The Time I Hung Out with Mike Wolfe

Full Disclosure: We didn't "hang out" as much as I just took a picture with him, but that's really not important.

This weekend, Greg and I went to the last Titans game of the season. (We won!) During half time, this handsome fella kind of climbed over me (you know how tight those stadium seats are) to get to his seat. After he sat down a couple people away from us I kept staring him down because he looked SO familiar. Then I realized, it was Mike Wolfe from American Pickers!

If you know me at all, you know I love stalking asking famous people for pictures if I happen to see them, so I was pretty pumped/nervous. I had to be kind of cool about it because if I made a fool of myself, I'd have to continue sitting two people away from him feeling stupid.

So, I made my move as we were leaving. Completely safe way to go. As I walked by, I tapped him on the shoulder and asked for a picture. He graciously said yes and even wished me a happy new year. How sweet is that?! Mike wanted to make sure I had a happy new year!

At that point, I thought/hoped he would ask me to make appearances on the show, but he didn't. Weird.

After we left, I so wished I had told him how I used to watch the show with my Nana, who passed away in April. She loved watching him and Frank, and I loved watching it with her. Every single time, I would get my feelings hurt for some random collector who wanted more for their stuff than Mike would give, and every single time she would laugh and say, "That was just their business. Those people are still getting to sell their stuff!" Nana would be so proud if she knew I hung out with Mike today!

P.S. He is super, super handsome in person. Even cuter than on the show!

My Ode to Girl Comics

I have no idea what inspired me to write this, but let's just go with it. It might be because a week or so ago, Mindy Kaling (my hero) favorited a tweet of mine on Twitter. I talked about that for like two days straight. Y'all, that means Mindy and I are basically best friends. I could probably start calling her Min or Minsies if I wanted to. No, not Minsies. That's weird and gross.

Anyway. I love girl comediennes. Not super gross stand-up comics, but smart, witty, talented, HILARIOUS comics like Min, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph. Don't get me wrong, boy bands and hot athletes have a special place in my heart, but those ladies are top on my list.

First of all, they're so funny. I'm kind of like Buddy the Elf, smiling and laughing are my favorites. Second of all, they're brilliant. I like to think I'm hilarious and ridiculously smart, and while I have no idea if those things are actually true, in my mind they are. And it's my mind, so I can think what I want. BUT if those things were actually true, then it's totally stands to reason that I could be in some type of awesome girl club with Min, Maya, Amy and Tina. Right? You're probably nodding your head in agreement because it's really obvious.

I don't know if Amy Pohler or Maya Rudolph have written books (I could probably Google that...lazy), but I know Tina and Mindy have. I've read them, and, in the words of world-renowned X Factor judge Britney Spears, "They're amazing." I kid you not, I laughed OUT LOUD reading those books. Now that I think about it, I'm like 98% sure that Amy Poehler wrote the book about Pawnee, so she's on my author list, too. While I have no desire to write, I dream of becoming a book editor some day. I have no Earthly idea how one actually becomes an editor, but I figure I have plenty of time to figure that out. Anywho, if I did became a fabulous editor, then I'd probably become chummy with famous authors (i.e., Mindy and Tina)...you see where I'm going with this? Just another reason why I should be in their BFF club.

Also, I'd be crazy if I left out another reason why I love my top favorite Mindy. We're both round-ish, and who doesn't love a round-ish girl? She has owned it and rocked it much better than me, so she probably deserves the fame more. She's earned it!

There are many others I could add to this list like Ellen Degeneres, Kristen Wigg and Roseanne Barr (Ha! Just kidding. Making sure you were paying attention!), but I'll leave it to those fabulous ladies and call it a day. I have groceries to put away.

Love This Precious Messy-Haired Boy

I will do a Christmas wrap-up soon, but I just couldn't resist posting this sweet picture!

Fudgy Brownie Cookies

DELICIOUS. Probably the best cookies I've ever tasted, and without a doubt the best cookies I've ever baked all on my own.

I originally got this recipe here, but I made some minor tweaks, and that recipe is below. The pictures really don't do them justice.

Ingredients

• 1 package fudge brownie mix (18 to 21 oz. box)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup of butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons water (additional tablespoon if mixture is too thick)
• 1 cup of chocolate chunks (milk chocolate or dark chocolate)

Whisk together brownie mix, flour and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after adding each one. Then add butter and water. Although the mixture is meant to be thick, if it's too thick/dry, add one more tablespoon of water. Fold in chocolate chunks. Cover and cool batter for at least two hours.

