A Little About Me

I have been wanting to write this post all week but I have been super busy and not feeling well.

• I'm a country cook, nothing too fancy here
• I have been an avid admirer of the British Royal Family for years, I saw all of them at the Queen's birthday celebration in London in 1995
• I simply can't wait to watch the Royal Wedding
• My husband and sons are my world
• I am a people pleaser who has a hard time saying "no"
• I like being near water of any kind
• I lost my Daddy way too young
• I miss my grandmother, she was a wonderful lady
• I have three brothers
• I wish I had a sister, not that I don't love my brothers but every girl needs a sister
• I have the most amazing aunts in the world
• My mother is my best friend

Start Your Engines

I love NASCAR always have, always will! Before my Daddy passed away we would watch the races together even after I had moved out & gotten married we would call each other after the race to recap. My Dad would have loved today's race, a 20 year-old (as of yesterday) won the Daytona 500. Way to go Trevor Bayne you officially have a new fan!

Soapbox

**Disclaimer**

I eat junk food and my kids eat junk food, just not all the time!

I was subbing today for the 4 year-old kindergarten class most of the kids packed their lunches because they didn't like what was in the lunchroom. As I walked around the table helping them open their lunch boxes I was AMAZED by what I saw. Each child had 2 "juice" boxes, a sandwich, a bag of chips (some kids had two bags) they each had a least two desserts and don't even get me started on the fruit chewy snacks those things are like crack for kids. I have never seen so many snack cakes and cookies in my life. How can parents expect their children to learn when they are on carb-overload and a sugar high? I packed our lunches today and my boys had A pack of cookies but they also had a healthy sandwich (whole-grain bread and turkey breast) one snack size baggie of fat-free chips and fruit. My boys tell me all the time that I don't buy the "cool" lunch foods and my response is TOUGH!


I'm always on the lookout for new lunch box ideas, what do you pack in your child's lunch?

Change of Plans

We are not buying the rental house we are living in, thank goodness!!! Instead we are buying this lovely home in town. I just couldn't stand the thoughts of living where I can't get my mail or packages delivered. I really feel bad for backing out of the contract but we had to.

The new house is smaller than the rental but I will make it work. The bedrooms and master bathroom are small but all the other rooms are great. I'm really going to miss having a pool this summer but Tom said as soon as we can will put one in.

Have a great day!!

When All Else Fails...

Go to TJ Maxx, they will welcome you with open arms!

The Challenges of Plus-Size Shopping

I love beautiful clothes! When a pair of jeans fit just right or a sweater is the perfect length it makes you feel amazing; however, when you are plus-size shopping is a challenge.

My style is very classic, I don't like a lot of bold prints or designs and it seems that's all people think you should wear if you are over a size 14. If Ann Taylor, JCrew & Banana Republic (to name a few) where to extend their sizes to include the plus size world I guarantee you their sales would double in the first season. Until they come to their senses and offer these sizes I will continue to purchase my hair accessories and the occasional piece of jewelry from their stores. Thankfully, Talbots offers the exact same line in plus size as they do in the misses section more than half of my wardrobe is from Talbots.

Recently I discovered a designer in San Fransico, igigi by Yuliya Raquel, that designs only for sizes 12 and up, her dresses are beautiful and very affordable. I will be wearing one of her dresses this weekend to a Valentine's dinner.

Neiman Marcus is another one of my favorite places to shop. They have a great selection of Eileen Fisher and Joan Vass, two of my favorites, and they run sales all the time. I buy most of my shoes here too.

I love Lily Pulitzer but she doesn't love me, LOL! I really like her shoes and tote bags, too cute!

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Love...

I'm way behind on "The Things I Love" series so it's time to get caught up!

