It's Almost Time...

I am super excited for this weekend not only because it will be Halloween, but also because Halloween is my sweet little niece Emily's birthday! She is our little pumpkin and such a very sweet little girl...she is such a blessing! Her party is Saturday afternoon and she couldn't be more excited...I think that she has been asking about her birthday for at least the last couple of months, ha!

Remember my sweet little helper?

My precious little Emily will be 3 years old and I can't believe it! I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday...it is so amazing how time goes by so fast! She has the sweetest little heart and can make me melt with her sweet little voice.

I love you Emmy and hope that your birthday is everything that you dreamed of and more!

Hope you are having a great Friday!

Natalie

Bless Martha!

I would have never dreamed that I would have received a compliment from a candy quiz, but I did...ha!

My blogger friend, Traci, over at Her Hillbilly Highness did a post today about a quiz that she had done on the Martha Stewart Blog. The quiz claimed it would tell you what type of Halloween candy you are...it sounded super fun! I rolled up my sleeves and answered the questions to the best of my ability...and the results could not be more correct, ha!

After my score was tabulated it was determined that I am...

Undoubtedly a Snickers To further explain she went on to say, "Your tastes tend to be more complex and multi layered; you like sweets but are most satisfied when they're paired with warm and savory flavors. Your standards are high, and you're most satisfied when they're met, but you don't take offense when they're not."

Thanks for the sweet comment Martha!

Happy Monday everyone!

Natalie

Guess what?!?!

They're back...

Oxygen just signed on for a 5th season of Home Sweet Hollywood! Tori, Dean, Liam, Stella, and the rest of the crew will be back on my DVR as of the Spring of 2010. I am so excited...I can't wait!

While Tori and Dean have been on a "break," these two have been cracking me up!

The season finale of Giuliana and Bill was last week, but I am sure that you can catch the re-runs on the Style network. It is such a cute show and so super funny!

I am getting ready for a football filled day tomorrow...it's going to be a big day for my Razorbacks. Hopefully the day will end with a WIN!

Go Hogs beat the Gators!
I hope that everyone has a super fun weekend!

Natalie

We'll be a House Divided

Well, that dreaded time of the year has arrived yet again! Unfortunately {insert sigh} I am not referring to the fact that there is a crisp in the air and Fall is officially here. What I am referring to is the one game of the year that I absolutely despise dread...Arkansas vs. Florida!

You are probably asking yourself, "what could possibly be so dreaded about a good SEC rivalry?" Well let me put it this way, how would you like to hear the excitement of the stupid Gator Chomp in your living room while you are in another room {of the same house} trying to Call the Hogs to victory?

If I was actually at the swamp it would be one thing, but to have my hubby in the living room of our house plotting a most brutal defeat against my Razorbacks just kills me! Seriously, in a situation such as this there is always that unspoken "code of conduct" that applies to the way that you should conduct yourself in front of your spouse. This "code of conduct" does not in any way take away from the fun and excitement that each individual has in cheering for their team {Go Hogs} on game day. The code does prohibit any sort of violent hand motions similar to the "chomping" of a Gators mouth, or any verbal references made to your competitor {or spouse} as "Gator bait."

I will remain faithful that we will defeat the Gators and I will cheer my little heart out. I am just grateful that my hubby and I have so much fun together watching football, we always have a great time...even when we're playing against each other. It could be way worse after all, what if my hubby's team was not even a team in the SEC? The thought of him trying to encourage me to cheer for a Big 12 team is inconceivable, ha!

Do you and your hubby cheer for opposite teams that play each other like we do? I hope that everyone enjoys this fine Friday Eve!

Natalie

Ready to Run...

Today is the big day...I am starting the Couch to 5K running plan and couldn't be more excited about it! I love to run, but have been out of my routine lazy for quite some time now. When I say, "quite some time" don't let me fool you...it has been the kind of "quite some time" meaning YEARS since I've been an active runner, ha! For those of you who aren't fimiliar with the program you can check it out here. This week-by-week program eases you into running slowly so that you are able to easily stick to the program and accomplish your goal of running a 5K in 9 weeks. The thought of being able to run 3 miles right now makes me really excited because there is no way in heck that I could get out there and just bust out a 3 mile run, yikes!

Tonight will be my first night at it so wish me luck! I will keep you updated on my progress for sure! I hope that everyone is having a good day!

Natalie

I've been Working on the Railroad...

My brother-in-law works for Union Pacific and was working his crew last Saturday morning while we were in Dallas. His crew was repairing some rail right under the "big ball" in downtown Dallas! It was so very cool to be right down in the midst of some very serious railroad action!

My sissy and I were pumped to be there and potentially execute some rail repair! To our surprise we were haulted by my brother-in-law {count your blessings Union Pacific} before stepping foot on the tracks, all because of this small infraction...Footwear infraction, are you kidding me? No flip flops allowed on the tracks, huh...I can't imagine why??? We were pretty much over the whole experience as soon as we found out that we weren't going to be able to be right out in the middle of the action. My sissy and I found ourselves perched in the hot Texas sun waiting on the boys (Charlie and my hubby) to get all geeked up on machinery verify that the crew was getting the job done. My sissy and I were so very hot, but were rewarded for our superior art of supervision with a nice lunch date with our hubby's here...I had never eaten at Hard Rock so I was super excited! After we ate we headed back to our hotel to make the trip from Dallas to Allen to hit the outlet mall.

