I got nothing

First of all- THANK YOU ladies for all of your sweet comments on the last post!! You guys made me feel so normal about the situation. And it is nice to know that even when my IRL friends are not being that great, I always have my bloggy friends to pick me up!! This is why I love blogging!!!

My new bloggy friend Misty asked what I thought would be good ways to stay in touch if the phone is not your thing. For me personally, I DON'T like talking on the phone that much.....but it is a necessary evil when you have distance in between you.

So, some things that work for me:

1. I have a phone date every Monday with one of my besties and we eat ice cream while we talk and we don't change the date EVER(well unless we really need to). This helps because we don't play phone tag with each other and we both know when we are talking. Also this helps with not having any distractions..since you know you will be talking.

2. I also try to call people when I am in the car driving somewhere. It makes it easy, you are in the car for a certain amount of time and then you get off when you arrive. This keeps the conversation from being too long and overwhelming. Sometimes, I get overwhelmed by feeling like I have to talk to someone for an hour for it to be meaninful. This is not true. So, the "car" talks keep it short and sweet.

3. Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. Use this technology to your advantage. It is a great way to let somebody know you love and miss them when you are busy.

4. Snail mail or email. I personally love snail mail. So great!

Anybody have any other advice...leave it in the comments below.

Basically not too much is going on and I really have nothing of interest to post!


So who is ready for Christmas???? I AM, I AM!!

I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday at the outlet mall. And let me just tell you the Banana Republic outlet made me FORGET that I was shopping for other people. I just wanted to buy for me!!!! But I resisted!

T-minus two days till I go visit my hometown and see my parents. Can you believe it has been two years since I have set foot in my hometown. Ridic.

Sour gumdrops

WARNING: DEPRESSING POST AHEAD.





Alright, friends, so this post is less than happy. And I debated about even posting it, but I need to get this out. And let's face it-no one's life is perfect all the time, right? So I can't be all roses, and daisies, and gumdrops now can I?





I have to be honest. My heart and soul has been sad for a while now about one certain subject.



Now, I am not the kind of girl who makes friends easy. I have TONS of surface level friends that I can hang out with and have a great time with. BUT, I can count on one hand the number of DEAR friends that I just have a soul connection with. You know the friends that you can completely bare your soul to and who will cry with you and hug you any time you need?


See I have a hard time making those kinds of friends. I am NOT good at being vulnerable.... and I kind of have a harder time letting people in. So when I do, you are usually a friend for life. As in you are not getting out of this friendship ever.


But moving away is not the easiest thing. Especially for the one leaving like me. Sometimes, people are not great at being on the phone. Such is the case with one of my friends.


She is definitely one of those friends that you see being the "aunt" to your future kids, being 60 years old and going on a girl's vacation, and having a friendship that spans several decades.


Or at least I thought.



And this is the part that hurts the most dear readers. I call. She doesn't answer. She returns my call........three weeks later. We talk for two minutes....she becomes distracted, then asks if she can call me back .....and doesn't. We talk alot...when she needs a shoulder to cry on....when she doesn't....the phone doesn't ring.



And basically, I am hurt and emotionally exhausted from all of the effort I have to put in. And every time this happens, I get my feelings hurt. Of course, when we see each other in person, it is like nothing has changed....and I see my old friend emerge.....but it is the cliche " out of sight, out of mind".



And I am sick of it. Do I continue being a great friend to her and take what she gives and get walked on? Or do I take a step back and let my heart heal and focus my time elsewhere?



I don't know...this has been weighing on me pretty heavy. Prayers are much appreciated.







And because I need a pick me up. For your viewing pleasure.

Brain Fart

Why yes I did just include the word fart in my post title! Because dear friends, it is the only way to describe how silly and forgetful I felt a few days ago. Let me give you the background.

One of my dear friends, M, and I were discussing a few months ago for her to come and visit in December. We discussed two different weekends, but after talking I thought we had decided on the 18th as the weekend that she would come. So I put it in my planner and began the ecstatic countdown.

Fast forward to a week ago, when I was talking to one of my best friends about coming to visit Lakeland in December. I opened up my planner and saw that the only free weekend I had was the 11th(this weekend). So we made the plans! I called some other friends from our old church and before I knew it, one of my dear friends was organizing a girl's night for a bunch of us in honor of my coming into town. Well I was very ecstatic and began the countdown for that weekend too.

