Thaksgiving Recap=Tons of pics

How was everybodies Thanksgiving and Black Friday? Oh and don't forget Cyber Monday???

Thanksgiving was wonderful. I actually didn't eat as much then as I thought I would. It's all they desserts that came home with me. Luckily my brother and his wife devoured my red velvet cake. Also, after cooking the italian cream cake my tongue went numb and we didn't know why, we thought it was some candy I had tried that my mom brought home, but the next day while taking the first two bites of my italian cream cake I learned that it had to be the coconut. No more coconut for me. However, I like something sweet for breakfast and that chocolate chip cheesecake came right in handy. Bad choice..lol

My brother and sis in law wanted to hit some black Friday sales so bad, but for two people who had never been to blackc friday sales before it was a shocker when we got to Toys r Us at 10 that night and the whole parking lot and half of the mall parking lot was filled with cars and the line was all the way through the parking lot. They decided not to try that, but to try Walmart, where we could not find a parking place and when we did and finally got inside it was rediculous. We tried to shop, but people were camped out everywhere waiting for the midnight sales and we just said forget it and came home. I did my black Friday shopping online. And I didn't even attempt Cyber monday shopping.

Here are some of my favorite pics from Thanksgiving weekend:





Exscuse the pic of me without makeup..I promise that was not actually Thanksgiving day!!








And My absolute favorite of all :)



On another note, I am going to start back with my diet and working out. I did a pretty good workout today and know I am going to be sore tomorrow. It envolved cycling, resistance bands, and the abs will. I however can't figure out how I really want to go about this diet. I don't really want it to be a diet, but I want it to be a lifestyle change. I really want to drop quite a few pounds by Christmas when that special someone comes to visit me. I've gained 15 lbs since the last time he seen me and it makes me sad. Please share any weight loss tips, lifestyle changes, exercises, etc. that you have. I am gladly here to listen to all tips and suggestions!

Until next time,

Carie

What are you wearing?

I am not going to participate in day 2 of the 12 days of Christmas Challenge because I don't usually shop on black Friday. Well I do, but I shop online. I can't stand crowds and getting irritable shopping in stores on black Friday.

Anyways, I have no clue what to wear for Thanksgiving. I had planned on wearing something cute an warm, but found out that it is going to be 80 degrees here on Thanksgiving and my grandparents plan on eating outside so we can all mingle. Hmm, so what should I wear??

For all of those that know me know that I love fashion and dressing up, so ladies what are you wearing for Thanksgiving?

12 Days of Christmas

Aly and Molly are having a really fun blog challenge called the 12 days of Christmas. I love Christmas sooo much that I just had to join. If you would like to join in this fun challenge click on the picture below! I hope you do and enjoy it as much as I think I am going to enjoy it :)

Day 1 : Traditions

Used to when my brother and sister still lived here and weren't married and the kids (my niece and nephew) lived here we would alway put the tree up the weekend after Thansgiving, but now we have little kiddos running around the weekend after Thanksgiving and a house full of people that we, my mom and I, put up the tree the weekend before Christmas. This is aso so we can enjoy it longer and the kids look for it the week of Christmas when they all start coming in.

Also, we used to only put one tree up in the living room with the front door, but the past couple of years we have put one tree in the living room, with all the decorative memories. We have carebears, rugrats, elmos, unicorns, my little ponies, dora, and horses and teddy bears and santas. This tree is memories throughout all of our life times. It has our baby pictures. It has Ornaments that we have made over the years and ornaments people have gave to all of us over the years. This tree means a lot. This tree is the kids tree. Santa comes to this room and sets it up all nice and pretty. However, we also put other presents from their parents, Grandma and Grandaddy, me, and their aunts and uncles and cousins upunder this tree.

The other tree is put into the dining room in the back corner and looks absolutely adorable. It is more of the antique tree. It has lots of balls and ornaments from my parents past. It has lots of gold, silver, red, blue, and green on it. It has coca cola ornaments and ornaments with a more antiquey feel that just have to go on that tree. It is beautiful. This is the tree for the adults: Parents, brother and sister and their husband and wifes, and little ol' lonely me. I kinda wont be lonely this year because Stephen will also be here, even though he isn't mine..lol

My mom and I and sometimes my sister used to get up early early on Black Friday to go shopping, but I just can't stand the crowds and would rather shop online on Black Friday. We do however take my Grandma shopping in Tallahassee two weekends after Thanksgiving and shop til we drop and then go to Olive Garden and if we still need to, we shop until we drop somemore. I love this girl time and my Mom and Grandma do to.

