I'm melting! Melting....!

It is a cool & crisp 98 degrees today in sunny Alabama. I'd guess it is a heat index of 143. Maybe a little higher. I have a lot to do today, but I don't want to do any of it because it is sweltering outside!!

In fact, I don't even want to do anything inside either! I went grocery shopping today and had 1 coupon. Yep, saved a whopping $.40 today on some yogurt. I just do not have the energy to cut coupons or plan out my grocery trips lately. Not to mention I am just not seeing the savings because I have been such a picky eater also.

I've gained 6lbs back. Nearly back to where I started 8 months ago. Its amazing to look back at weight loss and see the ups and downs every single month only to be exactly where I was when I started... again.

I know 100% that I eat when stressed and my brain can only handle 1 trying thing at a time. Not coupons, not cleaning, not eating right, just job searching. However, I'm turning over the not-so-new leaf again! For the 14th or so time!!

I am going to tackle more than just job searching, and I figure while I am not interviewing - I don't have a single one lined up this week - I should be able to devote all my attention to being healthy, cleaning my house and getting back to my budget!

I did happen to tackle yet another thing off my list (only 2 months late). #16 - Landscape. I have trimmed 5 of 7 shrubs (4 years passed due) and dug up 1/2 my irises to transplant them into the new bed that Ben built. I have 2 more shrubs and one large clump of irises to go, but did I mention it is HOTTTT out there?!

Currently our attic fan is out.... causing the air conditioner to blow warm 78 degree air. I know the power company says to keep your thermostat at 78 to save money, but has anyone actually tried living in 78 degrees?! Its impossible to sleep like that unless you have 5 fans blowing on you while you are naked.

The attic is so hot that when Ben hands me a tool from the attic (he is up there working on it as we speak) I can't touch the metal without burning my fingers! I guess I should be monitoring Ben's well being instead of blogging right now.

Happy Monday!

Chattanooga

This weekend was incredible! Ben and I went to Chattanooga for our 3rd anniversary trip. He planned most of it since I am a cheapskate and can't handle how much things cost!

We didn't realize that this weekend was the first weekend of a 10-day festival and things would be VERY crowded. Fortunately though we did touristy things instead of the festival and avoided the crowds, for the most part.

Friday he planned for us to go on a river boat sunset dinner cruise and let me tell you, if you ever go to Chattanooga, this should be first on your list! It was so much fun!

The food was delicious and the company was very entertaining. I was a little worried when we sat down because it was at a 4-top table with another couple's name at the other two seats. THIS is not my ideal eating situation. I don't really like eating with strangers. I have to admit I did say a quick prayer before they got there that they wouldn't be crazy! Well, they were a fun, entertaining older couple and things went just fine. The group sitting next to us on the other side happened to be from Birmingham too.


Saturday we visited Lookout Mountain and Rock City. Both were so much fun! We started Lookout Mountain by riding the Incline Railway which is apparently the steepest railway in the nation. It was HOT, HUMID and way too close to the other people for me. The panic started to set in at one point where I thought if I don't get off this train in 3 seconds I was jumping and sliding back down the mountain. Thankfully, Ben switched places with me and we arrived at the top quickly.
I can't get over the houses that are perched atop this mountain. There was a whole neighborhood! This one below was right next to the railway up and it was just gorgeous! I can't even imagine how much they cost!

Everything was just beautiful! Apparently you can see 5 states or something like that from the top, but I never found any signs of where to look and which was which, so I just accepted that it was gorgeous and far!

After that we went to Rock City which is a garden of rocks and caverns at the top of the mountain. It was so much fun!

Thankfully because we were walking among rocks most of the time it wasn't real hot until we finished. I did have my moments though where I thought I would have to go the 'short-way out' to avoid walking through places called Fat Man Squeeze. Here is Ben heading down through it:

But a sweet little grandmother made me go down (Here Ben was trying to coax me down, but I made him see if he could fit first... he was supposed to come back and get me but people kept coming through), she walked with me until I made it through the other side telling me about the rocks and other funny things so I wouldn't freak out!

