Oh Hey Friday-Sorry for being MIA!

I usually try not to let a week go by without a blog post but honestly life has been busy and I have been in kind of a blogging rut. However,I am back today and so glad to be here! Let's celebrate Friday!

1. Kennedy has her first birthday party with a friend from her class at daycare tomorrow! I was super excited a few weeks ago to find an invitation to her friend Creighton's 2nd birthday party in her backpack. It's a tractor theme party. I am having this shirt made for him with his initial on it:

2. I made this new recipe for supper this week and it was so yummy! It's called Pizza casserole and of course, it's easy! I wouldn't post it if it wasn't. ;)

All you need is:

1 lb hamburger meat

1 jar pizza sauce

2 packs crescent rolls

1 pack mozzarella cheese

1 pack pepperoni

Directions: Cook your hamburger meat. Spread  and roll out 1 pack of crescent rolls on the bottom of a greased casserole pan. Layer with hamburger meat, pizza sauce, cheese and pepperonis. Top with other pack of crescent rolls. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Yum!

3. We had a great playdate last weekend with our friend Evie at her house. The girls played so well together and did a great job sharing toys. We have invited Evie to come trick or treating in our neighborhood, can't wait!

4. Last Sunday, I hit up the Reqoop consignment sale. I went on the last day, which was supposed to be the half price sale. Unfortunately many of the sellers chose not to mark their items half price and some of the prices were just unbelievable for used clothing. I buy most of Kennedy's smocked dresses on Facebook auctions/sites and I have never paid more than 35 dollars for a new dress. I am certainly not spending 25 or 30 dollars for a used one! However, I did manage to get a few cute items including a Bailey Boys reversible jumper (Christmas and Valentine outfit in one), a brand new with tags Gymboree shirt, a smocked top with corderoy pants, a denim Old Navy dress and a beautiful Hartsongs dress with matching cardigan that will be perfect for early spring.



5. I know I say this every week, but Kennedy is talking soooo much! I am loving all the little sentences we are getting like "I go to church" and "I play with Emma" and my favorite when we pull into our driveway "we home!" Next week we are taking her to Disney Junior live as an early birthday present. I think I am almost as excited as Kennedy is. She is going to have so much fun! Here are some pictures of our little princess as of lately, including her in her house divided dress before the Carolina/Georgia game! Go Cocks! Daddy was a little grouchy after that game...hehehe.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up with Karli and Amy today!



5 Movies That Never Fail to Make me Cry

 

Today was a very lazy Sunday. It was rainy most of the day. After we came home from church, we put Kennedy down for her nap. Nick started sorting our outdoor Halloween decorations and I started watching one of my favorite movies of all time, A League of Their Own. Such a hilarious, feel good movie. "Are you crying? Are you crying? There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball!!!"

 

 

It's a funny movie but it's also an emotional movie. It doesn't matter how many times I watch it, I always cry ugly tears when the telegram comes for Betty Spaghetti that says her husband died in the war. There are several movies like this for me. I have watched them all 100 times or more and I cry every single time.

 

Fried Green Tomatoes is another one of those feel good movies for me. One minute, I am laughing at the crazy antics that Evelyn Couch is getting into ("Towanda!" "Face it girls, I'm older and I have more insurance.") and the next minute I am sobbing. I think the most emotional part for me is of course when Buddy gets run over by the train and hearing Iggie scream and cry out for him. I also always cry when Ruth dies and when Evelyn thinks that Mrs. Threadgood (Iggie) has died.

 

Oh my goodness. The Patriot. I cry so many times in this movie it's ridiculous.I cry when both of Mel Gibson's sons die, I cry when they burn down the church, I cry at the end when Mel Gibson is waving the American flag. The part I cry the hardest at is when his youngest daughter runs after him saying "Papa, don't go! I'll say whatever you want just please don't go." I am getting choked up just typing this! Such a good movie and so many good facts about the Revolutionary War in South Carolina.

My Girl is another classic movie that I just adore but is emotional. The funeral scene gets me every single time. "Where are his glasses! He can't see without his glasses!"

 

Last but not least, Legends of the Fall. Absolutely love this movie. It's just such a good story. I remember the first time I saw it, I didn't want it to end. However, the part that makes me cry the hardest is not the part you would probably guess. I definately get a little choked up when Samuel dies and when Isabella Two dies but the part that really gets me is the end when Alfred comes from the back of the house and shoots the bad guys that are about to kill his brother and father. Something about the soundtrack during that scene and how everything happens in slow motion and then just the fact that Alfred was the black sheep of the family but then saves the day. It just gets to me. I cry every time.

 

What movies never fail to make you cry?



Oh Hey Friday!!!!

Happy Friday!!! Linking up with Karli and Amy as usual! :)

1. Football season is in full swing! Even though the Gamecocks have had a rocky start, I am still super excited for the Carolina/Georgia game tomorrow. Hubby is a Georgia fan so we are a house divided. Can't wait for our annual Borderbash get together tomorrow. I am pretty sure we are going to get killed, but win or lose, I love my Gamecocks!

