Ketchup!

Hi guys! Sorry for the little hiatus- I just have been in a funk lately and am FINALLY out of it.

Do you ever just have those weeks where you really question... everything? This week has been my week. I am only out of the funk because I finally subbed in an elementary school again and realized that I have such a passion for those kids. I love them and they rock. It might have helped a little that I got to sub at Shaw... with some of the sweetest/coolest teachers I know. (besides my buddy Kaci who is on her 16th (whhhhat) anniversary trip with her hubs.) (who coincidentally rocks as well )

The last few weeks have been filled with tons of ups and downs, but as I sit here munching on my strawberries, bananas and chocolate pudding... and laughing cow and triscuits (I had an accidentally super small lunch), I can really only think about the things that I am thankful for- and for that I am thankful.

Last Friday I was able to go to a Natural's game with Kaci and her awesome family (Chase had to play with Full House in Gentry), but we had a blast! Photo proof below.

(Apologies for the grainy photos. They were taken with the trusty iPhone)

Later in the week, I took a nice drive out to Lake Wedington! It was such a beautiful afternoon. I definitely could not resist the water. (can you imagine that it rocks, too??)

While there, I actually wore this....

YUP that's a bikini and that's me. I haven't worn one of those since high school. (W to the O O T). Which leads me to my next topic. I lost 3.1 more pounds this week! That makes a total of 28 lbs lost. :) Party on, Wayne. If you're wondering how I did it, I follow the Weight Watcher's plan, and it rocks. I still have a LONG way to go to goal... so don't judge, but why not? Right? Rock.

On a much similar note, I also ran almost 3 miles every other day this week (cross training in between) and DIDN'T WALK! I RAN! It also rocked.

Sorry for the excessive caps, but if you know me, you know that I totally stink at running. Well, apparently not anymore. Next week, I plan on running the full mileage plus a little. Running has become so enjoyable and I actually look forward to my runs... it also rocks.

Now to end the week and celebrate a little, I enjoyed a few of these....

with a few of my gal pals on a friend's patio via candlelight. It was fab. Yes it too did rock.

So really, life doesn't stink- apparently it rocks. :)

Spring is in the air... literally.

This:

+ wind =

This:

Which is indeed very bad for our yard and makes it look like a porcupine. Which is why we have Tru Green coming this week!

We also grilled a massive amount of meat last weekend. It was fun! Photo proof:

Chicken, fish, pork, and potatoes/corn. Chase ate/took most of this for work last week, but I did indulge in some lean pork and delish fish! Nom?

In less-boring-for-you-news, I changed my blog layout! My friend Caroline recently did a blog-makeover on her own blog, which inspired me to dive in deeper to customize my own. I haven't gotten all snazzified yet, but I did make my own Header! I also added some sweet new tunes to my blog-player. :) (snaps for me)

Anyhoodle, that's all for now.

Here's a picture of Super-Cute-Pup, ftw.

Gumbo!

This post is my version of "Blogger Gumbo." Ya get a little bit of everything!

*Warning: PHOTO OVERLOAD!*

Graduation came (and went) and we had a blast! I previously posted about the upcoming commencement and photos... so, here they are!

Us with our nieces before graduation! They're getting to be so big. :)

SAI Sisters before graduation int he tunnel at Bud Walton Arena. After playing with Commencement Band for four years, I deserve to finally graduate! ;)

Meg and I after the ceremony. She drove from Tulsa to see me walk. (and she also gifted me an amazing Brighton charm bracelet with a cute little teacher apple charm!) 

Hubs and Me

Mother and Father-in-law after the ceremony.

Dad!!

Nieces and Nephew and Me! This is what happens when you try to get all four of us smiling in a photo. 

That evening, after all the family left to go back to their respective homes, Chase and I went out to play pool and celebrate with a few of our closest friends that were here in town. It was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy an evening with such awesome people.

Here's what went down:

Pool with my ladies. Love Meg's face in this one. Indicative of how much fun we were having. 

 Self photography skills put to the test. :)

Hubs calls this his "GQ" pose. I think he looks pretty sexy!

Most recently, Geneva and Brad Chavez were married Rogers, AR! They had beautiful ceremony at the Chapel on the Creeks and an amazingly fun reception at the Embassy Suites John Q. Hammons Center! 

