Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses

Ah, here are a few Destin beach pictures....more will come when I see Leanne this weekend and steal her pictures!  But I just couldn't resist these!  Inspiration from a sign I once saw and desire to have at my future beach home...hopefully soon if I get a job in the Gulf Shores, Alabama area  :)  

Sandy Toes

Salty Kisses

Crazy two months!

Getting ready for the beach in Destin!!!

It's me!  I know I feel like I fell off the face of the earth...sorry, I promise to keep in touch more often! Ok, so I last chatted with you at the beginning of May...gulp...total slacker!  Ok, where to begin.

My mom and Nana - both are doing FANTASTIC!

My Nana had part of her lung removed and she is doing great!  Still going strong at 83!  The lady doesn't let anything take her down!  She is leaving sometime this month to go back home to Canada to visit her sisters. 

My mom got her chemo port out last week and is doing great.  Her hair is starting to grow back and I think she looks like Cooper Anderson :)  She has to take a pill everyday for the next couple of years, but has a cancer free bill of health!  Right now she is preparing for reconstructive surgery.  Yesterday, she and her friend Elaine went zip lining.  My mom is a superstar!  To quote Leanne "Your mom is at least 8 different kinds of awesome!"  It's true, she is!

End of school/job hunt -  Well, school ended, I did not resign my contract, even though I was asked several times to stay by the Devil Principal.  I am sure she was nervous because 12 teachers were leaving (she talked Laura into staying) - do you think that is a sign of how bad it is there?  Plus I know several assistants are not coming back either.  That doesn't look good on her.  But I know not resigning was the right thing to do, now all I have to do is keep the faith that everything will work out the way it should.  But I am getting NERVOUS/STRESSED because tomorrow is the 1st of July and I still have NOTHING!  I have applied to almost every district from Jackson to New Orleans to Gulf Shores.  I have been emailing principals and still nothing.  Maybe I just need to relax, but it is hard to do.  I did interview with the assistant superintendent for one district, but he said they have no openings on the elementary level right now, but things can open up close to the beginning of school...keeping my fingers crossed.

Boys - I said that I had some dates...yes I did!  My friend Aimee and I had a blind date with some boys from Tupelo (birth place of Elvis).  It was a good time.  My date -boy #1- was a great guy and we are now facebook friends.  And you know what they say... you are only real friends if you are facebook friends.  I guess he wasn't that interested...I haven't really heard from him since.  But the other guy was very loud and honestly, obnoxious and B#1 really didn't get a chance to know me.  Maybe I should try for a second date...maybe not.  

Boy #2, I just don't know what to do about. Let me fill you in...the weekend before Easter (so mid April?) a group of us singles in the Jackson area went a played goofy golf (or mini golf - I think only people from the coast call it goofy golf).  Boy #2  was not supposed to go because he was going out of town for work, but thanks to a tornado hitting Clinton, he ended up not going and was able to come play with us.  B#2 was in my ward in Jackson and I had never really talked to him in the almost 2 years I had lived there.  Well, I should say we never had a conversation other than hey, how's it going?  Well, B#2 and I had a good time and were able to talk a bit and get to know each other.  I was told by a mutual friend that B#2 said he thought I was awesome.  This mutual friend told me B#2 and I need to hang out and get to know each other.  Well, B#2 went home for Easter and I did facebook him and he mentioned getting together when he got back...ok cool.  We made plans for dinner and a movie.  For the first Friday in May.  However, the Sunday before (last Sunday in April) I was invited to his house for Sunday dinner and he asked me to stay and watch a movie.  Anyways, things were going great, he came to a crawfish boil (mid May) with me at my friends (even though he is allergic) and that night he told me I was good for him, he hadn't felt this way about anyone in a long time (he is divorced), and I had him hooked.  Ok, I melted and fell for him hook,line and sinker.  At this point though I had less than 2 weeks in Jackson and then I was moving home, but he said we would make it work.  Things were going well...and then the night before I left for the coast, I went to watch a movie at his house and as I was leaving, he told me he couldn't make it work in his mind and he didn't want a relationship with me but still wanted to be friends...SERIOUSLY!!!  I went numb, I didn't know what to say, how to react, I think my mouth hit the ground.  What the heck just happened?  Earlier that day he called me 3 times as he was driving to job sites to talk and everything was normal...what happened in a couple of hours???  I agreed to be friends.  I liked him, he's a good guy (except for dropping a BOMB on me).  I don't know what happened, I haven't asked....should I?   Well, the thing is, things haven't changed.  We still talk on the phone all the time (at least 3-5 days a week and usually for an hour or so at a time).  I have been out with him when I went to Jackson two weeks ago (and after our outing, we sat in my car for 2 hours talking) and last night I met him in Slidell (he is working in Covington this week) for dinner.  When we go out, he pays for everything, but he is a good guy.  We flirt with each other.  I feel like nothing has changed...so can it work being friends?  I like him, but if he just wants to be friends, why waste time and energy on him right?  But part of me still does like him, I like spending time with him, talking with him and getting to know him.  Suggestions?  Advice?

