Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I think Thanksgiving is a great Holiday, one that makes you sit back and think about all the things you have to be thankful for.  My life is not perfect but I have nothing to complain about; my husband and I both have good jobs, good health and a roof over our heads.  Sometimes I think we take these things for granted because so many people in this world have none of those things! 

I've been studying nonstop this past week but the little part of Thanksgiving I got to participate in was very enjoyable!  I was very thankful that my BIL & SIL hosted this year because A) they live in town which meant I could go and B) I didn't have to do anything.  I know that is terrible but I'm very stressed so it was nice just to show up.  I did contribute a jello and it seemed to be a big hit so I'm not a total loser!  Thursday also happened to be our niece Lilly's birthday.  After we ate our delicious meal, she opened presents and had cake which was fun.  Her cute little boy cousins from my SIL's family were there, the oldest one just cracks me up! 

Today my brain feels like a fried Turkey!  I went to warm up my coffee and stuck it in the refrigerator.  Oy!  I'm very nervous about tomorrow which is weird because I'm usually not nervous but I've passed the other three parts and so this could potentially be my last one!  I got very close the first time  I took it (72, you need a 75) so I'm hoping I've done enough to push me to a passing score.  The part I'm taking covers a lot of material.  Some of it comes very easy to me because I do it every day but most of it just makes my brain hurt!  The test is 4 hours long so if you happen to think of me tomorrow between 1:00pm-5:00pm I would really appreciate you sending some positive vibes my way :)

I want to finish this post by telling you what I am most thankful for this year and that is my husband!  He has been so supportive of me and very encouraging.  He puts up with me when I am an irrational crazy person stressed and pretty much caters to my every need :)  I like giving him a hard time about being super frugal and a Ba-Hum-Bug when it comes to the Holidays but he really is the best!

Pip Squeak

Yesterday I made a mad dash to the mall to try on some dresses at Ann Taylor Loft.  I found two, both on sale - score!  As I was basking in my I got such a good deal glory I stopped by the kiosk in front of the Apple store that puts permanent screen protectors on iphones and computers.  The stick on protector I have for my iphone is looking worn out and I had heard people at the office talking about the permanent ones.  There was a kid working the kiosk who looked to be late high school/early college age.  I asked him if he could write the prices down on a business card but he suggested I take a picture of them with my phone (kids!).  As I was doing this he asked me if I had the new ios5 system downloaded to which I answered yes.  He then told me he had a cool trick he could show me.  I asked him if it was the fact you can use your camera without unlocking your phone.  He said, and I quote "Yes!  That's awesome - my Mom would never be able to figure that out!"  {Insert Record Scratch Here}  In my head I said - Hold up - Your Mom?!!  I'm no spring chicken but there is NO WAY I look old enough to be your Mom you little pip squeak!  In real life I just smiled, turned around, walked out of the mall and felt deflated for the rest of the evening.

Dunkin' Donuts K-Cups

What's that noise?  Are those angels singing?  I think it might be and the wonderful sound of their music appears to be coming from this box on my desk!

My sweet friend Alisha brought these back from St. Louis for me.  You see, I love Dunkin' Donuts coffee and I was super excited when I found out DD was going to start making K-Cups, the only problem is they only sell the K-Cups at DD stores.  And why is this a problem you ask?  Well, we don't have a DD here in T-Town.

I'm so excited about these, you have no idea!  Who wants to come over for a cup of Joe?

Happenings

Sorry for the MIAness that's been going on lately.  I've been really focused on my studies which doesn't leave room for much else.  I thought I'd give some highlights as to what's been going on with us for the past month.

We got all spiffed up for a fundraiser benefiting Clarehouse.  Clarehouse is a place here in Tulsa that provides end of life care for individuals who are unable to take on the financial burden themselves.

My friend Janice (to my right) is on the board for Clarehouse.  It was fun to spend the evening with friends I hadn't seen in awhile and support such a great cause!

Then we jetted off to Savannah...

where we stayed in this quaint little Bed & Breakfast.  I hope to blog in more detail about this trip when I have the time.

Last weekend I took this Pre-Ker to the donut shop.  She is going to be 5 in a few weeks...5!  I can't believe she is growing up so fast!

I made some crafty treats for our Trick-or-Treat event at work.  I got the idea from one of Katie's Weekly Faves posts which lead me to this post on Living Locurto which eventually lead me to these.  I was happy with how they turned out!

In other Halloween news this little Cheeser refused to wear his turtle costume!  My SIL Erin and her mom made it so I'm sure it was adorable.  She told me they took him out to walk around and at one point a ghost fell out of a tree and he said "I scared" and wouldn't take his eyes off the ground until they got to the car.  My brother told me that has now become his ploy to get hugs and snuggles (as if he needed one).  He'll say "I scared" or "Jude scared" and run up and hug you.  So cute!

