Best Day Ever!

Today is my favorite person's birthday.  Anyone want to take a guess??  

DUHHHH!!

MY NATOR (STEVE)!!  

There is no one like my husband Nator.  He is the perfect combo platter of everything I could ever want in a man!  He is the most loving, kind, and devoted person I know, and I love that I get to snuggle up to him for the rest of my life!!     He has been the best thing that's ever happened to me,  and I am soooooo blessed to have him in my life!

" A little Birthday Boy Quiz"

1.  Where would Nator love to eat everyday for the rest of his life?

2.  Who are Lady and Lilly?

3.  Nator calls his sister __________.   And he calls his brother________________.

4.  How old will Nator be today??

5.  ______   _______  _______  _______  is Nator's blizzard of choice.

6.  "__________"  is the animal sound that Nator likes to make at any given (and almost always random) moment.

7.  ___________ is Nator's favorite Saturday Night Live Character.

8.  ____________ is Nator's favorite action drama, and  _______  ___  ____ __________

   is his favorite comedy.

9.  Nator's Nickname for me is __________.

10.  Nator calls his car the BOV....What does BOV Stand for?

answers

1. Joe T's   2. His favorite pets of all time   3. Lizbo, Dar    4. 28   5.Reeces Peanut Butter Cup    6. Meow   7. Will Ferrell   8.Braveheart,  Night at the Roxbury  9.Gator   10. Bundle of Value

A-Sizzle..

Tomorrow is Ant Susy's  Birthday!  She is by far our favorite aunt.  She brings so much fun and life to any family vacation or holiday.    

Here's a little acrostic that describes her:

Super Hilarious & Fun to be around

Unbelievably talented and smart

Selfless and Caring

Young at heart ... she has so much energy and loves to be silly!

Love you Ant Susy & hope you have a wonderful day!

Sister Cake!!

So, now that I am not working I have no time to update my blog!!  You would think it's the other way around, but time flies when you are having fun:)   Sunday was the wonderful celebration of My sister in law, Megan (I call her sister cake)!  Not only was it her 27th birthday, but it was also her and my big brother Ranger's one year anniversary.  They are such a great couple!!  I am so thankful the Lord brought Sister-Cake & Ranger together, and I love how I got to be a part of it all!  Less than 3 years ago when I sat by the beautiful and sweet Megan in my Bible Study class, I immediately thought,  I wish my brother could marry a girl like her!  Well, my wish came true!!  She definitely has been the best thing that has happened to my brother, and my whole family just adores her! Not only is she a wonderful sister in law, but she is one of my closest friends!  Love you Sister-Cake & Ranger!  

A Birthday Acrostic for Megan

Magnetic - people are drawn to you!

Easy to be around

Gorgeous & Giving

Adorable

Natural & Genuine

2 Years going on Forever...

Yesterday was Nator and my 2 year anniversary!  I am so thankful to be married to the Love of my Life and Best Friend!  

A few of my favorite things about Nator:

He makes me laugh constantly

His love for the Lord

He is lighthearted & fun loving

His good looks:)

He is fun to be around

He is the kindest person I know and will do anything for his friends and family

He is humble ( He has no idea how smart, talented & good looking he is)

He reflects the Love of Christ in the way he treats others

He's athletic

His silliness (he doesn't take life to seriously)

He's loyal to the end

He makes being married so much fun!

Free As A Bird!

I am no longer employed!!  YAY:)  I love fresh starts and new beginnings!  I've already started a list of fun ( and of course some productive) activities to do in my free time this fall.

Here is my list so far:

-spinning classes

-women's bible study

-meal ministry at my church

-go to First Friday in Philly this fall (first Friday evening of each month art galleries  throughout the city open their doors to the public)

- golf lessons

-organize my house

-play more tennis with my huz

-visit my family in Texas

-plant some flowers in my front yard

-swim laps with my friend Ashley

-learn to knit

-volunteer in my community

-Go to a pumpkin patch and pick out pumpkins to carve

-go to a fun concert

Life is good:)

Anthropologie...A good thing??

