Just Walk Away

That's what I've been telling myself every time I walk past that dern Easter candy sitting so sweetly (no pun intended) on the kitchen table. It is everything in me not to grab one or two pieces, then strategically place myself on the couch and enjoy the rich chocolaty taste melt so slowly in my mouth. Oh my gosh. I want it so bad.

Don't get me wrong, I'll eat it alright, but that is just it. I can only eat ONE. At the max TWO. Self-control. A word not normally used in my vocabulary has now become apart of it.

The reason for this sudden self-control word is my running. I have now run 3 days in a row. The more candy I eat, the harder it is to run. The less candy, the easier. I will choose the latter. I enjoy running, but hate heavy breathing. The cure? Eat less sweets.

So, as long as I can, I will...

Just walk away! :)

(Thank you for listening to this random piece of information. The main reason for this post? DON'T LET ME EAT SWEETS!)

Love you all so very much!

Off to Subway... ;)

Happy Belated Easter

I know this is so late, but I couldn't pass up a chance to give some praise to our sweet Jesus who laid down His life for us on the cross, scorned and shamed, then rose again all to set ME free. It is undeniably incomprehensible yet divinely amazing. It is finished. HE IS ALIVE. He loved us enough that he couldn't stand the thought of living in eternity without us. Why? I don't know and don't get it. But, I know that I love Him so very much. Not because of what He has done or can do, but because of who He is. "I AM." Not that I claim it all the time, but I am pretty sure no one loves me like he does. Despite of who I am, he loves me so unconditionally. I am so in love. It may sound so cheesy. But it is so true! Worthy is the Lamb!

I had a wonderful Easter. After a wonderful service at church we had a fabulous lunch at the one and only Snow's. They are our family away from family. Truly, every holiday that we aren't with our family in Colorado, we spend with them. And, when we are with our family in Colorado for holiday's, we miss them. Every minute spent with them is not a minute wasted. We have a blast with them and laugh our ever livin' heads off!

On another note, I just finished my spring break. A little travelin' girl I was. After returning from Louisiana, I spent one day at home then headed to Huntsville. I decided it would be nice to see my girls there and go to TRUTH. So that I did. I called up Raven and her friend too to see if they wanted to tag along. They did and I was so excited! We all trekked it up their in the tornado weather. We even had a plan for if a tornado were to come down. All was well, though. And as much as it rained and poured, HARD, no tornado's were spotted. I was so very grateful. Because as calm as I seemed, I could have peed in my pants. I was so nervous. I hate when the weather gets like that and I am driving. Huntsville was great. I went to TRUTH where I learned that Afshin was engaged! HOLLA!! My heart couldn't be happier. And of course, gave many hugs to those precious folks I don't see too often. It was sweet.

Wednesday we headed back to Houston and that night I watched August Rush for like the 100th time with the youth group. Sigh. I love that movie. I love the music. I just flat love it. Soon and very soon, I will be a proud owner. I just have to be patient until I have the funds to buy it. Until then, I will rent and watch when necessary!

Thursday I hopped back in my car and drove to sweet College Station to see the precious Lambert's. It's been too long! We had a calm evening and I just enjoyed being with Claire and her cute hubby Russell. A fun time is always had while there!

Friday after sleeping in a bit, Claire and I went to Body Attack. And Body Attack it was. I am still reaping the benefits today. Every inch of my body is sore. Why did I agree to that again? Oh yes, because every girl knows that swimsuit season is coming up and we just all need us a little body attack. Except NOT! Kidding. I actually think I would enjoy the hour long brutality if I could actually go a time or two a week, but that's not happening, because 1) I don't live there, and 2) I don't have a membership ANYWHERE right now. How sad is that. I have become very familiar with the sidewalk streets near my house!

After returning home after our bodies had been attacked, we ate back all the 900 calories lost (serious) and finished watching Ratatouille! So cute. I then, once again, packed the car and headed back to Houston.

