Be Right Back...

Sorry I haven't been posting as much here lately.  I have been having trouble with the internet here at my house.  I have so many things I want to write about, and that is difficult to do on an Iphone and I apologize.  I will return shortly!  I have ordered AT&T service, and my new internet service should be hooked up and ready to use by Friday.  Yay!  Hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far and I can't wait to share with y'all some of the amazing things going on in my life right now!

Halloween Bash...

Last night was the first annual Simmons Halloween Bash at our house, and let me just say we had a blast!  We had zombies and people from other decades, we even had a guest show up that no one knew till they took their mask off!  This last bit was a bit terrifying, but we made it through and me being the Southern host I am, I offered her some tea and kept on mingling!  The mystery guest ended up being a friends mom come to scare us all!  We has tons of ghoulish food, everything from white trash dip to bloody band aids!  We even had a creepy lady named dead Donna that just kept screaming and would not leave our stairs.  My husband had such a great time messing with the kids with his scarecrow costume, today has been nothing but kid talk from him.  You know everyone says you have less fun as you get older, I beg to differ.  Our friends make each holiday special.  We each have the holidays we take care of so we can all celebrate together, and we all have a blast.  So I think we have adopted a new holiday to celebrate together, and there is even talk of rotating it through the group!  So now on to the fun part, sharing some pictures from the festivities!   

Dead Donna was a hit!

 

 Here are some of the best of the group pictures!

                   

The best friends:
Noelle as Ravenclaw student, Brittney as Minnie, me as the big bad wolf, and Ashlee in a toga! ,

Bloody band-aide prototype!

                                    

Hubby posing for pictures!

 One another note, I am still sick, so I wasn't able to make it to Memphis with Ms. Brittney today, which makes me very sad.  Maybe next year.  Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend, and keeping warm!

Party Planning & Coffee Dates...

So today has been a long day.  After waking up at 5 AM (still sick), and deciding I might as well get up and spend some time with dear hubby before he went to work,  I laid back down to catch up on my shows, and of course fell asleep!  I got up again at 8(still sick) , and started getting everything together for the Simmons Halloween Bash tomorrow night.  Brittney showed up at 2 for our weekly coffee date, and to help because she knows I am frazzled!  Thank goodness for best friends and coffee.  

It's that time again...

Every year around this time I get sick.  Sinuses and allergies kick in and I just feel bad.  I have always had to deal with it, and I was wondering when it was going to happen.  Usually I get sick around the 1st of October.  This year I was blessed enough for the yuck to wait until the last part of the month.  I say blessed,   I am now feeling horrible trying to plan the Simmons' Halloween Bash, and finish the paper that determines whether or not I graduate.  This being said I need some southern penicillin (homemade chicken soup) and my grams blanket to snuggle with as I press through this yuck!  Hope everyone is having an amazing day,

                              

New and Improved...

So I am super excited to share with y'all from my new layout!  Thanks to Sarah Darr at www.spantagdesigns.com, my blog has been super spiffed up!  Hope everyone is having an amazing week.  I am super stressed right now: writing my senior paper(which is due Monday), planning a kick tail Halloween party (that is taking place this Friday), and trying to keep my sanity through the first sinus infection of the season!  Let's just say it has been super duper hectic.  I'm heading to Memphis with my friend Brittney Saturday to go see the Band Masters Championship at the University of Memphis.  She's an alumni from there, and always shows me the sights when we go!  Last year I drove and got us lost in Orange Mound... needless to say she will be the driver this year.   Well I guess I need to work some more on the paper, I just couldn't resist writing a new post!

                              

Please forgive the mess...

I am in the process of doing a little revamping to the layout and such.  So please bear with me!

Let's talk about giving...

Well I was reading one of my favorite blogs Kelly's Korner, and I ran across a post about her favorite charities.  I thought, hummm, I should join in!  I have a few that are very near and dear to my heart.

As a kid I got into a lot of trouble, and used substances to help me deal with my depression and anxiety.  Teen Challenge helped me to become the God-fearing, well adjusted adult I am now.  They help so many people every year and I just wanted to share them first.

