Not Me Monday!

Here comes another Not Me Monday. What a great way to start out the week by getting a load off my chest! Remember to link back to MckMama's blog, then sign up on Mr.Linky and read everyone else's post! Don't forget the rules! So here it comes....

I did not miss Thanksgiving with my Grandma, Aunts, Uncles and cousins just to go to Disney World with my parents, sister, brothers, and Haley! Who would want to miss out on eating all that turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie and all the other yummy foods in between! That is not me you see in the pictures below!

I did not laugh at my boyfriend for driving 12 hours to get his big screen tv to find out it did not fit in his parents big van! That would mean I'm a horrible girlfriend! And I most certainly did not offer the tv to my sister and brother because its not my tv!

I also did not fall asleep at work for 15 minutes. I go to bed every night around 9:30 so that would mean I get enough sleep right?

When Jamie took me into IKEA on Friday I did not spend all my money on a desk and lamp for my room. I did not have any money left over to be able to buy Christmas gifts. That would mean I'm a compulsive buyer and that is not me!

My attire for Disney did not include a sweater vest, scarf, jeans and heels! Why would anyone walk about a theme park with heels on? That's just crazy if you ask me. Even if the shoes I bought on sale at Target are so comfortable I would never consider wearing them for hours on end! My brother Josh and brother-in-law Joe did not bet that I would complain that my feet hurt by 12! They also both lost because I finally complained at 4 that I need to buy some Mickey Crocs if I could find my size. I dealt with my heels all day though!

Alright looks like that's all my Not Me Mondays post! I hope you all got a good laugh at me! Hope ya'lls week goes by smoothly! I can't believe my birthday is only 6 days away. Doesn't even seem possible since I missed out on Thanksgiving dinner!

Disney Trip

Our family this year went to Disney for Haley's first time. We had such a wonderful time watching how excited she got seeing all the characters and also cracked up when Haley cried hysterically when the characters got too close to her. She was an anxious to get on Dumbo that every time the ride would start again without her on it she would cry. So she definitely needs to learn what patience means.

My brother is an owner of the Bluegreen Resort, we stayed at a gorgeous resort names The Fountains that actually had water slides. Haley went down one with her Daddy and hated it. I think she was actually more scared of going into the water more than anything. The water was pretty chilly even though we are in Florida.


Jamie and myself went shopping on Friday while the rest of the family stayed back at the condo playing with Haley. So guess where we ended up???? IKEA!!! We were there for over 2 hours and I was so excited to get these 2 cute little lamps and a desk for my room. The lamps are round with flowers on them. So cute let me tell you! Oh wait I just did.

Oh,here's the update on the "STUPID TV". AJ and his brother drove down to Florida from Philly on Thursday at 12:30 in the morning (technically Friday morning) and arrived in Jacksonville around 1 in the afternoon. So after about 2 hours of trying to make the tv fit into the Astro Van it was a no go! Only an inch or so wasn't accounted for. I could not help but laugh at the fact the tv is still sitting in our game room and he had to go back home without a tv. I didn't give him any grief except for the fact my brother Josh and sister Jamie both want the tv. Their giving AJ bids to buy the tv from him.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with their families.

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to take the time so say Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in blogland! It have just become addicted to this hobby and I love it so much. I am encouraged physically and spiritually to become a better person and a lady of Christ. Thank you to all of you who have touched me in any way possible. I'm so thankful for the many tears I've cried reading about most of your lives and pray that God will help you through your struggles. I hope to maybe meet some of you face to face (you never know when you might bump into a blog friend) before God brings me home but until then I'll continue to read and comment about your life.

I'm thankful for my family who I get to spend thanksgiving at Disney World with! This is a first that my family is not eating with the rest of our huge family at my grandma's house. It's also Haley's first time going to Disney and I can't wait to see her face light up tomorrow!



I'm also thankful that I received my E.L.F. makeup in time for my trip to Orlando! I cannot wait to try it out. I hope I fall in love with this makeup so I won't have to spend so much money at Sephora.



I'm also so very grateful to be financially stable at this point. Times are so rough on a lot of people & I pray that God will just help us all through this difficult time. I'm helping the homeless this year for Christmas and I was touched just by making the bags for the men. It cost about $80 but it was the best $80 i have spent my money on in a long time. Tomorrow I get the opportunity to give the bags to Mr.Helton who is actually blogged about what his goal was for this year. I hope he reaches his goal of 350!

Oh! How could I forget about my sweet baby Lola! I'm so thankful to be able to cuddle with her, hold her like a baby, take her on walks, feed her, and let her play with all the toys that she has accumulated in the last 2 years! I'm thankful for her bark whenever someone comes to the front door and I'm thankful for her cries!


