Farewell to 2010

Tomorrow being New Year's Eve, I figured it would be a great time to reflect back on this year. 2010 was one of the most difficult and trying years I have ever experienced, but it was also very eye-opening for me.

I realized this year that God had plans for me that were bigger and better than I ever imagined. I tell my friends now that they need to pinch me and wake me up from the dream. I can't believe I am lucky enough to get a second chance with the greatest man I've ever met. Someone who makes me laugh, and dream and pursue all of my goals. A man who supports me, no matter what, and who I love more and more each and every day. As much as I endured over the Spring and Summer of this year, each minute was worth it (to have him), and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I also found over this last year who my REAL friends are, which was difficult to discover. During the lowest of lows, and the worst of times, there were those who stuck by me, listened to me, and helped me wake up each morning. You know who you are, and I just want to THANK YOU for being amazing. The others I found, started rumors and lies and were never true friends, so it's best that we parted ways. No one should ever settle for friends that don't truly care for you, no matter how long you have known them.

Lastly, this year showed me how you can have so much but it's nothing without Love & Happiness. Material things simply do not matter. I loved all that I had, but I didn't need any of it. I just wanted to be happy, and I'm so thankful that I was strong enough to fight for it. Even though finding what I wanted required sacrificing my pride and joy (Max), it wasn't worth continuing in the madness I was having to endure. I miss him every day, but the situation made the answer easy for me. I know he will live a long and happy life, and now I get to focus my love elsewhere. My dad always told me, "LIFE ISN'T FAIR", and there are some things you just have to get over. For me, this was one of them.

I feel 2011 with be absolutely amazing... Happy New Year!!!! I hope it's filled with love, happiness and wonderful friends!!!

End of Year, Thirty by Thirty update...

As the end of 2010 quickly approaches, I find myself reflecting back on my Thirty by Thirty list and all I have accomplished over the last year. There are still a lot of items to complete before the big 3-0, but the list is definitely getting shorter, and I look forward to completing each item before my birthday in 2012!

THIRTY BY THIRTY LIST

1. Go to Mexico (June, 2010)
2. Donate Blood (January, 2010)
3. Take a cooking class (March, 2010)
4. Find a church home and get involved
5. Complete 60 miles in 3 days (November, 2009)
6. Go camping for a weekend and sleep under the stars
7. Run a 5k (April & May, 2010)
8. Visit a vineyard/winery (November, 2010)
9. Take a trip to California
10. Go fishing and bait my own hook
11. Volunteer for a good cause (different than #5)
12. See Central Park and Rockefeller Center in the winter
13. Plan a reunion for all of my first cousins (November, 2010)
14. Take a midnight walk on a beach
15. Lose 10 lbs, and keep it off
16. Invest in stocks that I have researched myself
17. Fix something on my car (change oil, tire, filter, etc)
18. Stay up all night and watch the sun come up the next morning
19. Swim with dolphins (June, 2010)
20. Find a hobby I'm extremely passionate about and enjoy it (November, 2010)
21. Go 1 month without shopping for myself (July-August, 2009)
22. Vegas, Baby!! (November, 2009)
23. Try a food I've never tried before (January, 2010)
24. Take a walk in the rain, on purpose (Goodbye to Max, July, 2010)
25. Spend an entire day with my mom and one with my dad (from breakfast to bedtime) (Mom- July, 2010) (Dad-TBA)
26. Take a day trip (must be more than 60 miles away) (October, 2010)
27. Shoot a gun (March, 2010)
28. Try something daring: zip line (November, 2010)
29. Do something nice for a stranger without them knowing (November, 2010)
30. Personal Goal…

Cousin Reunion(s)

One of the items on my Thirty by Thirty list is to plan a reunion for all my first cousins. Well, scheduling has prevented this from being possible, but we have had a couple of opportunities to get together. During Thanksgiving, a few of us went to Cantina Loredo here in Little Rock, then out to Cajun's Wharf to enjoy some live music by the Big John Miller Band!