So that is what is going on with me....Oh I did go to Destin, Florida last weekend with Leanne and Paula for our annual girls weekend.  So much fun... pictures to come in a blog post soon... I need to get some of Leanne's pictures!

Love ME!

Can a pair of shoes change your life?

"Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change a girls life"

Really? It worked for Cinderella, can it work for me? I need to find those glass slippers that have Prince Charming attached to them.   I love shoes, but with all the pairs I have bought, I haven't found a pair yet that has changed my life. However, while on vacation this past weekend, I did find these little beauties! I had fun trying them on, but sadly I had to leave them behind. Why you may ask...why they are Jimmy Choo's and Manolo Blahnik's...that's why! My teacher budget does not allow for these shoes...maybe I need a new profession. I don't think they would have completely changed my life, but when they were on my feet, they brought a smile to my face. Oh Jimmy, Oh Manolo, why can't you make shoes for a working girls budget? So, I am on the hunt now for a pair of shoes that will make me feel like Cinderella...but on my payless/clearance rack budget. In the meantime, I will have fun trying these on!

A little random, but but thanks for listening

I find myself standing here with the only thought... "ok, what do I do now?"  and I have nothing, no answer, no clue what to do next. Part of me is scared, and part of me is ok with it. 


Let me catch yall up...


Last August, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was unexpected but it was caught early.  She had to have two surgeries and had four rounds of chemo and is now doing wonderful!  She is hoping her hair will come back in curly!  Through the whole ordeal, my mom was a rock.  She had the best attitude, which I feel, helped the outcome of the situation.  Needless to say, I have been home just about every weekend and for a week with each surgery.   It has been great getting to spend so much time with her over the past months.    We just found out that my Nana has lung cancer, she has had surgery and is doing well.  They are discussing the next step of what to do. 


As I traveled so much from Jackson to the coast and realized that I am working in a completely miserable place, I began to ponder if I should stay there next year or if I should find something new.  After much pondering and prayer, I know that leaving the school I am in is the right thing to do.  So, I gave my resignation letter and have signed all the papers and as of June 2, 2011, I am jobless.  But you know what?  I know resigning was the right thing to do and I know everything will be ok. 


I am a planner, I like having a plan.  And I think I do.  But through my life, I have found that my plans are not always Heavenly Father's plans for me.  I wanted to be a doctor, but I know being a teacher is what I should be doing.  I wanted to be married by 25 and here I am at 32 still single.  I never wanted to go to BYU, but I ended up at BYUI and LOVED every minute of it.  My plans never seem to go as I plan, but when I look back, the way they ended up is way better than my ending picture. 


Now, since I started thinking about quitting, I have always said, if I have a reason to stay in Jackson, I would.  Do I have a reason?  I don't know yet.  But here is my tentative plan:  I am moving home for the summer.  I don't know where I am going to work.  I have applied for several jobs and went to the St. Tammany job fair, but nothing.  I do know I will end up where Heavenly Father needs me to be.  Why I ended up in Jackson, I don't know yet.  I have made great friends.  I love my ward.  And since I have made the decision to quit my current job and move home, I have had a couple of dates with some really great guys. So, now I am completely drawing blanks about what to do.  The only thing I do know and when I pray about it is, everything will be ok.  Not the answer I want, I am more of a give me a flashing sign/do this kinda girl.   I would love to have the inspiration of exactly where to apply or where to move or what to do, but that is not the answer I am getting.  So, I am moving home for the summer and I will go from there and I know everything will work out. 




So, thanks for listening to me ramble about this and I will let you know where I end up.

