Hello Friends-

Hope your week as treated you well!


10 Songs I'm Into - Topic 3


So here's the deal, I'm into way more than 10 songs. Way more.  And depending on my mood, which I might add changes second to second, the "way more than 10 songs" changes too.   I've often times made The Deshazo suffer through one my "name the singer" days, wherein I play her countless songs and make her guess the artist.  When she doesn't get the correct answer within 3 seconds, I berate her knowledge.... and so then... she quizzes me on her more quirky tunes or those Beatles she's obsessed with, and I'm left in the cold with wrong answers.
I mean, we are held in beige walls during the week- we need some entertainment people!  This may be a sign of our insanity....or just mine?

Primarily, I'm a country music girl.  I know many people who say "country music is just people singing about breakups, dogs and drinking".  Yep.  Nailed It.  and I want to hear about it all. Every time.  As I've aged and entered my thirties (Oh my!), I've found myself listening to those oldies a lot.  They take me back in my mind to certain days- nostalgia.

 I feel like this topic is quite restricting- but I'll give it go with songs I'll listen to almost any time.

In no particular order:

1) Vidalia- Sammy Kershaw
Friends, the voice of Sammy singing about a girl named after an onion ?  Do I even need to explain the awesomeness?

I remember having an alarm set to this at one point growing up and my mom wanting me to change it because she didn't really enjoy the screaming of "Vidalia, Vidalia, girl won't ya tell me why...." so early in the morning.

2) Deeper than the Holler- Randy Travis
I've always loved this song.  No specific reason.  I love Randy.  Love the words.  And I can listen over and over.

3) Fishin' in the Dark- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
When Livi was tiny, maybe 2, she would just hear the guitar in the beginning of this song and start squealing.  For a small while, she called this her song.

This song also takes me back to a job I had in high school and college at Fred's.  It was the only decent song on the cd that played on repeat. We had a really good crew- most of us were about the same age and loved this song.  I will also confess to us singing it over the intercom in the store when we shouldn't have.  One person would sing one line- and then another would grab a phone from another spot and sing another line for all the store to hear.
I'm surprised we stayed employed.


4) How Can it Be- Lauren Daigle
Christian music is something I listen to some, but it's never been my first choice.  I have a few Christian songs/ artists I really enjoy- and this is one.  This song gives me chills.


5) Head Over Boots - Jon Pardi
This little fella has a few really good songs- and this one is just cute to me.


6) He Walked on Water - Randy Travis
A classic.  Sweet Randy singin' about a grandpa with no teeth? Yes, please !  I get teary eyed when I hear this song. 


7) Ain't No Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Classic.

8) Dirt- Florida Georgia Line
I think it's just a perfect country song.

9) O Holy Night - Mariah Carey
Most years, you know, before Halloween, I break out my Mariah Carey Christmas cd.  Except last year, I thought someone stole it because it's such high value and I couldn't find it- but Martinez later found it right in the open in my car. 
Whatever.
If my life depended on it, I couldn't even guess the amount of times I've listened to this song, screeching in my car to try to reach that high note at the end. It just ain't in the cards for me.

10) Cryin' Crazy, Angel, Dream On, Dude Looks Like a Lady- Aerosmith
I can't choose an Aerosmith song.  He sings/screams his heart out.  I can listen to them all on repeat.

Holy cow.  Listing out some of these songs I listen to alllll the time is making me feel mushy. Gag.
Maybe I'll embrace it. 

Check out The DeShazo's blog here.


A few photos from this week...

Yep, a box of graham crackers crushed on the floor.  Folks, it takes literally 30 seconds of me trying to do anything at all before he finds something to get into.  A few weeks ago, it was a box of teddy grahams....and the bathroom trash can.

This big girl was so proud of her award this week.

When did he grow up?

Such a big girl !

Until Next Time,

First Love

Hello Friends-

I hope your week has been fabulous.

