Can you tell I'm getting a tad bit excited for tomorrow night?!?! GO DAWGS!!!!
TRUE MAROON
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Maroon, White, Fight Fight Fight; Mississippi State, WOO! You're Damn right!
Can you tell I'm getting a tad bit excited for tomorrow night?!?! GO DAWGS!!!!
Can you tell I'm getting a tad bit excited for tomorrow night?!?! GO DAWGS!!!!
It's time...
time for MISSISSIPPI STATE FOOTBALL!!!
And since it's one day til game day... I thought I'd share with y'all my favorite MSU things!
And since it's one day til game day... I thought I'd share with y'all my favorite MSU things!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
of medicine since last Friday.
Hopefully, things are looking up. I feel a bit better today and hopefully tomorrow will be even better than today. One thing I've learned is summer colds/allergies are AWFUL! And to always have tissue with lotion in it — I didn't over the weekend and now I look like Rudolph with a sand paper nose.
Hope everyone is having a great week!
Hopefully, things are looking up. I feel a bit better today and hopefully tomorrow will be even better than today. One thing I've learned is summer colds/allergies are AWFUL! And to always have tissue with lotion in it — I didn't over the weekend and now I look like Rudolph with a sand paper nose.
Hope everyone is having a great week!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Are you looking for an original piece of art for your home? Maybe looking for a piece of art to ignite your creative side to update a room. If so, you will want to check out Chill Art's new paintings. With each purchase, you are helping her raise money for a mission trip she will be going on in November. To read more about her upcoming trip click here.
This one is my favorite...
Cecily, I wish you much success with these paintings and raising the money you need for your mission trip. Your work is amazing and I'm so fortunate to know such a talented young lady!
This one is my favorite...
Cecily, I wish you much success with these paintings and raising the money you need for your mission trip. Your work is amazing and I'm so fortunate to know such a talented young lady!
Six years ago today — Katrina
There are many things that happen in a person's life that sticks with them forever — one of those will always be Katrina for me.
Six years ago today, we were watching and waiting on this massive hurricane named Katrina. No one really knew where she would hit directly or how much actual damage she would really do, but only time would tell the shear hell she brought with her.
I was living about eight minutes from my parent's house in a rental house with Marleigh. The day before it hit, my parents told me to pack up some things and get to their house. I didn't leave until early that morning when I heard the wind starting to howl, but I had my bag packed and MB's too, and we left headed to "safety." My dad was already gone to the office so it was just mom, MB and me. We watched The Weather Channel as Jim Cantore was basically standing at an angle because of the wind and rain. Still not knowing what was to come for us, just a few hundred miles away.
Around 10:30 a.m. the power was out. And it didn't come back on for another six days. We sat there in the living watching out the windows, praying it would end soon. Listening to 97OKK, we would hear them tell us that the worse was over as night fell upon us, only outside it sounded like it was getting worse. With every tree snapping and limbs breaking, we jumped. Knowing there was nothing we would do was the worst.
After the sleepless night, we saw day break and the aftermath of Katrina. Walking outside, we saw trees down, power lines every where and could hear chain saws roaring down the road. The sun was shining and there was still a strong breeze as if she was still near.
As we began to clean up the yard, we saw neighbors lending a hand to help others and neighbors sharing food, water and generators. We didn't know what was going on in New Orleans, or anywhere else. And didn't know anything about it until after we heard on the radio the turmoil in NOLA. We unplugged the generator for a moment to give the TV power and our eyes saw for the first time the devastation in the south. It was plain awful. We thought we had it bad, but our coastal counties proved us wrong. They had nothing left but piles of bricks and sand. We still had our houses, even though the yards were a mess — we were blessed.
As the day goes on today, many will remember August 29, 2005. Anyone who lived through it in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama — they will never forget it.
Six years ago today, we were watching and waiting on this massive hurricane named Katrina. No one really knew where she would hit directly or how much actual damage she would really do, but only time would tell the shear hell she brought with her.
