Happy Birthday, Riley Grace! **UPDATED!**

I finished Riley's birthday present!

I'm very excited about it & I wanted to show you a picture of it.

If you like it, I could make you one too!

Just leave a comment in the "comment" section & I'll get back with you! I charge between $20 & $30 dollars, depending on what size frame you want.

My niece, Riley, turns 2 years old today!

She's one of my most favorite girls in the whole world.

I love how she tries to jump, but only gets one foot off the ground.

I love how she still cracks up with laughter when I play "peek-a-boo" with her.

I love it when I answer my phone at work & I hear "Hi, Rah Rah!".

But, most importantly, I love the fact that this beautiful little girl is in my life & that I get the privilege of watching her grow up.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sissy!

A Laptop, Taxes & a Car Wreck All In The Same Post!

Well, folks, I finally got a laptop!

OK, so it's not here yet, but it should ship on March 3rd.

Much to the disappointment of my brother-in-law, it's a Dell. He was rooting for a Mac, but I don't have $1,500 dollars to spend on a laptop.

BECAUSE...

I had a car accident a week ago & now I have to pay $500 dollars (my insurance deductible) to fix the car.

BUT, WAIT...THERE'S MORE.

I turn my car in in 20 days because my lease is up.

Yep!

I had a car wreck a month before my freaking lease is up.

I rear-ended a woman on the interstate. We weren't going that fast & the lady didn't even want to call police nor did she want my insurance information.

The important thing is that neither of us were hurt.

So, now I'm just waiting on my car to get fixed, so I can drive it around for like 2 weeks, then turn it in & get a new car.

Do I know timing, or do I know timing?

Matt's going to kill me for posting this picture, but I just thought it was too cute.

As he was preparing to do our 2006 taxes tonight, he informed me he had to dress the occasion.

So, he put on his Razorback visor & his Cubs jersey.

Maybe his special outfit will magically lower our tax bill.

We Found Love at a Stop Sign

As you can see, there's a new addition to my blog.

I added a "countdown" clock to our 5th wedding anniversary.

5 years is a pretty big milestone.

I mean, it's a whole hand.

Sure, it's not 10 years or even 25 years, but it's still a big deal in our house.

Even though, we'll celebrate 5 years of marriage in May, we really met 9 years ago, this June 2nd (in 1998).

At night.

At a stop sign.

And, I followed him.

No, I'm not kidding.

My friend, Becca & I were driving around in my mom's car that night. See, I had a car wreck the day I was moving back home for the summer, from college & my car was being fixed. Becs & I went to dinner with my mom & her now husband at a pool hall. Of course, we were bored, so my mom let us take her car home & she got a ride back with Terry.

Being 19 (me) & 18 (Becca) years old, we didn't drive straight back to my house. I mean, c'mon, it was like 8:30 at night. Are you kidding? We were 2 hot girls, with boys to meet!

A little later, we passed by a house with a whole bunch of guys standing out front. One look wasn't enough for us, so we decided to drive back by. Our luck, they had gone back inside.

Defeated & depressed, we pulled up to the intersection & decided we'd go home. I looked to my left & saw a convertible with 2 pretty cute guys in it. Not even thinking, I honked my horn as they were passing in front of us & they motioned for us to follow them.

I had to turn right to get to my house, so we ended up behind them. Becca told me to follow them, but I was scared they were serial killers & they might kidnap us.

So, I did the only logical thing a girl in my position would do.

I followed them.

We ended up in the Taco Bell parking lot, parked side by side. Turns out, Matt was the one driving & his friend, Shane, was the passenger. The 4 of us talked for about an hour & a half.

We decided to exchange phone numbers & when Matt got out of the car to give me the piece of paper, I knew at that instant, I was going to marry him.

I knew.

That. I. Was. Going. To. Marry. Him.

I was done.

