Root, Root, Root for the Sports Team

I'm a Texas girl. Born and raised. This is a place full of sports. Whether it be high school football, college football, NFL, baseball.... we've got some big sports here and some passionate fans.

I am not one of them. And Lord knows that I have tried.

The problem, at its most basic level, is my lack of understanding of the sports along with my uncompetitive spirit. I want everyone to win. When a team loses, I feel bad for them. I feel bad for the coach, for his wife and children... it's really just quite pathetic.

On the few times in history when I have tried to get excited and cheer for "my" team, I am always let down.

My senior year of high school? My school's football team did not win one single solitary game.

Remember that time the Houston Astros made it all the way to the World Series? I was so pumped! And then they lost miserably. (And they've really never recovered, have they?)

Last year, the Texans had a great season and made us all proud. But this year.... absolute nightmare.

And the Aggies.... oh my goodness. And the last time I went to an Aggie game I stepped off a step wrong and rolled my ankle. Remember lemon ankle?

I realize I am in the minority. Most of my friends and family get really fired up and throw big parties and they know every player by name and they know what the Ref is going to say before he says it. Me? Not so much. I have no idea what is going on.

You can read more about my lack of sports understanding here. I know, it's pathetic, and I'm a disgrace to Texas girls everywhere.

Family Day

It's Sunday morning. Normally, at this very moment on a Sunday morning, Ellie would be in her Sunday School class and Grant and I would be in Bible study.

The thing is, last night I went to bed at 8pm. Yes. EIGHT. I've been feeling less than great. We all slept great last night, but when we woke up to go to church, I still wasn't feeling great and Ellie has had 3 dirty diapers since she woke up. It's not even 10am. Our morning was not going well so we declared it Family Day.

Family Day happens every few months. I kind of love it. We all stay home together all day. We take it slow, while also crossing all sorts of things off the to-do list. Lots of cleaning and organizing. By the end of the day we have a cleaned out fridge, all the laundry is done and put away, and the countertops are sparkling clean. The only thing we may do out of the house is a quick trip to the grocery store. Either we all go together or Grant and Ellie go by themselves while I stay home and cross a project off the to-do list. For some reason, I just feel like we get more accomplished when we are all in it together.

I guess "we" doesn't really include Ellie. She usually sits on the kitchen floor and plays with tupperware and wooden spoons. We all have our own little contributions to Family Day.

One of my favorite things to do on Family Day is to walk around my house with a trash bag and throw things away. Receipts, wrappers, junk mail.. whatever... things are just lying around that don't need to be there and I've been avoiding them for some unknown reason.

I just love knowing that when I go to bed tonight, everything will be in its place and we can enjoy our Thanksgiving week without feeling like our lives are in a mess. Aside from all that, it's reaaalllyy cold here right now and so we get to stay inside in our warm pajamas and I'm gonna make grilled cheeses for lunch and it's just gonna be a good day.

Maybe I'll be able to convince Grant that since it'll be awhile before we have another Family Day... maybe we go ahead and decorate for Christmas? One can hope....

The Pushing of the Buttons

Everybody has something. Something that irks them. A pet peeve. And sometimes you marry a person that brings your level of irritation to new heights. Someone that pushes your buttons.

Maybe it's towels on the floor. Maybe it's the toilet seat. Maybe it's leaving drawers open.

Not in this household. For us? Light switches.

We've been married for almost 7 years and this is our most common argument.

I leave light switches on. Grant likes them off. That's the gist of it. However, I feel like if I am home, if I am spending hours upon hours here and walking in and out of rooms as I clean up the house, follow Ellie around, and keep the household running, the lights are on. If I leave the house to go somewhere, I turn off the lights. Grant does not feel the same way.

Sometimes he walks through the house, hollering out the number of light switches he is turning off.

He turns off the light in the utility room. "ONE!"

The hallway outside the utility room. "TWO!"

Our bathroom. "THREE!"

I'll start with my very eloquent and educated defense: "I'M HERE ALL DAY!"

Closet, bedroom light. "FOUR AND FIVE!"

"I LIVE HERE!"

This continues as I get increasingly irritated with this little song and dance. At some point I will exclaim "It does. not. make. that. big. of. a. difference."

Then, he will head out the door to go to work, all the while talking about electricity bills as I'm yelling, "BYE. BYE. Have a good day. BYE!"

I try to be better about it. Sometimes I'll defend myself by saying "Ellie's bedroom light is off! Her light is off! I turned it off!"

The lights being off... it's just not where my passions lie. However, the trash bags being on the curb on time? That's a whole other story...

Oops.... I Caved

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BOYS AND GIRLS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 DAYS, I HAD MYSELF A DIET COKE.

IT.

WAS.

GLORIOUS.

Oh, how I've missed my friend.

