• Life

    All About You

    January 27, 2021 - By 

    Hey yall! Today I’m excited to be linking up with good ol’ blog friend, Leslie and my new blog friend, Carrie. They are starting a new series called from Texas with Love. I’m not sure if they really only want Texans linking up, but regardless I thought it would be a fun post to write. The theme for January is All About You – (re)introduce yourself to your readers. This post has given me several ideas for upcoming posts, so that’s always a good thing. Where are you from? I am from Richland Hills, Texas, which is about 9 miles…

  • Travel

    Two Must-Sees in Huntsville, AL for Taphophiles

    January 26, 2021 - By 

    Here we are again for another ‘catch up’ travel post since we’re not traveling much because of COVID. A few years ago Rob and I went up to Huntsville, AL for a wedding. We spent the weekend there and made it into a mini-vacation. While we were there I had a couple spots I wanted to check out because I guess I’m a Taphophile. Admittedly, I had to google ‘nickname for people who love cemeteries’ and found this: In the last few years, I’ve become quite interested in checking out really old or unique cemeteries. When researching what to do…

  • Life

    The Weekly [1.17-24.2021]

    January 25, 2021 - By 

    Hey yall! How was your weekend? Mine was good…for the most part. We celebrated Drew’s 23rd birthday. Man, as I type that, it makes me feel old. How am I old enough to have a kid that age?! I’m changing my “The Weekly” posts to run Monday-Sunday instead of Sunday-Saturday, but this week is my transition so this one runs Sunday-Sunday. I have wanted to do that for some time because that way I have the entire weekend in 1 post not splitting Sunday off from it, which I don’t prefer. Anyway, let’s jump in to last week! PICS &…

  • Photography

    iSpy #3

    January 23, 2021 - By 

    Happy Saturday everyone! Time for another iSpy Photo Challenge. Ordinary Day – Most weekdays, you’ll find me here working from home. Favorite Here’s ‘Monty.’ Yes, I named a plant. I have been wanting to get some really cool house plants and these are usually so expensive. This is a Monstera Deliciosa, I believe. Right before Christmas they had these labeled as a Philodendron and it was $15. He is doing so well and is so pretty. Candle Do you love candles as much as I do? I enjoy burning one everyday while sitting in my home office. I don’t what…

  • Life

    The Weekly Catchup [12.27.2020-1.16.2021]

    January 19, 2021 - By 

    I know I keep saying it, but man, this year has been so busy so far. How are we already more than half way done with January? I was looking back to see when my last “The Weekly” post was, which was from back in December! My iPhone camera is dying and so I have quit taking pictures with it. I’m supposed to be getting a new phone through my work, but there’s some type of delay with it. Anyway, so this post usually includes pics from my iPhone. Although the last several months, most pics are from one of…

  • Photography

    iSpy #2

    January 16, 2021 - By 

    Hey yall! It’s already time for another iSpy photo challenge. I was in the office this week training my new crew. This means I get home and am ready to collapse. Just so tired. Here’s how I saw the prompts through my lens. Parts So I think I struggled with this one the most. I had all sorts of ideas, but ended up thinking about all the parts that make up my shadow box. I’ve had all this since I was a kid. Hungry Here’s my dinner one night when I was very hungry! This was a minestrone type soup…

  • Photography

    iSpy {2021 Photo Challenge} #1

    January 9, 2021 - By 

    Today starts off our iSpy 2021 Photo Challenge #1! Did you decide to join along? If so, how did do this week? I can’t wait to go check out your iSpy captures. I struggled a bit with a couple of them, but with this being such a busy week I’m pretty happy with what I came up with. – Hello 2021! For this one, I had thought I would take a picture of a new calendar or something. I actually am still waiting for my new Aubie Calendar, so that was a no go. So I thought came up with…

  • Travel

    After Christmas Getaway 2020

    January 7, 2021 - By 

    The Monday after Christmas we got up and headed out to Inlet Beach near Panama City Beach, FL. We make a little detour on the way down to our favorite sausage store, Conecuh. If you’ve never had Conecuh, you are totally missing out. It is made in Evergreen, AL and I think most of the Southeastern states have stores that carry it. They have a special Christmas Hot sausage that has red and green peppers in it and it is spicy! We got several of those and a few other things. We also got some Conecuh bacon to try since…

  • Life

    Currently – January 2021

    January 6, 2021 - By 

    /beginning/ the new year with some goals that I’m actually still formulating. I hope to post those soon. I’ve also decided to begin doing the Sentence a Day post each month. In case you missed it, I’m also beginning a new photo challenge that you can read about here>>>> iSpy Photo Challenge /feeling/ relieved. Yesterday I had to do an diagnostic ultrasound because I had detected something before my last mammogram. The ultrasound showed ‘nothing of concern.’ Hallelujah! /organizing/ my thoughts, hopes, and desires for the New Year. This kind of goes along with my goal setting. I love the…

  • Life

    Memories, Dreams, and Reflections 2020

    January 4, 2021 - By 

    So I did this post back in 2011! Cannot believe it’s been that long and really, I thought I had done this post more than once. I got the idea from Ashley’s blog, which is no longer updated. See the bottom of the post for the ‘rules.’ 1. Me! 2020 has held lots of ups and downs for everybody including myself. I’m happy to have made it through the year without getting COVID (knock on wood) and having a good year working from home 9 out of 12 months. It’s pretty difficult to be a supervisor when you’re not in…

