Halloween Post

With all the candy I have consumed in the last couple of months here at work and at home, I am very glad Halloween is here and almost over. With that being said, I get emails everyday from Self and thought I would share this one with y'all....turns out there actually is some nutritional value to all this candy I have been consuming.

Who would have thought??

As a person with a nutrition degree, I already knew that dark chocolate had it's benefits...but I didn't know that those who consumed a piece of dark chocolate a day were 40% less likely to have a heart attack or stroke. I'd say that is for sure a reason to indulge in a little chocolate here and there...wouldn't you?

My favorite candy...gummies and fruity candies. Those who ate this kind of candy have a lower body mass index and a smaller waist. Umm...bring on the sugary goodness please...of course this is all in moderation.

 

Apparently, chewing gum approves alertness. Guess instead of my morning pumpkin spice lattes I just need to pop in some gum.

 

 

Popcorn balls...the old standby treat is full of fiber and antioxidants. Here is a recipe to try from Self

 

 

Nuke 1/2 cup honey for 10 seconds; add 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips. Pour over 6 cups popcorn mixed with 1 cup salted peanuts. Stir; form into balls; chill on wax paper until firm.

 

Finally an answer to all my prayers...a real reason that having a sweet tooth is a good thing...People who ate four low-calorie desserts a week lost 9 pounds more than those who had one weekly splurge. See, I knew that apple pie would be just fine : )

 

If these aren't good enough reasons to indulge just a little bit on Halloween candy, then I don't know what are.

 

Happy Halloween!

 

Oh and P.S. here is a picture of our Halloween costumes...I think we make a great Paper, Rock, Scissors. Notice all the glitter. Lots and lots of glitter. 

 

 

 

Cha-Cha-Changes

Good Morning loves!

As you can tell, we did some major re-modeling of le blog. Is that what you call it re-modeling, I don't know...but that is what I am going to call it.

Lauren over at Blue Lux did an AMAZING job. Seriously,  she took my idea of colors and just ran with it and it is more than I could have ever imagined it being. She did my original design, so I new she would be the perfect person to vamp it up, so to speak. Hope y'all love it as much as I do. Seriously, if y'all are looking for a new blog design, Lauren is your gal. She is so easy to work with and trust me, I am kinda difficult to work with, because I am so computer and design illiterate. I even have some new tabs where you can learn more about me, my friends and family and even my cute little dog babies, Bella and Bentley.

As promised, I will do a homecoming re-cap...I had a great weekend, we had an awesome football game...we are still undefeated and are ranked number 3...holla!! If I learned anything from this weekend, is that I am not longer a college student and trying to act like one again, does not work in my favor, like at all. I had a lot of fun though and will be blogging about it shortly. Right now though, I have a few major crisis at work that I should probably tend to instead of blogging. Wish me luck!

Have a great Monday lovies!

 

Ever you'll find us, loyal and true...to our Alma Mater O-S-U

It's FRIDAY y'all.

Can I get an Amen?!?

I am so excited for this day for many reason, not just because it's Friday but because it's HOMECOMING in the greatest place on earth. Stillwater, my home for 4 years of my life...I love this place.

Tonight is the night called Walkarounds, where literally the whole town shuts down an entire street and thousands upon thousands descend into Stillwater. It's seriously amazing. Alumni, current students, future students,babies of alumni, anyone and everyone who has ever loved OSU is there.

(Homecoming last year, our fountain even turns orange)

Walkarounds is intended for everyone to see what the sorority's and fraternity's have been working on all semester long. Huge housedecks are displayed in front of the Fraternity houses. It's scenes displayed based on the them for Homecoming. This year's theme is "Where your story began" Personally I LOVE this theme. It's so true, I know from my own experience that my story most definitely began at OSU, just like I am sure the majority of stories did.

I participated in the building of these housedecks and let me tell you as beautiful and astonishing as they are...it is a huge pain in the ass to make. See, because I was in a sorority, we were responsible...along with the fraternity to make these housedecks. Basically the boys do all the manual labor, as in welding the structure and getting parts to move and things like that and the girls were responsible for the actual prettiness of it...if you will. We would spent countless hours all semester shoving tissue paper into chicken wire. Yes, you heard me right...tissue paper into the teeny tiny holes of chicken wire. It was time consuming and like I said a huge pain in my ass.

