Pioneer Woman Book Signing

Yes, this post is a bit late but I wanted to get it out there. Ellen and I went to The Full Circle Bookstore in 50 Penn Place on Thursday, Oct 29. The book signing started at 6:30pm, we got there at 6pm and the line was probably already 200ish people long. We knew we were in for a LONG night!! I think the line started finally moving about 7:15 or so. We saw several news media, met some new friends (Hi Scott & Amy), and Ellen and I bonded!! Ahhhh, good times!! A glass of wine and some snacks would have made it all better, although Scott did come through on the snacks later in the night!! Ha!! Anyway, we finally got to meet Ree, AKA The Pioneer Woman, about 9:40pm. She is the nicest person, very genuine! I'm not sure I would still be so 'happy' after signing SO many books but she was wonderful. I had her sign three books, one for me and one for my mom and Nancy! They were Christmas presents for my moms!! My mom has already read it front-to-back and has made 2 or 3 recipes. She loves it! I will agree, it is a GREAT book...very well written/made. Ree is a VERY talented woman. If you haven't checked out her cookbook you should...it's worth it. You can click HERE to check out The Pioneer Womans website...not only can she cook, but she can write and is a talented photographer.
Some of the line...

Me, Ellen & Ree

Thompson Tree Lighting

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Elf on OUR Shelf

We've been visited this year by a little guy in red; our very own Elf. The kids have given him the name Schmoopy. Here's how he works...everyday he sits on a shelf and watches the kids and at night, while the kids are sleeping, he flys off to Santa to report on how the kids acted that day. In the morning, when the kids wake up they get to look around to find where Schmoopy has landed for the day. It's always fun to see where he ended up. BUT, there is one stipulation...no one can touch the elf or he loses his power and won't be able to fly back to Santa.

Easton and Olivia have had a fun time looking for him every morning and imagining him flying off to see Santa. We've not had very good luck on the side of what he might be reporting to Santa, it hasn't seemed to phase their behavior any!! Urgh!! I hope this is a tradition we can carry on with our grandkids cause it's a fun one!!
Here's the book that tells the story of the elf!

Crazy places 'Schmoopy' has shown up...

It's a Shabby Souls Kind of Christmas

One thing I truly enjoy is getting together with my Shabby Souls. I think a couple of reasons is because of the unique way this group came together in the first place and the other reason being how I went from hating to read when I was younger to now loving it!! Anyway, our meeting for this month was our First (hopefully annual) Christmas Dirty Santa. Each of us brought a new, wrapped book that we ourselves would like to read. Nicole and Natalie cooked up some yummy goodies too!!
All because two girls became friends...


The gifts before our game of Dirty Santa, Shabby Soul style!

This is the book I left with...LOVE IT!!!! Thanks Nicole!!

Iron Man 2

The previews for Iron Man 2 have been released and I am so excited. The kids and I watched the first one and LOVED it. Robert Downey Jr. plays this character amazingly and reminds of what an excellent actor he is. I know, I know, some of you are probably rolling your eyes but if you haven't seen the first one you really should...it's worth it. Click HERE to watch the trailer and leave me a comment with what you think. I know me and the kids will be in for some popcorn and a comfy seat at the Warren come next May!!!

Happy "8th" Birthday Easton!

Eight years ago today God brought a sweet little baby boy into this world...can you hear the squealing of breaks as you read that? Anyone that knows Easton knows that sweet isn't always the best word to use when describing him. In fact, for his birthday I bought him a shirt that says, "I'm Not Trying to be Difficult it Comes Naturally"! Yep, that about sums up Easton. He really is a fun kid and he does keep us on our toes; we never know what his reaction is going to be in any situation. But when he wants to be loving he is AWESOME at it!! I've tried to train him to say, "I'm a Lover, not a Fighter!" Seriously, God did bless us with a HUGE-hearted, loving, unpredictable, moody, spirited, sensitive, strong-willed, smart, and God-loving little boy.
WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH LITTLE EASTON!!! HaPpY bIrThDaY!!!

Shabby Souls Night Out

In November us girls went to the Warren to see New Moon...it was GREAT!!! Our seats were in the balcony and we had such a fun time! I always enjoy spending time with my Shabby Soul sistas! We hollered and giggled like high school girls! We're already eagerly anticipating the next movie in the Twilight saga...Eclipse.
Kelly, Jeana, Becky, Karlin & Natalie

Allison, Natalie & Nicole

Kelsie & Megan - Love the shirts, girls!!

Sarah, Nicole, Natalie, Michelle, Becky & Karlin

Jeana, Kelly & Sarah having 'Edward's Kiss'...bluch!!!

All of us in front of the New Moon poster

LSI Ribbon Cutting & Open House

Last Wednesday, Dec 2, was my big debut as event and party planner at my work. I've never had that responsibility and to be honest I wasn't that worried about it. I will say I was ready for that day to be over though!! And look, here I am a week later, alive and still with a job!! Haha!

