Honest Confession Friday

Honest Confession #1: I am a total blog drop out.  I admit it.

So I have just been incredibly busy these past few months.  I've managed to keep up my Facebook page pretty well and post the important stuff and pictures, but my blog has really suffered.  However, I must say, if something in my life has to give...this is going to be it.  I'd rather be a blog dropout than have no social life..ha!

I thought it would be fun and interesting to do a little Honest Confessional Friday.  I have a lot on my mind and it feels good for me to write (type) it out.  It's my own personal relief and I feel it is long overdue for everyone to hear my skeletons again...I gave you so much in 2011 so I can't let you down in 2012! :)

HC #2: I am disappointed in the election results.  I mean..I'm not really into politics.  Listening to people just BS non-stop drives me crazy.  I work in education...I hear all the things both parties will "do for education" and yet.....well you get the point.

HC#3: I don't hate people who voted for Obama and I don't hate Democrats.  I have differing views, but that's what makes us Americans.  Do I believe people should work if they can?  Yes.  Do I believe we should get free handouts?  No.  Do I believe that everyone is really trying to provide for their families and just need a little assistance?  No.  When parents drop off and pick up their kids from school in pajamas, I don't believe they are trying.  Just my opionion.  It's my blog...I can say it. ;)

HC#4: I don't usually try to pretend that the things I like are what others should like BUT...Gloria Jean's Butter Toffee coffee with Almond Joy creamer is THE YUMMIEST.  Try it!

HC#5: I am getting excited about the holidays.  This year, we are not buying Christmas presents for ourselves (except for Santa gifts for Noah) and are instead choosing some families to buy for.  I've always known it's better to give than receive, but let's be honest...I LOVE PRESENTS!!  However, I think I am actually more excited this year to shop for other people.  We have SO MUCH and literally are in need of nothing.  Why not provide Christmas for those who are struggling this year?  Noah is not thrilled about the idea (yet)...he sees a new toy and says "Well..I guess we are going to get that for some other kid"...ha!  I think he'll grow into it (maybe). :)

HC#6: I am getting stressed about Christmas card pictures.  Do you have those friends who send their Christmas cards out and you get them on December 1st?  Yep...that's usually my reminder to actually get some!  Trying to be ahead this year, but I'm already behind.  Story of my life.

HC#7: I am obsessed with the song "Heart Attack" by Trey Songz.  I do that.  I latch onto songs for periods of time and listen to them incessantly.  Last month it was Taylor Swift's "Begin Again" and before that was the entire "Country Strong" album.  Songs speak to me.  I do feel like a 13 year old though listening to 1 song over and over.

HC#8: School has been RIDICULOUS lately!  I have worked more 12-13 hour days these past few months than I ever have before.  I am so thankful for my friends at work.  If I didn't love my co-workers, I would have been in a big ball of tears a long time ago.

HC#9: I cannot believe my baby boy will be 6 in December!  We are pretty sure he will be our only one (unless God plays a fun trick on us) so it's just unbelievable to me that he has grown so fast.  I get these glimpses of him when he was a baby, toddler, etc. and then I look at him now and it just blows me away.  Watching him sing "God Bless the USA" at school today literally brought me to tears.  His innocence and heart for other people is exactly what I prayed for in a child....his independence/stubborness...not so much...but it will be useful in the future.  I know it!

And last but not least, HC#10... I know this one will really shock everyone.  It shouldn't because I am a human being...but it will.  Even my family will read this for the first time....sorry Mom...ha!

