Trail Mix!!

I do love some trail mix. I have to be careful not to keep alot around because I just loose control and eat it all!!! lol

Here's a healthier version that I just made.......

Ingredients:

Popcorn

Raw Almonds

Roasted Peanuts

Marshmellows

Quaker Oatmeal Squares

Dried Cranberries

Sixlets**I really could have left these out. It's sweet enough without them.

Oh the places you'll go................ Dr.Seuss

So, pretty soon I'll be graduating with my Masters Degree!!! Did I mention how ready I am to be done?!??!!?!?.....So I find myself once again searching for my next step.......the future seems wide open at this point and I'm not sure I know what I want to do...or be.......

What do I want to be when I grow up?!?!?!?

I still don't have an answer. Why is it so hard to make decisions? I wish I had more of gypsy spirit...rather than a tree spirit....hahaha...Gypsies or hippies just seem to float from place to place without a care in the world.....their main goal is to try something new....adventure after adventure....Tree spirits....well lets just say we stick to where we are planted!!! hahaha....I think sometimes it's a safe, comfortable and secure feeling that keeps us where we're at. I think risk and change are good, but you have to be willing to get out of your comfort zone. For us trees, we have to schedule these gypsy episodes! hahaha

Sometimes I have days where I wish I was a hippy......where make up is not allowed....good hair is messy and dirty.....clothes are not allowed to match......guitars are essential.....and nature is the place to be......That just sounds so good to be in a state of natural living....but alas the popular cultural pulls me back in to reality!!!! I think I'll start making sundays hippy days!! hahaha

In a few short months I'll be open to new adventures........that being said........Should I move? And if so, where should I go?!?!?

Here are some of my thoughts:

• remote island
• Statesboro, Georgia
• Chattanooga, Tennessee
• maybe Florida?!?!
• Athens, Georgia

IF you could live anywhere....where would you live??

Things that make me say "Seriously?".....

Things that make me say "Seriously?".....

1. Needy People...well make that Lazy Needy People.....really you want me to fix your problem..learn how to do it yourself!!

2. Live Soap Operas- Let me clarify this: There are these people I know who shall remain nameless. I interact with this people on occasion. This would be their storyline....cheating...divorce....younger woman...pregnancy.....giving up for adoption....fake pregnancy-a year later the same bump.....marriage....mother has cancer....carwreck- that didn't really happen.....see mother who looks like picture perfect health...restraining orders.....Shall I continue?!??!  Stop lying!!

3. You are not getting a Reward Letter. At work students get "award" letters that tells them what financial aid they have been awarded. ughhhh! A student loan is not free money!!

4. People who think I work for them. No I will not come running to you when you are screaming my name. You will wait until i'm ready.

5. People who think they look good. Do you own a mirror?!??!

6. People who think they need to tell me their problems. No, I'm not sitting here reading a magazine waiting on the tanning bed to be ready. Sure there's an open seat for you to come talk to me about your problems.

7. Slow drivers with the handicap tags. Please drive below the speed limit. Please encourage me to discriminate against you!.

8. People who lead exciting lives...well according to facebook. We are not impressed by knowing every little thing you do. Your life sucks just as much as mine.

9. People who don't pay their bills. I guess if I don't watch my tv I don't have to pay my cable bill.

10. Extreme Couponing- Please get a real hobby. Who wants all that free crap taking up space?!?!

It's been a long time......

I really wish I could blog more.

I really wish I had more to blog about.

I really wish for a lot of things!!......It seems I've either been very busy or that life has been pretty boring these last few months. Work is stressful. I'm thinking of looking for another job. BUT then that brings the question would I want to move somewhere for a job?!? If so, then where?!?! ..ahhhhh.....but a las I sit and wait to hear from the Lord.

On another note.......

I made some yummy strawberry shortcake!! I know...it's the little things. It turned out pretty good....but of course I forgot to take a picture!!! So..here is sorta what it looked like

Recipe:  Kashi whole grain waffle....Lite Cool Whip ...and Strawberries!!!!!!! I guess it was a little over a hundred calories per "cake".

