Four Things You Don't Know About Me

I hope everyone's week is off to a great start!


For this week's Tuesday Topics, I'll be telling you all 4 things you don't know about me.



1.  I am an only child, but I would have had two brothers and two sisters.  My mother miscarried two babies before she had me and two babies after she had me.  I would have been the middle child instead of an only child.  I often wonder how different my life might have been had they survived.  I never got to meet them, but I miss them.


2.  My mind has a wonderful way of taking a fear that I have and turning it into something awful.  If I'm driving behind a truck that has something in the bed of it, like cars, logs, or things like that, I'm suddenly envisioning these 'Final Destination' scenarios where whatever it is dislodges and comes crashing into the front of my vehicle, killing me instantly.  I'm terrified of driving on bridges, especially over water.  When I have to drive over one, I start to picture crashing, or the bridge collapsing, and then I end up drowning because I can't swim.


3.  I had glasses in the sixth grade but I hated them so I eventually stopped wearing them.  I thought everything was fine and maybe I didn't need them after all ;).  haha.  Two years ago though when I was renewing my drivers license, I almost failed the vision part because I couldn't read the chart.  Oops.  I got glasses (again) shortly after that and wear them all the time now.  ;)


4.  I have met two of my favorite authors.  I met Tim Myers a few years ago at our local Barnes & Noble.  He was doing a question and answer session with fans and then did a book signing.  Tim is a local author.  So local he lives in the same city as me.  Cool, huh?  I also went with my friend Abby a few months ago and met Nicholas Sparks.  I took a copy of one of my favorite books for him to sign.  I'd love to see them both again sometime!


So, that's it for my 4 facts.

What are some things people don't know about you?


(PS.  If you haven't already, please stop by this post and introduce yourself.  I would LOVE to learn more about my readers!)

Five Activities

Sorry this is a day late.  My youngest son is really sick so that has taken most of my attention.

This week's Tuesday Topic is Five Activities in Your Hometown.


Unfortunately there isn't very much to do in my small hometown of Hickory, North Carolina.


1.  One of the most popular things to do in Hickory, especially if you have children, is to go to the Science Center.  There are a lot of cool exhibits and there is also a section just for art.  You can also visit the aquarium and watch shows at the planetarium.

2.  Downtown -  the downtown area of Hickory offers a ton of unique stores for shopping and restaurants.  This is also where our annual Oktoberfest is held.

3.  Entertainment -  If you're looking for something to do, you can go bowling, go to the library, watch a movie, go to the mall, or go shopping.


That pretty much covers it.  :-/
I wasn't kidding when I said there isn't much to do here.   ;)


Hopefully I didn't bore you to tears, hehe.

Six Memories

This week's Tuesday Topics is about six memories.

1.  My Wedding Day -  June 18, 2005
Eric and I had a very small wedding.  Not by choice.  That's just how things ended up.  Things didn't go as planned (do they ever at a wedding, though? lol), people were stressed (especially me), and Eric and I have been through more in our 7 years of marriage than 10 couples go through in a lifetime, but we're still here.  We're in this together, for better or worse.


2.  Chris' Birth - Oct 16, 2005
(I don't have any newborn pics of him on the computer.  I didn't have a digital camera back then and don't have a scanner.)
Chris has been stubborn since before he was born.  I was two weeks past my due date and still hadn't went into labor on my own so I ended up at the hospital to be induced.  After 17 1/2 hours of labor, I had only gotten to 4 centimeters.  I was in distress, Chris was in distress, so the doctor decided to do an emergency c-section.  A couple hours later my first baby boy was born.  :)  ♥

3.  Logan's Birth - Dec 13, 2007
I had a scheduled c-section with Logan.  I was scared out of my mind even though I'd had it done before.  The surgery went great and I had an easier recovery.  Logan ended up in the NICU.  When he was born, his sugar was really low and he had some fluid in his lungs.  Everything ended up okay though and I took my second baby boy home 3 days later.  :)  ♥

4.  Trip to DC -  March 2011
Eric and I took a weekend trip up to D.C.  We had planned on taking the subway/shuttle from place to place, but the first time we tried, we ended up getting lost and getting on the wrong one.  Nobody would help us, I was in an unfamiliar place a long way from home, so I ended up having a complete breakdown.  Once we got back to where we started, I absolutely refused to get back on another one so we spent the rest of the trip taking a taxi wherever we wanted to go.  It was my first time taking a taxi and thought that was pretty cool, haha.  It was nice to get away for a couple days.