Saturday I accomplished some, and even laid out for about 45 minutes. That's always so very nice and peaceful! That night we grilled out and I rented Enchanted. Y'all, SO cute. I loved it! Although I had no doubt I would, I am easily entertained! Especially if it ends with "And they lived happily ever after!" I'm waiting for my happily ever after! ;)

Here are a few pictures from my fabulous week! Now it's the trek to the end of the semester. Can you believe I graduate in 6 weeks?!!! Only 5 more weeks left of student teaching. I can't believe it. Somebody slap me. I think I'm in shock! ;)

Our neighbors came over to dye some eggs. Precious!

My loves!

After Body Attack.

PF Changs! And look at those teeny desserts! They were only $2!! :)

Sweet Huntsville girls! (In the Woodlands!)

Well folks, it is now way past my bedtime! Goodnight!

Baton Rouge, Baby!

VERY early Saturday morning I packed up and headed to Hobby Airport to catch my flight headed to Baton Rouge for the weekend! I was off to see my BFF Jen! Part of me was tired, the other part highly excited, and the other part mad that I couldn't get a flight out the night before. Y'all, can you believe that out of 12 flights that left on Friday, NONE of them were available for me to take. I was mad because I just knew that if I didn't fly in on Friday it would shorten my time with Jen. But alas, my flight ARRIVED in New Orleans at 8:15 Saturday morning where Jen was awaiting my arrival where we then headed to Baton Rouge. Since I got there so early on Saturday, it didn't feel like I missed a beat. I was thankful. It really did feel like I'd been there since Friday night.

Once we got to their apartment, we lounged around for a bit so that both of us could rest. We both had to be up early since I had to catch an early flight, and since she had to drive to New Orleans to pick me up. Granted, we didn't sleep, but we watched a few shows and just chilled out. It was nice.

After some rest, we decided it was shoppy shoppy time! :) We headed to a new shopping center that has many wonderful stores that we know of, and then some cutsie boutiques. It was a beautiful day and the shopping center is outside, so it was great fun. Both of us kept forgetting where we were because 1) that shopping center is new and she's been there once and 2) we're hardly together, especially in Baton Rouge! Neither of us purchased anything, but we enjoyed the many cute outfits we did see. After that we headed to Chick-Fil-A and met Jen's friend, Katie, for lunch! It was so nice to meet her. I've heard so much about her so it's always nice to put a face with a name. She is just too sweet and we hit it off great! Now, I about towered over both of them, but all was well. They are just some tiny people. I, on the other hand, am ginormous compared to them! :) You've got yourself a tall girl here!

After lunch we all headed to the outlet mall. I was so excited because they have a Gap Outlet. My absolute fav! Joanna and I have a yearly trip to the Katy Mills Mall here in Houston just to shop at the great Banana and Gap Outlets offered there. So of course, I wished for our Jo, but all was still well. Y'all, let me just tell you, each of us tried on about a gazillion things. And, each of us left with NOTHING. Sad stinkin' day. Oh well, we saved some money, which is I guess as good as purchasing something at Gap Outlet. :)

We were pooped after this excursion so Jen and I headed back to the apartment to chill for a while, and then later that evening, Grant, met me and Jen over at Chase and Ronda's house for some good grillin'! It was so much fun. There house is just beautiful! I love how Ronda decorates. It's very much like I want to decorate my house one day! And Chase can grill some good Chicken. Yum. It was fabulous! We then watched a movie where I fell asleep. I didn't want to because it was a good movie, but y'all, I had been up since 4:45 A.M. I just couldn't help my sleepy eyes! So Chase and Ronda, thank you so very much for having us over. It was so much fun and y'all are wonderful hosts!

Sunday, Grant woke up sick, so Jen and I headed to church alone. I think that was the first time in Jen and Linds history that we have attended church together, alone, in another city. That just occurred to me. It was good, though, and I am glad I got to see where they go to church! After church we had lunch at Copeland's?! Jen, help me out. Nonetheless, it was good and I took home a Snickers Cheesecake that added 10 pounds to me instantly. It was so worth it.