(Sneak peak at this year's housedecks)

However, going to walkarounds as an alum, I sure do appreciate the beauty of it that much more. The night before walkarounds in called "24 hour pomp"...this is where the madness ensues. You have until about 5:00 the night of walkarounds to get your deck up and running and displayed. The judges, yes..it's a competition, will start showing up about that time. This is the time you for sure want your moving parts to move, after they judge your house, they could all fall apart and it won't matter. Just as long as they are running for that 10 minutes your house in being judged.

As much as I dreaded going into the night of "24 hour pomp" it was some of the best times spent with my sisters. Yes, I am not gonna lie, we had some knock down screaming arguments over where things should go and who is doing what, but really...that is expected with about 100 girls and 100 guys and no sleep. In the end, housedecks and walkarounds are part of an OSU tradition that has been happening for years. I am so honored and proud to have been a part of it. I will always treasure those memories and I can not wait for the day I get to take my husband and kids to walkrounds and show them what I used to do.

( Probably taken at 2 or 3 in the morning when the craziness of all night pomping takes place)

(our housedeck one year, we had a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory theme...my little Karisa)

(me working hard...at supervising)

(Oh goodness my hair was crazy)

Oh ya and there is a little thing called a homecoming game on Saturday too...not to mention how excited I am to be going back to my college bar for the night and having the world's best drink ever, made popular by my friends and I am sure. A limey. If you are ever in Stillwater, OK...stop by the bar called the Copper Penny and order this drink. Actually, if you are ever in Stillwater, just call me and I will meet you and have a drink with ya.

(Homecoming circa 2008, at the best bar ever with the infamous Limey)

Oh and one more thing that I am excited about, my boss is at the hospital right now waiting on the arrival of her second child. Baby Evan Christopher. Hurry up Evan...everyone has been anxiously awaiting your arrival!! Including me, who has packed on a few lbs along with your momma...all those damn cupcakes I had to go get her.

Hope y'all have a great weekend and I will most definitely be taking pictures of this years homecoming festivities.

GO POKES!!!

Hell on Heels

I'm hell on heels say what you will

I've done made the devil a deal,

He made me pretty

He made me smart

and I'm gonna break me a million hearts

I'm hell on heels baby I'm coming for you

First off, I love this song and more importantly I love Miranda's new band, Pistol Annie's...I just had to throw that out there.

A few days ago at work, one of our former patients stopped in just to say hi, we probably haven't seen him in about six or eight months or so. It's always nice to see former patients and I love for them to stop by and visit and for us to see how they are doing and if they have progressed

What I don't like. Is the fact that the majority of said patients that come back and visit always ask one question.

"So, are you married yet?" when I answer no, it's always followed by, "Why, not?"

First of all, if I knew the answer to that question...then maybe I would be freakin married. What the hell kind of question is that to ask a person anyway?

Then my boss says that I am "hard to handle"

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. I am not anywhere near hard to handle...at least I don't think so anyway....then I got to thinking...maybe I am hard to handle...maybe I am just a little bit Hell on Heels .

Miranda Lambert is hell on heels and it worked for her, she married Blake Shelton...now I just need to find a guy like him.

If being "hard to handle" means that a women is independent, knows what she wants, knows who she is and what she is looking for...then I will greatly take that title.

Fast forward to this morning.

I took Bella to her grooming appointment, it was way past time to get her hair did, little girl looks like a hot mess, her hair is all crazy. While I was waiting in line, I read her card. At the top of the card in big bold letters it read.

"Hard to handle"

Not even kidding.

My dog...hard to handle??

Coincidence...I think not ; )

We're just hell on heels, baby and we're coming for you!

Who knew you could learn about life over margaritas

I have this standing date of margaritas with a 70 year old man. That sentence probably sounds a little crazy, so let me explain. I work at a Physical Therapy clinic and you get to the point where you see the same patients often. This particular man has been a patient of ours for multiple injuries, so we have seen him for quite some time and when you see a person three days a week for months on end, they become sort of like family.

In my case, he has become like a grandpa figure, with whom I have margaritas with. It's actually one of my favorite things to look forward too. In fact, because my dating life has been fairly non-existent here lately...it's the only date night I have to look forward too...insert sad moment here...my dating life consists of margaritas with a 70 year old man.

Life gets busy and this and that,and we haven't been able to have a margarita date in a long time, so today he came into work with coffee and for the last hour we have chatted about life, love, politics, Vietnam war, basset hounds, cattle, boys who are dumb and just anything and everything under the sun.

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, you know those mornings where nothing looks right, your hair is a hot mess, you can't find anything to wear, you spill the coffee everywhere, you know...one of those mornings. Somehow after chatting with him, everything seems much better.