So far, mine has been pretty good....minus that one moment when I was mowing Monday night and drove the lawn mower off the curb and had to get Martinez to hobble on out on his crutches to fix the situation.
I would have to say the "Nothing Runs Like a Deere" quote didn't quite apply with one wheel hanging off the curb.


First Love- Topic 2


It was a beautiful, sunny day when I met him and I knew immediately.
We would spend hours sitting outside on my front porch while he sang songs and played his guitar.  I can't sing, so I would just listen and soak it all in and paint my toenails. When he wasn't singing to me, we would ride horses and four wheelers and just enjoy being outside.   He was very artistic, which is totally opposite from me, and a welcome change.  We were together for two years before he moved away because his band was getting big.  It was sad, but I knew I had to let him go. We both needed to move on with our lives and do the things we were supposed to do and meet those perfect people for us.

All lies. And yes, that's exactly how I'd imagine it would be if Steven Tyler was a young fella in my time.

So if you are wondering why we even have this topic, then you can get the background here.

When the DeShazo and I were first introduced to this topic via Pinterest, there was some eye rolling because neither one of us have a mushy bone in our body and we immediately were thinking we would have to write out our love lives.  And we are so not those people.  Then, the light bulb went off and we realized we could take an different approach.

I've been trying to figure out what my first love was.  What/Who was the first thing I can remember really loving?

Was it the Little Debbie shortcake rolls that I used to pop in the freezer and then unroll and eat?  Please remember, yet again, that this blog was originally for weight maintenance......

Or was it fishing in the pond we used to have when I was kid in our side yard in the evenings with my brother?  Since he's MUCH older (love you bro ), he would always be a dear and take my fish off the hook for me, as I seemed to always fail miserably at this and get finned and then I'd whine.

1. 

 We really need some updated photographs.

Or was it riding horses?  Music?

This topic was a tough one for me.

I ultimately decided on reading.  I know. Lame.
I can't even remember when I knew I loved to read.  It just happened.
I spent hours and hours reading book after book.
I would read just about anything ... except my history book that I should have been reading.

In the summers, my mom would take me to the library every Monday to get a new set of books for the week.  Monday was her "grocery shopping day",  so we hit the library up before that.  Geez, I wonder why I do things on certain days??
After I tried to sneak a Stephen King book in the stack somewhere around age 9, she cracked down on my choices.....
I mean, I liked scary movies just like her.....but I remember very clearly that that defense wasn't helping my situation at all. 

My days would be spent in a fantasy world of whatever book I was reading.  It's an escape in your mind- you are in a different place- a different person.... and then I'd be shaken from the spot on the couch I'd been in for hours to "get up and water the horses" or "fold the laundry" because after all, I'd been in that spot an entire day and onto my second book before I realized how much time had passed.

.....This sums me up.....

Reading was so fun then and still is to me now- there's just little time now to squeeze it in.


A few photos from this week....

Check out The DeShazo's blog here.


Until Next Time.......

The Best Parts of Fall

The DeShazo had a thought.
Why don't we have a list of blog topics and choose one each week to write about?
Good thought, right?

We pondered over whether or not to actually commit to this.  I mean, this is us (oh- if you haven't watched the new show "This Is Us"- watch it now.  Right. Now.)  We tend to make up all sorts of things for us to do and then we never follow through.
Ultimately, we remembered that in the old days, three years ago, we liked reading what the other would post, even though we knew what it would say and that we might catch some criticism from those that read our words. She had a blog to keep her accountable to exercise and I had one to keep myself accountable for weight loss.....and we both had one because Vic wanted us to have one (so Vic....please resurrect Chillin with Mrs. Dillon. We are all busy....so no excuses!)

We wrote down a list of topics from good ole' Pinterest and then in true form, eliminated every single deep, emotional, mushy and sappy topic.  It's just not us.
We then went through the list and weeded it out more.
One of our rules was that we would write about the topic chosen from our fabulous container, no matter what we drew out.
Also in true form, the first topic we drew went back and we chose another. Control issues???

