Cara Box Reveal!

Happy Weekend!

Since my husband is on call this weekend, I figured it'd be the perfect time to post my Cara Box Reveal post!

If you've never heard of Cara Box, you can learn about it here! I heard about it from my friend, Whitney. I'm so excited to share what I sent and received! 

What I sent to Jessie

After getting to know Jessie through her blog and numerous e-mails, I found out the following key things about this sweet girl:

1. She has a sweet fur-baby - Eve Belle
2. She loves anything Disney
3. She's a writer - such a cool profession

With that being said, our Cara Box theme for April was none other than Eco-Friendly!

Here's a picture of what I sent her....

I tried to find something Eco-Friendly/Disney for Mrs. Jones, but didn't have any luck! After placing multiple Disney stickers on her Cara Box items, I found a Disney font to type her letter of encouragement in!

Sara, over at Binkie. Burpie. Bib. was my sender for my April Cara Box. She is a first time mom, new to the blogworld!

Here is a picture of what she sent me....

 She sent me a homemade chevron bag, 3 doggie bandanas for Cayley, Luna, and Riggs, and organic Mac-N-Cheese.

I really enjoyed getting to know these two girls, can't wait for the May Cara Box.

Hope y'all have a great Saturday night!

Getting Involved......

Evening friends!

Hope y'all have had a good week; I think Monday has hit me in the face more than once this week.

I try hard to not get political on here, but I am so excited about what I've experienced the past week, I just have to share!

Back in January, Will and I were watching television together, when I noticed an unusual commercial come across the screen. It said "Come help us celebrate! Midland County Democrats"; I looked at Will and squealed "OMG WILL THERE ARE OTHERS!!!!!! I HAVE TO GO!!!!!". Now, for most of you, you may think what on earth is she so excited about..... Midland, TX is known as the "Oil & Gas Capital" and "Home of George Bush"..... so Democrats are hard to come by around here, atleast I thought!

That night, I met so many wonderful people. People who are so involved, passionate, and excited about what they do. I just loved it!

Last Thursday, I met with the League of Woman Voters of Midland County and met another group of wonderful people. Tonight, I met with the Midland County Democratic Party and got so excited about getting involved. I've kept to myself the past 2 years of being in Midland, but decided it's time to get out, get to know people, and get involved.

Please don't hold what I'm about to post against me, but I can't keep it in.

 

It's time, Texas.

Happy weekend friends!

A weekend full of paint fumes and ballet!

Evening y'all!

Hope everyone had a safe, funfilled weekend!

My best friend, Layla, and her kiddos came to town this weekend to start painting their new house! I was so excited to help! Although I'm not a good painter, I was atleast good company.

After all the painting was done, we took Romi to the Midland Festival Ballet's performance of Giselle!

We had an absolute blast.

Lastly, one of my favorite restaurants finally came to Midland/Odessa!
The Cork and Pig Tavern

How could you turn down a pizza like this?

Fabulous.

My Carabox match, Mrs. Jones, got her Carabox today! I was so excited to hear from her; I sure hope you enjoy everything, sweet girl!

I can't wait to post about what I sent her, and see her reveal post! EEK!

Happy Monday, y'all!

Five Things...

My friend, Brittany, posted a "Five Things" post that I thought was a great idea; Especially with being new to the blogworld and most of my readers!

Make sure check Britt out, she has a wonderful blog and a super cute kiddo, Bear!

1. In 2010, I got bit by a snake! That isn't something everyone can say, and it's something I wish I couldn't say! While Will and I were taking our engagement pictures, I decided it was time to change clothes... little did I know I'd have a "friend" there, waiting to bite me! The initial bite wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.....and I really didn't even know it was a snake until the next day! My foot was huge. That is the kind of pain you never, ever forget.

 2.  I have kept every concert tshirt I've ever had. My first concert was The Spice Girls, I know.... I was such a cool kid. I still have the shirt! I have a concert tshirt for almost every concert I have ever been to, and have probably 75+ tshirts!

Here is one of my senior pictures from high school!

3.  After high school, I decided college just wasn't for me, so I went to the Aveda Institute of San Antonio. I really enjoyed it; but later learned it wouldn't pay the bills in a town like Midland. 1,500 hours later, I graduated from AISA with my cosmetology license.



After a 1940's photoshoot



4.  I have an obsession with koozies. I know this is a weird one, but it's something I've never shared with y'all before! I have a drawer full of them in our kitchen, another drawer full in our bedroom, and you'll always find one or two in my purse. I'm not sure how this happened, but it did and I can't seem to stop it! I even keep them at my desk in my office! :)

This is the only picture I could find of some of my koozies!

