Real Life: Live & Unscripted

TGIFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!! lol

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww sookie sookie nah lol

How about more randomness...lol

Let's start with memorial day stuff....

Tony and I cooked and had friends over...

 

It started to rain but that didn't stop the grilling...just grab an umbrealla :-)

 

The spread....

 

I love to cook y'all. Seriously. There was enough food for everyone to take home for a COUPLE of days and have lunch lol. We ate GOOD lol.

 

I got Jaelyn to snap a quick pic while I was putting the icing on...this cake was OFF THE CHAINS. Recipe to come soon lol. I gotta catch up with the old stuff first lol.

 

The chocolate cake wasn't so good, but it was my fault. I got distracted and let it cook too long. I will make this one again.

THe KEY to all this baking is to do it when people are coming over so you don't keep any of it lol. Oh, that's what I do lol.

 

Tyler ate EVERYBODY strawberries lol

No matter WHAT we eat at my house....the itis is coming lol

 

Once you hit the sofa....its OVER.

 

Tony and Aj cut grass...

 

Train up a child lol...

My herbs are looking SUPERB. I broke some off the other day. Can't wait to use them. I'm so proud!
 

GO ME! LOL

My lily is also doing wonderfully!
 

This is HUGE for me lol. I don't do green living stuff well! LOL

 

I found a new ironing board cover. Yes I know I can just make one, but I didn't wanna lol. Besides, this one was only 4 bucks lol.

 

Love my little pin cushion lol.

 

I picked up some really cute cotton knits to make the girls some elastic waist shorts. Gonna keep it simple. I let them pick what they wanted lol. THAT was funny!

Ok that is ALL for me! Y'all have a great Friday!

Stay safe!

Toodles!

Weekend Wrapup and a pattern review...

Happy Monday!!

Did you guys enjoy your weekend!? We did! It was REALLY low key! LOVE IT!
Here are a few pics of the kids in the play...



I love that they enjoy doing stuff at church :-)

Aj did NOT want to take a pic lol. I don't think any of us really did but you KNOW I have to document it right!? LOL

They were SO ready to go lol

I did manage to get a better one once we got home lol. Aj started taking his clothes off in the car lol.

Annnnnnddddddddd a quick pattern review:

Simplicity 3867 and Simplicity 4236

Pattern Description:
Misses Dress, Top, City Shorts, Jacket and Bag - Sew Stylish Collection

Pattern Sizing:
14-22

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes the instructions were superb!

What did you particularly like  or dislike about the pattern?
I LOVE this pattern!

Fabric Used:
Poplin from Hancock.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
None

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I HIGHLY recommend this pattern and I already have plans to make it again. I LOVE the way this fits. I've also considered making the dress lol.

Conclusion:
This is such a great pattern! I can see why it has such great reviews.
I also made  I also must add, I have had this pattern cut out and ready to sew for OVER a year. I SO wish I would have made this last year!

And my shoes because they are just sooooooooooo fabulous lol

 

**gasp** that ruffle detail SOLD me lol. I got these from Nordstrom.

Ok..now Imma go play catchup on my email lol.

Toodles!!!!!!

TBF....and a buncha other stuff lol

Man....what DAHELL they got on?!?! LOL

LAWD lol
TOO FUNNY!!!

Let's seee where do I start? LOL

I am going to do Project 365 this year lol. I started a new blog for it and you can follow that HERE if you would like. I still have to jazz it up a bit but I will do that a little bit later on. I'm going to do mine a LITTLE bit different soooooo lol. WIsh me luck with that lol.

I'm also doing Twitpic 365 with Patrice lol. I will PROBABLY use a lot of the same pics lol...just a warning lol.

Tony said his best Christmas gift was tickets to the Papa Johns.com Bowl Game NC State vs. Rutgers. The game was superb.

Here are a couple of pics...

They said the game was packed and it was COLD. It was a part of Patrick's gift too...can't just buy one ticket...and I wasn't going lol.

Ya'll have to excuse Tony's head... *sigh* he is in the process of letting his hair "loc" so ummm yeah he KEEPS that stocking cap thing on it when he is out of the house. LAWD. I will be glad when this phase passes. I have been taking pics sooooo. I will post them soon one day lol. I don't have the very first twists but I do have the beginning of the loc process.