I couldn't get me & Becca home fast enough to see if Matt was really going to call me. As we were washing our faces, my phone rang. The 4 of us talked for about 2 hours & at the end of the conversation, Matt asked me to go to lunch with him the next day.

I said yes.

He picked me up at 11:30am & we went to Chili's. Later that night, Becca & I went over to his friend's apartment to hang out. Matt & I had our first kiss in the bathroom!

It lasted for about half an hour!

And, it was awesome.

About 6 weeks later, Matt told me he loved me.

3 years later, he proposed.

A year after that, we were married.

Now, we're coming up on 5 years & I love him even more than I did the day I met him.

100 years with him wouldn't be enough for me.

And, to think, our story began at a stop sign!

Happy Birthday, Daddy & a Random Question

Yes, I'm 28 years old & I still call my dad, daddy! I think it's a daughter thing.

Anyway, he's 65 today! But, I swear the man doesn't look a day over 55!

I think he's the sweetest man, ever! In my eyes, he could never do wrong.

Happy birthday, Daddy.

So, I'm still relatively new to this "blogging" thing. I'm just finishing up my 4th month.

Please, there's no need for a standing ovation.

Really.

Anyway, since I started this, it's really opened up a new world for me.

I've met some fantastically wonderful bloggers & I found that I totally enjoy writing about random things that happen to me, even if people I don't even know are reading them.

But, what I want to know from you, fellow bloggers, is how do you decide what story, thought or picture makes it on your blog on any given day?

Let me explain.

Sometimes, I might not post until after work, which means I have plenty of stories I could tell you, but, most of the time, I just choose one. Sometimes I post before or during work, which is fine, but then something will happen to me during the day that I really want to write about, but I've already posting something that day. So, I don't write about it & then I forget about it. I know there's no rule that says I can't post twice in one day, but I don't want you people thinking that all I do is blog.

So, how do you decide?

A New Member

Please welcome my sister-in-law, Wendy, to the world of blogging!

Her website is http://wendy-thelittlethings.blogspot.com.

Go check it out!

Welcome, Wendy!

A New Project

I'm very excited about my latest project, that I just had to share it with you!

(OK, well..there aren't any pictures of it yet, because I haven't exactly finished it, but that doesn't mean I can't tell you about it!)

Next week, my niece, Riley, will be 2 YEARS OLD! She's getting sooooo big! And, it makes me soooo sad! Anyway, I'm making her birthday gift, which is my latest craft project.

I got the idea to buy a rectangular shaped frame, cut out the letters in her name & use cute ribbon & flowers (her "big girl" room will be pink, yellow & green flowers) around her name.

I know that description probably doesn't do anything for you, but once I finish it & post pictures, I hope you'll say, "Oh, yeah! That's exactly what I was picturing!".

And, if that's not what you think, then lie to me.

If this project turns out like I hope, I'm going to make one for my nephew Jackson, & one for Madeline & Suzanne (my nieces in NW Arkansas).

So, Wendy, if you're reading this, don't tell the girls!

So, now I'm off to put my ideas to work!

Wish me luck!

It Was a Good Idea at the Time

Yes, our small bar pan from Pampered Chef is in TWO PIECES!

And, do you know why it's in TWO PIECES?

Well, it's a rather simple story, that I'll share with you now.

On most nights, Matt cooks dinner for the 2 of us. Sometimes I help him, sometimes I don't if I'm doing other household chores. Last night, I was folding the laundry & wasn't really paying attention to what he was fixing. I did, however, notice him looking through the cabinets with a somewhat perplexed look on his face. I didn't say anything, though & a few minutes later, he started cooking, so I figured he found whatever it was he was looking for.

Fast forward a few minutes later.

I'm standing with my back to the stove & Matt's standing near the sink (washing the chicken, I think), when we hear this loud popping noise.

We both turn around at the same time to see the Pampered Chef bar pan split almost right down the middle.

Why, you ask?

