I am not a big fan of St. Patty's day. I do wear my green, will drink a green beer but I feel as if it is the cursed day for me... not so much here lately but experiences of the past remind me of things that happened a few years ago... so excuse my 'blues' this day!
Bad St. Patty's Day #1:
5 am on 3.17.2005 I get a call that my mother has taken my father to the hospital. He was undergoing treatment for lung cancer at the time and had developed pneumonia. He walked into the ER - couldn't breathe. They stabilized him to transport him to UNC. My mom went the 2 miles home to grab some clothes and when she returned he was coding and they had to put a breathing tube in. He did get the breathing tube out but it was the 'beginning of the end'. He passed away a month later on April 16.
Bad St. Patty's Day #2
3.17.2006
Well it was more of a bad weekend really. Friday I go home to see my grandparents who were in from GA. They took my grandfather to the hospital with severe stomach pains. Ended up just being kidney stones but the hospital was the last place I wanted to be a year later. The next day I had a trip planned with some girlfriends. Coming home we got into an accident and I wrecked.. no... totaled my new Volvo. talk about unlucky!
No major accidents since then so i hope i don't jinx my good luck...
Today I will toast my green beer to my father and my old Volvo. Rest in Peace! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Not giving Wedding Favors...GASP!
That's right, you heard it from me..we are not giving out wedding favors! No cookies, mints, M&Ms, Almonds, Koozies or Hershey kisses... Instead Bo and I are going to donate to two organizations that are near and dear to our hearts in honor of all our guests.
What two organizations you ask...?
Well the first should be obvious... the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership. Although I work for this organization it is very personal and something I am passionate about. And just know 84 cents per dollar goes to research, awareness and education programs so I wont be funding my own salary, I promise! The Mission of this organization is to decrease deaths due to lung cancer and help patients live longer and better through research, awareness and advocacy.
The second organization we are donating to is the National MS Society - most likely the Eastern NC chapter. Bo's grandmother has MS and I have a family member and friend with it as well. The Society's mission is to mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS.
I would encourage anyone who wants to also donate in honor of our wedding to do so at the links above! They are both great organizations that do a lot of good!
So although you aren't receiving a real favor I am really excited about how we are going to display this! I ordered 'mini' cards with our engagement photos on one side and a little explanation on the other! I plan to make them like little bookmarks.. so you wont walk away empty handed. Check out Moo.com for an example of these mini cards.. they are great for photographers. I'm really excited for them to come in! And they were VERY affordable! http://us.moo.com/
110 days!!!
:-)
What two organizations you ask...?
Well the first should be obvious... the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership. Although I work for this organization it is very personal and something I am passionate about. And just know 84 cents per dollar goes to research, awareness and education programs so I wont be funding my own salary, I promise! The Mission of this organization is to decrease deaths due to lung cancer and help patients live longer and better through research, awareness and advocacy.
The second organization we are donating to is the National MS Society - most likely the Eastern NC chapter. Bo's grandmother has MS and I have a family member and friend with it as well. The Society's mission is to mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS.
I would encourage anyone who wants to also donate in honor of our wedding to do so at the links above! They are both great organizations that do a lot of good!
So although you aren't receiving a real favor I am really excited about how we are going to display this! I ordered 'mini' cards with our engagement photos on one side and a little explanation on the other! I plan to make them like little bookmarks.. so you wont walk away empty handed. Check out Moo.com for an example of these mini cards.. they are great for photographers. I'm really excited for them to come in! And they were VERY affordable! http://us.moo.com/
110 days!!!
:-)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Facebook News
If you get offended easily - maybe you shouldn't read this... but it's my blog and these are my feelings and opinions. :-)
While I am the first to admit that I am the biggest Facebook addict... if I learn of another close friends or family member's pregnancy or engagement, hospitalization via Facebook I am going to go insane! No really!
Two recent observations about facebook:
1. I think society has gotten so impersonal and honestly tells too much of their business on facebook. If you don't want the whole world poking in your business, asking questions and being up your butt then don't put it out there for people to see. If you do want people in your business... well that is your own deal...
