IDOL RECAP!!!

So, I'm doing something that I've NEVER done before on my blog. I'm posting my own opinions about one of my very favorite things in life... AMERICAN IDOL! I don't talk about these things because I like to be right and I wouldn't like it one bit if my favorite doesn't win. I plan my week nights around Idol. I mean... I've watched religiously since season 2. I predict what the judges will say before they say it. I critique the singers, the band, yada, yada, yada.

The top 12 girls were up to sing tonight... and here are my favorites for the season.


DiDi Benami...

So cute with such a whimsical voice!

Haeley Vaughn...

LOVED her from the very beginning. Okay, I know... she didn't have a good night, but give the girl a break. She's so fashionable and just plain cute!

Lacey Brown...Oh, how I could just listen to her time after time after time. I'm hearing a young Norah Jones comin'...

Crystal Bowersox...Oh. How. Talented. I mean, I just like the girl because she can play multiple instruments at one time! Ha! Seriously, I want her to do well!

I won't have to blog tomorrow night about my favorite male singer. There's only one:

Andrew Garcia...

I can't even begin to tell you why I like him so much! He's talented. He's CURRENT. He's strange in his own little way and I LOVE it!!

Do you watch Idol?? Who are you favorites so far???

Just Plain Goodness!!

My new favorite... Pimento Cheese Sandwich from NEWKS!!! Mmmm good!!

New Colors!!!

I've been slowly but surely giving my bedroom a new look. I've found a new found love for the blues, greens and browns and have been picking up things that work into my color scheme.

I found these cute things as Ross. What makes them even more cute is that I got both of them for $13... TOGETHER!! I never ever go into Ross but was taking some desperate measures to finish up the shelves in my room. What do you think??

Birthday Happies

As you read in my last post, I had an incredible birthday!! I just wanted to post some pictures of things that made my birthday so special.

Receiving flowers... a white chocolate cheesecake made my Sharon McMullen for the office crew...
This FAB cross that was made in Taylor, Mississippi. My friend bought it at Plant the Earth in Meridian... if you can get it in Meridian, I'm sure you can get it ANYWHERE in Mississippi!
Staff birthday lunch at Sake Sushi. I chose this place for the entertainment alone. At one point during lunch, my boss Dr. Leake, announced that this place was just a "circus!" The rest of us had been to this place many times, but it was a first for him. We all had fun!and a precious little door hanger that says, "The day you were born, the world had to make room for a little more fancy!"I had some little fellas hang out with me at work yesterday. One of them walked in with all of these silly bandz on his wrist. He gave me two of them as a late birthday gift!! He had taken all of them off and was showing me all of the different shapes. Why in the world didn't I think about creating these?? They're definitely a craze around Meridian... what's the deal?!

Snowy Birthday...

I am a valentine baby! I celebrate BIG every year during my special week!! However, my "24th" birthday week was a little extra special because of this... Yep!! Believe it. It's snow!!! The meterologists have been saying that we'd get snow for the past few months, but they hit the nail on the head this time with almost 3'' of snow by 10:00 a.m.
My dogs didn't really like the snow at first, and Lucy, well she pretty much is always camera shy!

Even though the snow was beautiful, I have to admit that I was a little bummed out because some of my friends were giving me a birthday dinner that night. I just thought it was going to be cancelled. Everyone was talking about dangerous driving conditions due to the ice on the ground and I just didn't want to even think about totaling another car after my horrible wreck back in July.

The hostess, my sweet friend Joy, decided that we just needed to go ahead and celebrate and that the snow would make it a little more special!!

and so we did.... with sweet, sweet friends

and FABULOUS cake!!

On Sunday night, my sweet youth family wanted to celebrate with a little MEXICAN!!
The picture below is horrible in quality, but these are some of my favorite people on the planet!! I am so blessed to be surrounded by these people and call it MY JOB!

So, what was my big birthday gift this year you ask?? Well... my family is sending me here!!

To the Ross Bridge Resort and Spa in Birmingham... I am in MAJOR need of a day of pampering!!

i CAN grow plants...

Three of the kiddos at my church gave me a bulb in a cute little silver vase for Christmas. If you know me, you know that I absolutely detest anything with the word "planting" or "growing" but I decided that since this was a gift, and all I had to do was add water, then I might possibly get something out of this...... I think it's pretty safe to say that I CAN GROW stuff...

All You Need is Love

I. Love. Valentine's. Day!!

I love walking into the stores and seeing a sea of red and pink, the cute little valentine cards and candies for all of your friends, and I love all of the music that you hear around the holiday. I love Valentine's Day because it's my birthday, too!!

Tonight, my youth family is kicking off a brand new bible study that focuses on relationships and love. Not just the love that is between a man and a woman, but the love that we all find in our family relationships and our friendships!!

I received a book for Christmas that is full of quotes about love from Mother Teresa. I just wanted to share some of those with you today:

"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to youwithout leaving happier."

"Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

"If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it."

