Still alive!

I'm still alive! First I just want to say thanks to everyone for your sweet comments. Didn't mean to scare you! I am still here and still alive. Just took a weekend break from blogging. Second i'm going to apologize for the lack of pictures. I honestly didn't pick my camera up all weekend! My weekend started last Thursday. It was spring break for Dr. Beeler's daughter and they went on a mini vaca, which meant the office was closed!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday was clean clean clean and more cleaning day! I actually got lots accomplished. For some reason I am in love with wall stickers. So I spent part of the day measuring my walls for them. I already have a tree in my bedroom with a bird cage and birds, but I want something for my living room.

Friday was laundry day........not a fun way to spend my day off.

Saturday was Jamie's birthday party. He had a laser tag party and let me just say it had been a long while since I had played......and it showed. I was 18th the first game and 17th the last. Ummmmm someone needs some practice!

Sunday was family funday! I love Sundays and I love spending them with my family.

Other than all that jazz my weekend was low key. I spent way too much time in front of the TV folding clothes and eating, but hey it was a mini vaca for me too!

HA!

R.I.P. Liz

R.I.P.

Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor

1932-2011

Can I have a #1 from Firehouse?

**********WARNING*********

These are not flattering pictures of me, but I blog for me and these are memories I want to remember........I think. HA!

This is what happens when a friend takes you to the Dr. and waits until AFTER they give you the "Happy Pill" to start snapping pictures. Gee how will I ever return the favor????????? Oh i'll think of something!

Are you loving my ultra cool hospital gown?

I know this is terrible, but I just kept wondering how many people had died in that gown.

Yes, I know that's crazy, and I am sure they throw the gowns away when people die in them......BUT we are in a recession people! Ya never know what corners are being cut! Just saying! Ha!

I am especially thrilled about the close proximity that these pictures were taken! Again how will I ever repay you?

Keep in mind these are pre-procedure pictures. You really don't want to see the post-op views, and I don't want to remember it either.

Can I just say that I have no idea what I was smiling about in these pictures. Apparently the happy pill worked, because I don't even remember this photo shoot. Oh and my first words after I woke up......Can I have a #1 from Firehouse?

Yep!

Doctors, meds and Steel Magnolias

It's been a Steel Magnolias kinda night.

I spent the greater part of the day in the Doctor's office. By now I should be quite comfy there, but alas I am just the opposite. Today really wasn't all that bad....until he said I need surgery. YAY!!!!!!!! Yes, I am being sarcastic. Surgery was one word I could have done without hearing today.

So after a 4 HOUR appt, a quick (NOT) trip to the pharmacy and a stop at Firehouse Subs (Heaven on Earth) I came home to curl up on the couch with these girls. Who better to spend the night with?

More on surgery later. I'm too tired to explain tonight.

Nothing life threathening!

Still here!

Just wanted to take a second to say that I am still here. Unfortunately I only have a second because things are absolutely crazy right now. I only have this second because I am once again in a Doctor's office waiting room.......waiting. Oh and thanks for all the "Where are you?" comments! Glad to know I have been missed!

I promise i'll be back A.S.A.P.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They grow up too fast!

It's hard to believe.......

......this sweet girl..................is now THIS sweet girl!

Hannah is growing way TOO fast!

I can remember rocking her to sleep and giving her her first bites of solid food!

Seriously where does the time go? One day she was a tiny baby and now she is entering pageants!

Oh Tom how I love thee.......

Tom's + Glitter= A very happy Tiff!

With everything that's been going on the last few weeks I had totally forgotten which ones I ordered. Pretty sure my face was all kinds of happy when I opened them.

Hard to believe something so small as a pair of glittery shoes can be such a huge mood lifter!

Can't wait for the rain to stop so I can wear them!

Ready....aim.....fire!

The last two weeks have been packed with stress!

Not just stress at work, but i've had to make quite a few "big girl" decisions. All in all I think i've handled things pretty well, and made the best decisions.....at this time. One of the best stress relievers for me is shooting. What better way to de-stress than a little target practice?

