Some May Think We are Crazy...

September will mark 3 years of marriage for me & Chad (Is that correct grammar? I really hate grammar. I mean I am by no means an English major. I get the easy stuff, but sometimes I think the "right way" doesn't always sound right to me or better yet the way I actually talk.) we are now living in our second home in a nice/older neighborhood with a playground and walking track. We live on a quite street and love our neighbors! Hey Kendra!! :D

Both homes that we have owned were Foreclosures. We got a really good deal on the first one. It was built in 2003, 3BR/2Bth just the right size for newlyweds and first time home owners. Get this....our mortgage payment was $365 and that included insurance and property tax!!!! BUT. It. Was. In. The. Boonies!!!! Chad and the woman who told us about the house convinced me it wasn't that far from our hometown and basically there wasn't a whole lot I could do about the situation. I didn't contribute a whole lot to the finances, so that was the house we could afford and besides it wouldn't be forever. And forever it wasn't. We lived there for ONE year! Actually not even a whole year. I put so many miles on my car it was ridiculous. Every time I looked at the miles it was another thousand more. Before I knew it I had 10 thousand miles on my car. FYI-to date I have over 68k miles on my almost 3 year old car. Which had 0 miles on it when I bought it in February of 2007!

We bought our current home Summer 2007. Sometimes I think we rushed it, but you live and learn and it's not always forever. Our current home is 3BR/2Bth 2 car garage with an in ground swimming pool. No pictures of the front. I took this picture before it was officially ours. Sorry for the horribleness...

Charlie was checking it out. He is so skiddish. So...there it is. Not too big. Just right for us. If you don't have a pool, then you have no clue about the up keep that is involved. I have grown up with a pool and dreaded the every other day vacumming and general maintenance. It wasn't near as bad living at home, because it wasn't all my responsibility. Having one of my own was a whole other story. There is a lot of time and not to mention money that is involved with having a pool. We weren't looking for a house with a pool. It's just the house we bought "happened" to have a pool. We swam a couple of times the summer we bought the house and a few times last summer. This summer....not one single time. We were just maintaining it for nothing. I was done with the pool. Tired of my pool guy dad coming over cleaning it or fixing some thing and basically throwing away our money. So I made the decision to just get rid of it. And that is what we did. We buried it! And we did it ourselves with some help of our friends.

I think it has been one of quickest projects to date. And we are not one for home projects. We aren't so concerned with the outward appearance of our house or yard. We are never home and a lot of times on the weekends yard work is the last thing we want to do.

Here are the pictures I took of the progress. I was a little bummed when Chad started the inittial work without me being there to take pictures! He of course, thought I was crazy. : ) One day he will be so glad that he has a wife that loves to take pictures of everything.

Friday when I came home from the Zoo. Took this one with my phone.

Brandon & Zac working. Sorry for the fuzziness.

Friday night. The whole was just about completly filled. We needed more dirt.

The hole is completly filled and the fence and all the shrubs that were once in that corner are gone. I actually feel like our yard looks smaller.

We have a long way to go with making it look like a back yard and not a mud pit, but I already feel like a huge burden has been lifted. It was really crazy for us to have a pool. My parents have a pool and live less than 5 miles from us. So I will leave the headaches up to them. : ) They enjoy it a lot more than we do anyway.

Changes

I hate change. Especially if it's something I really like and am used to, but sometimes change is necessary. Very necessary in this case. What's the change you ask?

I Got a New Hairstylist!!

Pretty lame, I know, but you don't understand. I started having major issues with my previous stylists which I tried to ignore because I LOVED the way she did my hair. I have people on a weekly basis ask me who does my hair...total strangers who are not even familiar with where I live.

The last time I had a problem should have been the last, but I went back and she apologized, and cut my hair for FREE. Of course I had to wait an hour for her to even cut my hair.

My last appointment was around Easter so I am way over due for a cut. I call her Friday afternoon (around 2) to see if she had any openings. She didn't answer. I left a voicemail. By 4 o' clock I hadn't heard from her so I sent her a text. Letting her know I needed a cut really bad and did she have anything open. She didn't reply until 6:30. Saying she wasn't working Saturday, but would get with me on Monday...have a good weekend...blah blah.

