A Few of my Favorite Things...

Some of my favorite blogs are doing a post about their favorite things. So, I decided I would do mine too. And, I skipped the most obvious family, friends, and faith. =)

1. Food and Firebirds.... yum!!

This is one of my all time favorite restaurants! The food is yummy, the drinks are delish and the service is always outstanding. My husband says hands down they have the best steaks! So, if you've never been.. you need to go! Jamie and I had a date night Friday night and it was much overdue. We had some yummy steak, delicious ranch ring appetizers..they are like onion rings but better!! =) Yummy, yummy salads.. I just love their BLT salads!! I could eat those all the time. I love how they cut everything up so small in the salad. We were too full to eat dessert..but I'm sure it is delicious too. If you go, you will have to try my 2nd favorite thing.

2. Iced Cherry Limeade...

So, this is my new favorite drink from Firebirds. I must say I am not one to try new things.. I know, I need to do better.. but I'm always afraid I won't like something. Jamie saw this on the menu and he told me to just try it since I do love Sonic's cherry limeade. So, I asked the waitress.. she said it was yummy, so what the heck! I tried it.. and let me tell you.. it was oh, so good! It tasted just like Sonic's but with a kick. I will definitly have to get it again.. and my Red Rocks Rita that I do love too!! You'll have to try it the next time you go!

3. Nicholas Sparks...

He is my favorite author of all times and I just love all his books.. you know, he wrote The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, and many, many more. Some of his books were made into movies too and I just love when he comes out with a new book. I usually have it read within a week and this time, I'm trying to pace myself. But, they are soo good you can't put them down. His newest one came out about a week ago.. The Last Song and I can't wait to read it all! If you are a reader, you will definitly want to pick up some of his books. I recommend all of them!

4. Ann Taylor Loft...
Clothes are definitly a weakness of mine.. I love them all and I love to get new ones. But, I must say since we have moved, my priorities have changed and I have not been shopping lately. I love Ann Taylor Loft though. I think they have the cutest clothes and accessories. Which I am trying to do better about buying. =)Also, my best friend, Colleen has a new line of children's clothing.. Wonderfully Made Clothing! So, please check out her site http://www.wonderfullymadeclothing.com/ and email her and let her know what you think. She is just know getting started and she is doing a great job. She has some precious things for boys and girls and I am very proud of her for starting this new venture in her life. I've had fun going with her to fabric shows and seeing the "behind the scenes work." She is a hard worker for sure! I love ya girl!

5. Volitale Shoes...

These are my favorite shoes of all times! They are the most comfortable shoes ever and I live in them in the spring and summer. If you've never tried them, you definitly should. They go with everything and you will wear them all the time. I'm stocking up for next year and buying some new ones now that are on sale!

6. Football...

WAR EAGLE!! I love this time of the year just because of football season. I love the fall weather, being outside, having football parties, and just enjoying the calmness before the Thanksgiving/Christmas craziness begins....

7. Christmas...

Christmas is my favorite holiday for sure! I love getting together with family and friends and celebrating the real meaning of Christmas.. our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The holiday season can be crazy for sure, but I love the spirit of Christmas and how nice people are to each other! (well.. usually) I love to buy presents for others.. it just makes me happy! It won't be long and it will be here.. boy, do I need to start shopping!


8. Desserts...

I love all kinds of desserts.. cakes, pies, cookies, cupcakes.. yum! They are my weaknesses but I have a new dessert, Fudge Pie that I am crazy about because it is sooo good and soo easy to make! I got the recipe from another blogger and I swear, I think I make it at least once a week. My husband LOVES it and I know you will too. So, here's the recipe..

1 stick of melted butter

2 eggs

1/4 cup self rising flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup sugar

1 ready to bake pie crust (the frozen kind)

All you do is mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.. use a fork to mix together..you don't need to use a mixer.... then, pour it into the pie crust and bake at 300 for 45 minutes.. That's it!

I know, so easy! Take it out.. let it cool and add some vanilla ice cream.. I promise it will melt in your mouth it is so good.

9. Reality TV...

I know, I am crazy but I am a true reality TV fan. I LOVE Big Brother, Biggest Loser and the Bachelor/Bachelorette. I just get so wrapped up in it and I am hooked from the start. Am I the only one who likes all these shows?? Tell me what your favorite show to watch is?? I'm always up for a new one... I also love HGTV and all those shows. I used to laugh at my parents for watching all those, but now I love them too. I guess that means I am getting old. =)

10. Votivo Candles..
Well.. this may be kinda random, but I have just recently bought one of these candles and I LOVE it. It smells up the whole room and it doesn't even have to burn long. My favorite one is called Red Current and I find myself lighting it all the time. I guess I am obsessed.. so, thanks Colleen for telling me about them. I do love them!

Well.., there you have it.. My ten, kinda random favorites! I hope you'll try some of them out and let me know what you think. I would love to hear from you.. so, tell me what some of your favorites are!

My New Find......

Well.. I have been wanting some new bar stools for my kitchen island, but was NOT going to pay $100 each for them since they are just for decoration. Sunday afternoon Jamie and I were going thru the Sunday ads and wouldn't you know it.. but Target.. yes, my favorite store was advertising bar stools for $25 each. WOW! I thought I better go check that out before they sell out. So, Sunday afternoon (before I came down with the sickness) I went to Target and they didn't have any out but they had some in the back so the sweet girl went and got some for me and I figured they would do. They are not the cutest I've ever seen or the ugliest, but they will definitly do for such a good deal. Not to mention, I had to return a few shirts and got $20.00 back, so the bar stools together were like $30 dollars for both.. wow! I thought that was a deal.
And, I want you all to know that I even came home myself and put them together. So, super easy. If you want them, you better hurry cause I think the sale ends on Saturday. Let me know what you think! I think I'll recover the seats.. but they are really not that bad!