The week of Christmas my mom and I start making our candies. We make peanut butter balls, candied pecans, chocolate and white chocolate covered pretzels, and many other things.

Used to when my granny was still alivewe had Christmas with my Dad's side of the family the night before Christmas eve. When she passed away this tradition stopped.

Now I make my cakes, pies, candies, and goodies for Christmas Eve at my Grandma's the night before Christmas Eve. The day before Christmas eve is the day my brother and sister and their families come into town also.

Christmas Eve is spent seperating presents out to go and cooking last minute goodies. We then all load up in vehicles and head an hour away to my Grandparents house where we have a big meal followed by opening presents. We swap names way back in August and buy for that person. The kids usually get pajamas then so that they can all change and be ready for sleep on the ride back to Mom's house that night. We load up the cars with all of our goodies, say our love you's, thank you's and goodbyes and sing Christmas songs and look for Santa in the sky all the way home. Of course we don't all fit in ove vehicle and all the kiddos choose to ride with Grandma and Grandaddy :) I usually takes 3 vehicles to go with our big family to be able to go and bring stuff back.

Everybody gets in bed and sometime within the night Santa comes. The first person who gets up Christmas morning wakes up the rest. We then all open presents in our pajamas and get our huge stockings full of goodies. We usually all wait for the kids to open theirs first. Then head to the other room to open our presents. After that we all take off to our rooms to find that one perfect new outfit to wear. My mom fixxes a yummy meal of dressing, turkey, etc. and my Grandparents come to our house to spend time with the kids they don't get to see all year.

I love our traditions even though they may not be much :)

What are yours?

This I ask...

I know this is far from what I usually talk about, but I wanted to talk about something that has really been weighing down on me lately.

To tell you the story of now, I have to tell you the story of the past. The good and the bad.

My sister hs led a hard life. My sister was very sick when she was 15 and the school started giving her problems about missing school. She ended up begging my mom to just let her quite so she could get her GED and go to college. This was 13 years ago now. Her boyfriend was living with us, not in same rooms of course which was definately not allowed as long as my daddy lived in this household, because his family moved at the start of his senior year of highschool. After he graduated my parents signed for my sister to get married, at 16. She was pretty mature and in love. After they got married, my sister started having a lot of problems with her endometreosis. They had to do surgery and reconstruct one of her overies at 17. The doctor told her that she would probably never be able to have kids. He told her to go home and try. Sure enough, he was wrong. My sister was blessed with a beautiful little girl when she turned 18. By the time she was 20 she also had a handsome little man. The night my nephew was born my sisters marriage fell apart when some events( I don't know who might possibly read this blog so I will not tell what actually happened on here) happened that led to police and having to leave the hospital early with doctor's permission while the nurses watched my nephew. My sister wasn't the same for quite some time. She tried to find love, but all the guys she fell in love with she didn trust her kids around and kept them away from them. Not to mention they hurt her and each one got increasingly more harmful that the previous. After having her ribs, wrist, and tailbone broken by a boyfriend she finally just let go of love for a while. Unfortunately her kids resented her for it and today she regrets it. She has turned her life around and found a man that she loves that treats her and the kids well and is happily married. But she is missing one thing. She wants a baby. She knows she done wrong by the first two and wants a second chance. She knows that it wont fix what she did to the first two, but she wants that chance. Her husband and her want a baby together more than anythng in the world and the kids really want a little brother or sister.

However, my sister has been going to her doctor and the doctor gave her the okay to go for it and said that he didn't think she would have a problem getting pregnant. That was back at the beginning of the year. She had a lot of tests done that showed she could get pregnant and the doctor also did something to clean out all the old nasty stuff (sry..tmi but I wasn't sure what it was called or how to explain). The doctor was sure she would get pregnant after doing that. That was back in April. We all think that she just wants a baby so bad that if she just sits back and relaxes it might happen. I was there all summer with her and I know every month she would buy a pregnancy test hoping she was pregnant and I saw the hurt in her eyes everytime the test said no. I know how she still always had hope. She even would stock up on obulation tests hoping that she could hit it right on the spot.

