Last week I posted pictures of the piles of dirty dishes in my kitchen.  My coworker and good friend, Jim, was appalled and disgusted by those photos.  I believe his actual words to me were, "I just can't understand how anybody could live that way!"  I wasn't eating off of those dishes!!!  I think we have all learned by now that Julie is in no way perfect or anywhere near there.  But...I am pleased to show Jim and all of you that Julie cleaned her kitchen this weekend!  Here are the photos....

 

  

Wait for it....

Awesome! Yay me!  

At church this morning, our "official church photographer", Tambri, gave me this photo of me & my friend Christy.  Christy and I met in high school and have been close friends ever since.   This picture was actually taken at the Fall Festival.  We were in charge of watching the children decorate pumpkins and then we hot-glued bows on their "heads".  Note to self....Hot glue guns are not Julie's friend.  Julie will NOT be using a hot glue gun at this year's festival.  

Have a great day!

Julie :-)

Hands on Saturday

This is my Barbara.  Barbara and I used to work together more than 10 several years ago.  Barbara is a really special friend and she's a great influence too.  Barbara loves to volunteer with Hands on Charlotte.  Today we volunteered for the February "Big Project".  We, (and 98 of our worker friends) did demo at a local elementary school so that they can build a new science lab.  Here are some pictures....

Barbara wanted me to remind everyone that she is dressed for hard work and that the camera adds 10 pounds. (Barbara really is a bombshell!)
Here are some more pictures of our morning...

 

Here's another view.  This picture actually shows Barbara taking a rare break by the wall.  

 

Check me out!  Am I working hard or hardly working? 

 

We had a great time.  It was hard work - I'm sure I will be sore tomorrow.  Actually, my shoulders are already sore.  But...it was for a good cause.  And it was great to spend time with my Barbara.  

Here are a couple of photos I took last night of my niece and nephew.  This is Laura. Check out those beautiful brown eyes...

 

Laura laughing...

 

Daniel

 

I sure do love those kids!  OK...now I really have to go clean my house.  Or take a nap.  Maybe a nap sounds better.  

Julie :-)

The Dish

I felt a little under the weather on Monday and Tuesday so I decided not to worry about the dishes.  My mom is going to have a cow when she sees this picture...

Here's the sink...

Today, after a long day at the office, I went to church and kept the nursery.  I figure that entitles me to taking the rest of the night off to relax.  Those dishes will still be there tomorrow.  Unfortunately.  Now let me just make this clear, "No Mom, you didn't teach me to live like that."  "Yes mom, I should just wash them as I go."  "You are right, I could at least put some water in them."  "Uh huh, it's not good to let them get so dirty."  I'll be sure and post some pictures whenever I get them all clean again.  I'm sure my mom would appreciate that too. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

On this day, many several years ago, my mom was born.  

 

That's a picture of mom with her Easter basket.   Here's one of her elementary school pictures... 

  
 

High School Graduation...

 

 

 After church today, we all ate brunch at Rippington's in Waxhaw.  

 

It was delicious!  After lunch we headed to mom & dad's house for pie and presents.  Scott made a chocolate creme pie.  I had planned to take a picture, but mom was so excited, she cut the pie and put it on plates for us before I had a chance.  Here's a picture of mom enjoying her pie.  

 

Today, Daniel tried his first piece of pie ever!  He loved it.  We couldn't keep him away.  

I'd say this boy has a sweet tooth except that he doesn't have any teeth yet.  I guess you'd say he has a sweet gum.  Hahaha - Sweetgum.  It was a great day!  Happy Birthday to the best mom I could ever ask for!

Love,
Julie :-) 

Wordless Wednesday

Why the Girl Scouts are EVIL!!!

Superman has kryptonite and I have Tagalongs.  Tagalongs are my nemesis.  I don't know what it is about those little peanut butter patties but I can't resist them.  I think the Girl Scouts fill them with some sort of drug that makes you eat them until you are sick.  Tagalongs are good but they aren't even one of my top favorite desserts yet, they have a hold over me like no other chocolatey goodness does.  I opened a box on Sunday and within 24 hours I had finished it off.  I tried to resist the last 3 cookies but they just kept calling to me.  I finally had to eat them just to shut them up.  While I was sitting at my desk having eaters remorse, I received an email from my church asking for donations of Girl Scout cookies.  I quickly replied back...I have 2 boxes.  I'll drop them off Wednesday night.  Tagalongs 1....Julie 2.  Until next year you evil Girl Scouts... 

Snow Pictures

Here are some pictures from very early Saturday morning.  This is my house.  My house really isn't "black" but the lighting makes it look that way!