After the two hours have passed, preheat over to 350 degrees. Drop heaping spoonfuls of mixture on a greased cookie sheet, gently pressing down the top of each cookie. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Allow to cool for two minutes on pan, then place on cookie sheet to cool completely.

 

Future Model...Obviously

Who me? I'm just being adorable.

Playing in my sister's room. Being awesome.

The bad boy.

All-American boy.

Merry Christmas!

Busy Day With My Girl!

This morning, Macey was all dressed up for her first-ever Christmas program at school, and both kids were actually excited about an impromptu photo shoot around the tree. Easton was going to his babysitter's house like a normal Monday, so that's why he's in play clothes. After I saw how great these pictures turned out, I was really regretting the fact that he isn't dressed cuter!
Oh well, I guess it's when you try to make everything too perfect that it all falls apart. The unplanned moments are often the best!

Precious!

Macey walking out with her class at the program!

Singing, singing, singing!

We went to Chick-fil-A with Lizzie, Aunt Sam, Granna and Grandma after the program!

This afternoon, Macey and I painted Christmas ornaments.

A day like today just takes a lot out of a girl...and dog!

Zoo! Ice Skating!

After church last Sunday, we headed straight to the zoo! It turned out to be the most PERFECT day ever. The weather was beautiful, and oddly enough, hardly anyone was there. We were shocked, but it felt like we had the zoo to ourselves! The greatest part of the day was probably watching Macey and Greg ice skate.

As expected, once Macey got some confidence, she turned into daredevil mode! She wanted to do it all by her "big self," as she puts it.

This little monkey kept running up to "talk" to the kids.

Let's go skate!

Easton just hung out on the sidelines with Pop!

Woohoo!

Thanks, Easton. :-)

Notice Easton over on the left, hahaha.

#GivingTuesday

Today, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, I'm encouraging you to honor all the things you're thankful for by giving back!

I would love it if you celebrated #givingtuesday by donation to the National Foundation for Transplants. Any gift--big or small-can truly make a difference in the life of a transplant patient.

I have worked at NFT for a little more than four years now, and every day I learn about a new transplant patient in need. It's heartbreaking to see so many facing terrible, life-threatening illnesses, but it's also heartwarming to see people come together and raise funds for a friend or family member in need.

YUM--Creamy Crockpot Italian Chicken

Yum, yum, yum!

So, I made this for dinner:

Can you see the steam? Piping hot yumminess!

I came across this recipe on The Girl Who Ate Everything's awesome website, and I was so excited to try it out. Oh her site, she said that everyone probably has this recipe, but it was new to me! Not only is it delicious, but it's super easy. Plus it kind of looks fancy, and who doesn't love fancy?

Ingredients

• 4 thawed chicken breasts 
• 1 packet of Zesty Italian Dressing dry mix (Didn't even know this existed. Seriously.)
• 1 package (8 oz.) of cream cheese
• 1-2 cans of condensed cream of chicken soup (I made my own; recipe below.)

Put the chicken in the crock pot and sprinkle the Italian dressing mix on top. Combine the cream cheese and cream of chicken soup on low heat, then pour over chicken. Cook on low for at least 4 hours in the crock pot and voila! I let mine cook all day, and the chicken was so tender it just tore apart, which made it even easier to serve and eat. Serve the deliciousness over pasta. My personal favorite is whole grain angel hair pasta, but to each his own!

Now, about the condensed cream of chicken soup. I'm probably one of the pickiest grown ups you'll ever meet. I can't help it, but some things just don't taste good. Like olives for example. People who like those are lying. Anyway, I digress.

You know how when you buy cans of condensed cream of chicken soup it has those chunks of chicken in them? They always gross me out a little. Luckily, my friend at work (and her husband) are equally picky, so we share recipes and tips all the time! She told me they started making their cream of chicken soup from scratch for the same reason. I searched and Googled various versions, then came up with my own based on the different concoctions.

Ingredients for Cream of Chicken Soup

• 1 can (14.5 oz.) of chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• A dash of paprika (No clue what a dash is. Good luck with that.)
• 1 and 1/2 cup of milk
• 3/4 cup of flour

In saucepan, bring broth and 1/2 cup of milk to a boil, then add in the seasonings. Stir and let them boil for a couple minutes. 

In a bowl, whisk together remaining milk and flour until it gets "gloopy" and thick. Pour that mixture into the saucepan and whisk away until it reaches the consistency you prefer!

Enjoy!

She is Her Father's Daughter...

Last night Macey was in her room, and we hear this, "Mommy, come here! I want you to smell something. It's gross."