Yes I post comments, status updates very commonly but I am very aware of what I am putting out there and how it can effect other people. My rule - keep it generic (ie you don't need to know when I have a crappy day, Bo and are fighting or every time something goes bad in my life - if I want you to know i will tell you.) -
2. Let people tell their OWN news first....a don't post a "CONGRATS I'm so excited for you two" if the person has not updated their own status first....Is it sad you have to tell people... "Please don't post this on facebook?"
Situation A. My LOVELY cousin Amber is having a BABBBYYYY! Luckily she called and told me before it was posted it all over facebook.
Situation B. My cousin ASHLEY RAND is engaged to ROSS!! High School Sweethearts - adorable couple and so happy for them! Ashley's brother Brian announced to the world - the same night- that they are engaged. Now cousin being engaged -- At least give them a night or two to tell the family - I mean it's one thing to get a call from my mother or grandmother and not directly from Ashley in this case - Ashley and I are close but there's a lot of frickin' cousins on that side. I didn't want to find out on FACEBOOK!
Situation C. My bestest friend since 2nd grade got engaged! I am so happy for her but I accidentally found out through a posting (not hers - someone posted on her wall) - it was done in pure excitement a mere 1 hour after they got engaged. While I am SUPER excited and was the next on the call list after her mother and brother - Facebook got to me sooner. And by no means does it take away the excitement I have for her and her fiancée but I just had a different vision of how I would learn my best friend is marrying the love of her life!
Situation D. My own engagement - I love you Jenna Perry... but she did let the cat out of the bag a little earlier than I wanted. I had been on the phone all day and Jenna in her over excited state (which i loved btw) wrote congrats on my wall and then started to get more texts...Sorry for those who thought you deserved a phone call.. people got too excited and well I had been on the phone all day. Most people did know but there were still a few on my list to call...
So here is the moral of the post:
Stop telling me personal intimate details of your life... and please let people post their own big news on facebook or the internet or other social media websites.
While I am the first to admit that I am the biggest Facebook addict... if I learn of another close friends or family member's pregnancy or engagement, hospitalization via Facebook I am going to go insane! No really!
Two recent observations about facebook:
1. I think society has gotten so impersonal and honestly tells too much of their business on facebook. If you don't want the whole world poking in your business, asking questions and being up your butt then don't put it out there for people to see. If you do want people in your business... well that is your own deal...
Yes I post comments, status updates very commonly but I am very aware of what I am putting out there and how it can effect other people. My rule - keep it generic (ie you don't need to know when I have a crappy day, Bo and are fighting or every time something goes bad in my life - if I want you to know i will tell you.) -
2. Let people tell their OWN news first....a don't post a "CONGRATS I'm so excited for you two" if the person has not updated their own status first....Is it sad you have to tell people... "Please don't post this on facebook?"
Situation A. My LOVELY cousin Amber is having a BABBBYYYY! Luckily she called and told me before it was posted it all over facebook.
Situation B. My cousin ASHLEY RAND is engaged to ROSS!! High School Sweethearts - adorable couple and so happy for them! Ashley's brother Brian announced to the world - the same night- that they are engaged. Now cousin being engaged -- At least give them a night or two to tell the family - I mean it's one thing to get a call from my mother or grandmother and not directly from Ashley in this case - Ashley and I are close but there's a lot of frickin' cousins on that side. I didn't want to find out on FACEBOOK!
Situation C. My bestest friend since 2nd grade got engaged! I am so happy for her but I accidentally found out through a posting (not hers - someone posted on her wall) - it was done in pure excitement a mere 1 hour after they got engaged. While I am SUPER excited and was the next on the call list after her mother and brother - Facebook got to me sooner. And by no means does it take away the excitement I have for her and her fiancée but I just had a different vision of how I would learn my best friend is marrying the love of her life!
Situation D. My own engagement - I love you Jenna Perry... but she did let the cat out of the bag a little earlier than I wanted. I had been on the phone all day and Jenna in her over excited state (which i loved btw) wrote congrats on my wall and then started to get more texts...Sorry for those who thought you deserved a phone call.. people got too excited and well I had been on the phone all day. Most people did know but there were still a few on my list to call...