I'm gonna say this- if you are someone who has clicked on this blog and you think this is dumb/immature/insert anything negative, just remember you do not have to read these words.  It's a choice you are making. We all do different things in the spare minutes we have- and this something we've chosen to do for a while in ours.  Also, my intent will never be to offend- but if you are offended about something I've written....again, remember that reading this is a choice.

And with that....


The Best Parts of Fall

1) Hello....Candy Corn

You know, some of us love it so much that in order to maintain our weight loss status, we have to use portion control and bag them up by days.

I will confess that if I have a broken piece - I get another broken piece and count that as one...

2) Pumpkin Patch!

I look forward to taking the kids to the pumpkin patch so much.  Open fields, hay rides, pony rides, pumpkins everywhere....and I love it when it's just a tad cool and beautiful sunshine !

I do not remember ever going to the pumpkin patch as a child.  We may have gone, but I don't remember and I cannot get enough of the pumpkin patch.  So basically, I'm saying that my kids will probably hate going at some point because I will enforce going as long as I can!

A few photos from the last couple of years....

I told Martinez that he better be able to attend the pumpkin patch in a few weeks.  He had a partial knee replacement last week that turned out to be more that either of us thought!  It's kicked our family's rear!


3) Perfect Temps/ Bonfires

Maybe in a few more weeks? I'm so ready to break out the plaid, jeggings/leggings/ boots!
And this also means being able to stay outside more. I love being outside with my babies !!

4)  All things pumpkin

 Pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice coffee (please say it as cawfee to get the full affect), decor....

5) The CMA's

Every November, I watch the CMA's.  I love it.  I know that many people feel "today's country music" is awful.  I don't disagree that it has certainly changed, but I like the old, the middle and the new!  I mean, I miss Diamond Rio, Shenandoah, Blackhawk, Vincee Poo, you know, all those good songs, but the new is good too. I will confess to keeping recorded CMA shows from years past on my dvr for months and re-watching them over and over. It's pathetic.  I realize it.  Now that we no longer have a dvr, that option is out and Martinez is saying "Amen". I've already let Mrs. L know that I will not be at Awanas on November 2nd- or for the Wednesday each November in the future that it airs because I will be at my house staring at my tv... and ..screaming.... and... crying and.... laughing.... and listening.  I would equate this to how some watch football.
This is my football.

And if you haven't heard "Forever Country".... I've listened so many times I've lost count.  I've watched it so many times I've lost count, and while my sweet Randy couldn't sing, he is visible for about 2 seconds. That makes my heart melt.
And though I have earbuds in, when The DeShazo hears the screeching, high pitched squeal escaping my body that may resemble the sound of an ostrich.... she knows I'm trying to "hit that note"....

I want to attend the CMA's so much.  Maybe one day !

6)  Beautiful leaves changing and falling

7) Halloween

Halloween is a noteworthy holiday for our family.  I always make chili, my kids will always (unless there is a circumstance preventing it) go trick or treating the old fashioned door- to - door way, and they will always be able to dress up.  It's fun.  I know that many people feel like it's Satan's day- or it's too dangerous- or whatever.  I don't have time for that.  In our house it's not treated in such a way- it's treated as a fun day to be whoever you want to be- go get lots of candy and see your friends and others dressed as who they want.


8) Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus will air about 10 times and I will try to catch it every time.  I mean, is there a need to explain?

Maybe I'll be Winifred for Halloween this year.

9) Thanksgiving

10) Did I mention the candy corn???

This is totally weird, but I like to eat each piece cautiously and carefully.  Start with the white point, and just nibble your way up....I mean, that yellow end piece....to die for.... (Please note that this blog was originally for weight loss... I wonder why?)

I'm planning to make these again with my big girl in a couple weeks...

She was so tiny here !


Make sure to catch The DeShazo's post here.

Until Next Time,

It seems as though I've resurrected the blog- but only for this one post ? I'll need to remember the details of the day at some point in life.

I won't have any photos because I've not updated Google + in a loonnngg time.

