Happy New Years Eve Y'all...

I can not believe it is already New Years Eve.  It seems like this year has just flew by a lot quicker than in the past.  I am glad in a way this year has been not the best.  I have had many people I love pass away, I had a hard tine in school this past Spring, and hubby and I found out we needed help having a baby.  You know I am actually really glad this year is over, even though I am a year older I have a good feeling about 2013.  I don't know why and it could be just the fact that I want things to be better, but I guess that is always a start.  I haven't bee  writing as much this last week due to cramps from hell that have had me wishing I was dead!  I know lovelies TMI, but I guess that means the medicine is working.  So we are hoping to start mission make a baby this week, and if all else fails I go back to the Dr. and beg for Clomid before I got back in 3 months!  I hope everyone is planning a fun filled NYE I know we are.  Shrimp boil and friend time here in Tennessee!  BE safe and have fun lovelies!

Wow That's A Lot Of Folks...

So since starting this blog a little over 5 months ago I never imagined anyone would ever give two flips about one word I wrote, but seems as though I might have been wrong!  When I checked my stats this evening I noticed I have 101 followers.  I think I might have had several small strokes, and refreshed at least 3 times to make sure I was seeing it correctly.  Thank you all so much for sticking around, commenting, and being just plain awesome.  I never imagined I would really enjoy being part of the blogging world till I met some amazing people out in the blogosphere!  So again a huge thanks to everyone, and I hope there will be some amazing new happenings in 2013 here on Southern Ramblings!

Come on 2013...

So I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas full of lots of food, family, and fun!  Other than our heating unit going out at the house last night Christmas was amazing!  I was able to spend Christmas with both my family, and my dear hubby's mom and dad's, we had a blast at both places.  I love being able to see my family that lives away from here every year we have so much fun laughing with each other, but this year just wasn't the same.  I guess holiday's have become a little bit difficult for me since my grandparents passed away.  Even though I have my wonderful hubby, his parents, and my cousins (who I am very close to) it still just isn't the same as having your parents there.  I guess as we look more and more at the possibility of having kids it gets worse.  My kids will never get to meet my mom or dad or even my grandparents that raised me.  They will have one set of grandparents and that's it.  I am blessed to have many wonderful people that love me, and even though they may not be blood they are most certainly family!

Now to complain a bit, I have had 4 people that are close to me pop up pregnant in the last week.  One of hubby's best friends is married to my cousin, and they felt the need to call at 11 f***king PM on MY BIRTHDAY to tell us that they are expecting, two weeks after the cousin's brother announced him and his lovely wife were pregnant.  Needless to say, after calling my best friend and crying my eyes out, I accepted just because I can't get pregnant right now does not mean the baby making machine everywhere is going to grind to a stop to make me feel better.  It took me many choice words and lots of tears to come to this conclusion!  So at Christmas breakfast the following conversation takes place...

family- Jessica did you hear blah blah and blah blah are expecting?
me- yep sure did..
family- so is there anything you want to announce?
me- nope...
family- you sure?
me- *death stare*

I was not a happy camper.

So on to a little bit better *TMI* news!  I started my period... this is the 4th one I have had all year.  My husband has been less than thrilled about this, but I explained it's either grumpy Jessica or no babies.

So even though 2012 has been a rough year, I know that in 2013 I can either continue to feel sorry for myself or take control and make some changes.   This includes both the way I have been thinking and the choices I have made physically.  So I plan to make the best of 2013 and have a rocking year!

It's my Birthday...

So yes today is my 26th Birthday.  Everyone has been asking me all day what I am doing, and the answer to that is nothing!  I have a very simple life, and I enjoy it!  The hubby is taking me to eat at my favorite Mexican restaurant tonight and that will be it.  Tomorrow a couple of my friends are coming over to fix me supper and watch a movie, and I am thrilled!  I wish I could say that we were going to some exotic warm place to celebrate, but that would not be us.  I am glad that I have a day to spend with my husband doing absolutely nothing at all but enjoying his and my fur babies company.  I have never really celebrated birthdays due to it being so near Christmas and I am ok with that.  I hope that everyone is having a great week!