I love the 610 Stompers, I really do

You might be asking...you love the who? what?  Well, I love the 610 Stompers.   They are a group of middle aged men that dress up in funky 1980s short man shorts (in blue), knee socks with the 2 stripes on top (my dad had these socks!), oh and the gold sparkly shoes are the best!  Now, you might be wondering, why are these guys dressed like this?  The answer...to dance!!!  I can't explain it, you have to see the video to understand.  Maybe it is just me, maybe it is because the are from the city I love, New Orleans, maybe they just make me smile.  I don't know... I just love the 610 Stompers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy the two videos...hope you get a chuckle or they make you smile too! :)

This is one is during the great Superbowl 2010!  At the Buddy D parade....

This was at the NO Hornets game the other day...

I am a guest blogger!

Ok yall go check out my friend Brittany's blog

House of Sorensens

to check out my guest blog spot

I am super excited!

I am a WINNER!

I have had the worst luck lately ... I have been trying to win a silhouette  and have had no luck.  However, yesterday that changed!  I won a contest!   No, it wasn't a silhouette.  But it is awesome none the less.  :)   

My friend Brittany at House of Sorensens, had a contest for a headband from Love Stitched.  And thanks to random.org....my number was picked!  So, now I am anxiously watching the mail for this to come....

Pictures to come when I get it!!!

It's Fat Tuesday, Yall!

Happy Mardi  Gras!!!

Ok, yall it's the last day of one of my favorite holidays.  Yes, Mardi Gras is a holiday, well down here in South Mississippi, Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans it is!
It truly is one of the best holidays ever! 

I know many of you have only heard the negative aspects of Mardi Gras. (The news is always reporting the negative) It is true, the traffic is horrible, parking for parades can be a beast, you sometimes have to walk forever from your car to the parade route, there are drunk people, sometimes a shooting (yet I have never seen or heard one - and I have been going to Mardi Gras since I was little!!), "there ain't no place to pee on Mardi Gras Day" - sang by Benny Grunch -  bathrooms are hard to come by at times, and yes when you go to the French Quarter you do see exposed body parts at times.

However, there are many positives to the Mardi Gras season...

first, Mardi Gras can be family friendly!  You have to know where to watch the parades and you just don't go down to the French Quarter.   Where I like to go for parades, if very family friendly...lots of them gathered together to watch the parades.  Little kids are put into boxes on top of ladders so they can see better and be seen better by those on the floats!

Ladder seats for kids!

Also, this year I was able to get in some cousin bonding time with my two little cousins Sofia (the blonde) and Anna (the brunette).  They are 14 and 16 and were super stoked to be able to go to parades with me!  Also, Sof told me her friends were jealous that she got to go with her cool older cousin and not her parents.  :) 

Sof, Anna and I waiting for the Krewe of  Troth to begin

Another awesome thing about Mardi Gras is ... Parades!!!  The floats are spectacularly decorated (each Krewe has a different theme for the year...Throth was 'Throth goes to college', each float was a different subject; Bacchus had a wonderful theme 'Bacchus salutes WWII Veterans' - each float was a different branch of the military or a different war effort... one float had war vets on it!).  The floats in the night parades are all lit up, you have gotta love a little glitter and sparkle in life! 

Oh and when the floats are passing you have to stick your hands in the air and yell 'THROW ME SOMTHIN MISTER'  and grab for the flying plastic bead necklaces, plastic go cups (cups you can put your drink in so you can take it to go), and whatever things for flying through the air

Throw Me Somethin Mister!!!!

Gotta get those hands up!

Some of my loot!

Many people love to dress up in costume and others get creative with their transportation

This was a marching group..I forget their name...but look how fun!

Transforming a wagon into a famous New Orleans street car...way to travel in style!

These guys start the Endymion parade!

How could I forget the costumes that the king, queens, dukes, maids, and riders wear??  The royalty of the parades are decked out is fabulousness!

A Duke in Bacchus

King of Endymion waves Happy Mardi Gras to all!

All riders wear mask to hide their identity ... a Mardi Gras tradition!

Oh how can one forget the celebrities that ride in the big parades!

This year in Endymion...Kelly Rippa, Mark Consuelos and Anderson Cooper!

The marching bands are always a treat to watch!

Marine Corps Band! 

How can one forget the flambeau?  (pronounced flam bo)

These guys carry the flambeaus with real fire and people throw change at them...or if they are nice they hand the money to them...one family next to us gave all the guys a black and mild cigar!  That is one I haven't seen before!