Yeah I'm back to eating healthy...or at least being more aware of what I eat....yet pizza, pasta, and mexican still haunt me!!! hahaha

Over these past few months I think my creative part in my brain has been hiding!!! I guess that's why I haven't posted a blog....aka nothing to talk about. My brain was getting full of school work!!! I can't wait until December!!! I will be finished with my Master's degree!! WOOHooo! Then I will actually have a life!! haha who am I kidding?? It just means that I have more time to BLOG!! oh yeah!lol...Maybe one day I'll get paid for my creative writing!

Well that's it for this entry!!! I'll see if I can come up with something better to write about!!!

Insert foot in mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only me!!

Various Forms of Footprints Clipart700 x 484 · 38 kB · gifetc.usf.edu

So, a woman I work with had brought in pictures of her grandkids to show me. I showed my southern belle charm as she rambled on and on about each one. Finally, we made it to the individual shots......sure I was paying attention and making nice comments.....until.........[insert brake screech].....this one particular grandaughter......she was posed just like any normal 14 year old..sitting down one leg tucked under the other and leaning to the side......I surveyed the pic.....check....acted interested...check....and well the lady says, "yeah she only has on foot"............And so my southern charm just went right and the window....and what did I do ?!?! ....LAUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....and the lady's response" No, really she was born with out a foot"...and then proceeded to explain the whole back story...this my dear was a case of insert foot and mouth.....My southern charm has usually provided me an out in many situations......However, this was not one of those.....There was no way of recovering!!!!

[insert foot in mouth]

Fashion:Frumpy layers.....Winter Fashion Intervention

I mean really...how fashionable can you look when it's cold!!!I mean I can only work so many looks with a scarf...andooooo six layers later....I really look like a fashionista...Nooooo I look ten pounds heavier! hahaha....I'm beginning to feel frumpy because it's been cold and all I do is put a sweater or a jacket over what I'm wearing!!!

And my hair....ughhh ....I'm stuck in a rut!! lol...All I want to do is clip it back!!! HELP!!! I need a fashion intervention!!!! New hair style and warmer weather so I can put the granny sweaters away!!!!! lol

I could probably do this look!

WHAT THE ?!?!?!

Please submit all new hair styles and colors below:...................................................

the almost fight at outback!!!

So yes I found myself at Outback again tonight.....this time it was on the island (St.Simons) .....We were celebrating my mom's birthday and as usual Outback was crowded.....we all had the hungry grumps by the time we got a table.......and not to mention the service was horrible.... I mean really what did you have to do ......drive to Atlanta to get my Diet Coke refilled....but anyways...the excitment of a particular event made the whole experience a little better......

So I was people watching yet again....lol.....and I see these people leave...I'm not really paying much attention, but I notice this lady turn back around.......and is talking to the table behind us......However!!! I notice the look on her face and I can kind of make out a few words....She's like...did you just say that?!?! ....and says a few other words and heads back towards the door....Then Gramps/Boyfriend exchanges a few heated words with the older guy at the table too!.....and well at this point i'm locked into the situation!!!!.......So then Gramps the boyfriend walks toward the door but then comes back!!! This time he is loud!!!  I'm trying to get my bro-in-laws attention....cause he sitting with his back towards the fight thats about to happen!!! .....and so Gramps gets even louder.....mind you he's had a few to many...and here are some of his quotes .." We're alot more classy than that".........well then his friend comes over to get him......Brown headed guy escorts him to the exit....but then Brown headed guy comes back to that table and exchanges words.....At this point the whole restaurant is watching!!! and then gramps comes back with fists in the air saying "come bring it outside!" hahahaha...and I'm like where the heck is the manager...well here comes toothpick manager who gets just close enough to ignore what's going  on!!! DUMB!! So then brown headed friend pulls gramps to the door and  end scene!!

