"12 Days of Christmas" Blog Challenge!

Start Date: Monday, November 22nd

{Topics}

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want? We all have family/friends reading our blogs...so let them know!)

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY  (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)

Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe

Day 14: Oprah's Favorite Things: What item(s) would you want if you were in the audience?

Come back on Monday to link up! I hope you all join in! We are giving you a sneak peek so you can start getting prepared!

Days 1 -3 are November 22 - 24

**** NO BLOG CHALLENGE ON Thanksgiving! ****

Day 4 will pick back up on November 26th!!

Day 29 of 30 Day Post

3 Wishes

1. I wish Derek and I made more money.

2. I wish Stratton and our next child to be happy, healthy and live a long and wonderful life.

3. I wish to grow old with Derek and have lots and lots of Grandbabies and Great Grandbabies to help take care of.

I can't believe there is only one day left of this 30 Day Blog Challenge. 

Thanks to Erica Haff for letting me take it from her blog also.

I hope you all have enjoyed the last 30 days as much as I have.

Day 28 of 30 Day Blog

Something That Stresses Me Out

I stress about a lot of different things, but I'm trying to become more productive and look at my stress as a help not a hinder. 

I stress about money.

But, I always tithe when we go to church even if we don't necessarily have the money to give. 

God will provide when we need him the most.  

I stress about school.

But, I know I'm halfway there and it will just take more time and hard work to get though it. 

 I stress about Stratton's well being.

But, I know God watches over him every day. I just have to trust that God will give Derek and I the right tools to teach him right from wrongs. And pray that he knows how to behave when he gets older.

I stress about wanting another child but not being able to afford another.

But, I know if it's God will for us to have another one...we will have another one.

God will provide when we need him the most.

Day 27 of 30 Day Blog

Pets

Since I don't have any I'm changing it to...

Pet Peeves!

Drivers who don't use a turn signal.
Couples who sit on the same side of the booth when there is no one on the other side.
People who blame anything but themselves for THEIR failure.
Noisy eaters and noisy gum chewers.
Students who prolong class by asking the most inane questions.
  When people take 20 napkins, use one, then throw them all away.
Going through the drive thru, then having to go back when they screw your order up.
Using speaker phones in public areas at work.
When a person makes a sucking noise with a straw when the cup becomes almost empty.
People with bad table manners.
Drivers who won't turn right on red.
People who drive SLOW in the left lane.

Couples that own a dog together and call themselves mommy and daddy.
  People who ignore yield signs.
Double negatives.
Not washing hands after using the bathroom.
The noise people make when they rub their fingers on balloons.
When someone uses the butter to put on their toast, and leaves crumbs in the container.
Guys who leave the toilet seat up.
Celebrities claiming to be environmentalists.
 Tapping.
Dirty keyboards.
When somebody tosses something toward a garbage can, like they think they're a basketball star, then leave it on the ground after they miss!
When you open the DVD case and it is empty or a different movie is in it.
People who don't cover their mouth while sneezing or coughing.
People who habitually need favors.
When you bite into a jelly bean and it's a different flavor than what you thought it was.
Uncomfortable chairs.
Chasing after a ping pong ball.
Jerks who take up 2 parking spaces.
People who overuse quotes from movies or TV.
People who clear their throats in a disgusting way.
People who invite you out somewhere then cancel.
Men who wear too much cologne.
Relying on someone else to take a picture because I want to be in it, and it ends up coming out off-centered and out-of-focus.
  People who don't know the difference between its/it's and they're /their/there.
When you can't tell if someone is male or female.
  Sick people who cough near you.
People who talk, whistle or sing to themselves at work.
Having to use more than one remote control.

  People who throw cigarette butts out the window.
Saying "Let there be light" every time any light switch is flipped on.
People who go the wrong way in a parking lot.
When someone with a full cart of groceries gets into the 10 items or less line.
  Ignorant people. 