5.  The Best Friends EVER
This is like a ton of memories in one picture.  This is the Fab 4.  Me and my 3 best friends.  Normally you are lucky to find ONE best friend, but I was blessed with *3* of them.  Someone who is there for you *no matter what* and loves you for you.  I could go on and on, but I won't.  To put it simply, these are the best friends I could have ever asked for.  They are like sisters to me.  We have a lot of memories together and we will make a ton more throughout the coming years.  ♥

6.  Two Places At Once? 
This is a pic of the boys and I at Carowinds, an amusement park a couple hours from where we live.  It's right on the North and South Carolina line.  Cool, huh?  This was Chris' "big" present for his 6th birthday.  We had a blast!  I can't wait to take them back again.







So, those are 6 of my favorite memories.  Grab a button and link up!

What are some of your favorite memories?

Getting to Know *YOU*

This blog is all about me and my family and things that go on in our lives.  You are learning all about us.

I would like to get to know you though.  My readers.  I'd like to know who you are.


So if you don't mind, in the comments section below, tell me a little (or a lot) about you.  Are you a mom also?  How many children do you have and what are their ages?

Where do you live?  What do you do for a living?

Anything you'd like for me to know, I'll gladly listen!

I'm also curious to know how you found me.  What are some things you would like to see me write about?  Is there anything you think I can do to make my blog more enjoyable to read?  Is there anything you want to know about me, or want to ask me?  Go for it.  Want to chat sometime?  Contact me by email or Facebook!

Alright people.

Let's learn all about you!  I'm looking forward to it.

Ready.  Set.  GO!

Seven People

I hope you all have had a wonderful week so far.  I haven't been feeling that great lately so I've slacked off a little this week, so this post is a couple days late.

This week's Thursday Tuesday Topics is about seven people I'd like to meet.



1.  Patrick Dempsey

2.  Gerard Butler

3.  Hugh Jackman

4.  Kate Hudson

5.  Jennifer Lawrence

6.  Blog friends -  I would love to get the chance to meet some of y'all in person some day.  You're pretty awesome!  ;)


7.  Extended family -  I have extended family on my father's side in Indiana that I've never met before.  I'd love to get the chance to meet them some day.


Who are some people you would like to meet, famous or not?

Eight TV Shows

This week's edition of Tuesday Topics is all about TV shows.

Here are 8 of my favorite TV shows.


1.  Grey's Anatomy - my all time favorite

2.  F.R.I.E.N.D.S. - this comes in at a very close second

3.  General Hospital -  I never thought I'd be a fan of a soap opera, but my husband got me interested in this one and I was hooked right away.

4.  Everybody Loves Raymond -  this show is so funny.  Looking back on it, I see that Marie is a lot like my own mother-in-law.  Yikes!  ;)

5.  Once Upon a Time -  I just knew from the previews I wouldn't like this show, but my husband started watching it one night and I was hooked.  He figured I would like it.  Don't you just hate it when your hubby is right?  ;)

6.  Private Practice - I decided to check this show out because of Grey's Anatomy.  Loved it right away!

7.  NCIS:  Los Angeles

8.  Cold Case -  it's not on anymore, but I loved watching while it was

What are some of your favorite TV shows, past or present?

Favorite Movie Quotes

Happy Monday everyone!  Hopefully your week is off to a great start.

Today I'm linking up for Monday Listicles - 10 Favorite Movie Quotes.


1.  How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Andie: Our love fern! You let it die! 
Ben: No, honey, it's just sleeping. 

2.  My Best Friend's Wedding
Julianne: I had the strangest dream. I dreamt that some psychopath was trying to break the two of you up. Luckily, I woke up and I see that the world is just as it should be. For my best friend has won the best woman. Um, I didn't buy you a gift. However, this is on loan until you two find your song.  

3.  The Avengers
Steve Rogers: Doctor Banner, I think now might be a good time for you to get angry. 
Bruce Banner: That's my secret, Cap: I'm always angry.

4.  A Walk to Remember
Landon: I might kiss you. 
Jamie: I might be bad at it. 
Landon: That's not possible. 

5.  A Walk to Remember
Dean: If there is a higher power, why is it He can't get you a new sweater? 
Jamie: He's too busy looking for your brain. 

6.  Mean Girls
Gretchen: I'm sorry that people are so jealous of me... but I can't help it that I'm so popular. 

7.  First Wives Club
Brenda: What's the matter, Morty? Can't you buy her a whole dress?

8.  Look Who's Talking
Mikey: [after Mikey's grandmother has been talking nonsense baby talk to him] Oh, yeah. She's gone. 

9.  The Last Song
Jonah: Mom says its because she has PMS. 
Steve: Do you even know what PMS is, Jonah ? 
Jonah: Of course I do dad, I'm not a little kid anymore. It's the Pissed at Men Syndrome.

10.  Fireproof
Michael: But just remember: a woman's like a rose; if you treat her right, she'll bloom, if you don't, she'll wilt.




Just for fun, I thought I'd add in a few quotes from a couple of my favorite TV shows.  


Grey's Anatomy:

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

I hope you all enjoyed these!

What are some of your favorite TV show or movie quotes?