But WAIT...then I get a voice message from my dear friend M that she couldn't wait to see me the next weekend(which would be the 11th for those of you that are not keeping track!).

HOLD THE PHONE...WHAT????

Panicking, I call her back....Are you sure it is this weekend? I thought you were coming next weekend?

Alas, she is coming in this weekend! Of course, I feel like the WORST friend ever because not only did I get the date wrong, but it kind of looks like I was so NOT excited for her to visit that I didn't even know when she was coming!! And to top it all off, I had to call all of my Lakeland friends that I had made plans with.

Imagine how that conversation went: " I know I said I was coming and all....but JUST KIDDING......haha wasn't that a funny joke I played on you!"

Yeah readers-let's just say they didn't think it was too funny!!( in all honesty they weren't mad, they were just dissapointed)

Golly- royal screwup of the year- RIGHT HERE!!!

Christmas with the Howards!!

In the spirit of Christmas approaching, I promised a quick peek at our decorations for Christmas!! I personally don't think we have enough Christmas decorations...so every year I try to get more, which I am sure my husband just loves! Let me just say that we DON'T do sophisticated Christmas decorations here. (not that there is anything wrong with that). I am just always attracted to the cheeky, child-like part of Christmas...so that is what I buy! Here is what we have accumulated over the past three years!

Frist off-the OU Santa in our bathroom. His list says that we want the best football team in the land. Maybe next year, Santa, maybe next year.....




Hubs decided he wanted in on the nutcracker fun. Here is the start of my collection....I love them so much!!! Must get more!

Our little nativity set. We get a new piece each year!

The is a little reindeer training center that my grandmother painted. I love it!! It cracks me up that little reindeer up on top learning to fly!

I REALLY like reindeer too!! And this one is covered in glitter! :)

Reindeer plate that is now filled with candy!

Onto the ornaments.....

One of my favs..this really glittery and beautiful snowflake.

Just got this one this year..the Lord's prayer.

My fav childhood ornament..the nutcracker...love this ballet and ornament.

Gingerbread couple from our first Christmas married.

Pottery Barn frame ornament. We got this last year..I need to put a pic of us in it!

Our Just married ornament...this is adorable!

My dining room table!

Our mantle with our stockings......which reminds me I need to finish making Jonathan's personalized stocking this year so we can get rid of the generic stocking!

Our tree skirt....needs more presents on there...that is just sad I know!

And for the finale......our Charlie Brown Christmas tree....complete with colored lights!! YES!!!

And that about does it!!! Nothing too crazy....I want to be that house someday that completely tranforms at Christmas time..but I have a ways to go!!!

See ya Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving holiDAY and let me just emphasize the day part of it. I had to work on Wednesday and Friday, so I was only at the in-laws for a day. But we had oh so much fun thought like we usually do. Every year we have an annual Howard touch football game that we play. It is always so much fun and it makes me feel like maybe I don't have to feel guilty for the 3200 calories I just consumed in one meal. We make shirts for each year and it is just great.

Our bad to the bone team pic is below.

We also always exchange Christmas gifts since we won't see the in laws at Christmas. And this is the BEST part of Thanksgiving. There are about 16 of us crammed into Nana's tee-niny living room and we clap and yell through the entire opening of the presents.

We do the presents one by one and do a slow clap as the person is struggling to open the present. As soon as they get the wrapping off and the present is revealed, everyone in the room fist pumps both hands in the air and screams like they were just told they won the lottery. readers....IT. IS. THE. BEST. AND. MOST. HYSTERCIAL. THINGEVER.

Don't believe me? See this picture below.

We were yelling and chanting "Put in on, Put it on" about the jersey my BIL got from us!!! It is seriously the most energetic Christmas you will ever see.

Unfortunately, I failed at taking pictures. FAILED. As in my camera wasn't even charged up so I got not one picture. The above two were stolen off of Facebook. Sigh.

I was, however, a crazy person and ever so determined to get that bargain, I headed off at 2:45 in the morning on Black Friday in search of it. But unlike the rest of America, I had to be at work at 6 that morning as well. Ha! Work won't slow me down! This woman WILL shop!

Kinda sad to see Thanksgiving go but also glad that I can start celebrating Christmas. I mean honestly who's idea was it to make Thanksgiving so close to Christmas? T-giving always gets the shaft!

Can't wait to show you all the pics of our Christmas deocorations! So stay tuned for that!

