TOMS by Hom

At work we were talking about TOMS and came across this website. Apparently this dude, Hom, charges like $80.00 to paint your TOM shoes for you. I could hand ME some paint brushes and let her go to town. But I did think this was pretty cool.

Here's the actual website: http://bryanthomart.yolasite.com/toms-by-hom.php

Early Birthday Present?????

Tom's are coming out with Ballet Flats....get excited. Anyone want to buy me an early birthday present????

Random Monday Thoughts...

Ohhhh Butter

Buttercup has been one of the best dogs. She may not look like a regular cocker spaniel, but to me she's the cutest thing in the world. Most cockers’ spaniels are not good with children, but she is wonderful with the girls. I have always wanted a dog that will sleep with me and of course, she sleeps right in between Ben and I. She loves going everywhere and anywhere with me. Now that the girls are around, she doesn't get all the attention, but we do have our alone time everyday. Every since Butter was a puppy, she has run with me. Most people think I'm crazy when I show up to run with a cocker spaniel. She has gone as far as 20 miles, and could probably make it even further. She just loves it!!! On the mornings that I don't take her with me, if we are doing speed work or it's too hot, we have to have a talk about it and even then she pouts. She does make for a great running partner though, she doesn't talk back, she just runs and listens, and then of course looks at me like I'm crazy. I don't know what I would do without her though, we have been through a lot together and she's only 4, well almost 5. Here are some pictures, kindof old, but some of my favorite.

"All by my by self"

"All by my by self" is what Mary Elizabeth says when she wants to do something "all by herself". Grayson really is already starting to become more and more independent. She refused to let me help her the other night when she was eating dinner...and this is what happened. Also in ME words, "she made a mess".

I can't wait...

On February 7, the old Disney movie Lady and the Tramp is being released. This is one of my all time FAVORITE movies. I can't wait for the girls and Buttercup to watch it. This movie is one of the main reasons why I have a cocker spaniel!

Things I Couldn't Live Without

*These are in no particular order...

• music
• diet coke
• concerts
• crystal light
• reality tv
• seasonal candy
• God
• running shoes
• my running buddy (Buttercup)
• pictures
• cowboy boots
• my 4Runner
• the fabulous ladies at daycare that take care of the girls at school
• peanut butter
• my watch
• mascara

Most of all...family and friends!

Next Supper Club

A group of my best friends get together for supper club every other week. My turn is next...so I need help deciding what to make. Ben, yes a guy, asked for Southern Living magazine for Christmas, which is good for me beacuse that's where I got all of these ideas.


Option 1: Cheddar Cheese Soup

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 extra-large chicken bouillon cube
• 2 cups milk
• 1 (8-oz.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Option 2: Baked Potato Soup

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 extra-large chicken bouillon cube
• 1 (24-oz.) package frozen steam-and-mash potatoes
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• Toppings: cooked and crumbled bacon, shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, sliced green onions

Option 3: Taco Soup

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 (16-oz.) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (16-oz.) package frozen cut green beans
• 1 (15-oz.) can ranch beans, undrained
• 1 (14.5-oz.) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 (14.5-oz.) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (12-oz.) package frozen whole kernel corn
• 1 (12-oz.) bottle beer*
• 1 (1-oz.) envelope taco seasoning mix
• 1 (1-oz.) envelope Ranch dressing mix
• Toppings: corn chips, shredded Cheddar cheese

Its 5 o'clock somewhere

Over the years this phase “Its 5 o’clock somewhere” has changed. Back when I was teaching it meant waiting for Ben to come home and when he got home we would hang out, take the dogs for a walk, go bike riding or running together, and Thursday’s we would go to San Jose for happy hour and dinner. Most of my friends and family still have this mind set, but for me it’s a whole other story.

My first 5 o’clock appearance happens bright and early in the morning. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I met a group to run at 5:30. My alarm goes off at 5:00 AM to give me some time to get ready. Buttercup and I try to make it out the door by 5:15 AM. Then on Tuesday and some Thursday’s, I get up at 5:00 AM and Buttercup and I run a 7-9 mile loop around the neighborhood. Lately on Thursday I have given myself and Butter the day off.

My second 5 o’clock appearance happens at 5 PM, when we get off work. Ben and I ride to work together so we met whoever drove for the day and head to daycare to pick the girls up. It’s great to be off work and be able to spend time with the girls, but that also means we don’t get any down time.  We walk into the house and immediately the girls need us. Since I get up in the mornings, Ben gets the afternoon to exercise if he wants to. But, when we get home, we can’t just relax and hang out like most of my friends and family. When Ben is gone, I normally try to get changed into my lazy clothes, give the girls their  6:00 bottle or cup, give them baths (every other night), feed them dinner, get them ready for bed, and then about 7:15 Grayson goes to sleep. If Ben doesn’t go anywhere, he of course helps out. Mary Elizabeth stays up until about 7:45, and then we read her some books and put her to bed. She has to go through her normal bedtime routine, which is a whole other blog post. Of course during all of this we are trying to cook dinner, wash clothes, dishes, etc. Finally around 8:15ish we get to eat dinner and just relax.

I know I can’t complain about being a mom, but sometimes I would love to just come home and sit for two seconds. I know Ben and I are at a completely different point in our life then our friends and family, but it’s just hard to listen to what everyone else gets to do when we are sitting at home. But, I love the girls more than anything though and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Little Miss Magic

When I was running yesterday I heard this song on Pandora and I just love it. The girls are going to be dancing to this song at their weddings one day...they just don't know it yet!!!

