Family, Adventures, and Gadgets Collide

Are you a creature of habit? I certainly am, especially when it comes to cooking dinner. {Of course, I'm more in the habit of picking up dinner!} When I do cook dinner, I typically cook the same meals or at least use similar ingredients in most of my recipes. Rotel and Cream of Chicken soup are staples in my pantry! =) Well tonight, I crawled out of my shell and tried something new. As my husband and daughter were headed out the door for soccer practice {Yes, my husband's awesome like that! He'll take Kailey to practice so that I can get things done at home.}, my daughter says "Mom, can you make spaghetti for dinner?" Now, spaghetti is one of my daughter's FAVORITE foods; however, it is NOT anywhere near my list of favorites. But remember, this is a time when I was feeling bold and was willing to experiment. So, I called my parents and invited them over for dinner to test out my experiment. I just wouldn't be satisfied with feedback from my husband and...

I've mentioned before that one of my responsibilities at school is to do the morning announcements on the school PA system. Yep, that's right! I start off everyone's school day  with a quick musical intro and then a daily dose of what's goin' on in and around our school. (I really don't mind it. It's kind of fun!) So last school year we started a tradition of hosting a spring Father-Daughter dance. Every successful dance has a rockin' DJ, right? Well, guess who my principal recommended to the PTO moms as the DJ? Oh yeah, your's truly! {Do you think listing "school DJ" on a resume would help me land a job later on in life? Hahaha!} Well I survived our first dance last school year -- it went very well I might add. Lots of F-U-N!!! It's now time for that darling dance again and here's where you come in to play. I would LoVe to hear suggestions from you about songs that are a MUST to play at the dance. I've been going through my...

Really, it was! A MANIC MONDAY!!! While I wasn't really ready for my Spring Break to be over, I certainly did not wish to start my week back to work in Manic Madness! Has this ever happened to you??? ... You go to bed late, wake up a time or two in the middle of the night for a bathroom break, and then the next thing you know you open your eyes, look over at the clock, and ... [Image from WikiMedia Commons ] Scream! That's right, you scream because the clock says 7:25 and you are supposed to be at work in 5 minutes. Yes, 5 minutes! 5 MINUTES!!!!! Even if I didn't have to take a shower, dry my hair, get dressed, put on some make-up, grab some breakfast, pack my lunch, and run out the door. I still couldn't make it to work in 5 minutes. It takes me 15 minutes just to drive to work! You do the math on that one! So, I called school to let them know I would be late and then hit the floor like a MANIC! MAD!! WOMAN!!! {My husband says I should take a shower that fast a...

Have I told you how much I despise cold weather? No? Well, I much prefer 100 degree temps over 50 degrees ANY day! This is why living in Texas is perfect for me. Well almost perfect. Someday when the hubby and I retire, we may find us a little beach hut to live in during the winter months. That way on the rare occasion when it does snow , we'll have somewhere warm to go hibernate! And since I LoVe warm weather, the fact that spring is in the air makes me HAPPY! Something else that reeeaaallllllyyy makes me happy ... That's right, I participated in Life as Lori's " Spring Fling " and am so HAPPY with my surprises. Don't you just LoVe surprises?!! Deb, from Sweet Tea , and I were paired up for the spring gift swap fun. I enjoyed getting to know Deb by stalking browsing her blog. She's a FUN gal! Go check out her blog and see the surprises I sent her. But first, check out the goodies I received! This is me opening my package. Don't you just Lo...

Who doesn't LoVe a good BOOK? Who doesn't LoVe a good, FREE BOOK?!! I'm hoping to be a lucky winner and receive a FREE BOOK from Finesse Your Nest's give away.

Please join me as I celebrate the completion of my FIRST half-marathon ! Today was my big race: the Cowtown Half-Marathon! {Read more about my running journeys along the way here .} I achieved my goals that I set out to accomplish: 1) finish the race and 2) run the entire 13.1 miles . And ... I did it! I ran jogged the entire 13.1 miles and finished the race! Woohoo!!! My unofficial time as I crossed the finish line was 2 hours and 37 minutes. I'm told that I can probably knock off at least 10-15 minutes to allow for delay in actual start time. I'll hopefully find out soon what my actual time was; although, I really am just proud to say I finished! {That's me in the light blue jacket. I was SO relieved when I saw my hubby & daughter! My daughter jumped on the course and finished the last quarter mile with me!} {After the race with one of my strongest supporters! She's an amazing friend and an incredible woman!}

I admit ... I'm a blog stalker! I enjoy peeking in on others blogs to laugh, cry, and be inspired. Wouldn't you agree that it's fun to live vicariously through others blogs?!!? ... Admit it, you're a blog stalker too! And just in case you need some direction in good blogs to stalk, allow me to lead the way. Need a little something to make you laugh ? Check out this post by One Crafty Mama ! Don't you just LoVe the new definitions! Or how about this Tornado of a story from Controlling My Chaos for a good chuckle! How about a chance to be a winner ? Check out this Fantastic Give Away  at the Thrifty Decor Chick . But you better stay away from Coastal Charm's Cash Giveaway ! ~ Okay, go check it out, but if you win, you have to share! Are you in need of some inspiration ? How about this awesome Zipper Daisy from Crafaholics Anonymous? Um, yeah. I could make that. Well, if I could sew I could make that, um maybe. Still need more inspiration ? Go on over to ...