always better the 2nd time around:)

I just had to post this pic of me with my 2nd cousin, Paulie. Paulie's dad, Chris, and I are first cousins....and we were the best of friends growing up. His personality is the spitting image of Chris', but he looks just like his momma! Seriously, who can resist those big old cheeks! If you think those are cute, you should see his Buddah belly:)

an unexpected visitor

I opened the door this morning to find a snapping turtle on my doorstep! The little sucker tried to get in the house, but Hobbes decided to put on his guard dog hat and scare him off. The kids had a good time trying to feed him bibb lettuce....Brooke even picked him up!....and they followed him across the yard trying to figure out where he lives. This is the second time we've had a snapping turtle in our yard, so after a considerable amount of reasonable deduction, we've decided that we have a snapping turtle living under the shed in our backyard! So, we have squirrels in the trees, rabbits in the left corner of the backyard, turtles in the right, and the random cat camping out under the hammock. It's a virtual zoo in my backyard~~

Meet Petey

Petey the Pig, that is.

while on the phone w/ L, I jokingly said that I should name the pig. i then said that I was thinking of "Pete", but it was too....boring? L laughed and said she'd just thought the name "Pete" as well...before I'd said anything. So, Petey it is.

in the spirit of fun...and we all need more of it in our lives...i've decided to take L's advice and make Petey my travel buddy. so don't be surprised or think i've fallen off my rocker when you visit the blog and find random photos of Petey going places and doing things that no wooden pig has done before. we are deliciously clever.

Wordless Pic Wednesday

Funky Finds on a lunch break:)

If you look closely in the background, you'll see the ladder I found 2 weeks ago. If was $45 then, and I didn't really want to spend that much on it. I went back today and it was on sale for $18!!! WOW! This urn is so sweet. It has little bits of red and blue paint on it. The pig....what can I say about him...he is just precious:) He's wooden and pretty heavy for a little guy. Candy Cane lane sign came from the same booth that I got the ladder. It was originally marked $10, but I got it for $4!

These metal bowls are fantastic!! I think I will use them somehow in the half bath. Not sure yet, but I had to have them.

Wooden airplane w/ metal attachments. So cute. He will sit on the bookshelf too. The book stand will be in the kitchen, unless I decide to use it w/ a picture on the bookshelf. I will be using it at my SLAH parties too, as a book display*duh*.

Growing up I'd always heard that kissing a pig would bring you good luck. Maybe it was because there were very few people who would actually want to kiss a pig, I don't know. Either way...I am kissing my little guy for loads of it!

Here I am again with my pig. I need a name for him.....I really don't know WHY I got so excited over him...I don't even collect pigs. The color, maybe? Hmmm. Still, he is awfully cute.

I met my old pal, Beth, downtown for lunch today...we had a good time catching up and are planning on doing lunch every other week:) I am super excited to start spending a bit of time with my oldest friend....AND, doing so will give me an excuse to browse more antique shops downtown:) *as if I needed an excuse!! HAHA!* Today I found a lot of new little things to add to my bookshelf. I bought a 6 shelf bookcase when we moved, and now I need things to fill it up with!!! *don't tell me...BOOKS...because we already have a shelf for books in the music room;)* Here are some pics of my fabulous finds!! Lori....I can hardly wait for you to get here so you can go crazy with me at these great shops~it will be fun shopping with someone other than myself!!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday~ Shrimp Creole w/ rice

Tuesday~ Crunchy ranch tortilla chicken w/ twice baked potatoes

Wednesday~ Honey basted pork chops w/ squash and corn on the cob

Thursday~ Lemon pepper mushroom chicken w/ yukon gold potatoes *I am going to a Taste of Home show this night, so easy is called for! This dish is super easy and quick to prepare. As usual, I am using boxed Yukon Gold potatoes because they are my fav!*

Friday~ Feta stuffed chicken w/ prosciutto and angel hair pasta *my brother is visiting and he LOVES this dish:)*

Saturday~ for breakfast, Creamy Sausage Casserole. I am posting Sat breakfast because Daryl and Ginger will be here, and this is one of our favorite breakfasts. You HAVE to try it! It's like sausage and gravy in handheld form. super yummy!

As with last week, I will post one or two recipes and link to my recipe blog.

randoms...

