FINAL Challenge

Yes, yes I am well aware that here at the end I have skipped a few challenge's and well.....too bad! HA! I am going to wrap this challenge up today with ....
"What are your hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365"??

Well, it is odd talking about the next 365 days here at the end of August but I will give this my best shot.....
* I hope to continue to support Matt and his career so we can be on the fast track to him getting his own "district" within Farmers
*I hope to give Matt a wonderful 30th Birthday
*I want to truly enjoy the Holidays.......do "christmas-y" things and spent time with Matt
*I want to get the most out of Fall, my favorite time of the year!!!!
*I hope that we can start the new home search
*I also hope that my car doesn't die and that I can get a new one? Anyone interested in a 02 Trailblazer pushing 150k miles? HA
*I want my animals to be healthy and happy!

That is it, just some fun nothing to deep things!!!!!!!!!!

Challenge 25 & 26

Challenge Days 25 & 26 - Explain your Day & Week in detail!

Since I missed yesterday I will combine these two while trying not to bore you all to death!!!!
Monday- What in the heck did I do Monday? Wow, this is sad....Here is what I remember.....I went to work as usual. I actually did alittle bit of online shopping. I went home made a shrimp dinner, watched Bachelor Pad and then finished a GREAT book. (Review to come in a few)
Tuesday- I went to work, and they are staining/ painting in the building so I felt sick. I went home and was excited that a book I pre-ordered months ago was waiting for me on my Kindle....The Mocking jay, the 3rd book in the Hunger Games! OOh!! ps....I made Amish friendship bread...to DIE for! I THEN.....made packets to hand out at the Scentsy show I am doing Saturday! Wish me luck!
Wednesday- I opened one eye at 7 and WHAM a migraine about knocked me out!! SO I got up took my mega pill and called in to work....I then returned to bed until 11. I got up, ate, had some coffee and re-assessed the situation. I got to feeling a little better so I went to check out the new 1/2 price book store by my house and then came back home to lay down. I then watched The Back Up Plan on the couch with my dogs and had a enjoyable afternoon with the exception of the migraine nausea. Around 5 I fixed myself dinner and as soon as I sat down at the coffee table with a bite on my fork Abner jumped off the couch and yacked on my leg!! So I threw dinner away and took care of Abby, I was worried he threw up for about an hour!!! Finally we relaxed and watched the season premiere of Ghost Hunters!!!! THEN last night we heard ALL sorts of commotion outside around 10pm and I opened the door to find 2 police cars and it freaked me out. I am home alone every night until about 10:30 but last night Matt was home earlier for once. He went outside and then found out the lady next door called 911because some strange man was beating on her door demanding to come in. Creepy, I live in a real nice part of town so this was odd to me!
Today- I have been at work and then I got my hair done over lunch! So we will see where the afternoon takes me!
WHEW!!! Bored yet??

Challenge 24

Challenge Day 24- Whatever Tickles your fancy

So this is short and random but I am kinda weird about my alarm clock....we all know I am a "Bed Nazi" and need everything to be even and in order but what you don't know is how I like odd numbers. I do not know what started this or why I even do it BUT each night when I set my alarm clock I set it to an odd number. Like 6:23am or 7:17am...I know it is very random and weird but it is something I started once upon a time that has now turned into another bedtime ritual.
Wow, I bet you all are just so glad I shared.

Challenge Day 23

Challenge Day 23- A Favorite You Tube Video!
Well I was going to go all sad on you with a heartfelt piece on animals but I don't want to get all verklempt at work today....so I went with a funny one! This is one of my favorite songs "Feeling Good" and singers "Michael Buble" and this kid cracks my junk up....please watch!

Challenge 22

Challenge Day 22- Your favorite Website!!
Once again I can not pick JUST one..........so I have two VERY different ones I love and check daily!!!
1. Perez Hilton, I love this smut website and this is where I get all my celebrity dirt!! He should have a gossip magazine!

2. The Food Network!!! I love love watching all my shows over the weekend and then printing them all at come Monday morning!!! I DVR all the shows and then go thru them to see which ones I want to watch and try!

Challenge Day 21

Challenge Day 21- Favorite Recipe!
I post all the recipes I make and fall in LOVE with under my "In the Kitchen" tab on my navigation bar so you know where to find em! But can I pick just one? NO way......but I have to! So I picked a wonderfully "Parisian" Meal that I have made a couple of times, and it always makes you feel good when people beg for you to make it!!!! So I guess it is good and it is not just me!! SO click HERE to see it!

Challenge Day 20

30 Day Challenge Day 20- What is your Hobby?
A hobby to me is something you enjoy doing in your spare time and I have 3 things that I love do the most!
1. Cooking/Baking, I love watching cooking shows and then trying out the new recipes. I DVR practically every show on Food Network in case it is something I will want to try! I love trying out a new dessert and I usually make something new every Sunday for Matt & I! I look forward to one day when I have a kitchen that is not the size of a cracker jack box so I can expand on my hobby!!

