i love this guy

Just thought I would let you know!!

please sign here

I just found this website where you can make signatures for your blog for free. Who doesn't love free stuff!!


It's really easy. Just go here and click Start Now! Enjoy!!



Update: Here are directions to make your signature go to all future posts....

• After you make your signature, click on "Want to use this signature?"
• Click on "Generate HTML Code"
• Click on "Generate a code for my handwritten signature."
• Copy and post the HTML code.
• Now go to your blog and click on "Customize in the top right corner.
• Click on "Settings"
• Click on "Formatting"
• Scroll all the way to the bottom. Paste the HTML code in the "Post Template Box"
• Click on "Save Settings"
• Any time you click to make a new post it will be there!!

Hope this helps!!!

wordless wednesday

the magic blanket

When I was a kid, I used to spend the night at my grandma's house all the time. She had 3 extra bedrooms in our house, but we always asked for her to make a pallet by her bed.

I am very cold natured, and Nonnie always kept her house FREEZING. When we laid down on our pallet, Nonnie always had to pile on a couple of blankets to get me warm. After she put 2 or 3 blankets on me, she would always put on the same quilt last. It was called, "The Magic Blanket". It didn't matter when she put in on, it always magically made me warm! Or atleast that is what I thought when I was a kid.

Recently, I have found that I am now carrying on the tradition of the "The Magic Blanket". Izzie has always been allowed to jump on the couch at my parents house, but we decided she wouldn't be allowed on the couch at our house. It just killed me not being able to snuggle with her on the couch, so I decided to bend the rules. If I put the "Magic Blanket" on the couch, she knows that she can jump on the couch, no questions asked. It's so cute!!

let the countdown begin

There are 17 more days of school left!! I could not be anymore excited about our summer break!! Getting a summer break is one of the best perks about being a teacher.

Unfortunately, my summer break won't officially start until July 3rd. I decided to teach Summer School again this summer. The money is great and it's really easy. I did it last summer while planning a wedding, so I can do it again. I would probably find ways spend lots of money if I was home all day, so I figured I'd go make some money!! It's only half day and and there's only 17 days.

So today marks...

17 more full days of school

and

17 more half days of summer school

I can do it!!

yard work: before and after

Matt and I have been working on getting our yard back into shape this Spring.

Wait....let me rephrase that.

My sweet husband has been getting our yard back into shape this Spring, while I watch and complain about how I hate yard work!

The only part I like doing is planting the flowers. It's not hard, and you get to see all of your hard work in bright colors!!

Those are purple vincas, and I'm still trying to decide what I want to put behind them.

These are purple vincas and yellow marigolds!!

The previous owners of our house had some really good landscaping in the front, but the side of our house was just out of control. We decided to just wipe the majority of it out and start all over.

Let's do a little before and after pictures, shall we?

Before:

(this picture was taken last summer. Over the winter, our big tree was almost touching the ground and all the other stuff was even more out of control than it it in this picture.)

After:

(We also got our fence stained!)

Now we just need an "after, after" picture. Hopefully that will be coming soon. We have a blank slate to work with, we just have to figure out what to plant. It gets super hot on this side of our house, as it gets the afternoon sun. Any ideas??

taste of addison

Friday night Matt and I headed over to Addison for their annual Taste of Addison. This was our first time to go, but I think we will be making it an annual thing for us.

There were tons of restaurants there serving food. It was hard for us to choose. We started off the evening with some Crab Rangoons, from Jasmine Uniquely Chinese.

Our next stop was some honey BBQ wings from Buffalo Wild Wings.After our first two appetizers, we got some nachos from The Blue Goose Cantina and listened to some live music by Green River Ordinance. Green River Ordinance is a band from Fort Worth. I first heard them in College Station. They quickly became a favorite of mine, as they were in College Station often for shows. I bought their new CD. I'm excited to listen to their new music.

