the daily sweatpants

friend time. party time.

2012-02-11T07:51:00.000-05:00

When in Louisiana…eat beignets. Actually Amy ate the beignets and I settled for a cinnamon raisin bagel. We met at Crescent City, a local coffee shop / breakfast and lunch eatery that I used to frequent back in my college days. Before Ruston went corporate (with Starbucks), Crescent City and the Frothy Monkey were the go to coffee places. I’d meet study groups, friends, or even drink alone (chai tea lattes that is).

Jana is one of the busiest people I know, but she had a few minutes to spare. I was essentially oblivious to her three boys because they had one thing on their mind – the bounce house. You can see it in the background of this picture.

Then I got to see a princess. Sleeping Beauty to be exact. Joanna's girls are just precious. Georgia showed me all her princess moves like forward rolls, twirls, and she even read a book.

Georgia also has some photography skills. Baby Charlotte was so good and even smiled at me a few times.

After lunch, Ben and I took a stroll down memory lane. We drove by our old houses. Before Ben and I met we lived across the street from each other. He and his roommates thought I was in middle school and they thought I was black. I’ll blame that on the tanning bed. Anyhow, the Kappa Alpha Order house looked exactly the same. Ben called this place home for a semester and has a lot of memories attached to his college fraternity days.

Ben’s cousin, Kaitlyn, is quite the social butterfly. Tonight was the Girls Ask Boys dance (aka Sadie Hawkins in other parts of the country). Kaitlyn got all fancied up and probably danced the night away to LMFAO. ::sidenote:: I had no idea who LMFAO was until last week. They were in town for the Super Bowl and did a free concert downtown. I honestly thought they were the group that sang “Abercrombie and Fitch” circa 1999 or so.

The rest of this post is about Debbie’s surprise party. This was our sole purpose of coming to Louisiana. Ben’s Aunt Debbie is a very special lady and her party commanded quite the crowd. Just before we left for the party Ben said, “I’m going to need to work the room so I can talk to everyone.”

Leah and Luke planned a wonderful event at the Ropp Center at Louisiana Tech. This building used to be the home of the university president and it’s now used for special events and other shenanigans. Leah had the place decorated with a plethora of pictures. I’d like to call it “Debbie thru the ages.”

This is Debbie and her three sisters. Ben’s mom is sitting on Santa’s lap. There is a childhood photo of Ben from around this age and he looks exactly like his mom. They even have the same haircut.

I went upstairs at the Ropp Center and took a bunch of pictures. I think the catering staff was like "some lady is upstairs taking pictures." Ben knew it was me and just rolled his eyes. There are fully decorated rooms upstairs and they were beautiful.

The anticipation was almost too much. Everyone was just ancy for Debbie to get to the party. The moment had finally arrived and I was privileged to be the “official photographer.” The term “official” is very loose. Enough of the words. Let the party begin.

me, debbie, ben

Debbie had no idea, the place was packed with Debbie’s family and closest friends, Aramark Catering filled our tummies with fried chicken, turnip greens, fried okra, and black eyed peas, and overall it was a special time to celebrate 60 years of Debbie.

1 day, 5 states

2012-02-10T07:59:00.000-05:00

Louisiana.

Illinois.

Missing our friends from Salem & Patoka.

My friend has a funny story about this town.

Missouri.

Arkansas.

Fire in Little Rock.

Occupy Little Rock.

Louisiana.

Dubach. Home cooking.

The fun begins.

Car ride playlist: Michael Jackson / Micky & the Motorcars / Johnny Cash / Alan Jackson / Waylon Jennings / ZZ Top / Elvis / Robert Earl Keen / John Anderson / Beatles / Bellamy Brothers

encourage

2012-02-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Ben is doing a study on 1 Thessalonians for our small group class. Several weeks ago he challenged us to encourage someone. I did the homework because I’ve always been a teacher’s pet, but it was very revealing to see how something so important and necessary felt very task driven and “to-do list-esque.”

I wrote down who I was going to encourage and what I was going to say. That part of the challenge didn’t feel forced because I have to write down everything or else it will be forgotten. The part that felt forced was after the fact when I merely “checked it off my to-do list” and never thought twice about encouraging someone else.

It was a task for me. Sure, I truly meant everything that was said, but at the same time I think encouragement should be shared day in and day out. I think that is what Paul is trying to tell us in 1 Thessalonians. Encourage as you are already doing…and if you ain’t doing it then maybe you should wake up and smell the coffee.

I think our society has traded true, biblical encouragement for excuses, jealousy, and failures. How often do we put off a conversation, a phone call, a prayer, a letter, an email, because we’re too busy? How often are we quick to judge because we’re secretly jealous? How often do we see marriages given over to divorce because friends and family accept the failure and choose not to encourage in Jesus’ name?

As Ben and I made public our adoption, people have expressed their delight and congratulations and later followed up with the infamous “but.” But you are going to be so tired. But you are never going to be able to go anywhere. But you are never going to have a life. But you are going to be poor because kids are expensive. But, but, but…

I’m guilty of the infamous “but.” Always focused on the negatives. It almost seems easier. But…God called us to something more.

Encourage one another.

I previously mentioned that my stepmom, Sheryl, was diagnosed with breast cancer. At first glance, she thought radiation was the next step, but further testing suggests chemotherapy first. It’s going to be hard. Chemotherapy is never easy. I could’ve very easily talked about the negative stuff that comes along with chemo, but God intervened and gave me these words instead. “You can do this. I’m praying for you.”

Encourage someone. Let’s make it part of our daily routine.

If you have a few moments, leave an encouraging word for Sheryl. I’m going to print all the comments and send them to her as she starts her journey with chemo. My dad, Jerry, and my younger sister, Taylor, could use your prayers as well.

living life with one nostril

2012-02-08T10:08:00.000-05:00

The title is more dramatic than accurate. I spent one (maybe two) days with one functioning nostril. The rest of this post will recollect my story of having one good nostril during my latest cold. Please feel free to click away now and come back tomorrow for something slightly more interesting.

I rarely get sick. I would like to credit my daycare from back in the day. Being around un-Lysoled toys can certainly build an immune system. I would like to thank my chewable Flintstones vitamins for providing me with a daily dose of vitamin c. And last but not least, a huge thanks to my white blood cells for just getting the job done.

In the past year or so, I have been sick several times. I wish to document this saga (also known as a cold) just in case I croak in the near future and evidence is needed to either clear or convict Ben in a life insurance scam. Ben would say that I purposely gave him food poisoning so I could capitalize on his life insurance money but now I think the tables might have turned.

During the months of October and November 2011 I had a wretched cough that I affectionately called “the smokers cough.” I went thru an extra large bag of cough drops, several bottles of Robitussin, and probably lost a few friends because hacking is nobody’s love language. In hindsight I should’ve gone to the doctor but I was not in the mood for Dr. Jones to tell me “just keep doing what you’re doing and let the cough run its course.” That happened the last time I went to the doctor and I didn’t feel the need to pay money for the exact diagnosis as before.

Fast forward to now. It seems a cold has come upon me. Thankfully the smokers cough did not return nor did I have a fever. The worst symptom was living life with one good nostril. It’s not fun. People look at your differently. And if you’re lucky like me, the one good nostril will get a monster nosebleed leaving you with no good nostrils. It’s tough to be me.

As if having one functioning nostril isn’t bad enough, I’m also concerned that my name is on the meth head watch list because of my frequent purchases of over the counter drugs. The lady at Target had to scan my driver’s license several times before the barcode registered and I’m suspicious that I was documented for more purchases than I actually made.

Ben hasn’t concocted any home remedies, so it seems as if his hands are clean for now. The Dayquil and Nyquil purchases didn’t appear to be tampered with or altered in any way although I could barely open the liquid Nyquil package because those push and twist tops are complicated.

For those of you still with me, please cherish the functionality of two good nostrils. Learn from my mistake of taking the most important sensory mechanism for granted. I’m confident that my weekend plans can move forward because both nostrils seem to be working just fine.

I guess it was just a cold and not a plot of sabotage.

shaggy, fabric wreath

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

That Goodwill is one heck of a store. They always have exactly what I'm looking for, especially at the 50% off Saturday sale. I made this wreath for a friend and I found my fabric at none other than the Goodwill store at 116th and Keystone. I should know the workers by now, but sadly nobody recognizes me - yet.

The fabric used for this wreath is actually full size bedsheets. That may sound a little weird. It's even a little weird typing the previous sentence, but I washed and dried those bad boys so they are fresh and clean.

There you have it. Another fabric wreath underneath my belt. Check out the other one I made if you have another 2 minutes to kill. I have a ton of material leftover so if anyone needs a wreath or some material please let me know.

lunch date with susan, lucas, and baby TBD

2012-02-06T19:24:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Susan is with child number 5 due in June. I’m not sure if the sex and name is public knowledge, so I’ll TBD the information for now. She and Lucas were in town for a doctor’s appointment and they found a few minutes to meet me at McDonalds.

This is called fisting fries. You basically just grab a fist full of fries and stuff them in your mouth. It's a skill people and Lucas has it mastered. Don't be embarrassed Susan, this picture will be priceless one day!

The smokers cough made a slight appearance this weekend and I’m praying that it doesn’t go full blown this week. I’ve got some really fun plans this weekend and they don’t involve hacking, coughing up a lung, or drinking Robitussin.

Super Bowl Sunday

2012-02-05T17:37:00.000-05:00

The big game is finally here! Today we had NFL apparel day at church and Ben convinced me to wear my Dallas Cowboys shirt. I've worn this shirt 3 times since 2004 and because I kept my jacket on during the entire church service, no one had any clue that I had it on. It's the thought that counts I suppose.

My friend Rachel made a surprise visit to our church. Her church meets at the downtown library and some celebrity had the whole place rented out for the weekend. Wild!

And now I have to quickly finish a DIY project before the Super Bowl starts. We're staying in, laying low, and eating homemade pizza.

vertical leap gets man a shirt and other things

2012-02-03T15:22:00.000-05:00

Ben’s stellar day at Mike and Mike earlier this week is actually his low point in comparison to the events of today. Once again at O’dark 30, Ben left the house with bigger and better dreams – network television (i.e. The Today Show). It’s true that Ben stood amongst the crowd and witnessed firsthand the headlines and daily news straight from Ann Curry and Al Roker. Still he had no sign, no camera, but I suppose he kept his dignity.

After the Today Show, Ben went back to Mike & Mike to see Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboy football player), Adam Sandler, and Vanilla Ice. Yes, Vanilla Ice is still around and not just on VH1. He’s on the movie scene nowadays with Adam Sandler. For promotions sake, the crowd was offered t-shirts and Ben caught not one but two. The first t-shirt came easily, but the second t-shirt required a vertical leap and not your average leap. This leap was over the head of a little ‘ole granny who wanted a t-shirt too. Thankfully, Ben is a gentleman and offered Mrs. Granny the t-shirt and she took the thing.

Texts from Ben:

“It’s like a rock concert. The voice guy is on right now.”

“I am here and it is insane!”

“Vanilla ice is here!”

“I caught a t-shirt!”

“Just saw Adam Sandler walking by! He was with one of those guys who are in all his movies!”

Later Ben would have symptoms such as lower back pain and splinting shins. All signs point toward that vertical leap. I guess 30 isn’t the new 20. And for tonight, after a stellar week, we will lay low and Ben will lie on the heating pad.

I feel very proud to live Indianapolis. There is so much going on, so many celebrities, and so much chatter about the city. Welcome Super Bowl XLVI and all of those East coast people.

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In other news, today is my dad and Tyler’s birthday. I can’t believe my oldest nephew is officially a teenager. I wrote him a poem for his special day.

Today’s the day you turn thirteen.
You should wear some skinny jeans and cause a scene.
One day you’ll have facial hair.
Maybe even a girlfriend, your aunt Manny should prepare.
It’s true when they say “they grow up too fast.”
But all of our memories will always last.
Happy Birthday.

For my dad, I sent him a birthday wish from his favorite actor Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Happy weekend to all!

one stellar day despite the meatless meal

2012-02-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

There are just some days when all is right with the world. I should’ve known things would be swell. Ben left the house with a power clashing ensemble (like Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock) and when you start your day on that high of a note, the only place to go is even higher.

Mike & Mike from ESPN are live downtown all week. Ben decided to leave the house at O' dark thirty to watch the show in person. As if seeing Mike & Mike isn’t enough already, Ben got his face on the crowd scan right before the Subway Eat Fresh commercial break. He saw the ultimate insider Adam Schefter and some other household names. When I asked Ben what he was doing when he made his cable debut, his reply was “just waving.” Earlier I had suggested a sign, but Ben D. Knowles does not hold and/or make signs.

It was “wear your favorite jersey day” for the folks at AUL. Ben works in the building, so he caught a glimpse of four Jason Witten jerseys, one Tony Romo, and the ultimate one Deion Sanders. He even rode the elevator with one of the Jason Witten fans and was instantly caught in conversation about America’s Team.

Because Ben was obviously on cloud nine, he didn’t even balk at eating a meatless meal. My original choice for dinner hadn’t completely thawed, so we were forced to eat spaghetti without any meat. This goes against every fiber of Ron Swanson and Ben’s book of meat, but he survived.

Enough about Ben. He’s not the only one that had a good day.

I officially bought my first pair of skinny jeans for the fine price of $5.48 at none other than Target (aka Tar-jay). These things are tight (not a cool tight – like that new movie was tight {if people even still use tight in that context}, but a for real tight – like snug to the skin tight). (How’s that for an obvious statement?). I wore them around the house and felt like Michael Scott and his Levi’s. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m coming to the skinny jean fad some 7 years late. When plotted on the spectrum, I would be considered a late, late, late adapter of all things technology, fashion, trends, or basically anything that is not a commodity. One time I thought I owned a pair of skinny jeans, but later it was revealed that they were boot cut. ::sigh:: I’ll probably like the skinny jeans well enough except for the low rise part. I’m more of a “mom jean” kinda gal a la Tina Fey.

The weather was very nice, once again, and I was able to take in the day (with my camera) and all it had to offer.

The evening ended with the creation of my facebook page and I went to bed feeling super techy. For those of you on facebook, check out the daily sweatpants to get updates straight to your feed. I created this page primarily for my mom. Last week I called her and said “why haven’t you called to check on me? I had food poisoning, you know!” Come to find out she didn’t know because she had not read the blog. ::gasp:: How dare she not read every single word that I type. I mean, she kept every single piece of art work from grade school to high school and she ordered every single party pic from my college years, so why is she not reading the blog. Apparently she only uses the computer to check facebook. And now that I have a facebook page for the blog, she has no excuse.

For the record, my dad didn’t call to check on me either – and he reads the blog every day. Parents. They'll need me one day.

it was 50 degrees

2012-02-01T09:34:00.001-05:00

This streak of warm temperatures for the Midwest is very odd. One could make a strong argument that God does in fact care about football. It’s obvious that Indianapolis is being shined upon for hosting the Super Bowl. Average temperatures are typically in the 20-30 range and the past few days have been Spring-like. Me and my camera did a little sightseeing and it was just nice to breathe in fresh air. It’s also nice to have long, skinny legs as seen in this picture. Happy day.

My friend Lindsey is having a blogger meet up for folks living in North Louisiana. Drop her a line if you’re interested in getting together. If the dates are right, the daily sweatpants might be in attendance:).

fetched by grace

2012-01-30T11:25:00.001-05:00

This project is something that I’ve wanted to do for quite some time but I had no idea how I was going to do it or what it was going to look like. I’ve wanted to share a little more about me and my stories of Jesus. It wasn’t until recently that I realized this little blog would be the way.

I’ll be posting thru this project during the next few months and I pray that God can use it someway, somehow. I’m scared, nervous, and excited all in one.

Without further ado, I present to you – Fetched by Grace.

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fetched : [fecht] : verb : to be brought in

grace : [greys] : noun : something that is God-given, made possible only by Jesus Christ. It is God's gift of salvation granted to sinners.

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“He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
2 Timothy 1:9

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Fetched by Grace is a challenge to document and share my story - stories of what God has done and continues to do in my life. My story of redemption that God continues to restore. My testimony of coming to know the Lord. These stories are very dear to my heart and make up who I am today.

My pastor, Dr. Skip Alexander, preached a message about “Allowing God to use your past for His glory.” It's easy to do that with the goods things of the past, but what about the bad things? the regretful things? the painful things? I’ve often thought about this over the years, but fear, shame, and what have you got the best of me. I wanted to protect myself and completely forget. But that’s not grace. Grace is victory over the pain. and heartache. and battles. To forget those things would be a discredit to God.

This project is not about dwelling, nor boasting, nor forgetting. I pray that my redemption would become purposeful in some way.

Inspired by the cardboard testimony project, I’m going to share my stories via photographs. Perhaps we can become better acquainted. Perhaps we can all let go of our fears and truly share the stories that God has fetched us from – good or bad. Perhaps we can draw strength from others with similar stories. Perhaps this project will become something bigger than I ever imagined – all for God’s glory.

“You are most likely to comfort those going thru something if you’ve been thru it yourself.”
–Dr. Skip Alexander

I’ve been thru a lot my friends. In the fine details of my life were/are a lot of hurt, humor, doubt, destruction, highs/lows, struggles, etc., but at the end of the day I am Fetched by Grace. Time and time again. It's a beautiful thing. Join me on this journey. These are my stories and I’d love to hear yours.

