A look back at February...

February was a busy month y'all. So I thought I would reflect back on all the fun we had this month as it comes to an end...


You got to know the Mr & Mrs...

We celebrated the birthdays of our niece Emma, and our sister-in-law, Cathy...

We celebrated Abby's birthday with tons of laughs...

We played The Newlywed Game...

We celebrated Valentine's Day with happies and good yummies with each other...

We had a sweet little visitor to make our evenings all about playing with toys...

I gave y'all the ABC's of ME...

I attended my first blate and met eight new best friends...

And I told y'all about my dreams...

I loved February, and can't wait to see what's in store for March!!! Happy last day of February y'all! Make it a good one!!

Thankful for these things and more...

Patience can be bitter, but the seeds you plant now will bear sweet fruit. #lifelessons

{I'm thankful} for a husband who knows exactly how to calm me down when I'm all flustered, and upset. #heismyrock

{I'm thankful} it's Thursday. Y'all it's been a looooooong week.

{I'm thankful} for blog sisters! Y'all have no idea how much I enjoy each and every one of you.

{I'm thankful} tomorrow begins the wonderful month of March!! It's our anniversary month!! #woohoo

{I'm thankful} I had a massage last Saturday. I feel so much better, and have fewer headaches.

{I'm thankful} for southern cooking. Nothing beats from fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and beans.

{I'm thankful} for our shower. Laugh all you want, but it's like a spa, and I love taking long hot showers!

{I'm thankful} for encouraging words. A few encouraging words can turn a frown upside down!

{I'm thankful} we have a McAlisters so close to my office. And for my recent love of their cheese bisque soup!

What are you thankful for today? I'm linking up with Ryan, and you should, too!

She's back....

Guess who came back to visit us?! Marsie Belle!!

And today, I'm going to share some randomness about little MB!

{greenies} She has to have one of these every night before bedtime. And when she wants it, you'll know because she whines, and whines. And yes, she will even pull the blanket off of you to get your attention!

{humphrey & the rest of her toys} She loves her "bear" otherwise known as humphrey, and all the other thousands of toys. She's not happy unless every. single. one of the are out of her bin.

{naps} She takes a least 6 naps a day, but most of the time there is more! And she has to be covered up with a blanket, and thinks napping on the couch or in the bed is best!

{turkey} She thinks this should be served to her for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And you know what, she gets exactly what she wants.


Are you momma of a four legged baby? What are they're funny quirks?

Linking up with Shanna for Random Wednesday.

Some day my dreams will come true...

Somedays I think my dreams are outta reach. But then again... sometimes they turn out to be some of the best surprises I've ever received. Here are some of my current dreams... and who knows...

• to be a mom — I had a taste of that dream becoming a reality this past fall, but God had other plans for our baby after Thanksgiving. Now I just pray my dream to become a mom of an earthly baby are part of His greater plan in the future.

• to have our screened in porch full of beautiful flowers — guess I need to start researching what kind of plants will survive with partial sunlight and crazy summer heat.

via

• to celebrate each wedding anniversary in a different place for a week or weekend

• to make a recipe binder — This is something I know I can do if I just take time to do. And I'm pretty sure it will take a few days/weekend, but I CAN and WILL do this.

• to be on the Family Feud — Don't judge, but the Mr and I both really want to invite three other family members to be on the show.

• to visit Houston — I've got some great friends that I'm needing to meet in person! Darby & Jessica!!


These are some of my favorite dreams that I really want, and cant wait to see come true!! What are some of your dreams that you can't wait for them to become a reality?!

Our busy little weekend...

If you don't trust the present enough to make the best of it,

 you'll never be able to give up the past.  #lifelessons

{Friday} morning before heading to work, I put our dinner in the crock pot. What was on the menu? Potato Soup, of course! This is the second time I have made this recipe. Honestly, I think we could eat it once a week!! So once I got home from work, dinner was ready! 

The rest of the evening was spent relaxing and catching up on the shows we had DVR'd. And, then an early bedtime. Did I mention how much I love early bedtimes?!

{Saturday} morning started early — I'm talking REAL early. I was up and at em before 8... we're talking showered and ready to go. The Mr and I went to look at two houses, one was a job he was about to start, and the other was one he just finished. He brought me along so we could get inspiration for our future home. And, boy did I get some inspiration: beautiful southern chandeliers, textured ceilings, huge double shower entry from her side, and his side, and more textured ceilings with wooden beams!

