Happy Thoughts...

It seems social media and the news were all filled with terrible and sad stories today: the airplane that has disappeared without a trace, the awful accident at SXSW (South By Southwest) in Austin, and the devastating story about the collapse of that building in New York (this is just to name a few). I figured everyone needed some cheering up, so I decided to only post happy things on my blog today. My bad week pales in comparison to what is going on in other places and what other people are going through.

Happy Thing #1:

My niece Alice and her family came to see me last weekend (thank you for the prayers for her, she is doing better. Continued prayers are appreciated). I got to go to the zoo with her three kiddos. I hadn't been to the Dallas Zoo since 2010, which was the last time they were here to see me.

A picture of me and C looking at the elephants in 2010 and 2014. He's heavier now!

My sweet boys- they grow up so fast. They now have to be goofy when they take a picture!

Glad Miss K has joined the party!

They do enjoy having their picture taken

These were a few of the animals that Aunt Rachel enjoyed seeing

These were animals Aunt Rachel could have done without seeing!

My apartment even survived the visit! ;)

During the visit...

About 20 minutes after they left...the apartment felt lonely with them gone though...

Happy Thing #2: 

Baseball season is 18 days away. I got this email today. I possibly did a back flip (okay, who am I kidding, I didn't do a back flip). BUT, I was very excited!

Happy Thing #3:

I'm on book 13 of the year (I know, I owe y'all two book reviews, I'm working on them). I'm currently two books ahead of my goal of reading 52 books this year. :) As a reminder, you can keep up with what I'm reading, what I've read, and what I want to read on GoodReads (click here). 

Happy Thing #4:

I found out four of my favorite shows are being renewed (yes, it's the little things in life that make me happy). NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI, and Criminal Minds are all coming back next year. 

Happy Thing #5:

Luke Bryan released a new album this week (stop judging me, you know who you are!) ;)

Happy Thing #6:

I possibly have a vacation planned for June (it's all tentative for now). But if it pans out, I could cross two states off my 101 in 1001 list as well as a baseball ballpark I've never visited. Details to come if this actually happens. :)

Happy Thing #7:

Spring might be here to stay (we've had warm weather tease us the past month, only to have a cold front so rudely bring cold weather back.) 

Happy Thing #8:

I get to go on my first business trip next week. I'm strangely excited about it. It's also to a state I've never visited AND I might get to see a good friend and fellow blogger while I'm there. :)

Happy Thing #9: 

The text conversations I have with my friends. 

Happy Thing #10:

Tomorrow is my flex day (which means I only work 3.5 hours).

XOXO!

What I'm Loving and Blog Challenge Day 28

Blog Challenge Day 28: A song that reminds you of a certain event.

I've been listening to this song a lot lately, I really like it. Jana Kramer was on One Tree Hill (I hated her character, but I really like her singing voice.) And I'm sure she's a lovely person, I don't want to judge her by the character she played. Anyways, this song doesn't necessarily apply to me right now, but it has in the recent past. And I have a few friends that it applies to right now, so this is for them (they know who they are). We've all been there with exes. And it sucks. But we get through it. :)

I'm loving...

The text conversations I have with my friends. They make me laugh (even when they are talking smack about my Rangers- YOU  KNOW WHO YOU ARE- yeah, I'm looking at you. This war isn't over yet!) ;)

I'm loving...

That Luke Bryan is coming to Dallas! He must have heard me complaining that his tour wasn't stopping in Dallas this year. I know tickets are going to be limited since he's playing at the House of Blues, but I'm so going to try and get one. I will stay out late on a work night to spend an evening with Luke Bryan. **sigh**

I'm loving..

That Siri has a sense of humor. LOL!

I'm loving...

That I'm going to my folks tomorrow after work- hello four day weekend!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

XOXO!

What I'm Loving Wednesday and Blog Challenge Day 21

I'm loving...

