Friday, November 30, 2012

Go Bucs!

Big night for the high school football team!  Semi-finals game against Clay-Chalkville.  Should be a great match-up and record crowds are expected.  Cosmo really wants to go to the game tonight but I haven't been to a single game this year and think I should not mess with the mojo.


It's been a busy, busy week and I am really, really looking foward to the weekend!  Monday I had dinner with a sweet friend, Tuesday I had a big client lunch with PSDS out at Barber's and in the evening KJ & I went to dinner before her travel volleyball team meeting.  Wednesday I had a bunch of errands to run after work and last night Cosmo was home after traveling all week.  My Thanksgiving decorations were down last week but I haven't put up a single Christmas thing yet.  I'd like to get that done this weekend but we're not putting trees up until T comes home next week. 

My poor, poor baby is so sick with the flu.  This is the child that NEVER EVER gets sick and for her to break down and go to the health office is a big deal.  Glad she's taking care of herself!  She's got finals next week and really wanted to nip it in the bud.  She said in addition to a prescription for TamiFlu they also gave her a little prevention kit w/ Lysol, Germ-X, a couple of those face masks, gloves, etc.  She had a lot going on this week too and really can't afford to be sick . . . she had BIG/LITTLE week and last night she finally got to meet her "family."  She met her Big, her Twin, her Big's Twin and her Little and her Big's GrandBig.  T is representing AOPi in the Parade of Beauties (along with 3 seniors) and she had a mandatory meeting last night.  After her meeting, her entire Family went out to dinner.  Sunday is her formal AOPi induction and she is just so excited!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Day 3

 
Oh.  My.  God.  T's Big has totally spoiled her rotten this week!  Today's theme was "AOPi."  It's hard to see in this photo but the Big decorated a snack table, several AOPi canvases, a chevron photo frame, tons of t-shirts (I think T said there were ELEVEN t-shirts today alone!), lots of fun Panda items (I chuckled when I saw the Oreos), a beach towel, a spa wrap, a blanket and lots of AOPi letters.  The poems she has written T are awesome and she also hinted today that T is not her only Little.  She mentioned something about a Twin.  T is just excited beyond belief! 
 
And, in case you don't stay up past midnight, here's the link to the ESPNU segment T filmed a couple of weeks ago.  It was supposed to air right before Halloween but Hurricane Sandy hit and messed up the programming schedule so they decided to air it after Ole Miss's big Egg Bowl win (blink and you may miss her!): 

BIG love

This week is Big/Little Week at AOPi.  T's big sister reached out to me before the Thanksgiving break and ask for some funny stores about T, her favorite color, movies, etc. 

Monday's theme was "Girls Night In" and T's Big had some wonderful things for her with a super sweet poem.  She had several t-shirts, a chevron Pillow w/ T's initial on it, several monogrammed canvases (a couple framed), a couple of T's favorite movies, a popcorn bucket, candy, nail polish, toe separators, stuff for a home facial, etc. 

Tuesday's theme was "The Grove"and T's sweet Big showered her with all sorts of tailgaiting supplies -- a customized hand-painted cooler filled with red Solo Cups, Chips + Salsa, personalized wine glasses, stuff to play flip cup, can coozies, some more t-shirts and a cute Tank-Top, a Colonel Reb canvas painting and Tuesday's poem was hilarous!!!


Can't wait to see what Wednesday brings!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Egg Bowl

As long as we've lived here I've always wanted to go to the Iron Bowl.  The year we have Egg Bowl plans, a friend calls and offers us two tickets to the Iron Bowl!  We thought about it hard for about 5 minutes and decided the Iron Bowl was going to be a blow-out and we should head out to Oxford as planned.  Glad we did!  Heard the traffic on 459 was awful and our suspicions were correct:  Alabama spanked Auburn and Chizik got fired (please refer to my September 2012 post for my prediction regarding Chizik's dismissal:  http://cos4.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-little-foosball.html). 