Next up was my massage appointment from my Vday gift from the Mr. And y'all... it was heaven. She worked out some of my knots, and our conversation was needed. It's always nice to have someone share some enlightening information with you about the new area you live in, and about her life experiences. I felt so much better when I left. And I'm excited to have my next appt already scheduled for March!

After my massage, it was time to get ready for my blate with other Bham bloggers! Y'all we had so much fun, and can't wait to meet up again next month!

Of course, after the blate, I met the Mr and officially said goodbye to my Honda Accord that I've had since 2006. I put all 118,000 miles on it since the day I got it, but I stopped driving it in Dec when we got the Acadia! Well, we traded it in for a new truck for the Mr.

Saturday night, we were exhausted and starving after a long, busy day. And since we hadn't been home  all day, nothing was prepared for dinner. So we went to Outback. The wait was forever, but luckily we found an empty table in the bar, and were served really quickly. In and out in an hour! We had aussie cheese fries, salads and were hungry, but decided to share our entree because we knew after the appetizer and the salads we would be stuffed.

{Sunday morning} we tried to sleep in, honestly we did try, but it just didn't happen. And the Mr was sweet enough to stop after dinner Saturday night to Krispy Kreme for some donuts!!! So our breakfast was ready when we got up... and it was delicious!

Originally we planned to have a calm and relaxing day, but that plan was quickly thrown out the window when we realized we had quite a lot on our to do list that we really needed to finish up. So the Mr went off to get some of those things checked off our list, while I did laundry. It wasn't long before he returned home with lunch, and we were both out the door again.

We finally finished up just about all of our to do list, and it was time to head home to wind down the weekend. The Oscar's red carpet on E! was on, and seeing Jessica Chastain looking so beautiful for the evening. I decided to make dinner in honor of her role in The Help... #soulfood However, we left Minnie's chocolate pie off the menu. Ha!

My plate on the left, and his plate on the right. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and corn.

And for the Oscars this year, I decided I would wear matching pajamas — by Hue. #yourwelcome

We ended the evening sitting flipping between the Oscars and a movie. Oh and just because I know y'all want to know who my best dressed and worse dressed were...

Best Dressed on the left — Worst Dressed on the right

So that was our weekend in a nutshell. Did y'all have a great weekend? I'm ready to do it all over again!! But we've got to get through a work week, first! No worries though, we can do it!

 

I was late for a very important BLATE

Do you ever feel like people, or more specifically family members don't get why you blog? Well, yesterday afternoon, I got the chance to meet eight other ladies from this area who "get" why I blog. Why do they? Because they are bloggers, too!

We met up at a hip, and packed coffee/sandwich shop called Urban Standard in downtown Bham. I, of course, was late! GPS took me in circles around downtown Birmingham crossing over every street except 2nd Ave N! But, I finally arrived 15 minutes late!

I knew I would recognize a few of them from their blogs and twitter pictures, but it was so nice to meet these girls in person. Our conversation topics were all about blogging, and y'all it just made me smile knowing that so many others love it just as much as I do. And since I'm the oldest of the group... yep  they are all still in their 20s, I'm considering myself the mama of the bunch. Ha!

So let me introduce y'all to these sweet girls...

Nadine, Kalyn & Heather

Clara & Jen

Lauren L, Lauren E, Me & Ashley

Now, let me introduce you to their blogs and twitter accounts!! I promise you won't be disappointed!!

{Nadine} • Blog •

{Kalyn} • Blog •

{Heather} • Blog •

{Clara} • Blog •

{Jen} • Blog •

{Lauren L} • Blog •

{Lauren E} • Blog •

{Ashley} • Blog •


Ladies, I can't wait to meet up with y'all again next month!!


Do y'all have blates in your area? If so, you should definitely join in on the fun.
Enjoy your Sunday, y'all!!

Marleigh/Mar Belle/Marsie Belle/MB

I've had comments and tweets asking about the living arrangements with our little mini dachshund, Marleigh.

Does she lives with us?
Or does she live with my folks?

The answer is, she lives with my folks in Mississippi. However, she visits us in Alabama quite often with and without her granny and papa. Think of it this way, instead of kids going to visit grandma and grandpa during the holidays, spring breaks, and summer vacations... it's the other way around for Miss MB. She visits US throughout the year. Plus, we usually go back to Mississippi to visit our families once a month, and we get to see her then, too!

