Super Bowl Sunday

Our Super Bowl Sunday started out planning on going to early church. When my alarm went off early church got delayed until regular church time. After church it was time for homework. I had to get that all done before the big game. Not 30 seconds after I was done Loren called. Its like she knew that I was free. She needed to go to publix and didnt want to go by herself. She warned me before we left that she really didnt know what she needed to get and boy was she right. 1 hour later we were done "shopping" at publix. This girl can shop at a quicky mart if you let her. It was all that bad because I got the urge to make a chocolate chip pie. The results are below. I sure do hope its good.


Before I could eat the pie we had to eat dinner. Hamburgers it was. Loren wanted a chicken breast but it was frozen and we didnt have time to thaw before the game.

I decided tonight that my special sauce goes good on everything grilled. First time for hamburgers tonight and they were pretty good.

Another success of publix shopping were super bowl cupcakes. And they were on sale because it was only an hour before the game.

You even get a super bowl ring. I am pulling for the colts and Loren is pulling for the saints. We will see who has to do the dishes after the game. The commercials are pretty good so far as well.

It's Friday! It's FRIDAY!

This week has been NOTHING short of L-O-N-G!

THREE wonderful test grades later (two me me and one for Dave), we have survived! After yesterday's celebration of four years, I had to get back to grind for just a little while this morning. I missed out on the last day of Chick-Fil-A's free breakfast, but I got an extra hour of sleep instead (I think that's an okay trade off).

After class, Dave and I decided to make that trip to the Bryant Museum we've been talking about for years now.

This a wall of all of Coach Bryant's players - by teams.

As the picture itself says, this is the first football from the first victory against Auburn

This is depicting Coach Bryant's office. Dave said he thought there was some story to the couch. Anyone know what it is?

Here is a trophy that was given to Coach Bryant for winning the most games!

Dave pretending, I guess. I'm not sure.

This is a crystal houndstooth hat that Waterford Crystal had made.

FINALLY! Our coach and all the accolades he's helped bring to our University!

This is one of Daniel Moore's originals.

We had a great time walking around the museum. But, now that we've had all this rain and dreary weather - and are out of options for inside activities, it's time for some sunshine. Keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow is much prettier!

4 YEARS... Can YOU Believe It?

HAPPY FOUR YEARS, Dave Ashley!

Four years ago today, I ran into someone (for the second time) that managed to turn my world in a million and one different directions :) Little did I ever image that we would be here - a little more than a year away from getting married - but I couldn't be more excited!

(The card in short: The old lady has noticed a funny smell and has called her fella out on it! This is VERY appropriate! I knew Dave wouldn't mind if I shared!)

Today also kicked off what is to be a very special weekend and week ahead - kind of, in a "we have three special days that we celebrate" way. Dave and I officially met on New Year's Eve. Then, two months later, we ran into each other again on a Saturday night at my pledge sister's (Sarah Vetrano) house. We watched the Super Bowl that next Sunday night together, so Dave likes to say that was our "unofficial official first date". I like to think our first date was the Kenny Chesney concert, but I guess he is kinda right ;) So, with TODAY being SPECIAL DAY ONE, Super Bowl Sunday has always been SPECIAL DAY TWO.

The third is a day that I have loathed growing up. A day that I dreaded every year about the start of February... Yep, you got it: Valentine's Day. I don't know why I don't like it, nothing bad ever happened. My parents always made it special... I was always my daddy's valentine... I just always thought it was a silly holiday and refused to participate in making valentines for the class and anything else that remotely resembled my liking of the day. When Dave came along though (a mere ten days before this horrendous holiday), he hadn't quite grasped my dislike for hearts and all things pink... Bless his heart, he tried to make it special... He managed to pull off a surprise dinner at my apartment that all of my pledge sisters were in on. It didn't make me like the holiday any better, but I did find it sweet that he tried to make me change my mind. Ever since, this 14th day of February has become our SPECIAL DAY THREE and the end to our celebration.

BACK TO TODAY, however! For those of you who don't live around here, Chick-Fil-A has been offering FREE breakfast all week! Never fear, we are there :) We had decided last week when we found this wonderful news out, that we were going to make it a point on our special day to take part in the free breakfast. I had my second test of the week this morning, so I was up studying, ready to go... Dave was not. I got a phone call and a car honk letting me know he was ready. But, we got to share breakfast together, and he'll look back and love me for it one day!

Dave isn't quite awake yet, nor is he happy I'm taking pictures :)

I had forgotten to get the lady at the window to take our picture, so here is one before me getting out of the car to take my test!

The rest of the day entailed catching up on shows I had missed this week, taking a little adventure to check on our new Daniel Moore print (additional points added here for the nice little conversation we had with the lady at the frame shop) and last, but not least, dinner at The Waffle House! Yep, that's right... TWH! I wasn't really feeling like a tummy full of sugar, so I got a Texas Cheesesteak (YUM)!

Our day might not seem that exciting to you, but I had a blast. It's been nasty and raining here all day, so being able to just sit around and watch TV, eat a TON of calories and have a few little escapades here and there, was perfect.

Thanks for letting us share our special day with you!

