Vote, Vote, Vote

I don't know about you, but I am ready for this election to be done! Don't get me wrong -- I love my right to vote and have exercised it in every election since I was 18 (including two presidential elections!). I have a minor in political science. I actually enjoy looking up and listening to candidates to see who I agree with and who I don't. I don't pretend to know everything about every candidate, and I shy away from publishing my voting choices unless someone asks because I think we need to make our own decisions. That said, I am over the hate, the negativity, the lying, and the ignorance of so many -- candidates, voters, and non-voters included.

I hope that whoever it is, we have a clear winner tonight so that this madness does not drag out for much longer. Sadly, I'm sure even if we do have a clear winner, there will be much complaining either way. Let us keep in mind that whoever wins, was meant to win for a reason, and although America's votes may have put him there, someone much greater than us made the ultimate decision. America needs our prayer just as much (or more) as those who assume the role of public office at every level.

And if you think your vote doesn't matter as to who will win the Presidential election (let's be clear, I live in Arkansas, not a swing state), your vote DOES matter for your local elections and that is where you can start a real change! So please do not walk into that polling station without any idea as to who is running at the local and state levels.

Okay, that's my rant. Happy Election day, people! :)

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."
1 Timonthy 2:1-2

Vacation, anyone?

OMG. I'm going through pictures from Paris/London and here's what I'm craving:

Okay, okay...I'm not just craving food...I'm also missing seeing things like this everyday: 

 Oh, and eating things like this for dessert everyday  :)

And seeing more things like this...

And coming home to this every night... 

So, it's official, I miss Paris and London and all they had to offer (which was much more than these few random pictures -- please see all my posts from the month of July). Maybe because it's Monday... but vacation, anyone? :)

Mid-Week Movie with Mom

This afternoon Mom and I went to see Argo. I have two things to say:

1. Go see it. NOW. It's not a waste of your time/money.
2. God bless America

Hope you had a great Wednesday! (Now, go see the movie!)

                                       

Happy Fall!

In the past week I have:

Created this fall wreath! I just love the little girl sitting in the bottom of it :)

Went to Little Rock to visit Kody (My car is seriously racking up some miles, but that's okay.)

Wondered once again what's so cool about hunting. I mean, look what I found right in our front yard this week... and this isn't a rare occasion. I see these particular deer at least once in the morning or at night when I come home lately.

And don't think I'll let you come shoot these deer. I love deer meat, too, but these are like my friends now. They barely run when I step on the porch.

And check out those little dots in the next picture.  Those are the SEVENTEEN deer two miles from my house that I saw on my way home. Are they bucks you ask? (Because that's the first thing Kody asks.) I don't know. It was getting dark, I was hanging out of my sunroof on the side of the road to take a picture, and I couldn't tell. I'll be sure to take a closer look for you next time I see them (which is probably once a day).

Today I'm enjoying this very stormy/rainy Friday with my Apple Cider candle burning at home and trying to get packed. Kody and I are about to be off to Tulsa for the weekend for a fun wedding weekend with some great friends. Congrats, Madeline and Maxx!

Please keep me in your thoughts...I've got some big decisions that could be coming my way soon, and I will need some guidance! I'd really appreciate it :) Have a fabulous weekend and GO HOGS! Let's get win number 3! (Who thought that's where we'd be at this point?!... Whatever.. WPS!)

Happy birthday, Haleigh!

Today was my oldest niece, Haleigh's, 11th birthday! I was in eighth grade when she was born, and I can't believe she is already 11. This weekend we went to watch her cheer at her pee wee football game -- she's the one on top of the pyramid! She can already do a scorpion -- I'll try to get a picture of that next time; I wasn't prepared for her to do that so I couldn't get a picture! 

She had a sleepover with her friends on Saturday night, so my youngest niece, Chloe, stayed with Mom and me. We had a great time with her! On Sunday we took Chloe home after church and lunch and picked up Haleigh to do a little birthday shopping and to have a birthday dinner at Marketplace (she's learned well as I have my birthday dinner there every year ;) 

About to enjoy a chocolate mess!

Since today was her actual birthday, Mom got these cute cookies to take to her and her cheer friends at cheer practice.

Haleigh with her cookie

And Chloe with two cookies (what you can't see is she is also on a scooter -- totally a great idea). 

Mom also got her some of the best petit fours from Rick's to take home, and Anthony, Jade, Chloe, and I sang happy birthday to her out of the back of my car!

Happy birthday sweet Haleigh! I'm so lucky to be the aunt of three of the most precious girls ever! Love each of my nieces so, so much!

Also, happy birthday to my Aunt Tina today and to my Uncle Jim on Friday!

Forgive the quality of this picture -- the picture itself is good, but it's a picture of a picture because I had to find it in one of Mom's many scrapbooks. (I didn't want to take the time to scan it in or find the CD that has the original.) BUT how cute are Tina and Haleigh? This was the year Haleigh turned five!

I hope you all had/have a great birthday, and I love you! :)

Busy Weekend

I had a busy, fun weekend last weekend that kicked off on Thursday evening with a baby shower for a girl at work. Sandy is due with a baby girl in November, and we had a lot of fun putting together a shower for her and baby! The women I work with are so creative, and we LOVE our Pinterest projects :) Our theme was "She's on the Nest"

You should have seen us hanging these balloons from the ceiling -- quite entertaining! Also notice the "Welcome Baby" banner I made using Mom's friend Beverly's Cricut. We are really considering buying a Boss Kut Gazelle (anyone have one or has anyone used one, by the way?) so we can stop borrowing hers every time we need one! Merry Christmas to us? Possibly.

Karen made these adorable bird nest treats. Cute and VERY tasty! (And yes, those are Cadbury mini eggs; good thing I keep a stockpile around my house year round!)

 Tamara made those cute cupcake toppers to match the invites

 And these cute water bottle sleeves!

 And my pink tutu table made another appearance. It probably won't be the last time either -- the thing took SO. MUCH. TULLE.

Cute invites Sandy's friend made! We had a great time, and we are all so excited to meet baby girl!

I spent all of Friday shopping. I seriously have a problem. At least I can admit it. Then I headed to meet Kody in Fort Smith for a date night in our college town before he headed off to a bachelor party in Dallas. It was so fun/weird to be back together in the Fort. First stop? Blazen' Burrito, of course. We kept it classy. But seriously, we both miss Blazen' so much!

On Saturday, my mom and I went to watch the Arkansas vs. Rutgers game. Three letdown weekends in a row, but I still love my Hogs! WPS!

On Sunday, Mom and I headed to Nadine Baum studios in Fayetteville to see the production "Noises Off!" The studios are in conjunction with The Walton Arts Center and are directly across the street. For as many shows as I've seen at the WAC (my school took field trips there ALL the time and we continue to go today), I had never seen one in Theatre Squared. However, my brother and I both have our handprints hanging on the walls. Twenty years ago, my mom took us both to do this -- you pay five dollars for a tile, put your handprint/name/date on it, the money went to help support the WAC, and our handprints have been hanging along the walls of Nadine Baum Studios for years. Such a cool thing; thanks Mom for taking us, and thanks Anthony for getting me to put my hand in the paint :)

The theatre is very up close and personal, and y'all, the show was SO. FUNNY. I laughed so hard I cried and both of us had headaches when we left from laughing so hard. Mom has a movie that is based off the play, and I fully intend on watching it, but there's something about live theatre... it was a lot of fun! My only regret is that we didn't go see it sooner so that I could tell you to go see it (we saw it on the last day).

So that was my weekend. Extremely busy, but really fun. I hope everyone is having a good week!