I was living about eight minutes from my parent's house in a rental house with Marleigh. The day before it hit, my parents told me to pack up some things and get to their house. I didn't leave until early that morning when I heard the wind starting to howl, but I had my bag packed and MB's too, and we left headed to "safety." My dad was already gone to the office so it was just mom, MB and me. We watched The Weather Channel as Jim Cantore was basically standing at an angle because of the wind and rain. Still not knowing what was to come for us, just a few hundred miles away.
Around 10:30 a.m. the power was out. And it didn't come back on for another six days. We sat there in the living watching out the windows, praying it would end soon. Listening to 97OKK, we would hear them tell us that the worse was over as night fell upon us, only outside it sounded like it was getting worse. With every tree snapping and limbs breaking, we jumped. Knowing there was nothing we would do was the worst.
After the sleepless night, we saw day break and the aftermath of Katrina. Walking outside, we saw trees down, power lines every where and could hear chain saws roaring down the road. The sun was shining and there was still a strong breeze as if she was still near.
As we began to clean up the yard, we saw neighbors lending a hand to help others and neighbors sharing food, water and generators. We didn't know what was going on in New Orleans, or anywhere else. And didn't know anything about it until after we heard on the radio the turmoil in NOLA. We unplugged the generator for a moment to give the TV power and our eyes saw for the first time the devastation in the south. It was plain awful. We thought we had it bad, but our coastal counties proved us wrong. They had nothing left but piles of bricks and sand. We still had our houses, even though the yards were a mess — we were blessed.
As the day goes on today, many will remember August 29, 2005. Anyone who lived through it in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama — they will never forget it.
Happy 40th Anniversary
My parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary today!
And to surprise them and honor their anniversary, we (Terry and I, Brian and MM) secretly had flowers placed in the church yesterday and had it announced in the bulletin. We weren't able to attend yesterday due to my sickness, but mom did send a picture of the beautiful arrangement last night.
The church has a florist they use in Quitman, Fantasy Cottage — I called them and got it all arranged over a week ago and they delivered the flowers to the church for me. Talk about a life saver. I thought they did a wonderful job. I'm picky about my flowers and the florist I use, so never having used them, I did ask for certain flowers not to be used in the arrangement and after we got off the phone, I knew he would do a great job. From the look of the photo, I'm sure I'll use them again.
My parents were very surprised and they brought them home to enjoy the rest of the week. The flowers are sitting on my old piano bench in the picture and by looking at the photo — the arrangement looks huge!
Happy 40th anniversary mom and dad. We hope you have a wonderful day celebrating. Thanks for being a great example of what a marriage should be.
And to surprise them and honor their anniversary, we (Terry and I, Brian and MM) secretly had flowers placed in the church yesterday and had it announced in the bulletin. We weren't able to attend yesterday due to my sickness, but mom did send a picture of the beautiful arrangement last night.
The church has a florist they use in Quitman, Fantasy Cottage — I called them and got it all arranged over a week ago and they delivered the flowers to the church for me. Talk about a life saver. I thought they did a wonderful job. I'm picky about my flowers and the florist I use, so never having used them, I did ask for certain flowers not to be used in the arrangement and after we got off the phone, I knew he would do a great job. From the look of the photo, I'm sure I'll use them again.
My parents were very surprised and they brought them home to enjoy the rest of the week. The flowers are sitting on my old piano bench in the picture and by looking at the photo — the arrangement looks huge!
Happy 40th anniversary mom and dad. We hope you have a wonderful day celebrating. Thanks for being a great example of what a marriage should be.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
I've been asked by a few people when I would post a review about The Help — and today is that day.
(FYI — this could be a spoiler for those who have not read or seen the movie.)
First, let me start off by saying how much I love the book. It was captivating, and kept me longing for more. And after seeing the movie, I still love the book more. Don't get me wrong, the movie was pretty true to the book, but it left out/changed a few details that I thought should have been in the movie.
While reading the book, hearing the names of streets and the other small details of Jackson made me have an even bigger appreciation of the book since I lived there for two years. Even though the story was set over fifty years prior to me living there — I felt like I was there, living in the drama of the book.