It's Already Over...

So 6 weeks ago I started a goal challenge and I was so excited to get involved with the girls from Covered in Grace, Shaping up to be a Mom, and Ramblings of a Southern Belle!  The goal I choose for part one was to deepen my relationship with the Lord.  I know that a deeper relationship takes time and I knew that I would not be where I wanted to be when I finished, but I also know you have to start somewhere!  So I made mini goals for myself for the 6 weeks and they are below!

By Reading my Bible daily

By writing in my prayer journal daily

By praying at least twice daily

Over the last six weeks I have been more faithful in doing these things then I have in a long time just because I knew I would one day have to share with you my lovelies whether I did ok or I just let it slip.  Well let me share with you a little bit about how I accomplished these mini goals.  Reading my Bible was an easy one because I found the you-version app on my Iphone and was able to read my Bible where ever I happened to be that I had some extra time.  It even comes with different devotionals (which are amazing, I really enjoyed the She Read Truth Devo).  I have to admit even though I did right some in my prayer journal I did not do it daily all the time (hangs head in shame).  I did however do better than I usually do when I try to start writing in one.  Lastly, I learned that I absolutely love praying in the morning when I first wake up.  Most the time at night I would fall asleep during my prayers, I know I am a horrible person.  I guess I just found it  helped me to relieve the daily stress talking to my heavenly father.  So although I am not where I want to be I am further along in my journey then I was.

Thanks ladies for putting this wonderful link up together!  I can't wait till the next one starts!

Christmas Break...

This Christmas break has been really hard for me for some reason.  At just a week in I have already got to the point where I have no idea what to do with myself, and I hate it!  Usually I have a ton of things I really need to get done and as soon as I have a break I jump right in and get it all done.  This time I really don't have a lot to do and I am just stuck.  I hate sitting around watching TV or surfing the internet all day, but I also hate cleaning every single minute!  I guess I just feel worthless right now and I hate it.  I know I accomplish so many things over a period of time, but when I am just being idle it seems as though I could be doing something.  So I started getting my yearly planner together last night and it made me feel a little more proactive.  I wish I could think of some big projects around the house to get done before I start my internship because I know once I start working life is going to drastically change around the Simmons house.  I have not worked since Joel and I got together due to taking care of my Grandfather and school, but now that the time is here for me to be a big girl I'm not really sure how we are going to cope in the beginning   Most of the time the hubby will be getting home way before I even think of being off, and he is not used to that!  Plus, hubby has a hard time with change!  So I guess it will be a learning curve for the both of us.  Ok, enough complaining!  Hope everyone is having a good week so far, and I will also be posting in a minute about how I did with the Resolutions in Motion Challenge!

Day of Silence...

Want to do more than silence? Email Karla for information, (forevernewlywedded@yahoo.com) or check out this website.

I Love The Holiday Season...

So I had a huge day of shopping and running around with the best friend.  We had a blast and I got the last of my shopping done for Christmas!  It has been a rough couple of days dealing with the side effects of the medicine my Dr. put me on for the PCOS, but I have faith that what comes from it will far outweigh a few weeks of discomfort.  So onto my regular Monday post, Harry Potter!  Here's the question for this week, if you would like to join in clink the button below I added a link!

1. JK was super creative, what was your favorite word she made up for the series?

I have a couple that I love so I will share them all with you!
1.  Riddikulus- gets rid of boggarts
2.  Rictusempra- tickling spell
3.  Avis- conjures birds
2)Human-esque magical species you'd most like to meet in real life (house elf, goblin, veela, giant, etc.)?

House Elf, I would more then likely be one of the only members of SPEW.  I would love to meet the house elves and really get to know them.  Especially the ones of Hogwarts!

3)Last week we asked if you would dabble in the dark arts, say you got carried away…what would you make into a horcrux?

