Only because it's worth it for the popcorn ...

Dear older woman at the movie theater today,

I know, I know. Channing Tatum in one big juicy hunk of beef to look at no matter how old you may be. So, I get why you, a 60+ year old woman, were alone today in my local movie theater to see the new Dear John movie. However, I must chastise you to say that after 60 flippin' years of life, you should know a thing or two about movie theater behavior!!!

First off, you should pay for the amount of seats that you plan to use. That means if you weigh 800 lbs and require two seats for your caboose to fit, then you should have to pay for those two seats. I totally get that rule. But, in your case, your tiny toosh only needed one seat. But, you, yes you little old lady, decided you needed three seats. You needed seat #1 for your bottom. That's excusable ... In fact, it's even acceptable as you paid your $7 for that seat. Cool with me. But then, you didn't need to put your purse and coat in the seat next to you and refuse to even acknowledge the need to move it as the theater filled up and the movie sold out. Seat #2 was not yours. Your purse and coat did not pay their $7.

Now, you took up a 3rd seat, also. I must jump onto a soapbox in this case. You needed the 3rd seat because you said you HAD to extend your legs against the seat in front of you because you have arthritis. OMG. That means nobody could sit in that seat unless they wanted to 'relax' at a 90 degree angle for the whole 2 hour movie. You didn't pay for that 3rd seat, so you REALLLLLY didn't need to take up that seat, also. If you need to keep your legs straight, then put them in the aisle (especially since you were already sitting on the end seat, anyway!!!) or sit in the top row and put them up against the walking bars. Seriously, use your free options.

And, after 60+ years of life on this here planet we call earth, you should know about being chivalrous and kind to others. That means when I ask you if you can move your coat and purse from the seat in between us so that we can make space for other folks to sit down, you could seriously give up the freakin' buffer seat!!!!! In a brand-new, sold out movie you DO NOT GET A BUFFER SEAT!!! As a mature woman of society (who likes to ogle gorgeous younger men like MY Channing Tatum), you should know that rule of society.

So, movie theater seat Nazi, shame on you. ... And, seriously, next time I think I may request the additional $14 you owed the movie theater for your extra seat thievery.

Sweetly signed,
Channing Tatum's Lovergirl
The kind chick sitting on the other side of the buffer seat who was just trying to do the right thing

So, Yeah ... Forks, It's Happening

I don't know how many of you ladies follow the Twitarded blog, but seriously, these ladies are hilarious on a whole new level. And, guess what ... they're making the pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage to where, you ask? Well, to FOOOOOORRRRKKKKKSSSSSSSSSS, of course!

And, I'm joining in on all of the shenanigans. Do you want to go to? If so, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the discussion board to plan tickets, roommates, carpooling, etc.

The trip will be September 29-October 3rd. Hope some of ya'll tag along for some good times and lots of Cullen loving.

A Jakerism

I was fixing lunch the other day and Jake told me that he didn't like to eat 'green and red stuff.' So, I said something like, but you like broccoli and broccoli is green. To which Jake replied ...

"Okay, then I don't like red stuff. Red stuff gives me heartburn. When daddy gives me the red stuff for chips (salsa) then I get heartburn and I just have to have some chocolate milk to make me feel better."

.... Okay, Papaw.

Just a Whole Big Shebang of Stuff

I must rant for a moment before I jump onto my random bandwagon. I absolutely dislike Blogger's new picture posting deal. I can't handle it. So, for this reason, I shall fore go sharing about Christmas except to say we came, we saw, we conquered. Or, we ate, we caroled, we unwrapped, we ate, and we then ate some more. Oh, and we saw 3 new movies that week. If you want to see the pics, add me on Facebook.

On to the randomness that is my brain ...

Does anyone know when Eclipse tickets are going on sale? It's absolutely necessary that I find out IMMMMMMEDIATELY. Mmkay? Thank you.

I go back to school next week. I have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays since my university is like light years away. Okay, not really light years, but 48 miles. Might as well be light years. I'm taking a few online courses and 4 on campus courses. I thought I'd only have 1 semester left here in Texas but to what did my wondering eyes did appear but 3 more stupid semesters because the Texans don't trust the Oklahomans. Err, something like that. Anyway, 3 more semesters.

My New Year's Resolution is to lose some weight. And, if there are at least 50 weeks in a year and it's normal to lose 2 lbs a week- then I figure I could be down 100 lbs. by this time next year. Which would mean I'd weigh as much as an 8 year old. So, that means I have room to slack.

Jake starts pre-school next week. I think I'm more nervous than he is. He keeps asking to go and play with his friends. So, I'm sure he'll be all gung-ho about staying there. You know, until nap time. Then all hell will break loose and if you think he's gonna lie down and nap peacefully then you better take cover because pigs are about to fly. Good thing Dad is the first contact number on his naughty call home card.

