Happy 39th Birthday Susan!!

Today is my sister's 39th birthday!!  She is ALMOST 40!!  

But seriously she looks like she is 25.  Lucky.  

I always say that we are completely different, but the same in a lot of ways.
We have completely different views and ideas about lots of things, but that's what makes it fun.

We don't look alike at all, but we are definitely sisters!

Not only is she my biological sister, she is my KD sister!

She's pretty great!
We used to fight - and may still sometimes do - like you would not believe, but the first person to say something or hurt her would get the wrath of Elizabeth.

I would play tricks on her growing up and one time she threw a hair pick at me and I pretended I was blinded and that I couldn't see and she started to run down to call 911 and I had to stop her.

She also used to burn my head with a curling iron on purpose.  Still scars me to this day - hahahahahahaha!!  (Kidding about the scarring.)

She gave birth to my nephews who I love more than life itself!

 She doesn't half do anything, she does it 2000 percent.  She won't say no, and she will do whatever it takes to get a job done and to do it better than right.

She's a dedicated hard worker, and she's my sister!

Happy Birthday!

The countdown to 40 is on!!!

Friday Night Is All Right for Writing

So it's about 9:30 on a Friday night, Lou is already asleep as he has to be at work in Nashville at 6 am, and I keep telling myself I am going to clean tomorrow, but we shall see if that happens.  It actually has to happen.

This week has been weird.  Weird in a good way and weird in a bad way.  Not really sure why.

I have been really bothered by all that is going on in Iraq and stumbled across a video that I will never ever be able to erase from my mind, and cannot believe what I saw, but I know that is happening all the time and it is so hard for me to just sit here and not be able to do anything.  But I have been praying.  Not really knowing what to say at all, but telling God that I don't know what to say.

I was driving out of school and at a stop sign looked at FB really quick and saw all of the posts of Robin Williams death.  I literally gasped and yelled NO in the car.  It's just shocking!

Two, TWO!! tanker trucks carrying gasoline wrecked and exploded here around Nashville in the last few days.  Not connected in any way, but still so random.  One driver lost his life and I cannot imagine what the family is going through.  The traffic is going to be horrendous for the next few months because it was under two bridges - one new and one old - and the new one was not complete, but they both have to be torn down.  In an already horribly congested area with construction, this is going to be nightmarish for months.  But someone's life was lost and it was not intentional and it could happen to anyone, so we have to remember the family and deal with what happens.  Thankfully I don't have to travel this way on a daily basis, but most of the families in my program do and every back road imaginable will now become clogged with more traffic trying to fight it's way into Nashville.  It's so easy to think about how our lives are going to be completely turned upside down, when this man's family is being turned upside down also.  I need a new mindset.

A mom I know is battling cancer.  She said I could ask for prayers for her.  The chemo is making her sick and I am just heartbroken for her and her family.  She has an amazing support system, but it is so hard to know she is fighting a horrible battle.

Here I am complaining that our HOA had made a new rule that we can't have our charcoal grill anymore, and there are people who are literally fighting to stay alive.  

There are just so many people and situations to pray for right now.  I don't even know what to pray for, but again God knows. 

With school starting and all of the school supplies being out everywhere, it literally makes my heart ache.  The thought of never being able to teach in my own classroom again is painful.  I know there is a reason I am not in the classroom, and I know that there is something bigger and better than I could ever imagine around the corner, and I am really learning to be patient and wait.  It's not easy, but what else can I do?  It's not in my time. 

In other news, work has been good!  We started our first full week of school programming and the response has been great!  I have kids whose parents come to pick them up and they are upset and don't want to go home, so the parents let them stay!  Our enrollment has skyrocketed!  I am truly blessed with a great staff and great kiddos and parents!

I am still washi tape cray cray and saw a roll on a fb page and looked through 35 pages of product on Etsy to find it and eventually did, but it was pennant banner/flags, so it was worth the hunt.

I got a much needed cut and color this week, and trying to be a little more brave with the cuts, so I got a cute bob, but you really can't tell, but I know so that's cool. 

I showed restraint at the Wal-Mart (on a day I actually went to 3 different Wal-Marts) when wanting to buy the stuff to make new living room curtains, but knew that I needed to wait.  Gotta clean first before I can make new ones.  And my reasoning for going to 3 Wal-Marts in one day???  Went to the first one for work, the second one to see if they had the grosgrain ribbon decorative adhesive tape that I found at the Wal-Mart by my house (that I despise going to with all of my being), and then finally had to go to my Wal-Mart and found what I wanted.  In my opinion, the best places to buy washi tape is Michael's.  I'm not really sure why Hobby Lobby hasn't jumped on the bandwagon and really taken stock in that.  They could make a killing!  I do however get my really cute stickers there. 

Trying to wrap my mind around a kind of emotional roller coaster of a week, but I know it will all be okay.  It will all get figured out.  That was my motto for the summer - We will figure it out.  And we always did and no one suffered and all was well.

So this Friday night has been a random modge podge of stuff, but that is how my brain has been for the last week.  I hope to clean tomorrow to get that out of my head and have every intention to, but after I catch up on my DVR'd episodes of Unsolved Mysteries, though I must say Robert Stack will always be my first pick for host.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy 9th Birthday Braxton!