To make it even BETTER, I had a Diet Coke with a delicious bowl of Beef Lo Mein from our local Chinese takeout place. I feel like I ate something substantial for the first time in weeks. And it tasted good so I'm pretty much a happy camper. 

We had a great little day today. Ellie and I went on a walk around the neighborhood with some friends. Paisley and her mama, Courtney, brought their little red wagon. The girls had a blast.

They kept trading cups. Ellie would look at Paisley and say, "Hi, baby!"

When I pulled Ellie from the wagon when we got back to the house, she screamed. SCREAMED. She didn't want to get out. Even after we got inside, she laid on the floor of the entryway and just sobbed. Guess we know what we're getting her for Christmas! (I already ordered it online. Hooray!)

Later, she woke up too early from her nap. She was still very much acting tired but wouldn't go back to sleep, so we made a cozy little pallet on the floor for her to watch Bubble Guppies.

And now I'm settling in to watch Scandal. I'm so very happy because my belly is so very full.

One more bonus picture from a few days ago....When you ask Ellie where her Daddy is, she'll hold up her hands and say "Dun knooowwww!"

And if that is not the cutest thing... then I don't know what is.

A Different Kind of Shopping Experience

On Tuesday mornings, Ellie goes to Mother's Day Out from 9am till Noon. It's not an incredible amount of time, but it's enough for me to run a few errands, or go to a doctor appointment, or sit in my car and stare out the window silently. Whatever I choose to do.

As the holiday season is quickly approaching, I decided to take my 3 hours away from Ellie yesterday to do some Christmas shopping.

A few things you need to know about my views on Christmas gifts: 

1. I have a lot to buy. We have many family members, including 7 nieces and nephews, and a toddler of our own. 

2. I usually don't spend more than $20/per person with the exception of Grant, Ellie, and sometimes our parents. There are always exceptions if I find the perfect gift for someone, but in general, I can find something wonderful for not a lot of money.

3. I usually do a lot of shopping online, but sometimes I just need to see it in person. Plus, I don't have to pay shipping!

4. I LOVE giving Christmas gifts. Honestly, I do. While the shopping can overwhelm me, I love nothing more than seeing these people I love open what I lovingly chose for them. I know Christmas is not about gifts. It's about Jesus. And I do the best I can to make sure I keep that in mind all season and that we as a family recognize the true meaning of Christmas. However, I love the gift tradition. I don't go overboard with it, and I love giving someone a little "happy" at the end of every calendar year. 

That being said, I have a lot of presents to buy and I need to get started early. I've already gone on one or two shopping excursions in the last few weeks to search for gifts. However, each of these excursions have included Ellie. 

A few things you need to know about shopping with Ellie:

1. She has time limits. 

2. She doesn't like when the stroller stops. Seriously. If we're truckin' away through the mall, she's happy as a clam. But the minute I turn into a store or, heaven forbid, temporarily stop the stroller to look at something or check the price of an item, or even PAY for an item... oh NO. My girl ain't takin' that. She turns around, points her tiny little index finger at me and says, "NO! NO!"

3. She requires things to hold.

4. She almost steals things from stores.

5. She throws her sippy cup.

6. It's a little bit of a hassle maneuvering her stroller in and out of the stores and racks of clothing. I've been known to knock things over.

So, yesterday, for the first time, I went Christmas shopping, in a mall, without Ellie.

A few things you need to know about this shopping excursion:

1. I got to the mall at 9:30, when the stores don't open till 10am. I walked in, grabbed a Starbucks, and sat quietly and waited for the stores to open while watching the sweet elderly people walk the mall in their cute little jogging suits.

2. Between 10am and 11:30am (when I had to leave to go get Ellie), I bought EIGHT Christmas gifts.

3. I did not have the stroller with me so I felt very free and uninhibited. The only downside was I wished I had the stroller to use as a place to put all my shopping bags so I didn't have to carry them.

4. I bought myself a pair of earrings at Francesca's, because I wanted them and they were BOGO and so I thought why not? YOLO. 

5. It was quiet, it wasn't busy, and I felt quite accomplished when I left there.

Then, I picked Ellie up and she was so cute and happy to see me and we kissed and hugged and I drove her home and she took a nap and IT WAS THE BEST DAY!!!!

And that is the end of that story. 

The Cleanse: Food That Makes You Sad

I think I mentioned that I'm in the middle of a cleanse. Well, I guess I'm almost done with it. Thankfully. I haven't had a Diet Coke in almost a month. Meanwhile, there is an entire 12pack of them in my fridge, calling my name.

