Oh. Hi There.

Well now, I disappeared there for about nine days.  I had one of those weeks where it seemed to never end, and the bad news continued to hit me.  One of the members of my team at work quit, so we had to split her work up between me and one other coworker, which has not quite doubled my workload but overtime will be essential until Christmas, more than likely.  Then I was anonymously accused of a crime at work; not just an error in judgment but actual felonies.  I was eventually cleared of the accusation but I was a total wreck until it was taken care of.  My work computer also crashed, so I had to bring it in.  Management doesn't like when this happens, as they worry about confidentiality issues.  So imagine how upset I was when I came in, had it fixed, and now it's not working again.  That means I have to drive in again tomorrow to have it looked at again. Then, I got my period a week early (possibly from stress), put a large damper on the holiday weekend I was supposed to spend with my husband (I don't know about all of you, but I play no games during my flow week.  Just no.  Not going there.)

But admittedly, I have been happily shopping quite a bit.  "End of season" sales crack me up because it's not the end of the season here.  I easily have 6-10 weeks of hot hot summer left.  The temperatures don't tend to go below 80 until mid October.  This weekend, it was close to 100 here in Central Florida.  End of season, my patootie!  So shopping I went.

I picked up this very cute Faded Glory maxi dress at Walmart while taking my boys back to school shopping about two weeks ago.  It was...I kid you not...$5. It's a size 1x and perfectly roomy.  The blue was also an option in my size but I decided one tye dye maxi dress was probably enough for me, so I chose this delightful emerald color.

I know these are terrible pictures.  My husband was not happy with my bugging him to take pictures.  And admittedly, I had just been crying so I look horrible (saw the movie Courageous...if you have daddy issues, be prepared for tears  and heartache.)  I cried so hard I gave myself two nosebleeds and I didn't even finish watching the movie.

This could easily translate to maternity....maybe someday. 

And this is my only racerback dress.  I wore it with a strapless bra and all was right in my world.

Other things at Walmart:  tank tops or camis!  They were on sale for $3.  THREE BUCKS.  Oh my word, I totally stocked up.  I wear tanks under just about everything for modesty issues and also for sun protection.  I bought ten new camis in lots of great colors:  emerald, white, yellow, magenta, red, orange, cobalt, purple and two patterned ones.  I also just colored my hair black.  It's just a bit darker than my usual hair color, and actually matches my eyebrows. 

I applied for another job at the hospital, this time in scheduling.  But if I don't get it, I'm going to stop applying for jobs for a while.  I am sort of thinking that the tide may be turning at work.  Lots of interesting stuff coming up (changing programs at work, work flow changing, hiring a few more people) and I sort of want to see how it goes.  Plus, I just like being home.  I've said it many times, but I am a homebody.  In fact, after dinner tonight (which is a delicious Italian dressing marinated chicken with a big green salad, YUM!!!) I need to go clear off my desk, redo some of the wiring, and put the cpu in my beach bag so I can drag it into the office tomorrow.  Mr. R and I are going rearrange the desk to make it more efficient.  Plus we are supposed to start using TWO monitors for work...EEEEEEEK!  I feel so nerdy!

In fun news....be expecting a guest post from a friend very soon, and some changes to my blog! 

We Go To IKEA!!!

I took two days of PDO and spent yesterday at IKEA with my sister.  She wouldn't let me take her picture, but we had fun!

I just love going to IKEA!

Before you start, have some Swedish meatballs.  I promise by the time you're done walking, you will have worked them off, calorie-wise. 

Love this place!

My Four Day Weekend Is Over....Booooo!

I was supposed to have an entire week off but due to hiring a new employee in my department and another employee being out with a serious injury, I only took Thursday and Friday off.  I had so much fun.  On Thursday, we had a fun Independence/birthday party, and on Friday I cleaned up after the party.  On Saturday, I spent the day with my husband, and today we went to church and a movie at church (The Harbinger...totally recommend!)

Tomorrow I am back to work for the next two weeks, and then I have another four day weekend planned!  July 22 and 23 are mine, all mine!  Then no time off planned for August, and only Labor Day for September.  Nothing planned for October, and I have an entire week off in November, and that doesn't include Thanksgiving.  And can you believe that finishes out 2013 as far as time off work?  WOW.  How in the world did that much time pass so quickly?!?!

Anyway.  I got dressed today.  Hooray.

Target dress purchased in 2012, when Tiger was in the hospital and I couldn't get home to get my other clothes.  It's way too big, but it was all that particular Target had that day, a size 2x.  Target dress, Avenue tank top, Avenue earrings, cheap foam flip flops.

This is my "I don't feel well but I am supposed to be here, so I'm really just wearing fancy pajamas and I didn't even bother with real shoes."  Yeah.  My gift of cramps, bloating and pimples arrived today.  Go me.