I was feeling so good about my self-controlled little self until recently an Anthropologie store opened in my area. I LOVE ANTHROPOLOGIE!  It's hard enough having a Target a couple of miles from my house ( I can't walk into Target without spending over $50) Seriously, why did Anthropologie have to plant a big fat temptation store a hop, skip &  jump away from my house? I have no idea how to walk into that store and not have an immediate need for so many lovely things!!  It's kind of ridiculous how I can go from being "perfectly content" to "critically in need".    They  need to back-space. delete. that store, so I can go back to being my good little thrifty self!   Thank goodness, my mom gave me some shopping power to Anthropologie for my birthday...yes, she always does it right!!  So, I bolted over to Anthro like a kid on their way to a candy shop!  Yes, it was just what the Dr. ordered...Thanks Mom!  You know how to make a Gator's day! 

A couple of the items I couldn't resist:

Can't wait to wear this..

This fun sweater in blue!  

This is on my wish list!!

So cute...I need it;)  

Heaven Sent & Full of Mint!

These minty treats = the perfect combo to make anyone have a cozy & happy evening!

These Skinny Cow Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches taste like jumbo frozen thin mints! They are Delish. You would never believe they are low fat and only 140 calories. I love guiltless little splurges!


MENTHA COLLECTION from Bath & Body Works
A breath of fresh air in a bottle! I'm not normally a huge fan of Bath and Body Works products, but they have the best Minty pampering goods. I love how refreshing the body wash is. Great on a hot day or after a hard work-out!



AVEDA COMFORTING TEA!
Oh my G!! This tea is phenomenal. It's minty & sweet, and you don't have to add any sweetener! It is the ultimate caffeine-free relaxation treat.


LASTLY & MOST IMPORTANTLY....
We are "MINT" to find True & Everlasting Comfort in JESUS CHRIST!
In as much as these "things" bring comfort, the ultimate comfort is in knowing that nothing can separate us from God's love. Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loves us.

Three Powerful Words

"I have news!"

It's funny how powerful these 3 words can be. There are no three words my family likes to hear more than, "I have news!".....but of course they have to be followed with an exclamation mark and be said with excitement. For each person in my immediate family there comes a different response.

For my mom, it is completely dependent on the stage of life she is in. In the current season if I tell her "I have news!", she immediately hopes that I have news that I am expecting a baby, and that she will be a grandma! She has been hoping to hear those words since the day I got married. She is always so much fun to give news to because she gets so excited for others.

It is hilarious the way my brother, Ranger responds if I am going to tell him "I have news". No one gets a bigger smile on their face with those three words than he does. When we were younger (the teen years) I would be all snuggled up in bed ready to go to sleep, and my brother would come walking in my room, sit on my bed and ask me if I had any news. He loves news, any kind of news; but he especially loves news involving him! But, then again who doesn't love good news about themselves! We would stay up late discussing all sorts of juicy gossip we had learned at school. It was always so much fun! Having news for my brother was always a wonderful thing. It meant I could secure a spot as being the cool little sister with him and his older friends! Even now that we are older, and we live in different states , those three little words still are as magical as ever. My brother is a busy guy, and can be hard to contact. However, if I leave him a message saying, "I have news!", I always get an immediate response. It's a genius trick!

My younger brother Lil (my brother Zack's nickname) loves news as well. If I tell Lil "I have news!", he is sooo excited and immediately wants to know. He is the ultimate cheerleader for people with good news. He is also like my older brother and I, and loves to hear good news about himself! If I leave him a message saying, "I have news", he will always be the one that calls back fastest..He will simply call and say, "What Gator!!!?" (gator is the name my family and some friends call me) He is really animated & cute when he gets excited.

My husband is so sweet. When I tell him I have news, his eyes light up, and he immediately hopes something really good happened to me. Or he hopes I am telling him that I made yummy munchies for dinner. After he hears the good news he does his little "nator dance".

