Elaborate Lying for Super Surprises

Hiiiiiiii!!!! =)  Anyone else enjoy their weird split up 4-day week last week?!

I actually liked it...although it was like having 2 Mondays = /

other than that, I really liked how last week was broken up =)

SOOOOO my weekend was AMAZING!

I have had this MASSIVE secret for the past like six weeks...that is also one of the other reasons I have been so absent. I didn't want to accidentally spill the beans!!

My mom, sister, and I managed to throw my dad a suprise party for his 50th birthday!

Now his birthday isn't until the END of July but in order for it to be a surprise, we knew it would need to be earlier.  So we found some invitations we liked and my mom sent them out. The big issue was figuring out a way to get him out and away from the house - we needed a good reason and then something for him to do.

Thankfully we have amazing people in our lives who can entertain him AND keep a secret =) The Husband, brother-in-law, and some friends took Dad out off-shore fishing!!! Thank goodness!! Ok so he was out of the house...oh and our excuse for needing him out/encouraging him to make plans??? Mom was throwing a Pampered Chef party! =)

So now I became part of one of the MOST elaborate lies EVER in my LIFE! No seriously - this is how it goes...

We have to SOMEHOW convince my dad that we had a pampered chef party, so my mom cooks a pampered chef dish at her house so that it smells like she hosted something; so that there are dishes in the sink; AND so that there are leftovers...yeah, we went ALL. OUT!  Meanwhile, at my house, we were decorating and cleaning and prepping for everyone to get there.

The men all get back from fishing, drop my dad off and head to our house. Yes, I had 4 sweaty, sun burnt, mildly smelly men in my house for a second. Everyone showered and changed and waiting (im)patiently for the guest of honor to arrive. My sister and I were REALLY antsy waiting for my mom to bring him over...we ended up accidentally isolating ourselves while waiting! OOPS! We were nervous...looking back - i don't know what we had to be nervous about...maybe because we had worked so hard to keep it a secret for 6-7 weeks and were worried he somehow knew?? Who knows! 

As hard as my sister and I worked, I can't imagine what it was like for my mom...she lived with this secret all locked away while spending every day with my daddy. She busted her BUTT getting contact information, getting out the invitations, setting up a faux pampered chef party, and keeping him from having any idea =) PLUS the catering, the beer, the ideas...sheesh! Mommy - you are so awesome! I do NOT know how you kept the secret!!!!! 

The man had NO. CLUE. that there was a party waiting for him after his full day of off shore fishing....

 

Not everyone made it into the picture =/ OOPS!!!
We were all waiting to shout "surprise!"

 

My sister and I are a bunch of babies - we cried!!! 

 

At the end of it all, EVERYONE was exhausted but he swears he didn't know - didn't have any sort of inkling.  To be honest, even if he did, I hope he would tell us he didn't =) we worked our tails off keeping this secret.  It became especially hard as my dad and I started running together. Something would be said that would make me think about the party; at which point i would become so focused on NOT saying anything about the party that I would just quit talking. 

I am so thankful to those who were involved in getting him out of the house, to those who were able to attend, and to EVERYONE who was able to keep this quiet!! 

And Mommy - seriously, BEST IDEA EVER!!!! He is so lucky to have an amazing wife =) PLUS super awesome kids...just sayin'!

PS: keeping 30 people from eating blow pops from the '50 sucks' thing was ALMOST impossible! Thank goodness there were some left over that I could hand out!!!! 

Have you ever thrown a surprise party?
Was it successful?

Where Did My Weekend Go?!

Hey hey!!

I couldn't believe last night when I laid down in bed that my weekend was OVER! I was bummed but my weekend, while FULL, was a LOT of fun!

Friday night, we didn't do anything and The Husband was asleep on the couch by 7:30.  He woke up around 9 and decided we should watch a movie.  We have had one of our Netflix movies since JANUARY.  It was Twilight and he actually sat through the whole movie with me! =) I saw it in theaters right after it came out - to be honest, I thought the movie was atrocious...like almost walked out of the theater terrible.  This go round, it was definitely more tolerable. I just would NOT have cast Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan...I think she is terrible but whatever...I do believe I am like 1 of THREE people who feel this way lol. 

