Day #570

This is great! Our Christmas Season has been packed with baking, parties and church.

May your Christmas be a delightful one!

Day #550

Photo Credit

So yesterday, Mr. M and I celebrate a 1 1/2 of marriage. Go us!

I did win ILYD so now I'm in the lead.

We also had our first "bunker down" experience as two tornadoes were spotted miles from our house. Imagine trying to get a 26 pound cat and a 19 pound cat into a bathroom as fast as possible. My hands are now covered with scratches. I will say that it must be the Midwestern in me to immediately act to a tornado warning...or maybe I watched Twister one to many times. Luckily, both small towns did not receive extensive damage and I am now in search of a weather radio.

Day #538

Photo Credit



School is finally winding down and I'm coming back to reality. Just to catch you up on the lives of the Ms. I won ILYD for October. Whoo! Next month marks a year and a half of marriage.



Totally crazy.



Football is coming to a close in the next few weeks and basketball at WoCo has already started. Hopefully, we'll have a few days of R&R before 2011 but I'm highly doubting it. ;) This Saturday's game determines my Thanksgiving plans if we A) travel to some random city in the US or B) if I get to stay home. Either plan is great, it's the waiting limbo that I could do without.

Photo Credit

Day #515

Photo Credit

This was to funny not to pass on...

Day #513

"Growing up Southern is a privilege, really. It's more than where you're born - it's an idea, a state of mind that seems imparted at birth. It's more than loving fried chicken, sweet tea, high school football, beer, and acoustic guitars. It's being hospitable, being devoted to front porches, moon pies, sun drop, and each other. We don't become Southern - we're born that way."

Via Kentucky Mama

Day # 506

A lot has happened in the last 30 or so days so I’ll recap in photos...

Photo Credit

Started back at Clemson University as I’m taking a

Research Methods Class for my degree….

Photo Credit

Mr. M and I are chairing the young patrons society fundraising

campaign to help our local arts community…

Found out that one of my photos was selected for a local calendar so now I’m a published photographer. Whoo!

Photo Credit
Carolina beat #1 Alabama. Way to go Gamecocks!

Had an accident while running and totally pulled a Peter Griffin on the sidewalk in my neighborhood. So classy – I know.

Photo Credit
Flu 2010 decided to pay our household a visit and I’m still trying to get better after three weeks.

Photo Credit


Mr. M won ILYD - again.

Day #472

So funny.

#461

Brian & Eileen's Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.

I saw this fun video on Our Little Haus this morning and had to pass it on.

Enjoy a great Labor Day weekend!

Day#457

Thank you to everyone who has read this blog as today is it's one year anniversary! As for ILYD - I won!

Day #450

A photo from this weekend. Sometimes I feel like the leader of the pack and other times, I feel like the last duck in line. Here's to a fresh start of a new week - hope everyone has a great

week.

Day #432

Real Housewives of DC begins tonight! So excited.

Day #430

Love. Love. Love this song.

Day #429

For those who need motivation today...like myself.

*Heads up if you are watching this at work, the language is a little blunt but the message is still good.*

Day #427

Mr. M won ILYD this month. That little stinker woke me up at 5 a.m. to win. :)

Have a great weekend!

Day #423

Now I don't feel so bad about the Alvin Greene debacle. This campaign is being backed – strongly – by Jack Daniels.

Day # 417

Photo Credit

Today Mr. M and I are going to a memorial service for our friend's daughter. Her mother {let's call her Sally}went into labor early at 24 weeks and the little one's lungs were not fully developed so she only lived an hour.

An hour.

That phrase gets me everytime. If you could only live an hour of your life,

which one would you pick? Or could you pick?

Day #409

VH1 TV Shows Music Videos Celebrity Photos News & Gossip

Remember Pop-Up video? Awww...good times.

Day #403

Photo Credit

Free books! Sign up today for neat opportunity to win a copy of a free book through Read It Forward. Contest ends on July 14th.

(Thanks Hip2Save!)

Day #395

If you have not read {or heard} about the story of Bayler Teal, take a moment to read this article from The Post and Courier about his passing on Sunday and his passion for Gamecock Baseball.

I think God finds his way of exemplifying his love and power in the most amazing ways. The Gamecocks could have easily lost their games to Clemson and gone home but instead they battled back to win a chance to play for the national title. And now, with the help of the media, more people are learning about the team's love for this little boy and their ultimate belief in God.