Then, this last weekend, my cousin Callie was in town with her husband Jon. We got a group together and headed downtown to Gusano's and then to Ernie Biggs for some piano bar fun!

Christmas Party

Saturday night, Cody and I attended his company Christmas Party at the Agora Center in Conway. The event was amazing. It was beautifully decorated and included dinner, drinks and dancing. I made many new friends and got to meet a lot of Cody's coworkers.


Before heading to the Party

Cody and I

Sarah and I

Ice Skating at the Rivermarket

Friday, December 10th, Cody and I took his neice, Briley, to the outdoor ice skating rink downtown. Briley is 7 and has never been ice skating. Then there is Cody, who hasn't skated since he was in High School, so I knew that the evening would be interesting. I've never laughed as much as I did that night with both of them pulling on me and hanging on to the wall, but we all had a really great time!!

Christmas Projects

This December, I've gotten crafty (well, as crafty as I can get)!! The other day at Target, after seeing the $25 and $30 wreaths, I decided, why not make my own and add a little flair!!?? So, that's exactly what I did! I grabbed red berries, red mesh, and Arkansas Razorback candy canes. Here is how it turned out... not bad!



Last night I finished up decorating the Chistmas tree. This year, I decided to go with black, white and red and it turned out really cute. I love changing it up every year!! I think it makes it fun. I still have some ornaments to add, but I think it's pretty cute so far.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Tomorrow is a day to give Thanks for all the blessings in our lives.

This year, more than ever, I have so much to be thankful for:

my family, Cody, my friends, my dog, being home

in Arkansas, my job, my health, etc, etc.

So, here is to all of my followers and fellow bloggers...

Wishing everyone a safe and happy

Holiday with family & friends!!

#28, Try Something Daring... ZIP LINE!

Webster's Dictionary defines a Zip Line as "a cable suspended above an incline to which a pulley and harness are attached for a rider". My definition, on the other hand, is a little less technical. I would call it was an intimidating but amazing ride!! Adventure Zip Lines in Branson definitely provided the thrill I was looking for in #28 on my 30 by 30 list, Try Something Daring!

The first few times you take off, you are scared of the 70 feet between you and the ground... but after a while, when you pick up on how to gain speed and steer, you realize that you have the most beautiful view of the city, the Sevierville forest canopy and the rest of your surroundings!! Even though I was a little scared at first.... this was definitely an enjoyable experience.

If you are ever in Branson, you should definitely give this a try! http://adventureziplinesofbranson.com/

#8 Visit a Vineyard...well in this case, a Winery

Check off #8... Visit a winery=complete!!

While in Branson, Cody and I took a trip to the Stone Hill Winery. The actual "home" of Stone Hill is Hermann, MO, but they have a location in Branson as well. We loved hearing how the winery was established and touring the facility...but the best part, of course, was the wine tasting!! After this experience, I'm definitely a fan of Stone Hill wines! If you are out looking for an amazing red or white, you should give one of theirs a try.

Just a little history for you: At the turn of the 20th century, Stone Hill Winery was the second-largest winery in the United States and the third-largest in the world; it produced 1,250,000 gallons in 1900. Its wine had won numerous awards in international fairs, including Vienna in 1873, Philadelphia in 1876, and St. Louis in 1904. Due to Prohibition, the winery was closed in 1920, along with virtually all others in the nation. During this time, the family earned money by using its wine cellars to grow mushrooms for sale until 1965. In 1965 the Held family made Stone Hill Winery the first in Missouri to be re-established. In 2008, wine production was 260,000 gallons. The Stone Hill winery is owned by the Held family, with the property passed down from generation to generation.

Trip to Branson & Big Cedar Lodge

Last Wednesday, Cody and I headed out on a much needed getaway to Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, MO. We had an absolute blast!! I got a few things accomplished from my 30 by 30 list (which will be in later posts, of course) and we got in some shopping while we were there. The trip was amazing and Big Cedar is just as wonderful as ever!

Here are some pictures of our 3 days in Missouri.

