He Is Real

The past few months have been trying for me [and my honey]. In June, the boys started school. This meant that my hours were sliced in more than just half. They went from 45 to 20. While I knew this was coming, I had no luck finding another job.

With no other choice, my sweet, amazingly wonderful boyfriend said that he would take care of me for the two months that the kiddos were in their summer program for, and I would find a job by then. Well, those two months have come and gone.

August rolled around, I had been on a few interviews, and unfortunately the cards were never dealt in my favor. Luckily, I had four weeks that the boys were out of school, and was able to bump back up to full time.

-Week one, I needed to have surgery

-Week two, I had a blow out and had to buy new tires [goodbye $400 for TWO tires]

-Week three, playing catch up from the previous 2.5 months

-Week four, still playing catch up and our Labor Day trip [$$$]

Other miscellaneous issues included having my wound reopen and having to drive back and fourth over an hour to the hospital where I had surgery, registrations and inspections went out on both vehicles, and a plethora of other expensive curve balls that life throws at us all. Raymond was out of work last week with a toothache, rent is due this week, and I just dropped almost $100 at the Vet.

There I sat, upset, sad, confused, angry and asking why? Why can't I find a job? Why can't we finally just be comfortable? When will the struggle stop? After many days and nights of silent prayers, an entire day filled with back-to-back annoyances and issues for Raymond, I lost it.

Right now I'm feeling like things can't get worse. Now, I know they always could, but everything is so overwhelming right now. I'm ready for things to get back to normal and to finally stop struggling.

These are the times that I really am thankful that I decided to explore my faith and see what was out there. Nothing can overcome His power. He has a plan. He is good. He is real.

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

With a Cherry on Top

The restaurant that I work for is in the running for North America's Best Sports Bar. Pretty pretty please with a cherry and sprinkles on top vote for us, friends! It takes .2 seconds and you can vote as many times as you want!

Click the link below, select Plucker's Wing Bar and click vote. Simple as that!

Vote For Pluckers Here

Thanks, Friends!

Foodie Friday: Chocolate Chip Reeses Blondies

If you're in the market for a big, fluffy chocolate chip cookie bar, you're in luck! I made these blondies a while back before I really knew what blondies were. To be honest, I still don't really know. I'm chalking them up to something like a chocolate chip cookie... bar. Whatever they may be, they surely are delicious!

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Chocolate Chip Reeses Blondies

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Yields: 16-24 servings [depending on what size you cut them]

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup tightly packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup Reeses peanut butter chips

Directions:

Whisk together melted butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla, and whisk until combined. Mix in remaining ingredients and whisk thoroughly. Pour batter into 9x11 glass pan and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and enjoy!

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Sick Obsession

Good morning [or whenever you're reading this] friends! Right now I am so excited to be vegged on the couch with my feet propped up and the TV on. I have forgotten just how tired I am the next day after working evenings on my feet.

Unfortunately Raymond is home with a toothache and let me tell ya, it isn't pretty. His entire jaw is swollen about an inch and he hasn't been able to eat anything for 2 days. For as big of a guy as he is... he is miserable. My heart hurts for him, but luckily he is on antibiotic and we can only go up from here! In the mean time, I'll just continue to boss baby him around.

Like I mentioned before, I'm excited to veg out and that's for mainly one reason only. I have a new sick obsession... The Real Housewives [New Jersey, Orange County, New York]. Okay, okay, I know I'm way behind the times and this show has been around for years and I've known that. The thing is, I swore I'd never watch it. I mean really, the show is freaking ridiculous! These people are living train wrecks and while my heart hurts for their children that have to grow up with parents like that, I can't turn the channel.

I.am.obsessed.

My absolute favorite is New Jersey. I mean, Teresa? I feel so bad for her. Her husband is so scummy! He is a major McDoucherson and I just cannot stand him. I can't figure out if she's really a nut and has lied so much that she actually believes her own lies, or if she isn't lying and the gods just aren't in her favor. Either way, I love her! [Disgusting, isn't it?]

via

 Um, I have that apron. Her and I are like one... except we're not really.

Any ridiculous shows you're crazy about??

The Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, and Cold Beer

Saturday night I went out with some of my girlfriends to Fowler Fest [Texas country music concert with Kevin Fowler as the headliner]. If you're not familiar, here is one of his latest [and greatest] songs:

It had been a while since I hung out with most of these ladies, and I forgot just how awesome it is to have a girl's night! We all had so much fun singing, dancing, and of course having a maybe a few too many drinks.

Marcy, me, Megan, Val, Amanda

Amanda and I came to the conclusion that there really isn't anything better in life than faith, country music, and football.

I know I've said it before, but I could never imagine and never want to live anywhere other than Austin, Texas. I love my city and state and most of the people in it.

We don't take enough time to just stop and smell the roses. While at the concert dancing with my girls, I stopped and looked around at all of the people enjoying the same thing. It's funny how music can unite so many strangers. There are a lot of things in my life I could complain about, but all-in-all, I've got a darn good life and am extremely blessed!

Monday Randoms

Howdy y'all, happy Monday! Are we ready for this week ahead? I'm feeling good and ready to get it started!

+ I started my new old job on Friday and was just so busy that I didn't have a moment to fit a single tweet, let along a blog post in. I missed this little world I have here on the internet, but sometimes it has to take a back seat. I'm pretty sure I wont be able to keep up with 5 posts a week now, but am going to do my best.

+ Speaking of that ol' job, I "trained" all day Friday [9am-2am], and let's just say I felt like I got hit by a bus. My body is used to constant moving from taking care of the boys, but my feet are not used to non-stop walking for 17 hours straight. I came home, went straight to bed, and moaned myself to sleep-- I don't think my feet have ever hurt so bad! I know it's like riding a bicycle, my body will just have to get used to it again!

+ This is NOT how you put on deodorant. Ouch! And yes, I wear men's deodorant-- it works and smells much better than women's! Don't judge.

+ I think it's time for a hair cut [and time to clean my mirror]... I look like Cousin It [Adam's Family anyone?] PS- please excuse the trash hole that is the background of this picture, someone thought it'd be great to tinkle on our comforter so I was in the process of changing the bedding.

+ I am going through a candy phase. I picked up these babies as an impulse buy the other day and then somehow a few days later I ended up with a box of Turtles, Sour Patch Kids, and candy corn. Thankfully I think I got my fix because my waist does not appreciate all that sugar.

+ I got bit by something [pretty sure it was a chigger] last week at my aunt's house and woke up the next morning to this beautiful sight. WHAT THE HECK! It is the weirdest bite I have ever seen in my life!

+ Something else I can't get enough of? These bad boys... fantastic childhood memories for me right here in a little donut! [Can you spot a little beggar in the background?]

+ Two words: Sock obsession. I have always had a deep love of all things fun and/or fuzzy socks. Christmas  and holiday themed are my favorite hands down, but anything other than a plain color can make me dance out a happy jig! I always get socks for Christmas and am NEVER disappointed to find them in my stocking. Right here is 48 pairs of fun socks, and is only about 3/4 of my stash. I might have a problem...

+ I can't get over how big Guero is getting. He weighed in at 50 pounds 2 weeks ago and at the rate he is growing, he is probably 55 by now. Insane! I'm not sure what I'm going to do when he is full grown- I can hardly handle him now! Isn't he handsome?!

Have a beautiful Monday, friends!

Bringing it Back - Accent Vlog

Do y'all remember the accent vlogs that were floating around a while back? Well, I was totally in love with watching all of them but never hopped on the bandwagon myself-- until now. I know I may be a year late, but I figured that with a few new followers these days, it'd be cool for me to put voice behind these words. When I'm reading a blog I always look for videos so that I can see and hear how the author speaks, and thought y'all might be interested as well!


The words:

Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

The Questions:

+ What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
+ What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
+ What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
+ What do you call gym shoes?
+ What do you say to address a group of people?
+ What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
+ What do you call your grandparents?
+ What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
+ What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
+ What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

Notes:

+ The camera starts to shake a little bit because Guero bumped into the table it was sitting on.
+ I'm looking away to read the words, so forgive me for the lack of eye contact.
+ When I answer the question about soda, I made absolutely no sense. I meant to say: You can call a sprite a coke, but you can't call a coke a sprite. Not sure why that was so difficult for me to spit out haha!

Now, without further adieu....

So what do ya think? Big accent? No accent? I'm dying to know!

If you made a vlog feel free to leave the link the comments section-- I'd love to watch them!