I'm a very proud sister...

My talented sister works for a design company in Hattiesburg, and the creative people there made a holiday greeting that just has to be shared. Please click here and make sure your volume is up. And just so you know...the first voice you hear, is my lovely sister. (It's also the voice you hear the most!). Also, when you see the "cartoon" people, please notice the girl with the small eyes. That, too, would be Heather. I think this is hilarious. So, please, take some time for this (ESPECIALLY if you know Heather!).

Happy Wednesday!

What is there NOT to love about this time of the year?

Dad sent this to me this morning. You should definitely click here and take a second to look.

I love Christmas.

"Not Me!" Monday

I got this from Claire, who got this from someone else. What a fun idea, and I guess it's a good time for me to make a few confessions...So here you go...here's my "Not me!" Monday...

1. I did NOT misplace my debit card last weekend and it was MOST DEFINITELY not recovered in the ATM. That's right...I went to the ATM to get some cash, and DROVE AWAY without my card. Genius.

2. I did NOT send out nearly 70 Christmas cards this year and FORGET TO SEND ONE TO MY PARENTS. Geez.

3. I did NOT get woken up by my 7 lb. dog the other night because he was snoring so loudly, and I totally did NOT have to wake him up so he could turn over and stop snoring.

4. I have NOT already watched "Elf" 3 times, "Home Alone" twice, and "Christmas Vacation" once already this season. Oh, and don't think my Christmas movie watching is anywhere close to being over!

Now it's your turn!

Family Christmas-Part 1.

Today was the first of several family Christmas celebrations I will be attending this year! We were in Collinsville today at my aunt and uncles house. This was actually the first time in YEARS that every single one of my family members was there (and that's A LOT of people). It was really nice to see everybody. Here are quite a few pictures from today. Oh what fun it is!

Henry, uncooperating with the camera, and his sweet mommy.

Me and the sisters. I think this pic turned out kinda cute.

Me and Henry--he was totally not into taking a picture today.

Me with the sisters and their hubbies!

Me and Adelia. We would go insane at family functions if we didn't have each other! :)

Me and my cousin Brian, one of the sweetest-natured people I've ever known.

Me, the sisters, and all of our first cousins!

The cousins, their spouses, and their children (minus 2: one had to leave, and the other got sick :( ).

My mom, her brother, 2 sisters, and my sweet Mamaw. Oh, and I won't forget to mention the deer head on the wall. :)

Good times had by all!

Now...if I can just make it through the next 4 1/2 days of my life....

Welcome to bulldog country, coach.

Meet Dan Mullen, MSU's new head football coach!

Don't you think he looks fabulous holding a cowbell? :)

Welcome to Starkville...one of my favorite places in America.

(oh, and the photo was taken by Russ Houston, and copied from this site.)

calorie-counting, part 2...

Mom sent this to me (I can't imagine why it reminded her of me! :)). I had to share. After all, this is some GREAT advice--probably the best you'll hear all season.

Happy eating-LT

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. Then have someone drive you home. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Helloooooo?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's... You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying your plate of mashed potatoes and gravy and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin... Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" NOW, go out and have a great holiday season!

Calories? What are those?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? I have literally been eating what I want, when I want lately, and on top of that, my motivation to exercise is apparently on a break. Normally, I eat somewhat healthily, allowing my self to splurge on "fun" things only sometimes. I also generally exercise at least 5 days a week. This past week has been awful! Of

course this is the time of year for Christmas parties, cookies, goodies, etc., and we all know how hard it is to say no! Cookies? "YES, I'LL TAKE 3!" A piece of cake? "SURE! WITH EXTRA ICING PLEASE!" And you all know how I feel about chips and dip.

Oh well. Perhaps, I will be motivated again by New Year's, but until then, I will continue to say that calories don't count on *holidays*, weekends, when I'm tired, when I'm sad, or when I'm not feeling well (you know what I'm talking about).

I'm hungry now.

so...it looks like today is my "blogoversary"

According to the handy dandy clicker to the right, today is my "Blogoversary!" Yep, the 'ol blog has been around for exactly 2 years. In honor of my blog, I've composed a list of my top 5 favorite things about blogging (insert drumroll here):

1. Of course the obvious reason I enjoy blogging is to keep up with people. I am a self-proclaimed blog stalker, so you can pretty much be sure that if you're linked to my blog, I'm keeping track of your life. :) I also love to comment and receive comments, so most likely you've gotten a comment or two from me.