People who think that they are the only one with correct background for understanding an issue.
Being the first one at any party.
People throwing trash into a recycle bin.
Movie sequels that are unnecessary.
Litterbugs.
Drivers who tailgate.
The "yes but" people.
When you have an itch on the bottom of your foot and you can't scratch it because you have shoes on.
When someone leaves their phone number at the end of a long message and they say it so fast you can't understand it and have to listen multiple times to figure it out.
People who don't dress their age
Suburban kids who think they are gangstas.
People who chew with their mouth open
When people put the spoons/forks in the wrong section of the utensil separator.
When your eating something and a person will just steal a little bit of it.
People who don't pick up after themselves.
When people refuse to be the decision maker about something simple (which restaurant to eat at, what movie to see, etc.).
When you pull a string hanging from your shirt and it doesn't break, but only becomes longer.
People who put salt on everything without tasting it first.
Not Washing Hands After Using the Restroom
No toilet paper or paper towels in public bathrooms.
When you will be talking to someone, and their replies seem to be limited to "ya", "cool", and "ok".
When somebody turns off the lights when you are still in the room.
When people don't clear the microwave numbers.
When people ask me for advice and do the opposite of what I tell them.
When people don't RSVP to an event.
People who will write something borderline mean, but then follow it up with a smiley face :)
People who don't control their bratty children.
People who refer to themselves in the third person.
People who leave their children in their cars while they run into the store.
People who snap their gum.
Caps Lock in text or in email, when PEOPLE SHOUT.
Girls who wear way too much make up.
People who always have to be right and have the last word.
When someone is writing on a chalkboard and then they erase it to write something new, but they don't erase all of it, so you still see half of a letter here and there.
People that tailgate when your driving.
Rappers who thank God at awards ceremonies.
Mumbling, then annoyingly saying "Forget it!" when people don't hear you.
Drivers who signal after they make a lane change.
People who spell "you're" as "your."
People who blow their horn at you the nano-second the light changes to green.
People who don't use deodorant.
When people continue to stare after they ask you a question, as if they need you to expand more on your answer.
Ice cream with freezer burn.
When the person who takes the last of something puts the empty package back.
Flakes! People that cancel plans constantly.
Hair strands left on shower walls.
Taking forever to leave a parking space while others are clearly waiting for it
People sitting at a red light and continuing to sit there when the light turns green because they're on their cell phone.
People who mumble.
  Whistling out of tune Whistling.
People who are always late.
Men who ogle or whistle at women who walk down the street.
When you have to walk out of the shower naked because you forgot to bring a towel with you.
People who don't look at you when they are talking, or you are talking to them.
People who stare.
The sound of too much spit in someone's mouth when they talk.
People who leave farts in elevators that I subsequently enter. Then the next person thinks it's me.
Overuse of the word "Like"
When you score a goal on yourself in foosball or air hockey.
When the tiolet paper roll is backwards.
When other people sleep on my pillow.
When people scratch their fingernails on a blackboard.
Websites with horizontal scrolling.
Walking into spider webs.
Telemarketers.
Waiters/waitress who put their fingers on the top of the glass (where you drink from) when they deliver it to you.
Bars where the music is too loud.
Bad breath.
People who refuse to expand their musical horizons.
When people trip over your their foot in the hallway and start running to pretend like they meant to do it.
When you ask for LOTS of ketchup and they give you only two or three packets.
Shopping carts with a broken wheel.
Sitting in the movies and hearing someone eating popcorn.
Bathing suit tops as clothing.
People who pick their nose in public.
Car passengers that throw their doors wide open without first checking to make sure it is safe to do so.
Lazy people.
People who talk about their favorite sports team and say "WE" like they are a part of the team.
People who love to point out how wrong everyone else is while they are a walking train wreck
People who spit on the ground and don't look first to see if anybody is around.
Being put on the speakerphone without warning
When people change the TV channel without asking
People who make you take off your shoes when you go into their house.
I hate slow people walking in front of me.
People who point at their wrist while asking for the time.
Dog poop on the sidewalk.
When those little hinges on the CD case break, and now you can't open and close it.
Hair in the shower drain.
People who are late.
People who don't use their turn signal, tailgate, and cut you off
How hard it is to open a new music CD.
Pee anywhere other than in a toilet.
Watching people put their contacts in.
People who don't want to learn anything new because they know it all.
Singing along with the music when you don't actually know the words.
Men who talk down to women.
Grocery shopping carts with a bad wheel.
How clothes hangers get all tangeled with each other
Double dippers.
When people don't pick up their feet to walk and you hear the scuff... scuff... scuff.
People who brag about how trashed they got the night before.
Unsolicited advice.
Co-workers that try to sell stuff to you at work.
Trying to get assistance over the telephone, only to be directed to "press this number", umpteen times.
When adults cuss in front of children.
At a restuarant, bread cut only halfway, instead of into slices.
People who say I can't, without even trying.
People who leave their pets in their hot cars in the summer.
Speed bumps.
People who constantly get up in movie theaters.
When you are changing the TV channel and it goes black of a second before the channel comes up.
Dogs running around on a flatbed truck, which is going highway speed.
Parents who have their children on leashes.
PeOpLe WhO tYpE LiKe ThIs.
Restaurants that put too much ice in your drink.
People who make out in public.
Dried toothpaste in the sink.
Junk mail.
When someone blows their nose in your presence and then proceeds to look at what just filled their tissue/handkerchief.
When people don't rinse their dishes before they put them in the sink.
I hate people who have no idea what "personal space" is.
People who don't stop at stop signs.
People that don't return your phone calls.
People who can't decide on one radio/tv station, and constantly flip back and forth.
Getting behind someone that will not drive up to the speed limit.
I hate it when people tickle me.
Gossip.
Restaurants that have a no smoking section which is only several feet away from the smoking section.
When shirts shrink in the dryer.
Cussing in public, especially in front of senior citizens or kids.
Barbecue restaurants with happy pigs on the sign.
Speed Bumps.
People that fart in public.
People that make tons and tons of noise while working out.
Sneezing in your hand and shaking someone's hand afterward.
Kids with baggy pants hangin below their butt.
Movie talkers
Women who use PMS as an excuse to be bitchy.
People who constantly sniffle.
People who interrupt you to correct your grammar/speech, paying no attention to the point your are trying to make.
Tangled phone cords
When the string on the hood of your sweatshirt goes inside the hood.
If you pee on the seat, wipe it off.
Driveways that make cars bottom out.
Barking dogs when I am trying to sleep.
Having to explain the same thing more than once.
People who quote movies just because they can.
Getting stuck at red lights, while nobody is going the other direction.
When people don't flush the toilet.
Broken spines on paperback books.
Restaurants that give you rolls, but never enough butter to go with them.
People who whistle through their noses while just breathing.
When it's raining and you turn your car off before you turn the wipers off, and they stop in the middle of the windshield, so you turn the car back on, the wipers off, and then the car off.
When someone tries to talk to you when you have headphones on.
When coffee spills out of the top drinking hole of lids on to-go coffee cups.
People who pick their teeth in public.
Hypocrites (yeah, you know who your are)
People who interrupt you and direct the conversation to themselves.
Backwash.
People who say, GD or "Jesus Christ" when they're angry. 