My life is in shambles

There is a gigantic pile of dry clothes sitting in my dryer as I type this and promising to be completely wrinkled and in need of being washed again by the time I take them out.



There is a huge pot of chili remains sitting with warm water in our sink from last night's dinner. Gross I know.



A bathtub that really needs to be cleaned but I didn't get around to it this weekend.



Two dessert recipes that I printed out and wanted to try making on Sunday that I somehow didn't even manage to make it to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for.



My kitchen table looks like a gift wrapping station threw up on it.



I have people that I should have called this weekend.



I STILL have two people to buy Christmas gifts for before the hubby's early Christmas extravaganze on Wednesday.



GOOD LORD. MY LIFE IS IN SHAMBLES.



And why I am sure you are asking. Because of this.



I held off from this craze for as long as I could. I already have enough addictions in my life and I really didn't want to add anymore. Hello reality tv and junk food.



But on Saturday morning I was at Walmart and saw the first book on sale for 5.97. So I thought, heck that seems like a bargain. Let's see what all the fuss is about.



And I saw, readers, boy did I see.



I sat down and began to read around 3 as the hubby was writing a paper. I thought I would read for a few hours and then do some of the chores around the house. WRONG.

I was still reading when hubby went to practice at 8. I came up for air only to eat dinner, move my laundry to the dryer, and hang out with the hubby for 30 minutes before he left for practice. When I was still reading when hubby came home from practice, I knew I was in too deep and that I would probably have all of the books read by the time next weekend arrives.

I already have hubby offering to watch the first movie with me. Which is delightful because of course I NEED to see this book come to life on the big screen.

I think he was scared though when he walked in to find me holding the book dangerously close to my face, flipping the pages as fast as my hands could turn, with that wide-eyed, lost-to-the-world look on my face. And I may have been drooling when he walked in. I can't be sure, it was all a blur.

So readers-I have fallen prey to the book and been biten(haha come on, I couldn't resist that one) by the Twilight bug. I just hope I still remember to eat and shower this week. It is all I can think about. :)

Back

Sorry I have not been blogging more regularly...we are having some internet issues at our house which does make the blogging scarce. For some reason we are not getting very good reception to the internet right now. Imagine that. You can't borrow someone else's internet anymore like you used to in the old days! ;) Am blogging at work right now.....shhhhhh I know that is so bad!

My little sister in law is coming to visit this weekend to stay with us! Very exciting. I will post pics from the weekend and the Mercer Bears have a big game on Saturday against FSU!!! Go BEARS!!

On a very random side note... I am kinda in love with Vera Wang's jewelry collection at Khol's right now. I just received a $10 off coupon and I'm thinking about going back to buy one of these necklaces!! I literally can't stop thinking about them. So that is my rule for convincing myself to buy things I really don't need. If I can't stop thinking about it after a week I will go back and buy it up! This takes away some of my impulse buying. please note that I said some and not all. I am not a saint here.

Any of you ladies feel guilty about buying stuff for yourself during Christmas time when you are supposed to be shopping for others?

the post with no theme

• we are house sitting this weekend for Jonathan's boss......and they have a whirlpool tub......I know what I will be doing tonight!


• the above bullet sounds creepy...they are more family friends than co-workers...so that tub thing is less creepy.


• We only have 3 more people left on my hubby's side of the family to buy Christmas gifts for.....we are on the ball!


• I have had to keep a secret about a Christmas gift since August.......I am bursting and can't wait till its not a secret anymore.


• I have NO IDEA what to get my husband for Christmas...this happens every year and completely stresses me out.


• I almost had a heartattack over a pair of shoes today in DSW.....seriously I was so excited that I was talking out loud about how much I love them and didn't realize until a lady looked at me funny.


• Went to see the movie THE BOX last night.....hubby and I thought it looked interesting.....WRONG...it was terrible...we were very angry after we left......I tried to get hubby to leave in the middle because it was that bad.


• I need to get back on the running band wagon....I have been a slacker and have also been eating a ton.....why do I always end up being pudgy during the winter?


• My life is being taken over by basketball now that hubby is the team chaplain...we are in full fledge season mode now. Our dinner talks usually include some sort of basketball lingo.


• You should see my face full of confusion during these talks. Hubby has to define a lot of "terms" lately.


• Am missing Lakeland a lot right now. Can't wait for Macon to feel fully like home. Moving is hard.
• That was a lot of incomplete sentences above. I promise I took
  English.


• My bestie is moving to California in January. I am so proud of her for taking such a big leap and moving out there by herself.
  