HC#10: I have been going to counseling.  (BIG SIGH OF RELIEF)  I don't know why it bothered me at first to admit it, but it did.  If I'm really honest, I think WE ALL NEED COUNSELING AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES...HAHA!  My mind has been a real battleground lately.  Matt and I have been married 10 years and for some reason I suddenly started to panic about being married FOREVER.  I started questioning everything we have worked so hard for...our marriage, our family, and basically just started questioning myself.  Talking with someone has been so helpful for me.  I think we (women especially) give so much and do so much for others that we lose a piece of ourselves in the process.  I started feeling like I didn't even know what I wanted anymore.  So I am discovering things about myself that I haven't discovered in a long time.  My first session, I literally just cried the whole time...what a mess...ha!  But now that I got some things out, I look forward to just going and talking to someone.  She probably wants to tell me to STOP TALKING sometimes, but she's a great listener (better than my 1st graders). :)

So there you have it people.  Great gossip material right?  I'm thinking some people got tired of reading at #4 and never even made it to #10!  I know a blog with no pictures is no fun so I'll put a few of my favorites up.

Mom's 1st time on Splash Mountain...BAHAHAHA!!!

Posing on Space Mountain with the kids' toys...priceless!

Living a dream...watching Rascal Flatts for the 1st time!

LOVE it when my friends have darling babies!  Sad I look more rough than the mother...but...this is my Sunday look. :)

Taught this precious girl in 6th grade and now she's taller than me.  Love you, R!

Don't post their pics on Facebook, but here is my life 5 days a week.  They wear me out, but I'm honored to be their teacher!

I just love this woman.  Plain and simple.

Keep in REAL.....

 

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32 is "Magic"

I was told this year by a friend that 32 was the "Magic" year.  I got really excited until I realized he was talking about Magic Johnson.  See...he equates every age with an athletes number and 32 just so happened to be Magic's number (I learned something new there).

To be honest, I have really struggled with this birthday.  I am usually thrilled to have a birthday and celebrate the entire month!  For some reason, 32 has thrown me for a loop.  I think I can finally start to tell a difference physically, emotionally, and mentally in myself.  I see my face looking different (not a bad different..just different), my body not fitting into those cute young clothes quite like it used to, and my eye sight slowly getting worse...darn Direct TV channel guide...ha!

Don't get me wrong.  I love my life.  I love what I've helped build, worked for, and I love the prospects of my future.  I also love my 30's.  I feel so much more grounded than I did in my 20's.  I know so much more about myself (as cheezy as that sounds) and am able to relax a little more in the knowledge that I am comfortable being me.  Why does it take so long to discover who you really are?  I guess maybe at some point you just run out of the energy it takes to try to be someone you aren't. :)

My birthday weekend started a week early because one of my work besties was going to be out of town on my birthday so we had to celebrate early!  It was a great back to school/Amanda's birthday bash with some of my absolute favorite girls.  I am blessed to be starting another work year with all of them with an extra special blessing of Kate.  Kate's worked at Claxton for a while, but now she is on our team!  Our RockStar status just went through the roof! :)

Happy 23rd!!!  I did switch the candles because this was way more appealing!  However, I don't know that I'd go back to 23...my 20's were stressful!

The day before my birthday, we ordered lunch at school from Firehouse.  Did you know you get a FREE sub at Firehouse on your birthday?  Well, you do now!  That week, I had caught the girls off guard a few times and blown my "teacher whistle" to startle them.  Well, on Friday, they got me back.  When I opened the door to lunch, they all blew their whistles at me and startled me..ha!  Rachel always says payback is tough! ;)

Rocking the pink party hats!  We bust these out for ALL the birthdays!



The day of my actual birthday (the 18th), a few of us went to dinner at the new Mexican place, Chuy's.  We were anticipating a long wait...I mean...when Cheddar's first opened here you couldn't get a seat there in under 2 hours!  Cheddar's, people!!!  I mean..it's good...but not THAT good!

We waited almost 2 hours at Chuy's, but the atmosphere is nice to wait in.  We sat out on the patio, drank some margaritas, and had chips and salsa from their self serve bar.  It actually didn't feel like "waiting" at all.  I had to sing "Happy Birthday" to myself with the waiter because he couldn't sing.  Hey-you gotta do what you gotta do!

