Funny Foto Friday

Aunt Dee and Uncle Brad with Paige. Can you guess what Brad is saying?

Am I Old or What?

I'm better today. TGIF! Thanks for all who commented. Very nice gals! MUAH! blogging friends.

OK -- onto something new...
I've decided that I'm old.. or just old fogey like. Have been for years though. Weird or what?
What I would love to do for Halloween? Go on this beauty....

See - Brad's parents(my future in-laws) are taking this train from their town into VA to see the fall foliage. Click on the picture above to learn more.

The question is - shouldn't I have the desire to go out and party like a rock star since Halloween is on a Saturday????

Probably if I was 25? Well, the sad part is.. when I was 25...I lived in VEGAS(did that for Sass)and what did I do for Halloween? Me and my super-cool cousin Alayna(who needs a blog) went to a winemakers dinner in Temecula and got smashed! haha!

Then.. we went back to VEGAS the next day(after Halloween)and went to some crazy Halloween party.

Well, enough for now!

Too Much to Say

Ohh... so much to say today but I don't want to put it out into cyberland. Because of that..here's the short of it:

* work is changing a whole lot
* wedding - mmm...too much drama for me right now..I think I need a glass of wine right now.
* home - can you say refi?
* Brad - my love and my support. What a great guy for putting up with my shit lately.

Is it Friday yet?

Seriously?

Should I say more? The inventors of the Snuggie are taking it over the top with not only college school snuggies but pet ones?! Geez...

I'm posting this in honor of my super-cool cousin Alayna who I am begging to get her own blog! She sent this to me via text message last night and I about laughed my butt off!

I'm not sure The Buddy would last too long in this but it would sure make a good gag gift.
Happy Humpday!

One of My Favs - Baseball Hats

If you haven’t noticed from my pictures I’m a big fan of wearing baseball hats. I’ve read throughout the years that it’s a turn on for a lot of guys because it makes the girl seem athletic and down-to-earth. This of course, is NOT WHY I wear them. More on that in a minute.

The problem is – even though I love to wear them Brad is NOT A FAN of them. Not just on me but girls in general. He let me know from the beginning that he doesn’t like the way girls look in them. He lets me know this every time I put one on(well almost)..

BUT..I wear them anyhoo. Here are the reasons why:
· When my hair looks like crap or I don’t want to blow-dry it - it’s an easy solution to cover it up.
· When working out or doing work around the house it keeps the sweat out of my eyes.
· When I’m hiking – especially in the summer – it keeps me from getting those ticks that fall out of the trees-- in my hair!

So, all in all – I don’t try to wear them every day but have about 8 in different colors with different logos on them.

Here’s a few pictures of some of my favs.. Not the pictures but the hats. I look like doo-doo in half of these pix..

After white-water rafting - me with my Hair Spray musical hat on. The host of my TV show(when I was at FOX) got this for me in NYC.

LSU hat of course! Representing! This is a hat that I received as part of a promotion for the Tigers when I was working in TV in Baton Rouge. There is actually a 2 on the side.

My Carolina Panthers hat. I bought this one to wear to a game several years ago.

Knowing my obsession with fleur-de-lis my Mother gave me this one. Everyone thinks I'm a Saints fan when I wear it out. I do like the Saints but am partial to the Panthers.

Old skool here. I don't have this hat anymore and you can barely see it. It was a hat I got in Sedona, AZ. It was for one of the city's annivesaries? I can't remember but I regret getting rid of it.

Well Happy Tuesday!

I Heart the Mountains!

I know.. I know.. I've talked about my obsession with the mountains on here quite a bit but it's the truth.

I HEART the mountains...especially this time of the year.

Got back from the Blue Ridge last night and we had a fabulous time! Things cleared off Saturday mid-morning and we hit the trail... literally. Ready... here we go through a fun, fall weekend!

The picture above is me along the Parkway. It was slammed with people driving, taking pictures, having picnics, etc.

Leaves along our hike in the Craggy Gardens area.

Me along the trail on the hike. Friday I mentioned I got this hike out of my hiking with dogs book. Hmm..well, The Buddy is a stud and did just great but I'm not sure I would recommend it to others with dogs.

