Decor for Christmas

After the horrible loss to LSU, we decided to decorate for Christmas to try and cheer up.

Halloween Bash

We had our annual Halloween Party last weekend. Here are some pics...

Four Years

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband of four years!

A Weekend Alone

Brook decided to mosey on down to Dallas for the weekend, so I was a single gal this weekend. Friday night, I ate dinner with my friend Rachel and went to Walgreens & bought some random things. They have so much Halloween stuff! I somehow made it out of there without buying any of it. I got home and decided that I might as well just go to bed. I started watching Sense and Sensibility. I've probably fallen asleep to this movie at least 100 times. Really.

Vito slept with me Friday night. He normally isn't allowed to sleep in our bedroom, but when I'm alone, I let him. He woke me up very early shivering, so I had to cover him.

Saturday morning, I drove to Ft. Smith and got my hair did. I listened to some of the game on the radio on my way back. I made it back in time to finish watching the game. Poor Vito didn't understand why I was yelling at the tv. After that stressful event, I watched the Auburn/ S. Carolina game. Then, I fed my brother's dogs, and got some dinner. I have been looking forward to this particular dinner all week. When Brook told me he would be gone, my mind immediately thought of Braum's. So, this is what I came home with. Cheeseburger deluxe, fries, cherry limeade, and M&M mix. AWESOME!!

Then I settled in on the couch and watched I Capture the Castle. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Vito and I hung out on the deck for a little while after the game. This pic is out of order. Sunday, I cleaned, did homework, and gave Vito a bath. It was a nice weekend alone, but I was very happy to have Brook back home.

Pumpkin Bars

Last week, it cooled down, and I just had this urge to make something with pumpkin in it. So, I decided to try some pumpkin bars. They turned out perfectly and they were super easy to make. I did make a huge mess in the kitchen with all the flour and powdered sugar, though. Aren't you supposed to make a big mess, though? Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Bars

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

4 eggs, beaten

1 16 oz. can pumpkin

1 1/3 cup sugar

1 cup cooking oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine beaten eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil until well blended. Add dry ingredients and mix together until smooth. Spread batter into ungreased baking pan (15x11x1). I used a cookie sheet. Bake in oven for 25-35 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat together the following ingredients until light and fluffy.

1 3 oz. package cream cheese

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup margarine

Add 2 cups powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Spread icing over cooled cake. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. I tried 3 different kinds of nuts (pecans, walnuts, & macadamias). I think the pecans complimented the pumpkin the best.

Swooning over here

It seems like not too long ago, I blogged about Dexter and how Michael C. Hall was easy on the eyes. I have moved on to an older man. Kevin McKidd. He plays Dr. Owen Hunt on Grey's Anatomy. Excuse me while I swoon. Could it be the red hair and blue eyes?? :) Yes, we started Grey's Anatomy. We've never watched it and wanted to get into a good tv show this summer. We have 14 episodes left and then we'll be caught up to the most current season.

Oliver's Hospital Adventure

Saturday afternoon, Oliver, the fat black cat, started acting very strange. He was panting heavily and acting like he needed to pee in the kitchen sink. That was very strange for him as he occasionally sleeps in the sink. Yes, I know that may sound strange to some, but it is true. Anyway, i called the emergency clinic and they told us to go ahead and bring him in because they wouldn't know how bad off he was until a vet examined him. We got him in the crate, which is somewhat comical since he's rather plump. We got all checked in at the clinic and they took him to the back. I was so upset, I didn't really remember what all the vet told us. I was relying on Brook to listen and remember everything. And he did. Oliver had urinary blockage and needed a catheter and all this other business. He had stay at the clinic until Monday morning. I hated that he had to stay there. I missed him a lot. Little Bit hollered all night long. I guess he missed him too. We picked up Oliver on Monday morning and took him to our regular vet. He wanted to keep him overnight until they could remove his catheter. We got to take him home on Tuesday. Well, ever since he's been home, Little Bit has been growling and hissing at him and just being a little pill. He's also been pouting and going under our bed. Brook suspects that Little Bit got used to being the only cat for a few days and now he's being territorial. I kind of get it. He is an animal, after all. But still! These are two cats who love each other. They cuddle, play, and sleep together. At least they did. I've told Little Bit he's going to have to just get over it. Oliver isn't going anywhere again, hopefully!! And for the record, the Emergency Vet Clinic is EXPENSIVE! Here is evidence that they do love each other.