I did feel that the movie characters played the role of the book characters, perfectly. Hilly (played by Ron Howard's daughter) was as snotty as ever and Elizabeth was the typical follower to her friend. The way they treated the help honestly made me sick to my stomach. I can't imagine living back in those times and I'm glad I didn't have to.
And even though Abilene was treated the way she was, she never once took it out on the children. I hope any mother, aunt or friend who reads the book or watches the movie realizes the importance of telling a child that they are kind, smart and important. Growing up, things that are said to you or about you — well, it sticks with you. Saying things such as Abilene did to Mae Mobley, helps to bring character and self esteem in a child's life. One will never know if Mae Mobley grew up to be like her mother or like the person Abilene taught her to be. I'd like to think that she did the latter, and remember like Skeeter did, the good memories that she and Constantine had.
If I had to say one thing about the book that will have an impact on my life, I'd say that I hope to be more like Skeeter, taking a stand and no matter what the consequences, doing what she believed was right. Although she could have been like her friends, Hilly and Elizabeth and even like her own mother, she decided to make her own future and help change the future of her hometown.
The movie was long, and being sick — it was really long, but I did enjoy it. Yes, even Terry enjoyed it. The theater was almost packed and no one (except one little lady and it was at the very end) got up during the movie. I understood why there wasn't more in the movie (it was already long enough) but I can't wait for the movie to come out on DVD so I can watch it again to take it all in without the sneezing and clogged up nose.
If you've seen the movie and haven't read the book, please read it. You'll get more of the details and will have a deeper appreciation of the characters.
Kathryn Stockett, thank you for a wonderful read. I hope to see more from you in the future!
Have you seen the movie? What did you think?
(FYI — this could be a spoiler for those who have not read or seen the movie.)
First, let me start off by saying how much I love the book. It was captivating, and kept me longing for more. And after seeing the movie, I still love the book more. Don't get me wrong, the movie was pretty true to the book, but it left out/changed a few details that I thought should have been in the movie.
While reading the book, hearing the names of streets and the other small details of Jackson made me have an even bigger appreciation of the book since I lived there for two years. Even though the story was set over fifty years prior to me living there — I felt like I was there, living in the drama of the book.
I did feel that the movie characters played the role of the book characters, perfectly. Hilly (played by Ron Howard's daughter) was as snotty as ever and Elizabeth was the typical follower to her friend. The way they treated the help honestly made me sick to my stomach. I can't imagine living back in those times and I'm glad I didn't have to.
And even though Abilene was treated the way she was, she never once took it out on the children. I hope any mother, aunt or friend who reads the book or watches the movie realizes the importance of telling a child that they are kind, smart and important. Growing up, things that are said to you or about you — well, it sticks with you. Saying things such as Abilene did to Mae Mobley, helps to bring character and self esteem in a child's life. One will never know if Mae Mobley grew up to be like her mother or like the person Abilene taught her to be. I'd like to think that she did the latter, and remember like Skeeter did, the good memories that she and Constantine had.
If I had to say one thing about the book that will have an impact on my life, I'd say that I hope to be more like Skeeter, taking a stand and no matter what the consequences, doing what she believed was right. Although she could have been like her friends, Hilly and Elizabeth and even like her own mother, she decided to make her own future and help change the future of her hometown.
The movie was long, and being sick — it was really long, but I did enjoy it. Yes, even Terry enjoyed it. The theater was almost packed and no one (except one little lady and it was at the very end) got up during the movie. I understood why there wasn't more in the movie (it was already long enough) but I can't wait for the movie to come out on DVD so I can watch it again to take it all in without the sneezing and clogged up nose.
If you've seen the movie and haven't read the book, please read it. You'll get more of the details and will have a deeper appreciation of the characters.
Kathryn Stockett, thank you for a wonderful read. I hope to see more from you in the future!
Have you seen the movie? What did you think?