There are other great things about Mardi Gras - for kids on the coast and the New Orleans area, you get days off school (some places get the whole week off!), Mardi Gras balls, parties, KING CAKE!, the music,  the traditions that go along with it, the food, the gathering of family and friends for a day of fun, the debate of whether you are a sidewalk side or neutral ground side person (this is where you watch the parades from -- I personally am a sidewalk side girl).  

So as you can see from my pictures of this years Mardi Gras celebration, it really is a fun and exciting time!  And my offer stands, if you have never been, come down next year and see me, we will have a BLAST!!!   Jackomo fe no nan e'! 

So until next year, Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Britt's Giveaway!

Hey Yall!

My friend/former roommate Brittany is having an awesome giveaway! It is a super cute headband from Love Stitched! Check it out!

House of Sorensens: Headbands! {and a giveaway!}: "Guess what I got in the mail today!? No really, guess. No? K, I'll tell you. My Love Stitched headbands! (Betcha didn't know that!) Ohhh..."

Spring Fever...in January?!?!?!!!

This can't be a good thing.  Here it is January 29th and it was 75 degrees today.  I knew the weather was going to be pretty today, but not this gorgeous!  I woke up early (7am) - oh why can't I sleep in??  Well, I guess I am since I get up at 5:15 during the week.  Anyways,  I cleaned the kitchen and bathroom and picked up in the living room.  Then I got ready to meet Ashley for lunch at Jason's Deli.  Ok, side note - this place is pretty much yumm-o!  So if you have one near by, give it a try!  My goal for today was to have this afternoon to be relaxing and lazy.  That it was!   After lunch, I jumped in my car and headed towards the Natchez Trace.  Once I got on the Trace, I headed towards Tupelo, Mississippi.  My windows were down and my radio was on and I was singin along!  The sun was shinning and the sky was blue!  My bag was packed with a blanket and some good reading material.  My goal was to find a good place to soak up some rays and read.  No signs of Spring other than the temperature.  The trees are still bare, will expect for the evergreens.

Driving on the Trace

My first stop was the Reservoir (the Res) lookout.  There were many people there, so I just took some pictures and kept on going.

The Res look out

There were several places to stop but I felt the need to keep driving so I did and I came to the river bend.  It is where the Pearl River bends.  The Pearl River flows into the Res and then continues to the Gulf of Mexico.  In reality, I could float on down it all the way home. 

Pearl River bend

I then came upon the Cypress Swamp.  There was a lovely walking/hiking trail that I went on.  I enjoyed nature and fresh air.  They had a few benches along the mile or so trail and I sat and enjoyed the day and the scenery.  I was a wonderful place to meditate about the wonders around  me. 

Check out those Cypress knees

Me at the Cypress Swamp

Then I decided to head back towards the Res.  But the lookout was still crowed, so I decided to head back closer to town and the Yacht Club.  There is a park by the Yacht Club so that is where I went.  It may have felt like Spring, but the grass is still brown.  I spread out my blanket, kicked off my shoes, soaked up some rays and got in some good reading!

Perfect place to lay out a blanket...right on the water. 

Someone decided to feed the gulls

What a great view while reading!

So today was a PERFECT day!  I hope every weekend is like this!  It could be a bad thing having Spring fever set in a few months early, but I think I will be ok with it  :)    I wish I could do the same tomorrow after church, but there is a 90% chance of rain...bummer!  

You've gotta have a little humor

Oh it has certainly been a Monday!  First, it didn't help that I got about 2 hours of sleep last night, why?  I am really not sure.  Second, the weather didn't help...gloomy, drizzly, just gross.  Both of those plus 30 kindergarten babies equals a cranky teacher and hyper kids.   SO, in times like this you have to find something to laugh about otherwise you will go crazy.  

First, I confiscated a fake eyeball thing and a slinky from one of my boys.    How many times do I have to say... don't bring toys to school or it will become mine?  I must tell you that I have a lovely collection of trinkets because of this.  I decided to see what was so fun about the fake eyeball....check it out and decide for yourself...

Pretty fun, eh?

Well, the drizzle slacked off and we were able to go outside after lunch for a much needed energy release.  I happened to look over at the swings in time to see Cristian swinging like this.  I started laughing because the only thing that came to my mind was Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump.   What do you think?