2. It's a stress relief. Silly sounding, I know, but it's true. Sometimes just sitting at my computer for 10 minutes (away from the stress of the day) to create a post is good for me. Don't believe me? Try it.

3. I want people to think I'm cool. Well....some might argue with that. I've had several people classify me as a dork (how dare they?) because of my blogging. It's obviously non-bloggers who make these accusations, and what do THEY know?

4. I have to have SOMEWHERE to show off pictures of Henry. :) Kristen doesn't blog, so I feel that it is my duty as his favorite aunt to show him off to Kristen's friends and the rest of the blogging world. I will continue to blog about him as though he is my very own, until I HAVE my very own one day.

5. I have very fun people in my life, and I feel that it is necessary to show them off via my blog.

(Click here to start back from the beginning if you missed it the first time around!).

So..HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY TO ME! Can I use this as an excuse to eat cake today?

Black Tie/White Christmas

I spent the weekend in Birmingham, and had a blast! MSKS met me there, and we stayed with Claire. MSKS and I have been friends since we were 2, and the 3 of us have been close for as long as I can remember. Some of my most favorite memories include these 2. It had been entirely too long since we'd hung out, so this was a long overdue weekend!

We went to dinner and hung out Friday night, spent the day shopping on Saturday, and went to a Christmas party-- Black Tie/White Christmas -- Saturday night. It was so much fun!

It's always hard to bounce back to work after a fun-filled weekend. While it WILL be hard to go back to school bright and early in the morning, I just have to keep reminding myself that only have 9 1/2 more school days before my Christmas holiday! Yippee!

I hope your week is very merry!

my dear friend, the birthday girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATEY!

My dear friend Katey is celebrating her birthday today!

If you're a regular follower of my blog, you've heard me mention Katey several times. She is one of those friends who are few and far between, and God allowed us to become friends just when I needed her the most! She defines the word loyal, and those who know her would agree that she sets an amazing Christian example to everyone she's around. I truly emulate her selflessness. Come to think of it...I can't recall ever seeing Katey in a bad mood. Weird! :) She's a wonderful mother to her sweet Camp, and I know she will be to baby Overstreet who will arrive in the very near future!

I love you Katey, and hope you have a fantastic day. Do something for YOURSELF today!

Stressed??

This article popped up on Hotmail when I was checking my email. I normally don't take time to read these, but I found the title "Kiss off Stress" to be very intriguing. :) And it IS a very stressful time of the year, so I thought I'd see what advice these people had to offer. Anyway, take a look at what THEY say are ten ways to beat stress in 10 minutes or less.

By Alison Kotch, Best Life
Did you know that the holiday season is the time of the year when you're most likely to die from a heart attack? According to research at the University of California, the deadliest day is Christmas, when you're 5 percent more likely to have a cardiac event. Of course, all the key stressors (finance, family, travel) seem destined to be worse this year (they always do). Since a restful night's sleep or an hour at the gym isn't always possible, here are 10 quick ways to stress less.

1 Second: Swear
Researchers at England's University of East Anglia Norwich looked into leadership styles and found that using swear words can reduce stress and boost camaraderie among coworkers. Good luck, @#!$*%&*!

5 Seconds: Pop Fish Oil
According to research from the University of Pittsburgh, people with the highest blood levels of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids are happier, less impulsive, and more agreeable. Try a daily supplement of 400 milligrams each of EPA and DHA fish oils.

10 Seconds: Eat Dark Chocolate
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that the flavonoids in cocoa relax your body's blood vessels. Look for lowfat dark chocolate, which has more stress-busting flavonoids than milk chocolate.

30 Seconds: Know Your Hoku
Acupressure is a quick tension releaser, according to researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University who found it can reduce stress by up to 39 percent. For fast relief, massage your hoku (the fleshy part between the thumb and index finger) for 20 to 30 seconds. "This is the universal pressure point for easing upper-body tension," says Patrice Winter, a spokeswoman for the American Physical Therapy Association.

