Missy and Clint

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

I couldn't let Valentine's Day pass me up this year. I'm not so sure I'll have time next year to make my handmade Valentines so I wanted to be sure to get them out this year.

I also made a few Valentine's day treats for my Valentine. Don't forget to share the love with those you love!

Maryland Coworkers

2012-02-12T14:37:00.001-08:00

One of the reasons I will never regret our year long stay in Maryland has to do with these people...

I had the opportunity to work with some amazing people at the college, especially in my office. These are the staff and student workers who made coming to work each day so fun. (Yes, we even got to have a dog in the office and you know that made me a happy girl.)

Not to mention, my favorite new friend Shauna. She was the program assistant for our office and my southern sister from North Carolina. I knew from the first day of work that we would get along great. She is such a sweet, genuine person who has a heart for the Lord and for helping people. I am a firm believer that God introduces people into your life at just the right time. He knew I would need a friend like Shauna who I could relate to while living in a new place. I have a feeling we will be lifelong pals.

Oh Baby!

2012-02-12T14:17:00.001-08:00

Come August, the Davis family will be a family of 3! And we couldn't feel more blessed. It was very early, but we told our immediate families over Christmas. We had just found out a few weeks before and wanted to share the news with everyone all at once. They all took the vow of silence until we felt ready to let everyone else know.

Many people have told us "it's about time," but we always knew we wanted at least 5 years of marriage before we had kids. We will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary this May.

Right after we told my sister (who will be a first time aunt), my uncle and cousin. We took video of when we told the rest of our families. You can imagine how excited the mothers were about the news!

With my uncle Mike, who will do doubt be a wonderful great-uncle. He use to change our diapers, feed us and give us baths when we were little. Love him.

With my sweet sister-in-law Brooke. She already has the aunt role down, she is amazing with our niece Ryann.

We're Back

2012-02-09T05:38:00.000-08:00

After a crazy fast pack up and move, we are glad to report that we are now back in our new/old house. There are still boxes in some rooms, but for the most part, we are pretty much settled in. I will admit, it's so nice to be back. And, in some ways it seems like we never left. Although we have changed around some of the rooms a bit, it feels just like it did.

We are so thrilled to be close to family again. And, they have been such a tremendous help to us with this move. Certainly, couldn't have done it without them. I'm looking forward to making some weekend trips around the state to visit friends and family that we haven't seen in awhile.

Clint is enjoying his new job, although he is still training. He usually comes home every day with a smile which makes me so happy. More to come later, just wanted to quickly update.

Could it really be, we're moving back to Tennessee?

2012-01-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's true. In less than 2 weeks, Clint, Chloe and I will be packing up the moving truck and pulling out of our cute Annapolis townhouse to drive 8 hours to our sweet home in TN. Clint has accepted a job back in Kingsport and we feel God kept our house from selling so we could move right back in. We have had some fun times up here and even though I despise moving (with an extreme passion), I would do it all over again for the experiences that we have had. There are many things I will miss about Annapolis and this area, but the 2 biggest will be our church and those I work with at the college and the friendships I have made at both. Finding a new church is never easy. We have lived in places that we never really found a church that we loved. If God's only purpose for us moving up here was to worship at Mariners' Church for 9 months, it would have totally been worth it. We LOVE this church, the minister(s) and the people. If you are in the Annapolis/Baltimore area, you really should check it out.

With all that being said, there really is no place like home. We are thrilled to be moving back close to family, close to friends and back in our beloved East TN mountains!

Clint's 28th

2012-01-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

We didn't get to have a big celebration for Clint's birthday because we were getting ready to head out to TN the next day for our Christmas break. His big request was a steak dinner, specifically at Texas Roadhouse (a little taste of home at a reasonable price). When we got back from dinner, we have cupcakes and ice cream while he opened a few gifts from me. Because his birthday is so close to Christmas, I never want it to get overshadowed by the holidays.

Clint + Steak = Happy Birthday Boy!

Christmas time in the Capital

2011-12-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago, Clint and I spent the night in DC. We wanted to visit a few of the Smithsonian museums that we hadn't made it to and just get to experience Christmas in the city. We stayed at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown.

This hotel is rich in American History. Franklin D. Roosevelt worked on his famous "We have nothing to fear but fear itself" inaugural address while a guest. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was said to lunch there daily for over twenty years. It also has been the site of a few political scandals, but I'm sure it doesn't want to be remembered for those.

Checking out the view.

Grand lobby

At the national Christmas tree, each state has their own tree and the ornaments are decorated by a selected organization from the state. Here is Maryland.

Tennessee's tree was decorated by ornaments from patients at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. When I worked at APSU, the students organized a dance marathon that benefited this hopsital in Nashville. As the advisor for the student group, I went and toured the facility. It is an outstanding place and I fell in love with there mission. We try to support them whenever we can. Our Christmas cards from last year and this year are designed by patients or former patients. 100% of the proceeds will directly benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital patients and their families.

The National Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas!

Much to be Thankful for

2011-12-09T19:23:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving this year was spent in Kingsport with Clint's family. We had some things to do to our house so we wanted to maximize our time. Ahhhh, back in TN.
I always have a blast with his family. Ben wasn't able to come in and we sure did miss him. He has been my Black Friday shopping buddy the past two years. So, it didn't feel right getting up early to shop.
We certainly have so much to be thankful for, especially our family. They have all supported us this past year with our move and we couldn't have made it without them. We cannot wait to spend more family time with both sides at Christmas.

Beautiful sister-in-law

My Best Friend, the Bride

2011-12-09T19:16:00.001-08:00

I think I have mentioned before that my best friend Rachel and I have been friends since kindergarten. So, when I found out that she was getting married in October, I told her I would do everything I could to be there. I had already taken some days off of work and just recently flown to Knoxville. But, I have an amazing husband who knew how important this was to me. He told me to go and not worry about it. It was the BEST trip. Rachel drove 6 hours by herself to make it to my wedding so I couldn't imagine not being with her on her day. It was so special.

Sweet Timothy, my first "nephew"

The bride and groom to be at the rehersal dinner. Doesn't Rachel look stunning!