Our private cabin with a view of the lake. We grilled steaks on the back patio the last night we were there.


Inside our Cabin... there is so much attention to every detail.


Christmas Lights were up at Big Cedar for the Holidays!



Trying to take a self portrait...notice I said trying!


Bent Hook Marina at Big Cedar...we got there after they closed, but the view was amazing.

Branson Landing is ready for Christmas

Fountain at Branson Landing...that's a water show behind us.


Cody had Joe's Crab Shack for the first time!


The last day, we enjoyed spending some time at the stables. You wouldn't believe how many horses we saw. We planned to go horseback riding, but they were closed, and then it rained the next morning.
More Pictures to follow in 30 by 30 posts!!

#20 on my Thirty by Thirty... Trial 1

I'm struggling to find a Hobby that I'm passionate about, or anything that I could say I would enjoy doing every day. I enjoy Blogging, but I don't make a habit of it and sometimes I go weeks or months without a post. I like to shop, but that hobby is way too costly. Cooking is fun but adds pounds to the waistline. So... yesterday, while on my lunch break, I think I decided what I want to attempt.
With all of the moving that has taken place in my life over the last year, I have found that many of my pictures and memorable cards/tickets have been lost in the shuffle. I thought to myself, "if only I was a scrapbooker, then I would have all of those memories neatly in one place". Right then and there, I headed to Hobby Lobby! I loaded up on colorful pages and a nice cloth scrapbook. I even got stickers, markers and glue sticks to put it all together. Now... do not confuse me with the "hard core scrapbookers"... I am not planning to attend any classes or join any clubs. I just want all of my pictures and memorabilia in a place where I can find it, and I suppose making it look cute in the process isn't so bad, right?!?
If anyone else is a scrapbooker, let me know your tips. Hopefully this first project will lead to a new Hobby for me!

"Haute" Razorback Dress!

My great friend and old college roommate, Amber, has started her own business, and I couldn't be happier for her!! "Haute Threads Boutique" specializes in making custom dresses out of your old college t-shirts. Amber makes each dress to the specifications of the customer and each one is different and unique. Just look at the one she made for me:

It's a long sleeve black shirt with embroidered Hog and Houndstooth skirt. I was planning to wear it for the Halloween game vs Vandy but plans changed, so I will definitely be showing it off at the UTEP or LSU game (or maybe both!)

I'm so thrilled for Amber and her new business!! If you are interested in a College/NFL/MLB/Etc custom made dress, let me know, and I will get you in touch with her. She also makes them for young girls and they are absolutely precious.

Thanks again Amber! I truly love it!

"Uncorked" at the Museum of Discovery

Last Thursday afternoon, I got an email from my sister-in-law, Shannon, asking if I would like to attend Uncorked that night. Knowing I didn't have plans, I said sure! Little did I know, I had just signed up for the evening of the month in Downtown Little Rock. Tickets were $100/person and the event hosted Governor Beebe, photographers galore and a silent auction. As we walked in, we were asked to fill out a bidder form and to grab a wine glass, which we got to keep. As we ventured around the museum, we encountered live animals including: termites, a hedgehog & even a baby alligator. There was also a "wine pull" where I won a $93 bottle of wine!!
Baby Alligator
After enjoying appetizers, drinks and a termite race (yea, I said it, and it really happened!!) we walked over to the silent auction. I found a trip to Petit Jean that immediately caught my eye, but apparently everyone else had the same idea. Then I saw the one that had my name all over it... a Tailgate Package from Corky's BBQ! One bid later, and the item was mine.

Just before the Termite Race
Once we all had our fill and the silent auction had closed, we all headed home. I'm so happy I got to attend with Shannon, and our friends Joy and Susanne! What a great time and all the proceeds went to a good cause!

Update on my nephew, Matthew

Here he is... my "favorite deputy", Matthew, AKA Woody, from Toy Story!!

He is now 19 months old and the cutest Trick-or-Treater ever!! He is absolutely amazing to me. Everytime I see a new picture or spend time with him, I fall in love with him even more. I am so blessed and proud to be his Aunt Me(lissa)!