Mr. R was home the entire time I was off, which I don't think has ever happened since he became a truck driver!  We almost never have the same time off unless it is planned far in advance, and we didn't plan it this time.  How funny is that.  He's leaving tomorrow for Syracuse, and I have a long week ahead of me.   The next time he comes home, we'll be celebrating another big birthday.  My daughter turns 18 on July 29th.  I KNOW. 

The Second Part Of My Weekend

I know it's nearly the start of the next weekend, but I've been so busy I didn't get a chance to talk about last weekend!  It is Thursday night and I have already worked 36 hours.  I can barely see straight!

Can you believe how beautiful this is?  All I'm doing is laying on my back on a picnic table and just shooting upwards.  Happy sigh.

DeLeon Springs State Park, in DeLeon Springs, Florida.

Our picnic table and bbq!

Ponce DeLeon thought he had discovered the Fountain of Youth!

My husband cooking for our two sons and two of their friends.

My husband the Grill Master.

FEED.  ME.

Ok, I have my grilled chicken shredded on my salad now.  All is well in my world.  My outfit?  Long pink maxi skirt I bought at Goodwill, old black tank top which I think I bought from Walmart.  My beat up leopard flip flops.  Happy-ville.

My kids have caught lots of fish from that dock.

Diving platform next to the old sugarmill.  That's the hubby doing a cannonball.

And yes...that's my daughter.  With a TATTOO.  Yes, she tricked her father into signing for one, since she's not 18 yet. 

Impromptu football game before we packed up.  How much fun!

Cupcake Sunday

Seriously, I should take pictures before Cupcake Sunday!  Today at church one of our leaders in children's ministry is moving away and so they decided that cupcakes would be an excellent way to send her off.  I had one key lime cupcake, and one carrot cupcake, and four raisin cookies.  Man.  *burp* Why can't Baptists have Salad Sunday?

Not pregnant, but my dress is lying to you and saying I am!  By the way, can you see the open bloom on the magnolia tree?  This tree is my husband's baby.  There used to be a pine tree here but it came down during one of the hurricanes in 2004, so we planted a magnolia there.  The blooms smell wonderful...it reminds me of iced tea with lemon!

Dress: Merona.  I sewed a snap near the bustline because it hangs open if I don't.  The shoes are Bongo and painful.  I keep forgetting why I keep these shoes.  They are agony.  Oh, I know why...because it seems like a sin to throw away nude wedges.  Also, standing next to another one of my husband's pride and joys: his sego palm.  He planted this seed (it looks like a walnut) the weekend we moved into this house, which is actually THIS weekend, 2001.  After 12 years, this is what it looks like.  For anyone who doesn't live in Florida, these are some high dollar plants.  Sego palms are big money and I know it would kill Mr. R if someone ever came into our yard overnight and dug it up to sell for cash.  Trust me, it happens. 

This time, the tree behind me is actually a bush.  It's jasmine and when it blooms, it smells so amazing.  Mr. R is actually quite the gardener, where it is my job to go, "Oooooh, pretty!" and then not touch anything, as I would probably kill it.

Mr. R plucked the magnolia blossom and wanted to put it in my hair, but I didn't have any clips in my hair today so I held it instead.  Now it's in a champagne glass on the dining room table.

I almost decided not to post the next picture because...well, you'll see.  But you know what, everyone behind me in church today got this view.  I *am* covered, but goodness.  Not sure how to feel about the overwhelming hourglass going on here.  I like my shape but it's so...I don't know.

My husband said I looked beautiful.

For Memorial Day today, we're waiting on Missy to get off work at 3pm.  We already have the car packed to go to the Springs.  Going later is actually a good thing.  Most people have left already, especially if they have small kids who are hot and tired and ready for a nap.  Plus most of the heat of the day is gone, and you can actually enjoy being outside.  I'm a huge fan of Florida at night; I know there are mosquitoes to deal with, but without the awful 95+ heat in addition to the 95%+ humidity, you can enjoy being outside.  If you ever come to Florida for vacation, I truly recommend half day trips to the theme parks, and go at night.  It's just as much fun, less crowded, not as hot, and that is a great day in my book. 

Candy, Blue Shoes, Coffee and Garage Doors.

I won't lie, I'm not a fan of these made up commercial holidays.  Don't get me wrong, I totally love my mom and love buying her a card and a gift especially since her birthday is in November and I feel like it's been too long since I did something nice for her.  I also buy a card for my stepmother Pam, and one for my grandmother Ann...she's actually my stepgrandma.  But I've known her since I was 6 and she always treated me with love and affection.  Unfortunately, Mr. R's mama is in the hospital.  Even though I'm "family" I'm not on the list to see her in the hospital, and I understand that.  So while I did send her a card, she hasn't received it and I'm not sure when she'll be out. 