Here we are at her rehersal dinner (10/2011) and a picture from us at mine (5/2007).

I do not normally cry at weddings because they are happy times and I usually only cry at sad occasions. I didn't even cry at my OWN wedding. However, I boo-hooed when Rachel walked down the aisle. Maybe it was because I wasn't actually in the wedding on stage in front of everyone or maybe it was because I know the journey she has taken to get to this point. Either way, I now know what it means to cry tears of joy.

I was asked to cut the cake at the reception. I also now know there is a science to wedding cake cutting.

With my beautiful best friend

The happy couple! Thank you Rachel and Burton for letting me be there to share with you on your wedding day.

Sailing Away with Family

2011-12-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

We live in the "America's Sailing Capital" but hadn't been sailing yet. That was until Joe and Lo came to visit one October weekend. What a neat thing to do on a Sunday afternoon. We sailed on the beautiful Woodwind II, which was used in the filming of The Wedding Crashers, starring Owen Wilson & Vince Vaugh. The crew told us the weather was just perfect for a sail. I have to agree. What a neat memory made that day!

Our family

I love this picture.

Cousin Weekend

2011-12-09T19:08:00.000-08:00

I love having company in but, I especially love when it is family. My favorite cousin Margaret made a quick weekend trip to come see us here in Annapolis in October. We have so much fun catching up with each other. I'm always looking forward to our next visit.

Her flight got in late Friday night so it gave Clint and me a chance to walk around DC at night.

Hello Obama family

Girls lunch at "Treaty of Paris"

Current Favorites

2011-12-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

It's been about a month since I've posted, shame on me. I keep waiting thinking I'll get around to uploading some pictures to post, but apparently that might be awhile. Anyway, I've got lots to post so keep checking back. But on to more important matters, favorite things! I love the recent post by Hayley on the Nesting Place. So, I thought I would take a quick minute to share my current favorites under $10.00.

1) Pop Chips ($2.99 bag)

Oh me oh my, these are killer! If you don't know, chips are my favorite food. I love pretty much all kinds, no discrimintating here! Chips and dip, nachos, or just the plan kind, it makes no difference. However, this kind of food doesn't suit well when a gal is trying to watch her calorie intake. For a while I had been trying to eat only pretzels which, in my opinion, satified my salt craving but are Boring! Enter my absolute new favorite food: POP CHIPS. Why do I love them so? They are not fried, not baked, are all natural and low in fat and calories. Have you had these? If not, go to the store right now and grab a bag (or a few). Click here to find them near you. Usually run around $2.99 a bag but I recently bought 4 bags online for $5.

2) Love & Respect ($13.00)

Clint and I just finished this study at church and it has changed the way I view marriage completely! I have read many other marriage books in the past and nothing, I mean nothing, has positively affected our marriage the way this message has. If you are married or desire to be married, please read this book by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.
3) Garnier Moisture Gel Cream ($6.99)

For once, something that does what it says. This cream really is "refreshing." It's a gel that is super moisturizing without leaving your skin oily. I have been using this for about 8 months now and it keeps my face from drying out. I put it on at night before bed and in the morning after I shower. Good stuff!
4) Sharpie Pen ($8.99- 4pack)

Ah yes, I had to end with office supplies because they have always been my favorite. I remember one year for Christmas getting a box full of envelopes, notepads, pens and tape from my grandmother. I was probably about 7 years old and it was without a doubt my favorite gift. I'm sure my parents would have liked to have known that before they went out spent a bunch of money on toys! A former coworker, who happens to be a lover of office supplies too, introduced me to these little jewels. Anything by Sharpie is good but these are the best. I'm a pen snob and these are top on my list.

Christmas before Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

I did something I don't normally do...I put up our tree before Thanksgiving. We were going to be out of town for Thanksgiving and so we wanted it to be up when we got back. I had to scale down our decorations this year because of space, but it's still pretty festive at the Davis house. And it means less to take down!

The things you miss...

2011-10-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Besides family and friends, the thing I miss most about TN is the southern food. And the mountains, and the cotton fields, and SEC football fans, and the inexpensive prices...and, and, and. Okay, so maybe just right now I miss the food. In the South, food is a love language, and let's face it, some folks up here just don't get it!

There is a great deal of variety of food in this area from many different countries, but it's extremely hard to find a place that serves a "meat and three." (three vegetables, that is.) But, would you believe there is a Cracker Barrel in Maryland? I almost choked myself when I saw that lovely gold and brown CB sign for the first time. Let me back up and say that it is over the bay bridge and quite a distance away from us. So much so that we probably won't be going back unless 1) we head back to the beach or 2) get a big fat hankering for some home cookin'.

Anyway, on our way back from the beach, it was never even discussed, we knew we would stop in for lunch. It was great for the nostalgic feeling and all, but ya'll, even though they get the same food from the CB trucks, it still doesn't taste the same. And no matter how hard anyone tries, they just can't make sweet tea the right way! Even Chick-fil-A, bless their hearts, needs me to go back in their kitchen and stir up some sweetness for them.

Enjoying my (not so sweet) sweet tea from our Maryland Cracker Barrel. Of course the folks up here just LOVE this Southern spot. And I say, "well DUH," you never hear of anyone retiring to the north do you??

P.S. Don't you just love the fine quality of this photo, my phone is not "smart" and takes the world's worse pics.

Dewey Beach, DE

2011-10-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

We knew we lived closed to the beach, but it wasn't until we actually headed out that way did we realize just how close. In a little less than 2 hours, we were able to roll the windows down and smell that sweet salty air. Clint and I had never been to the beach in the fall so we were unsure what exactly we would do since it would be too cold to swim. It wasn't long before we both realized we LOVED being at the beach this time of year. After the long weekend, we were relaxed from our time on the uncrowded beach and refreshed from our long, cool walks on the damp sand. Hopefully, we will be able to visit again soon. And next time, we will take Chloe since Dewey allows dogs on the beach during the off-season.

Our hotel, the only beach front hotel in Dewey

10 year High School Reunion

2011-10-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe a decade has passed since I graduated from high school. In September, we had our high school reunion in Rockwood. The planning committee was determined to make it a success, and after all was said and done, I think it was! I really enjoyed seeing those classmates that I had not seen since we graduated.

