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.