Nine Blogs

Hey everyone!  I hope your week is off to a great start.  

This week's Tuesday Topic is about nine blogs.  This was difficult for me.  There are so many great blogs out there and I love all of the ones I follow, so it was really hard for me to choose just 9 of them.

But here is a list of 9 blogs that you should most definitely check out, if you haven't already.  :)



1.  Abby at Confessions of an Imperfect Mom
She is one of my very best friends and a member of the Fab 4 that I mention sometimes.  ;)

2.  Summer at Summer of Many Hats
She is a real-life friend of mine.  :)

3.  Amy at Consider Me Inspired
Another real-life friend

4.  Cori at Everyday Enchanted
Another real-life friend

5.  Dusty at To the Moon and Back
Another real-life friend (do we see a pattern here?) hehe

6.  Leslie at Chips off the Old Block
Real-life friend

7.  Maria at Life on M Avenue
Maria is awesome.  She's one of the most real bloggers I've come across.  

8.  Erin at Living in Yellow
If you need a laugh, definitely check her out.  She's great.  

9.  If you're participating in this link-up, you already know them, but I think Tiffany at The Austin Family Diary and Lauren at Life.Love.Lauren are awesome as well.

That was technically 10 blogs, but shhh!  I'm sure it'll be okay.  :)

Now go and check these ladies out!  You'll be glad you did.

2013 Goals/Resolutions

After each new year, there are always things we say we are going to do, or not do, and then it's forgotten about shortly after.  

Here are some things I am really going to work hard to accomplish/work on.  


1.  Stop cussing.  
This is something I need to work on.  Most of the time I don't even realize I'm doing it until it's already out of my mouth.  That's not a good thing, especially with little ears around.  

2.  Lose weight
I was doing really well last year.  I changed things that needed to be changed, exercised, drank more water, etc.  I just always seem to get bored or unmotivated after a while and then quit.  This time, I'm going to stick with it and work toward a healthier me!  Will you all help keep me motivated?  ;)

3.  Go back to school
I am going to go back and finish my college education.  

4.  Be a better cook
Let's face it.... me and pretty much anything that would go in a kitchen *do not* get along.  It's pretty sad, haha.  I'm determined to be better though!  

5.  Try more crafty things
Crafting and DIY just may never really be my thing, but I want to at least try.  There are tons of wonderful ideas on pinterest on crafty things to do, especially as gifts, but I've always been too scared to try them.  I'm not a crafty person by nature.  

6.  Go on a family vacation
We have never been on a family vacation, other than a weekend away over the 4th of July in 2011.  I would love to take the boys to the beach.  I know they would just love it there.  I sure do!  

7.  Work on my marriage
My relationship with Eric definitely still needs some work.  I want us to get past all of these issues we've had and get back to the way things were before all of the bad things started happening.  

8.  Save money
I would love to be able to save some money to use in case of emergency or things like that.  It seems like there is always something coming up though that takes all the extra money we have and we're unable to save anything.  Hopefully this year will be different so we can start to build up a "cushion".  

9.  Spend more one-on-one time with the boys

10.  Be more organized. 
I'm definitely going to look into some ideas on Pinterest for getting better organized around here.

What are some of your goals or resolutions for 2013?

2012 in Review

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope your 2013 is off to a great start!  

2012 was definitely not the year for my family, but there were some good times, too!  

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I started to become more active with my blog.  I'm so glad.  Blogging is such a stress reliever and I love the people I've met so far! 

Reached 200 followers!  Woohoo.

I let go of some of the anger I've been holding on to and forgiving the people that needed to be forgiven.  I still have a little way to go on that journey, but it's a start!  

I lost some weight (even though I gained it back later on.  Oops)

I got to watch Chris participate in his first field day.  He had such a great time!  

Watching Chris graduate from kindergarten and get better with his reading.  He's such a bookworm.  

Fun get-togethers with my best friends.  

Chris and Logan both learned how to skate really well.  

I celebrated my 27th birthday and 7th wedding anniversary.  

Logan had a neurology appointment with Dr. Evil to discuss possible autism and other issues.  We were treated horribly by this doctor so we asked for a new referral from his pediatrician.  Logan will see the new doctor in a couple weeks.  

My friend Abby and I got to meet Nicholas Sparks at a book signing he did at our local library.  That was just awesome!  I'd love the chance to see him again sometime.  

I was introduced to an awesome local band called Full Circle and even got to go to a couple of their shows. Abby's husband is a guitar player in the band.  :)  

Chris started 1st grade and Logan started pre-school (even though we had to pull him out a couple months later).  

Chris turned 7 and Logan turned 5.  

I learned even more this year who my true friends are.  I'm finished messing with the fake ones.  They just aren't worth it.  Lost a few friends and gained others.  

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I'm looking forward to 2013 and what it has in store for my family!