Stranded: Famous People Edition (link up with Mix and Match Mama)

I'm linking up today with Mix and Match Mama for their "Stranded With...Famous People Edition" blog party! It's my first time, and I'm so excited! I had to REALLY think about this one. They host one every month and I'm looking forward to doing it again!

 

 

The first person who came to mind was Ree Drummond, for several reasons.

 

 

#1 - She's funny, so she'd keep me laughing while I was trying not to have a conniption fit.

#2 - She can cook. I mean, she can cook GOOD. She would be able to come up with all sorts of meals from things found on an island that I ever could.

#3 - She's go a lot of kids and often feeds a lot of people - she would be creative and organized.

#4 - She works with a wide array of big animals, so you know - if a hog or cow or something happened to swim the ocean to my deserted island, she'd probably know a little about how to clean it. And clean fish. Because I do not clean fish.

 



 

Uncle Si. For obvious reasons.

 

 

This has to be famous people, and my husband isn't famous. (well, in my book he is.)

Daniel Lissing is easy on the eyes, yes - but you know, he's strong, and me and Ree and Uncle Si are not gonna be all that strong. Obviously. ;)

 

If you link up, let me know! I'd love to read.

Have a great day, ya'll!

 

 

 

Friday Comparisons

Hey ya'll! Usually on Fridays, I link up with Keys Korner for her Show Us Your Life series - but this week was on kids room and the girls room currently looks like Hurricane Opal (you Alabama 90's kids will get the reference) tore through there. Then I link up with the 5 on Friday group some but I have had a blah week and couldn't come up with 5 interesting favorites. The week consisted of a failed dental procedure (painful) and my back is giving me problems. That's landed me on the couch or in bed most of the time. I did get one big thing accomplished, though....I cleaned out the girls closet last night/this morning and now have to face the BIG task of listing it all for sale.

Sigh.

 

All I have for you today are these two comparison pictures. I noticed tem a few days ago but just got around to putting them together on Instagram.

 

 

This. This is the difference 5 years and a 120 pound weight loss brings.

Ignore the sticker on the sunglasses - I was trying several on and there was no mirror there so I snapped some pics. I bought these.

#tjmaxxaddict

Not even ashamed.

 

And THIS! My baby! The first shot is me packing for a several week hospital stay 3 years ago. She didn't want me to go so she decided she'd try to go with me! Second shot is her while we were packing for Stone Mountain the other weekend. Someone tell her to stop growing up!

 

That's all I have, friends. I hope ya'll have a wondereful weekend!

 

Stone Mountain 2016

Last week we were able to go on an overnight getaway to Stone Mountain. I've only been once before and I don't really remember much. Mike grew up near there and went multiple times a week as a kid. This was our girls first time. And it won't be our last!

This is the view that greeted us:

 

 

I mean, seriously. Can this be my front yard please?

 

I didn't get a whole lot of pictures because I vowed that I would not spend so much time behind the camera and enjoy the time with my family.

 

The carving on the side of the mountain is HUGE. It doesn't look big at all fro the ground, but they say you can fit two school buses on the back of the horse. They also say a gown man can take shelter from the rain in the ear of the horse. That's huge!

 

First thing we did was take the skylift up the mountain. Had a picnic on the top of the mountain and enjoyed the beautiful view.

 

Later that night we enjoyed the free laser light show.

 

We headed back to the hotel after the show and hi the sack. The next morning we enjoyed a beautiful, delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel and then headed out for some sight seeing. They have SO many different attractions there, but we saved our second set of tickets for another time and just did the exhibits and nature trails All of which, by the way, are wheelchair accessible! I was so happy to be able to go do some things with everybody else! And - all of these things are free!

 

I think everybody can appreciate a good covered bridge!



Weeklly Meal Plan July 4-10



 

I usually post with the linkup on Mondays, but yesterday was Independence Day and I wanted to honor that by itself, without including the weekly men plan. I decided to share it today instead.

 

Last week was a fail. One big, large, epic fail. Monday through Wednesday was great, then we took a very spur of the moment trip to Stone Mountain Thursday and Friday. W had a GEAT time -update coming soon! Saturday morning I woke up early and sat on the couch with my cup of coffee (okay, they say it's a sin to lie so I have to admit I was on my third...) when Mike called me to come to the bedroom. He had just gotten a phone call from his parents that his grandmother was in serious condition and within 30 minutes he was on his way to Tampa. As of today (Sunday) she is doing some better, but still in ICU and still on the vent. Please keep her in your prayers.

Then Saturday, my mom took the girls swimming at my cousins house and I stayed home ALONE! I almost didn't know what to do with myself. It was so.....WEIRD! Sunday we came to my hometown to spend the holiday here. So that blew our plan! But this is a fresh week and here's what we have on the docket.