We missed you at dinner Jennifer, Beth, and Kate!



Sweet James offered to take care of all of us girls on my birthday!



Matt won big time husband points for taking Noah home after dinner and letting me continue celebrating with the girls!  So sweet of him!

After dinner, we headed downtown to meet Kate because her husband is the drummer in a band that was playing at Barley's.  The name of their band is Hot Shot Freight Train and they are great!  We just enjoyed a girls night listening to music and having some down time after a LONG first full week teaching at school.  Teachers need to have FUN on the weekends!

Rachel, Emily, Kate, and I having some girl time!



Kate's husband Caleb is the drummer for the band and he gave me a birthday shout out from the stage!  We love you, Caleb! :)  And yes...I'm rocking some pink 80's glasses because I'm an 80's child at heart...woo hoo!

Today, I had a great birthday lunch with my dear sweet Melody.  All of my friends, though different from each other, play a huge role in my life.  They each have a special place in my heart and I know they are in my life for a special purpose.  Love you, Mel!

Side Note: I think her daughter, K, looks like Malibu Barbie.  Or Skipper. ;)  And of course my son can never make a normal face.

As I was thinking of my past birthdays, there are some I remember so clearly.  My blue cookie monster cake birthday, a birthday on my mom's bed surrounded by balloons, my Minnie Mouse birthday when I was honestly a little too old for Minnie Mouse, and my 16th birthday party that was full o' drama..ha! 

Even though I love my home in TN and I love my friends more than anything, there are times when there is nothing more I want for my birthday than to just be home.  I love this song from one of my favorite movies, 'Country Strong', because it reminds me of...well...home. :)

Keep Celebrating....



Random Ramblings

Just a little random post to remind myself how we spent our last few weeks of freedom!

Enjoy looking at the pictures without having to read the monologue from me. :)

*One of my favorite Girls Night Out was at the Melting Pot.  I love the Melting Pot, but does anyone else SWEAT PROFUSELY at this place?  I just had to show you how "steamy" it gets in there!  I spent hours (not really) straightening my hair for no reason at all...it started curling up after 5 minutes of our steam bath.  Next time we go, I'm wearing my bathing suit. ;)

Can't wait to meet you, Eva Kate!!!

 *We spent countless hours swimming and sunning this summer.  It's our favorite way to spend those long summer days.

I took this picture of our friend, K, and was speechless when I looked at it.  She totally looks like Peter walking on the water! :)  Hallelujah.

I think this picture sums up Noah and K's relationship perfectly...or any guy/girl relationship!  She looks thrilled to be listening to him..ha!

Melody and I discovered that when swimming, my son has an uncanny resemblance to Eddie Munster or an Italian mob boss.  Ha!

 *When it was time to go back to work, everyone was kind of depressed.  So I found these fun mustaches at Old Navy and brought them for a good laugh.  It is so incredibly hard for me not to smile in pictures.  I think we all laughed uncontrollably the second after it flashed. :)

And Baby Minardo has a mustache on too! :)

*We enjoyed lots of company this summer.  I enjoy making dinner in the summer for friends because I have time to ruin food...cook.

Our new wine/glass holder from New York.  I love it!

*We have been looking forward to Noah's first day of Kindergarten all summer!  He is so ready for school and I can't wait to see how smart he really is. :)

Daily ritual of combing "the hair"

Could he be any cuter?  I think not.

Lola was just wondering when we would leave so she could go back to sleep.

Love this boy and the fact that we both have sleepy eyes and smiles together.

So special that Nana and Paw-Paw got to take Noah to Kindergarten.

Noah's wonderful teacher, Mrs. Smith.  God Bless Her Sweet Heart!

*And one last picture to "keep it real"....I have learned to "let it go" a little more this summer.  It's not important to always have a clean house.  It is important to always have a little fun. :)

 Keep Walking Friends....

