November 23, 2008

Weekend Recap and a lil recipe for ya!

So another weekend comes to an end. For most people at least. Not I.
I hope everyone had a great one and that it didn't fly by too fast for you! Ours was pretty low key. We did NOTHING friday night. Which seems to becoming a pattern lately. One I am pretty happy with. I made steaks and baked potatoes and we catched up at a couple DVR'd shows. We watched Law and Order SVU and ER. We were seriously both asleep a little after 10 on the couch! Ha! We're getting old and boring!!
Saturday, we got up pretty early and got some errands done. First stop was to the post office to mail Blue Eyed Bride and Red, White and Preppy's candles to them. Sorry girls! This post office isn't opened on Saturdays?? Who knew.. I thought they all were. Looks like I'll be sending them to you tomorrow. I really hope you get them before Thanksgiving.. I think you should. Anywho.. after we got home, hub went out and did some raking. I stayed in and gave the house the emaculate cleaning it really really needed. While cleaning, I noticed that a couple of radio stations are already playing 24/7 Christmas music!! Too early you say? Not so much says I! Got me in a little bit of a Christmas mood so we invited friends over later that night to watch Elf and Christmas Vacation. Two of my yearly Christmas movie necessities! I made a delicious Baked Ziti recipe that I'll post down on the bottom. It was a hit!
Today we went to my parents to watch The Patriots beat up on Miami. Great game! By far the most entertaining game of the year. And of course my mum had lots of goodies over there. Buffalo Chicken Dip, Chili, and a sandwhich ring. I'm stuffed!! Now we are just had home relaxing, doing some laundry and will probably watch a movie. Love Actually if I get my way.

Tomorrow I'll be busy getting ready for our trip. We are going to Huntsville, Alabama for Thanksgiving to see Hubs family. We're leaving Tuesday night and will be back Sunday afternoon. It'll be nice to get out of town for a little bit! I'll be sad to be away from my parents during the holiday though. When we come back, my cousin from Massachusetts will be here visiting. She is a senior in high school and is thinking about coming down here to USC for college. Which by the way will make my life complete for her to be here so I'm crossing my fingers :)

Thankfully, I'll still be connected to everyone while in Alabama. Trey has to do some stuff for his class so we'll have to bring the laptop. Great thing too.. around that wacked grandfather of his *and I say that with a very fond heart* I'm sure there's lots of stuff I'll have to post about!

Here's the baked ziti recipe I promised:

You'll need:
1lb of ziti
2-26 oz jars of speghetti sauce
1lb of italian sausage
1/2 onion
1 1/2 cup of sour cream
8 oz shredded mozzerella
8 oz shredded parm cheese
6 oz of sliced provelone cheese

boil the ziti for 8 minutes, drain
While that's going, brown crumbled sausage and onion together, add speg. sauce and simmer for 15 minutes
Lightly grease bottom of a 13x9 pan (I used Pam)
Add 1/2 of ziti, 1/2 of sauce mix on top of that, provolone cheese, sour cream, rest of ziti, rest of sauce, mozzerella cheese, parm cheese.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Uncover and bake for another 5-10 minutes.

That's it.. very easy and very delish!

To bold or not to bold

I saw this post over at Wandering DC's blog (very cute one by the way.. it should be checked out ) and thought this looked fun.. so here we go! Just bold everything that you have done if you want to do the same.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with dolphins *on my list of things to do before I die*
03. Climbed a mountain * i don't know if it can be considered a huge mountain by any means.. but I've definately hiked up a small one *
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula * yeaaa right*
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said "I love you" and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped * no desire*
11. Visited Paris * on my list *
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights * Confession: I'm not sure what this is.. feel free to enlighten me*
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon *on the list*
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment *part of my day to day life*
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and didn't care who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states *I will one day*
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk.. ha!
42. Had amazing friends *still do!*
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving *no desire*
51. Visited Ireland *on the list*
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke *one of my favorite past times*
59. Lounged around in bed all day *not in a long long time though*
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theatre *on list*
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight *not sure what D&D is*
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days .. impossible
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on a television news program as an "expert"
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents *thankfully this one doesn't have to be bolded*
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking *everyday*
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback (WTH?)
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth *Watched..does that count?*
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol *pistol)
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about *maybe??*
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed *love it*
132. Touched a cockroach *not on purpose*
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

Conclusion:
I think I need some spice in my life!! I don't think I bolded even 1/3 of these!!

November 18, 2008

Drum Roll Please!!

Hub was such a great help tonight and just picked the three lucky winners out of his lucky Alabama hat!


Readyyy......

1. Blue-Eyed Bride

2. Red White and Preppy

3. Heather at .. and now I'm a grown up.


Congrats girls! I really really hope you enjoy your candle. Feel free to post about how you like it once you get it.. only if you like it though ; )


Please email me with your address for me to send it to and which candle you want. Refer back to this post for a list of scents to choose from! There are two new ones: Holly Berry and Bayberry. My email address is jayetton@hotmail.com.