I don't understand it when people talk about generation gaps. Yes, clearly there is an age difference, and he might not understand me when I say certain things, like "WTF" or things like that. We are all the same, he has been through the same problems I go through, he has experienced more than I can ever imagine...and I learn from just hearing his stories.

I guess until that right southern gentlemen guy comes along who opens doors for ladies, loves Jesus and his momma, knows a good college football team when he sees one(Oklahoma State, of course), and can two-step with the best of them....you can find me having margaritas on a Friday night with my 70 year old date.

I'm no Picasso, but I do paint a pretty mean Cowboy

Oh my word, how is it Monday already? I vote we have three day weekends. Like we just forget Monday all together and always go straight to Tuesday. Who's for a three day weekend and a four day work week?? You with me?!?

My mom, bestie and I partook in a few little projects this weekend, that I must say are pretty awesome. I can't reveal all the pictures, because they are our Halloween costumes and I want y'all to see the final products. I promise to take lots of pictures at our Halloween party. Let's just say that our costumes are awesome. Pretty much the coolest costume's I have ever made.

Well, I never made any of my costumes, but none the less...these are AWESOME!!

What else did we do, oh yes...I painted my college's mascot on a pumpkin in honor of Homecoming which is this week. Also, might I add that my COWBOYS are 7-0 this season and ranked #3...lets keep it up Cowboys.

Meet Pistol Pete

Not to bad, no?

These two were busy making bestie's costume

Can you tell what it's going to be??

Just know, that our costumes are full of glitter....lots and lots of glitter.

Happy Monday Y'all.

Boobdazzled

It's Friday Bishes...Holla!!

Oh, Maxine...you so funny.

I am majorly struggling this morning...I can not seem to wake up, I am sure it has nothing to do at all with the two glasses of wine I consumed last night and the free wine at the event I attended last night...nope, I am sure it's just a coincidence.

Last night I was invited to attend our local Boodazzled Brassieres event. It's an event where anyone can design a boobdazzled...think bedazzled bra where it will be auctioned off and all proceeds go to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation. I was short on the entry or you better believe I would have entered my very own blinged out brassiere.

It was a great event, filled with some wonderful speakers and what boob event wouldn't have been complete with out a dinner served with...you guessed it...chicken breasts. Original, right?

Here are just a few of my favorite blinged out bras, the theme was movies...

Secretariat, the race horse

Wizard of Oz

One of my favorite movies of all time, Steel Magnolia

All in all it was a great time and I love going to events where I can support cancer awareness.

This weekend I have no plans, boring..yes, but much needed. I still need to recuperate from last weekends debacle that was Oktoberfest and I need to rest up for next weekends Homecoming/Halloween/Tiff's birthday festivities.

I am getting to old for all this fun.

 

Pinning away

First thing first...when did it go from nice fall like weather to freaking freezing cold?? Not happy mother nature, not happy!

So per usual, I spend most of my work day, "pinning" things. Yes, like the majority of y'all, I am seriously addicted to pinterest and for that reason I have suddenly found myself...

A. Really really hungry from looking at all the food pictures

 B. I have about 100 or more "dream" houses and rooms picked out

Who doesn't want a swim up bar in their backyard??

C.I find that every picture of a half naked baby is utterly cute and right there in that moment I want one

( but then I remember I am single and not married )

D. Pink Louboutin's with sparkles are just as necessary as a blinged out deer head mounted on a wall, tell me if you shot a deer you would not do this?

E. Realize that my best friends are clearly not doing their job at finding my Prince Charming...

Let's get to work on this girls

and last but not least...I have now received more motivation to work out then ever before...good grief, who doesn't want this body...now how do I get this exactly...oh, ya...exercise!

On that note...peace out, I am off to enjoy my pumpkin spice latte and think about exercising

I'm loving

This week is going by fast for me...I didn't even realize it was Wednesday...crazy, huh?

With that said, this is What I am loving today

I'm loving this fall weather we are finally having...mostly I am loving my pumpkin spice latte, wearing a scarf and my boots. Perfect weather...now if only it could stay until spring and just pass that season called winter.

I do not like winter.

I'm loving my Frank Sinatra Rat pack kinda music on Pandora. I have no idea why, but when I listen to Mr. Sinatra, I crave Italian and instantly want a glass of wine.

Apparently I am also loving all these " fun size" candy bars...probably a little too much. I need to stop eating them after about five. Just because they are little lyndse, does not mean they don't have calories.