As a "Yankee" born and bred, nothing and I mean NOTHING prepares you for Saturday in the South.   I've been to countless Jets games, Giants games, Bengals games, Falcons games, Saints games, you name it.  NOTHING compares to a Saturday night game in the South.  It doesn't matter if it's the grand-daddy of all SEC football -- Alabama -- or if it's UAB, Troy University, Samford, UNA, whatever.  Saturday in the South IS football.  I kid you not, I get chills up and down my arms when the band comes out.  And when the national anthem plays in the stadium, the little hairs on my neck prickle.  Being in the stadium on Saturday is truly electryfing. 

This was our family's first official Egg Bowl's experience -- we had a lovely drive to Oxford on Saturday morning, visited with T a little, pre-gamed a little bit, busted out the corn-hole game and made a round of the Grove.  Cosmo made his famous raspberry Corona-ritas (a recipe I found on Pinterest and he now loves to make for the games). 

The weather was absolutely GORGEOUS and once the sun went down, we were all snuggly in our Ole Miss sweatshirts and hats.  KJ really gets into the games and looked super cute in her Ole Miss jersey.  She loves to do the "Are You Ready" (provided by James Franco this week!) and she also made Cosmo and I "lock the Vaught" with her.  http://vimeo.com/53180740 She also likes to do the "Landshark" hand motion.  A bunch of students made a video/rap called "Feed Moncrief" and they played it several times during the games.  Somehow KJ already knew all the words.  She said it had been going around You-Tube.  http://hottytoddy.com/feed-moncrief/

The game was very exciting and I'm glad Bo finally cut his hair.  Right out of the gate, less than 2 minutes into the game, his first long pass was a beautiful 42-yard missile to Moncrief.  They stuck with what works and used the play over and over and over.  Bo threw for 294 yards and five touchdowns -- including three to Moncrief.  After going into the tunnel tied up at the half, the Rebels had a huge second half to beat Mississippi State 41-24 for the first Egg Bowl win under Coach Hugh Freeze, the first Egg Bowl win since 2008 and became bowl eligibile for the first time since 2009. The energy on campus is so exciting this year.  The kids LOVE Coach Freeze and have whole-heartedly supported the team from the very first game.  The student section totally ROCKS each and every game. 

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen's personality has added some spice to the Egg Bowl in recent years with the Bulldogs dominating the series and not being afraid to gloat about it (one of the highlights of the game was a short video clip shown during the final minutes of the game -- Coach Mullen's locker room speech where he promises "we will NEVER lose to this team" while holding the coveted Egg Bowl Trophy).  The heightened emotions on Saturday were evident even at the coin toss, when the captains from both teams had to be separated by officials. And the action started early with Ole Miss needing less than two minutes to score a touchdown.  The Rebels scored two plays later on a 25-yard pass to Mosley. A packed Vaught-Hemingway Stadium went wild, but the celebration was short lived. Mississippi State returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to tie the game at 7-7. It was the first of many early mistakes for the Rebels. Bo was Bo and had flashes of brillance combined with catastrophic plays.  Although he threw two touchdowns in the first half, he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Mississippi State pushed ahead 14-7 late in the first quarter on a 42-yard touchdown pass.  Ole Miss responded with a 43-yard field goal by Bryson Rose and then pushed ahead 17-14 when Wallace found Moncrief on a 77-yard touchdown pass. But the Rebels exploded in the second half for 24 straight points while Mississippi State's offense managed just 115 yards after halftime. Wallace had no turnovers in the second half. 


After the game all the Rebel fans rushed onto the field (jumping over the wall is more like it).  Security finally wised up and just opened up the gates for everyone to calmly walk on.  So of course KJ had to lay down on the 50 yard line. 

Friday, November 23, 2012

Shop Small Saturday

No Black Friday shopping for this kiddo.  I went once, when KJ was only 6 weeks old, with my SIL and that was the one and only time. 

