What a weekend!!!

So...I know you're all waiting on pins & needles to hear about my vacation! Thursday night I headed out of town around 6:00..just me and lil Flossie Jayne! Let me rewind a bit first....it's important to this story that you know that I had Starkville Cafe for lunch with my family...fried chicken, mashed potatoes & fried okra, to be exact. This has no bearing on this story until a later time...but keep it in your mind, friends. Anyways...off we go to Auburn to see Carrie & Bobby. It's cold. It's windy. And here comes the rain. It's not a fun trip, folks. We finally make it to the Martin house around 11 PM, after I travel 30 EXTRA MINUTES on I-65, because I'm looking for HIGHWAY 85 exit, NOT I-85. I told Bobby he MUST be more specific with me when regarding directions. He told me to listen to the GPS. I told him that was not a valid point. Anyways, I digress...We had a wonderful, but short visit with Carrie & Bobby, and after about 5 hours of sleep, I was awake again. Not feeling so good this early Friday morning, but I chalked it up to being up WAYYY earlier than my usual rising time. Flossie Jayne and I dressed quickly..and loaded the car (IN THE POURING RAIN) and were on our way by 5:30 AM. My original plan was to stop in Columbus and see Sam and eat breakfast with her. The more i thought about this...the worse an idea it was sounding. It's pouring, therefore I dont want her to get her lil boy out in it, I dont want to get out of my car, plus my tummy is not being so nice to me still. So..I press on. Driving to Savannah...it's pouring the WHOLE ENTIRE time. I decide to stop in...well..I dont really remember the town..suffice it to say it was somewhere in Georgia..to get gas & get some breakfast, in hopes that I would feel better. I fill up, and at the time notice that i can see my breath. in october. it's frigid. So i head on over to Arby's to get a chicken biscuit, my favorite breakfast splurge. As I pull around to the window to collect my order and pay the nice drive-thru lady, when i hand her my debit card, she informs me that the credit card machine "ain't workin right" and could i pay with a check or cash? See the following conversation:

ME: Well, will you take an out of state check?

Arby's Chick: How out of state?

ME: Umm...Mississippi?

Arby's Chick: Naw, that's too out of state. I'm sorry.

ME: ummm.....alrighty.

Now..I'm a pretty smart chick. I, however, DO NOT understand how a check can be "too out of state". Perhaps had i been from Alabama, my check 

wouldn't have been "too out of state", as Alabama is closer than Mississippi. Whatev. I left. Without my biscuit. 

So...I'm driving along...made it through Atlanta..decide i'm ready to try my hand at breakfast again. So i pull up to McDonald's and order a sausage biscuit (because McDonald's chicken biscuits taste like they have pickles on them to me) and a sweet tea, and a cup of water for Flossie Jayne. We sit in the parking lot and eat and drink and relax a bit...then hit the road again. I'm feelin good, going strong.....until i hit the hell that is East I-16. Friends, this is THE MOST boring drive EVER! it's inevitable that i will get sleepy on this stretch..it happens EVERY time. Not only did i get sleepy, i got VERY nauseous. I chalked it up to the greasy sausage biscuit and kept telling myself i'd feel better after a Kyoto lunch with the J.L Herring girls. So...I arrive in Savannah (right on time, I might add!) and meet the girls at J.L Herring, the office where i used to work. We head out to Kyoto (in the pouring rain) and after 30 minutes in line (their credit card machine was down as well) we get our food. I am so excited to eat Kyoto....until i put that little shrimp in my mouth. It was all I could do to hold it in...so i picked at my food, as not to insult Lisa, as she treated me and Cat to lunch. It's rare for me to not be able to eat Kyoto...so I knew something was terribly wrong. Nevertheless, I was on vacation...so i pushed the worry aside. After lunch, I headed to Starbucks to meet Laura for coffee. It was so good to see her! We enjoyed our coffee and catching up....until...I dont remember what she was in the middle of telling me, all I remember is that i had to get up NOW. I felt that familiar twinge in my jaw...and off to the bathroom i ran. Friends, I won't force the details upon you, but i was one sick girl. After our coffee catch-up, i headed back to J.L Herring to meet up with Cat and go get Aiden from daycare. On the way tomeet her, i spoke with my sister, who informed me that my parents were sick in the bed too. folks, WE ALL 3 HAD FRIED CHICKEN FOR LUNCH THE DAY BEFORE. Now you know why the Starkville Cafe lunch was an integral part of my story! So...anyways, after picking up Aiden, whom i met for the very first time!, we headed back to Cat & Will's to get ready for a much anticipated Jalapeno's dinner. Cut to 2 hours later: Cat & I asleep in the living room. You guessed it. I couldn't eat. Anything. not even a chip. Cat was sick with some sort of cold...so by 9 PM we were completely O-U-T. The next morning, we woke up early and headed to Sunny Side Up for breakfast...and I actually ate! I thought..yay i'm all better now! We shopped and shopped and i picked up some really cute things for Aiden, and a HOTT pair of shoes for myself....