We also ate at a very good pizza place called Lupi's Pizza (SOOO good!) and the Moon Pie General Store! Ben LOVES moon pies and we had to have a moon pie sundae!

We made it home today and both had such a great time. It was definitely worth spending the money! Ben was a little more carefree about the money than I would have been, but hopefully soon we'll have that other income to replenish the savings account!

Moving right along & 3-year anniversary!

I had an 'interview' yesterday. It was more of a meet and greet in which a wonderful person at a board of education told me a lot about her and her school system and told me that she's on my side. She also told me who to call for a position that just opened (that I was planning on going by today). I'm very grateful to have her name and recommendation!

Today I am going to go to 3 other schools and have 1 more interview!

It's also Ben and I's 3rd anniversary!!!

We're going to go out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Village Tavern, because I happen to have a gift card and a free dessert there!

Ben also so wonderfully fulfilled one of the things on my list from last year (that rolled over to this year). He got me a leather bound wedding album!!! He was too cute about it. Since apparently these sort of things take many weeks, he had to wrap up someone else's album that looks like the one he got. HAH! I opened it and was like, that's not us... but the funny thing is that they did get married on the same day as us and he didn't even plan it. (Apparently they weren't 3 years behind on getting their album). But I love it and am so excited to see the finished product!

My gift to him was a leather wallet (he's obsessed with Fossil wallets and although he didn't NEED another one, he likes to have one waiting in reserve should his ever fall apart) and inside I put a check for VACATION! He loved it! And we are going to Chattanooga, TN this weekend! So I'd have to say I will conquer two more things on the list - Let go of some money once in awhile and go to a touristy place near us that I haven't been!

I'm very excited! I looked at their CVB website and there are so many things to do there, yet its only 3 hours from our house! Perfect. We'll be home in time to have dinner with my dad for Father's Day.

Full of hot air

I am still working on my year-28-list, but this day should have definitely been on it. You know how much I love hot air balloons right? Say yes. When I see on in the car I am fascinated with it, I of course always take pictures of them while driving or just reduce my speed to see if it comes any closer to where I am. (Have I told you what a great driver I am?)

There was a hot air balloon festival in Tuscaloosa yesterday and I woke Ben and my nephew up at 5am to go! It was a sunrise balloon race (although it was explained to me that hot air balloons don't actually 'race').

Me - very excited!

Austin - pretty excited.

Ben - a little grumpy.
It was so much fun, they let us get up close to the balloons as they were putting them up and taking off. I honestly have no idea how many there were, maybe 20?

A few people almost got hit in the head as they took off.

But it was a wonderful day followed by a baby shower for our neighbors. I didn't even have to work yesterday at my dad's store because we went to the festival. My bank account will suffer, but this was definitely on a list of things to do before turning 28.... maybe made better if I actually got to go up in one?
I did decide that activities like this are MUCH more fun with kids. Austin and I had a great time while Ben grumped to himself (5am and hunger contributed to this). All the pictures of me were taking by my nephew too! He's such a great kid!

*I need your prayers for tomorrow!!! Job related. :)

How'd we do?

Today is THE day! I am 27 in 3 hours. Somehow, 27 seems much older than 26. And being in my late twenties is not as sweet sounding as mid-twenties, but knowing that my 27th year holds so many amazing things, makes it okay. :) That list is to come.

So how'd I do....

1. Go on a cruise! (I've never been and I've been saving and saving my credit card rewards so Ben and I can go on one). I'll accept a honeymoon vacation with Ben also. Negative... Quitting my fulltime job to intern full time certainly put a hold on the savings account. I'm okay with it, this one will have to carry over.

2. Go to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Any other semi-close very touristy place I've never been. Ah, crap! I forgot this said, "that I've never been"! I was going to say I almost did this since I just got back from Destin and went to Gulf Shores last month... however, both I'd been to before... Okay... 0/27. Let's keep going.

