12 More Days... 12 More Days... 12 More Days...

12 more days... Ahhh.... Only 12 more days in my school year, and then I can relax. I cannot even begin to describe how exhausted I am. I am so ready for a break. I love my job; don't get me wrong. However, I need a break. I need a break from the kids, parents, teachers, principals, paperwork, etc. I NEED A BREAK!!!!!

Things have been a little on the stressful side for Brandon and me lately. There's only 12 more days left of school. That means that I have to finish up screening all elementary kids in order to prevent kids from "falling through the cracks." I also have to finish and file all paperwork for the 52 kids that I serve. I still have a few meetings to hold with parents/guardians, and all of this has to be completed in 12 days. UGHHH.... I hope I can make it!

Another reason why life is a little stressful is because we are going through this house ordeal. We keep having to counter-offer the bank and then waiting to see if they will accept or counter-offer our counter-offer. UGHH... so annoying... It's almost as if I just want to stop all of it and go back to my "non-thinking" renting mind-set.

Right now, I'm just so tired of thinking. When school is finally over, I'm going to treat myself to a massage, pedicure, and a manicure! :) I deserve it!

I hope everyone is having a great week! Good night and GOD BLESS!

Top 2 Tuesday: Splurges

This weeks Top 2 Tuesday topic: Splurges. Don't forget to link up at Taylor's blog and play along!

1. Make-up/Skin Care
I love anything that involves make-up and skin care. Ever since I was 20, my skin took a turn for the worse. I developed acne. I've basically tried almost everything out there. I think I've finally found something that works well for my skin: Clinique. I've recently started using both their 3-step skin care line and their make-up.


2. Wal-Mart
Okay, I'm just going to admit it. I have a love addiction to Wal-Mart. I don't know why, but I love Wal-Mart. Maybe it's because it has EVERYTHING, and I don't enjoy going to 2-3 places to get the necessities for the house.

I can't wait to read everyone else's! Good night and GOD BLESS!

Don't Plan Life

When I left work today, I thought it was just an ordinary day, and I would go home, make dinner, workout, and relax. HOW OH SO WRONG I WAS!!! On my way home, I received a phone call from my mother-in-law. She was calling to let me know about a house, with a foreclosure, that is for sale for only $99,000! Lucky for us, Brandon's aunt is a realtor and let us know all the ins and outs of this house! After a phone call or two, we were on our way to go look at the house. 

Pros:

1. Great location. All houses in the area are nice looking and up-to-date. It's somewhat out in the country but close enough to a town. 
2. Price. $99,000. 'Nough said. 
3. The $8k bonus for 1st time home buyers. We could use that cash to help out
4.  with the house. 
5. Investment. Right now, we are renting. If we buy this house, we don't lose anything. It goes right back to us later on. 
6. Vaulted ceilings. 
7. Hardwood floors.

Cons:

1. Cat pee. Right when we walked in, we were welcomed with the smell of cat pee. EWWWW... Carpets would definitely have to go! Hopefully after paint and new carpets, the smell would go away. 
2. It's a little outdated. Light fixtures: a little too brassy for my liking (an inch of brass is too much). 
3. No appliances. We would have to buy a new refrigerator and a new stove. 
4. No definable master bedroom. There's one bedroom downstairs (main floor) and three upstairs. There is one bedroom with a bathroom; however, all the bedrooms are the same size. Thus, my reasoning for "no definable" master bedroom. BUT... I think we have solved this one; we would convert 2 bedrooms into one and make it a master suite with master bathroom.  
5. The $8k bonus for 1st time home buyers. This bonus ends in a few days! AHHH!!!! 

After writing all the pros and cons out, I'm leaning more towards one way than the other. However, I'm not going to let my answer be known just yet. ;) I hope everyone had a great day! GOD BLESS! 

