Ahhhhh....it's Almost Here - Can you smell it?!

Happy Hump Day guys and dolls! I am just absolutely floored that we are officially in the last day of September.  How the heck did that happen so fast? I guess what they say is true - the older you get, the faster the years fly by.  It seems like it was just December not long ago when I had to have emergency gallbladder surgery - I just don't know where the last 9 months have gone.  Anyway, I am linking up with Jessi over at Jessi's Design and Jenn over at Going the Distance for their What's Hap-Pinning Wednesday Link up party.  I just found them both today, and I can't wait to read up on the rest of their blogs! Come play along, won't you?! :)

Since we live in the Houston, Texas area, we don't get Fall here really until mid November sometime usually. It is awful....  As you well know, I am a HUGE Fall person and want everything that relates to Fall and since I have to currently live vicariously through others who are living in places that get to actually enjoy Fall weather and the changing of the leaves, etc., here are a few of my favorite Fall things:

Fall Candles - I use Fall Scents year 'round 

Fall Tablescapes - I mean, how cute is this

Yes I am - I miss being somewhere that I can enjoy these things 

Love this girl's style - it is SO me

Blanket scarves - I have this one and LOVE it

Vests - I have the one on the left and the right - guess I just need the middle one now

Oh my - I LOVE all things Plaid AND Flannel

yep - my absolute favorite view

Pumpkin Patch - need I say more

Dark nail colors - I LOVE dark nails and wear them a lot of time all year as well

Of course, what is Fall without Pumpkin and Cream Cheese

And last but not least - Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte - I try to make it at home now so that it's healthier - but man, I love this drink and can't wait for it to come back each year - maybe it's because it signals to me that Fall has officially began

What about you?  What's Hap-pinning with you? Have a great day lovies! 

Lots of love and hugs,

Three Things Thursday

Happy Thursday friends!  Just wanted to say hello and see how your week is going so far?  Ours is going good but still crazy busy at work for both me and my husband.  I don't know about you, but I am SO ready for Friday and the weekend - LOL

I have a friend on Facebook who posts a Three Things Thursday on her page every week and I thought this was a great idea, so I decided to borrow it and start doing the same here.  Feel free to play along if you'd like - would love to see your Three Things as well.

1.  Yesterday afternoon at 4:30 when I got off of work, it was a blustery 79 whopping degrees here in Houston. Considering that this time last week it was already over 103 degrees, this made me extremely happy.  I am a HUGE Fall person and living in Houston Texas does not allow me to enjoy the Fall season until December when the temps actually begin dropping - it was over 80 degrees for Thanksgiving a couple of years back - talk about miserable! Blah....  Bring me this any day:

2.  There is just a little over 2 weeks until my most favorite time of the year begins - Arkansas Razorback Football season - woo hoo!!!

3.  Also, the same day the first game of the football season begins, just also happens to be the day that we are having my daughter's baby shower - talk about poor planning on my part - or should I say, my husband's part, as it was his idea since it was Labor Day weekend - we just forgot to look at the football schedule first.  Can you tell we are ready for football?! HA!  Too bad the baby shower isn't going to be football themed - rats! But, here is another picture of my beautiful daughter and grandson to be - can't wait until he gets here and I get to hold him and love all over him - he is going to be SO spoiled.... :)

Well, thanks for stopping by to say hello and please let me know you were here.  I miss hearing from all of you.  Have a wonderful day and lookout - we are finally on the downhill side of the week - woo hoo!!! Have an awesome day peeps!

Lots of love and hugs,

Unfair Racial Profiling or Just Being Cautious?

Good morning, and Happy Tuesday peeps!  How are you?  Great, I hope.  Being back to work after vacation is killing me already.... I work for a law firm in the banking and finance dept. in downtown Houston and we have several closings going on all at once - which means early early mornings and extra late nights for me.  I was here until after 9 last night and started my day here at 7 a.m.... sigh.... like I said - extra lonngggg days.  :(

Anywho - regarding the title of my post....like I said, I work in downtown Houston and it was after 9 p.m. and clearly after dark and I was ALONE walking across the street from my building to the parking garage to my car.  As I was approaching the outside of the area that leads to the parking garage, which by the way, you have to have a key for, there was a big tall black guy carrying a gym bag and earphones in his ear talking with someone.  I don't really know why he scared me SO bad last night, but as I got to the key pad to get into the building, he was closing in on the same area.  Out of fear, I immediately scanned my card, jumped in the building and pulled the door closed behind me fast.  