as well as a pumpkin spice latte! After shopping, we met Will for lunch at Moe's...where i didn't eat..again. After lunch, I met Laura & Leslie and Gracie & Greddy downtown with Flossie Jayne for the Wag-O-Ween. We walked probably 5 miles...well Flossie Jayne probably only walked 2, as she required to be carried about half way through. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and all have enough treats to last them a lifetime! After that, we headed to a local winery, called Butterducks, and had a tasting. It was so much fun! I purchased a bottle of Sweet Pear wine, which i really enjoyed. Afterwards, we went out to dinner (another meal which i did not eat) and then home to carve pumpkins! They turned out really cute! 

I headed to bed early, as I was still sick, and felt like i was coming down with a cold. Sunday morning comes along...and i feel like poop. I looked at some pictures of Laura & Leslie's most recent trips, then we headed to lunch...and I headed home. Surprisingly I made it home without getting terribly sleepy...much thanks to a really, really nice person who kept me awake..and even offered to come get me :) Tuesday I stayed home to rest...and that brings us to today. I possibly feel worse than i have all week! ugh. I hope this gets out of my system by the weekend..i have some really fun things planned. There's some new stuff going on in my life right now...dont wanna jinx it...but will fill in my readers when time permits/allows :) Happy Thursday...and happy early Halloween! :) 

-E

More pictures to come later...i hope :) 

Happy Vacation Day to ME!

Well, after over a month of planning..the day has finally come! I'm going to the EAST COAST today! It's been wayyyy too long since i've seen my friends over there and I can't wait for good food, good drinks and good times! :) Savannah, here I come! 

-E

1 Day Til Vacation!

Hello, Blogland! It's been a while since we've chatted...and, well, it's not because I have been busy. I haven't really done much of anything productive this week. Been catching up on some much needed rest...since i AM going on a mini-vacation this weekend! My first stop after I leave Starkville on Thursday evening will be in Auburn, AL...actually, it's Notasulga...but we'll just stick with Auburn..I'm going to spend the night with Carrie & Bobby and spend a little time with them. I've never seen their house, so I'm really excited about seeing their home and the town they live in! EARLY..and i do mean early..Friday morning, I'll get up and get ready for a LOOOONG day...First stop is Columbus, GA to see Sam & her Lucas for breakfast..It's been AT LEAST 2 years since I've seen Sam, so i'm really excited about catching up with her. Then, it's on to Savannah, where I'll have lunch with Cat & Lisa, the girls I worked with at J.L Herring, at Kyoto! :) after lunch, i'll visit Ryan, and have coffee with Laura..then meet up with Cat & Will & Aiden for some JALAPENO's! Saturday & Sunday are tentatively planned..but nothing is for sure in concrete..so i'll fill you in when i get back..i know ya'll are just DYING to know! AND, bonus!! i'll have pictures! :)  So stay tuned! 

-E

A Little Sad...But Doing OK.

Wow, I've been slackin on the blogging front! I know you're all just DYING to know how my Delta visit went...and I must say, it was quite pleasant. Weather was nice, except for Saturday which was extremely HOT...due to the fact that my mom and I were abandoned downtown at the arts festival. Let me rewind....Lennie, Dallas & I arrived in Cleveland around 8 PM Friday night, and Daddy had steaks fresh off the grill ready for us! So yummy! We sat around a fire and ate, reminisced & laughed. After a long night up with the babies, I took a LONG shower (well, as long as you can take in an RV that doesn't have much hot water) and got ready for the day. All us women-folk headed downtown to Octoberfest. It was your typical arts festival, with your typical art. We went in some kids shops along the way, and scored fabulous Halloween ("Hannoween" as Miss Taylee Bugg says) costumes for the kids..Braylon will be a sweet Pumpkin, and Taylee will be a mermaid :). After many more hours of walking around and shopping, we ventured back to the car. Somehow, my mom, myself & taylee had gotten separated from not only the other members of our group, but also from Lindsay, Dallas & Braylon. So we head to the car...only to find that the CAR IS NOT THERE. So we think...either we got towed, or we got LEFT. Turns out, it was the latter. Like an angel from above, we see my mom's brother and his wife walking down the street...and they agree to take us home! It was a looooong day...and after that excursion, i took a loooong nap!! Saturday night was, again, spent around the fire, eating pulled pork & ribs..soo yummy! Sunday we packed up and headed home. I can finally say that today, nearly a week later, I'm finally caught up on my rest! 

