Ways/reasons you are late: Taking too long getting ready; getting distracted by just about anything.
X. Xrays you’ve had: Back and neck after something happened last summer that landed me in chiropractic care for 4 months. I couldn't turn my head. Try driving without turning your head AT ALL, then get back to me on how well that goes.
Y. Yummy food you make: I'm pretty decent cook! I like to make chicken noodle casserole, all sorts of desserts, and various pork tenderloin dishes, among others.
Z. Zoo animals you like: Penguins and zebras are my favorites

I also want to take a moment to thank the lovely CJ from Simply Simonsons! She gifted me this little award, and I couldn't be happier!
Since this award has no rules, I want to pass it along to a couple of non-award blogs that I absolutely love. I hope you'll go check them out, because they are AWESOME!

Jenna at That Wife (and her new ADORABLE baby boy!)
Mandy at OMG! I'm a Mom! (HILARIOUS mommy blog!) (and she does have awards on her blog! But she's too awesome to NOT include, so she's here!)
Vampy Varnish (warning: you WILL become addicted to nail polish if you follow this blog!)
Parenthetical Me (Knoxville blogger who was once a 'Bee [as were Jenna and Mandy!])

Thanks again CJ!!


post signature

PS: Please vote for me!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Big, Huge Favor???

I have a giant favor to ask...

Will you vote for me? Kroger is running a contest to design their new reusable bags, and the winner gets $1000! You can vote every day between now and May 21st, and I need all the help I can get!

Here is what my design looks like:

And, if you design one yourself, you'll get a credit added to your Kroger Plus Card for a free reusable bag in their store! Just be sure to use your Plus Card when you check out, and you won't be charged for the bag.


And, if you post about this on your blog, come back and leave me a comment with the link (be sure to include a link to my voting page in your post). Then if I win, you'll be entered to win something fabulous that I'll buy with some of the prize money. Deal? 

Thank you! You guys are the best!
post signature

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Wishful Wednesday: Charitable Giving



'I wish' .... I had never-ending funds to donate to ______ charity!

I would donate to World Vision and/or Compassion International.

World Vision is close to my heart because my husband's band supports World Vision through some of their t-shirt sales. WV has a program where you can actually buy farm animals to give to families in impoverished villages. Find the 01 (the band's name) comes from Luke 15:4, where Jesus is telling about the shepherd who will leave the 99 sheep to go Find the One lost sheep. It was a natural fit for the guys to decide to donate proceeds from their t-shirt sales to World Vision to help buy sheep for families in these villages. World Vision is also a program for child-sponsorship, much like Compassion.

And if you don't read Kristen's blog, you need to! Kristen traveled to Africa last month with Compassion, and it changed her life. I can't help but want to support a ministry that makes such a big impact on people's lives.

Both of these charities allow families to spend a small amount of money each month (less than $40) to provide food, shelter, clothing and education for children in some of the poorest parts of the world. Sponsors also write letters and send small gifts to their "kids," and many times, a life-long relationship is born of the sponsorship role. If I had never-ending funds, I would most certainly support these two organizations endlessly.

Head on over to The Seattle Smith's to link up!
post signature

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

More baby shower goodness

On Saturday, one of my BFFs, Melissa and her mom (one of my mom's BFFs) hosted a baby shower for my sister. Yes, my sister is incredibly loved and this baby will be ridiculously spoiled, as this was her FOURTH baby shower! It was so much fun! Please enjoy the pictures and commentary.

Mom made Erin put a name tag on the baby. It was pretty cute :)

Hannah's nursery will be all about animals, and Melissa found the cutest decorations on this website.

She took one of the plates to the Kroger bakery, and they made this cake. It was adorable AND delicious!

 For favors, Melissa found a template to make baby booties out of scrapbook paper. She, her mom and her grandmother spent quite a bit of time Easter weekend crafting these cuties. They filled them with Sour Patch Kids, one of Erin's favorite candies. 


 Some of the guests (top) and my Mom's "Ya-Yas" and Erin (bottom). All of these ladies graduated from high school together! My mom is the one on the far right that is standing up.

Gifts! My aunt brought the one in the owl wrapping paper. The paper came from Borders and was even sparkly! This totally screamed "JULIE!" to me.

Speaking of Julie, she couldn't come to the shower, but she sent the CUTEST gift. It started with the adorable envelope she mailed it in! 

Erin's reaction when she saw the gift. You see, it's SO JULIE, that she couldn't help but laugh. 

Yup, it's a little baby Polo outfit and Laura Ashley shoes. Hannah is officially better dressed than I am! SO STINKIN' CUTE!!!!

And, of course, the obligatory "wrap momma-to-be in toilet paper" shot. It took 11 sheets to go around her belly, but she's probably up to 12 or 13 today--She's growing A LOT!


post signature