Hosting Bunco

I love throwing parties!  In fact, if I could pay the bills by doing it I would!  I'm excited about hosting bunco in August...really, one week away.  (Can you believe there is only one more week until August?! Where did this year go?)  After lots of different programs and frustration I have finally created a collage of my inspiration for my month's bunco.  (Thanks Mary for the final working program!)

Although bunco is not necessarily a party, I am still a theme freak, so of course I had to come up with a theme for August bunco.  Since football season is just around the corner I chose tailgating for the theme.  I have encouraged all the girls to sport their favorite team's attire.  I'm assuming there will be lots of LSU and Saints shirts and jerseys worn.   On the menu is...sliders, mini hot dogs, waffle fries & loaded baked potato dip, jalapeno popper dip, veggies, fruit, cake balls, soft drinks, and of course some adult beverages.  I hope it all turns out delicious! I'm excited!  It's so much fun to get together with all the girls and hang out and relax...and winning a prize is pretty nice too! 

Lifestyle Change

DIET...it is most definitely a four letter word, if you know what I mean! Something always motivates me to start a new diet, but never fails, I do not stick with it.  I'm not good at counting calories or skipping sweets or following the diets where you can have this food on a certain day and this food on a different day.  It just doesn't work for me.   I do like to see immediate results when I do something, and dieting never has an immediate result, so that must be why I get discouraged.  I don't feel that I am obese or even that overweight, but I am definitely out of shape.  My clothes don't fit quite like I want them to.  I wasn't super comfortable in my bathing suit at the beach.  I would like to wear one size smaller. You get the picture.   And I will be the first to admit that I eat terrible.  I am infamous for picking up Wendy's breakfast on my way home after work (and of course I don't get fruit or anything remotely healthy).  My biggest weakness is ice cream.  I can't say no to a juicy cheeseburger or a piece of fried chicken! But something has got to give!  I have been having terrible acid reflux.  I eat Tums like they are candy.  I took a round of Prilosec (which I must say did help!)  But the reflux is still happening and it is causing awful nausea.  I should probably get it checked out by a specialist, but the nurse in me wants to try to fix it myself before having to pay an outrageous bill (because the insurance I have now is pretty terrible).   I have decided that instead of a diet I need a lifestyle change.   I need to be more conscious of what I eat and how often I eat.  I love vegetables, so I need to eat more of them!  From this day on I am making a promise to myself to make all efforts to eat right and exercise.  Speaking of exercise...that word is like a foreign language to me these days.  I have a membership at a gym that I can guarantee you has not been put to use in at least 10 months.  I find it very easy to make excuses not to exercise, and being tired is the #1 excuse.  Well heck, maybe if I exercised more I would have more energy and then I wouldn't be so tired all the time. Much easier said than done.  Along with my eating lifestyle change, I have decided to make exercise part of the lifestyle change as well.  Jon has agreed to start the Couch the 5K workout program with me (I always need a side-kick, someone to motivate me and make me go!)  So this Couch to 5K program lasts for 9 weeks.  You work out 3 days a week for 30 minutes each day.  I have downloaded the app, and I'm all geared up to get started.  I have heard great reviews so hopefully by September 24th I'll be able to run a 5K without any problem!  Maybe if I'm lucky I can run in the Race for the Cure 5K on September 17th and actually run the whole time!  Wish me luck!  This lifestyle change can only be a good thing...

Here are a few quotes I read that I had to share...


"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. "


I've decided that perhaps I'm bulimic and just keep forgetting to purge.  ~Paula Poundstone


"That's not sweat, it's my body crying!"




Here goes nothing...

Back to Reality

So, I'm back at work after a week long vacation.  I really enjoyed my time off of work and away from home, especially since I spent it laid out on the beach listening to the waves.  To be honest, though, I did miss home, and I most definitely missed my dogs!   It was so awesome to pick them up and see how excited they were to see us!  I think we were just as excited to see them too! :)  Anyway...here are a few pictures from the trip.  (Most of the pictures were not so cute, so I'm only sharing a few!)

 Jon and I ordered a "Mother Fokker" @ a pizza place called Fokkers

 Me with the younger, but not so little, brother

 Me and the sis at AJ's

 We decided to go ride go-carts and I can assure you we were the oldest ones there!

 Me and the hubs! :)

Below: the crew before parasailing

This is what I did most of the time...wore my awesome hat from Marley Lilly, read my Nook, and relaxed! It was nice! I hope you find time to relax and "getaway" from reality!

Ready for some R & R

Lately I feel like I have been working like a dog! (Not sure where that phrase originated from, but if you were basing it off of my dogs, it would mean I have in fact not worked very hard.  My dogs have the life-they lay around and cuddle with us, play in small spurts, eat, and sleep!)  Back to the subject at hand...I have been working quite a bit lately...but it's all in preparation for our week long vacation here...

We are headed to the beach in Florida this week and I CAN NOT WAIT!  I plan on sitting on the beach with this these two beauties in my hands...

I also plan on building a sandcastle or two, playing some mini-golf, shopping, eating delicious food, and spending time with my family! We will be staying with my parents and my brother.  My sister is going to be able to come down for part of the time and stay too, which will be nice because I haven't seen her since March!  My grandparents and aunt, uncle, and cousin will also be down there.  It's going to be a great time! I am so ready to relax and maybe get a little tan! I also plan on spending lots of quality time with this guy...

He sure does make life so much more enjoyable! I love him! :)

Your Smile

Remembering you today and everyday...

Your smile said it all!

Miss and love you more than words can say!

Some people come into our lives and quickly go,

Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts.

And we are never, ever the same. 

Getting ready for Baby Julian

Jon and I went to DFW this past weekend to visit with some friends and help shower them with gifts before their precious baby boy arrives in August.   I'll tell more about our full weekend later, because first I want to tell you about Adrianne's way cute baby shower.  It was hosted by 3 of her close friends (Kara, Katie, and Lisa).  They went with an owl theme and really made the place look cute! 

This was the banner hanging in the kitchen.  Isn't it super cute?

All the yummy food...

and the super delicious cake!  A full-time nurse/baker on the side made the cake! What an awesome job she did!!

The cookie buffet/party favor! Very creative!

Adrianne amongst all her gifts!  Julian is already one spoiled little boy! :)

This was at the entrance and gave each guest the opportunity to write a piece of advice for the mommy and daddy to be and hang it on the tree. What a sweet idea!

Me and the mommy-to-be, Adrianne!  

I am so excited for Adrianne and Ruben and I know that they will be amazing parents!  I can't wait to meet baby Julian! I know he will be precious!!

Happy 4th!

We are headed to DFW to visit with some awesome friends and to celebrate Independence Day! Hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend!

TGIF!!

Jon and I with Ruben and Adrianne (aka awesome friends)!

God Bless America!