I'm so glad that all of you participated. I wish I could have picked everyone!!

November 17, 2008

Cant buy me love love

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Ours was pretty quite, but I loved it. Our income has taken a slight cut so we have cut out any unnecessary spending. Which means NO going out to eat, NO more out of the house date nights (that cost money at least), and NO more happy hour or out on the town nights with friends. Sad? A little maybe, but don't feel too sorry for me. I'm sure it will get a little old, but I really did enjoy my weekend with hub. Friday night I cooked dinner and we watched movies that we have taped on the DVR (HBO free for 3 months.. we've been taping EVERYTHING), Saturday morning hub went to the gun and knife show with his dad. Gave me some time to get stuff done around the house. When he got home it was football, football, football. Another couple that we are friends with had a little get together at their house for the Carolina and Alabama game. *Boo Carolina, Yea Alabama* At least I have one team I can count on :) Sunday we did a whole lot of nothing. Bummed around. My brother came over for a little bit.
I know everyone is having a hard time financially right now. We're just trying to be as smart as we can. Trying to save as much as we can. We haven't always been very cautious with our savings and I'm really hoping that it's not too late to start being that way now!

One bright side to all of this is that it's really forcing us to focus on our relationship. We've talked about so much over the past week. About what's making us happy, what's not making us so happy, what we want out of life, what needs to change.. etc. We're depending on each other for entertainment, companionship, whatever. Our relationship has been so closely involved with our friends since day one so this is really a bigger deal that what it may seem. But it's good.. very good actually! I'm very lucky to be married to my best friend in entire world and that's definately something I realize over and over again. Especially now!

Speaking of saving... Let me just report to you the outcome of my trips the the grocery stores today. Yes, I go to two different stores most of the time. Depending on the sales.
Bi-lo ~ My inial total was $80.63. After sale prices were deducted and coupons as well, the amount I actually paid was... $45.90!!
Publix ~ Initial total was $132.41. Actually paid.. ready?? This one is really exciting.. $60.86!!!
Can you believe it? I get so excited. It's like a game to me! Thank you thegrocerygame.com for saving me big bucks on groceries especially since we won't be treating ourselves to dinners out at restaurants!!

Watch for my post tomorrow as I'll be picking the three winners for my Annie's Candles giveaway!!

November 16, 2008

Only 9??

Really?
I'm going to have to insist that more people want in on my giveaway for the following reasons:

This is my first one, I was way too excited about it, and the candles are delish.

Come on girls.. sign on up.
Clearly I'm not above begging...

November 13, 2008

My First Giveaway!

I am SO excited! VERY VERY excited! okay you get the point.

I've gotten so much great feedback on my mum's candles and I want to share them with more people! Who better to share them with then all my bloggie friends?? Sooo.. I'm picking three winners. All you have to do is let me know that you want in. I'll list options for the scents you can pick from. Leave me a little comment letting me know which one you would choose if you're the lucky winner! Win win situation for everybody. You get a yummy candle, Annie's Candles is getting the name out there :)

You'll love love love them, I promise.

Here's a list of scents she has going now:
Apples & Berries
Apple Jack & Peel (great fallish/thanksgivingish scent)
Christmas Cookies (more of a vanilla/almond scent)
Christmas Tree
Clean Cotton
Cranberry Apple Marmelade (this one has been a favorite)
English Garden
Gingerbread
Lilac
Mistletoe
Pumpkin Souffle (also a favorite)
Rose
Sandlewood
Santas Cookies (more of a cinnamonish scent)
Winter Garden

There may be more so I will update if I can think of anymore!!

I'll pick a winner Tuesday night (the 18th)

I would love for everyone to sign up!! Even if you've never left a comment. Don't be shy!!

November 11, 2008

I'm Still Here!