Haha...just another ordinary day at outback!!

People watching!!!....and Pee zones!

I think I'm gonna start up a people watching society......kind of like those bird watcher people! I sometimes forget how much I enjoy it!!! Here lately my love for this sport had quite diminished. I guess it's because I was limiting my exposure to a variety of breeds!!! Well fast forward to spending some time in Savannah Georgia and you get a rekindled love flame for people watching!!! lol

I got to visit my friend Rachel on friday! She just moved to Savannah this past week to attend SCAD. I'm so excited that she'll be close!! So after work I ran home and changed clothes added a bouffant and winged eye liner....ya know so I'd look cool and trendy!!  hahahaha..............I headed to SAV which is an hour a way! After searching FOR-EV-ERRRRRR for a parking space....we found ourselves eating at Outback.....It was a good time......but toward the end.....Rachel's tea decided to play catch with my lap....and let me tell you my competitive nature reared it's ugly head!!! lol.....And I mean right in the PEE ZONE!!!....It even soaked my bread...but I survived!! lol ....**Insert side Story**

**This spill held no candle to an incident that happened at IHOP in Cleveland, TN. Like always a bunch of us piled into a big both.....we placed our orders and chit chatted until the Waiter brought our drinks....Well let me tell you......This little weakling of a guy.....brought our drinks out on a tray!! and instead of sitting the tray on the table ....He decided my clothes were just too dry!!......and it was as if he just flipped the tray right over my lap!!! And all 30 drinks threw their liquid all over me!!! The restaurant grew silent and all eyes went on me!!! haha.....I stod up and it was then I realized I was soaked! I ended up having to go home to change my clothes....And yes I even had to change my underwear!! They were soaked.....So I finally returned and had a great evening...e.xcept!!! I wasnt even offered a discount!!!! WTFWTH!!! haha***

So back to the outback incident....We asked our waiter to bring some napkins.....well he never did...but we managed to get it all cleaned up by the time he came back...so I jokingly told him everything was okay that my lap caught most of the tea! ....and I didn't even get a laugh out of the DUD! yes DUD!!! lol...

So then we decided we needed to walk around so we walked around downtown.....and ended up at starbucks!!! and of course I had a feast of people to stare at!! There was purple hair...big hair.....tall and lanky dude...ethnic chick....etc...but I quickly became fascinated by our chair neighbors.....I really felt like a creeper for a little while....But these were rare finds.....these species are not native to my hometown...lol....you had purple prince(cess)...and burberry professor.....I do have to admit I was a little jealous of PP's purple bejeweled cell phone....and I did learn that burberry doesn't have a facebook!!! GASP!! hahaha....

So needless to say.....Downtown Savannah has some amazing species of people!!! I can't wait to do some more watching!!!!

Merry Chrithmus and Happee Nudth Jears!!

wow what a whirlwind life has been since my last post.......I wish I had more time to write on this thing...but you know facebook and bejeweled are just so much more important.....The holidays were great!!! It was good to see family and spend time with them. I didn't have much time off which really sucked. I hate the feeling of dedication to work conflicting with family time......I pray it won't always be like this....or at least this bad!..ughhhh....Anyways, I did make some really cute Rudolph cookies for Christmas!!!

One of the christmas parties I went to we all brought gifts for a needy family and wrapped them...blah blah....I HATE wrapping gifts...lol...So I volunteered..well my booh Sarah volunteered me to help tie bows!! haha....I actually got pretty into it!! Here's the sweets I brought to the party...

I love how on Christmas Eve all the family get together to eat appetizers and have soup!!! Yummmmm.....I love appetizers...meatballs, little smokies...cookies...cakes ...I mean the works!!! :)  We eat and then read the Christmas story(Jesus' birth in case you are dumb!) .......then we open gifts. I love to see my babybehs open their gifts! There is nothing like it! 