Day 26 of 30 Day Blog Challenge

A Picture of My Family

Here are the three of us at Lauren & Alex Skelton's wedding

 This is my mom's side of the family. 

From left to right, top row. Meredith's grandpa, my cousin Allen's girlfriend, Allen, Uncle Steve, Marcus, Casey, John, Grandma Marge, Beth, Uncle Bob's wife, Uncle Bob, My mom.

From left to right, bottom row. My dad, Aunt Cece, Eric, Uncle Al, Meredith, Mady, Steve, Anna, Auntie Pam, Stratton, Me and Derek.

This is Derek's step mom's side of the family. From left to right. Mattie, Dan, Erik, Kayden, Jessie, Derek, Me, Dale, Daniel Lisa, Stratton, Alexis, Keith, Judy, James, Josh, Seth, Paddy, Paige, Ashley, Stevie, Kristy Mark, Leslie, Steph, Dean, Dustin, Garrett, Jen.

This is Derek's dad's side of the family. From left to right. Dale, Lisa, Shana, Uncle Jimmy, Grandpa Bill, Ashley, Justin, Seth, Grandma Mona, Whitney, Great Aunt Dorothy, Stephanie, and Garrett. We didn't get to make it to Ashley's wedding because it was the same weekend I had Stratton. But it was beautiful none the less.

This is my family. My Grandma B, my sister Casey, me, My mom, and my Grandma Marge.