Well, Matt didn't really feel like turning the oven on to toast the garlic bread, so instead, he turned the stove top on & put the bar pan right on top of the burner, thinking he could toast the bread that way.

Pampered Chef 101: That's a NO-NO.

If you look on Pampered Chef's website, it says not to put the stoneware on a direct heat source (a.k.a. a stove top).

What's funny is that Matt knows his way around the kitchen. He really enjoys cooking & trying out recipes he prints off from Alton Brown's website. You'll recall that, for Christmas, he asked for a No Stick Baking Mat & meat thermometer/timer. And, he told me the other day that he wants a food scale.

He had a good idea to toast the bread on that bar pan. It can withstand 500 degrees in the oven, so he thought it would be okay on the burner.

Luckily, his decision will only cost us $15 dollars!

I Think We Have Something in Common!

Raise your hand if you've ever made a mix tape.

OK, you can put it down now.

If you're like me, a majority of your childhood was spent in the 80's. Think back to those days.

We all sat in our bedrooms at night, listening to the radio, just waiting to take our finger off the 'Pause' button of our boom box to record the latest hits. Sometimes, we missed the first few seconds of the song & the DJ would start talking before it was over. We'd record fast songs, slow songs, songs to dance to, songs to make out to, songs to dream to & songs to cry to.

With each song recorded, we'd add it to the content card that came with the TDK cassette, until we had a full playlist.

If you're like me, you could remember exactly what you were feeling with each song you recorded. If you were sad, you'd spend your night recording sad songs that you just KNEW were written about you. If you had a new boyfriend, you'd record love songs, that you just KNEW were written about you & your new guy.

Sometimes you'd even make mix tapes for your friends or your boyfriend. You'd make tapes to listen to in your Walkman on long road trips (because who wants to talk to their parents for hours & hours when you could let the music take you to places you could only dream of going to?).

Each mix tape told a different story. And, years later, those mix tapes could still take you back to the night you made it.

Am I right?

You know I am.

The reason I bring all this up is because I just finished reading the biography, "Love is a Mix Tape: Life & Loss, One Song at a Time", written by Rob Sheffield. It is such a good book. It made me remember all those nights making my own mix tapes, full of songs by Guns N' Roses, Metallica, New Kids on the Block (I really thought that one day I'd be Mrs. Jordan Knight), Warrant, Poison & Nelson. I started wishing that I had saved them all. Thank God for iTunes!

Besides making mix tapes, I also wore my hair in a side ponytail with 2 different color scrunchies, tight rolled my jeans & had t-shirt clips in every color.

What girl didn't?

I also watched Punky Brewster (Can I just say, "Punky Power!"), Saved By The Bell, Family Ties, Who's The Boss & the Cosby Show religiously. Those shows were awesome!

I'm happy that I grew up in the 80's. It was a great decade. All I have now are memories, but what great memories they are!

Happy LOVE Day, Internet!

I hope everyone got a little extra special lovin' today!

Matt worked from 3am to 8am, to help out with live shots for our morning show, so he actually had almost the ENTIRE day off!

After a few hours of sleep, it was time for "Project Valentine's Day".

After stops to Best Buy & Victoria's Secret, he went to Wal-Mart to buy all the needed supplies to cook me a FABULOUS dinner.

When we finished dinner, Matt gave me my first present..."Deal or No Deal" computer game. I'm a huge fan of the game show on TV, so now I can play it anytime I want.

As I was walking around, straightening up the house, I walked into our bedroom to collect the laundry & saw a big Victoria's Secret box on my side of the bed.

Ahem.

With a fabulous dinner, presents & 1/2 dozen roses that were delivered to me at work this morning, I'd say I had a pretty good Love Day, especially after Matt telling me not to expect anything!

Word.

What I Really Want for Valentine's Day

I really don't need flowers or presents for Valentine's Day.

I mean, I wouldn't turn them down...What girl would?

Honestly, what I would like from Matt for the Love Holiday (sorry, Sydney!) is really very simple.

