Surfing instead of Sleeping...

I should be sleeping, but here I am...past midnight...surfing the web for dessert plates of all things in the world! I never knew these suckers were so hard to find. Luckily I have two sets that I use quite frequently...but I was looking for some for someone else when I stumbled upon....THIS! It appears that someone loves polka-a-dots as much as I do! I want everything on the site....(wouldn't that make for an interesting dinner party!)....But my heart is set on this.......It's the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen! And I can only imagine how amazing my strawberry cake would look in it! Unfortunately, I don't think Matt would be so happy about me forking over $100 bucks for my polkadot obsession. =/

Madi's First Carnival

My favorite munchkin celebrates her very first birthday this month! In honor of the birthday girl...her parents gave her her very own fabulous carnival! All the kiddies had a great time...and Madison did too...as soon as she spotted her cake! (Takes after Momma after all!)

the scariest clown EVER!

It's official...

Well, Saturday was the big wedding...Merly and Shines are officially Mr. and Mrs. Mathew. I've been helping them plan their wedding for the past six months...and now that it's over I really have no idea what to do with my free time!! Below are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure....Hopefully there will be more to come soon!

their vows...

Goodbye MJ...

I'm listening to MJ tunes as I type. The local radio station is doing an all day tribute. I don't mind. He's probably one of the very few artists out there that I could actually listen to all day with out tiring of it. It's hard to believe he's actually gone since images of him have been plastered all over the media for the past two weeks. I've set the DVR to record his memorial this afternoon...maybe that will bring some reality to it.

I can't say he was my hero...nor did I ever call him Wacko-Jacko. I love his music. It's a part of the soundtrack of my good ol days....There's just something about his music...it makes you want to dance....even when you don't know how! ;) I vividly remember when my cousin got the Thriller album...and we listened to it all summer long...as the boys attempted to learn how to moon walk. I tried to pick my favorite song the other day...but I just couldn't narrow it down. Finally, I came up with the top five....

1. Smooth Criminal
2. Rock With You
3. Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
4. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin
5. PYT

Since I moved back to Oklahoma, I've been tryinging to dabble more into event planning. Merly and Shines have allowed me to be their trusty little assistant in planning their upcoming wedding. I can't believe that after months of preparation these two will be getting married in just a few short weeks! I'm not quite so sure how I'm going to cope after it's all over. I'll have to figure out a new way to occupy my free time!

Here's a pic of me and Shirley with Merly...at her shower!

Something HUGE happened in the Thomas household this weekend. Not only did we FINALLY get our cable hooked up, but we got DVR. It's miraculous, I know. We're not ones that keep up with modern technology. I still have an I-pod the size of a stick of gum, with no screen...and apparently Moses called and wants his cell phone back. =/ So to have DVR at our house is big...colossal. So far, I find it simply amazing...now if only I had a couch to lay on...life might be pretty close to perfect.

In other news..People who hang out with Matt seem to be dropping like flies. He has this new fixation with walking around Lake Hefner...which is a 10 mile walk, mind you. I have yet to make it around the entire thing on foot, however we usually put in 2-6 miles on any given night. On one of these nights I tried to run for 3 minutes and walk for 5...and managed to mess up my knee pretty bad. That combined with the fact that I continuously walked at the lake ignoring my knee pain has only made the problem worse. Matt's next victim is our buddy Shines. Poor kid agreed to go walking with Matt one night...and they walked the entire ten miles...which completely messed up his foot. He called me from the hospital this morning...waiting to get an x-ray done. Considering I'm helping him and his bride-to-be with their wedding in just about 5 more weeks...I'm hoping he has a speedy recovery...and I don't think I'll be allowing him and Matt to play anymore until AFTER the wedding's over.

Lastly, I have a confession to make...I know I said I will no longer be watching the Bachelorette...but I blatently lied. I can't wait to go home and DVR it...and watch it with no interruptions!! I'm sure I'll be ranting and raving about it tomorrow...Until then!

I'm sorely disappointed with the summer line up on TV these days. The one show I was committed to watching this summer was the Bachelorette. Who can resist watching a lil' summer love? Uh, I could have...but somehow, I always get sucked into watching the show. And typically it's my BF who is holding the vacuum!! I have to admit, it's one of the ways we bond...having "post show" conversations about people we don't know, yet know what's best for their lives. But last night's episode killed it. I refuse to watch the rest of this train wreck of a season! Good luck to you, Jillian...you're on your own...I will no longer be sending you telepathic messages on who to pick...you don't listen anyway!!

So, since summer TV blows, I've started doing a little summer reading. I've had two friends rant and rave about the "Twilight" series this past week. I was hesitant because I'm not really into vampires or teen romance. But my friends insisted that I would not regret purchasing the book. So now, I'm about 100 pages into it...and I can't say I'm to the point of obsession yet. But there's still 400 some odd pages to go, so I'm not giving up hope just yet.
Well that's my rant for today...until next time!

