Handbags and Wallets and Clutches...OH MY!

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands because I've got a deal for you! Who doesn't absolutely adore the Hobo handbags and accessories?? Really no one. And now through November 1st you can order from my dear friend Sarah for a fraction of the price you would pay in department stores. A fraction to the tune of 30% off!! Simply log on to http://www.hobobags.com , pick your poison, e-mail Sarah at sarahelizabethmyers@gmail.com and sit back and marvel at how resourceful you are! Not to mention ahead of the holiday schedule!

Here are a few of my personal favorites just in case you're in an extra giving mood and want to gift the giver of fabulous deals....

These Lauren Wallets are my fave! I have it in "wine" but don't think I don't love it in this pretty pink "lilac" and their holiday collection...after all, Leopard is a neutral!

Happy discount holiday shopping!

Tempted...

The ever fabulous Pioneer Woman tempted me with her seductive photos, her luring camera angles and her use of cinnamon and ice cream in the same recipe.

It's safe to say she had me at "Hello". It's also safe to say Dave was very pleased with his study break snack.

I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of my bowl filled with ice cream...topped with warm, mouthwatering, pear goodness, but I didn't want to show off. Just call me humble...and full...and completely, utterly content.

Now go make some for your hubby so he'll love you as much as mine does right now. Thanks, Pioneer Woman! You're creating culinary masterpieces and happy marriages one ingredient at a time!

*Click here for the fabulous recipe!

Shocked Would be an Understatement.

My husband and I agree on most things. College football is not one of them. It's one of the only disappointing points of our marriage as I have often thought about precious children in their cheerleading uniform or football jersey on game day. I have a feeling I'll dress them and then when my head is turned he'll run to the back room and change them into something red and black in an effort to raise my blood pressure. It's our marital cross to bear 'til death do us part. As you all know, I went to Texas A&M and Dave went to Texas Tech. He is a proud Red Raider...it's annoying.

This weekend our alma matres met up over the pigskin and it was honestly no.big.deal. because I knew my Aggies would get slaughtered. How did I know this?? Because we have been slaughtered multiple times this year. Hopefully you've already scrapped Kansas State and Arkansas from your memory, but it was ugly and involved numbers more closely resembling a basketball score than football.

Insert a wedding...we had a wedding to go to in Dallas for one of my sorority sisters and there would be a plethora of Aggies in attendance. We were all laying low because we knew our impending fate, so to my knowledge not much trash talking had been done in the days prior to Saturday's match-up. Kickoff was at 6pm...the bride was walking down the aisle at 6pm....in Texas this is what some might call a "conflict of interests" but you only get married once people!!!

As we walked out of the wedding and were heading to the reception the amount of iphones syncing to the AT&T servers was incredible. If any of you had trouble making a call around 6:35pm blame the Caverlee-Wood wedding party. You can imagine the shock (Aggies)/horror (Dave) when we heard the Aggies were up 14-7! WHOOP! And so it began....it was an evening of cheering, "Whooping", bragging, disbelief with a room full of Aggies and one little ticked off Red Raider amongst the crowd.

My Aggies prevailed 52-30 and I won't even begin to brag because....well, if you're shocked you won then you don't have much to brag about! But it was exciting. And fun. And for just a moment I might have been happy to see Dave pout. :)

Photo Credit: A/P Photo

It's all fun and games until someone has to clean the bathroom...

Chores....ugh. Growing up we would joke that that's why my mom had kids...so we could do the cleaning. Now I KNOW that's why they had kids! Dave and I have a fairly decent system...I cook, he does the dishes. I make the bed because I'm anal about it being done right and the pillows being in the right spot, he....well, he sleeps in the bed.

In all seriousness, we divvy up the shores for the most part. But when it comes to the bathroom we both run for the hills. I HATE cleaning our bathtub and the shower. I hate cleaning toilets and the bathroom floor. Grant it my hair falls out in droves because I have a stinkin' crazy head of hair, but I don't want to be the one to clean the floor! And the bathtub...don't even get me started. It's a really deep jacuzzi tub so I can hardly bend over and scrub it without falling in. Now vacuuming, dusting, cleaning mirrors...that's something I can get behind. So I'm hereby declaring Dave "all-time bathroom cleaner".

Now will someone else break the news to him for me?? Thankyoukindly.

What chores do you loathe?? Am I the only one with a serious aversion to the bathroom?

You're the Only Ten-I-See!