In between GRO and the Old 97's I stopped at Topz Healthier Burger Grill to get some baked sweet potato fries. Matt stopped and got a corn dog. I laid down on the grass during the Old 97's and took a wonderful nap. Matt didn't think I was being all that fun taking a nap,but it sure was nice.

We ended the evening with some ice cream from Marble Slab and some live music by Jack Ingram. What a fun night!! I hope we make this an annual tradition.

kids say the darndest things

Today at school I did a Mother's Day activity where I asked my kids questions about their Moms.  

Here are some of my favorite answers.

My Mom is  _____years old.

13

21 

86

My Mom's job is ________. 

work

soccer

keeping me and my sister fed 

My Mom's favorite thing to do is __________.

buy me things

clean the house

take me to my favorite places to eat

And here are the funniest answers of them all....

My Mom's favorite thing to wear is ________.

her wedding dress

she likes to just wear her shirt around the house without pants......pause.......and sometimes she sleeps.......pause and giggle.......without her panties.......giggle giggle.  

Note to parents:  Remember that your Kindergarten children children tell their teacher everything.  Even things you probably don't want them to know!!

phone conversation

Me: Ty Murray must have a big fan base. I'm surprised Lil 'Kim got kicked off.

Dad: I know. He must be getting a lot of votes. I like him though. He's my favorite.

Do you know what my Dad and I are talking about??

That's right. My Dad is obsessed with

so blessed

After fighting a sore throat, cough and congestion for a whole week, I woke up Sunday morning and realized it was time to go to the doctor. I took a sick day yesterday, but I didn't have sub plans, so I had to run up to the school. I got to the school and I had not just one, not two, but three co-workers offer to help me get things together for my kids.

I am so blessed.

I found out I had strep throat, not the flu or even the swine flu.

I am so blessed.

I pretty much felt like crap on Monday. My throat was killing me, my head felt like it was going to explode, and my body was aching all over. All I wanted to do was come home and crash. My sister in law text messaged me to see if I needed some food or a Sonic drink or anything. Then my Mom stopped by and brought me and Matt some dinner.

I am so blessed.

I stopped by the pharmacy to get my prescription, but it wasn't ready. So my husband stopped by the store on his way home from work to pick it up. When it wasn't there he went to a different pharmacy to get it, just to find out that it was at the original pharmacy. So basically he drove all over town to get my medicine. And he didn't complain one bit.

I am so blessed.

I warmed up our dinner, we ate and then I started to clean it up. My sweet husband told me to not worry about the dishes and go to bed and rest.

I am so blessed.

When I realized that I wasn't feeling well enough to go back to school, I called another Kinder teacher to tell her what my kids could do tomorrow. She told me not to worry about and that her and the other teachers would get my plans together for me.

I am so blessed.

As I was getting ready to go to bed, my husband grabbed some pillows and a blanket and told me he was going to sleep on the couch so I could get some good rest. (We had both not had a good nights sleep the night before. I was tossing and turning and apparently snoring, which kept both of us up.) So I curled up in our bed by myself and slept wonderfully.

I am so blessed.

I woke up this morning and definitely started feeling better. My Mom came over to visit with me and asked me if we wanted to eat dinner with them tonight. She didn't want me to have to think about cooking dinner tonight.

I am so blessed.

Seriously, I am so blessed. I have a wonderful husband, family and friends. I know that I can always count on them, especially when I'm not feeling so hot.

baby chicks ducks

Look at what we have in the pond behind us!!

I've been calling them baby chicks all week. When Matt heard me call them baby chicks, he made fun of me. Then I couldn't think of what baby ducks are called, so I felt really dumb. I teach Kindergarten, and we teach a farm unit. I should know that.

We have ducklings!! And they are too cute!!

nail salon

If you have ever gotten your nails done, you know that this is how it really is!!

top 4

Yay! I'm so excited about the top four people on American Idol.  I had all of them in my Top 4 when they announced them as the Top 13.  And I had Adam and Danny picked from the moment I heard them auditioned. 