Happy Birthday, Matt...

Before I begin with my birthday shoutout...a picture of Moussey...snuggling with her baby, Dronkey (a stuffy from the movie Shrek). She loves Dronkey! Happy Birthday, Matt.
I woke up early this morning to bake the ol' man a birthday cake...his choice of flavor...chocolate chip with chocolate icing. Since I have this "thing" with can icing...I made my own chocolate frosting. I'm not sure how chocolatey it tastes, but it sure is sweet and pretty yummy.
When I left Matt this morning he was a bit cranky-pants-ish...he's feeling a bit under the weather today. I'm hoping he feels better by this evening...because I sure do have my heart set on taking him out for a birthday dinner at this new Mexican restaurant near the lake.
I figure I've burned enough calories this week walking past the place on our 6 mile stroll...that we deserve a little cheesy, spicy reprieve today. A Margerita isn't sounding half bad either with week I've had.
Until next time, have a great weekend!

Elizabeth and Robin...

This past weekend was Liz and Robin's wedding in Houston. Liz was a gorgeous bride...and they make a lovely couple...see for yourself!

Us with them... vows...
Me and CCL and Lola

us with the Beenz

the ever growing Aaron

my mom wouldn't scoot up!!

they didn't mean to match...

the shepherds

me and my sister with our dad's only brother, our apachen...

cousin Abe

Granny with the grandkids...who are now taller than her!

the bride and groom...and the parents of the bride

us with our cousin, the mother of the bride...

My how time flies...

I realized it is now June 4th, and the one person who still reads this blog (I love you, Staic!) not only went to India and came back two weeks later to find that I haven't blogged...but also assumes I still don't have a place to live. The truth is...I found a place just 8 days after I whined about it in my last post...Getting settled has been harder than I thought. Moving out of a 3 bedroom home into a 1 bedroom apartment has been far from fun. Everything I own is still basically packed and jammed into a storage closet. And...I've had to get used to apartment life...which means, strange noises and strange neighbors.

My neighbors really shouldn't have to pay rent...because they spend 98% of their time sitting out on the stoop...shootin the shiznit and sippin' on crown and coke all the live long day....and night. Funnily enough, when I toured this apartment, they were nowhere in sight. But since we moved in, they've CONSTANTLY been out on the front stoop. Now, if shootin' the shiznit and sippin' on crown and coke was a quiet activity...I wouldn't mind so much. But, when I walk upstairs to the apartment...I'm literally in the middle of marital disputes...and not my own. The girl on the 3rd floor is yellin' at her baby daddy who is sittin on the 2nd floor stoop about his "finding another b*tch cuz she ain't putting up with his shiz anymore!" Talk about baby mama drama.

I've sat inside my apartment and shook my fist at them (I'm so tough when I know noone can see me)...swearing that I'd file a noise complaint to the apartment manager. Matt always tells me to chill...he finds it all entertaining...and I have to admit, I guess it is...since I haven't yet hooked up satellite...I've been missing out on my daily dosage of reality TV....and now I'm actually living it!

Well, it's late...and the last door has slammed. All seems quiet outside, so maybe I can go catch some z's. Until next time...(and there's no telling when that could be)...I bid you peace!

the search continues...

For weeks, I've been searching a new place to call home. Although we both definitely want to buy a house this year because of Mr. Obama's wonderful tax credit for first time home buyers...we're not ready to take that plunge just yet. There are so many homes for sale, but I haven't found one yet that I have felt 100% about. So, we thought it best to rent for a bit until the right house comes along. I didn't think this would be that difficult...I certainly didn't have a hard time the first time around when I moved into the apartment and then later, when I upgraded a bit to the townhouse.

But now? It's a differently ball game. Suddenly no apartment in the city wants a big dog in their complex. How rude! I've run into road block after road block. Rental homes are pretty much the same way...the only ones who do seem to take dogs are the ones that oddly enough...want your social security # and personal information before you see the house!!!

It's been frustrating to say the least. Time is definitely ticking...in a matter of days, a truck full of my belongings will be pulling up...and yet, i have no where for it to pull up to!! Keep your fingers crossed that I find something soon.

Cuteness...and lots of it.

Staic...I haven't been ignoring you. I received your plea for a new post...I know you're simply dying to know what's going on here in OKC, but I haven't been up to anything interesting lately...so I thought I'd wait to post until something blogworthy came up...and yesterday, it did!

I went to visit my girls...both sets...BF (who was in town for a visit) and Nancy and their little preciouses...Tessa and Maddi.

I've officially dubbed Tessa with a new nickname..."Cabbage"...because she's such a little cabbage patch doll...and though her mom claims she can be a handful...she spent the entire night silently sitting, cooing, and smiling like the little doll she is.

"Cabbage" must have recognized me because she was all smiles and ready to be friends.
But, Maddi wasn't so sure she wanted to be friends with any of the new faces...or the slightly recognizable one
So, Maddi checked out Tessa...
And Tessa checked out Maddi

And then Cabbage and Munchie checked out each other

And decided they were going to be BFF's

And they decided to befriend Shirley Aunty too...

