The 12 Days of (Almost) Christmas ...

This is the greatest video.  These guys can really sing.  And I mean REALLY.  But the best part is the end ...

Wasn't that just greatness?  Not to mention the end is one of my favorite songs.  Mixed in with some Christmas music.  What could be better?  One other thing that made my week this week, yesterday, on 80's on 8 on my XM Radio in my car they announced that NEXT MONDAY The Holly Channel will be hitting the XM airwaves!  CAN.NOT.WAIT.  Non-stop Christmas music?  In my car?  All the time?  Yes please.  I heart the holidays.  They are like Prozac to the soul.  And Christmas music is like a double dose.  That is one thing I'll happily overdose on :0)  AND if you'd like a prescription refill, type this little link http://player.play.it/player/player.html?id=2989 in your browser and enjoy 103.7 Lite FM's Christmas Station online until it TOO breaks onto the airwaves and plays nonstop Christmas music until New Year's Day.  LOVE IT.  Bring on the cheer.

Falling in love with Fall!

Okay, so I lied.  I took zero, well none worth sharing, pictures this weekend.  I know.  You're worried.  I promise I'm not sick.  Nor do I have a fever.  We were pretty much constantly in the car and there really wasn't an opportune time to snap any photos.  And the worst part about that is that it was beautiful.  BEE-U-TI-FUL.  Arkansas looks like it's supposed to look during fall.  Every tree is some gorgeous shade of red, orange, or yellow.  I hate to have to admit this because I have become a pro at the strong disliking and opposing of Arkansas.  Why you ask?  Well after my best friend got married, it claimed her and stole her away from me, and then shortly after I got married, it whisked my husband away for 5 weeks after returning from our honeymoon bliss and continues to whisk him away every Spring for about 2 to 3 months.  Like I said before in the other post, don't worry, I'm okay.  We have a big love of a dog that keeps me safe and company while he's gone, and I'm so used to it now it's like clock work.  But I still hold to my strong dislike of Arkansas.  Well, I should say I DID.  Now I can't hate it.  It's too pretty.  And quaint.  I really felt like someone was surely about to yell "ACTION" on a set of some movie called "The Perfect Thanksgiving" or "The Cutest Neighborhood Ever" or "The Cleavers Do Fall" ... I probably shouldn't be a movie titler, those are just terrible.  Anywho, seriously, there were leaves EVERYWHERE, people out raking them, hills for miles, and trees, OH the trees!  For roads upon stretches of rows, trees and more trees!  I didn't know what to do with myself, not seeing bulldozers and concrete and construction EVERYWHERE.  It just seems so cozy and homey (I don't know how to spell that where it doesn't look like "g-funk wud up homey" ... you know what kind I mean).  So I guess I can't hate it anymore.  Dangit.  I was so good at it.  And since we can't have the gorgeousness that is Arkansas fall in Texas, I will try and bring it into The Fulmer Household ... with fake leaves and pumpkins ...

Now I'm not going to act like this new-found love of Arkansas makes me like the fact it steals my husband away from me 1/4th of the year, BUT I do know and appreciate that HE'S the one that has to endure packing and unpacking week in and week out, airports, airplanes, hotels, working late, not sleeping in his own bed, and travelling 1/4th of the year and that he does it all, without complaining I might add, for our little family.  Plus he makes it much easier to handle when I wake up to these planted around our house ...

Sticky notes.  This one was on my computer.  It's not a very good picture but I wanted to share the sweetness that is my husband.  I tried to take a picture of the ones on my mirror, but the reflection issue was getting on my last nerve.  He leaves me these when he leaves for the week.  It's like Christmas waking up on the mornings he leaves.  Except the fact that he's not there.  It sure helps ease the wait until he comes back home at the end of the week.  I tend to just leave them up.  I'm such a lucky girl.  It also helps me realize and appreciate how little time and not big of a deal it is when he's gone for four days home for three when I think of my sweet friend Amber.   Amber's husband, Josiah, is deployed right now leaving her with no idea when he'll come home. She just has to be patient and wait. She is such a strong girl.  You are my hero Mrs. Rawlings!  With that in mind let's all remember to say a prayer for our troops during this holiday season and in particular for Amber and Josiah who are pretty much newlyweds and have to sacrifice so much to make our country the free and safe one it is.  Thank you both so much! 