Yesterday was my nephew Braxton's 9th birthday!!  

What can I say about this kid other than he changed my life. 

 I was an aunt for the first time.  

I was the biggest baby hog you have ever seen. 

 I probably took more pictures of him than his parents.  Not kidding either.  

Words can't even begin to describe how this child made my life completely different.  

I acted as if he was mine, but of course I didn't do the all night feedings, so it was even more perfect!  

I can't take credit for him, but I would if I could.  

He captured my heart the minute I saw him and hasn't let go.

My heart hurts that he is getting too big to come and cuddle up with Aunt Wiz (as he used to call me), and it embarrasses him when I want to give him a kiss, but there are those times when he looks me in the eye and asks me not to go that just make me want to cry, like I am doing now.

 I worry about Braxton and Thatcher growing up and making the right choices, and will they be careful when they start driving, and I know I have a few years, but I still worry.

I'm a sucker for them!

This pic is about 2 years old, but it's one of my favorites.

Braxton, always know that Aunt Liz loves you and will do anything for you!

Thank you for making me an aunt!!

StayCation 2014

Every summer Jake stays with Lou for a week...Lou takes the whole week off, and I have lots of vacation time saved up, so I decided to take a week off also!! 

Monday we went to meet my mom for lunch at a place in Nolensville that Lou and I had eaten at before and it was soooooo good!  I highly recommend Amico's New York Pizza! 

Mom and I went and ran a few errands where I got lots of washi tape and cute stickers for my planner!!

Yes, I am a 34 year old lady who likes stickers.  Don't judge.  You know you do too :)

Came home and spent the rest of the day working on my week layouts :)

To me it was a great first day - relaxing and a good meal - what more could you ask for!

Tuesday I ran a few more errands that consisted of buying more washi tape.  Yep, it's an obsession. 

Took Jake to the bookstore, where I ordered him a book and bought one for me that I had seen lots of bloggers that I follow endorse.  I haven't read a bad one yet that they had suggested, so I knew this one would be good also.  So far, so good! 

 I got the four rolls above at Office Depot.  I also had a coupon so it was cheap! 

So cute!!!

For weeks we had planned on taking Jake to Six Flags in Atlanta, so we were up by 5 am and out the door before 6!  We were ready to go! 

Now I am the first to admit, roller coasters are not my first pick for a trip, but I wanted to go and I was determined to ride some rides.  (My last ride experience was at Hollywood Studios at Disney riding the Start Wars ride thing, and I about lost my stomach.)

Lou had bought the tickets online, the parking pass online, and the flash pass online, so we didn't have to wait too long to get in.  We got our flash pass and went to the first ride and it was not working at the moment, so we went to the Scorcher.  We got right on, and the seats were like bicycle seats and you had to climb on it and then push down.  My buckle would not connect to the harness so the lady had to help me.  She pushed the harness in and at that moment it was not a good day to be a girl.  And I couldn't breathe to well, but off we went.  About 2 seconds in I could feel my stomach churning.  I just had to pretend I was at the beach and pray that the ride would be over soon.  As soon as I got off I literally stumbled over to the rail and sat down.  The workers came running over and I was fine, just was about to puke everywhere.  But, I didn't!!!

The next ride Jake wanted to ride was the Dare Devil.  I took one look and decided that I would really puke if I rode that one, so I opted out.  Of course I sat where they were starting karaoke.  Fun times!  

We grabbed lunch and then headed towards the MindBender.  I was going to ride this one, even though it had a few upside down loops.  It was AWESOME!!  I kept my eyes open and I really let myself enjoy it!  

We then headed to Gotham City to ride Batman, but again I took one look and knew it would not be good.  This getting old stuff is not good.  I used to ride rides all the time at Opryland!  

I took a pics of the guys in front of the Bat Mobile...

We then headed to ride a water ride, similar to the Grizzly River Rampage at Opryland.  It was pretty good, my kind of ride.  HA!  

Next ride was the Ninja, and again I opted to sit out.  Of course I want to ride the old, rickety wooden roller coasters that don't flip or twist like the new ones, but we were going to ride the Superman, but decided to ride the Georgia Cyclone and then let Jake play some games.  

We got right on the Georgia Cyclone, and this was the one we tried to ride as soon as we got there which was closed for maintenance or something, that should have been my first sign not to ride it.  We hopped on, started up the incline and stopped.  Yep, we got stuck.  It was maybe a total of 10 minutes, but still, it was scary.  And then once the ride started, I understood why Lou doesn't like the old wooden ones.  I was never so glad to get off a ride in my life!!

We took Jake to play some games and then headed home.  Getting out of Atlanta was fun because I missed the exit, and then Lou navigated us back to it, and I missed it again.  Never a dull moment.

We made it home at a good time and I was beat.  But we had a great time!!  Jake loved it and that was what mattered!  It was a successful day!!  