The trail was narrow and VERY steep which made it even harder since it rained all morning up there. We took it slow and Buddy got pulled a few times for trying to pull him Mommy down the mountain.
I could only picture me having to be taken out on a stretcher..yikes!

The Buddy getting his hunt on along the trail. There were tons of chipmunks which made him crazy!

View on the trail. We were very high and the fog continued to roll in. By the end of the trail we had to put on our fleeces because the temp dropped 15-degrees. The weather in the mountains can change at the drop of a hat!

My hiking bud Kelli along the trail..

Then afterwards we stopped along the Parkway to take some pictures.

The leaves this high were really past peak but down in Asheville, NC they were bright!

From there we headed to the house and showered and headed to downtown Asheville. It was so cold we decided to shop and buy sweaters! BTW - this is my favorite store in the mountains. They have Mast General stores in several of the W. NC mountain towns.

Here's a vest that I should have bought.. still thinking about. So, my style. Mountain chic!

One example of the color in Asheville!

Then our night out in downtown Asheville. Blue grass band at one of the many bars we hit. So very fun!

Oh..yeh... Needless to say we took a cab home.

Then.. Sunday morning a stop at the Orchard at AltaPass along the Parkway. More bluegrass and tons of dancing, food and apples!

Love this place.. me and my friend Kara used to hit this place up a couple times a year before she moved to Tampa.

Fresh apples! I brought a ton home! along with apple jelly!

They allowed dogs on the leash inside the orchard store!

And.. me eating my apples with caramel..mmm...good!

So very fun. One of the last big weekends up there before the Parkway shuts down for the season. So sad...

I've decided I could be one of those people who if I had a second home in the mountains, I would live there 1/2 the year. I just can't get enough.

Brad had a blast too but is so over drinking after his bachelor weekend. Now it's back to TCB(taking care of business)

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

TGIF!

So very glad it's Friday! After last weekend's move I need a little R&R!
Brad headed up to DC yesterday for his bachelor party weekend and I’m heading to the mountains to hike and look at the pretty foliage.

BTW – I’ve had several people ask me how I feel about his bachelor party. I respond “Should I be feeling anything? I could really care less.” I guess there’s a lot of anxiety over strippers and shenanigans but I have to honestly say I’m pretty secure…and trusting.

Moving on…..

So, me and my hiking bestie Kelli B. are heading up to the Blue Ridge Parkway more specifically Asheville. A colleague of mine is nice enough to let us use her vacation home for the weekend. YAY! This makes it SO MUCH easier than trying to find a pet friendly hotel that isn’t a total dump.

Our plans including a lot of hiking a trip to an apple orchard, a fabulous dinner somewhere in Asheville Saturday night.

I’ve been referring to my new favorite book Best Hikes with Dogs North Carolina for what trails we will do.

Saturday – if it doesn’t rain – we will do a 6-miler in the Craggy Gardens area called the Snowball Trail. Sunday we will go to that same area and the 3.2 miler Rattlesnake Lodge trail. I just adore this book – so nice to have where, when, what to wear, what you’re going to see and the best part – if it’s dog friendly. That means whether the trail is fit for a dog. I’ve been on several trails where Buddy has had to swim, I’ve had to carry him, etc… not fun stuff.

Now..our plan B for tomorrow if it rains in the high country?

Wine tasting and lunch at the Biltmore Estate. Just love going there. In my 8-years of living in NC – I’ve been there 8 times. Never gets old.. beautiful.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Just One Day

I have been wanting to post about this for some time now and am finally giving into it.

It's a song of my fav band's new album - Better the Ezra. The song is titled 'Just One Day'.

I'm posting the lyrics below and when you read you'll understand why I'm writing about this. Even though I haven't lost a parent or a sibling or anyone super close to me - this song still hits home for some reason.

If everyone you love came back for just one day? How amazing would that be?

Another lyric in the song that really gets to me? Imagine all the times you that could take backWhat would you have done differently?

I think about this a lot....different relationships, instances, etc.

Take a look at the video of them performing and read the lyrics. Powerful stuff kids.

LYRICS for 'JUST ONE DAY'

If you could change the choices that you made,

Would you do it- today?