Well, that's all for today kids.  And remember, my Girl's Night Thanksgiving Party is THIS Thursday, so if you want to come and you didn't get the Evite, shoot me your email and I'll send it your way!

OOOOOOOOOO-KLAHOMA ...

"Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain!"  Did you sing it when you saw the title?  You know you did.  If you didn't I'm assuming you've never seen the movie or play, which in that case is un-American and you should be ashamed.  It's fantastic.  And I feel bad for you if you've never seen it.  Really, go rent it.  You won't be sorry.  I just love old movies.  Well, that's right folks.  We're going to Oklahoma tomorrow for Chris (Waugh) and Gena's wedding!  I'm super excited, I just love weddings.  Dancing and hanging out with friends you never get to see PLUS an excuse to dress up?  Yes please.  The wedding festivities are beginning at 4pm and I'm thinking probably won't go later than 8 or 9pm.  Mr. Fulmer's informed me there are casinos in the area and we have a few good couple friends that are going to be staying the night in ole OK after the wedding as well so I'm thinking that's where we may end up.  I'm all about some slot machines.  Mainly because I don't have to think and the fate of my winning is not in my hands.  My mom took me on a trip to Atlantis when I graduated from BU and I won $500 on the slot machine.  Thankfully (ha.  thankfully?  right.  I can feel my husband's eyes rolling) there was a Gucci store (tax-free!) IN the hotel so I walked my happy, lucky self right in there and got a purse with my winnings.  I feel like it was a good investment.  Then, on Sunday we are going to get up bright and early, and head to ...

Matt travels to Arkansas every year for business.  He has a big client up there and he spends 2 to 3 months (home on weekends people, it's okay, don't cry for me Argentina) out of the year having to go to Conway, AR for their audit.  He's been doing this every year since we've been married and I'm completely used to it, but I've always wanted to know what this place looks like that he has to go to every year.  I'm weird and just like to have a visual.  So then I can picture him when he whisks away every Monday returning on Friday, in the little town of Conway, along with what the restaurants and hotel he stays at look like.  Then it won't feel like he's in this magical made up place in my head that looks somewhat like a cross between a desert and Disney World mixed with a bunch of hillbillies (sorry if you're from AR) running to and fro.  PLUS on top of him working there, my sweet Mr. was born there!  Well not in Conway, but in Little Rock, so we're going to go see the house he grew up in, the school he went to, the hospital he was born in and eat somewhere for lunch that's authentic to Arkasas.  I'm SO excited for a mini road trip with my love.  They are always so much fun.  It should be a fun-filled weekend.  Oh, don't you worry, I am sure there will be 842 pictures.  Much to my husband's despise.  It's okay, he's used to it ...

Ramblings On A Thursday ...

TGIAF (Thank God it's Almost Friday) Seriously.  Isn't that the truth?  Okay, first off.  Tuesday night my mom invited me, my Silly, my Mama (it's pronounced Mamaw and I usually type it that way so people don't think I mean Momma, but really it's spelled Mama so that's how it's gettin' spelled!) and my Aunt Kathy to a Bingo, shopping, cocktail night at Stonebriar, their Country Club.  Let's stop for a second.  Has anyone ever wondered why the heck they call it a Country Club?  I mean it is far from County that's for dang sure.  It should be called a Costly Club.  Everyone knows it's expensive to be in one and it's expensive to participate in one.  If it REALLY was a "Country" Club, the people would dress in flannel, not Chanel, they would have beer pong parties, not cocktail parties, and the activites would include hunting and Nascar not golfing and tennis.  And the yearly dues would be paid in livestock, i.e. one pig/cow/chicken/horse for one year of membership.  Anyhow, sorry, side note.  Back to the fun cocktail, shopping, Bingo girl's night.  We had 5 girls at our table, which means 5 different Bingo cards, 2 to 3 raffle tickets each for the raffles and we didn't win a dang thing!  What are the odds!?!?!  I THOUGHT pretty good but apparently not.  I did get some really cute stuff (a couple of rings, a scarf and a cute bracelet) and my Silly and I took a cute picture in the boas we were given for buying the unlucky raffle tickets.  We did have a blast, even though we didn't win.  Don't worry.  I'm not bitter.