 

Monday: cookout - we contributed fresh fish, hushpuppies, tomato pie, and Watergate salad

 

Tuesday: stuffed clams and roasted asparagus

 

Wednesday: sprig vegetable soup (third week on the menu!)

 

Thursday: black bean tacos and radish//carrot/cilantro salad

 

Friday: waffles & sausage

 

Saturday: lemon chicken pasta and French bread with garlic herb butter and feta

 

Sunday: macaroni salad with diced ham

 

I hope ya'll have a wonderful Tuesday!

Happy Independence Day!

via Google

 

Happy Fourth of July!

 

I hope ya'll are all having a blast with your family and friends.

For those of you serving in this war, my prayers go out to you and your family.

I am proud to be a military wife and family member, and I know it's never easy spending these holidays away.

 

 

LET FREEDOM RING!

Menu Plan Monday 6/27

 

I'm back today with another Menu Plan Monday! As usual, I'm linking up with  Organizing Junkie for her Menu Plan Monday blog party! You should go check it out, and if you find anything noteworthy - let me know! I've been in a horrible meal rut lately. I plan great meals and then don't cook half of them. It's been difficult because due to the chemo, Mike won't eat much, or can't eat much, or the smells bother him, etc. But he finished is last treatment last week (AMEN!) and hopefully things wild go back to normal now.

Whatever normal is. I still haven't figured that one out.

 

Monday: egg salad on sandwiches or with crackers, carrot sticks and celery
 

Tuesday: spaghetti & meatballs in the crockpot  - recipe from A Farmhouse Full over on YouTube. (She rocks. She's a mother of many and she's so encouraging!)

Wednesday: spring vegetable soup (shared last week)

Thursday and Friday we are going to be out of town overnight.

Friday: stuffed clams and roasted asparagus

Saturday and Sunday I have left open because I don't know what our plans are yet. we'll just have to see. :)


And as always, here's my YouTube video to go along with this post.

5 on Friday Linkup

Hey ya'll! Happy Friday to you. Today I'm inking up with a great blog for 5 on Friday .


| O N E |

 

This is not the greatest picture, but I love this piece we have hanging above our bed. It was handmade by a dear man I have known all my life. He's known as a "junker" (picture the show American Pickers) and he loves making something out of nothing. He carved this and stained it for us. He signed it on the back. We rarely get to see him these days, but he is so special to us. This piece is especially dear because he's had a stroke and probably won't be doing much of these things anymore. This is one of my most treasured pieces in my home.

 

| T W O |

 

Looks silly, right? But this laptop is a lifesaver! We have a desktop but it's in an awkward corner of our bedroom and it's not comfortable to get to it in my wheelchair. Mike had to purchase this laptop for work last year & I had never even paid attention to it until I saw him use it one day. The screen rotatoes into a tablet and it's touch screen. I LOVE IT! It's so easy for me to use with my poor eyesight. This is why I've been able to get back into blogging more!

 

 

| T H R E E |

 

 

 

I scored this Michael Kors wallet in Atlanta. She's a pretty little thing and I LOVE it! My sister had went with me to one of my checkups there and afterwards, we went for lunch at The Cheesecake Factory (one of our favorites) and did a little shopping after. She convinced me into going to the MK store (not that I put up much resistance)  and we both ended up with one of these! I think after the sales I paid  about $45. It was originally about $110, I believe.
I don't know about you, but I consider that a win. :)

 

 

 

 | F O U R |

 

Today is our eleventh dating anniversary! I can't even believe it. 11 years ago today, just before lunch, I wrote down what I wanted to say on a piece of paper and practiced it a million times before I called Mike's shop and asked for "Senior Airman O'Neill, please." I asked him if he'd like to get dinner and a movie later - and he said yes! And here we are, 11 years later. We have never celebrated this day before,, but we are this year. I ordered this awesome tie clip with the longitude and latitude of our first date on one side (in jolly old England!) and "143 2" on the back. I never knew 143 was code for "I love you" and so when he e-mailed me that while I was back in the States and he was still in England during our engagement, I responded bac with 143 2. Yes, we're nerds. Wouldn't have it any other way! I got this from Pink Lemon Design on Etsy.I love everything about it.

 

| F I V E |

 

 

I saved the best for last. I purchased this dress from Magnolia & Co. Boutique this week and I'm n love. I've known the girl who owns it for several years, way back when she and my younger sister worked together in high school. Such a sweet girl, very hard working, honest and humble. I left a lengthy review on her Facebook page and you should definitely go check it out. I'll say that it's completely perfect Don't think I'm saying that because I know her or because I'm affiliated because neither of those are the case. And while you're there, you should check out the inventory - you won't be disappointed!

Now! I'm logging off all social media for the rest of the evening so I can go get ready for a hot date with this handsome military guy that's pretty charming.
I think I see a future with him. Who knows? :)