My dad always responded a little differently. Growing up News to him was more like an event. Everyone, needed to be gathered around, with no interruptions. If I told him, "I have news" when he got home from work, he would want to get changed out of his work clothes and wait until we were gathered around the dinner table, so he could enjoy the anticipated news he was about to hear.

There is really no point to all of these ramblings, it is just a random realization I had!

A Must Read!

Just finished a heart-wrenching book, The Atonement Child, by Francine Rivers. WOW-What a powerful book!  If you haven't read it, you need to drive on over to the bookstore and get it!

Now I need a new book to read....Any suggestions??  

Super Cute Shoes & Super Great Cause!

My favorite big brother, Ranger, sells Tom's Shoes in his vintage clothing store in College Station, TX. With every pair of shoes purchased, Tom's shoes gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need. A few weeks ago when I was in College Station, I got my first pair of Tom's shoes. My brother has a wide selection of Tom's shoes, but of course I picked the super girly glittery ones. They are so cute and comfy. Everyone should have at least one pair in their closet! When I wear my glitter Tom's I get tons of compliments. Last time when I was at the mall wearing my comfy glitter shoes, several girls stopped me and said, "Those are the cutest shoes!!", and "Where in the world did you get those shoes!?" Who doesn't love to be "that girl" who gets stopped at the mall because of her cute shoes?! It's crazy/awesome to think that my "statement" "attention getting" shoes are the ones that impact a child's life. I wish all shopping was considered a good deed and could help others.

These will be my next pair....Can you tell I'm hooked??!

"SURPRISE I'M HOME!"

One of my good friends used to say, "Don't expect too much and you won't get let down." It's a great way to protect yourself from undesirable circumstances and outcomes. Well, that's exactly what my Huz and I recently did. His most recent trip to Hawaii and Japan had no exact return date, but due to all the delays we estimated his return to be a couple of days after my birthday. We wanted to be prepared for Nator not be home on my birthday, so we wouldn't be disappointed. So, we decided it would be fun to just celebrate the weekend after my birthday.

Well, let's just say I was beyond surprised at 3 a.m. on the morning of my birthday when I heard my huz crawl into bed and wish me a happy birthday. I could not believe he made it home so much sooner than we had expected. Having him home was the best present I could have ever received! We had the best time together on my birthday, enjoyed scrumptious munchies and had a whole TCBY cake that my sweet friend Ashley brought over. White chocolate mousse TCBY cakes are the ultimate birthday treat-I am borderline obsessed! My huz prepared an awesome and hilarious scavenger hunt, and planned a relaxing day at the spa for me. The Lord sure has been spoiling me recently with so many "too good to be true" surprises. After a few weekends of the Lord blowing me away with His goodness and love, I am learning that when we learn to be content and have joy in less than optimal circumstances, it is then that we can truly appreciate the "icing on the cake" blessings that the Lord loves to sprinkle into our life!

After this weekend I came up with this new quote to help me remember the kind of attitude I want to have in all situations:

"Be joyful even when your circumstances aren't the best, because then when you have the best of circumstances you know how to be truly thankful!"

This picture of my Nator captures his fun-loving self & his love for lounging out in his robe. He also looks forward to waking up every morning to enjoy his morning news, coffee, eggs, and toast. He is a simple man with a big Heart! I am beyond thankful for him!

I love Birthdays!

My birthday is in  2 days, but my family is already sending me packages in the mail.  Y'all are the best!  My mom even had a delicious b-day cake delivered to my work today!   She is a pro at making people feel special....I feel so loved:)   It's fun to have family that loves  gifts and celebrating.  THANKS EVERYONE!!   

A Musical Treasure!

Singer/Songwriter Diane Birch recently debuted her first album and it's sooo good! Listening to her is like listening to a combo platter of my favorite female artists. There is no way I could describe Diane Birch's music in one word..she is very eclectic...Her music is soulful, jazzy, catchy, bluesy, and easy to listen to.

So, if you want an amazing album beginning to end...You gotta download her's-DUHH! It's only 7.99 on itunes. You can even listen to her music on her website: http://www.dianebirch.com/

MG, you will love her-She reminds me of Carole King!