Saturday, we were up bright and early to shop with my mom.  Dad had a presentation to work on, so it was just Mom, The Husband, and I. We had an absolute BLAST.  My parents agreed to re-stock my wardrobe for my birthday so Saturday morning that is what our shopping list was for = YAY birthday! =) I had such an amazing time!! We laughed a LOT and I am getting some amazing items! I can't wait to share.  My mom took the clothes with her to show Dad AND so she could wrap them; yes I LOVE unwrapping gifts =) 

Saturday night was spent at Senor Frogs for a friend's birthday.  

Have you ever been? The two times I have cruised, I have never made a trip into a Senor Frogs. I will tell you that initially I was overwhelmed by the noise and everything that was going on. We had such a great time; lots of laughing, drinks, and dancing =) 

 

Sunday, we tried a new church that both The Husband and I LOVE! We will definitely be going more regularly which makes my heart happy =) 

We spent time with both parents/families and suddenly our day was over! 

 

When we FINALLY got home Sunday evening, we watched Robin Hood with Russell Crowe.  I LOVE him - I think he should ONLY do period movies! I really really enjoyed the movie; I think tonight we will watch Gladiator =) 

Today - I am suffering from a food hangover.  

When I eat a LOT more than I normally do, I feel like I do every want to eat again. 

Yesterday was one of those days. I missed breakfast because we were running late for church.

THEN when we finally ate at The Husband's parent's, I ate way too much, only to repeat the same mistake a mere 3 hours later. 

Hopefully, by this weekend, I will feel more up to eating lol I can't WAIT to celebrate my birthday this coming weekend! 

How was your Easter?

Dating My Husband

Alright people - we are getting into the homestretch for the weekend! YAY!! This week has been so long for me - the days have flown by but the week is creepy crawling by.

The Husband and I have been together about 4.5 years...I know it is not that long in the grand scheme of things but it is my longest relationship.  Anyway - we have been so busy with the house and moving and then holidays and birthdays. Life is finally starting to slow down for us a little bit.  This means more time for us to be a couple again.

We have started dating again which includes a lot of laughter and flirting. I love it and I miss this aspect of our relationship - the dating.  I think dating your spouse is very important to the growth and nuturing of a marriage -- all dating; going out with friends, other couples, family. It is all so important, especially because you don't want to isolate yourselves from those that have been supporting your relationship and your growth, from family to friends who helped introduce you to one another to all the people who support you as a couple and as an individual.

So we went on a movie date on Saturday with my family. Tuesday we went out for Valentine's Day - nothing fancy. We had gift cards for Red Lobster so we went there and I had a really yummy meal: pecan crusted wood-grilled shrimp with a cherry glaze. DELICIOUS! I love spending one on one time with The Husband - and dates are always so much fun!

Last night we went on another date. We met after work and went to my favorite Mexican restaurant. I devoured that food - it was so delicious! Afterwards, we dropped off my car at his parent's house and went to the Magic game. We had pretty good seats - THANKS AERON! - and really enjoyed one another's company. We had so much fun.

    

As we walked back to our truck, J asked if I had fun. I told him I did. But I told him it wasn't necessarily fun because the game was awesome or anything. It was fun because we laughed a lot and goofed off and interacted on a friend level. This is an imperative part to my relationships. You have to stay friends; they should be your best friend.

The Husband is 100% my best friend - the person I want to talk to when anything happens, who I want to know things first.

Do you still date your significant other?
Do you flirt with them still?

Super Secret Surprise

Happy Friday! I am so happy that we are looking another weekend in the face. I'm seriously ready to take a breather. I'm going to get real here for a second - and maybe a little mushy...bear with me!

I have had a stressful couple weeks - it has been ROUGH up in here! Seriously - last night I kind of just hit the wall on all of it. The stress is from everywhere - professional and personal.

Everyone goes through rough patches, I know this. With the professional stuff -- you muddle through it and come out on the other end going "OK! Glad we are through that" and you move on. I think we are coming to that point for me - some things seem to be making progress and morphing. It is going to get better.

Then there is the personal stuff - it has nothing to do with my husband. Things there are pretty phenomenal from that aspect.  It is other silliness - crap that I don't want to get into because really it is that ridiculous. My close friends and immediate family know or have experienced what is going on. Last night I think everyone saw it just taking its toll on me; weighing me down. I'm always surprised at how sensitive I am because I use to SWEAR I was tough. Nope - not this girl! I'm like...well I don't know what I'm like but it is SEN-SI-TIVE!!!