The FL fam was visiting us for our first Thanksgiving in Alabama.  My birthday was in September and KJ was born a few days later in mid-October.  I asked Cosmo not to buy me any b-day presents so that I could go shopping for some new clothes after the baby was born.  We didn't head out super early or at midnight; I think we left the house around 8 AM and had no problem finding a parking spot.  I honestly don't think SIL actually bought anything and I only went into clothing stores trying to find clothes to fit my 6-week post partum body.  We weren't out at Best Buy or Walmart or anything like that.  We had lunch at the mall and the guys took the kids to the McWane Center for the day.

Of course I shop at big mass-merchandisers out of necessity like everyone else, but I would much rather shop small if I could.  I love when Ross Bridge has it's Farmer's Market, I love shopping at the Wrapsody's in Patton Creek, I like to buy unique one of a kind items on Etsy and I would much rather meander here than anywhere else: 



 
 
Well, except maybe here: 
 
 


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

No Sleep 'til Brooklyn



Iconic Beastie Boys song?  Kate Spade's famous bangle?  Nope.  Just the story of my life.  Insomnia stinks as it is and a house full of kids home from college doesn't help either.  OMG.  I got maybe an hour, hour and a half, sleep TOPS last night.  It was just a comedy of errors that kept getting worse and worse as the night wore on. 

One of T's friends is leaving for the Navy in a couple of days and after they went out for dinner they all came back to our house.  Which normally is not a problem.  However, they are still on college time, Cosmo & I are on adult-I-have-to-get-up-for-work-in-the-morning-time.  Seemed like my garage door opened all night.  They just kept coming.  And leaving. And squealing everytime someone new stopped by.  And saying goodbye everytime someone left.  For the most part, they were pretty quiet but our bedroom is right over the garage door so I heard everything.  So then I moved out to the couch.  And then KJ was wandering around upstairs.  And then she came downstairs and laid on the couch with me.  And then moved back up stairs.  And then the dog joined me.  And then someone's alarm accidentally went off crazy early.  And then I moved back into my bed.  And then Cosmo's alarm went off.  And then he got in the shower.  And then my alarm went off.  Holy Moly.  I am exhausted and look like death warmed over today. 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Shoppa-Shoppa

Getting a lot of Christmas shopping done.  I hate actually going to the mall so I'm a big on-line shopper.  I'll only go to the mall if I know exactly what I'm looking for and exactly where it is.  I'm not one of those ladies that shops to shop and I don't just wander around the mall.  I have a pretty good idea of what I need before I head out, I go in, get what I need and get back out.

Usually T is very easy to buy for and KJ is more difficult.  This year it seems to be reverse.  KJ has given me some very good ideas and T is proving to be difficult this year.  She's getting picky in her old age.  She has everything she needs for her dorm, she doesn't need any Ole Miss stuff and she doesn't want any AOPi items because when she gets back from Thanksgiving break she has "Big/Little Week and Reveal" and they get presents from their big all week (I already know who her big is; she reached out to me via FB).  Plus, she got a bunch of stuff on bid day.  I sent her a bid day basket and she also received a tote bag full of AOPi items from the sorority.  The day after Bid Day I also sent her the Lilly Pulitzer AOPI tote and wristlet.  Which she promptly returned.  She liked them but didn't think she'd ever use them.  She's such a minimalist and is not a fan of a big bag.  And, her phone didn't fit in the wristlet very well.  Sigh. 


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Chick-a-dees

So happy to have all my chick-a-dees in the nest! T got in yesterday afternoon with plenty of time to help KJ get ready for the 7th grade dance.  She did KJ's make-up while I curled her hair.  Good God that kid has a ton of hair!  The dance was a hoe-down and KJ looked super cute in her new cowboy boots!

Really looking forward to a relaxing week.  T's got some stuff on her to-do list for the week and has plans w/ friends almost every night.  Not sure how much we're going to actually "see" her during break but we had a nice day catching up.  In addition to her laundry, she came bearing gifts.  She had an AOPi long-sleeve shirt for KJ and she brought me an Ole Miss sweatshirt and hat to wear to the Egg Bowl in case it's chilly.  I made her favorite chili cheese dip to eat while we watched the Ole Miss vs. LSU game.  What a heartbreaker.  Coach Freeze is taking the team in the right direction, they just can't seem to close the deal. 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

It's OK Thursday . . .