Friday night started off with a tour of our high school and the Homecoming football game. Lindsey came to pick me up for the game and it did feel a bit like old times.

Our senior shirt. We graduated with around 72 students, very small.

Our tour was given by our old government teacher who is now the guidance counselor. (She is in the middle row in the gold sweater...looks like one of us doesn't she!)

Catching up at the game

Some of the guys after the game at Ruby Tuesday's

Saturday night we all got together at Rockwood's Country Club. Sound swanky? Remember, small town, so as you can see, it has more of a bar-like atmosphere. (Okay, it is a bar!) But, we had a blast.

Cute cake made by an RHS alum

Katie and I had fun leading a game of reunion superlatives. Such as who has the most kids, who drove the furthest, been married the longest, etc. Great get-to-know you now game.

Class of 2001

In high school, I had a very close group of friends. The year we graduated, we had our picture taken together at Wal-Mart. (Why? I don't know, kinda cheesy, but I love looking at it now.) At the reunion we decided to re-create the photo. Thanks to Katie, we now have the side by side comparison. I'm so blessed to still call these girls my friends.

Looking forward to our next reunion!

Our poodle Chloe

2011-10-11T10:28:00.001-07:00

I have a few other things I want to blog about but I am waiting until I have time to upload the pictures. For now, I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner for the Show Us Your Pets post. This is Chloe picture heavy, so you've been warned!

I've been an extreme dog lover from the time I can remember. Still to this day, I will make a fuss over a dog before I will over a baby. (Doesn't matter what kind of dog.) Can't help it, I guess it's in the DNA. I realize when we have our own children that will change, but one thing is for sure, I will always have a soft place in my heart for pups. Thankfully, I have a husband who didn't balk at the idea of having an animal in the house. If you have read my blog before, you probably already know how we came to acquire Chloe, so I won't go into that...you can read here.
We have had Miss Chloe Belle Davis for almost 4 years now and she truly has been a joy in our lives. Yes, it can be a hassle having to find someone to watch her when we go out of town. And yes, it can be a pain to know you have to rush back home if you have been gone awhile to let her outside. But truthfully, we would not go back to life without having her. Does this sound like I'm writing about a child? Probably. But for now, she feels that way. And, hopefully she is giving us a tiny inclination as to what it takes to be responsible for another living being.

Chloe the first night we brought her home...so small.

Western Chloe

Poodles are the 2nd smartest breed next to border collies. I alway feel I have to defend them because they get such a bad rap...french poodle, fee-fee, prissy...

Her favorite thing in the world: fetching the ball

With her pal Abbie Jo (Our friend's Joey and Amanda's dog)

Recovering from surgery

Her one and only Halloween costume that she wears each year

I know it doesn't seem like it, but we really don't dress her up much.

Her best bud, Charlie (Joe and Lo's dog)

She misses him now that we don't live 10 minutes away.

Chloe loves: Her toy ball or rope, running in the park, treats, sleeping, Charlie

Chloe dislikes: Small children running towards her to grab (hopefully this won't be an issue when we have kids) and squirrels

No Electricity = Crabs

2011-09-13T08:24:00.001-07:00

What to do when you have no power thanks to the hurricane? Meet up with your cousin and eat crabs! My cousin Ali and I had already had this Sunday lunch on the books for a few weeks. Well, when Irene decided to make her little visit to our area, we said, Naa-aah, you aren't going to make us cancel. So, on Sunday morning, Ali and her fiance Brian met up with Clint and me at a local Annapolis favorite, Cantler's. They are known for their hard crab. We had heard you might have to wait 2 hours to even get in the place. Well, not so on the day after the hurricane. We couldn't have picked a better time. *Note to Southerners like me who didn't know: When I say hard crab, I'm not talking about crab legs. No ma'am, I mean busting up the whole entire crab. This isn't just a meal, it's an event. Something that I have been told is a "Maryland thang." Apparently, hard crab in the Chesapeake is the equivalent to BBQ in the South. So of course I wanted to try it.

Thankfully, Ali had done this type of eating before and her instructions proved to be vital to my hard crab experience. Clint and Brian played it safe and ordered something else from the menu. Leave it to the girls to order the all-you-can-eat crab feast. Let me just tell you, it's not really all you can eat. It's more like all you can break open. Man, after the first 2 crab, I was getting sick and tired of cracking and hammering that puppy for only a few morsels of crab meat goodness. Final verdict: Give me the crab legs any day. I prefer not to have to beat out the guts and such. So much work for such little reward. Now I see why this is an "event." And my gracious, what a mess! However, so glad that I can say that I've do it now and won't look like a total idiot if I ever have to do it again. So glad I was with family!

Afterwards, we decided to take Ali and Brian our new favorite place, Menchies. You know Clint and I love any form of ice cream. Since this is frozen yogurt, we feel like we are saving ourselves a few calories. (Let's just overlook the fact that we top that yogurt with candy and sprinkles, m'kay!) This was a perfect ending to our meal since Ali and I were still a bit hungry. The amount of crab I consumed was more like an appetizer.

Thank you Ali and Brian for making the drive to our parts. Couldn't have been a better time!

Ali and me at the National Harbor back in May

After the crabs...told ya it was messy!

Mmm, Menchies. Please overlook the girl in green. She was having a rough time getting herself together without having power or a shower.

Unusual Weather

2011-09-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Or is it? That is what everyone around here keeps telling me. But, I’m beginning to think that I should pretty much just expect anything. I mean what would you think when you experience a 5.9 earthquake on Tuesday and a hurricane on Saturday? Even though Irene took away our power for 3 days, the earthquake was a bit scarier. Probably for the simple fact that we had no warning it was coming. (You better believe folks heeded the hurricane warning after we just had an earthquake.)

I was on the top floor of our building when I felt the first shake. I sat in my office for a minute but once the building started to sway and pictures fell from the bookshelves, I decided it was probably best to see what the heck was going on. When I stepped out in the hallway, our program assistant was bolting out of her office. No words were spoken between us; we just latched arms and make a mad dash to the stairwell. Side Note: Apparently, this is NOT what you are supposed to do during an earthquake. But how the heck was I suppose to know. In elementary school, we learned all about what to do in case of a fire or tornado but never an earthquake. (Don’t get many of those in TN.) And really, common sense wasn’t prevailing at this point, it was all about survival. My brain said, “Get the heck out of this swaying building that could collapse at any moment.”

