Is it Sunday, already?

I can't believe that we have to go back to work tomorrow. This much-needed 5 day break was just what I my body was asking for and now I can just taste Winter Break (which is only 3 weeks away)!

Here is my long-weekend recap-
Wednesday- I relaxed while Mike worked. Graded some papers, ate lunch at El Scorcho with my hubby, ran to West County Mall to score a few new goodies. That night, we went to Kate and Peter's house and hung out with friends. We tried to get into a a few bars but they were just way too crowded. In our quest for a place to go, we stopped by the Brewery to check out the lights.Thursday- Oh, how I love Thanksgiving! We relaxed for most of the day. I made a delicious vegetable casserole and we got ready to eat! First, we went to Mike's parents house for dinner at about 4:30. See new outfit...After we were sufficiently stuffed there, we headed over to my Grandma's where we ate dessert with my family. No pictures here...everyone was in full overload mode at that point.

Friday- My first shopping experience on Black Friday. It wasn't truly the craziness I expected...BUT, we didn't hit and of the "crazy" places. At about 10:30, my mom, Mike, and I went to West County Mall and hit up a few sales that ended at noon. We were able to cross both of his brothers off of our "NEED GIFTS" list. I bought something for my sister but still need a little more to finish off her gift. Next, we headed to The Mills Outlet Mall. Everything at Banana Republic was 50% off. Everything! We scored some great things (for ourselves) and continued on our shopping quest to Gap, Nine West, and Old Navy.

That night, we decided to take it easy and have a few friends over. Of course, beers, cards, and games were involved.Saturday- Again, we slept in (how great is it when you don't have to go to work). I graded papers, Mike raked and hung Christmas lights. I am so excited because I have never lived in a house that had Christmas lights! When he was all finished, we headed out to look for a Christmas tree. We found one at Walmart and then went to Home Depot for the hotdog (as previously discussed). When we got home it was dark enough to turn on the lights :) Isn't it so cute!We went over to his parents house for dinner and went to see the new James Bond Movie. Finally, I snuggled up with Breaking Dawn and read till I fell asleep!!!

It was such a great weekend! I woke up this morning to see snow on the ground! I have so much to do today and all I want to do is relax on the couch and enjoy my last day of break. However, I know that the papers won't grade themselves...and that is the same for the laundry. And the groceries. And the Christmas tree...it won't trim itself. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!

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My thoughtful husband

Whenever I describe Mike, I always use the word thoughtful. He has always amazed me in how he is concerned about others before himself. Although I would like to say that I am a very thoughtful person, he takes the cake on this one.

Tonight, after picking up our Christmas tree, we decided to run by Home Depot and grab a hotdog (his favorite thing to do). As we were pulling into the lot, Mike noticed a man standing on the corner holding a "Will Work For Food" sign. When I see people like this, I feel sad but drive on. Honestly, tonight it was getting dark and I didn't even see the man standing on the corner. As we rounded the corner, Mike suggested that we buy the man a hotdog too.

Of course, we did and I loaded it up with some ketchup (which I was nervous about because what if he didn't like ketchup. Mike says that everyone like ketchup on a hotdog). We pulled into a nearby parking lot and Mike ran across the street and intersection and handed the hotdog to the man. I watched with tears in my eyes and the man thanked Mike for the food. Of course, the sentimental moment was ruined with Mike walked backwards into the street and was almost hit by a car. Even the needy man told him to watch out and be careful!

Although it was a small gesture, it was a random act of kindness for sure. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful and thoughtful husband. I hope that I can be more like him in this way.

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Oh, I love holiday shopping...

Yesterday, the day before Thanksgiving, I popped into Ann Taylor to return something. While I was there, I couldn't help but take advantage of 40% off sale prices. I had my eye on this dress that was originally $89.00. I got it yesterday for $30.00.I was going to stop there but I walked past these amazing black, satin pumps. Originally $69 and I got them for $20.I wanted to look around a bit more but I was in a hurry to get home!

I got these two pieces at Ann Taylor the day before because I had a giftcard that I needed to spend. All sweaters are $30 off. Check out this cute little sweater...I wore it to school with a black, long-sleeved tee.And this fun necklace that I wore out last night. It is a great way to snazz up an old outfit!I am starting to think that I need to start shopping at Ann Taylor and the Loft more often!

I have never gone shopping on Black Friday before but we are going to give it a try this year. We won't be waiting outside in the cold at 3:00 in the morning and we won't be going to the "crazy" places like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Kohls, etc. Until I am in need of toys and electronics, I don't think that I will ever go through that. I think we are just going to go to the mall! Apparently, the Banana Republic Outlet at the Mills Mall has everything 50% off! I have a feeling that I will spend Black Friday getting more things for myself instead of gifts. EEK!

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Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day full of fun, food, and family!

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30 before 30

I saw this today on another blog and thought I would give it a try. I will be 30 in 4 1/2 more years and I would hope to get a lot of these things accomplished by then.