3. Stop being such a Scrooge and spend some money on something fun (see above and below) :) I think I did this one pretty well! I bought a Christmas Tree, a new suit for all my upcoming interviews, some cute fun work clothes after I reached goal size, some fabulous black boots. Small things, but definitely fun things!

4. Blog at least once a week. Ding!

5. Pass the APTTP (December) PASSED!!!

6. Pass the School Counseling Praxis Exam (January) PASSED!!!!

7. Lose 10lbs... Well....I lost 7.... and then gained 3... then lost 2.... and gained 1.... and on and on. But ultimately, I lost 7lbs. :) However, I'm very shocked at how it has taken me longer than 6 months to lost 7 pounds!!! Apparently there isn't much will power since the elimination diets started. One thing at a time.

8. Get Ben and I's first Christmas tree! (Yes we've been married for almost 3 Christmases and never had a Christmas Tree - see #3). Check!

9. Join a bible study. We only have 2 classes left of our Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University bible study! This class has encouraged me to use cash for groceries and to put SOMETHING towards our debt each month even if its a very small amount. We have managed to pay down our 2nd mortgage by 10% since starting this bible study!! (It is our most problematic debt currently.) This is something I certainly would have not done otherwise and would have probably wasted the money. TAKE THIS CLASS!!

10. Start and Finish my wedding album (again... its been almost 3 years). Nope... sad day. Its just SO expensive... See # 3

11. Paint a room in my house! - My entire house right now is:

Bunny Grey... seriously, the whole house.

No painting going on over here...! It is such a daunting task. Would you like to volunteer to come over and motivate me?

12. Refinish this very old trunk... this is very much past my 'sand and paint' technique... not sure I know where to start.
Still in my mother's hands. I would love to see this refinished, but I just don't have the time or motivation. I hope my mom will refinish it and re-gift it back to me! Or maybe this summer... there should be a slight bit more free time this summer than this semester.

13. Exercise! I previously had this as go to the gym, but since the gym and my house are 35+ minutes away, its not likely that I get there any more often, so I must improvise!
I HAVE been walking! Atleast twice around our circle a day which is 1.80 miles. My goal is to up that to 4 laps: 3.6 miles.

14. (Your suggestion goes here).I have done several things here that were firsts: Many of them happened while in Dothan for the Peanut Festival. I also went to my very first Women's Retreat!

15. Go to the peanut festival (I was starting to get overwhelmed and this one is already set in stone). :) Check, this was in November.

16. Landscape!
Well... I haven't split my bulbs because they are BLOOMING! I have to wait until they are done blooming. But I did weed, trim, re-pot & plant my planters. Feeling pretty accomplished by that alone honestly!
17. Have a dinner party (or two).
We've only had one in 6 months! Sad... but that counts as a check.
18. Do something nice with our 'office/guest room'.
I vacuumed. Put things in file folders. The end. I was actually day dreaming today of how I could turn it into a nursey and still keep my guest room. Problem is that there is a VERY large gun safe in the office also. I don't know how well it would go over to have a gun safe right next to a crib... But I really don't like have a gun safe room!

19. Go rock crawling with Ben again... I really do love to go but never have the time to.
Just in the nick of time... 2 weeks ago.
20. Read some books! I have SO many books on my shelf unopened... Many of them are counseling-related books, but still I need to read something other than textbooks!
I read The Noticer - GREAT book, I think everyone should read it.


21. Find a job! This is a very bitter-sweet one because I have a wonderful job, but will soon be graduating and looking for a counseling position. This would be amazing if I knew where it would be by my birthday.
I was still holding out for this one allll the way until today, but its official. I do not have a job for the fall as of today. I do have my THIRD internship though and I'm very excited about it. I really do feel so much peace about having a job in the fall though. I know God has a place for me.