It's been a busy week for me. Monday, Flossie Jayne's Halloween costume came in..so we played dress up. The dress part of the costume is more like a mini-dress, and the hat is a bit big..but Carla assures me she can fix the hat and FJ will be super adorable at Wag-O-Ween next weekend! After fitting her costume, Wick came by for a visit (he was DYING to see FJ in her costume) and stayed for my taco dinner. Was good to see him...been missing him a lot lately.

Tuesday night, Holley and I attended Starkville Young Professionals, and really enjoyed ourselves. We have agreed to get more involved in the community and get ourselves out there a little more. Think it will be really good for both of us! Wednesday night was the ONLY night i had to do NOTHING. My house was clean, laundry was done. So after work, I ventured to the library and returned the 2 fabulous books i just finished, and picked up 3 more! I was in bed by 9, I do believe! Tonight is the much-anticipated Black & Orange Ball at the Veranda. A little anxious about being at the Veranda...Lots of memories & emotions for me in that place..but still excited about the event. Did i mention i look super cute today? Orange heels rock my face off! 

No plans so far for the weekend..wanna hang out with the babies, spend time with Flossie Jayne...really wanna hang out with Wick at some point....so we'll see..

-E

I heart shoes.

So today started off very rocky-like for me. I had the perfect outfit planned...did it look like i anticipated? no, of course not. i took the time to really fix my hair...did it look like i anticipated? no, of course not. Nevertheless, i made the best of it. After a hectic, not so fun morning at work, i treated myself to a salad at Zaxby's and met Holley for some after lunch shopping. I purchased a pair of orange heels (VERY essential for fall!) and a couple of unmentionables (i.e undergarments). The orange heels are really for the next Business After Hours..which is at the Veranda, and is the Black & Orange Ball. BAH gives away door prizes each month..and apparently the prizes are REALLY good at the black & orange ball (read: trips) but you can't claim a prize unless you are wearing actual black & orange. So i used this "business requirement" as an excuse to purchase shoes! Pretty clever, if I do say so myself. 

So tomorrow I'm working only a half day...then I'm off to the Delta for a family reunion. Unfortunately, the other half of my heart will be left behind...of course, I mean Flossie Jayne. She is being kept by Holley and Wilson..and I know they will take WONDERFUL care of my angel face...but her mommy will really miss her. We don't spend much time apart....So i'll be really happy to see her on Sunday evening. Then, her Halloween costume will be here Monday...So i'm excited about seeing her in it...did I mention that her BIRTHDAY is saturday?? She'll be 2 years old! 

Countdown to vacation: 15 days.

-e

Hello, My Name is Emily.

So...if you're reading this, you probably already know a lot about me...but i'm feeling bored and i do LOVE a good survey..so here goes :) 

1. What time did you get up this morning? 
My alarm went off (for the first time) at 7:00 AM....i snoozed until 7:40. I was a sleepy peepy this morning! 

2. Diamonds or pearls? 
Diamonds are a girls best friend...but pearls are pretty good friends too! Can't I have both??

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Ummmm.....Burn After Reading. NOTE: this is NOT a thriller, but a VERY funny movie! 

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Grey's Anatomy, Sex and the City reruns & the Big Bang Theory (why this show about nerds is so entertaining to me, i have no idea)

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? 
If I get around to it, usually an egg sandwich with turkey bacon. 

6. What is your middle name? 
Brooke

7. What food do you dislike? 
Tomatoes. Anything cold that is supposed to be hot, or anything reheated in the microwave.

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Sex and the City: Songs from the City...it was a birthday present.

9. What kind of car do you drive? 
A red Jetta named Roxy.

10. Favorite sandwich? 
Smoked Turkey on Sourdough from Panera.

11. What Characteristic you despise? 
Lying (including lies by omission).

12. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? 
Italy. ALL of Italy.

13. Where would you retire to? 
Somewhere on the southern East coast.

14. What was your most memorable birthday? 
My 26th, last year. it was amazing.

15. Furthest place you are sending this questions to: 
Does the internet have distance??

16. When is your birthday? 
September 28th. 

17. Morning person or a night person? 
Mid-morning.

18. What is your shoe size? 
8 1/2

19. Pets? 
MY SWEET ANGEL FACE...Flossie Jayne. :)  she will be 2 years old on Saturday! 

20. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? 
Ummm....not today. Check back tomorrow :) 

21. What did you want to be when you were little? 
Everything in the world...the only thing that's stil the same is a mother & wife. 