She went to the doctor Wednesday with pains in her stomach. The doctor orered and ultrasound and on Thursday they found a cyst on her right ovary and could not find her left ovary (the one they reconstructed) and the doctor said that her uterus was so thin that he wasn't sure she would be able to carry a baby if she did get pregnant. However, he did say that he could give her medicine to hopefully take care of that and I know that my ex sis and law had to have that medicine when she was pregnant with my niece. My sister also remembered having medicine for that with her first baby. The doctor said that he believed she had been pregnant and lost the baby. He however said that if she didn't start by next month to come back in. And then he mentioned that if she did that he was going to refer her to a fertility doctor. I know she's hurting and I hurt for her. I know how much she wants this.

I hope she relaxes some. We also told her that this was between her and God and that she needed to pray and talk to him about him. If anything is possible, he can make it happen. My mom also told her that she might need to ask him for forgiveness for what she did to the first two. I pray that she gets pregnant. I pray that she gets just one more baby to love and cherish.

Please, please, please pray for her that she gets this baby that her and her husband and her children want so bad.

Thank you all so much for reading this!

Yay me!! And you!!!

I would like to thank both Leslie @ Life in its Ordinary Form and Emily @ East Goes West for this lovely blog award!!



Here are the rules:
*to thank the person that gave you the award....check
*to tell you 7 facts about me :)...
*give the award to 7 wonderful bloggers that I just love
*leave a comment and tell the 7 bloggers that I am giving them an award

1. I love to shop, but I hate crowds. I get furious and act funny when I'm in crowds. I have found a newfound love with online shopping. LOVE it!!! I still go shopping in town though, but I go on week nights so that I can avoid big crowds. I know right? I'm just a little weird!!

2. I love ketchup and hot sauce with my fried chicken.

3. I Christmas shop all year long. I love finding bargains!!

4. I prefer the lake over the beach. It's not that the beach isn't pretty and that I don't like the salty water because it is perfectly fine with me, but I can't stand trying to walk in the sand. I absolutely can not do it. I look like a duck or something tripping over my feet. I keep telling myself that I need to move to a beach somewhere and just walk in the sand everyday so I don't look like the waddling duck and feel like everyone's staring at me!

5. I am so quite around new people. I am the person holding up the walls at parties with people I don't know. I always am furious with myself the next day, but hey this is me. I guess that's why I'm not a big party person unless I know more than 3 people there!

6. I love planning. I love, love, love to throw parties (ex. birthday, baby shower, wedding shower, etc.). I love setting everything up and making it all pretty. And I love, love, love to have a reason to cook!!

7. I make a list for absolutely everything. I have so many note tablets it is crazy. I have 3 on the fridge, one on each side and have been known to have more. And then of course I have a dry erase board on the fridge also. I forget to easy so I have to have reminders :)

I pass this award on to these blogs that I absolutely love!!

Mayra @ Life is Bananas

Laci-Jae @ Just the Simple Life

Pam @ Relatively Reagan

Nicole

Ashley @ For This Child I Prayed

Just Me and My Life

Lucky In Love and Life

What I'm loving Wednesday!

I'm loving that I got to spend some time with these boogers this weekend!! I love my nieces and nephew!



I'm loving that in just a few short weeks I get to go see my oldest niece and nephew. I miss them. They are the ones that lived with me for 9 years. I miss them!!

I'm loving that we finally have boot and sweater/jacket weather here in South Georgia! Hello cute outfits!!!

I'm loving that I recently found out that both my bestie and a friend are both having little girls. One is due any day now and the other is due in February. I went shopping for little girls last night. I have to atleast get one package in the mail SOON!!!

I'm loving all the Christmas shopping I've been doing. Especially the online shopping!

I'm loving that God had a different plan for me and decided that the nursing program was not for me this coming up semester, but I will try again. Many people are suggesting a college swap. It would just be an hour away. Hmm, decisions, decisions.

I'm loving that I found out today that the guy that I am crazy about, my bro-in-laws best friend, who I got to know over the summer will be coming to spend Christmas with my family. He says I have to make him a "red cake". He wants a red velvet cake that I made for us in the summer. I'm so excited!! I hope his plans don't fall through.