I have a new addiction on television. It's so old that I feel embarrassed to even say I'm addicted to it, but for real, "Criminal Minds." It's my favorite new show. Well, new to me. J. is hating it because reruns of the show are on A&E like 5 days a week and then I DVR the other times it runs on ION. I could just Netflix the seasons, but my son likes clean laundry ... so it's better that I not tempt myself.

Did ya'll see Alabama roll tide those Longhorns? I never thought I'd cheer against Big 12 football (being from Oklahoma and all), but Oklahoma's biggest football enemy are the folks at UT. I was pleased as punch until Colt McCoy came on for an interview after the game. He made me get all teary-eyed and then I had to feel like well maybe UT folks really aren't ALLLL that bad. Anyway, I guess it's time to hope off the Crimson Tide and jump back on my own bandwagon. GO OSU COWBOYS .. ya know, next year and all!

Aren't ya'll excited about the new TV lineup this Spring?! Oh my good gravy and biscuits! Just this week alone we had several good shows INCLUDING THE BACHELOR!!! WOOOT! Next week, one of my favorite shows Chuck has a 2 hour season premiere. I'm pretty pumped about that. And, then the week after that AMERICAN IDOL starts! AHHHHHHHHH! I know, ya'll can hardly stand it either!

So, tell me, loves. What's going on in your necks of the woods?

I Like Me Some Lovin'

That's right! I'm swapping some love for Valentine's Day with the Domestic Dork! You have until Jan. 8th to join up!

A Story of a Place Called Wal-Mart

When things are going lame in my life, I know to get a pick me up all I have to do is take a little stroll through my local Wal-mart ... it always works like a charm.

Today was no different than what I expected.  It was a boring day around the house and I just had a few errands to run to get some school supplies and pick up some stuff to go with dinner.  As I walked into my local Wal-mart (a very large Supercenter on the edge of my town and Houston), there was a small group of security guards in their dark blue pro-Wallyworld shirts hovering around a man pushing a cart with maybe 3 things in it. 

Before I continue with this story, I must first tell you a little something about Wal-mart door greeters aka securkty guards.  For the most part, they are older ladies and gentleman whose job is to wield a highlighter and check your receipts for any big ticket items.  Oh, and to occasionally hand you a Walmart flyer.  But, that only happens on special rare occasions (I feel pretty dang special when this happens).  Anyway, the majority of these door greeters  look a little frail and like they couldn't take down any threat to Walmart's security system.  I stand corrected.

Okay, back to the story.  The team of doorgreets and a few cart-pushers, adorned in their lovely neon pumpkin colored vests, all circled around this lone cart and lone customer/potential thief who was about 30 years of age.  The customer/potential thief was yelling and the door greeters were trying to calm him down and talk him into letting them look into his bags.  All of the sudden, the customer/potential thief starts to run.  He just shoved his cart right through the mini-crowd of Big Blue Store security and tried hightailing it to the parking lot.

Well, Decrepit Old Man Security Guard #1 would NOT stand for it.  So, what'd he do?  He dove and semi-tackled (aka he would have tackled him had the cart not been in front of the man to stop the fall) the perpetrator and then police was called.

.... I was shocked.  And, yes, I stood there and gawked at the whole situation ... because it's just how I roll.  And, I like cheap entertainment.

Why do I still shop at Wal-mart after hearing about their shady business doings and monopolizing concepts?

The sheer entertainment, folks.

Happy New Year and Some Stuff!

I have been quite the stinky blogger as of late.  But, one of my New Year's resolutions is to be more faithful to my blog as it logs many of my family's memories.  Too bad I've already procrastinated on it. ... I also said I was giving up pop ... and then I had a Dr. Pepper.  It's just how I roll.

I'll get up some Christmas recaps over the next week, but for now I'm just checking in and letting all of my awesome bloggy friends and faraway family know that yes, we're fine.  Christmas was great.  The New Year was good.  And, we have tons on our plate in 2010.

So, until I get my head on straight ... or you know, in the next few days- Be safe and enjoy your last days off of work before we all get back to the after holiday grind.

P.S.  If it's snowing in your neck of the woods, please refrain from mentioning it.  Houston has refused to recognize winter this year.  I am appalled. 

It's FIxed

For any of ya'll who tried to peek at my blog for any moment of time over the past few weeks, you may have noticed that it would pop up and then soon after disappear.  Well, my loves, I couldn't have that happening and driving a void between our virtual friendships, now could I?

It's FIXED!!!! And, thanks to all the smarty pants on the Blogger Help Forum.  Without ya'll, I'd still be staring at my computer screen too frustrated to make coherent trains of thought.  Thanks, buds.