• I am even more proud that she picked such a great place to move to so I can visit!!


• Is November 14th too early to put up Christmas decorations?


• I bought these shoes today for 15 dollars.....Love them.

Happy Saturday!

BLEH.

Had to fire sombody yesterday. It was my first time in my career to have to actually let someone go.

It was literally one of the worst feelings in the world. I could barely look into his eyes while I was doing it. He was completely deflated. I just kept thinking about how I was taking away his livelihood and how in the economy, it will be such a struggle for him to find another job.

Horrible. And right before Christmas. Gaw.

He did have plenty of opportunities to correct the situation before he was fired. But that doesn't really make me feel better. I wish he would have tried harder.

Today I had to spend the majority of the morning in the pouring rain fixing something. I was soaked and miserable.

Happy Freakin Tuesday.

all I want for Christmas is walmart.

So I went online the other day after reading the so cute Just Dandy to find the below boots that she mentioned.



Beautiful right? Now guess where she found these at?


Walmart.com!!! They are 20 dollars and 1 dollar shipping. So for a whopping 21 dollars you can be walking around in these glorious boots!!!

So I went online and decided to do a little looking and holy moly this is NOT the wal-mart I grew up with. Check out some of the stuff they have. ADORBS!

Disclaimer: Now I haven't seen any of this stuff in person, so it could b e a total train wreck IRL, but for only 1 dollar shipping, try it out and if you hate it, then I bet you can take it back to a Wal-mart store!

This grey shift dress is super cute and would look cute with black tights and boots and a cute pop of color, maybe a cardigan or a statement necklace.

LOVE These suede little booties!! Now these are perfect because they are 25 dollars and you know this trend won't last forever. I have been wanting a pair of booties but am NOT loving the price tag for such a trendy item. Problem solved.

This coat is fabulous!! Only 40 dollars!! Love the funnel neckline and I LOVE white coats during winter!

Way to completely kill it Wal-mart. I will let you ladies know if I end up buying any of this.

Discovered Treasures

Well I have to say I have missed the bloggy world for the past two weeks. I had to travel for work to Dallas to attend a conference. I have quite a few friends still in Dallas, so I went down the weekend before to stay with my dear "sister". We had quite a blast and did everything under the sun!!!

The conference was really long and made me wish I worked in an industry that wasn't so male dominated. By the end of it I was so DONE with hanging around with the guys and just wanted to have a girly conversation. I did get to see my best friend from high school one night which helped!!

While on the plane I read this:

Ummmm...I don't want to ruin it, but let's just say that your life won't be complete until you read this ( you think I am exaggerating but oh no-I'm not). It is seriously one of the most honest, beautiful, meaningful, heart-wrenching stories I have read in a long time. Well worth your 10 dollars on Amazon.

Also, while in Dallas, I went to a concert and found a new artist that I am obsessed with. I love when that happens, when the opening act is almost as good as the headliner and you get to find a new artist.

I give you Caitlin Crosby:

She kind of has a different sound. Very soulful meets rocker and her voice is very unique. She may not be for everyone, but check her out and see if you like her style!!

I'm off to watch One Tree Hill!!!

The one where I get busted

Remember the post where I talked about giving up reality tv???

Well here is the conversation I had yesterday with the hubs.

Hubs: Walks in the room and stares at tv before I could change the channel- Aren't you supposed to be watching less reality tv??

Me: looks up from watching the same RHATL for the 50th time- Yes, I have given up a lot of shows!!!

Hubs: Really? What shows have you given up? Because you are still watching Real Housewives, The Hills, The City, the one about the flipper, Rachel Zoe, the one with those annoying real estate guys, so what have you given up?

Me:long silence............I don't watch Real Chance of Love anymore! (Hah...me thinking I got him.)

Hubs: I JUST saw you watching that last night.

Me: Crap.


Hi, bloggy world, my name is Mandie and I am a reality addict. :)

Who needs the mall...when you have online Target??

Seriously, I need to get to Target immediately. I have been browsing the online site at Target and there is some seriously great things that need to find their new home in my closet. See I am really not big on designer anything..GASP I know! All of you just fell over and almost had a heart attack when I said that. Now don't get me wrong, it is all very pretty to look at and dream about, but MY reality unfortunately doesn't include spending hundreds of dollars to only get one piece. So there you haven't..... have NEVER bought designer and don't plan on it. I will stick with my Target and as long as they keep putting out the goods...it looks like I will be okay! ;)

These pretty little flats are only 12 dollars people!! Seriously...so cute to add a little extra to a simple outfit.