                             

Secondly, my family supports Operation Christmas Child.  It is a huge deal around Christmas for my hubby and I to go shopping for fun trinkets to fill up a couple of shoe boxes.   These boxes go to children all over the world.  Some of these children have nothing and the gift we send my be all they get so we always try to make each box as special as possible.  I have been participating in Operation Christmas Child since I was a kid, and I hope one day I will be able to share this tradition with my own children.

                                                   

Last, but definitely not least is Mercy Ministries.  This is a program that helps women in need whether it be abuse, eating disorders, or sex trafficking   It is a free of charge ministry and the donations they receive go to help the women the serve.  Nancy Alcorn, the founder of Mercy Ministries, is such an amazing Godly woman.  I was able to go to their yearly blowout a couple of years ago at Vanderbilt, and meet her and some of the girls from the program.  It's amazing to hear their stories, and see how each of them has grown since becoming part of Mercy.

                                             

I linked each picture to the organization so you can check them all out for yourself.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday!

Fright Filled Fall Fun...

I had such an amazing night last night with the best friend (Noella).  We have watched every Paranormal Activity together, and decided we should keep the tradition going.  Paranormal Activity 4 was so good!  We went to eat, see the movie, and then went to the Talon Falls Screampark.  Talon Falls is this huge 40 acre haunted village, with 4 different huge attractions.  First you go on the Blood Creek Hayride where you get shot at, watch a gas station burn, and travel through an old mining tunnel.  Next, you are directed to the Talon Falls haunted house.  This part includes a haunted lagoon complete with "haunted" swinging bridge over a pond, a slaughter house, and a jail full of zombies!  This part is huge and takes about 20 mins to go through, it was also the best.  Thirdly, you end up at a Doll Factory and make your way through a creeptastic house full of people dressed up as Dolls.  There is also an asylum section in this house and the actors are so great at being truly nutty!  Finally a new part was added this year and I was so excited when I heard it was going to be a "freakshow".  This part is in a huge circus tent that you have to find your way through, and then you come to a bunch of fake side show exhibits.  There are 3 real people who do acts, but only as you are walking through and people are pushing you along.  There was a lady fire eater, a guy who could pull a balloon from his nose to his mouth, and a guy who could hammer a nail into his nose.  Needless to say it was not what I expected and I was majorly disappointed with this part, even though they did have a huge ball pit and foam!

 Talon Falls is so much fun and even though it is a little pricey at 40 dollars a person you get a lot for your money.  I will say if you are thinking of going plan it out, the lines can be very long and you may have to wait a long time between attractions due to the number of guests.  Notice the time and date you wanna go the weekend of or before Halloween is a no go unless you want to stand in line with a thousand kids and adult complaining about the wait.  Opening weekend same deal.  I've had good luck going between opening and Halloween at around 9, this made the lines go super quick we made it through in three hours last night compared to going weekend before Halloween last year and being in the ticket line for 3 hours.

 

*Official Trailer*

Friday Five...

What I'm reading...
This week has been  packed full, and I have not been able to pick up a book again.  As an avid reader this makes me so sad, so I have continued listening to It by Stephen King.  I will save my spill on this book since I gave it Friday before last!  I am looking forward to the Oct. 29th, when I turn my Senior paper in so I can finally read a couple of books without being anxious!

What I'm listening to...
I have been listening to Ellie Goulding and Bright Eyes this week.  I have needed something to soothe my nerves.  I am becoming so anxious about this paper that I think I might loose my mind before I get it turned in!  So I will just share two of my favorite songs...

What I'm watching...
So this week has been an amazing TV week.  American Horror Story Asylum  came on!  Last season my best friend Noella and I made time each week to watch it together and the show never disappointing.   This show may be the creepiest show on TV at the moment, and I ❤ IT!

What I am eating...
I have been eating, well not much this week.  I have been living on frozen food and I dare not share that with my readers!  So this week I will just show you what I plan on eating when I get through being stressed!

What I am pinning...
I have pinned a lot of Harry Potter odds and ends this week.  I should say that HP is my weakness.  I  have been absolutely in love with the series since I was a little girl and now as an adult I am a super fan!

 
I have been on a nerd pinapoolza!  I love all things Justice League and DC Comic so I have found a lot of this creeping into my boards lately!  Here are a few.