Houston Snow Flurry 2009

For the most part, I dislike living in a big city very much. The bad traffic, the bad attitudes, the crime rates, etc. But, there is one thing I really LOVE and that is our access to so many events. A few weekends ago, we attended something called a "Snow Flurry" held at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The museum brought in snow machines and filled up two lots of snow (one for the small children and one for the larger children).

Jake played in the snow until he just really didn't know what to do anymore. He was quite used to snow, since he still remembers living in Northern Oklahoma, but you could tell all of the Houston kiddos were super excited at the prospect of actual snow STICKING to the ground in Houston. It helped the imagination since it really had snowed in Houston just the day before.


Jake also got to pay a visit to jolly old St. Nick and his reindeer, Dasher.


He told Santa that he'd like a kitty cat for Christmas. Santa was a bit baffled since pets seem to cross the line and apparently they poo in Santa's bag (or so he says). But, we hope Jake still remembers that darn kitty cat when he gets it on Christmas morning.

Christmas Tour of Homes

Oh yes, oh yes! I'm on the boat! The Christmas boat, that is!

I can't wait to hop around the blogosphere and steal peruse the ideas of others and how they decorate for the this great holiday. And, I hope ya'll enjoy some of the fun little things we do in our home!

Now, to get started! I have LOVED LOVED LOVED Christmas from an EARLY age. From the moment I moved out on my own and started a family, I KNEW I would be doing Christmas big. And, since that point in time, I always have went all out for Christmas. Well, this year- things are a bit scaled back with moving the week before Thanksgiving, traveling the week of Thanksgiving, and then unpacking once we got back.

So, we'll start with the outside first since the pictures are just horrible. I forgot to snap pictures until about 15 minutes ago, so I had to trek out into the drizzling rain and take a few snapshots.

Here is the front of our house. We have colored icicle lights around the roof and a colored light wreath. Also, we do blow-up decor in the yard. Next year we plan on adding more lights to the yard. I usually have a lot more small things going on, but with the rain all month and the busy schedule, they just haven't made it out yet.

Here is Santa on his hog. I love Santa in sunglasses. It's totally like COOL CHRISTMAS!

These are my first blow-up pieces and I still just love this small, round, and tubby Santa!

Santa on his airplane. Next year, I'll be putting this on the roof since it really does look like Santa is flying. Now, I just have to talk Joe into dragging it up there.

This piece was a total steal. I got it at the Walmart two years ago a few days after Christmas. It was 75% off. It lights up and has speakers to play Christmas music. We don't usually play the music, since we kind of don't want our neighbors to hate us and all, but the light show is pretty neat.

Now to the inside of the house ...

This is a little turf grass reindeer that has been in my family for a while. I don't remember if I got it from my mother or grandmother, but I do know it's been around the block. He hangs out next to our fireplace (that we NEVER use and will probably NEVER use in South Texas).

This is our adorable Advent calendar. I love snowmen and I think it's a theme I'm going to run with in future years, but for now- he's my lone snowman.


This little trio graces the top of the bar area. I love the shiny confetti-like Christmas tree. So festive!

Here is our mantle. I need a larger wreath for up there, but this year I just made do. We have stockings hanging for everyone that will be at our house on Christmas morning. Also, we have our Advent candles (instead of a wreath) gracing the top. The 3 white candles are for the first 3 Sundays of Advent and the fourth red one is for the final Sunday of Advent.

This is the shelf on our entertainment center. I love these candle sticks that I just dress up with some holly. These are pictures of Jake with Santa for the past three years. I just love to see how he has grown. And, no, I have no idea why he's wearing red and blue in EVERY photo. I just noticed it myself. Also, to the right of the photo you can see a glass container that I put extra small ornaments in. To the left of the photos (where you can't see in the pic) stands a lone nutcracker.

This is our entryway table. It holds our little Santa village. In years past I have added a Santa and real Christmas tree to this set, but our entryway does not have a power outlet. Tell me that isn't strange?!

A closer look of the village. I picked up all of these little houses and pieces from the Dollar Tree!! Can you believe that?!

Our tree in all of its glory! It's a pre-lit 7 ft. tree with white lights. This is our first year with this tree and oh my dear, I didn't realize how big the girth of it is. We had to put it in the formal dining room because it just wouldn't fit right in our living room.

This is our 2009 'yearly ornament.' Each year we buy a new family ornament. You can see our past year's ornaments here.

This is Jake's Christmas tree that is adorned with a sporths theme. He decorated it by himself and was just so excited. It sits on a side table in the living room.

This is a close-up of one of the bears on my mantle. I collect these little guys and just think they're the cutest.

All of the stockings hung in a row ... (P.S. I've had that stocking for YEARS!).

