Thanksgiving 2011

Quote: "Be thankful for your trials. If you're being tested, you're being perfected. Which means you have a divine purpose & a reason to rejoice."

Thanksgiving 2011

This year our Thanksgiving wasn't extraordinary or super exciting but it fit us just right. We didn't have any relatives visiting and we stayed home and celebrated with our family and our neighbors who have become family.

Aside from just celebrating Thanksgiving we celebrated the life of our little dog Coe. Coe turned 14 on Thanksgiving! This is a huge feat for her because three weeks ago she had a little stroke and was diagnosed with Vestibular Syndrome. She couldn't stand up without falling over, her eyes were shooting back and forth rapidly, and she was super dizzy. She's been on medicine and has gotten a little better. She still falls over alot and she looks at everything with her head tilted sideways. It's kind of cute ha. She's also lost some weight lately which is funny because if you knew Coe she's always been a little porker.

This is Coe a couple of Easter's ago. She's not as fat anymore.



Coe has been and still is the greatest dog ever. As she's aging and kind of heading down hill she's being quite a trooper. She's still happy as can be and just loves attention and getting her belly rubbed.

It was great seeing a bunch of my old highschool friends over break. We laughed and drank alot of wine. It was much needed. It was funny to laugh about old parties and stupid things we used to do.


Saturday we went to Auburn and spent the day at the Iron Bowl. Unfortunately the outcome was not in our favor. Alabama is ranked #2 this year and they are really good. My brother got tackled, flipped through the air, and landed really hard. The game stopped and the trainers and coaches rushed the field. It was really scary to have to watch from our seats. The entire stadium started chanting "Lutzie, Lutzie, Lutzie...". It was really cool to hear. He eventually got up and ran off the field. He's pretty banged up and he hyper-extended his knee when he got hit. The trainers said if he hadn't jumped before the hit he would have most definately blown out his entire knee. SCARY.

Sunday we were all exhausted from the long day before. I slept until 2:30pm. I don't think I've done that since college. I don't know how I did it but apparently my body needed it. We had a little family dinner and then I headed back to ATL to start my week.

I came home and one of my roomies had started the Christmas decorating. We had a wreath on our door, Christmas knick knacks everywhere, and this...

She got us a real tree. It smells so good. We'll have to start getting the ornaments up this week.

Christmas is my least favorite holiday...I actually kind of stronly dislike it (I know I know I'm the Grinch). I never have been a fan of it. Even as a kid I didn't get all the hype. I much prefer Easter and Thanksgiving -2 of my all time favorites!

Although I'm not much for Christmas Cheer I am excited to have our apartment looking festive and smelling like the holidays. We are thinking about throwing a Tacky Christmas party too. Maybe it'll get me in the spirit?

I'll leave you with a quote I found that I really like:

"Stop thinking about the past, and dont worry too much about whats going to happen in the future. Your presence is a present, so live for today, and appreciate everyone and everything you have. Stop thinking about what you dont have, what you wish you had, who walked out of your life, and whatever else that falls in that category. Think about what you have, who you have in your life, and how fortunate you are." -Junethea Crystal Centeno

 Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Smell ya later turkeys.

Just Breathe

Quote: "Do not be afraid that joy will make the pain worse; it is needed like the air we breathe." -Goran Persson

***This post was intended to be upbeat but it took a turn for the religious/emotional.. readers beware. (Just kidding it's not that emotional it's just some thoughts I apparently needed to get out and didn't realize until I started typing)


The past couple weeks have been tough for me. I've been really missing a huge chunk of my life. I just have to keep reminding myself to BREATHE. I also have to remind myself to TRUST. There is a reason for this and I need to trust that God knows what is going on.

There is that quote that says "If you want to make God laugh tell him about your plans". Well I did just that and I think he literally laughed at me. I had plans, big plans, but unfortunately they were not the same plans God has for me.

So now I just have to wait and see what his plans for me are. I sure hope they are good plans and we are on the same page about them...ha. I guess looking back even when things seemed to be going wrong God had my back and there really was a reason for everything. SO my goal is to try to remember that and just breathe and trust him more. He really is one heck of a guy (or girl... who's to really know?).

The good part about this tough time is the reminder of how awesome my family and friends are. I may be sad and lonely but I know I'm really never alone. I don't know how people who aren't close to their families get through hard times- or good times really. My family is my rock. I love being around them and wouldn't change them for the entire world. I am truly blessed and thankful for them.  

I just have to know that there is a reason for everything. My mom always tells me that anything that can bring you great joy can also bring you great pain. It's unfortuate but it's true. Right now something that brought me so much joy in the past is now bringing me so much pain. All I know is what I deserve and all I can do is comfort myself in the thought that HE has a plan for my life.

Here's to Breathing and Trusting...

Smell ya later peeps.