Marsie Belle was born on May 12, 2003. That's right, she will be 10 in a few months. I've had her since July 3rd, 2003. She's the baby, and is treated like it, too!

Fast forward a few years.... In May of 2009, I was introduced to the man God made for me. And, guess what.... he is allergic to animals. Well, anything with fur, actually. And while she is a short haired dachshund, she can still set off his allergies. He takes medicine when she is around to help with it, but sometimes, he has to use his inhaler. So in May of 2011, little Mar Belle went to live with my folks.

We love our girl. I'm her momma, and he is her daddy. But she lives with her granny and papa most of the time. She loves it there, and as you have all guessed it — she's spoiled rotten. She goes on road trips with them, and takes lots of naps in the recliners with them. And when she comes to see us, she sleeps in the bed with us (in her own blanket at the foot of the bed) and she is treated just like a human — except she uses the bathroom outside. She has turkey when we eat, she likes to play with her toys if you are in the floor with her, and she hates the word, BIRDS! She has a rather big overbite, and would rather be held than walk.

We love our time spent with our sweet girl, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't even care which house she is at, as long as it includes me, her daddy, her granny or her papa!

So hopefully, this has answered your questions. And if you have others, just leave them in a comment below.

***The decision for her to live with my folks was mine. It was an easy one to make actually. I love the Mr and would do anything for him, and I know she is getting the royal treatment with my folks.***

the Friday five — link up #8

The deep emotion that can break your heart is sometimes the same one that can heal it; it's just a matter of channeling it properly. #lifelessons

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the Sowell life's Friday five...

1) {Oh Marsie Belle} We had the little one all week until yesterday, and she kept our nights full of entertainment. She plays real hard for about an hour and a half, and then it's all downhill. What we like to call, "nite nite time". But her granny came and took her back to Mississippi yesterday at lunch. But have no fear, we will get to see her again next week!

2) {Blue Skies} The weather y'all has been beautiful most of the week. Pretty much all of the days have been full of blue skies, and even though a few of the days have been a little nippy, I haven't had a problem with it because the sun made it feel nice. The trees are starting to bud, and I'm pretty sure everything I'm allergic to is starting to make it's presence known because I can't stop sneezing. 

3 {Southern Living} Let's face it, nothing makes me feel more Southern, or grown up than receiving my Southern Living magazine in the mail. You see, growing up, every home I entered ALWAYS had a Southern Living magazine on their coffee table. And that's one thing that I always knew I wanted to have in my own home one day. Well, this is my third magazine of my first subscription and it still makes me smile when it comes in the mail. I also feel like I should have on my pearls, long white gloves and pantyhose when I read it. Ha!

4) {Easter candy} More specifically, sweet tart gummie bears. One of my co-workers brought in a bag yesterday, and man I forgot how yummy those things are! My favorite ones, in this order: pink, purple, green, blue, orange, and yellow. And yes, I eat all of the colors in order of my favorites. However, most of the time, the orange and yellow ones are given away. Aka... the Mr eats them. =)

5) {Taco Kits} We have a love for Mexican food. Most of the time we just order take out or eat at the restaurant, but we've recently found something that we both love. It's a Taco Bell kit from the grocery store... Taco Bell Home Originals Cheesy Double Decker Taco Dinner Kit. And this is perfect for us, because I love the hard shells, and he loves the soft tortillas. Even though you are suppose to put them together with this kit, we do it our way. And y'all the cheese that it comes with... YUM. So this is how we put our tacos together... spread cheese in/on the taco first, then put in/on some sour cream, add the meat and then top it with salsa. Have you tried this kit? It's pretty awesome when you don't want to go out for the real Mexican food. And no, I'm not talking about Taco Bell! =)

We have a full weekend ahead of us! Here are some of the things I'm most looking forward to:

• my massage appt Saturday morning (I'm using one of the hour long massages that the Mr gave me for Vday)

• our Bham BLATE! So excited to meet fellow Bham bloggers

• Sams trip — y'all may think this is crazy, but I love to bulk shop

Well, that's the Sowell life's #theFridayfive... ready to link up?! I can't wait to see what y'all are posting today!  

There's always a reason...

 ... to be thankful!

Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you. #lifelessons

{I'm thankful} for our Heavenly Father who never leaves us or forsakes us. We all sin, yet He loves us just the same. Can we say the same for us here on earth? People are mean y'all... and that includes me sometimes, too, but do we stop and forgive the ones who are mean to us like we should, and ask forgiveness for being mean to others? #foodforthought

{I'm thankful} for a future that's so bright, we've gotta wear shades. And yes, now you are totally singing that song, too! Ha! #yourwelcome

{I'm thankful} for meal planning. I know it's crazy, and takes time to do, but it makes our evenings less complicated, and results in more time for relaxation for me! #whoohoo

{I'm thankful} Duck Dynasty is back in less than one week. Call me crazy, but I get a kick outta watching these bearded men! #heisbackjack

{I'm thankful} this cold/sinus stuff is almost gone! #hiphiphooray And, I'm pretty sure the Mr is happy about this too. It's really not the sexiest thing to hear someone blow their nose over, and over, and over again. (Sorry, honey... and thanks for not kicking me out of the bed!)

{I'm thankful} we've been getting to spend time with little MB. Y'all she is too funny, and I love it when her personality is in full force. However, last night her allergies decided to mess with her, and she was mad at me for giving her some medicine. #meanmomma

{I'm thankful} for true friendships. You know, the ones where we should probably be jealous of what's happening in their lives, but instead we are overjoyed for them. And those same friendships that are strong enough to handle a sad time, and they trust each other enough to share that news with them. That's what true friendships are made of, y'all.

{I'm thankful} March is almost here. If you read yesterday's post, you'll know why!! Oh, and because it marks the one year anniversary to be married to the hottest man on earth. #iamtheluckyone

{I'm thankful} to have met Ryan through this little thing called the "blog world". I remember the day she posted about little Grace's "coming soon" announcement, and I've loved watching her blossom from what she use to call grapes inside of her to now a bunch of oranges! Ha! Yes, little Grace, we all are loving watching you grow through your mommy's blog, and can't wait to actually see what you will look like in 9 weeks! Wow, time flies!!

What are you thankful for today? I'm linking up with Ryan, and you should, too!

TP, TT and other Randomness

Bare with me, I have a thousand thoughts running through my head right now, and I thought today was the perfect day to share some of them with you. Which also means I'll be linking up with Shanna and her random wednesdays!

{toilet paper} yep, I'm one of those people who buys toilet paper every time I go to the store. Why? I'm always scared we are going to run out. We have three full baths in our house, and only one really gets used everyday. They all have a stock pile of the good stuff in each cabinet, and we even have some in one of the hall closets, but if never fails if I enter Target, I feel like I need to purchase it. #doesthatmakemecrazy

{spring fever} it happened, y'all! I've got spring fever. I'm ready for pretty colors, longer sunny days, and a little bit warmer weather. Maybe I should be more specific, I'm ready for March, April and May. After May it just gets waaay too hot to want to do anything, and that's when we pray for September to come so it will cool off some. However, a few things about spring I'm not ready for: pollen, mosquitoes, and gnats. #yuck

{pinterest} oh how I love and hate you. I see so many things that I would love to make, bake, and design, yet I have a job, and can't seem to find time to make any of these things become a realty. #HELP!!

{morning traffic} why does it have to be so complicated? I can leave the house at the exact same time every morning, and every day the traffic will be different. Some days it takes me 35 minutes to go from my house to work — and that's only 8 miles, folks! And other days, it takes me 10 minutes. I seriously, don't get it. The crazy part is, there will be a cop sitting there watching the traffic, but not out helping to make the traffic flow better which is caused by traffic light schedules and the people who are cutting in. Pretty sure the last part is what makes my blood boil. I've been patience to sit and wait... and you can to buddy!

{ tt } this is how we get MB to go outside and potty "Marsie Belle, are you ready to go outside and tt?" (Please, pretty please, repeat this out loud in your most high pitched baby voice, ever.) Yep, that's exactly what I sound like when I'm trying to get her to go outside and do her business. The MR hates that I call it "tt" but she is almost 10 and that's the what we have called it since she was a puppy. Now, the MR also believes that she will only get up and go outside when I say this. So, we tried this theory yesterday morning, and sure enough... she ignores him, but when I say it, she jumps up and is ready to go. Ha! I fully believe it's because he can't get his voice as high as I can get mine. LOL So, if you have a dog, or a child for that matter, what do you call it? I'm secretly hoping you all say "tt" so I can prove to the Mr that I'm not the only one who uses that slang.
 
Happy Wednesday y'all! We're halfway to the weekend! #whoohoo