And eventually, I warmed my way into Maddi's heart...

And she decided that even though I left her to come back to OKC, she'd still be my little munchie....

I couldn't post other people's cute kids...without posting my own...

Moussey and her toy ducky

Moussey and her best bud, Andrew

An oldie...

I thought I'd do a re-post today. This is a story I wrote back in 2006, but can still relate to today...and figured maybe some of you could as well.

She leaned over the edge of the platform to see if a train was in sight. Oddly enough, no one else was around except for the transient seeking a warm corner for his weary body. She passed by him just as he stumbled to the ground, leaving the stench of stale flesh in the air.

She couldn’t quite explain what was rising from her chest and settling in her throat. It was as if she had been punched in the gut and the fist was still in position, thwarting her breath. It made her want to cry out. But she feared what people would think of her despite the fact that no one was there to hear.

Suddenly she heard the sound of an approaching train. A sense of relief washed over her, returning the color to her cheeks. With the train now in sight she stepped closer to the edge of the platform again. The train was now close enough to touch and she began to feel at ease.The cars were a blur as they hummed and clattered past her, but there was something recognizable about the shadows within them.

She caught glimpses of images and felt something oddly familiar about them. Were the passengers people she knew? Before she could truly be certain, they disappeared into the haze. The train did not seem to be slowing down. Instead, it picked up momentum and was now simply rolling swiftly past her. She wanted to reach out her hand and stop it, but she knew her strength was not a force this strong.

Her mind began to move quickly as she yearned to join the others on the train. Perhaps she would run as fast as she could and take a leap of faith as she hurled her body toward the train. Her fear held her back from this plan. She then wondered if she should climb back up the subway stairs and find her way through the city barefoot. The dirt would stain the soles of her feet, and she would never find her way.Overcome by frustration, she rested against a concrete pillar, which she sought for strength. She pulled her knees to her chest as a tear streamed down her cheek. Wiping the tear, she felt something foreign under her finger tips. She rifled through her purse quickly and found a compact. She opened it hesitantly and with fear in her eyes, she stared at the image looking back at her.

She barely recognized her own face with wrinkled skin and graying hair. What seemed like a short time became infinity as she waited for that train to stop and let her on board. Minutes were really hours, hours were years, and years were decades. And she realized she had spent her life on the platform of the subway station…thinking, planning, waiting, hoping…but not living.

The search for the perfect jeans....

I hate buying jeans. And, I'm sure many women out there will echo that sentiment. But, lately I've had to come to grips with the fact that it's time for a new pair. I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I've lost enough to make my current pairs of jeans way too big. Even when I wear a belt, I find myself pulling them up every five seconds...and it's most annoying. Not to mention, my old jeans aren't hip. They're not that dark-wash that for some reason makes you look more polished and put together.

So for the past few weeks, I've been keeping my eyes peeled for the perfect pair of jeans. I'm definitely not someone who will spend over $100 for the perfect fitting jean....actually I wouldn't even spend over $25. (Since I'm currently in cheap skate mode due to the plummeting economy...I find myself being majorly concerned with cost.) I don't even like jeans that much...they're hot and confining...I'd wear a skirt instead of jeans any day of the week. But, EVERY girl needs at least one good pair of jeans.

That being said...cost is definitely not my major issue with jeans. I have several...the first being LENGTH. It is so hard for me to find pants that are short enough for me. Even petites are often too long. I always knew I was a shrimp...but when i shop for pants, I feel like a dwarf! I refuse to wear 4 inch heels with my jeans. Sometimes u just want to throw on a pair of jeans and some sneakers....is that too much to ask for?? CCL suggested I buy capris and wear them as regular jeans. She's evil.

But length is not my only problem...In fact there's one that's much worse. Most jeans are made curvy. They give a girl room for hips, butt, and thigh. And I'm sure most girls appreciate that. But there are some of us who have no hips, no butt, and no thighs! Yes, the lucky few that are just all gut and cheeks...and unfortunately, I don't mean butt cheeks. There's nothing more frustrating to me than to try on a pair of jeans and have them fit my waist and length perfectly...only to see a flap of cloth on either side of me...the dumb flap that my hips, butt, and thighs should fill. But these days, I have no choice buy to buy curvy jeans and pants and deal with the flaps by wearing long shirts that cover that area...mostly long sweaters...long black sweaters, to be exact!!

So, if anyone knows where I can buy jeans...on a budget...for petite, curvy girls with curves in the WRONG places...holler.

It's a good thing...

For those of you who are sweet like me...too sweet to eat sugar, that is...Peter Pan has a new sugar free peanut butter with Splenda. It's divine...perfection on an apple for an afternoon snack. Lately I've been eating it for a guilt-free breakfast of peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich too. I'm telling ya...I'm in lowe!