Hello December!

November is coming to an end....

I've now been blogging for a whole month! Posting everyday was hard, but I made it through. I really think I'll keep this whole blog thing up. I've enjoyed writing, reading other blogs, people I know and people I don't know but that inspire.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, magical Christmas season. Enjoy the treats, glistening lights, beautifully wrapped presents, Christmas carols and just taking in the cold air.

See you in December!

the rest of the story

61)My favorite flower is a gerber daisy.
62)I love eating ice.
63)I have a gap between my two front teeth.
64)It use to bother me but now I can't imagine myself with out it.
65)I was teased for it in grade school.
66)I need to lose weight really bad but cannot seem to care enough to do something about it.
67)I've done WW many times and quit.
68)I was obsessed with Felicity and Real World my freshman year in college.
69)I had never had cable before that.
70)I sometimes wish we didn't have cable.
71)I would love to leave a more simple life, but it would be hard to let go of certain things.....many things.
72)I would rather use a manual camera then digital.
73)As a child I was afraid of nuclear war....a little messed up.
74)I love mushy grape nuts with lots of splenda.
75)I like spicy food.
76)I have Brady tuck me into bed every night.
77)I wish I read more.
78)I don't nearly use my ipod as much as I thought I would.
79)I'm craving a sugar cookie with icing right now.
80)I crave sweets a lot!
81)My favorite color changes year to year. But my all time favorite color since childhood is sky blue.
82)My current favorite color is grass green. Loving it!
83)I like to say, Seriously. I watch too much Grey's.
84)I have green eyes.
85)In some ways I don't think I'll ever grow up.
86)I can't get mad. I don't remember the last time I was angry.
87)I just cry when I'm upset.
88)I also cry when I'm happy.
89)Sometimes I cry but I just tell people my eyes are watering. I can't control it, it can be embarrassing.
90)I thought this list would be easier then it is.
91)The one thing I really want when we have a house is a window above the kitchen sink.
92)My favorite Disney movie is Cinderella.
93)The tornado in Wizard of Oz was scarier to me then the witch.
94)I just found out that Grey's is a rerun and I'm not happy.
95)I have kept a diary since grade school.
96)I had two guy roommates in college.
97)I partied hard during those days.
98)I've since calmed down....quite a bit!
99)I've never smoked a cigarette or anything for that matter.
100)I hope everyone enjoyed this list of ME.

Back to me

26)My favorite shape is a circle.
27)I've always wanted to be famous.
28)I played softball for eleven years, but was never really any good at it.
29)I had nose surgery my senior year in high school because a softball hit me in the face.
30)When I was little I wanted to be a marine biologist.
31)I'm scared of water, especially when I can't see to the bottom.
32)I collect unique mint tins, especially Altoids.
33)I was voted most creative in high school.
34)I could eat homemade cookies every second of every day.
35)I named my dog, Dixie, after my favorite band....the DIXIE CHICKS!
36)I believe birthdays are very special days and should be celebrated that way.
37)I met the hubby at a Hank Williams Jr. concert.
38)I made the first move!
39)I'm extremely clumsy.
40)I'm a blog stalker and I'm not ashamed. There are some awesome blogs out there.
41)I wished we lived in Oklahoma.
42)I love margaritas on a hot summer day or any day for that matter.
43)I want to travel all over the United States....by car.
44)I love being a hostess.
45)I could spend hours in Hallmark reading cards and sometimes crying. 46)I cry a lot. I just can't help it, once it starts, it won't stop.
47)I want to be a clinical social worker and work with kids.
48)I found out today that I got into the Masters of Social Work program.
49)I've never been camping....real camping in a tent with a fire.
50)My immediate family and I are super close.
51)I miss them like crazy!
52)I can remember my childhood friends phone numbers.
53)I talk a lot.
54)I'm scared to be alone at night.
55)I'm afraid of the dark.
56)I want to learn to quilt and knit.
57)I had an eyebrow ring in college.
58)And pink hair.
59)It was all a phase.
60)I love buying magazines.