I think I would make my journal into a horcrux.  I was really intrigued by how Tom Riddles diary worked and I believe that if I ever could take the steps to make one I would want a cool one that could interact with the people it came into contact with!

4)Three things Amortentia would smell like to you:

1. coffee
2. honeysuckle
3. my husbands cologne

5)If you knew you would not be punished, what would you do to Umbridge?

Kill that trick!  She was horrible I hated her!  She would be the person I would use to make my horcrux!

6)Did you ever read fan fiction while waiting for a book to come out?

Heck yeah I did!  I am still a fan of fan-fiction   I really like to see other peoples take on the different characters and how they believe they would interact with each other.  There are some really good ones out there and then there are some just horrible where you start reading and two sentences in you just have to shake your head and move on!

7)If you had been a student at Hogwarts, would you have been brave enough to explore the castle grounds?


Seriously, I would be in so much trouble for being places I was not supposed to be!  I think I would  really enjoy seeing all the different rooms and how they changed over time.

Christmas Is In The Air...

So, our Christmas Party went off without a hitch last night, and I had a blast!  Thank you HoneyBaked Ham for letting me not run myself ragged before the party even started!  We had a beautiful dinner and played Dirty Santa.  I think my favorite part was watching the kids have so much fun helping the adult pick and unwrap their presents!  I still can't believe that Christmas is only a week and a half away, even more I can not believe that my birthday is next Saturday!  I have done pretty good with my previous birthdays, but turning 26 has me a little worried.  I really have no idea why.  I do know one thing I need to get back to my blogging schedule because I have started feeling blah about not writing as much.  I love being able to share all the crazy little parts of my life with all my lovelies!  So since I am one Christmas break I hope to be able to write some more quality posts instead of these short bits and pieces!  Hope you all are having a wonderful day!

The Mystery Has Been Solved...

I have PCOS.  I don't really know what to think about it yet.  I believe I am really just coming to terms with it right now.  As I have been researching about infertility  PCOS kept coming up, but it always said do not jump to the conclusion you have it just because some of the symptoms are present.  Well, after hours at the doctors office this morning, and what seemed like half my blood being drawn it has been conformed.  I was prescribed 2 different medicines to regulate both my hormones and my periods and I have hope now.  I guess that is all I have been looking for, just a little hope that one day my little family would be able to grow.  I guess now I just have to wait and see what happens.  I am so thankful for the Woman's Clinic and the wonderful nurses and doctors there because I swear I felt so awkward today!  I think 10 people saw my va jay jay and that is 9 more than have seen lady bits ever in one day!  But, I am glad to know what's going on and all in all it has been a good day.  Our annual Christmas Party is tomorrow night and I am excited!  Hope everyone has had an amazing week.

Manic Mondays...

Wow I have already been doing these for 3 weeks!  It's been a blast!

Week 11

1. What is your favorite fan site?

 Ok, so I don't know if this counts, but I love MuggleNet!  You have all your normal fan stuff and lots of fan fiction, recipes, trivia, and lots of other fun stuff!  This has been a go to site for me for ages!  

2. Do you have a crazy theory you would like to share with us?

Humm, that's a hard one. I think that a lot of the book is representative of some underground magical community!  Ok, I know that this is probably untrue, but a girl can dream can't she!  

3. Do you have a question YOU need answered?

What happens with Hermoine's parents.  I wonder if they go on to have more kids and what they both do after she is gone.  I also wonder if after the war she goes back and see's them.

4. Favorite Department of mysteries room?

The Planet room.  Luna said it was odd and if that girl finds it odd I believe that it would be AMAZING!

5. Biggest letdown of the series?

All the deaths... and the fact that the series ended!

6. If J.K. was to do anything else HP related would you rather see a prequel or a sequel?

Prequel, I have a great need to learn about the marauders!

