it's drippy out

It's rainy and gross in the Circle City today, and that makes me feel rainy and gross, too. But I need to make some party food (need suggestions) and get some work done around the house, and make customer calls, and get some invitations into the mail, and go to the post office, etc... and pack for my little trip to Muskegon. Jocko's cousin is getting married this weekend, and we're obviously going -- free beer = family fun!

*ffl*

It is on! We officially have enough people for our own Fantasy Fashion League. So far it's me, Mel, Cat, Crystal and Stephie. I just sent an email to the list with some more info and my address - so check your email! And then email me back :)

And we are going to have a trophy - it will be AbFab, and a great distraction from doing actual work! I'm so excited to hear from everyone;)

we need to do this

So... I was reading Maria's blog and she had mentioned the Fantasy Fashion League. I'm with Crystal and Erika on this - I think it's very cool, so cool that I think we need to start a private league. It will cost $20 per person and the "season" starts Aug. 27 and ends in Feb. I'd be willing to collect the money and register our league, unless someone else had there heart set on it.

So check it out and let me know what you think - I think it'd be a lot of fun :)

quick update

I have been busy this week. But I thought you might enjoy a quick update - I know I do.

*Last weekend was the Brickyard (Nascar race) and we went to a party, which was thrown by one of the secretaries at Jocko's office, Karen. Does anyone remember a Bet Sig named Ghengis? Karen is his stepmother, and he was in town for the race. It was surreal seeing him again, it was as though time had stopped for him - he was doing the exact same things as when he was in college, but he wasn't 21 anymore. I felt sad for him.

*It was rainy yesterday and today, not so good for the walk I am trying to get in everyday, maybe I'll have to do a few laps around Target later :)

*I'm trying a few new recipes over the weekend - if they're good I promise to share.

*Zippy had a bath on Sat. Always fun and exciting.

Gee, I thought I was busy, but I just seem really boring. Oh well, you still love me, right?

this space for rent

Thank you so much for the blog-name ideas! I have to say that The Taco Times would be fabulous; but as Erika mentioned, this is MY blog, and although I love my husband v. much, this isn't a tribute page. I liked Erika's idea about bee themes, that'll be the vein I'm going for, just looking for the perfect title now.

I also need a new background, this one was just a template I thought was clean and sort of spunky; but it lacks the pre-requisite pink. Where have you found great templates?

today...

* it finally cooled down a little, and I was able to open the blinds! No more mole-age!
* it was super-stormy, I tried to update my blog 4 times, and every time the power would blink, so I just shut the computer down and went shopping instead :)
* I earned my 10 lb. ribbon at Weight Watchers! And I chose not to celebrate with food, imagine that, I went to the scrapbook store instead.
* I found out that the scrapbook store in my little 'burb, which only opened in May, is already closing :( But that meant I scored some major deals. I am addicted to paper, among other things.
* there were two boxes of cereal in my mailbox - I love swag!

name this blog

My blog needs a name. Something that screams Alanna and is very cool - possible oxymorons?

I am counting on you.

aaaaaaacckkkk!!

I just realized it is now August. WTF?! The calendar on my desk is set to March, can someone tell me where April, May, June and July went? Because I lost them somewhere.

in the dark

It is very hot today, I'm sure you all know that; in an effort to conserve a tiny bit of energy I turned the thermostat up a little (5 degrees) and I am keeping all of the blinds closed and the lights turned off. So far I think it's working.

But I feel like a mole.

Remember Initiation Week at the house? I always felt like a mole then, too.

i like gnomes

I had fun on Friday night, we had a few beers and Jocko and I went out for a late dinner, and I had a margarita. It's been a long time since I've been tipsy (oh wait, I think Andrea's wedding counts); so it's been a long time since I've been tipsy and not at a wedding. There was no crying, Mel, because I don't think I can drink that much anymore.

I thought everyone could use a gnome, this one resides in my backyard. Have a great day!

but i don't want to

I am old. I am supposed to meet Jocko at work and then go to the bar with his buddies from work to celebrate a few birthdays (JOcko's included); but I am super comfy at home in my sweatpants (Mel - the pink ones you gave me:)) and tank top, and my house is like, the perfect temperature.

