Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I wanted to wait and post after I downloaded my Christmas pictures, but I'm bored, so I will just add them later.

We have been in Houston for 4 days now, and I've decided I'm probably not cut out for a big city. I do pretty well in Atlanta because I stay with Tracy, and everywhere I go is super close to their apartment. Houston isn't that easy. I decided to go to the mall yesterday... alone (mistake number one). I gave Mike a GPS for Christmas, and I noticed that the mall was only 3.8 miles away; I figured it couldn't be that hard to find (mistake number two). It took me 25 minutes to get there, and I didn't even make a wrong turn! Traffic was terrible... on a Sunday! Once I got to the mall (or at least what I thought was the mall), I parked at Dillards. I walked in and was immediately overwhelmed by the size of Dillards. It was at least four stories!! There were two floors of women's clothing. You'd think I would have been in heaven, but I was too overwhelmed to be excited. I decided to just go to the "mall" part. After walking around two different floors for 10-15 minutes, I asked an associate how to get to the mall. She proceeded to tell me to go "downstairs, OUTSIDE, through Neiman Marcus, then into mall... and it closes in 45 minutes!" I threw in the towel at that point. It took me 10-15 minutes to find the floor I parked on, and I've never been so relieved to walk out of a store. SO, the plan is for Mike to take me back this afternoon:) I obviously need some assistance, and he was the one who got me excited about the mall in the first place by telling me it was incredible. Now, he'll get to experience it with me;I'm sure he can hardly wait!

I hope everyone had a good Christmas! Ours was great- just too short, as usual. We had fun spending time with family and friends. Here are a few pictures from Christmas (courtesy of Mom and Aunt Connie). Try not to laugh at Mom's Christmas sweater; she thinks she has to wear something festive each year:)

Here's to a great 2008!! 2007 has ended well... Alabama even pulled out a WIN last night:)

Busy busy busy

Even though it's extremely busy, I love this time of year!! We've had a great December! We spent last weekend babysitting Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. It was super fun. Here is a picture of Bailey, Mike and sweet Reese.

We went to Atlanta to shop and see Tracy and Travis, and we had a great time! Mike would probably have to take away my debit card (notice I said debit, because I don't have any credit cards) if I lived that close to Lenox Mall. We also went to Phipps Plaza to catch a glimpse at the famous Santa, but he was gone by the time we got there that night.

Mike is in Houston, so I spent this weekend going to Christmas parties and organizing our house. Normally I just have time to clean the visable parts of the house, so this was a different kind of challenge. It's kind-of annoying because I've worked hard, but the house still looks dirty because the things I've worked on aren't obvious (closets, drawers, etc.)

I only have one more Christmas gift to buy, and I plan to get it this afternoon and be finished. We are spending Christmas Eve in Atlanta and Christmas day in Auburn-Opelika then Opp. Mike and I are going to Houston Dec. 27; I'm staying for a week, and he's staying 11 days. We are renting a car for the first time, and I'm looking forward to it. If anyone has any suggestions regarding food, shopping, etc. please pass them along. Mike and his dad went to a NBA game last night and were planning to go to Joel Osteen's church today. He comes home Wednesday or Thursday, and Bailey and I can't wait to see him. In case I don't post again before Christmas, have a very Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Cards

I LOVE Christmas cards! I especially love cards with pictures! I was going through old Christmas cards a few days ago, and I loved seeing how families have changed over the years. We didn't get many picture cards in 2004. We got tons of them in 2005, with lots of wedding and puppy pictures. Last year was the first year we got lots of cards with babies on them. I'm expecting a good 50-60% baby pictures this year, and I'm excited! Our card will once again feature Mike, Bailey and me. I wanted to use a solo picture of Bailey this year, but Mike thinks the whole family needs to be in the Christmas card picture (I disagree). As we took pictures Sunday, I was reminded of how hard it is to get a dog to cooperate for pictures. I know children are difficult, but at least they are cute regardless.