22. Go to Tallahassee.
This is my family hub. It's a central location between most of the cities we all live in and some of my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmother live there. I went in February! It was SUCH a fun time. This is Ivy trying to pretend she wasn't very pregnant. She was doing a terrible job! :)


23. Learn to drive the Ford F250.
Does it count if I learn to do this one tomorrow on my actual birthday?!

24. Apply for a scholarship.
I actually applied for TWO scholarships and didn't get either of them. I am glad I applied and at least tried, but gosh losing sucks.

25. Pass the NCE. (National Counselor Exam - this leads to me being able to pursue licensure after graduation)
Thank the Lord this one has come and gone! Yes, I passed!!!

26. Thank God every single day for the SO many blessings he's given me.
I am so very thankful!

27. Take off work on my birthday and celebrate because it will be my 27th birthday on the 27th!!!! I almost didn't do this one after all the planning 6 months out, but at the last minute decided I needed it off and am very excited for the day tomorrow! I can't wait to tell you all about it!

18!!
18/27: not too bad, this year I'll give myself the whole year instead of half a year.

Happy Birthday!!

# 19 Be a redneck.

Remember my list?!

Well, I am FINALLY able to mark through another one on the list.

Saturday I went rock crawling with Ben!

I had to work most of the day at my dad's store, but drove up to where Ben and his buddies were spending the weekend for a few hours after work.

I took a few pictures to show you a serious redneck 'rock crawler'.

That is the mountain we are heading to.
It really just looks like a large hill from here, but it was pretty high once you were in it.
And no, in case you were wondering, we have no windshield.

Ben and his 'camping' look.

Ben's friend, who sold him this buggy last year, wrote a check out in my name for $10,000 today!!!! He had told Ben earlier that he had a plan to buy his rig back today. Apparently that was it, get the wife in on the sale and he wins. $10,000!!!!!
I told Ben we could buy TWO buggies with that!!! He said no.

The first trail we tried was a failure unfortunately, so we went back to the camp to get fuel...(Also, apparently its not rock crawling if you go up the path to the left, you have to go up that center mess.)

It could not have been a prettier day to be in the woods!

But then the buggy over heated...
(This was the reason he got it for such a steal to begin with apparently, but he thought he had it under control.)
So I did a lot of sitting....

And thinking about how many of the plants next to me were poison ivy.

But then we FINALLY caught up with the rest of the group.

And watched Nick break a lot of stuff on this trail, Los Primos I believe?
He was NOT a very happy camper.

Then Hogan showed Nick how it should have been done.

It was a lot of waiting and watching as the boys coach each other up the ledge.

But finally Ben tried and told me I couldn't ride with him because of the 'rollover factor.'

And it ended with Hogan having to winch Ben off the trail after he broke a few bolts on his drive shaft.
(Definitely could have been worse in regards to the cost to fix things.)

I do love to go with Ben, but I always end up busy those weekends, so even though it was a quick trip. It was still a blast. Now he just needs to buy an engine to be good for the next ride in May.... only $1,000. I'm pretty sure we're waiting on a miracle lottery win or a job before that one happens. :)

Update to 'The List'

When my 26.5 month birthday hit I freaked out a bit.... and still am. So I made this list thinking that if I made it, I'd actually do the things on it. So, lets have a bit of an update now that I am now at my 26.75 birthday and see where we (yes, WE) stand... this should be fun...


1. Go on a cruise! (I've never been and I've been saving and saving my credit card rewards so Ben and I can go on one). I'll accept a honeymoon vacation with Ben also. Umm.... not so much. I was planning one for the week of March 13, but then my cruise-partner1 dropped out (it makes myself feel better if I blame it on her), but really in the reality of it, see # 3 below. I am having the hardest time letting the money go. I know that I have specifically saved up for THIS cruise. I have cashed in my credit card points for this and saved enough... but I am getting paid for working only 2 days a week. There is no more money going into this savings account and only money coming out. So what happens if I need this money for something really important and I went and spent it on a cruise? So... I failed... no cruise by 27. Its not out of possibility though for the year, I'm recruiting a new cruise-partner2 and thinking maybe it will be a graduation-cruise. Do you want to come too???! How does the Mexico-area sound to you?