7. Share some of your favorite HP GIFs with us! :)

                            

Ok, tomorrow I plan on doing a huge post, but it's been a long day and this girl needs her beauty rest!

Wedding Weekend...

Sorry I have been MIA my adopted dad got hitched this weekend, and I just got home!  So I will be catching up on here tomorrow.  Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!

It's Finals Time...

So tomorrow I will be taking my last final as an undergrad student...  I am soo freakin excited!  I have made note cards in which I looked every question up on our study guide, and I have been studying my non-existent butt off!
                                    
 I can not believe that I have finally made it this far.  I went for my final interview this Monday and the teacher about made me cry with all their sweet words.  Needless to say lovelies I will be starting my internship this January 10th!

I also wanted to share a funny story that happened to me this week!  So I was in the library on campus studying my little note-cards and listening to music on my phone.  I had stole the headphones from my iPad to use in my phone and never even realized I should check the volume on the iPad.  Sometime after I had started my music my iPad decided to start playing the audio-book I had been listening to the night before full volume!  I listen to a whole song before I noticed I was giving the whole library a taste of my book I've been listening too!  The funny thing is no one looked my way or even walked over to tell me to turn it down.  Finals time at UT is crazy and I am glad because even with no one saying anything I was mortified!

I haven't thought about it till now, but it is also So What Wednesday.  This week will be a little shorter than usual because I haven't really thought of anything!

• So what I forgot that it was Wednesday!
• So what if I have been a little anal retentive about studying *I am 50 pts from an A!  
• So what if I went to bed at 8 o'clock last night *a girl needs her beauty rest!  
• So what if my list is short, I can make it up by doing a huge one next week!

                                           
So lovelies have a wonderful day, and share with me what you are just saying so what to!

Resolutions in Motion Facebook/Twitter Hop...

Hi everyone, and welcome to the Resolutions In Motion Facebook/Twitter Hop! We wanted to hold this hop so that we could spread the word about Resolutions In Motion and help our participants gain some new followers and blogging friends. The co-hosts won their spots, so make sure to visit them and follow!

This hop is for anyone and everyone, and as a special surprise this week, we have two giveaway items for one lucky linker-upper! Tif from Ramblings of a Southern Belle is giving away a bottle of Viva La Juicy, and Brooke of Covered In Grace is giving away 2 months of large ad space!

Now on to the hop!

Please feel free to share this button:

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Follow your hosts:  Shaping Up To Be A Mom (Facebook/Twitter) Covered In Grace (Facebook/Twitter) Ramblings of a Southern Belle (Facebook/Twitter)
Follow your co-hosts: Healing the Heaviness (Facebook) Raising Reagan (Facebook/Twitter) Craftbotic (Facebook/Twitter) Southern Ramblings (Facebook/Twitter) Violet Imperfection (Facebook/Twitter)
Link up your Facebook and Twitter accounts below!


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It's That Time Again...

So lovelies it is that time again!  Yes, I know I am like a little kid when it comes to Harry Potter and I except that!  So here are the questions for this week join in by clicking the linked photo below!

                                                                    

1. What is your favorite quote from the Harry Potter series?

'We are a part of you, invisible to anyone else' -Sirius Black (HP and the Deathly Hallows)

I love this quote for so many reasons and have also planned a tattoo on my leg using the quote, and several HP symbols!  Shout out to any HP fans that can draw, and can help design my tat! 

2. How old were you when you became a fan of the series?

 I was around 13 (1999) when I started reading the books.  It took me a year to convince my grandparents the books were not going to turn me into a satanist! 

                                                                                                      

3. Have you ever tried any HP recipes at home?

So this year for Halloween I made a big batch of Butter Beer to serve to all my unHarry Potter loving friends, they loved it!  I wish I had taken pics it was pretty.  

4. Which sort of obscure character would you want to know more about?

I am in LOVE with Luna Lovegood.  She is amazing and I would love to know more about her back-story!

