Waiting....

In case you are wondering what kind of images pop up in google images when you type in the word, "Waiting" - here ya go! Interesting... huh? (I look just like the one on the end right now).

It has now been 33 days since I took the NCE and I'm still waiting to hear about the results. It said 6-8 weeks, so I guess I still have a minimum of 9 days.... its killing me! I read a ton of blogs of people who have taken the NCE and many said, just when they forgot about it, the results came in the mail. Well... 33 days and counting and I haven't forgotten about it.

Speaking of... I recommend this song to everyone:

"These are a few of my favorite things...."

Keely over at Mann Land 5 is hosting a blog carnival on her favorite things! Well I thought it was fun, and she's hosting a giveaway, so why not?


I sat here for a moment and tried to think of my favorite things and all that comes to mind is candy... hmm... so i guess that should be # 1. (Yeah, yeah, I know.... #7, lose 10lbs, I'm working on it).

#2. Because I changed the music at work today to Christmas Music, my all time favorite christmas song is..... "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

That is a fun version of it, by Rascal Flatts.

3. This one is really funny... Ben always looks at me weird when I get so excited, but I love when I pass a TON of motorcycles on the road. I'm not even sure what to call it, motorcycle convoys? But they are a few of my favorite things, haha! (This also applies to many of the same vehicles in a row, ie - army convoys, alabama power trucks all going somewhere, etc.) :)

Look at this picture and tell me you don't agree:

4. EOS chapstick.

This wonderful product came free to me from a promotion on their website, but I've been told that they are available at Walgreens. It is by far the best chapstick I've ever used (as an addict of chapstick, I've used just about anything in a moment of crisis), its not all waxy and gross like most brands. It is 95% organic and all natural. AND! Look how cool it is! Ben even says he wants one (don't tell him I told you).

So go visit Keely and blog about your favorite things!

Fight for Preemies

November is Preemie Awareness Month & November 17 is when March of Dimes has taken today to Fight for Preemies! Read more about the Fight for Preemies event at Bloggers Unite.


This is Ava (as you probably know). Born 6 weeks early and spent 3+ weeks in the hospital. There are so many more babies I know though that have been born way earlier than Ava and spent MUCH longer in the hospital. Spread the word about the Fight for Preemies!

Treats from Tallahassee

This weekend two of my cousins from Tallahassee came up for a visit: Ivy & John! My grandmother was also in town staying with my parents. It was a quick trip, but we crammed in as much family time as we could and invited over all the rest of the Birmingham family members for dinner Saturday night.

Here is little Ava cracking up at her Pop-Pop:
Ivy, Ava & Sierra (Sierra was in love with Ava)My gramma, me & my dad

Austin, John & Stevie

Unfortunatley, I realized after they left that I didn't take hardly ANY pictures... I was so glad to visit with them and have them come to Birmingham though! I won't get to see them again until January.

Update to #7 - Lose 10lbs

So as promised, here is an update to #7: Lose 10 lbs.

Well I started this process about 2 or 3 weeks ago (really it feels like my whole life, but I'm going with 2 or 3 weeks) and I've lost a total of...... 4lbs!!! Which makes it sound like 6lbs to go isn't that bad, but I've been here before and its not so easy. I have been eating a ton of salads, good for the weight loss, bad for the budget. My new kick is any buffalo chicken salad, although when I try to get it grilled I usually end up with some sort of chef salad... No thanks. So hopefully we'll have some good progress coming up, but family is visiting this weekend, then Thanksgiving and all the really good treats that come with Christmas. Yikes!

What happens when I losen the grip a little.

You may know... I have a hard time letting go of the money. (See #3) Well, Ben has been telling me and telling me we needed a new faucet for several months. (I'm very sad I forgot to take an actual 'before' picture, but this one w/ the old sink on the porch will have to do). I found this faucet at Lowe's while shopping for the new one. Wanna know how much the builder spent on it? A big fat $29.98! It didn't take long for the cap to fall off and it start to leak.


Now, if you know Ben even a little bit, you know that he LOVES to spend money. So while we were looking for new faucets, Ben mentions that we probably need a new sink to match too. Um... no. So we leave Lowe's and give up on the whole idea. Well, several weeks went by and Ben again mentions we really need a new faucet. I finally gave in and agreed. I even went by the post office that day to pick up a change of address packet (for the 10% off Lowe's coupon, of course!). Well, we picked out an amazing faucet and yes... a new sink. But I can't even express the difference it makes in our little kitchen.

Before: (Sort of)


After:
I think its wonderful and am so glad Ben persisted with the faucet/sink issue. He even installed the whole thing by himself. I watched and asked why he didn't need to read instructions a few times, but turns out he didn't need to read them after all. We struggled with the white color, but we don't have anything stainless in our whole kitchen (except the old sink) and cabinets are white, tile is gray and counter top is dark gray speckled, so it looks very 'clean'. What do you think?

Peanuts and Parades

15. Go to the peanut festival. (one item crossed off the list!)


This weekend was a very long awaited trip to Dothan to see one of my best friends, Emily. Ben was sweet enough to drive me there and participate in most of the things I wanted, including watch the over 2 hour parade early Saturday morning. Below is a picture of everyone picking peanuts up off the street! (See #14a - eat peanuts off the street.)


Beautiful day at the peanut parade!
No one else thought this was as fun as I did....
Few things that were not on the list but are firsts and have been accomplished before turning 27 this weekend:
28. Try a fried snickers. (Yes, I know... the thought of it makes you want to throw up, me too, however it was pretty good!)
29. Try a fried oreo. (I'd skip this one if ever offered it again... yuck) I'm sure you are wondering how #7. 'Lose 10lbs' is going about now, huh? I'll update about that one shortly!

Trying to avoid all the carnies at the peanut festival.

Not only is this dog named Woodle, but his little half chihuahua-half boston terrier self is pretty much the cutest dog I've ever seen.




Cooking out for the Alabama game in our Auburn-wear.

We even got to see a demolition derby!

Now just waiting on Hurricane Ida to pass by so Ivy, John & Gramma can come up for the weekend! Do you have any suggestions for fun things to take my family to while they are in town???