I seriously have the biggest family ever. When we have a family get together it is seriously a party. I love it. I love having a huge family. You're never lonely and you always have someone or something to talk about. Not to mention you have a wonderful support system. I love my family and I wouldn't trade them for the world. Well maybe a few of them. Just kidding.

Day 25 of 30 Day Blog Challenge

iPod Shuffle

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, iPod, etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer

3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it sounds. DON'T CHEAT!!!

1.SOMEONE PINCHES YOUR BUM, WHAT DO YOU DO?
Too Close To Hate- Sevendust

Haha that's kind of funny

2.HOW ARE YOU?
Drowning- Jacks Johnson

I couldn't have picked that better if I tried.

3.WHAT DO YOU WANNA BE WHEN YOUR OLDER?

The Rich Man- Corey Taylor 

That would be nice if it were true.

4.HOW IS YOUR LOVE LIFE?

Slavery- Spineshank

not so sure about that one
  

5.WOULD YOU KILL SOMEONE?

Going to Hell- Today Is The Day 

I still wouldn't kill someone.
 

6.WHAT PLEASES YOU?

Rodeo- Garth Brooks

That's SO true.
 

7.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR LIFE?

My Little World- Guster

Perfect.

8.WHAT ARE YOU DOING FRIDAY NIGHT?
Two Pina Coladas- Garth Brooks

Most likely not, but it's a good idea.

9.WHAT DOES YOUR HUSBAND THINK OF YOU?

My Last Name- Dierks Bentley 

That's so sweet.

10.WHAT SONG WILL BE AT YOUR HEN/STAG NIGHT?

Alcohol- Dropkick Murphys
 

11.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Foxy Foxy- Rob Zombie

12.WHAT DO THEY THINK OF YOU?

Livin' On A Prayer- Bon Jovi 

I totally wouldn't doubt it.

13.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR TOWN?

Run Like Hell- Kittie 

I don't know if I would go that far but you never know.

14.WHAT DO YOU DAYDREAM ABOUT?

Country Man- Luke Bryan

That is very true too.
 

15.WHAT IS YOUR BAD HABIT?

U Suck- Strapping Young Lad

16.WHAT WILL BE PLAYED AT YOUR PROM?

Staple It Together- Jack Johnson

17.WHAT WILL BE THE FIRST THING YOUR FRIEND WILL SAY

The Perfect Girl- Doug Stanhope

18.ARE YOU GAY?

Umm, Hello? - Dane Cook

19.WAS SHE/HE GOOD LAST NIGHT?

Never Know- Jack Johnson

20.WHAT DO YOUR GRANDPARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell- The Stooges

Haha probably true from Grandma B

21.ARE YOU REALLY SEXY?

Beautiful- Akon

22.WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NAME YOUR BULLETIN?

We Will Rock You- Queen

23.WHAT DO YOU SCREAM WHEN YOU'RE SCARED?

Spiders- System Of A Down
  

24.WHAT DID YOU DREAM ABOUT LAST NIGHT?

Super Powers- Dane Cook

25.IF YOU COULD HAVE ANYTHING WHAT WOULD IT BE?

The Moon- Swell Season

26.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?

Breed- Nirvana

Oh my...

Day 24 of 30 Day Blog Challenge

Something I have learned

Oh boy...

I have learned...

-Never to go bed angry.

-Never make someone a priority when they only make you an option.

-Do what you love, and forget the rest.

-Children and are the best mirrors.

-Hot Wheels on hardwood floors are worse than walking on ice.

-When you hear the toilet flush along with the words "uh oh," it's already too late.

-Never check to see if that "chocolate" on your child's finger is really chocolate with a taste test.

-Apparently there is no difference between a sticker and booger when you're 2.

-Don't sweat the small stuff because it's usually not worth it.

-Tell the people you love "I love you" as much as you can because you never know when you won't be able to.

-It's better to sing off key with the wrong words than not sing at all.

-Promptness shows respect.

-You can not avoid offending people or hurting their feelings. When you don't mean to, apologize. When you do mean to, accept the consequences.

-Always be fair.

-Always be trustworthy.

-Always be generous (even when you don't have much to give).

-Always be respectful.

-Cough syrup only makes you fall asleep.

-Don't waste your breath proclaiming what's really important to you. How you spend your time says it all.

-Anyone who judges you by the car you drive or the shoes you wear isn't someone worth impressing.

