The weekend that we had the best/worst Valentine's Day.....

Its Tuesday & we're doing the weekend update ... better late then ever...

Friday... didn't start out well.  Ricky's brother took a turn for the worst.  It's scary when a family sits together waiting for news from a doctor.  I think we all sat holding our breath for the longest time.  The news we got?  It wasn't the best... it could have been worse.  I am so thankful for my husband who always will see the positive in things & has hope enough for everyone.  By the end of the night, we got to finally see Michael & honestly we all felt a little more relieved.  He seemed to be doing better... at least for the night.  He didn't get the best of news yesterday, so we are really counting on a spiritual side of things - not medical.... please pray with us for Michael....

Saturday was Valentine's Day.  We had a plan.... a fellow blogger had a list of fun Valentine's Date ideas & I totally took one of them & told Ricky & he loved the plan... a morning date.  We got up early - actually we were up at 5 but said, forget that... & both of us fell back asleep... & woke up at 8 & got ready to go out for breakfast.

Cracker Barrel on Valentine's Day?  The place to be apparently.... good thing they have that little cute gift shop to waste 20 minutes in.  I smelled like a bouquet of flowers by the time we got to our seats from me trying on all the goat milk lotions.....

After all the wait, oh man... it was the WORST breakfast ever.  My eggs, runny? (I just gagged) ... I ordered biscuits & gravy & didn't think ANYTHING of it, until it came & Ricky said, "You know that has sausage in it"... I honestly didn't think about it.  Well poop.  Couldn't eat the gravy.  Poor Ricky's meal was just awful.  His hash browns was like someone just shredded a potato & put it straight on the plate.... & then his bacon?  Just 2 pieces of fat laying on the plate... (I just gagged even bigger)

Needless to say, we left breakfast still hungry....

I then got to see how much Ricky loves me - he let me go buy yarn.... something that he'd rather pull out his eye lashes then do... but it is the day of love... so yippee for yarn.  & while I was in there, he went & bought me Chris Tomlin's new CD "Love Ran Red"... I'm so excited!  I just love Chris Tomlin... not as much as my guy, Steven Curtis Chapman... but he's really up there.  Probably #2 to me

Then poor Ricky... he had run to get some candy for us & had got me a Valentine's balloon.  As he was running to the car, he had such a big smile... he loves to give me balloons... so precious.   & then, bye bye balloon. The wind took it away... it just jerked off the string & floated away.  Ricky stood there like a 4 yr old little boy so sad.... I just put my head down so he wouldn't see me laughing.  He opened the door of the car & said, "I had you a balloon but it got away" in the MOST pitiful voice... which made me laugh even harder....

He then went on to tell me it was the most amazing balloon - it was Beauty & the beast, that played music... & glistened & shot out confetti... & now its in the air, gone.  He had me cracking up about this balloon.

We then went to an early matinée movie... & sadly, not a lot of good movies are out right now.  We had to laugh that the theater had a ice sculpture of hand cuffs from the day before 50 Shades premier. 

I'm not sure many people in life can say they saw an ice sculpture of hand cuffs....

We ended up going to see The Kingsmen ....

Oh wow... not good... Maybe its a guy's movie.  All the fighting & action.  In the theater, it was stuffed full of guys & me & I think just 2 other women.  I'm not even kidding.

The best part of the movie?  Ricky went out & got hot pretzels with cheese for us....

There was such an inappropriate part at the end of the movie that just pushed it over the edge for me to say, No, I didn't like this movie.  Ricky didn't like it because he has a hard time understanding English accents & EVERYONE has an English accent in it.  I had to laugh when Ricky said, "I can understand Madonna but I can't understand these people".... I laughed for an hour over that....

We left the movie & did our usual thing that we share in love... go to Target to shop!

Actually I let Ricky shop... I stood in the line at the Starbucks in Target. It always takes FOR-EV-ER to get your drink there.  & Ricky still made it through the store, checked out & waited in the car before I got our drinks....