Super Bowl Village

2012-01-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

The "something" cliffhanger from yesterday was more creative than concrete. I'm always doing something so I knew that was honest, but I didn't have a special something in mind. {sorry to get your hopes up Lindsey} Nonetheless, we decided to go downtown for the Super Bowl festivities.

The rest of this post will be a "what to do" document if you decide to travel downtown. The "what to do" opinions expressed on this blog post are soley those of the daily sweatpants. Should you do these exact same things and have absolutely no fun, the daily sweatpants is not at fault. When in doubt, use your best judgment.

Before going downtown take a stop and Steak-n-Shake for dinner. Ask your waitress to bring you a chicken finger meal with a sprite and two sliders (bbq & frisco), onions rings, and water. Tip your waitress based on her customer service and do not expect a thank you in return.

Find a parking space near the festivities and bundle up. Take my advice and accessorize your winter outfit with a hat or earmuffs or both. We did neither and don’t expect our ears to thaw out until tomorrow. If the wind is blowing I highly recommend applying a good layer of lip balm. Your lips will thank you.

Locate the street that has been renamed with your favorite NFL team. Have your wife snap a photo (or 2 or 7). Whatever it takes to get the picture just right. Pay no attention to the fierce wind that is perpetually hitting you in the face. There’s no turning back at this point in time.

Weasel yourself thru the crowd to get your picture taken in front of the Super Bowl roman numerals. If you happen to get in someone else’s photo (times 5), briefly apologize if you are from the south and keep on moving. If you are from the east coast, I don’t think apologies are necessary.

Definitely stop by race car alley. All of the NFL teams are represented, so be sure and find your favorite. Get as close as possible to the car before security reprimands you. Be patient. This area is pretty tight and hundreds of other people are meandering their way thru the crowd. Kindly ask a random stranger to move out of your picture, especially if her bottom is blocking the shot.

Take a good glance at the NFL Experience building and imagine what all is going on inside. You have absolutely no intentions of entering the site because it cost $25/person and you are way too cheap. This is also where the zip line is happening. Be sure and see this in action. Some people will be screaming and others will be stuck.

Just before you leave, take a few more pictures to keep your fingers from getting frostbite. If your face is too cold and not able to form a smile, I wouldn't worry about it. You'll be heading to your car soon. There are warming stations available, but they will be occupied by all of the other 100,000 cold people.

Return home. You can officially say you went to the Super Bowl hoopla and that's a pretty cool thing.

friday cliffhanger

2012-01-27T09:15:00.000-05:00

Did the basket make it in the hoop? By the looks of Ben’s buckled knees, it’s almost there.

**Spoiler alert** I don’t even remember if the basket went in. I’ve had food poisoning since then. Have I mentioned that 15 times yet?

I’ve never been real good with cliffhangers. When you have a memory like mine (or lack thereof), by the time a new season or episode rolls around I’m on to the next shiny object of the moment. I still don’t know who shot JR, but Ben knows Dallas so I could just ask him. Or I could just Google it. That episode did air during the 1979-1980 season and the interwebs probably published the information when Al Gore invented the darn thing.

I leave you with this.

I will be doing something this weekend and you might just need to check back later to find out.

Now that is a cliffhanger.

i'd rather state the obvious

2012-01-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

Whoa, that is a green shirt. I say stuff like that all the time. Stuff that meets the eye and doesn’t need to be said.

I remember driving to our apartment in Indianapolis for the very first time. We drove down 86th street and all I could do was state the obvious by reading every single store front sign as if I’d lived in a cave my entire life. Panera Bread! Trader Joes! Hardees! Pier One!

I’m guilty of doing that exact same thing when we’re on vacation. I’ll just read signs for no apparent reason.

I stopped by Marsh for the 2nd time in one day because I was reprimanded by the first Marsh. Only one coupon per transaction. Blah, blah, blah. I should’ve said just give me my $.88 cent eggs and no one gets hurt; however, that sounds dangerously close to breaking the law. I didn’t have the energy to run a second transaction nor debate the cashier, thus the second trip to Marsh. None of this really has anything to do with my obvious statements, but I’m kind of braggy and $.88 cent eggs are a pretty good deal. Nevermind the full price items that I picked up with the $.88 cent eggs that completely negated the savings. Dang you Marsh. You win. The “sale” worked.

Is it too much of a stretch to blame the food poisoning for my ramblings?

So I walked into Marsh and big heavy flakes of snow were falling from the sky. I’d already seen the snow for a good 5-6 minutes on my drive to the grocery store, so really it was no surprise. Just before I entered the double doors I verbally say, “it’s snowing outside.” There was no audience. I was completely by myself. I have no idea who I was talking to. I was just stating the obvious.

Is it obvious that I’m going crazy? Maybe I had mad cow disease. Although, I did just finish reading Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and I could be channeling Camille.

This picture is black and white. The End.

the stance

2012-01-25T09:43:00.000-05:00

After 5 seasons of Upward Basketball coaching, Ben has come into his own. He started off a little out of his element while coaching 2nd and 3rd grade girls, but really embraced his inner coach once he started with the 4th and 5th grade boys. They run plays, and picks, and lay-ups, talk about Jesus, and scrimmage. It’s basically testosterone run amuck.

Once upon a time, Ben wanted to be a coach. The word sports fanatic does him no justice because he’s something above and beyond even the most loyal fans. It’s a talent all in itself and like I’ve said before, “never find yourself alone with Ben and bring up anything sports related.” You will be completely submerged in a world unlike no other.

Ben’s sports talk is eerily close to speaking a foreign language.

This photo will go down in the Knowles book of history. In this picture not only stands a man on a basketball court on a random day in January, but also a legend that Ben has somewhat mastered.

It’s sacred and revered. It’s unique and powerful. It’s thought provoking and mysterious. It’s full of knowledge and experience. It’s bold, it’s distinguished, it’s envied…

It is – the Tom Landry Stance.

If Ben could have a past, present, and future man-crush, hands down it would be Tom Landry – the football legend. Known for his flex defense and system approach to football, he will forever go down in history and I will forever have to watch his documentaries with Ben. Time and time again. Tom Landry also wore a signature fedora hat of which Ben will also pick up in the future when he hits a certain age. That age has yet to be determined especially since fedoras are trendy right now. Ben doesn’t do trendy. He does classic.

As a seasoned coach, Ben feels confident in his channeling of Tom Landry. The Stance is not to be taken lightly. It is to be done with honor and respect. Only the most distinguished gentleman can do the Stance and truly appreciate all it encompasses.

Welcome to the club Ben. You might be the only member besides Tom Landry himself.

food poisoning is definitely for real

2012-01-24T08:59:00.000-05:00

The afternoon started off swell. We settled by the fire watching the Patriots and Giants take their places in the Super Bowl. During that time, we also indulged ourselves with several big bowls of chili which only made things a little better. Life was good for Ben and me as we closed out the weekend and looked forward to a fresh new week. In just a few hours later things would take a turn for the worst.

The chili that I have grown to love, decided to make an early AM appearance. I thought for certain I had the stomach bug. As Ben was getting ready to leave for work, his chili was also rearing its ugly head. My suspicion of the stomach bug was definitely discarded. We had food poisoning.

Neither of us has experienced food poisoning and I must admit I thought it was somewhat fictional. Food poisoning is definitely real and my eyes have seriously been opened.

We basically slept all day. In and out of sleep, I started watching Downton Abbey. It’s rather charming; however, I will forever associate the show with the day I had food poisoning. I even tried to check my emails and Facebook, but I felt an overwhelming sense of nausea at the first status update. Desperate for some electrolytes, I was forced to leave the house to purchase some Gatorade. Barely able to function combined with lethargy equals me at the gas station in my pajama pants. My pajama pants. The ones that are hot pink with snowflakes.

It’s fair to say that I hit an all time low.

After 20 some hours of sleep, 15 pounds lost (between the two of us), the Gatorade, and some saltine crackers, I think we’re on the up and up. Chili is currently banished from our vocabulary and most definitely eliminated from our diet. The leftovers are still in the refrigerator and both Ben and I agree that the entire pot along with the chili should just be thrown away.

my arms were full, Tanner's was broken

2012-01-22T13:54:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed a meal with some special friends and I spent some time with baby Aiden. He is such a good baby and sat in my lap just jumping and being content. There were a few minutes of sketchy looks but I think he was just processing "this crazy lady up in his face" a la me.

In other news, my youngest nephew Tanner broke his arm at the tender age of 4. Bless his little heart. He fell off the bleachers at Carter's basketball game and really did a number on his arm. The part between the shoulder and the elbow was broken and the fine folks at Texas Childrens hospital performed surgery, put in a few pins, and molded him with a cute little cast.

photo via facebook

He is doing well and according to his parents, the cast will be off just in time for t-ball. All things revolve around baseball, so the timing is none other than divine.

photo via facebook

The Crochet boys have officially all broken their arm. Tyler broke his while falling off the monkey bars, Carter broke his arm while playing in a big field, and now Tanner broke his arm while falling off the bleachers. I suspect this is not the end of broken limbs.

hello snow

2012-01-20T09:49:00.000-05:00

When the snow and bitter temperatures make an appearance, so does my Louisiana Tech beanie. I bought this thing years ago to attend one of the football games. This particular game was being played in the elements and the elements were cold. Looking back, the temperature was probably 40 degrees or something but nonetheless still cold to this southern blood. Little did I know that future Amanda, the Amanda living in Indianapolis, would justifiably need the beanie to keep the heat from escaping her head.

Ben came home and said, “Nice hat. You know it’s on inside out, right?!”

Whatever Ben. Just mind your own business and dinner will be on the table soon. For the record, I purposely wore that beanie inside out. Duh.

The beanie stayed on my head all night long. It was warm and cozy and I didn’t want to take it off. Ben continued to make a few sly remarks, but in the words of Puff Daddy “Can’t nobody hold me down.” He offered me one last piece of advice – “Maybe you should get a hat that forms to your head better and doesn’t have the pointy thing on the end. That’s what makes the hat look funny.” I proceeded to argue with him, “the beanie does form to my head.” I even gave a demonstration by pulling the beanie down and rolling up the ends. After several maneuvers I stood in defeat. Alas, the beanie wasn’t truly form-fitting.

I might take his advice into consideration. I think I like this one.

i don’t wear lipstick.

2012-01-19T10:37:00.000-05:00

There are two defining moments in which I wore color on my lips. (1) The day I got married and (2) The day I played a China Doll in the Sigma Kappa recruitment skit. Both instances were obviously important enough to require a little extra flare. The rest of my days I let these poor lips of mine go completely bare. Bare is probably an overstatement because I do apply lip balm on an as needed basis and once every Y2K I’ll use a sheer coat of lip gloss.

Alysen came over to show me some of her favorite Mary Kay products, so I invited Kelly & Mrs. Ann. Ben made a fire and was absolutely hospitality. He even obliged my request to snap a photo.

When you live above the Mason Dixon Line, winter is brutal on your skin. Every square inch of your body is dry or cracked. Alysen gave us the spa treatment and we exfoliated both our lips and hands. It almost felt like the summer months. The lip stuff had an aroma that reminded me of the beach. I quickly snapped back to reality when I heard the log crackle in the fireplace.

We moved on to the make-up and were able to play with some fun colors and other frills. Kelly went with a bold color palette that looked beautiful. Mrs. Ann and I stayed with some more neutral things but still a little different than our normal routine. The time had come to finish off the look with the lipstick of our choice. Of course the color I chose was called “Tanned” because I’m a neutral Nancy.

Kelly & Mrs. Ann had a reaction to my lipstick that made me feel like a celebrity. I think it was something like “oooh” and “ahhh.” When my head returned to its normal size, I began to think “if I can get that kind of reaction in my dimly lit dining room, imagine the reaction on the streets of Carmel.”

I’m seriously debating the purchase of my very own lipstick. This would be a first for me, so I’m slightly nervous. When I buy anything over $5, my buyer’s remorse scale is typically off the charts. I should probably make a pros and cons list.

Pro
I would own a tube of lipstick

Con
I would have to actually apply the lipstick

When there’s make-up and Starbucks involved, a good time is had by all!

Bella Pizzeria

2012-01-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

We ate lunch at Bella Pizzeria, which is a little taste of New York right here in Indianapolis. I met Bella Pizzeria sometime last year when they sent me a birthday coupon for a free pizza. I thought the gesture was genius because it was the perfect hook to get me in the door.

Notice my use of fork and knife. The table manners are progressing...

Great food. Good service. Easy on the wallet.

They even have chalkboard walls to write little notes. All the chalk was used up, so I had to muster together some shavings. By the time I finished my big slice of pizza and one cheezy weezy breadstick, my mind was lethargic. I only had enough functioning brain cells to write “Ben + Amanda” which is terribly disappointing and very unoriginal. I mean, I didn’t even draw a heart or write “wuz here.” Just plain ‘ole Ben + Amanda.

Elbow Patches For Me Sweater

2012-01-17T08:19:00.000-05:00

When I saw Anna’s cardigan at IHOD, I knew I had a DIY project to fulfill! It’s probably no coincidence that she was having a Katniss Everdeen moment which is all the rave in my mind because I just finished the Hunger Games. I took to the $.99 clothing sale at Goodwill to find the perfect sweater. One that would not be missed should I completely botch the poor threads. I think my attempt was promising. I like this sweater well enough, but I definitely have a few cardigans that need a little flare. I picked up the elbow pattern from Martha Stewart, but next time I’ll make the patches a little smaller.

Now I’m going to take my new sweater to the streets and see how it fares. I haven't seen any elbow patches roaming the streets of Carmel, so we shall see.

Super Swanky Downtown Dinner

2012-01-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

It's fair to say that Ben and I have some pretty great friends. Adam & Susan sent us a giftcard to McCormick & Schmick's so we spent the evening downtown. In the 5 years of living in Indy, we have dined downtown only a handful of times and never just the two of us.

We parked in the garage where Ben works and cut thru the building to try and prolong the inevitable walk outside in the elements. Upon reaching the first floor of the building, I opened the door and was immediately face to face with a camera crew shooting a commercial. The actor motioned us to continue passage and we awkwardly walked thru lights, cameras, and cords of all kinds. I thought about asking the set manager if they needed an extra but my stomach was about to eat itself, so we trekked on to our destination.

McCormick & Schmick’s is fancy. Way fancier than the #1 China Buffet. The ambiance was romantic and the aroma was tantalizing. The menu had a wonderful selection and for Ben it was a no brainer. Steak. He now gets to add yet another hunk of cow to his Book of Meat. I decided to go with the cashew crusted tilapia with sweet potato couscous and Jamaican rub. In typical Amanda fashion, I made a meal off the sourdough bread and Cesar salad which left little to no room for the actual meal. I would’ve had more room if my belt was a little looser, but again this place was fancy - the kind of place where unbuttoned jeans for extra room is definitely frowned upon.

Amen for to-go boxes.

We shared a lot of laughs and even more pictures. The evening was basically perfect because of the company and the butter. The butter was oh so good. At one point I was eating the butter straight up by itself. McCormick & Schmick's butter is the non artery clogging kind. It's fancy butter, what can I say.

Thank you Adam & Susan for a night on the town!

Upward, Upward!

2012-01-14T22:14:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year for frigid temperatures and Upward Basketball/Cheerleading. I decided to coach a team this year and these little girls couldn't be anymore precious. {Except that one time at practice.} We cheered our hearts out until half-time when the girls got tired and wanted to sit down.

Now I have a raspy voice.

The last time I coached was in 2010 and I kind of forgot how much energy you need. No one likes a coach that sits on her rump and eats Bon Bons the whole time. That was impossible for me because I had zero cash to my name and was sadly unable to visit the concession stand. I thought about bumming a dollar from one of the kids, but it's probably inappropriate to breach that topic. I'm also not above an IOU to the White Star Cafe, but it's too soon for that as well.

Ben is in his 5th year of coaching and this year his team "is stacked." Those were his words, not mine. They had a phenomenal game and one of the boys scored 28 points all by himself. I snagged a front row seat and one of the grandma's sitting behind me kept saying, "My butt hurts."

This photo of Ben is very telling. Apparently Ben was speaking to his assistant coach and using his hand as a decoy so the other team couldn't tell what he was saying. All the professionals use this technique so it only makes sense that Upward basketball coaches mirror that same method.

And there it is, the start to another extraordinary season.

READ BETWEEN THE LINES

2012-01-13T08:39:00.000-05:00

I jumped on the Hunger Games bandwagon as recommended by Lindsey. I didn’t realize how popular this trilogy was until I did a little research on the web. Now I’m in the know and all caught up in Katniss Everdeen’s story.

Tyler is also reading the Hunger Games trilogy. He’s on the last book and I may or may not be jealous; however, I probably have even bigger issues than that. {I think that goes without saying}. If my 12 year old nephew and I are reading the same series, what does that say about me? Cool Aunt? Or Middle School level reader?

Use it or lose it sister

2012-01-12T11:49:00.000-05:00

I’m trying to make a conscious effort to wear the things that fill my closet. What’s the point of keeping something if it’s not going to be used? I typically do a Goodwill drop once a year, but still a lot of items in my closet aren’t getting any use. I like having them around as an option, but as a creature of habit I fall prey to wearing the same thing over and over and over again. For those things that haven’t seen the light of day in years, it’s decision time.

