Randomocity

This summer weather has been wonderful! It has not been too warm at all and we have taken advantage and walked a lot lately.

One day last week, it was extra cool and we dressed Jackson in long sleeves. Russell and Jackson-best buddies on our walk!

Aww! We loved the weather!

Jackson has been doing tummy time and floor time more and more every day. He loves Sophie the Giraffe for sure! :)

We also went to Cracker Barrel last week and we are thrilled that Bentonville finally has one! We love his warm and sweet cuddles. HA! :)

He is officially THREE months!!

Look at this smiley boy. His smile just makes us that much happier! LOVE!

On a totally random note, Bath and Body Works had a sale on candles recently and we had a coupon so we got a couple of candles. This is my VERY favorite. Pink Apple Punch is the best one. :) It smells just like a fruit roll up to me. HA! I know my random mind can be boring sometimes. OH well! I hope y'all are having an awesome week!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 100:1

Five on Friday

I thought I would update with a "five on Friday" post today. Russell and I have been going through our house this week and trying to organize as much as we can. Organization is not my strong suit, I must admit. So besides cleaning out our house, here's what I have been up to!

1. Bath and Body Works carries a wonderful aromatherapy line. My favorite is the lavender vanilla scent. Lavender is just the best. I got this luxury bath the other day and lit this wonderful lavender vanilla candle. The luxury bath is great because it makes for the most wonderful bubble bath. Can you tell I love pampering? HA!

2. I made this quick and easy beef stroganoff for dinner the other day. And I wanted to feel like Pioneer Woman, so I put it all on a big platter, even though it was just the two of us. :) It was so good.

3. It's been a great week for getting packages delivered. We ordered this pillow sham from Pottery Barn Kids just Saturday, and it came in the mail on Tuesday! I love seeing Jackson's name on anything, but this pillow sham just makes me smile. :)

4. I ordered an Erin Condren planner early this month....on January 4th I think. After patiently...er....impatiently waiting, I finally got it! Erin Condren always sends a little free goodie when you order. I got this red party clutch and desk calendar for free! Bonus!

5. Yesterday, my sweet nephew, Logan, had his ACL repaired. I am so glad he is already recovering well after just a day. Those of you who read my blog know how much Logan and Lauren mean to me! He was up walking around hours after surgery. He is such a huge inspiration!

So that's my five on Friday, y'all! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers. Philemon 1:4

Five on Friday-Random Everything!

It's my first time to participate with "5 on Friday," so here it goes. It is basically five facts you can share about your week! Simple and random. I'm jumping on this bandwagon! :)

 1. I have been LOVING this base coat/topcoat plus nail strengthener for your nails! An employee at Ulta told me about it and recommended using extra coats of polish. It lasts like a gel manicure would. It's my new favorite. That's for sure!

 2. How can I not post about Fall? I have been enjoying our Leaves candle, which I firmly believe it is THE scent of Fall. Go get it. You'll thank me. Also, I enjoyed a little hot cider while snuggling up in my Fall blanket. Sigh. Love it all.

 3. It may as well be confession Friday, too. I have not had a whole lot of cravings. I have not had any morning sickness, which is great. I have had an appetite for comfort foods. Last night was the first time I just HAD to have a grilled cheese. Russell made it for me and it was divine!

 4. I don't have a picture for this one, but I had to share. This morning, I got my hair colored at the salon. While I was under the dryer, my hair stylist cut a little girl's hair. I was on my phone, checking social media, when all the sudden I glanced at the sweet little girl. She was STARING at me big time. To tell you the truth, I really did not know why at first, then it dawned on me. I had ALL these foils in my hair! She thought I was from outer space or something. I just smiled and asked her if she thought it was funny. She just gave me a big grin. Too cute!

 

5. Last but certainly not least, I am beyond thrilled for my cousin, Mary Catherine and her fiancée, John Michael! They got engaged this Spring. Her coffee is tomorrow and I cannot wait to see her, and give her a big hug. I am SO happy for her.

What a gorgeous couple! Love you, MC!

 

So that's my random five on Friday! Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend!

 

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:16

Downton Abbey

I am one of those people. Yes, I am one of those obsessed with Downton Abbey.