I am getting so so slack about coming on here and posting and if anyone has missed me (please say you have!?!) I am sorry for that. This girl's been staying busy lately!
Hub and I had a great weekend.
Friday night we hung out at the house. We had a pizza, wine, and movie night. We got to try that new pizza place I've been talking about. You know. The real New York style pizza place I mentioned. Giovanni's. It's delish. And Cheap. And 4 minutes away from my house. Not a good thing seeing as how I'm trying to avoid that crap. *I say as I'm getting ready to watch The Biggest Loser* Teeheee. We watched Saw 4. I liked. Kept me guessing the whole time. I get pretty excited over a scary/gory movie. Love turning the lights off, lighting some of my mama's amazing candles, having a couple glasses of wine and cuddling on the couch. Perfect night.
Saturday, we woke up pretty early. Trey headed straight back to the couch to get ready for football. I went and did a little bit o' shopping at TJ Maxx. I LOVE our TJ's over here. Never fail to find some good deals. Got a pair of Seven jeans for $25. That's over 1/2 off. Love it. Came home, watched a very very heart clenching Alabama/LSU game. Oh myyy.. I couldn't even watch the first half in the same room as Trey. But they did pull it out in overtime *thank God* and it was a good night for us. We then went out for our friend Brandon's birthday. Had a great time. SOMEONE had a little too much of a good time and for once it was not me. I'm not sure if I even got tipsy. But I did have a great time out with our friends. Never a dull moment that's for sure.
Sunday.. went to my parents house to help her make 10 lbs of meatballs and watch The Patriots. It was good spending more time over there but sadly, it was not for a good occasion. My dad's boss, Marty Hastings, who I posted about a little further back, passed away Saturday morning. He's been battling cancer and lost the battle this weekend. My parents went to see their family Friday night, so it was good that they got to see him one last time. My mum said they were in good spirits. I think they have accepted this was just his time and I have to imagine that they didn't want to see him suffering anymore. I hope it is comforting them to know that he is with God now and not feeling any pain and living a perfect life with Him. The wake is Wednesday and the funeral Thursday. I know it will be emotional time for everyone. My dad's been working for him for years and years and years and I know he thought a lot him. From what I've seen Mr. Hastings was a very very good man and a lot of people will want to be there to celebrate the 50 years of his life he had here. I just pray for comfort for the family that he left behind.

Now we're back to the work week!
It's been good so far. Hub and I have been commited to spending less time in front of the TV. It's been consuming us way too much lately. It's like we've barely been speaking to each other when we get home from work. Now we've been coming home, working out, he's helping me make dinner, and we're eating it at the dinner table together.. NOT IN FRONT OF THE TV. It's been great and I feel like we're getting closer again. Love <3 Not that it's been too too big of a problem, but something did need to change. I've been loving it :)

I also received two awards over the weekend! Thanks Beth and Heather! Those deserve their own seperate post so I'll get on that tomorrow.
Have a great rest of the week!!!

November 6, 2008

These are a few of my *un*favorite things

One of my fav bloggers did a post today on her top 10 pet peeves and it inspired me. I don't know why I wanted to do it immediately since it will make me think of things that make my blood boil but it just looked fun. And it might be interesting to see if anyone has the same peeves or if some of mine are just completely off the wall. At any rate.. here they are. I don't think they'll be in any particular order. Thanks, Heather, for the inspiration!

1. Being lied to
This is definately my number one pet peeve. I HATE when people lie to me. There's really no need for it. It doesn't matter what I'm being lied to about. It could be anything from "oh no... I really can't come shopping with you because I have have a funeral to go to" to "Yeah.. your hair looks great" when really I look like a fool. Just tell me the truth. It takes a lot to make me mad and when I do get mad I'm over it in about 2 and 1/2 minutes. Just tell me the truth!

2. Cotton Balls
*I'm so glad to know i'm not the only one* It's hard for me to even type this while thinking about it. Ughgghhhhh.. I'm cringing. I can't stand the feel of it in my hand. And the thought of stretching it out.. OMG. I break out in chill bumbs and shudder. I can't be around them.

3. When people go in out doors and out in doors.
I know I know.. why let something like that get to you?? It really does though. Just bc that out door may be closer to you.. it's not there for you to go in. It's for people to go out. And bc you want to go in, people who are using it for it's correct purpose, to go out, have to get out of your way. Just walk the extra foot to the in door please.

4. Not being on time.
That goes for other people and for the rare times that I'm late. I understand the occasional slip. For other people this is more of a gripe if your habitually late. Please don't make me wait and wait and wait. It's rude actually. And for myself, I consider being on time late. I like to be somewhere *lets say work for example* early. If I'm going to be at work right at 8:30, I spaz just a little, call our amazing receptionist, and tell her I may be late. I get panicky. Crazy? Maybe a little.

5. People not using their blinkers.
There's not much I can say on this one. Other than, if I'm waiting to turn on a street, and your driving down said street, please put your blinker on if your turning on the street I'm on. I could have pulled out a full 3 or 4 seconds earlier if I knew you were turning. Now I just sat there and waited and waited watching you make your turn. You better hope that I wasn't running late!!

6. Judgement.
Now I'm not perfect on this note. I do try to check myself when I realizing I'm doing it though. Along with this category is racism.. ignorance.. you know. I don't live in a "let's hold hands and sing together" kind of world, but I do think we could all do a little bit of a better job of being tolerant of each other. I understand that we all judge a little bit, we're human, it's what we do. But when it consumes you and becomes hate.. that's when I think it's rediculous (?). Don't be ugly!