I took my first trip to Tennessee and it was wonderful! David's mom is from Tennessee and some of her family is still living around the Nashville area in a town called Franklin. We had the joy of spending the last few days with Dave's grandad and he gave us the grand tour of Nashville! While some of the highlights of the trip could easily be the sweet potato fries at Puckett's Grocery and the caramel apple spice cider at Starbucks, none of it could compare to spending time with Dave's granddad. He is such an incredible man and it was the first time that I really got a chance to visit with him at length.

I had met him on 2 other occasions, but the first time was over dinner and the second time was during our wedding festivities...you can imagine that neither of those times provided long periods of quality communication. This time was just perfect because he was in his element and we were there to visit and spend time with him. He is 92 years old, gets up everyday and walks 2 miles (rain or shine! Rain he walks indoors...shine he walks outside), always has a smile on his face, never complains about a thing, and is just the type of person that makes you look at life a little differently. He has found joy in his journey.

I wish we could see him more often. I know Dave loved spending time with his grandad and I hope we get the opportunity to go back soon! For now, I'll leave you with a few snapshots of our visit! Some of which include, but are not limited to:

• Arrington Vineyards
• Nashville Farmer's Market
• Ryman Auditorium
• Nashville Public Library
• The old Union Station train station that is now a historic hotel
• The state Capitol and some of the surrounding landmarks
• Downtown Franklin
• The outside tour of the Grand Ole Opry ($18 to park and a flight 1.5 hours away we passed on the grand tour...)

Last but not least...I couldn't resist this picture. We went to this fabulous chocolate shop and these boots are made out of chocolate! They smelled amazing. :)

My Last First Date...

Six years ago today I went on my last first date! It was a Friday night and I just had to get through a day of work (substitute teaching...) and then come home and get dressed. I had my outfit picked out and I knew David was driving from Fort Worth to take me to dinner and a movie.

We went to eat at Chuy's Mexican food restaurant and then went to see "The Jury". (I'm pretty sure that was the name of it....) And as they say, "The rest is history!" A little over 3 years later we were married, and here we are MANY dates down the road.

David, I'm so glad we went on that first date. Love you!

This was not from our first date....this was New Year's 2009. I didn't have a digital camera back in 2003. (Nor did I take a picture on our first date. David might have thrown in the towel on me! ha!)

Come Early, Be Loud, Stay Late, Wear Orange...

This Friday is about more than a fabulous find...It's my favorite time of the year! Maybe that's ambitious....I do LOVE Christmas...but I love me some Texas/ou weekend! What other time of year can Texas and Oklahoma hash it out over the pigskin? Each team (let's be honest, it's really each state) feels superior and lives to take home the title from the Red River Rivalry.

The game means a lot. If you win, it's about pride, bragging rights, superiority, and most of the time a chance at the post season. Possibly even the National Championship. The Texas vs. ou game carries a lot of weight and gets a lot of national attention. This year is no exception with ou ranked #1 and Texas ranked #5 going into this weekend.

I'm looking forward to Texas bringing home the "W" and it looks like Miss Maggie is too....mom got hyped yesterday and let Maggie show her Longhorn pride! Hook'em!!

Texas FIGHT!

Jake wanted in on the action :) Oh, and the game day beer says "Oklahoma Suks" and can be found at HEB.

The game starts at 11:00am tomorrow, so remember...

"Come EARLY, be LOUD, stay LATE, wear ORANGE!" Amen.

*Originally posted 10/8/08

Each One Reach One...

I'm sure you have heard this phrase before. Whether you have heard the song or you have just heard someone say it. It is so true. We all have the ability to make a difference to someone. Do you have a place where you volunteer or serve? I'd love to hear about it!

It always fascinates me when I'm talking to friends and I find out about a charity or an organization that I have never heard of before. There are so many areas of need and often times I hear of these fabulous organizations and I think, "Oh yeah! Why didn't I think of the fact that children need tennis shoes, or a friend, or someone to send letters to soldiers, or interviewing skills and professional clothing for women, or helping abused and abandoned animals, or cars for kids who otherwise wouldn't get a car...the list goes on and on and on. The world is definitely full of good and places to join in and do good. I hope we will take the opportunity to join in the charge we have been given to help, to serve, to love others.

I mentor a little girl once a week. This is the third year that I have been meeting with her....she is a big, bad third grader now! And she is such a joy. I look forward to my time with her each week because she adds a bit of that childlike faith to my life. She is so happy and so carefree. Her biggest decision is whether to read Junie B. Jones or Mercy Watson and if she wants to go down the slide or play on the swings. She reminds me to not take myself too seriously.

My mom serves at a food pantry called The Storehouse once a week and the stories that come out of there are just amazing. I think she is being fed just as much as the families coming in for food. Like the man standing in line to get ONE grocery bag full of food for his family (they can come ONCE a month) and he slipped a dollar in a collection jar for a local charity. MY goodness. I can't even imagine what that dollar must have meant to him because he was standing in line at a food pantry to get $20 worth of food to feed his family...yet he gave to others in need.