5.  Last, but not least, my dad was in the band America. Therefore, I grew up very musically. There's something just really neat about seeing my dad play onstage. Although he isn't a part of the band anymore, every once in a while, he'll go to a show and play "Horse with no name". My dad has some pretty cool and crazy stories...... and he's one of the best bassists I've ever heard.

Daddy and John Stamos                                Just an awesome picture

America getting their Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

Hope y'all have enjoyed this post, it sure was hard coming up with 5 things!

Happy almost Friday!!!

There are some things I'll never understand......

Evening everyone!

This blog post is coming to you straight from my couch, which has all 3 of my furbabies taking up most of the room. You'll see why that information is important later.

This past weekend, I went to work for visit my mother, who just happens to own the Sweetwater Performing Arts Center in good ole' Sweetwater, TX. Recital is around the corner, and costumes are here! I was up till about 3:30AM this morning finishing costumes...... ugh! I'm exhausted.

Saturday, my mother and I went to Abilene, TX to pick up a few last minute things for parent observation (which is this coming week!) and run around. We picked up my mother's friend, Linda, and made the mistake of going to Petsmart. This past weekend was the largest adoption event in West Texas, of course I'd end up there. We spent a good hour walking around, talking ourselves out of adopting a dog.... which wasn't easy. This my friends, brings us to the reason I named this blog post "There are some things I'll never understand...."

Today, when I was getting ready to leave Sweetwater, my mother and I were standing at my car, giving our "goodbye" hugs when we noticed her neighbors across the street were outside. They have had 1 dog (pitbull mix) chained on a small lead for atleast 4 years..... he doesn't seem to have much shelter, and is very skinny. He's dug a hole so deep under his fence he can WALK under it and sit on the other side. NOT OKAY. The other one is a newer addition, a black pitbull mix, who is chained just like the other, only to the opposite side of the fence, towards the alley. We stand there and watch this teenager "play" with the black pitbull. Hitting it with a waterhose and letting the dog grab on and swing it around. Mind you, this dog is STILL chained. Finally, a few minutes later, after hitting the dog a few more times, he lays the waterhose over the dogs back of the neck and leaves. I yell to him "I sure hope that dog doesn't get caught in the waterhose and choke itself!!!" he then replied (stupidly) "Oh, my bad." I then proceeded to chew him out. Where is that dog's shelter?!?!?!!? Where is his water and food?!?! You know what he had the nerve to say "His shelter is inside the house" I was FURIOUS by this point. That dog, nor the other, has NEVER been anywhere else but that damn backyard, chained to that stupid runline! You damn right I told him that too!

I just don't understand, why would someone get a dog to only chain it up outside? I know everyone has different views of dogs, and their places in a family. Some people believe that dogs are only meant to be outside, while some don't even care if their dog sticks around or not.

After I got in my car to leave, all I could think about was the poor dogs and cats at the adoption event in Abilene; oh how I hope each and every one that got adopted went to a good, loving, caring home, unlike the neighbors I mentioned earlier.

My "dogs" are part of my family; they are one of us. No, they may not walk on two legs or pick up after themselves, but they are my world; my life; my family. It kills me everytime I go to my mother's house to see the dogs across the street, I wish I could just take them away from that place and show them what a good home is.

 

Hope everyone has a great week!

Happy National Sibling Day!

Happy Wednesday y'all!

Incase you didn't know, today is National Sibling Day!

Since my mother did it right the first time, she never saw the need to have another child. Luckily, my dad (well step-dad but he's my daddy) had 2 other daughters before me. They are a little bit older than me, so when I came around, they were grown and on their own.

My oldest sister, Miki, lives in Houston, TX with her awesome hubby, Zack, and kiddo, Cale! My other sister, Lindsay, lives in Apalachicola, FL with her son, West.

We may not see much of eachother or be very close but I am thankful each and everyday for my "second chance" to have siblings!

Happy National Sibling Day to my sisters!

New car, a squirrel, and a wedding.

What a blog title, right?

It pretty much sums up the weekend for this Payne family.

About a month ago (I know, I'm sorry!) I got in a wreck. Nothing major, but I'm one of those people who can't drive a car once it's been in a wreck..... it just freaks me out. SO! after much debating, I decided on what kind of new car I was going to get......

2012 Mazda CX-9

 

I'll try to get a better picture later :)

I absolutely love this car! It's just big enough to fit everyone I need in it! I've had plenty of cars over the past 7 years..... A Saturn, Nissan Sentra, VW Jetta, Honda Fit, Dodge 1500 (well kind of... I drove it but it was really Will's!), Kia Sportage, and now a Mazda CX-9.