Hello red, skinny belt. It’s been a good year since we’ve last seen each other. I think you're a keeper.

Apples, Bananas, Tab

2012-01-11T12:20:00.000-05:00

Life isn’t all steak and fried catfish. Contrary to popular belief, we’re pretty conscious about our eating habits. I’ve eaten an apple a day for nearly 10 years and Ben jumped on that bandwagon back in 2011. He also incorporated one banana a day for the potassium and other nutritional value.

Tab potentially has no nutritional value. I’m merely speculating because I have neither tasted Tab nor purchased Tab. Ben just decided to be a little photogenic and thought Tab had a certain nostalgic vibe. I love grocery store photo shoots!

During our grocery adventure we came across a vehicle with a faculty/staff sticker from Louisiana Tech University (our alma mater). They must’ve been lost. Hah. Actually the plates were Indiana so it seems as if they moved just like we did. I left a friendly note on their windshield and we went on our way. I suppose we’ll never know who drove that car, but the Disney song is true “It’s a small world after all…”

Schwinny, Schwinn, Schwinn

2012-01-09T20:16:00.000-05:00

My dad sent an email titled “My first bike.”

This is just like the 1st and only bike I ever had as a kid. My Mom bought it for me at Western Auto in Many, La. in 1962 for $48.00. That was a lot of money in 1962 especially for a family of 9. I found this one on Craigslist in Pacific, Mo. I paid $60 for it which is a great deal. It is all original and ride-able but I've just got it hanging from the garage ceiling for ole times sake. Just a little history of my childhood days.

When I shared that email with Ben he said, “$42 sounds like a lot of money today!”

Once upon a time I had a bike. I practically lived on that thing. The pink and purple huffy was the best thing since sliced bread. It actually had handle brakes and gears. I rode that bike up and down Saddlebrook Drive with the wind in my hair and absolutely no worries. I have very fond memories of pedaling downhill as fast as I could and coasting at a certain point to see how far I would make it. My friends and I did that over and over and over again. Those were the days. I felt fearless on that bike.

When the wheels weren’t on the pavement, I had the bike turned upside down. I would spin the pedals with my hand and pretend that I worked at an ice cream shop. I suppose I didn’t really understand what happened at a for-real ice cream shop. I’ve never seen anyone churning ice cream via a bicycle pedal. Oh well. It was fun and accurate in my eyes and no one ever said anything different.

Another bike dear to my heart was the BMX I received as a Christmas present. My dad hid it in the basement and left clues around the house. I loved that bike because it had pegs. Those pegs were awesome. I felt ultra cool when I had a friend riding on the pegs of my bike. The world was my oyster.

I’ve been without a bike for more than 15 years, but I still know how to ride one. I don’t know if it’s the bike that I miss or the memories associated with the bike. Perhaps one day I will own another bike. Who knows, I might even inherit a 1962 Schwinn.

Bean Dip Can Change a Life

2012-01-08T21:30:00.000-05:00

Here we go with food again. I’m not apologetic for being obsessed with food because it tastes good and its fun to talk about. I also have a “foodogenic” memory and thus tend to remember stories of the past when they are related to food. Some of our best memories are directly correlated with the exchange of food. Our first date is a prime example. It involved one steak, one salad, and lots of bread to calm the nerves.

Ben doesn’t care for beans. I love them. Say what you will about beans, but I just read in Health magazine that they are one of the most healthy/preventative foods (eaten in moderation of course). Beans got a bad rap back in the day from that silly jingle “beans, beans, good for your heart, the more you eat the more you _____.” You fill in the blank. My fingers just can’t type that word.

Beans are so versatile. You can’t help but love them. Once upon a time someone married bean dip with a salty, crispy tortilla chip and changed palettes around the world. I used to eat Frito Lay bean dip like it was nobody’s business. Fritos are perfectly designed to scoop and that is exactly what I did. Years have passed since my last bean dip encounter. I haven’t even spoken its name in at least 10 years. Shame on me. Recently I was introduced to a new kind of bean dip. It was baked in the oven with some other sinful ingredients like sour cream and cream cheese and more cheese. I ate my fair share of that bean dip and I savored every single last bite. That bean dip changed my life. Never again will I eat canned bean dip. It also slightly changed my appearance because I am super swollen from the mass of quantity that I consumed.

The company wasn’t too bad itself. These friends of mine, I will cherish for a lifetime. We talked, we ate, we shared stories, shed a few tears, and praised Jesus because He is worthy. It is because of Jesus that I am saved by the grace of God. It is because of Jesus that I have these special friends. It is because of Jesus that I live to tell another day of how he can change your life. A change that pales in comparison to that of the bean dip. Real change. Eternal change. A matter of heaven or hell.

Today my step mom Sheryl will have surgery. Breast cancer is her reality today. The prognosis is good and for that we are thankful. I called Sheryl to ask if she was scared or nervous and as our conversation transpired I reflected on a sermon that my pastor preached yesterday.

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” Philippians 2:12

It is in the times of “fear & trembling” that I seriously give my petitions to the Lord. When health isn’t an issue, when divorce isn’t fathomable, when jobs are abundant, when stomachs are well fed, when life seems ok…I’m halfheartedly thankful. The writing of Paul in Philippians is painfully convicting. There is work to be done with “fear & trembling.” Some of those nearest and dearest to me do not even know Jesus.

Knowing about Him, is completely different than actually knowing Him. If something like bean dip can change a life, think about what Jesus can do.

Ben’s Book of Meat

2012-01-07T18:03:00.000-05:00

Parks and Recreation had an episode aptly named Indianapolis. The introduction included one Ron Swanson talking about “the best d@$% steakhouse in the d@&% state.” Ron flips thru a photo album of his experiences at Charles Mulligans. Each page is decorated with a big, juicy steak and a giddy Ron Swanson waiting to devour the thing.

Motivated by his fictional mentor, Ron Swanson, Ben decided to start his very own project. It’s called “The Book of Meat.” It’s a memoir, if you will, of the two food groups that Ben considers essential – steak and fried catfish. Ben was born to eat steak and fried catfish. He has countless memories ranging from young Ben to present Ben all centered on steak and/or fried catfish. We had fried catfish at our wedding. Enough said.

From here on out, we shall document Ben’s steak and fried catfish adventures. I’ll print the photos and put them in his Book of Meat. Our grandchildren will be so proud. Now I’m in search for the perfect album. Check out the Ron Swanson clip from Parks and Recreation. Just watch the intro, it’ll just take 1 minute.

Elbows off the table

2012-01-06T12:04:00.000-05:00

Eating dinner at the table is one of our New Year goals. Ben absolutely loves eating dinner and watching tv so I compromised “everyday” with “most days.” Ben made a strong argument that certain foods are just better when eaten in front of the tv. Pizza is a strong contender for that category. He rattled off a few more entrees until we were practically back in the living room for every single meal.

Eating at the table brings out the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Bad
I think one thing is very clear…I do not have good table manners. By the end of the meal I’m slouched way down in my chair because my rump is hurting. Forget about the elbow issue. My elbows are closer to the floor than the table. That’s how low my slump can go. I definitely talk with my mouth full and take bites that are way too big to chew. “The more the merrier” does not apply when stuffing food in your pie hole. I’m like a Neanderthal living in the local cave. Thankfully the fork and knife have been discovered, but I’m not quite sure how to hold or use them.

The Ugly
I started watching Mad Men on Netflix and I’m definitely captivated by the style of living that happened in the 50s. Not all the cigarette smoking, drinking, and affairs, but do people really eat dinner in their work clothes? The first thing I do when I get home is put on a pair of sweatpants or my pajamas. Combine that attire with our table manners and you’ve got one romantic evening. I like the idea of being nicely dressed for dinner and I would never wear pajamas while entertaining a guest; however, I love being comfy when lounging around the house. Can I have the best of both worlds?

The Good
All Neanderthal/redneck manners aside, I actually think we’re both enjoying our time at the table. I haven’t really asked Ben his opinion, but I’ll speak for him anyways. It’s very nice to have uninterrupted time to talk, and laugh, and just be husband and wife. I’ll work on those other things later like using a napkin or heaven forbid passing the salt and pepper in a proper fashion.

What’s hair got to do with it

2012-01-04T21:01:00.001-05:00

Five years ago when I moved to the Hoosier state I was in need of a hair stylist. I had a wonderful stylist in Louisiana and parting ways was just plain sorrow. For the better part of 2 years, I searched for the one who would one day cut these black locks of mine. During the time of searching I had some pretty bang-up haircuts. The slogan “You get what you pay for” resonated time and time again.

Ben had his own hair issues around the same time, but those tales can be saved for another day.

One day I received a local circular and within the pages was a new salon opening near my house. There are plenty of salons around my house, but at that given time I was not willing to pay more than $50 bucks for a haircut. I even remember a specific moment when I declared “I will never pay $50 bucks for a haircut.” If you’ve been around this blog long enough, you know two things (1) I should never say never and (2) I eat my words on a regular basis. This particular salon was offering a discount for new clients, so naturally I was intrigued. I made my appointment with Helene, with my coupon, and my haircut was going to be less than $50 bucks! Upon arrival, I was introduced to the salon, their products, and their mantra of doing business. An added perk was the fact that tips were not accepted. The prices were final and gratuity and what have you had already been built into the price. The salon was already a winner in my mind because I used to have gratuity anxiety when tipping hair stylists.

The first shampoo had me sold. The European products are like no other and their “shampoo bar” is just like a 10 minute trip to the spa. Helene knows her way around a pair of scissors. The rest is history and I will be forever loyal to Helene. She even had the flu one time and I think that day was one of my best haircuts. There’s no telling how much I would be willing to pay for Helene. The prices are already enough to feed a small village, but even Ben will agree that a good haircut is money well spent.

My new do is all about different parts and accenting the red/brown streaks that magically appeared. Seriously, my hair is starting to turn reddish brown without the help of chemical enhancements unless Flintstones vitamins fall into that category. My mom has red hair so it makes sense, right? (wink) Actually that would admit having a genetic relation to the Lovells and I’m not ready to go there just yet:).

So I just did a post completely on my hair. Back to the real world where Ben is singing “You’re so vain” by Carly Simon and looking straight at me.

I’ll take books for 3,000.

2012-01-03T21:23:00.000-05:00

There’s no denying Ben’s love for books. I wish I shared his enthusiasm, but alas I have my own hobbies. I do enjoy our local library and we frequent that place regularly. It’s beautiful, clean, bright, smells like an indoor pool, and it makes me feel a little smarter when I check out a book.

We have somewhat of a patterned ritual when we visit the library. A visit to the adult non-fiction/fiction section located on the 2nd floor is followed up with a trip thru the DVD section. One time I deviated from our normal pattern to the periodical section and Ben thought I was lost. He didn’t come looking for me. He wasn’t that concerned, but he said the thought crossed his mind of where I might be. I guess on that particular day, I needed pictures and not words.

Ben had a conversation with another book lover about…books. They shared visions of having their own libraries with floor to ceiling bookcases completely full of…books. Ben’s friend said “I think I have over 3,000 books at my house.” As Ben retold this story, I nearly spit out my gum thinking about all those books. Ben simply replied, “At least I don’t have that many…”

True, true.

Perhaps one day Ben will get his wall to wall personal library. Maybe his library will even constitute one of those rolling ladders. As for now we’ll stick to checking out and returning books per the library’s policy.

I even made a list of books to read myself. We’ll see how far I get on the list. Often times when the opportunity to read presents itself, I just want to sleep.

One Thousand Gifts (currently reading)
Start Something That Matters
Water for Elephants
Hunger Games Trilogy
Heaven is for Real
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Bacon a la Ben

2012-01-02T16:12:00.000-05:00

The Dallas Cowboys played their last game of the season. With their defeat, so went a little bit of Ben. Disappointment. Frustration. Hope for the 2012 draft. Emotions run amuck.

They say the stomach is the way to a man’s heart, but I couldn’t disagree more. The way to a man’s heart is a Super Bowl title from his chosen team.

The next best thing to settle a man’s heart is food. More specifically bacon. It soothes Ron Swanson and so it soothes Ben Knowles. As soon as the aroma filled the air, I could see Ben’s spirits begin to lift. Slowly but surely, he came out of the fog that is so familiar to sports fanatics.

And so we ate bacon. We ate bacon and talked about things other than the Cowboys. Things like the weather, and house shoes, and Ron Swanson, and having to return back to work. All worthy topics in the name of bacon.

The house still had a lingering layer of Cowboy residue. It was primarily because Ben was listening to some Dallas Sports Talk Radio and other loyal Cowboy fans were texting Ben about their similar pain. I admit that I was kind of into the commentary. The commentary was from the original 88 Drew Pearson. His words were wise. I enjoy a good commentary from time to time, but we needed to get out of the house even if it was to do a little shopping.

The snow didn’t accumulate, but the ferocious wind brought the 20 degree weather. We stayed out long enough to feel the winter chill and to pick up a few essential items. Retail therapy works wonders, but I forbid Ben from buying anything because he wanted to purchase Goodfellas. The last time I watched that movie, I had Joe Pesci nightmares. Fuh-get about it.

I’m settling into the chilly New Year with my 2012 book list, a cup of hot tea (thanks Leslie), and the smell of bacon leftover from this morning. Tomorrow I’ll be back to the grind and dreaming of the spring.

“Oh gah. Weird. How did that? Um. That’s a personal photo. That shouldn’t be…if you want that as the cover photo then I’m cool with that.” –Tom Haverford, Parks and Recreation

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T13:31:00.000-05:00

Hello 2012.

We officially celebrated at 12 noon rather than 12 midnight. There’s no possible way that we’re staying up to see midnight. Plus, nothing good happens after 9pm. Plus, Ben’s under the weather and dedicated to his pajamas all day long.

This new year's eve is a stark contrast from the swanky night in we had last year, but I love them both just the same. May this year bring all of you joy and happiness. Thanks for keeping up with The Daily Sweatpants.

Cheers!

Visions from the closet

2011-12-30T09:19:00.000-05:00

That title sort of reminds me of a scary movie, but really it just describes me sitting on my closet floor thinking about the past, present, and future. There’s nothing fancy about my closet but it’s cozy and secluded. It’s a place where I can set up my space heater and trap in all the heat when the rest of my house is set on 59 degrees. I came home a little early and the thermostat isn’t set to reach a normal temperature until 5:15pm. Instead of adjusting the heat, I just hung out in the closet with the space heater.

My mom probably just croaked after reading that last sentence. I can hear her now, “Amanda – just turn up the dang heat!” The word dang could easily be substituted with another four letter adjective.

I wasn’t in the closet for the sole purpose of staying warm. One of my other projects this week was getting rid of stuff. Sometimes I just feel like the walls are closing in on me so I have to purge items on a regular basis. Sanity supersedes the pair of shoes from 1999 that I haven’t worn since 1999. You get the idea. Project closet was in full force. With every clothing item tossed, my mind was being renewed.

2011 was very good to us. By the grace of God, we live to tell another day. Our adoption paperwork was finalized. We visited friends and family. Our church welcomed a new pastor. The cable was even ditched and we spent some time in Nashville. It was a great year of memories.

2011 also brought a little pain, but we laughed it off because that’s how we deal with emotion. After all, “the show must go wrong.” –Andy Dwyer, Parks and Recreation.

We’ve got high hopes for 2012 and I’m eager for a new, fresh start. Overall we’re focusing on health: spiritual, marital, physical, and financial.

Here’s to you 2012. My closet is all cleaned out.

Downtown, things'll be great when you're

2011-12-28T16:18:00.001-05:00

Downtown…

That’s where I was today - Downtown Indianapolis. I had a lunch date with this handsome banker. He showed me around his fancy schmancy office and even validated my parking.

We strolled down the streets of downtown to a quaint little place where the smell of baked breads filled the air. The choices were endless and everything seemed so fresh. The chips were to die for...crispy...spicy...delish.

This place was called Subway - Home of the $5 dollar footlongs. Have you heard about it? We had a buy one get one free coupon so really the choice was a no brainer.

After lunch, my gentleman date even walked me to my car; right after he ran away from this picture because I was being embarrassing.

I think there is a strong to really strong chance we might have another date in the near future. Probably tonight at dinner where the entree of choice is leftovers.

Fabric Headboard Project!

2011-12-27T08:04:00.000-05:00

Once all the parties started to wane, I needed something to occupy my time. I have several projects on tap over the next week and I think I started out with a bang.

Our full size (yes, full size) bed has never had a headboard. For some reason I just never felt the need to get one. I reckon the price had something to do with it, but I can’t say for sure. For the past 5 years, I had two round decorative art pieces hanging above our bed. They are large and in charge and Ben feared for his life because those pieces were skull crackers – for sure.

I finally made his dreams come true and I took down the big, round circles and placed them elsewhere (somewhere where skulls could not be cracked). In their place came a fabric headboard that I’ve wanted to make for quite some time! I’ve seen beautiful ideas on Pinterest and finally decided to give it a whirl. To make this project even more inexpensive, I used foam board instead of wood. It was cheaper, easier to hang, and I didn’t get any splinters.