DIY Necklace Hanger

I really wanted something to hang my necklaces on, so we got the idea to just get some cute knobs, spray paint, and scrap wood. And, voila! Brook is great at DIY projects!

The CrossFit Post

Let's see, where to begin? I thought I was in fairly good shape. I was WRONG. All of my life, I've been an active person. I took dance for 15 years. I did gymnastics. I did hot yoga. I did Yoga Booty Ballet. I did Jillian's 30 day shred. Like I said, I thought I was in fairly good shape. A little over a year ago, my best friends started going to this place called CrossFit. I knew it was some sort of a gym, but that was about it. When we went to dinner, it was almost all they talked about. CrossFit this, CrossFit that! I was always intrigued by what they were talking about, but I didn't really understand everything. I loved hearing about the other CrossFitters. I loved hearing about how they were losing inches and getting into better shape. Naturally, I felt left out. I finally couldn't take it anymore and they convinced me to try it for a week. My first day was March 21st. I was introduced to the pull up, with a band of course, because not many people can do a pull up unassisted on the very first try. I also did front squats with a bar. The workout itself wasn't that bad. The trainer scaled me back of course. Well, early the next morning, around 1:00 a.m., I woke up not able to straighten my arms. I had never done that many pullups in my life. The first week was brutle. I've never been so sore. I thought Jillian made me sore. This did not even compare. I could barely walk. Fastword to today-- it has been almost 4 months since I started CrossFit and I will say that it is the HARDEST fitness endeavor I've ever tried. I feel so much better physically and mentally. I am now in the best shape I've ever been. I will say this though. You can think you are in good shape, but then when you're gasping for air b/c it is 100 degrees outside and you're running (or jogging), you DO NOT feel like you are in good shape. You just feel like shit. Pardon my french. It is difficult to write about this b/c I feel like some of this would be better explained in person, so I guess if you see me, ask me about CrossFit, and I will talk your ear off. Apparently, this happens to people who start CrossFit and they become a bit obsessed. I have become obsessed. I am one of the people who check the CrossFit blog like crazy every night to see what the next day's WOD will be. WOD means "workout of the day." I have become so obsessed that I will literally talk to myself in the car on the way there. As in, I tell myself that the WOD is going to be so hard and it is going to suck, but I have to do it. This started when I did "Karen" for the first time. Karen is 150 wallballs. Wallballs aren't fun. Ask any CrossFitter. I didn't want to go, but secretly, I really did. I wanted to try to do it. I wanted to go, so I could say that I did it. And I did. And it was awful. It was so hard. But, I did it. Same case with "Murph." I wanted to try it. I knew it would be awful. But I did it. Then I got really mad, b/c I realized I didn't complete everything, but that's another story. I did a pullup without a band. Without a band!!! I've completed the "Filthy 50" twice now. My hands have ripped from doing K2E (knees to elbows). Rips hurt. As in, you scream bloody murder when you stick your hands in hot salty bath water. I have been in the middle of a WOD and thought to myself, "Why did I come today? I should've just stayed home. Something is wrong with me for wanting to put myself through this!" Then I push through. I keep going. I tell myself that I will finish. Then....it's over. Sweet rest. I get to lie down in front of the fan and talk to the other people who also pushed through the pain. I don't know how else to word it. You think you can't do something. But then your body surprises you. Your mind surprises you. You feel like you can do anything. I love it. I simply love it.

Greece Vacation

These are just a few of the pics from our Greece trip. Brook posted a ton on facebook. We went to Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete. Santorini was the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. Watching the sunset was indescribable. I want to go back so bad. If I could move Vito, La Huerta, and my friends there, I'd stay.

Parthenon... Athena's temple

Crossfit workout in Mykonos

Mykonos pool...

Beach at Mykonos...

View from our room in Mykonos. Norm spent a lot of time out here.

Local ederly folks in Mykonos...

Mykonos town...

Winery in Santorini...

Santorini view from our hotel...

Watching the sunset in Santorini at dinner...

Hotel pool...

Black sand beach in Santorini...

Dinner in Crete...

Ouzo!!!!!!!