If you could spin the world the other way,Could you do it on faith?

If time would stand still,What would you do?

What would you say?If everyone you love came back for just one day?

How would it feel if every dream came real?And all the scars you have fade away

For just one dayImagine all the times you that could take back

What would you have done differently?

Thoughts in your head you never said

Or a heart that you broke and left for dead

If all the pain you had could be released

How life flies by.What would you do? What would you say?

If everyone you love came back for just one day

How would if feel if every dream came realAnd all the scars you have fade away?For just one dayAnd the night

All the good times and the fights

All the take and the give

All the moments that we never got to liveOhhh.....

What would you do? What would you say?

If everyone you love came back for just one dayHow would it feel if every dream came real

And all the scars you have fade a way[Repeat]

For just one day [x2]If you could change the choices that you made,Would you do it- today?

OMG!

Buddy's new bed from Orvis arrived last night. All I can say is OMG! At least Orvis has a good return policy despite the monogramming. Brad about had a cow! All I could do is laugh...not sure why we both didn't look at the measurements..

They are all out of small beds so I'm on the search again. Poor pooch...no housewarming gift.

Frustration

Boring Post ---- but let me tell about my frustration today with Time Warner Cable Carolina.

First off - my main email is through them and I have had it for 7-years and use it for business...NOT just personal.

Knowing this and knowing that I was moving I wanted TO MAKE SURE I could keep this address. I called weeks ago and was told one story. Call the day after you close your account and we can add your address to Brad's account. It will be all good.

GREAT! We called Sunday and they told us the email is good for 30days after the account is close and to call back in 28 days.

OK!!!

Today, I went and turned my equipment(modem, etc)in and when I got back to check this email............The account was deactivated.

After more than an hour on the phone and talking to 4 different people with 4 different stories I finally get an answer and get my account reactivated and attached to Brad's.

GIVE ME A F--ING BREAK! Why aren't they all on the same page there?! Have you ever heard of repeatable and consistant experience?
Yes, I hope they are reading this right now because I am OVER them.......
sorry for the rant.

Goodwill here we come!

Like many others in this blogging world I tend to be a bit OCD. BUT… in this move…I have had to let a lot of that go because there has been so very much to do.

Here’s proof…
I generally would NEVER allow this to happen. This a Goodwill pile on our third floor. As I go through boxes I continue to throw things here as does Brad when going through his closets to make room for me. Hopefully we'll get it bagged up tonight and out the door.

Here it is.. The Hall of Shame! Actually, this looks a lot better than it did on Saturday and Sunday.
No, that antique chair is not going -- Brad just needs to carry it up to the third floor.

A lot of things to rid of but a items to hang and put away too.

And more..

All this not to mention the place needs to be cleaned. I'm very tempted to call in Molly Maids when everything is in it's place..

I deserve to --right??

Move Update

Well - the official move is over but that doesn't mean it's done. I still have odds and ends crap at my condo since my renters aren't moving in until the end of them month.

To sum up the move in one word? A BITCH!

I have to admit there wasn’t a ton to move but there were about 3 or 4 big pieces we had to move. The kicker with that? All of our friends and family were committed this weekend and couldn’t help. That left Brad and myself to do all the heavy lifting(literally).

My neighbor’s hubby came over and helped on the front end but the back end it was just me and B. Good thing I’ve been to the gym kids! I have NEVER WORKED SO HARD IN MY LIFE! I wish I would have had time to take pictures.. but there was none! At one point we had to hoist the frigging box springs over the deck to get it upstairs! I helped move an armoire, couch, heavy coffee table and a gigantic wall mirror!

All in all it got done. We are TOTALLY hiring movers when moving out of this 3-story joint! Haha!

So, what am I left with now? A lot of --hit to get rid of. I’ll take pictures tonight of our ‘hall of shame’.. a hall full of duplicate stuff to rid of.

I would be happy for the most part just taking it down to Goodwill but Brad is determined to sell all this junk on Craigslist and make some $$. We’ll see if that happens.

Anyhoo – for your viewing pleasure. A few things I’m trying to sell. Don’t get too excited.. it’s not a Burberry coat or a Coach purse. Just stuff.