22. How are you today? 
Been better....but doing okay.

23. What is your favorite flower? 
Tulips

24. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
OCTOBER 24th!!

25. What are you listening to right now? 
Sunny 93.3

26. What was the last thing you ate? 
An Oreo.

27. Do you wish on stars? 
Of course. 

28. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? 
I think i would be a different color each day. Today, i would be a bluish color...cornflower blue, i think.

29. How is the weather right now?
Wish it was a little cooler, but at least it's stopped raining! 

30. Last person you spoke to on the phone? 

My mama.

31. Favorite soft drink? 
Diet Dr. Pepper

32 Favorite restaurant? 
The Veranda

33. Hair color? 
Blondish.

34. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Legos. or my Dolls. Or my chalkboard...i LOVED to play school.

35. Summer or Winter? 
I prefer fall/spring. 

36. Chocolate or Vanilla? 
CHOCOLATEY CHOCOLATE! 

37. Coffee or tea? 
Both!! Coffee with LOTS of creamer & Splenda...SWEET tea with NO lemon! :) 

38. Do you want your friends to email you back? 
Well...if I email them, then yes, the polite thing to do is email back! 

39 When was the last time you cried? 
Ummm.....Friday. 

40. What is under your bed? 
Actually, nothing. I have plenty of closet space for the first time EVER! 

41. What did you do last night? 
Finished reading a wonderful Sandra Brown book! 

42. What are you afraid of? 
Postal workers and clowns.

43. How many keys on your key ring? 
Ummm....car key, 2 house keys, 2 parents house keys & key to wick's place....so...6. 

44. How many years at your current job? 
5 months. 

45. Favorite day of the week? 
Saturday.

46. Do you make friends easily? 
I used to. It's really hard to make young adult friends, i'm finding. and that really sucks. 

Just Another Manic Monday...

Happy Monday, peeps! Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend...it certainly was a beautiful one! Friday night I spent my evening cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning. I dusted EVERY piece of furniture in my house, mopped every walking surface, vacuumed out my couch, my windowsills...everything is spic & span! Afterwards, I treated myself to a Christy's hamburger (if you live in the area, you know how yummy Christy's is!) and watched Sex and the City..only for the 18th time since i received it..and took a long bath. It was a nice relaxing evening. Saturday, I woke to a beautiful day! After a late breakfast, I got ready for my afternoon of shopping around town with my Mommye. We hit all the newest "vintage" furniture places (AKA dumps) as well as Aspen Bay & DoDad's..if you've NOT been to DoDad's, GO ASAP! it's heavenly! and so very cheap. I got quite a few new pieces of jewelry for under 20 bucks! After a lunch at McAlister's Deli, I decided that I wanted to become a Library Citizen. I haven't had a library card since I was in elementary school....so i got my very own card..and checked out 2 books :) now, if only i can remember to take them back! Saturday night i went to my parents house and visited with the babies and had a fun taco dinner :) My friend Laura, who i'm going to visit in Savannah in 18 days called me saturday and informed me that it just so happens that the weekend i'll be visiting, is the Wag-O-Ween downtown. Business participate and you dress your pupstar up and they give them treats & water and what not. So...Flossie Jayne will be going on vacation with me...dressed as....

none other than a fairy princess! 

She is so very excited about her vacation, and seeing her cousins Gracie & Greddy, who will be a devil and a lobster, respectively. Pictures to come as soon as i return! 

Having dinner with the Wick tonight...grilling out kabobs! so very excited about that.

Must get back to work now..it's been a busy Monday and i've been solving the problems of the world! :) peace out.

-E

Picture Page is Picture Page

So, I've finally got some pictures to post! Enjoy these (few) pictures of our fun weekend at the Sturgis Bike Rally! 

I am apparently not good at putting multiple pictures on one blog entry..and i'm really not sure why the picture of Angela and I is larger than life...but I dont really feel like getting angry at technology right now. I am not technologically saavy and i proved that to myself last night as I deleted 80% of the numbers from my SIM card. How, you ask? I have no idea. So..It's friday...I don't really have any plans. I'm going to clean my house tonight...kinda want to go out and be social...kinda feel like just being alone. Ever have times like that? it's like..I hate being alone..but feel like it's what i need right now. Lots of stuff swimming around in my little head..and my little heart. I am anticipating a mini-vacation to savannah in 3 weeks...and i can't wait to get away. It's long overdue. Have a wonderful, safe weekend!

-E