1. Instead of just putting a new toilet paper roll on TOP of the counter, actually put it on the little holder thingy.

2. PUT THE TOILET SEAT DOWN!

3. Instead of putting a dirty dish in the sink or on the kitchen counter, rinse it off & put it in the dishwasher.

4. Close the sock drawer ALL THE WAY!

5. Throw the Pop Tart box away when taking the last one. It really brings a girl down when she reaches for the box of Strawberry treats, only to find out that IT'S EMPTY!

I feel like these are really very simple requests.

Don't you?

Even though these are things I wish Matt would do (not all the time, occasionally is enough), I can't help but think of all the nice things he does do.

He buys me unexpected "treats" at the grocery store, like the newest US Weekly or People & surprises me with new CD's or the latest book by my favorite author, Nicholas Sparks.

He never gets upset when I come home from the mall with a new outfit or if I spend a little bit more than I should on scrapbook supplies.

He's very thoughtful & romantic & treats me with kindness 100% of the time.

Sadly, some wives can't say the same things about their husbands, so I do feel very lucky!

But, seriously, would it kill the boy to put one dish in the dishwasher?

I don't think so!

Did You Just Sneeze Ketchup?

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I always seem talk before I think. At the end of that post, I promised I would tell you the story about sneezing ketchup.

Because I know you've all been sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting to hear the story, I decided I've let you suffer enough.

Here it is.

We're all sitting in our morning editorial meeting, talking about the stories we're doing that day.

My assistant News Director is sitting in the corner, eating one of those Big Breakfasts from McDonald's. The drive-thru person put those little ketchup packets in the sack, although I don't know why because I think Jeff just ordered pancakes & sausage.

Anyway, all of a sudden, ketchup packets go flying across the room & land on the table, in front of my friend, Lindsey.

I turn & look at Jeff & ask, "Did you just sneeze ketchup?"

Yes, there I go again, opening my big mouth before thinking about what I'm going to say!

Of course, everyone laughs & my friend Katy says, "Did you really just ask if Jeff sneezed ketchup?"

OK, you know how sometimes people will fake sneeze & act like something came out of their nose? Don't act like you haven't done that or seen someone who has!

That's what I thought Jeff did.

After a few minutes, we got back on track & we were wrapping up our meeting.

I thought maybe my friends were going to let me live this one down.

Wrong.

My friend, Katy, sneezes & goes, "Oh, excuse me! That time it was mustard!"

Of course, the whole room erupts into laughter!

I guess I deserved that one.

The Great Valentine's Day Dilemma

So, last week, Matt tells me not to expect anything for Valentine's Day.

Not even flowers.

Ahem.

What?

Not even flowers?

Come on, I am a FLOWER GIRL! I can't be the only wife or significant other WITHOUT flowers on her desk at work on Wednesday, now can I?

But, I got to thinking & I decided that it's okay if I don't get anything for Valentine's Day. I mean, I have everything I could possibly want.

Plus, if Matt doesn't get me anything for Valentine's Day, then that means I don't have to get him anything! And, we can save that money for our wedding anniversary trip!

Just when I was finally coming to terms that Valentine's Day would be JUST ANOTHER DAY, my ever so thoughtful husband springs this on me.

(A conversation we had on our cell phones today).

Me: "What are you doing?"

Matt: "Oh, just looking around Best Buy."

Me: "Uh-oh. Well, call me when you're done."

Matt: "OK."

(About 10 minutes later)

Matt: "Hey."

Me: "Hey, what did you buy?"

Matt: "A computer game."

(This boy DOES NOT need ANOTHER computer game! PLEASE!)

Me: "Did you get my anything?"

Matt: "No. But, I found something to get you for Valentine's Day."

WHAT?

I thought he wasn't getting me anything!

That's why this post is called "The Great Valentine's Day Dilemma" because now I don't know if I should get him a gift.

Please help a sister out! What would you do?