Lots Accomplished Today

Wow... what a day at work! Even though I only saw one kid (yes, only one kid), I was busy, busy, busy all day long! Today was basically a paperwork day. I hate paperwork. Because I work for a Cooperative, I've got double the amount of paperwork that one district slps have. I've always said I went into this field for the therapy part and not the paperwork. I'm such a procrastinator when it comes to paperwork. I know the secretary is irritated at me because I'm such a procrastinator. Oh well... I look at it this way: A true therapist concentrates on the therapy.

After work, I came home and got started cooking dinner. We had Easy Chicken and Biscuits! It was Yummy!!!! Here's the recipe:

1.5 lbs of chicken
2 cans of cream of mushroom soups
1 can of biscuits
1 16oz bag of frozen veggies (carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower)
black pepper
1/4 tsp of thyme
2 tbsps butter

Preheat oven @ 400.

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Melt butter in a 10 in pan and place chicken bits in pan. Cook chicken evenly and thoroughly. While chicken is cooking, mix veggies, soups, thyme, and black pepper together in a 9x13 pan. After chicken is done, stir chicken in with the veggies and soups.

Cook for 15 minutes @ 400. Take out, stir chicken and veggies, and place biscuits over chicken and veggies. Cook for another 15 minutes @ 400. ENJOY!

I hope everyone enjoys their evening! GOD BLESS!

Top 2 Tuesday: Favorite Things of Summer

Thanks to The Undomestic Momma, Top 2 Tuesday is here folks! The topic of discussion is 2 Favorite Things of Summer. WOW... This is definitely going to be hard to decide on just 2!!!!!


1. River Rats
I love spending time on the river with my friends and family! I basically grew up on the river during the summer. There's nothing better than going tubin' down the river with good friends.




2. Summer Nights
There's something mystical, nostalgic, and romantic about summer nights. The best way for me to describe it is by making it into a recipe: 


A Dozen of Friends
1 Picnic Table Full of Food
1 Cooler of Full of Drinks
1 Big Bonfire
A Dash of Lighting Bugs


Mix all ingredients together at and let cool to the night time temperature. ENJOY!

I can't wait to read everyone else's Summer Favs! Have a great night and GOD BLESS!
  

Show Us Your Life: How I Met My Husband

From Kelly's Korner, the "Show Us Your Life" topic is How You Met Your Husband. Here's our story:


Brandon and I come from the same hometown, West Plains, Missouri. Even though we grew up in the same town, we never knew of one another until August 2006. During this time, I was living in Springfield, Missouri attending Missouri State University. I was starting my senior year and on my way of obtaining my Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders. In the summer of 2006, Brandon and a mutual friend of ours, Kent Turner, moved to Springfield. On a weekend in the middle of August, one of my best friends, Diana, drove from St. Louis and stayed with me for the weekend. On Saturday night, Diana received a phone call from our friend Kent, and Kent invited us to come over to his and Brandon's apartment. We decided to go on over and hang out. When we got there, Kent was the only one at their apartment because Brandon was at work. While Kent was getting ready for work, Diana and I decided to raid Brandon's room. First thing I noticed when I walked into his room was that he made his bed! I had never known of any boy that made his bed. Also, his room, bathroom, and closet were all well kept and cleaned up! Before Diana and I left their apartment, Kent took a picture of Diana and I. Apparently, while at work, Kent showed Brandon the photo. I've been told that from the moment that Brandon saw me, he had to meet me. 


A couple of weeks passed, and then one night, I received a phone call from Kent. He asked me to meet him and Brandon at Wal-Mart because Brandon wanted to meet me. After changing out of my pajamas and into a t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops, I went over to Wal-Mart and met up with them. The first thought that entered my mind when I laid eyes on Brandon was that he was good-looking!  I wanted to talk with him and get to know him; however, I never really had the chance to talk with him because he was on the phone. So, I mainly talked with Kent. What I didn't know at the time was that Brandon is extremely shy at first, but I thought he was blowing me off. Naturally, I thought Brandon wasn't interested in me, but I was about to be proved wrong.