Monday rolls around and I hadn't thought much about it since I was pretty busy at work. I send her a text around 2 o' clock to just touch base. Monday comes to an end with no return text or call. I was officially done!

Tuesday morning I made an appointment with a woman who used to cut my hair several years ago. She was just starting out and I was still in high school. She is now at a new salon in town and is more... I guess you would say... it is one of the more popular current salons. I am a little surprised that my old girl hasn't went there.

Tuesday afternoon "old girl" sends me a text asking if 4:30 on Friday would work? I wanted to just ignore it, but on the other hand wanted her to know that she has horrible business and time management skills I found someone who can work with my schedule better and actually calls people back!!!! I did tell her that I appreciated her getting back with me, but I found someone else. Thank you!

The End.

I haven't heard back from her. I really hope she didn't think I was being ugly. I wasn't. I have told her over and over that I LOVE the way she cuts&styles my hair. I even sent her new customers! I didn't want to find someone else, but I can't wait and wait for a call or text back and then wait and wait to get a cut. My time is valuable and I don't have time for that!

It looks like my new girl is on top of things. I received a confirmation call this morning for my appointment tomorrow! Yay for call backs! : )

I am debating on taking Olivia with me for her to get a little trim. I am not sure if I am ready for it and honestly I need someone to go with me and no one is really available tomorrow. We will see...

Pic of the Day

I ♥ Faces

This week's challenge at I ♥ Faces is At the Beach.

As most of y'all know (yes, y'all. You guys sounds funny and I would never say that anyway) we had our first family of 3 vacation to the beach in June. Olivia loved the beach and we were thrilled. This is still my favorite picture. I think this will be the 3rd time that I have posted it. Maybe the third times a charm!



Unfortunately, I did not have my new camera at that time, but I still love this picture!

Lovin' This...

All weddings should be this much fun.

Thursday's 13

Haven't done one of these in a while...

• The pre-school group from church is going to the Zoo tomorrow. This will be Olivia's first trip. I have been planning a trip for a while now and just haven't gotten around to going.
  
• Last night I cooked for the first time in I don't know how long weeks, maybe even months.
  
• We are in the process of covering burying our pool! More details to come later.
  
• I just about have all of Olivia's birthday party planning covered. I am so glad I didn't wait til the last minute for once in my life!
  
• I am so excited about a short get-a-way weekend to the beach in August.
  
• Summer is slowly starting to wind down and I am just not ready for it to end!
  
• Me&Chad have been discussing putting our house on the market. I would love a new house, but would not love the move!
  
• I am getting better with my new camera. I still want to take some kind of photography class.
  
• I am such a slacker when it comes to having pictures developed. I was ahead (with just snap shot pictures) now not so much and I still haven't got any pictures from Olivia's 6 & 9 month pictures. The 6 month pictures are on a CD and the 9 month pictures a friend took and our on her website. I need to get those ASAP!
  
• I have come to the conclusion that my job isn't that bad, but some aspects could still be better.
  
• It is almost time for Olivia's first haircut. She has some wild hair and it needs to be trimmed up around her ears.
  
• I need want one of these
  
  

• And one of these...

Well that's enough of my randomness!

Not so Wordless Wednesday

Olivia's little personality is really starting to shine through. It's so bitter sweet to see her grow and learn new things. She will try to mimic things that we do all the time. Her new thing lately is popping her mouth like a Indian. Here is she is doing it out by the pool on Saturday.

Sometimes it's still hard for me to believe I am a Mother. Is that bad? It's very surreal to me sometimes. Just a few weeks ago when we were at the beach I remember thinking Olivia wasn't even here last year.

And now she is running around, playing in the sand and swimming in the pool. It's crazy how fast time goes by and I know it's not going to slow up any. She will be starting school before we know it.

Here's another picture from right around this time last year. Me&Bri at my shower. Now she is pregnant with twin girls. Allie Beth&Emma Claire. Due any day!

Remember her, the girls and her family in your prayers. She has been on strict bed rest for going on 3 weeks. I think. Everyone is very anxious to meet these two sweet girls.