My New Rizzide

Ok, so I told you before how I hate car sales people.  I get so flustered just walking on a car lot because I know I am going to be flocked upon like a lion after a gazelle.  I went to Slidell two weekends ago and went to about 7 lots and had no luck.  I spent the next couple of days looking at every dealership from Mobile, Alabama to Slidell, Louisiana to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to Jackson, Mississippi.  By Wednesday, I had it narrowed down to 5 vehicles and was feeling pretty good about all of them.  On Friday, 3 had sold and I was down to two...an 08 Nissan Altima and an 08 Jeep Patriot.  I had an appointment to test drive the Patriot on Saturday morning and I made an appointment to test drive the Altima Friday night.  The sales lady, Dawn,  was pretty good Friday and I was pretty much sold on the Altima.  It gets great gas mileage and is pretty sporty.  But I was still toying with the Patriot.  The SUV is bigger, more cargo room, and according to my mom they are safer.  Well, you know Dawn didn't want me to leave so she let me take the car home for the night!  I had a sudden reality that I am grown up, because they only let grown ups take cars home for the night.  So, I was pretty much in love with it before I made it home.  My mind was made up.  I went back Saturday and signed my life away.  So, here are some pictures of my new car.  The 2008 Nissan Altima.  Oh it's so pretty! But it doesn't have a name yet.  Suggestions???

I think I need a light tint on the windows...thoughts?

Please ignore the dirt...you see where I park and it has been raining...trip to the car wash coming soon!

It has a push button ignition...no keys!!!!  There is also a button on the door handle and as long as my remote is on me, I just push the button and the doors unlock or lock!  It also has a safety feature that if the remote is inside the car and I try to lock the door using the button, it won't lock...no more Pop-A-Lock!

Look NO PLIERS NEEDED! 

For those of you who rode in Streaker, the knobs for the AC were broken and came off so I had to use pliers to change my air settings.

RIP Streaker

Good Ol Steaker.

I bought Streaker in September 2005 after Hurricane Katrina drowned my cute Protege.  I have to admit that the last car I wanted to buy was a blue Ford.  Look what I ended up buying a blue Mercury (Ford product)...a lesson in never say never.   Even though this was not my dream car or even a car I remotely wanted, and really wasn't thrilled to purchase, it was the right price and a great deal for that time in my life.  A time when I lost my home, job and the life I had known.  Streaker became a car that I relied on and learned to love.   We have had some good times! 

I don't have too many pictures of Streaker, but here is a pretty good picture of him....right after his first snow!

 

 When I bought Streaker, he only had 24000 miles on him and no one had ever sat in the back seat and the trunk had never been used!  Not too bad for a car that was 8 years old!  Now he is 14 years old and has 124000 miles on him.  This past September, he got sick and broke down on the interstate.  The first (and hopefully last) time I have ever broke down in a car!  Luckily I had Leanne with me to keep me company while her husband Branson came to our rescue!   Since then he ran a constant fever and over Thanksgiving went to the shop again.  My mom kept him and when I came home for Christmas, he was still running fever and was severely dehydrated.  I would give him water and it would disappear.  So back to the shop he went.  Dr. Randy kept him for three weeks trying to figure out what was wrong.  Finally a diagnosis was made.  The fluid from the radiator was going straight into the engine.  As old as Streaker is it is not worth pumping money into to fix.  So I am going to donate Streaker to Bridgehouse (a charity in New Orleans) and will be purchasing a new car on Saturday....gulp.  I have been looking at cars for awhile now and went to some dealerships over the last two weeks.  I have narrowed it down to 5 vehicles and pretty much have it down to two of those.    By the way can I say I HATE car shopping and car salesmen....out of the 8 I have talked to only 1 has been FANTASTIC and unfortunately I will not be 

purchasing a car from him.  

So over the past 5 years, Streaker and I have been from one coast of this country to the other.  We have traveled from the north of this country to the south.  We have been though 20 states and seen many things.  It was the car I drove the first time I drove in snow.  It was the car I drove as I moved across the country.  Good times and bad this car has been great!  

Here are a few pictures of some of the great memories in Streaker and there are so many more that were not photographed!

Fun times with roommates dancing in the car

 lots of room to fit lots of friends!

 beautiful moments from Mother Nature on the windows

 miles of road and open spaces

 Streaker was a great tripod for road trip pictures

 a bed for road trips that begin at 2am on a whim

 driving road where the snow is taller than the car

So good bye Streaker, we have had some great times and some great memories.  Thanks for safely taking me from one end of this country to the other.  Thanks for letting me blare the radio with the windows down and singing at the top of my lungs when I needed to drive.  Thanks for being there so I could help others and make great memories with my friends.  

You were a great car!