I am not snacking at all. Seriously, not at all. No snacks. Just three meals a day. Three small meals a day. And they are not filled with anything good. And then I drink 8 glasses of water a day. So really I'm just living a life of reckless abandon. Except the opposite of that. More like a life of boring salads.
While I am proud of myself for how I have been quite disciplined, I also feel like a little piece of my soul has died. I mostly miss queso. All cheese, really. And pasta. I'm thankful that I can start reintroducing these things in moderation in the not so distant future. And Thanksgiving is coming so all of this is about to be cancelled out anyways.

I'm cheating with my cleanse and continuing to have one cup of coffee every morning. Because I have a toddler and she needs food and supervision and the coffee is what powers the mommy machine. Especially since I don't have the great benefits of Diet Coke throughout the day.

The good thing is, we are almost done with it and I can say that I did it, I stuck with it, and I drank more water in that 24 days than I have in the last 365 days of my life. For serious.

As of right now, I'm drinking my 7th glass of water while I sit on my couch. It's 9:52pm on a Monday night. Toys still cover my living room floor and they will likely stay there overnight. Who knows, maybe I will feel empowered and motivated and pick them up before I go to bed. After all, I cleaned out my fridge and pantry today. If that doesn't make you feel like an accomplished, productive human being, than I don't know what does.

My Shows

Look, I'm not gonna pretend that I'm not a major TV watcher. I am. I watch a lot of TV. Some people would say too much. But I don't say that. I am very, very thankful for the DVR. And honestly, this season, my shows are bringing their A game. Well, most of them. So here's what's on my weekly schedule:

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: Okay so this is one that Grant and I watch together. And this is the final season. And we are finally meeting the mother. We still don't know her name, but she is just darling. And we've seen some "flash forwards" of her and Ted together and I'm very, very happy about the entire situation.

THE MINDY PROJECT: Y'ALL. Mindy is funny. And her writing is very, very clever. And I need her and Danny to go ahead and be together. And I need Mindy and I to be good friends and hang out in real life. That's not creepy, right?

LAW & ORDER SVU: I admit that I quit watching this show for awhile after Detective Eliot Stabler left the unit. I was throwing a temper tantrum. But I came back because I missed Olivia Benson. 

MODERN FAMILY: When Phil was wearing the Mumford and Sons suit this season that was way too tight... I could not control my giggles. 

CRIMINAL MINDS: I don't know why I love this show the way that I do. And sometimes they stretch it a little too far and I text my friend Tiffany and we discuss how outlandish can be. But, I love the characters. I find it fascinating and I always love a good "whodunnit" detective show. 

NASHVILLE: Oh, oh, oh. I love this show most of the time. Sometimes it's dumb. Like this last week it ended with a really, really stupid plot twist. And I yelled "THAT IS DUMB" at my television. But Deacon and Rayna... oh my goodness.... I LOVE Connie Britton and her perfect hair. 

And this is the other reason I watch Nashville: The Stella Sisters. These real life sisters sing on the show a lot and I would watch it just for them. I mean really. Look them up on YouTube. Lennon & Maisy Stella. You won't regret it. 

Okay, I'm afraid you aren't gonna YouTube them. So here's a video. Watch it 12 times.

GREY'S ANATOMY: I KNOW. Most people are like YOU STILL WATCH THAT SHOW?! I do. I watch it. Because I've watched it since the first episode in my apartment in Denton... and I can't just drop it. I'm too invested. I've watched this show since I was 19. And honestly, sometimes I'm ready for it to end. Cause sometimes I'm like "Oh, geez....." and I want to throw things at the TV. But for now, I'm still watching it. And I still miss Mark Sloane. 

SCANDAL: I really don't even have words for this one. I just don't. The story is addicting and the characters are so well written and complex (UM, Hi, Mellie...) and I'm obsessed.

LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON: I've always loved Jimmy. He just seems like the nicest guy. When Grant and I took a trip to NYC back in 2011 we got to see a taping of this show. It was so much fun. And he's just adorable. I'm THRILLED that in February 2014 he will be taking over The Tonight Show which means that I can watch him and go to bed earlier. I don't watch his show every single night, but I DVR it from time to time when he was a guest that interests me. Here he is with Seth Meyers, who resembles my husband!

DOWNTON ABBEY: Don't you think for one minute that I've forgotten about Downton. No way. They are still one of my favorites and I am anxiously anticipating the premiere in January. Bring. It. On.

So yes, we are a TV watching family. If Ellie could write, she would blog about her favorite episodes of Bubble Guppies and what she learned from them. If I'm watching a show, sometimes she will bring me the remote and put it in my hand, then say "Mommy... Bubby Guppy?" In other words CHANGE THE CHANNEL, WOMAN.

It was a long summer without my shows, but I am so glad they are back!

A Sneak Peak

Fish Lips Photography, y'all. 

More to come!