My original intention was to make the headboard one full piece; however, I found pieces of fabric in the remnant section (super clearance) and needed to make three separate panels. For just a few hours of my time and around $40 bucks, I think the project turned out just fine.

The foam padding was the most expensive part of this project. I almost "cheaped" out and purchased 1 inch foam versus the 2 inch. Boy am I glad that I decided to splurge. See the thickness. Oooh...Ahhhh

Voila! My very own headboard. The best part about this project is the versatility. When I'm finished looking at the brown tweed fabric, changing to a different fabric will be no problem at all. Remove a few staples and it will be like new!

I LOVE PROJECTS!

Today Hope was Born

2011-12-25T08:46:00.000-05:00

The words “This, this is Christ the King. Whom shepherds guard and angels sing” are ringing in my head. I love this Christmas song and it nearly brings tears to my eyes as I think about today.

Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He was born for you and me.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.” John 3:16

Sure, the gifts were good. At 2:30am, 5:30am, and 6:30am, I asked Ben to open presents. We eventually got there around 7ish. I got a new study Bible and Ben got a Dallas Cowboy jersey.

But, nothing compares to the ultimate gift.

“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Ben and I enjoyed Christmas with our family – our church family. Scott & Chris invited us over for a lovely meal and time of fellowship. Our conversations were full of laughter and joy because they were centered on Jesus and the hope and peace that only He can bring.

Above all else, I pray for our family, friends, and those around the world who have not made the commitment to be followers of the One whose birthday we celebrate today.

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-24T08:46:00.000-05:00

Today’s gift was a gamble and I lost. I predicted a Dallas Cowboy victory over the Eagles. As soon as Ben opened the gift, he knew they were jinxed. So sorry Ben.

The church was a packed house for the Christmas Eve service. All that singing made us hungry, so we stopped by the House of Cheung to stimulate the economy. They probably didn't make a penny on our order because I had to send back the sweet and sour chicken to be made again. I asked for the sweet & sour sauce to be put on the side and the poor waitress forgot to tell the kitchen. She asked us if it was ok for the sauce to be on the chicken and with my sweetest, most southern voice I said "no." I felt bad.

Ben has been planning our Christmas Eve for quite some time. A nice warm fire coupled with the Christmas story from Luke 2 in the Bible was a perfect way to celebrate the Eve of Christmas.

I tried to stay up as late as possible to get a glimpse of Santa but I was unsuccessful in both staying up and seeing Santa. Oh well, tomorrow is a big, big day for celebration! I need all the beauty rest that I can get.

The Eve of Christmas Eve

2011-12-23T08:45:00.000-05:00

We don’t have any traditions for the Eve of Christmas Eve, so we’re going to ad lib some things on this 23rd day of December. YouTube is a magnificent invention for showcasing old school music videos at the click of your mouse.

We may sing a little. We may sing a lot. We may get all jacked up on mountain dew. I don’t know if there will be enough time.

Two people are for sure to make an appearance:

1. Hank Williams, Jr. &
2. John Anderson

Cheers!

What happens at Forum, stays at Forum

2011-12-22T08:45:00.000-05:00

Forum is a local nursing home where we went Christmas caroling. The residents were eating dinner and we filed into several of the dining halls where I sang my little heart out.

After we sang a few songs, the group took requests. One of the residents requested Santa Baby. Unfortunately that song wasn’t in the Baptist Hymnal, so we had to pass. The other dining hall requested “We Three Kings” of which we were able to oblige. Somewhere between Silent Night and Joy to the world, I nearly lost my composure. Seeing elderly people in severe health conditions is almost too hard to bear. I witnessed an elderly couple, at least 80 plus years old, having dinner together. The wife was basically a blank face while her husband attended to her needs and fed her dinner. Talk about tears…

Many of the residents were of good mind and sound and looked to be having a great time. There was one gentleman who was conducting our group by his gentle wave of hand. There were several ladies singing along and nodding in acceptance. I would also like to think the workers even enjoyed our little show.

The Forum isn’t just about wheelchairs and walkers, these people like to have fun. We only stayed for a short amount of time, but I can just tell that Forum likes to party. When I walked into the entryway, the first thing I saw were two cardboard cutouts. One was Santa & Mrs. Claus and the other was two elves. I think this picture speaks for itself.

Mrs. Claus was also well endowed. My pastor said, “hashtag inappropriate.”

When I got home and showed Ben the picture he said, “Your skin color doesn’t match.” Seriously dude?! The Forum nursing home has a cardboard cut-out of sexy elves and you're concerned about the skin tone. Oy Vey.

What happens at Forum, stays at Forum!

***

I exhausted all of my domestic cooking with the Thanksgiving meal because December has been a complete bust in the kitchen. We’ve eaten out more than normal, which is kinda fine by me because I don’t have to wash the dishes. Tonight, I’ll let Ben decide what he wants for dinner. He had a long night after watching the LA Tech bulldogs lose to TCU, so he deserves one good meal.

You Forgot to Stuff My Stocking

2011-12-21T08:44:00.000-05:00

B: “Do I have something in my stocking?!”

A: “No, why?”

B: “There’s something in one of the stockings.”

A: “Oh – that’s for me.”

B: “Have you gotten anything for my stocking?”

A: “No. I guess I need to.”

B: “Yes you do because last year you didn’t put anything in my stocking!”

Oops. I didn’t have any excuses at the time, but now I remember…

I thought Santa was supposed to come. You must’ve been bad.
Was “stuffing your stocking” part of our marriage vows?
Didn’t you tell me to not spend any more money?
My dog ate it.

Don’t worry Ben; I’ll put in a good word with Santa because you’ve been pretty good this year. Also, you might consider putting out a smoke.

***

Tonight Ben and I are going to count our blessings. The Lord has given us much and to Him we owe all the praise!

Also wish me luck because I am going caroling for the first time! This might be my first and last:).

Showdown at the Christmas Program

2011-12-20T08:44:00.000-05:00

Ben and I went to Sam & Andrew’s Christmas program and were thoroughly entertained. There were singers of all ages, show moms of all kinds, cameras, video recorders, kids rolling on the floor, baby Jesus, and Santa all packed into one large venue.

The unscripted main event of the evening was a pushing fight between one little girl and one little boy. Both were dressed in their Christmas best, pushing and shoving one another when their class was supposed to be singing. The crowd thought it was funny, but I’m sure their parents were mortified (or proud).

Elizabeth’s brother was in town without his better half. I was really looking forward to seeing Heather and meeting their new son Caleb. We’ve become bloggy friends over the past few months and who knows when I’ll get the opportunity to see them again. Oh well, apparently Heather had a mild case of the smokers cough so I appreciate her keeping those germs in Salem. The kid standing behind me at the program was very much in my personal space so I had my feel of germs for the evening.

We said our good-byes at the nearest Wendy’s where Ben ate his second dinner of the evening, Andrew fell asleep, and Sam (and his spikey hair) had the place all to himself .

Parting is such sweet sorrow and this is officially the last time we will see the Jolliff’s for quite some time. My very last memory of Sam will be his spikey hair and one black eye.

I’m gonna miss these people – a lot!

***

Ben and I talk about vacation a lot. There are a ton of places we want to go and I thought it would be fun to write them all down. Once the list is in writing, Ben is surely liable for taking me to all of the places, right?!

I think we’ll try and keep a running tally because I’m sure the list will continue to get longer and longer. We have a map in our kitchen with all the places we’ve been thus far and it would be kind of neat to visit all 50 states. I have no idea why I would ever need to go to Delaware, but I suppose it has its own tourist attractions.

We might even get fancy and list our states in chronological order.

What’s on your vacation list? I may want to go there too!

Benihana Christmas

2011-12-19T08:43:00.002-05:00

Our favorite Christmas episode from the Office is Benihana Christmas. We have watched this episode time after time and it never gets old. If there are any other office fans out there, you’ll appreciate the comedic genius behind Michael’s trip to “Asian Hooters.”

It’s been a while since we’ve frequented Benihana even though it’s one of our favorite places. As I type, I’m recalling the fried rice and I’m three seconds from changing this day’s gift to an actual visit to Benihana. I’ll have to check with the Mister because he wears the pants in this family {wink}.

Christmas is almost here and tonight we get to attend a Christmas program starring two special little boys!

Santa Takes a Smoke Break

2011-12-18T08:12:00.000-05:00

Alright parents, who's kid put a carton of cigarettes on their Christmas list? Times, they are a changin'. I suppose we can only take so much. If I had screaming kids sitting on my lap all day, I might need a smoke break too. I also realize the economy ain’t what it used to be, so it makes sense that Santa needed to cash in some gold in order to buy the kiddos their toys this year.

Ben came home and said “Now I’m in the Christmas spirit!” Three hours later and a trip to Costco, Ben hated his life and swore off Costco as long as we both shall live. I have the proof right here.

Ben's spirit is back to normal. All he needed was a chicken finger basket from Dairy Queen. We enjoyed our lunch with some sweet friends from church and now the Christmas countdown really begins!

Just in case you don't have time to make cookies on Christmas Eve, you can always lay out a smoke.

Ho, Ho {hack}, Ho!

cotton-headed ninnymoggins!

2011-12-17T08:12:00.000-05:00

Buddy: We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.

Tonight was going to be a preview of Elf - another favorite in the Knowles' house. What I failed to calculate when preparing this evening, was the Dallas Cowboy game that will air at 8:30pm. The Cowboy's trump everything in our house. EVERYTHING. No worries, we'll watch in the next few days.

Buddy: First, I went through the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest. Then, I went past the twirly, swirly gumdrops. And after that: I went through the Lincoln Tunnel

***

Office Christmas Party at Harry & Izzys

Merry Christmas Card

2011-12-16T08:11:00.000-05:00

I thoroughly enjoy receiving Christmas cards, but I've never been good about sending them. Thank goodness for the Internet. Ben and I will be staying home for Christmas and we want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I'm really not prepared for today's gift. My intention was to gather some of Ben's favorite Ron Swanson quotes and send them throughout the day. I'm going to do some things on the fly, but at the end of the day anything related to Ron Swanson is a pretty good day.

Happy Weekend!

I saw the light

2011-12-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

Tonight Ben and I will share a Christmas-y car ride around the neighborhood to look at lights. When Ben was a little boy, his grandparents took him to see the lights and all Ben wanted to do was return home and go to sleep. Because it gets dark at 5:30pm in Indiana, I think we’ll be able to go well before Ben’s bed time. Also, our neighborhood spans ½ a mile so it won’t be a very long drive.

In other news, I'm working on some authentic Christmas gifts for my family. A lucky kinfolk of mine will be the recipient of an original story written by yours truly. Here's a little teaser.

Ben looked at this next page and said "why are we black?" The boy cannot appreciate a good tan and all he needs to worry about is carrying my umbrella and other beach necessities.

Don't be jealous. Gifts like this only come once a year:).

Chips for me Lad

2011-12-14T08:45:00.000-05:00

Every single day, Ben takes a turkey sandwich for lunch. Once upon a time it was ham & cheese accompanied by Doritos, but Ben has resorted to a healthier lifestyle these days. Gone are the days of Doritos, but today I splurged for a special treat – Baked Doritos! We seldom purchase this rare delicacy because they are never on sale.

In the name of Christmas, may Ben enjoy this bag of baked Doritos and savor every single last crumb. Also, in the name of Christmas may he feel the giving spirit and share a few with his wife.

***

Last night was our first Upward Cheerleading practice. Things were informal and we were really just getting to know each other and trying on our uniforms. We had some extra time at the end of practice so the girls wanted to start fluffing their pompoms. I helped Violet, a teeny, tiny 5 year old that hasn’t even started Kindergarten. I thought her pompons were looking pretty good and I verbalized my satisfaction to the group. Sweet Hannah, politely said “You are bragging.”

And there it begins…I got checked by a 1st grader.

Blog Photo Veto

2011-12-13T08:45:00.000-05:00

Several Christmas’ ago, Ben gifted me the rights to post his face on this blog. Since that day, my readers have grown by leaps and bounds. The world wants to know about Ben. Ben said most of my posts are “at his expense” so he still has his doubts about this whole Daily Sweatpants thing. “It’s memories, Ben.” One day he’ll look back upon this collection of our life and be appreciative. You are going to appreciate this blog whether you like it or not.

I think my parenting skills are really starting to come together.

Today I gift to you, Ben, one blog photo veto to be redeemed at any time.

Skinny Mini

2011-12-12T08:44:00.002-05:00

Today Ben needs a real pick-me-up. I’m talking; Hank Williams, Jr. goes into the bank and serenades Ben with “All My Rowdy Friends.” Yesterday was emotionally draining. First the Jolliff good-bye, then the Cowboy game. He’s probably got a serious case of the Mondays. In fact, I wouldn’t put it past him to come straight home and go to bed.

I’m not exactly sure if today’s gift will suffice, but the poor boy has been asking for a new belt for quite some time. He’s dropped a few pounds over the past year and his current belt just ain’t doing the trick. Once upon a time, Ben said his weight gain was directly associated with being happy. I’m not sure what to think about his weight loss, so I’ll give credit to the Biggest Loser.

Does anyone know Emmitt Smith’s number? Perhaps I can get him to personally deliver a telegram to Ben that says “Just remember the good times.”

Special Church Service

2011-12-11T10:11:00.000-05:00

"Let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, The LORD reigns." 1 Chronicles 16:31

To say that the Jolliff’s touched lives would be a complete understatement. Today our church celebrated the commissioning of Hap & Elizabeth to become international missionaries in the name of Jesus Christ.

There were baptisms. There were songs of praise. There were tears of joy and sadness. There were laughs and memories shared. There was a promise and a hope that our journey with the Jolliff’s in not ending, but truly beginning half way across the world.

Oh, and there were 700 donut holes. Yesterday Ben and I prepared 700 donut holes to be consumed during a reception this morning. It’s a miracle that we are still speaking to one another. Without a doubt, Ben and I could not work together nor should we ever work in the donut packaging industry. I’m just glad we found this out now.

The Jablonski clan made the trip up from Seymour. Susan and I basically sobbed thru the whole service. I had one tissue to my name and it was so saturated that it basically disintegrated. I’m not sure what’s worse – tears streaming down ones face or flecks of tissue.

The pen behind the ear was a trademark of Hap. He always has a pen behind his ear and everyone in the service paid their respects with their very own pen behind the ear.

Dr. Skip closed the service with a few words that described Hap.

A man. Just a regular ‘ole dude that puts his tight wranglers on one leg at a time.

A Christian. Hap has definitely dedicated his life to the Lord. It just radiates from his core.

A friend. Gosh this dude has a lot of friends. Dr. Skip even referenced the infamous "Bromance" without revealing any names (i.e. Ben).

A missionary. Hap tells everyone about Jesus. Here, there, everywhere. He’s always been a missionary since surrendering his life to Christ.

BJ Higgins. A fund created after a young man, passionate for missions, who had a heart for the Lord. By giving to this fund, we will support Hap & Elizabeth and those who will travel on mission trips to their region of the world.

Follow Me. Hap & his family have obeyed the calling of God to follow Him to the ends of the earth. They will serve in a dangerous area where some people have never heard the Good News & peace of Jesus.

{insert more tears}

It's evident how blessed we are to have called the Jolliff's our friends. Ben and I are already saving our money to visit. Plane tickets to their new part of the world involve a comma. We love you Jolliff family.

***

Does Anyone Like to Hang Clothes?

*crickets*

Something about hanging up clothes really isn’t appealing. Is it the part where I have to get my lazy rump off the couch? Is it the part where I have to stretch my arm to reach for a hanger? Is it the part where I need to button up the cardigans so they keep a nice shape?

Ben is not particularly keen on hanging clothes either, so today I’ll let him keep his rump on the couch while I stretch my arms and reach for hangers. I’ll even button those dress shirts so they keep a nice & neat form.

Afterwards, I will try and erase this gift from my mind because the task is just that daunting.

Clothes hanging. The bane of household chores.

Our Day with the Jolliffs

2011-12-10T10:10:00.000-05:00

Today we spent the morning at Chick-fil-a. Ben wanted to read the paper, I needed some chicken minis, and the Jolliff's were available.

We're celebrating our last breakfast date. We exchanged gifts and embraced one another's company. Ben and I received a beautiful Christmas ornament decorated with the world. Every time we see this ornament we'll be reminded to pray for our sweet friends that will soon live half way around the world. I'm thinking about leaving it out all year long. We gave the Jolliff's a photo book of our lives together for the past 5 years.

The boys enjoyed some time in the playhouse. The max height is 54 inches which is very close to my current height. I should probably go in there one day and see if anyone says anything. The boys were hilarious and sweet as usual.

Andrew didn't want to share his ciniminis and took one of my hashbrowns. I guess he was getting us back for Ben eating his french fries last week.

Have you ever wondered what 700 donut holes look like? Let me help you with that.

I'll share more about the donut holes tomorrow.

The night ended with our Sunday School dinner for the Jolliff good-bye. We wanted a good 'ole Americana farewell, so we went to GT Souths (BBQ).

We ate and shared stories about Hap & Elizabeth. Ben allowed me to tell his "Bromance" story of which got a huge laugh. Mainly from me. Everyone had a special story or memories that involved Hap & Elizabeth and the room may or may not have shed a few tears. Ben said it very well, "We are all better people for knowing Hap & Elizabeth." They are someone we admire and consider our closest friends, but most importantly we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We part now to meet again later.