Date officially over... we headed home... & then Ricky headed up to the hospital while I worked on my lesson for the Youth the next day....

me with my balloon string

I was able to get my heart pumping one more time on V-day.... got in a 5k.... keep the heart healthy.

Sunday was just a usual day... I got to teach in youth.  I so love when I stand up in front & the kids interact so well back to me.  I think we laughed & screamed & were so loud during my lesson - it just was perfect.

Ricky & I were so hungry from not really getting a real or good meal the day before, so we headed out to O'Charleys for their black bean burger... we're addicted to them. 

We then needed to run to Sam's Club & then back up to the hospital to see Michael....

He was still doing really well... thank you Jesus.  Praying it all continues for him.

We stopped at Starbucks one more time on the way home & then tucked in... it was so dang cold!!!!

So all in all, it felt like we spent about zippo time at home... we were running around so much this weekend.  My house is in serious neglect right now.  Anyone want to come clean it for me?

Another Valentine's Day with the man of my life... it was our 22nd one together... wow....

Its that reason that we could laugh about a bad breakfast, a balloon that floats away, & an awful movie...

Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!!!

SNOW DAY!!!

We interrupt this regular schedule weekend update post
... for a snow day!!!!!

We're getting slammed.

I know people up north are like, Really?  You all are wimps....

but we don't do snow well around here & we're going to get snow all day long.

This morning when I woke up, it was just a few inches - not a problem to get to work... but they said we're going to get an inch of snow an hour all day long... we could end up with 12 inches of snow.

OH MY WORD....

So I knew I could make it to work ... but I was worried about making it HOME.

I live on a higher altitude... its literally a slope up a hill once you cross the bridge from Kentucky to Indiana... & I don't have a 4 wheel drive car.

How I ended up with a car that doesn't have 4 wheel drive, I'll never know.  It wont happen again.

So I'm sitting watching the news this morning having that inner turmoil of "do I use a personal day" or "Do I just put on my big girl panties snow boots & just go?"

...& then my phone rings...

It was my manager... who I didn't even know had my home phone number... but she said she looked up my number in the book & told me she was calling the head honcho & telling him we're not coming in...

Am I dreaming?

Did I just get a real snow day?

I forgot what it was to be a kid & get a snow day....

I was so happy that I celebrated like any kid would... I got back in bed & slept for another 3 hours...

BEST MONDAY EVER!!!!

 

Friday Favorites

 

 

Favorite Knit Idea

Aren't these the CUTEST?!??! I love the little arms on them more then anything.

 

 

 

 

Favorite Beauty & the Beast Art

Isn't this beautiful... I love the simple things sometimes

 

 

 

Favorite Oil Tip

I'm so going to order orange oil next time & try this out

 

 

 

Favorite valentine's Candy Idea

This looks simple enough that even I can do it!!!

 

 

 

Favorite Running Motivation

 

 

 

Favorite Funnies

 

 

 

Truth is sad sometimes.....

 

 

 

How I feel when my arm hurts while knitting....

 

 

How I feel when watching The Walking Dead & someone else you love dies

 

 

 

Me when I try to pull off a joke ...

 

 

 

Me on cold winter mornings....

 

 

 

Hope you all have a great weekend

Thankful Thursday {Link Up #6)

Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity;

it must be produced & discharged & used up in order to exist at all.

~William Faulkner

Another week full of things to be thankful for... thank you Lord

 

This week, I am thankful for:

... my brother in law keeping the fight strong while in the hospital. 

... books to review. I probably would have never purchased this book on my own & it was sent to me to review... I have LOVED reading it & am sad that I'm in the last few pages. 

... a little more sunlight each evening (I'll say this until the time changes & we're full on sunlight until 9pm)

... FINALLY getting our Christmas tree down.  I think we've set a record this year how long it was up... but just a few days. I saw on Timehop that 2 years ago, we took down our tree in February.  Don't judge.

... Raw Honey ... it melts so much better in hot tea

... my radio at work.  It keeps me happy on most days when I need to just avoid listening to complaining around me.