On a different note: If you are raising a teenager or have ANY influence over anyone in their teen years, RUN and go buy these books about dating!!!

Two PERFECT selections for your teen to read and learn about the pressures of dating, what guys and girls look for in relationships, and how to form healthy dating relationships at a young age!

HAPPY READING!!

Geaux Saints!!

The Super bowl is SUNDAY and I'm so excited!! I don't think I've ever been this excited about football. Let's face it. I'm an only child, girlie girl with all girl cousins and was a dancer for almost 13 years. I was NEVER around many sports growing up.

Well, now that I'm a youth minister, most of my nights are surrounded by church league basketball and football so I've had to learn a lot here in the past few months!! Very SLOWLY, might I add!

I guess I'm just excited because I'll be at a Super bowl party, pulling for the Saints, and will have somewhat of a clue what's going on down on the field this year!!

With all that said, I need some recipes. I have assigned several of the youth parents/friends to bring different food items for our youth Super Bowl party, but I'm in charge of a dessert. I'm dealing with TEENAGERS here, so if you have a "sweet" recipe you think I should try, please leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do!!

MMM..MMM.. Good!!

I'm kind of embarrased to post this, but my grandmother outdid herself in the kitchen tonight and I had to take a picture!! A few weeks ago we were talking about different things she used to cook that were my absolute favorites. One of those favorites was cubed steaks with rice or mashed potatoes!! Tonight my mom and I were going over there and she had prepared my favorite... cubed steaks, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, and Sister Schubert rolls. It just doesn't get any better than that, ya'll!!

My plate before...

...and my happy plate after...

The Good Stuff!!

Oh. My. Word! This has to be the best stuff ever created. EVER!! Last August, I was doing a little shopping at The Wharf in Orange Beach and happened up on a bottle of this fabulous red currant lotion. Oh, it's heavenly!! My mom surprised me with not one, but TWO bottles of this for Christmas. You can get it here or here!! Go order it! I promise you'll fall in love!

Help Haiti

My heart truly breaks for the people of Haiti. I've never been through anything like an earthquake, or a tsunami, or raging fires, or blankets of heavy snow, but I know that the people in Haiti are in awe of what has happened in their home.

From being in the Dominican Republic last May, I think I know what the area looks like, but I'm pretty sure that the DR was quite luxurious to the conditions of Haiti. I simply can't imagine.

Many people want to help but don't know exactly what to send or where to go. However, everyone can help by donating just a few dollars - an easy way is to text "Haiti" to 90999 to give $10 to the Red Cross. It will be on your next phone bill

***OR***

you can text "disaster" to 90999 to give $10 to Compassion's disaster relief program. They will be working directly with the local churches who know where these families live and will be providing immediate relief to them. I saw a story last night about a family in Iowa that had recently adopted a little girl named Esther from an orphanage in Haiti. Until yesterday, they had no clue if she was hurt or even alive since the earthquake. A few workers found the little girl, the caretakers, and the other children of the orphanage without a single scratch. Since the earthquake they had been sleeping outside on blankets and mattresses, they needed food and water, but they were alive. Her sweet new parents were brought to tears because they were so far away but so thankful to our great big God for keeping her safe. Compassion is a great ministry and so many children's lives have been changed because of the generosity of so many. Continue to pray for the people of Haiti!

The Day After...

The day after Christmas was supposed to be the day that mom and I headed to town to catch some after Christmas sales. However, we were absolutely exhausted and didn't really want to wake up early. We just decided to be the "scrooge's" that many have called us and take our Christmas decor down!! It took us ALL. DAY. LONG. However, I was so happy that it was done as soon as it was over.

That night I joined some of my high school girlfriends for dinner...

Kristen, me, Casey & Amber

... and I managed to sneak in a purchase... OR TWO :)

I got both of these FLATS above for $34.00... when the lady handed me my receipt, she announced, "You save $93.00 tonight!" Oh yeah, I think I did find some after Christmas deals after all!

So, I decided that I needed to clean out some of my other shoes that I NEVER wear.

... I'd say that I needed some flats... those heels absolutely KILL my poor feet!

That night when I got home from dinner, I went to bed and quickly woke at 1:30 with FOOD POISONING. It. was. horrible. Three solid hours of everything you can imagine that comes with food poisoning. I'm happy that it's over with for sure!

Merry Christmas

Christmas has come and gone my friends. It was one of the busiest ever!! However, I had the time of my life. Here are a few pictures...

My family had a great christmas. We make so many memories through the year and it's always so much fun to get together and laugh!! However, one of the best memories of this year's Christmas would be work related. This year, the church staff took Christmas meals to some of the shut-ins. Usually they get the meals 2 days before, but this year we did things differently. I went to deliver food to Mrs. Margaret-- a little firecracker!! She's too funny. I spent nearly two hours of my afternoon just "chewing the fat" with her... she even let me take a ride in her little elevator in her apartment. Such a great way to spend my Christmas day!