We ended the evening with a toast to the Jolliff's. For the record, this is not champagne. It's Georgia Peach sparkling fruit juice.

The night was perfect and I thank God for this wonderful life.

***

Ben must have some sort of ESP because he foretold his gift. Today we were supposed to take a trip to the library, but instead he wanted to go last night. I obliged his request and never even told him that his gift today was a trip to the library.

Now it's time for bed. We've got a big today tomorrow at church.

Todays Gift & Cookie Brownie Smoosh

2011-12-09T10:10:00.000-05:00

Again with the Parks & Recreation. I know, I know, that’s all I talk about. What can I say; Ben wants to be like Ron Swanson, I want style like Tom Haverford, and then we all live happily ever after. Is that too much to ask for?

The marathon may not happen tonight because we also have Crazy, Stupid, Love waiting to be watched; however, the marathon will happen eventually.

****

Messy Aprons is having a virtual cookie exchange today! I baked these very simple cookies for our church’s food pantry party. During the holiday season, many of us do not have time to use actual flour and sugar, so the package stuff must suffice. This is a “package stuff” recipe that only required a little bit of mixing and the end result was deliciousness.

Ingredients
Cookie Mix of your choice (I used chocolate chip)
Brownie Mix of your choice (I used Kroger Brand)

Directions
Bake brownies per the instructions and allow to cool
Prepare cookie mix per the instructions
Cut brownies into 1in squares (eye-balling the measurements works just fine)
Use a cookie scooper, melon scooper, or ice cream scooper and place two scoops of cookie dough on the top and bottom of the brownie.
Place on a non-stick baking sheet and bake per the instructions on the cookie mix.

Then wow your friends with your cookie brownie smoosh.

Merry Christmas!

I Married a Dalls Cowboys Fanatic

2011-12-08T10:09:00.000-05:00

I would consider today’s gift a mild bust. The original intention was for me to watch one Dallas Cowboy DVD with Ben. Once upon a time he so wanted me to be a fanatic. I suppose Ben has come to terms with my laissez-faire attitude and lack of passion for the Dallas Cowboys. I just can’t do it. I absolutely hate being disappointed and well, I think true fans are always disappointed on multiple occasions throughout the football season. I’m more interested in the vanity things of football. Take for example Clay Matthews who plays for the Green Bay Packers. For some reason I’m mesmerized by his hair. He basically looks like a barbarian and very few men can pull that off. Fabio = fail. Clay Matthews = success.

Ben asked to modify the gift for today. He decided to have some uninterrupted time, by himself, to watch a Dallas Cowboys DVD. Done. And Done.

#compromise

At least I like wrestling.

Melancholy

2011-12-07T10:09:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel like my life revolves around Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation. He’s almost part of our family. We talk about him as if he really exists and deep down we’d like to believe that Parks & Recreation is based on a true story.

In an attempt to have a piece of Ron Swanson dwelling amongst our home, I am going to frame one of his quotes. It’s not Ben’s favorite, but I think he likes it just as well.

Now all I need to do is find a frame, hang it and reflect.

Melancholy.

***

Last night I had the privilege of attending a Christmas party for the church staff. Just like I butt my way into family vacations, I also butt my way into Christmas parties. Call me a Party Crasher, if you will.

Actually I serve on the Personnel Committee and Skip said I could come and I very rarely decline party invitations. I had a wonderful evening. My church staff is awesome. They are all godly people, whom I trust and admire. The overall mood of the evening was comical except for a few stories about dying animals. Because Hap & Elizabeth are inching closer and closer to good-bye, we spent some time sharing Jolliff stories. It was kinda like a roast minus any foul language and/or crude stories.

I laughed so hard. Gut wrenching laughs. I told a few stories (at Ben’s expense) because he was not in attendance. Thankfully, Ben still let me in the house and I didn’t have to sleep on the couch.

Thank you Skip & Leigh Anne for a perfect evening.

Shop It Like It's Hot

2011-12-06T08:08:00.000-05:00

Shortly after I created Ben’s list of gifts, my friend Lindsey shared a blog post with advent gifts that were all random acts of kindness. Absolutely genius! Obviously I was completely motivated to the point where I changed one whole day for Ben. :) Small steps people.

Today is that one day.

Today’s gift is about Covenant Foods, our church food pantry. Week after week I forget to bring items even though I go to the grocery store on a regular basis. Ben has a new found interest in going to the grocery store, so we will go together with one specific purpose – food for the church pantry.

Ben is even taking this day a step further and will be helping with the Covenant Foods Christmas party this evening. Sending the camera would be way too much to ask, plus his buddy Chris will be in attendance and I guarantee they talk about sports all. night. long. I can’t make it, so I’m hoping someone will snap Ben’s photo as he’s serving cookies. My luck, someone will get a picture of Ben & Chris not doing their job and just standing off to the side talking about how Jason Garrett blundered the Cowboys game on Sunday.

Oy Vey.

*****

Looks like someone has taken a liking to my Sigma Kappa t-shirt blanket. Thank you Mom & Lonny for bringing and probably paying for this wonderful memory.

Male sock models make me laugh.

2011-12-05T07:56:00.000-05:00

Jeans with holes may be a trend that comes and goes, but socks with holes will never be cool. I guess they could be cool in the hobo world, but I’ll save that fashion advice for another day.

I had to move “White Sock Day” up by a few weeks because poor Ben is walking around with toes and heals hanging out. A few days ago he said “I thought you were going to buy me socks?” Technically I had already bought and wrapped the socks, so I just said something like “Well…” and then he lost interest in our conversation. At least I didn’t lie. A very teeny, tiny part of me was nervous that he might go buy himself some white socks, so I just switched some days around.

Go forth and be prosperous with your new, white socks. Look out world.

I don’t much go for ethnic food.

2011-12-04T15:33:00.000-05:00

The title to this blog is a direct quote from Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation). Susan J is the winner of one dinner at the #1 China Buffet. Her response to my question of when Ben would use his #1 China Buffet pass was, “This weekend.” Ben cashed in on his #1 China Buffet pass (drum roll) – wait for it - last night. Instead of going to the #1 China Buffet, Ben said “I don’t much go for ethnic food. Let’s go to El Rodeo.” Obviously El Rodeo is Mexican, but sometimes Ben gets his ethnicities confused.

****

Today Ben gets the luxury of not making his lunch sandwiches for the entire week. For some reason this is something he dreads and to be completely honest, I do too. The sandwiches aren’t fancy by any stretch of the imagination, so I have no idea why preparing the silly things is such an act of congress.

Have no fear, the sandwich maker is here!

****

The Belle’s Brunch was a huge success. We had our largest crowd ever and the gym was completely packed. Elizabeth and I did a mega-table last year, but this year we parted ways. She probably realized my decorating skills were holding her back:). Actually she decorated a table for the speaker and her guests and my table was kept completely open for members and/or visitors of the church.

I had high hopes for my table. I had what I thought was a brilliant idea to use newspaper. When I did a trial run at home it looked like a hot mess. Plan B was tissue paper poms and I think the table turned out looking pretty good.

I had the privilege of sitting by some pretty neat people one of which was in her 90s! She was so sweet, but she wouldn’t eat more of the vegetable strata. Little did she know that my motto is “no food left behind.”

Now I guess it’s time to plan for next year. (Jan J may have just passed out).

Fried Rice, Chick-Fil-A, & a Book Review

2011-12-03T08:32:00.000-05:00

Some days you just need the #1 China Buffet. It’s cheap, it’s dependable, and it never disappointments. This gift is combined with a little trickery because I capitalize too. Ben gets to eat out and I get to eat out. No cooking or cleaning involved. It’s a win, win no brainer gift.

I’ll start taking bets now to see how long Ben waits to cash in his prize. *Winner gets one free meal at the #1 China Buffet in Carmel, Indiana.

*Tax and gratuity are not included. Winner must pay his or her own transportation expenses to and from the #1 China Buffet. If the dining experience causes stomach pains, heart burn, indigestion or a rash of any kind, The Daily Sweatpants is not liable.:)

***

I managed to get my hands on a pre-release copy of The Money Saving Mom’s Budget Book! I’ve been a follower of the Money Saving Mom for quite some time and one need not be a mother to capitalize on the infinite amount of budgeting/organizing/cooking/everything else in between tips that Crystal provides on a daily basis.

I read the book in 2 days. The book is extremely practical, clear & to the point, and an inspiration. I thoroughly enjoyed the personal stories of how Money Saving Mom used her own advice to accomplish goals. The most refreshing part about the book/Money Saving Mom is the advice goes against the grain. It’s not about having the latest gadget or driving the best car. It’s about living on less, getting your house in order, and being able to give.

I’m constantly struggling with “Do I need that?” Money Saving Mom is a great help in that department because she lives a very minimalist lifestyle and has proven it can be done!

The best part about the Money Saving Mom’s Budget book is that 100% of the profits will support Compassion International. I’ve never heard of any author donating ALL of their profits. That alone is worth it to pick up your own copy of the book, if not for yourself then for a friend or family member.

My life goal is not to be exactly like Money Saving Mom. By taking a few tips here and there, I am able to stay a little more organized and a little more frugal. If you are looking to be a little more organized or a little more frugal – get your hands on The Money Saving Mom’s Budget and I promise you’ll learn a little something.

*****
Just when you think life can’t get any better, you go to Chick-Fil-A. The spicy chicken sandwich speaks for itself and is well worth the trip alone. Add in a few Jolliff’s and it’s worth all the money in the world!

We even got to hear a concert. Every Friday night our local Chick-Fil-A has a band. Elizabeth and I thought we knew one of the guys, but it turns out that we did not.

Happy Weekend! Belle's Brunch photos coming tomorrow!

Is Rusty Still in the Navy?

2011-12-02T07:32:00.000-05:00

Growing up, we typically watched It’s A Wonderful Life. I even had a mild obsession with the Jaclyn Smith movie The Night They Saved Christmas. I can’t even remember the content of the movie, but I suspect Santa delivered presents on Christmas Eve – just in the nick of time. The movie debuted in 1984, prior to Jaclyn’s alleged association with sweatshop made clothing. After that scandal, my mild obsession began to fizzle. It’s also possible that I went thru puberty and my interests were focused on MTV – the downfall of modern society.

Because I married a comedian and his comedic mentoring has infiltrated his protégé (i.e. me), we watch things like Christmas Vacation and Elf. They’re hilarious and extremely quotable. Truth be told, I’m kinda glad my movie taste has migrated from quasi Lifetime/Christmas movies to good ‘ole classic Americana Christmas humor. If I were a betting lady, I’d play the odds that Christmas Vacation is based on a true story.

Here are some of our favorite lines.

Clark: Since this is Aunt Bethany's 80th Christmas, I think she should lead us in the saying of Grace.
Aunt Bethany: [turns to Lewis] What, dear?
Nora Griswold: Grace!
Aunt Bethany: Grace? She passed away thirty years ago.
Uncle Lewis: They want you to say Grace.
[Bethany shakes her head in confusion]
Uncle Lewis: The BLESSING!
Aunt Bethany: [they all pose for prayer] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands/ One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Clark: Amen.

*****

Cousin Eddie: They had to replace my metal plate with a plastic one. Every time Catherine would rev up the microwave, I'd piss my pants and forget who I was for about half an hour.

Classic I tell ya. Classic.

Tonight we are hopefully settling into the evening with a lot of laughs courtesy of Clark Griswold.

Does anyone else have a list of Christmas movie traditions? I’m probably missing out on some good ones.

****

Last night we attended Ben’s Christmas party. I decided to protect Ben’s professional reputation and resisted the temptation to dance when Lady Gaga started playing. Anyways, the dance party started way past my bedtime. I also need my back to be in tip-top shape because the Belle's Brunch preparation starts tonight.

The Christmas party theme is typically Casino Night. We were given pretend money to play at the tables just like you would at a normal casino. Even with fake money, gambling was extremely hard. I still had $2,000 (pretend money) that I never even used. I just cashed them in for some extra tickets in hopes of winning some prizes. This party was as close to an adult Chuck E. Cheese as you will get. As luck would have it, we came home empty handed. We were really banking on the St. Elmo’s gift card, but alas it went to another high roller.

At least our parking was comped.

There were also psychic readings, caricature drawings, and new this year - a photo booth. I really wanted to get our picture in the photo boot, but after seeing several rounds of some really awkward photo-taking, I decided it would've been social suicide for Ben. Some of his buddies would've never let him live that down.

And there you have it, another successful Christmas party. Cheers.

A Towel for you, Sir?

2011-12-01T14:38:00.000-05:00

Because my man deserves the best, why not start his day off with a little pampering. We all know our house temperature stays at a cool 64 degrees in the winter; therefore, the word “brrr” would be an understatement. Today when Ben takes a shower, he will bask in the luxury of a warm towel hot off the press from our Kenmore dryer.

If only I were this nice each and every day.

Day 1 = success!

*****

I went to the dentist yesterday. I just love the way my teeth feel after they get all cleaned and polished. Up until a few years ago, I would always brush and floss right before my appointment. Somewhere between then and now I suppose I just got lazy or I came to the rationalization that my teeth are about to be power washed and flossed by a professional, so why the duplication?

Thinking of things after-the-fact is not always the best mode of operation; however, the saying “Better late than never” was invented for some purpose. It just now dawned on this tiny little brain that dental hygienists might prefer that I brush and floss prior to my appointment. Do they really want to clean flecks of food from my breakfast or lunch? Gag. Logic would declare that a clean palate would be the better option.

Once upon a time I thought my hygienist and I had a friendship all while she’s probably disgusted by my lack of preparation. Then again, I could be over thinking this whole thing.

What’s the status quo people? I’ve got 6 months to figure this out.

The Night Before Giving

2011-11-30T14:46:00.000-05:00

Ding. Dong. Ding. Dong. When the clock strikes midnight, Ben will be transformed.

Will he be _________
(a) a teen werewolf
(b) a pumpkin
(c) one happy dude

If you picked C, then you are correct. Tomorrow starts the whirlwind of gifts all for Ben and he best be one happy dude. Eleven months out of the year, Ben is neglected for whatever reason. Because I want some Christmas gifts too, I owe him at least one month of full blown attention which also means lots of pictures!

Get ready Ben. The clock is ticking and the camera battery is charged.

Falalalala Lala La Laaaa

No Shopping Today

2011-11-29T16:16:00.001-05:00

All of the ads are getting to me. My mind is fixed on shopping. It’s almost like that subliminal message thing that Zack Morris used to try and get Kelly Kapowski to date him. Instead of hearing “Zack Morris is a blonde Tom Cruise” I hear “Come to Target. You need a pair of boots.”

Good thing the weather is so nasty because I definitely had plans to stop by Target on my way home from work. Saved by the ~~Bell~~ Sleet/Snow.

If you ask Ben, I go shopping all the time. That might technically be true, but the last time I bought clothes for myself was almost 2 years ago! Yes, 2 years ago.

I emailed Ben of what I thought was a huge accomplishment. I kept thinking, “Whoa, he’s going to be impressed.”

See our electronic conversation unfold before your very eyes.

From Amanda
“The last time I bought clothes (for myself) was March 2010. Almost 2 years! I’m getting an itch.”

From Ben
“I bet you are. And the itch is probably from some of the stuff you got at Salvation Army.”

It looks like I married a funny guy. I guess I’ll have to pat myself on the back – thank you very much.

Last Day of Thanksgiving Break

2011-11-27T19:56:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone. We had a wonderful time with my mom & Lonny! For the record, she did bring all of my belongings so I have a house full of stuff. I do enjoy having my Sigma Kappa t-shirt blanket because it’s big & heavy. It should keep me real warm this winter.

We had a fairly normal Sunday afternoon that included lots of football and a nap. Somewhere around dinner we had some more guests – Kiki & Carlos. Their visit was last minute, but I think they had a good time. We watched a lot of Phineas and Ferb which is a pretty cute show and ate some snacks. The Phineas & Ferb movie might’ve put me over the edge but I’ll recover soon enough.

Bring on this week! We’ve got a Christmas party and the Belle’s Brunch. Looks like Kiki found part of the decor for my table!

Saturday – A family affair

2011-11-26T20:27:00.000-05:00

We all ventured out around the city – even Ben & Lonny. Ben served as our tour guide/driver and Lonny served as our bank.

First things first. Goodwill is definitely a family affair and this was our second Goodwill to visit. Everyone except Ben found something to their liking, so Ben was stuck taking pictures.

I mentioned something about the Goodwill Outlet and how I’ve never been, so of course we went. Two seconds after this picture, all of us would be scarred for life.

Nothing would have prepared us for what we would see. It was basically like we stepped into a third world country where people were fighting for food. There were bins and bins of crap. People were digging and throwing items around like we were in a city dump. We literally walked in and walked right out. I love you Goodwill, but the Outlet store is not my style. I saw people going into that place with leather work gloves so they could adequately dig and toss. Wow!

In an attempt to redeem our experience, we stopped by the Salvation Army on the way home. My first experience was less than stellar, but since then I have been quite pleased. Ben thought this place was disgusting. The floor was dirty – I’ll give him that. And yes, everything else is kinda dirty too. Ben suggested we all need to take a bath upon returning home, he asked me to clean the bottom of all our shoes, and he said he was walking sideways thru the aisles as to not touch any of the clothes. Hilarious! It’s safe to say that Ben will never return to the Salvation Army.