SOOOOO I tell you that to tell you this:

Today I'm sitting in my office, minding my own business, getting my work done. Then I'm told that there is someone here to see me....My dear sweet friend Jess surprised me with some goodies from her and a couple other girlfriends - Christy and Mel!! I seriously CRIED!! I think I just felt so relieved because all of that other silliness doesn't mean anything and has ZERO effect on the relationship I have with these women. They are incredible, sweet, strong, supportive women. and "they like me! the REALLY like me!!!"

Oh here are the goods:

Yep I'm loved! =) Seriously BEST. FRIDAY. EVER! OK minus the Friday The Husband proposed to me....sorry girls ;)  I love love love the ladies in my life who have been by my side for the happy, silly, giggle fests and then the not so happy times. That is why we have girlfriends, to celebrate the sillies and help through the drama. I love y'all so much!

Happy Friday!!!

The Time I Was Up All Night

Last night I couldn't sleep. I don't know if it was the caffeine I consumed or what. I tossed and turned. I tried watching TV, but I was so dang interested in ANYTHING that came on that I knew I would never get any sleep. I lay in bed with my eyes closed, trying not to listen to the sounds outside. Yeah right -- ever try to NOT hear noise?! That only magnifies any noise going on. I wanted to be in my husbands arms, listening to his slow, peaceful breaths. BUT, alas, the tossing and turning forced me out of bed. That and I could not get comfortable. I tried more pillows. I tried less pillows. I tried being in a sitting position. I tried laying completely flat; curled in a ball, on my side; on my stomach; nothing worked. Finally I got up out of bed. I did learn something -- I can catch up on all the blogs I didn't get to read during the day haha!

So it is 2:30AM and I have commented on all of your lovely blogs and am now creating a post.

I tried reading Something Blue. I am about 75% finished with it. I'm still not sold on Darcy. I don't know -- she is just so self-centered and shallow. I guess I was hoping to like her more at this point in the book. I have considered putting the book down several times but haven't. I keep telling myself it HAS to get better. So far I like ALL the characters EXCEPT the main character.

I don't know what is going on with me; why I can't sleep. Maybe I am just so excited to get through the next couple days so I can start my four day weekend. Maybe it is because I am just thrilled beyond belief that my baby sister is getting married on Saturday?

I have been practicing my toast for the reception. It is really good, if I may say so myself. =) It is sweet and funny. I just hope I can make it through the speech without blubbering! I have read it at least once a day for about two months. I was finally able to get through it with barely getting tears in my eyes. Then on Sunday, I was practicing it in front of Ruger. I could NOT keep it together. I was slightly embarrassed and no one was around to witness haha! I have decided that in the event that I get too choked up to get through the entire speech, I will have to just skip to the end and give Jess a copy of the toast lol. I refuse to be a blubbering ball of non-sense, even in the presence of close friends and family.  That is one thing that annoys me at weddings -- if you can't make it through a speech, I don't really want to hear your incoherent babbling, no matter how sweet the intention is. Call me crazy or mean, but let's be real -- no one wants to hear someone crying for 3 minutes and not know what the heck is going on!

In other exciting news, the NFL lockout is over...for the moment. The players have until August 4th to get it all together and get back in with The Union, otherwise, the latest agreement is void. Hopefully they get it together. I look forward to the NFL season from February until pre-season. In all honesty, I would have been very surprised if they wouldn't have reached an agreement. I mean seriously, the NFL fan base is HUGH and I feel that if there would NOT have been a 2011/2012 season, the NFL would have lost a good portion of that fan base. I probably would have stopped watching, at least for a bit. =/ Thankfully it hasn't come to that!

With the start of the NFL season, comes the Fall show lineup. I can't wait for our shows to start again. I'm tired of not having anything to watch and recently my attention span can't be held for the length of a movie!

I am so ready to get back into a workout routine. I have taken a little time off - I don't have an excuse, I just have. I am very ready to start back at it again BUT I have to wait until after Sissy's wedding. I have had the bridesmaid dress taken in twice now, I pick it up tomorrow and it needs to fit Saturday. I know as soon as I get back into my routine, I will drop a little weight before gaining a lot of muscle back which means my dress may not fit. SO I have to hold off.

