A reenactment

Operator at NBCC: "National Board for Certified Counselors, how may I direct your call?"

Me: "Well, I'm not sure really since I'm calling to find out if my results have been sent in the mail for the exam I took 8 whole weeks and 2 days ago back in October. Can you help me with that?"

Operator at NBCC: "The department that handles that request is running on a 2-week delay due to an illness. Your results will be mailed out as soon as possible, thank you for understanding."

Me: "UGH..... Well, is there anyway to tell which results have been sent out?"

Operator: "Your results will be mailed out as soon as possible and no further information is available."

Me: "Are you sure there is no..."

Operator: "Yes ma'am, I am sure, you will have to wait for your results they should be mailed within the next 2 weeks if they haven't already."

Me: "Ooookkkaaaayyy...... thanks."

Happy Birthday Amber!!!

My great friend Amber has been contemplating starting a blog for sometime and I hope she will comment to this post w/ her new blog site that I know we'd all love to read!!!

It is her birthday today so some of us from the counselor education program at UAB tried to plan a surprise dinner party for her (which was much harder to plan w/ adults). Well, Amber was the second person to show up, so as she and I walked to our 10-top and she asked if anyone else was coming, I said, "Maybe! Surprise!" HA! I didn't tell her exactly who was coming though, but I think she had a great night anyways.

Happy Birthday Amber, we're all waiting eagerly on your new blog.

PS - isn't this cake amazing?!
It is from a local bakery, Edgar's, it tasted just as good as it looked. Yum!

I need a pantry.

While waiting for Ben to turn the power back on in our den, I thought I'd update with my LONG overdue trip to CVS & Publix this morning. It was reported that the Publix Penny item was hot chocolate, but when I got there it was Kraft BBQ sauce (that I already have 2 or 3 of in my 'pantry', ugh...) Which brings me to WHY I need a pantry.


I had not grocery shopped in 3 to 4 weeks, we were completely out of butter..... try planning dinner by starting with, "what doesn't need butter...." Ben was out of all his lunch supplies.... the poor guy has eaten turkey sandwiches and a yogurt every day for over 3 years and is still keeping on.... so I can't complain that all he asks for is some cheap-o turkey and a yogurt a day. Well, you'd think my shelves would be bare after that, but that is just the problem. I have no room!!!! My shelves are full. They're full of spices and cereal and sugar, flour, corn meal, cream of mushroom soup. So there is no room for the real food we actually eat daily


I thought about where this was all going to go on my way home from Publix and almost convinced myself that Ben needed to go out as soon as I got home to buy the 8' x 12" pantry cabinet at Lowe's. One look at the budget and that thought was squashed. Maybe I'll ask for it for Christmas. (I never dreamed the day would come that I would ask for a cabinet for Christmas)...

So the totals for today are.......
Spent: $172 - yikes... however I think I bought over a months worth of food, a ton of toiletries, Christmas wrapping supplies, candles and kitchen necessities.
Saved: $160 - wahoo! AND I still have $6 extra bucks to CVS. So I nearly spent as much as I saved, but if I didn't put off my shopping for over a month I should have done better.

A decade?!

Does it shock anyone else out there that it is the end of yet another decade?! I'm shocked and horrified and thinking about ways to ssllooww my life down.

Well, another shocking moment was when I learned that 'N Sync's album 'No Strings Attached' was the top selling album of this entire decade?!!? If you are having a hard time remembering what songs were on this album here you go:

And in case you are wondering, yes this is still on my ipod.

Mariah Carey's 'We Belong Together' is the decade's most popular song.... has anyone ever heard of this song?! I was going to link to this song from YouTube, but the video disgusted me and I only saw about 12 seconds of it.


So I want to know, what would YOU choose to be the decade's most popular album and song?

5 Question Friday

1. Does Santa wrap the presents he leaves at your house?

Well considering my dog may be the only one who believes in Santa at our house, no... but Ben did get some fabulous things under the tree from said dog and even our cat, Rabies. Rabies was also sweet enough to wrap me a present under the tree that Ben was very confused about. Which brings me to.... have I told you I have a cat named Rabies?

2. When is your "big" Christmas celebration...Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Tell us about it...

Still trying to figure this one out, but since there are no children/grandchildren involved yet Ben and I are easily shoved between houses and fortunatley our parents live about 10 minutes apart! THIS year since we got our very first tree we talked about seeing if his mom wanted to spend the night at our house for Christmas and go to the christmas eve service at our chuch. We've also never been in town for Christmas Eve at our church so I'm VERY excited!

3. Are you big on keeping tradition every year?

Again... no kids, so we haven't really started them. I guess we started one this year by getting a tree...finally. next year we'll be sure to do the same thing. :) Church on Christmas Eve is a wonderful tradition though that I'm glad we can spend at our home church.

4. Do colored lights or white lights tickle your fancy?

WHITE! When I was a child I begged and pleaded with my mom for colored lights, pink and blue strands, anything bright and cheery and she always said no! Well amazingly enough while decorating our first tree this year, I avoided all my blue and pink ornaments and ended up with a very uncolorful tree that I love. White lights, white and silver ornaments and 1 red bow on top....

5. Do you decorate outside your house for Christmas?

Yep, with 1 whole wreath and a few strands of icicle lights. Here's my professional photography at its best:

Giveaway Time!

Bloggy Blog Designz is having ANOTHER Holiday Giveaway!!! Last week every entrant won something, so they decided to do it all over again! They are giving away blog designs and all kinds of goodies. Plus ALL entrants will receive 20%off their purchase through the end of the year! Be sure to check out their website for more information, or to enter yourself. Take a look at their portfolio and packages to see what you want for Christmas ;) With 6 giveaways this week, who knows whats in store for next week?
The first 5 entrants will receive a $10 giftcard. The giveaway will close on Dec. 13th, so be sure to have your posts done and comments left by midnight! Good Luck to everyone! We are so excited. Merry (early) Christmas!(Our Design List is open after January 1. Discounts from this giveaway do not apply to designz in progress)

Wordless Wednesday