...the warmer days we've had for February. I know the bottom is falling out today, but I'm thankful we had any break at all from the misery that is called winter.

... the excitement of walking into your house & feeling like you are the most important person in the world... dogs are awesome.

... a husband who loves animals as much as I do.

Ricky watched TV like this for a half hour & Harvey just laid there the entire time

... our washing machine & dryer.  I actually am very frustrated with it. It doesn't dry very well & the washing machine is starting to smell... but I want to remind myself that I have one that works.  More then some people have... so I will be thankful for it.

... I got a Beauty Blender in my Birchbox this month. I've been wanting to try one of these for so long but never purchased one.  Now I have one.  Nice!  ... now I need to buy some foundation :)

I'm actually thankful that this month, ALL the products are things I'll use

... Valentine's Cards.  I love sending cards in the mail.  My aunt always did that for me growing up & it was so exciting to get a real card delivered to me.  It really is a lost art.

... cute Valentine's stamps.  Makes those cards so much prettier.

...a new recipe by Emeals that made me feel like I can actually cook.

Look what I made!!!
Zucchini black bean Mexican casserole
 

What are you thankful for this week?

 

____________________

Link up & share what you are thankful for this week

... & be sure to visit others ...

 

 

 

Hashtag Confessions

// I woke up this morning thinking it was Sunday.  Not many things are more disappointing to think its the weekend & its not.   #lessworkmoreweekend

 

// Starbucks really can't do 'simple' drinks. I hate their iced coffee (McDonalds rocks!) & I tried their Earl Grey tea with honey.  DEAR LORD!!! It tasted... & smelled... like cleaning spray.  Even the hubs smelled it & was like, "They are trying to poison you"

#Starbuckspoisontea

#stillhasagoodmocha

 

 

 

//I'm excited for Valentine's day being on a Saturday.  Ricky & I have a morning date planned... involving breakfast out & an early movie.  It's going to be a crazy busy day out, so we're gonna enjoy it before most people even think of leaving the house.

#gethomebeforethecrowd

#avoidallthepeople

 

 

// It's supposed to be beautiful & warm today.... polar front coming in tonight with negative wind temps starting tomorrow for the next week.  I think Mother Nature enjoys playing with my emotions.    #Ijustwantspring

// I am teaching in Youth this Sunday & haven't even begun to get my lesson together.  I hate when I procrastinate.  All it does is stress me out. 

#itwillallcometogether

#right?

// I use disposal razors way longer then I should    #usetilltheydontcutanymore

// I feel like someone should put restraints on Kayne West at all award shows 

 #juststayseated

#andshutup

 

//I wont spoil anything if you haven't seen it yet... but The Walking Dead... really?  I'm still throwing yarn at the TV.   #newdudeisbadluck

//I feel asleep last night holding Harvey Dent's hand paw ... & I woke up in the middle of the night & we were both still in the same position.  #spoileddog

//I'm on week 1 of my 10k training & so excited about it.  But I know in about 2 more weeks, the attitude could all change.  #injurieswaitingtohappen  #badkneebadback 

This week....

... to come...

OK... so when I would join in with the whole brain dump/confession thing, I just started adding Hashtags for the fun of it... & then found out there was a link up for this exact thing.  It's like I'm physic or something.  But now you can join in with other people who are confessing things with a little bonus of #hashtagging .... fun stuff!!!

Click here to join Life with Lolo

___________________

Don't forget

Tomorrow is Thankful Thursday Link up!!!

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Winter Reading Challenge #3

Here we are... in the 3rd post of the Winter Reading Challenge. ... I can't believe we're in our 3rd round... The goal is to get as much reading in February to finish up & then one final post to carry us out in March!!!

I loved so much seeing what some of you were reading & seeing posts on Instagram on the books you are reading.

This has just been a fun way to spread the love of books... good books... with a little fun giveaway at the end.  A $20 Target card, a knitted goodie made by me, a book related item.. & who knows what else I'll throw in... you can never tell what I'll do.