Once inside, I hit the elevator button and looked at the door - he had a key card and was sighing a bit as he dug it out to get into the same building.... *whew*...  Once I noticed he also had a key card, I relaxed and held the elevator for him.  However, he said no worries that he was catching a different one instead.  So I got off the elevator and RAN to my car and got in and locked the doors.  I had to leave out of a different exit because of the after 9 p.m. issue.  As I pulled up and stopped at the light, I looked to my right and there he was in his car with the window rolled down and he smiled and waved.  So I rolled my window down and apologized for my hastiness of locking him out and told him it truly was nothing personal, but I was alone and afraid that time of night going to my car.  

He was very nice and said he completely understood and not to worry and that was the exact reason he had chosen to take the other elevator, so that he wouldn't make me more nervous and afraid.  He also proceeded to tell me that he is the CVS manager across the street and had just gotten off work and changed clothes and was on his way to the gym.  (Which I WILL be checking his story out about the manager part)  Anyway, I was in tears all the way home and very anxious all night to say the least.  A part of me felt VERY bad for profiling him unjustly (though his color was of no concern to me - I would have done the same thing if he had been a big tall white guy), and the other part of me kept kicking myself telling me that I should never have even rolled down my car window to talk to him as he could have pulled out a gun and shot me right there on the spot! 

So... what do you think?  Unfair profiling on my part, or valid concern and being cautious since you never know nowadays in this world we live in?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.  Please leave a comment telling me what you think.  However, as our department is now getting into our most busy season of the year, I am off to find some pepper spray just to play it safe.....

In the meantime, I am dreaming of days like this:

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! :)

Lots of love and hugs,

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday guys and dolls!  How was your weekend?  Great, I hope!  Ours was good but filled with so much stuff that we were super busy and it went by way too fast for my liking! HA!  Friday night we did our normal, weekly paying of bills, etc.  On Saturday we slept in until about 9:30 and got up and started on the housework, and running of errands.  We had planned to watch our beloved HOGS whoop up on the Kentucky Wildcats but unfortunately, for some DUMB reason, they had it blacked out in our area and we couldn't even get it on the radio.  We had to finally go to the Kentucky athletics website just to be able to hear the game.  Well they kicked some booty alright - they won the game 49 to 7 and it would have been an even bigger whoopin if the refs hadn't called the game with 5:08 left in the 3rd quarter due to thunderstorms and lightning! On Sunday, both the hubby and son had to be at work by 8 a.m. so I was able to get up with them about 7 and get my day started.  I got a LOT done with them gone! :) Here's the breakdown of just my morning:

 

1.  Start Coffee (first and foremost)

2.  Laundry

3.  Order Christmas cards (normally make them, but just won't have time)

4.  Refill Prescription online

5.  Total up checkbook from spending over weekend

6.  Cleaned out emails

7.  Worked on getting brother-in-law's graduation gift (from MAY) completed

8.  Cooked for upcoming week

9.  Made cookies for boss's day and

10. Put hot tub in paper and on craigslist for sale

 

Whew - I'm tired just thinking about all I got accomplished - but man was it nice to feel productive for a change! :)  It's amazing at what I can get done when I don't sleep my day away and have no one at home to interrupt me - LOL

 

How was your weekend?  Catch me up and tell me how you spent your time.  Oh and just because I hate having a post here without a picture - here's one for the fall to make you smile:

 

Would love for this to be MY driveway right now :)

 

Thanks again for stopping by.  I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day! 

 

 

Lots of love and hugs,

 

It's Game Day Baby!!!

Happy Saturday my peeps!  Hope you are having a wonderful and lazy day today.  We've been up since the crack of dawn (actually it was still dark outside) - which is 6 a.m.  I have already gotten SO much accomplished that it's unreal!  I got a load of laundry done, dishes and trash taken care of before I had to take my son to another town over from us so he could take his ACT test this morning - and that was all before 8 a.m.!!!  Of course after that I had to stop and get gas and stopped for my morning treat - a Starbucks Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte - YUMMY!!!  I love any and all things Pumpkin and Fall is my favorite time of year so this fits perfect in my morning routine! :)

 

Now that I'm home, I've gotten another load of laundry completed, killed some ants and have swept and mopped my kitchen and laundry room (where the ants were for some strange reason).  Next I have to get ready to go to the bank and then head to the County Fair by 11:30 to work for my son's Project Graduation from 12 to 4.  After that - it is GAME ON!!!!  Can't wait to call my Hogs alongside my hubby while we watch them kick ULM's butt!!!