She is her father's daughter because he can't taste something nasty or smell something disgusting without wanting SOMEONE to do it, too.

Not exactly sure what she wanted me to smell, but I'm positive I didn't want to smell it...

Book Review: Love Finds You at Home for Christmas

While on a weekend road trip last month, I read Love Finds You at Home for Christmas--a two-part book series full of Christmas warmth and goodness.

If the fact that I started and finished the book while on a road trip with my two young kids tells you anything, I really liked it!

Sweet Southern Christmas by Annalisa Daughety, the first book in the series, tells a Christmas tale of years gone by. This story takes place in a small Arkansas town during World War II. Daughety truly painted the perfect picture Ruby, of a small town farm girl who wanted nothing more than to do her part for her country during a tumultuous time. And, like any good Southern girl, she accidentally finds a Prince Charming at the same time.

Ruby is dead set on doing anything BUT finding love, and it's exciting to watch a friendship blossom between her and Cliff, who by all accounts seems like the epitome of perfection to every other girl he meets. (Even I--a human--had a little crush on Cliff--the book character.) But Ruby was determined to make her own way, she'd been in love before and it cost her.

It was interesting how Daughety was able to weave in interesting tidbits of history while telling this heartwarming story of two friends who just might want to be something more. There were moments where I felt as if I was going to work in the Arkansas Ordinance Plant doing my part to help the boys fighting overseas. I wanted to be there and see it with my own eyes.

To make the story even sweeter, Daughety fits together pieces of Ruby and Cliff's love story by taking cues from her own grandparents, who met in Arkansas during World War II and lived happily ever after.

In Small Town Christmas by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry, we have a modern tale for the ages. Girl meets fledgling rock star and falls in love, leaving behind her nerdy best friend (who happens to be a boy who is completely in love with said girl), gets married, gets cheated on and comes back home to her hometown as a divorcee.

Somewhere over the years of being married to a musician, Sophie lost her way. When she comes back to the small town where she grew up, things are different. Her father has passed away, and Sophie simply doesn't know where to start until she begins a new venture opening a restaurant.

Over the years, Jon, the former nerdy best friend, has made a name for himself as an author. Despite the accolades, fame is not his motive, and he prefers to stay out of the limelight. When Jon and Sophie reconnect, they find familiarity, comfort and friendship in spite of the years spent apart.

Jon is easy to root for because, really, who doesn't love the nerd? It's nice to find Sophie take charge of a terrible situation and tackle things by creating a fresh start rather than running way.

Faulkenberry's characters are likeable and timeless--just about any girl can relate to falling for the bad boy and getting a rude awakening when it's all said and done.

Overall, this series really flowed well together and had an interesting twist to connect the two worlds.

Funny Words (Update)

In this post a while back I wrote about funny words the kids say, and I can't believe I forgot two of my favorites!

Macey almost always uses a D for an F, which means she says "dingers" instead of "fingers." It's adorable. Seriously, say it out loud as in, "Mommy, will you paint my dingers." I bet you're laughing a little.

She also says "a libble dit" instead of "a little bit." She says her Ts and Bs just fine, but that phrase always trips her up for some reason. It's even funnier because I think she can tell she's saying it wrong, but she can't quite figure out how to get it out right. I love it every single time!

Trick-or-Treat

(I know this is late.)

Trick-or-treat! Halloween was a blast this year! This is the year that Macey really understood that she could just walk up to doors and get candy, candy and more candy. And it was awesome. We had some friends over for snacks, then we all headed out around the neighborhood.

I don't know about your trick or treating group, but we had the cutest cowgirl, pirate, Captain America, bumblebee and rock star I've ever seen!

Granna and her favorite little pirate!

Our awesome group! Isn't Kristi the best Little Red Riding Hood?!

Macey girl got her face painted at school for their Halloween party!

Pictures

Today I had lunch with my mom, aunt and cousin, who lives out of town. She politely reminded me that my blog needed updating (Hi Joanna!) :-)

Here are some pictures from the first Memphis Tigers game of the season. It was an exhibition game, so it was the perfect time to bring the kiddos and see how they might fare at games this season. Overall, they did great and had a blast! However, they probably won't be tagging along to big games because after the first half, they were over it. Even though we didn't make it through the entire game, it was fun to catch up with all our buddies who have season tickets near us!

Macey took this! I was impressed.

Chatting with her buddy Avery.

Popcorn makes Macey happy, happy, happy!

Funny Words

Long before she became the mature, wise 3-year-old that she is now, Macey used to say "watey" instead of water. It was the cutest thing ever, and Greg and I were both a little sad the first time she correctly said water.