-Great parents can have rotten kids and rotten parents can have great kids. But even though biology plays a huge role in destiny, that’s no excuse to give up or stop trying.

-Hugs and kisses from you child are sweeter than any candy on earth.

-Age doesn't always mean wisdom.

-Always cover a little boys private area while changing their diaper.  ALWAYS.

-Always be aware of your surroundings. You never know what you might find.

-T.V. is the Devil.

-Live life as if it were your last day, because only God knows if it is or isn't.

Changing It Up A Bit

I was starting to get tired of constantly having to dye my hair because of my super dark roots so I finally dyed my hair back to it's natural-ish color. I also cut my bangs and trimmed the rest.

All for only $8. How you ask? I did it myself!

I took the pictures with a weird vintage app on my phone. 

They look kinda funny so I'll add more tonight from visiting my grandma's house. 

Let me know what you all think.

Day 23 of 30 Day Blog Challenge

Favorite Vacation

Growing up I took a lot of family vacations. We were always driving cross country to go see whatever we could. We went everywhere it seems like. I always remember all the different places and sights that we saw. My favorite place that we went either South Dakota or North Carolina.

I remember going to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. 

I remember going to Devils Tower in Wyoming.

I remember going to Mount Rushmore.

I remember going to see Crazy Horse monument even before the face was started.

I even remember going to pet the prairie dogs, standing up, and kicking one because it scratched me. 

We went panning for gold, and we even got to go down in the mine and see where they used to pull rock from underground. My mom and dad got to go WAY down in the mine. It was over a mile down underground and it was really humid I remember them saying.

When we went to Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina I remember all the great memories of the Highland Games. I loved that place. It was so different from anything we have here. There were men wearing kilts, Scottish dancing, bagpipes, AWESOME food, and lots of highland games. There was sheep herding by the sheep dogs, there was log throwing, there was marbles, there was dance competitions, the was even wrestling! I remember the music being what I loved best about it thought. There is something about the sound of 10-15 bagpipes all playing at once that just gives you goosebumps. Not to mention we met two of our favorite Celtic musicians while we went there. Alex Beaton and Clann an Drumma.

Clann an Dumma is amazing to see in person. The music just pulses through your body as the beat on the drums. You can't help but want to get up and dance with them. It's like one big party.

Fast forward 15 years.

Derek and I haven't been able to really take any family vacations together. We have either not had enough vacation time to take one or we haven't had the money to take one. The first "vacation" we ever took was really our honeymoon to Knoxville, TN to see Uncle Jimmy and Shana. Which happened to turn out being a disaster. I had the flu all weekend and only got to get out of bed once. We didn't get to go to the Kentucky vs Tennessee basketball game because I was so sick and we really didn't get to do anything outside of the me laying in bed. The day we drove back to Jackson was the only day I could get out of bed without feeling like I was going to throw up all over my shoes. 

The first place all three of us ever went was Chicago to go see Derek's mom and step dad. That was probably our first real family (including Stratton) vacation. We got to go to the Milwaukee zoo and we got to go shopping. It was fun but way too short. 

My goal for next summer is that all three of us do a family vacation somewhere nice and somewhere we can all three enjoy it.  Maybe somewhere like South Dakota. ;)  

Dat 22 of 30 Day Blog Challenge

My Favorite City

Two of my favorites cities to live in will always be Jackson and Cape.

My favorite city to visit (or live really) would have to be

 Champéry, Switzerland 

The pictures should explain why. 

I took these pictures while I was in Europe in 2004.

 This was looking down off of the gondola that took us to the top of one of the mountain peeks.

 Another beautiful view.

 When you walked down the main road you could hear the sheep in the mountains with their Swiss bells on.

This was in June and there was still snow on the ground.

 The landscape was BEAUTIFUL

Standing in the snow in June.

The ride back down from the top.

 

You're literally like 20 feet away from the other gondola when you go up and down. 

It's kind of freaky.

This was a waterfall that ran down the side of the mountain. It was beautiful.

 These are looking out the back of our hotel room in the Suisse Hotel

Please click the above picture to get the full experience. This is three pictures I took and photoshopped together to make one big panoramic. 

I love Champery and I love Switzerland but Cape and Jackson will always be home.