2. Go to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Any other semi-close very touristy place I've never been. Again... not yet.... Any suggestions?

3. Stop being such a Scrooge and spend some money on something fun (see above and below) :) Well I did buy a Christmas tree! That was fun :) And I let Ben buy some buggy-parts, (not so fun for me, but fun for him). I guess its baby steps... I think I'm still a Scrooge.

4. Blog at least once a week. Finally!!! I win!!! I have succeeded at this. In fact, I've blogged 37 times in January and its only the 27th! Maybe I should work on blogging about more personal stuff instead of just LOST and As Seen on Tv Crap. :)

5. Pass the APTTP (December) Thanks for the reminder... Scores are not available yet.

6. Pass the School Counseling Praxis Exam (January) Same.... scores not available.

7. Lose 10lbs... See here... I'm working on it! 5lbs to go.

8. Get Ben and I's first Christmas tree! (Yes we've been married for almost 3 Christmases and never had a Christmas Tree - see #3). Check!

9. Join a bible study. Its official - we have joined Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University bible study at our church. I am hoping this will get Ben and I on the same page with money (I am the gate-keeper and he is the one who asks why we can't afford something). I am really excited and encourage ALL of you to take this with me. Ours starts next Wednesday. Go here to locate a class in your neighborhood and then we can talk about it!

10. Start and Finish my wedding album (again... its been almost 3 years). I don't really see this happening. I did attempt to make one from my iPhoto, but then realized the quality I am looking for just wouldn't be there, so I'm back at square one and would have to conquer #3 and spend quite a bit for a nice one.

11. Paint a room in my house! - I've been wanting to paint my house for over 3 years and can't ever bring myself to pick a color and commit. Well Jeris picked out some wonderful colors and went to Benjamin Moore in Greystone to find them, so I'm either going to just copy hers :) Or go there and ask for help of my own. :) My entire house right now is:

Bunny Grey... seriously, the whole house.
Well..... I did get a paint sample. It is for this color:

Gull Wing Gray... hah! seriously... can you just envision my knack for colors here? In my defense, it is much darker and its sorta tan, more so than my bunny gray above. Bunny gray is almost a bluish/gray... so I'm working on getting more towards the tan/gray. :)

**I forgot to mention that my parents also own a paint store!!!! That might make this problem even worse...

12. Refinish this very old trunk... this is very much past my 'sand and paint' technique... not sure I know where to start.I handed this one off to my mother. I'm starting to feel like a failure on my list, I guess I forgot what was on my list besides losing 10lbs and blogging! My mother volunteered to refinish this for me since I could not scrape together a whole weekend to spend on it. However, I don't think she has done it yet either.

13. Exercise! I previously had this as go to the gym, but since the gym and my house are 35+ minutes away, its not likely that I get there any more often, so I must improvise!
Went on my first exercise walk of 2010 this week. It was 70 degrees outside so things are looking up for this goal.

14. (Your suggestion goes here).
I have done several things here that were firsts: Many of them happened while in Dothan for the Peanut Festival. I can't think of too many other things. I need to do a better job of keeping track.

15. Go to the peanut festival (I was starting to get overwhelmed and this one is already set in stone). :) Check, this was in November.

16. Landscape! This really involves splitting all my bulbs in my flower beds... its time.
It has been SO cold! I like this goal though, I will do this one.

17. Have a dinner party (or two).
I had one! Now working on #2.

18. Do something nice with our 'office/guest room'.
Does cleaning it count? Well... I haven't really done that either, but I DID buy printer paper!

19. Go rock crawling with Ben again... I really do love to go but never have the time to.
This one got Ben and I into quite a discussion last night. I told him this was on my list and his exact response was, "Well I need a shifter to be able to ride and that costs about $180." So basically it was me holding things up because of my iron fists on our finances. So I'm not holding my breath on this one, but I HOPE its done soon....