Here is the picture of Bailey I wanted to use. Wouldn't it have been perfect with a "Have a Doggone Merry Christmas" title?

My Favorite Websites

The mumps are gone! Actually, I guess I just had "mump" because only one side of my face was swollen and sore. The swelling was much better by Saturday, and by Monday I looked and felt completely normal again. I haven't talked to a single person that has heard of somebody having mumps in the last 20 years, so I guess I am really part of the 2% failure rate of the mumps vaccine. Crazy!

While I was "quarantined" this weekend, I had plenty of time to spend on the Internet. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading blogs about "Favorite things." I've gotten so many great ideas for presents and for my own Christmas list! I wouldn't know where to begin compiling a list of my own favorite things, but I thought it would be fun to list my favorite websites... especially because it's super easy to click on my Favorites folder and list the sites! In random order, here are some of my favorites...

Kodak Photo Gallery (previously known as Ofofo)... I've tried lots of sites to download pictures, and I've had the best luck with this one. We've ordered our Christmas cards from Ofoto every year. You can download your pictures, order them, and have them shipped to a CVS near you or your house!

Overstock... I did a whole post about them! They have super cheap shipping and great deals! I've ordered everything from a comforter and pillows to books, and I've been pleased with every purchase!

Ebay... If you are looking for something "random," look on Ebay first! I have an old pair of ballet/athletic shoes, and I want them in another color. I couldn't find them anywhere except Ebay. And for all of you with children, I've heard Ebay has great deals on nice brands of children clothes. It's a great way to sell things too! I sell clothes on Ebay each season. I've learned that almost any recognized name-brand item described as "flattering" and in good condition will sell. It's easy too! Just take pictures, download them and start selling! I sold some Vera Bradley dog collars, and Bailey made such a pretty model.



















Horchow... This is a new favorite! They have great deals on Ralph Lauren towels, and sometimes they offer free monogramming! They also have lots of other fun home stuff.

















Retail Me Not... My mom introduced me to this incredible site! Never order anything from online stores (J Crew, Banana Republic, Old Navy, etc.) without checking this site first! It gives you promotional codes that help you save lots of money on your online orders.

People... If you enjoy celebrity news/gossip like I do, People is great! And I've heard it's the most "legitimate" celebrity magazine. You don't even have to subscribe to the magazine!

Myspace... I used to spend hours on Myspace! Now, I just check my page (along with my Facebook page-- because I am a DORK) occasionally. Don't worry, I keep my pages private, so only my "friends" can see them. It really is a good way to keep in touch with people.

ALAMLS.COM is another favorite. I love looking at houses! This occasionally leads to random drive-bys of houses we could never afford, but it can be really fun.

Of course I also check friends (and friends of friends) blogs. You can click on the links on our page to see some of my favorites.

If you have any favorite websites, please share! My Favorites folder has plenty of room to grow!

Thanksgiving Mumps

Yes, you read the title correctly. This is a Thanksgiving we will remember.

Mike and I came to Opelika yesterday to start the Thanksgiving festivities. We went out to the land and rode 4-wheelers with my parents, Tracy and Travis. We built a bonfire in the rain and roasted hot dogs and smores. It was so much fun, but by the end of the night, my neck/face/jaw was really hurting. It started hurting a few days ago, but I figured I'd eaten too much candy, chewed too much gum, or maybe even grind my teeth during my sleep.

Well, I noticed a "lump" yesterday, and as the night progressed, it got bigger and more painful. I went to bed praying it would go away so we could take our Christmas card pictures today.

At 5am, I couldn't handle the pain anymore (and honestly, looking at the huge growth on my face freaked me out). I got up, threw on some jeans and told Mike we were going to the ER. At age 27, today was my first ER visit as a patient. Mike and my dad came along, and thank God Dr. Crosby was there! I've always liked him, and it was great to see a familiar face. My diagnosis... MUMPS! My first comment... "I thought only children in third world countries got mumps!" Apparently not! And yes, I got the vaccination when I was little (my mom made sure to pull out my baby book and showed me that I got vaccinated not once, but twice; one time at 15 months then another time at age 11).