Chase Bradley's speech was pretty stinkin' great and funny! Chase (my Chase) and I laughed and talking about it the whole ride home. After Chase Bradley's (Mindy's Hubs) flawless recount of how Brad and Geneva met... and the funny happenings along the way, he raised his glass and said "To Brad and Mindy." *cough* Wasn't the bride's name... *ahem* Geneva?? Needless to say, Mindy must always be on Chase's mind. We all had a great laugh- what a fun memory.

Here's my favorite photo of the night with my amazing and beautiful friend Mindy. If you recall, we threw a Fondue Party for her before she moved away to Mississippi with her Hubs. 

So basically.. I graduated, we celebrated and wedding!

The end.

Toodles!

Tag!

I meant to do this.. like two weeks ago, but there is no time like the present! This came from Arkansas Bloggers- a blog that I follow that helps link other Arkansas bloggers in the blog-o-sphere together.  I don't normally care to do these, but why not- it's been a slow blogger week!



Have you ever?


1. Started your own blog?
 Yes! This one in fact. :) I started my first blogger in 2005 and somehow deleted it after I got married while trying to move it to my new e-mail address!

2. Slept under the stars?
 Yes.. many times. Being outdoors is a 


3. Played in a band?
 More times that I can count.

4. Visited Hawaii?
 Not yet. :) We have friends who moved there last year (The Hunters) and I would LOVE to visit them before their time there is up.

5. Watched a meteor shower?
 Yes.  Sitting on the roof with Hubs the first summer we met.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity As a student I always made it a point to donate to the CSO... and it was always more than I should have, but it felt great to support our craft and the continuing education of the arts in America.

7. Been to Disney?
Twice! One of my favorite places ever.  I <3 Florida, too.
8. Climbed a mountain Sure! Not big ones... skiing and hiking.

9. Held a praying mantis?
 Yes! I LOVE the way that they move... so methodical. 

10. Sang a solo?
 Yes, at church and talent shows when I was younger. I've played many-a-solos on instruments since then.. but not sang. 

11. Bungee jumped?
 Again.. not yet. :)

12. Visited Paris?
 Nope. Someday. (sighs)

13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm?
 One of my FAVORITE things to do. I've had all the windows open the last couple of days enjoying the ones that have passed through here. 

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch?
 Yes.  I've taught myself to knit, (grandma taught me to crochet), and play the guitar (not well but I play..).  

15. Adopted a child?
 No.

16. Had food poisoning?
Yes.... Braums burger.... blech.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty?
 No, but I have seen it.

18. Grown your own vegetables?
 Yes, with my grandma. I hope to have my own garden next year!

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France?
 Nope.

20. Slept on an overnight train?
 haha no.. althought I don't see how you could sleep on one of those!

21. Had a pillow fight?
Had a pretty epic one in Hot Springs with my Arkansas Intercollegiate Band buddies my freshman year of college. :D 

22. Hitch hiked?
 Eep. no.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill?
Mayyyybe?? :)

24. Built a snow fort?
 No. That would be FUN though.

25. Held a lamb?
 Awww no... does a doe count though? I've held a few of those!

26. Gone skinny dipping?
 Haha.. hasn't everybody??

27. Run a marathon?
 DEC 2010 Baby!! Ask me again then. :) Training for 5k in June, 1/4 Marathon in August, 1/2 Marathon in Memphis in Dec. and another 1/2 Marathon in January @ Disney. :D Woot! Maybe I'll run a FULL marathon someday, too.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice?
 No.
29. Seen a total eclipse?
 Of the heart?? haha yes, we did the whole box thing in elementary school to watch it, but I ended up just looking at the sky. Very cool!

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset?
 All the time.. 

31. Hit a home run?
 Softball! Yes.

32. Been on a cruise?
 A dinner cruise in Norfold, Virginia.  :D

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person?
 Not yet. 

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors?
 Some of my ancestors on my Grandmother's side were American Indian... and I kinda lived in Oklahoma for a long time, so yes! 

35. Seen an Amish community?
 Yes.

36. Taught yourself a new language?
 In school I learned conversational Spanish... but I'm by no means fluent.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied?
 I don't think money has anything to do with satisfaction... at all.  

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person?
 Nopers.

39. Gone rock climbing?
 Haha yes!

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person?
 Nope! 