I hope you all have a wonderful time with your families tomorrow and a safe trip is anyone is planning on taking a road trip!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

this stupid tv.....

Many of you don't know but I used to work for an airline called AirTran. I quit because it was just too stressful on me having to wake up at ungodly hours (2:30a.m) to get ready for work a 10 hour shift. Considering I had to deal with delayed/canceled flights, unruly passengers, flight attendants who thought they were better than the gate agents, and oh yes the missing luggage. Well on this particular day I met AJ. My airline lost his luggage for not one day but 4 whole days! It was love at first site and here we are almost 2 years (April)later still dating. Well he's from the Philly area-did I mention that already? So we're having an 885 miles apart relationship. Yes we have our days that are wonderful but we also have our down days like today.

AJ came to visit 2 weekends ago and it just so happened that one of my moms clients was selling his 65' big screen HD tv and it was only $300.What a steal!!!! But its what I now call the "stupid tv" but I'll get to that in a few. This is my blog and I can write whatever right? Ok so the tv is almost 5 years old, has picture in picture, and is in great condition - but when AJ was here he didn't want to inconvenience my dad by using the motorcycle trailer to haul it back to PA so now he's adamant that he's coming this Friday to get it and going straight back home.

Did I also mention that my family is going to Disney World for Thanksgiving?

This is one reason why my parents and I are against this idea. But AJ whats his tv! AGHHH.... its like I'm talking to a 5 year old telling him he can't have candy on Halloween! Like I said this is my blog!!!

The second reason is that we have two dogs! One enormous Saint Bernard named Khloe and one little tiny Peke poo named Lola who love to sneak outside to catch the stray cat! If you missed this post check out our dogs!

Well now as the night as progressed, AJ no longer wants to come get his tv because he sees how much we don't want him to get it this weekend. I keep telling him that I'm tired of hearing about the stupid tv to just come get it! Who cares if we're not in town and the dogs get out. No biggie right?!?

I'm starting to get the idea like MckMama and Kingdom Twindom have. Not to have a tv in the house! I love that idea!!! We shall see how this ends with AJ coming to get the tv. Stay tuned!

Oh here's the dreaded for tv.

Not Me! Monday

It wasn't me who said in Toys R Us loudly for the parents who lost their child needed to either hold their hand or put them in the buggy. I mean you do know its Christmas time and everyone is out shopping. Its a toy store and you know your kids will be running around. Please keep your eyes on them!

It definitely wasn't me who gave Haley a Christmas present early just to see her huge smile! Christmas is only a few weeks away so why would I be so eager for her to have it now. She definitely doesn't have enough toys already.

I'm not going to Disney World on Thanksgiving day. Not me! I'm not excited to see Haley enjoy herself while she finally gets to see Mickey. I didn't go out and buy a Flip Mino video camera just to catch every single moment with her. And the camera isn't a gift for the parents of Haley once Christmas arrives. And it's not me who loves to buy for Haley and her mommy. I didn't spend over $60 in Old Navy for Haley to have the brightest clothes for her Christmas pictures. But everything wasn't on sale so I didn't get a bunch of items.

It wasn't me who cleaned up the kitchen tonight after dinner. I'm not that great of a daughter to clean up after my parents. I'm not the only one who still lives at home.

I'm definitely not writing out my Not Me! Monday on Sunday night because I don't think tomorrow I will find time. It's not like I have a lot to do before Thursday gets here. Oops don't tell on me! (seriously)

Now go on over to MckMama's blog to read more Not Me! Mondays! You'll get a laugh at almost all of them!

50,000 Pairs of Shoes for $5

I just donated $5 to buy 2 pairs of shoes for those who can't afford much. If you go over to Angie's blog you can have your blog designed by Danielle for only $55.00! Its $55 because $5 is going to this cause . I want to encourage everyone who reads my blog to donate $5 so we can help out the poor.

Movie Making

As I woke up this morning my house was filled with the scent of Banana Nut Bread. Thanks to Gammy & Haley, I had delicious, warm bread to snack on all day today! Here's a little video I got of her making the bread.

And we also went shopping, which Haley loves and had a blast. Here's living proof....

A FryDay Contest and A Blog

I started reading MckMama's blog through Angie Smith's blog and I've started myself an addiction. A healthy one for the sake of running into trouble ha. Stellan is a miracle baby where Audrey is dancing on the streets of gold with my Granddaddy. But needless to say I've been praying for both of these families, plus more so they can have an answer to pray. So i would like to encourage you if you don't already to read both of these blogs from start to finish. It will truly touch your heart like it has mine. Also MckMama's daughter SmallFry is hosting a Small FryDay contest, so if you'd like to join in on her contest then click on this link

Listen carefully!

