Monday, Monday..

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Well, you should take a look at the coat that I got today!! While most women love shoes or purses, I LOVE winter coats!! I just can't get enough of them. At least my fetish is only a short three months and not 365 days out of the year, right?! You see, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately...I have WAY more crimson and houndstooth than I think I will ever have of maroon and white, and I am not even that big of an Alabama fan. That being said, what better time to get use out of my houndstooth and crimson attire than at an Alabama game?? I know, I know...I love Mississippi State but I have the perfect Alabama attire!! So I got this coat today so that I would spare all of you avid Mississippi State fans from having to see me in my crimson and houndstooth that I had considered wearing to the MSU vs. AL game (considered being key word!). I will post a pic very soon!

On another note, I absolutely cannot believe that November is almost here!! Where has the year gone? I have got a lot going on between now and January, and that does not even include work (as of right now)!!

31st-Halloween

7th-Brad's wedding weekend in Orlando

17th-Alabama game

28th-Egg Bowl and family in town!

And I forgot to mention that little Sophie will be turning 1 on November 6th!! I cannot believe that I have had her for almost a full year now! She is just as wild today as she was the day that I got her, but I wouldn't have it any other way :)

And as for December: weddings, weddings, and more weddings!

I am counting down the days until all of our family arrives for Thanksgiving!! It has been over a year since I have seen Riley and Matt and we have got lots of catching up to do :) Can't wait to see yall!!

Every Dawg has its Day..

I have been in Starkville all weekend and had an absolutely amazing time! I was definitely not ready to head back home. I went to lunch with a friend on Friday, dinner with friends that night, and then we all headed downtown afterwards. Saturday, we tailgated all day and went to the game that night. It was a great game...until the end of course! We sat in the student section and had a blast...needless to say, I was absolutely covered in whiskey by the end of the game! I think that I realized just how much I have missed college. We went out Saturday night, and I finally got to hear Southern Tide's band play!! And by the way, they're awesome! I think that every time my friends and I have tried to go see them, our plans have always fallen through! Needless to say, they were amazing and hopefully we will be able to see them again sometime very soon!
And as for Tim Tebow, well he didn't propose this weekend..but I'm still holding out on him :)

For all of my many frequent blog readers, I recently found out that I passed the online personality test for a potential job opening, and I have been asked to interview with the company. In the meantime I am hoping to get a phone call to substitute teach and if not I will be working at the store when needed!

It seems as if I have been soo busy lately! My dad's 50th Birthday was this past Wednesday, so we have been celebrating since early last week. Last Saturday night, we had a family birthday party for him. Sunday night, we threw a surprise party for him with some of his closest friends, and on Wednesday we threw him an "all day" birthday party at the store. We took his commercial slot on t.v. and created a birthday commercial for him, we had a banner made for the front of the store, an ad in the newspaper, two big black wreaths, tons of balloons, his friends had tee shirts that they had made with his picture on the front, a cake with his baby picture on it, and a ten minute slideshow. It all turned out great, and the slideshow could not have turned out any more perfect! He cried when he saw it! I have posted pics below.

Dad with the birthday cake I made him
Family Birthday Party #1

Surprise Party #2
Of course there were more pictures (and people also), but these are all that I had on my camera :)

The wreaths I made for the front door

Store party #3

Family Birthday Dinner #4

Happy 50th Birthday to My Dad!!

Happy 50th Birthday to the best dad in the world :) I hope you have had a wonderful day!!

Awesome Weekend!

Wow..what an awesome weekend!! Friday night, we went to dinner and a movie and then met up with a few friends. Saturday, we had my dad's family birthday at our house. My sister and her boyfriend came into town and we had so much fun! Today, we all went to church and then out to lunch. Tonight, we threw my dad a suprise birthday dinner at one of his favorite restaurants in town. I will have to post pics soon, it was so much fun and he was SOO surprised! He had never had a surprise birthday party, and he absolutely loved every minute of it! Some of his good friends even made tee-shirts with his picture on it..needless to say, he was in heaven :) His 50th Birthday is Wednesday and I cannot wait!! I am working on a slideshow for him and I am also responsible for decorating two wreaths to go on the store's two doors. Little does he know, he's having another SURPRISE party all day at the store on Wednesday! I know he will be thrilled! We have taken his commercial spot for Tuesday night and Wednesday morning to run a birthday commercial that we've all come up with, he has an ad in the paper, a banner out front, a slideshow, black wreaths and many balloons! And by the way, if you're reading this, no telling..it's a secret :) And now that he has gotten to be a Facebook addict, I have blocked him from reading my blog! So he doesn't know ANY of this!! I cannot wait to post pics!