We took it on it's first Payne Family Trip this weekend and the kids loved it! We laid the back seats down and had tons of room for them! Cayley and Luna passed out on their bed; Riggs on the other hand wasn't too sure about this whole long car ride thing.... he got used to it though.

Which now brings me to my next section of my blog header.... Squirrel.

 Riggs is the biggest dog my family has ever, EVER had. My mother,  grandmother, and myself all have small dogs..... We all love Riggs to death, but he's definitely different from the small babies!

Friday night, we all loaded up for a quick trip to Sweetwater to drop off the kiddos. We got there pretty late, around 9p.m. so it was already dark outside. I'm in the kitchen, talking to my dad and coloring my mom's hair when we all see Riggs come through the doggy-door. Next thing you know, Will is yelling at Riggs, "Riggs, NO! Drop it now!" then here comes Will, in the kitchen with a dead squirrel!!!! This is something our small babies would have never been able to do...... and I'm sure Riggs thought it was a toy, since we always buy him "hunting" toys. He made his daddy proud, for sure.

Saturday morning, we were off to Fredericksburg for Will's older sister's wedding. I sure wish it wasn't so far, we were both so tired all day. I finally got to meet Will's cousins, Heidi and Randy!

 

We finally made it home tonight, and it's taking all I've got to write this post! :(

OH! One thing I forgot, I signed up for my first Cara Box Exchange

I am so excited :) Can't wait to get to know my April match, you can find her here.

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Hope y'all have a great week, happy Earth month!

Too much work.... not enough play.

Hi y'all!

I know it's been a while since I've blogged.... Sorry!

I saw this on Whitney & Brittany's blog, and thought, what the heck?! It's about time I post on here, and since I forgot my SD card at work, this'll be great!

Is "this'll" even a real conjunction? I'm sure it is in Texas :)

A=Available or Married?

Married to my best friend, soul mate, partner in crime, Will :) We've been married for 1 year and 10 months!

 

B = Book?

Currently, just been reading my CISR insurance book! Lame, I know, but I've got to study... ugh! I'd much rather be reading something much more interesting like "Happy Dog, Happy You" or Harry Potter.

 

C = Cake or Pie?

Cake, for sure. I enjoy pie, don't get me wrong, but you just can't go wrong with cake. Pie can cry, where as cake can't. 

D = Drink of choice?

Dr. Pepper, for sure. I'm a Pepper!

 

E = Essential start to your day?

Not going to lie, my extra "5 minutes" and poodle/heeler lovin'! My babies are always the sweetest in the morning.

 

F = Favorite Color

Grey, is that weird? I noticed Brittany liked it too! I finally found someone else who likes grey!

  G = Game to play or watch?

I love Egyptian Ratscrew, Spades, Uno, Monopoly, Farkle... oh man this list could keep going!

 H = Height?

5'0 :(

I = Indulgence?

Chips, and lots of them.

 

J = Job?

Commercial Insurance Account Manager

K = Kids and names?

Cayley - 3

Luna - 3

Riggs - 5

 

L = Life is incomplete without?

My "big bear" Will, my family, my babies, and music!

 

M = Music group or singer?

Oh gosh, too many to name. Ones I couldn't live without: The Beatles, Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer, Incubus, Third Eye Blind.

 

N = Number of siblings?

 2 step sisters, Miki & Lindsay.

 

O = Overnight hospital stays?

Ugh, 2! Multiple nights, each time.

 

P = Phobias/ Fears?

I'm afraid of everything, seriously. My main fears are being alone, getting in a wreck, cockroaches, and guns.

Q = Favorite Quote?

" I am and always have been pro-choice, and that is not a right any of us should take for granted. There are a number of forces at work in our society that would try to turn back the clock and undermine a woman's right to choose and we must remain vigilant."
-Hillary Clinton

 

R = Righty or Lefty?
Hand - righty

Rest of body - lefty

S = Season?

Winter. Period. End of discussion.

T = Time you wake up?

  UGH 7:15-7:30am... I am not a fan of this answer, at all.

U = Unknown fact about me?

I was the youngest delegate in my county, Nolan, ever. I was proud of represent Hillary in the 2008 primary!

 

V = Vegetables you dislike?

Brussel sprouts! GAG! 

 

W = What makes you run late?

Not being a morning person... I have a really hard time getting out of bed. But, I'm rarely late.

 

X = X-rays you've had?

My left elbow. Weird.

 

Y = Your favorite food?

Starch, does that count?

 

Z = Zodiac?

Cusp! Libra/Scorpio

The whole fam is off to Fredericksburg this weekend to attend Will's older sister's wedding. I'll be sure to post when we get back, since it'll be our first family trip A) in my new car and B) with Riggs!

Wish us luck!