*DEEP SIGH* I went to Sips N Strokes the other night,  and did NOT enjoy myself. I have gone a lot as you all know, and I have NEVER not enjoyed myself. That CHANGED. The instructor SARAH whom I will make SURE I NEVER have again was AWFUL. THE ENTIRE CLASS WAS NOT PLEASED. What does that say?! YOU SUCK AS AN INSTRUCTOR!!!  The class ended at 9. When I left at 9:45 people were STILL trying to fix their paintings.  This was the best I could do with mine. The original picture looked something like this:

 

TRUST me when I say it took a LOT of work to get it even remotely close to this.  I STILL don't like it.

We had a blast on NYE. We went to a family party first...it was Michael Jackson themed lol....

The kids had a blast...there was a ton of food as it ALWAYS is with my family lol...we LOVE to eat lol. I don't know where Jaelyn was when we took this pic lol.

My Uncle Speed (We have a TON of nicknames in the family lol) and my dad lol

Uncle Pig giving me the evil eye lol...he know he love me lol.

My Uncle Wayne...the Host...that is a WIG on his head and his ONE glove lol

We were getting our cha-cha on. I swear that dance never gets old. I sweated my hair out lol, and before you ask, yes that is the same sweater in the above pic....don't act like you ain't never did it before lol

My mom wanted to learn so we were TRYING to teach her....

Had to call for some backup lol...she needs two on one help...One on one wasn't working lol.

 

Then I went to another party and did it up again lol

I don't think I got out of bed until almost 11 New Year's Day lol.

Ok, that is ALL I GOT! LOL

Hope you guys have a great weekend!

Pray for us...we are doing something new as a family lol.

LAWD! LOL

TOODLES!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't talk about it this year......BE ABOUT IT.

Christmas in pictures....

Happy Monday guys!!!!

I'm not going to post any pics of the kids opening gifts because they aren't umm properly dressed ;-) but they had a good time!

Every year we go to my moms house on Christmas morning, once they wake up lol.

My kids got up at O' Dark Thirty wanting to open gifts lol. Next year we MIGHT go to my  moms as soon as they wake up lol.  *Making mental notes* lol

My mom had the BRIGHT idea to take some pics of her little dog Ozzie lol

Yes, those are my moms glasses lol

He is a cutie lol. He was tired after all of that but he still didn't want to take his "clothes" off lol.

The dudes were chillin...watchin us make a fool out of ourselves lol.

I can't remember what I was singing, but the wig was necessary lol. My mom pulled this out from her New Years get up last year when her and my dad were Peaches and Herb lol. THAT was funny. Here is a pic...I don't think I ever showed it....

 

YES she put on a SEQUIN dress and sprayed GOLD GLITTER on a jacket for my dad...it was Motown party lol...she was trying to capture the essence of peaches and herb....SMH lol. I LOVE that they love to have fun after being married 32 years...

**side story lol when my dad was in his wheel chair after his accident, they would go to walmart at like 2 and 3 AM....sometimes I would go to help her get the stuff in the car because my dad couldn't carry anything heavy...well one time I went he kept trying to roll over her in his wheelchair and she went and got an electric chair and was trying to hit him too. I just left them to play lol... END STORY **

Andre was trying to tell me how to sing...so I offered him the mic lol.

He also took the wig lol

My parents also got in on the action lol

 

They did a duet but I can't remember what they were  singing lol

Then Marvin came and I put the camera up lol

We really had a really good Christmas!

The tree is now down and the decorations are put up and we are getting ready for the NEW YEAR!!

I wish I had a clone because I have two parties to attend. One thing I LOVE about these parties....they are ALL kid friendly! I love that people plan fabulous parties and the kids can come too! Those parties that say, no children allowed....I ain't going lol.  ESPECIALLY for New Years. I can't see myself bringing in the New Year without my kids. Other things yeah, that's fine lol, but NOT NY's lol.  I will have to get some pics this year. The kids do it up too! LOL

Ok, that is IT for me! I hope y'all have a great day!

Toodles!

This picture says it all....and TBF.

I hope you all had a very, very Merry Christmas!!!

This picture really sums up Christmas for us...I took this picture SO fast!!! I didn't even TELL him to go to bed and I THINK he is still fully dressed lol. I know he was tired because he doesn't even have a pillow case on his pillow!!! LOL I changed his linens yesterday lol. I will leave him be. I don't wake up sleeping children lol. EVER lol.