BOOO BASH 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
This year, I was able to attend my cousin's annual BORCHERT BOO BASH in Springdale, AR on October 16th. Cody and I decided to go as Vampires, and we arrived around 9pm. Lots of my family members were already there and dressed in various costumes. From Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren to Longfellow & Lt Dangle, they had the whole spectrum covered. My cousin, David, even dressed as a bearded woman, complete with fish net pantyhose!! That was a little disturbing, but overall the party was a blast. We definitely look forward to next year's event!!


My Sister-in-Law, Shannon, and I


Cody and I, the Vampires!

Goforth Wedding!!

Saturday, October 16, 2010, Cody and I attended the wedding of Deborah Vlasic and Justin Goforth. Cody and Justin have known each other since college and are great friends. He was even a groomsman in the wedding. These two people, Debbie and Justin, are such amazing people and would do anything for their friends. They are the most unselfish people I know and are so blessed to have found each other.

The wedding took place at Chapel on the Creeks with a reception following at Embassy Suites in Rogers, AR. And even though the wedding was occurring while the Hogs were playing Auburn, most people didn't notice. It was absolutely beautiful. Of course, there were a few of us keeping up with the game, but mainly it was Debbie and Justin that everyone was talking about. They both looked fabulous and the whole event was spectacular.

Congratulations to the Bride and Groom! Best Wishes for a wonderful future together!!!



Mr & Mrs Goforth


Groom's Cake...definitely fitting!!


Cody and I at the reception

New Phone!!

After two years of torture to my Red Blackberry Curve (and by this, I mean the salesman couldn't even believe my phone still worked)... I got a new smart phone, and I absolutely love it!! It's the Blackberry Torch by AT&T. I finally have a phone with touch screen and oh man, have I been deprived!! Can't believe it took me this long to see what I was missing. If you haven't seen this phone, you should consider looking into what it has to offer.

Love for Cheese Dip is Infectious!

As many of my friends, family and coworkers know, I have a love for Cheese Dip!!! Not just a love, more like an obsession. Everything about it makes me happy. But it seems that people in other parts of the country just don't get the fascination that we have for the dish here in Arkansas. Even when I moved to TX, I had to explain just how good this wonderful combination of cheese and spices is, and still it wasn't enough. But my wonderful neighbors soon discovered how great the delicacy was and we began having it as a staple at every gathering.

Well now someone has put their foot down and decided to make a statement about it!! Finally we have a reason to Dip Our Chip!!! This year, North Little Rock is hosting the FIRST ANNUAL CHEESE DIP CHAMPIONSHIP!!! That's right, an event centered on the love of Cheese Dip. (wish I would have thought of this first)

Of course I am planning to attend this event and maybe even purchase a t-shirt to support the cause. They will have dozens of restaurants and individuals there hoping for the chance to be called the "Cheese Dip Champion" and we, the spectators, will get to taste all these wonderful dips and watch the Hog Game at the same time. I can hardly wait.... more details to come after the event.

http://www.cheesedip.net/

"In Queso Fever: A Movie About Cheese Dip" from Nick Rogers on Vimeo.

Day Trip Complete... Lady Antebellum Concert

Friday, October 1st, Cody and I headed to see Lady Antebellum in Jonesboro, AR. We left around 3:30 so that we could stop and grab some dinner and ended up having BBQ at the Whole Hog Cafe. When we got to the concert, we ran into Cody's Neice and Sister which was a nice surprise, then we headed to our seats. The concert was soooo good which surprised me since it was a small venue!! The group sounded just like you hear them on the radio, and I would definitely recommend the show to anyone who likes this band. They put on an excellent performance.

Razorback Fun

Cody and I, so far, have attended every Razorback home game this year thanks to our friends Justin and Debbie... but nothing compares to the AR vs AL game that occurred the weekend of September 25th. Cody and I headed to Fayetteville that Friday and spent the evening driving around campus before heading to my friend Lisa & Justin's for the night.

