Trevor's New car

 

Trevor bought a Challenger today!!

As you may know Trevor had a bad car accident several weeks ago.  Totaled his cute  truck.  He was very lucky to walk away from that wreck.  He ran into someone that pulled out in front of him.  He said he was going around 65 mph.  

So the past several weeks he has been using Aaron's truck or Grandpa Kendall's car.  I think they were ready to get their vehicles back.  

Am proud of Trevor and this will help build up his credit.  Hopefully he will slow down a bit and take care of his car.  

Am so proud of Trevor.  He is working hard and making great money.  For so long I was worried about him but I think he is making much better decisions.  I love my baby boy Trevor!!

Blake and Jessica engaged!

Blake and Jessica 

I can't believe that my hardheaded son finally asked Jessica to marry him!  he called me and told me he was going to ask her that Friday night.  I was like oh do you have a ring for her and he was like of course!! 

 My first thought was I wanted to yell the good news from the rooftop.  But I kept the secret kinda as I did tell Luther.   I wanted to tell his siblings but knew that was a bad thing for sure.  They would have been calling and giving Blake heck.  

He proposed at the Chickasha Lights so he had a beautiful background. He made her wait for many years.  I love Jessica and Logan and am so proud they are finally going to be officially in our family!!!  

Congratulations to Blake and Jessica!!! 

Secret Sis Party

Every year we have our Secret Sis Party out at the Bailey Church.

Playing a game.. drawing on top of our heads.  

 

These ladies are a hoot!! 

I have been in this group for many years now.  I had told Mr.C that this was probably my last year in doing it.  Then I get out to the Bailey Church with my food item, Tree Ornament and gifts for my secret sis.  We visit and have lots of fun and I'm like okay just one more year.  For me it's stressful trying to figure out the best gift to buy plus stay in budget of $35.00.  Then figuring out a perfect finger food to take.  Seems to me everyone takes a dessert and goes the easy way out.  So this year I took a 2 lt coke.  Yep I didn't make any thing at all.  Shame on me.  I hope to be more organized next year.  

I do want to send more cards thru the mail to my secret sis this year.  I know I sent about 3 cards last year.  I want to do more this year.  Will put notes in my planner to do more for my 2018 SS.   I also want to find some cool inexpensive items to send thru the year.  I want to do my very best this year.  

Snowmen

Snowmen 2018 

My long time friend Julie made me these adorable snowmen for Christmas this year.  Julie is so crafty!  

Last year she made me a Christmas tree out of pallets.  These snowmen looks great sitting under the Christmas tree.  I plan on leaving them out till after February.  Then I will put them up till next year.

I would rather have a homemade gift these days than something from a store.  I know people who do not like homemade stuff and I don't understand that at all.  I would love to have a friend that makes bath salts and scrubs.  Even thou I have made them for myself...

I plan on making a few gifts for the ladies next year. I am going to get my cricut out this weekend and figure it out.  I can't believe I have had it for years and did not use it.  What? Yes you heard me right.  I just didn't know everything I could do with it.  Now I am saving pins to my Pinterest board.  I want to do a glitter dipped cup or mug.  They look awesome.  Plus they would make great gifts.

I am on a cricut mission for sure!!

Planner 2018

My new Planner for 2018!!

Lots of space to write things in for 2018   

I can't wait to get this planner decorated and filled out.  I have been busy buying several sticker weekly kits.  I had no ideal this was a expensive little hobby.  Etsy and I will become big friends I can tell already.  

Last year in my planner I didn't decorate it at all.  So looking back thru it I was like darn why didn't I put stickers and washi tape in it to make it pretty?  Have done a couple of week spreads but haven't taken a photo of them yet.  Will do that really soon.  

Am excited about planning this year.  My word for the year is going to be HEALTH.  I need to focus on being healthy eating better and losing some weight.  This could be a hard year for me but think I am ready to make some much needed changes.  

Buying online fail

Bath and Body Works

 

Yikes!!! 

I was so excited to have my box of Bath and Body Works delivered on a Saturday.  I get my package in the house and I open it and this is how it came.  I’m not happy at all.  So I call customer service and the lady says sorry for your leak wipe it off.  I’m like no you don’t understand this is more than a leak it exploded.  She says I will replace the damaged one. I say to her can I send this back to you and you send me a new box. Her reply is no unless you want to pay cost of shipping.  Needless to say I’m very disappointed with her.  Trying not to be rude I again try telling her how bad this box looks and really she could care less.  Do I then tell her OK here is what I’m going to do.. I will go to social media.  Wasn’t joking with her.  So yes went to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  I left bad reviews on Bath and Body Facebook page.  Then I left a comment about beware of buying online and left pictures.   Someone messaged me and asked me to explain what happened and so I did as well as added more photos of my box.  Then spent time cleaning up my items.  Which truthfully didn’t take long but they were gifts for Christmas.   Then by Tuesday I do get a message telling me they would send new box not including the one she was sending.  I offered to send back the first box but they didn’t want it.   