We are so blessed. I'm sitting at a computer reading this in my home with air conditioning and heating. I'm fully clothed and sitting on a full stomach. I have my family that loves me and I have a pretty rotten little Yorkie laying next to me pouting because he's wondering when I'm going to start playing with him. I am saved by the grace of God, I am loved unconditionally and I am blessed.

Where else can I serve? Where do you serve? I would love to hear your stories and hear about the organizations and the people you choose to serve. Maybe it will give some of us more ideas of what is out there! Are you involved in cancer organizations, service to children, animals, the elderly? Do tell! XOXO

~Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' ~Matthew 25:34-40

EPIC FAIL.

I'm holding my sister personally responsible that me, her and Robbie were not standing right in this very mob with our corny dog and our camera watching the Big O order fried cookie dough at the State Fair of Texas.

*Click the links for other Oprah tales...

Fabulous Find Friday!

Dear Anthropologie,

You're breakin' my heart. Could you please come down on your prices because I'm on a bit of a budget these days. Dave gets his panties in a wad if I want to spend half my monthly salary on a scarf. I don't see the problem because let's be honest...it is a fabulous scarf! But he seems to think it's a bit extravagant. The problem I'm facing is that the scarf I currently love to the core of my being would, in his mind, fall into the category of extravagant. Especially since we live in Texas and the "cold front" we've been expecting all week is only dropping us into the 80's. The scarf is more of an accessory than a necessity.

I'm also really loving a few other things and if I blow my piggy bank on the scarf that doesn't leave much room this coat, this jacket, and this cardi. Let's be honest, most of your new arrivals for Fall are just the cutest thing I've ever seen. So do us all a favor and put it all on early sale, ok? Much thanks!!

Sincerely,

Tightwad in Texas

Team Spirit!

Which team you ask?? Well, if you started naming teams in the Big 12 you would have 1/4 of a chance you would be right. I'm joining in the fun over at Kelly's Korner today and showing our family's loyalties. We're an interesting case at our house....You see, I grew up a Texas Longhorn fan. Orange blood runs deep in our family. You can imagine my parents' surprise when I opted to go to Texas A&M. It's an involved story of why I made that decision, but it boils down to it being God's plan for me.

I set out for Aggieland in 1999 wearing my maroon and breaking my parents' heart along the way. :) I met my best friends in the world, got a fabulous education and had insane amounts of fun along the way, so I guess God knew what he was doing! HOWEVER, I never fully turned in my Longhorn card. To some I am a complete traitor, but my friends know I'm torn. It's tough to turn your back on what you've always known, but I fully embraced the Aggie culture. I wear my Aggie ring with pride and I am proud of the the fact that I am a member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of '03! Whoop!

As if this weren't crazy enough...I had to go and marry a Red Raider. That's right, my husband went to Texas Tech. We are a well represented Big 12 family. One thing we have in common is our disdain for OU, so it works. :)

Bottom line for our family, we love God, we love each other, and we love college football! Amen. Saturday's consist of a lineup of the day's best match ups, for sure the Texas and Tech football games, usually some red meat and hopefully happy endings. :) The 2 best weekends of the year come in the form of the Red River Rivalry when Texas and ou play to see who will go on to the National Championship (Yes, SEC, we will represent!) and then the Texas vs. A&M game on Thanksgiving day. That's always a tough one because it pits my alma matre against the Horns...but normally, it's just bragging rights for A&M but it's the chance to go to the National Championship for Texas....tough call.

Here are a few pictures from the last few years. Unfortunately, all of my college photos aren't digital because I'm old school like that. So Hook'Em, Gig'Em, and just for Dave....Wreck'Em!

This is my only old school picture...I think we were sophomores in this picture. You have NO idea how high that third deck is. It's basically one step from Heaven.

My brother and sister and I at the Texas vs. A&M game on Thanksgiving day. For those of you Aggies hating on me because of my Longhorn love I want you to take a good look! I chose A&M...and they won!! (2 years ago)

The next few pics are from the mother of all games...the Red River Rivalry...Texas vs. ou. These were taken by my sister!

Hoopla after an impressive Texas WIN!

BEVO!

Mom and dad...Hook'em!

Dave and the boys tailgating before the Texas vs. Tech game

Dave and I at the 2009 Cotton bowl cheering on his Red Raiders! I wore black to be neutral...I can't completely get my guns up, but I was playing the good wife!