The Search for the Perfect Laptop

OK, so if you read my post back in December, where I listed what I wanted for Christmas, then you'll remember that the main thing I wanted was a laptop.

I know you're saying, "Why, yes, Robin, I do remember that post!".

Yeah, right.

So, I want a laptop. I want one so that I can start my novel that I've been wanting to write for over a year now.

Well, my wonderful. loving. husband. has been on a mission to find me the perfect one.

He's been searching website after website, store after store, and even built a few laptops online, with minimal luck.

He has found a few, one in particular for a very reasonable price, but it doesn't have the new Windows Vista software on it. Another one doesn't come with Microsoft Word. Sure, we could buy it but it costs about $150 dollars, plus Best Buy has to install it themselves for a small fee of $75 dollars!

Excuse me?

Just give me the freaking software!

If I'm going to pay $900 or more for a laptop, how much money are you gonna lose by just GIVING me Word?

Nothing.

My dad really wants me to get a Mac, but those can run $1,200 to $1,500. I don't know about your money tree, but right now, mine is in need of water...because the money isn't growing!

So, the search continues.

If you have any ideas as to where I might be able to buy a laptop for under $900, that comes with Windows Vista & Microsoft Word, please point me in that direction.

I'll dedicate my first book to you!

Thursday Thirteen #4

13 Reasons Why I Can't Wait for Spring!

13. The sun sets later & later, making it lighter outside longer

12. I can start shopping for Spring/Summer clothes

11. I can wear my new Spring/Summer clothes

10. The temperature starts to warm up

9. The flowers start to bloom

8. Matt starts mowing the grass again (I love the smell of freshly cut grass!)

7. Maisy likes to stay outside longer & out of my way (Amen, sista')

6. Our beach vacation is just that much closer

5. I don't have to put on a coat just to take Maisy outside to pee

4. I get to buy my summer bathing suit

3. The kids in our neighborhood start coming out to play again

2. Maisy & I can start going on our neighborhood walks again

And, the number 1 reason I can't wait for Spring...

1. It means summer is right around the corner & that means swimming at the club pool, trips to the Lake & our vacation to the beach!

**Okay, so I know this post was kind of lame, but I couldn't think of anything else. I'll do better next time, I promise!**

The Cutest Name

When we were all in Texas last month, Riley finally started calling Matt by his name.

Sort of.

Her version of "Matt" is "Mop".

All weekend, she kept saying "Where Mop?" or "Hi Mop!".

Matt likes it.

He thinks it's very creative.

(This picture was taken in November, during an earlier trip to Texas to meet my cousin's finance!)

What About Your Friends?

Where would we be in this world without our girl friends?

Sure, I know I can always count on Matt, but sometimes you also need the support of your girls, you know what I mean?

Today wasn't the best day of my life. Something happened this afternoon that triggered feelings that I didn't realize I had buried so deep.

I know you're wondering what that "something" is, but right now, I just can't talk about it. My friends at work know about it & they knew what was happening, without me saying a word.

After this "something" happened, I sat down at my desk & my friend, Stephanie, asked me if I was OK. I said I would be. But, after sitting there, thinking about it, I had to get out of the newsroom. I went into the bathroom and not even 3 minutes later, I hear footsteps. Then, I hear my friend, Stephanie, say that they just came to check on me. I walked out of the stall & saw Katy, Stephanie, Lindsey & Sydney standing there, with open arms.

Talking about it helped, plus the 4 of them did their best to make me laugh & it worked! I was able to move on & finish the day.

Of course, whenever something happens to me, whether good or bad, Matt's the first person I turn to. He listens & helps me sort out my thoughts. But, sometimes, (especially with what I was going through today), it's nice to have other women to confide in & get a female perspective.

I think what really touched me today about my girls was that I never even said a word to them about what I was feeling.

I didn't have to.

They already knew.

And, that makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The Super Bowl is today!

Whoo-hoo!