So if I hadn’t went to social media I would have just had to settle for my messy box.  I know in the grand scheme of things I probably shouldn’t have been so upset about a messed up box.  Maybe  I shouldn’t have left a bad review. I really don’t know but am proud that #Bathandbodyworks took care of me.  I did go back and left a better review.  

Life is good!

Hello Everyone!  I know I haven't blogged about my vacation yet.  I have been busy since getting back home.  Mr. C. and I decided  that I would NOT return to the flower shop.  For several reasons but the biggest one would be so I can be home and help him when he doesn't feel his best.  As you may be aware he is disabled.   This has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.  Seems as if every day flies by for me.  I am getting many things decluttered.  Which is a great thing for us!  Mr. C. is a minimalist where I tend to be a pack rat.  


This is what Mr. C would love!!



I like lots of stuff!! No joke!!!!Would love a room like this one!  Maybe one day. Do you like lots of random items in the house?

So needless to say I am enjoying the break from work but yet am working hard on our house.

I promise to come back and fill in about my trip/cruise.  I do not have my pictures backed up yet and so I will get all that done soon.  I took lots of pictures while I was on the cruise this year.  I had a great time that is for sure.




I have been busy writing pen pal letters!! I have sent off around 15 pieces of mail the last several days. Sure have been missing my pen pal letters, swaps and journals and packages I use to get on a regular basis.   Hopefully I can get more wrote and sent by this weekend.  I am currently working on 2 journals, a snowman swap and a tea swap.  Love being on swap bot.com and a Facebook group
snailmailRus.   I have always enjoyed my penpals.



Love to have a good hot drink when writing my penpal letters.  I prefer hot tea or hot chocolate.  But in a pinch flavored coffee will work.

Take care my friends!!!

The Horseshoe Casino and resort

Am ready to

Play some slots at The Horseshoe Casino.

Aunt Kathy and I stayed the night here in Shreveport La.  I have always enjoyed staying and playing at the Horseshoe Casino.   

This is our last stop before heading home.  Have had a great vacation.  

I have had a great vacation but am ready to be home.   This  trip was exciting to say the least.  My first time to Alabama, Florida and Costa Maya Mexico.  So let’s see started in Oklahoma, then Texas,     Louisiana ( first time in New Orleans) then Alabama.  We hog on the ship at Mobile Alabama and went to Costa Maya and then Cozumel.  When we got off the ship we went to Pensacola Florida.  We had a road trip combined with our cruise!

Had to take my picture in front of the million dollar wall!  I still am wearing my ship and sail card around my neck.  I also had my credit card and license tucked in there with the ship and sail card. 

Fantasy Cruise 2017

Am at Mobile Port!!  

Aunt Kathy

My good friend Turtle Taylor 

We are so excited to be at Mobile Port!  We are doing a 5 day cruise to Costa Maya and Cozumel Mexico.  

I have waited all year for my cruise!  Am ready to get on the ship and be pampered.  Many thanks to Luther this gift of a cruise.  He paid for everything!!  I just wished he would have came with me.  

We got our Halloween Cruise for $345.00 each.  I had put on my ship and sail account $400.00.  I also took right about $700.00 in cash.  Not counting what I had on my credit card.  I am not planning on using my credit card except for gas and hotel rooms.  

Here is my ride!! 

Lunch 

As soon as we get on the ship we take our carry on bags up to the room.  Then head to Lido deck to grab some yummy food.   Normally I grab a Guy's burger but this looked delish! 

The hub for the ship

Piano Bar

One of the night club's

Lego ship

How cool is this!! 

Hello Lido Deck!

Sightseeing is next!  Getting to know my ship away from home.  

The fantasy is one of the oldest ship in the Carnival fleet.  Did I like it?  It was alright not my favorite.  The food seemed better on this ship, and the crew members seemed very friendly.  Could you tell this was a older ship absolutely.   Really didn't make much difference to me at all.  I was just glad to be on the ship.