Memphis November 2011

Quote: "If your love does not work with that person, it just means that someone else loves you more." -unknown


This past week has been a rough one for me. A week ago my boyfriend and I broke up. It was a mutual decision but one that neither of us really wanted. I don't want to get into details but we are both really sad and trying to work through it. Who knows what the future holds for us both but right now we need to focus on being happy independently. I really miss him though.

12 hours after we broke up I had to jump on a flight for a girls weekend in Memphis. I didn't have time to sit and be sad so instead I brought my tears on the trip ha. I was a mess. Thank God for girlfriends who love me!

Besides being devestated about not being able to talk to Taylor for a few days for the first time ever the weekend was pretty nice. We ate alot of famous Memphis food...none of it healthy.

The first night we went to a famous BBQ joint called Rendezvous. My friend Erin and I split a rack of ribs, baked beans, and coleslaw. It was a neat little hole in the wall that is famous in Memphis.

They all went out on Beale Street that night but I was still really sad so I stayed home and read my book. If I wasn't reading I was crying so I ended up reading 3 books that weekend on my Kindle. I read the Hunger Games series. THEY ARE SOOOO GOOD. I would suggest reading these!

Anyway the next day we got up and toured the city. We went to a neat little brunch restaurant and got mimosas.

Then we walked around and toured the city..

We went to the Peabody. This is a famous hotel which has the Duck Walk. They have famous ducks that walk off the elevator and into the fountain in the lobby and swim all day. I love the little duckies. The picture below is Kelley and I posing with the ducks... I guess you can't really see them.

Memphis has a Trolley system to get people around town. We rode the old trolleys and it was really cool. They are so unique looking and I wish ATL had them. 

Below is the hotel room where MLK Jr. was shot and killed. They've saved this area and left it untouched. To the left of this picture is the Civil Rights Museum.

Saturday night we went to a well known sushi restaurant. I love sushi. Unfortunately I burned my tounge on some cider earlier that day so I could not really taste my sushi. It was nice anyway.

Sunday we went to Gus's Fried Chicken. This was a greasy little hole in the wall fried chicken place that is really famous in Memphis. I don't normally eat fried things so although it was delicious at the time it really upset my stomach later that day. But I'm glad I got to experience the greasy chicken. ha -I didn't even eat the fried skin and it still was super greasy.

To finish off the trip we went to Graceland. This is Elvis's house and where he is buried. It was a really neat experience and I learned ALOT about Elvis that I didn't know. I would definately recommend you do this if you are ever in Memphis. I'd probably never go again but I'm glad I did once.

I was missing a sock and it was really bugging me having a bare foot in my boot.

SOOOO... I ended up buying some sexy Elvis socks in the giftshop before we went on the tour. Best $10.20 I've ever spent haha. They did their job well that day and now I'll remember Memphis every time I wear them back home.

 

I feel so blessed to have such good girlfriends. Even when I was a blubbering crying mess (all weekend) they supported me and included me. Break ups are hard and the best thing you can do it surround youself with family and friends.

Smell ya later holmes.



Halloweenie 2011

Quote: "When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween." -unknown


Halloweenie (It's more fun to call it that) was a blast this year. I haven't done anything for Halloween in the past 3 years because I've always gone to a football game. This year I was super torn between having a Halloween gathering and going out or going to the Ole Miss vs Auburn game with my family.

Getting extra tickets for everyone was proving hard for my brother so I decided to just skip this game so someone from out of town could have my ticket. (I know, I know, I'm so selfless.)

Anyway... Friday night I picked up family friends from the airport in ATL and drove them to Marietta to my parents house. We all went to Lucia's Italian Restaurant and had wine, laughs, and delicious food. My manfriend is a HUGGGGGGE Cardnials fan and he even missed the beginnning of Game 7 of the World Series to be at dinner with me and my family---can you say major brownie points?! What a nice fella.

Saturday I made snacks for my Halloweenie gathering. I made a pumpkin cake, pigs in a blanket, roasted pumpkin seeds (saved for me from my man friend's pumpkin -more brownie points), peanuts, and Pizza.

My friend Erin made Spiced Rum Cider which was strong but delicious.

Then I had a few people over before we went out to the bars. Costumes ranged from cute to funny.

Sandra Dee, Go-Go girl, and an Old school bball player.

Old school bball player & Go-Go girl.

My friend Sir Elton John... 

Old school bball player, LSU Football player, Elton John & a Cop.

Marvin was a baby.

 We had to force him to put shoes on to go to the bars.  

On Monday night (actual Halloween night) I went home to Marietta and Taylor and I went to my parent's house. Mom makes chili every Halloween and it's my favorite. I got to hang out with my fam and bf, see all the little trick-or-treaters, and eat delish chili!

Ann was the only one dressed up. She was Mario and at the end of the night put Specs in her overalls so she could be Yoshi. 

This weekend Erin (the go-go girl) and I are flying to Memphis to visit our friend Kelley. She's in Grad school at the Univ of Memphis and has been wanting us to come visit her. So Friday we're hoping on a plane to fly to Memph-nasty.

Hope everyone's Halloween was fun!

Smell ya later.