Sad part about our little escape story was that it wasn’t until we were both safely outside did we wonder where our student workers were, oops! They ended up following us out but I guess it doesn’t say too much about us that we wouldn’t even think about their safety. Life lesson here is that when it comes to fight or flight, I’m more of the flight kind of girl, and you just better follow me out ‘cause I’m not waiting on you!

I can't "Help" it

2011-08-23T14:43:00.001-07:00

So many people have been talking about this book, especially since the movie has recently been released. I have wanted to post about this book ever since I read it back at the first of this year. I won't give the synopsis of the story since I'm sure most of you are now familiar with it. But, I wanted to share what the book meant to me and what I thought. For me, this book was hands down a game changer. I went through so many emotions while reading it. It made me re-evaluate the way I thought about many topics, not just race. The story's message is surrounded by race, but for me, I saw it as so much more. I think it hit on the founding principle of Christianity: Love. Wouldn't our world be such a grander place if we all looked past age, race, ethnicity,sex, social class, job status, education level, etc. and just loved each other knowing we all are different in so many ways. That's what I took away from this book. I still think about it often and will say it has affected me, I think for the better. That's why I call it a game changer. I don't know what I would have done or said had I lived in the 60's. What would I have believed? So many things are spoon fed to us as children by our parents and society, so I know people used that as a reason for their actions. But, I believe, there comes a time in our lives where we give up that crutch and realize we are adults and should think for ourselves.

The whole time I was reading this book (and I should say it didn't take long, such a page turner), I was stopping to tell Clint bits and pieces. I had to share it with someone. I wanted so badly to be in a book club so I could talk about it with other readers. So much so that I sent it to my grandmother to read. It was great getting to discuss it with someone who actually was old enough during this era to remember.

I went to see the movie a few weeks ago and feel in love with the story all over again. I would recommend reading the book but if you aren't a reader, the movie is one of the closest-to-the-book movies I have ever seen. Read it or see it!

Okay, I Give

2011-08-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

After having our blog private for only a few weeks, I have realized it's not working. I want everyone we know who wants to check in with us have access to read our blog. And there are a few other technical issues that I wasn't aware of before I went private. So, for now, we are back on the open market. Live and learn.

Sunday Afternoons

2011-08-14T13:19:00.001-07:00

When we got home from church it looked like rain. So, we decided to do some laundry and lounging. Chloe loved it!

While I was waiting on our sheets to dry (I love clean sheets) I went ahead and used up some bananas that were going bad. I tried a new banana bread recipe that turned out pretty tasty.

The one thing I love more than clean sheets...baking! Lazy afternoons can be the best thing to re-engergize you for the week ahead.

Saturday Morning in Ellicott City, MD

2011-08-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

This morning Clint and I got up and thought it looked like a perfect morning to go find some yard sales. We resisted the urge because for 1) our townhouse is already filled to the brim with "junk" and 2) people don't really have yard sales around here ( must be the reason for so many consignment shops). So instead, we decided to visit nearby Ellicott City. We had both heard from numerous people about how neat the downtown area was there. They were not kidding. It has to be the cutest downtown I've ever seen. It has an old English feel to it with cobblestone paths and trickling streams. It was a bit over overcast but that made for a perfect cool breeze. We browsed through the many antique stores, but of course did not buy anything, see reason #1 above. But, we did visit the local florist and Clint bought be a bouquet of white lilies...my favorite flower. Perfect ending to a great Saturday morning!

Giving it a Go

2011-08-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

Not until I went to set our blog to private did I realize that it would require everyone to sign in with a gmail account or if you don't have one to create one, just to view our blog. I don't really like that idea. Although, there is the option of viewing it for a trial period, I think maybe 20 days and then that expires and I would need to send out another invitation for those who don't have gmail to view for another 20 days. So complicated and I know it's all to gain more gmail users. However, this is a free blog so I guess maybe I should have expected it. We'll try it for a few weeks, but if it seems like too much of a pain, I'll just go back to public viewing. I just really like the idea of private, but like I said before...what's really private anymore?!

Private after today

2011-08-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder, I am setting our blog to private after today. You can still view it if you send me your email address to missybond at gmail dot com.
Happy Monday!

Traffic

2011-07-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

And I mean real traffic. Not that little back up stuff that I occasionally experienced in Knoxville or Murfreesboro. (Although, at the time, I thought it was bad!) I mean bumper to bumper, parking lot traffic. Below are pictures from yesterday's (Thursday)commute home. You will notice the killer traffic was going the other direction. I am extremely lucky that my commute going to and from work are not the congested directions. That is due to the fact that I am not headed into D.C. or going home to Baltimore. The fun little pictures below explain why we have not and are not going to the beach until after summer. We are only about 2 hours away but thanks to the Bay Bridge, which happens to be the only access to the beach, that time doubles and can triple if there is an accident on the bridge. We have learned that many people take off Friday so they can head over to the eastern shore Thursday afternoon to miss the maddness. So that should give you an idea of what Friday's mess looks like. Heaven help those crazy people who live "over the bridge" and have to put up with this everyday. It's amazing what people will put themselves through just to live by water.

Now, I realize traffic is always worse somewhere else (NYC, LA) but this is by far the most extreme I've witnessed. Just thankfully, I'm not usually stuck in it!

Look on down, can you see the line of cars? It was backed up for miles and miles.

Weekend Trip to NYC

2011-07-18T18:01:00.001-07:00

Last week we decided to take a weekend trip to NYC. Why not? We found out just how close we are to THE city. And, we opted to take a bus from Baltimore to NY. Best decision ever. What a breeze. Cheap tickets, WiFi on bus, and best of all...no driving in the city! No doubt we will be doing this again. We stayed close enough to walk to Times Square but just far enough away from the madness. What I loved was that we didn't have any plans whatsoever. We were just "in" the city. Here is a little peak of our weekend fun.