A few days passed and I got a phone call from an unknown number. I answered it, and it was Brandon. Apparently, Kent gave Brandon my number. We ended up talking for a couple of hours. After that phone call, I didn't hear from him for a few days. Then, he calls me and finally asked me out on a date. We went out on a Friday night and went to Chili's for dinner. Two things took me by surprise that night at dinner: 1. Brandon was not shy at all. He talked non-stop, which I loved; and 2. He showed that he has a big sweet tooth. After ordering our food, a waiter was bringing a dessert to a near-by table. Brandon took a glance at that and said, "Ohh, we are gonna have to try that!" I know I will never forget his face when seeing that dessert. After dinner, we went to the movies and then went back to my place. We sat in my living room and talked for hours. We probably got back to my place at about 11:30, and we talked until 4am! I was so comfortable talking with him. It was as if I had known him my entire life. Once realizing the time, I walked Brandon to his truck and gave him a hug good-bye. Since I felt such a connection with him, I wanted to see how he kissed, so I made the first move. It was a kiss that I will never forget! From that night on, my heart belonged to Brandon, and the rest, as they say, is history! 

Here's a few pics of our story as time goes on:

Us At Mammoth Springs, AR, Summer 2007

A Family Wedding in Indiana, August 2007

Our One Year Anniversary, September 1, 2007

Engagement Picture, October 2009

During the time of our engagement photos, I was in full-swing of trying to make decisions for the wedding, attend Graduate School full-time, and work full-time. It was a crazy time in my life! By constantly being on the go, time flew by, Christmas had came and went, and it was time for the wedding. On January 3, 2009, I married my best friend at Spring Creek Community Church in West Plains, Missouri. It was one of the happiest days in my life! 

Honeymoon Key West, FL

Honeymoon Nassau, Bahamas

I hope everyone is enjoying their day! GOD BLESS and have a merry week! 

Life Tends to Happen

Once again... lots of days in between this post and my last post. My blogs kind of go with my personality: I can only take in so much, and then I burst and have to do something about it. SOOO... I'm gonna have to play catch-up. Here it goes:

There's only been 2 major things that has went on in our lives these past 2 weeks.

1. We bought a vehicle!!! It's a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer that's fully loaded and with only 52,000 miles. We bought it on Wednesday, April 14, from Bailey Chevrolet in Willow Springs. I love it! I had been driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla since January 2003. "Ruby" was a plain-jane car; the only hi-tech device in her was the CD-player. The Trailblazer has almost everything! Just a few of the greatest devices: a sunroof, cruise control, tinted windows, buttons on the wheel, and a 6-disc cd changer! Because I had Ruby for so long, I needed an up-grade. I wanted an SUV because of how high they set up from the ground and the space. Ruby didn't have a whole lot of space, and I knew whatever vehicle I was going to get was going to be bigger than her. My first choice of vehicle was a GMC Acadia; however, they are like $30,000 for a used one! We just couldn't afford an Acadia. I wanted a new vehicle, but we also need to save and put money back for a down payment on a house that we will hopefully buy in a year or two. Here's the new purchase:

   

2. I went to the Missouri Speech/Language & Hearing Association Conference (MSHA) located at the Tan Tar A Resort in Osage Beach, MO. The conference went from Friday, April 16- Sunday, April 18; therefore, I was working on a weekend! Grr... not my idea of a wonderful, relaxing weekend; however, I did have fun and learned valuable information! I saw a few people I knew (professors and college friends) and a lot of people that I didn't know. I rode up with a co-worker of mine, and we met up with her sister and fellow friend/co-worker. In at the end of Friday, we went out shopping! Okay, I'm not a shopper at all! However, I found some great buys at Banana Republic! I got two work shirts for a total of, wait for it, wait for it: $13! I know, AMAZING! I also got some goodies from Harry & David's (I can't resist that store!). On Saturday, we attended more sessions, and we left later on that evening. Dara, my co-worker, and I wanted to be home on Sunday to actually have a day off. We ended up getting home at around 10. The next day, I was completely tired but glad I went. Needless to say, I was exhausted the rest of the week and basically ran late EVERY DAY!  

Hopefully and since I got 2 days off, I will be in much better shape this up-coming week. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! GOD BLESS!