TGIF!!

Well, tonight was fun! I went to dinner and a movie, and then to visit with a few friends! I have been busy today trying to get ready for my dad's birthday. He is turning 50 next Wednesday and boy do we have a full weekend planned out for him! As we were going through all of his old pictures it has been so funny to me because we look EXACTLY alike! Besides the fact that his baby pictures are black and white, if you were to hold mine and his side by side you would think that we were twins! I will have to post a few shortly!

On another note, Congratulations to Whitney and Michael!! They got engaged tonight, and I absolutely could not be any more excited for them both!!!! This summer is going to be soo much fun!

Tis So Sweet..

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know Thus sayeth the Lord

O how sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me
Neath the healing cleansing flood

Jesus Jesus how I trust him
How I've proved him o'er and o'er
Jesus Jesus precious Jesus
O for grace to trust him more

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus
Just from sin and self to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking?
Life and rest, and joy and peace

Well, well, well..

The past few weeks (besides this one of course) were busy, busy, busy getting ready to move and what not. All of a sudden it seems as if my life has just suddenly come to a halt. Within the past week, I have baked two cakes, talked to numerous friends on the phone, and I have watched many movies. Needless to say, I am getting a little restless. Somehow I never thought I would come out and say this, but I would LOVE a job. If you are tired of yours, you can give it to me if you would like..or I mean I could just fill in for you while you took a short vacay :) I am hoping something opens up soon! It seems as if this week has gone by soo slow. I went and applied to substitute teach at another school today. I also talked to the school in which I signed up and they said that I have a very good chance of getting called considering that they are in need of extra teachers right now (with swine flu and all!). Fingers crossed they will call very soon! In the meantime, I wake up every morning at 6:00 a.m....just in case they call of course!!! Are you getting my drift here?? I am started to get bored! Who else would wake up at 6:00 a.m. if you don't have to? Have I lost my mind completely? Tonight I began looking up grad schools and have considered going back. I guess we will wait and see!

Just a Little Update..

I just finished making a "Haunted House Halloween Cake" today. I actually sculpted the cake and everything! I have posted a picture of it below:

I have posted pictures of previous cakes that I have baked on here before, and this is what I have decided to do. I absolutely LOVE to bake cakes; if I could go into business I would. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is enough money in it to do it full-time, no benefits, etc. So while I am still unemployed, I will bake cakes for whoever would like one. If you have a special occassion, birthday, etc. that you would like a cake for I would love to bake it! Here's the deal: it would be illegal for me to charge you for a cake if I am not certified through the health department to bake. In order to meet their specifications, you must have a room (and it cannot be your kitchen that you cook normal foods in) set aside for baking cakes specifically which includes ovens, materials, etc. I can promise you that all of my cakes are "cleanly" made (if that is even a word) but it would be impossible for me to ask my mom and dad to build an extra room onto their house for my cake baking extravaganzas. Therefore, I have decided to make them for free or let you pay for just the materials to make them (which is around $5-$10 depending upon the materials that I have at the time). So, if you would like a cake I would love to bake you one! I can make normal everyday buttercream and fondant cakes, your choice. The pictures that I post are all fondant, but I am very capable of whatever design you would like. I also am able to make purse and Barbie doll cakes also.

In the meantime, I will be substituting. Fingers crossed I get a phone call in the morning. The county schools have been on fall break all week so tomorrow will be there first day back.

Homecoming..

I guess all good things must come to an end, but it just seems as if this weekend went by WAY too fast! I spent this past weekend in Starkville. Friday night, I went to dinner with friends and then we all headed out for the night. I LOVE getting to see all of my friends; I really hate that we no longer live in the same city. I miss them more than they will probably ever know! We all went to the game on Saturday, and then headed over to a friends for the rest of the day. We watched lots of football, cooked out, and played Rock Band. We went out Saturday night and had a great time! Today we went to church and then out to lunch.

The most exciting news from this weekend is that Josh and Blair are engaged!!!!!! I was absolutely ecstatic when I got the phone call :) Congratulations Blair and Josh, I am soo excited for both of you!!