2. Reading, I love reading books and magazines!!! I lay in bed every night for at least an hour and read before I fall asleep. Reading is the perfect relaxing escape after a long day!

3. Lastly...going to Movies!! I think we all know how much I love going to the movies if not for the large amount of "Movie Reviews" I always share with you all! Honestly the Moore Warren which is a beautiful theatre by my house if one of my most favorite places to be!

Those are my current Hobbies.....I also have boxes filled with scrapbook stuff that I keep meaning to start on so one day I will re-ignite my hobby for scrapbooking!

Day 19- I am a "Use-to-BEE"

30 Day Challenge- Day 19 What is your Talent? DANCE!
For those of you who don't know me or are new to my blog I am a "retired" dancer!!  I have taken dance since the age of 2 and I just stopped at age 27!! Whew, makes me tired just thinking about it. I danced at a studio growing up, competed and even got to perform at Disney Worlds "Magic Music Days", I was a Pom Girl in HS, danced and choreographed for my sorority at rush and homecoming and I even danced professionally for 4 years. Below is some of the highlights from my professional "career".............
I danced for Oklahoma's Arena football team for 4 years...the Yard Dawgz and I LOVED them!!! Can you pick me out below? This is a dance I actually choreographed for our "Pre-Game" show.........

Cheering on the sidelines!! Little did Matt know when he met me that he would spend 2 years of his life at sporting events watching me dance from the stands! Get this....he got free season tickets to everything and he said he had his fill of games for awhile after those 2 years were up!

Then I was lucky enough to dance for the OKC Hornets!! It was a dream come true...as far as dance goes the NBA is one of the top places you can take your talent too! And no we didn't just cheer at games and stand around (that bugs me).....we danced 3xs at 40 games and practiced over 9 hours a week on top of OVER 40 hours of "appearances"...AND I was working full time. Yes, it almost killed me!

The next are some of the professional pictures given to me from game photographers I am lucky enough to have them as memories!!

We were called the "Honeybees" so that is why I am a "Use-to-BEE" as in I use to be really fit and I use to be someone cool! LOL

Oh yes, don't kid yourself.. "Save a horse, ride a cowboy" this is OKLAHOMA people!

It was kinda neat signing autographs, we all took turns at half time sitting at a table in the arena....in our home office we have a wall that has all my posters and autograph cards hung...called memory lane!

CHEESE!!!!!!!!

So that will conclude the Talent portion of this post!

Day 18 (Warning picture overload)

Challenge Day 18 is Whatever Tickles your Fancy....so I am going to talk about what I did yesterday!!
Delta Delta Delta Bid Day 2010
Ok, I will try to explain what Rush is for those of you who do not know....about 1500 girls spend 5 days visiting houses and then the girls will cut houses they don't like and the houses will cut girls they don't like so it is "mutual" thing. Each house will end up with about 60 new pledges and it is an intense process. OU is a HUGE Greek School and it is a BIG deal to rush and pledge. I was a Tri Delt and that made Marissa a legacy but I told her pick any house she wanted!! But how fun that Tri Delt was #1 this year in her eyes and everyone else's too....she even had 2 girls quit because Tri Delt cut them and they didn't want anything else! So here is how Bid Day works..........
All the parents gather in the bottom of the dorms because you are not allowed upstairs until the "Bids" are handed out, this is us waiting...............

Then each girl gets a knock on the door and handed a formal Bid then girls come flying down the stairs screaming, yelling and crying...I am NOT kidding it is MASS chaos! Marissa and her bestie Macey both got Tri Delt they jumped around and screamed...it was so cute!

Next up, you run (I mean run with excitement) to the house (which is not close might I add)....because the whole house is waiting for you!!! It is CRAZY!! And all the fraternity boys were lined up yesterday hooting and hollering as the girls ran down the street! Ok...weather, it poured on us and it was like 95 with 100% humidity ...I literally was sweating thru my dress and felt like a flipping water buffalo!

Above is Marissa running into the arms of her new sisters and below is a glimpse of just the South Greek row filled with a sea of screaming girls!

As soon as you get there you are given your bid day shirt and I remember putting that shirt on it's amazing! Now Marissa is my sister Twice Over!!!!!

I followed Marissa around yesterday holding her stuff and taking pictures.......yes, I was happy for her...I would NOT of stood outside sweating for just anyone!

Here is Marissa and Taylor a friend of hers who is already a member in the house doing the Delta sign!

Marissa excited hugging her new Greek letter, the beautiful Tri Delt House behind! She was so glad rush week was over!