A wrong turn on 34th took us to Gotham's Pizza where we sat right next to Ethan Hawke and his daughter. Looks like everyone loves a good slice. (Well, Ethan had a caesar salad.)

A place just for me!

Just walkin' the city (who knows how many miles we walked!)

Times Square

Lovely Central Park

Cutest Place

Peanut Butter Frozen Hot Chocolate (can't you just taste it?!)

Our hotel's view: Empire State Bldg on left and water on right

One day I want a roof top garden, but with a back yard too!

Last meal: Sunday lunch at Sarge's Deli...it was a perfect ending to a great trip. Nothing but locals all around eating yummy food and having a good time.

Happy Birthday baby Thomas

2011-07-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends and old college roomies, Sarah, gave birth to a precious baby boy named Thomas on July 12. I can't wait to meet him and love on that little baby!

Visiting with Sarah a few days before Thomas was born.

So adorable...Hard to believe my Sarah is a mommy!

Celebrating the 4th

2011-07-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

This year we had to miss out on one of our favorite family traditions...Hatchie Bottom in Jackson. It was too expensive to fly that weekend and too far to drive. So, we took the 3 day weekend and make went to East TN to check on our house, see friends and visit with family.

Best pizza maker ever, not kidding, he's a pro

Our only request: BBQ

Beautiful picture of Boone Lake

Hanging out on the porch with my Chloe Belle

Thought you should know

2011-07-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

As we continue to try to adjust to our new surroundings, I thought I would share some insight for my Southern friends. Below is a list of things that Clint and I have found different from the South and what we were use to. (Note: While this list may apply to other areas, I am only referring to Annapolis and the immediate surrounding area.)
1) TN Recognition
Just about everyone who has asked me where we are from (because of our accent) has themselves or knows someone who lives in TN. I have really been surprised when I tell folks and then they ask what part. Even more surprised when they know of Kingsport, Knoxville, Murfreesboro or Jackson. (Not holding my breath from Rockwood though!)
2) Sunday, Another day of the weekend
Whether or not you attend church on Sunday mornings or not, if you live in the South, you can probably still relate to the fact that many businesses are closed or have limited hours (most in observance of the Lord's Day). Well here, Sunday seems like just another Saturday. One of the first Sundays we had here we passed a school on the way to church. We were quite curious to know why there were so many cars and people filling up the lots. You can imagine our surprise to see a lacrosse tournament occurring on about 6 different fields. And, apparently this happens on most Sunday mornings. That was our first realization that we weren't in the Bible Belt anymore Toto! And, you don't have to worry about stores being closed on Sundays here. Nope, you can just about guarantee any and everything will be open, with regular hours.
3) One check or two?
Okay, this has to be the biggest shocker for us. News flash: if paying separately for your meal at a restaurant, don't assume they will split up the check. Most likely they will not ask and in many places they won't do it at all! We are so conditioned to the waiter or waitress asking, "Will this be on one check or two," that we didn't even consider the alternative. We learned this fact when our neighbors invited us to dinner with a group of people. We went to a nice place that had pretty high menu prices (as per usual here). We ordered conservatively once we saw the prices...we are on a budget, or so I thought! Food was great, but once it was time for the check, it was handed to our neighbor who busted out the phone calculator. It did cross my mind that it was a little odd that he didn't start distributing separate bills. He then did a quick average of the meal by the number of paying couples. We each paid the same amount. Okay, here is where Clint and I exchanged glances. Of course neither one of us would have said anything for fear of being labeled cheap (although I probably can be). So, we ended up paying for the guy at the end of the table's expensive steak and the other couples bottles of wine. We thought this only happened because it was such a large group. However, a few weeks later, it was confirmed, thanks to a small group lunch with my co-workers, that this was common practice. Lesson learned! No more ordering water to drink or appetizers for a meal. And, after talking with my administrative assistant, who is from NC, I'm glad to know we aren't the only Southerners taken aback by this. She said when she first moved here, her husband had it out with a manager of a restaurant who told him they did not separate bills and would only do it for them this one time but never again.

Hmm, well now ya know!

The past few months

2011-06-11T14:35:00.001-07:00

I've been a little lazy about posting pictures, so with while I have a moment, I thought I would share some pictures from the past few months.

This is Chloe, dead asleep after coming home from our 10 hour drive from TN.

Clint knows how to make any day better! These really are the best cupcakes.

Visiting the National Zoo

No denying they are family!

Six Flags with our sweet Ryann

Finally, a visit with my cousins: Ali and Molly

Clint with my 3rd cousin Molly

Clint and Brian (Ali's new fiance, they shared the news that day.)

D.C.'s National Harbor

Couldn't resist

My sweet grandparents celebrating their 56th anniversary

Total proof that marriage can last a lifetime!

Toasting to the years

My sister's goldendoodle, Lesiel

Sweetest dog ever (besides Chloe Belle)

And, Clint and I celebrated our 4th anniversary in May. We enjoyed a couples massage and dinner in downtown Annapolis. It was very relaxing and low key. I didn't feel like lugging the camera around that night. We usually take a trip to celebrated but decided to save our vacation time for later in the year. I simply cannot believe it has already been 4 years. So blessed to have this man by my side in life!

Goodbye Sun, Hello Tan

2011-06-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share one of my newest favorite things. In the past few years, I have become more conscious about protecting my skin. i.e. Wearing hats, mixing sunscreen in my facial moisturizer and hand cream, etc. Yes, I realize this should have been an issue years before, but let's face it, you are stupid when you are in your teens and early twenties. I was ignorant enough to think that I could burn my way to a tan. Well, I finally realized that wasn't going to happen and in the process, I have more than likely already caused myself some major skin damage. Too bad your wake up call has to come in the form of a sun spot on your face when you are twenty. But, better late than never, I suppose.

And lets not get me started on tanning beds. Yes, I've used them in the past, but remember, I was stupid then. I'm not trying to take the holier than thou attitude, but come on, with all the studies on protecting your skin and the dangers of tanning beds, it's amazing to me how many people use them.

