Hiatus

Three and a half months.

That's how long I've been on a hiatus from blogging.  It's not that I've not thought about logging in to post a life update or something witty!  I just haven't.  Blogging isn't the only thing I haven't done.  The magazines I haven't read and the books I haven't finished are keeping it company!  So what have I been up to?  Well here you go...

Joined a gym.  For several years, I worked out at home doing DVDs, interval circuits and weight training. I'd reached a point in my fitness that I needed to either purchase heavier weights/additional equipment or I could give the gym a try. I chose the gym and hoped I liked it. I don't like it, I LOVE it! Workouts individually prescribed for me coupled with Advocare products and good food (and the occasional treat!) have yielded some results that I'm proud to show!

Blew out 31 birthday candles.  My friends and family spoiled me!  From handles of margaritas and wine to a gorgeous Kate Spade scarf and pretty accessories.

Listened to lots of live music!  Frankie Ballard, Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, Sam Hunt, Craig Morgan and the wicked amazing, Kacey Musgraves.

Hung out with Meghan King Edmonds at a charity polo match.  Okay, so technically, we were just at the same match.  She was in the super exclusive VIP tent and I... was not.

Get really into vintage vinyl.  So far my collection is full of classic country singers:  Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Barbara Mandrell, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker.  You get the picture.  The kicker... I don't have a record player to actually play them!  I've got my eye on this one though.

Agvocating.  Over the last several months, I've helped to educate more than 2000 students and their teachers about a variety of agricultural topics through classroom visits, field trips and speaking engagements!  

Celebrated five years of being married to my guy.  In my head I know it's been that long, but wowzers the days really do just fly by!

Registered for AgChat National Conference.  AgChat is a grassroots agvocacy group that strives to connect those of us in the agricultural community using social media and training to engage with consumers who want to know more about how the food they eat was raised and grown.  I'm ridiculously excited to connect with everyone involved!   

Trucked all over Illinois to show Louie.  Our show season kicked off in April and we finished up about a month ago.  Showing horses is equally exciting and exasperating.  You might be on the High Point one weekend and forget your showmanship pattern the next.  Yes, both of those happened this year.  This season did end on a high note; Louie and I locked up the third place slot in the Novice Amateur All Around race and we were Reserve Champion in the NovAm Hunter Under Saddle class!  

 Blog friends, near and far, forgive me for my hiatus.

What have you been up to these days?  

There's no doubt I've missed a lot with you also!

Christmas Card Outtakes

With every good Christmas card, there's is always some pretty entertaining outtakes!  And the probability of the 'bad' outweighing the 'good' increase tenfold when you add critters to the mix... 

I hope these give you a giggle on your Christmas Eve!

Sun in the eyes, sun in the eyes!  Haddie has spotted something way more entertaining than whatever we're doing here...  And Bella, obviously she just woke up from a nap!

Again with the sun!  Haddie seems to less than impressed with "Picture Time".  Bella, you're looking cute!

More frown lines and squinty eyes.  And something beyond the camera has B's attention... Squirrel.

 Hey Matt, STOP SQUINTING!!  Everyone else has pulled it together, why do you have to keep dragging us down?!

Merry Christmas Eve!  

You'll know tomorrow if you were on the Naughty or Nice List!

5+ Things To Do Before Vegas

I'm a compulsive list maker.  My legal pad is typically at my fingertips.  It's actually right in front of me this moment.  #truestory  And I'm the happiest of campers when I can check stuff off of the 'Things To Do' list.

Leaving for Vegas on Sunday (and returning with only one prep day before our annual Christmas party) has multiplied my intense desire to have things done and checked off.  And to be completely honest, Matt and I got in a tiff this morning about what needs done and why he still plans on being gone all day Saturday hunting...

I'm still a little sour on this note.  Not that you can tell or anything!

So between getting home tonight and Sunday midday, I (b/c Matt will spend tonight getting his stuff ready for hunting, then spend Saturday in the duck blind.  Sunday he better be helping me!) need to:

//plant my fall hardy mums in hopes they come back next year
//finishing Christmas decorating
//pack for Vegas
//buy or make ugly sweaters for the party next week
//get all the non-perishable groceries for said party
//wrap presents
//pack the dog's food, beds, etc. because they're staying with family while we are gone
//and anything else that pops up...

Wish me luck!  And maybe say a prayer for Matt that I don't kill him before it's all said and done...

Linking up with Karli, Amanda and Christina.

Insert Catchy Title Here

Hooray for Friday!