In other news, I have a new goal, or milestone I guess you might say ... if you know me at all, you know that I have had acrylic nails pretty much since I was a freshman at Baylor.  My issue is, if I don't have them, I chew, pick, bite, the CRAP out of my cuticles.  I mean it's bad.  It looks like I've stuck the tips of my fingers in acid and burnt the skin off of my cuticles.  If I DO have them, well, then I can't do this.  Oh believe me.  I've tried.  Something about the acrylics, whether it's the thickness I don't know, keeps me from devouring my fingers.  Well, I've decided I'm going to take the dang things off and TRY not to ravage my cuticles.  They are expensive, it's time consuming to go get them filled and on top of that I've got to believe that my nail beds are a LITTLE happier without being choked and smothered to death and having some air to breathe.  The PROBLEM is, most of the time I have no idea I'm chewing the business out of them!  I will sit through a whole movie and then look down at my hands after and think "Who ate all my cuticles!?!?  Let me at 'em, where are they?!?!"  And yes, it is yours truely that's at fault, no one did, in fact, grab my hand and chew off my cuticles during the movie without me knowing.  But that could've completely happened for all I know due to the fact that I'm a unknowning cuticle wrecker.  SO here are my "healthy" (as much as they can be after ripping off acrylics, yes I did it with my teeth, another thing for them to notice when I get my FIVE cavities filled ... dangit) nails and cuticles.  Let's see how long they stay in tact (notice on my thumb, the cuticle gnome has already gotten to that one a bit ... dadgumit this is going to be harder than I thought ...)  I will keep you updated on how my progress (or lack thereof) is going ...

Lastly, does anyone's calender already look like this ...

The 5th day in November and it's already getting filled up?  Mostly this excites me because it's a lot of fun stuff, but at the same time, sometimes it overwhelms me because I know I have a lot to do for each of these things.  Let's all make sure we don't get so overwhelmed this holiday season that we miss the blessings and the joy that each one brings.  Take time to tell God you are thankful.  Thankful for family, thankful for friends, thankful you have the means to do all these things that keep you so busy.  Then all the sudden you are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude instead of stress and busyness.  Happy Holiday time everyone, soak it up, they DO only come once a year you know!!!

Wishful Wednesday ...

I have seen this on a few of my friend's blogs and followed the links to find out where it started.  Kelsey Smith (she's from Texas and I feel like I may have met/known her growing up?) has an adorable blog, The Seattle Smith's and she started this little fun idea.  So here is my first Wishful Wednesday post ...

"I wish I could re-live MY WEDDING DAY over and over again!!!

I would give anything to be able to re-do that day.  Over and over again.  In slow motion and take it in.  All of it.  Dance more with my husband, feel those butterflies of "Oh my gosh I just married the man of my dreams", EAT THE FOOD WE PAID FOR and talk to everyone I didn't get to talk to.  I wouldn't mind having a nice long gorgeous honeymoon to Bora Bora to look forward to right after either ... (oh and let's be honest, I'd also love to weigh 89 lbs again (kidding I weighed more than that) ... I'm working on that ... you'd THINK running 15 - 20 miles every week would be accomplishing that wouldn't you!?!?!)

SO if you want to do a Wishful Wednesday, head over to Kelsey's blog, grab the button and tell everyone what YOU would re-live over and over again!

Talented Tuesday!

I wanted to take today's post to feature three talented ladies.  These ladies have started online businesses to share their talents with all of you, and for very reasonable prices I might add!  The first talent I want to share is my sister-in-love's.  She is starting a website to sell her items.  It is not up and running yet, but she is going to be featuring invitations, CHRISTMAS CARDS (yes, I know, great timing right?) birth announcements AND amazing photo name frames (she can do them in baby's names, last names, different color mats, pretty much whatever you'd like).  She has a degree in graphic design so she can design anything you want in the way of invitations and Christmas cards and customize it to say whatever you need.  She is doing my Christmas cards and has already finished them, but I'm not going to let you see them due to the fact that most of you will be getting them in the mail  :0)  Here is an example of the name frames (this one she did for her parents)  I thought I had an example of her cards but don't worry there will be plenty on her website!