I'm loving that no matter what God has a plan for me!!





**I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow. Please pray that we find some answers!! I've been battling this pain in my right side for over a week and still don't know what's going on.

Ten on Tuesday

1. What is your favorite breakfast pastry?
Hmm, I'm not really sure. I'm not to big of a breakfast person. I do like McDonald's McGriddles everynow and then if those count..lol..and I like banana nut muffins and choc. chip muffins :)

2. Were you ever in a Thanksgiving or Christmas play?
Nope :(

3. What is your favorite clothing accessory?
shoes!!!! scarves!! belts!! hair accessories!! Rings!

4. What is your favorite item of clothing?
hmm..my shoe collection :)

5. What is your favorite color and why?
Lime green, I love anything bright :)

6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie?
Peppermint choc. chip :)

7. What is your favorite scent (food, perfume/lotion)
midnight pomegranite from bath and body works!

8. What is your favorite household cleaner?
hmm..idk pledge furniture polish, lemon scent!

9. When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? And what did you actually grow up to be?
a doctor and a mom..I'm currently in school to be a nurse, without a boyfriend anytime soon..not that I don't want one!

10. What is the last song or album you bought?
I don't buy songs or albums..I'm in love with pandora!My channel depends on my mood, but I am loving the christian channel and will soon swap to the holiday channel :)




On a different note, I wanted to let you all know that I have decided on desserts :)
I am going to make my red velvet cake, a italian cream cake, pecan pies, diabetic coconut pies, and a chocolate chip cheesecake. I still wanted to do something cute for the kiddos, but haven't decided on something easy and cute yet!!

What are you cooking?

I am one of those people that plan for weeks, sometimes months what I am going to make for Thanksgiving. I have a pretty big family and most of the basics are always taken care of, for ex. my grandma makes the dressing, turkey, ham, squash,cranberry sauce, fruit salad, salad, etc., my aunts take care of the corn, beans, sweet potatoes, etc., the young girls try out new recipes from cook books, and my mom and me are usually in charge of the kid friendly foods and desserts. I usually go overboard on desserts, but this year I don't think I'm going to do that. Haha, who am I kidding I love to cook and love when I can cook for others to eat, so why not go overboard.

So Carie, what are you cooking for Thanksgiving?

You know, I have absolutely no clue!

I usually know by now, but I've just been soo busy this year. I usually make one or two cakes, some pies, and some kid friendly cupcakes or desserts. Any suggestions?

I even believe my mom and me are completely stumped on what to make for the kids this year!! I tried sliders at an earlier bday party and those didn't go over to well. They aren't fans of homemade mac and cheese and I hate fixxing the box kind for big events, so what do you suggest??

Not to mention, my family don't like the traditional pumpkin and sweet potato pies, but I'm really temped to make one. I want to try and see if I can do it, but I want it to get ate so I'm not sure.

So ladies, what are you making this year for Thanksgiving and what are yummy recipes you have tried in the past? What do you suggest for me to make?

Five Question Friday :)

1. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you? I'm really not sure, pain doesn't usually get to me as bad because I've had so much throughout my life..was it the 4-5 times I broke my wrist? the time I fell over a kid running at p.e. and broke my ribs? the time time the little girl broke my finger on the bus? the time my brother got mad at me and through my dog out in front of my bicycle and I ran over him and fell off my bike and still have scars all over my knees from it? The time I fell out of the buggy and busted my head? Any of my surgeries? Th time I had fluid under my knee and they had to pull it out with the really long needle and I screamed and screamed and my mom tried to pass out? or the time I got hit in both of my eyes by a baseball and a softball at the same time, not to mention I had on glasses that shattered..I still have a scare above my eye, under my eyebrow. I'm really not sure when my most painful time was and sadly that's not even all that happened to me.


2. How much sleep do you get at night? I get about 8 hours on nights I'm not studyiing.

3. How long did you believe in Santa Claus? I believed until I was about 8 and then pretented I believed until I was about 12 and then I got to help be Santa Claus for my nieces and nephews. We would put some of my stuff out and make it look like Santa came to see me also.