Along with being ecstatic about Sissy's wedding, I will get to see a lot of my family and our friends. We have been pretty anti-social here lately, J has worked a lot and hasn't really been up for interaction, so we lay low and have well-deserved, relaxing weekends. It will be nice to see our friends though --  I miss them!

Alright, well I think that covers my middle of the night randoms. I hope y'all got more sleep than I did! Today is my Thursday as far as work is concerned and I'm pretty excited about that! =)

What do you do when you can't sleep at night?

The Importance of Good People

Thank goodness it is FINALLY Friday! UGH! My days have flown by but I feel like the week has been dragging on and on!  I am very excited about going to look at homes tomorrow too so I'm a little antsy for the weekend.

I am so very fortunate to have an amazing group of friends.  I know I have talked about this in the past Here and probably in several other posts, and how lucky I am to have such an amazing support system.  I am going to talk about it again. I probably hold on to that so tightly because, honestly, growing up and even in college I only had a handful of friends -- literally like 2 at a time. I don't know why -- I think I am likeable, but that is neither here nor there. =)

I truly value the friendships I have made since stepping out into the world.  Our group isn't huge and I do have a few friends outside this main circle of people.  The people that I chose to have in my life show one another so much love and compassion. They are there for one another at their worst and brattiest.  That is so much more important -- it isn't enough to support someone when they are bright and shiny; they have to support you in the hard and stuggling times.  I know that if I ever needed anything while J was away, I could call any of these friends.  Heck, I have even had some of my girl friends offer to spend the night with me so I am not alone! How sweet is that?! =)

I won't show you old pictures that you have already seen is so many of my other posts.  I am going to share a new reason why my love for my friends is going strong.

Our friends, Shaun and Katie, are getting married on Monday downtown with friends and family.  They aren't doing anything big -- they will travel to the beach to take all their photos.  They decided to do this pretty recently in lieu of a big wedding (they have been engaged about a year and dating for several). We are all thrilled for them but they would miss out on the rights of passage -- bridal shower, bachelor/ette parties. SO while Shaun went out of town for his bachelor party, the girls got together and planned a surprise bachelorette party for last night!  Some of us couldn't make it but we had a lot of fun with the handful of girls that were able to be there.  Katie was very happy and VERY surprised!

We showed up at Katie's house with gifts and bachelorette paraphenalia:

  

We went to Moe's for dinner -- YUM! =)

 

The main event was The Melting Pot for dessert. Can I just tell you that dessert there is RIDICULOUS! YUMMY! I LOVE that place.  Chocolate Fondu is seriously a gift from God!! It is so so good! I could eat fondue EVERY. DAY.

 

 

 

  

It was so much fun being a part of a surprise bachelorette party -- especially since Katie had NO idea! Great job getting it all set up, Christy! =)

Hold on to the good people in your life -- don't let the lame ones bring you down.  Clean out your proverbial friend drawer and make sure it is only filled with quality people.  Seriously in cases like these, it is more important that you have quality over quantity. 

Well I am off to catch up on some stuff a little -- I am trying to stay motivated today, especially since I would much rather be at home with J.

Have you ever been a part of a surprise party?

The Value of a Friend

I love my family. They are amazing. They have always been supportive and stood by me.  Hugs and love were never in short supply in our household. 

Because I have such an amazing family and support system, I never really made an effort to have friends nor did I think it was a big deal that I lacked any friendships. Well, now, I have found the importance of having girlfriends. Not only that, I have finally learned how to be a good friend.  I know that sounds ridiculous but you have to understand, I didn’t have many friends.  I attribute this to being part of a Navy family.  I think this factor is part of what kept our family so close.  Also due to this factor, I never really made solid friendships.  They weren’t that important to me. When you are little you make friends but you don’t really learn how to maintain a friendship until later on in life…probably starting in junior high.
By the time I was in Jr. High I knew that we would be moving by the time I got into high school. I had friends but no one whom I have remained in contact – even in the weeks after I moved, I didn’t talk to any of them.  I had my family, what else could I possibly need?
We lived in Texas for my first year of high school.  That’s it. One year. 
We moved out here to Florida. I went to and finished high school at one small-ish school in North Florida. I don’t talk to anyone from high school either haha.  With the technologies of the internet and social networking, I have been able to be VERY nosy with regards to my high school peers as they have been able to be with me and my life (thanks FB!).  I don’t mind…we were what I considered friends. 
Real Quick Side Note: I am a low maintenance friend -- I don't need to hang out with you every day to consider you a good friend. I LOVE spending time with The Husband and my friends need to understand that. They need understand (or at least respect) that sometimes we just want to sit at home and spend time together as a couple. I don't have to go shopping with you all the time or drinks on the town once a week to be your friend.  I require very little -- don't judge me, love me and laugh at my lame jokes. J 
I left home to go to college, and still had no idea how to be a friend to someone who wasn’t related to me.  All I needed was my family – that was my mentality.  Then I met Krissy – probably my first REAL friend.