I'm loving that my boss's baby is due pretty much any day now, but I am not loving that she is making me do a post-baby boot camp with her. That girl is going to kick my ass. Think Jillian Micheal's twin. That would be my boss.

Actually, I really need to get in shape, so I am loving it...just a little bit, but don't tell her.

I'm loving my bff Miss Football's blog today, check it out here it's about single girls and waiting for Mr. Right. It's pretty much the perfect thing and y'all should read it. Really made me open up my eyes this morning for sure. She always knows exactly what to write, especially when I need to hear it. It's a God thing.

I'm also loving that Miss Football will be here in about 10 days for the World Greatest Homecoming Celebration, a football game and a Halloween party. Lots of fun to be had that weekend. I can not wait.

Oh and just a question for all you ladies out there...I am not loving my eyeliner. I can not seem to find one I like. I have tried them all. What is a great eyeliner? Please, please tell me.

Have a great day everyone!

 

Reality TV and a PSA brought to you by yours truly

This is going to be a plethora of random things today....probably due to the fact I started off my morning with a pumpkin spice latte...not from Starbucks however, but from the courtesy of my own kitchen and a little thing called a Keurig with a dunkin donut's pumpkin spice coffee package. So, I might be all over the place more than usual. Let's get started shall we.

First things first, reality TV. Y'all know I love my reality TV. Especially Bravo and especially my Real Housewives. Let's talk Jersey. OM double G, what the hell happened to you, Teresa?? I used to like you, I mean when you flipped that table and called Daniel a prostitution whore...that was my favorite line ever, favorite scene ever. Now, you go on and talk smack about Caroline and her family in your cookbook, how is that even relevant to cooking? That line about Caroline only being 1/16 Italian or how she is about Italian as the Olive Garden...well, I happen to like the Olive Garden. So there.

Beverly Hills Housewives. Brandy Gainville, really? How is she a housewife...if Lea Ann and Brandy's ex-husband would have never gotten together we would have no idea who she is. Pah-lease. I am over her already. Let's talk about the wedding planner. I love him. I would love for him to plan my wedding. Just a few small problems. I am not engaged/nor have a boyfriend(minor details really) and I don't have a million dollars because apparently that's how much weddings cost according to him. Doesn't he remind y'all of the wedding planner on Father of the Bride? Franc.

I love that movie.

Moving on from Housewives, how about Most Eligible Dallas. I love this show. I love Courtney, she is hilarious. I am pretty sure we should be in real life friends. Her one liners crack me up. I so wanted her and Matt to start dating but according to WWHL last night they are not. It's sad really...they are adorable together.

 I may not know what's going on with the presidential candidates and what not, but I do know my housewives.

Another reality show that I absolutely adore is Giulania and Bill. First of all, I love them. I can tell they are so genuine and fun, and they truly love each other. They are so sweet together. As I am sure most of y'all know by now that Giulania and Bill have been struggling with infertility. Watching their struggle has brought tears to my eyes but nothing as much as finding out that she has breast cancer. I watched her interview on the Today show yesterday morning and I was actually hoping she was going to announce that they were pregnant. Instead it was the complete opposite.

I can not stop thinking about how she found out she had cancer. It really was a blessing in disguise in a way. If you haven't heard her interview, she was going to a new fertility doctor and as a precaution he makes all his new patients get a mammogram. She fought it at first, because at the time she was only 36 and that is still to young to even need a mammogram, but she had it done and low and behold they found something. Fortunately for her it sounds like that caught it in time and she is going to be ok. She is a fighter and I know she has an amazing support system behind her.

I just wanted to touch on a few things. 1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. I think many people think that if Breast cancer doesn't run in their family or if they don't have the gene that they are fine. Your not. Cancer doesn't discriminate and in fact about 70-80% of breast cancer occurs in women with no family history of breast cancer what so ever. If y'all have read my blog for sometime you know how strongly I feel about cancer awareness...I have been actively involved in Relay for Life for a few years now. I'll explain more of that in another post.

From one women to another, please do self-breast exams. You know your body more than anyone else does, if you see something out of the ordinary of have a gut feeling...go to the doctor. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

For Giuilana, God knows what he was doing, he works in mysterious ways. We all know she struggled conceiving a child and had she gotten pregnant years ago, she might have never learned of her cancer and caught it in the early stage...but look at her now. She caught it and she has more than a fighting chance to beat it.