41. Sung karaoke?
 YES! U know, Unos! I miss my friends that have moved away. ;)

42. Seen Old Faithful erupt?
 Nope! 

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant?
 Yes. :) 

44. Visited Africa?
 Haha no, but that would rock. 
  
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight?
 YES! Jamaica... ahh.  

46. Been transported in an ambulance?
 Nope.

47. Had your portrait painted?
 Do caricatures count? 

48. Gone deep sea fishing?
 Nopers. 

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person?
 Never been to Euro... so no to all the Euro Qs!


50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris?
 See Number 12

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling?
 Snorkeling was my favorite thing we did on our Honeymood. It was amazing!   52. Kissed in the rain :D love that.  
 53. Played in the mud LOVE getting dirty in the yard. Yes x 1000.

54. Gone to a drive-in theater?
 Yes. Had one in the town I lived in in high school.. have one here... but I still remember the first time I ever went to a Drive-in theater. TWISTER was the main attraction... and it was a cloudy, muggy night.. in May.. in Tornado Valley... in Oklahoma.. FREAKY! We were in OKC, just north of where the May 3rd tornadoes ran a few years later.  

55. Been in a movie?
Nope. 

56. Visited the Great Wall of China?
 Nope again.

57. Started a business?
 Nope! 

58. Taken a martial arts class?
 No, but I'm not sure I would really be into it. I'd love to take a dance class. 

59. Visited Russia?
 Nope. 

60. Served at a soup kitchen?
 Yes.  Every one should.


  61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies?
No, I was a Rainbow girl.

62. Gone whale watching?
 Nope. Does Free Willy count?? :) 

63. Got flowers for no reason?
 Yes! Makes my day.  

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma?
 I have... although I haven't in a few years. The last time I did, I went home alone and passed out and didn't wake up for 6 hours. Freaked me out. 
 
65. Been sky diving?
 WANT!  

66. Visited a Concentration Camp? 
Have not.

67. Bounced a check?
 Nope.

68. Flown in a helicopter?
 No, but that would be awesome! 

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy?
 I have a few stored in a box in the attic.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memoria?
l I've seen it, didn't visit. D.C. was just kinda a blur for me though. 

71. Eaten caviar?
 Not good caviar... if it is good at all?

72. Pieced a quilt?
 With my Mamaw. I helped piece the one that she gave me before she passed away.  

73. Stood in Times Square?
Yes and can't wait to visit again! <3 NYC!

74. Toured the Everglades?
 Nopers..

75. Been fired from a job?
 Nope.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London?
 again... never been to Euro. 

77. Broken a bone?
 Does the nose count? Apparently I broke it when I was two.

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle?
 Yep. A few times. Scary. Don't care to do it again.  

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person? 
Someday!


80. Published a book?
 Does a blog count? hehe

81. Visited the Vatican?
 Nope... wow I have lots of travelling to do!

82. Bought a brand new car?  
I don't care to ever buy a "brand new" car... new to me is great, but I don't care to pay an exorbitant price just to have the new car smell/feel. I'm just fine with used, thank you. :)

83. Walked in Jerusalem Travel?
 "to do" again! 

84. Had your picture in the newspaper?
 Yes.  Many times! Perks of being a musician. 

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve?
 Haha... well not a stranger, but someone that I didn't know well.    


86. Visited the White House?
 Seen it... not visited. 

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating?
 Fish? Deer? Yes.

88. Had chickenpox?
 Itchy.. and yes.

89. Saved someone’s life?
 Nope. 

90. Sat on a jury?
 Not yet... whew. Watch, I'll get jury duty immediately following this statement. lol

91. Met someone famous?
 Pluto and Mickey.. does that count?!

92. Joined a book club?
 Yes!

93. Got a tattoo?
 No, and don't plan on it either. 

94. Had a baby?
 Not yet. :) 

95. Seen the Alamo in person?
 Yes. Wasn't that exciting. San Antonio was pretty though!

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake?
 Nopers.  

97. Been involved in a law suit?
 Haha nope.


  98. Owned a cell phone?
 Yes.. a few? lol 


  99. Been stung by a bee?
 A few.. 


100. Tell us where you were born:
 I was born in Grapevine, Texas. :)


I Tag: (if you don't have a blogger.. just copy and paste into a comment!)
Audra- http://autumnalbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Lyric- http://lyricelizabeth.blogspot.com/
Caro- http://ericandcaroline.blogspot.com/
Heather- http://huntersdothehula.blogspot.com/
Mindy-