 I finished season three a couple weeks ago and was very speechless to say the least. I will not give anything away! Downton is just so addicting. Once you get wrapped in the wonder of the Edwardian era, you want to keep watching.

I got a couple of books about Downton yesterday and I have only skimmed through them so far. I'm sure I'll read all about it when I can.

 This is the newest book that features more about season 3. Great info in this for sure just for the ultimate fan!

 A big part of me wants to be in the kitchen with Daisy and Mrs. Patmore. Crazy busy, but fun.

Here is a recipe from Downton Abbey. They have more recipes here. So interesting and fun! 

I just had to share my favorite thing recently. Russell has actually started watching the series with me and I am tickled about that! :)

This video should make you smile, if you are a Downton fan. It sure made us smile. So funny. Enjoy! Maybe it will hold us over til season 4!



Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Christmas Randomness

Oh my goodness! I have so much left to do before Christmas! I do love this time of year, but it flies by! This afternoon I went to a local decor/gift store and got very inspired! We have been looking for a tree topper for a little while now and didn't really love what we saw. Then I found out that the store had lots of burlap in stock. 

 I really love the look of this wreath. I don't need a wreath, but I just love the combination of the ribbon and burlap. We are getting a burlap bow made for the top of our tree! It should be ready Saturday and I can't wait to see it!

I am up pretty late tonight because I am making a cheesecake for our Sunday School Christmas party! While I am waiting to put it in the fridge, I am watching this adorable flick:

 It is so cute. Not my favorite, but cute! I love the book, Eloise and the book, Eloise at Christmastime. Take a look at THIS:

 This year Betsey Johnson designed and decorated a special Christmas tree for the Plaza hotel in NYC! Ii think it is beautiful...it is pink! Yes, it screams pink, but again, I still think it's so gorgeous! I wish I could see it in person! WOWSERS!

So tomorrow night (well, technically tonight..ha!), the party is going to be an "ugly Christmas sweater party". We will do an ornament exchange, and eat Italian food. I thought that this sweater was sooo hilarious!

I will post pictures tomorrow if I can! I hope y'all have a wonderful day! Remember to make your list and check it twice for whatever your needs are for Christmas!

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. Luke 2:4

Spa at Home

The other night, I decided I deserved a relaxing spa night. First of all, I gave my feet a treat with Mary Kay Pedicure set. It has a rosemary mint scent that is just out of this world wonderful. Oh, by the way. I only used to sell MK and no, noone asked me to endorse these. I chose to because it's my favorite brand! :)

I then used the TimeWise Firming Body Lotion. It tones and hydrates the skin which also smells and feels great on your skin!

And what's a spa without a face mask? This TimeWise even complexion mask that brightens dull skin. It feels so good afterwards too!

Of course I had to use the Miracle Set. I use it every night which is absolutely divine.

I then used Satin Lips set. The mask gently exfoliates and gets the dead skin off while the lip balm moisturizes and feels sooo good!

Satin Hands Peach Smoothie scrub and lotion is a-ma-zing. It feels like perfection and feels like heaven afterwards! Yes it does!

Lastly, I filed my nails with these Arkansas Novaculite nail files my sister got me for Christmas!

I better go! I'm going to go pamper myself again! Bye!

American Idol and Army Wives

 Who is into Idol this year? I am just loving all the talent this year! It is great! I love the judges too when I really thought I wouldn't like them. They surprised me a lot!

 Tuesday night, my favorite performer was Scotty. I like his voice and personality as well. He seems like an all around good guy.

 My favorite on Wednesday night was Pia Toscano! She is over the top talented and expect her to be in the top runnings!

Sunday night, my very favorite show, Army Wives season 5 premieres. We are pretty excited about these 2 shows! 

Joyful are people of integrity who follow the instructions of the Lord. Psalm 119:1

Christmas Questions

Christmas Questions

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate...but I love love love hot cider!

2. Colored Lights or White? I like both. This year, our tree has color lights but I want to get a prelit tree with white lights on it next year!

3. Do you hang mistletoe? We have pretty "kissing crystals" hanging over a door in our house! I think it is just cute and fun!

4. When do you decorate for Christmas? I like to decorate the week of Thanksgiving.

5. What is your favorite holiday dish excluding dessert? There are many foods I adore during Christmastime, but one side dish comes to mind: green bean bundles! YUM!