Raw Cookie Dough

Would you rather have this...

 Or this....be honest!!!

Since I was little, I have always eaten raw cookie dough. My friends and I would all get together for sleepovers and just eat a whole thing of cookie dough. Of course we had every intension of cooking them, but never did….and we all turned out just fine.

Anytime I have had a bad day or something I go to the store and buy cookie dough. I had one of those days not too long ago, bought cookie dough, and then Ben and I picked at it most of that night. Then the next morning Ben sends me this article. Course!!

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/162731/2/Researchers-Warn-Against-Eating-Raw-Cookie-Dough

Will that stop me.....HECK NO!!!! I just had some raw cookie dough for lunch today!!!

Best Video Ever!!!

We got a new laptop this past week and Ben finally downloaded his pictures and videos from his phone. This is by far the BEST!!! This is probably when Grayson was about 6 months old, because it was hot outside. You have the watch how the sprinkler gets her and how she reponds to Ben talking to her!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flyj1fmb6EQ&feature=context&context=G2a9ca51AUAAAAAAAAAA

Ben's Birthday

Wednesday January 11, Ben turned 33. I went running wednesday morning, but I made sure to stop by Bojangles and get him a coffee. I went into our bedroom and woke up him, course the response I get is...how early is it? (when really it was after 7). We got ready and got the girls ready, and since Ben is like a little kid he had to open his presents right away. ME and Grayson brought all of his presents to him and we watched him open all of them. We got him one of those table top heaters to put outside on the porch, some bike clothes, and other odds and ins.

At lunch, we went swimming and Ben swam 33 laps in honor of his birthday. Good thing we went swimming, for dinner Ben wanted to go to San Jose for a big beer and tacos! Some of our friends met us there and we had a great time.

This weekend we are going to North Augusta to celebrate his birthday with his parents. We don't really have any real plans except we are going bike riding Saturday morning with the group. For Ben's birthday dinner we are going to have steaks, mmmmm. Sunday morning we are going to run the Augusta Half Marathon course, wish us luck, it's suppose to be SUPER hilly. We will spend the rest of the time playing with the girls and hanging out with our family and friends in North Augusta.

Best part about the weekend....WE ARE OFF MONDAY!!!

Up on the Roof

Every time I hear this song I am mixed with so many different emotions. Growing up my brothers and I have always been around beach music. My parents have their friends come over almost every Saturday night for Steak night, and they will put on beach music. I guess growing up in the South, most families do this. Luckily, I actually love beach music, especially this song.

My first real memory of this song was from Cotillion, yes Cotillion. In middle school my parents forced me to go to cotillion, along with all the other parents in my grade. Those days I hated more than anything to get dressed up and do anything with my hair. My idea of clothing were umbro shorts and a t-shirt and my hair in a ponytail, well that wouldn't fly at cotillion. Anyways, this song was the song my boyfriend at the time had to lead the whole group at cotillion. What does that mean? Well each time we had cotillion a couple would have to lead the whole in front of our teachers so that they could tell us what we were doing wrong. We had to line up and walk around the whole room where it was held...that was the longest 3 minutes ever.

Another memory was my dad, who died a few years ago,  he would always have this song playing. Well he would really play all kind of beach music, but I think this was one of his favorite's to.

My favorite memory of this song was from our wedding reception. We had a beach music band come and play at our wedding, and of course they played this song. It always makes me smile and think about all my family and friends dancing with their loved ones to this song. Also, my other friends that have gotten married have used this song.

Lately when I hear this song, it makes me think about how sometimes I just want to get away. When I come home from work and have to right away take care of the girls and hardly have time to change into my lounge around clothes. I think about these lyrics...

When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet (up on the roof)
I get away from the hustling crowd
And all that rat-race noise down in the street (up on the roof)
On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let's go up on the roof (up on the roof)

Grayson's First Birthday

Grayson had her first birthday this past weekend. It's just a happy and sad time for us. We know that she's growing up, but that there are some many more things to look forward to. We want to thank our family and friends for coming and helping us celebrate.

 I decided to do a theme this year, and the theme was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I tried to use my creative side and got several ideas from Pinterest (which I love by the way). Below is the wreath that I made and the party favors. I couldn't get a good picture of the cake, but Grayson's smash cake was the head of the caterpillar and the body were the cupcakes for everyone else. The invitations I made were super cute to, but course I didn't get a picture of it either.

Anyways, here are some pictures of the birthday girl!!! My mom got her the super cute jumper that she has on. She got her the bow as well and it somehow made it through most of the party!

Pet Peeves

Everyone has there pet peeves. Here are a few of mine...

1. Bad Drivers- I'm not the perfect driver, but I use my blinkers and normally go around the speed limit. I don't text anymore and try to make very little phone calls while I'm in the car. It drives me crazy when people, mostly older people drive TO slow and those that are so lazy they don't use their turn signals (that's what they are for)!!!!!

2. Elevators- When people try to get on the elevator before you have gotten off! It's called being PATIENT!

3. Northerners trying to talk and act like Southerners. If you are going to come down here from the North, don't try to talk like us, it just doesn't sound right. There are many Southern traditions and I feel like if you marry into a Southern family then you should go by those traditions...especially when it comes to thank you cards. I don't know what it is...why don't Northerners believe in thank you cards???

4. Smoking...

5. When people say they are going to do something and then they don't do it.

6. High beams...for those people who DO NOT exercise outside. When you cut your high beam lights on runners/walkers can't see at ALL.