4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater? Easy A

5. What do you wear to bed? I usually wear a tank top or tshirt and shorts or yoga pants.



I'm excited,because even though I'm still in a lot of pain, the show must go on and we have to move my brothers stuff to Tampa, which means I get to see my niece and nephew..YAY :)

Food secrets :)

I decided to play along with Kit @ A Step into My Life

1.What is your favorite dessert?
fried icecream and sopapillas..a resturaunt here in town has the best fried icecream place on top of a sopapilla.

2. Did you ever try to cook something and fail miserably?
Oh yes, I tried to make Kelly over at Kelly's Korners, hashbrown Casserole and let's just say..I FAILED!

3. What is your favorite food?
Broccoli..I know I'm weird, but I love it steamed, covered in cheese, etc. I'm not a fan of raw broccoli though.

4. What is your least favorite food?
shrimp..i cant stand the texture I think. I used to eat popcorn shrimp when I was younger, but I want let shrimp come anywhere near this mouth of mine..lol

5. Do you have any seasonal meals you like?

I love my moms chili and santa fe soup..YUM!! I also love it when my mom makes brunswick stew for all of the kids to take to their houses this time of year..YUM!!!


6. What is your comfort food?

Mashed potatoes


7. Chocolate: Milk, Dark, or White?
Milk


I'm tagging all of my followers that want to play along also. Just comment and let me know if you played :)

Wee Bit Wednesday!

{one} do you collect anything? if so, what and how long have you been collecting?
salt shakers. I absolutely love cute, different salt shakers!!

{two} what is one cleaning tip that you swear by?
umm i dont really have any really different ones other than cleaning shoes with toothpaste or hairspray

{three} who would you call for bail money?
my mama and daddy

{four} what is one thing you miss about being a kid?
my granny..when she was alive i was at her house everyday after school. I had a milkshake and popcorn for snack everyday and i loved the smell of cooking in her kitchen. I miss the sounds of her ankles popping as she would make the step coming down the hall from the kitchen and stepping up the step to her living room. I often imagined that same sound the many days I sat there lonely inside watching tv while my grandpa and unkle worked outside. I miss after homework going out into her front yard and digging and digging thinkin the red clay was me getting closer to hell. I was sure I was digging for the devil. I'd always cover it up and start again. I miss how she used to let me pull out every can in her grocery cabinets to play grocery store while she was cooking as long as I would always put them up. I miss when we always had a fully cooked meal everynight at grannys and on the weekends the whole family would come over for yummy chili or other goodies. I miss how when granny died, it was like the whole family did. I hardly see any of them and my cousins dont even know who I am. Christmas at granny's house stopped and weekend family time ended. I became closer to my mom's side of the family, but life is hard when your 10 and you lose your best friend.

{five} name a few of your guilty pleasures.
chai lattes, coffee, candy



{six} how early do you start your holiday shopping?
my mom and me actually shop all year. We have such a large family and mom likes to hae big christmases, so we find bargains all year and hide them, sometimes from ourselves, and closer to christmas, around october, we start wrapping them. Then when we draw names around august/october we can focus on the names we drew to give presents to on christmas eve at my Grandma's house. I love our traditions and wouldnt change them for the world.


{seven} what is a family tradition that you would like to pass on to your significant other/children?
I would like to give my children one present the night before cristmas, cute pajamas. We always got them the night before Christmas and would put them on before we left my grandmas, which is an hour away. That way we could usually wake back up from sleeping in the car and just go crawl in bed!

{eight} what do you consider your greatest achievement?
I haven't done a lot in life yet, so graduating from high school.

{nine} what do you do to pamper yourself?
I have to have my nails painted at all times, though I do them myself.

{ten} if you were to start your own restaurant, what would it be called?
hmm...this is hard. "Carie's Fine Dining"