I bought this cute dress at Ross about two months ago, and I was saving it for Mother's Day.  I like it a lot (totally my style) but my hair annoyed the you-know-what out of me today and it's just pulled back in a ridiculous barrette and I'm mad that it kind of ruined the look I was going for.  Boo to you, hair!

Ross dress, purchased March or April 2013 for $17.99.  Avenue necklace purchased in March 2013 for $18, really old shoes I purchased for $4 at least 5 years ago.  And I don't remember where.

I just love a maxi dress. 

I've been driving into work for the past few days thanks to training new employees.  It's new to me and so much fun.  I love that my management has recognized that I'm really good at what I do...good enough to train new peeps!  Plus I get to see people.  But my goodness driving that much is making me tired!  I'm going in again Monday.  Then working from home on Tuesday.  I have Wednesday off for my birthday.  Thursday, I'm driving in again.  And Friday, working from home.  I'm tired just thinking about it.  Really!

Grrr, hair.  Grrrr.

I really need a new place to take photos besides my garage door.  Really.

Look at what I got for Mother's Day!

Hot Tamales are my favorite candy.  Ever!!!

Face wash is always nice.

This is actually a birthday gift from my Aunt Jina.  It has a string to hang it up like a Christmas ornament.  Very cute, Aunt Jina.  Hahahha.

Say My Name, Say My Name

I love trolling on Pinterest, and I found a great idea for a Scrabble necklace.  I didn't like the way this one model had it though, so I asked my mom to make it for me.  My mom LOVES making jewelry, although most of her stuff is pretty predictable.  So this was a new one for her to attempt.  I posted the picture on facebook and my mom started getting requests for Scrabble necklaces!  Yes, I'm an innovator.  What can I say?  (besides my name.)

Isn't this cute?  Not professional (unless you work for a library!) but absolutely a win for weekend outfits!

So not much else has been going on here.  Typical family stuff: cleaning house, grocery shopping, working, church.  Missy has been applying for full time jobs since she graduates from high school in June (and no, I can't wrap my head around it yet.) and now Tiger is applying for jobs since he turns 16 next week!  SIXTEEN!!!!!  Although I was helping him with one application because he didn't know what it meant when a job asked you to relocate; he thought it meant going from one store to another and I said, "No, that means you're willing to move to Alabama or something."  He had to go back and fix some of his applications!  I had a good laugh over that.

I have another very full weekend ahead of me.  On Saturday, our church is having a Family Fun Day and I am helping to man (woman?) the autism disability booth.  On Sunday, our children's pastor is being ordained and we are having a huge luncheon in his honor.  This is when I love going to a Baptist Church...man the food is good.  Southern ladies CAN COOK.  I haven't decided what to make yet, but I am thinking green beans with bacon and almonds.

Red Firecracker

I've had a jam packed weekend.  On Friday night, it was the 23rd anniversary of my husband taking me out on our first date.  Yes, April 19, 1990, I went out with him for the first time.  I was 14 years old, had a broken arm, and he took me go kart riding.  And the operator wouldn't let me in with a broken arm so I stood there holding his stuff while HE went go kart riding.  I was not impressed.

This time, we went to a Herzing University event.  Guys, it was so much fun.  It was at a fancy restaurant called Hot Olives in Winter Park, near Rollins College which is a prestigious college in my area.  I met so many cool people, including Amy who has been in touch with me since I enrolled back in 2008!

She invited me to visit her in Wisconsin!  How fun would that be!

Oh, and Mr. R took a picture of me before we left.  I clean up well, don't I?  Even when making goofy faces.  I was actually annoyed because I was wearing real heels and I was sinking into the ground.

We had a delicious dinner of salad which had almonds, cranberries and feta cheese.  I tried it and liked it!  Dinner was green and red peppers stuffed in chicken with some kind of sauce.  It was awesome...I also tried asparagus which was yummy.  The dessert looked delicious and it was.  But so sweet that after two bites I couldn't do anymore.  It was bread pudding with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.  (I'm wearing the dress I bought from Ross for $14.99, my Avenue blazer which is at least three years old, and my black high heels which are from Ross, for $20 purchased this year.)

Then, I went to the first City of Deltona open air flea market on Saturday, in a mostly abandoned parking lot which used to have a  Winn-Dixie supermarket in it.  It was a great event.  80 tables filled with locals selling Avon, Mary Kay, Princess House, Visalus, homemade jams and pickles, jewelry...the kind of thing I just love.  I bought a jar of homemade barbecue sauce, a bottle of water, and happily perused for two hours.  I would have bought more but my sons decided to come and I spent the rest of my cash on pretzels, hot dogs, sodas, Italian ices and burgers.  My goodness those two can eat some food!

