New Layout Coming Soon....

So, I've played around too much trying to change my background so now I've messed it up completely. The website I usually use is down, so I can't get another one right now and this old one is all I can find. Just wanted everyone to know this isn't my first choice! Does anyone have a cool website with layouts other than www.thecutestblogontheblock.com???

I've been tagged....

I overlooked one of Martina's posts and neglected to see that I had been tagged! Here is what I am supposed to do: reveal five of my addictions then bestow this award on 5 other bloggers. So, here they are:

1. FACEBOOK/BLOGS/EMAIL: I will never reveal how many times a day I check facebook, blogs, and email. That will remain in the closet. Even at school I can be in the middle of a lesson and walk over to my desk to quickly press the "send/receive" button to check to see if I've gotten an email. It seriously is an addiction because it overtakes me and I just have no control! :)

2. Food: So this one isn't easy to admit. I feel like somewhere in the blogging world of reality I am standing before you saying, "My name is Amy and I am a foodaholic." Seriously, it makes me happy and it temporarily fulfills me. However to date, I am learning to be addicted to stinkin' fruit, yogurt, water, and wheat bread. Everything good is no longer a part of my life...at least not on a regular basis.

3. Reality television: Television makes me happy. I am typically not home enough to watch a ton of it actually, but my DVR is my best friend. When I have a chance, I love to catch up on what I've missed. Shows like the Bachelor and American Idol are my absolute favorites. They are two that I always try to watch when they're on. I'm so excited every night they come on.

4. Texting: This might just be the greatest invention of the century. I am not a huge phone person most of the time. I love that I can send a text really quickly if there's something I need to know, then go about my business while I wait for the person to text me back. I must say, I'm a good "texter backer." Most of the time I write back immediately.

5. My family, my friends, and my God: Obviously, if I were going in order of importance this would be at the top. I honestly feel like the most blessed girl in the world because of the people God has placed in my life. I have the greatest family ever, the absolute best friends anyone could ask for, and the most faithful and patient God who bestows on me more grace and mercy than I even come close to deserving.

I tag Ginger Willingham, Meredith Wallace, Jennifer Wilbeck, and Katie Howard.

I tag you all!

Alright everyone- most of us have listed our New Year's resolutions and vented about what we needed to before we began this new year. If you're like me, I haven't posted since because there's just not a lot going on. So, I found this random list of questions online and I tag ALL OF YOU to re-post. It's like the surverys we've all seen and done before, but the questions are totally different and unique. Humor me and participate, please???

20 Questions:

1. Do you own a box of crayons? Yes! I won't lie. I do like to color.

2. Do you always wear a seatbelt? Yes, I do.

3. When do you shower most often? I most often shower in the mornings, and thanks to Cort and Trey, I can listen to CDs or the radio while I shower now! Love it!

4. What is the last thing you purchased? I guess the last thing I purchased was a new pair of sunglasses from TJ Maxx.

5. How often do you remember your dreams? I remember my dreams almost all the time. They mostly consist of being trapped in a house with snakes or my teeth falling out or becoming crooked again. Those dreams I have had several times each.

6. How do you vent your anger? I most definitely have to talk about it.

7. Where were you on September 11, 2001? I was teaching school when the principal came on the intercom and told us to check the internet for information on what was going on. I went straight to the office and asked. The secretary told me.

8. What is your ringtone? It's different for different people- but the general one is "We Belong Together" by Gavin Degraw.

9. What is one thing you're looking forward to? Singing at "MississippiFest"

10. Do you get eight hours of sleep each night? Ummm, usually not.

11. How is your mood today? My mood is pretty mellow. I'm not in a bad mood necessarily, just middle of the road.

12. Have you ever changed your clothes in a vehicle? Yes

13. What is one thing you've learned about life? I've learned that if you depend on anyone or anything to make you happy, you'll never experience true joy.