**On a different note, today is such a blah day. Yesterday I went to the dr with pain in my lower right side that traveled all the away around to the lower right side of my back. The dr ran tests and was sure that it was an appendicitis or kidney stones and wanted to me to go straight to the hospital to the ER and not stop anywhere else. We did and the ER took us right back because the doctors office called and also we had results from the other tests with us. The ER ran ten or so more tests. They gave me pain medicine when I got there and then I sat in a chair for an hour or so until finally the really nice male nurse came and got me and moved me to a recliner. Then the doctor came and told me that all the tests looked normal but one showed that something was definately wrong. He said that he was sure it was one of three things: an ovarian cyst, appendicitis, or kidney stones. He then gave me a percoset. I had to drink the nasty stuff to prepare for a ct scan and while they left me out in the freezing hall for the tech to come get me I started throwing up..tmi..sry..Then it came time for the test and I got stuck 4 more times with people trying to find a vein. After the ct scan I had to wait another hour and a new doctor that came on said that he didnt see anything wrong, which he didnt understand but that he was going to give me pain medicine and send me home and if I didn't get better in two days to go back to my regular doctor. They then came bringing me another pill and a prescription. UGH!! I hate hurting and not being able to know whats going on. The pain medicine eases it, but I dont want to get hooked and when the pain medicine starts to wear off it gets to hurting so bad again that it hurts to move. I can't bend over, sneeze, cough, walk, or sit any way but the way that is comfortable for me without it hurting. I just want to cry :(

Cuteness

I just had to share some cute new pics of my niece and nephew :)

Party, Party, Party!!

My weekend was pretty good, minus the fact that I have had a persistent cough for the past week! I was sick and had laringitis and a sore throat at the beginning of last week. The laringitis and sore throat went away, but I can't shake the coughing. It's really bad at night time. I thought it was possibly getting better, but I went to my friends bday party Saturday night and now it is worse. I don't cough so much during the day, but as soon as night time gets here I CAN NOT stop!!! I stay away most of the night coughing. This morning my neck/throat and upper chest wall hurt and my ribs hurt from coughing. Idk what to do. Medicine isn't helping me :(

Anyways, my weekend:

Friday night my mom and I went out to eat at Johnny Carinos. We had Italian nachos, salad, shared a Johnny Skilletini and then got mini desserts. I was supposed to have Tiramisu but they brought me turtle cheesecake without the nuts. It was still good and my Mom got Chocolate cake. Then we went shopping for Christmas stuff, Besties bday present, Grandmas bday present, and me something to wear to the besties bday party. She insisted I had to wear a dress and all my dresses were either too dressy or worn a million times. We had a long but good night shopping.




Saturday, the grandparents came up for breakfast and our weekly flea market trip. Then mom and me did some more shopping. I got my Christmas presents for my sis n law and the besties. Then we came home and watched the GA game and then did some Christmas present wrapping. Saturday night was my besties bday party. She rented a place in town and had a dj and everything. It was fun even though people were sectioned off for a while, but the party got lively after a while. (Most of the pics are from before the party. We couldn't get pictures once the party started and I sadly was unable to get one on my camera with the birthday girl)





On Sunday, we went to church. It was another amazing service. The beginning was a tribute to Veteran's for Veteran's day. It was emotional for a lot, but amazing. My grandaddy was one of the Veteran's there. Then, we went to my aunt's house for my Grandma's birthday. I always love birthdays. I love Family time!!! We technically had a birthday cake for my Grandma and a birthday cake for my aunt. My grandma's brother died on the weekend we were supposed to have my aunts and we never got to have her bday party so my mom made her a coconut cake and we sang to her after singing to my grandma. My family were very anxious to get ahold of the coconut cake all through dinner. I on the other hand had chocolate cake because coconut and me don't mix. When I was little, they would give me coconut and I would say "trash" and start wiping it out of my mouth. My family apparently disagrees with my trash theory because they ate tons of the cake and only left my aunt a little piece to keep for later on.

Overall I had a pretty amazing weekend. I wish I didn't feel so bad now to show for it though. I'm probably going back to the doctor tomorrrow if it doesn't get better but :( I don't want to go!

Christmas shopping help!

Alright ladies, y'all know me. I'm always asking for help for something. So this week I need help with gift suggestions!!

I've got my mom' present and both of my nephews' presents, but lord I still got a many more to buy for, just in my not so little immediate family!

First up is my daddy, he just recently got a new office at work and they actually gave him a nice desk and all kinds of fun goodies. However, his office is bare. We are in the process of printing off pictures for his office and are trying to pick up some picture frames, however his office still needs some fun goodies. I figured that is what I would get him, because that is his pride and joy right now. However, I'm not sure exactly what I want to get him for it or where I want to get it from. I do however know that I want it to be a reosonable price and something different that I know he will like.
Here's a list of things he loves:
Work, work, and and did I forget to mention more work (I usually get him tools for christmas)
Tools
Chocolate covered cherries
his truck/dodge ram
GA bulldogs
his grandbabies
old western movies
the syfy channel
sweet tea
and sleep

I really want to connect something for his office with something he loves doing. Any suggestions?