Haley is getting a refrigerator for Christmas along with the rest of a kitchen. She also believes she's turning "three" on December 17! So tonight we get to keep Haley since Jamie and Joe are out. I'm sure more videos are to come since i just got the Flip camera! I love it!!!

Pigtails?

This was the first time Jamie has been able to pul Haley's hair back! How cute is this little girl anyways?

Wordless Wednesday

Hot Cocoa

Nothing gets better than a cup of hot cocoa with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream! mmmMmmm!!! Tonight in Jacksonville it's getting down to 44 degrees but it feels more like 38 degrees. Yes I know many of you are thinking thats nothing but for us Floridians thats pretty cold. So here's my cup of hot cocoa!

COMMITTMENT!!!

Can you guess whats in these bags?



Yep, you guess it! Tonight I went to Wal-Mart and bought all of this to make my bags for the homeless men!



I was too excited to wait another day to make these bags so here's the final project!




This was such an amazing night for me. When I was checking out of Wal-Mart this man with his two sons were in line behind me and saw all my 10 items each of everything. He asked me if I was going camping with 10 other people. I had to laugh because it was a lot of different small items, but then went on to say that this season I was giving to the homeless. I then go chills when he thanked me for doing this and said he was taking his boys to the soup kitchen so they can see that they should be thankful for what they have. My heart feels so heavy for those in need. This season I don't need/want anything (although I need mention a few things I would like to get) but rather I want those who want to give me a present to get something I can give to someone in need. You can still wrap it up and tell me that this is for the needy. I pray that many of you will find an organization this season and give.

Want to help?

If you're wanting to help someone this Christmas season and don't know which organization to help, maybe you would love to help the homeless! A family that used to be a member of FBC Jacksonville is asking anyone to make these bags to give to the Homeless this season. They want to make at least 350 bags. I have committed to making 10 bags. Its simple! Just go to Wal-Mart, and get all the travel size bottles and fill the bag. Let me know if you'd like to help let me know or get in touch with The Heltons at http://johnandchristie.blogspot.com/

When you give to the least of these...
This year, I have personally committed to the Coalition for the Homeless to provide 350 hygiene kits. This is a special group that has become very dear to me and to our entire family. Many of them sleep here at the coalition which is a screened in pavilion where they sleep on a small mat on a concrete floor. They have no family, no gifts, and no hope.

If you and your family can commit to make up a few (or a lot) and will, please let me know. You can also put an encouraging letter in them if you want. You can be assured that I will personally make sure the pack finds a needy man this Christmas. You want to help me give some hope? And spread the word! If nobody else does it, I’ll have to get 350 on my own! But, I’d feel almost guilty to keep all those blessings to myself. :-)

Thanks, John

**Hygiene Kits**
Fill a gallon size Zip lock bag with...
toothbrush in a toothbrush holder
toothpaste
pair of socks
pair of men's underwear (L or XL)
washcloth
deodorant
small bottle of shampoo
bar of soap
razor
comb
small tube of hand lotion

Not Me! Monday

I'm going to give this Not Me! Monday a shot!!!!

It wasn't me who called Jamie Saturday while I was shopping to ask her what color pea coat she wanted for Christmas then proceed to say, "Well I'll just tell mom this is what you wanted for Christmas and she'll pay me back." And it wasn't me who then took the $45 from my mom and say "Oh Jamie will love this." So, you did want a black pea coat size medium right?

And it definitely wasn't me who went to the toddler clothes to find the same exact pea coat in Haley's size just so she can match Mommy! That was not me.

While at work it was not me who told a tenant that if the owner didn't want to schedule the service then she can just cancel and I'll send her to collections. Then it wasn't me who talked back to my manager once the owner called to complain about me! That was not me!!!

It was not me who went to the kitchen for a piece of friendship pumpkin bread to only add on a few scoops of vanilla ice cream to top it off! What??? That couldn't possible be me since I'm lactose intolerant!

It wasn't me who continued to check a friend's blog all day just to make sure she finally got moved to West Palm Beach. And it wasn't me who continued to get aggravated at work because she had yet to update her blog. I mean why should I be aggravated when she is the one moving and not me! Thankfully when I got home from a long, hard day at work she finally updated and is already unpacked! God not only answers me prayers for her family but everyone else who also prayed!
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Ok, it's your turn. I hope you'll join in the fun. Follow the link for instructions, and if you don't have a blog or don't want to play along, at least comment so we can see what you didn't do! Have fun! Check out the blog that has the rules (click on the picture in my sidebar) and original Not Me! Monday post. (Click on the highlighted words.)

Senseless Saturday!

Lola just had a bath the day before and not even 24 hours later here she is.