Here's the thing about buggies/rock-crawlers.... the vehicle is literally never finished. Ever. If it is, its not good enough, it could be stronger, bigger, better. If it is, you finally go crawling and you break a drive shaft or slice your tire and then you are back to not being finished. I do love this hobby and think its great that Ben has a hobby (or 472 hobbies), but just wanted to let you in on the reality of it all.

20. Read some books! I have SO many books on my shelf unopened... Many of them are counseling-related books, but still I need to read something other than textbooks!
I read The Noticer - GREAT book, I think everyone should read it.
I'm in the process of reading, Reviving Ophelia and Understanding Poverty. I also am looking forward to reading The 5 Love Languages of Children (I think all the 'Love Language' are probably pretty beneficial though.) Yes most of those are to benefit counseling.

21. Find a job! This is a very bitter-sweet one because I have a wonderful job, but will soon be graduating and looking for a counseling position. This would be amazing if I knew where it would be by my birthday.
Nope... but I did find an internship! Woot!

22. Go to Tallahassee.
I forgot this was on the list! I went last weekend and will probably go again before my birthday in April.

23. Learn to drive the Ford F250.
....Cringe.... Nope.... I really really really want to though.

24. Apply for a scholarship.
Yes! I applied for one so far. It was a diversity scholarship (I know, what was I thinking) it was to encourage males and people of color to enter into the counseling field. I was told that I'd hear back by mid-January if I got it. Mid-January has come and gone...**Just got an email... although I am an excellent candidate and will make a marvelous counselor, I was not selected for this scholarship.... I'll just go ahead and put all blame on the fact that I am neither male or racially diverse... makes myself feel better anyways.

25. Pass the NCE. (I know, I took this already I know, but I don't know if I've passed or not, so its definitely something fun to add to my list and if I don't pass, then I will before I turn 27!)
Woohoo! Yet another one down... what is that, 4 out of 27?!

26. Thank God every single day for the SO many blessings he's given me.
Hah, I'm a cheater...
I'm working on this one too because I am so VERY thankful.

27. Take off work on my birthday and celebrate because it will be my 27th birthday on the 27th!!!!

10 years ago

Someone's facebook status got me thinking about 10 years ago, because I am seriously in shock that it has been a decade already.

So 10 years ago... was Y2K if I am thinking right, right? Because wow.... that one didn't turn out as expected. So, 10 years ago, I was at my mom's house, because she wouldn't let me go out in the event of Y2K. However, my brothers AND my parents were not home, they were out. (we have a lot of double standards.) I was with my best friend, her boyfriend and mine.... 3 people that today I do not speak to any more, at all. Weird the way things end up.

10 years ago, I was 16. I was a junior in high school.

10 years ago I drove a gold 4-door Saturn and loved it!

10 years ago, I thought I was fat. (I'd love to be that size now!)

10 years ago I had a bunny, named Baby.

Anyways, what were you doing 10 years ago??

Honest Scrap

My friend Jeris sent me this fabulous 'Honest Scrap' award/chain-blog/thing. THANKS!!!!! So I've been working on it for a little long while now. Here it goes:

Rules for the award:

1. Must thank the person who gave you the award and list their blog and link it.

2. Share "10 Honest things" about yourself.

3. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.

4. Tell those 7 people they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

10 Honest Things:

1. I have never a single time in my entire life seen a 3-D image in those 3-D posters that were so cool in the 90s.

In fact, when I was about 10 or so, my Aunt Barb sent me a whole calendar of these posters (talk about torture). So for one entire year I had different 3-D posters on my wall and I tried and tried....crossed my eyes, uncrossed my eyes, stared until my eyes watered, blinked a million times.... tried everything to try and see the image. But nope.... nothin'. The most irritating is inviting someone over and they'd be all like,"Ooh, look at those dolphins in that calendar! That is so cool." And I'm all like, "Whatever, you just made that up, there aren't dolphins in there..... psshh."

I apologize if there is something obscene in this 3-D image. See reference above.