I told you in a previous post that my sissy and I are on a constant laugh attack when we are together. Prime example...take a look at this picture and tell me if you notice anything "different":Not anything too crazy, right??? Just some big high-top tennis shoes...right??? Now look at this picture:Oh my gracious! Your eyes are not playing tricks on you, these are HUGE! These bad boys are size 22's and my sissy and I ran across them at Nike while shopping at the outlet. The shoe was way longer than my entire lower leg, ha! Please ignore the fact that I look crazy in the picture because I was trying to hold back the fact that I was dying laughing! We were amazed at how the shoes didn't quite look as HUGE in the pics until you saw them with my body in the pic as well, ha! Who in the heck wears a size 22? I guess that's why they were on closeout at the outlet, ha!

After a little outlet shopping on Saturday night, we headed out to a delicious dinner at Uncle Julio's. It was super delicious and the atmosphere was great! It was such a nice night out so we ate on the patio and that made it even better! If you are in Allen you have to try it...so yummy!

We made one last trip to the outlet on Sunday before heading home, just to make sure we didn't miss anything fabulous! We all had so much fun together and it was so great to have a weekend getaway with my 3 favorite people. We grabbed some lunch then it was time to make our way back home. Here's my hubby's favorite driving assistant... ha!

Natalie

I was in total Shock and Awe!

My handsome hubby (HH) got me the most thoughtful gift that I have ever received this year for my birthday! In order to completely understand my absolute shock and awe, you will have to have a little background info...so here goes! For those of you that might not know, my HH and I got married this August in the Dominican Republic.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful and so very romantic...it was so perfect! I loved the fresh beautiful flowers that adorned my room at the resort everyday. The maids were so very sweet and so thoughtful. The bouquet that I carried for the wedding was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. After the wedding ceremony, I placed my bouquet in a vase in my room carefully changing the water each morning. I wanted to take this beautiful bouquet home to dry/preserve and save as a keepsake forever.

I was in for the shock surprise of my life when I arrived at the airport to depart home. I was told by the customs agents that I was unable to take the flowers home, but could take the greenery and ribbon. I thought to myself, "is this some kind of cruel joke?" I mean the greenery and ribbon, ha! I was mad as a snake to say the least and proceeded to have a mini emotional breakdown. As I ripped the ribbon off the bouquet that I so carefully tried to keep fresh for it's trip back to Oklahoma, I cried. The tears would not stop coming and all I could think of was the fact that it meant so much to me and I was throwing it away! I was so very upset!
My birthday was last Wednesday and to my surprise I came home to find the most thoughtful gift that anyone has ever given me! My HH had an exact replica of the bouquet that I loved so much made for me....was this a joke?...my trashed long lost wedding bouquet? There was no joke about it, I have the sweetest hubby ever! He secretly emailed the florist a picture of my bouquet and she made it exact...even down to the ribbon! If I didn't know, I would think that this was the exact same bouquet that I carried down the aisle the day that I married my best friend and love of my life!

I am more and more amazed everyday at the way that he loves me! This was by far the best gift that anyone has ever given to me...such a sweetheart HH is, I love him to pieces!

I hope that everyone had a great Monday! I had a great time in Dallas over the weekend and will have a post tomorrow about all the fun!

Natalie

I'm Going to the Big "D"...

...and I do mean Dallas ladies! My handsome hubby and I are having a nice weekend excursion in Dallas with my sissy and her husband Charlie. We planned a little weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday (it was last wednesday) and we are having a great time! I have some funny stories and some hilarious pictures to share so stay tuned! My sissy and I pretty much have a constant laugh attack when we are together...fun times! I forgot the cable for my camera so I will have to wait until I get home to post some pics.

I am really sad that my Hogs lost to the Tide today, but I'll be ready to cheer on a victory next week for sure. I am glad that the Gators were able to pull out a win against those Wildcats!

Go Gators!

I hope that everyone is having a fabulous weekend!

Natalie

Natalie Reporting Live

After trying to conceive for years, Julia Grovenburg and her husband of Fort Smith found out that she was pregnant. Imagine their surprise to find out the they were having 2 babies, but they were not twins. In fact they were conceived at 2 different times! This condition of conceiving while pregnant is etremely rare...check out this amazing story and family interview from Fox News Fort Smith.

Every Little Bit Helps!

We have a wonderful, selfless God that always loves us unconditionally. I believe that giving is not only an act that expresses our desire to be as loving and selfless as Jesus, but it also encourages us in our daily walk of faith to live like Him.

In Luke 6:38 it says, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

My good friend Brooke and her husband Seth have two precious little boys. Here is one of their family pics...they are an absolutely precious little family!

Their youngest son Cash has down syndrome and is the cutest, sweetest little boy ever! Tell me that you couldn't just eat him up...too cute!!

In order to help meet the needs of the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa, my friend Brooke and her family are doing the Buddy Walk in October.
The Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa (DSAT) is a non-profit organization that exists to enhance the lives of individuals with Down syndrome, their families and caregivers. This is accomplished by providing support, encouragement, current information, education, opportunities for socialization and by promoting community recognition of the inherent dignity of all people with developmental disabilities.

To support their effort in raising money for DSAT you can go to this website to sponsor Cash and make your donation...just remember that every little bit will help!

Natalie