Read, Read, Read...

 For all you other readers out there check these two books out...

1. Get ready and bring on the tissues because this one will bring you to tears! It is a phenomenal book about a little Caucasian girl who was brought to work and live with slaves in the kitchen house of a very wealthy captain in the South. It's an easy read - if you liked The Help, you'll love this book too!

2. My mom read this book first and then filled me in on how I absolutely had to read it. It's a fairly good sized book and I read it in three days. It delves into the life of a woman named Olivia Mackenzie who is going after her father, a very wealthy business man, to take down his company. The story line is full of surprise and romance all the way through. You won't be able to put this book down!

Have y'all read anything interesting lately? If so, let me know, I'm always looking for a good book!

A lot of dirt for many awards!

My other half spends half of his life doing this...

 If you've never been to one of these races you can't quite grasp the amount of danger that comes with these bikes but Mack loves it, danger or not, it's his passion. Not only is it his passion but he's quite good at what he does.

His racing takes us to different cities all over North Carolina but yesterday we were attending the awards banquet in South Carolina which meant quite a drive for us but Mack got a free ride day if we got there early enough. We got to SC about 10:45am thanks to Gene and boy was there a lot to see.

After he took the bike out for a couple of hours, I was so proud to be able to attend the AMA District 29 (which handles all riders from North and South Carolina) championship banquet with him and Gene.

 Of course, Gene bought TONS of raffles tickets in hopes that it was our "lucky day."

We did end up wining some t-shirts, new grips, and Mack got a free week worth of training at South of the Border (a $400 value) so I think we got pretty lucky!

 Mack not only placed third in his first class but he placed first in his second class!

I'm so proud of all the things he's accomplished, all that he's overcome, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for 921!

Lily Pulitizer and her bomb diggity planners

As most of my close friends and family will tell you I'm an organizational freak when it comes to planners. I usually start out with the blue sky one's from target at the beginning of the semester and by the end I'm on my third or forth planner (crazy I know). After all was said and done I probably spend around $30 on planners a semester...until I found Lily. 

I saw mine online right before my birthday and my best friend was kind enough to give it to me as a gift since I wasn't sure I was ready to pay the hefty $26 + tax + shipping (even though I'd already been payin' that every semester for planners anyway). 

Let me introduce you to my wonderfully alligator Lily...

 

It provides you with a little stretchy band that goes all the way around it so all your junk doesn't fall out!

There are these AWESOME stickers provided

Lily gives you a reason to feel the need to party!

It offers great pictures, like the one above, to get your month started.

Then you're given a "monthly view" - my personal favorite so I can keep my procrastination down to minimum

Lastly, you're given large day to day blocks to fill in with all your happenin's

The BEST thing about these planners is they have now been reduced to $16 (instead of $26) and they're offering free shipping!

Lily Pulitzer Planners

I hope you all love yours as much as I love mine!

Dr. Wimsey is the bommbb

For any dog owners out there who DO NOT go to Banfield, you should get with it.

Carley came down with kennel cough about a week and a half ago. She was pitiful - she would barely eat and she was coughing constantly. I finally got her on the right medication and she's almost completely better now, thank goodness!

Dr. Wimsey is Carley Sue's doctor at Banfield and she's magical. She takes care of my parents 12 year old westie and 8 year old cocker spaniel too so that makes it even better.

Well, when I went in for Carley's exam today I decided to get her advice on a little problem I'd been having. You see, my "puppy" now weighs 52 pounds which literally means she weighs half of what I do. With that comes the fact that when she's got her mind made up that she's gonna drag me all over, she will and walking her has become torture because of it.

I've had dogs since I was a kid, when I was born my parents already had a dog and we've never lived without one since. My dad, super dog trainer that he is, has always used these nifty things:

When I got Carley Sue I bought her one of these and now that she's large and in charge the pulling these do on her neck area don't phase her one bit. You pull on it and she turns around and looks at you like if she could laugh, she would because it's a joke if I think that things doin' anything to slow her down.