Ready? Here we go…

My 9-place setting of everyday dishes. My Mom bought these for me about 5 or 6 years ago. It used to tbe 12 but I've broken some plates here and there. I like Brad's square set better.

Duplicate blender...questions on CL but no takers yet..

TV/VCR combo that I bought the year I graduated from college(1997). VCR doesn't work anymore but it's been fine for my bedroom. Someone is coming to buy it tonight for $15!

Wine rack. I like it but Brad has two of them and this one takes up too much room. Got posted to CL today.

Decorative pedestal. I've had it one of my bathrooms for several years. Tired of it, no where to put it.. not sure I even like it anymore!

Brad's Foreman Grille. I have one too but mine is bigger and better so mine wins!

And.. a Kenneth Cole roller/fold out suitcase that is fairly new. My parents brought it to me but I've decided I'm not going to use it. I try and carry on my luggage these days and this one doesn't fit. I have 2 other suitcases - both which are checkable and are better suited for me.

Well, more to come kids! Happy Monday!

Bye Bye Elizabeth Neighborhood!

Well, tonight will be my official last night in my own pad in my very super-cool neighborhood. Tomorrow we will load a U-Haul up with all my belongings and Brad and I will 'officially' be living together.

Very exciting though! I've had the delight of throwing all kinds of items away(yes, I'm totally not a hoarder..I take joy in getting rid of stuff)..as well as selling items.

And.. yes, buying items. I bought two lamps off Craigslist last night that will go in our master bedroom and I also went ahead and bought that bed The Buddy has been asking for from Santa.

This will be his sort of 'house warming' gift you could say.
Orvis pet bed like this one below with his name monogrammed on it. This bed will stay in the bedroom and his current bed will stay in the living room. This will prevent us from moving his bed from room to room.

Well, more to come on moving day! TGIF!

Progress

It's getting cold here! Love this time of year! Crisp Fall air! Ready for a fire and some chili! woohoo!

Now down to business. I wanted to give you kids a glimpse of the progress on Brad's pad-- soon to be mine too--

I told you there was no paint, no nothing.. well it's coming along. The official move is this weekend but I’ve slowly but surely been bringing items over to the house and getting things set up. Here are few pictures.

Brad putting rope lighting above the cabinets last night. I did this at my condo and it makes the kitchen look bigger!

It's hard to tell in this picture but it looks GREAT! I put it on a timer. Since we work - it comes on around 7am and off around 9am. On again at 4pm and off at 11pm. Try it!

I got the dining room chairs recovered. I was going to do it myself but opted out since there are 8 chairs. I think they turned out fab with the rug! It looks more red in this picture then it actually is.
The rug needs to be vacuumed! sorry. Buddy hairs!

Check out the paint! This was eggshell white before! The Buddy -- always getting in the pictures!

A little dining hutch that was Brad's Moms but she gave it to him. I brought some of my crystal over but have more to put in there!

One of my little antique tables found a new home.

I was sure to bring all my antiques that I could over in my JEEP as I am a FREAK about moving them.

Hope you all are having a GREAT week!

Congrats Cathy and Aaron!!

I mentioned several months back that my friend Cathy asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. Well, several weeks after that she decided that her and her fiancee were going to ditch the big wedding plans and instead get married beachside in Cabo.

This past weekend they did it! Cathy's step-daughter was her only attendant and the whole thing was beautiful!

I, of course, was not able to attend. boohoo!.....but several of her besties were there along with family.

They are now honeymooning in Cabo as well and according to her last email they are hunkering down for all the storms and Hurricane in that area right now! crazy!

Anyhoo -- here are a few pictures of her fabulous day! I'm soooooo VERY HAPPY for her! Cat and I have been through a lot together and it's so fun that we're both getting/got married around the same time frame.

BTW - Cathy was a sorority sister is college -- but also -- my b/f/f gal pal in Las Vegas for nearly 3-years!

Cathy is the baby of 9 kids and her Father is deceased. It was very special for her Mother to walk her down the aisle. She's talked about this day ever since I met her.

Saying their vows. Love the look on her face here!

The family! Cathy, Aaron and Katie!

Congrats again Popicks! MUAH from DeNanner!