  • Photography

    iSpy Photo Challenge 2021

    January 3, 2021 - By 

    I’ve been wanting to do some type of link-up for 2021. I’ve also wanted to get more creative with my photography. I had this desire 6 years ago, but didn’t stick with it. This year I don’t want this to happen. I know having others join me in the challenge will motivate me to keep it going! So here’s how its going to work. I want to look for the marvelous in the mundane. I don’t think it matters how great your photography is or what camera you use, you always have room for improvement in one way or another.…

  • Life

    Memories of the Month {12.2020}

    January 2, 2021 - By 

    This month I was happy about: Christmas of course! Time off work. More time with Drew & Caitlyn. This month I was sad about: just trying not to be sad this month. Here’s my rating system for entertainment: ♥ ♥ = Love it! A must read/see! ♥ = Really good! Highly recommend. ✓ ✓ = Good, not great ✓ = Not much to talk about X = Awful. Total waste of time Movies I watched were: Fred Claus ✓ ✓ Elf ♥ Babes in Toyland ✓ ✓ Christmas Vacation ♥ ♥ TV Shows I watched were: Brothers and Sisters (ABC…

  • Life

    2021 New Year’s Goals Printable

    January 1, 2021 - By 

    Happy New Year! I’ve seen so many people saying how they can’t wait till 2021 and how they seem think that with the flip of the calendar year that everything will be back to “normal.” While I hope that this year is much better than last year and we can slowly start to return to some normalcy with the vaccine getting more and more available as the year goes on, I don’t think that today is just going to all of sudden have everything ‘perfect!’ Am I the only one who is being ‘real’ about this? I haven’t had a…

  • Life

    Christmas Day 2020

    December 31, 2020 - By 

    On Christmas Day, we got kind of a late start. Rob and I were up till pretty late. We did are normal preheating the oven, got dressed, and got ready. Drew and Caitlyn came over. We practically had to drag the teenager, Alex, out of the bed. We ate our traditional breakfast of Sausage Balls and Apple Dumplins, which was all amazing. We opened stockings before eating breakfast. Santa was generous this year with several gift cards and card games. The boys both got The Office Uno. The Grinch made an appearance again this year and he brought Max along.…

  • Life

    The Weekly [12.13-26.2020] Christmas Vacation Edition

    December 27, 2020 - By 

    I didn’t write a weekly post last week so I’m combining 2 weeks worth here. PICS & GOINGS ON Dec. 13th On Sunday, the 13th we attended our Boy Scout Court of Honor. You can read more about that >>>> December Court of Honor Dec. 18th Friday was our last day of work and school. I sent out a big box of goodies to my sis, mom, brother, and cousins. After that I went and got some wine and chocolate for a few of my friends and made special surprise deliveries to them. I came home and made a 4…

  • Life

    Christmas Decor 2020

    December 24, 2020 - By 

    Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! I really wanted to get this posted way before now, but man, I’ve just been busy. You would think having this week off that I would have so much ‘free’ time, but honestly, we have stayed busy with last minute shopping, wrapping gifts like Personalized Christmas Gifts, baking, and catching up on some everyday life stuff. Anyway, today I’m sharing my Christmas decor for this year. Honestly, I thought I’d dome more of these post through the years, but it doesn’t look I’ve really done any dedicated Christmas decor posts since 2008! Geez! Let’s start outside!…

  • Life

    December Court of Honor

    December 23, 2020 - By 

    Last Sunday our Boy Scout Troop met in person for a the only Court of Honor we’ve had this year. Thanks, COVID! Alex has been the SPL (Senior Patrol Leader – boy leader in charge of entire troop) for the last year. Typically our troop has elections every 6 months, but due to COVID the term for that group of leaders was extended. The troop voted on a new slate of leaders a couple weeks ago. Alex is happy to not be in the leadership core now. Ready for a break. Discussing the ceremony. Alex is modeling in perfect form…

  • Life

    Red Rocks Amphitheatre & Golden, CO

    December 22, 2020 - By 

    Hey yall! Here is the final post of our Colorado/Wyoming trip from a few years ago. On our last day in Denver we visited the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheatre located about 16 miles from Denver in the little town of Morrison, CO as well as the nearby little town of Golden, CO. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a world-famous, open-air theatre used since 1941 that hosts many concerts and other events. The amphitheater was designed by Burnam Hoyt within the area between two massive slabs of Red stone (Ship Rock and Creation Rock). The elevation of the amphitheatre’s top row is…

  • Life

    December 2020 Monthly Musings-The Holidays

    December 19, 2020 - By 

    Today I’m linking up for Monthly Musings for December with Patty & Holly. 1. If you celebrate Christmas, what are your traditions? We go to a Christmas farm and cut down a real tree. I make lots of cookies and chocolate covered everything. We go to Christmas Eve service and have a big feast that evening that I cook (Ham, Hashbrown Casserole Cracker Barrel Copycat Recipe, and another side that I change up year to year. Sometimes I do Bacon Wrapped Green Beans or Candied Green Beans Christmas morning we wake up and I put Sausage Balls and Apple Dumplins…

  • Recipes - Sides

    Andouille Cajun Dressing (with Gluten Free option)

    December 18, 2020 - By 

    This year for Thanksgiving I wanted to try something other than the Apple Cornbread Dressing that I normally make. I found one from Emeril. I tweaked the recipe just a tad and was so glad I made it. Everyone loved it. It is a bit spicy, so if you like spicy then great. If not, see below on how to make it not spicy with some simple substitutions and omissions. This would go great with any turkey or ham. We deep fry a turkey that’s injected with Tony Chachere’s Creole Style Butter Marinade. I made a Popeye’s Cajun gravy copycat…