With us having three in the room we are glad to see that we had actual beds.  Was so afraid that one of us was going to be in the upper bunk.  That was making me a little anxious because I am not a skinny girl and didn't want to be in a tight spot.

Next year I will be on the Valor Ship!!  

Halloween cruise 2017

So have my suitcase and tote out ready to pack.   Am super excited about going out of Mobile Alabama port this time.  Just because it will be a new experience for me.  

I have my jewelry together in my cute anchor jewelry organizer.   So don't have to worry about that at last minute.   Most of my toiletries are packed. Will double check everything.  

This trip I'm trying to take my new clothes OR ones I haven't taken on a cruise before.  This way I can have pictures in different clothes.  Makes it easier to sort pictures down the road.  If I was more organized I would have them in photo books with dates.  That would take guess work out of it. 

Am leaving October 27th for my vacation.  Will return November 6th.  Going to Cozumel and Costa Maya.   Making pit stops at Galveston Texas, Biloxi Mississippi, Mobile Alabama and going to Pensacola Florida.  

Most excited about the cruise.  Love to be pampered on the five day cruise.  I really enjoy the entire experience while being on the cruise ship.  This year we will be on Carnival Fantasy ship.  It's a older ship but has the 2.0 upgrades.  Several different restaurants to eat at that you can pay extra money.  I am leaning toward the steakhouse the first night.  That experience is well worth the $35.00.  

I hope to find time to write about each day while gone on vacation.  Last year I only wrote 2 days of entries.  Wished I had incorporated it into a activity such as rising early and watching the sun rise on the lido deck.  I'd have a hot drink in hand enjoying the peaceful mornings before everyone got up and around.  

Logan's 1st day in 1st grade

Logan is going into first grade already! He sure has grown up way to fast for this memaw!! I am so proud that is sweet, smart and loving to everyone.  Here's to a great first grade Logan!! May it be filled with lots of memories!!

Kara and Allison

Kara and Allison

These are two of my sweet nieces.  They are growing up way to fast!  Kara is 17 and Allison is 19 years old.  

I can remember putting Trevor and Allison down on a baby quilt together when they were babies.  Just seems like yesterday!  Stacey and I lived across the street from each other.  Which meant we spent lots of time together.  Sure miss them days!  I would almost say that it was as if Stacey was a sister not just a sister in law.  I am glad to say even today with Lonnie and Stacey getting a divorce if one of us needed the other we would be right there for the other.  

This photo was taken at the race track.  Their brother Hunter was racing.

I can't imagine where the girls lives will lead them.  I know they are going places and I am so excited for them!!

Aaron's Family

Aaron, Michelle, Wesley and Angel

It was time for a family picture of Aaron's family!  

Pix Gal photography Studio did a awesome job.   This was our 2nd setting with her.  I have 2 more scheduled before school starts.  The next session will be watermelon themed.  Which is perfect since I live in a town that prides themselves on watermelons.  Then we  must do back to school pictures.  Especially since Angel will be going this year.  

Wesley and Angel 

Wesley

Angel 

These kiddo's are so stinking cute it isn't funny!  they both enjoyed the mini photo shoot today.

I hope to get their pictures made at least Pix Gal photography is reasonable priced.

Hunter racing!

                                                               Go Hunter Go!

Karen Sue, Hunter and Lonnie

We are a racing family and now we have the little guys racing as well! I am so proud of Hunter Joe!! 

I think that Lonnie will work with Hunter and teach him how to build the race car up from the ground and keep it going.  Plus it will keep Hunter busy and that will help him to stay focused.  

Hunter Joe give them hell on the track!!!

Bingo Night!!

Ms.. Shirley 

The last Thursday of every night the Senior Citizens has a bingo night.  Ms. Shirley 

 asked me if I wanted to go with her.  I said sure sounds like you will have a great time.  I was going to read a book while she played.. Well that didn't happen as I ended up playing.  Well let me tell you these older folks take this game way serious!! I had fun playing as well as watching how everyone interacted with the others.  

Shirley and me

I couldn't go without taking a selfie of us now could I?  At 50 years old I do believe I was the youngest one there... Although Vonda was there with her mon and she is 5 years older than me.  What is age thou?  Shirley had a great time and it got her out of her house for several hours.

I hope we remember to attend next month!! 

Shirley waiting on the bingo lady to start calling out the numbers.  Unfortunately we didn't win a prize but still had the best time ever!  Let me tell you the prizes they had wasn't too shabby at all. I saw a pretty necklace, a couple of tote bags, household items as well as some tools.  Several cool items I would have liked myself.  In fact I am thinking if I see some nice gifts on sale I might just pick up to take to put on the gift table.  