These boots are so cute...seriously...I DIE! Cannot believe they are Target. So pretty!! 30 dollars.
Love this dress...such a great staple for winter....you can acessorize to your hearts content!!

Love the silhouette of this.....and the pretty little bell sleeves. Good job Target!

Just in case you are wondering, I could get all of this for less than 100 dollars. Take that designer prices!!

Yell it with me now

Please Lord let us win!!!

I'm thinking there may be an opening in the design department of F21

You know I never thought I could have a career in fashion design...until i saw THIS. Obviously, I have a chance if the person who created this was ever employed! I keep seeing this in the Sale section on Forever 21 online. It is now on sale for the low, low price of 6.99.

Forever 21, here is the best deal you are ever going to get......Pay me 6.99 and maybe I will let you send me this dress....maybe.

Tuesday's Thoughts

• the other day while driving to work, I heard the very beginning of the early morning show on the radio. Not ok.
• I need a giant turkey leg from the fair and a pumpkin straight from the patch soon or I may get cranky( subtle hint husband)
• Team Lauren all the way: still can't figure out how Kristin isn't embarassed about taking Lauren's reality show reject.
• Am actually scared to buy myself a bag of candy corn this year, starting to believe that crack is an essential ingredient in the stuff.
• Have not gotten my flu shot and not planning on it: sick day + sleeping all day + watching insane amounts of tv= something I DO NOT want to avoid.
• my husband, for the first time in our two plus years of being married, hogged the bed last night. i finally got to see what his life is like.
• am finally giving in to the twilight craze and see what the fuss is all about. Willing to bet my left arm, I will be having dreams about Edward about 2 pages in.
• hoping OU kicks some Longhorn booty this weekend!

Please pray

On my morning show this morning they were doing a piece on a terribly tragic story about a 66-year-old pizza man who delivers pizza because he loves to meet new people and bring a smile to someone's face. Well he was delivering a pizza on a Saturday night and was savagely beaten by aluminum bats by four teenagers who thought this would be a fun way to spend their Saturday night. They took the 20 dollars this man had on him. Fred remains in critical condition and is suffering from brain trauma.

God has seriously laid this family on my heart. PLEASE PRAY for Fred and his wife and also their three grandchildren they are raising. I cannot imagine what they must be going through.

Also, please pray for these boys who did this that they would repent and come to know the love of Jesus. And their families, I can't imagine how hard it would be to find out your sons were capable of committing such a heinous act.

HOLLA!!!!!

Goodness bloggers!!! I have to say that there is NOTHING better than an entire girl's weekend! Laughing and having a blast!! It seriously was so good for my soul to just get away with some of the girls I love most.

The night started out and we were laughing so hard that this first picture was a big time FAIL....but I actually love it!! Someone must have said something funny and Erin couldn't handle it!!!

And YES we do weird things to each other all the time...our relationship with each other is awkward!!! And this picture captures it perfectly!

Me and my bestie!!

Trying to get a group pic in the car!!! We couldn't find one we liked!

At least we are all ACTUALLY in this one!!

My roomie forever!!! LOVE HER!!

And feel free to skip the next series of pictures!!! This what happens when you get best friends together who haven't been around each other for a year!!

We wanted full length shots!! What doesn't everyone love a mirro picture!!!??

Finally Alison't roommate got home so we could stop taking pictures by ourselves!!

Gaww...I love them!

and back to the self-portraits!!!

Caught off guard!!! Just keeping it real here at Red High Heels! :)

For some reason she kept doing this!!!

Because serious pictures are BORING!

On Saturday we went to walk around the OU campus!!! GOSH I LOVE OU!!!!!!! And this campus makes my heart happy!!!

BOOMER SOONER!

ajalhjdkghalgjdkajldjafdlajdfda!!!! I love you R-DIZZ!!!( and not those are not typos...just excitment!)
WE met up with Arian to do a little shopping!

We ended the night watching OU play at a Louie's on Campus Corner!!! A blast to scream and yell with people who "get" OU!!! we won't talk about how we didn't play so well.

GIRLS, seriously, thank all three of you for being so amazing. I always feel more like myself when I am around you guys!! I can't explain how much fun I had and how beautiful and wonderful and hilarious and special you are all to me!!!!