TTFN

Blog: This thing you're reading.

Hiatus: suspension; interruption in the intensity or amount of something

Me: Put them together and you get what I'm taking.

Many blessings until I get back!

On the road again...

I'm sad and glad all at once to say the Civ' has been replaced. Hubs and I spent a lot of the weekend car hunting and yesterday we came home with this black beauty. It's a Hyundai Sonata GLS. It came down between a couple different cars, but this one drives like a charm and you can't beat the price for what you get at the best financing around: 0% for 60 months.

I finally got to make a Walmart trip tonight and I'll be going to the grocery store tomorrow night. Then it's time to catch up on the housework that got behind while we were out test driving cars and dealing with salesmen all weekend. Man, I'm glad that's over.

Blessings and Happy Monday!

It's just not right.

I'm so glad it's Friday! Hubs and I are relaxing tonight and tomorrow we are going car shopping... unless it's pouring down rain. Then tomorrow night we're going to a friend's for a pumpkin carving party. Sunday will be a relaxing day, hopefully to include church... it may also involve car purchasing if we don't get to go tomorrow.

This is going to be fairly brief because we still haven't watched House yet for this week and it's waiting patiently on our DVR, but before I go I have to share something...

I got my November issue of Better Homes and Gardens today. I've only flipped through the first few pages while I was eating dinner, but I flipped through enough to come to something that totally disappointed me. That something was this:

I'm sorry, but it's just not right. And it gets worse because this is just one of many, and it's not the most ridiculous one.

There is just something about him that I don't like. It's like he's too darn pretty... or at least he thinks he is. Really he just needs to get blitzed a few more times.

I mean, how stupid is this? This is a quarterback kicking an invisible football, not a rugged studmuffin I would typically associate with Stetson cologne.

And then there's this picture I found while looking for the initial Stetson ad. I don't even know what to say, which is why I'm saying nothing...

But instead of punishing you by leaving you with the last picture of Brady and his new teammate, I'm fixing it all forever by showing you this:

Now the first time I saw this ad, it was obvious to me it was a Stetson ad and there is no doubt about the studmuffin part. Agreed?

Blessings and Happy Friday!

Wed-nes-day

The weather today was beautiful. Warm, but in a fall kind of way.

I've caught up on my housekeeping duties.

I went to the gym this afternoon.

The last two things (exercise and a clean home) make me quite joyful.

I drank water from a wine glass with dinner tonight.
I know it's silly, but I quite enjoy it.

I'm about to eat some homemade apple pie for dessert.

After dessert I'm going to read and journal and
then cuddle up for a good night's sleep.

Life is simple, but oh so good around here and
I hope it is wherever you are too.

Blessings and Happy Wednesday!

Laundry Monster

I should be embarrassed, but like I've said before, this is life as I know it and I'm just keeping it real. Laundry has taken over in my master bedroom and this picture doesn't even begin to describe the immensity of this pile.

I was a giant slacker this weekend. Recovering from the trauma of my "fender bender," I guess. But Hubby has run out of non-tight boxer shorts, so it's time to seriously snap out of it and get back to my regularly scheduled housekeeping.

It really makes me feel better to stay caught up, so I've begun to tackle this task tonight, as well as getting back on track with some other stuff.

Hubs will be thankful tomorrow when he doesn't have to squeeze into his boxer briefs.

Ha! Blessings and Happy Tuesday!

Horrible Start, Yummy End.

This weekend was a long weekend for me, in more ways than one. Thursday was my short day at work and Friday was my flex day. I was looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

Unfortunately, my long weekend started with what's seen below. I ran into someone coming up to a red light in the rain on my way home from work on Thursday. It SUCKED, with a capital everything. It was deemed totaled so this week I'm browsing online for a new car and waiting for the insurance check to come so I can buy one and get back to my "normal" life.

As many people have told me, cars can be replaced but I can't. I'm so thankful for their support and to know I'm so loved! :)

Fortunately, my weekend ended this morning in a delicious way when I got to work and found a huge piece (about twice the size seen- I'd already eaten some!) of coconut cake waiting for me in the fridge.

It was my coworker/friend's birthday on Saturday and her dispatch partner had made her this cake. It's one of our favorite kinds and I'm so glad they thought of me and saved me a piece!

Also fortunately, I had some of this foolishness below in between to make me laugh. One of the favors at the wedding last weekend was little champagne glasses of bubbles and it turns out Lucy quite enjoys bubbles. As soon as I'd pick up the bottle and pull out the wand, she'd start to yowl.

As usual, I doubt anyone finds it as entertaining as I do, but it really makes me laugh and brings me joy... every couple of nights since we figured out how much she loves it!

I hope you're able to find some of that laughter and joy in your day too!

Blessings and happy Monday!

A day in the life of...

Today was a cool, and somewhat rainy, day here in NoVa. I had a fairly uneventful day at work, but am thankful the work part of the day passed rather quickly. My commute felt dreadfully long and by the time I got home I was exhausted from being in the car. I immediately changed into sweats and made my staple home-alone dinner of chicken sausage gumbo soup (from a can) and a quesadilla (not from a can). I ate curled up on the couch covered in Orange Hugs (a quilt made by my Grand Mama) with Lucy sporadically cuddled up against me. Although I could have gotten some things accomplished, I chose to spend my evening watching a girlie movie and enjoying some wind down time. Now I'm going to climb into bed to read and maybe journal a bit.

I know this isn't a particularly inspiring post, but I feel excessively inclined to post and I have to work with what I've got.