Actually, I really do love football, mostly college football, though.

I like NFL football, but I'm sad because my boy, Matt Jones, isn't playing. His team, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't make the playoffs.

So, it's between the Colts & the Bears.

I think I'll root for the Bears because Rex Grossman is cute.

My Nose, My Enemy

I think this is the MOST I have EVER blown my nose, in MY. ENTIRE. LIFE.

No joke, in the past 4 days, I have gone through 3 boxes of Kleenex at my house & 1.5 boxes at work, just on my-no-good-snot-filled-really-sore-Vaseline-coated-nose. Once this cold/sinus infection goes away, I will be happy if I don't ever have to blow my nose again.

Seriously, once I un-stop one nostril, the other half stops up. I don't know what sleep is anymore, because every time I lie down, I either have to blow my nose or I can't breathe. If I try to breathe through my mouth, I cough. I think in the last 3 nights, I've had a total of 4 hours of sleep.

THANKS A LOT, NOSE!

Granted, I'm sure my nose isn't enjoying this either. If I'm not blowing it, I'm coating it with Vaseline to keep it from getting dry or I'm snorting Afrin to get a few minutes of relief.

Throughout all this, there is one funny story that I want to share. Last night, both Matt & I were lying on our bed watching TV. I had been trying to blow my nose for about an hour with no luck. But, apparently, lying down loosened the phlegm (I know, it's icky). So, I grabbed my tissue & started to blow. I wasn't expecting what came out, to come out, so I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. Snot came shooting out of my nose & landed on Matt's bare arm. I wish you guys could have seen the look he gave me. But, being the supportive husband, he just took a clean Kleenex & wiped it off his arm. He knew better than to say anything! My nose, on the other hand, felt a little better. I was even thinking I'd reached a turning point with this cold.

WRONG.

About 5 minutes later, I couldn't breathe AGAIN!

Ugh! Day 4 & counting...

How Cute Is This Girl?

My niece, Riley, totally loves me.

A few months ago, she discovered my sister's cell phone & thought it was cool because there are lots of buttons to push. Lately, she's realized that you can actually TALK to someone on it.

I'll be at work & my phone will ring. When I pick it up & say "Hello?", sometimes I will hear silence, sometimes I'll hear my sister in the background telling Riley to talk & sometimes she'll just start talking to me. Often times when my sister calls me, I'll hear Riley in the background, saying, "I talk Rah Rah!".

Today's daily conversation was a little different.

(The phone rings).

Me: "Hello?"

My sister: (in the background) "Say Hi Rah Rah."

Riley: "Hi Wah-Wah."

Me: "Hi Sissy! What are you doing?"

Riley: (She says something in baby babble, but the words I catch are "Dora", "Elmo" & "TV").

Me: "Are you feeling better?" (The girl's been sick, which is how I got sick).

Riley: "Yeah."

Me: "Is Brother (Jackson) at school?"

Riley: "Yeah...No."

Me: "Did it snow at your house?"

Riley: "No."

My sister: (in the background) "Riley...Can Mommy talk to Rah Rah?"

Riley: "No, I talk Wah Wah."

Me: "Are you watching TV?"

Riley: "Yeah. Dora!"

My sister: (in the background) "Riley, Mommy needs to talk to Rah Rah now."

Riley: "NO!"

Me: "Sissy, let me talk to Mommy, then we can talk again, okay?"

Riley: (babble, babble, babble)

My sister: (in the background) "Baby, give Mommy the phone."

Riley: "NO. MOMMA! I. TALK. WAH. WAH!"

This girl knows what she wants!

A few seconds later, she reluctantly handed over the phone & climbed onto her favorite cartoon watching seat...the coffee table.

Below is a picture of her taken at one of Jackson's soccer games this past fall. After taking over her Uncle Matt's Dr. Pepper, she carefully poured the contents into the empty goldfish container. Then, decided she wanted to make sure there wasn't a drop of soda left in the can.