I LOVE them all, Adam, Kris, Danny, and Alison.  I think I will be happy with whoever wins.  

But I have to say I really want Adam Lambert to win.  

I know, I know, I know....he's different, he most likely gay, and he's kind of freaky.  But you have to admit he has a good voice.  The main reason I like him is because when they showed him auditioning, they said that he sang in the musical Wicked.  I knew then, that he was going to be my favorite before he even sang because I love Wicked.  

So my vote (even thought I don't vote) is for Adam Lambert. 

My husband's vote is for Kris Allen.

Who is your vote for?

april restaurant review

Matt and I decided to go to The Shops at Legacy for our new "Restaurant of the Month."  We knew there were a lot of restaurants and figured that we would be able to find one.  

Seafood sounded good, so we decided to eat at Half Shells.  It looked like a casual and not to expensive restaurant.  As soon as we walked in, the place looked familiar.  Then we took a look at the and realized that we had been to the same restaurant but with a different name.  Oops!!

Fish City at the Firewheel Town Center. 

We drove all the way to Frisco to go to a restaurant that we had already been to been too and one that is 10 minutes away from us.  

So I don't have a new restaurant to review since we technically didn't go to a new restaurant. 

We'll have to go to a good one in May.  

kindergarten honesty

This morning at school I was in the office working on something when my kids starting coming in the room. Thankfully one of my sweet co-workers gave them some paper and told them to draw me a picture until I got back in the room. When I got back they were so excited to show me all of their beautiful work. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to look at them right then, so I set them aside to look at later.

After all the kids had gone, I sat down to look at all my sweet pictures. Most looked like this....

But one of my little boys apparently didn't like the assignment given. There was no picture just this sentence.

If you can't read "Kindergarten", that says "This is ridiculous."

At least I know my kids can sound out words!!

coupon tips

I'm not a pro at couponing, but I'm getting better and better each week!  It feels good to be saving over 50% on each one of my grocery trips.  It takes lots of practice, lots studying, lots of cutting and clipping, and lots of patience.  

Let me share with you some of the websites and blogs that I have been reading and studying to help me save money on my grocery bill each week.  

Coupons you can put on your Kroger Card

Coupons that you can load onto your Kroger Card or cell phone (there is also a Cellfire app for the iPhone)

Printable Coupons

More Printable Coupons

Even more Coupons

Betty Crocker Coupons

Coupon Blog

Another Coupon Blog

Coupon Tips

More Coupon Tips

Hope all of these websites and blogs can help you save money each week.  If you know of any more couponing websites, please let me know!!

bring on the rain

Did you know you can get a rain check for sale items that are out of stock?  I just learned this the other day.  

You know you are getting a good deal if the item you want on sale is out of stock!!  So next time you are shopping and don't see the item you want, just go to a cashier and ask for a rain check!

Bring on the rain!!

jamie's wedding shower

Wedding showers....oh how I love them. Whoever invented them was the greatest person ever. I was blessed with 4 showers. Family and friends were so good to me. We wouldn't have much of anything in our house with the abundance of gifts people showered us with.

But since there won't be anymore of those for me I'll just enjoy going to them.

Jamie and I have known each other forever. Jamie was one of my very best friends in Jr. High and High School. I am so excited for her and Oliver and can't wait until May 30th when she becomes Mrs. Grabbe!!

Not only was it a wedding shower, but it was a bit of a high school reunion with alot of my old friends!! It was so fun to hang out with old friends.

Before this post comes to an end, I have to brag on my Mom. Look what she made....

Aren't the mop gloves and apron the cutest thing you have ever seen?

on the way to the cross

Please take the 5 minutes to watch this video. Our church showed this video today and I think it speaks volumes.


I follow My Charming Kids blog and she wrote this awesome post called "the truth about Easter." Take another 5 minutes to go read her post. It is really good.