Baseball. I went to four games last week and went to the game last night (yes, I have a baseball problem). My brother Steve was there as well with two of his kids and his wife. It was good to see all of them, especially my little nephews D and J! I had a bad day yesterday, and getting hugs from them made it all better!

Aunt Rachel with D and J. These poor children are being raised as Astros fans, it breaks my heart. I need to buy them Rangers stuff pronto! ;)

Fun times at the Ballpark. Yes, I'm loving my new camo cap they gave out last night. Who would have thought I would end up liking something camo?? :)

I'm loving...

This song by Luke Bryan. When I first heard it on his new album, I was like, oh Luke, really? BUT, I listened to it a few times and it has really grown on me. It has a good beat, I rock out in my car to it. No really, I do. I've been busted "car dancing". And I'll use any excuse to post a video of Luke Bryan on my blog. I love his accent. :)

I'm loving...

That my sweet friend (she knows who she is) sent me this reminder. It's so true!! I love it!

I'm loving..

This app called Relax Melodies. I downloaded it yesterday. It has all these relaxing sounds you can play when you are trying to go to sleep. I used it last night and it really works. You can even set a timer on it so it will only play for as long as you set it for. It's awesome! :) For iPhone users, click here on iTunes to download. Android users click here.

I'm loving..

This. It's so true!

Blog Challenge Day 21: How do you like to relax?

I would say I like to relax by watching baseball, but anyone who has watched me during a baseball game knows I don't always relax (I can get pretty intense). ;) I would say I like to relax by taking a long hot bubble bath or by curling up with a good book and just reading.

Happy Wednesday!

XOXO!

Never Ever Ever...

Click here for more Never Ever Ever posts!

Never Ever Ever...

...will I NOT enjoy a Brad Paisley concert. His concert Saturday night was awesome!

Lee Brice and Chris Young opened for Brad. They were great! 

View from our lawn seats 

Chris Young is there somewhere!

Brad!

Me and Laura looking adorable in our cowboy hats!

...would I have believed that Geovany Soto would snap a Rangers four-game losing streak with a walk-off home run! Hello win column (finally!)

...will I NOT sigh when I see a picture of Luke Bryan. There is a reason he won my Men Madness Bracket! ;)

Luke Bryan playing baseball...even better. :)

...will I understand guys. Men always say that women are complicated, but I beg to differ- you guys are just as confusing. Yeah, there is a story behind this. No, I'm not going to share.

...will I NOT laugh at something that makes fun of Ford. :)

...will I pass up an opportunity to take a picture of me wearing a hat. :)

Me and my friend Monica wearing the giveaway fedoras at the Rangers game earlier this month.

Happy Tuesday! 

XOXO!

What I'm Loving, Blog Challenge & a March Madness Champion!

I'm loving...

The response I got from my post yesterday. Thank you to everyone who commented, sent me an email, text or tweet about it. It was difficult to write, but I'm glad I did. It did help to put it out there into words (both letters). I've been told I need to show my serious side more often. Maybe I will. Stay tuned.

I'm loving...

 

Baseball. Even though I'm so exhausted I can't see straight, I've enjoyed being at the Ballpark the past five days. I can't say I'm all that upset that I'm not going to the game today. Well, one, it's a day game and I couldn't miss work. It's also raining and about 38 degrees outside (winter wanted one last fling). 

Our weather in about a span of 9 hours.

Girls Night Out at the Ballpark!

Thanks to my friend Dallas for his season ticket seats last night! Great view!

Baseball beauties...

My great Twitter friend Emily!

We met up with our Twitter buddy Willie!

I'm loving...

That I can go straight home after work today. Not counting the few precious hours I've been asleep, the last time I spent quality time at my apartment was last Wednesday after work. I went out with a friend last Thursday night and since then I've either been at the Ballpark or at a movie. BTW, I'm taking a "me weekend" this weekend and doing nothing but cleaning my apartment and catching up on three weeks worth of DVR shows (oh, and baseball on TV). Don't bother texting or calling me, I won't answer. :) Unless it's my mother calling, I never ignore a call from my mother. :)

I'm loving...

