Getting into the Christmas spirit.

I've been trying to think of different things Cayle and I can do to get into the Christmas spirit. I've done my shopping and wrapped my gifts. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but it doesn't actually feel like it'll be here in 3 and a half weeks. So I've been doing everything I can think of to make it feel more like Christmas is on its way. So Friday, Cayle, Alliea, and I are going to Gatlinburg for the Christmas parade. I've never been so this is going to be a real treat for the 3 of us. Then, Saturday is Christmas craft day. Sunday, there is a parade in my town so we will definitely be going to that. And that night (weather permitting) is the trip to Rock City.! I'm praying it doesn't rain. I'd really love to go. I've only been to Rock City once and the view was just beautiful and I was happy to be there. I invited my friend Katherine from school to come with us. I have a coupon for a buy one get one free admission and we decided to split the cost of the single admission so it would only cost 10$ each. Which is awesome considering Rock City can be pretty pricey. I'm really excited. I hope this weekend makes Christmas feel like its almost here. I love this time of year so much that when it actually gets here it doesn't feel like it's finally here...maybe thats just the skeptic in me. But I don't really understand how I can be skeptic about facts..oh well. Looking forward to a great weekend. Hopefully everything works out.

Things I would like to do before moving out.

I talk/think about moving out a lot. I'm just really anxious for Cayle and I to be our own family you know.? But I want to make sure I can make a beautiful yet comfortable home and not have to worry more than I have to about finances and replacing things if need be so I composed a list of things I would like to do before moving out besides getting a new car paid off, because that one is a given.

-I want a BIG flat screen TV for my living room. With a nice entertainment center to go with it. My best bet would be to try to get a TV black Friday next year for 180 bucks.

- I want to save up about 3 months worth of rent just in case I ever get in a bind and I need the money.

- I would like to go ahead and buy a couch if I find one I like.

- Obviously, I want to get all the house supplies I can right now. Even if that means they have to stay in storage tubs until I need them.

- A home theater would be nice.

- Picture frames, picture frames, picture frames.

- I would like to create a stock pile of cleaning products and home fragrances. Those add up over time.

- I already have color schemes picked out and they're pretty set in stone so I'd like to find things to match them.

- Basically stock up on anything I can that won't go bad.

I know this isn't going to be easy, but I think between car payments and not having to pay too many bills I'll do okay. I'm trying to find a car with a reasonable payment so I can still save and buy for a house/apartment. I can keep everything in storage tubs. And if we ever get rid of the stuff we don't need in my basement area I can make my 'dressing room' into a bed room and make the big room into a living room so I can put my couch up. I can't decide if I want a black or brown sofa. I'm doing an animal print theme in my living room whenever I get my own place. So, if I did a black sofa I would do zebra print. And if I did brown I would do leopard print. I know where I can get a couch for 200 dollars brand new. And an entertainment center should be fairly easy. I want my home to be something I'm proud of. Black Friday is good for not only Christmas shopping, but home shopping too. I was kinda naughty and I bought myself something black Friday. I got a giant collage picture frame for only 7.00. I couldn't resist. So, as for my color schemes, I guess I should list them.

My living room will be an animal print theme. And depending on what color sofa I choose will depend on the wood. Black stain or Cherry stain.

My kitchen will be black and red with SQUARE dishes. And stainless steel appliances. I'm a sucker for kitchen gadgets so I definitely want things like a popcorn maker, a foreman griller, and a crock pot.! With a black dining room table.

My bathroom is going to be purple, grey, and black. With pictures of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Also with stainless steel soap dishes and what not.

Cayle's bedroom will be a typical boy's room. Cars and trucks. And depending on what size apartment I get will determine a color scheme for Cayle's bathroom. But if we do get two bathrooms his will probably be a primay color themed bathroom.

My bedroom will also be black and purple themed. I asked for this bed set for Christmas. I really hope I get it. I fell in love with it.!! The wood will be black and there will be tons of pictures everywhere.

My living room will have lots of pictures all in black frames. And wall decals scattered all through the house with motivational or inspirational sayings.

I know I like black furniture, but I just feel like it makes things easier match with. It looks elegant to me. I wear a lot of black white and grey for school too. It makes my make up and hair stand out, which is important when working in a salon.

This is the bed set I want.




I really believe I can do this. If anyone has any advice I would love to hear it. :)

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Thanksgiving was a really nice holiday. My Granna was in town (dad's mom). She stayed with us for a few days for thanksgiving. She loved being able to spend so much time with Cayle. They were peas in a pod pretty much the entire time she was here. It was nice to see. For dinner we had turkey, ham, green beans, smashed potatoes, dressing (my favorite), cranberry sauce, celery stalks, sweet potato casserole, yeast rolls, and home made mac and cheese. For dessert there were 4 different kinds of pies, pecan, pistachio, pumpkin, and key lime. Needless to say there are tons of leftovers and I was miserable from eating so much. Around 8 Kay got to the house and we took one last look through the ads to find anything we might want to grab while we were out shopping. And after the ads we hit the road for what would be a long night of shopping. We went to Walmart first. I got a giant picture frame, a train set, mr potato head, color wonder, play dough, christmas ornaments, wrapping paper, stockings, a food chopper, a photo album, a small picture frame, and a few stocking stuffers and more all for 130 dollars.! I was only in line for about 45 minutes which is good for Black Friday. Next we went to Carters. I got Grace and Brentley a pair of pjs for Christmas. Then we went to Bath and body works. This is was killed me. It was hot. There wasn't much elbow room. And the registers were backed up and I was in line for over an hour. But I got some great deals. Afterwards we went to steak n shake. I got a spicy chicken sandwich and a mocha milkshake. I'm thinking after the holidays are over I'm gonna try to start eating healthier again. I feel so miserable all the time. But I got 98% of my shopping done. I'm very proud of myself. I have to shop for my Nanny and brother. Then I'm done. All the gifts I got are wrapped and waiting for Christmas day. I'd still like to get Cayle a few more little things. But I'll wait and see what I find. Next weekend Cayle and I are going to rock city.! I can't wait.!! I'll post pics of that, but here are the pictures I managed to get of Thanksgiving.