On another note: I know ya'll go to Target. I go there quite often, I went there tonight. I've always went through the $ section there at the front of the store. I found some cute little stocking stuffers there tonight and there was other stuff.....but then I looked at where it was made and of course it was Made in China. I know not everything is contaminated with lead, but I would rather not risk it. I also know that I own many things that are made in China and who knows, they could contain lead. But knowing what I know about the contamination in products, especially toys, it made me pass right by the cute little stuffers. It's a shame that we even have to worry about it. I'm just saying.....

Eyes shutting....

Tomorrow I will finish my 100 things about me post. I'm about to fall asleep, my hand is sore (I've been hand stitching all night) and again, I'm sleepy. That's all I've got. I can't wait for December!

First Edition of 100 Things About Me

I've seen this on other blogs and hopefully this will help me get through the last few days of November.
1)I complain about it but I love when my dogs cuddle with me.
2)I go to SuperTarget or Hobby Lobby after Brady and I fight. It makes me feel better.
3)I am very, very bad at basic math.
4)I loved Oklahoma History growing up.
5)Soft old sheets are my favorite, the ones with no little fabric balls on them.
6)I love my name....Charly C
7)I hate driving in the rain, but love being at home when it is raining watching a movie cuddled up on the couch.
8)I'm starting to love cooking and baking.
9)I love to organize.
10)Planning my wedding stressed me out to the max.
11)But it was worth every minute of it.
12)Every time I see a weenie puppy, I want another one.
13)I wish I would've minored in art in college.
14)I listen to NPR every morning.
15)I'm a pen snob.
16)If I break a pens clippy thing, I'll stop using it.
17)I buy a new address book every other year.
18)I like my handwriting.
19)I have two tattoos.
20)I designed both of them.
21)I kind of want one more.
22)I want a baby before I'm 30.
23)Valentines is one of my favorite holidays.
24)I have a very good memory, it's kinda creepy.
25)I'll fly for the first time on Dec. 22nd when we go to NYC.

Finally!

Yay, our tree is up. I played Christmas music while decorating until Brady came in and ruined the Christmas spirit by watching a depressing show on runaways. That's ok, at least the apartment is all ready for Christmas now.

The perfect Thanksgiving leftovers

While Brady was eating leftover turkey and ham with cranberry sauce, this is what I had for dinner. Yummy! Brownies and Tecate. Daisy, are you jealous?
I'm off to Manhattan, home of the Wildcats to eat more turkey, watch KU play Mizz. and of course GO COWBOYS! That sentance is just a little off, don't you think?

Thanksgiving

Safe travel, happy hearts, full tummies, and lots to be thankful for.....

Forever on Thanksgiving Day The heart will find the pathway home.~Wilbur D. Nesbit

Felt-O-Rama

Thought ya'll might want an update on all the crafting going on in Kansas. Even if you don't, you are getting it anyway. I haven't done as much as I wanted to but hopefully here in the next few weeks I'll be knockin' the rest out. Christmas is just around the corner! Enjoy!

Here is my box of goodies.

And look at all the pretty colors. So many little bags and stuffed toys to come.

Here are some ornaments. Sorry about the fuzzy picture quality. I love the little birdy! The heart ornament is for our first Christmas together.Ahhhh....

Here is a playful orange monster for my little cousin. The bags are for all the little girls in our lives. I'm going to put books in them. Who couldn't use more books?

Giving Thanks....a few days early

I am thankful for.....
*my husband. I am his yin, he is my yang.
*my marriage, rough spots and all.
*my parents. They are awesome in every which way.
*my sister. If she only knew how wonderful she is.
*my niece and nephew. They rock!
*my in-laws. They love me like their own.
*my friends. From far away to close by, they accept me for me and allow me to realize how precious close friends are. I miss you guys!
*my Okie and Dixie. They will always keep my feet warm under the covers. They always make me smile.
*my home in Wyandotte. I can always go there.
*for my life and how blessed I have been. There are many materialistic things I am thankful for like Hobby Lobby, Target, ice tea makers, chi straightening irons, DVR's, cookies, pepperoni pizza and the list goes on. But those things don't kiss me goodnight, send me sweet cards for every holiday imaginable, drink wine while watching animal rescue shows, explain the ups and downs of a successful marriage or give me that cozy feeling in my heart when I look at them.
This year I count my blessings and give thanks for all I have.

