Only 8 More Days

That's all I have until I have to return back to work. I am a teacher and I have enjoyed the time off this summer but I have so much more I want to accomplish before heading back to work. One thing we will be doing next week is taking off for a few days and heading over to New Orleans. DS loves animals and watches Animal Planet quite a bit. He is enthralled with alligators and wants to go on a swamp tour. So being the great parents that we are, we are taking a trip to the Big Easy to do all the touristy things. We will be also hitting the Aquarium, Zoo and Paddle wheel boats along with eating like crazy at fabulous restaurants. We will not be on Bourbon Street! I will be taking pictures and may post some when I get back.

Tonight we are celebrating DH birthday. We will be going to a local restaurant for dinner with friends and family. He turned 40 in July but this was the only time with his work schedule that we could celebrate. Behind the restaurant is a golf driving range so the guys will be having a good time out there. My parents are making the cakes. Yes, two! DH couldn't decide so they are making a banana nut with cream cheese icing and a strawberry with cream cheese icing. For every bodies birthday in my family, my parents make their cake of choice. I have a few last minute running around to pick up some things for tonight. It's going to be fun tonight!

Have a great day!

Visual DNA

You will have to scroll to the bottom of this page to see it. I couldn't figure out how to add it to my post. It kept saying error so I gave up. I took this from Terri's blog. I thought it was cool. Why not give it a try and create your own visual DNA. Have fun!

Took Maggie aka Devil Dog to the vet this morning for her monthly checkup. She is weighing in at around 30 pounds and is about 6 months old. I hope she has stopped growing. Got her all set up with heartworm and flea preventive and her needed vaccinations. Also, she needs ear drops. She has a bad yeast infection in her ears due to all the rain and her love to go swimming at the dog park. So the Doc said that she needs to stay out of the water for several months. Poor thing. She also got a much needed nail trim. She is all ready for her stay at LC's while we are out of town next week.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

It's a Good Thing

Have you seen Martha Stewart's new line at Macy's? It looks like she has some good things to offer! Featured categories include birthdays, bath, bedding, dining and entertaining, kitchen, and rugs.

I was sadden when K-mart closed because I loved her line there. I will definitely be heading over to Macys to take a look see.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Five Things

I took this from Tommiea's blog. I have seen it going around so here is my list.

Five things in your refrigerator:
Diet Dr Pepper
Yoplait yogurt Whips
leftover pizza
bottled water
queso dip

Five things in your closet:
46 boxes of shoes
a bunch of cute flip flops along the bottom
many cute handbags
my shirts organized by style(tank, t's, collar, long sleeve in the back)
childhood blanket made by my grandmother.

Five things in your purse or backpack:
cell phone
sunglasses
hair clip
lip gloss/makeup bag
DS's wallet

Five things in your car:
umbrella
ladybug rain clogs
blanket
2 folding chairs
DS's baseball gear

Five things in the world you want to see before you die:
DS graduate HS
DS graduate college
DS getting married
grand kids
travel with family to Greece/Mediterranean area

Why don't you give it a try and make a list. If you do please let me know so that I can come over and read yours.

Have a marvelous Monday!!

Get Gorgeous

My friend LC and I scored an all access pass to pretty with an exclusive makeover from Stila at our local Sephora store. It was a rocking party at Sephora. They had a DJ and several vendors walking around demoing their products. We were dancing in the aisle. Stila was launching their Cover Lookbook Collection, which is so pretty. The gal that did my make up was so sweet and very talented. We chatted and she gave me some pointers to apply and how to enhance my eyes. Plus when she finished my makeup I didn't look like a freaking clown, which has happened at the Lancome counter. I purchased Stila convertible color dual lip and cheek cream in gerbera, see picture. This product looked so natural on it was amazing. After the make-up you could get your photograph taken by a professional which air brushed you and made your picture into a magazine cover. I passed on this but LC gone it done. I told her she needed to take it to school and tell her students she did some modeling this summer! Kindergartners will believe just about anything!

After our make overs we wandered around the store. I picked up some Philosophy bath and shampoo in Melon Daiquiri. And then we ended up at the perfumes. Oh my gosh! We spent so much time sniffing here. It was overwhelming! A Sephora lady came along and helped us. She had this incredible book called The World of Fragrance, which listed all the perfumes and what notes they have and how to find the notes you love, etc. I want this book! But not likely to happen since it cost $150.00. I ended up with a sample of Jadore and LC left with a couple.

We left Sephora and called up our guys to take us out to dinner since we were looking gorgeous. We ended up at Otila's, a local favorite authentic Mexican restaurant. Not my favorite but everyone else enjoyed. I prefer good old Tex-Mex.

So check out your local Sephora to see if Stila is coming and definitely go check out their products. You to can get gorgeous!

There's No Need to Fear

Underdog is Here! That's right. DS and I went to see Underdog last night while DH, LC, Mr. MC and Amanda saw The Simpsons. DS was a little upset that he couldn't see the Simpsons because the movie was rated PG-13 and he isn't 13 yet. Plus a lady at DH office said that movie would not be appropriate for DS. When a movie comes out that is rated PG-13 and DS wants to see, I ask around and get the opinion of others to see if DS can handle it. I know that the TV version of the Simpsons is not appropriate and DS doesn't watch it.

After the movie we grabbed a bite at Logan's Roadhouse. The place is so much fun because they serve buckets of peanuts on the table and then you can throw your shells on the floor. DS thinks its so much fun to throw his shells on the floor.

I have an exciting afternoon planned but will tell more about it tomorrow!

Enjoy your day!

Thank You Notes

A topic that came up with the girls as we were eating and chatting was thank you notes. People just don't send them anymore. You are lucky if you receive an e-mail or they mention it the next time you see them.

I was brought up that it was proper etiquette to write a thank you for gifts I received. My mom would have me take out my cute stationery set and write thank you notes for gifts I received for birthdays and Christmas. My thank yous back then were very short and sweet. Also, my mom wanted us to write the thank you before we could enjoy the gift.

Maybe this started my love of stationery. I love all kinds and styles. I could spend hours in a stationary store or on line store. I just love paper! Nowadays I enjoy making handcrafted cards but if I'm in a bind, I turn to the old stand by of Hallmark or other stationary company.

As I have gotten older and wiser, I will send thank yous for other occasions besides gift that I have received, such as; an interview, guest at a dinner party, when a friend has helped out with a special favor, being a house guest, to the hostess after a party was given in your honor and especially for gifts received in the mail( this lets the sender know that it has arrived).

A thank you note is an expression of appreciation for a thoughtful act, gift or expression. Also, its so nice to go to the mailbox and discover a hand written card is waiting for you to open. Something nice instead of bills and junk mail.

So do you need to send out some thank yous this weekend? I have already mailed mine for the gifts I received Wednesday.

Have a great day!