And one last one that is near and dear to my heart...and why you ask.  Because it sits on my desk and is drawn and autographed by Sam Flegal!

Happy Monday/ Weekend Update

This weekend has been super busy, and even though I should have been working on my paper I took a break.  Friday night my friends and I decided we would go to Senior night at the high school we graduated from.  I am a former band geek, and really wanted to see the field show for this year. GCHS has always been known for our marching band, and currently are the state champs!  Our football team on the other hand is HORRIBLE!  They won a total of 3 games the whole four years I was there.  It was a blast from the past, and we had fun cheering on the team even though they were beaten very badly in the end.

Saturday was a very full day.  It was my Aunt Sissy's birthday, so we went and ate with her at Reelfoot lake.  We also had Fall fest at our church, and got to watch all the little kids have a blast.  Honestly, I think the adults had more fun playing volleyball and grilling!  We had a hayride which was fun, especially since we live in the middle of nowhere and there are so many creepy gravel roads!

Pastor Sammy, Mrs. Jenny Bradley, and Andrew 

Becky and Gary watching the kids.

Pastor Sammy, Gary, Hubby, and Andrew seeing how many marbles the can move!

Well that was my weekend...  did anyone else do any amazing Fall activities?  Hope everyone is having a great Monday.  

Friday Five

What I'm reading...
This week I have been listening to my favorite podiobook, Underwood and Flinch.  Podiobooks, if you have never heard of them, are serialized online audio-books.  Underwood and Flinch is about a vampire and his caretaker.  Flinch was ripped from his own life, and thrown into Underwood's were he must learn to care for his vampire master.  Mike Bennett the author does all of the voices, and he makes the story come alive! Go to www.podiobooks.com and check it out, they have books for all types of listeners.

What I'm listening to...
This week I discovered Spotify, and I love it!  I have been listening to a lot of Amanda Palmer(The Dresden Dolls) and Lana Del Rey.  They are both amazing female singers that don't sound like everyone else on the radio.

What I'm watching...
This week I have watched a lot of movies, Disney movies to be exact.  I have a huge collection of classic Disney.  So this week I watched The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.  They are still as good as they were when I was a girl, if not better!  Duck Dynasty also came back on this Wednesday, and it's one of the shows my husband watches that I actually enjoy. 

What I'm eating...
I went grocery shopping this week, so my house is full of fresh fruits and veggies right now.  I hate going grocery shopping, so I will spend 2 hours once a month to get everything I need.  I know if I would go every other week it would be easier, but I hate going.  I got a bunch of Health Choice meals, because I feel like being lazy! I also found some Louisa toasted four cheese raviolis, and they are amazing.  They are only 200 calories for 3(they are pretty big).

What I'm pinning..
This week I haven't been on Pinterest as much as usual, but some of the things I have been pinning are hair and make-up.  I always pin a lot of different nail designs which is ironic because I have no nails!  I still think, maybe one day I will stop chewing them off and be able to paint them in cute designs.  So hear are some of my dream nails.
                           

I also have an obsession with hair.  At the moment I'm trying to grow out the stupid inverted bob that was so "in" a couple of years ago.  Plus,  I start my internship in January, so for now I can only dream of having fun colors back in my hair.

         

 










Ok, so maybe I have been pinning a lot.  I have to have some kind of release!  I will throw in one last pin I found this week!  I have a huge fan crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and this is just adorable!

Lazy days...

Here recently I have not been able to find time for lazy days.  I really enjoy being able to stay home with my furbabies and do nothing.  Lately I have had something to do all the time whether it be classes or working at home on my senior project.  There are 24 hours in everyday, and the only time I have to relax is the thirty minutes, give or take my exhaustion  I lay in bed with my husband every night.  Well today I decided I would take the afternoon off and relax.  Which is what I am doing.  I was able to finish my homework for tomorrow by lunch, and since then have been firmly rooted to the couch watching TV and looking through all my favorite blogs.  I have not even changed out of my pj's.  Yes I do know how much of a slacker this may make me sound like, but a girl deserves a mental health day every now and then!  My southern belle grandmother is most likely rolling over in her grave as I type this, because here in The South a lady is supposed to be presentable: make-up, nice outfit, and hair fixed at all times.  Well Grams this girl took a day off!
                                         

It's been a good day...

