Free Facial? No thanks!!

So Chupp won a free pedicure from Ivy Nails last week and they said that in order to claim it she, and friends, needed to go to Tyler and get a free facial.  We were thinking “Heck yes, this is awesome.”  Not so much!!! 

We went last night and what we really “won” was a chance for us, the guests, to stand up in front of everyone and then be subject to “The Love Train” about 5 mins after we got there; which is best translated as receiving a hug from about 20 Barbie Dolls.  I don’t think I’ve ever felt more awkward.  We then proceeded to sit through their entire consultant meeting; which was really just a chance for them to tell us about all the diamonds and cars they get for selling Mary Kay. I mean for “teaching skin care.”  Now don’t get me wrong Mary Kay has great products and I’m not knocking anyone who sells it and I do tend to exangerate a little, but please don’t do this to people anymore.  We were there for 3 hours and all the “pampering” we got was washing our own faces only to put our own makeup back on.  Plus, the makeup they gave us was Navy blue eye shadow and bright pink lipstick!!  I don’t mind blue eye shadow, but only to add a hint of color not to paint my whole eye lid and I don’t do bright pink lipstick and from what I could tell, no one should!   We looked like Clowns! Then, as if that wasn’t enough, they made us get up front to show off our “beautiful faces” and talk about what is most appealing to us about Mary Kay.  Umm…let me think…It must be all the girlfriends and great parties you have and the car made of diamonds.  I'm not even going to get into the sestina they had us recite; complete with hand motions.  The one thing I learned from this experience is that since I have brown eyes, I can wear whatever color eye shadow I want! 

What an adventure! J

Ice Cream in a Bag Night

I know this is 2 posts in one day, but I had to share this.  Chupp and I babysat the Hasz kids (as in Sam and Lisa's kids) last night.  I really wanted to do something fun with the kids so I decided to make "Ice Cream in a bag."  Here are some pictures from our night...

Henry-"I don't see how this could possibly be good"

Jo Jo

Bridget

Boo and I cheesin' it up

Chupp and Jo Jo

.

Me whipping my freezing hands

Boo sharing her ice cream with me

Jo sharing his ice cream with Chupp

Enjoying our homemade ice cream

Silly!

Well, as you can see, it was a hit!  We had so much fun and the kids too! :) Here's the recipe if anyone is interested...

What you'll need:

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup milk or half & half
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 6 tablespoons rock salt
• 1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc) 
• 1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag
• Ice cubes

How to make it:

1. Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
2. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
3. Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully.
4. Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
5. Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

Tips:

A 1/2 cup milk will make about 1 scoop of ice cream, so double the recipe if you want more. But don't increase the proportions more that that -- a large amount might be too big for kids to pick-up because the ice itself is heavy.



In the Beginning...

Being that this is my very first blog post, I figured I needed to inform you on a few highlights of the last 25 years. Therefore, this is going to be kind of long...

September 6, 1985- Somewhere in the city of Augusta, GA I was born! 8lbs 2oz 21 inches long.  The fact that we didn't even own a computer until I was 17, will explain why I did not blog about this after it happened!

February 26, 1987-My sister, Amber, was born.  I don't remember how I felt about this, but let's just say I never let her forget who was born first!

Sometime in the year 1988-We moved to Ohio. Also, on Feb. 25th of that same year my current best friend, Sharon “Chupp”, was being born. 


November 16, 1990-My brother, Joey aka "The Boy Terror", was born. (I still love you Joey, but let’s face it, this is true).  5 days afterwards, when my mom brought him home from the hospital, we all crowded around the crib to watch my mom change his diaper.  He started to pee and it flew up into my sister’s mouth.  I, being the center of my own universe, saw how much attention he was getting because of it and decided to pee on her leg.  Yes, folks, this was the beginning of how the rest of our childhood went; Joey and I ganging up on Amber (Sorry sis). 

August 1994-I join the school band playing Trumpet! I picked trumpet because my cousin, Rodney, played and because they are loud and proud! By far, the best instrument in the band! Who knew I was going to end up first chair my senior year in High School!  J

March 2001-I got my drivers permit and my dad let me drive home from the license bureau.  I’ve never had so many animals jump out in front of my car than I did that afternoon.  It scared my dad more than it did me I think.

September 2001-I got my drivers license!  Look out world! Just kidding, I was a good driver, even back then.

June 1, 2003-I graduated from High School! Go Beavers!!

August 27, 2003-I started college. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I went!

April 2006-I got and responded to the Lords call on my life to go to Teen Mania’s Honor Academy. 

August 16, 2006-I arrived in Garden Valley, Texas of all places, at the Honor Academy.  Most impactful 2 years of my life! I came searching for a deeper relationship with God and that’s exactly what I got, and more! That’s where I got the title for this blog.  It’s based off of Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick (what I had before the Honor Academy), but a longing fulfilled is a tree of Life (what I received at the Honor Academy).”  The foundation and roots that as instilled in my life those 2 years is what has keeps me strong today.  It’s been tried and tested, but has been proven unshakeable!

August 22, 2009-Moved back down to Lindale, TX after being home in Ohio for a year. 

February 2010-I got laid off from Dakota Heater Sales. Thank goodness I had some money saved up because I ended up being without a job for 2 months. I think I’ve seen every episode of “The Nanny” and “I Dream of Jeanie” ever made and I watched them all on YouTube.  J

April 12, 2010-I got a temp job at Sky Ranch; which then turned into a fulltime job at Sky Ranch.  Yay!! Oh the Lord and His timing. So perfect and always better than imagined. 

October 8, 2010-Chupp and I booked our trip for next October!  England, Scotland and Ireland here we come!  J http://www.goaheadtours.com/tours/BES/the-best-of-england-scotland-ireland.aspx

November 9, 2010-Created my first blog!

Well, that about does it for now! Stay tuned for more updates!