The next talented friend I want to tell you all about is Mrs. Amanda Yocum.  She just started an Etsy site and right now she makes adorable wreaths, great for birthdays or to put on the door (hospital or house) when a new little one enters the family!  She also paints some really cute name wall art!  Here is the link to her Etsy site, go on over and check out the cuteness!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/asyocum  Below is a example of one her items for sale.  L.O.V.E.

                                      

Lastly, my friend Ellen does amazing embroidery work and for a GREAT price!  She is at least half the price of most embroidery places and does a much better job (in my opinion!)  She also got a "bedazzler machine" (kidding, it's much more high-tech than that) and can do shirts that say almost anything you could dream up.  Hop on over to her site and take a look at all the cute things she has to offer!  http://www.elaborationsemb.com/  Here is a pic of some items I love, I am sure whenever kids come into The Fulmer Household I will be all over the monogrammed items and taking full advantage of her talent ...

           

There you have it friends.  I know I have more talented friends and I'm sure I will feature more in the future, but these are three I heart and thought I would share them (my momma always taught me to share) with all of you in the blog world.  Enjoy the fruits of their labor!

One Holiday Down, Two To Go!

If there is one thing I DON'T like about the holidays, it's taking down the decorations.  Halloween is made a little easier with the idea that Christmas is around the corner.  For some reason, I don't have any Turkey Day decor.  I really don't know why.  I do love Thanksgiving and I think it's a very important holiday to celebrate.  A time to stop, and give thanks for the many blessings that God so freely gives us that we take for granted every day.  Really every day should be a day of Thanksgiving, returning to the Lord the praise and honor He so greatly deserves for just waking us up every day, keeping us safe during it, and returning us home to our loved ones safely to do it all again the next day.  Well I say every day should be LIKE Thanksgiving, minus the gorge-fest that comes along with this day, because Heaven knows there is no amount of running that could keep me in shape if I had to do that day in and day out.  Sheesh.  So I've decided to go get a few choice decorations for Thanksgiving, to honor this special holiday that truthfully deserves to be celebrated much more than Halloween, which goodness knows I have a gazillion decorations for. 

Back to hating to take down the decorations.  I am already starting to dread having to do so for Christmas.  It really does make me sad.  Physically and emotionally sad.  And I'm even one that leaves them up until New Year's Day (let's be honest, a few days after ...).  I always say I'm going to get them up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but we always end up going somewhere or having plans.  Well this year, I'm going to do it.  They will be up the Sunday after Thanksgiving if I have to stay up until 2 am doing so.  Don't you worry.  There will be a blog post for proof of said statement.  Thank goodness for the blog to keep me accountable.

We had a great fun filled Halloweekend.  Friday night was Pick or Treat, which was just so much fun.  My brother and sister-in-love's house looked SO cute, she was quite the little H1N1 Hostess!  Then on Saturday my MOH (this is my best friend since age 14, just FYI because I will more than likely talk about her in the future) and I took precious Piper to a little kiddos Halloween party hosted by The Yokums and The Blows.  Can I just tell you how cute all the little kiddos toddlin' around in little costumes were.  Oh so precious.  Here is a pic ...

Are you kidding with the cuteness?  They had the Baylor game on, yummy dips, some tricks and treats and grilled up some hotdogs.  It was quite the little party.  I'm pretty sure the point was just to dress up the kiddos and parade them around (can you blame them?)  On the far right is miss Piper as a Sweet P, on the far left James Yokum as a spider and above him (with the phone, she is very important you know) is Maggie Blow as a piggie.  My apologies I KNOW I met the rest of the mommas and their sweet munchkins but I can't remember their names and who they belong to (I can't remember my own name most of the time, you can't expect me to remember others)  Then after that we went to my parents, P Diddles had a costume change and came as a lobster.  Picture, of course ...

Until I have my own, I claim this little lobster as partly mine :0)  Her mommy doesn't mind.  We did some drink or treating (this is what I call the grown ups, following around the kiddos with wine in our cups while trick or treating) and came back to my parents house for some dinner and stealing of the kiddos candy.  It was a great weekend full of Halloween festivities.  I can't wait for the Thanksgiving festivities to ensue!  I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween with your own little goblins and ghouls.  Now, bring on the turkey!!!