That afternoon we pretty much lounged all day, and watched Legally Blonde, The Musical. It was so very cute and the songs have been stuck in my head ever since! I then packed my stuff and we headed for the airport, yet again. I know it seemed like I was barely there, but it felt like I was there much longer than I really was. My flight was supposed to leave at 9:15, so I got there around 8ish to find out that my flight had been delayed to 10:50. So, I got me some peanut butter crackers, and a magazine, then made myself comfortable. After departing so late, I arrived back in Houston at midnight, getting me to my house around 1 A.M. I was pooped! But, the weekend was so worth it. I loved me some good ole' Baton Rouge time with my favorite Jennifer Dawn.

I love you, precious BFF. And tell Grant I love him, too! :)

Taking pictures before lunch!

Jen and Ronda with sweet Bailey!

All 3 of us trying to get a picture!


The boys playing X-Box! Doesn't Grant look so excited!! ;)



Also, just recentely, I have been working on some more plates! Y'all, it is so much fun. I love when people want me to do something different for them. The wedding ones are always so fun, too! I am doing another wedding one this weekend for somebody and can't wait! It's been a blast.

Know that if you are interested, I am still doing them, I just haven't talked about it recently. Just shoot me an email (which you can find in my profile) and I'd be happy to work with you! If you want to see more, just click on the link to the left!

Back to Kindergarten

Well, hello there, sweet friends!

I have been so out of the loop for the past week and a half and the only things I can contribute that to are the stinkin' time change (which get me all out of sorts), starting Kindergarten this past Monday, and just pure laziness. Do you ever have those days when blogging is so in the back of your mind it's ridiculous?! Some days I would rather come home and take a sweet lil' nap than even think about getting on the computer. So, I did just that. I checked in here and there, but most of the time blogging just wasn't appealing. Some days are like that. :) (Y'all, I haven't even downloaded the pictures from this past weekend. I am a picture freak and normally there up and at 'em! That tells you something!)

Anyway, I have been here, there and everywhere! Last week after a trip to the rodeo, I made a quick trip to Huntsville. We had a class on Wednesday, then I had lunch at Double Dave's, always good, then headed back to Houston. I got a lot done on Thursday, including a haircut that was eventually ruined by the end of the day thanks to the oh-so-precious weather we had, and then headed back up to Huntsville on Friday for the weekend!

We had my dear roommates lingerie shower on Saturday up there, so I decided to make a weekend out of it! We had an absolute blast! Really, the whole weekend was a blast. It's so fun to go up there and visit my precious Sam friends, I do miss them, so the time is always precious. Before the shower on Saturday, we had to keep Megan occupied so the hosts could get ready for it, so we enjoyed a girly day getting pedicures and enjoying dinner together! Fun times. After her shower we all ventured out to the undeniably fun Karaoke place to do some karaoke. Y'all. I don't have any words for that experience. I'll have you know that karaoke is an absolute blast to do, but I've never done it in public! We enjoyed MANY laughs! A memory etched in my mind forever.

It's always good to go back to UHBC on the Sunday's that I am there. I love that church. I love those people. And I love that even though I have a home church here and love it, I can go back to Huntsville and call UHBC a home church for me. Such good fellowship, memories, and milestones. There ain't nothin' like that. It has my "college" heart and always will!

Monday was my first day in Kindergarten!!!! Y'all, they are so teeny. I love it. My mentor teacher is just precious and I know that we are going to have an absolute blast. (We actually figured out that we have a strange connection through some people. All I can say is that this is such a small world!) This whole week was so eventful and we ended it with field day today. We were Miss Donnon's Dinosaurs and tore the field up! (Well, as much as 5 year old's can!) I know many laughs will come. I mean gosh, I've already laughed so much and I barely even know them! Kindergarten will be fabulous. No doubt about it!

Since kindergarten started, I don't have to explain my reasoning for coming home and taking a nap. They are exhausting (and I've barely done anything yet!) but so very precious!

Well folks, I'm off to pack! I leave for Louisiana tomorrow VERY EARLY in the morning to go see my precious Jen for the weekend!!!! I am sooo excited. I love traveling to see my friends! Granted, I don't like that they live so far away, but going to see them makes it totally worth it. Fun times will be had, no doubt. Expect a full detail report about our weekend. I am sure as I type this, Grant, her sweet hubby, is preparing his mind for full out girliness this weekend! And you know he is probably jumping up and down that LINDSEE LOU is coming to visit!!!! Woooo Hoooo!!! ;)

Have a great weekend friends!!!