This week really flew by.  Well, up until this morning.  It seems to be really dragging!  I chalk that up to being up almost an hour earlier than I usually am, getting to work for a morning meeting and the fact that there's snow (yes, SNOW!) all over my outside Fall decorations.  I'm just not ready for this winter business!

ONE

The week started off on a great foot!  Bella and I headed down to the barn, she played with the Jolly Ball while I rode Louie.  With horse shows being over 'til next Spring I've slacked off a bit with my riding, but I have to get rides in when the weather is decent!  Last Winter we days when it was -40 degrees with the windchill and this girl doesn't ride in that sort of weather!

TWO

On Monday I started a new workout video series that is part of the Advocare product line-up.  I've really like the videos so far, but there's one guy in the DVD who's entirely too peppy at 5 o'clock in the morning in my opinion.  I may resort to muting the TV to get through that particular video!  Bella really enjoys our morning workouts too!

THREE

Last night Matt made supper and according to the recipe all the goodies were to go in a large 12" skillet, then into the oven to finish cooking.  We love our Pampered Chef cookware for this sort of thing because it goes from stove top to in the oven seamlessly.  Well long story short, I was doing some things around the house and Matt had taken the skillet out of the oven and set it on top of the stove.  I walked by and was irritated that he left the handle sticking out where someone might bump into it, so I grabbed the damn thing with my bear hand... forgetting it just came out of a 450 degree oven!!!  Insert expletives here.  I spent the rest of the evening icing the burn and this morning it isn't feeling too bad, but it's definitely tender!

FOUR

And to reward myself for the bravery exhibited above, I plan on treating myself to some Starbucks today!  I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to "Share Joy" or just drink the second one myself...

FIVE

Sunday afternoon is my monthly book club meeting.  Our book for November was called The Perfume Collector.  I requested the book from the library about 2 weeks ago and just got it Monday night, but thankfully it's quite good and I'm cruising through it!  Be watching for a review here soon!

Linking up with Karli, Amanda and Christina.

The "D" Word #blogtober14

No, it's not divorce.

My biggest fear is disappointing anyone who is counting on me to do something I promised I would, not being able to follow through with a commitment or failing miserably keeping up my end of the bargain!  I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself and when I have to let someone down or even worse, disappoint them... I fell like such a crap-tastic person.

The one person who I hate to disappoint more than anyone else in the world is my dad.  Yes, at 30 I'm still a Daddy's Girl!  I can still vividly remember the one incident that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I'd really let him down.


First you need the back-story, without all the details leading up to The Incident it won't really make much sense:  I was a sophomore in college and was boarding my horse at a barn outside of town.  Six was down at school with me because we were going to be competing at a big horse show in Ohio and in order to practice, we couldn't really be 4 hours apart.  As I was driving out to the barn, I rear-ended a minivan at a stop light.  I was fine.  My truck was fine.  The couple in the van was fine.  Their van... not so much.  The police came.  Insurance traded, etc.  Parents were called... "Accidents happen.  It's okay.  Do better next time.  Keep your eyes open."  All was well.  Two weeks later...

I'd been at a horse show with several girls I rode with at the barn all day Saturday.  Everyone had a good day!  Six and I were really clicking, I was really excited about competing in Ohio at the American Quarter Horse Congress.  Still riding the high of a good horse show, we all sat in the office at the barn gabbing with the barn owner, putting off going back to our dorms.  Goodbyes were finally said and everyone headed out.  I jumped in my truck, threw it in R and proceeded to SLAM into the rear quarter panel of the barn manager's truck...  I can still hear the sound of my bumper crashing into hollow metal.  I jumped out and couldn't believe my luck!  Seriously?!?!  Two accidents in two week!  Kill me know.  While the barn owner, who was remarkably calm, called the police... I had to call my parents.  Again.  I dialed the home phone and the instant my dad answered I was a blubbering mess.  "Dad!  I'm sorry, I didn't see it in the dark.  I backed into Dion's truck..."  I was able to get out as much as I could about the accident before the line went silent on his end.  The next thing I knew my mom was on the line asking what had happened.  Without saying anything at all, being passed off to my mom like that I knew without a shadow of a doubt I'd disappointed my dad!

My dad did not talk to me for a solid week after the second car accident and to add insult to injury our insurance company, who I learned carried my family for over 20 years, dropped us like a hot potato!!  I was not only a disappointment to my dad, but too big a liability to insure...

 

Linking up with Helene and Taylor.