New Years I was so tired I didn't really want to do anything!! ughhh I hate when I start getting tired and all I want to do is stay home!! BORING!!! :) ....So I hung out with my friend Sarah and her family ...We ate at Cilantro's **Yes Al, you'd love it*** Here's a quick side story....This story goes back to a few summers ago......End of story....Thanks to Al I have a love for Mexican food!!! haha That summer Al and I must have ate at Tres at least 2 times a week!!! We ate there so much that I began to try different stuff!!! And you all know I'm a creature of habit!!! hahaha........*** back to new years......after we ate we went over to some friends house and sat out by the fire...then played games until the weeeee hours of the morning!!! Twas a good night!!!

So here's a recipe for the Ranch Cream Cheese ball I made for Christmas eve!

1 Package of Ranch Mix

1 Package of Cream Cheese

Bacon Bits (crunchy kind)

Let the cream cheese get very soft..............mix the ranch into the cream cheese....you probably need to just use your hands......form it into 1-2 balls....then roll each ball in the bacon bits until completely covered.....refrigerate for a little bit....

Serve with ritz crackers!

New Years Resolutions?!?!!? .............. I guess I'm still thinking about mine........So far I want to get back into my workout routine.......I want to travel more.....Save money..........Read my Bible more...and then there are a few decisions I need to make......I hope 2011 terns out to be better than 2010!

So what are y'alls???????????????????????//////

Thanksgiving...BlackFriday....Slinking and 5 hour energy drinks...31st Street!

Thanksgiving was wonderful!!! I spent lots of time with the family! And got to love on all my kiddos! It all seems to be a blur...not only because it went fast, but because it's 2:14am ....lol.....I actually participated in Black Friday Shopping.....I've been shopping on Black Friday, but not to any of the early bird sales....We hit up walmart at midnight...It was quite an experience, but not as bad as I expected. Walmart seemed to have the crowd under control. I wasn't really there to get anything specific...I was just really there to see the sights and to help my sister get a few things.... I did have a run in with an awkward moment....And of course I'm the one who made it awkard...haaha.......So here's the end of the story before the beginning: Who knew walmart was giving out free granola bars and five hour energy drinks!??!?! ....WTH! .....I'm not a fan of free stuff...I don't know why I just never like getting free stuff.....so at one point..this lady...dressed in black dress pants and a white collared shirt approached me ......in a very soft almost secretive sounding voice she asks " would you like a five hour energy drink?" at the same time she slips a bottle of Five hour energy drink out of a bag that is drapped over her shoulder......my eyes got big and I responded with a quick no thinks.....It was as if the mormons were asking me to take a sacred piece of bread....haha...my first thought was ...."ain't that like someone trying to hustle people on black friday....who do they think they are trying to sell five hour energy drinks"......well at that point...I can't remember if it was my sister or cousin mad a comment about walmart offering all this free stuff to people... Shame on me!! haha...
Lessons learned from this experience:
1.  please wear a walmart name tag so I know you're not a hustler off the street.
2.  don't slink up to customers
3. always use your normal speaking voice....no whipsering to customers
4. Never pull something out a low slung sack in a slow motion...as if it's hot!
5. stay away from wearing black pants and a white shirt....you look like mormons or servers at a party ...I appreciate the nice clothes...but come on...it's walmart...
6.. walmart actually gives free stuff to customers on Black Friday!
7. Black Friday=people watchers buffet!

So after spending some money....I mainly bought dvds for myself! haha......the girls went cruising around town to see the lines of the people outside the mall and other stores in town....we were all delerious at this point.....in fact at one point I used the word "queskins" !! hahahaha We finally made it home and I was wide awake!!!....finally got a few hours of sleep and the late afternoon we hit up a few other stores....I managed to get a few gifts.....still lots more to do!! :)