My ode to the Horns in cake decorating class...Rose bowl bound 2010 baby!

Be Still my Heart...

Well, tonight's the night. Jim and Pam. Pam and Jim. Mr. and Mrs. Two become one. I have to be honest, I was not an Office watcher. My brother and sister have been telling me for years that I was virtually un-American and crazy because it wasn't in my TV lineup. I began watching about a year ago and I now know that Jim and Pam are possibly one of the best couples to hit TV since...well, maybe since Ross and Rachel!

So, the impending nuptials got me thinking about my favorites throughout the years. I have many! And I have to tell you, as I was thinking through them and finding photos I got a little teary eyed! I can remember sitting in my room, my dorm room, the TV room at the Pi Phi house, my couch two weeks ago...and watching moments of love between these "characters" that most certainly were real to me! I can't hardly think of any of these people outside of the realm of Joey, or Rachel, or Felicity, or...well, you'll see as my list unfolds.

In honor of Jim and Pam, here is a list (in no particular order) of some of my favorite TV romances. *All images via Google Images

We'll start with the happy couple: Jim and Pam- The Office

Joey and Pacey- Dawson's Creek

Felicity and Ben- Felicity (LOVE THEM...I'm not kidding I let out a little "Aww..." when this came up on Google images.)

Ross and Rachel- Friends (Did U2 With or Without You just begin playing in your head??)

Sharon and Nick- The Young and the Restless

Meredith and McDreamy- Grey's Anatomy

Brenda and Dylan- 90210

Angela and Jordan- My So Called Life (They were THE couple during my teen years! I thought this show depicted reality so vividly when I was 14...)

And last but CERTAINLY not least.....

Carrie and Big- Sex and the City

Who would you add?

Burning Questions...

1. Why is it that when you are trying to make wise food choices you always seem to feel SO hungry and be in desperate need of desserts/bread/Hyde Park French Fries?
2. Why do television shows like the Real World/Road Rules Challenges suck me right in?
3. Why can't the Newmans and the Abbotts just get along?
4. Why won't the US institute a 4 day work week?
5. Who first decided that socks and sandals were a good idea?
6. Team Speidi or Team LC?
7. How is it that Jonathan Taylor Thomas was such a heart throb and then he just fell off the face of the earth?
8. If you could have a live in chef, masseuse or house cleaner which would you choose?
9. Why are ankle boots back in style?
10. What are you thankful for?

My favorite part of yesterday...

An actual excerpt from my G-Chat with my sister yesterday....

Kristen: i just sent a screen grab to my entire team (bosses included)
and in the google search bar at the upper right hand corner i had "straightening my weave" from a previous search
can you say embarrassing??

me: ha ha ha ha ha ha
AWESOME
I'm literally laughing out loud

Kristen: you and me both

Kristen: and straightening isn't even spelled right!
in fact, it's REALLY wrong

The one question I forgot to ask her is WHY was she searching "straightening my weave" in the first place??

Boo Y'all!

It's starting to look very scary at our casa! The pumpkins are out and the fright fest is in full force! We love Fall at our house and I love any opportunity to get out holiday decorations and liven things up. The picture above is because I had asked y'all back in May what we could put on either side of the TV because it was SO boring to me after we got this TV and TV stand. So this is the update...I got the table to the right of the TV stand from my in-law's "extra furniture" room and just put some frames, pumpkins, a vase, etc to fill the space.

The picture below is for my MIL and SIL because I took the mirror as well. (Remember this was all part of the raid of the back room with extra furniture.) I spray painted it, Dave hung it, and this is what we have so far....
This weekend we hosted a party for our young adults Sunday school class and we had about 45 people (approximately 25 of those were kids) over for pumpkin carving, chili pies and hot dogs. I went into complete nervous mode on Friday when I got up and heard the weatherman enthusiastically announce our drought would be over with a "90% chance of rain now in the forecast for Saturday." Fantastic. Just in time for 25 little rug rats under the age of 7 to be carving pumpkins, consuming chili and confined to the walls of the house.

Luckily, my mom and dad came over and we had a "gutting" party on Friday night and we cleaned out all of the pumpkins in advance. On Saturday we prayed that the bulk of the rain would hold off until after the party, and it did! Praise the Lord. It was still a bit wet for the kids to play outside, but Dave cleaned out the garage and we were able to use that area for the pumpkin carving. Unfortunately our garage is the backdrop of many of the pictures, but it kept the house in one piece, so we'll roll with it!!! It was a great time, the kids seemed to have tons of fun, and look at these fabulous pumpkins....

Q: Why did the vampire subscribe to the Wall Street Journal?

A: He heard it had great circulation...