I linked the recipe for my crawfish pie from last week's menu to my other blog. Instead of posting recipes on THIS blog, and eating up my space, I have decided to just keep the other one for recipes.You can scroll over the recipe and click on the link provided from Menu Monday.

Another thing....

Most of my readers know that I've been a Cookie Lee Jewelry consultant for almost a year now. I love to wear the jewelry, but after many returns and pieces breaking, tarnishing too quickly, and personally being unhappy with the product quality in general, I decided to stop selling in January. Upon moving to Florida, I also knew that I wouldn't have much of a core clientele group because the majority of the people I know here don't wear it all. Knowing that I still wanted to have my own home based sales business, I decided to become a Southern Living at Home sales consultant. For only $199 I signed up and recieved over $500 worth of product to get me started! This Friday I met my sponsor at a local home and garden show and met several promising clients. My sponsor, Susie, has also said that any bookings she gets from the remaining days of the show....she will give to me, since she lives in Pensacola and the drive is a bit too far for her to make every week. I signed up on Friday and had my kit on SATURDAY! The very next day! I have been to several shows, and am already assured of the quality of product....as well as the guarantee, so I feel very content and at peace with making the switch:)

I am super exicted for my launch party, and my stepmom is hosting a catalog party for me in Mississippi to get this ball rolling. Wish me luck;) You can check out my SLH website by clicking on the link.

Hugs to all of my friends who are having to suffer through the miserable snowstorms!!! I will make you feel a bit less envious of me.....the high here today is only 55 degrees...so no boating for me today:) HAHAHAHA!

No need for words...

It's a BOY!

We have a new addition to the family! My daughter is the proud parent to a new baby HAMSTER! Brooke has been begging for a hamster ever since her friend Courtney got one last year. As I am scared of any little critter that poses the possibility of piercing the skin, I have been stalling the purchase of one for ages. When we moved, I told Brooke that if she could be responsible enough to save her own money she could have her hamster. Between report card money, tooth fairy money *she lost another tooth after we moved*, and Valentine's money.....the girl did it! So, after school on Monday I surprised her with the trip to Petsmart to get her new baby. She took her time perusing each and every cage before coming to a decision. I must say, the girl chose well because Pluto is the sweetest little thing. He seems very mild tempered, has yet to bite any of us *except for the hubby....HAHAHA!*, and loves to be held. He loves to run in this little ball we bought him. He rolls ALL over the house....with Hobbes in fast, but tentative pursuit. The dog has yet to figure him out, so he is pretty scared of him for now. Brooke has started reading to him at night as well, so I am thinking this hamster will benefit me as well! Here's a cute pic of our new baby! Welcome home Pluto!

Menu Plan Monday

My friend Liz has been doing this menu plan Monday thing for a long time now, so I thought it was about time for me to jump on the bandwagon! The idea comes from Orgjunkie, a really great site for those of us who are constantly looking for new and fun ways to organize our lives! One of my goals this year is to transform my home...my LIFE!...into a nice, neat organized little ball:) I've always had the habit of over-extending myself and taking on more than I can handle. Not this year....I am slowing down and re-prioritizing my life, and so far...all is well on the homefront! So here you go~my very first Menu Plan Monday! Thanks, Liz, for the fun idea!

Monday~ Turkey tacos and cheese quesadillas w/ Brandon's homemade salsa

Tuesday~ Crawfish pie w/ french bread and green beans

Wednesday~ Chicken fried steak w/ yukon gold potatoes *the BOX kind..HA! I love them!* and gravy with fried okra

Thursday~ Chicken alfredo w/ fettucine and french bread *having the in-laws over for dinner, so maybe I will throw in a salad*

Friday~ Shrimp and chicken gumbo w/ rice and rolls

I am not including the weekends on here just because we do pizza or something else super easy on those days. Sunday is pretty much whatever is left in the fridge from the previous week. My menu looks super yummy.....I might post pics of some of the dishes on my other blog along with the recipes of a few of them as well. I believe my alfredo recipe is already on there, but will have to check. I do NOT use a mix or that nasty bottled stuff...and my recipe is beyond yummy, so you'll have to try it! For now....I pass on the menu plan Monday challenge to those of you reading! Let me know if you do it and I will check your menu out *and most likely steal some recipes from you!*