{LONG OVERDUE!}

Let me just say that I will be a very happy lady once my hubby gets our old-as-dirt laptop fixed...wink wink, hubby! :)

But for now, I'm squeezing in entries when I can...so HERE WE GO!

Last Sunday was a BLAST! Me and several of my buddies from church had lunch together and hit up the Goodwill Clearance Center....YAY!

We left with a LOAD of goodies!

I got atleast 20 articles of cute clothing for $6!!!

Nicole found so many treasures that she could hardly lift her bag!

So Meg gave her a little help:)

I love these girls!

So....now for that veggie soup recipe I promised---

Mmm! Mmm!

Doesn't it look TASTY:)

All you need is two large cans of diced tomatoes, two large cans of vegall, and one pound lean beef.

Cook beef and set to side. Pour all four cans into a large pot, add beef, simmer for an hour, and serve! That's my kind of cooking!

Now for yesterday:) I am happy to report that BUBBA was in town! I hadn't seen her in 6 months and it was 6 months TOO LONG!

I hit the road fairly early and met her at Denny's for some breakfast...

...and in true blogger style we whipped our cameras out for some quick pics.

Our breakfast was YUMMY and I was quite impressed with his GIANORMOUS bowl of grits:)

Butter-free and still 0h-so-tasty!

My fruit parfait was pretty AND tasty!

Boy did I MISS THIS GIRL!

We decided to make the most of our day together and went to the Jockey Lot....

....and played with swords while we enjoyed the sunshine and deals:)

Bubba found herself some cute things and we just enjoyed our day....like old times!

We rummaged thru lots of jewelry....

....and stopped along the way for a few photo opps:)

We really scored when we stumbled upon lot 860----

....because the sweet sweet lady who owns the booth gave us each a free bracelet:)

If you're in the area you should stop by and see her:) Tell her Laura sent you....LOL!

She has lots of cute bags, too!We were really into rings for some reason and each got several:) And when it was time to say goodbye I was sad :( but HAPPY that I got to spend the day with one of my best friends ever!

So after a fun weekend, full of BLESSINGS, It's time to ride into this week with great expectations!

Giddy Up!

Love,

Laura

{Ick!}

I have been feeling a little under the weather today and was told that I have a "flu like virus"...and looking on the bright side it's better than having THE flu virus! I got some antibiotics and hopefully after another day or two of rest I'll be feeling like myself again:)

Last night, before I started feeling too cruddy, (which was right after my wonderful spa experience that I can't wait to tell you about:) I made some homemade veggie soup! DELICIOUS! I took some pics and I'll share them with you soon---along with the recipe that is SUPER EASY!

Today was spent in the bed, except for dragging myself to the Dr. office, and I'm looking forward to watching my dvr'd episodes of Intervention and Heavy from last night. Travis and his basketball team from church have game two of the playoff's tonight....good luck boys! Wish I could be there to cheer you all on!

So...I might be the only person in the world, but when I'm feeling sick with a cold, ect...I feel like I could eat a horse! Does anyone else eat more when they feel under the weather??? Of course the only exception is when I have a stomach virus---ugh! I have already had 1/2 my box of dried fruit mix, 2 pieces of raisin bread, some leftover veggie soup with bran crackers, a few pieces of licorice and some Lucky Charms...I think I feel like it might give me some energy if I just eat something else:) Hmm....who knows!

Well...hope everyone has a great night!

Love,
Laura

P.S. Please say a prayer for my sister, Nikki! She has THE flu virus and pneumonia:( Poor Nikki! Hope you feel better asap!

{Bright, Bright Sunshiny Day!}

Oh my....this was just a BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Simply Gorgeous...
Wonderfully Fabulous...
Perfectly Perfect!!!

I'm hoping they will keep on coming!!!

I spent the day relaxing at home, hanging out with the fam + mini me and had lunch at Logans...yum!

We took Glory on a long walk (how could we NOT on a day like this:) and now I'm suddenly craving a big plate of pancakes and I'm 'bout to go get me some:) Sure am!

Perhaps we will see the new Big Mama movie...I feel like a GOOD LAUGH! Funny movies are my favorite by far! What about you?

Last but not least, please keep a friend of mine named Nicole in your prayers. She is a new Christian and she has recently told me she can feel God doing big things in her life! Awesome, huh?! She's still trying to find a job and work through some other issues but she is trusting God to get her through---one step at a time. And she has JOY in her heart...PRAISE THE LORD!

Have a great night friends!