Oh and BTW, I am also an Oregon Ducks fan. Who watched their game against Michigan State last week?!?!  What a game! Quack Quack!!!!

2. Introducing my new favorite healthy snack! I saw these on Amber's blog, 3 Ladies and Their Gent over the summer. Amber has twin girls that are about a week younger than Kennedy and recommended them as a great healthy toddler snack. Not only does Kennedy love them but so does Mommy!

3. My new not so healthy favorite: The pumpkin spice frappachino at Starbucks. It is so yummy! Last Saturday I went through the drive thru on the way to volunteer at the consignment sale at Kennedy's daycare. I decided to be "good" and made it non-fat with no whip and it was still amazing!

4. We started our new small group at church this week. Our friends Jessica and Joe invited us to join. It is us and 6 other young married couples. All but one of the couples have kids. It was really great to connect with some new people at church. Our church has over 3,000 members so sometimes it can be difficult to get to know people. We are doing Eric Nelson's series "Not a Fan-A Follower's Story." I have heard great things so I am super excited. Nick is even more excited because everyone voted to do the movie clips instead of reading the book, hahahaha.

5. Kennedy has seemed to grow up so much this week! She is so much fun to talk to and is starting to speak in sentences on a regular basis. Yesterday when I picked her up at school, she told me she wanted her friend Emma  to come to her house. I asked Emma if she wanted to come over sometime for a playdate and she grinned and said yes, so I will have to make that happen soon! Then Kennedy went and hugged every single kid in her class and said "Bye____." I am amazed she knows everyone's name. Such a social butterfly! I don't know who she gets that from....;)

We are also still obsessed over babies. One of her babydolls has to ride with us in the car now and has to be strapped into the seat beside Kennedy's carseat. She also loves putting her babies "night night" and covering them with a blanket while saying "shhh shhh, night, night" and pushing them in the stroller.

This is a picture my high school bestie Molly sent me that was taken at the rehearsal dinner at her wedding in July. Absolutely love it and can't wait to frame it!

Have an awesome weekend everyone! Thanks for stopping by!



2 Year Old Anxiety

As Kennedy's 2nd birthday gets closer and closer, I find myself getting so worried and anxious about the changes that have to be made around this time. These are some things I know we will have to change within the next year:

1. Get rid of the paci. She only uses it when she's sleeping or if she gets hurt and wants it for comfort so at least she doesn't have it all the time. However, I know she's getting too big for it and I don't want her to be like my sister who had her paci until she was five.

2. Transition from a crib to a toddler bed. She has never tried to climb out of her crib so I think we have some time on this one. It still gives me major anxiety because our bedroom is all the way across the house from hers. What if she needs us in the middle of the night?!?! I am assuming you still don't use baby monitors when they are in a toddler bed?

3. Potty training. I keep seeing all these posts about mom's potty training their under 2 kids.  That's awesome but Kennedy is just not ready. Also, when we potty train, I want to her to be fully potty trained not just trained at home and diapers in public.

4. Transition from high chair to booster seat. I think we are ready for this one but definately want to buy one of the booster seats that has a tray since she is so messy!

I think part of me is just sad that she's getting older and she's not going to be a baby/toddler much longer. I guess I just feel like there are so many changes that we have to tackle all at once while she's this age. Trying to just breathe and stay calm!

Momma's out there: Any advice for dealing with these changes? Which change did you think was the hardest to tackle?

And just for fun, here's my little Phi Mu legacy at the bid day party last Friday. The USCA Phi Mu girls love Kennedy and she loves them!

Oh Hey Friday!

We made it!!! Phew! This week has been so busy!!!! Between work, rush week, volunteering at the consignment sale at Kennedy's daycare and being a wife and mommy, I am beat!

1. Rush week has gone great! I am so proud of the Phi Mu girls for showing how great they really are this week. Bid day is this afternoon, I can't wait! I think there are going to be some awesome girls joining our sisterhood. I mainly stayed in the back room this week, helping with scoring and matching sisters with PNM's. I did go out and walk around for a bit and listen to the awesome recruiting that was going on. :) These are 2 of my collegiete sisters Brittany and Taylor  hard at work writing out our creed for pref night.

This is me and my sisters at our annual alumnae cookout. Absolutely love this picture. Phi Mu is for a lifetime!

2. Who watched The Real Housewives OC reunion? I read online that Tamara will not be returning and I am so glad! She is such a shit stirrer! I love Vicki. I know she can be a bit of a mean girl sometimes but she makes me laugh! I actually like Lizzie and Shannon and hope they are here to stay. Oh and Heather's new look? Not a fan!

3. Don't you love how listening to a song can take you back to a fun memory? My sister posted on my Facebook wall the other day "I am sorry Ms. Jackson, ooooh, I am for real!" Took me back to our family Myrtle Beach trip in 2001, the summer before my senior year of high school. Every summer we would go to Myrtle Beach with our family plus my stepmom's best friend Lynn and her two sons, Jake and Cody. Us kids were absolutely obsessed with the Outkast song "Ms. Jackson" and sang it over and over again the whole trip. The lyrics obviously have nothing to do with a beach trip but everytime I hear that song, it takes me back to that trip. Good times!