It Works and It's Free!

Disposable paper toilet seat covers are the best thing since sliced bread! I'm not even kidding.... Recently I heard that these seat covers could be used for blotting excess oil off your face and keeping you shine free. Well, today I tried it.....and yup they work just as well or better than the Clean and Clear blotting sheets you get at Walgreens. They might not be the most glamorous thing to carry around, but these little toilet seat covers definitely save you from a summer meltdown and spending money!

Now we can freshen ourselves up for free & feel like smart resourceful women!!

2 of my favorites - BFF'S & FROZEN YOGURT!!

This weekend was so much fun:) My college BFF, Caroline came for a visit! She is such a sweet & fun friend. My husband and I have an obsession with giving our friends silly nicknames. Caroline has several- Carol, Party, and Clownfish. It was such a treat to hang out with Clownfish this weekend, and her visit couldn't have come at a better time. My hubby has been gone for about a week. Today he's in Wake Island and will be leaving for Japan this evening. He has been sending me pictures (via text) of the most beautiful beaches, and is enjoying the gorgeous scenery that is surrounding him! I need to hide in his suit case next time he leaves for an amazing tropical island!

I was so thankful that I did not have to spend a weekend by myself. Carol and I talked and talked and talked ...I won't be surprised if I wake up tomorrow to discover that I lost my voice. On a side note- The first weekend Nator (my hubby) and I met we stayed up til 4 in the morning talking, and he lost his voice! It was awesome. Clownfish and I also had the best time walking around downtown Philly and checking out all the historical sites. We ate lunch at the Reading Terminal Market which is a HUGE farmers market with every type of food imaginable. We had to take a few laps before deciding what to order. After leaving Philadelphia we decided to try this new yogurt shop. This new yogurt shop, Sprinkles, is pretty much the ultimate way to experience frozen yogurt. It's self serve with about 15 flavors choices. You can mix as many yogurt flavors and toppings as you want. I was in munchy heaven...everyone knows I could live off frozen yogurt! They just weigh it all at the end and charge you based on the weight. Well...Let's just say that I got a little Outta Control! My cup was pretty much over-flowing with about 6 different flavors 2 toppings and some chocolate fudge. It was spilling all over me(typical). One thing my grandpa used to say to me is "You can dress her up, but you can't take her town". I always know how to spill things on myself! When the guy rang me up I couldn't believe that I was spending $8 dollars on yogurt just for me! It must have weighed about a pound. This whole buffet style, money making, get you fat fast yogurt scheme might just be dangerous for us yogurt fanatics....but it was soo good. And everyone deserves a little treat. I can't wait for my Nator to try it out!! He should be home in about a week. YAY!! Hope you are ready to try it next weekend, Mama Gator.

Hair Help!

I absolutely love beauty products...Make-up, body lotions, perfumes, brushes, gels, creams, exfoliators, masks...you name it...I've tried it!   Yesterday, as I was cleaning my bathroom I was reminded of my ridiculous collection of hair products.  I'm convinced that I have bought, tried, researched, or at least thought about buying more hair products than anyone I know!  When you have curly, frizzy, crazy hair like me you want to believe that there is something out there that will give you shiny, bouncy, non frizzy curls; and a product that will give you straight, silky, glistening hair when you want to style your  hair straight.  It is  imperative that I am stocked with plenty of products to combat any type of weather...especially now that I live in the ever evolving conditions of Dirty Jersey.  My huz is part to blame for my hp collection because he loves for me to change up my hair style.  So, in part I am doing it for him!!  Okay Okay-that is a bit of a stretch, but I do like to look good for my Nator!  

