Amarillo by Morning on Valentine's Day

I left for Amarillo bright and early on Valentine's Day. For some reason I really enjoy the drive to Amarillo. There is no big city to slow me down as I make my trek. I think I saw a meth deal occurring on the side of the road between Clarendon and Memphis. There were some shady looking people with several coolers. A little odd.

Anyway, when I arrived in Amarillo, Mom and I got to work on my apron. I got a sewing machine for Christmas, and it hadn't been removed from the box. I was a little intimidated about getting started on this new sewing machine (or ANY sewing machine), so Mom set me up. The lady who cut my fabric at Jo-Ann's really inspired me to become a great seamstress. She highly recommended the sewing lessons offered at Jo-Ann's and was telling me about a teenage girl who was making her own prom dress. Wow...an apron seemed like a formidable challenge to me!

Here are a few pics throughout the entire apron making process. I looked too bad that day so you won't see any pics of me!






PS...My next project is a leisure suit for Todd....be jealous!

My Red Headed Sweatshirt

This one will be quick and not very interesting, but at least I'm blogging! I had to come up with a catchy title (funny Adam Sandler song) although it is not exactly the sweatshirt that I am describing!

Ok...on my Thursday full of errands, I saw TWO (not just one, but TWO) ladies wearing an oversized EXPRESS sweatshirt from the early 90s. Did anyone else have a sweatshirt like this? Mine was hunter green and had the big "EXP" letters on the front made out of plaid material. People wore them with leggings and stirrup pants. It just made me chuckle that I saw one while I was at Northeast Mall and one while I was at Sam's.

Please tell me that someone else had a sweatshirt like this, or maybe it was just and Amarillo thing! I totally wish that I had a picture of one!

Crazy Day Off (am I a Soccer Mom?!?)

My day off just started weird. I finally had everything set up to take my car into the body shop for repairs, so I headed there first. I waited quite awhile for the Enterprise people to show up, which frustrated me greatly. When I arrived to get my rental car, they handed me keys to a black Dodge Grand Caravan minivan! What in the world?!? That's all they had left. They stated that the ice storm last week caused so many wrecks that there is now a rental car shortage! I never realized how long a minivan is until getting to drive one today!

After picking up my Soccer Mom mobile (please don't be offended if you have a minivan...it just isn't my ideal rental car), I headed off to Northeast Mall. I have been on a hot pursuit for cruise clothes, so shopping is my new hobby. I had a little bit of luck finding some fun clothes. I also needed some more foundation so I headed to the Clinique counter in Dillards. The makeup associated lured me into purchasing more makeup by asking me if I wanted to try a new eye color. I stated that I was looking for a fun new eye color, so I sat down for her to CHANGE my face. She went very dramatic with my eye and lip colors. I felt VERY made up and kept thinking that people were staring at me as I walked through the mall.

I then headed off to Sam's as I needed to get some food items for a bridal shower that I am helping with. My parents gave me Sam's Club membership gift certificate for Christmas, so I had to get my picture taken for my membership card. I was chuckling to myself that I got my makeup done just for my Sam's Club card picture. I look great on the card! I must say that it was nice to load all of my Sam's goodies into a roomy minivan. I felt like I needed to then rush off and pick up my 2 kids at soccer practice.

Where did the last eight years go?!?

I didn't get to catch much of the inaugural festivities today due to work, but I had a flashback today of watching George W's inaugural events in 2001. I vividly remember Dad and I helping Todd move into his Austin apartment during that January 2001 weekend. I watched George W's Inaugural Parade from a blow-up mattress in Todd's new apartment. I began to think of how many major things have occurred in my life during the eight years that George W. was in office.

Here are the highlights (I hope I can remember everything!):

• Todd and Candace got married
• Graduated from Texas A&M
• Moved back to Amarillo to start pharmacy school
• My Grandma passed away
• Brennan was born
• Graduated from pharmacy school
• Moved to San Antonio
• My Grammie passed away
• Completed a pharmacy practice with emphasis in geriatrics residency (praise Jesus!)...this should almost count for 5 years...I think it knocked 5 years off of my life!
• Took job at Harris Methodist and moved to Fort Worth
• Ella was born
• Many weddings (including a cousin, many friends, and both of my college roomies!)
• Several trips (Columbus, New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Indianapolis, Anaheim, Playa del Carmen, Boone, Minneapolis, New Orleans)

It is amazing how fast eight years can go by, but a lot of wonderful things can happen in this quick time!

Thanks President Bush for all of the leadership and service you gave to our country. I pray that President Obama seeks wisdom from the Lord as you did.

The Whiskey Dent

So Saturday night turned out to be a little weird for me! Jessica and I headed downtown in my car to meet some other friends at Mi Cocina and then to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. We chose to park in the parking garage close to Bass Hall and Barnes & Noble. As I was heading up the first ramp in the garage, I had to stop to let a Civic pull out. All of a sudden, Jessica and I felt a large bump and rock to the back of my NEW car!! Argh! A truck that was also backing up decided to hit the right rear and bumper of my NEW car!! The guy got out of his large truck and called the damage to my car a "whiskey dent." Anyone else heard of this phrase?!? I decided to Google this phrase because I wasn't sure if it is a dent caused by someone who had been drinking whiskey or if it is a dent caused by someone throwing a whiskey bottle at a car. It turns out that the phrase "whiskey dent" is actually in the Toby Keith song "You Already Love Me." Who would have ever known? There also is a folk band named the Whiskey Dents who play Irish and Americana music. Thanks Google!

I have included a picture for you! It isn't horrible, but the first boo-boo sure does hurt! I've only paid one car payment...what a bummer!!

Bring out another box of Kleenex...

I know I totally need to be in bed, but I usually can't go to sleep right away after working the evening shift. Anyway, I decided to watch yesterday's episode of The Biggest Loser. WOW...I needed a whole box of Kleenex for this episode. Did anyone else feel the same?!? The scene that got me the most was when 19 year old Daniel (heaviest contestant EVER on the show) struggled to climb up the mountain and all of his teammates came to help him. It was like I was watching the hospital scene in Terms of Endearment or the cemetery scene in Steel Magnolias. Please tell me that someone else out there feels the same way!!

I'm trying to figure out who I want to won this season. I'm definitely going with Daniel and Tara. Hopefully they won't backstab anyone so that I have to remove my allegiance to them!!

Move it or Lose the Yogurt....

Does anyone else have trouble getting their yogurt at the grocery store? It never fails that by the time I make it to the yogurt section there is some slow poke trying to gingerly pick out their yogurt selection. I usually get everything else I need around this section and then head back to the vast yogurt wonderland. There is then usually ANOTHER slow poke trying to decide his/her yogurt flavors like it was as important as picking out a diamond ring or something! I eventually push my way through and grab all of my favorite yogurt flavors that I can get my paws on!!

My current faves (all Yoplait Light--yeah, yeah I'm supporting a French company, but I love the flavors!!):

-Strawberry (Thick and Creamy)
-Key Lime Pie (Thick and Creamy)
-Boston Cream Pie
-Lemon Cream Pie (do you see a theme?)
-Apple Turnover
-Orange Creme

I haven't seen any of the new flavors that have been recently advertised! That will just make more flavor choices for all of the yogurt slow pokes out there!