Miss America

We've had a very busy weekend around here. We got up yesterday and Wesley started on some manly projects (replacing a broken shower knob and fixing the toilet in the guest bathroom) while I began cleaning the house, folding laundry, doing dishes, etc., etc., etc. (does anyone else find it hard to clean during the week? I sure do). We got all of that done mid-afternoon and did some mega grocery shopping (we were down to a bottle of syrup!). By the time we were done with that, it was time to start getting ready for church! We love going on Saturday nights now, it's so nice to have "another lazy Saturday" on Sunday mornings. We stayed for church and our BFG (Bible Fellowship Group) and then hurried home for the 2010 Miss America Pageant!

I came in just before the evening gown competition. My favorite was Miss Kentucky. She ended up coming in 4th runner up. I had stumbled across her blog earlier in the week; it was kind of neat getting to read what all she does as Miss Kentucky - man, she is BUSY! I don't know if I could do all that.

Anywho, congrats to Miss Virginia, the new Miss America. I just loved her yellow dress. Not everyone can pull off yellow, but I think she looked gorgeous!

I also read that the outgoing Miss American (2009, former Miss Indiana) got engaged the night before she gave up her crown. How sweet! : )

I only wish I'd been watching Miss American with my mom and sister eating some boiled peanuts - that's how we roll!

Withdrawals

So, it wasn't exactly a New Year's Resolution, but I decided I needed some healthier habits.

You see, I'm a (former?) Diet Coke addict. For the past six years or so I have had a Diet Coke a day. Not only is all the "brown liquid" bad for the color of your teeth, and I think we've all seen the Diet Coke on the car battery thing (have you?). Plus, all that sodium, etc.

Anywho, I decided to cut back. One day without turned to two days, and here we are at the end of January and no Diet Cokes for Rebecca! Honestly, I have not missed them, but I have been craving Dr. Pepper's - which I only drank as a special treat anyway.....but, I've held strong!

I've been replacing all of that caffeine with water (or Crystal Light Lemonade). I can tell a difference too; my skin looks so much better! I do have the occasional Sprite (probably just four in the past month), but that's caffeine free. I just can only drink so much water. Sometimes, you just need something different; something with some taste. And, I did have Sweet Tea last night, but that's been the only one of those. I'd just had one of those days and had had a horrible headache all day long, so I gave in! : )

So, as January wraps up and February is about to begin, we'll see how the next 28 days go! How long does it take to form a habit?

Unpacking & Weekend Recap

It's been nice to stay home for a change this weekend! : )

Friday night we went to Country's BBQ for turkey and dressing and then came home and just chilled out. I think I was in bed around 9:00 - I'm a wild one, I know. But, between being gone all of last weekend, getting in late Monday night, and a longggg work week, I was wore slap out!

Saturday we got up and started unpacking and cleaning. I wonder if this house will ever be COMPLETELY unpacked. We've got most everything unpacked and put away. But, there's all the little stuff we don't really know what to do with. Or stuff that doesn't necessarily "go" with this house, but I don't know where to keep it. I went through tons of stuff yesterday and today, just throwing junk away. My parents always said, "They make more everyday." So if it's something we'll really miss, we'll just go get another.

We've made a lot of progress, though. The only stuff really left to do is the office (a.k.a. The Auburn Room), put away some more Christmas decor and "childhood memorabilia" in the attic, and find something to do with all of the books I have!

My goal was to have it all done this weekend and be completely unpacked. But, I'm tired of doing it and there's not too much left. So, I guess I'll just finish it up next weekend (Spoken like a true procrastinator, haha)! A little bit at a time right? We're in no hurry, we'll be here for awhile!

Saturday night we went to church. This morning we got up, cleaned some more, went to Grandmama's for lunch (roast and mashed potatoes - yummy!), payed bills, and then I just put a loaf of banana bread in the oven! It smells sooo good! : )

Hope you have a fantastic last bit of the weekend!

PS-He's blogging again (so he says....we'll see how it goes!) : )

One Simple Request

Dear McDonald's,

Could you please put this sign up (and mean it) in Alabama?

My husband would really love it. It would make him so happy! We have looked for the McRib in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana. We found it in Chicago, but we were too busy eating things like hotdogs and pizza. And Harold's chicken (oh my sweet mercy, more about that later).

So, in conclusion, if you could just bring the McRib back, even for two weeks, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

Recent Trips

Wesley and I have done some traveling lately and I just realized I hadn't blogged about it (including a trip to Chicago, coming sometime this week!).