The #1 China Buffet is a cure all, so we ended our evening with some good ‘ole chicken fried rice and sweet & sour chicken.

Chinese food can be such a motivator, so as soon as we got home I put up my Christmas tree. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Black Friday, Safe & Sound

2011-11-25T19:15:00.000-05:00

I like to shop, but I also value my life so on Black Friday I avoid Wal-Mart like the plague and I never go shopping with a particular item in mind. Mom and I left the house around 10am and avoided the trampling, gunshots, and pepper spray just to name a few.

For starters, we hit up the Dollar Store. To my dismay, the Dollar Store does not participate in Black Friday deals. Sadly they stood firm on their $1 pricing. Oh well, I still grabbed a few things.

Our next stop was Target. The aisles were a little hectic, but the cordless telephone aisle was like a ghost town. I didn’t have to fight anyone and no one hit me with their buggy. Being archaic often has its advantages. After I grabbed the telephone, I found mom in the iPad aisle. Of course, all I want for Christmas is a cordless telephone and she wants an iPad.

Study long, study wrong with those pantyhose. Actually Mom said she was "holding up her second chin." Those were Lola's words, not mine!

Michael’s was a disappointment because they just didn’t have what I was looking for. Of course I left with a few items, but nothing to truly write home about. I didn't purchase that basket, but mom suggested I pick it up for the photo.

The last stop was Goodwill! We stayed in the store for at least an hour. No Black Friday deals, but mom found some birdhouses that she had to have.

Ben had to work all day, so we patiently waited for him then headed over to the Roadhouse. The Texas Roadhouse. There was a combined 36 ounces of meat ordered at our table. We basically ordered an entire cow and mom's steak was still mooing.

Lonny ordered the biggest steak which only means one thing - he picked up the tab!

Our waiter obliged my photo request and when I uploaded the pictures I noticed two kids from the table next to us. They were posing for our picture too. I cropped them out, but it's still funny.

The night ended with a viewing of Crazy Heart. Later Ben would want to frequent the nearest honky tonk and listen to some tunes.

Mom & Lonny in the Hizzy

2011-11-24T21:27:00.001-05:00

Hizzy = House

Mom & Lonny in the Hizzy basically means they are at our house. It would've been way easier to title this post "Happy Thanksgiving," but I take every opportunity I can get to use the word "hizzy."

Happy Thanksgiving from The Daily Sweatpants! If ever there were an appropriate day to wear sweatpants all day long, it would be Thanksgiving. If not sweatpants, than something with an elastic waistband. Trust me, elastic waistbands are much more attractive than an unbuttoned pair of jeans.

The cooking actually started yesterday, but there were a few things that had to be done this morning. I started early and Ben decided to follow me around with the camera. Actually he took pictures for 2 minutes then called it a day.

Before 9pm tonight, I would personally eat this entire stick of butter. No joke. I used 5 sticks of butter for our Thanksgiving meal and we really don’t have that many leftovers. Basically we all ate a stick of butter.

You're welcome.

Mom brought some very pretty Thanksgiving things that we used to set the table. Everything matched so well and it was absolutely perfect!

I think the temperature in the house has been 4 degrees warmer than normal which means (1) there is a lot of hot air floating around or (2) I've been doing a lot of cooking. The verdict is still out.

For the 3rd time this year, we ate at the table. You know you're a fancy guest if we eat at the table. Notice all the happy plates. Butter. That's all I'm gonna say.

After all the dishes were washed and put away, Mom decided to watch the football game. Translation - the football game was on but Mom decided to rest her eyes.

Ben didn't take a nap, but will be able to sleep a little better tonight because the Dallas Cowboys brought home a win. It's also possible that he is slowly falling into a food coma.

May the force be with you. Tomorrow is Black Friday!

Treacle Visit at McDonalds

2011-11-22T19:08:00.001-05:00

The Treacle’s are in town for Thanksgiving and we were able to meet up at McDonald’s. It sounds so cliché, but the kids are getting so big.

Andrew sat by Mandy & Ben at the cool table. Eventually he could sense that we were staring down his uneaten chicken nuggets so decided to take his dinner elsewhere.

We got to meet Eli for the first time. The last time we saw the Treacle's, Emily was pregnant with Eli and now he's such a big boy. Cool, calm, and collected. He was doing all the things that the big kids were doing.

Ben & Bryant sat at their own table after the girls started talking about pictures and cameras. I heard some football talk which means only one thing - Ben was in heaven.

Sam had the funniest expression when he found out Elizabeth was getting ice cream. His face literally lit up and he got all giddy. There's no telling what he's like on Christmas morning!

Sweet Gracie ate her ice cream in peace away from all the ruckus. Her braid was super trendy and it looked so precious on that blonde hair. She is super stylish and Emily said she is such a girly, girl.

Now for the good part.

RIP McRib.

Once upon a time, the McRib and I had a connection. Whether it be the BBQ sauce or the mystery “rib” meat, we had a connection. It’s been a few years since our paths have crossed, so I thought tonight would be the perfect time for us to reunite.

At 3pm EST I began to countdown my reunion with the McRib. Ben made a clear statement, “That thing [McRib] is disgusting.” Like a good husband he still obliged my order.

Moments later, I would stuff the McRib down my gullet and lick my fingers clean.

Moments after that, the “rib” part of the McRib attached itself to the inside of my stomach and felt very, very heavy. The smell of onions excreted thru my pores and even Ben said, “You need to brush your teeth.”

The McRib wasn’t what it once was. The taste was merely adequate and now I type this recollection with on and off pains of indigestion.

Good-bye McRib. Forever. We had a good run.

yay for this week

2011-11-20T17:01:00.001-05:00

Even though I've been singing Christmas songs for the past month, I'm super excited about this upcoming week. Thanksgiving and Black Friday are enough to make any girl’s day, but Ben and I are having visitors this week! Mom and Lonny are making their way from Oklahoma to spend Thanksgiving as a Hoosier. I actually believe Ben and I were plan B, but we’ll take what we can get. Truth be told, I have a feeling that my mom is going to bring a boat load of things that she's been keeping for me such as my wedding dress, my really large Sigma Kappa t-shirt blanket, and probably some other memorabilia. Where am I supposed to put this stuff? Mom said I am a big girl now and it's time that I take ownership for some of my belongings. BUT I DON'T WANT TO. How's that for being a big girl?

This week is going to be great, but only if my mom will follow these 3 rules:

1. Please do not bring your RV. As the HOA President, we do not allow those in the neighborhood.
2. The new dog must stay in Oklahoma. :)
3. Get a good night’s rest on Thursday because on Friday we’ll be going shopping and putting up Christmas décor.

Other rules would include: bring your own coffee, bring your own drinks if you prefer something other than water, bring your own shampoo & conditioner because our guest bathroom is out, and bring your own firewood in case the temperature gets chilly.

Why wouldn’t anyone want to come see us? To think that Ben and I were Plan B…

In other news, Carter had a monster double play at his game last week. He’s #3. Watch thru 40 seconds.

It’s Thanksgiving y’all! Gobble, Gobble.

Country Roads...Take Me Home

2011-11-17T21:52:00.000-05:00

We didn't actually take country roads, but I have that song in my head and I thought "why not?!" We rolled out of town on a partial tank of gas and a chicken biscuit from Ward's (another Hattiesburg favorite).

The biscuit - drenched in butter
The chicken - deep fried and possibly deep fried again
Calories - no comment
Pant size - 3 times the original

My car riding skills are below par given I normally sleep 90% of any road trip. I went against the grain and decided to just talk the entire time. Literally Steph and I talked the entire way home. One time she put in a CD which was probably my cue to shut my lip, but I kept on chatting.

I managed to offer Steph a few moments of silence while we ate at Chuy’s restaurant. Food this good has to be savored and you can’t savor food and talk at the same time. It ain't polite.

Fifteen minutes later that plate was happy (i.e. completely clean) so I think it’s fair to say that Chuy’s was a great choice.

We arrived home five or so hours later, after a little jawing at the crazy drivers blocking the left lane and some traffic in Louisville. I was extremely glad to see Ben, I was extremely glad to see my bed, and I was extremely glad the house was 64 degrees because the sweating was no longer. (See previous post for further explanation.)

After having some time to process the entire trip, I can’t believe I almost didn’t go. This will be a very dear memory for the rest of my life. I count it a blessing to have been a part of this journey with Hap & Elizabeth. Just a few more weeks left of seeing their beautiful faces.

Hattiesburg Mississippi What, What!

2011-11-16T21:15:00.000-05:00

Last night we arrived in Athens, AL around 10:30pm local time. Steph and I were exhausted. It rained for the majority of our trip and we went 45 minutes past our original destination, Nashville, TN, because all the hotel rooms were completely booked (even in the outlying cities). I guess we’ll never know why Nashville was so popular. Nonetheless, our hotel room in Athens was fabulous. Everything was basically new and the beds – oh the beds. I had a wonderful sleep and contemplated just staying there for the rest of my life.

As with all my vacation adventures (big or small) the food plays a very big role. Yesterday our first food stop was at the Louisville Cracker Barrel. I’m always a fan of Cracker Barrel except when they serve you a lifetime guarantee of second hand smoke. Smoking sections still exist across this great land I often call Americana. Ben and I had our first experience with the Cracker Barrel smoking section several years ago. I vowed never to do that again – until last night. I honestly have no idea what Steph and I talked about during dinner because I could barely see her face or hear her words thru the thick clouds of smoke.

Smelling like cigarettes to the inner threads of your clothes is not a recommendation for hours of driving. Upon getting back in the car I rubbed scented lotion on my clothes and my hair. It kinda worked.

***

Life is good when there is a continental breakfast. It was also a great way to break the ice with Steph in terms of my obnoxious amount of picture taking. Because the southwestern eggs were so delicious, Steph really had no problem taking my picture. Little did she know that I would ask her to take my picture approximately 37 other times before we got back to Indy.

I’ve seen a Christmas tree before, but still wanted to have my picture taken by the tree in the lobby. Around those parts, it’s still called a Christmas tree so I feel this picture is documenting history. Also the tree just made me feel all Christmas-y. I wanted Steph in the picture but she was “conveniently” talking on her cell phone.

We pressed on to Hattiesburg and arrived safe and sound. As we checked into our hotel I was given a bottle of water, a pouch of mints, and one small piece of chocolate. The poor girl at the front desk probably thought I was about to pass out because I looked extremely parched and sweaty from the 80 plus degree Hattiesburg heat. Come to found out at this particular hotel Steph has a certain “status” so the items were gifts and I was able to dip into her hotel life of luxury.

Our next destination was Crescent City Grill – fine, fabulous Creole cuisine! This restaurant was a recommendation from the hotel and I am so glad we went. Everything was delish! Steph had the seafood crepes and she even let me have a taste.

I decided to keep it real with fried green tomatoes, shrimp spring rolls, cheese grits, and sugar snap peas. A closer look at this picture might reveal that I am sweating - a very common theme for this road trip.

One pant size larger, we push forward to our next event.

The International Mission Board had a Friends & Family informational session at one of the local hotels. This is where I was finally able to see Hap & Elizabeth. They were united with Sam & Andrew after a week of being apart and the boys just wanted to love on Jacob.

The conference room was a packed house. With all those bodies, the temperature continued to escalate and once again I was sweating. I briefly leaned forward in my chair for a little breathing room when I realized my back was wet and quickly sat back before the row behind me had time to be disgusted. People continued to file into the room when I recognized 2 familiar faces from my days in Louisiana.

Donna & Eddie Rhymes were cottage parents at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. Ben and I volunteered as homework tutors at their particular cottage and formed quite the friendship. We haven’t spoken to them in nearly 5 years so one would understand my excitement when I saw them in Hattiesburg, MS. Donna & Eddie had a son & daughter-in-law being commissioned to West Africa. There were 77 missionaries at the IMB commissioning and during the Friends & Family time they were all spread out across different hotels. The best way to describe our paths crossing would simply be “a God thing.”

When the Friends & Family portion ended, Steph and I headed to Temple Baptist Church where the ceremony was taking place. The church provided dinner for the missionaries and other guests. Not only was I not hungry, but the thought of food nearly made my stomach turn because it was still full from Crescent City. Because my personal motto is “No Food Left Behind” I ate the BBQ chicken, potato casserole, and green beans like a champ. The only thing left was a partially eaten roll. {Insert more sweating and one more increase in pant size}

On to the main event.

Northside had around 30 people present to support Hap & Elizabeth. Needless to say we took up quite a bit of space and arrived extra early to save seats. There were rows and rows of Bibles, purses, camera bags, programs, etc. all holding the seat for a specific Hoosier.

With an event like this, we needed a big group picture which turned out really well. This is our first attempt. We had 5 different people snapping our picture and behind the smiles you might see a little hostility from all the flashes or lack of sleep or sweating.

Elizabeth couldn’t find the group, so we had to snap another photo with her in the picture. This turned out nice except Ann didn’t get in the photo. We gave up after that.

Photo Courtesy Barbara Cross

I reserved 2 tissues in my pocket in case of excessive tears and the tears began early – like, as soon as the ceremony started. The flags of different countries were ushered in and the Temple choir along with the William Carey University choir sang “You are Worthy.” Just seeing the flags and hearing the beautiful voices brought a few tears to my eye.

All of the missionaries gave their testimonies of how God called them to foreign missions. I would like to say this picture is blurry on purpose, to protect the identity of Hap & Elizabeth, but it is not. That silly dark lighting gets me every time and I didn’t want to blind the folks in front me with my flash. You can see them a little better on the big screen above the choir.

The missionaries had a special time of prayer where their friends & family could stand around them and pray. I shed a few tears in this moment, probably sweat a little, and handed my second tissue to a sweet friend.

The rest of the ceremony was more singing and a challenge for all of us to not only support missions but to be missionaries right where we are. Tom Elliff told a story about his 93 year old dad who built a deck on his house this past summer. Once the deck was finished he invited all his neighbors over for burgers and once the night was almost finished, Mr. JT told his guests 3 things. (1) This weekend is my birthday (people cheered and clapped); (2) I’m going to die (people got real quiet and felt awkward)…well not right now but one day; (3) Mr. JT shared his testimony. Before the guests left, Mr. JT told his guests that if they didn’t know where they were going when they died, then he’d be happy to talk to them. Two families on Mr. JT’s street have since become believers of Jesus Christ.

We can all do the mission of Jesus wherever we are, no matter how old we are…we just have to do it.

Such a challenging statement for me because I get so bogged down with my personal well being that I forget there are people all around me who do not know Jesus.

Once the ceremony was concluded, there was a reception time to visit with the missionaries. I stuck by Hap & Elizabeth and their family for the most part; however, our church unofficially adopted Jon & Michelle. They are pictured in our group photo above. Our group met them at dinner and quickly realized they didn’t have any friends or family at the event. Being from California, the drive/fly was just too far for their loved ones.

Hap & Elizabeth’s family are so dear to my heart and it was an absolute joy to fellowship with them. I was even able to meet some of Elizabeth’s aunts and uncles. I just love taking pictures of people and their families.

Photo credit is given to Barbara Cross. I am truly thankful for this picture. It overwhelms my heart that Sam lets me hold him even though we almost weigh the same amount.

The night ended and we headed back to the hotel. Just as we turned out the lights, I had a small smokers coughing fit. The wretched thing returned last week. It could also legitimately be a smokers cough because of the Cracker Barrel experience in Louisville. Either way, those Target brand cough drops work like a charm.

Thank you Lord for this wonderful day.

Below the Mason-Dixon Line

2011-11-14T15:53:00.001-05:00

I’m ducking out of town and ain’t nobody stoppin’ me. Well, I suppose a few people could stop me but I already asked Ben’s permission, he gave me his blessing (kinda of), and I’m getting my things ready to head south – way south. During this southern venture, I will not see any of my normal southern folks. In fact, my Hoosier peeps will be joining me on this journey to God’s country – the south. It’s not exactly Louisiana, but Mississippi is a bordering state so that will have to suffice my southern fix.

I will soon journey to Hattiesburg, MS. I will embrace the ultimate road trip with one of my dear friends, Steph. This adventure will be my longest road trip without Ben and despite his opinion, he will be missed. I need a driver after all. I’ve forewarned Steph that our trip is kinda like Driving Miss Daisy – I am miss Daisy and she [Steph] will have to drive me. Minus any racial stereotypes.

Our trip came to fruition last minute. We’ve known about the event taking place for quite some time, but neither of us committed until last week. Our sweet friends Hap & Elizabeth will be commissioned as official missionaries for the International Mission Board. The Jolliff’s along with 30 or so other missionaries will share their testimonies and have some fancy schmancy service that I am so thankful to be attending. I have no idea why it’s in Hattiesburg, MS, but maybe I’ll find out along the way.

Later I will be packing my bag and stopping at Target for some last minute items. At the very top of my list are tissues because I’m certain that I’ll be crying 75% of the time. The other 25% will be spent talking, eating, & sleeping {in no particular order.}

Here’s to our voyage below the Mason-Dixon Line. Steph is from southern Illinois, so I suspect she’ll fare just fine.