It was such a pretty day, and even though I had a million things to accomplish this weekend, i'm so glad I took a few hours out for this. It was nice to be out in the fresh WARM air and outside of cell phone service. I'm paying for it a little today though. My arm and chest are not feeling great!

HA!!!!!!!!!

10 things on the 10th

I can't believe it's already March 10th! Seriously where is 2011 going?

Maybe its just that I have so much going on, but I really think this year is flying by!

It's raining today, and it rained yesterday.

Of course its raining......just days after having my car cleaned.....and on the same day that I am having furniture delivered.
Because of the rain I am in desperate need of some coffee.
Too bad I don't pass a Starbucks on the way to work.

Or a Krispy Kreme!

Quite honestly I could eat every single doughnut in that picture!

(Keep in mind I am at the doctor and I haven't had breakfast yet)

Since I am at the Doctor's office.....waiting ever so patiently to be seen.......I am catching up on blogs. Normally, I read blogs at night before I go to bed, but that wasn't the case last night. I just finished reading Kate's latest post about Lucy and I am so heartbroken for this family. I know God has a plan for Lucy, but to see her go through this is heartbreaking. Please keep this sweet girl in your prayers, and check out her Mama's blog.

This is another sweet girl I am asking you to pray for.

Lily is scheduled for surgery next week.

This won't be her first surgery ever, and she is always a trooper, but I know she is scared.

I am back in full swing with my audio books.

I just got Tori's new book today, and ....

......I am reading Lee's new book.

I love her real, raw emotions.

The first book was great, but this one so far has been amazing!

I'm actually driving slower these days just so I can be in the car longer and listen more!

Who loves Tom's?

I am about to order my first pair, and I am so excited!

If you don't know about Tom's take a few minutes to read the site.

One for One Movement


In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

How absolutely break taking is this?

I am planning a cruise to ALASKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I know not the ideal cruise destination, but I am super excited!

Mom and Dad........not so much.

More details on this at a later date!

My bedroom is decorated in black and white (big surprise right!) and I am searching for the perfect chair for it. I love the one in this picture, but I just can't find one in "real life" that works. It's my latest mission!



So that's 10 things I am working on today.....the 10th of March!

Seriously where is this year going?????????

Gatsby Gone

I've been in love with The Great Gatsby since the first time I read it. Only to fall in love with the characters even deeper when I watched the movie. Robert Redford and Mia Farrow were the perfect people to play Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Sam Waterson is one of my favorite actors, he was great on the original Law and Order, and his portrayal of Nick Caraway was exactly like I imagined it while reading the book.

I was sad to hear today that the Mansion of inspiration is being demolished! Apparently its beyond repair and the owners can't see spending the small fortune it would take to repair it.

This is the actual mansion that was the inspiration for Jay Gatsby's estate

The movie version was a little different, but still similar

These two were made for each other

True Love!



Okay no more mushiness, I am off to shower and get ready for work.

Yes, I am blogging before work. That's what happens when insomnia kicks in and makes sleep a thing of the past. Even with the rain I am still not in the least bit sleepy. That isn't to say that I am not tired. Actually I am exhausted, but sleepy...not so much!

Terrible, horrible, rotten, no good, bad day.............

Amazon once again saved the day! It's been a terrible, horrible, rotten, no good, bad day. Details to come later, but for now I just wanted to show you my newest acquistion...........

Once again I got free shipping...because Amazon loves me and I am sure they knew today needed some brightening up.

Happy Birthday Lucy!

Remember sweet Lucy I told you about last week?

Today is her 5th Birthday and she is spending it in the hospital. :(

Bless her little heart.

Head on over to her Mama's blog

http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com/

to wish Lucy a happy happy 5th Birthday!

Weekend Wrap

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine was probably the best one I have had in a really long time. Carrie and I had the opportunity to chaperone a high school dance Friday night. Sound fun? It was a blast! It was a western dance (Chicks and Hicks) fundraiser for Mama's class. Pictures are coming I promise! More students showed up than I expected and they ended up raising over $400! I'm not sure those kids knew what to think of me and Carrie. Probably because we were on the dance floor dancing right along with them instead of watching every move they made like normal chaperones. Little did they know we were watching just being sneaky about it. Ha!