I love weekends at Lake Cumberland

shoes

Belfry Pirate Football

My Suburban

Happy Birthday Johnson

Today is Johnson's 12th birthday! He wanted a cake that looked like a Grammy award, this boy has always dreamed big! This is the hardest cake that I've tried to make, it took me almost 4 hours and it didn't turn as well as I wanted but Johnson thinks it's the best cake ever and that's all that matters. Johnson is the sweetest boy in the world, he has a heart of gold and is a pleasure to have for a son!

***Thank you for the kind words of my previous post they really meant a lot***

It's Been One of Those Days

Today has been an extremely hard day all the way around. I had planned on staying home today and baking Johnson's birthday but the minute I got home from dropping the boys off at school the school called asking if I would please come sub for the 2nd grade. Off I went to the 2nd grade, we were just getting ready to leave for lunch when their teacher came back so I had a two hour window of time before I had to be back to fill in for the secretary. In the meantime I headed to town to buy a baby gift for a teacher at school who is adopting her 5th child. I love baby showers for expecting Moms I think they are the sweetest but I can't even bring myself to attend a shower for an adoptive mom. The only way I know how to describe it is to compare it to someone who has struggled with infertility for years, she has to put a smile on her face for her friend who is expecting while inside her heart is breaking. Please don't take this the wrong way I'm thrilled for the adoptive family, they have 2 biological sons and have adopted 2 of this baby's brothers so it really is a great thing. But I have wanted to adopt for 10 years unfortunately my husband just isn't on board with the idea, we have a very loving and happy family and the financial means to adopt but he just doesn't want anymore children and I do, so days like today are really tough!


Tom has been very sick this week with what we thought was food poisoning but it turns out it is a nasty virus that is making it's way through our family. Please keep our youngest son Jonah in your prayers he has the stomach virus for the 3rd time in 7 weeks, I have bleached every surface in my house I just don't know what else to do. Johnson's birthday is this weekend and I'm so afraid that he will be sick, please say a little prayer that he gets to enjoy his day. You see he was born on his great-grandfather's birthday, he passed away in March, this will be the first time he has to celebrate without his Papaw and he is really upset.


Being plus-size in a size 6 world is very hard. I need a dress for a dinner next weekend and I can't find anything that I like, everything either looks like the mother-of-the-bride or an old lady. I have ordered dresses, visited local boutiques and everything is sleeveless or looks like it's from the 1970's. All I want is a nice dress to wear out to a nice dinner with my husband. I have looked at Neimans, Saks, Nordstroms, Dillards and list goes on, if you have any suggestions please let me know. I apologize for being so down today but it has truly been one of those days.

Wednesday Weddings, Substitute Teaching & Day 2

Wow, that's the longest title I've ever written!





I have been very busy the last few days substitute teaching at my children's school. Tuesday I was in the 6th grade, today I was with the K-4 class and Friday I will be with K-4. I don't know which age is harder to teach, those little ones have given this "retired" realtor a run for her money. I have a whole new respect for teachers and their Teacher Appreciation gifts for this year will be bumped up a notch or two.



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Wednesdays are for Weddings & Day 2 of the Things I Love



One of my favorite things about weddings is the cake. Beautiful cakes are an art form, the hours of tedious work that goes into a single tier is enough to make me tear up(literally). I have made one 3-tiered anniversary cake and I swore I wouldn't never make another tiered cake.







Day 2 of the things I love is: you guessed it, CAKE! I love birthday cake, wedding cake, and Food City cake, just to name a few. I guess if I would stop eating so much cake I could lose a little weight and quit blaming it on baby weight(my youngest is 10, ha) or my thyroidectomy.





What is your favorite part of a Wedding and do you love cake?






BTW, guess what kind of cake Johnson wants for his birthday this weekend? A 2-tiered Grammy award themed cake. One of these days I'll learn to never say never!

Day One of Things I Love

Mrs. B at Life As A New Mrs.-AGAIN is hosting "Things I Love" in honor of Valentine's Day.

The thing that I love most of all is my family. My husband and sons are the greatest thing that ever happened to me! They have made my life complete.