Sometimes in life we all want things to happen when we want them too...but we have to trust in God, and that he knows what he is doing.

Sorry for the PSA...I blame the coffee this morning and the fact that I care about my fellow bloggers...I want y'all all to know what to look for and to be aware. We got a lot of life to live, ladies!

 

Oktoberfest

I learned two things from the this weekend.

1. Do not argue with a three year old over play-dough. They will win, because after thirty minutes of back and forth you just eventually give in and let them think they are right. Why, play-dough you ask?

Beats the heck out of me.

I watched my boss/friends daughter Saturday morning and let me just start out by saying I love this girl. She is the smartest three year old I know and can carry on an adult conversation and she loves blingy girly stuff. Right up my alley. But I tell you, she was on fire Saturday morning. Now, I can argue with the best of them. My mom says I would argue with a brick wall, but a three year old who is too smart for her own good,  well...that's a different story.

2. I am far to old to have thismuch fun at Oktoberfest. Seriously, German wine, German beer, German food and a chicken dance makes for a not so lovely next day hangover. Just saying.

However, I had SO MUCH fun this weekend. A blast.

Besties aunt and uncle host an Oktoberfest party at their house complete with an open bar, lots of food, music and lots of fun. Needless to say, we ALL had the best time...and we are for sure paying for it now, some more than others. Just a few pictures from the night.

If I ever see another German wine again...it will be too soon. Seriously, I am way to old to have this much fun.

That's about it folks for my weekend, I spent most of yesterday trying to recover. It's always fun to get a bunch of friends together and hang out on a nice Autumn night. Love those kind of nights.

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Friday Randomness

"I am not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes, because I know I am not dumb and I know I am not blonde." Dolly Parton

This is a random/rant/thank God its Friday post all in one.

I work at a physical therapy clinic and right now the majority of our patients are older. Now, let me just say that I LOVE our older patients, in fact I get along with them quite well. They love me, one even told me that I am a perpetual granddaughter...I have no idea what that means, but I'll go with it.

I even have a standing margarita date about every other week with a former patient of ours. He is about 70 years old and we just talk about life, he gives me advice on dating, its good conversation...he's like a second grandpa.

However, I do not appreciate it when all these old folk like to tell me a blonde joke. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. they come to their appointment. I get it already. I am blonde. Yes, I act blonde sometimes, but just because I do, does not mean I want to hear your latest blonde joke.

Pinterest always knows how I feel

Rant over. Moving on.

My hair. It's a hotmess. I haven't had it highlighted since July. July people. It's October. Why, is because my hairdresser/friend gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Mia and has been out on Maternity leave. Thankfully she is back to work and I get my hair done on Monday. In the meantime, I have been sporting pony tail after pony tail until the last couple of days; I just decided to go with it. You know what, several people have commented on how they love my ombre looking hair...I hate to break it to you people...but this is called roots. Not ombre.

A rep came into our office today and brought us a giant purple pumpkin full of the "good" Halloween candy...you know, like Hershey’s, kit kats, snickers, reeses. I took that purple pumpkin full of delicious high calorie chocolaty goodness and hid it.

Believe it.

Some say I don't like to share

Good thing about Friday...PAY DAY...bad thing about Friday...paying bills. I had dreams and plans for that money...plans of shopping and a trip to Sephora for new make-up...alas my dreams are now being spent on bills. Blah.

Because I like to torture my dogs, and by torture I mean doing this....

"Hello, my names is Bentley...I have a PhD in sleeping all day and eating cupcakes when left unattended."

Happy Friday dolls!

All you need is love...and a dog

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.  ~Author Unknown

It is no secret that I love my two dogs. I may or may not be slightly obsessed when it comes to them, after all they are my babies for now.

Dogs offer nothing but unconditional love day in and day out. They never question why you had a bad day, they just know to comfort you when you are sad. They are always happy to see you, always...even if you did leave them outside in the pouring rain while you were at work...they are still very happy to see you. I am sure it has nothing to do with the fact they are more excited to be inside where it's warm...but none the less...they are happy.

I saw this video the other day and just had to post it. It tugged at my heart strings. Not only because I am a dog lover, but because it's such a simple act of kindness and love. I truly think that, we as humans, can learn a thing or two from animals...

And because I am on this dog kick today...here are a few dogs pictures I came across on pinterest.

I couldn't do a dog post with posting a picture of my two doggies...love them!

Bella on the left and Bentley the basset on the right who I think has an Elvis lip thing going on.