***

Does Hattiesburg, MS, have any legendary attractions or local eateries? If so, I’d love to add them to our list of stops.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

2011-11-13T19:27:00.001-05:00

It's off to the library we go.

Ben caught me taking a picture of him! He said, "this face adequately describes how I feel about you taking pictures of me."

I, on the other hand, picked up the biggest book I could find and started fueling my mind.

Then we headed to Kroger. Ben is becoming quite the shopper. See how he's analyzing those spices.

I hope your weekend was just as exciting.

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T09:48:00.000-05:00

A big thanks to all the veterans who have served and who are serving our country. So often I take for granted the freedoms that I enjoy each and every day.

*****

I spent the day with this guy. Big haircut.

One of Ben’s co-workers went to the barber and asked for the “Ben Knowles.” Apparently Ben’s hairdo is something of envy with his new downtown colleagues.

Later, Ben and I went to the hospital to visit a friend. Mr. Jim was having a heart procedure done and we went to sit with Mrs. Mary. To our surprise there was a group of church members waiting in the lobby with Ms. Mary. It was one of the coolest things to see so much support from Mr. Jim’s church family. The surgery went extremely well and we are praying for a speedy recovery.

We ended the evening with dinner at Outback. It’s one of our favorite places, plus we had a giftcard. Win. Win.

The weather has cooled and all the trees are bare, so I am looking forward to a cozy weekend inside the house!

One Very Special Boy

2011-11-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

Sam and I have always been buddies. At just a few months old, I held him in my arms at an Upward Basketball game and he fell fast asleep without even a whimper or a cry. Between then and now we’ve had a lot of fun times. We’ve eaten countless meals together, played farm with his “moo moos,” and watched Cars & Bob the Builder. I’ve even been invited to his birthday parties and shared holidays. Each moment is equally cherished because Sam is such a sweet, sweet boy.

I’m not exactly sure when it started, but Sam calls me “Mandy.” I very much wish that I could articulate into words what his voice sounds like when he says “Mandy.” The “a” is completely drawn out. His little voice combined with his pronunciation just brings a big smile to my face. Recently he just calls me “teacher” – at least on Wednesday nights.

Maena & Sam

For the past 2 years I’ve had the privilege of teaching Sam about the Bible. I’ve watched him grow & learn. I’ve seen him fall out of his chair and talk out of turn. We’ve done crafts, watched puppet shows, and pretended. Every single moment has warmed my heart.

I would consider Sam my own and I love him just as well. I teared up last week on my drive home from church just knowing that today was the last time I would be Sam’s teacher.

Tonight we celebrated Sam’s last class. We ate donuts, with icing, and even added some sprinkles on top. You're welcome parents.

Sam's friends brought cards that said "We will miss you!"

We snuck in a little Bible story about Abraham & Sarah. Even though they were really old, God promised them a baby. So we pretended to be Abraham & Sarah when they had baby Isaac. God keeps his promises.

The kiddos enjoyed a few games of "Doggy, doggy where's your bone, Pin the badge on sheriff Sam, and Bucking Bronco." Bucking Bronco is one of Sam's favorites. He's been asking to play for weeks.

Sam gave Paula & I a little good-bye basket full of goodies! He picked everything out all by himself.

It was chaotic tonight because we had 11 kids and we typically have 5. It was loud. It was messy. But most importantly it was Sam's last Wednesday night with Faithweaver friends. I want to savor every moment between 6:45 and 8pm because all of it was beautiful.

As Sam gathered his cards and pictures, he said “It’s my birthday.” Bless his heart. There was such a celebration that he thought it was his birthday.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Out With the Old

2011-11-07T21:04:00.000-05:00

In with the new.

For the fine price of $26, I am now the proud owner of an "upcycled" dresser/changing table. With a good thorough cleaning and a fresh coat of paint, I think the dresser turned out rather well.

The hardware will stay for now until I can find exactly what I'm looking for. I found some lovely knobs at Anthropologie, but they are a little girly. Even though our baby will be potty trained (*wink), there is still room on the top to add one of those baby changing pad things - just in case:).

I love Goodwill!

Goodwill Indy Rewards!

2011-11-06T19:14:00.000-05:00

I'm an official member of the Goodwill Rewards program! For all of my Indy friends, I suggest you get to your nearest/favorite Goodwill store and ask for your Rewards card. Check out Goodwill Indy's website for more details!

Goodwill Rewards Overview
Join Today! It's free and easy:

Step 1: Ask an associate for a Goodwill Rewards Card and application.
Step 2: Activate your card online or fill out the application and hand it to any associate.
Step 3: Start enjoying your rewards on your next visit.*

Rewards highlights:
10% off purchases of $20 or more EVERYDAY
Special birthday gift
Holiday rewards
Advance notices of sales and special promotions
Track your donations, itemize online, and MORE!

How It Works:
Present your card with every purchase or donation to take full advantage of everyday savings and surprise rewards.

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I activated my card on November 1st and already put it to use at the 50% off sale on Saturday! I bought something pretty awesome, but it's not exactly ready to be shown. Here's a quick glimpse of me cleaning my new project. It should be ready tomorrow or the next day!

Thank you Goodwill for all your fabulous things!

Chuck E. Cheese

2011-11-04T10:39:00.001-04:00

Where a Kid Can Be A Kid.

Where great friends go to spend time together.

Ben, Adam, Hap, Elizabeth, Susan, & Me

Gosh I wish I would’ve gotten a flu shot. Chuck E. Cheese is like a life size Petri dish even though I did see someone sanitizing the play tunnels. I’ve always had the idea to invent the “Lysol bomb.” It’s basically like a sanitizing grenade. You just pull the clip, throw it into the “tainted area” and let it do its thing. Anyhow, I didn’t wake up with pink eye, so I think all is well.

Before I get into the details, I must give Chuck E. Cheese props for the pizza. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was pretty good. Even Ben, with his sophisticated palette, said it was pretty good – then he ate like 10 pieces. To compliment the pizza, Chuck E. Cheese even offers beer on tap. I suppose some people need a beer to handle the overstimulation that comes with Chuck E. Cheese. Tokens & Beer…welcome to paradise. That should be the new slogan of Chuck E. Cheese.

All stereotyping aside, Ben and I had a great time. The majority of Ben’s time was spent at this football throwing game.

Ben was playing that football game to win. To win tickets. I showed Ben the picture above and he said, “Do you see how good that form is?” His nice form contributed to the overall ticket bank which allowed the kiddos to all have one toy car. Hip Hip Hooray!

I, on the other hand, found one coin on the floor and played skee ball. Scoring 22,000 points is no easy task. It takes precision & skill to get the ball in the 10,000 points target. Ben took a fine picture of my skee ball follow thru method, but I chose not to show it to the world for fear of copycats.

Ten seconds later Lucas beat my score. He also sunk one in the 10,000 points target with his own method that I would call “chunking.” You basically just chunk the skee ball as hard as you can. It worked.

Even Albert Pujols fans enjoy the likes of Chuck E. Cheese.

Although Andrew was into this game and some of the rides, he did not want to meet “ducky cheese.”

At one point in the night, I was convinced that the adults were having more fun than the kiddos. Elizabeth, Ben & Hap are seriously into these games. When in Chuck E. Cheese…

After I spent my one token, I held babies. I need the practice. These arm muscles of mine aren’t going to sculpt themselves.

As soon as the night began, it was over. The kiddos were tired. The adults were tired (well Ben and I were). Even though we could’ve partied until 11pm, it was time to go. We traveled home to the tunes of George Straight and sang our hearts out. Thanks for the wonderful evening Chuck E. Cheese.

"I’ve been quite open about this around the office: I don’t want this parks department to build any parks, because I don’t believe in government. I think that all government is a waste of taxpayer money. My dream is to have the park system privatized and run entirely for profit by corporations, like Chuck E. Cheese. They have an impeccable business model. I would rather work for Chuck E. Cheese." –Ron Swanson, Parks and Recreation

Susan, Elizabeth, Me & Jacob

“Sexy And I Know It”

2011-11-02T15:13:00.002-04:00

This video says it all even though you can barely hear what he’s saying. For those of you who don’t want to play the video 15 times, Tanner is saying “I’m sexy and I know it.”

I don’t know if I’m more intrigued by what Tanner is singing or by his dance moves. Nonetheless my 4 year old nephew introduced me to a song that I have never heard.

Greg said that Tanner sang those lyrics to every song at church on Sunday. It’s not exactly “Jesus Loves Me” but maybe the Baptist Hymnal is accepting new hymns.

Spot On Costume

2011-10-31T10:34:00.000-04:00

I wear my costume every day. Some people might say that I’m a bad driver. I always have a camera around my neck and take lots of pictures.

What am I?

An Asian.

I showed up to the party in my killer costume, but those silly kids had to show me out with their Spiderman & Giraffe shenanigans. The nerve.

Oh well. Without the attention on my costume, I was able to fade into the background and eat 65% of an entire cheeseball. By the end of my cheeseball consumption I ditched the cracker and was literally just using a spoon.

Poor Ben missed out on the entire night. Horrendous Cowboy losses do not jive well with his system. Let’s just say he had the Halloween blues. Headache, stomachache, ache, ache, ache… When I came home he was already asleep {in his Troy Aikman jersey}. Wink.

His response this morning, “I thought I was dying. I haven’t felt that bad since our honeymoon.”

Gee thanks honey.

Actually Ben got terribly sick on our honeymoon. Was it really the “migraine” from caffeine withdrawals? Or could it be buyer’s remorse?

Too late now sucker. You’re stuck with this Asian 24/7 – 365.

Our Weekend with Cardinals Fans

2011-10-30T20:32:00.000-04:00

Some St. Louis Cardinals fans came into our midst late on Friday night (i.e. my dad, Sheryl & Taylor). We watched the Cardinals clinch the World Series. Ben wasn't extremely distraught given game #6 and I just watched and listened because I don't have a favorite team.

Saturday was a busy day. When the Leones come, they like to work. Sheryl started with the fireplace. She replaced some grout and even painted some brass areas and now it looks so updated! Love those blue sweatpants, Ben!

Sheryl worked up an appetite so we headed to On the Border. I suppose the rest of us worked up our own appetites just by watching her work.

Taylor, me, & Ben

We ate dinner at 3:30 and Sheryl got her fish taco fix. I tried to tell her she was just eating fish sticks wrapped in a tortilla, but I don't think she believed me. We honestly stuffed ourselves. On the Border even obliged our request to sit in a booth because the Leones have to sit in a booth:).

Ben and I "forgot our wallet" so my dad picked up the tab!

After dinner things got a little interesting. Dad & Sheryl flip cars as a hobby. They seriously buy and sell like 20 cars a year. Coming to Indianapolis just gave them another market to browse. Sheryl called someone in the area with a Jeep for sale. Ben and I were excited to see them in action. This "pick" wasn't ideal because the house was rather sketchy, the Jeep was in poor condition and the people were really random. I got out of the car for a second then hopped back in to take some pictures. Let's just say that we'll leave car picking to the Leones.

We ended the evening with a real live fire. Ben and I have never even opened the glass doors to our fireplace. Dad showed us how to start a fire with just some rocks and sticks. Not really. We had paper, matches, and a starter log.

This is what we enjoyed while watching episode upon episode of 24! We're going to be so warm this winter. Thanks for coming Leones!

Lights, Camera, Auction

2011-10-28T09:34:00.000-04:00

Our SS class had a dinner/auction for some sweet friends traveling to Ethiopia on a mission trip. Check out their blog to follow the journey. I've been looking forward to this evening for quite a while. At the beginning of this week I told Ben, "I'm so excited for the dinner/auction." Kelly & Elizabeth did a fabulous job with decorating!

Heather had this cake made at Taylor's bakery. This is the Ethiopia flag. All the kids hovered over the cake all night. Taylor's Bakery is pretty famous around these parts.

We had some awesome donations for the auction! That big helmet in the background is actually a grill. The lid is a helmet!

Ben took home this signed triathlon jersey worn by our pastor and signed by the church staff. We tried to get him to put it on, but he politely declined.

These wonderful people helped out so much!

Kathy, Elizabeth, me, and Kelly (Jacob too)

Now for the guest of honors - Dave, Steph, Kiki & Carlos. They spoke from their heart on why they are going as a family to Ethiopia. Carlos said he didn't want to go, but he asked us to pray for courage. Such a sweet boy. He's carrying the precious name of Jesus to a land where people have never heard. What an awesome experience for their family. Kiki will also meet her birth family which is such a blessing.

A wonderful night had by all with great friends.

The Burnt Eggs Smelled Horrible

2011-10-27T14:24:00.000-04:00

Being married has its ups & downs. The good news is Ben said “for better or for worse…” and he ought not think of an alternative. I know exactly where he keeps that Troy Aikman jersey and I ain’t skeered to do whatever is necessary.

By the way, Ben has a great life. This past Sunday I made an ugly face at his hair because it looked different. Low and behold he forgot to comb his hair. Nevermind the fact that we had to drive all the way back home. Forget about the ugly face I made. Without me he would’ve shown up to church with uncombed hair.

As much as it pains me to type these words, I’m not perfect. I’m woman enough to admit that Ben didn’t marry “the whole package.” I’ve burnt the occasional meat, bread, vegetable…whatever I am cooking. I am my mother’s daughter after all. One time my sister burnt some bacon and she told me it added more flavor. I’ve never really used that line. I just say “eat around the burnt spots.”

Like a good wifey I made Ben a yummy egg sandwich before church last night. There may have been some burnt pieces sprinkled here and there because I failed to completely scrape the skillet from my egg sandwich made 30 minutes prior. It was made with love, so I am sure it tasted delicious.

I didn’t stick around long enough to hear the taste verdict. Halfway out the door I yelled at Ben, “Put your dish in the dishwasher.” I closed the garage door feeling satisfied with my domestic duties – dinner had been served.

Upon my arrival home, I was greeted with an empty house filled with one horrendous smell of burnt eggs. This isn’t exactly a scent that’s flying off the shelves. The house reeked. I basically stomached the smell, got lost in some emails, and before you know it I was used to the burnt egg aroma. It was too late to light candles. I was tired and ready to go to bed.

Ben came home an hour or so later and says “What the heck is that smell? Our house smells disgusting.”

{For better or for worse. For better or for worse. For better or for worse.}

“It’s burnt eggs.”

“Oh. Is that what was in the trash?”

“Yep.”

{insert Ben taking out the trash}

“It even smells in the laundry room.”

“I know. Those eggs have permeated the entire house.”

This is when I tried to change the subject. How ‘bout that baseball game {that was cancelled}. Huh? Huh? Wanna talk about Wrestlemania?!

Ben saw straight thru my act but obliged my conversations anyway. Quid pro quo. He still loves me even though the burnt eggs smelled horrible.

Left on the Hood

2011-10-26T08:34:00.000-04:00

I read an article this week about a newborn baby that was left on the hood of a parked car at a church in Illinois. The baby was sleeping in the bottom of a green grocery sack. The folks who found the baby only saw a blanket and a teddy bear in the sack, so they proceeded inside the church to the lost and found. Somewhere along the way the baby started crying.

Can you imagine finding a baby on the hood of your car? I joke all the time that someone should just put a baby on our doorstep, but that statement is never serious.

In Illinois they have the Safe Haven law where mothers are able to place newborn babies at Safe Haven places with no questions asked, no criminal charges…nothing. Because a church is not considered a Safe Haven place, the article said the police were looking for the mother.

I read thru hundreds of comments listed underneath the article. Some were thankful the baby was alive. Some were angry about the laws in Illinois. Some were about politics, Planned Parenthood, abortion, etc. Some were just hateful. There were literally comment upon comment about how this baby is better off dead because this country has too many orphans as it is. I agree this country has too many orphans, but wishing a child to death seems a little over the top.

Without getting overwhelmed, I turn the focus back to folks who are waiting to adopt. Someone will more than likely adopt the little girl found in Illinois. This situation is extremely rare but I suppose it happens on occasion. Could we get a call one day from our agency – “We have a little girl for you… her story is a little unorthodox… she was left on the hood of a car… she’s healthy & well and yours if you accept...”

I have this picture in my mind that we’ll meet with a birthmother, all will be well, she’ll choose us, and then we’ll live happily ever after. After reading that article my thoughts have changed. Our process might be “perfect” or it might be “out of the ordinary.”

For months I’ve been praying for God to prepare our hearts for whatever is to come. No matter the circumstance - "The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy." Psalm 111:7

Totally Tuesday

2011-10-25T21:52:00.000-04:00

The smokers cough is dying a slow death. The Battle to the Finish has ended. I cancelled my doctor appointment because the smokers cough is just about gone. I still have a faint cough (kinda like Karen in Mean Girls when Regina wants to go out), but it could be a force of habit. I’ve been living with that thing since October 4th. It’s seriously time to move on. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.

Operation office is in full force. I’m slowly but surely transitioning our current office to make room for all things baby. Still no word on said baby, but it’s probably time that I start a little prep work. The desk is ready, I hung some organizational things that I got for my birthday and now I just need to figure out where to put all of the crap (i.e. papers and books that currently reside on the old desk.) Why does being an adult require so much paperwork?

I saw this really cool coffee table/chest thing on Pinterest that was organized on the inside for filing papers, etc. Of course the link was defunct and I can only see the picture, but I went ahead and pinned it just in case I run into a carpenter.