I'll leave you with a brilliant quote of mine......to set up the quote let me paint the picture....after eating Thanksgiving dinner...I was flipping channels as I was trying to find a Christmas movie on....my sister had just sat down near me as I finally had flipped to a christmas movie.......so a few seconds into the movie....I'm like " oh yeah...this is Miracle on 31st Street!" .........after the statement rang in the atmosphere....my sister looks at me and says " Isn't it 34th street?!?"  and starts to laugh at me...haha....So I laugh and shrug my shoulder... hey it happens! ...I somehow make some profound statements when I speak....my other favorite quote of mine is " Fool me once, shame on me twice" ....If I can't remember how original quotes go...I just make up my own!!! lol


I'm going to leave you with a few pics of making cupcakes with some of the kiddos for thanksgiving! We had a blast!! :

This is Austin and his cousin Mallory...She calls me Aunt Shannon...it's so cute!! :) And yes they loved sprinkles!!

I'm out!!! :)

30 things before I turn 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YIKES!! I had to take a deep breath while typing those dreadful words THIRTY freaking 30 !!! To quote a country song by Deanna Carter... "I still remember when 30 was old!". My how time flies!....Ok so I'm working on thirty things I want to do before turning thirty!!...So far here is what I have......these are thoughts....I'm not finalizing the list just yet! :)

1. Have almost blonde hair....this will be done this coming summer!
2. Finish my master's degree
3. Vacation by myself....ahhhh this is still iffy....not really a fan of being by myself for vacation!
4. Purchase a cello...and various other musical instruments.....
5. Be financially stable...ummmm I thought this list would be fun
6. Go to more concerts
7....

Well I think I just failed at that list.....It's still a work in progress .....I think I just need to be more specific in my goals!!!......maybe have a little more fun with it!!!/////...Any suggestions??????????????

Adventures in Walgreens.......

So yes today was a sick day!....I have some kind of sinus infection/cold going on. I didn't sleep very much last night, so when I got up this morning I felt horrible. I called into work, but I had to go in to get some exams ready so someone else could do my work. After running to work I decided to run into walgreens to get some more cold medicine....I had forgotten that in my quest to get better I had been drinking lots of liquid. So, nonetheless, I'm on the cold meds isle and realize I have to pee!!! ahhh...I quickly think...hmmm I can grab something and go...but then I'm not sure if I can make it until I get home......and I really need to look at what I'm buying......Suddenly I here the magic chimes ring as I look up and see a sign!! ...RESTROOMS!....Yes Lord! :) haha.....So as much as I hated to use a public restroom, I made the executive decision to use it. As I entered in the restroom, I noticed that it was pretty clean. Finally made it to my stall and niagra falls came!! Relief!!! haha....so as I stand up I drop my wallet on the floor...eeewwwweee......and not only did I drop it on the NASTY floor, but it also came open...SCORE!! ugh!!!.....There I was miserably bending over picking up pennies, cards and receipts off a public restroom floor!!! ....And Since when did the back of the penny change!! hahaha....so my head is about to explode....I'm so over walgreens and ready to get home to my bed.....As I'm at the sink I begin prep to wash my hands........water on...check.....paper towels...check.....soap.....ummmm...uh oh!!! ....As I proceed to hit the soap button i knock it off the wall!!!! Luckily, even with my soapy hands my cat like skills managed to sorta catch it with the other sinks help of course....hahaah....Oh great!!!! ....Is there anything else I can tear up in this bathroom!! haha....So after three tries I managed to put the soap container back on the wall for the next victim!....lol..... walgreens-=major fail!

At a movie theater, which arm rest is yours?!?!?! ........................

Awkward moments: creator of tense moments.

