Monday Ramblings

• Breaking Bad — y'all I didn't even know what channel this show aired on. I seriously thought it was Showtime, and we don't have Showtime. I also thought this was the first season... not that I watched a single show. Of course, I still don't have a clue what it is all about.

• New Fall Shows — we spent the weekend catching up on all the new shows that premiered this past week. I'll be honest, some of the new shows are a miss for us. But we will probably give them at least one more chance before cutting them out of our tv schedule for good.

• We hit the sixteen week mark yesterday. That means we have two and a half weeks to go until we find out the gender of our baby. The Monday before we find out, I will have a post for y'all to tell me what you think we're having. BTW, this weekend all I have said is boy. So clearly I have no idea because I keep going back and forth! Thank you to those of you who are continuing to pray for us and this sweet baby. We feel your prayers daily, and we can't thank you enough for remembering us.

• Our baby's/guest bathroom upstairs is hopefully going to be complete by the weekend. Doing projects on your own, you really don't have a time crunch unless it's your only bathroom. Which clearly we have two other functioning full bathrooms. But I'm sick of the mess... I'm ready for the toilet box to be removed from the hallway, and all the accessories we've bought for the bathroom to be hung.

• It's raining in Alabama today. I already take a nap almost every afternoon. And I'm pretty sure that this day will prove to be one of my favorite naps because it's gloomy and kinda cool outside.

• The last time I had my hair colored and cut was the first weekend of June. Well, tomorrow I will get my hair cut, and I'm ready for it. I've chosen to not have it colored until right before Thanksgiving. Our Dr said after the 1st trimester I could, but I don't see the need. I mean, don't get me wrong... there is a HUGE need with the almost 4 inch gray roots that I've got going on, but I don't really see anyone except for the occasional shopping trip or lunch date. It's grown, a lot. And my hair was already thick, but it's twice as thick as it use to be. I really just want it shaped back up again. I'm not going to anything drastic... I've already heard the nightmare stories from pregnant women who decided to make a big hair change while pregnant. And, I will not be one of those.


I'm sure there is more randomness that I could bore y'all with, but I'll save it for another rainy day.

Friday Five — link up #39

Here's a look back at our week for today's edition of the #fridayfive!

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the Sowell life's Friday five... 

1) {FALL is in the air} Meaning fall is making itself known a bit in the Sowell home. Did a little bit of decorating this week... not much, but enough to matter.

2) {How we welcomed FALL} Fall makes me think of soups and stews... so we kicked off the first day of fall with homemade beef stew.

3) {MB naps} MB went back to her Shannie and Papa's house on Monday, but before she left we had a long nap on the couch. I can't wait for her to come back so we can snuggle up together again.

4) {Friends and McAlisters} We all know my love for McAlister's Deli, and nothing makes me smile more than a friend who brings over my favorite AND a slice of their cake. Sarah and her littlest came over Thursday for some girl time, and we can't wait to do it again!

5) {Meatless Meals} So I'm back to not liking meat again for the time being. We ended up having a vegetable plate for dinner last night... corn, peas, mac and cheese, fried squash... oh and cornbread. Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy meat again, soon.

Now, who's ready to link up?!! I appreciate y'all spreading the word more than you'll ever know!! Please stop by and visit with the other bloggers who link up. It's a great way to find new bloggers to follow! And who doesn't love comments, right? =) Enjoy your weekend, y'all! 

Oh yeah, and don't forget to enter the fabulous giveaway here.

 

Sunshine on a cloudy day...

Earlier this week I was tagged in a post from Nadine, and today I'm taking the time to answer the questions she's given me. Hopefully you'll get to know me a little better from these questions. =)

1) If you could be any animal on the planet, which would you choose and why?
Hello, I'd be Marsie Belle. Seriously, this dachshund has it made! If you follow me on or even read any of my posts lately, you know how spoiled she is.

2) What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Never tell God your plans, because He will laugh and show you His plans are greater. AMEN!

3) What is your favorite TV show of all time?
Okay, so the Mr and I were discussing this earlier this week. I miss Big Love from HBO. Yes, it was a crazy show, and no, I do not believe in those practices — but, if you ever watched the show, you know how much you were drawn in. I told him the other day I wish they would rerun the seasons again, or I guess I just need to buy the box set!

4) If you could have any job in the world and it didn't matter how much money you made or what qualifications you needed, what would it be?
I'm on the road to having the best job any woman could want, motherhood. I'm blessed to be able to sit and take it easy while I'm growing our little one and I can't wait to have the greatest job (to me) in March taking care of our little one. (I almost typed little girl, I guess I'm still thinking girl.)

5) What is your favorite holiday movie?
Wait, I can't have a list? Christmas Vacation is probably my favorite, but I love just about every Christmas movie on the same level.

6) Suggest a new blog for me to read.
Any on my "blogs you'll love" are great blogs to read.

7) What is something that you are loving right now? 
I'm loving the fallish feeling in the air. It only happens early in the morning or late at night, but I've got my fingers crossed that we will soon feel fall all day, every day.

8) What is your favorite nail polish color?
I love Big Apple Red (at least I think that's the name) from OPI. I usually wear red all year long on my toes. Of course, right now I've got some maroon on them... #hailstate!

9) What is your favorite season?
I think I've already covered this, but FALL is my favorite. I love the air, I love the holidays, I love the football, I love the scents... I LOVE IT ALL!