I am done for the night. I am soooo sleepy. We have got to start going to bed earlier. I don't think I ever get in the bed before 11:30. Last night it was after 1 before we went to sleep. Why am I doing this to myself, I have no clue??

More Birthday Planning

I found this cake online and loved it minus the bows and little dots poking out.

d

I ordered the party supplies today. Plates, napkins, and balloons.

They didn't have what I thought they had at Party City.

So I ordered these from here.

I found these serving pieces (along with another cupcake plate to match the smaller one) at TJ Max with Amanda Friday. I thought they were to cute and figured I could use them for something. I only spent $25 for 3 pieces.

Please ignore the horrible pictures. I was in a hurry.

Okay, so this has to be my most exciting buy so far. I wanted to do have something special for people to sign or write something to Olivia on her birthday. I was pretty much settled on getting a picture frame where people could sign the matte. So yesterday, after I got off work, I made a trip to Hobby Lobby. I picked up a few smaller things for the party (cookie cutters in the shapes of a party hat and present. I plan to use these for the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we are going to make for some of the smaller kids.) then made my way to the framing. I was not crazy about the frames they had for people to sign. They were just plain and boring. Not cute and girly. This one guy started to help me and told me I could choose any custom matte and they would cut it for me there. I browsed the colors, went back to the frames trying to make a decision and was stuck. I am the worst about making decision. Especially when it comes to things like this. Another framing associate (a woman this time) came out from the back and we just kind of made eye contact when I said, "I need help." And she REALLY helped me. I explained to her what I wanted to do and that it was for my little girl's first birthday. You could tell she was just as excited as I was. We picked the matte color and frame, then she told me how about stamping out Olivia's name in the matte and how we could put scrap book paper behind the letters. I was all for it. I had just looked at the scrapbook isle wishing I was a scrapbooker because all that paper was so cute! I go pick the paper (which took forever because I am so indecisive) came back to the frames where Jennifer tells me she happened to have the color matte in stock and could do the stamp today! She already had everything ready and wanted me take a look before she cut of the picture and name. Okay...so to make this a little shorter she totally out did herself (in my book). She was so sweet and helpful. You can't hardly find help like that anymore.

Here is the finished product.

I will go back once people have signed it to have the glass put on. Isn't it so cute?!? I love it and it's something special that Olivia can have forever.

The story of my life...

Warning: This is very long and detailed. Sorry for the longest post in my history.


Today is Thursday. Which means it's my Friday. And I couldn't be more happier. This week is VBS at church and it is wearing me out. I leave work, go straight to church, leave church around 8:45, drop off the stupid mail at our other office, pick up Olivia at my moms, get home around 9 or 9:15, get her ready for bed and then try to do a few things in the house. Uh...that made me tired just typing it out! My house is a disaster/clothes need to put away that have been sitting in the clothes basket going on 2 weeks / need to wash more clothes/ the pool that we have not even swam in needs attention/ we need groceries/ grass needs to be cut/ and basically my house needs a total over haul, like yesterday! Oh and while I'm at it...I hate (yest HATE) Charter. I don't know how they even have customers and no wonder they are bankrupt. Their service is horrible! And if I have to call them one more time (or they call me) I might have a come-a-part!

I need just one more issue that I have to handle. Seriously, this isn't even everything that I am dealing with right now. When it rains it pours. I know these are by no means end of the world/ life altering problems, but gee....Can I catch a break?!? PLEASE!!

So, I guess my biggest issue at hand would be my job. You might remember a recent post about a horrible day I had at work. I didn't and don't give a lot of details about my job, because A) People I work with could read this. B) It could bite my in the tail. BUT why do you have to sensor something that you do on your personal time?!? I don't name drop and I am certainly not making up the stuff I say. I haven't even gave specific details. If you read this (who ever you are) and you have problems with what I am about to say or have said in the past or may say in the future. Then maybe you need to step up, be real, and make some changes!