All you have to do is link up, with getting extra entries for every Instagram or Twitter shout out or picture you include with the #winterreadingchallenge & tag me @RebeccaJoKnits ... easy peasy...

So here's the last few books I have read...

1. It was me all along / Andie Mitchell ...3 out of 5 stars
This is the story of a girl who was heavy her whole life & the struggles she had in going through college & deciding to get the weight off & how it effects her life.  I had a love hate with this book.  I love a story of someone who deals with weight issues... I always say, if you never had to deal with weight issues, you don't understand weight issues... & this girl understood it.  But I also had a hate relationship with this book because she just wasn't that much of a 'personal' character to me.  & I say character even though its an autobiography. I don't know. It was hard to connect with her.  Apparently she's a blogger somewhere that writes about food now & all her skinny ways.  I don't care enough to even look her up to stay in contact with her writing.

2. Bossypants / Tina Fey ... 5 out of 5 star
OH MY GOSH.  I was literally in tears with possibly snorting happening.  I will say, I did this one on Audio Book ... made it 100 times better, I would imagine.  Hearing Tina's voice reading it, with her own personal style, I honestly lost it sometimes.  But she's got real concerns & points of views that are serious, but I still love her take on things.  I had put off reading this one for awhile because I knew it was going to be good.  It didn't disappoint one bit.


3. Freeing yourself from Anxiety / Tamar Chansky PhD ...
3 out of 5 stars
Not your typical book.  I actually picked this up at the library when I was going through all the testing for my side pain ... & a nervous wreck!  This isn't my sort of book I really enjoy reading, but I will say, I got a lot out of it.  Some really good ideas, tips, thoughts to hang onto.  Honestly, I wrote some of them down & reminded myself of some of these ideas & they really helped me as I waited on test results.  The biggest one that stood out to me was "Stay in the present"... I am so bad about this - looking ahead & making the worst case scenario happen.  I don't know what's going to happen. I am not God. I have no clue what's  laid out... stay in the present. Accept what is RIGHT NOW.  It may seem simple, but it was eye opening to me, as other ideas.  BUT.... it is a self help book, so there is a lot of boring parts that made me want to punch myself... in the present, that is  #iamsofunny

4. 10% Happier / Dan Harris ... 2 out of 5 stars
I really like Dan Harris on Good Morning America. He starts my days off every Saturday & Sunday morning.  He had been talking about his journey with meditation.  Now, I've been intrigued with the idea of slowing the mind down, deep breathing - all going back to that anxiety thing again... & I wanted to check this book out.  First, know this book basically tells you to meditate - breath.  All the top tips you'll get on meditation.... it's more of a biography of Dan Harris's life.  And for me, I know real meditation is sort of a Buddhism tradition.  (For the record, so I don't freak my dad out - I like the idea of calming the mind - almost prayer like... I'm not converting to Buddhism... ok dad... let's continue.... )   Dan Harris just sort of dives into searching for all sorts of spiritual paths on finding peace & really, just kind of dogs it all out in the end.  I was so disappointed in that side of the book.  The part that really took me out of this book was when he was talking with Deepak Chopra & Chopra is quoted as talking about the Bible & God as 'the dead white guy' from that book.... yeah... I'm finish with this book.... I only gave it 2 stars because biographies do intrigue me.  Everyone's life has a story... I may not have to like your story. I definitely didn't like the book.

5. The Hiding Place / Corrie Ten Boom ... 4 out of 5 stars
This is pretty much a classic - right? I can't believe I had never read it before.  The story of a family who helps Jews hide when Germany takes over, & ends up going to prison for protecting these people.  What a heart wrenching book.  The person I mostly want to talk to when I get to heaven is Corrie's sister, Betsy... what a calming presence she was to Corrie & reminding her what to be thankful for & to focus on.  How these sisters would preach to others in the camp with their Bible & bring others to Christ in the worst of situations... I'm glad I now have this story in my life.