10) Tell me something that most people don't know about you.
Hmmm... I guess one thing most people don't know is I was our high school mascot for my last 3 years of high school. Yep, I was the bulldog!


Did you learn something new about me? Most will say I'm pretty predictable... Ha! Hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend!!! And even though it's rainy and cloudy out — there's still some sunshine on this cloudy day.

Friday Five — link up #38

Here's a look back at our week for today's edition of the #fridayfive!

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the Sowell life's Friday five... 

1) {Bathroom Remodel Update} If you remember from last week, I showed you a picture of the demoed bathroom. Well, this week mom and Terry laid the tile. And it looks great.

2) {Shaped Reese's are BACK!} Why is it the shaped reese's peanut butter cups taste better than the regular cups? When I saw the pumpkins were out, my day was made!

3) {New Kitchen Gadgets} A few weeks ago I went to a Pampered Chef party. And this week, my goodies came in. I've already used some of them, and I know I'm going to love all of them.

4) {LOVE this face} MB has been visiting this week, and out of all the pictures I've taken of her this week... this one might be my favorite...

5) {I COOKED} That's right, I cooked a full meal on Tuesday. BBQ chicken, loaded mashed potatoes and green beans. Of course, after smelling the chicken cooking, I was turned off when it came time to eat. But the Mr and I made sandwiches out of the chicken breast I didn't eat for lunch on Thursday. I didn't have to warm it or smell it, so it was great!

Now, who's ready to link up?!! I appreciate y'all spreading the word more than you'll ever know!! Please stop by and visit with the other bloggers who link up. It's a great way to find new bloggers to follow! And who doesn't love comments, right? =) Enjoy your weekend, y'all! 

Oh yeah, and don't forget to enter the fabulous giveaway here.

 

Remembering from their perspective

I will always remember the morning of September 11, 2001. That day will forever be burned into my memory. However, I've shared my memory of that day and the days after with you many times. But today, I want to take a moment and think about those who died on this day so many years ago. I want to imagine what they could have been thinking as the morning went from normal to panic to tragedy.

A passenger on one of the planes — Their morning started off like a normal morning, except this morning they were on a plane headed to their destination. They've settled in their seats for the long flight ahead only to be interrupted with terror and fear as terrorists take over their plane. The fear of the unknown compels them. What can they do? We know most tried to call their loved ones from the plane. We've all heard some of the phone calls that were recorded. What we don't hear is their thoughts.  Whether they knew exactly what was about to happen, they knew their lives were in danger, and possibly knew their plane would be responsible for the deaths of so many others.

Workers on one of the top floors of the Twin Towers — I don't live in a city the size of New York City, but I can only imagine the hustle and bustle of every morning trying to get anywhere in NYC. After finally arriving at their building, and the long ride up to their office with a view, they had to be thinking how lucky they were to get to see the big city every single day — full of life. While working on their presentation for a meeting or conversing with a fellow co-worker about their previous evening, the entire building shakes. Wait there are no earthquakes in NYC, right? Some go back to their offices and continue to work not even phased by what just happened. Some immediately lost their lives. Some try to escape and realize there is no way out. Phone lines begin to be tied up with employees calling out for help, and then calling their loved ones. Did they know that day would be their last to head to their office?

The Firefighters and other Emergency Responders — Everyday their job is different: a different accident, a different structural fire, a different emergency situation. But none of them knew what they would experience that day. Their job is to save lives. Whether a police officer, a firefighter, or an EMT — they took an oath to help others. Knowing what had happened to their city, they rushed in to start saving lives. And they did save a lot of lives, not knowing that some of their lives and their brother and sister's lives would soon be lost.

I don't personally know anyone who lost their life on September 11, 2001. I don't know what was going on in their heads — I can only imagine and try to think from their perspective. But, I'd like to believe, and I certainly hope, that all of those who lost their lives knew the Lord. I hope that when they realized that day would be their last on Earth they turned to their Heavenly Father and prayed — prayed for their country, prayed for peace, and prayed for the ones who didn't know Him.

Today, not only should we pray for those who lost loved ones, and those who lost their lives, but we also need to pray for our country. Pray for our leaders who make the decisions for our country. Pray that they will turn to God and ask Him to help guide our country.

There is no doubt, we will always remember!

S'more Cake Recipe

A few weeks ago I was invited to a Pampered Chef party. Let's just say it's been a loooong time since I've been to one, however, I still use all the Pampered Chef cooking and baking goodies I've gotten over the years. Plus, they always seem to have some yummy recipes at the parties, and this one was no different.

I posted a photo on and was instantly bombarded with comments and tweets asking for the recipe. This is the photo that got y'alls stomach's growling...

So, the Pampered Chef lady whose party I attended sent me the recipe to share with y'all. If y'all don't have a Pampered Chef lady, you can order from her and she will send your order to you.

All of the bold print is Pampered Chef items, but of course you can make this cake with any of your baking dishes you have at home, but I personally will be using the Pampered Chef baking dishes that I own.

I can't wait to make this recipe soon. It's so light and fluffy and doesn't make you feel like you've just had a heavy dessert. And it's quick and easy. Did you see where it said, MICROWAVE!!

Have you made this recipe before? Trust me, she made it look easy to make and the directions sound pretty easy, too. Do you love Pampered Chef? What is your favorite product from Pampered Chef? I love their stoneware. Oh, and it's 20% off this month! So stock up!

***The recipe was submitted by Mary, a consultant for Pampered Chef. She photographed the recipe from her Pampered Chef book and emailed it to me.***