So - what is on your agenda's today and this weekend?  Anything fun and exciting?  I'll be waiting to hear all about it so please share!  Well I better get off here and get ready to go tackle the rest of my day.  Have a wonderful day my friends and thanks for stopping by to say hi! :)

Lots of love and hugs,

Recipes as Promised

Happy Sunday my friends.  I know I promised you these two recipes yesterday, but somehow life got in the way and my husband and I ended up putting our new floor down in our office and then we were just way too tired to do anything else besides sit on the couch and watch the Hogs play football, eat and drink a nice cold beer after a long hard day!  HA!  Anyway, here are the two recipes I promised you.  One is for hamburger veggie soup and the other is for chili.  I hope you will enjoy them both and if you try them out, please let me know how you liked them:

Hamburger Veggie Soup

Ground Beef
Veggies (any kind that you like including potates and onions if you want)
Garlic Salt with Parsley (it's all in the same bottle and made by McCormicks)
Salt and Pepper
Paprika
V-8 juice

Brown as much ground beef as you want then drain.  Season it before you add your vegetables or juice.  Add Garlic salt (with parsley), salt, pepper and paprika and whatever kind of other seasonings you and your family prefer.  Throw your hamburger meat and vegetables into your crockpot and fill to the top with your large bottle of V8 juice (however much of the bottle that will fit) and then put your lid on and let simmer all day.  Serve with cornbread, crackers or whatever your family enjoys. :)

Chili

Ground Beef (about 1 1/2 to 2 lbs)

Chili Seasoning (I use either straight chili powder or McCormicks Chili Seasoning)

1 tbsp. Paprika

Salt and Pepper

Garlic Salt with Paprika (again the one made by McCormicks)

2 cans kidney beans or whatever kind of beans you like in your chili

2 cans stewed tomatoes

1 onion

V8 Juice

Brown the ground beef, then drain.  Add the meat, seasonings and all of the other goodies and then the V8 juice (again however much will fit in your crockpot).  Simmer all day until it's ready and then about 20 or 30 minutes before you servie it - add 2 to 3 smoked sausages (cut into coins).  When you dish it into a bowl, put fritos on top and add cheese and diced onions on top and enjoy.  :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a great upcoming week and thanks for stopping by! 

Lots of love and hugs,

Recipes as Promised

Happy Sunday my friends.  I know I promised you these two recipes yesterday, but somehow life got in the way and my husband and I ended up putting our new floor down in our office and then we were just way too tired to do anything else besides sit on the couch and watch the Hogs play football, eat and drink a nice cold beer after a long hard day!  HA!  Anyway, here are the two recipes I promised you.  One is for hamburger veggie soup and the other is for chili.  I hope you will enjoy them both and if you try them out, please let me know how you liked them:

Hamburger Veggie Soup

Ground Beef
Veggies (any kind that you like including potates and onions if you want)
Garlic Salt with Parsley (it's all in the same bottle and made by McCormicks)
Salt and Pepper
Paprika
V-8 juice

Brown as much ground beef as you want then drain.  Season it before you add your vegetables or juice.  Add Garlic salt (with parsley), salt, pepper and paprika and whatever kind of other seasonings you and your family prefer.  Throw your hamburger meat and vegetables into your crockpot and fill to the top with your large bottle of V8 juice (however much of the bottle that will fit) and then put your lid on and let simmer all day.  Serve with cornbread, crackers or whatever your family enjoys. :)

Chili

Ground Beef (about 1 1/2 to 2 lbs)

Chili Seasoning (I use either straight chili powder or McCormicks Chili Seasoning)

1 tbsp. Paprika

Salt and Pepper

Garlic Salt with Paprika (again the one made by McCormicks)

2 cans kidney beans or whatever kind of beans you like in your chili

2 cans stewed tomatoes

1 onion

V8 Juice

Brown the ground beef, then drain.  Add the meat, seasonings and all of the other goodies and then the V8 juice (again however much will fit in your crockpot).  Simmer all day until it's ready and then about 20 or 30 minutes before you servie it - add 2 to 3 smoked sausages (cut into coins).  When you dish it into a bowl, put fritos on top and add cheese and diced onions on top and enjoy.  :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a great upcoming week and thanks for stopping by! 

Lots of love and hugs,

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday!  Hope you had a great weekend!  Ours was nice and relaxing for a change.  The weather on Saturday was cloudy and rainy and then yesterday, it was a beautiful sunny day with a high around 60 or so.  We took our male golden, Buddy, on a long walk around the lake and while doing so, I was able to get some nice pictures of him along with the kiddos.  After about a hour or two walk around the lake, we then came back and I was able to get a lot more accomplished than I had planned.  I washed, ironed, cooked dinner, put stuff away, went to the store, etc.  It was a very busy day to say the least but so productive!  Here are a few pictures from the day - I hope you enjoy:

Buddy at the Park by the Lake:

Buddy checking out the ducks on the lake

A few of the kiddos:

The views from our deck:

My Mums:

Buddy and Bella in the back yard:

Bella

One of my favorite pictures of Buddy

My table - I added the silverware (that is gold) and also changed the candles on black candlesticks to pumpkins - I like it much better with the pumpkins - what do you think? 

Well, I guess that's all for today - sorry for the picture overload.  Hope you have a wonderful Monday! 

Big hugs,

Trac-:o)