That sweet Miss E in Canada got her care package from Auntie Rachel. This was one of the onesies that I got her! She is the cutest Rangers fan in all of Canada!! :)

I'm loving...

That my sweet boys (C and E) had fun at the beach last weekend. They are Aunt Rachel's little beach bums!

Blog Challenge Update:

Day 9: Five places you want to visit

1. Cooperstown
2. Canada (to see my sweet Miss E!)
3. Italy
4. Belize
5. Amsterdam (mainly to go to the Van Gogh Museum there).

Day 10:  Put your iPod on shuffle and write down the first 10 songs that play (yes, my playlist is random)

1. Buddy Holly- Weezer
2. What Was I Thinkin'- Dierks Bentley
3. Blue Velvet- Bobby Vinton
4. Mud on the Tires- Brad Paisley
5. Brick- Ben Folds Five
6. Fool Hearted Memory- George Strait
7. Would You Go With Me- Josh Turner
8. Good Directions- Billy Currington
9. Buzzkill- Luke Bryan
10. You Raise Me Up- Josh Groban

March Madness CHAMPION!!!

I must say that any 64 of the guys on this list originally were worthy of being the champion, but as in any competition, there can be only one winner. And now, the moment you've been waiting for.....the winner is....

 

Luke Bryan!!!

I had a few people pick that he would be the winner (but only after it was narrowed down to the final two. No one picked him at the beginning). Honestly, when I first started I didn't think he would be, but hey, how can you not like a guy that not only looks good in a baseball cap, but also hangs out with Chipper Jones, the Duck Dynasty guys AND has made a Dr Pepper commercial. He also just won the ACM Entertainer of the Year award on Sunday. :)

 

Happy halfway through the week!! Have a great one!!

XOXO!!

It's OK...

It's OK...

...that I have possibly been watching Dawson's Creek on Netflix (don't judge). My college roommate and I used to watch this show when it was on originally (back on the good ol' WB). Oh, the teen angst in this show makes it almost unbearable to watch, yet, I'm starting on season 3.

...that I'm a little bothered that due to copyright laws, the intro to the show on Netflix isn't the same as the original. I don't know what this bothers me, but it's just not the same.

Original theme song, "I Don't Wanna Wait"

Netflix intro, "Run Like Mad"

...that I've wasted space on my blog talking about Dawson's Creek.

...that my first thought when I see an ambulance outside my office is "Are the paramedics cute?" Oh, for the record, one of them was kinda cute- he walked by my office area as they were arriving. And for those wondering, the person they were called to check on is doing fine now. :)

...that Miss Kay was possibly my favorite character on the episode of Duck Dynasty last night. She cracks me up!

...that someone got my nephew C a Duck Commander shirt to wear on Duck Dynasty night!

I'll use any excuse to put a picture of one of my sweet boys on here! :)

...that I've had Luke Bryan's new CD on repeat in my car since I bought it yesterday. :)

I think the picture says it all. :) 24 days until Opening Day!

...to randomly put a picture of Craig Gentry on my blog (thank you Chance for texting it to me!)

 

 

...that I'm taking tomorrow off work to wait on Time Warner Cable (they installed the wrong DVR so they are coming back to replace it with the correct one). This might count as a strike against them, BUT, they did admit it was their mistake and (obviously) are not charging me for the visit. Hopefully I will use this time off to actually unpack and not sit on my butt watching Netflix (like I did last weekend). I've had a case of laziness lately. One of these days I'll get my apartment unpacked and decorated (and yes, I will post pictures). 

...that I'm proud of myself for getting up early every day this week and working out (thank you Turbo Jam). I'm trying hard to get my workout done in the morning so I can keep my evenings free for all the dates I'm going on all the TV I have to watch. I live SUCH an exciting life, right?

What's OK with you today??

XOXO!