14. What is something you want to do within the next week? I need to take a couple pairs of pants to get hemmed.

15. Do you care what people think of you? I wish I could say no, but yes...I do.

16. What scent are you wearing right now? Black Amethyst from B & B Works

17. What do you carry with you at all times? cell phone, gum, and lip gloss

18. What was the last gift you gave someone? a canvas I painted

19. What's one car you will never buy? PT Cruiser

20. How much money would it take for you to give up the internet for a year? Wow....it would take a whole lot for me to give it up for a week, much less a year. I just don't know about this one...

It's your turn!!!! Take this survey and RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!

2009

I can't believe that it's New Year's Eve and we are about to ring in a new year. It seems like only a few weeks ago that I was writing my resolutions and attempting to motivate myself to make 2008 MY year, to follow through with my goals, and change a lot of things in my life. Unfortunately, discipline isn't a virtue I was able to teach myself this past year. Many things I wanted to change have remained unchanged and many things I wanted to complete have remained incomplete. Today, as I think about the year to come, I am determined to take control of my life. For too long, I have been complacent and content to allow fear, worry, doubt, and plain ole negativity take me down for the count. I vow to you, my fellow blog readers, that I am going to try my hardest, through my God, to refuse to let Satan tempt me to do that for even one more day. So many aspects of my life that I want to be different are within reach and I am going to pray fervently that this will be the year it will happen. I pray for more faith- in God and in myself because I have Him fighting for me. I pray for discipline and self-respect. For self-control and contentment. For HOPE.... Here's to 2009! Happy New Year to you all!!!

Tacky Christmas

I can't believe I never had a tacky Christmas sweater party before last night! It honestly was one of the funnest, most hilarious parties I've ever been a part of. I was extremely impressed with my friends' creativity and willingness to play along with my silly idea. We laughed SO much and thoroughly enjoyed the night. Here are a few pictures from our night-o-fun!!!

Cupcakes!

Tomorrow night I host "Tacky Christmas Sweater Bunco" at my house. I've been busy cleaning, painting canvases for presents, and preparing the meal. The main course will be poppyseed chicken casserole, homemade macaroni and cheese, pan seared asparagus, and cornbread. For dessert I wanted something festive, and since cupcakes have been on my mind (see Haley's blog), I decided to make some! They're Christmas ornaments! The cupcake is a cake mix but I made the icing myself. I put an entire bottle of red food coloring it in to try and make it red, but this is as red as it got! The hook is made of a pretzel inside a Reese's peanut butter cup. The dots are mini M&Ms. I'm a little disappointed in the way they look- they aren't as cute as I wanted them to be. I must say though, that icing is yummy!


More pictures will be coming soon of everyone's tacky Christmas outfits. I can't wait to see what everyone came up with!

Extra! Extra!

Oh, the joy of living in a small town! We had our family Christmas at my Grandmother's house this past weekend. She lives a couple hours away, in a VERY, VERY small town. I happened upon the town newspaper, published weekly and only about four pages in length. When you live in such a small town, not much is newsworthy. Hence, the need for something to take up space. The back page of their paper is a section entitled "Around Town." Citizens call or write in and tell what they did the week the paper is published. These are actual entries in the newspaper. Yes, actual entries, no lie.... Only first names will be used to protect the identity of the victims' families.

"Audie gave Carolyn some really nice pecans. It was a nice surprise. Thanks, Audie!"

"Mary, STACY, and Russell carried Ora Mae out to eat at Ryan's on Thanksgiving Day."

"Howard talked with Ora Mae on the phone Sunday afternoon."

"Lessie, Viola, and Nomie shopped Friday."

"Shirley made a trip to see her doctor last Tuesday."

"Braxine enjoyed a telephone conversation with her brother."

"Margie's son carried her out riding on Thanksgiving Day to several places. She really enjoyed the outing."

"Violet visited her brother Bug in the hospital several days last week."

If you've blown your nose in the past week, or maybe taken a shower or eaten a meal or two, call 555-867-5309 and have it published.