6.  My Story / Elizabeth Smart ... 4 out of 5 stars
Wow... what a brave little girl... who turned into an amazing young woman.  I remember this story being on the news.  The young girl who was abducted from her bedroom & kept captive for months to be discovered & returned to her parents.  Hearing her story is just chilling.  The things this crazy man would do to her, how he made her life, how she survived.  It is tough to read at times & so frustrating because I just don't understand how evil people are.  I'm just amazed at how she has handled the situation, keeping her faith & has learned that life is about choices.  How you handle the things that happen to you, its all up to you.  She chooses to not give this crazy man one more bit of her life, but to see the blessings she receives every day.  It really is an amazing read. 

Have you read any of these?

 

What have you been reading lately?

The weekend that I was in an antihistame haze....

I can't believe I'm sitting at my desk on Monday again...

The weekend went by in a blur... literally...

All thanks to an antihistamine... wow... I really don't do good with drugs.

It started on Friday.  Because of the sinus junk, I can't get to sleep.  Laying down flat just isn't good for gook laying in your head.  It all goes into your throat & pretty much feels like someone is choking you to death.  Good times.



maybe I was actually being choked by the force

Anyways, I didn't go to bed till late Friday & when I finally did, I was back up at 3:00am ... I ended up going in & drinking an Alka-Seltzer cold tablet....

Side note... I never drink an Alka-Seltzer & not think of my grandmother.  She used to have those things sizzling all day long.  It was like her daily cocktail.

Alka Seltzer does have bubbles like champagne afterall

So I go back to sleep... & am woken up by Bruno nudging me & Ricky walking into the room asking when I was going to get up.... I roll over & look at the clock & was like WHAT THE HEY?!?!?  It was 9:43am... almost 10am....

I didn't know what in the world happened.  I got up & went to the kitchen to look at that Alka-Seltzer package... yep, it has antihistamines in it.

Now, let me remind you.... a Tylenol PM will literally put me in a coma for a week.  I don't tolerate medicine well.  Probably because I never take it...

All day Saturday, I seriously felt drugged.  It was such a beautiful day & I wanted to enjoy it but I couldn't make myself work out.  Instead, I got my book, went outside with the dogs & read for a little bit... until I was about ready to nod off again. 

I remember my grandpa always nodding off in random places.  That was me this weekend.

I ended up going in on the couch to read some more... to wake up an hour later at Ricky laughing at me again. 

We ended up going out to get some dinner & visit his brother in the hospital & I thought I was sludging through mud the whole time... glad to be out though.  Glad to see Michael & my sis-inlaws...

I'm awake... & out...

Got home for the evening & guess what... couldn't sleep again because of the draining.  So guess what I did?  Jumped the gun & took another Alka-Seltzer. 

What the heck was I thinking?

All morning at church, I felt like I was in a bubble of another dimension.  Even laughing my head off with the youth kiddos in small group (& mercy, I laughed so hard, I snorted... the kids will remind me of this for weeks to come) I still felt just 'off'

Ricky & I ran & got some lunch, had to pick some things up at Target & then headed home. 

A girl at church had bought some yarn & asked me if I would make her some headbands... well, all I wanted to do was sit on the couch anyways so it was a perfect project to bide my time. 

I can knit in a brain fog... this is good to know...

... plus, I was counting down to the Walking Dead being back on... No spoilers, but REALLY?!?!?!   Sigh.

& then when it went off, I watched Downton Abby (I dvr'ed Better call Sal... cant wait to watch it)... & then I tried to go to bed.

Nope... nada... draining begins...

I refused to take another Alka-Seltzer knowing I had to go to work in a few hours.

So needless to say, I felt like someone was choking me out in a wrestling match again all night & I got no sleep. 

If ever there was a Monday... today is going to be it.

Any suggestions for something to dry me up that won't kick me in the butt?

 

How was your weekend?

 

Did you have beautiful warm weather where you were at?

Don't forget...

Tomorrow is the Winter Reading challenge Link up

... show me what books you've been reading this winter...