7. Insects.
All of them. The small, the big, the creepy, the crawly. I don't like them. I don't want them around me. I spaz when they decide to come around me anyway. I've been like this since I've been able to breathe so i'm not sure this will ever go away.

8. Satellite TV.
For the most part it's ok. But for those two or three times it's happened in the past 9 months.. curse you Dish TV. Nothing's worse than being in the middle of your favorite show and having it go out on you. You want to see mad?? Don't worry.. I'll get over it.

9. Something being right on the tip of my tounge but I can't quite get it out. It will consume me and I will not rest until I get it.

I really can't think of one more at the moment and I'm spending way too much time sitting here racking my brain. So there's my list. That was nice.. getting it off my chest. I would love to hear some of everyone else's strange peeves!

November 4, 2008

And now we wait!

I got to the polls at 8:00 this morning. I didn't think about the fact that we'd be outside waiting. Didn't bring a jacket. My poor little buhonkus froze!!! I was so cold I could barely text.. which that along with the rednecks *don't mean to offend* behind me kept me sane during the three hours I waited. I don't mean rednecks as in from the south. No no.. I don't think all southerners are rednecks by any means. I mean the people that smoked the ENTIRE time. (Enter a little known fact about me.. I strongly dislike being around smokers). Complained really loudly the entire time with loud breathy sighs as well. Made other rednecks friends and talked.. again.. really loudly about their strange strange life. Things that I would never tell strangers. One of them gave up after an hour and a half of waiting.. and I quote, "I can't take this shit nomore. I'm going to take a nap. My bed is much warmer than this". Goodbye.. you probably shouldn't be voting anyways!!!!
Anywho... I didn't plan for that to be the focus of my post.
How exciting is this???? The race is so close. A lot closer than I though it was going to be! Hub and I are in our sweats watching the votes come in and the electoral map light up state by state. I've never came out and said who I was voting for, but I did vote for McCain. Of course I want him to win, but I'm not sweating it too much. Hub on the other hand has had a couple minor annurisms, but I feel like there's nothing else we can do to change anything so why worry about it now? Whatever will be will be, right? No need to get my panties in a wad.. I've done my part. I can only hope for the best for our country! And let's not forget who's hands we're all really in anyway right?

November 2, 2008

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself

Here's my story..

Spent a couple hours at my parents house today while Hub was home... yup.. you guessed it... sick. I passed it on over to him :( He's usually a much better sport about these things though so hopefully it won't be too bad. I'll take good care of him!
Anyway.. I leave my parents house and start driving down the road. Driving, driving, driving.. pass my brother, wave.. drive more, drive more.... About 15 minutes later, I'm heading down 77, jamming to some sweet tunes, when I realize.. where the hell am I?? Why am I on 77 and how do I get back home from here?
I know very well when I turn out of my parents neighborhood I am to keep going straight all the way to 20. This is NOT a new concept to me. Why today do I decide to make an extra turn and go 15 miles down 77?? Who knows! I had to call my dad and have him give me directions on how to get home ( I had already passed the exit to get on 20).. yeah.. so there's my day in a nutshell.
Now, on a mission to find this mysterious pizza place that is supposedly (?) right around my house and is supposedly (?) REAL NEW YORK STYLE pizza. So says the lady from Mass. I met the other day at CVS. I can't seem to find it anywhere.. Let's try not to get lost this time :)

I'll be cheering my Pats on tonight.. playing the Colts!! Wooohooooooo!!

November 1, 2008

Updates

I am still sick. Though I wouldn't quite call it miserable anymore. Definately not with a capital M.
I was persuaded to go back to the doctor Thursday afternoon and he put me on yet another antibiotic. I was fine all day yesterday, convinced myself I was going to the Carolina/Tennessee game after all. Not so much. I am resigned to the couch all day. I'm just now starting to slow down on the coughing from 7:30 last night. Yuck. The frigid air of the 7:00ish football game would probably not be so good for me. Very disappointed. Oh welllll...

Last night went pretty well (besides the continuous coughing). My chili came out very well despite all odds. We got through the first two Saw movies. I fell asleep within the first 15 minutes of number three, so we'll have to continue that saga at some point. Buuttt... I only had 4 trick-or-treaters. I was looking forward to seeing many many customes. The ones that did come were adorable though! And that leaves me with one huge problem. Lots and lots of Halloween candy left in my house. I will be taking it all to the office Monday morning. If it makes it that long.. teehheee..

My brother signed his paperwork with the Air Force (National Guard I think). He'll be taking his test in the next week or two and getting his physical down. He's excited. This kid shows NO emotion. NONE. But he was very animated while describing his morning and talking about his options. I hope it works out for him.. I'm sure it will!

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I can see myself getting pretty restless laying around here all day. Maybe I'll finish my Eclipse book and move on to the 4th story. And get some laundry done of course. Maybe make it over to Mum's house to pick up some candles. We got a lot of orders this week :)