i am a coconut.

birthday.

I no longer celebrate my birthday, I celebrate my birthweekend, birthweek, and birthmonth!  I have to say that I don't mind turning 32.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Especially Jeff.  My hubby sent these beautiful roses to work last night!  It was a bitch getting it home in a VW Beetle but it was so worth it!  So pretty!

And all of you from 2peas-- you rawk!  Thanks for such a lovely beginning today!  I can't stop grinning!  Special thanks to Gail and Wendy!  If I wasn't already married, I would propose! Check it out here and here!  Muuuah!

memory trends las vegas.

Anyone going to Memory Trends in Las Vegas?  Lucky for me, I live there!  I would love to meet you if you are in town!  Here are the dates and info:

Oct 10-Oct 12
Memory Trends Trade Show
Las Vegas Convention Center

I'll probably also go to the 2peas dinner at the Las Vegas Hilton on Tuesday, October 11th at 6:30 pm!  Hope to see ya there!

how to snag a fireman in 5 minutes.

1.  Smell something burning in the family room.
2.  Run panicking into other rooms to check if the smell is there, too.
3.  Continue sniffing the family room, unable to figure out where the smell is originating from.
4.  Sniff outside.  Decide that the smell is definitely from the family room.
5.  Have life flash before your eyes.
6.  Gather up your most important things.  Husband.  Check.  Dogs.  Check.  Photos.  Check.  Digital Rebel.  Check.  Put on underwear.  Check.
7.  Call Fire Department.
8.  Have 3 fire trucks arrive at your doorstep.
9.  Have neighbors come over to witness stupidity.
10.  Have 6 burly men in complete firefighter gear inspect home with heat detectors and decide that commitment to state mental institution is warranted.
11.  Decide that the only thing that was out ot the ordinary was the recently purchased treadmill.
12.  Grin sheepishly at the firefighters and invite them to join us for a round of karaoke. 
13.  Forget to take photos of the firemen.
14.  Decide that God was sending signs by trying to blow up the treadmill.
15.  Never exercise again.  Eat chocolate instead.

new beginnings.

Had our first choir rehearsal today in over a year and a half.  I had lots of anxiety and apprehension about the whole thing but in the end, it was good.  The musicians sounded as if they had never been separated and the singers sounded downright angelic.  Those harmonies came back to me so easily and my hubby enjoyed playing drums again.  I have decided that is a new day.  I will not allow the past to cloud my judgment or my enjoyment of singing again.  I thought that scrapbooking fueled and fulfilled my creative itch, but today I realized that making music does this for me, as well.  Jeff really understands that scrapbooking is a creative outlet for me but he does not take part in it.  He watches from the sidelines.  But with our church music group, we share the experience together.   We are a team in every sense of the word and I kinda like making music with him.  Today's experience was truly made sweeter by having my husband by my side. 

what's in a name?

This is of my dog, Snack, and how he got his name.  It's in the latest PaperKuts Pet Gallery Idea Book.

glutton for punishment.

As if I didn't have enough going on in my life, my hubby and I have decided to return to our church music group.  I hope we aren't going to get our asses kicked again.  We spent a long time investing in the relationships and friendships in that group and there's no doubt about it--we were ill treated.  After dedicating ourselves to making music for God and the congregation, it was decided that our efforts were no longer wanted because our views didn't agree with the group's.  I have a special place in my heart for those people.  After all, Jeff and I met in the church choir.  But in the end, wearing your heart on your sleeve just doesn't cut it.  You end up getting hurt and crying and destroying relationships.  Everything a church driven activity shouldn't do.  They say that the drama is no longer there.  Drama for your mama.  Hate it, but we'll give it a go again.  Sigh.

My hubby is too optimistic.  He has this annoying trait of being so darn hopeful when it comes to everything.  And I spend most of my time, bringing up all the bad things that can happen and keeping it real.  So I'm a little vague and cryptic.  This is only to protect the identities of those who bent us over and screwed us.  In the end, I don't want my hubby to get hurt again. I just want him to pound on his drums and feel like he's actually doing something he loves.  And after he pounds his drums, he can (ahem) pound on other things.  Ha!

secrets.

Did this for one of Purple Snoodle's workshops and gave it to my hubby for our first paper anniversary.  It's an envelope accordion album and has my secrets to a happy marriage.  The secret for all men is: Make your woman happy.  You'll be happy, too. And don't forget to put the toilet seat down.

effer dare #3.

Better late than never!

**Edited** Just a little clarification: the first page was inspired by the album cover by the singing group the Presidents of the United States of America.  No, I didn't get another dog.

only in vegas.

I still can't believe that we have been married one year!  To celebrate we had a very eventful day, at least for us two.  We went to church early this morning because Lord knows we need to and to give thanks for all the blessings we were given the past year.  Saw a very romantic movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose.  If you've seen it, then you know that it was a good idea to have gone to church right before.  Very thought provoking movie.  Scary and touching at the same time.  Later, we went to dinner at 3950 (you know, like 90210), a contemporary steak house at the Mandalay Bay.  It was pretty good, but I'd just as soon eat at Burger King to save us some money.  Little did I know that we went to Mandalay Bay for a reason.  Jeff bought tickets to Mamma Mia! which was right around the corner from the restaurant.  The show was great fun and I loved it!  My hubby is the consummate romantic, always surprising me, which I hate!  I guess I have the rest of my life to get used to it!  Hrmph!  In any case, dinner and the show were great surprises so he is forgiven.

In the meantime, check out these photos at the Mandalay Bay.  Only in Vegas would a place be named after nipples and only in Vegas would we see a wall plastered with full figured chicks.  Hey!  how did they get those molds of me?!  My hubby feels right at home!  Ha!

525,600 minutes.

We made it.  One year of wedded bliss.  Happy Anniversary, my redheaded husband!