Happy February & TEST WEEK - YUCK :(

After such a relaxing and restful weekend, this week is going to be filled with rest-LESS nights and overworked brains for the both of us.

If only it worked this way.

I've got a test today in Community and another one on Thursday in OB.

Dave's got a 30 page paper due Tuesday and a test sometime (it's one of those he gets to schedule for whenever he wants) later this week.

Keep us in your prayers as we battle through this first round of lovely tests! It seems like these are always so stressful because you never really know what to expect :(

I will post as I can this week... Maybe as a study break or just to find some sanity ;)

Round Top Collection

I'm not sure how many of you have heard of ROUND TOP COMPANY, but they make some of the cutest holiday decorations! I have searched and searched for their official website, but I don't think they have one :(

I did find a couple of websites that carry their stuff and thought I would post a few pictures of some decorations for the upcoming seasons!

This is a stake that you can put out by your front door.

This is a cake stand for birthdays!

These are also stakes that can be put outside for your special someone's birthday :)

This is a wreath for the door.

Site One

Site Two

Have YOU Ever Been?

One of my most favorite things to do is to rummage through the Thrift Store both at home and at school! You NEVER know what you are going to find :) In recent years, this has become quite the addiction - especially if you find something REALLY good... then it's like for the next two or three trips to the Thrift Store you have this anticipation all built up about finding ANOTHER great treasure! More times than not, though, if you find something AWESOME one trip, you're probably not going to find anything that matches its "greatness" for a least a few trips or so :)

My Daddy has these cute little sayings when he's out in the yard and Momma and I head to car with major intentions of shopping "The Galleria" as we call it :) He'll say one of two things:

• "You girls have fun. But remember, if it can't fit in a drawer, don't bring it home."
• "Have fun! Just remember: You have to get rid of something if you bring something home!"

I actually found their website and, what do you know!?!? There's a "HOW TO SHOP at AMERICA'S THRIFT STORE" section! If you've never been, I think this might be helpful to you :) (HA!).

And... Did you know that the Thrift Store has discounts!? Sure they do! Certain colored tickets are certain discounts, certain weeks out of the month. Now, I haven't quite figured this color system out yet, but I'll be sure to let you know when I do! It makes me SUPER excited to have found something at a steal already, then look up and realize that it's a 70% ticket color and I end up purchasing it for like 35 cents!

I wish I could say that I came home with a COOL purchase today, but the truth is I came home empty handed. Nothing struck my fancy... :(

Here are some of my favorite finds though:

I found TWO of these silicone Alabama Ice Trays last weekend for 99 cents!

I haven't figured out when I'm going to use them, but I've done some research and seeing that retail value is around $20.00, I think I found a steal!

GAP Long and Lean Jeans

Granted, I'm nowhere NEAR in need of a pair of LONG blue jeans, but these fit perfectly, believe it or not!

Back during the summer, my mom and I found an iron bedstead much like this one! It was a yucky grey color and needed a little love, but that was definitely NOT a reason to leave it without a home! We brought it home and Dave and I actually refinished the bed! After a little frustration and having to walk away a time or two, we got it done and it looks just beautiful! The bed you see in this picture is actually identical to the my very first "big girl" bed! It was my Gran-Gran's. When I turned one, my mom and dad took me out of my baby bed and put me in my Gran-Gran's bed. I LOVED IT! Now, maybe you understand why I wanted an iron bed all my own :)

NOTHING can describe the fun times I've had digging through all of the racks and racks of stuff at the Thrift Store! I may not have liked it very much as a child, but boy oh boy do I enjoy it now :) If you're not so lucky to have such a glorious place around where you live, look for a Salvation Army! They're loads of fun, too! And with those SPRING CLEANING days coming soon, keep in mind you can take all those clothes, toys, pieces of furniture and no longer loved items to the Thrift Store so others might enjoy them (you also get this little thing you can use on your taxes) - or your local church, like we do!

Hope you guys have found something fun to do on this COLD Saturday!

Rain, Rain... Go AWAY!

Our Sunday started out a little busy, yet has been relaxing all the same :)

Church at TCAT was amazing. I love the worship time and the people are SOO nice!

We had no sooner walked in the door from church that Luke and JV called inquiring about lunch! OH BOY, don't you know we all like to eat? We made our way back into the car and quickly found our way to Longhorn's for a nice reunion with our friends :) The food was wonderful, (Firecracker Chicken Wraps - my order + Boneless Buffalo Wings - Dave's choice, surprise!) as usual, and the company was even better!

Once we got home, we each went to our separate dwellings for what was supposed to have been a productive day. Well... I don't know about Dave, but I've marked a few things off my "To Do" list.

After watching "The Blind Side" last night, I decided to do a little web-searching for the FINE young man such an incredible movie was made after! I found this article in the USA Today from back in 2009. I just can't get over this heart-touching story.

Here is one of his personally told stories.

Here is another interview with Michael.

LeeAnn Tuhoy did a radio interview that I found on youtube.

Here is also an interview with Huckabee and the whole family.

For those of who who don't know, there is also a book out there.

If you haven't seen the movie - GO! You WON'T regret spending that ten dollars! I PROMISE!