All of the other stockings. We all have funky stockings besides Joe. He opted for the traditional red with white fur. He just can't break tradition!

Here is Tanja, our exchange student, helping to decorate the tree. She was excited to decorate the tree because usually in Germany they don't put up thier tree until Christmas Eve. We are adamant about the last weekend in November in our home.

And, my little guy in his Santa slippers and Santa hat, adding his touch. Just too adorable.

I hope everyone has enjoyed this little sneak peak at the holidays in our neck of the woods. Now head on over to the Nester's place and take a look around at all of the other fabulous places.

20th Century Santa

Since we had plans to visit the 'big guy' this weekend, earlier this week I was prompting Jake in ALL THINGS SANTA! I asked him at one point, "Where does Santa live?"

What did he answer?

The Mall.

2am Comes Early, A Story of Black Friday

I am a big Black Friday shopper. In fact, I'd even go as far to say that I'd petition to make Black Friday it's own official holiday. Everyone should get to be off work for it. We should have a special celebratory lunch. We should all be forced to wake up at 2am to wait in the freezing cold weather for 50% sweaters and electronics. Okay, maybe not all of us.

Pretty bright-eyed and bushy tailed at 2am, eh?

This year we had quite the list of stops on Black Friday. We started the morning super early when we arrived at Old Navy at 2am. Even at that early hour, the line was already wrapped all the way around the building. Ick. We waiting for about 30 minutes and then realized that if Old Navy was this bad, we should probably just leave and get to Walmart and set up shop in line. Walmart was a bit crazy this year because they were striving for organization. They made you get in line for each ITEM that you wanted. So, if you shop alone and you wanted more than one thing, you were pretty much of Poopy Creek without a paddle ... or something like that. Luckily, we had 3 people in our little group so we could get everything we needed.

Wal-mart was a great success and then we had to head off to get our electronics fix at our favorite electronics store, Ultimate Electronics. They were having an awesome sale on LCD tv's and we just happened to need flat screens for our guest bedrooms, so we went for it. At one point, J. told me he was concerned about all of the TV's fitting in the back of the car. I drive a CR-V, so I was pretty sure my little hatch trunk could accommodate anything ol' Ultimate Electronics could throw at me. Boy was I wrong. We had to use the trunk and fold down the back seats and Tanja had to ride back to my parent's house on my lap.

After spending our life's savings at the electronics store, it was still barely 7:30am. We still needed to hit Target, Old Navy, the mall, and Hobby Lobby. Tanja was in shock at how many people were out trying to get doorbusters at all of these stores. I have to say each store was a success, except Old Navy. Even in the middle of the afternoon, the door busters were gone and the line to checkout was weaving down every aisle all the way to the back of the store.

So, introducing Tanja to the American experience of Black Friday - success.

Black Friday 2009 Deals - SUCCESS! :-)

Can't wait until next year! Ha.

The Best Night in November

Well, the New Moon premiere has come and gone. And, now the countdown for Eclipse has began. But, we can't really start that countdown without talking a little bit about all that was New Moon.

On the morning of the premiere (11-19), I woke up sick. I had a bad case of a cold mixed with the semi-flu plus a little taste of fire in the throat. I had so much to do that day, but really I just wanted to lie perfectly still in bed and pray that I could pull myself together to sit in line for hours before spending 2 hours and 10 minutes with my vampy beloved.

Although I still felt like utter crap, I pulled myself together and put on my beautiful Edward t-shirt and gathered up my teen girls to accompany me to the movie. Now, I live in a suburb of Houston, so I wasn't expecting TOOOOO much traffic at the movie theater. We planned to leave for the midnight showing at around 10pm. But, come 9pm, I noticed people in the Central Time Zone tweeting that they were already lining up. After that, we booked it to the Woodlands. Three hours before the movie and OMG we were about 400 people back in line. Our auditorium held 600 people. So, yes, we had to sit in the first few rows (all the better to get closer to my Edward).

On to the movie, my likes and dislikes. Jacob's muscles- like. Jacob's long haired wig- dislike. The scene of changed Bella and Edward hunting - dislike. The humans and their comedy - like. The utter lack of Edward on the screen- big dislike.

But, that all hasn't kept me from watching it at least 4 more times. :-)

Just Can't Contain It

New Moon Edward T-Shirt - $20



Twilight Sweethearts - $2


New Moon Godiva Chocolate Bar- $10




The feeling of getting to stare into Robert Pattinson's vampy eyes for over an hour at midnight on Friday- PRICELESS!!

Hungry Much?

Two new recipes up on my recipe blog ... so if you're hungry, I do declare you've been fed.

Yummy chili, anyone?

or should we tackle more serious things like some Turkey Day dressing?