Unfortunately, my grandmother never had mumps, so she couldn't come to Thanksgiving lunch today. Our niece, Hannah, hasn't been vaccinated yet, so we couldn't go to Opp and have Thanksgiving with Mike's family tonight. I pretty much ruined Thanksgiving with my rare, painful mumps. And of course we did not take any Christmas card pictures today (I took a picture of myself just to prove I'm not exaggerating, but it's not going to make the blog)!

Mumps and all, I am very blessed and have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving!

$1 Shipping at Overstock.com

Overstock.com is offering $1 shipping on EVERYTHING! This offer ends tomorrow, Monday, so hurry and check it out! Overstock is one of my favorite places to shop, because they show you how much money you are saving by buying things there.

I was pleasantly surprised this afternoon when I noticed a $1 shipping charge on my order of a King mattress pad AND King down comforter (which I also saved $270 on, according to Overstock). It even helped me feel better about our old comforter that decided to tear today, sending feathers and fuzzy stuff all over our room. Now that I'm aware of the deal, I've spent the last 2-3 hours looking at everything from toys to tables. Furniture is even included in this amazing offer!!

I just started Christmas shopping three days ago, but I'm determined to be finished (or at least close to it) before Thanksgiving; crowded stores make me crazy. It worked out great this year because everyone actually gave me ideas when I asked what they wanted. I spent the entire weekend shopping, and now thanks to Overstock.com, I may actually meet my deadline.

Check out the $260 comforter I got for $89... Mike was so proud of me:)

Lazy weekend and Paintball

I finally figured out how to change my blog design! If anyone is interested, you can click on the banner across the top of my page. I tried to get it off, but I guess it's mandatory if you use the layout.

Mike and I have been lazy this weekend, until today after church when I started vacuuming in my church clothes because I just couldn't stand to look at the dog hair anymore. I went to a meeting last week, and after being around lots of people for three days straight, I needed a break from socializing. We watched football all day yesterday, (that's all I will say about football) and we grilled barbecue chicken and potatoes last night. I love grilling because it doesn't mess up the kitchen. Grilled potatoes are one of our favorites. We cut new potatoes into small cubes, add butter, garlic, salt and pepper, then wrap them in tin foil. Mike puts them on the grill with the meat, and they are awesome!

Has anyone ever played paintball? I know that is random, but I had never played until last week. It was fun... until I got hit. Then it hurt... more than I expected. I have huge bruises on my legs, and Mike thinks they are hilarious. He asked if I just sat there and let people hit me. Umm... no... but I obviously need some practice. If I ever play again, I will proudly sport a padded jumpsuit. Maybe I can wear this ski suit Mike found last year while we were unpacking Christmas decorations. He is going to love that I posted this picture:)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Tomorrow, November 7th, is my Dad's birthday! Happy Birthday Dad! Thank you for everything you do for us! We love you!

Roll Tide!

I thought I would go ahead and write this before the big game today. I love my team, but unlike Mike, I am not confident that Alabama will beat LSU today (I really hope so though!) Mike is in Tuscaloosa, but I decided to stay home and be productive. So far, I'm doing great. I've already done things for work, grocery shopped and started a huge pot of southwestern soup. Cleaning and exercising are next on the agenda, and I'm pretty sure I will let the cleaning classify as exercise and skip the run.

We went to Tuscaloosa for the Georgia game and the Tennessee game this year. We had so much fun seeing friends, tailgating and reminiscing about our old college days. I can't it's been five years since we graduated from college!