Pumpkin Pie....no it's Pumpkin Cheesecake!

I made this recipe last month for a co-workers birthday. She loves cheesecake and her birthday was in October.....Pumpkin Cheesecake! It was a hit at work. So when the office decided to have some snacks and desserts before we head off for Turkey Day I was nominated to make the Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Tonight I messed up the first crust, I accidentally hit it against the counter and it crumbled. Crap! I made another one and thought I would try to make a regular cheesecake (Brady does not like Pumpkin) for my hubby. I'm not quite sure how it will work out but we will see in about 15 minutes.

Here is a cleaned up picture of my mess. It didn't look this nice before I decided to take a picture.

I like to clean as I go.....

Here are the cheesecakes baking. They take quite awhile but are sooo worth it.If anyone wants the recipe, let me know. I would post it but it is really long. Yummy to my tummy! Happy Monday Everyone!

Giving Thanks

I broke the whole "blogging everyday thing" but it was all for a very good reason. I got to go home. Home to Wyandotte. I love going home even if it was for just the weekend. The drive is horrible since it gets dark at 2:00 in the afternoon, ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but pretty darn close. But again it is all worth it to drive down that long driveway, greet the Hold'em, Roscoe, the many horses, and see mom and dad standing in the doorway. I love home! We went there this weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving a little early. I was able to eat good food, enjoy all my little adorable cousins, plus my niece and nephew who are freakin' awesome and spend time chatting with all my grown up cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings and parents. I love home! Back to my niece and nephew.....first of all they are very talented and I'm not just saying that. My niece walks in Friday night and says that she is a rock star. She learned to play a couple of songs (by ear) on the guitar. (She also plays the harp, piano and she can draw like no one I've ever seen, especially at her age. I'm jealous.) She learned to play Smoke on the Water. And my nephew, well if you have ever met him you just know how cute he is. He's in his cowboy phase now and my dad couldn't be happier. Again, I love home!
Now, I'm back in Kansas and won't be going back to Wyandotte until after Christmas, due to our honeymoon to NYC. (yay!) I don't know about everyone else but going home gives me some of the best feelings in the world. Loving hugs, inside jokes, smells in the kitchen, loud breakfasts with the family, wet grass in the morning, kids running around, watching dad out and about the ranch, mom obsessing about every video on CMT, my sister and I bickering in our loving way and lingering hugs when you are leaving. I love home!
In other news.....
Happy Birthday Oklahoma! I wasn't in OKC for the weekend to celebrate with all the wonderful events, but I WAS in Oklahoma. So happy 100th to my favorite state.
Also, my parents had their 37th Wedding Anniversary on Friday. Amazing love story right there....I'll save that for another post.
Until my next visit, goodnight to all my family in the boonies.

Taco Bueno not bueno

Other then eating out while we were in OKC, I have yet to eat out while in Wichita for the last two weeks.....except today. A friend of mine at work asked me to go eat lunch and I told her the whole deal (not eating out for two weeks, blah, blah). Well, I'm known to give into peer pressure and of course I did. So off I went to Taco Bueno. I ordered the Triple Dip and it was way too much. I felt so sick afterwards. I think the Bueno was trying to teach me a lesson. Eating out once in two weeks though is pretty darn good. I'm still going to work on eating more at home, but the occasional eating out is ok. We will see.

It's Here, It's Here!

No time to blog, Project Runway is on. Hurry to your TV, get some ice cream (oh, I wish I had ice cream), snuggle with your puppies if you have some and watch the best reality show ever. Enjoy!

Must Watch TV

We watch a lot of TV, maybe too much. I'm seriously cutting down, but these are some shows I just can't miss.
Monday:
Weeds-I think Mary-Louise Park is just adorable. I love the way she tilts her head while chewing on a straw from one of her many coffee drinks of the day. (Ok, I may have a small crush on her.) I also just love how this show is put together. Who couldn't love this dysfunctional family of drug dealers?