And our regular throw back Friday!! I'll do a Christmas wrap-up on Monday...right now I is TIRED! LOL Have a great weekend! Toodles!!!

Merry Christmas!!

You can click to enlarge the image.

I hope you all have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas!

A peek at the Christmas Tree....

This year we decided on bronze, gold and ivory for the tree.

I am so in love with these ornaments.

Have to do one with a reflection of moi....  lol

This is my favorite....I don't know if you can see it but it says HOPE.

And joy....

These are like little disco balls...I call it my ombre ornament lol. It goes from gold to bronze.  I would LOVE to have some fabric like this lol.

I love the pearl garland too. I had to have it lol. Even though Christmas hasn't even arrived yet, each year the kids pick the colors of the tree. Next year is Kayla's turn and she wants...BLUE, SILVER, and splashes of hot pink. lol

I will start buying ornaments the day after Christmas lol.

I have something to tell you guys, but not until next post :-) lol

Have a great day all!

Toodles!

The day after....lol

Did you guys have a good Thanksgiving?? We really really did!!! Why don't you listen to this "throwback"  song and get movin....especially for everyone that is going to black Friday sales lol. I don't want ANY part of that madness lol

This has to be one of my FAVORITE Christmas songs!!! LOVE IT!

NOTE TO EVERYONE TAKING PICS LOL....
Make sure your card is formatted BEFORE you want to start taking a lot of pictures lol. I started taking pics at my moms house and my camera kept telling me I didn't have any memory...umm ok I had only taken like five pics lol. This is a 2gig card...umm ok. Then I thought about it. It has been a WHILE since I formatted my card lol. BUT If I would have formatted it then I would have lost all the pics I had already lol.

Here is my Thanksgiving wrap up lol. Doesn't even count the people that were over at our house because I didn't have time to take these pics off the camera before they got here lol and the battery on my point and shoot is DEAD lol

 

 

 

 

 

There were no fancy dishes, or place settings...just family, good food and just being together. That is what matters most. I love my family more than anything. When it is all said and done, that's all you have. I let mine know all the time how much I love and appreciate them. Mushy moment over ;-)

We ended up riding 4wheelers with the kids...here are the last two pics I took lol

AJ LOVES TO "POP HIS COLLAR" he is SO cool lol

 

He is something else.

Here is one I snagged with my camera phone of my dad and Tony working on the motor in my car. SO glad Tony is learning from my dad. All I have to do is buy my parts! LOL

I hope you all have a great weekend. If you all are going out PLEASE be safe and watch your surroundings. FOLKS CRAZY!

Toodles!

Happy Thanksgiving

Menu:

Fried Turkey

Spiral Cut Ham

Cornbread Dressing

Candied Yams

Turnip Greens

Green beans with roasted red potatoes

Fried Corn from the cob

Mac and Cheese

Potato Salad

A SMALL Sweet Potato Casserole (for me only ;-)

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Southern Comfort Cake (1st time making this one)

Last minute carrot cake craving lol

Corn Spoon Bread

Banana Pudding

Wheew Lawd....we is gone eat, and I do have folks coming over tonight! LOL I keep it simple and traditional!!

Toodles!

Ramblings, health issues and a prayer request...

Did you guys have a good weekend? We did. It was totally LOW KEY. I didn't move my car until it was time to go to church on Sunday lol.

I think it should be a law that you should NOT be allowed to chew/pop/smack gum in public places. I had to go to the courthouse yesterday and I SWEAR I was about ready to go off on this lady that was two people down from me. OMG. I about went batty listening to her pop her freaking gum. OMG. I don't even want to chew gum anymore after hearing her and I do NOT pop my gum. You hardly even know I have it in my mouth. OMG. About drove me INSANE!

*sigh* onto the health issues.

I have continued to go to the doctor every couple of weeks to have blood work done. I've had a couple of scares, but it has all turned out well in the end. Well yesterday, I had a super big scare. My levels haven't looked like this since I was first diagnosed with cervical cancer.  I have to go back today for some additional testing so PLEASE keep me in your prayers. If by ANY chance the cancer ever decides to come back, I will have a hysterectomy done. I did want to try the other treatment first, and I'm glad I did....but I'm hoping that this too will pass. I'll keep you guys updated.