Speaking of son:

Guess who won the Outstanding Soloist award at the Lakeside Jazz Festival?  Certainly, not me, I can tell you that.  Look at how proud he is!

Mr. R had to leave Saturday afternoon for a quick trip to Virginia.  I was bummed because the poor guy was home for less than a day.  But this is the busy plant season, and since winter has lasted forever up north, he is still busy.  I will not complain although it means conceiving a baby seems to be out of the question until summer.  He's never here, and let's face it:  this is one thing I can't do by myself.  Ha!

Then I went to church.  It was busy.  And I should not attempt to wear real high heels to work in kids ministry.  As much as I love wearing dresses and awesome shoes, it's not practical for what I do.  And what I do, is SERVE.  And serving means sitting on the floor with a child who thinks it's hilarious to tell me all about the machine he is going to create just to pull girls hair.

Black Avenue dress, purchased last week around my birthday for around $25 (you get a discount when you shop during your birthday month...mine is May.)  I bought this necklace at another yard sale for $5.  It came in an Avon case.  It took me some time to gather courage to wear it.  It's almost like a choker.  Matching earrings which I bought at Avenue, they just happen to match the necklace.

Yep.  I'm feeling cute in this.

I know my feet look too big for these, but they do fit fine.  I just have fat feets.  And a need for a pedicure.  And I'm sure you can see that cut on the top of my foot is still not healed.  Grrrr.

My husband would have loved this outfit.  He likes it when I wear high heels.  I wore these same shoes on Friday night and he was still taller than me.

And here is the "red firecracker" portion of my title today.  I wore red lipstick!  I picked up a sample at the Mary Kay booth which my friend Karen was working.  I picked up two samples of red lipstick.  Despite red being my favorite color, red lipstick SCARES ME.  I have big lips...not Angelina sized but darn close enough.  They are very full and kinda pouty and I don't want to go to church looking like I'm trying to get a date.  I toned down my eye make up (I love eye make up!) to just black mascara, and did the bold lip instead.  I liked it!  I was please since I wore all black and kept some color up near my face.  Today was a win!  Good hair, new jewelry, and new lipstick.  And pardon the skin...no active break outs right now, just some old scarring.  I used to be fanatical about covering it, but sheesh...make up melts in heat and so be it.  I have scars.  So there.

A Pox On Your Kingdom

I was feeling cute and quite sassy until I realized I stepped into someone's freshly chewed wad of gum at Publix.  Publix is one of those grocery stores where there is a garbage can on every corner, dirt doesn't exist, everything is fresh, people smile non stop, and butterflies poop rainbows.  Gum on the ground reminds me of WalMart, not Publix.  Boo to you, fellow shopper.  A pox on your kingdom.

I accidentally set my clock forward TWO HOURS instead of just one.  Can you tell?

What I thought was a "messy updo" was in fact just a mess.

My poor, poor Target flats, covered in nasty pink bubblegum.  Don't worry...Mama will wash you on the next load. 

My black Target dress with the built in girdle.  I got misty eyed wearing it this morning, as the last time I wore it, I was pregnant. 

Then I got misty eyed again when I saw my caboose.  OH MY WORD.  My butt is out of control here, people!

New necklace from Avenue!  This baby set me back $18.  It cost more than the shirt I bought.  I LOVE IT.  Got compliments from everyone from church to Publix.  Yeah for interesting jewelry!

Well, it's Sunday.  In my house, that means church, laundry, and naps.  Amen.

R & R

I had the BESTEST DAY!!!  First, we went to my doctor appointment where we discovered my blood pressure was kind of high.  I'm really not surprised, as I was taken off my meds when I was pregnant, and I never went back on them.  Plus, I've been sick and stressed out about it, which will raise my pressure.  And I had an enormous cup of caffeinated coffee right before the visit.  Luckily, we worked out my dosage...I doubled the dose of the medication which is safe for pregnant women, and have completely discontinued the other meds I was on, which I like.  I have an order for lab work, and I had a credit at the office so I didn't have to pay today.  Score!

Then Mr. R and I walked into downtown DeLand.  We had a leisurely, unhurried breakfast.  Then he went to a cigar store and got himself a few sticks.  I wandered into an antique shop and bought nothing.  We held hands and chatted and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine.  Then we drove to my mom's because she had a Valentine basket for the kids, then we went to WalMart so the husband could buy fishing lures and I bought sour cream for burritos tonight, but forgot to buy garbage bags.

Hanging out in my mom's dining room.

Loving on my mama!

A day off?  Everyone needs one, someday!  I enjoyed mine.  Too bad I can't work 4 10-hr shifts every week, I think I would like that very much!