TGIF!!

I promised details so here they are:

The company that I was going to work for was a health benefits company in which sells medicare supplements. I interviewed and got the job. My "boss" lost my 30 page contract (along with many other papers I had to sign) for about a week and a half. Fast-forwarding five weeks: I got my AL insurance license, signed a lease on an apartment and was supposed to be going to training in Mobile what would have been this past Monday and Tuesday, move Wednesday, start immediately following. After hearing no details on training, I call my "boss" last Friday and this past Monday, and he did not answer my phone calls or return them. Monday, I receive an e-mail stating that I did not get this job that I am supposed to be starting that the company would keep my resume on file if another opening became available. Doesn't make sense right? I called national headquarters and all that they could tell me was that they had absolutely NO paperwork on me (the 30 pg contract, etc.) and that I would need to try and continue contacting my "boss." So I proceed to call him from another number and he answers first ring. He tells me that he is "busy, busy, busy" and cannot talk. I told him about the e-mail and he kept telling me that it couldn't be valid that nothing had ever happened like this before. He made a joke that it was because I didn't send him a $1,200 personal check..sleezy, sleezy, it was NOT funny. He was supposed to get in touch with someone about it and call me "right" back. Never heard from him again. I tried calling him:no answer. I finally reached him at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning and he told me to fax him my insurance license(which I had already done a week ago) and he would get things rolling. I had to fax the license to three different fax lines. I told him I needed a countersigned copy of the contract that day or I was not moving. He told me he didn't know if it would be possible to send to me, which makes the contract invalid. I have never heard back from him. In the meantime, I'm not moving to Birmingham and in no way would I ever go work for this company. It still does not make since to me how all of this is legal, much less ethical. I have unfortunately learned a lot in the process. I will not speak of this matter again considering that I would like to put it behind me. But I do want to make you aware of things such as this, they obviously can and do happen..contracts signed or not. I think I am completely emotionless after this; I really don't have any emotions left in me. I really haven't been out of the house much this week because I simply am not ready to answer the question, "So what are you doing now? Where are you working? etc." I cannot tell you how many countless number of people (including total strangers) ask those questions, and when I was looking for a job the first time, the most terrible part of saying "I am unemployed" was having to hear their responses and comments. Some of the nicest people (or who I thought were nice) had some of the most brutal comments. I just don't care to hear any right now. I know I will have to soon, but it's not something that I care to hear. I was so excited to move to Birmingham and start my life there; but sometimes things don't work out the way that we plan. I know that He has bigger and better plans for my life that I am unable to see. Everything could not have worked out more perfectly apartment wise, and cable, electric, etc.

I have been keeping busy over the past few days. I have made numerous decorative cookies, and have been working on a canvas for one of my friends that recently had a baby. After this fiasco, looking for a job is the absolute LAST thing that I want to do, but I have been looking. If you know of any openings, anything would be greatly appreciated considering I haven't been in the job hunting loop for over 6 weeks. I contacted two men today reguarding sales jobs, and I may have an interview next week! In the meantime, I need something to tide me over until I can find full-time employment, so today I put in my application at an elementary school in town to substitute teach for the time being. It is something to keep me busy and make a little money on the side. I am a little embarrassed to admit that as I was driving up to turn in my application I sort of got a little nervous. This is TOTALLY out of my arena, and I really do not have a clue what I am doing..but it couldn't be that hard right? The county schools don't have a training course, so I have been calling all of my "teacher friends" for advice! I am excited though, I think it could be fun! I saw the most precious little boy while I was in the office today, so I have no doubt that I might really enjoy it!

On another note, I am headed to Starkville tomorrow and am ecstatic about it! I cannot wait to see all of my friends!! It is homecoming, so hopefully we will win :) I just really, really hope it does not rain!

Did that really just happen??

For most of you, this is your first time to ever read my blog. I started this blog a little over a year ago and I have tried to keep it up to date as best as I can. I would like to say that I NEVER post anything personal considering that this is the internet and I personally do not want anyone knowing every bit of my business. But this one post is a little different; I am going to share a brief snapshot of my last couple of weeks with you and I apologize to my good friends and extended family members for not sharing this news any sooner. It is so hard with things happening so fast to keep everyone up to date.