The next morning, we got up at 4 am to begin the game day festivities!! We all got dressed in our favorite Hog Gear and headed to campus to set up the tailgate. So many people came by to say hello and have some snacks & drinks with us. It was a blast!!

Before the game, Cody and I also got to see my old roommate from college, Amber, who had come in town from Austin with her family!!! It had been 7 years since we last saw each other, and I think her and I both got a little choked up. It was so great to see her, even if it was only for a minute.

Of course the game didn't go exactly as planned but it was still really good and complete with the Goodyear Blimp and parachute jumpers to open the event!! The part that always gets me excited though is when the band lines up in the Arkansas 'A' before the team comes out to play! Gets me every time.

Take a Day Trip #26

Tomorrow Cody and I will travel 108.79 miles to Jonesboro to see Lady Antebellum!!!

And then 108.79 miles back to Cabot.

If you haven't heard of them, they have hits like:

Need You Now
I Run To You
American Honey
Our Kind Of Love

This is a group that I would definitely make a trip to see and it just so happens, it will be a day trip so mark off #26!! I'm sure there will be lots of pictures to come. I cannot wait to see them in Concert!!

Still working on my 30 by 30

So, I turned 28 on September 9th, and I realized, I still have SO much to do to complete my Thirty by Thirty List!! Have I really only completed 11 & 1/2??? I have GOT to get to work.

THIRTY BY THIRTY LIST

1. Go to Mexico (June 2010)
2. Donate Blood (January 2010)
3. Take a cooking class (March 2010)
4. Find a church home and get involved
5. Complete 60 miles in 3 days (November 2009)
6. Go camping for a weekend and sleep under the stars
7. Run a 5k (April & May, 2010)
8. Visit a vineyard
9. Take a trip to California
10. Go fishing and bait my own hook
11. Volunteer for a good cause (different than #5)
12. See Central Park and Rockefeller Center in the winter
13. Plan a reunion for all of my first cousins
14. Take a midnight walk on a beach
15. Lose 10 lbs, and keep it off
16. Invest in stocks that I have researched myself
17. Fix something on my car (change oil, tire, filter, etc)
18. Stay up all night and watch the sun come up the next morning
19. Swim with dolphins (June, 2010)
20. Find a job/hobby/something I'm extremely passionate about and enjoy it
21. Go 1 month without shopping for myself (July-August 2009)
22. Vegas, Baby!! (November 2009)
23. Try a food I've never tried before (January 2010)
24. Take a walk in the rain, on purpose (Me and Max, July, 2010)
25. Spend an entire day with my mom and one with my dad (from breakfast to bedtime) (Mom- July, 2010)
26. Take a day trip (must be more than 60 miles away)
27. Shoot a gun (March 2010)
28. Try something daring: bungee jump, sky dive, hot air balloon ride, etc
29. Do something nice for a stranger without them knowing
30. Personal Goal…

Love...Ten Years in the Making...

This post goes all the way back to my Freshman year of college. I had just turned 18, made some great new friends and started a new chapter in my life. I had always wanted to attend the University of Arkansas, and once I finally got there, I realized that a HOG FAN was the way for me!!

About a month into the school year, a girl friend of mine was at an AGR fraternity party just down the road from my dorm. She called and asked my friend Jenny and I to join her so we decided to go. About 20 minutes later, a guy in a white Dodge pulled up outside of Reid Hall to pick us up. He said that Britney had sent him, and as leery as we were, we decided to jump in and head to the party.

Cody & I, one of our first photos together

That guy, Cody, and I began dating and spent 3 great years with each other. We experienced so much together, travelled together, and it was obvious that we were very happy whenever we were in the other's company. As time went on though, I felt like I was tied down. I was still very young and not ready for the next step. I hadn't experienced as much out of life as I had wanted and therefore, ended the relationship with Cody.

Over the years, Cody and I stayed in touch some. We saw or spoke to each other for a few big moments in our lives, like when I moved back to Little Rock, during the marriage, and when his dad passed away. Amazingly, I've always wondered what he is doing, if he was married, and why I ended our relationship all those years ago.