Friday, August 26, 2011
Yesterday afternoon we made a quick trip to Hattiesburg, Miss. to their local Fastenal. Terry had to drop one of his trucks at their store and I followed to pick him up so we could head back home. However, before left — we decided to have a dinner date in a city that we never visit.
I posted on facebook asking for suggestions and we got a few good ones: Tabella's & Brownstone's. But, we asked the Fastenal employees at the Hattiesburg store and they suggested anything around Walnut Circle, and it was close. So we set out to Walnut Circle which was two miles away.
We ended up stopping at Walnut Circle Grill and we were thinking since it was a "grill" it would be casual and laid back. Boy were we wrong.
My hot date for the evening... (we were one of two couples there)
We ordered our food and were served hot bread with a garlic/oil paste. The bread was tough, but the garlic/oil paste was delicious!
We decided on filet mignon for our dinner. It came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I ordered my steak medium/well and Terry ordered his medium. They were cooked perfectly. The only thing missing was a port wine sauce or a hollandaise sauce. If either one of those would have been paired with the steak, it would have been one of our top three steaks, ever.
We were in and out in less than an hour and were stuffed on our ride back home. Next time we are in the big city of Hattiesburg, we plan to try out Tabella's.
I posted on facebook asking for suggestions and we got a few good ones: Tabella's & Brownstone's. But, we asked the Fastenal employees at the Hattiesburg store and they suggested anything around Walnut Circle, and it was close. So we set out to Walnut Circle which was two miles away.
We ended up stopping at Walnut Circle Grill and we were thinking since it was a "grill" it would be casual and laid back. Boy were we wrong.
We walked in and were seated in what we called a fancy "grill." It was beautiful inside. You could tell this building had been restored to make this a nice, quaint restaurant.
My hot date for the evening... (we were one of two couples there)
We ordered our food and were served hot bread with a garlic/oil paste. The bread was tough, but the garlic/oil paste was delicious!
We decided on filet mignon for our dinner. It came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I ordered my steak medium/well and Terry ordered his medium. They were cooked perfectly. The only thing missing was a port wine sauce or a hollandaise sauce. If either one of those would have been paired with the steak, it would have been one of our top three steaks, ever.
We were in and out in less than an hour and were stuffed on our ride back home. Next time we are in the big city of Hattiesburg, we plan to try out Tabella's.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Darby over at Life with the Hawley's posted today about dog collars and which ones she would be getting for her sweet little Tomlin to wear. So, in an email chat we were having about the collars and Tomlin's future Halloween costume, I told her about Marleigh and her past Halloween costumes. So Darby, this post is for you and Tomlin.
We don't "force" her wear these anymore since she had her surgery in 2009, but it was so funny to watch her in these costumes back in the day. Now, she just has a shirt she wears that reads, "too cute to be scary."
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Yesterday, we celebrated mom's 60th birthday with a family get together at their house. Dad grilled everything that can be grilled (steaks, chicken, burgers, pork chops, deer sausage, etc.), I made ranch potatoes, potato salad and baked beans and Brian and MM brought a pasta salad and a Dairy Queen ice cream cake.
Yes, the cake was melting. Why? We live in Mississippi and it was an ice cream cake! After dinner and birthday cake, it was time to open presents...
Mar Belle LOVES to help you open a present — especially if tissue paper is involved.
Terry, Marleigh and me got mom a new purse. Of course, she said it's the biggest purse she has ever seen or had — so who knows if she will use it.
It was a fun evening and we were full and exhausted by the time we left. And I know MB was... she couldn't even lift her head when we were walking out the door.
Happy Birthday mom! Hope you enjoyed your day!
Yes, the cake was melting. Why? We live in Mississippi and it was an ice cream cake! After dinner and birthday cake, it was time to open presents...
Mar Belle LOVES to help you open a present — especially if tissue paper is involved.
Terry, Marleigh and me got mom a new purse. Of course, she said it's the biggest purse she has ever seen or had — so who knows if she will use it.
It was a fun evening and we were full and exhausted by the time we left. And I know MB was... she couldn't even lift her head when we were walking out the door.
Happy Birthday mom! Hope you enjoyed your day!