        

5. Have you ever used Harry Potter to prove a point in your everyday life?

Hummm... I have used Harry Potter facts to explain my love of it to others.  I have also used the good and bad analogy in one of my Sociology presentations in college!

6. Be honest...would you dabble in the dark arts?

I do believe I would.  I'm not sure how but, I am pretty sure I would end up using a dark magic in something!  Maybe the Imperio Curse on a rat to scare someone!

                                                  

                                                     

7. Shop you would most like to visit in Diagon Alley?

Ollivander's because there is nothing more than to have my own personal wand! *that chooses me*  The pictures are from my trip to the WWWOHP this summer and my Luna Lovegood wand I bought!

                 

                 

                 

Hooray for Blog Hops...

So I was chosen as a co-host for the Raising Imperfection Sunday Blog Hop!  I love this hop, and have participated since I first started this here baby!  I would love if all my readers would participate and get involved!  It's a wonderful way to meet new bloggers a learn a lot!  So jump on in and visit some blogs!

It's Sunday! ~ Welcome to Week #6 of Raising Imperfection!

Link your funny stories, best recipes, parenting successes, parenting fails, DIY projects and tips, photo bomb posts and more! We want to learn more about the people we connect with daily. Then…come back for Feature Fridays! Leslie and I choose our favorite links from the link up and feature them on our blogs!

If you missed last week’s Features click HERE

Please grab our button and help this link up grow!

So join us…your hosts, Leslie from Violet Imperfection & Lanaya from Raising Reagan, every Sunday for Raising Imperfection!

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1. Please follow your hosts Raising Reagan and Violet Imperfection via Facebook and/or Twitter, Bloglovin, Google + or any other form that works for you!

If you are new to the party, please leave us a comment so we know to follow you back!

2. Please follow your co-hosts~ This week’s awesome co-hosts and winners of last week’s giveaway are:

Elisabeth from The Beekeeper's Granddaughter

Jessica from Southern Ramblings

3. Link up your DIY projects, cooking disasters, parenting successes and fails, funny stories, kid photo bombs, etc.

Please DO NOT link up your main blog page, giveaways or other link ups. Those entries will be removed.

4. Visit some of the other blogs in the link-up and even follow them! {comments are always recommended and appreciated}

5. Tweet about the Raising Imperfection Linky Party to help spread the word!

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6. Come back and visit us throughout the week as we are always getting new links –> And be sure to visit for Feature Fridays to see if your post was picked to be featured!

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Know Your Status...

So today is the World AIDS awareness day.  I thought I would write a little post on this because 1)  it affects so many more people than most realize and 2) someone that was very close to me passed away because of it.    Most people think that AIDS only affects those that are drug users, and people  who take place in reckless sex, it doesn't.  My mother's best friend that helped raise me when I was little was diagnosed with HIV when he was in his 20's, he passed away January 2011 because he wasn't able to take his medicine anymore.  AIDS can affect anyone.  This disease can go undetected for years.  There are so many ways to be exposed besides the negative ones such as exposure at certain jobs, children of infected parents being exposed to breast milk, and even though it is less likely now then in the 80's and early 90's blood transfers.  Most people that are positive for HIV get really sick once and then get better for many years.  Sometimes this episode of sickness can be mistaken for the flu.  Once HIV starts to progress towards the AIDS the person will get very sick again.  People need to be more understanding, and less afraid of people that are positive, now it is not so much as a death sentence as something you have to be aware of.

Know your status and get tested even if you are a 100% sure you don't have it.  According to AIDS.org every 9.5 minutes someone else is infected with the virus, and 1 in 5 people are unaware that they are infected.  The medicine to control the AIDS virus is very high and many people *rich and poor* have to make the choice whether to either be sick and die or pay bills and eat.  I just wanted to say a little something on here today because as I sit here at my computer healthy and happy I know there are so many people in America and other parts of the world that are knocking on deaths door because they either do not know or are not able to afford meds to control the virus and this makes me very sad.  So everyone again I say... know your status.  It could save you and the ones you love.