My Office Gang (Minus DeMeon)

Office Christmas Gift Exchange

I received this today from my Secret Santa. I absolutely love it!!! Yes, it says: "Cindy Belongs to Edward." You know it! Thanks DeMeon.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

I don't think this is right. I would NEVER put popcorn and cranberries on my tree.....

You Are a Cranberry and Popcorn Strung Tree

Christmas is all about showcasing your creative talents. From cookies to nicely wrapped presents, your unique creations impress everyone.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

I've Finished Harry Potter

Yes, I've finished. I spent pretty much the entire weekend reading Book 7 ~ which happens to be my favorite, lots of action.

Reading HP made me realize that yes, Stephenie Meyer could have had a better ending for Breaking Dawn. So if you were really wanting a good fight scene in BD and felt somewhat cheated, read HP ~ I highly recommend it!!!!

Do I like it better than Twilight, of course not, but it is definitely my second favorite series!!!

"Eyes" Wish You a Merry Christmas

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Twilight

Well, at least I have five times now. Can't wait for the DVD!!!

Harry Potter

I finally broke down and started reading Harry Potter. I love them....but not as much as Twilight! If you haven't read them yet, I highly recommend it. If I haven't said it before....I love reading :-)

I See You

I can see now ~ Yay!!! After a miserable trip last night from Corpus to Dallas, (about nine hours, yuck, with one contact in, mind you, because of the pain) I finally went to the eye doctor today. Nothing is wrong with my eyes, thank goodness, just old contacts. So I'm eye pain free now. No more crying at weddings and movies due to irrated eyes, I can cry for real now :-)!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Aimee (Finley) Cowan

Chrystina informed me that Aimee had another miscarriage and is having to have a DNC. Please remember to keep her and her husband in your prayers. (I believe this is the third time this has happened to Amy.) Hang in there Amy! We love you!!

Taking a Hiatus.....

I bet you've wondered were I went, right??? Well, our Twilight blog is gaining momentum and I'm all consumed with it right now. Currently we are number 14 on Twilight Topsites. We are so excited!!! We hope to be in the top ten soon!!! Once things calm down a bit, I'll start up here again. Saw Robert Pattinson at the Galleria last night (Edward). Check out the blog to see Tara's "interview" ~ she cracks me up. Holly and Tara are two of the funniest people on earth!! www.twilight-to-breakingdawn.blogspot.com

Enjoy and I'll be back with ya soon!!!

Mansfield Park Movie

CRAP-OLA!!! CRAP-OLA!!!

Don't even bother. The book was fabulous though, so read that!

VOTE!!!

Okay, so the election didn't turn out the way I had hoped, but it is what it is, and I'll live. I will stand behind our new president and hope that he keeps all the promises he made to the people who believed in him and voted for him. But I will always hold my head up high and say: "I didn't vote for him."

Not everyone realizes what an honor it is for us to vote. Please exercise that right. Stand up for your values, stand up for your country and stand up for our Heavenly Father in whom we owe everything for the blessings which we continually receive. He has blessed us with the opportunity to live in the greatest nation this world has ever known!!! We will continue to be blessed as long as we remember these things and don't turn our backs on them. Whatever the outcome of this election, Heavenly Father will bestow blessings upon us if we continue to do what's right!!!

Jane Austen

I've finished reading all six of Jane Austen's books - yes, she only wrote six, I was surprised.

Anyway, I wasn't going to read the last book, Mansfield Park, because I had read negative things about it on the Internet. Thank goodness I didn't take to heart what I read, because Mansfield Park is my absolute favorite!!! Goes to show you can't believe everything you read on the Internet.....

My Jane Austen ratings:
1.) Mansfield Park
T2.) Persuasion
T2.) Northanger Abbey
3.) Emma
4.) Pride & Prejudice
5.) Sense & Sensibility

Now, I really enjoyed all these books but it's odd how the three I knew nothing about are the three I liked the best!!!