Here's a little background on my job. (Like this post could get any longer) I have worked with "The Best Company Ever, Inc" : D since I was a senior in high school, going on 6 years. They have 2 offices, one in my home town and a larger, more corporate, office in Birmingham. When I started out, I worked with the family (the original owners. Two men, brother-in-laws, in their late 80s). I was basically their personal assistant. I managed their money, paid their bills, took them places, you name it I did it. I started going to Birmingham to help out in the summers, which later turned into 3 days a week. Then I graduated college and they wanted me to work full time in Birmingham. I agreed. The money was nice, I didn't know what I wanted to do after college ( I only had my associates degree and didn't know what direction I wanted to go after that.) I had nothing holding me back. Why not? It's not really that bad of a drive.

So...Here I am now....t-r-a-p-p-e-d. I have mixed emotions about leaving since this is the only thing I know. I have history here. People ask me questions. I make decent money (more than working at a bank or just some other random job, especially in my home town). I work four days a week. I usually work any from 9 or 9:30 to 4:30 (some days later). Basically, I do what I want to do, but I get my work done. I am accountable, dependable, trustworthy, always HERE (unlike some most people in our office). Besides taking a vacation (that we just took and was only 4 days, since I don't work on Fridays anyway,) I have only missed ONE. DAY. THIS. WHOLE. YEAR. It was in January. I got food poison from Taco Bell and it was horrible! I actually felt guilty for not coming to work. How crazy is that?!?
I know, you're probably thinking, "she is crazy, she has it made." But there is a whole lot of other stuff I could share, that I am not, because this post is already long enough, and by now no one is probably even reading this.
But I am tired of driving back and forth. I want to go back to school and I will never be able to do that working in Birmingham. And I work with a real inconsiderate person and I have had enough. And that is putting it real nice!

I recently had a really good interview with a very nice man at a company similar to where I work now, met his wife and son (who work with him), met with him for over an hour, he walked me out to my car. I thought it was in the bag. NO. SUCH. LUCK. It was nothing against me. He said I was wonderful and thought highly of me, but he wasn't going to hire anyone right now. He was/is having issues with someone in his office and was going to let them go and when they got word that he was looking and interviewing they straightened up. I have some connections from my MIL who helped/ and told me about him looking for someone so I know a little bit more about what is going on than, just some random person.
I am so frustrated, overwhelmed and tired of being told no. Why can't I find something? Obviously it's not the best of times to be looking for a job, but is every body struggling? I did send Mr. Nice Man (the man I interviewed with) an email this morning letting him know that I appreciated the opportunity to interview with him and hoped he would keep me in mind if something becomes available in the future.Maybe it will work out or maybe he will pass my name on to someone else...

So there you have it. Well, most of it anyway. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I am just praying that God will open the doors in my life. He knows my desires and he knows my current job situation. I know He will see my through this small phase in my life. I just have to give it to him and he will take care of the rest. I have used this quote before and here it is again.

" When God leads you to the edge of a cliff, trust HIM fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall or He'll teach you how to fly!!!"

One more thing. I promise. If one more person ask the question, "I thought you were a nurse?" I might throw up. Not really, but I want to. I always laugh and reply with, "no, but I want to be!"

Fotos

I think I may be a little obsessed with my new camera. And I bet people think I am a total nerd, for all the picture takin'. I can't help it. You don't learn or get better unless you practice, practice, practice!

Tonight was Matt&Rebecca's rehearsal at the Methodist church with dinner following at the Country Club. You know I took my camera! I am not trying to be a photographer. I just like to take pictures and it's just a interest. And I am by no means as good as others!

Here are some pictures I took. I didn't really take a whole lot. I deleted a whole lot more.

Everyone has to have this shot

the flowers

mother&daughter

just playin'

Love this new dress

side view

thought this was neat

The Word!

Those are real apples

Best Man & Groom

Can't beat that!

Today I shopped for more birthday stuff. I wanted to go ahead and decide on the invitations and work on getting them ordered/bought. I was kind of trying to avoid buying them online to save money and shipping costs, if I could buy them locally. So this was the invitation I was pretty much set on. The cheapest I found it was $13 for a pack of 10. I had figured that 30 invitations should be plenty. 30 printed invitations would cost $57 plus tax and shipping. Not to bad, but I thought I could get it cheaper and I was pretty sure I had saw this invitation before at Birmingham Paper Works. So, I call and describe the card to the woman and she said they were out. BUT they had another cupcake card that was on CLEARANCE! She described the card and told me how many she had left and I told her to hold them. I would drive down and look at them. I looked them up online before going, because I was pretty sure I had saw the card she described. This is the card I found.
I wasn't as excited about it as the first but thought it was still cute. The envelope is really cute. It has a cupcake on the front and one on the back. This picture showing the envelope is the back. Isn't it cute? I am fixing to make it a whole lot cuter! This card online is $14 for 10 invitations. $60 for 30 printed invitations plus tax and shipping.