Entertainment that is free that includes lots of visiting and laughter equals a perfect evening.  Sometimes I believe we forget that we don't have to pay large amounts of money to have a good time.  This night was the perfect example of having a good time for no cost.  They even had drinks and cookies!  Although if I go back next month I think I will take a bottle of Coke and a package of my favorite cookies.  They had Pepsi but I am a Coke gal.  The cookies they provided was more of a dry variety where I like Oreos or Chocolate chip cookies.  Yes I might be a tad bit picky.  Although I would share my goodies with the others. 

Hanging with Ms. Shirley has been so good for my soul.  She fills a void in my heart that has been empty since my mom and grandma passed in 2010.

Blake's family

 

Jessica and Blake

Jessica

. 

Logan

Blake and Jessica went to a wedding this weekend.    Doesn't Logan look so big these days?  He is so cute and the sweetest boy ever in this me maw's eyes! 

As you can tell I stole these pictures right off  of Jessica's Facebook page!  So now I can treasure them as well and show everybody Blake's nice family.  I am so proud of him!!  Jessica has been so good for Blake.  Together they have created a good life for them and Logan. 

Pamper Me!

 

Tonight I need a super long bubble bath and some wine and a good book!

At our house we normally just take showers.  So last night I cleaned out the tub really good and tonight am going to take advantage of a clean tub. 

Sometimes it is important to step outside our daily routine and focus on ourselves first and foremost. 

So my plan is to read something I normally do not have time to read.  Tonight it will be Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich.  I have had this book for quite some time now so it's time to crack it open.  I was thinking about keeping it for the cruise in October but I don't want to wait that long.

My hair needs a good deep condition so I will do this while enjoying my soak.  I just need to remember to rinse well before I step out

of the tub. 

Aromatherapy is a must.  I have some Lavender foam bath I will use tonight.  Smells so darn yummy. Plus it is relaxing.

Don't forget to pamper your face!  Face Mask is a must.  I do not do this nearly enough so tonight will be the night!! 

Music  I have found a new app to me that I want to use.  Spotify Music.  I normally go for pop music or adult top hits.  Tonight I am leaning toward some Christian music by Newsboys.  We just currently watched God's Not Dead.  Before that I hadn't heard of them. 

I can't wait to get in the tub and soak and forget all  about my troubles for just a little bit.  Lately my life has been filled with stress and turmoil.  This should help me relax and let go of some of the minor negativities in my mind. 

I am treating tonight like a date night to myself.   I am so looking forward to some me time!

Journal

July Journal 2017

I enjoy working in journals for trade.  This journal is a quick one only a month long.  Some of the requirements was to fill a composition book with stories, recipes, entries and anything you want to share.  I tried to make mine interesting.

Page about Galveston Texas

Recipe page

EL Paso Texas Trip

Galveston Texas

I am trying to be more creative with my journals.  I hope my Swap Bot partner will appreciate the time I put into the journal. 

I have found that using the free travel brochures makes the page pop and more interesting.  Sometimes being  creative doesn't take a lot of extra money.  Putting in tip in's is something fairly new that I am enjoying doing to the journals. 

I do get lots of inspiration from YouTube and Pinterest. I do spend hours on both of them sites.  

Next agenda is I want to play around and learn how to do different fonts.  I hardly ever change up the fonts I use.  I am amazed at how others use so many fonts.  

Do you have any cool journal tips for me?  Would love to hear them if you do.     

Creative letter

Creative Letters

So am trying to be a little creative when sending out my pen pal letters.  When I am at work and have a few extra minutes I will grab some sheets of computer paper.  We all know how boring white computer paper starts off looking.  So I try to add some washi tape and cute stickers to jazz the letter up a bit. 

 

I am sending this to a new pen pal.  Sure hope she likes the attempt that I put into her letter. 

Writing snail mail has always been a passion of mine.  I probably started with pen pals in middle school.  I've done it off and on for probably 30 years.  Just seeing a envelope in the mailbox from a friend makes my day so much brighter. 

This letter is awesome! I took it from Pinterest.  She did a awesome job on this letter!!

I would love to be able to use different fonts in my writing.  Which means I would have to practice my handwriting.  Some days I don't feel like I have the time or energy for another creative outlet.

When you write letters do you try to make them more creative?

Outgoing Mail

I really like the bright colorful envelopes that catch your eye.  Using last year calendars is a cheap and fun way to add color to your our going mail.