My top five females (if I could be them):
1.) Catherine Morland (Northanger Abbey)
2.) Fanny Price (Mansfield Park)
3.) Anne Elliot (Persuasion)
4.) Elizabeth Bennett (P&P)
5.) Emma Woodhouse (Emma)

My top five men (if they could be mine :-):
1.) Mr. Knightly (Emma)
2.) Edmund (Mansfield Park)
3.) Captain Wentworth (Persuasion)
4.) Mr. Darcy (P&P)
5.) Colonel Brandon (S&S)

Happy Halloween!!!

I hope all you ghosts and goblins out there have a wonderfully "spooooky" night and get lots of treats ~ no tricks. Be safe!!!

Northanger Abbey

Okay, Northanger Abbey may just be my favorite Jane Austen book so far. I still have Emma and Mansfield Park to go, so who knows. The movie actually made this book better for me. I just love the actors. The guy playing Henry I didn't find attractive, but his personally really grew on me, and his smile, so now I think he's perfect for the part. The girl is absolutely adorable and was meant to play this part. I highly recommend this book and movie!!

The book is about a 17-year old who reads too many gothic novels and gets caught up in the world of fantasy......hmmmmmm

Here's a sneak peek from U-tube ~ although, after watching this, there are parts in the u-tube video that aren't in the movie itself ~ strange.......

HSM3

Yes, it's only three days away!! HSM3 will be in theaters this go-around and I'm so excited to see it on the big screen. I'll be seeing it this Friday with Aubrey, Ella & Holly. I'm so excited. It's going to be sweet!!!

Halloween Bowling

Click on link for some Halloween Bowling: http://www.itsga.com/fun/cat_new.swf

Pride and Prejudice

I'll be done with the book tonight and then it's movie time!! I just love reading!!! I've noticed my vocabulary is changing just a bit due to all these Jane Austen books....lol

Carrie or Jessica or Nobody?

If you could make the call, who would you choose? For me, I say Carrie, but after Tony has a few seasons under his belt...... Carrie?
or Jessica?

You make the call......

Family Wordle

One of the MANY reasons drinking is bad!!

Persuasion - Jane Austen

**Update** I saw the movie last night - LOVED IT!!!

My latest book is Persuasion by Jane Austen. I really enjoyed it. Tonight I will pick up the movie ~ I can't wait to see it. Here's a Utube video about the movie. After seeing this, I bet you're going to want to read the book and see the movie, too. It's pretty intense!!

Happy Birthday, Joy Bell!!

Today is my sister Joy's birthday. It's a big milestone for her and I just wanted to let her know how important she is to me. My sisters have always been my best friends, but they each have their own distinctive qualities that enrich my life ~ it's like they're my own seven dwarfs, just only four.

Joy has always been my comfort. She is the first person I turn to when I need someone to listen to me, even for really stupid stuff. She never judges or belittles my weaknesses. Joy always bring happiness and laughter into my life. Whenever we're together it's just so easy, so comfortable, so funny. I love playing games with her ~ we used to play rummy for hours when I was younger and laughed the entire time. She visited my home a few years ago with Melissa and we played Sequence ~ I'm not sure I have ever laughed or cried so hard. Remember the one-eyed Jack???? It's definitely one of those "you had to be there" moments.

Thank you Joy for being such a wonderful sister and friend. I have been truly blessed. I wish we were closer distance wise, but whatever distance is between us, it will never diminish our unbreakable bond. I love you. Happy Birthday!!

My friend/sister Patty gave me this blog award. Thanks Patty!
Here are the rules: Which we all know I won't follow too well. I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others, but I'm only going to do two, because I'm special, hee,hee! This award comes with a list of questions:

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Where is your significant other? Who?
3. Your hair color? Brown
4. Your mother? Bobbie
5. Your father? Ernest
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dream last night? None
8. Your dream/goal? Heaven
9. The room you're in? Work
10. Your hobby? Reading
11. Your fear? Meanies
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Family
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. What you're not? Skinny
15. One of your wish-list items? Furniture
16. Where you grew up? Corpus
17. The last thing you did? Blog
18. What are you wearing? Jeans
19. Your TV? LOST
20. Your pet? None
21. Your computer? Dell
22. Your mood? Silly
23. Missing someone? Yes
24. Your car? Camry
25. Something you're not wearing? Earrings
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your summer? Work
28. Love someone? Always
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Sunday

Those who I think are deserving of this Brillante WeBlog Award are:

Lisa P
Amber G

10 Random Things About Me

Okay, I've been tagged several times now, so I guess I'd better write my 10 things. Here ya go......