**Sidenote, my daddy recently found out that he is going to have to have surgery for a high hernia during christmas break and they also said his cholesterol was way to high, so guess what, I might finally have a way to lose weight. The bad thing is that they are taking away everything my daddy loves. He will not and I mean absolutely will not drink anything besides sweet tea, unless it's water because when my mom and him were dating he opened a coke and there was a fly in it, freshly sealed, he has not drunk anything besides sweet tea since then. Well, now he can't drink sweet tea and he can't have red meat, and potato chips and all of those yummy things he loves!

Next up is my sister. I'm planning on getting both of my besties and my sis in law a pair of cute heels, because they all love shoes like me and we all have the same style, but my sister is not a very dressy person so I have no clue what to get her. She likes to dress up but is not a big heel wearer. She's more laid back and just now learning how to cook really good and bake. She loves pictures and candles and lives in North Carolina. Hmm, she's red headed and has a fiesty temper. She looks just like me, same height and body structure, just red headed. We get accused of lying about being twins all the time, but she is eleven years older than me. She is a GA fan. I have no clue what would be a really good gift and not the same ol same ol gift I get her every year.

Then there is her husband. Hmm, what to say about this one? He works for a steel company, has a million and one tattoos, loves to drink beer, and grill. He's an Eagles fan and originally from New York. Some days he dresses punk/skater, somedays he dresses all black like a gangster, and sometimes he puts on a cowboy hat and sings old country songs. He loves to watch tv game shoes and has a huge collection of movies. What do I get my crazy brother in law?

Next up, is my brother. Die hard Ga bulldog fan. Fuel mechanic in the airforce, well he is reserves now, but still works civil service. He recently took a job at the base in Tampa and recieved a promotion to swing shift superviser today. He will be over both civil service and active duty. He loves the beach and only wears American Eagle and Aeropostale clothing. He lovesall 4 of his mustangs and builds them into racecars and races them. Any suggestions of a good gift?

Next up, is my 11 year old niece. She is at the wannabe grown stage. She still plays with baby dolls and has barbie doll houses and dolls galore. However, I'm not sure how much longer she will play with stuff like that. I wanted to get her a straighter, one of the really cute ones with designs on it, because she has been using her moms and is in love with it. Unfortunately, my brother in law told his mom to get her one. She was getting her a pink one. She is so growny and is the absolute smaller version of me. She loves fashion and shoes. Unfortunately I got her two pairs of shoes for her bday and I wouldnt feel right getting her more for Christmas. I dont want to become the aunt that gives shoes for ever birthday, holiday, etc. lol..I would do it though. I love shoes. Like me, she is obsessed with cuppycakes and baking and loves to paint her nails. She would wear makeup out of the house if they would let her. What do you suggest for a little pre-teen who is the absolute mini version of me?

Next, is my 5 year old niece. I don't see her very often, but lately I have been seeing her more since my brother lives closer to where I live so he can get her from her mom more often. She is a handful though and is very hard to keep up with. She is a wild one. She likes Hannah Montana, tutus, soccer, and being a pain in the booty. Ihave no clue what to get her this time?

And last, but certainly not least, I have my sister in laws little girl. I should just say my niece because we have taken her in as our own and love her to death. She loves Princesses and Dora. The little things make her happy and she loves to be a little mama hen. However, she is only 3 years old. Not having kids around that much has me in a huge idk mode right now. So, what would you suggest?


It's kind of hard when my mom "pays for" ;) santa clause. We have to do all the buying which means all the good presents I have to show her and get her to buy, but this is something I want to get all of them from me. All of the help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Friday Fives: Christmas List

I just recently discovered Friday Fives and decided to participate. If you would like to play along, you know what to do :)



Conidering I always want lots of clothes, I figured I would try to sum them up into categories. Hope you enjoy :)

1. Outerwear that I really, really want!!!

Untitled by softballerchik1 featuring old navy coats

Faux-Fur Vest
$50 - yesstyle.com
Fur faux vest »

Ci Sono Juniors' Double Breasted Coat Purple : Target
$50 - target.com
Coats »