So much that a perfect stranger {from the Gamecock nation} fronted the money to pay for a charter flight so the Teal family could go to the World Series which is what their son would have loved to do. Seriously - God is in control of this one.

This baseball series, I feel, is a special one and encourage you to read the post by the P&C reporter Travis Haney. My fingers are crossed that the Gamecocks will one more for the little guy.

Day #394

Photo Credit
Way to go Gamecocks! Can't wait to watch the big game tonight. :)

Day #391

Photo Credit

Next month!! Whoo!

Day # 389

Photo Credit

If you have not read this essay by Florida fourth-grade teacher Jamee Miller, then you should.

Part of my job is to bring in corporations and businesses that will increase the overall wage of our citizens. This has become a hurdle {major hurdle} as I am constantly told that our area does not have the "talent" that they are looking for and therefore find another city that has the educated workforce that they need.


This all boils down to what occurs in the classroom. As a nation, we must recognize this as an issue and come together across party lines in order to establish a more talented workforce so that Americans can become an even more competitive on the global front.

Day #388

They have a book? Who knew?

If you do not watch The Real Housewives of {insert city} then you are missing out on some seriously cheese but addicting television.

Days #387

Reason #257 of why I love my husband...

If you haven't heard, Redbox is giving a way a free movie rental today so when I realized that we {gasp} had a free evening together tonight, I e-mailed him to see what he wanted to rent.



I mentioned renting The September Issue because I thought it would be interesting and this is the e-mail response that I got:

Hey, you found the code so to the victor go the spoils. If you want to see how an issue of Vogue goes together, that’s fine by me. I might sit my man card on the table, crack open a Zima and watch it with you.

It's the small things that make me happy.

Day #383

Photo Credit

Photo Credit

So in our house we have a large wall that connects our dinning room to our kitchen that needs some TLC decoration wise. The house was build in the early 1920's, I'm assuming that there used to be a wall dividing these two rooms which would explain the empty space.

Since moving into the house now a year ago, I'm still trying to decide what to do with the space and I found a few ideas the other day. What do you think?

Day #380

Does anyone else find this commercial disturbing?

Day #373

Photo Credit

72 hours ago this was my view.

{sigh}

Mr. M and I are now home from our great trip to Treasure Island, FL as a week off from the reality was definitely in order.

Day #353

On Sunday it will be one year for us. Where did the time go?!?

Day #359

When did Hannah Montana become Britney Spears?!? Wow.

Day #352

I may be a sap but I still get teary eyed when I hear Alan Jackson’s Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning…

I think 9/11 is the reason why I focus on my energies on living life to the fullest and volunteering every waking hour of the day. I’d rather spend my time doing something productive than sitting in front of the TV watching other people doing something with their lives.

9/11 is probably why I stopped watching scary movies all together. Funny how on e event changes you.

Day # 348

Photo Credit


So true.

Day #338

Had a random non-meeting filled night and actually got to watch a few minutes of mindless TV. You can tell that the staff of The Simpsons must have a lot of fun at work.

Day #331

Let me introduce you to the Pink Princess (as she calls herself) who seriously has Mr. M wrapped around her little finger. Yesterday was her birthday party so I took a quick study break to watch 2 year-olds run around silly and eat a cupcake. It was a Lilly Pulitzer pink and green themed party so naturally, I was in my element. This is one of my favorite photos from the day as it's right after she released a balloon in the sky. The excitement on her face to watch it go in the air reminds me how sweet childhood can really be...

Day #324

SJ playing at the Shower.

Did we have a weekend? The past two days have been jammed packed with parties, dinners, a yard sale and a baby shower. It was just non-stop.

In breaking news...I finally broke down and got a blackberry. I'm not a big fan of smart phones for the simple fact that people are so distracted by them. Instead of being present in the moment, their noses are buried in the tiny screen and they're missing life as it passes them by.

The other big news is that my grandmother celebrated her 82nd birthday on Sunday. Mr. M and I drove to TN Sunday afternoon for dinner and we had a ball. She's at this fun age where she just likes to laugh and crack jokes and overall is just a happy person. I'm always amazed by how sharp her mind is at her age.

Day #321

A great big THANK YOU to Leslie at LMSTOEHR for this great blog award! She's participating in Relay For Life this weekend (go Les!) and overall great blogger.

Here are the rules:
1. Blog about your award and the person who sent it to you including their link.