The answers to all these questions came just 2 months ago. My divorce was final and life seemed to be falling back into place. So one Tuesday night, I sent Cody a message through Facebook to see how he was doing. He replied and that began a long string of emails resulting in him making a trip to Dallas that weekend to see me. We went to all the fun places to see in Dallas...a Rangers game, dinners, Glass Cactus, Sneaky Pete's and we had an amazing time. Sunday though, when it was time for him to leave, I was sad. I didn't want him to leave. I knew, after that weekend, a day wouldn't go by that I wouldn't want him by my side. He is my best friend and my perfect compliment, and I can't imagine a day without him.

Tour of Dallas Cowboys Stadium

Dickson Street in Fayetteville

Making my comeback!!

Well, here I am!! After 6 LONG months, I've finally decided to make my way back to blogging!! Hopefully I haven't lost everyone during my separation/divorce/move/sabbatical, but if so, I hope to get you all back soon!

As many of you know, life was pretty much unbearable for a while. I mean, let's face it, 2010 was looking like a year I wanted to completely forget. My ex and I decided to separate, I moved into an extended stay hotel, finally got an apartment (but was far away from many of my friends), went through a very ugly and difficult divorce, gave up my dog in exchange for getting my life back, and pretty much became a recluse... it just seemed that nothing was going to go my way. Not only that, I endured three of the most stressful things you can go through in life all at once: Divorce, Moving, & Job Change. For many of those months, I blew off my friends, hated myself and didn't want anything to do with finding happiness.

Amazingly, most of what happened over the 4 months during the divorce proceedings is a blur now. I know that some of my friends probably don't understand why I didn't talk more, call more, e-mail more... but honestly, it was the most difficult thing I have ever experienced. It's not that I didn't want to, it was that I couldn't talk about it, e-mail about it, text about it, etc. I wanted to block everything that was happening and pretend it wasn't really true. The man I had cared for 5 years of my life had hurt me in more ways than I would wish on anyone. And to make it 100 times worse, he wanted to take my dog, my baby, my little Maximus Cooper Henry away from me.

As I look back now, I do not regret the divorce, or leaving him, or wishing for more out of life. I knew I deserved someone better for me. Someone that cared for me unconditionally and someone who was without a doubt, my perfect compliment. Thankfully, I had the courage to acknowledge that and to fight for it!!

I still miss Max!! Even now, I tear up thinking about him, but I realize that the experience was a huge life lesson for me. He was the first dog I had bought for myself. I trained him, groomed him, took him to the vet, and spent countless hours just loving on him. BUT, he was a dog and I knew that someday I would lose him, I just didn't want to accept it. I've moved on now to another sweet shi tzu puppy, and he is a handful. He wants to be right next to me all the time, loving on me, and playing with me. And although he doesn't take the place of Max, I realize now that he wasn't supposed to and that no dog will ever replace him, but he makes me just as happy!

So... that's some of what has happened in the last 6 months but not to worry, there is a lot more to come.... much HAPPIER, MORE EXCITING, AMAZING things to come!!!
I have realized what I was looking for all along and finally got my happiness!

Thirty by Thirty, recent news!

#3. Take a Cooking Class. This weekend, Cheryl and I will be heading to Central Market in Southlake to experience our cooking class together! I am more than excited and hope for a great experience!!

#7. Run A 5K. I plan to sign up for the Race for the Cure this year as a RUNNER, not a walker. I'm very excited to take on the challenge.... Just one month to get ready! Wish me luck!

#11. Volunteer for a good cause. Today I signed up to help with Adopt A Pet here in the North Texas area. All you have to do is fill out a questionaire and the agency will send you an email when they need help. I chose helping with Mobile Adoptions, walking/grooming/brushing dogs, or fundraising and organizing events. Hopefully I will hear something from them soon. I have included information on this organization for anyone else interested in volunteering.

http://www.adoptapet.com/index.html