But I should probably go. Time to pick out an outfit.

america's got talent

last night i burned dinner.

it was soup.

the pink bubble

I'm back from Dallas :) And for the past few days I've been floating in my pink bubble - it's like riding out a Mary Kay high. I came home with a new sparkly bracelet because I was #4 in sales for my area. I also set some new goals for this year, I figure that if I share them with all of you I'll have to work hard to achieve them so that you won't think I'm a big loser.
* become a director
* Queen's Court of Recruiting - I need 24 new consultants, any volunteers ;) - I actually want to be the queen
* Star Consultant every quarter
* earn a pink Cadillac

In other news my very best friend from way back, Merissa, is having back surgery today; could you please pray that she doesn't have any more pain and that she recovers quickly? Thanks so much!

going to the big "D"

I'm leaving today for Mary Kay Seminar in Dallas. WooHoo!
See you all next week :)

today I feel nostalgic

Maybe it's because AJ posted dizzy bat pictures, or because Stephie was reminiscing, or maybe it was seeing Laura's old car - at any rate I felt like digging up old pictures.

Enjoy!

running errands

As I was running errands this afternoon a few things really stuck with me, so I thought I would share them:

Crayons I had to grab a few things at Office Max and there was a back-to-school display of Crayola products; of course, I was drawn in like a moth to light. I think I picked up every product, from watercolors and markers to crayons, and a few new things I'd never seen before, I had to touch them all. I thought about buying a whole bunch, but then I overcame TSM and decided I would look through my current stash before buying any new art supplies - score 1 for me :)

Bumper Stickers The truck in front of me for most of the ride home had a bumper sticker that read "Women love me, Fish fear me." I think that one pretty much explains itself.

Gigantic Drink Cups
Dear Panera Bread,
Your large cups do not fit into the cup holders in my car, thus creating a problem whenever I try to take your yummy iced tea home. Could you maybe work on that a little?
Thanks,
Alanna

I am wasting time...

Sometimes I do not feel motivated to work, I would rather watch every TV show on my tivo and stay in my pajamas and do absolutely nothing. But the thing is, by the end of the day, if I have accomplished nothing I feel terrible, and generally have so much pent up energy that I cannot sleep - so it is best that I actually get some work done, plus it helps when I have to pay bills that I actually have made some money.

So I need to get to work.

But first I wanted to say "Happy Monday."

And post a picture of Zippy - yep, she's still alive, and very spoiled.




That is all :)

Friday Fun!

One of my best friends, Adrienne, had this posted to her blog. It's a short film (maybe 10 min.) that is so cute and charming, perfect for a Friday!

Shoes Off! by Mark Sawers.

Enjoy!

Patio Pictures

Here's the short version:









Can you figure out which caption and picture belong together? Why won't any of this line up correctly?
* Dad and John "breaking ground" - yes, that was my white-trash patio in the before stage. Jocko and I started our patio last summer but ran out of time and money, so we had a weedy square in our yard that collected water when it rained, we affectionately referred to it as "The Pool." The tent was there for the guys to get some shade in, it is definitely not a permanent fixture in our yard.
* The layer of crushed rock. Can you see the length of my neighbor's grass? It was seriosly 6" long, we wish they would just move.
* The Pavers
* Mission Accomplished! Jocko, John and Dad ham it up.

WOOHOO!

I have a patio! My parents and my youngest brother came down for the weekend and we installed our patio. I will post pictures later, but I am super-duper happy with the results :) We have a little bit more work to do - seal the pavers, cover the base and grow some grass, and, of course, pick out some patio furniture.

And in other fabulous news, the guy who lives across the street has suddenly decided to take an interest in his yard - it's about time. He was weeding his front flower beds (note- there are currently no flowers in said beds) this morning; now he is spreading grass seed, presumably to fill in the areas of the grass that have died due to neglect. The best part is that he has the seed in the spreader, but instead of pushing it along he is dragging the spreader willy-nilly through the yard and throwing large handfuls of seed around. Maybe someone should help him, and let him know that when it is this hot outside grass seed has a hard time getting started.... nah, I'm going to assume he's a trial and error kind of guy.

Happy Fourth! If you are going somewhere fun for the holiday and they have snowcones, please eat one for me - I will assume responsibility for all calories :)