 

Here's a view from the back of the house.  Again, not a "black" house!  I can't wait until my photography class starts in April - I have a lot to learn. 

 

This is the gate at the end of our driveway.  

 

Here's the view from my mailbox...

The creek in the back of our house...

Two views from the woods...

  

My neighbors' house a/k/a Mom & Dad

  

Mom took a picture of me playing with Sophie.  If you look real close (or if you double-click the picture), you can see that she is biting my leg.  

 

Sophie sitting on Kevin's porch.  She's such a good dog! 

  

I hope you enjoyed my snow pictures.  I also hope that these are the last for a while.  We received somewhere in the ballpark of 4 inches of snow on Friday.  I'm done with snow for the rest of the year.  No more snow.  It's time for Spring! 

Run For Your Life

Well, it's official.  I've gained 21 pounds in the past 18 months.  Granted I could've stood to put on a few, but TWENTY-ONE pounds!  That's where I draw the line.  I guess I should mention that I also have high cholesterol & high triglycerides too.

When I stood on the scale Tuesday night, there was a number staring back at me that I had never seen on the scale before.   So....I did what I always do.  I found my cat curled up on a blanket and I cuddled up with her and watched some mindless televison.  I told myself that I would get on the treadmill "later on".  Later on came and went and I was discouraged.  I sat on my bed, distraught, and prayed, "Lord, you know me.  You know I have tried over and over but I just don't have the discipline or the willpower to do this on my own.  The only way I can do this is if you help me.  I'm giving it to you.  I need your help." 

Something happened Wednesday morning that I have only dreamed about in the past.  I set my alarm clock for 5:30 am - like I had many times before - but this time.....I got out of bed and got on the treadmill!  It was a MIRACLE.  Many, many times over the years I have planned to wake up early and workout but when the alarm sounded...I hit the snooze button.  This was God showing me that HE is in control.   Oh and footnote....this morning I woke up at 5:30 am and excitedly jumped on the treadmill again. 

I'll keep you posted.

Super Bowl Sunday

Another Stupid Bowl Super Bowl has come and gone.  I'm no football fan but I do look forward to the Super Bowl every year.  Our family tradition is that Scott's Uncle, Ken, and his friend Eric, come over to enjoy good food and football.  Here's our cook sporting an apron with a message: 

It says, "Your opinion wasn't in the recipe".  Tonight's menu included homemade pizza (of course - Scott was cooking), chips & dip, 2 kinds of wings & banana pudding. 

Here's a picture of the chicken wings - I betcha' could've figured that one out....

 

Check out the banana pudding in the back...

For Christmas, Eric gave me a bulb kit.  I planted the bulb on December 26th and here's a picture of what it looked like last week.

Yes, that is snow in the background. 

 

I decided to put it in a room where it could get direct sunlight so of course Greta had to go check it out.  

Now, my bulb is dying and I don't know what to do with it.  If anyone knows what I am supposed to do so that it will come back next year, please let me know....

OK....I am planning to get on the treadmill to work off some of that great Super Bowl food.  If my past track record is any indication, I'm sure I will end up on the couch with a blanket, Greta, and the remote control.  Good night!

Surprise, Surprise

I didn't think it was possible, but I have met a chocolate bar that I don't like.  I love, love, love - Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate, SO, I naturally assumed that I would really love "real" dark chocolate.  It was a big decision standing in the candy bar aisle at Earthfare, but I finally settled on Green & Black's Organic Dark Chocolate.  Boy, was I in for a rude awakening.  Turns out, I DON'T like dark chocolate at all.  Don't blame Green & Black's - I ended up giving it away to my friend Jim and he thought it was fantastic.  Lesson learned.




I have spent the past couple of months trying to "green" my life.  I have started shopping at Earthfare and only buying humanely raised, USDA certified, organic meats.  Unless you want to be depressed, don't research the hormones and antibiotics that are put into our meats and produce.  I won't even get started on the commercial fishing industry.  Lately, I've become a little obsessed with only buying organic.  I have no problem with eating out, BUT I can be mindful of the food that I buy.

I've also found a brand of "green" cleaners that I really love.  It's called "Naturally It's Fresh".  I started looking for safe cleaning products after I got tired of coughing every time I used 409.  409 is a wonderful cleaner but over the past couple of years I started getting a weird tickle in my throat every time I used it.  Then I would start coughing.  That couldn't be good for me. 

If you have any interest in "greening" your life, I suggest reading Sara Snow's book- Sara Snow's Fresh Living. Very interesting....

Well, it isn't very often that I turn into Heloise but those are my household hints for the month!!! Maybe next time I'll tell you how to get chewing gum out of your hair.   Have a great day.