With a degree in marketing , I am continually amazed by the way I buy into the marketing schemes.   A few days ago I bought a product called Curly Sexy Hair desperately hoping it would be that magic wand product I have always dreamed of...just hop out of the shower, towel dry my hair, and let the product work it's magic.  After waking up yesterday and trying the "curly sexy hair" product, I was tempted to take out a black marker cross out "sexy" and write "Frizzy Tangled Mess"  on the bottle. Someone at work even told me I look tired.  All I could say is "thanks"(definitely got 7+ hours of sleep..thank you very much!).  I immediately pulled out my mirror to find that my hair  looked like wet dog hair .  I mean, what are you supposed to say when someone says you look tired.    They might as well have said that you're lookin gross today-because telling someone they look tired is never a good thing.  Another guy at work walked by my desk and gave me an odd glance and said (or asked...I couldn't really tell if he was asking or telling me) "new hair do.?".  I never quite know how to respond to those half question half comments either...Maybe, I am just defensive because all I acquired from this "sexy product" was odd glances,  a rude comment, and a tangled mess.   All I wanted was beautiful sexy curly hair and a few compliments!  Oh well, I guess the quest continues.   In the near future I plan on organizing my bathroom and chunkin some of these BAD BAD LIAR  products out the window.  If you have curly or frizzy hair stay tuned because soon I'll be posting the scoop on  my favorite hair products and any other beauty products I can't live without. 

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Elizabeth Brazeal is my beautiful Sister-in-Law! Thought I would write a little acrostic poem that describes her!

Excellent listener
Loves the Lord
Innocent
Zeal for life
Artistic & Athletic
Beautiful
Elegant
Thoughtful & Talented
Has a Huge Heart

Love you Liz!!

Thankful!

Finally, I have decided to let everyone know what’s going on in my life and in my head!!
Friends have asked me why I don’t have a blog, and my usual response is "my life is just not that exciting". So, I have decided to spice up life a little by blogging about it.

This past weekend the Lord taught me so much about his impeccable timing and his kindness & thoughtfulness towards me. He truly does care about every little detail. My journey started when I arrived in College Station last Thursday to celebrate my baby brother, Zack graduating from College. My itty bitty baby brother was never supposed to grow up….tear tear. Zack if you are reading this, I am so proud of you. You have grown up to be such a Stud!! My husband, Steve, stayed in New Jersey because he had to work. At the last minute he was put on the schedule for a 2 week trip to Hawaii & Japan that would be taking off on Saturday while I was in College Station. For those who don’t know, my husband is a pilot for the air force and flies a big air-to-air tanker...more on my husbands plane sometime later. I was excited to be with family and see my brother graduate, but I was also torn because I wish my husband could have been with all of us. Throughout the trip a piece of my heart was heavy because I was not spending time with Steve before he left on his trip. My flight out of Houston was scheduled arrive back to New Jersey on Sunday at 10:00p.m. I decided to change my flight to an earlier one, so that my parents who would be driving me to the airport on their way home to McAllen (a 6 hour drive) could get an earlier start on their return home. The change would also allow me to get some rest and unpack before a full week of work. I had to wait until Sunday Morning before my flight to see if they had any openings. When I called Steve on Saturday I discovered that his take off time would be delayed until Sunday Morning.

So, on Sunday morning I woke up early and called the airport and had no problem changing to an earlier flight. My new arrival time would be 4:30 pm. When I called Steve, I discovered he was once again delayed, and now scheduled to leave early on Monday morning. I was sooo soo happy & thankful!! The Lord was giving me a whole evening to enjoy with my husband. When my plane landed that afternoon, I was overjoyed to see my HOT & AMAZING husband there to greet me at the airport and we enjoyed a wonderful evening together before he left for his trip! This was all truly a gift from the Lord, and a reminder to me that He loves to take care of every little aspect of my life!!

Ooops.. I forgot to mention I had the best time while I was in College Station. It was so great to spend time with my family, see Zack graduate, enjoy Megan and Ranger’s beautiful new home, and eat yummy munchies. I seriously have the best family ever! Love y’all :)

Happy Aniversary Mama-Gator & PJ!!

One more thing, My parents are pretty incredible. They just celebrated their 33rd aniversary this past weekend! Love you & thanks for showing me what it means to love unconditionally:)