I'm sure there were other words that she said funny, and now that Easton is starting to talk more and more, I don't want to forget some of the cute ways they pronounce things.

Here's a short list of adorableness:

• Easton calls every single dog in the entire world. "Bay-ee." One of our dogs is named Bailey, and I guess she's his favorite. Don't tell Dorsey.
• Both Easton and Macey uses Bs for Fs. At least, it seems like Easton's starting to do that, but he doesn't talk nearly as much as Macey. No one does. Easton says "beet" for "feet," and Macey said "bish, brench bries, bunny..." you get the idea. I can tell she's slowly growing out of that, and it makes me sad.
• Macey calls the water fountain the water mountain. That might be my favorite.
• Macey thinks freckles are called sprinkles. She has two "sprinkles" on her hindquarters that she's especially proud of. 
• Macey refers to basically all meat as chicken. Last night at dinner, she said, "Can I have some more salmon chicken, please." 
• Recently I asked Macey if she knew where her brain was. She looked at me like I was nuts and pointed to her head. I thought she was a genius who just inherently knew the inner workings of her body, then I realized she thought I said braid. Not really a funny word, but funny nonetheless.

I'm positive I'll think of more later, and I'm even more positive Greg will read this and tell me some I forgot, so there will likely be updates!

Precious Girl and Her Nana

Since my Nana went to Heaven four months ago, I often find myself thinking or quietly saying, "Nana would love to see that," or "Nana would love this story," and most often it's about something Macey and Easton are doing. Last night something happened that was so sweet and so heartbreaking at the same time, I just can't stop thinking about it.

As I was driving the kids and myself to my parents' house, Macey said something funny, and it was one of those moments when I said, "Nana would love to hear that." Macey heard me, and I saw her face light up in the mirror, and she got real excited and said, "Mommy! Nana's going to be there? Nana's going to be there?!"

I lost my breath for a second, started tearing up and had to gently remind her, "No, sweetie, Nana won't be there." As my heart was literally crumbling (I could feel it), those are the only words I could get out.

I saw her face drop, and she quietly said, "Nana's all better?" If you remember, when we told her that Nana passed away, Macey really seemed to get the fact that even though we're so sad, Nana is all better in Heaven. "Yeah, baby," I said. "Nana's all better."

Then all I could do was hide behind my sunglasses and suck up the tears as she quietly whined, "Please, mommy, let me see Nana. I want to see Nana." Thankfully, I was able to get her happy and upbeat again as we pulled in the driveway, but that was just a reminder of how Nana made such an impact on everyone she knew--even the tiniest people.

Sorry if this sweet story made you cry, but it really helps me to write things down. I get that from my Nana.

This boy...

...makes me smile.

Melt My Heart

As my Nana would say...just precious.

Interview with Macey: Year 3

I'm not sure what I'll do with all of this information yet, but I have this idea to ask the kids the same questions on their birthdays starting when they turn three. Should be interesting...if I remember to do it every year!

Favorite movie: Shrek (This cracks me up because she's watched it once, but she's watched all three Toy Story movies and How to Train Your Dragon about 152,839,048,230,270 times each.)

Favorite color: Pink

Favorite song: Family song (She makes up random songs using the words mommy, daddy, Easton, Greg, Emily, Dorsey and Bailey, so I guess that's what she meant by this answer.)

Favorite toy: Baby doll (She is her mother's daughter. I loved baby dolls!)

Favorite place: Presley's house (How sweet is that?! Presley is our awesome babysitter's daughter.)

Best friend: E-Paul (Easton)

Favorite game: Connect 4 (As far as I know, she's never played this, but she's kept a coupon from the newspaper for about two months now asking me to buy it for her.)

Favorite animal: Pig (Very surprised by this answer, but I know her Aunt Meredith will be happy!)

Favorite food: Chicken (Not at all surprised by this answer. She asks for chicken with ketchup for dinner every night.)

Favorite drink: Sprite (She gets Sprite at restaurants, and man oh man does it make this girl happy!)

That's all!

I Know, I Know...

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted anything on here. I would blame the Olympics for stealing all of my time, but because those have only been on for about a week, I can't really use that excuse, huh?

Since the last post, Macey has turned three! Along a new sassy attitude, the big three has come along with some other fun things, including registration for gymnastics and preschool! Both of those things start next week, and she couldn't be more excited.

Mr. Easton has really just spent most of his time getting cuter. That child really couldn't be any more lovable. Here are a few new pictures!

I posted this on FB on Macey's 3rd birthday...

Lately

Precious girl

Pretty much sums up life with Easton :-)