Anyway, back to my current favorite product. Even though I don't like "sunning" or visiting the cancer beds, I still think I look the best with a little color, especially in the summer. So, the only other way to achieve the sun look is with self-tanner. Bless the inventors of the self-tanner. Last year, I made it my personal mission to find the best tanner for me. Everyone is different, but for me, I wanted one that would give me the most natural color with the less odor. After all, if you walk around with orange spots all over and smell like medication, what's the point? I want introduce you to my best friend: Lancome Flash Bronzer Tinted Self-Tanning Gel

Love, love, love it! Yes, it's pricey, $34.50 for a tube. But, you knew the good stuff would be. And, it will last me a whole summer, using it 2-3 times a week. It says it's leg gel, but I use the stuff all over, except the face. It has very little odor and gives me a bronze look. I can finally stop sporting the vampire look in the summer months. If you are a translucent pale, this might give you more color than you want. But for me, it gives me the color that I could naturally achieve, but only after a whole summer of laying out in the sun.

Tips if you decide to use it: Make sure to rub it in a circular motion like it says on the box. I have Clint apply it on my back (I told you I use it all over). I take a bath at night and exfoliate, then apply the lotion giving it time to absorb and dry before bed. That way in the morning, I can take a shower and not have any wash off.

More Changes

2011-06-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, what would it be like in the Davis world if there were not constant change? Last week, I worked my last day with the State. I start my new job next week. I have to say, this was the shortest employment I have ever had. I think I was bragging a bit too much about how short of a commute I had. Well, looks like the great governor of Maryland decided to prove me wrong. In the fall, my former company will be moving to Baltimore. And this girl couldn't handle even the thought of an hour and a half commute, one way. I am certain my nerves would have been a big ball of mess by the time I made it home. Not to mention parking would have run me a cool $200 a month. No thanks! I'm so thankful that the job market is so much better here because I was able to find a new job pretty quickly. Even though I will still be working in close proximity to home, it will still probably take me, at the most, 30 minutes. But, I'm a-okay with that, especially since I will return to a college campus.

In the mean time, I have been checking things off my major "to-do" list that has been adding up since I had not had time because of work. I feel so productive. So much so that I have been trying to convince Clint that Chloe needs a stay at home mom! Yeah right, we all know that I would go nuts, especially since all she does most of the day is sleep. But, I am enjoying my time before I start my new job. And can I just say, I think I have started more new jobs than anyone else I know...hey, there might be a book idea in there somewhere.

Privacy Please

2011-06-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

After almost 4 years of blogging, I have decided to set our blog to Private. No major reason for this change other than I want to control who reads about our lives. I love the fact that our family and friends are able to keep up with us by reading this, but why would the person across the country really want to read about our boring happenings. I know nothing is really ever "private" on the web, but whenever we decide to start having kids, I'm sure I will want the feeling of more privacy. And what better time than now to start being more private! (And no, we aren't trying for kids just yet.)

So, at the beginning of August, I will enter the emails of everyone who wants to continue to read our blog on the access list. If you would like to be added to this list, just email me at missybond at gmail dot com.

Goodwill

2011-06-04T13:06:00.001-07:00

This is our new favorite store here in Annapolis. I have never been one of those girls who was ever ashamed of wearing 2nd hand clothes. After all, it was always new to me. Same philosophy for pretty much everything else, cars, furniture, etc. Occasionally, Clint and I would be able to find good deals in the local Goodwills in and around Kingsport. However, I have never, and I mean ever, been to a Goodwill with such a large selection of 1) my size and usually petite, 2) name brand--I'm not talking about Old Navy either, 4) current styles, and 3) great prices.

Working right next door to our amazing mall, and I do mean a sidewalk away, I was finding myself browsing through Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, J.Crew, Ann Taylor, ect. I was having a hard time even considering the sale prices. You know, being so practical and all. So, once we stumbled upon our local Goodwill, the lunch break mall trips were put to an end.

When I needed a few more interview outfits for my 2nd and 3rd call backs, I didn't go to the mall. No, I went straight to Goodwill. And I not only found one outfit, my size, no tailoring necessary. But, I found 2 and shoes to match. All Ann Taylor and all for $35. And I found out today, they keep the "good" stuff in the glass check out counter, Prada purses, Dolce and Gabbana shoes...

I realize some people are not okay with the thought of wearing other people's shoes. I am more picky when it comes to footwear and whether or not I will be wearing hose or socks. And know that I give all my second hand clothes and shoes a thorough cleaning.

I knew that Annapolis had a lot of residents with mega moola. But, what I didn't realize, is how many simply give away their top dollar clothes. I don't understand why you would, for instance, spend $150 on a Lilly Pultizer skirt and then give it to Goodwill the next year? It's a win for the gal who scores the same skirt for $8, but I guess I am too frugial to ever understand. I imagine for people who do this, it's much easier to drop off their donations rather than having a yard sale or dealing with a consignment store. Besides, they are probably on their way to the mall to re-stock their closets. But, I am grateful for these people. They have already saved my family a great deal. And for that, I say thank you to all the wealthy (or in debt) Annapolian housewives!

(P.S. Clint has benefited as well. He has bought some really nice Polo and J.Crew shirts, most still with the dry cleaning tags on them!)

Close Call

2011-05-25T17:39:00.001-07:00

When I got the call Monday morning that the (only) tree in our front yard was down from the storms Sunday night, I was really upset. All I was thinking was, "Great, what a hassle it is going to be to get that removed." And a bit sad too, we really liked having a tree there. But, once I saw the pictures, I knew how blessed we were that it missed our house by inches! And if you cannot tell, it's a pretty large tree.