Do you know how much I paid for 30 cards at Paper Works?

$0.65 per card!!!! I got 30 cards for $21.45 (tax included)!!!! I was so excited! I don't know what it is about getting good deals on stuff, but I get so excited. And I always feel like I have to tell some one. Probably because I don't get too many good deals!


And another thing...I printed them today. For FREE!! Charlene helped me set up the margins and we printed them. Do you want to know how much Paper Works charges for printing?


$7.50 set up and $0.50 per card!! That's $22.50!! More than what I paid for the cards!!

Here is the the card printed.
(Edited. I can't have some weirdo calling me.)

One little candle on one little cake...

One first year to celebrate!

Olivia's 1st Birthday!!

So the card wasn't my first choice necessarily, but it's just as cute and a whole cheaper!

Our Little Cupcake

Olivia's first birthday is next month. I can't believe she will be turning ONE!!!! Where did the year go?!?



I have started planning her cupcake themed party and made my first purchase today.

Her outfit

with her name monogrammed in the above font.

And here are the invitations that I like.

I haven't found the supplies yet, but I think they have what I want at Party City.

The other night me and Chad were talking about needing to start planning the party and deciding where to have it. I started to make a list of people that we would invite and before I knew it I had 50 people and counting! Seems like it's going to be a lot of work & money!

Wordless Wednesday

Via my new Nikon D60!!

Precious

Also, I have finally posted more beach pictures. Check the post from June 30th.

Blog Hop

MckMama & Brent Riggs have started a Blog Hop. Each week they will have a different hop. This week is your favorite photo.
We recently went to the beach and this picture has become one of my favorite action shots of Olivia. I just love her little hands in the air, the wind blowing her hair.

Going, Going, Gone!

I finally got a decent video of Olivia walking. This was at my parents house this afternoon. Please ignore her baggy onesie (it's a 9mo and still big) and my weird laugh.

Happy Birthday & The Fairly Odd Couple

Today is my 23rd Birthday. Woohoo....it really is just another day. I mean after you turn 16 birthdays don't really matter. Well, maybe 18 or 20 and 21 if you drink, but I don't so that wasn't a biggy. Anyway...I didn't do anything special today. It's mid week and I had to work and we went to church. My mom made me a strawberry/angel food/pudding/cool whip dessert. It's really good. Bottom layer angel food cake pieces then pudding and strawberries. You can usually make two or three layers.
I am going to get a camera...a real camera. I hope to go Friday, but that might change. So that is a pretty nice gift. And I think I have more money than what I need so that is even better!

So Chad did get me a birthday card. And it was pretty funny and it was even more funny that he was somewhat excited about it. We usually always do silly cards. And this is what his card said...

There are two reasons why I want to be with you on your Birthday:

1. I Love You.

open the card...

2. I've seen you naked!

And I don't think I will share what he wrote to me. But he did sign it Mr. If you don't know us, then you have no clue why I call Chad Mr. And honestly, I don't know how it really started, but it stuck. Big. Time. So much so that he calls me Misty because I pronounce Mr (Mister). And if it's not Misty it's Buddy. People even joke that they can't wait for Olivia to start calling him Mister!

But that is just us. We are not the lovey dovey baby, honey, sweetie type people. And that is okay with us!

Love you mister!!

On another note. I still haven't finished posting beach pictures and I pretty much think Olivia is now a walker. Last night while I was running her bath water she walked out of the bathroom, into the hall and into the doorway leading into our bedroom. The most steps she has ever took! It was so funny I was walked in and saw her just walking out of the bathroom. I just started laughing....It doesn't look like she should be walking. I still haven't put it on video. I am such a slacker.

Well...Mister is in bed waiting on me. Why do men think we have to be in there if they are?

Good Night!

Wordless Wednesday

More to come....