Tuesday:
The Real Housewives of Orange County-There is something about watching "housewives" lounge in the pool, wear and drive bling bling and get botox that is satisfying. Oh, I can't wait to be a "real" housewife.

Wednesday: This is my busy night, I might be cutting out Life.
Project Runway-Who needs an explanation?
Gossip Girl-High school students in the ritzy part of NYC, spoiled rotten brats who do everything and anything. It' great!
Life-The jury is still out on this one. I liked it at first, but I've got to make room for Project Runway.

Thursday:
Grey's Anatomy-an old classic that still gets to me.

Friday:
Friday Night Lights- If you ever planned your entire social calendar around a football game in high school or college for that matter, you'll like this show. Plus there is a lot of drama in this one small town.

Saturday:
This is usually the night we rent a movie, watch random shows or watch shows we missed during the week. Thank you DVR!

Sunday:
King of the Hill-I love me some Hank Hill.
Dexter-I love this serial killer, I don't care how wrong that is.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Here is a full shot of my new hair-do. The background is dark and my hair is dark, so it's hard to really see. But you can see my bangs and they are not exactly what I thought I wanted. I really wanted to go for the full across the forehead bangs. Next time!

Here is a picture of my hair pulled up, you can see more of my bangs. I'm going to try to curl my hair under tomorrow, I'm not for sure if I like the flip. It makes my hair look frizzy at the ends.

I bought this sequined hair band at Target for $1 and I think it might just be my new look.

Another exciting blog brought to you by CharlyGirl. :)

The end of a weekend

When we go away for the weekend which we often do coming back on Sunday can be draining. Putting everything away, washing clothes, fixing dinner, etc. I just want to crash, but I'm a little anal about stuff being left out and about. So tonight I threw an Amy's cheese pizza (wonderful!) in the oven and called supper good. Brady's watching football, I'm on the computer, dogs are playing with their new toys....all is well in our world. It's only 6:24 and I'm ready to go to bed.
I'll craft some, watch Dexter and then night night.
That's all you get from me tonight. I PROMISE a picture of the hair will be here tomorrow. You don't want to see it right now, no energy to fix it.

Oh how I miss....

I came to OKC this weekend to get my haircut (pictures to come, not as drastic as I thought it would be) and visit my best friend. When I come to OKC I always want to eat at places I never get to go to in Kansas. So here is the rundown.....
Hideaway Pizza- I had the wonderful fried mushrooms, the Mob Boss (lots of pepperoni, bacon!, onions and garlic) and a Corona to top it off. Oh, how wonderful this pizzeria is....it rocks!
Camps-We had lunch here on Saturday. It was good, but not as good as it use to be. The sandwich I had did have bacon on it though. Can you tell I love bacon!
Someplace Else-We had to go there to have a few cookies. I use to eat here a lot when I worked at the magazine. I had my favorites.....white chocolate chip macadamia nut and a lemon bar. I washed those down with a good ol' root beer.
Irma's-This is my favorite burger joint in OKC. I had the No Name burger w/ bacon (I'm going to have to stop with this bacon addiction) and french fries. We wanted a maple pecan cookie, but they only had one! Can and I split it and they went ahead and brought us out 4! chocolate chip cookies. Works for me!
Tomorrow I will have Pei Wei before heading out of town. I'll have to eat there by myself because Brady doesn't care for it. That is fine with me...
So until next time OKC, thanks for all the great grub and bacon. I'll be back soon!

Big bangs making a comeback?

I'm heading to the promised land.....Oklahoma! I'm feeling like sh*t due to a constant cough that has given me one of the worse headaches EVER, but I'm still going. I write this because I'm not for sure how much contact I'm going to have with a computer. So, the posting everyday might be suspended until Sunday night. Ooooo, I'll be missing one day. I will make up for it by posting a pic of my new hair doo though. Ok ladies....I'm going for bangs and a shorter cut! Wish me luck, I haven't had bangs since like (this is where I would like to say 4th grade, but I grew up in the land of curling iron big bangs and so I have to say) Sr. Year! Again, wish me luck.