Fortunately, part of what I've got is a knack for finding great websites and though my day may not be very inspiring, I leave you that a website that is: Craft Hope. If you are crafty at all, sign up and make a difference.

Blessings and Happy Wednesday!

Mosaic Monday

Trying something new for a post again, this time participating (for the first time) in Mosaic Mondays at Little Red House.

My mosaic for today consists of pictures of a wedding Hubs and I attended on Saturday for one of his business frat brothers at a beautiful bed and breakfast about five to eight minutes from our condo. It amazes me such a rural looking place is so close to the busyness of our every day lives.

The first time I drove by this B&B, I thought it would be a beautiful place for a wedding, so you can imagine my delight when we received their wedding invite!

Here's Hubby being a gentleman and helping one of the grandmothers down the stairs. He doesn't get many opportunities to be a gentleman, so that's why I decided to catch it with the camera. Once the outdoor cocktail hour was over, we went inside for the reception. We were drawn back outside for a bit before dinner, though, because of this gorgeous sunset. The camera didn't capture it as well as I'd hoped, but that's user inexperience, not a camera malfunction.

Hubs even got his picture taken with me, so that was lovely! :)

Hope everyone had an awesome weekend and a great start to the week!

Blessings and Happy Monday!

Friday's Favorites

The last two days at work have been kind of a joke. I haven't had any work to do and so I've just been browsing the web and keeping myself busy... or at least looking like I'm busy.

So, on this gorgeous fall Friday, I'm going to share some bits of my week, including some new websites I found while I was "working" and some I reacquainted myself with that I already knew about.

Because it's what I do, I'm sharing it all in list form:

1. I thought Jim's speech about Pam at the rehearsal dinner was going to be dumb (after hearing parts of it on radio ads), but it actually brought a tear to my eye. And I thought it was great they ended up really making it their day and getting married on the Maid of the Mist. I don't care that they aren't a real couple, I think they are adorable.

2. If you don't know what I'm talking about in #1, please ignore me.

3. Hubby asked me last night if I was smitten with him. It made me laugh a lot.

4. He also made me laugh when he walked in on me (does that sound dirty to anyone else?) playing Farmville before work on Wednesday morning and before he could say anything, I said, "I haven't played in three days, so leave me alone," to which he replied, "So this is a relapse?"

5. Can someone please tell me why Farmville is so addictive? I just love taking care of my animated crops and farm animals and don't even get me started on arranging my cow, goat, pig, bunny, and elephant shaped topiaries.

6. About #5, again it's probably best to ignore me.

7. Reacquainted website love and laughter: Cake Wrecks. I even checked out the book they just released when I was waiting for my tires to get replaced yesterday (not a euphemism). The author of the blog and the book is hilarious and I recommend you check it out.

8. New websites and serious home decorating inspiration: Phoebe Howard (lots of great room photos at this link). Also check out her personal shopper's blog at Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper.

9. I bought some new clothes. I had been saving and waiting to cash in my rewards points on my credit card. I pretty much never buy new stuff for myself like that, but I'm glad to now have some new sweaters and such for fall.

10. I've got nothing more, really, but I had to make it an even ten, so yaaaayyyy for more blow up decorations at the Shell station that make me laugh but I haven't been able to take a picture of because I haven't had my camera but just imagine a giant blow up black cat whose head turns back and forth either in the wind or mechanically.

Hope you all had an awesome week and that your weekend is wonderful!

Blessings and Happy Friday!

Tea for... one.

The cooler weather has struck here in NoVa and I'm actually quite enjoying it. I'm loving the crisp cool air in favor of the hot muggy air of summer.

I'm also loving a cup of tea in the evenings. It's a warm, comforting treat before I curl up into bed.

I don't drink anything fancy, just regular Lipton Tea- no, not decaf before bed. I'm lucky (or unlucky?) to not be particularly affected by caffeine or sugary drinks.

Although the tea isn't fancy, the cups up the special factor significantly. Some of them are from thrift stores, but the majority are a set given to me by my mother-in-law. She had them in her cupboard when Hubs and I were dating and I always admired them. One day Hubby told her so and the next thing I knew, they were mine.I'm thankful for such blessings and the ability to enjoy something so simple. I hope you all are able to experience such things as well.

Blessings and Happy Wednesday!

It's that time of year again...

Blow up decoration time!

I've shared this Shell station before, last year at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now it's time for their Halloween blow up decoration extravaganza!

Okay, so maybe it's not an extravaganza, as they have just a fraction of the Halloween decorations that they have for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

But at least they have some sort of creature on a motorcycle!

Ha!

Blessings and Happy Tuesday!

Tablescape Thursday

Welcome to my spot on the Tablescape Thursday tour, hosted by Between Naps on the Porch. I've only done this once before, but I really enjoyed it, so here we go again!

This time the table is dressed up for fall, as are the shelves I shared on Tuesday (also seen below).

Orange is one of my favorite colors, so I really enjoy this tablescape. What looks like a runner is actually two valances I laid out side by side. They are from my Grama and I believe she got them on a trip to Ukraine.

I already had the black tray (from the estate sale with Mum this summer), the two orange doilies (from Mum), candles, vintage dish (belonged to my Grammie Lucy), and black swirly candle holder. The leaf salt and pepper shakers are from Walmart ($2).

I also already had the black placemats, plates, and flatware, but I purchased the napkins (2 for $3 at Walmart) and the leaves and ribbon (discounted 50% at Michaels).

I hope you've enjoyed my spot on the tour and be sure to check back to Between Naps on the Porch for many more lovely tables!

Blessings and Happy Thursday!