Its Ok Thursdays


...I didn't win Associate of the Month for the FOURTH time.  It's an honor to be nominated, blah, blah, blah.  Someday that primo parking spot will be mine.  But seriously, I do work with some pretty amazing folks and am proud to be part of such a great team!  I truly love my job! 

...that last weekend was NOT a good football weekend in our house -- Alabama lost, Ole Miss lost and Navy lost.  But, on the upside, we got to see Brye play and spent a beautiful, fun day @ Troy University. 

...that I'm obsessed with the History Channel's "The Men Who Built America."  Some good stuff right there.  I should have been a history teacher.  Totally missed my calling. 


...that some crazy-ass lady in a big white Infinity QX56 refused to let me merge into the lane this morning on the way to work.  Not only did she speed up and not let me merge, she was texting the entire time and she tailgated the car in front of her SO bad for miles and miles.  Hope she got to her destination OK.  She was obviously much more important than anyone else on the road this morning. 

...that I've been standing out on the lacrosse field 3 nights this week.  WTH?  I don't have any kids that play in the state of Alabama.  It's like the damn mafia, they suck me back in. 

...that I started my Christmas Shopping but haven't made a dent.  Looks like everyone's getting an Old Navy gift card!  hahahahaha!


Oh!!  And don't forget to Blog Hop --


 



Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Boots w/ the Fur

No, no boots w/ the Fur.  No Apple Bottom jeans.  Just a nice pair of black boots to wear to work w/ fall/winter skirts and dresses.  I was so excited to finally find a pair that is the right heel height and hits the right spot on my calf!  Being short is a major pain in the rear and I have been searching for black boots for almost 2 years.  They were either too short and hit my calf at a really awkward spot and cut me off visually or they were too long and came up over the knee and weren't appropriate for work (or my less than 5 ft. frame). 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Question . . .

. . . does anyone use a Blog Planner?  I've seen several other bloggers mention them or give them away as prizes but I really don't know how to use one.  Are Blog Planners more for people who have a niche blog or a topic specific blog (i.e, crafts or fashion?  meal planning/recipes??)? 

I've also seen several links for free printables (see below).  I am by no means what I would call a creative person (maybe artistic is the word I'm looking for?) but I do tend to blog on the fly.  If somethings pops into my head, I write about it.  Which explans why my blog is such a hodge-podge. 
I just can't picture myself planning my blog weeks or months in advance.  However, I do sometimes find myself forgetting to link-up and miss out on the fun! 
http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2012/07/free-printable-blog-planner/
http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2012/02/free-printable-blogplanner.html

Monday, November 12, 2012

Getting Ready for T Day

Last week I got all of my Halloween decorations down and finished getting the house ready for Thanksgiving.  I luv, luv, luv Thanksgiving and can't wait to have everyone home for the holidays!  I know everyone loves Christmas but I get upset when Thanksgiving is overlooked.  I have a friend who hosts Thanksgiving every year at her house for her large family and she runs herself ragged trying to cook, clean and decorate her house in all its Christmas glory before Thanksgiving dinner (she usually puts up a couple of Christmas trees indoors, does her outside house lights, her mantel, etc.).  Crazy I tell ya!  Just crazy!  Slow down.  Enjoy Thanksgiving.





Sunday, November 11, 2012

Thank You

A great big Thank You to our service men and women on Veterans Day and everyday! 

I am so thankful and proud to come from a long line of Americans who served their country.  My great grandfather on my mother's side, my Grandpa Castle and his brother, Uncle Robert both served in World War I.  Both of my grandfathers served in WWII and my Grandpa Shrodo was a POW in a German camp and escaped.  My dad served in the Air Force during Viet Nam and my Uncle Zip (my mom's oldest brother) served in the Navy on a nuclear sub during during some very frosty years with Russia.  My mom's two other brother's, my Uncle Smokey and my Uncle Mike, served in the Navy and the Air Force respectively.  My Uncle Mike did a tour in the Middle East and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for heroism during combat.  My dad also told me one time that my great-Aunt Betty was a nurse during WWII.  I need to get a little more info on her.  Cosmo's family has served his country well, too.  His dad was in Korea and Cosmo's nephew, Louie, is in the Navy. 