30 Seconds: Sit Back
Forget what you've been told about sitting up straight to relieve tension in your back. Researchers at the University of Alberta Hospital in Canada found that leaning back at a 135-degree angle is the best sitting position for alleviating back pain.
1 Minute: Add Garlic
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham believe they've figured out why garlic is good for heart health, and their finding implies it's a powerful stress buster too. When you digest garlic's main ingredient, organosulfur allicin, your body produces hydrogen sulfide, which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow.

3 Minutes: Brew Tea
In a study at University College in London, 75 men were given tea before completing two stressful tasks. Afterward, their cortisol levels dropped an average of 47 percent, compared with 27 percent for men who weren't given tea.

5 Minutes: Take a YouTube Timeout
Just the anticipation of laughing decreases the stress hormones dopac, cortisol, and epinephrine by 38, 39, and 70 percent, respectively, according to researchers at Loma Linda University in California. And when researchers at the University of Maryland showed short movie clips to study participants, those who watched funny films experienced a 22 percent increase in blood flow to their hearts.

8 Minutes: Budget Wisely
"Money is the biggest source of stress for a man during the holidays," says Bonnie Eaker Weil, PhD, author of Financial Infidelity. And with good reason: Men who avoid making budgets spend an average of 36 percent more on holiday gifts than those who don't, according to a 2002 survey. So go easy on your wallet and your heart. Sit down with your wife and quickly calculate how much you two want to spend on gifts this year.

10 Minutes: Just Do It
Kissing or hugging your spouse or significant other can reduce stress because it raises levels of oxytocin, the hormone associated with bonding and love, say researchers at the University of North Carolina. And a Scottish researcher found that having sex regularly lowers anxiety, stress, and blood pressure.
Provided by Best Life

So...what do you think?

2? ALREADY?

Happy birthday to my sweet nephew and favorite child in the world. I love this little boy and thank God everyday for him! I can't believe he's 2 today!

Here's a picture of him exactly 2 years ago (tear!).

....and here's one just taken a few weeks ago. Let the terrible two's begin.

Happy Birthday sweet boy!

The end of a perfect Thanksgiving week!

Do I REALLY have to go back to work tomorrow? I know, I know...I'm a teacher and I shouldn't complain about the fabulous holidays I get. The downside to these great breaks--it makes it SO MUCH HARDER to go back. You're probably rolling your eyes at me right now unless you're a teacher. It's good to know that some of you understand how I feel. :) I will say that this break was exactly what I needed. It was relaxing, fun and productive all at the same time. I have all of my decorating, wrapping, and card-sending completely finished, which is a really good feeling. I worked at MINT a couple of days, which I always enjoy. On top of that, I was able to spend time with my family in Collinsville (previously posted), and last night my dad's side of the family had Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house. Everyone, minus Kristen (who had to work all day:( ), was able to be there. I missed Kristen, but I won't go there right now...

My mom not only hosted and prepared the dinner, she also very creatively decorated the house. She made everything very festive. Above, you can see that Mom made everyone a name label for our seats. I also took a couple of pictures of the table decor, which was very "Thanksgivingy". I loved it. Needless to say, I ate WAY too much this week, but it was Thanksgiving so calories don't count right? Even if I did gain a couple (or 6 or 7) pounds in just a matter of 4 days, it was totally worth it. :)

I was surprisingly somewhat calm with my camera this weekend, but here are a few pictures that I DID take.
Henry's buddy this weekend was my cousin Jake (who is obviously sporting the "no shave November" look). Here's a picture of Jake and Henry teasing each other. Oh, and of course that's my Aunt Stephanie in the back.

Henry loves playing outside.

Henry and his other buddy Trey, or "Fray" as Henry calls him (also sporting "no shave November") walking in the "woods" behind my parents' house. I think this made Henry feel very masculine. He kept telling Trey that he wanted to "Go to woods. Find a deer."

Sounds like another hunter-to-be in the family!

I hope your Thanksgiving was fantastic! Can you believe it's the last day of November? Weird.

NOW what?

Whether we won or lost, I was always a fan.

I'm going to miss him.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good night!