6. Favorite holiday memory as a child? I was probably 6 years old. I walked in the den and there was the Barbie dream house! Oh, I was sooo excited! I lined up all my Barbie dolls in a row in front of the house. Oh how I loved my Barbies! :)

7. Snow. Love or hate it? Oh I adore snow! What I don't prefer is ice, which South Arkansas usually gets ice instead of snow. blah.

8. Can you ice skate? Umm the last time I did, I was in high school. I would be scared to try it now. I was NEVER good at roller skating but once I tried ice skating, it was easier to me. Go figure.

9. What is your favorite Christmas song? As y'all know, I love music. It's hard to pick just one. But I would have to say my favorite is O Holy Night. It is also my favorite to sing.

10. Most annoying thing about this time of year? I would have to say seeing so many ads and hearing people say, "Happy Holidays". I know, I know. I just HAVE to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope I didn't make y'all too bored! Have an awesome weekend!

Our Weekend

We have had a great weekend! Our laptop finally is up with internet! Last night Russell and I went to our friends, Mandy and David's house and visited. They are such special friends of ours! We just love them! Today Russell, Mama and I went to the movies and we saw this movie: Letters to God. Oh my word it is SOO good! I will not lie-it was a real tear jerker for me and hit home a few times because it was about a little boy with brain cancer. I will have to say it has been forever since I have boohooed during a movie that much. HOWEVER, It was a wonderful movie. I will recommend it to everyone! We ate dinner at Applebee's after that and headed home for......
The season 4 premiere of my favorite show ever-Army Wives! It is great so far. I promise I will blog as soon as I can tomorrow! Hope you all had a great weekend!

Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." John 4:10

Yes, I am Alive!

Oh how I have missed BLOGGING!!!!! I am sorry it has been practically a month since I have posted my last blog post. I have a lot to blog about. A few weeks ago, we went on vacation, the next week I was sick and did not even feel like blogging, and the next week, we did not have internet. We have a laptop and our laptop still isn't able to get internet because my sweet Russell hasn't had time to set it up yet. Oh the joys of technology-right? So needless to say, I have been incognito on the blogging scenerio! I am using Mama's computer for now and her computer won't let me post pics for some reason. Oh well. I promise, once our laptop gets set up, blogging will be an all go! :) Stay tuned and please don't give up on me on my blogging! HA!

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3

So Random!

So how has everyone's week been so far? It has been a great but slow week for me! I have been watching the olympic ice skating and I am just amazed every time I watch it! Like Monday night, wasn't Meryl Davis and Charlie White just amazing? They skated to music from Phantom of the Opera-how gorgeous! I have to say I loved it! They got the silver medal. The gold and bronze did well too of course! :) I'm just rooting for my country! GO USA!

On another note, I did post a couple of things on my cooking blog. I need to update that more! There are a few recipes on there now if you haven't seen it yet.

Tonight is handbell practice and I am SO looking forward to it. We have only practiced one song so far for the Easter service. I have one bell....just for that song. I tell ya'll.....I get distracted so easy. Once we start practicing another song, I will have 2 or maybe 3 bells. Well, practice makes perfect, right? HA! I will say, however, that our handbell choir sounds great so far when we practice together!

Hope ya'll are having a fabulous week!

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer... 1 Peter 3:12

Mardi Gras is Coming Up

Well--Mardi Gras will be here on Tuesday! Russell, Mama and I thought we would order a "World Famous Mardi Gras King Cake" this year for fun. It arrived here today! Look at the pretty box! :)
The cake is traditionally oval with festive colors of green, purple, and yellow. Also, there is always a small toy baby in each cake and as the story goes.....if you find the baby, you buy the next king cake next year! :)

Wow it is a big cake....we will have to share this with our friends soon!

Since I am talking about King Cake, I thought I would post some pics of New Orleans in celebration of Mardi Gras on Tuesday.

SO Pretty!

YUMMY Cafe du Monde!

The gorgeous Saint Louis Cathedral

It's been a very busy week this week. We are expecting snow tomorrow afternoon. In South AR, you never really know if you will get snow or not until it happens. We will see!

We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 2 Corinthians 10:4