Thursday we didn't do much of anything, I slept a lot, Lou grilled out hamburgers, it was a good day :)

Friday, Lou took Jake to a zip lining/ropes course at Nashville Shores and mom and I went to eat at Olive Garden and then did some running around.  We had Jake's karate belt graduation last night and we were so proud of him for graduating to his purple belt, and becoming a member of the black belt club!!  He is doing great!

Today is a lazy day.  Of course having to get up at 4:40 on Monday morning won't be easy, but it won't be as bad since I have had a relaxing week!

Happy!

 

Inside My Erin Condren Planner

I have had lots of people ask me about my planner, so I wanted to post some pics of the fun things I have done to it!!

Here is the front cover.  You can get them personalized with your name, family name, a picture, etc.  

I just wanted my name :)  I have ordered another cover because they are inter changable! 

 

This is what the normal weekly page layout looks like.

 

 I covered up the wording with white out and then added some washi tape to decorate it and make it look pretty!  Then my friend Ashley said she was making a line between Friday and Saturday to distinguish the weekend and it was a great idea!  

 This is this weeks decorations!  It also comes with stickers that you can use that say Birthday, Vacation, doc appt,. etc.  

This is next week's! 

I found some cute free printables on Pinterest and printed some out on a full sheet label.

 

 

 

This is what happens when you put the washi tape in, but it is worth it!

I bought washi tape at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Target, Office Depot, Wal-Mart, and off of Etsy.  

There are so many cute things to do with the planner!  I'm like a kid in a candy store when I get to decorate it!!  

Enjoy!

Looking Back...

I love looking at everyone's "Throwback Thursday" pics on Facebook and Instagram, so when I was at my parents on the 4th of July, I grabbed some old photo albums and started taking pics of the pics. 

I posted my first one last week.  It was horrid, but I must have been in the 2nd grade (I think) and had huge glasses.  Who knows.  I had lots of funny comments and then others told me I should take that off, asking why would I ever put that on the internet.  Why not? 

I don't think that any one person will judge me today based on what I looked like in 1987.  And if they do, they have bigger problems. 

It was fun for me to look back at some of the pictures I forgot about (or maybe purposely pushed them out of my mind.)  There are some dance pictures where I literally cringe when I look at them.  But I love looking at my early years dance pics. 

Wasn't I just precious!!

Look at those bangs!!!

This is my absolute favorite dance pic :)

 

I was also looking at my mom's pics growing up and all I could see where my nephews!!  Both of them!!  This is my oldest nephew Braxton, but that picture is about 5 years old, but he looks just like my mom!!

This is my younger nephew Thatcher and again, this picture is a few years old, but I think he looks just like my mom also!  And Thatcher does his hands the same way a lot!  

Here is a pic of my mom's parents.  How romantic do they look!  Old Hollywood! 

This is a pic of my dad's mom and stepfather.  I love the old glasses!!  

 My mom's sisters and parents in Arkansas.  I'm guessing 1976 because Jennie is pregnant. 

I loved looking at my grandparents and parents from many years ago. 

 This is my dad's dad.  He died in 1947. 

 This is my mom's dad.  He served in the Army and was in WWII.

 My grandpa in Alaska in the Army.

 Grandpa (far left) in Alaska in the Army.

 My mom's mom. 

I also love the pictures of my grandparents in their years before kids.  My grandparents would go to Washington State to pick apples and eventually got married there.  They have pictures of them on the beach and in front of old cars.  I love them!

My mom and I love to do genealogy, of course she does it a lot more than I do, but I want to know the stories of the lives of my ancestors.  These pics just help me imagine what life was like back when they were growing up.  

My New Erin Condren Planner!

So early sometime in January, I wrote a post about my fabulous Vera Bradley planner and how I loved it and knew I would never find anything better.  Well, I did. 

I first read about the planner on a blog and looked them up, but said no way am I going to pay that much for a planner.  But then I saw they had wedding planners and almost ordered one, but it has so much more than I needed since I was having a small wedding. 

Then about a month ago, my friend said she had ordered an Erin Condren planner.  So of course I wanted to do the same thing, but again couldn't justify paying that much for a planner when I had a perfectly good Vera one and only paid maybe 12 bucks for it. 

But that very next week I went to General Assembly to hang out with my family for the day and went to the silent auction and there it was.  TWO gift cards for Erin Condren.  You best believe I bid on both.  The silent auction ended on Wednesday and I was only there on Tuesday, but my fantastic family kept an eye on one of the bids and made sure I got it!!  WOOHOO!!!  My mom got home a few days later and I called to get the code.  I already had my cover and everything picked out, just needed to input the gift card code to buy!! 

I knew it would take a while to get here since they are personalized, so I wasn't dying to get it, but I was anticipating its arrival very much!! 

TODAY IT CAME IN THE MAIL!!!!!! 

 Even the box is pretty!!!  It was the only thing in the mail today and when Lou asked me what it was, I told him it was something that would keep me occupied for the rest of the night!! 

It's just so fun and colorful!!  I have already written stuff in and taken washi tape and stickers and made it all pretty!  I still have a lot to do, but I am SOOOOOO excited!!  

I know it's just a planner, but it's something that I enjoy working on.  

https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/elizabethmills0123

 Copy and paste this into your browser to see some fantastic stuff!!!