We stayed over in Dallas after the wedding. My brother and parents went to tour Southwestern, so Wesley and I headed to the warehouse district in Dallas to see the Bodies Exhibition. You couldn't take pictures inside, so we just got pictures of the outside of the building! The exhibit was incredibly amazing! Really, it was sooo cool. Wesley and I both agreed that we didn't know how someone could go through that and NOT believe that there is a God who created us. Every system of the body is so perfectly put together.

The next weekend (back in Alabama) we headed to Birmingham to see TSO. We were really excited about it. Wesley loves the music and the lasers always look so entertaining!

Well, this was a bust!

There were some good parts, but then the music got REALLY slow. I'm not going to lie, I fell asleep during the show. There was also some kind of weird story that went along with it. All I know is the narrator started off telling a story about two men in a bar sharing a whiskey, then some angel flies over the city, and when I woke up the narrator was shouting, "And the girl finally made it home safely!" Wesley didn't get it either, and he was awake the whole time!

Oh well, at least we were together, right?!

It's That Time Again!

So glad it's back!!! : )

These first episodes are Wesley's favorites. My favorites are when they're actually in Hollywood; you know, all the people who can ACTUALLY sing.

It's a little weird without Paula on anymore. But, I'm anxious to see how things are when Ellen gets on the show.

Are you watching?

Caitlin's Wedding

Just a few pictures.....

Wesley and I on Christmas Day

Did you notice the White Christmas? BEAUTIFUL!

And, now, the wedding!

Me, Cait, and Momma

Me & the Bride : )

My brother and I

(that stray strand of hair across my forehead is really getting on my nerves!)

The hubby and I just before the wedding.

Mr. and Mrs. Burgin

Father-Daughter dance (sorry it's a little blurry!)

They danced to "My Girl", just like Dad and I did at my wedding!

And here's the cake! It was HUGE!

I only got one small bite as we were cleaning up. But from the little bite I did have, it was delish! : )

A "New-Do" ... or maybe a "Don't - Do It"

Y'all, I love the Gosselins. I really do.

I blogged about them here and here.

Yes, I got a little sad to hear that their divorce was finalized. But that's not the topic of this blog post. Kate Gosselin has made her hair-do famous. Now, I don't think I could EVER. EVER. pull this off. Nor do I have a desire to. I love "rockin' a pony" (Bump-it commercial, anyone?)! But, on Kate, it was beginning to grow on me. Here she is with her famous "do."

And here's the new "do" ..... or do you think it's a "don't"?

I'm really kind of shocked. I don't know what to think of it.

I almost didn't recognize her.

I'll probably be buying that edition of People Magazine though!

(Photos courtesy of Google Images.)

New Recipe

I made a new recipe last night and it was a huge hit! And super easy! Be warned, it makes a butt load. Seriously. It was A LOOOOT. I cooked Taco Soup in the Crock-Pot. I had two ladle fulls for dinner last night and Wesley had three. Then for lunch today we each had two, and there is STILL half a crock pot full (and I have one of those big crock pots)!

I got this recipe from my dear friend, Allison, like, a year ago. (Really, I think I got it at the end of football season last year when Allison, or her mom, or sister, or somebody made it at an "after the football game" get-together we went to.)

This is now one of our fall/winter things to make. I was surprised because "Taco Soup"....c'mon...that's a little Mexican-ish and Wesley does NOT like Mexican food. Also, it has two cans of corn in it (another thing Wesley does NOT eat).

I hope you enjoy! And join me all in thanking Allison for sharing! mmmmmm! : )

Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef (we use turkey now...it's healthier....cook it up though, don't throw it in the Crock Pot raw)

1/2 cup chopped onion (used my Vidalia Onion Chop Wizard thing that was a wedding gift...something we didn't register for....but LOVED it!)

garlic (didn't actually have this....just threw in some garlic powder and garlic salt.....it all worked out though!)

1 pkg taco seasoning mix

1 pkg Ranch seasoning mix

1 can tomato paste

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can Rotel

1 can green chile peppers

1 can Chili beans (we used hot I think)

1 can kidney beans

1 can regular corn

1 can creamed corn

1 can chicken broth

I fixed this all in the crock pot Sunday night and was going to turn it on Monday before I went to work. Well, I was kicking myself during that professional development training when I realized I'd forgotten it. Well, Wesley just turned it on high about 5:30 and we were eating by 7:30, so no worries! DELISH! Seriously folks. Try this one!