Love,
Laura

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation"
~Psalm 13:5~

{Howdy Strangers!}

Good Morning friends! Boy have I missed you! It's just been B.U.S.Y in the RADA WORLD and I haven't had much time to sit down and tell you about my day. So to give you a quick recap...WE'VE BEEN GREAT!
Here are a few things I've been wanting share:)
This is my favorite new snack!
I found them at Big Lots and I'm addicted! And if it's fiber you want, it's fiber you get my friend! No joke!

My sistah-friend, Mo, gave me a present this morning. Aww!

A few Goodies she found a Walgreens:) I'm looking forward to making this my (somewhat healthy) afternoon treat!

I must admit, I have been backsliding slightly in the diet/nutrition department. Not TOO bad---just not really GOOD either. Yesterday I surrendered to a Bojangles craving (seriously, I wanted it for days on end!) and---after thoroughly enjoying every bite---I'm now getting back on track and eating healthier again, one meal at a time:) That's how you gotta do it!

In other good news...only 53 more work days until I get another vacation. Woo Woo! I'm counting down happily!

Yay!

I can't believe February is more than halfway through already---Goodness--- time is flying!

Last but not least, Thank you Lord for this BEAUTIFUL DAY! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I'm smiling! You have really outdone yourself----as usual!

Love,

Laura

{PARTY Sistah-Friend Style!}

Sistah-friend Mo took me out to lunch for my birthday on Tuesday. She's a sweetie:) That morning, I also discovered that my office was decorated and there was a cute jar full of candy and Valentine's day socks on my desk...I really am thankful for my sisters! We decided to go back to BRIOSO for lunch...YUM!

I got the same thing I got last time and it was just as delicious!

I thought Mark's choice looked really tasty, too:)

And to my surprise, all my friends were already there to celebrate with me! Yay!

YUM!

Decorations and Chocolate Cupcakes!

I'm telling you...this stuff is GOOD!

And courtesy of Brioso, a FABULOUS chocolate apple crepe----SIMPLY DELICIOUS!

Thanks everyone for celebrating with me! I love you guys!

Love,
Laura

P.S. Mark made me a totally cute birthday card which I'll post soon. Forgot to take a pic---but check them out some of his awesome creations HERE!

{28 feels Gr8 on Feb 8th!}

I'm the big 2-8 today!

I've had so much fun celebrating for several days now---it's been more like a "birthweek" than a "birthday!" But I'm not complaining! Saturday, my Mom, Fran, Granny, sisters, little cuz Camryn, Makayla and I all went to eat lunch together at Olive Garden. It's sorta become our birthday celebration tradition! We chatted and played with Makayla while we waited for our table....
...and eagerly awaited the breadsticks---YUM!
I really enjoyed spending the day with such great peeps!
Molly brought me a balloon and birthday pin and Nikki brought me a cookie cake--THANKS SISTAHS!
They gave me lots of sweet gifts....
...I must have really liked this one! Ha! Ha!

Cheeessssseee!

I got lots of new (and awesome) Avon products to try...

...and I intend on using the foot stuff ASAP! (reads: I need a pedicure DESPERATELY!)

A few more presents and a few more breadstick later---

---and my friend Kristen, who works there, brought me a birthday treat:)

I blew out my candle....

...and Makayla finished up the whipped cream. To say she loved it would be a major understatement!

Molly made this cute gift for me:)

and Camryn and Nikki hung out, being totally cute as always:)

When our bellies were completely full (mostly of salad:) we went shopping for a little while.

Camryn got some cute new glasses...isn't she a doll?

My Mom and Dad gave me some birthday money which I put to good use!

By the time we knew it, it was already almost dark:) My time does fly when one is shopping!

We packed up and went across the street to Yogurt Mountain!

We broke out the cookie cake,

and satisfied out sweet teeth! (since there was obviously more than one tooth:)

And this morning I woke up to many phone calls, texts and Happy Birthday wishes~

including this sweet one from Trav!

A special thanks also to Bette and NunNun, Vanessa, Tim, and Hunter, and Ken and Lynn for helping to make my Birthday very special!

It realls DOES feel GR8 to be 28...especially when you feel so loved by some many people!

CRAFTING UPDATE: I bought some fleece, ribbon, and fabric at Hobby Lobby this weekend (courtesy of bday money from Gran and Pop:) and made a Valentine blanket and pillow!
I just hot-glued ribbon along the edge of the fleece and put a bow on each corner.

and hot-glued the fabric over a fiber fill pillow body.
I also made a table runner out of wrapping paper I found for $1 at Target One Spot. It worked really well!

Happy Tuesday to ALL!

Love,

Laura