While we're on the topic of cuteness I have to share this picture.  It's so indicative of my two cats' personalities.  Tavia is so cautious and reserved while Phoebe is so uninhibited and in your face but they are definitely equal in the joy bringing department!

Although I've been MIA from my own blog, I promise I've been keeping up with all of your blogs but I'm usually reading them from my phone on a study break at the library so sorry for the lack of comments.  Happy weekend!

Not So Wordless Wednesday

I couldn't really post this picture without a few words.  Studying for the CPA exam isn't just hard because of the content of the study material, the time you have to commit and the things you give up in order to study for it is just as hard.  My social life has totally plummeted, I hope my friends will still invite me to things when it's finally over.  I definitely don't see my family as often as I would like.  I love being an aunt and the three people I miss the most are in the picture below.

Happy October!

I finally got around to putting out my Halloween decorations.  I think Halloween is so much fun and I'm slowly but surely adding to my collection of decorations.  I found this cute little item at Mecca Coffee Company here in Tulsa.



Here's my mantle.  I'm not a huge fan of the Ansel Adams poster but until I find something else, it's better than nothing.  Let me rephrase, until AB agrees to let me buy what I want for the mantle it's better than just bricks ;)

I got the cute little owls and the Spooky sign at Pier One, I think I got the other owl at Target last year and I've had the straw pumpkins for awhile.

 I found this friendly witch at Joann Fabric and the cute little witch hats are Halloween ornaments from Pier One.

We made a trip to the pumpkin patch yesterday with our friends Brian, Alisha and their daughter Emily.  It was a beautiful day, perfect weather!  I grabbed some pumpkins for our porch.  I searched high and low for a fall wreath this year and I found plenty I liked but none I was willing to spend the big bucks for.  Who knew wreaths were so expensive!  I found this cute ghost sign at Joann Fabric and I got the cute spider door mat at Crate and Barrel last year.

I hope you all are having fun decorating for fall!  I can't wait for the weather to follow suit...I'm ready for some chill :)

Fund Raising

It's that time of year!  There are about 10 different sales forms in the kitchen at my office; you can buy anything from summer sausage to wrapping paper!  I've noticed there are certain individuals that buy from every kid no matter what and I think - wow that is so nice!  I'm usually a Scrooge when it comes to this stuff and surprisingly Mr. Cheapo Phillipo, aka the man I married, is not!  I cannot even tell you how many magazines, chocolate bars and terrible home decorating items we've ended up with over the years because he says YES to every kid who comes to the door. 

Maybe I'm a Scrooge because I was painfully shy and loathed fundraising as a kid.  I remember begging my Dad to take my forms to work like all the other parents did, but he wouldn't do it.  He told me if I wanted to make the sell I had to come to his office and ask people in person.  Of course that did not happen and as a result I did not sell anything to anyone other than my parents but guess what? My school didn't collapse!   We still had an abundant amount of Kleenex to go around, we didn't have to prick our fingers for ink alternatives and we didn't have to eat peanut butter and jelly in the parking lot for prom as my history teacher, Mr. Wallace, predicted!

So this year seeing all those forms every time time I get a cup of coffee and wondering what it is my tax dollars pay for, the guilt got to me and I decided to be a little more giving on the fundraiser front.  I sponsored a walkathon and bought something out of a magazine.  Of course I immediately felt bad because there were two kids selling from the same magazine but truly only one thing interested me out of that entire thing so I had to choose one kid over the other ug! (I honestly chose without looking at the name on the form to be fair).  The same week I was home studying my little heart out when the door bell rang and surprise! there was a kid on the other side selling stuff for school.   I don't know what came over me but my new giving ways just flew out the window and I told him to beat it because I just bought a bunch of junk at work.  Actually I was much nicer than that but ug again!  Telling that kid no haunted me for the rest of the evening and I'll tell you why.  That kid didn't just have his parents do his dirty work for him by taking his forms up to their office and leaving them out in the break room.  He was going door to door to perfect strangers which not only takes courage but determination and I just shot him down!  I know he's got to face rejection at some point in his life but I could have spared the $10 - what is wrong with me?  I've always been shocked that AB says yes to every kid that comes to the door but now I get it!  AB is an extremely hard worker and in turn he appreciates hard workers no matter what type of work they are doing and let me tell you something, selling stuff door to door is hard work! 

All of this has brought me to my new school fundraising policy.  I plan to go back to my old ways with the forms in the kitchen, unless there is something I absolutely can't live without, but if you come to my door I'll definitely say yes!  I hope none of my neighbors read this blog.  I look forward to a lifetime supply of gift labels ;)

**Side note - Edison Middle School be on the lookout for a gentleman of large stature looking for the summer sausage we ordered a month ago to support the music program but never received.  He will find you kid in the black shirt and glasses who plays the clarinet, he will find you!