It was the summer of 2003 and we were in band camp together. J She has never once judged me for anything. She has been a great friend to me…even when we lost touch for about 2.5 years.  Thanks to FB, when I graduated from college, I happened to stumble across a picture of her and found that she had an FB account.  Now three years later, we try to have lunch at least 3 times a month and it is like we never missed a day. J She honored me by agreeing to be a bridesmaid in our wedding almost a year ago.
Along with my dear friend Krissy, I have found myself among a group of young women who are inspiring and beautiful. 

They have also helped teach me the value of a great support group of women who love and respect me.  We have had girl’s dinners, a girl’s weekend and lots of girl talks during our various get togethers (with and without our significant others). 
It is no secret that I struggle with The Husband being out of town for work. We spend so much time together and talk constantly. This has been hard on us, but we have this wonderful support system in our friends to take care of us as individuals and as a couple.
He will be home tonight FINALLY – last night/yesterday was a bit of a rough day for me. I’m not going to lie, I looked at my post from yesterday several times because it at least made me feel warm and fuzzy.  Thank goodness we had planned for a girl's dinner last night – the laughs were constant and the company was amazing.

I wouldn’t have changed anything about the home or circumstances under which I grew up and lived, it helped mold me into the person I am, with strong family values and lots of love to give.  I am so thankful for the family I have, and now I have my other family J 
These girls have helped me with struggles and celebrated with me in ‘victories’ I love these girls. They are strong and beautiful.  They have helped me to be more positive and set aside differences I have had with other people and helped me to build better relationships where the first impression wasn’t the best. J  Because of my relationships with these women – I have learned how to maintain friendships and relationships.

Family is important – they love you and support you. I hope every girl has been fortunate enough to have their second family à their ‘sisters’ J 

Christmas Cookie Party

Last night, a group of girlfriends got together for a Christmas Cookie Party.  Some of us brought recipes/ingredients for specific cookies -- others brought decorating supplies and cookie cutters for traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies.

 

  

I brought stuff to make "Thin Mint" Cookies.

{Ingredients}

Ritz Crackers

Peppermint Extract

Chocolate Melts

Wax Paper

Sprinkles (optional)

{Directions}

Melt the chocolate in a double broiler or (my way) in a microwave.

Add peppermint extract to chocolate to taste.

Dip the Ritz Crackers in the chocolate.

Lay on Wax Paper to harden.

If you have sprinkles, add to top of cookie/cracker as desired before the chocolate hardens.

Viola! Homemade Thin Mint Cookies! =)

We had a TON of cookies and had so much fun! It was a great idea for a girl's night get together!

Weekend Recap

I know it's Tuesday --- AND 11 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS! --and yesterday PROBABLY should have been my recap day...but I had to share my Rock the Dress session!! How could I NOT!? Especially on our Wedding Month-iversary =) Friday night we went with my sister and her fiance and J's brother and his girlfriend to Sea World where we enjoyed Christmas extravaganza! AND fake snow =)

 

Saturday we had TWO Christmas parties.  The first wasn't so fun -- it was more of a networking thing for J.  The second was fun -- it was our 2nd annual Christmas Party with our crew =)

   

Sunday was fairly low key -- we went and watched the Steelers (defense) dominate the Bengals. Troy Polamalu is amazing by the way =) I would totally meet him in a heartbeat if given the chance! We also watched The Grinch --  FINALLY a Christmas movie! HOORAY! I can't wait to watch Rudolph -- maybe tonight =)