Much thought has gone into Livi going to school. We moved 3 years ago with a main reason to be in this specific school district and while sending her to school is sad- it's also exciting and a blessing to watch her grow.
Due to our work schedules and lack of family around, we hired someone who will pick her up from school. I've arranged with my boss to adjust my time in the office in order to take her to school (thanks Rick !)... Along with many other details/ plans - just like all parents do!

An additional detail that most of you are able to forego- practice driving to school .🙄
My close peeps are understanding this, as I get lost in malls, parking lots, large buildings, etc.
I practiced physically and mentally. Which roads will I take there? Which roads back to Angela's? Which way is faster ?

The first day of school started off fabulous. I had succeeded at getting everyone up on time because being late kills me.
Well, that's not true. We had 45 minutes to spare.... And 45 minutes is just inside that window of being too comfortable.
That should have been my sign.

Liv's clothes were ironed, our Pinterest mimicked first day of school sign was prepared and photos were taken.... So off we went.

Let's just say I didn't practice enough.

I was listening to the radio- and realized much too late that I missed my road.  This seems to happen a lot.....but today wasn't a great day for this to happen.

Inner panic occurred.  I called The DeShazo who cheerfully got me turned around and assured me I wouldn't be late, because after all, it wasn't even 8:10 yet- which is the earliest drop off.

I made it to the school, only to find there is nowhere to park. Nowhere.
Nowhere.
So, I called The DeShazo as I'm turning around, ready to flee.
She tells me to park my car on the road and calm down.

I get everybody out, put Beckham on my hip and to the classroom we went.
Livi's teacher seems absolutely awesome.

I get B strapped in, spend what seems like forever trying to get through traffic and head to Angela's.

Unfortunately, I got behind a slow car and I turned down d different road.
Big mistake. I got lost.
This time, I called Martinez.  Who did not answer. I got a response via text saying he was in a meeting, so guess who I called a third time ?😁
She makes sure I'm going right.

I get to Angela's, exit my car..... And lock it. With keys inside..... And the baby.

I break into hysterics.

I ran (yes I run in emergencies !) into Angela's and scream that I've locked my baby in the car.

I'm sweating, I'm crying, I'm freezing.... I'm. A. Lunatic.

Let me be clear - B was not hot or without air! And he was asleep !

Angela is laughing so much she can't breathe.  Somehow, that calmed me down.  (And Angela is fabulous so don't think she was being mean!!)

I call The DeShazo a 4th time (after I had texted Martinez that I locked up our son ").
She laughs- throws out suggestions- listens to my dramatic state.

Ultimately, Angela called the fire department. My baby was rescued and slept through the whole thing.... And I was a basket case.

In the midst of my hysterics and the phone calls, my boss texted me about a case to which I responded " I can't deal with that right now"....and then realized that I wanted to keep my status as "employed" ...so I followed it with " I locked my baby in the car with my keys".

It looked like I stole a baby. He was in Liv's old pink/flowered car seat, I couldn't answer any questions from the fireman about my car. I was a mess. I mean, I don't think about where my buttons on my car are located....but now I do :)
Thankfully, when I asked them if they kept a black book with people's names who do this - they said no.

(They probably made a file with my name on it though)

To the OKC Fire Dept- thank you! You guys were so awesome and nice and fast. You do not get enough credit and I wish I had your names !

It was an off day. I brought my lunch and tried to stick it in the microwave instead of the fridge.

I also took out the earbuds I stole took borrowed from my boss and accidentally allowed one bud to fall into my coffee....

Other people have these days....right???


And after picking up my sweet girl from this first day - here are some quotes:

"They have a bathroom there !!!!"

"There's this thing called a cafeteria, and you eat lunch there!"

"My teacher has a magic wand !"

She had a great day and I'm thankful for all the teachers who dedicate themselves to educating kids.
There are so many details and extra things they do.
I appreciate you !



And I actually talked to The DeShazo a 5th time.






So long and I'm sure I have many typos....


Ma'dam Martinez