2. List 7 things may or may not know about you.


- I collect stress balls...my desk is covered with them.

- I'm a news junkie and would rather watch FOX, CNN, MSNBC than Big Brother or American Idol.

- I'm the oldest of four girls

- I would love to one day own a non-profit art gallery so local artist could show their work. Of course then I would have to win the lottery to pay for it so....
- I would like to one day win the lottery.

- I'm in love with CVS and the fact that I earn so much free money there.

And the fact that their staff tells me how to beat the system makes my day that much better.

- I so thankful everyday for my husband. :)


3. Pass the award onto 6 blogs that make you smile and give you inspiration.

OMG! I'm a Mom

This girl is HILARIOUS. Seriously, take a second to read this blog.

The Newlywed Diaries

The Frugal Girl

Makes Me Think

Oh Happy Day

Young House Love

Also, in other news, I saw this trailer for a new movie that's coming out. It's about 4 babies in different parts of the world and their first year of life. The concept is pretty cool and since it seems that I'm now in the stage of my life where everyone is pregnant and my conversations are now about bottles and strollers rather than going to a wine tasting or shopping, it seemed fitting to me.

Day #317

Day 3, 4 & 5

Curse my name now because this post is going to be full of photos so if you have a s-l-o-w connection...well I'm sorry.

Keeping up with the schedule, so on Day 3....

First we went to Jamba Juice since we don't have that in the South and Jill

thought I should have a shot of wheat grass. The fact that they literally cut the

grass in front of you to mix it up in a blender is hilarious.

Next we went to get our toes done and have a

spa moment before the big game. Mr. M designed

the t-shirt that Jill's wearing.

We found a great bar that allowed me to have control of the TV so I could watch the big game and scream my head off....which I did...loudly. I will say that this place was a amazing food and service wise. And the fact that they didn't kick me out for acting like a spaz during the game was a plus. Wofford did lose but they played an AWESOME game.



In efforts to cheer me up, Jill took me to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.



Of course Jill found this great little sign and then we had to get a photo with...

This a male seahorse giving birth. I know, we're being silly

but blame it on the wheat grass shot or the beer. Take your pick.

This was the only turtle in the whole darn place. Aquarium FAIL.

Next we went shopping on Cannery Row in all the tourist trap shops as I was

on the hunt for a pint glass to bring back to Mr. M (he collects them). We didn't find it

there but we did find it at this neat brewery. On another note, I thought this cheesy "They didn't have your name"name tag was hilarious. Poor kids.

Awkward tourist trap photo shoot.

Day 4:

The start of the wine trolley. :) A must-do in Monterrey.

Another fun stop on the wine trolley.

Random photo with the captain and two friends we made on the wine trolley.

Got to hang out with a few interesting birds at the Fisherman's Wharf. Apparently this guy

is called "Crazy George" at Jill's school and works in the cafeteria during the week. Small world. The reason for my "WTH" face is due to the fact that the "Crazy George" told me to let the bird eat my fingers. Clearly...WTH.

Day 5:

So Jill and I had a blast shopping and seeing the sites in San Fran.

Unfortunately we were having to much fun that we forgot to take photos.

She did drive down Lombard Street which is the crookedest street in America.

Last photo together :(

The start of my 8+ hour trip home.

Day #305

Day 2:

Sorry that I've been MIA for a while, it's be a couple crazy days with work, school and board meetings. So where was I? Oh yeah - Day 2 of the Cali trip.

The next morning we took a fantastic ride down the Pacific Highway. If you're out in California on a visit you must drive this highway at least once during your trip. Seriously, make time for it because the views are beautiful. It was even better in Jill's convertible.

So off on the highway we went to the Hearst Castle (which to Jill's disappointment is not a Castle) and took the tour. The place is beautiful but it really is a giant Goodwill. Per our tour guide, William Randolph Hearst apparently waited until all of his rich friends were poor and then offered to buy their stuff of them for a really cheap price.

(Guess that's why he was so wealthy huh?)

So it's kinda of a sad place but the view was nice.

Here's a picture of the front pool.

And photos of the actual house...I mean castle.

After the whirlwind trip of seeing all the sites, we took off down the highway back to Monterrey to have dinner with a few DZ sisters at Sardine Factory located in historic Cannery Row area.

PS. Jill took all of these lovely photos. I'm still trying to find my computer cord.

PPS. I won ILYD! Yeah for 10 months!