Funny side note: Our realtor mentioned that one couple had shown interest in the house but really did not like the tree in the front! Well now, we got ya covered, make an offer! :)

Homesick

2011-05-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, the homesickness has set in here in Annapolis. I suppose it’s due mostly in part to the fact that in four months, this still doesn’t feel like “home.” We moved so quickly and I don’t think we really had time to get sad about leaving Tennessee. I know the old adage is somewhat true, “Home is where the heart is.” But Clint and I have quickly realized that for us, Home is where family is…or at least where family and friends are in close proximity. Since marriage, we have had the conversation many times about the adventure of just picking up and moving somewhere new and different. While, I’m glad that now we can say we have done that, I’m not sure we will ever want to do it again. One could argue that a family visit for us can be accomplished in a weekend trip, and for that, I am thankful. But it simply doesn’t feel that way. With that said, we both enjoy Annapolis; love our townhouse and being close to big cities and water. What we aren’t crazy about is, of course, the high cost of living, our jobs and not being able to see family and friends whenever we want. Not to mention we miss our sweet little house that is currently for sale. On one emotional day, I even started crying when I heard a country song on the radio. Now that was an extreme and looking back on it, it’s kind of funny. But, it just goes to show how much we tend to take for granted and don’t even realize! And, if you have read my blog for any length of time you should already know we both have a love affair going on with the East TN Mountains. Let’s just say it’s going to be rough fall season for us this year being away from them. As well as college football season. I have gotten many weird looks when I said I was more into college football than pro sports. And sorry ya’ll, I just don’t understand Lacrosse.

However, I know it doesn’t really sound like it, but I am desperately trying to embrace our new surroundings. It really is beautiful, just in different ways. We still love the seafood and neat shops. And by far, this is better than other locations we have lived. So, the question we have had to ask ourselves is what do we do about it? Obviously, we aren’t going anywhere, at least not for a year or so. This is where I’m always so puzzled at how people get through rough times without God. I have faith that God lead us to this area and these jobs for a purpose. I’ve been struggling with what exactly that purpose may but, but we both have to accept the fact that we may never know. And the reason is because we cannot see the big picture of our lives. I was talking with a very dear friend the other day who posed the thought that maybe God sent us here for no other reason than to test our faith, to trust in Him. Wow, I hadn’t thought of it that way. It’s true that Clint and I have had to rely more on each other and our faith since we have been here because we don’t have family close by to lean on. Everything was going great in Kingsport and with our lives there…and maybe that’s just it. We got too complacent and started slipping away from God’s guidance because things were going so well. And then today, in my daily devotions book, I read the prayer for the day and felt a sense of His peace: “Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. My heart trusts in You, and You have never failed me—nor will You. Please help me to walk by faith in joyful anticipation of the blessings that await me.”

So, while this is not a major catastrophe and may not seem significant later on in our lives, at present, it is a hurdle that we must cross. I have no doubt that we can and we will do just that. And for now, we will try to pacify our homesickness with visits from family and friends. For those of you that have always wanted to visit or revisit DC, Baltimore or the Chesapeake Bay area, we have a room ready and waiting. We may live further north now but we haven’t lost our Southern Hospitality!

Family Time

2011-04-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

Robert, Mandy & Ryann came to visit us while passing through on their way back from Boston. Sure was great to have them here even if it was just for a day.

Uncle Clint loves his Ryann

And Ryann loves her chocolate cake

Taking the Ingram family back to the train station

Clint with the dogs at the lake house

Celebrating Lo and Ryann's birthdays

Mother and Son

Working Girl Again

2011-04-11T15:51:00.001-07:00

Last week I started my new job with the State of Maryland. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have only job searched for 2 months. I feel so blessed that God has provided me with this opportunity. It's going to be a big learning curve but I think eventually and I will be able to get the hang of it. Hard to tell if I will like this job as much as my last (I doubt it) but one thing that I know will help me enjoy it more is the 10 minute commute. In this area, that short distance is very unusual.

Weekend with Mom

2011-03-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my mom came to visit our new place. She timed it right and we were able to tour DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Unfortunatly, it was another cold and windy day but we were able to take in some of the "tourist" sites. Love having family here with us!

"Where are you from?"

2011-03-23T05:41:00.001-07:00

This is the question I get asked daily. Generally,the response is, "I can tell." It pleases me to know that Clint gets asked the same thing. For some reason he thought his accent was not as noticable. Ha! Most of the time I'm proud to say I'm from TN. I'm certainly not ashamed but I am usually aware of it before I open my mouth. Yesterday, I took Chloe to get her vaccinations and the vet walked in and told me she was originally from TN and went to UT for school. Small world but made me feel like I was with "one of my own." She said she and her husband have been here for 20 years and she is just now letting go of her accent. My favorite story so far happen to occur at my favorite place, the mall. I was trying on clothes in the dressing room and was the only one in there. The sales person, who I had not yet seen, asked me how everything was working. I said something about needing another size and instead of offering to get the size, she immediatly said, "Oh, where are you from." I told her and she said I sounded so "cute." She asked me a few more questions before walking out. When I came out I never did see the sales associate and thought it was so funny how we had our entire converstation through the stalls of a dressing room. I do love the friendly nature of everyone here. I keep telling Clint that hopefully our Southern sound will come off as charming and not redneck. Either way, we are going to have to deal with it and who knows, maybe it will work towards our advantage.

Annap Favs

2011-03-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

Being an Annapolis resident for a month now, I thought I would post some of my favorite things thus far. I know that this list will only increase once we get out a little more.

1) Quiet Water's Park- Unbelivably beautiful park that Chloe and I have been running in almost everyday. Love this place and I don't see that changing.
2) Fresh Seafood- The only time I have been able to get fresh seafood was when we took a trip to the beach. Not anymore. Maryland crabcakes, need I say more, no, I don't think so.
3) Proximity to TONS of shopping-I have grown accustom to driving a distance to be able to shop at the stores I love. No more of that nonsense. Annap has pretty much every store/shop you could dream of. Lots of cute local shops but, still my favorite for serious shopping is Westfield Annapolis Mall. (Check out all the stores, then be jealous!) And yes, we are close to DC where there is even more fantastic stores, but seriously, the local shopping is really all this TN gal needs. Thankfully, my birthday coinsided with our move here so I have had some b-day money to spend!
4) Historic Downtown- By far one of the neatest downtowns. Love all the history and the city dock. I just know we are going to be regulars here when it starts to warm up. Can't wait to see all the sailboats, afterall, Annapolis is the "America's Sailing Capital."
5) Whole Foods- I know many may laugh when you read this. But, never has a grocery store been so amazing to me. I have experienced similar stores such as a Fresh Market (we have one of those here too) but this takes it to a "whole" new level. I could seriously spend hours browsing in there. I mean, I was consumed by the entire aisle dedicated to granola! When Clint and I first ventured in the store to check-it out, it was pretty funny. I don't think I have ever "oohed" and "ahhed" so much in one store. It was so bad that he had to whisper to me to keep it down. We wanted to pretend like we were locals after all and I was totally giving it away. We are on a budget so we won't be making many frequent trips here but it will be a fun treat when we do. If you haven't experienced a Whole Foods for yourself, then you won't understand why I have placed a grocery store on my list of favorites. So, just take my word on it, Kroger does not compare.