1.) I have a very addictive personality ~ who knew??? Usually I'm only addicted to one thing at a time, thank goodness. It used to be NASCAR, the Cowboys, etc., but my most recent addiction is READING. Like you haven't figure that out yet.

2.) I have another blog called "Our Twilight Chronicles" that keeps me pretty busy and happy ~ silly, I know. I love this blog and have so much fun with it!! I feel the need to keep it looking good for our many followers ~ throughout the world, I might add!

3.) I have a shower curtain on my stand-alone shower just because I think it's cute ~ and it is!!!

4.) I've painted every room in my house, except the one room I spend all my time in, my bedroom. You'd think that would be the first one I'd paint - go figure!

5.) I have a new calling - Valiant 12!! I love it!!

6.) I personally have kept Diet Sunkist on the market.

7.) I love to travel, drive or fly, but seldom get the chance.

8.) I'm thinking about getting a cat, but I don't want to be labeled the "scary 'ole cat lady down the street" Plus, I don't like poop!!

9.) I crave Chipolte burritos every day, but only give in to them about once a week ~ or else I'd be a big 'ole Chipolte burrito!

10.) I love the Disney Channel. I'm just a big kid!

The Great Puppy Escape

I saw this the other day at work and thought it was too cute not to share. The other puppies crack me up ~ they're not quite sure what's going on .....ENJOY!!

Update on Wuthering Heights

Okay, I'm finished. It wasn't what I remembered, but I still liked it. It's a very disturbing book!!! But somehow I understood it, even though I only got about 3/4ths of it. It gets better about Chapter 4 because a lady starts telling the story and she's easier to understand. I will rent the movie tonight and watch it after Dancing With the Stars.

I Love my new hobby, reading!!! I'm trying to find a beautiful bookcase to put all my new books in!!! I'm excited...... can you tell????

My Attempt at Wuthering Heights

After finally finishing the Twilight series for the fourth time, I've decided to venture out. Now I've picked Wuthering Heights to read because, number one, it's mentioned many times in Twilight, and two, I remember it somewhat from high school ~ and I liked it (or was it the Cliff Notes??? probably, I'm not sure)

Anyway, tonight I started reading....Chapter 1 ~ made absolutely no sense to me. I realized a man was "renting" a home from Heathcliff, but then all of a sudden he was at Heathcliff's house, not his own house, and then all of a sudden dogs were attacking him ~ I had no idea dogs were even in the scene!

Oh geez, this is going to be harder than I thought. I've never been much a reader, but the Twilight books are so easy to read that I was hoping it would be easier than this....I was so wrong.

I continued on through Chapters 2 - 4. I'm understanding more, and even cried a couple of times -- I must have read the Cliff Notes!!!!! Kim and I were pros at that ~ and always got really good grades (??????)

Anywoo, I will continue on because I am interested. But I'm telling you, out of the four chapters I've read, I doubt I got half of it. I'm hoping it will make more sense to me the more I read it. I'll definitely rent the movie afterwards!!

I'll keep you updated as to my progression into the literary world - it's not an easy thing for me, but at least my interest is peeked and I'm trying my best!!!

Plano Balloon Festival

A few weeks ago I went with Joey, Holly & the girls to the Plano Balloon Festival. I was really excited to go ~ it's something I've always wanted to do since moving to the Dallas area.

It was really neat to see all the balloons, but the best part, by far, was the end. They allowed us to go down on to the field with the balloons (after dark). It was so thrilling. It had a movie-like feel!! Holly couldn't control herself and did an impersonation of Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music. It was just so MAGICAL. Thanks to Holly for inviting me. I had a great time!!

Unfortunately, my camera went dead before the nighttime burns of the balloons, so I didn't get any of that on film, but here are a few pics before my camera died.

Psst, Hey You There....Follow Me!