Yesterday we had the opportunity to see a wonderful half-time show dedicated to the men and women of the Armed Forces at Troy University during the Navy game.  They asked all current and past service men and women to come onto the field and they received a well-deserved stading ovation.  The Troy marching band was OUTSTANDING and we clapped and cheered along as they played each the alma mater for each branch of the service.  We had such a good time at the game!  We had never been to Troy before and the campus was beautiful!  We tailgated with Brye's family before the game, got to see our favorite cheerleader, Rory, in action and even got to spend a few minutes w/ Brye after the game.  The Troy fans were very supportive of their team and it was a really great atmosphere. 
 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

It's OK Thursday

Its Ok Thursdays
 
It's OK . . .
 
...to really like the show "Nashville" but not like country music at all.
...to really like the show "Nashville" because of Connie B. / Coach Taylor's wife!
...to really like the show "Nashville" but not be a big fan of Hayden P.
...to be grateful that my family in NY and NJ are all safe and sound. 
...that my candidate didn't win.  We will just stay positive and pray for change.
...that I broke down and bought TSwift's new CD "Red."  Hey!  It was a long car trip.  Don't judge!
...that it's getting colder.  It's November!  It's supposed to be colder!
...that it's November!  Yay!  Sweater, Scarves and Boots weather!!
 
 

 It's time to party and meet some new friends!
Twitter, Facebook and blog hop party over @ Neely's blog!
Link up your blog, twitter and facebook!
This is the perfect way to get yourself out there and gain some traffic.
Also, a new way to make friends is always a plus!
  Let's Party! :)
Rules!
1. Follow your host's Blog, Twitter and Facebook
  2. Follow your co-hosts Blogs, Twitter and Facebooks
  3. Link up your Blog, Twitter and Facebook
4. Tweet about this link party! Tweet
5. Visit a few people in the link up and follow them.
  Then grab a button and spread the word!

 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Total Non-Event

Spoke to T earlier today regarding reports of rioting last night at Ole Miss after Obama's re-election was announced.  She had been at a candlelight service for Sarah and her brother earlier in the evening and she said this "riot" was a total non-event and the media is making it sound much worse (this being the 50th anniversary of James Meredith being admitted to Ole Miss and the first time in the school's history an African-American woman has won homecoming).  She said there were several groups of kids hanging around the Grove, blacks and white, Republicans and Democrates, and one of them lit an Obama/Biden sign on fire.  She said there were no arrests, no fights, no rocks thrown, nothing illegal.  Just some kids voicing their opinion about the election results. 
http://blog.al.com/wire/2012/11/report_ole_miss_students_prote.html#incart_river_default

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Looking Good in that Uniform T!

Had a fun weekend @ Kennesaw State University watching the Ole Miss Women's Lax team take on GA Tech, Auburn and Alabama.  The Kennesaw facility was gorgeous, great turf fields and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.  We had a nice group of parents make it to the game(s) -- several parents from GA and even a set of parents flew in from VA. 

It was a rough, emotional day for the team but they played well and played in memory of their teammate, Sarah Wheat.  Last Saturday Sarah and her brother, both Ole Miss students, were killed in a horrible car accident.  T had only met Sarah a handful of times but from what we've heard, Sarah was a helluva goalie and had an awesome clear.  At one of the practices, she told T, "when I clear, you better get your ass down the field." 

The GA Tech team was extremely respectful and they played with an empty net for the first play as a sign of support.  Ole Miss won at the last second with a save from their fill-in goalie, Kelly.  Poor thing had never picked up a lacrosse stick in her life but she hung in there and played tough.  The girls lost to both Auburn and Alabama and after the games, the sweet, sweet girls from Kennesaw State gave each of the Ole Miss players a hand-written note of support and hugs. 

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"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." -- Dr. Seuss

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"There must be quite a few things a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them." -- Sylvia Plath

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