The President and CEO of our company, Logistic Specialties, Inc., and two Vice Presidents came all the way from Utah to participate in the acitvities. Our office in OK moved this summer from one office park to another, Tinker Business and Industrial Park (TBIP) on the corner of 29th and Sooner Rd, and we wanted to invite people in for an Open House. We had guest from all realms of the aeronautics industry attend, it was a great success. I hired Andrea from Two Olives Cafe and Catering to cater...go with what ya know, right! Well that was smart cause the food got rave reviews! Oh yeah!! I received lots of praise...just bring on the raise!!

Here are some pics from the day!
Jack Srnec, Ken Calhoun, Larry Kennedy, Sean Slatter-CEO & President, Kelly Thompson, Kori Ann Edwards, Jenny Marosok, Allen Shipes, Bill Foster, Tom Hand

Pic of the Food

Let the guys loose in Walmart...

and they seem to find the craziest things. I could not believe what Phil and Parker showed up with when we split up from them the other night at Walmart...but we sure had some good laughs. I wanna know if anyone else had heard of this stuff.



I am not kidding, this is a real thing!! You can click the link below and go to the website...
Anti Monkey Butt Powder

Good times!!

Urgh...

Well, I blew it, that didn't take long. I'm pretty upset with myself but I'm continuing on anyway!! Urgh, it really aggravates me! Sundays are hard but that's no excuse. There were other things I had intended on doing yesterday that didn't get done either. The list is long. I'll double post today, maybe that will make up for no-post yesterday! Man, what a disappointment! :(

Glozell

I've been introduced to someone pretty funny by my cool friend Lainey, her name is Glozell. She posts a lot of videos on YouTube and even has her own blog. She has several funny videos but this one is a current event and we thought it was great!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Her Fearful Symmetry

By Audrey Niffenegger


When Elspeth Noblin dies of cancer, she leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Julia and Valentina. These two American girls never met their English aunt, only knew that their mother, too, was a twin, and Elspeth her sister. Julia and Valentina are semi-normal American teenagers -- with seemingly little interest in college, finding jobs, or anything outside their cozy home in the suburbs of Chicago, and with an abnormally intense attachment to one another. The girls move to Elspeth's flat, which borders Highgate Cemetery in London. They come to know the building's other residents. There is Martin, a brilliant and charming crossword puzzle setter suffering from crippling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Marjike, Martin's devoted but trapped wife; and Robert, Elspeth's elusive lover, a scholar of the cemetery. As the girls become embroiled in the fraying lives of their aunt's neighbors, they also discover that much is still alive in Highgate, including -- perhaps -- their aunt, who can't seem to leave her old apartment and life behind.

I was SO disappointed with this book! My fellow Shabby Soul, Nicole, and I started reading the book at the same time and she only made it through 100 pages because of boredom. I decided to push on through hoping for the 'magic' to begin. Well, it never came. Even up until the last page I was left empty. I didn't connect with the characters, the story or the plot. I was really wanting great things from this book after reading The Time Travelers Wife, Audrey Niffenegers' first book. It was amazing. BTW, it took me two months to get through this book. Sheesh!!

For more book reviews checkout The Shabby Souls blog.

OK Capital Tree Lighting

Tuesday night was the annual Oklahoma State Capital Tree Lighting Ceremony. Governor Brad Henry invites first grades from all over the metro area to come and be a part of this 'festive' event and I use the word festive very loosely! It's more like a 'chaotic' event.
Here's how this works, each class gets a 4-ft tree to decorate, the Governor, First Lady and Santa, along with their entourage, come around to each school for a photo opp, then everyone makes their way down for the actual Tree Lighting Ceremony. I wish I knew how many schools participated but there were 4 floors full of kids, teachers, and their families, oh and media. We went last year with Easton's class. We arrived early, stood around forever and then went down for the Tree Lighting, which by the way was not really appropriate for a bunch of elementary kids. The Governor and someone else gave some speeches and then the tree was lit!! Sounds cool but honestly we couldn't really even see the tree very well, and we actually had good seats.
Okay, so I know it sounds like I'm complaining a lot but I was truly excited about going last year until I got the beat down of the year...ugh!! This year we decided to do things a little differently. We got there right when things were supposed to start, 4:30, but we forgot to take into account the security line we'd have to wait in. We made it to Livie's class tree at 4:39, the Governor and his group were already there for the photo opp!! REALLY!!! I threw Livie into the picture and ran in front of everyone to at least try and get a decent picture!! Yes, I'm that mom!! Mrs. Dorran, Liv's teacher, said we were the Governor's first stop, figures! After that we let Livie hang out with some of her friends for a little bit and get a few pics and then we were ready to go!!
I guess I wouldn't discourage people from going but just be forewarned that it is pure madness!!!
Just in time...

Olivia with Mrs. Dorran

Olivia, Alyssa & Audrey

Olivia showing off the ornamnent she made for the tree

30 Days of Blogging

My Super-Cool friend Shannon has inspired me to take on a challenge. She too has a blog, A Plumb Crazy Life, and I don't think she would mind me saying that she was not a 'regular' blogger. So she decided to challenge herself to 30 days of straight blogging. Yesterday was her 30th day and she did it...YAY ShanCat!!! Since I have been less than dedicated to my blog lately I decided to take on her challenge, maybe inspired is a better word. Truth be told I was going to start yesterday since it was the first of December and go the whole month but that didn't happen. Hehe! I know, it looks like I'm already getting off on a bad start but you just watch...and read!!