Pledge class pic! Marissa is a part of the 100th pledge class at OU....this is a HUGE year celebrating 100 years of sisterhood! I have never been an "active" alumna but now with Marissa there it will give me a chance to get more involved which I am looking forward to....I will be able to initiate her this fall also!

Marissa's NEW friends!!! "3 Times BETTER with just ONE letter" To learn more about OU Delta Delta Delta chapter "Theta Gamma" click HERE!

Last night they had the formal pledging ceremony and when I got home I collapse on the couch! I am not a spring chicken anymore, Bid Day was exhausting!!!!!! But one sweet mom told me I looked no older than 24, so who ever paid her to say that you made my DAY!!!!!!!
Congrats Marissa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 17

Challenge Day 17- Favorite piece of art, painting, etc
Today was the hardest for me BY FAR.....because to be honest I am not really that into art. I have been googling all morning trying to figure out what to post today. I finally picked the poster below for 2 reasons....One, I have this framed in my home and second I love that it is a black cat because my Bella is a black. Yes, this is a bit of a stretch but I don't have too many "art" pieces in my home and this is something that I love.

30 Day Challenge- Day 16

Challenge Day -16, A song that makes you cry or nearly cry!
First of all I am over 1/2 way done with the challenge so that is exciting!!! And there really isn't a song that makes me cry BUT I have one that was a "nearly" for me.
Chantal Kreviazuk
"Feels Like Home"
Somethin' in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There's somethin' in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life
If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
A window breaks, down a long, dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see, through the dark there is light
Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

WHY? Well, I let my mom choose the song at my wedding what the parents walk down the aisle to and that song was also what her and Micki my mother in law lit the unity candle to. And I am not a crier but when they played that song at my wedding and we were all lined up ready to go it really hit me and I got flooded with emotion. So this song brings back that memory. ...

Challenge Day 15

I set this to post yesterday but it didn't....odd!

Challenge Day 15- Your favorite FanFic
What in the world is this??? I had no clue, so here is what I found........
Definitions of Fanfic on the Web:
•Fan fiction (alternately referred to as fanfiction, fanfic, FF, or fic) is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator. ...
•fan fiction
•fanfiction - Unofficial, unlicensed fictional stories about celebrities or fictional characters, written by fans

Soooo Here is what I thought I am going to take a part of that word "Fan" and let's talk about how I am a fan of my sister and I will show you her new dorm pictures? I know I know it is reaching but who cares...

My parents moved Marissa in last Thursday ALL day in 104 degree heat! Her roommate is not rushing and can not move in until late this week. 

Marissa picked top bunk, my choice too!

Marissa hooking her laptop, printer and everything else!! Below is her finished desk! I told her she needs more room for all the new fun pictures she will be taking!

Her Suite mate is from Texas and I got to meet her and her family...they were so nice!

She also brought the bathroom stuff for the 4 girls to share!

My mom and Marissa before mom cried the whole drive home (I am not really kidding)

Marissa representing with her OU Scentsy Warmer! Boomer Sooner

I think she is gonna SELL a ton for me! Dorm Room Approved girls!!!!

This is Courtney her best friend from HS and roomie!!!

I know that was a ton of pictures!!!! Today is Day 3 of Rush!!! I hope she is having fun and not melting in the heat!

Challenge Day 14

Challenge Day 14- Favorite Non-fiction Book!
Well I already talked about Marley and Me which is more than likely my favorite but I thought I would talk about two "different" books also Non-Fictions that I Love!
FIRST OF ALL...let me start by saying if you are a new reader to my blog than you may not already know about my "Freak Flag" which is ....I am kinda into the Paranormal. No way would I want anything in my own home but I LOVE reading about it, watching the shows and learning more about the Paranormal Field. Yes, I know this is odd but deal with it Matt has. These two books below are two of my favorites.............
Ghosts Among Us by James Van Praagh, I have talked about before and most of my book club friends have since read and enjoyed it. This book really changed the way I view death and really confirmed many things in the Bible about the afterlife. This is a must read if you are "into" this kinda thing!

Ah yes, Ghost Hunting by Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes is written by the two TAPS guys who star on Ghost Hunters which is on SciFi and I love! This book essentially recounts their best experiences and it is so fascinating to read!!!! Does anybody else watch this show??

Challenge Day 13

Challenge Day 13- Favorite Non-Fiction Book
Well, this seems a tad repetitive since I discussed my favorite books on like day 1 or 2 BUT I will gladly talk books again. I picked The Host by Stephanie Meyers..........
I can not pick one book I love more than all the others but The Host was one of my first "Sci-Fi-ish" books to  read and this book blew me away. It was inventive, smart, face paced and at the end I wanted more. All signs of a great book! Read the "jest" of the book below.......

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.
Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves-Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.
Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time.

If you have not read this book I urge you to do so, I promise you will not be disappointed. And ps....rumor is this will be a movie soon!