Happy Halloween (a few days early)

We are going to be in Houston next week, so I let Bailey wear her costume tonight. She's tried it on a few times, and I will say that tonight was the best time yet... because I had treats! If you notice that she's not looking at the camera, it's because she's looking at the goldfish cracker in my other hand.





















This is Bailey's 3rd Halloween. She was a police dog in 2005 and hated it, probably because it made her ears look funny. Last year, I was lazy and couldn't find an extra-large costume the week of Halloween, so she was "fitness dog." She had gained a few pounds, so the last-minute idea made lots of sense. My sports bra and shorts looked great on her! This year, she is a Queen. I shopped early and still could only find a Large at Old Navy, so it is a little snug. I really wish we were going to be home on Halloween because I know Bailey would be a hit with all of our little trick-or-treaters.

Tigger or Eeyore

If you didn't see Oprah's show yesterday, I'd highly recommend watching it. There was a man named Randy Pausch on the show, and he's been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Doctors say he probably only has a few months to live, and he gives a "Last Lecture" that is awesome! It is not sad or depressing (I would not recommend it if that were the case).

He made a few points that I wrote down and want to remember. The first point is that you decide if you are a Tigger or an Eeyore. You decide to be upbeat and cheerful or sad and whiny--- regardless of your circumstances. If you decide to be a Tigger, you find ways to be optimistic in any situation. He said life is 10% black, 10% white and 80% gray. Some people see that 80% gray as black (don't we all know these people?) and others see that 80% as white. Tiggers probably see white, while Eeyore's see black. Lastly, he says that if you're a Tigger and cheerful, people will run to help you when you face hard times. People like to help Tiggers. If you are sad and pitiful, people may still help you, but they are walking, not running, to help you.

A man that has three small children, a beautiful wife, a great life and has only been given months to live, made this presentation-- what a Tigger! When I woke up this morning and saw it was dreary outside, my first thought was "Yuck! Work is not going to be fun today." Then I thought, "Gosh, that is an Eeyore attitude!" Mike is definitely a Tigger, and I'm going to work on my Tigger attitude.

Happy Birthday TRACY!

Today is Tracy's 24th birthday! Happy birthday T! Thanks for being such a great sister. Her husband, Travis, has a birthday next week. They got married in July. Happy early birthday Travis! We love you both!

Starbucks and Saturdays

It's become a Saturday morning ritual in the Reed house to wake up, throw on comfy clothes, jump in the car and head to Starbucks. Sometimes we go to Hardee's afterwards, and Bailey is often allowed to ride with us; but we ALWAYS go to Starbucks on the Saturdays we are home.

My favorite drink is the venti caramel light frappuccino. It's like a milkshake and makes me oh so happy! But sometimes (like today), it's a little too chilly outside to drink a frozen drink. Days like today I'd recommend a grande nonfat vanilla late or a caramel macchiato. Mike's favorite drink is the white chocolate mocha. I know Starbucks is expensive, but for now, I can justify it because I use my "points" for work to buy Starbucks gift cards.

Thank goodness there is a Starbucks about 2 miles from our house. The employees know me (and even Bailey) by name. I'd be much more proud of that if it meant free drinks!

Welcome

Welcome to our blog! I say "our," but I'm 99% sure that I will be the only one blogging. Mike forgets to check his email, and while Bailey will be a hot blogging topic, she will not be using the computer.
I was skeptical about blogging at first, but I feel like I "owe" all of these people I've "met" through blogs a glimpse into my life. I love reading blogs! I will show Mike a cute picture, and he will ask, "Who is that?" I tell him that I don't really know them, but isn't it a cute picture?! For now, we will only be showing off pictures of our dog, Bailey. She is a yellow lab, and she turned 3 years old in September. We are constantly going back and forth about getting another dog. We love everything about Bailey, except for her constant shedding. I don't know if my vacuum cleaner (even the nice Dyson) could handle double the dog hair. Although, if I were to get a puppy for Christmas, I'd be super excited:) I'm adding pictures of Bailey over the past 3 years.