I explained this problem to the vet and she recommended this new product to me that fits around the dogs face and when she pulls, it pulls her snout towards you instead of pulling on her neck. So I went and bought one, it was $10 on clearance and I figured what the heck, might as well. Let me tell you something, I put that harness around her for the first time this afternoon and she instantly corrected her behavior, no more pulling me around or tugging at her leash. I figured maybe it was just a short term thing since I only used it to take her out potty so I decided I'd take her on a walk tonight to see how it worked. Yet again, the thing was AMAZING. If you have a dog - like mine - who practically pulls you around, try this, it works!

I couldn't be more thankful for a vet who cares and these magical walking harnesses above. Tomorrow I'm off to buy Carley a cow bone (one she can't even chew pieces off of), to help keep her teeth clean and prevent her from eating bone parts that might get stuck in her throat, now this may be a challenge since I've never bought a cow bone before!

Lovin' the weather!

Today was one of those days where you just HAVE to be outside. The sun shined all day and even though it was a little chilly, it was too nice to stay inside. My best friend and I woke up superbly early to get McDonald's and then head to the flea market! If you've never been, go, they have all kind of cool stuff...

This green furniture above holds a special place in my heart. I LOVE this kinda stuff, even though the green is kinda atrocious, I can't help but want it.

They have all kinds of old stuff, it always amazes me the kinda things you can find at the flea market!

These signs, which are generally $10 a piece, are totally my thing. They're in my price range, I can hang them in my house - on my own, and they old and rustic just like I like :)

My shopping trip was a success because I came home with these four things:

(The "Keep Honking" is for my dad for Father's day, the rest I bought for myself!)

After spending a couple of hours at the flea market we decided to head to Wolf Camera. I've been needing a new camera since my old one barely works, therefore I never use it. We did some research and realized with my budget there wasn't many options but I found one I really like and decided to compare price. At Wolf Camera the Nikon cost $170 at Target, I bought it for $116 and got a discount on an SD card!

Thankfully, I got a new camera just in time for Mack's race tomorrow so I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures from that. Hope everyone had a wonderful spring break (if you were on spring break!).

Valentines Shmalentines

Oh Valentines day...how I hate you.

This so called "holiday" isn't one of my favorites, if you can't already tell. 

Valentines day is a day in which you're suppose to appreciate your loved ones right? Well, shouldn't we all be doing everyday anyway?

I know it's unrealistic to appreciate everyone, everyday but I've learned that I try to appreciate the ones I love everyday...

Plus, Shmalentines day is just a reason to make single people feel lonely...

I was thankful to always have parents who gave me cards and whatnot on this certain day to make me feel special no matter what, talk about a great Moms and Pops.

For all y'all peeps out there who spend a TON of money on Valentine's day maybe you should take up the motto of my boyfriend (most girls want flowers on valentines day right?)...

Flowers die, why would I every spend my money on something so useless?

I guess it's good I have 20, 4 year old's to bring me flowers and goodies!

I love my Mackenzie, even if he doesn't believe in flowers. He's my best friend, my love, and so much more. I try to appreciate him everyday, whether it's Shmalentine's day or not. We don't celebrate this certain holiday because neither of us are too crazy about it plus we decided last year to just write lovely little notes to each other to say how much we appreciate each other. It works for us, that's all that counts. 

I hope everyone else had a good Shmalentine's day!

L.O.V.E.

January 16, 2012...

Does this day mean anything to you?

Two and half years ago today I met Mackenzie. 

My best friend, my companion, and the love of my life. 

He's constantly reminding me of what life's about:

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about dancing in the rain.

We've had rough times, just like everyone, but we made a pact that we're in this together, as a team and that's the only way it will work. 

We've supported each other through the best and worst times. 

He's been my shoulder to cry on so many times I can't even count. 

We have a beautiful pup together who has changed our lives for the better and made us stronger as a couple, cause Lord knows it wasn't easy raisin this baby...

I wish I could express how grateful I am to have him but words never seem to convey everything I wish I could tell him. I want to thank him most of all for standing by me, helping me through the good and bad, for loving me no matter what, and for always providing me with support. 

I love you and thank you, for everything you've done for me and everything you will continue to do for me.