1. Finish renovating our house (kitchen, bathroom, basement)
2. Get a dog (or two)
3. Finish my Master's Degree in Educational Administration
4. Join a gym and actually go to it regularly
5. Maintain my goal/wedding weight for at least a full year
6. Cook more and learn new recipes
7. Visit Greece, Hawaii, Napa Valley, and Italy (hummm...that may be a lot for 4 1/2 years)
8. Read more books (thank you Twilight for giving me a love for books again)
9. Become more "handy" around the house
10. Start running
11. Start a family
12. Send out holiday cards each year
13. Keep the house cleaner and organize my things
14. Give more to charities
15. Start tutoring
16. Try more new restaurants in town
17. Keep in touch with my girlfriends better
18. Learn how to use our grill
19. Take a roadtrip
20. Visit new states in the US
21. Decorate the house for the different seasons
22. Pamper myself more (manis, pedis, facials, and massages
23. Purchase wedding photo albums
24. Go apple picking (I have never done this before!)
25. Start clipping coupons
26. Organize my photos
27. Purchase a "real" camera and take a photography class
28. Grow a garden
29. Go on more dates with my husband
30. Be truly happy with my family, children, job, and life

I hope that in 4 1/2 years, I can check all of these goals off my list. What an accomplishment that would be!

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Kitchen Update

In June, I was feeling too overwhelmed with the wedding to make a choice for our kitchen cabinets. Now that the wedding is behind us, we can focus on fixing up this house of ours!

Here is the picture of the kitchen from the previous owners.We decided that we are going to rip out the old cabinets, knock out the drywall above the cabinets and extend the cabinets to the ceiling, replace the countertop, tile the floor, and rip out the faux brick wall. You can't see the other wall in this picture but we are building cabinets around the lonely stove. The cabinets are ordered! YAHOO! Here is our vision...I am looking forward to the arrival of the cabinets but I am so nervous about losing my kitchen for a month or so. Mike and his friends will be doing all of the work and labor (which makes me nervous and excited) and I predict that I will be hearing a lot of curse words throughout the project.

So...that is going to be our Christmas present to each other. Although I want a Wii (although I have never played one) a real camera, and an automatic car starter, we are going to wait and get past the kitchen rehab until we can think of spending any more money. I am off now to run some errands! Have a great day!

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It is finally here!

Thanksgiving Break!!! I have been waiting so patiently for this week and I am just so so happy it is here. I have had a couple of crazy weeks this month and I am so glad they are behind me. This is a much needed break! However, December is going to be even more hectic. On Monday, we are starting new curriculum in Math, History, Reading, and Writing. Grrrr. My cheerleaders start basketball season too. BUT...I can get through 3 weeks and then it will be winter break!!! Actually, I started my blog last winter break.

Maybe I can catch-up on my TV show over my 5 day break.

I missed last week's Brothers and Sister's Episode. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show. I have been hooked since the first show. They haven't disappointed me yet and I can't wait to see this past episode.Although Grey's was a little crazy last week, I am still a follower. I am a BIG BIG fan of Denny but I think that the show took it a little too far last week. Seriously, Denny is one good looking man but getting frisky with a ghost? COME ON!!!I digress....I am still a fan. I hope they can fix this story line and end the season on a high note!Now that True Blood and Entourage are over...what other shows do I have coming up?

Well, I know that Nip/Tuck is somewhere around the corner. Don't ask me why I watch this show. It is ridiculous and inappropriate and I LOVE it! So trashy but so funny! Definitely a guilty pleasure!!!!Flight of the Conchords! WHEN DOES IT COME BACK?!If you haven't watched this show, you should give it a try. It is hilarious!!! It took me a few episode to feel like I wasn't on drugs but once I "got" the humor, I couldn't stop laughing! The show is amazing!

What else do I have to look forward to this cold winter? Mike and I are thinking about renting Dexter and catching up because so many people are fans.

What shows do you suggest I start to watch? I hate the wintertime and I need a new TV schedule. I am open to any kind of show, series or reality!

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Twilight Review...

I just got home from seeing Twilight. I have heard a lot of reviews (both from my high school cheerleaders and the critics) and of course they were completely mixed. I would sum up my review by saying that I wasn't disappointed but I didn't leave feeling amazed. It was fine. It followed the book well, which I really appreciate. Books are always better...and always will be.

With that said, let me say that Robert Pattison is hot. Really, really hot. He is a beautiful man or boy...how old is this kid?OK, he is 22...I don't feel like a pedophile anymore. The casting for Edward was perfect. I doubted it at first. I just didn't picture Edward like this...but then I changed my mind! He was prefect and now I have a new celeb to lust over.

As far as the rest of the casting...I don't know. Bella was perfect. Just how I pictured her...maybe a little too pretty though. And skinny. I wish she would have been a little bigger. I did like her though.As far as the rest of the Cullens...hum?!?I'll just go down the line...
Emmett- Hot. Yes. Hot. Loved him.
Rosalie- Not pretty enough. I thought she was supposed to be perfection?! And did anyone else notice her acid washed jeans in the beginning scene? EW. No.
Esme- Well casted. Although I kept picturing her going crazy like she did in Grey's Anatomy. I am still mad at her for messing up Alex for awhile. Oh well...she was fine for this movie.
Carlisle- No. Creepy. Not good looking or fatherly. Not how I pictured him at all. And...wasn't that guy in some stupid teen movie as some kind of jock or something?!?
Alice- Perfection! She was great! Looked and acted just like I imagined.
Jaspar- WTF? He is totally creepy and did act like Edward Scissorhands. What was his problem? OK...I know what he problem was (he wanted to kill Bella) but he was totally a weirdo. I pictured him better looking too.