The First Meal

This week, while watching the Today Show, I saw an interview of a young man who had just been released from prison. He served 10 years for a crime he did not commit. A reporter asked him what he wanted to eat for his first meal out of prison. His response? "I kinda want some Dairy Queen....."

My first inclination was to laugh... of all the meals in the world, you want Dairy Queen? And then I thought about my husband, and how I know with almost full certainty that if he were in a similar situation he would request Popeye's for his first meal.

I'm about 2.5 weeks into a 4 week diet, and I am constantly thinking of everything I would rather be eating. Salads and vegetables and grilled chicken breasts are really starting to get old. So, ever since seeing this interview, I have given a lot of thought to what I would want to eat for my first meal out of the slammer. I've come up with a few options.

Option 1: Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. My best friend. I'd want a family size box and I'd want it all to myself. While sitting on a couch and watching Friends.

Option 2: Chicken Fried Steak with gravy. And mashed potatoes. And macaroni and cheese. And a sweet tea!

Option 3: Tamales. And chips and queso. And a Diet Coke.

Option 4: Bow tie pasta with Alfredo sauce and chicken. And breadsticks. And a glass of white wine.

Option 5: A bowl of cookie dough.

Option 6: Cheesecake

Option 7: Italian Creme Cake

Option 8: A slice of cheese pizza, a slice of sausage pizza, and a slice of pepperoni pizza.

Option 9: A hot dog and cheese fries

Option 10: There's an Italian restaurant out near my parent's house that has a dish on the menu called "Tortellini alla Panna". In the description of this item on the menu, it actually says the phrase "Not for the weight watcher". I WOULD BE ALL OVER THAT.

There are so many options and I would probably have one a day for the first 10 days of my freedom. Clearly, I've given this a lot of thought. And, clearly, this cleanse I am on is making me daydream of better food. Like Beef Lo Mein.

Strep Positive

We just can not seem to get healthy around here, y'all.

Yesterday I was feeling worse by the minute. I knew I was going down. I went to an urgent care and learned quickly that I have Strep.

To be honest, I was kind of glad it was Strep because my first thought was YAY DRUGS. I am a fan of modern medicine. More specifically, I am a fan of the antibiotic. So I hopped right on that train. I started the drugs 24 hours ago and I'd say my pain level has decreased by 90%. So thankful. 

And then there's this girl...

She is ALL TODDLER. She wants to walk everywhere and doesn't want to be carried. While this is cute, it is also quite problematic as she pays no mind to the intended destination. For instance, while I was taking the photo above I was repeatedly saying "Let's go to the car, Ellie. Ellie Paige... this way! This way, Ellie, let's get in the car!". And she just kept walking up and down the sidewalk, ignoring me. Don't try to hold her hand, and don't you dare try to pick her up. MIND OF HER OWN, Y'ALL.

Oh you, know, just enjoying some milk while watching her fave show. 

My sister is now a trunk keeper for Matilda Jane Clothing. LORD HELP ME. The clothes. I can't stop. Seriously.  Anyways, the other day we stopped by my sister's house and Jaclyn (Trunk keeper #615, y'all) informed me that this release included a hat that she felt Ellie really needed to try on. So then this happened:

It's just more than I can handle.

The Last 3 Days

At what age is it safe to administer cold medicine to children? Cause that needs to be now.

My poor pumpkin girl has had a head full of snot for 3 days and 3 nights. All day. All night. Her eyes and nose are just pouring out all day, which has been fun. But the real miserable part of it all is night time. The girl can't breathe. You can hear her trying to breathe and she just can't. So she moans and cries in her sleep. Add on to this that she is getting 2 new bottom teeth and this is just getting pitiful.

There was a moment last night, at 1:00am, where she was so worked up and so miserable and just couldn't breathe at all, so we sat on the couch together and snuggled and watched Bubble Guppies. Her congestion is making her talk funny, which is pretty cute. Anyways... I'm just praying that this ends soon. We haven't slept for several hours in a row in several days, which makes me not so functional during the day. Ellie was a ridiculously easy newborn when it came to sleep, so I feel like maybe we are getting our payback now!

I'm currently on a cleanse. I think I'm on Day 11. It's all running together. All I know is that I haven't had a Diet Coke in 11 days (LORD HELP US ALL) and I haven't had good food either. I'm seeing results though, and my lower back has stopped hurting. I am pretty sure there were some kidney stones just waiting to happen. I'm drinking 10 cups of water a day right now so hopefully all of that madness won't occur!

Grant is currently hunting with my brother-in-law (it's duck season, y'all) but I'm very much looking forward to this afternoon after he gets home. After a week of a clingy, sicky toddler, I'm going out for some alone time. I don't know what I'll do... perhaps I'll read a book. Perhaps I'll Christmas shop. Maybe I'll go get a pedicure. The world is my oyster!