Prayer Request: A couple of my good-est (Aj says this ALL the time lol) friends already know that  mom is having surgery tomorrow, please keep her in your prayers....she is a pretty good patient... my dad however will drive me insane when she comes home...pray for MY sanity lol.

Knitting: This Habu is getting on my damn nerves lol. I am currently looking for a cute tank pattern using rowan cotton rope. I need some mindless knitting right now. LOL

Sewing: NO mojo. AT ALL. I did some sewing a week or so ago. I made a dress, two tops and a skirt from my list. I have not taken pics in my things yet but I did get a picture of Jaelyn in the dress I made for her, so I'll probably try and post that tomorrow.

Photography: Busy as hell. It's now  wedding time. I have SIX weddings over the next seven weeks.  SIX. Fun times, but OH so busy lol.

Scrapping: TOTALLY in my groove. I feel like I'm a few weeks behind showing stuff lol. I did the following LO's a couple weeks ago I think. I've done a lot more...I've been working on some mini albums for a couple of dear friends of mine. I'll show some sneaks of those soon. I've also added some pages to my kids summer mini album. I need to show those as well lol.

I Miss My Dad:

Products Used:

PP: BG

Foof a la letters

Prima flowers

MM Journaling page and staples

7 gypsies Gaffer tape

BG letters

DMC Floss (which I am totally addicted to)

Pearl Brads Unknown

The photo is mounted with the 7 gypsies tape and grommets. It lifts to reveal the journaling:

Time Together:

My scanner obviously didn't like the embellishments on this one so here is a photo:

Products Used:

Basic Grey PP (Yes, I'm addicted to it lol only Virginia has seen my stash..shhh lol)

Clocks Umm, I think they are paperhouse studios?

AC Felt Thickers

Button up buttons

MM Felt and Epoxy buttons (RAK from Dana...did I ever show you guys that photo??)

7 Gypsies Gaffer tape

MM Noteworthy Journaling Page.

That's it for today!

Have a great one!

Toodles!!

 

Mom's Favorite Gift

As promised, here is my moms favorite gift. The list of supplies is at the bottom. I kept it REALLY simple. I am so glad she loves it!

PRODUCTS USED:

AAM 6x6 Calendar (LOVE THESE)

Art Warehouse Rubons

Font Werks Rubons

7 Gypsies Stickers

BG Rubons

Prima Flowers

MM Minibrads

Creative Cafe Rubons

MM Clear Self Adhesive Flowers

EK Success Inspirables

American Crafts Rubons

HS Bling Circles

DCWV Rubon Quote

HS Chipboard

Toodles!!!

Christmas In Review

Well I planned this whole neat little post full of frames, but alas...no PC means no Photoshop so no cute frames. This post is VERY PIC heavy...I'll try and keep the words down lol

Throw Back Friday will be back in the New Year!!!

THE FOOD:
Cornbread Dressing

Turnip Greens

Mac & Cheese

Candied Yams

Sweet Potato Casserole

A small portion of my ham

A small snipet of my turkey

 

Martha Stewart Cookies

Hmmm gotta find the Red Velvet Cake pic lol

Some Randomness.....

Jaelyn's FAVORITE gift lol

Mom's favorite pic (tee hee)

Aj's favorite two things....his game boy and his new chair lol

Love the look on her face lol

He has his game face on lol.

My mom enjoying her gift in all her Christmas Glory lol. I'll post that tomorrow

My brother trying to transform Aj's transformer.....how many men does it take?

Five hours later...Tony trying to do the same thing lol. HA! LOL

Aj put those bad boys on the FLOOR! LOL

Can you find AJ? He made his OWN bed  Christmas Eve. Using a sheet that they paint on....lol I see transformers AND bob the builder lol. Love this pic. He w as SO tired on Christmas afternoon lol.

My mom's kitten Gracie needed some attention too, so she got her ball and went to work lol

This is my FAVORITE picture and I can not WAIT to scrapbook it. (Can you see my pic I painted to the left to the left?) If any of you have met  or talked to  Kayla, you all know she LOVES BOOTS! OMG. I got her a black pair, but GRANDMA got her a SUEDE pink pair complete with pom poms lol. She LOVES these things. I have already bought stock in scotch guard because I KNOW she will no doubt attempt to wear them EVERY day! LOL

Hope you guys had a great holiday!!!!!

Toodles!