Okay, I've add the Follower's list to my page (I'm such a follower....hee, hee) I'm a little nervous that I might not have many followers, so....I've decided, the person who is my first "follower" gets a surprise!! Hurry up, you just could be the winner :-)

It's that time again.....

Dancing With the Stars has returned and I've finally started watching TV again. My favorite this season is.........Cody and Julianne!!!! Be sure and check it out Monday nights on ABC!

Rating our Twilight Blog

We've been added to Twilight Topsites. Please go to our blog and click on the link (on the top right-hand side of the page) and rate us!!! We're trying to be ranked #1. It will take quite some time, but we're hoping to get there. Your participation will help us reach our goal. Thanks!! :-)

**UPDATE** All you really have to do is look at our site - you don't have to rate it. It registers how many unique viewers we have. Thanks again!

Good News!!

If you haven't heard yet, I had a biopsy last Thursday on a lump in my breast. I was pretty nervous, especially for the procedure itself. It didn't help that the doctor was extremely gorgeous ~ well, let's be honest, maybe it did help just a "little" bit.... :-) Anyways, I was mostly nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I felt fairly confident the outcome would be fine, and I had a blessing to calm my nervous, which helped considerably.

I rec'd my results this morning and, THANKFULLY, everything is fine ~ benign!! I'm truly grateful to Heavenly Father for this blessing. It has, however, made me more aware of breast cancer and the impact it has on many, many lives. Since our family doesn't have a history of breast cancer, I honestly haven't ever thought about it too much ~ and I'm sorry for that. Since I've known about the lump, a young mother of three in my ward has been diagnosed with agressive breast cancer; and of course, we know several people in Corpus that are suffering from the disease as well. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers ~ they are in mine!!!

Salt Lake

A couple of weeks ago I went to Salt Lake on a business trip. I was so excited and grateful to have the opportunity. While I was there, I got to see Sandy and the boys, minus Colson ~ he's was at BYU already. Here are a few pictures from my trip.

Sandy in her cute new kitchen. They've moved to a condo and it's really adorable!!

John ~ relaxing after a hard day's work. He kept telling us that he was going running, but I'm still not sure if he ever actually went. ~ doesn't look like it, does it?

Brandon!! My sweetheart. I'm grateful that he went on his mission, but I'm glad that he's back. He's going to BYU as well. Funny story, the apartment that he's moving into is called "Winters Quarters". Like Sandy says, Couldn't they come up with a better name???? I'm not sure I'd want to live there!!!

This is Cafe Rio. Ever since I went to Salt Lake at Christmas, I've been craving this place. So naturally, we had to go. Their burritos are awesome!!! Because of Cafe Rio, I've now found my favorite place to eat ~ Chipolte's, here in the Dallas area. If you've never been, go. Their burritos are to die for!!!

Joe getting ready for football practice......

Joe at practice. It's so beautiful and cool. Sometimes I wish I lived there.

Speaking of living there.....I'm hoping to be able to open an office for my company in Salt Lake. That would be awesome. I was thinking, if I did, we could rent an office space in that building right behind the temple. What a view I would have every day. I think I could handle that!!!

Blog Visitor Counter

Okay, I just put a counter at the bottom of my blog and the little "visitor's map" on the right-hand side. To my family and friends, please, please check out my blog regularly or it will look like nobody loves me....... :-(

I know you look often, but still....... I promise I look at yours!!

Jonas Brothers Concert

Okay, I know these are old pictures, but I've been a bit occupied with the whole Twilight thing lately. A few months ago, Holly, Tara, Aubrey, Ella & I attended the Jonas Bros Concert. It was awesome!! I really enjoy doing stuff with these "girls", they're hiliarious....both the young ones and "older" ones. It's so nice to have family nearby. I don't get to see them near as often as I would like, but I know that they're here, only minutes away, and that gives me peace!! I plan on going to the Plano Balloon Festival on the 19th with Joey, Holly & the girls ~ I'm totally excited for that. In all the years I've been here, I haven't gone to that event yet, and I've always wanted to. Can't wait to post those pics!!

Ella looking through her $10 paper binoculars

Aubrey ~ her face when the Bros. finally came out

Just looking cute

Like I said, looking cute

Girls' Night out.....