I'm posting this only to keep everyone up to date and I promise to give details later but I received an e-mail today stating that I did not get the job that I had applied for and received in Birmingham. Yes, this is correct, the job that I accepted the offer on, the job that I am moving to Birmingham on Wednesday for, the job that I sent in a 30 page contract for and an 8 page ammendment to the contract, along with an internet technology security contract and many other papers. I also had to buy (yes BUY) an Alabama insurance license for this job also. After you take a state insurance exam in order to get an out of state license you only pay a fee. Long story short, I have been on the phone all day with my "boss" and national headquarters trying to settle the situation. National headquarters has absolutely NO paperwork out of ALL of it that I sent in, and in order for the contract to be valid my "boss" and national headquarters must sign the contract and I must receive a countersigned contract in the mail. Another words, my contract is STILL not valid and my "boss" no longer answers my phone calls when I question him on training dates. GREAT! I was just talking today about how nice it was to have a job and not have to go through the process of finding one..it is definitely an emotionally draining process that I hope no one EVER has to go through; but unfortunately, it looks as if I may be right back to where I started.

So you ask what do I do now? Well, that is the question I have been asking myself all day long. I have an apartment, the electric company is setting up the electricity tomorrow, the cable man is coming Wednesday, the moving truck will be here tomorrow, the storage unit is rented until tomorrow and after that we no longer have a storage unit, and we have two men helping us move in on Wednesday. I am asking the same question..what do I do now? Considering that Jefferson County is in the process of declaring bankruptcy and that they have layed off three-fourths of their workforce does not make Birmingham a very marketable job market and I can't afford to live there with no income. So hopefully this mess will start to work itself out. Until then..

Happy Fall Yall!!

Well, unfortunately I am just blogging from the same laptop I was two weeks ago..
I woke up Friday morning to someone absolutely BEATING the front door down, and when I say consistently beating I mean that they did not let up for a solid two or three minutes. If you could only imagine, I locked myself in a room and called everyone that I knew of thinking that someone was trying to get in the house. To my surprise..it was just FedEx. With that being said, my laptop had come and gone. Thank goodness my neighbor signed for me the second time that they came so that I wouldn't have to make a trip to FedEx to pick it up. I felt as if it were Christmas Day all over again..until I opened the box. To my surprise, it was the same laptop that I had sent off..I was so disappointed; I had really hoped for a brand new computer :( At least my G and H are working now!!

Another disappointment: Mississippi State football. What happened Saturday night you ask? Not really sure but I really hope that they pull through next Saturday!! I had soo much fun at the game! I got to see so many friends that I have not seen in a while and we had such a good time together! I tailgated all day and stayed in Starkville for a little while after the game. Then I headed back to Meridian. I slept in this morning with really good intentions of packing all day and those plans went right out the window. It has poured all day today, so needless to say I have been extremely lazy. I must admit it was wonderful :) It has gotten soo cold too!! I'm sort of ready for winter!! Maybe I should get to packing..

Seriously??

I distinctly remember a post very similar to this about one year ago. I have a SERIOUS addiction..to Christmas music that is. Tonight, okay really 1:00 a.m., after returning home from Starkville I found myself searching I-Tunes for Christmas music and it is only October?? My addiction was bad last year, but I'm afraid it's only worse this year. My debit card is going to hate me by the time December rolls around! Just listening to Christmas music sort of saddens me. This Christmas is going to be very different; I have always looked so forward to helping my dad out for the holidays and this will be my first year not to work (since I was literally 12 years old). I know that sounds ridiculous (I should enjoy the time off...right??) But I really enjoyed it! I'm not going to know what to do with myself!!

Just a Little Update..

First and foremost, my computer is in Memphis!! It is headed to Meridian tomorrow, FINALLY!! Hopefully I will continue to be able to update, of course considering that all of my keys are working again! Secondly, I found a great website (well actually two good websites). Peopleofwalmart.com and awkwardfamilyphotos.com. Now people of Wal-Mart was way funnier than the latter but I thought I would add it in case you were interested! On another note, I am pleased to announce that I am officially licensed within the state of Alabama to sell insurance! I applied for the license yesterday and to my surprise it went into effect yesterday (which normally takes 24-48 hours). So with that being said, I will potentially be in a training course Monday and Tuesday, and move on Wednesday! Slight problem..I still have to pack; not much fun! Hope you all had a wonderful day! Hopefully my next post will be from another computer...praying maybe a new one?? We shall see!