Much love to all of you!!

I Like It, I Love It, I Want Some More Of It

The rodeo was SO much fun! I knew it would be, but it's been so long since I've gone that I think I forgot all that really happens there. Monday was opening night so the crowds were insane. We thankfully left our side of town, headed over to the Reliant Center in little traffic, parked, using our free parking pass, and then made the long trek to the building. And let me tell you, it was long, COLD, and WINDY! We made the most of it though, not letting it take away from the night, but whew, it was a chilly one.

Once we arrived inside we were starving, so, in our limited options, we finally found a place to get some food . Well low and behold, the card machines were down. I promise you everyone and their mom had only a card because everyone and their mom was at the ATM. Including us. We waited, got cash, then tried for dinner again. This time to find out that the machines were up and working now! Joy! After dinner we finally made the trek to our seats. Y'all. We were on the stinkin' 15th row from the ground. FOR FREE. A huge shout out and thank you to my sweet friend Jennifer who's insurance company so graciously gave the tickets to her. The seats were amazing. We really can't complain because even though our dinner was almost $20 just for a burger and fries, we didn't have to pay for anything else. Seriously a huge blessing. Where we sat and where we parked alone would have cost us a fortune!

We sat down in just enough time to scarf down our food and then the show started! Unfortunately, we missed all the bull riding. But hey, when things are last miutue, you've just got to deal with what you can get! He sang all his oldies, but goodies, and then some! I love when they sing older hits because everyone is bound to know them and sing along.

After about an hour of entertainment, Mr. Tim called it a night. We took a few pictures, packed up our stuff and headed back home! It was a mighty LATE night, but so worth it.

I know there are SO many pictures, but I'm trying to give you the ultimate Houston Rodeo experience via blog land. Notice how many different colors the stage changes to! It's so cool. And, that huge thing rotates the whole time, giving everybody a grand experience! I hope you enjoy!

Waiting for the show to start and so excited!

FIREWORKS!!! :)

Let me explain the next set of pictures to you. After the rodeo, since we arrived right before everything started, we didn't get to take any pictures. (This is a MUST!) Anyway, we started taking some, you know the norm, couples, trios, everyone, etc. Well, when it came to take one of the 3 of us, we took one, and decided we should take another for good measure. Right after it was taken, Rebekah, looked oddly at the picture and started laughing. We were highly confused and needed to know what was going on. Well, apparently when she was taking the picture, she thought one of us were doing the bunny ears. Um. No. That would be the weird man walking around deciding he needed to interrupt the photo op. And that he did. Because after that picture, we (or should I say "I") were too tickled to take another one. That ended out photo shoot. Notice the ugly laugh. Yes, I was dying!

A Mighty Wind

Hey there, sweet friends!

Well, I am about to brave the WINDY weather to head to the first night of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo! Tonight is Tim McGraw!!! I have not been to the rodeo in well over 4 years, so I am getting very excited. I actually didn't plan on attending this year, either, but today I got a surprise text from one of my friends saying she had just received 4 free tickets and wondered if I would like to come!! YES!!!!! I love the rodeo! And, for free, girl, what time are we leaving?!!!

I made sure I got everything on my to-do list done so that I could thoroughly enjoy the night. And that I did. I even have time to blog! I am loving this productiveness. It's SUCH a nice feeling.

The only crazy thing is the weather we have to brave. Y'all, can you believe that it was 70 degrees this morning, and now it is 48 degrees and the wind is like blowing cars over?! Oh yeah, never mind, that's Houston for ya! Seriously, my hair is in for a hott mess.

Well, I'm off to meet the carpool! HOLLA for the first night of the rodeo. I'm sure Tim will provide some excellent entertainment. And, you can't forget about the REAL rodeo! I'm all about the Bull Riding, as scary as it is, and as much as I hide my eyes, I love it.

You've gotta love sweet ole' Houston, Texas!

Oh, and here are some more of those precious cards for your entertainment! Enjoy and have a splendid Monday night!

Notice the heart before and after. It's broken. Bless his heart!

Entertain. He is thankful for the word entertain. Oh, it's the small things in life!