Although I am not doing back flips about the movie, I am sure that I will still go and see the sequels down the road. I am just so in love with the characters and the story and I know I will want more when I finish the 4th book.

If you are a Twilight fan, go see the movie. If you haven't read the books...I really wouldn't reccommend it. Mike didn't hate it but it thought it was kinda of boring. He prefers True Blood much more. Speaking of that, does anyone else watch that show?Isn't it just like Twilight? I think it is the porn version of Twilight. Mike agreed!True Blood's finale is on tonight and we are having a couple friends over to watch it. I think I will have my vampire helping for the day!

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More random things...

When should I start deleting the wedding websites and blogs from my Google Reader. I still love looking at wedding pictures, DIY projects, and anything wedding. I guess after you spend so much time looking at it and it is hard to let it all go. Today I saw a wedding that I fell in love with. I just love the flowers, bridesmaid dresses, and the polkadot shoes. Adorable. A few people asked what bridesmaid dresses we wore in Leslie's wedding.It is from David's Bridal in the color terracotta. Cute, huh?

So, Twilight isn't sold out. I am going to go see it on Sunday with a few friends!Finally...I just found out that one of our friends that we made on our honeymoon was in a horrible car accident. Jamie married Graham on the same day we were married. They lived and were married in Oklahoma City but were schedule to move to Canada (where Graham is from) a week after the honeymoon. Jamie and I have been keeping in touch via Facebook and I stumbled upon pictures from her accident.Jamie was hit by a semi and walked away with minor injuries. I looked through the pictures of her car and it amazes me that she lived through this. It is obvious to see the if Graham was in the car (or anyone else), they wouldn't have walked away. It is just so crazy to think about how fast life can change. Again, it made me take a step back and realize how short life is and to always say I love you. I am just so thankful Jamie and Graham are both alright.

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Just 2 things tonight...

#1. I had a dream about vampires last night. I think I have a problem.
#2. I am obsessed with Nicole's blog post today. I printed off most of the recipes that she posted on her blog. Thanks Nicole! I am definitely going to try some of those soon!

OK...it is 10:00...time to go to bed!

Oh...and we had 4 inquires today about calligraphy thanks to a "vendor rave" on Stlwed. YAY!

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4 more days!

Twilight comes out on Friday, my dears! Unfortunately, I think that it is sold out for the new few weeks so I won't be seeing this movie opening weekend. Some of my cheerleaders are seeing the movie Thursday night (or I guess Friday morning) at 12:01 am! Now that is what I call dedicated fans. I don't know when I will get to see it but I can't wait! I just found some pictures from InStyle magazine.

Bella...oh I am so jealous of you... (even though you are just a fictional character)...Edward...you are so beautiful. I still love Jacob too though...don't get mad or jealous.Hot...Oh, I just can't wait to see this movie.

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Leslie and Christian are married!

Leslie and I have been friends since we were 13! We have done just about everything together. In high school we were both in choir and we were both cheerleaders. We worked at Macaroni Grill and went to Mizzou together. We were both Gamma Phis and lived in a CoMo apartment together. We were Mizzou Ambassadors together and we both majored in Education. We coached cheerleading together and we lived together right out of our parents house. (Our list goes on and on but those are the important ones!) When we moved in together (with Bina too, of course), I had been dating Mike for about a year. Mike was also wanting to move out of his parents' house and I suggested that he move in with his friend from work, Christian. He did move in with Christian and shortly thereafter, Christian broke up with his long time girlfriend. What else was I to do than start to encourage a love connection?! Mike and Christian were roommates and Leslie and I were roommates. It worked out perfectly!

On Saturday, Leslie and Christian were married. Leslie was a beautiful bride and Christian was just so happy and handsome. It was a happy day full of love, friendship, and freezing weather. Seriously, it was snowing when we were taking pictures. OK...on to the pics!We got our hur did...Got dressed at the church...The beautiful bride! We took some pictures in the snow and before we knew it, it was time to walk down the aisle!After Leslie and Christian said their vows, Stevie and I sang. It ended up being great and my whole day of worrying was for nothing. (Seriously, I was more nervous for her wedding than my own!!!) You can see us singing at the pulpit in this picture...Then, it was official! Here's the new Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey!!!After some more pictures, we hopped on the party bus and drove around Chesterfield. We were cold but Leslie bought us shawls (thank the lord!).(No beers for Allison...sorry girl!)

We rejoined our significant others and the reception and danced the night away. We had a blast!I just love how weddings aren't only family reunions but friend reunions, too! Friends came from near and far and it was so much to all be together to celebrate! High school friends from New York and Chicago...College friends from Chicago (wait, where is Haef) and Florida...
It was such a great night! Congrats Leslie and Christian! We love you!!!

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