4. Last night I got to shop at the pre-sale for the consignment sale at Kennedy's daycare. Not only did I sign up to help set up the sale and work the sale on Saturday, but I consigned my niece Lexie's clothes. My sister in law Tina wanted to consign but didn't have time to price and tag her items, so I helped her out. 40 percent of sales go to Kennedy's daycare so every little bit helps! I usually always take pictures of what I buy but this year I came home and immediately put away all the clothes. Didn't even think about taking a picture, oops! However, I am very pleased with my finds which included a Gymboree pants outfit, a beautiful red bubble Christmas dress, a handmade Christmas ruffle skirt and applique top, a Carters jumper, a Carter's pants outfit, and a Gamecock cheerleading outfit! The cheerleading outfit is a 4t so Kennedy won't be able to wear it until next year at least but it looked like it had barely been worn! All that for 32 dollars, you can't beat that!

5. Kennedy has had a great week! I know I mentioned this in previous posts but I am loving being able to have conversations with her and her being able to respond to our questions. So much fun hearing about her day and hearing what her preferences are. :) We have learned quickly that giving choices/options is a great distraction from tantrums in the world of  a toddler! This week has been so busy though and I am having major "Mommy guilt" about not spending a lot of time with her. However, we are having a girls outing this afternoon because I am bringing my little Phi Mu legacy to bid day! She had a blast last year and I know she will again this year. Looking forward to spending as much time as possible with my baby girl this weekend. I purposely signed up for a volunteer time slot at the consignment sale on Saturday during her naptime so I wouldn't miss spending any more time with her.

By the way, if you have not liked "Posh Pickle" on Facebook, do so today! This is where I got the adorable smocked cowboy boot dress Kennedy is wearing in the picture below. Very reasonable pricing and very cute stuff!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Thanks for reading!

Linking up today with Amy and Karli!



Rush Week

This week starts the University of South Carolina-Aiken's rush week! I am a Phi Mu alumna and I serve as an advisor for my chapter. I have always loved rush week. It's stressful but it's so much fun! The picture below was taken in 2005, on the first night of rush. I was vice president at the time. I am loving our outfits, bahahaha. At the time the song "poppin my collar" was all the rage and you weren't cool unless you wore your collar popped.

I have so many fond memories of rush but here are my favs:

1. Our president's hair caught on fire during pref night. Luckily she was not hurt. It was not funny at the time but now it's hilarious.

2. We were told by our advisor that we could not sing a song that had the word "hell" in it during traditions night. My sister Laney who is very sweet and a devout southern baptist blurted out in the most innocent voice "we can't say hell? But hell is in the bible!"

3. Mean girl moment but funny moment: A girl comes through recruitment who's last name is Roach. She has very bad BO and does nothing but talk about her cat the entire time. During voting my sister Amber says "somebody needs to call pest control because the roach has got to go."

Here is another fav picture from rush week. This is me with my sisters Jaclyn and Catherine. Jaclyn and I worked at a tanning salon together, can you tell? A little too much fake and bake going on, but I still love this pic!

The Greek community is just plain amazing.  My cousin Jack just started his freshmen year at Auburn. He has accepted his bid to Lambda Chi Alpha and I am so excited. The Lambda Chi guys at USCA were awesome and several of them were close friends of mine in college. I was reminded of a night where they really had my back. My boyfriend of over a year had just broken up with me and had been cheating on me. My ex was not Greek but would act like he was considering joining so he could mooch off the free booze at the frat parties. I was at the Lambda Chi house for a party when my friend Matt called my cell phone to warn me that my ex was headed to the party with his new girl. I tried to stay cool but as soon as he walked in with the new girl on his arm, I felt my eyes well up and quickly retreated to the bathroom with my sister Catherine. She talked me through everything and I calmed down and returned to the party. However, as soon as I walked back out, I was told by several of my sisters that my ex had been asked to leave the party by Lambda Chi's president, my good friend Jason. Jason told me that he and his brothers had always wondered what a good girl like me was doing with a loser like that and they would much rather have me enjoy myself without having to worry about my douchebag ex. I will never forget how they had my back that night. Even though I am sure part of the reason they did it was so he wouldn't drink up all their beer again...lol.

In all seriousness though, going Greek changed my life. It wasn't just about the parties and the fun times.To this day, my favorite part of being in Phi Mu was our philanthropy, Children's Miracle Network. I loved volunteering up at the hospital. As Phi Mu's philanthropy chair I raised more more money than any other chair in my chapter at the time through fundraisers such as "Bowl for CMN" and "Pennies for Patients."  I learned valuable leadership skills. I became inspired to get involved with other organizations on campus.

Being a Phi Mu is also very special to me because my Nana was a Phi Mu at Duke University. I am very honored to be a legacy. My great-grandmother was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha so I definately had a hard decision to go through when I went through recruitment.  There was something about Phi Mu that just stood out to me more, although I know some great girls who are in ZTA.

Best of all, I gained a group of best friends, a group of sisters who love me and will have my back forever. I love these girls with all of my heart.





Here's to an awesome rush week!