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

Mom, Dad, and I spent the day with my mom's family in Collinsville. Kristen had to work all day, and Heather and Trey were with Trey's family. They were missed, but I'm slowly learning how to function in life without my sisters. ;)

I don't know if it was just because I was particularly hungry today, but this very well may have been one of the YUMMIEST Thanksgiving dinners I've had. Everything was fabulous. The day spent with my family was great. The only thing missing from this nearly perfect day was a nice lengthy nap. Maybe tomorrow!

Below are some pictures of several (though not nearly ALL!) of my cousins. Top R picture: me with 3 of my first cousins, Adelia, Lisa, and Monica. Bottom group picture: me, Adelia, Tiffany and Candace (Lisa's children), and Brooklee and Amberlee (Monica's children). The center picture is of me and my Mamaw. I don't get to see her nearly enough, so I treasure the time I AM able to spend with her. She lives in assisted living in Meridian. She often shows the beginning stages of Alzheimer's, so while it's difficult to see her in this state, I value the time I get to see her. Thankfully, it was a good day for her. I think she enjoyed getting to see everyone.

Rob, Henry, Heather, and Trey (yes..Kristen's working AGAIN this weekend!) are coming tomorrow, and we're having Thanksgiving dinner with my dad's family Saturday night.

Until next time...

allow me to introduce...

My new niece and nephew, Jean, Jr. and Joy!

Well...

Not really.

In case you can't tell, I discovered a website where you can upload pictures of you and your significant other and see what their children will look like. I don't seem to have a significant other these days, so I took it upon myself to see what Heather and Trey's children will look like.

Aren't they beautiful little creatures? :)

HAHA!

What do you think about my little new baby Jean, Jr.?
MakeMeBabies.com - What will your baby look like?

What do you think about my little new baby Joy, Jr.?
MakeMeBabies.com - What will your baby look like?

Click HERE to see what YOUR children will look like!

Wow, I really do have too much time on my hands this week! :)

2 posts? In one day?

Blogging is something I enjoy doing especially when I have extra time on my hands. Fortunately, time is something I have a lot of this week! Enjoy post #2 of the day.

This is Thanksgiving week. It is a time to spend with family and friends and reflect on the important things in life. For me, it's a time (as I previously posted) to express my appreciation to those most important to me.

In addition to the important people in my life, I also have several possessions which I consider to be of utmost importance. These are the things in life which will forever hold a special place in my heart for different reasons. Allow me to share some of my most valuable possessions.

1. This dress. Perhaps you know the story about it and if not, you should click here and read. Mom smocked this dress for me (obviously when I was just a wee little girl). Looking at this dress hanging in my closet makes me smile, and while I'm not sure another "Laura" will ever have the privilege of wearing it, it will forever be a special dress to THIS Laura!

2. You know who once owned this little bitty rocking chair? My Dada. He was born in 1917, so I'm guessing this chair was made about that time. Before his death, I remember seeing this chair in my grandparents' garage and commenting on how much I liked it. Nana and Dada insisted that I take it, and I didn't argue! How special it is for me to have something that belonged to my precious grandfather so so so many years ago.

3. This is my "piddow" (translation: "pillow" ). Nana made this for me when I was a baby. Apparently I had to have my "piddow" in order to sleep. Now my piddow rests in Dada's rocking chair. Maybe one day I will have a daughter who will appreciate this precious pillow.

4. Quite sometime after the pillow was made (my college graduation to be more specific), Nana made me a Tshirt quilt. She asked me to chose some of my favorite sorority Tshirts. (Let's be honest, while college shirts may have significance, how often do you really want to WEAR them after college?). She ingeniusly used these tshirts to make a quilt! She spent weeks and weeks on this blanket, which was given to me as a college graduation gift. It's one of my favorite gifts ever. I actually sleep with it every night. It's cozy, is filled with fun memories, and was handmade by one of the most important people in my life. (She stitched her name and the year on the back, making it even more special).


5. My birthstone ring. This was given to me by my aunt and uncle as a highschool graduation gift. I wear it as my "everyday ring," and hope to one day pass it down to someone special!



6. Last but not least, here's my best buddy. I realized today just how happy I am to have him. He was gone ALL DAY getting groomed, and I absolutely hated being at my house without him. I called 2 different times to see if I could come get him early because I was missing him so badly. Pathetic? Maybe, but I wouldn't be who I am without this little guy! :) (Doesn't he look handsome with his new cut?)

'Tis the season to be thankful!