I think I was born to live an awkward life. If I'm not creating awkward moments I'm participating in them. haha.......Ever accidentally keep locking eyes with someone???..It's as if you've been staring at them the entire time and at that moment you know what a stalker feels like......Ever have that run in with the same person two days in a row or ...run into someone in the freezer isle...dairy.......can goods....and produce...??? I mean really...why don't we just shop together next time??...lol

Yes all true stories.....the other weekend at a mexican restaurant I kept looking at this girl. Who knows why?!? She wasn't doing anything weird and I didn't recognize her at all. But, for some reason my eyes would go to the right of our table and then she would look at me......Maybe she was actually the one staring?!?! hmmm.........Then yesterday I was at the park on the island with the niece and nephew....I kept looking at this one mom on the other side of the park.....I have no idea why?....well ok maybe it was her obnoxiously big kateplus8 hair cut that could be spotted all the way across to Jekyll Island.or maybe it was just my need to stare...who knows.....so As I'm pushing Anna at the swing another family comes in.......And well this is that weird older nerdy parents weird........poor kids don't even have a chance...so anyways one of their kids started to swing beside Anna and so the Dad comes over to push him.....ANd I'm praying the whole time that he doesn't try to talk to me...cause once again they looked like that kind of family...you know...the ones who share just a little too much....or the ones who can't obviously read the " I don't feel like talking" sign you're wearing..yep ....you all know someone who is a part of that family...heck, you probably are one of them...lol.....so anyways Anna was quickly done so I was glad to move on.....Well fast forward until tonight....Oh the joys of Friday night....so, I decided to make a little trip to target....I was tired so I didn't feel like really doing much tonight......As I'm making my rounds past the book isle I stop to look at the Christmas movies....and then I hear it....that sound ......So I froze in my tracks....could it be???....oh my....as I peek through the movies....I can clearly see...it's the weird family from the park!! ohhhhh great so to avoid an awkward altercation I quickly turned my buggie and headed toward the back of the store!!.....Awkward moment avoided!! haha..ok ok...maybe it wasn't that dramatic....but how weird is that........

Now to challenge you......embrace your awkward moments....these are what good stories are made of!!! lol


Here's a few lovely photos for you to enjoy...for more fun visit: awkwardfamilyphotos.com


**Can you spot the new pledge???????

                                      Aleena, Sam, and Chester(He's the understudy)

Nikki

Last one......

Last one....hahah...this one cracks me up....

Oh Christmas Bush...............

Rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I'm up at Midnight again, working on this paper that is late!!! Ughhh I rarely turn in anything late. I have honestly worked so many hours on this dang thing!!! It really is so much to write on! I could cuss right now, but instead I am ranting to my millions of followers. I have been stuck inside for another day of torture and it is wearing on me. I WILL BE FINISHED WITH THIS D PAPER TOMORROW. It just aggrivates me because with those late points off my paper, I will probably make a B. I wonder if I can still pull an A out of the class...ughhhhh. So far I've made A's in my classes!!! ....but we'll see with this class!!! AHHHH

Anyways, my other rant for the night is those stupid little boxes that appear when you try to comment on someones page. You are required to look at some jumbled up letter, intepret what those are, and enter them in that stupid box. I must be on the verge of going crazy or blind, but I always get those things wrong. ....maybe it's a brain interpreation problem! haha.....I'm going to start clicking the disability button they put on those boxes. And yes NIKKI this is all your fault!!! When I try to comment on your blog it usually takes me three times to get the word right!!! WHAT THE NIKKI?!?!?!? lol  So, that is all for my rant tonight.

I need to write a few more paragraphs for my paper and then get some SLEEP!!!!!


"I don't have to be hateful, I can just say bless your heart!" Miranda Labert......I think?.....spoken like a true southern belle!!

For Aleena...............................

This is what happens when  you raid the cabinets for food!! hahaha................

Here's the recipe for Al's burritos!!

In a skillet combine the following ingredients:

• 1 can of Black Beans
• 1 can of chicken * or real chicken
• 1 pack of taco seasoning
• 1 pack of "Ready to go Brown Rice" ** It was a single serving that I had to microwave for 1 minute.
• Sour Cream
• Cheese
• A teaspoon of garlic
• Taco Sauce or Ketchup
• Pour just a little of chicken broth or water

Heat those incredients until it thickens up....Then serve in taco shells or wraps! :)

haha....That's all!!! Now I'm heading back to work on my paper!!! ughhhh I hate school today!!!