Faux Fur Cheetah Print Coat
$40 - forever21.com
Fur faux coat »

Long Sleeve Double Breatsted Zebra Jacket
$45 - rue21.com
Rue21 jackets »

Apt. 9 Faux-Fur Vest
$40 - kohls.com
Fur faux vest »

Double Breasted Houndstooth Peacoat
$30 - rue21.com
Rue21 jackets »

Old Navy Womens Wool-Blend Peacoats
$29 - oldnavy.gap.com
Old navy coats »

Old Navy Girls Ruffled Performance Fleece Coats
$25 - oldnavy.gap.com
Old navy coats »

Charlotte Russe - Jackets And Outerwear
$22 - charlotterusse.com
Charlotte Russe »

2. The shoes on my wishlist!!

Untitled by softballerchik1 featuring high heeled pumps

Camel Faux Suede Round Toe Ankle Booties @ Amiclubwear Boots...
$16 - amiclubwear.com
Black boots »

Women's Shoes and Footwear at Kohls.com
$19 - kohls.com
Kohl's shoes »

buckle back leopard bootie
$32 - gojane.com
Ankle boots »

leopard print platform pump
$24 - gojane.com
Platform pump »

studded slingback platform heel
$13 - gojane.com
Sandals »

high heel suede cuff boot
$38 - gojane.com
Suede boots »

furry leopard print stacked platform
$35 - gojane.com
High heels shoes »

patent zebra print stacked platform
$35 - gojane.com
High heeled pumps »

slouchy suede cuff bootie
$24 - gojane.com
Suede booties »

closed toe suede platform pump
$33 - gojane.com
High heeled pumps »

leopard print platform pump
$26 - gojane.com
High heeled pumps »

strappy caged peep toe wedge
$35 - gojane.com
Wedge shoes »

faux suede spat platform boot
$36 - gojane.com
High heel booties »

high heel suede boot
$38 - gojane.com
Suede boots »

3. Accessories

Untitled by softballerchik1 featuring cubic zirconia jewelry

Chooka 'Posh Dot' Rain Boot
$43 - nordstrom.com
Wellies boots »

Snake Wrap Around Bracelet - Betsey Johnson
$50 - betseyjohnson.com
Betsey johnson jewelry »

"Save the Elephants!" Fine Cubic Zirconia Ring
$50 - fantasyjewelrybox.com
Cubic zirconia jewelry »

Betsey Johnson - Betsey Paris Toast to the Good Life Earrings (Antique...
$46 - zappos.com
Betsey johnson jewelry »

Betsey Johnson Leopard Flower Adjustable Ring
$30 - nordstrom.com
Betsey johnson jewelry »

Rose And Cluster Stack Ring
$25 - topshop.com
Stackable rings »

A Bird To The Wise Necklace
$16 - modcloth.com
Chain jewelry »

rhinestone elephant head necklace
$16 - gojane.com
Rhinestone jewelry »

ASOS Lion Door Knocker Short Pendant
$14 - asos.com
Chain jewelry »

Stunning Vintage Pearl & Crystal Owl Ring (Antique Gold Tone)
12 GBP - avalaya.com
Pearl jewelry »

elephant head necklace
$9.10 - gojane.com
Necklaces »

Forever21.com - Accessories - Jewelry - Rings & Pins - 1000004695
$5.80 - forever21.com
Forever21 rings »

Western Chief 'Frenchy French' Umbrella
$13 - nordstrom.com
Print umbrella »

4. Smelly good :)

Untitled by softballerchik1 on Polyvore.com

Midnight Pomegranate Bath and Body Works
$30 - bathandbodyworks.com

Victoria's Secret Pink™ Pink With a Splash™ All-over Body Mist in...
tumblr.com

5. books :)

Untitled by softballerchik1 on Polyvore.com

Lauren Conrad Style Guide By Lauren Conrad
$20 - urbanoutfitters.com

Buy Sweet Little Lies Book by Lauren Conrad (9780061767609) at Borders...
borders.com.au

Buy Sugar And Spice Book by Lauren Conrad (9780061767623) at Borders...
borders.com.au

Buy L. A. Candy Book by Lauren Conrad (9780061905674) at Borders with...
borders.com.au

Well that's my lovely Christmas list!!!! :) What's on yours?