SpaTini 2012

SpaTini 2012 has come and gone so quickly...

I actually love to camp for real..like in the woods...with a tent...and no showers.  But my precious mother?  She is definitely the woman in the poster above.  Girlfriend loves her hotels, coffee, and 25 minute facewash routines with WARM water.


Any time the 3 of us get together, we are always in for good food, good drinks, and good laughs (not to mention a little irresponsible debit card activity).


We always stay in Biltmore Park which is about 2 hours from Knoxville and 2 hours from Charlotte..it's the perfect halfway meeting spot for us!  The Hilton hotel is in the square and it's surrounded by places to eat and places to shop...not to mention a movie theatre for all you movie buffs!  We are way too talkative to go to the movies together.




Biltmore Park!

We started Friday with a great lunch at 131 Main and then it was off to the spa!  Sensibilities Spa is located right inside the Hilton so we don't have to drive (great thing since most of you saw my mother after her last spa treatment).  Don't think we want her on the road!

I opted for the Hot Stone Massage and a Pedicure this year.  The pedi was simply because my feet have been walking (barefoot, of course) on hot pavement all summer and needed some TLC.  I was super excited to try the hot stone massage as I had heard mixed reviews on it.  Let's just say...I AM A FAN OF THE HOT STONE MASSAGE.


Listen.  I am a terrible relaxer.  I feel silly getting massages.  I am usually freezing to death during the massage and am ALWAYS thinking of stuff when I really am supposed to be zoning out.  This time was different.  I was actually relaxed and never got cold since there were 150 degree hot stones being used to massage me.  I even had little hot stones in between each one of my toes!  HEAVEN!!!  Needless to say---momma liked and recommends. ;) (PS..I was NOT holding a flower during my massage...ha!)

Friday night we went to our favorite Italian place Travinia and had a wonderful dinner (slightly interrupted by an obnoxious, loud mouth Northerner who needed some southern women to put him in his place).  ***SIDENOTE---Men...it is extremely unattractive and RUDE to yell and snap your fingers at your female waitress.***  Just sayin'.

With our fabulous waitress at Travinia...she needed to feel some Southern love after her rude Yankee customer. :)

Saturday we headed to Biltmore Village for a little girl time including shopping and lunch.  We had a great time browsing and looking around and stopped at a yummy little place called The Corner Kitchen for lunch.

I cannot discuss what went on after lunch but I will say it involved the White House/Black Market store...several outfit changes...and some super cute red shoes.  I may have passed my Sorceress of Shopping title to someone else. ;)

That night, we went to a fabulous dinner spot called the Red Stag Grill.  It is in the bottom of the Grand Bohemian Hotel and we had a great dinner in a fabulous atmosphere.  I would highly recommend this grill if you are looking for a dinner on the "fancy-shmancy" side.  PS...I ate Elk for dinner!  Delish!

The room we ate in (with a slightly smaller table)

You can't tell...but the menus LIT UP when we opened them...ha!  We were extremely excited by this!

After dinner, my party animal mom didn't want to go to bed yet, so we sat outside on the patio at another place and had a little champagne and people watched (best sport ever).

The Temptress of Mixology strikes again!  This is her idea of fair sharing the champagne?  I think not. ;)

Sunday morning we always eat at Tupelo Honey for breakfast.  YUM!  I despise breakfast food but they make an amazing "breakfast bowl" with black beans, goat cheese grits, bacon and melted cheese.  I add a little hot sauce and BAM...my kind of breakfast.  (Some of you probably just threw up in your mouth.)  If you are ever in A-Ville, I highly recommend looking it up!

All in all, there are few things in life that I enjoy as much as a weekend with my mom and sister-in-law. 

I love to laugh..we laugh. 

I love to eat..we eat. 

I love to shop..we shop.

I love to dance at clubs...we...ok I haven't gotten them to do that quite yet.

LONG LIVE SPATINI WEEKEND!