Helping pappaw make celery.



Helping chop the celery for dressing.


Helping make pie filling.



Playing outside before dinner.



Finally getting to eat :)

Thanksgiving Craft Day.

Today Cayle and I painted our annual Thanksgiving handprint turkeys. He giggled every time I painted his hand. But he really seemed to enjoy handprinting. I can't wait to do our reindeer and santas.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is in less than a week..along with Black Friday. This time of year makes me realize how blessed I am. I have so much a lot of people don't have. Food in my stomach, a roof over my head, a loving family, great friends, a beautiful baby boy. And before too long Cayle and I will have our own home. And we can carry on family values and traditions.

Black Friday is going to be a blast.!! I really think I can get everything I need to get all in one day. If not, I can get most of it. Then the weekend after Black Friday, Kay and I are going to Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights. I am so excited. This is going to be a beautiful season.

Discovering more about me.

You know what I've noticed about myself lately.?? I'm embracing my girly side. I love to paint my nails, and fix my hair. I love big sunglasses and purses. And for the first time in a very long time..I've been wearing earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. And not only that, I've been wearing dresses. I used to be a jeans and tee shirt 24/7 kind of girl, but I'm discovering that I love dressing up and being girly. I wear make up almost every day now and I've been acting girlier. And I love embracing this side of me. I wish I would've done it a lot sooner. But I'm loving it now. My new year's resolution is to keep up with this. I don't wanna feel guilty for buying myself a new dress or getting my nails done every once in a while. As long as I put Cayle's needs first I don't see anything wrong with treating myself too. I want to feel good and look good. And I've noticed my confidence growing. I'm really happy.

I've also been thinking about getting my bar tending license. I don't know why, but I really find it intriguing. Plus it's easy money for twirling a bottle around pouring drinks. I want to work 2 jobs when I am able. So I want to look into how much school it takes to do this. This is just an idea. I don't know if I will pursue it.

Tonight while I was at school I got a txt from one of my friends Ashley saying "I wanna see you asap.!!" so I txted her saying "Let's hang out soon." And not even two minutes later she comes through the door with her girlfriend (who she is proposing to soon.!) and starbucks for me. I was so surprised. It made me so happy to know I have such good friends. I lost a lot of friends along the way, but I have my true friends and as long as I have them why would I need fake ones.? Long story short they took me to dinner. They're so good to me. I love those girls. And if Ashley was going to marry anyone I would want her to marry her girlfriend, Clarae. They're good together. Them surprising me definitely made my night. :)

Let the Christmas shopping commence.!!

Yeah, waiting until black Friday was a bust. I started shopping today. I got Cayle a fork and spoon set for his stocking. They have Christmas trees on them and I thought he could eat Christmas dinner with them. I got my Granna (daddy's mom) photos that I plan on putting in an album for her. She doesn't have many pictures of Cayle because she doesn't see him often. So I thought she would like this. I got mom pictures for her photo album of Cayle. That's what she said she wanted so I'm going with it. I have bath and body work stuff put back that I bought from their big big big sale back in the summer put back to give as Christmas presents so I'll give her some of that and a new hair brush. It would cost her 10.00 anywhere but it'll cost me 5 and the handle is coming off of hers. It's her favorite brush. So that's two people marked off my list for the low cost of 12.00. I have a good idea what to get everyone else. Black Friday is so close.!! I'm ready for it.!

Cayle's 2nd Birthday Party.!

Wow.! I could not have asked for a better turn out.Thank you to everyone who helped set up and to everyone that came. Cayle had a blast. He got tons of neat presents including: crayons and paper, clothes, The Night Before Christmas, a tricycle, bath toys, lots of new cars, a new bank, ten dollars, a race track, a balloon, birthday cards, and a basketball goal. He had fun opening presents. He got a ball in one of the gifts, and after that he didn't care much about opening the rest of the presents. My friend Will was kind enough to bring his photography camera and take pictures for me. I can't wait to get them back. I offered to pay him, but he said no. I'm very grateful for that. For the food I had sausage balls, pigs in a blanket, grapes, cheese, chips and dip. I had sodas to drink. The cake turned out great. It was chocolate with butter cream icing. And trust me, it went FAST. A lot of people showed up including most of my family, Chris and Christina and their kids, Alliea and Will and her mom (my 2nd mom), Kay and Josh (they were nice enough to help set up as well) and of course my parents and brother. I was kind of annoyed that everyone kept taking the balloon center pieces and sucking the helium out of them. I had it planned to let the balloons go at the end of the party..as a sentimental thing. But Will managed to get two balloons so I still got to turn them loose. I was really happy with the turn out this year. I'll have to send thank you cards next week to everyone. Below are the pictures I got from the party. When I get the pictures from Will (Alliea wants to edit them I think) I will post those too. Again, thank you everyone for coming and for his gifts. I don't think there's a single thing he hasn't played with yet.!



The favor table.




The party banner.





Setting up.




Love this picture.




His Cake.




He was being bashful when everyone started singing.



Singing Happy Birthday.



Eating Cake.!




He got lots of cool stuff.




Opening Presents.!