2. I love salt-water taffy. It reminds me of going to the Jersey shore when I was a kid w/ my bff Kim. I love it and I don't encounter it very often.

3. I prefer to know the ending to a movie BEFORE I watch it.

(Ben has a horrible time with this) I am NOT a fan of horror, scary, or just plain mean/uncomfortable movies, so I want to be sure I know what I'm getting myself into. The turning point of this was when Ben and I were dating and he 'romantically' planned a movie date for us to watch 'Hurricane'. I then cried for HOURS after this movie was over and thought it was the worst movie I'd ever seen. Ben didn't understand all the tears and blubbering, he said he thought it ended well: the guy got out of prison..... my point: he was in prison his ENTIRE life and got out when he was like 70. So sad! Sorry.... rambling.... hope you weren't going to watch this one soon.

4. Because of #3 above, I can watch Elf 7500 times in one month. A few others that are always on my DVR: Sex and the City, Remember the Titans, 27 Dresses.

5. This one is very hard to admit.... I think I'm too old for roller-coasters. (gasp!....*tears*) The last time I went to an amusement park was with my fabulous cousin Annie..... I almost threw up on a child. It was a very, very sad moment/hours. I used to LOVE rollercoasters. Is there a pill you can take for this? Dramamine maybe?

6. I have a huge pet peeve. You know when people write their own vows (mostly in movies) and they say things like, "You are the love of my life, you are amazing, you are the wind beneath my wings....." well they totally miss the VOW part. While that is all nice and good, a vow, according to Wikipedia is: a promise or oath. So I interpret that as what you are going to do. For instance, I promise to be faithful, kind, loving, etc. until death do us part. That is a promise. (PS - the faithful part is my favorite part of Ben and I's vows. Not only do we mean we will forever be faithful as in not to cheat, but also to be full of faith, we vow to have faith in God forever for each other as well.)

7. Honestly....I like the show Big Love. This show is awful I tell you. Awful. However, it just sucks me in. I think because I like Ginnifer Goodwin so much. Isn't she fun? I also am slightly fascinated by people who have multitudes of kids. Ben and I don't get HBO though, so I may not get to see the new season.

8. I think I could probably gain 10lbs today if I didn't try really hard not to. I'm really trying the motto "Eating to live, not living to eat." I love food. Love it! :)

9. I also love all things cactus (aka - Succulent Plants). I have a black thumb. So these plants can stand up to my hardest attempts to kill them. (I really don't want things to die, I have a very hard time throwing away a plant that isn't completely dead, it almost feels like I'm giving up on it.) I was once told that 'plants really do want to live' but sometimes I feel like once they get into my possession they don't really want to live any longer. Succulents though do well in my care. On my kitchen counter right now are the following:

Jade Plant (also known as a money tree)
Cow Tongue (do not google this one w/o PLANT after it)
Some sort of Hen and Chicks

Winter Cactus (this one isn't mine, I borrowed it from google)

All given to me as gifts - so they are that much more fun!

10. I am blessed daily by God's love and grace. His many blessings are always amazing and I'm so thankful to be His child. I am so thankful he sticks with me every single day and continues to mold me into the person, wife, counselor he wants me to be. It is amazing to be a part of and I've really never been happier in my life. I love the marriage, home and church family God has provided me with and I pray that I do his will daily.

Now, here are the seven people to whom I pass this lovely activity, in no particular order:

1. Ivy - encouraged me to start this blog and introduces me to very fun things in the blog world.
2. Annie - is the hardest working blogger I know.
3. Emily - because I hope one day she will get more followers than just me! :)
4. Ellen - I love her blog and how she and Nick are raising money for sweet Isabelle. Glad she shared their blog with me!
5. Haley - is new to the blogging world and cracks me up when I get to work with her, so she deserves an award. :)
6. Cassie - I love reading her blogs even if they are a few months behind real time.
7. Mandy - is catching back up in blogging and has been doing quite well since her re-commitment to blogging just a few weeks ago. :)

Now have fun! :)