This evening I had a few hours by myself because Ben had a meeting. I took some pictures, talked on the phone, put together some stuff for this weekend, and had a grand 'ole time.

This picture shows a little glimpse of red in the trees. It's fall y'all, but cold weather is coming soon - like tomorrow.

Sleeping Too Much?

2011-10-24T19:44:00.000-04:00

I spent the majority of my weekend sleeping. That’s not out of the ordinary, but honestly I have no idea how I can sleep so long. I slept for 10 hours straight. Went to church. Came home and slept for another two hours. All while still turning in around my normal 9ish bedtime. It’s probably because I exerted some physical energy by raking leaves for an hour. Apparently, my body needed to recuperate. It’s also possible that I was trapped in dream limbo according to the movie Inception which is based on a true story (wink). We watched that on Friday. It’s deep. Beyond REM cycle deep.

All this oversleeping talk had me curious, so I took to WebMd for some good sound advice.

WebMD
Death. Multiple studies have found that people who sleep nine or more hours a night have significantly higher death rates than people sleeping seven to eight hours a night. No specific reason for this correlation has been determined. But researchers found that depression and low socioeconomic status are also associated with longer sleep. They speculate these factors could be related to the observed increase in mortality for people who sleep too much.

It sounds like I’m going to die. As if dying wasn’t enough, I will also be depressed and poor.

So much for Carpe Diem. This Debbie Downer is looking for the ledge. Or I need to throttle back the meds.

Beyond the morbid talk of oversleeping, I did manage to hold my eyes open for a good 3-4 hours. Within that small window of time, our household was larger than life. LA Tech won. The Cowboys won. The Rangers won. Yes, the atmosphere around our house is dictated by the outcome of sports games. I’m heavily considering this title for my memoir – What’s Sports Got to Do With It? Married to a Fanatic. We also had round steaks for dinner which also has a strong contribution to the mood. Yesterday in Sunday School Ben was asked, “If you could have a hundred pounds of anything (except money & jewels) what would it be?” His reply was steaks.

The rest of my hours awake were spent texting my dad & Sheryl a list of things to fix around my house. Actually I was just texting Sheryl because my dad doesn’t really text. Maybe he text one time. I could’ve picked up the house phone, but the battery life on my cordless only lasts 15 minutes and using my pay-by-the-minute cell phone is out of the question. Dad, Sheryl, & Taylor are coming this weekend and I’m optimistic that they’ll bring a new cordless phone.

I’ll need to get plenty of sleep between now and this weekend. My dad & I might stay up all night watching Freddie Prinze, Jr. movies. That’s his favorite actor. Although, Ben seems to think Freddie is only in 2 films so maybe I won’t be up all night.

Buggy Bliss

2011-10-22T20:32:00.002-04:00

All is right with the world when I’m at the grocery store. We just go together like peanut butter & jelly. I suppose I get that from my mom. She can literally stay at Wal-Mart for an entire day.

My number one go-to grocery store is Kroger. Last year, Kroger introduced a new buggy. I might have mentioned it on the blog, but honestly it’s worth mentioning again. And again. And again. The buggy engineers did right with this one. It’s the perfect size. It’s easy to steer. It fits all of my groceries. It just makes my grocery experience that much more enjoyable.

My number two go-to grocery store is Marsh. Several months ago Marsh jumped on the small buggy bandwagon and I literally squealed with delight. It doesn’t take much to please me. Something about that buggy gives me a swagger. Try and contain your jealousy. Just go find a small buggy at your local grocery and you’ll know what I’m talking about. It’s also possible that I pulled something over the weekend by lifting heavy bags of leaves which could have contributed to the swagger.

Just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, the buggy engineers at Marsh came out with the extended handle, grocery basket. I’ve been talking about this basket for months to basically anyone who would listen. Mainly just Ben because he was the only one who would listen and listening is probably an overstatement. He was probably just looking at me while thinking about DallasCowboysTroyAikmanBretHartSteak - anything except what I was actually saying.

He redeemed himself by snapping this photo of me.

I didn’t even need this basket during this particular grocery run. I just happened to have my camera and an able body to snap the photo. The basket is cute and super easy to use. I love it.

Do I get embarrassed taking pictures in public places? Not really.

One of the Marsh workers said “There’s nothing in your basket.” Ben replied, “Don’t worry, this is just for show.” Later I would fill my basket with ice cream and French fries, thank you very much:).

And that ladies & gentleman is how we spend Saturday night. Hopefully all of you are doing something equally entertaining.

I almost forgot about our trip to the #1 China Buffet. I think it might have been Confucius who said “Meal at #1 China Buffet cures a smokers cough.”

My fortune cookie gave me the winning lotto numbers but I accidentally left it on the table. Dang.

A Battle to The Finish

2011-10-21T08:42:00.001-04:00

Ben is fed up with my smokers cough. We basically had a “come to Jesus” meeting that I’d rather not recollect. The end result – I called Dr. Jones’ office and made an appointment for next week.

T minus 5 days for me to get rid of this stupid cough or I have to go see the doctor.

Once upon a time I would have taken any opportunity to visit the doctor. But now I’m married and no longer on my dad’s insurance. Having a high deductible plan will make you think twice about if you are really sick or not. I don’t feel sick. In fact, I feel fine except for the lingering cough.

Now I mean business. I spent my lunch hour browsing the over-the-counter medication aisle. If I stayed any longer people would mistake me for an amateur meth maker trying to find the right ingredients. I was also trying to dodge the other folks in the aisle because they are “for real” sick and I didn’t want what they had. Cough. Cough.

I’ve been medicating myself for the past few weeks, but only at night. I’m not a huge fan of taking medication, so you can understand my struggle with liquid NyQuil that tastes like a strong shot of vodka mixed with a hint of black licorice. Not that I would know what that would taste like. I’m just making an educated assumption. The stuff is nasty. Right before consuming the recommended 2 tablespoons, I throw a minor tantrum like Veruca Salt {name that movie}.

Thirty minutes later I stumble into the bedroom and fall fast asleep. No need for a bedtime story. No need to be tucked in. Just knocked out cold from the small dose of alcohol that lingers in NyQuil. I never could hold my ~~alcohol~~ NyQuil.

Now the stakes are higher. I’ve got a deadline to accomplish and I won’t go down without a fight. Between now and Wednesday I will be heavily medicated; therefore, if we have a conversation and something slips out – pardon my French.

Take Back Them Apples

2011-10-20T07:51:00.000-04:00

This story involves real people and real stories. {insert law & order sound bite}

Ben accompanied me to the local Marsh grocery on a beautiful fall day in October and was eager to capitalize on the featured apple sale. I let him choose the apples. This is as close to apple pickin’ as it gets for us. I should’ve brought my camera.

We strolled thru the store placing necessary items in the buggy (shopping cart for you folks above the Mason Dixon). Conversations of life spilled from our lips. “What’s for dinner?” “Burgers. High End. VIP.” {Parks & Rec friends will appreciate that.}

Time stood still at Marsh. Ben has come a long way from his grab-n-go days. I watched him strategically browse the lunch meat section comparing price with weight. Atta boy Ben.

When all seemed right with the world, we headed for the check-out. The total looked larger than the number I had estimated in my mind. Perusing the receipt, I noticed a large amount next to the apples. The apples were on sale. How could this be?

Before we even made it out of the store, I made a quick decision to stop by customer service. Prior to that, I asked Ben for permission so as not to embarrass him. {Insert dialogue with the customer service lady.} Indeed the apples were on sale, but it would appear that we mixed our bag of apples with the apples on sale and the organic apples. It was just our luck that the organic price was scanned for all of our apples.

I did what any normal, budget conscious citizen would do. I asked for a refund. I returned the organic apples, signed the receipt, and took my money. For the first time in my life, I returned produce to the store. For 3 average sized apples, I was given back $10.17. How ‘bout them apples.

And that is how you return produce. Case dismissed.

Busted at MeMaw’s Kitchen

2011-10-19T10:08:00.002-04:00

It’s a good thing there’s no theft alert at MeMaw’s kitchen. Like any other Wednesday I walked into the gym for my favorite meal of the week. I don’t have to cook it and I don’t have to clean it up; therefore, it is my favorite meal. I browsed around the seating area to see what kind of peeps had arrived and started a conversation with someone that I haven’t seen in a few weeks. Going thru the food line I make my typical {non humorous} jokes while selecting my silverware & napkin. Get a salad. Get a drink. Get a seat. The drill is always the same.

Four bites into the meal, Ms. Loretta comes by with her sign-in sheet and says, “I don’t have you written down.” I casually write down my name – Knowles party of 1 and then I realized I had not paid. Sweet Ms. Lorreta said “I don’t have you written down” but what she really meant was “You didn’t pay so either stop eating or fork over the cash.”

Talk about embarrassing. I wanted to drown myself in the processed nacho cheese.

I pull out four crisp one dollar bills and inconspicuously wave them in the air so the people around me know that I paid. In an attempt to regain my dignity, I say “well, that wasn’t very Christian of me.” It got half a laugh but at this point in time I will take what I can get.

Rainy Day at the IMA

2011-10-18T19:56:00.002-04:00

Not exactly the whole day. Just lunch. This is the ultimate meal for any indecisive gal - The Soup Trio.

Today I had lunch at the Indianapolis Museum of Art with my sweet friend Rachel.

Nourish Café uses homegrown Indiana ingredients, so this is as close to organic & trendy that I will ever get. Naturally I felt alive. I finally felt an urge to live sustainably. My mind was overwhelmed with the endless possibilities that organic can provide and then I remembered how much extra that whole organic stuff costs.

Back to Aldi for me.

Birthdays in October

2011-10-17T20:26:00.001-04:00

Today is my sister Shannon's birthday! I'm a little late in sending her birthday present, but better late than never! I should've celebrated her birthday while I was in Houston, but I was too busy celebrating mine. I actually woke up thinking today was the 16th. I'm horrible with dates. My prayer journal even reflects "October 16th" because that's what I thought.

My younger sister Taylor and my step-mom Sheryl also have a birthday in October. They got their presents relatively on time:). Taylor even got her learners permit!

And now I'm broke. As I told Shannon earlier today, $2 is out of my budget. Happy Birthday peoples!

Dinner Celebration

2011-10-16T13:27:00.000-04:00

We finally celebrated Ben’s promotion with a dinner at Outback. Moments before this picture was taken, Ben officially joined Twitter. That’s right. Ben joined Twitter.

He thought about joining Twitter some time ago, but never took the plunge. Perhaps the passing of Steve Jobs opened his eyes to a whole new world – that is technology.

Homeward Bound

2011-10-13T16:36:00.000-04:00

Just as soon as we arrived, we are headed home. Ben’s dad and grandparents escorted us to the airport. Goodbyes are never easy.

Donnie, Rosie, Billy, Ben

We breezed thru the Jackson security because we were the only people in line. Our flight was overbooked and Delta was looking for one volunteer. The voucher was up to $500 and if there were two available, I would have taken them in a heartbeat.

Now I sit waiting in the Atlanta airport – enjoying the time to people watch. I watched a gate across the way deplane and saw an older African American man wearing several gold chains. I thought to myself, “What in the world was this guy thinking?” I pointed the man out to Ben and he casually said, “that’s Joe Jackson.” (Michael Jackson's dad). Hee Hee. When you're Joe Jackson, you wear whatever you darn well please.

The trip officially ended with a meal at Krystal's. I haven't eaten Krystal's since the early 1990s when I lived in Memphis, TN. I honestly wasn't even hungry, but "when in Rome" or in our case "when in Atlanta."

We arrived home safe and sound. The leaves on our trees have completely fallen and the air is nice and crisp.

Hump Day

2011-10-12T16:23:00.000-04:00

Cindy’s birthday celebration was at Dowling’s. It was probably less of her birthday and more of our restaurant regulars, but she willingly obliged. We missed Donna, but she was getting her hair done for a Mexican cruise. Lucky.

Debbie, Cindy, Ben (at Dowlings)

A quick stop at Eskimo’s and Ben had met his match. This is the Volcano. Ice cream, whip cream, cookie dough, and hot fudge. Enough said.

We polished off the evening at Scott’s Catfish. Ben had catfish a total of 4 meals within a 4 day span. I’m pretty sure he’s growing some scales.

Packing the bags is always bittersweet. Thankful for the time we had, but ready to get home.

More Food, More Fun, More Dubach

2011-10-11T20:54:00.000-04:00

The sodium is beginning to settle and each day I wake up puffier than the day before. I might as well live it up while I’m here because soon enough I’ll be back in Indianapolis with my non-puffy self.

Joanna met me at Log Cabin for a quick bite to eat. She’s pregnant, due any day, with her 2nd little girl and barely has a baby bump. Ben even said, “Is Joanna pregnant?” I missed little Georgia since she was in school, but it was just as well since my smokers cough still lingers.

Life is Dubach is grand because most of the people we need to see are either retired or in business for themselves so we can just stop by at anytime. Tatum’s is on our regular route. At the tender age of 94, Aunt Tina still runs this place. They even started taking debit/credit cards.

After we got our fill of the town gossip, it was time to visit Port Au Prince. Fried catfish and hushpuppies are a southern delicacy. This picture is for you Amy B. Amy is a southern girl living in Indianapolis who happens to share a love for fried catfish.

Ben was kinda googly eyed after all that catfish, so his camera ready face was slightly delayed. Sorry Ben.

After the catfish binge, we drove by Mr. Cooper’s house to check out the deer. He feeds them daily so it’s not unusual to see up to 15 deer just lounging on his property. The town cop was creeping behind us trying to catch a glimpse of the deer, so we had to make a second loop by Mr. Cooper’s. Upon our way home, the police officer pulled in the driveway. Apparently he thought we looked suspicious, rightfully so. Actually we’re just a truck full of Dubachians mesmerized by the sight of so many deer.

Now for the drill I’ve become so familiar with. Night Time Cough Syrup. Francine Rivers Book. Lights Out.

Columbus Day

2011-10-10T13:21:00.000-04:00

There are probably 5 tiny dots on the AT&T no service map and one of those places is Dubach, LA. I’m not addicted to technology, but a few days without cell phone or Internet service is enough to drive me bananas. A big thanks to Starbucks in Ruston for the free WiFi and tall chai tea latte.

As soon as I connected to the network, I felt normal again.

Once we finished our morning technology binge, we headed to LA Tech to visit some friends. I love visiting people in the Comptrollers Office. I just wish I had more time. Everyone seemed to be doing well and my smokers cough was, for the most part, under control.

Ben had a grand time in the Registrars Office with Cindy and Kathy. If I could only remember the conversation that was taking place as I snapped this photo.

To try and recollect our college glory days, Ben and I ate in the student center. In a sea of college students, we noticed the female fashion trend is Nike running shorts and oversized t-shirts. We saw some fraternity pledge guys who have to wear ties on Monday. All while I kept thinking we were in an episode of Community or Mean Girls when Lindsey Lohan was getting an introduction to the lunch room clicks.

Ben sent a text message to a friend telling him that the college kids probably thought he {Ben} was in college too. Ben’s friend replied, “Maybe – except for that gray hair.” I’m glad his friend said it and not me.

We browsed thru the clearance section at the Bookstore and still found t-shirts to be out of our price range – which is basically free. Then we strolled thru the campus, making our way back to the vehicle. Upon our arrival there was one parking ticket. It was to be expected especially since we parked in a faculty spot.
Bossier was our next destination and we made it just in time for the arrival of Brooklyn Paige. We literally walked to the Labor & Delivery floor and Brooklyn was being wheeled into the baby viewing station.

This is baby #2 for my niece Lauren who had Taylor exactly one year ago today. That’s right; the two sisters have the same birthday. Taylor is a very healthy baby. That’s code for – she’s kinda on the chunky side. Once she gets walking, I suspect most of those rolls will go away. Happy Birthday Taylor!

It’s always nice to spend time with Mom and Lonny. Lonny & Ben couldn’t really get a word in because my mom and I talked and talked and talked. I went ahead and planted the seeds with Lonny about a trip to Hawaii next year for my mom’s 60th birthday. I believe Lonny has what you call selective hearing, so when I get home I might need to send him a certified letter – just in case.

Next stop – Don Juanz. I said this before, but there is never enough time. I could’ve stayed and talked for hours with these gals. It’s so nice seeing their beautiful faces in person. I got to meet Henry for the first time, but I refrained from holding him because of this darn smokers cough.

Emily didn’t mind if Caroline got a little smokers cough. Oh this girl melts my heart. She even had on a pair of pink sparkly Tom’s!

Our dinner was cut short to make the Cedar Creek junior varsity football game. Ben’s cousin Kaitlin is the co-captain of the cheerleading squad and she wanted us to come see the game. We made it just in time for the 4th quarter. The Cougars won, Ben had flashbacks from high school, and he may or may not have left the game singing the Cedar Creek fight song.

I tried to minimize my picture taking because I learned my lesson in Houston that public photos (at least for boys) are often like social suicide. I can’t imagine what excessive, up close photo taking is like for a high school cheerleader. I did get a quick shot with Kaitlin and her boyfriend Sam. Poor boy has no clue who I am and yet just yesterday I did a drive-by his house.

Now I’m settling down for the evening with Francine Rivers and some Night Time Cough Syrup. Good night all and Happy Columbus Day.