Easter is about a real death, a real sacrifice, and a real resurrection. Christ already paid the price for our sins, so that we could live eternally in heaven with him. You just have to make the choice to make it PERSONAL.

happy birthday little P!!

Happy Birthday to the funniest little guy I know!!

We had so much fun at Preston's birthday party. He loved our remote control tractor we gave him, but the guitar was the hit of the party. He was Rockin' and Rollin' and even singing some original songs.

Uncle Matt and Aunt Katy love you!! Happy Birthday Little P!!

an unexpected visitor

On Saturday, Matt and I were about to head out to Sherman to spend some time with his family.  I was putting Izzie outside, set her food outside, and then I left the back door opened so I could fill up Izzie's water bowl.  While I was filling up Izzie's water bowl a bird flew in our house.

I started screaming "MATT, THERE'S A BIRD IN OUR HOUSE!  THERE IS A BIRD IN OUR HOUSE!"  He, very calmly, told me to close all the doors and go in a bedroom and stay.  

The bird just flew all over our kitchen and living room, but would not go out the back door.  Matt opened the front door so he would have another escape option, but he was not going out.  Matt decided to go get a broom and try to shoo him out.  He finally got him in the front entry hall.  But he kept flying into the window above our front door.  

He would flap his wings uncontrollably then fly right back into the window.  He did this four or five time.  I was in the room next door, dying to see what was going on, and dying to get my camera, so I opened the door to run out really quick.  But right as I opened the door, the bird flew over to my door.  Scared to death, I slammed the door and then the bird FINALLY went out the front door.  

What a morning!!!

6 monthiversary

Today marks 6 months of wedded bliss to my sweet husband, Matt!!

Yesterday, he sent me a beautiful vase of white flowers to the house while I was home from work.  He's so sweet.  I'm so excited I get to be married to him for the rest of my life!!

I love you, Matty!!

mavs game

My Dad called last night and asked if  Matt and I wanted to go to the Mavericks game today.  Someone gave him 4 tickets.  If you know my husband at all, you know that he loves ALL sports, so of course I said yes.   My Dad then let me know that he had seats on the front row of the second balcony, a free buffet dinner at the Platinum club, and underground parking.  Needless to say we were both very excited about our double date with my parents!  

We got to the AAC early to eat dinner, and as I was eating my four cheese tortelini, grilled veggies, and fancy hor' devours, I did not feel like I was at a Mavericks game.  Most of the time I associate nachos, burgers, popcorn and pretzels with the Mavericks game.  This was a whole new experience.    Thanks Mom and Dad for thinking of us and taking us to the Mavs game Platinum style!!!

a whole new world

I love taking pictures. And I love my digital point and shoot camera. But I'm about to enter into a whole new world.   The world of digital SLRs.  (or what I call....real cameras)
My sweet husband is letting me buy a new Canon Rebel.  I know absolutely nothing about them except that my sister in law said that it would be a great camera to start out with.  So I bought "Digital Photography for Dummies".  It's all about using digital SLRs, taking great pictures, editing images, and using Photoshop Elements.  I'm super excited to dive into the world of photography.  I know I will be never be a professional or anything, but when there are little Links running around the house I want to know how to take good pictures of them. So I better get started now while I have time!!

So here's my questions for you....

I've heard Nikon D60's are similar/equivalent to the Canon Rebel line.  Do you have one or the other?  What do you love about it?  Do you have a Canon Rebel?  If so, which one?  What do you love about it?  

Tammy....if you read this, tell your husband to comment!!  I would like to hear his advice!!

magic erasers

Have you ever used these before?

They really are magic.  The people that lived in our house before us had 2 small children.  There were a couple of spots on the walls and cabinets that had small crayon marks on it.  i thought that we would just have to deal with it until we repainted.  

Boy, was I wrong.  These things are MAGIC.  Really they are magic.  I don't know how they work.  Whatever Windex won't clean up, a magic eraser will!!  I use mine almost daily to clean our kitchen countertops.  We have white formica countertops and they show every single spot.  When I spill kool-aid or tea, the Magic Eraser is the only thing that will get it off.