So today I had class, and got back the first section of my research paper.  I aced it!  I feel so much better knowing that I am on the right track.  We have our first test next Thursday.   I am not excited, but I believe I will do well on it too.  On a better note I finally got the call that my new glasses were ready to pick up.  They are amazing and I can see sooooo much better now.

I also stopped at Walgreen's to browse the make-up, and found some fun goodies!  E.L.F seems to be making a Disney Villain Collection now, and I could not resist buying one to see if it was any good.

So I came home, and played a little in my new make-up.  Even though you can't really tell in the picture, I am wearing the day time face. The colors are more pigmented then some of the other E.L.F make-up I have tried in the past.  There is also a Maleficent and Evil Queen book and I suppose since this one is so nice I will more than likely purchase the other two!  Hope everyone is having a fabulous week!   

Weekend Adventures...

This weekend was the annual arts and crafts festival at Reelfoot Lake.  It's a huge conglomeration of handmade goodies, awesome food, and live music.  My best friend and I have tried to make it an every year adventure, we search the different booths to find unique/fun knick knacks.  This year was no different, and the adventure took up most of my Friday!  I was able to buy three locally made artisan bar-b-que sauces.  They are made by Glen's Gourmet Goodies @ http://gggfoods.com   check them out... as you can see I have already used some of the OMG Sauce it is amazing!  I also purchased some southern belle t-shirts, on sale of course!  We found so many fun items, but I have so much stuff here at the house I already don't use I tried to control myself.

Saturday my husband surprised me, stating he wanted to go shopping, for what he would not tell me.  So, we loaded up in the truck, and headed to the biggest town near where we live.  We ended up at Office Max where he proceeded to tell me he wanted me to have a good work space to work on my projects!  I was thrilled!  I was able to buy a new desk, chair, and a beautiful lamp I feel in love with. It took up forever to put it all together and I was banned from taking pictures during, because of hubby's aggravation, but I will share a before and after with you.

Before...
desk in laundry room.

After...
New desk in hallway!

Sunday, I was super motivated to work on my Senior paper and wrote 10 pages!  I'm so glad Joel and I found each other, he always knows what I need.  Well that was a summary of my weekend hope y'all have an amazing Monday!

Friday Five...

What I'm reading

I just started to listening to a new audio-book this week, and it's a blast from the past... Stephen King's IT.  I know I know, I listened to Stephen King last month too.  I'm a sucker for horror novels, and SK is the king of the genre   I have never read this book so it is all new to me.  I have however seen the movie, so I have very high expectations!  With Halloween quickly approaching it just feels really good listening to a good scary book.  Hopefully,  I will soon be able to pick back up actually reading real books.

Chibi version of the characters!

What I'm listening to

I have been listening to a lot of praise music this week on my way to class.  I really enjoy The David Crowder Band.  They always makes me happy when I need a pick me up!  They have so many peppy songs that have such a good message.

What I'm watching
I am a BBC fan-girl  and this week it has really shown.  I have been catching up on my recorded shows, and these two have been the bulk: Dr. Who ( the new season), and Misfits.  Dr. Who if you have never seen or heard of it, look it up and you can thank me later.  It's about a time traveling alien Dr.that saves people.  He's amazing, just saying! It has been on since the 60's, and still has a huge fan-base, and many spin-offs.  I have also been watching Misfits.  It's a series that I just got into not too long ago.  It's about delinquent kids who get superpowers.  It's an acquired taste and I do not recommend it for the faint of heart.

What I'm eating
I  had Chick-fil-a this week and it was really good!  I always get the same thing every time I go, a spicy chicken sandwich extra pickles.  This week I was feeling adventurous, and got the spicy chicken cool wrap... it was AMAZING!  My meal looked like this.

What I'm pinning
This week I have been pinning a little bit of everything.  I have been thinking about trying to be more healthy, so more and more healthy treats have been popping up in my feed, such as these.


I have also found a couple of great pins for PCOS awareness.  I think it is great that more and more people are learning about this condition, because so many people suffer in silence.