Football, Friends and Fun...

What more could you ask for! We had our first football party at our house on Sat. night to watch the tigers play. This was my 1st game of the season to actually watch on tv. considering we were at the lake last weekend and didn't get to watch it. =( So, I was ready for some football this weekend! I love me some AU tigers and I love football season.. I just can't get enough of it. Jamie and I are big Auburn fans and we love to go to the ballgames and hang out or just enjoy with friends and family. We had fun watching it with our good friends, Colleen and Eric and Shelly and Richard. Even though, Richard is an AL fan, we still let him come . =) But I was really disappointed when he showed up with his red and white colors on..... I didn't think he would have the nerve to wear that with a bunch of AU fans, so we'll just call him the "outcast". But, I do still love ya Richard! =) We had some yummy food and of course, good times! I can't wait for more fun times to come.. GO TIGERS!!!

The girls

Jamie and Eric

The AL fan

Colleen and Eric

Shelly and Richard

Our yummy food

AU cupcakes

War Eagle Chex Mix

Couch Potato to Runner...

TO

In 9 weeks..what do you think??

Well, in my motivation to get fit I have decided to try a new fitness program. So, we'll see how it goes. I have also signed up to run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Oct. and I don't have very long to get in shape! One of my goals is to be able to run the whole 5K this year. We'll see how that goes...I tried it last year but I ended up walking more than running. Then, I heard about this neat program -from coach potato to 5K and in just 9 weeks it gives you week by week training tips on how to change from a slop or aka couch potato into a runner. Check out this site for more info http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml It says not to push the program but I don't have 9 weeks so I am going to have to double up on some of the weeks. YIKES...what was I thinking?? But, I'm going to try really hard. (Shelly, I'm counting on you to hold me accountable and be my running buddy!) =) Also, if anyone would like to sign up to join our team, we would love to have you race with us. Our team name is Sweet Melissa's K Crew. We will be running in honor of a co-worker and dear friend who was diagnosed this summer with breast cancer, Melissa Jarrell. We know she is a fighter and we are praying for her each day to Beat this! Much love to you MJ! My thoughts and prayers are with you each day! XOXO

Good bye Summer!!

I cannot believe summer has come and gone. Where does the time go? We had our last hoo rah at the lake this Labor Day weekend. Chad, Heather and all the kiddos came down for some much needed rest, relaxation and fun! We had a great time riding the seadoos, tubing... (which I am soo sore.. thanks brother), and just relaxing, eating and hanging out together. Chase loves to fish with Jamie and Daddy and he would tell us he was "casting fish." So cute! I can't believe how big Carter man has gotten since May. Wow! He is now 6 months old and such a cutie pie and happy baby. Chase will be five on Sunday and he starts pre-k tomorrow morning. Hannah Rose is 3 and just started preschool last week. It just seems like yesterday they were all born and now they are growing up so fast! We love them so and cherish every moment we get to spend together. It's just not nearly enough!! So sad to see them leave but so glad they were able to come down for the weekend. We had a blast with you all and can't wait for next time. Here's some pics:

The kiddos and us

The whole family

All 3 of my babies!

How cute is he!

Hannah was such a big girl and rode the tube with Daddy..

Until...they fell in and she was not happy...

This is the after pic.. Uncle Jamie had to resue her!

Poor baby....

Mommy and chase

Thanks Jodi for this water trampoline.. As you can see

they loved it out of the water.. =)

My sweet little man

Pops, chase and hannah

Me and Jamie

Me and my baby girl.. love me some Hannie girl!

Jamie and the kiddos

We Have a New Address...

So, we finally moved! We thought it might never happen.. We decided back in Feb. to list our house ourselves and just see what might happen.. I thought, seriously, how hard can it be to sell a house. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. I learned real quick that selling a house was hard work and one thing you had to have were interested buyers and we weren't really having anyone that interested. So, after 3 months of trying t0 save money..., we decided to find an agent. Luckily, we didn't even have to go looking.. she called us and was interested in talking to us so we did. We knew right after we met her that she was going to be awesome and we hired her that day. It only took about a month and she had a contract on the house! We closed the end of July and moved on Aug. 1st, so we have now been in the new house a month. I just can't believe how we ever made it almost a year in our little bitty 2 bedroom/2 bath house. We were so cramped and had no room to store anything. It really is crazy once you move and you see how much stuff you have how you are like, "Where in the world did we put all this?" Our new house is a dream come true and we absolutely love it. We have a fabulous yard on a cul-de-sac lot and it's pretty quiet around us except for the train.. which, is not loud at all. I am loving decorating a new place and of course, buying new things. It's so nice to have so much more space! So, I'll leave you with some pics of our new place. We are looking forward to making many great memories in our 1st home together....

The living room and dining room through the arches. The hallway when you come in.

Love my kitchen!

Our bedroom

Our bathroom... love my big tub!

2 guest bedrooms..

Guest bathroom

Unfinished attic.. this will be our next project.

The back side of the house.

Well...well.. I did it!!

I can't believe I am doing this but I am going to try it and see how it goes. Several of my friends have blogs and I love reading them and keeping up with everyone. (Shelly, aren't you so proud of me! ) So, we'll see if I can stay on top of it like they do! =) Since I am new to this, I am needing some help..so for all you professional bloggers out there.. let me know some pointers! I'm looking forward to making my blog cute and can't wait to hear your thoughts too! So, here we go... stay tuned!!!