Really Simple

My favorite magazine at the moment is Real Simple. I love the layout, photography and the simplicity of it. Some of the stuff is not very practical for myself, but there is some interesting articles, recipes and just everyday tips. Ya'll should check it out. And even more exciting, since I don't subscribe to it but just pick it up at Target every month, I had a coupon in my new Real Simple Address book for $2 off. Rocks! And yes, Real Simple also has an organizational line at....Target.

In other news, I have had an apartment full of Mucinex men living in my throat for about a month and a half. They have been moving out slowly, but I think they all just renewed their leases today with my body. If anyone has any advice on how to remove the "gunk" out of my throat let me know. I've been on two rounds of antibiotics, steroids and TWO bottles of Mucinex. I'm tired of hacking up the gunk and my lungs.

Went to the chapel and I got married.

I'm having a blah day and what else could cheer me up other then wedding pictures. I'll try to have more to say tomorrow.

Italian Creme, Carrot and Red Velvet....Oh my!
I loved my dress.
So sweet!

Jesus looking down on the bride.
Purdy cake, yummy cake.

My sister and her friend rocked at doing the decorations.

Fast Food Nation Breaks the Bank

I was having a discussion today with a co-worker about how much we eat out. I told her we ate out a lot and I always try to justify it. "It's Halloween, Brady is gone, I must go and splurge at Applebee's." or "It's Friday and I must have Freddy's Frozen Custard." or "I had a bad day, I must have Taco Pronto." or "I'm lazy and don't feel like cooking, let's go to Texas Roadhouse." Brady and I tend to eat from CHEAP (Taco Pronto), to sometimes on the pricey side (TX Roadhouse/Red Beans). So, while complaining about how we need to stop eating out and how I have vowed not to eat out at all this week....(until we go to OKC because I cannot go to OKC without having Pei Wei, Irma's and possibly a stop at Ted's), I decided to add up in my checkbook registry how much we spent on eating out for the month of October.
$330.44!
Yes, that figure is right....$330.44! Crazy! That could have been a lot of home cooked meals, some debt paid off or a lot else. Here I go trying to justify it all, but last month was kind of crazy with the wedding and all. Seriously though, we really need to cut down on eating out. I think once a week would be fine, but I don't know if the hubby would go along with that. I would ask him, but I made the mistake of giving him a VERY EARLY Christmas present and he has now been hooked to an ipod for three hours.
So here is my challenge to at least myself, do not eat out this week, other then OKC, or next week. I'll post about this in two weeks and we'll see how much money I've saved.

Doxie Love

I wink at you! You want some of Okie?

I sad and pathetic, pay attention to Dixie.

Don't ask me to go to Goodwill, a garage sale or antique store

I have a very strange phobia. I'm grossed out/bothered by old, used things. I think it started with my mom, sister and more recently my friend Candice dragging me to garage sales and flea markets. I don't like the idea of buying items that belonged to other people. I don't like the smell some of the items have.....old, musty, yucky! I'm weird, I know. I can't even handle the old files we have in our office. I try and refuse to touch them, but I guess somewhere in my job description it says, "must handle old, musty files." So after viewing some crafting blogs, I see that they use a lot of "vintage" aka: old items. Cute stuff! Wonderful objects! Yesterday, I thought I would overcome my fear and go to the Goodwill to find my very own treasures to craft with. I walked in, took one lap around the store, touched one book very briefly and walked out! I couldn't handle it! They had a toilet seat for sale. Who donates a toilet seat? Vicki said I made the first step and maybe it would be better if I tried an antique store before I venture to a thrift store. I think she's going to put me on a 12 step program for my "old stuff" phobia.

I would rather just stick with my brand new stuff and look for wonderful, beautiful new stuff that just looks old. I will try to be more resourceful in other ways, just not with Great Aunt Edna's toilet seat.