Saturday Carrie and I went to the Women's Day Expo and got to meet Gretchen Rossi from the Real Housewives of Orange County, and her boyfriend Slade. She really is just as sweet in real life as she is on TV, and he is much cuter in person. It was quite an eventful day what with the rain, walking a mile to the expo and another mile back to the car, a quick trip to the mall and an amazing sushi lunch! By the time I got home a nap was all I could think about.

I wore flats for comfort, but I should have worn heels.

Look how short I look compared to them!

HA!

Yesterday was Sunday Funday/Family Funday!

I am in dire need of a couch so it turned into Furniture Funday! I made Dad sit on about ummmmmmmmmmmmm 200 couches!

Too bad I found zero that will fit just the way I want. I hate when I get an idea in my head and then realize its basically impossible. Oh and FYI.....my headboard......still not hung! At this point I am thinking its not even needed and i'll just sell it.

It's Monday! It's Monday and I have about 18750375693091275659 things that I need to do today. I'm so thankful to be off today.

Side Note: Say a little prayer for Lily. She may have to have surgery in the next few days. She may be 8 but I still see that sweet little baby, and I don't want her to be in pain.

Family

It's "Show us your life" Friday over at Kelly's Korner, and today's topic is family.

I love my family! I am blessed to have amazing parents who have greatly sacrificed over the years for me and my sister. They never gave me any idea that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be. I have grown up in a house full of love and for that I am eternally grateful. They are my twin pillars without whom I could not stand. I am proud to be their daughter.

My Daddy is my hero, without him I would be lost. He is the most amazing man!

I can't count how many times in the last 24 years he has instilled in me to be independent and work hard to provide for myself. "Don't ever depend on a man, because they will let you down" he says. I work hard daily to make sure that never happens. He is quiet and shy and caring and I love him dearly! I am proud to call him my Daddy.

My Mother is a sacrificial mother. She would give her own life for Cassie or I and not think twice about it. Without her I would nothing. She definitely isn't quiet or shy. (which is where I get it from I'm sure) She has taught me to give rather than to receive, to think of others before myself, to treat others as I would want to be treated, to think before I speak ( still working on this one) to work hard, to plan for the future and to enjoy life. I am proud to call her my Mother.

Cassie is truly a gift straight from God. Of this I am sure! Being only 20 months apart, we are amazingly close. I have mothered (more like smothered) her since Jan. 18th, 1988 and I plan to continue! I am still shocked that she got married and pregnant first! Cassie is married to a great guy, Josh, and they are expecting their first baby, Tate, in July. I am thrilled to become an Aunt! I'll try not to smother him.....no promises!

Cassie's the best and I am proud to be her big Sister.

Friends are great, but at the end of the day my Family are the most important people in my life.

Dad, Mom, Cassie, Josh and soon Tate........that's what life is all about.

Not fame or fortune......FAMILY!

Go Lucy Go!

I have to post about Lucy! She is just too precious not to!

Most of my readers are readers of Kelly's Korner too. So you already know about Miss Lucy. For those of you who don't read Kelly's blog (and I highly suggest that you start) this is Lucy.

She was diagnosed last week with medulla blastoma, a form of brain cancer. She had 3 tumors on her brain, one one her spine, as well as a "sugar coating" of cancer running down her spine. After this dangerous surgery is completed, she will then undergo chemo and radiation at St. Jude in Memphis.




These are her parents Kate and Erik.

Physical therapy

*ALERT*

The next two pictures are real tear jerkers!

Big Sis Ella holding her hand

This picture reminds me so much of Cassie and I when we were little.

How sweet is this?

*Officially crying again!

Just from reading Kate's blog I can see that Erik is the kind of Daddy like I have. The kind that would give their own life to save that of their children. The kind that would more than willingly take every ounce of pain on themselves rather than see their child suffer. That's a real Daddy!

More painful physical therapy

Keep this sweet girl and her family in your prayers!




*Note: All pictures were taken from Kate's blog. Feel free to follow Lucy's progress there.

http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com/