So if you haven't ever tried these out, you are really missing out.  

But today is your lucky day to join in on all the fun.  Go here and you can here to get 2 free Mr. Clean Magic Erasers!!!

is anyone out there?

I've been reading up and studying up a lot lately on couponing.  I have lots of friends/co-workers that are really getting into it, and I am determined to be good at it, too.  I love finding a good deal on clothes, shoes, purses, etc.  So why shouldn't I be able to get a good deal on groceries.

Matt and I eat almost every meal at home.  We eat breakfast here, I pack both of our lunches daily, and I almost always cook dinner.  We go out to eat maybe 3 times a month, if that.  Since Matt and I have been married, I usually spend around $350 dollars on groceries a month.  I usually have 2 big $100ish trips and 2 smaller $60ish trips.  I use coupons every time I go to the grocery store but I never save a ton.  

After studying up this week on some helpful blogs and websites.  I bought quite bit of groceries and stocked up on  some toiletries for only $71.  Without coupons I would have spend $165.  I know that "Super Couponers" probably don't think that is all that great, but I think it's a great start.  

My goal is to get our grocery budget down so we can free up that money to go elsewhere in our budget.  But what I really don't know what our budget should be?  

If you don't mind me asking, what do you spend on groceries a month??  How many are in your family?  How often do you eat at home?  What do you think you spend the majority on at the grocery store?

Anyone??

time for a change

After having the same haircut for the past 2 years, I decided it was time for a change.  

It's not drastically different, but it's a change from my angled bob.  I was actually nervous about getting my haircut, because for the past 2 years, I always knew I was just getting the same old style. 

I went with the asymmetrical cut!!  The left side is shorter than the right side.  The picture doesn't really do the cut justice.    

It's going to take some time getting used to it, but I think it's cute.I think I'm going to like it.  I kind of feel cool with my new asymmetrical haircut!!!

cheap decor

I just recently decorated our mantle.  I've been wanting to do this since we moved in, but I was waiting until I could find some good deals.  I got the vase, candle, and candle stick at Hobby Lobby all for 50% off.  I pulled the stuff in the vase from another vase I have in our house.  I didn't use it all.  I left just enough in the other vase so that they both looked good.   (My mom actually bought the at Hobby Lobby for 90%, and made the vase for me for Christmas.) The books are ones that we already had in our bookcase.  I just took the sleeves off of them.  And the lanterns are actually outdoor lanterns that my grandma got for me for Christmas from Sam's.  We were really excited to hang them outside on our arbor, but I just thought they looked too cute on my mantle.  

What do you think??

P.S.  I took the tag off of the vase.  Don't worry.  It just didn't get taken off for the picture. 

april fools

I got fooled this morning by my husband.



Last night I was complaining to him about the recent pounds that have been creeping up on me these days. Basically I was throwing a pity party for myself, and nothing he said was going to make me feel better. He gets so annoyed when I do this.


I woke up this morning and thought it was time to get on the scale and see if I really did have a reason to be throwing a pity party. I hadn't weighed in about 2 weeks, so I was dreading getting on the scale this morning, for fear it would tell me the ugly truth.


So I closed my eyes.


Stood there for a second.


Waited for the dreaded number.


So I looked at the last two numbers.

**I always just look at the last two number, because I know what the first one is.

And looked at them again.


I really didn't think I had gained that much weight.


I didn't have my contacts in, so I had to squat down to see if that number was correct.


And it was. Matt had changed the scale to kilograms.


So then I didn't feel so bad, because I didn't really know what that number meant. All I knew was that was way smaller than what I was used to seeing. I might keep my scale on kilograms. We'll see.


Or invest in one of these....

march is over....

but March Madness is not.  

Matt's bracket is done....

but mine is not!!!

Look's like I win, whether my teams win or not!!