So here is the moral of the post:
Stop telling me personal intimate details of your life... and please let people post their own big news on facebook or the internet or other social media websites.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
How to Make Peanut Butter Balls
When I was little, the three things I remember making with my mom at Christmas were icebox fruit cake in the shape of Rudolf (cool to make but not my favorite), Mounds balls dipped in chocolate (yuck, I hate coconut), and peanut butter balls - dipped in chocolate of course. Y.U.M! So since I have been bragging here is the recipe!
You will need:
Peanut butter - Crunchy kind - about 18 oz
You will need:
Peanut butter - Crunchy kind - about 18 oz
Graham Crackers -
about 1.75 cups
Break them into crumbs:
2 (yes, 2) sticks of Butter (or margarine, I really don't know the difference) - Melt it down a bit
1lb bag of powdered sugar - yes the entire thing!
You can also add a little vanilla but it's not absolutely necessary.
Anyway mix it all together:
Then mush it all together (wash your hands first, and after!)
Then refrigerate for about 20 minutes.. Then roll your balls. This recipe makes about 7 doz
Then freeze them for about 20-30 minutes. Get some Chocolate Bark (I like the kind that comes with a microwavable tray) and dip the balls in the chocolate!
The end.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Wedding Planning!
Bo & I have actually gotten a lot done considering how busy we have been between Free to Breathe season and everything else! We are getting married at Marbles Kid's Museum/IMAX downtown, we have Nicole Faby Photography reserved for the photos and I actually already have my dress!
Next up is catering and floral. I have 2 catering proposals and am waiting for a 3rd. EVERY single caterer we have met with has rescheduled our initial consult...I know it happens but 3 times with 3 different caterers. -- geez. It makes me have nightmares how much this all costs. So to avoid that topic.... here are some engagement photos from Nicole Faby!
Next up is catering and floral. I have 2 catering proposals and am waiting for a 3rd. EVERY single caterer we have met with has rescheduled our initial consult...I know it happens but 3 times with 3 different caterers. -- geez. It makes me have nightmares how much this all costs. So to avoid that topic.... here are some engagement photos from Nicole Faby!
A busy Fall!
This fall has been EXTREMELY Busy - So Let's recap!
We moved into our house in August and LOVE IT! ( Photos soon - my house is a mess!)
In September we took a vacation with my Grandparents - Grandma and Old Man and my cousin Amber & her husband Chad - we went for the Frank E. Evans Navy Ship Reunion. We had such a good time!
Old Man on the ship!
By far this was one of the best vacations ever! :-)
We moved into our house in August and LOVE IT! ( Photos soon - my house is a mess!)
In September we took a vacation with my Grandparents - Grandma and Old Man and my cousin Amber & her husband Chad - we went for the Frank E. Evans Navy Ship Reunion. We had such a good time!
At La Jolla!
Amber, Grandaddy and Me before a Navy Ship tour.
After the Frank E. Evans Reunion Bo & I decided to stay a few extra days! Sunday we ventured off to Point Loma and Sunset cliffs....
We decided to have a picnic!
Little did I know he was planning to propose!
Post- Proposal!
The future Mr. & Mrs. Hooper!
Anaheim Angels' Game
By far this was one of the best vacations ever! :-)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Paint, Paint everywhere!
Painting done:
Master Bedroom - Check
Master Bath - Check
Office - Check
Ugly beige trim downstairs turned white -almost check
counter table thingie painted white - Check
Bookshelf painted - check
I have the best brother in the world! He has spent the past two days with me painting!! Photos soon! I packed my cord! This staycation has been consumed with painting.
To go:
Finish trim
guest bathroom
touch up master.
THE END IS IN SIGHT!
Ready for the BEACH on Thursday! - at least for a little over 24 hours! :-)
Master Bedroom - Check
Master Bath - Check
Office - Check
Ugly beige trim downstairs turned white -almost check
counter table thingie painted white - Check
Bookshelf painted - check
I have the best brother in the world! He has spent the past two days with me painting!! Photos soon! I packed my cord! This staycation has been consumed with painting.
To go:
Finish trim
guest bathroom
touch up master.
THE END IS IN SIGHT!
Ready for the BEACH on Thursday! - at least for a little over 24 hours! :-)
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