Let the creative juices roll

Today I went to the Hob Lob with my friend Vicki. I've been super excited lately about the ideas I've had and the projects I want to complete. These projects are mostly for kiddos as Christmas presents. Anyways, I went to Hob Lob and bought all colors of felt, thread, a bag of buttons, stuffing and other crafty goodness. See......
Look at all the fun colors and prints!

We also went to Borders and I found this really cute book on how to make little stuffed "mascots" (that's what the book calls them.) So here are my end results. These are a gift for my best friends little girl. I'm going to try them out on her and if successful, lord help us all......there will be felt madness at my house. Poor Brady!
The yellow/polka-dot thing is a monster, then there is the little brown dog with a purple spot and then there is the letter V. It's for a little boy I know whose name starts with a V.....who could that be??
This is the adorable little brown puppy with the purple spot, that is his name. I'm going to make up a little story to go along with the monster and the dog to let the gift recipient know who they are.....

Tomorrow I'll tell ya'll about my adventure to the Goodwill. Oh yeah, I'm also going to try and learn how to knit. I've got plenty of time on my hands, don't you think?

I will try, I promise

My friend Jessica has a post (I really need to learn how to do links or whatever they are called). In this post it talks about MoPoBoNo or something crazy like that. It is where you blog everyday in November. I missed Nov. 1st, well I actually had one but I deleted it. It was about serial killers and Rachael Ray knives. Don't ask, I won't tell. Anyways, either that mysterious disappearing post can count or this 2nd post in one day counts for Nov.1st.
I will try to post everyday. I'm sure I have 30, now 28 days worth of stuff to talk about. Blog on!

Best Week Ever, okay not ever, but pretty good

I don't know why but this has been a really good week. I haven't had a week like this in awhile. Yes, Brady has been gone, but it would've been just a good of a week if he was here. I miss him, he'll be home on Sunday.

I know there are reasons why I've had such a good week, let me list them:

• I learned to wear pumps. Not that I didn't know how, but I enjoyed wearing them. They made me feel "put together" and not like a slob.

Purdy brown pumps with really cute inside print

• I didn't take a sleeping aid all week and I felt better then ever in the mornings. I didn't lay back down, fall asleep, then realize, oh crap I have to be at work in 30 minutes.
• I was at work early or just in time everyday this week. Doesn't happen that much.
• I drank lots of ice tea. I heart my new ice tea maker.

Bow to the ice tea maker!

• I didn't dress sloppy at all this week. See the above comment about the shoes. I even tried when it came to putting on makeup and fixing my hair.
• The wedding pictures were posted on the photographers website. They are so good! I don't know how we will ever choose. It made me so happy to see them and relive the day all over again. I can't wait to look at them with Brady.
• Oh yeah, duh! I finally started this blog. I'm excited about this new adventure.
• I haven't watched that much TV. I'm going to try and limit my TV intake. We will see how that goes, especially with Project Runway coming on soon. "Make it work." I heart Tim Gunn.
• I think the thing that has made me the happiest this week is my renewed excitement to create. Create, Create and Create some more. There is a blog that is so inspiring and awesome. I don't know just yet how to link to it (will try and read Daisy's email about doing all the fun technical stuff later). It's called SouleMama. This woman is amazing. She has so many good ideas. She allows her children to create, imagine, pretend, express, play and just be themselves. I love it! She has inspired me to make/create all my Christmas presents, especially the ones for the kiddos. I'm ecstatic about this. I'm heading to Hob Lob tomorrow with Vicki to search for the materials for said presents. Vicki is even letting me borrow her sewing machine. Yes, some of the crafts involve sewing. Eek! I will post my creations as I go.
• One more thing that is making me happy, I'm going to try and get over my phobia of old stuff by going to the GoodWill. That is a post in itself. I'll just leave you hanging on that one until I post about it.
• I lied. One more thing that is making me happy. I feel like life is just good. We have all the normal problems. Bills, money, more bills, being sickly, etc. But Brady and I are together, the stress of the wedding is over, Brady is back to good health, work is going good, we have good friends, wonderful family, we have a honeymoon to NYC coming up in December, my creative juices are flowing again.....life is just good.

Ask me about all of this next week and things might change, but for now I'm one happy chick.