That's the top 5 right now. I'll post more as we get out and about. I'm still job searching, so any prayers you would like to send this way would be much appreciated!

Birthdays

2011-03-03T18:37:00.000-08:00

Last week I celebrated my birthday. I will admit, I thought it was going to be difficult not celebrating my birthday with extended family. But, Clint did his best to make sure I had a very relaxing day (at the spa) and I loved getting to talk with friends and family that I only hear from on special occasions. When I was young, birthdays meant cake, presents and sleepovers. Now, birthdays mean getting to hear from and talk with the people that mean so much to me. Turns out, you don't have to live close to family and friends to feel their love.

Birthday cupcakes

Tomorrow, my favorite Nanaw turns 80. It is so hard to believe that all my grandparents are around that age. Not one of them looks or acts like it. I feel extremely fortunate to still have 3 of my grandparents. It is so hard to sit and imagine life without any of them. I know because, I still miss my grandfather every single day. But tomorrow is a celebration of the life of a lady who has lived solely for others. She is the most amazing Christian woman I know. I love you Nana!

One of my favorites, Easter (not sure the year, early college days)

Last year's birthday celebration. Sure will miss being there tomorrow!

Welcome

2011-03-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

Our new place in Annapolis

Entry (Chloe felt the need to be in all pictures with her bone)

Living room & Dining room

Taken from our steps leading upstairs

Kitchen with door leading to deck

Office

Guest Bedroom

Hall Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Love our sky lights

Door leads to master bath

I've been spending a lot of time in kitchen

Clint is going to miss this when I get a job!

First Annapolis Visitors

2011-03-01T07:25:00.001-08:00

When we moved, we knew Joe already had a worked trip planned in DC. We were pleased to know that Lo would be able to travel with him. On Sunday, we met them and gave them a very quick tour of our new place and Annapolis. After dinner, we took them back to their hotel. Even though it was a very quick meeting, we were so glad to get to see their faces again. We love you both!

The fun is just getting started

2011-02-20T12:49:00.000-08:00

As we are getting settled (i.e. unpacking all our MANY boxes) we have been able to squeeze in some fun. We took Chloe to the dog park that is less than 2 miles from our new place. I think she was a little nervous around all the other dogs but we hope after a few more trips she will start to enjoy it more. Yesterday, we took the metro to DC. It was a sunny day but the winds were very extreme. I almost fell over a few times. (It was kinda funny.) So, we decided it was a perfect day to go to the Smithsonian American History museum. Out of all the neat exhibits, I was most excited about seeing the ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz. They were on tour when I went back in 7th grade. There were quite a few people crowded around them but I was determined to get my picture! The great thing is that I can now go visit them any time! When we can back to Annapolis our power was out from all the high winds. So, we thought the best plan would be to order pizza and eat in front of our new fireplace where Clint had started a fire to keep us warm. The power did eventually come back on that evening. Our neighbor said it was pretty unusual to have a power outage since we are on the same grid as the Naval Academy. That must be why it was restored so quickly.

1977 Honda Civic

Julia Child's Kitchen

Moving Confirmed

2011-02-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

We got word this week from the moving company on the date they will be coming to pack us up. After a month of knowing this day would come, it still doesn't feel real. On my last day of work, I felt like I was just going on vacation and would see everyone when I returned. I think one reason it has not really sunk in is the fact that I am not having to pack anything. (I smile everytime I think, write or say this!) When everything is cleared out of our house and Clint and I are left in one big empty place...maybe then it will hit me. (If anyone needs a really cute house in a wonderful neighborhood, we've got one for you.) For now, I am doing the necessaries that come with a move, but one thing I am NOT doing is packing! And that my friends, is one reason why I believe I still have my sanity during the crazy whirlwind. :) Next time I post, it will be coming to you from the great state of Maryland!

No Strangers to Moving!

2011-01-11T17:28:00.001-08:00

You might remember an earlier post about our visit to Fredricksburge, VA. Well, that was not just a random weekend getaway. Clint was interviewing for a position that would be considered a promotion. A few weeks ago, he was offered the job. After MUCH prayer and consideration, we accepted. So, that means we are on the move again. This time we will be moving away from the only state we have ever called home and headed towards our nation's capital!

I'm sad that we will be moving so far away from our family and friends. It has been so great having family so close. I think for me, that is going to be the hardest thing to deal with. But, We feel that God has given us this opportunity and have faith He will continue to take care of us. I'm getting more excited about all the fun possibilities that come with moving to a much larger area that is so close to pretty much everything.

Bragging on my Hubby

2010-12-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we attended the Pepsi Christmas party. Clint was awarded Driver of the Year for the 2nd year running! I thought for sure that they wouldn't give the same person the same award the next year. It just proves how hard he really works and how great his clients and superviors think he is. I'm so proud of him!

Thanksgiving 2010 in Pictures

2010-11-28T16:51:00.001-08:00

This probably would have been our Christmas card picture (see previous post).

My dad and his grand-puppy

My dad and sister came to visit and check out our house.

This year we sold our $10 yard sale tree for $25 & are waiting for a great bargain on a pre-lit tree. Until then, we will be using this small tree.

Cards with a Cause

2010-11-26T13:53:00.000-08:00

This year, I decided to do things a little different with our Christmas cards. Instead of spending money on the traditional boxed cards and printing off pictures to include, I decided to do something that had more meaning. I know most people end up trashing the cards after the holidays (maybe even the pictures too). And, that's okay. But, I wanted to send something that I knew wouldn't be a waste of money and would actually go towards a good cause.

I started searching for cards that donated portions of the proceeds to a charity or non-profit organization. I wanted to try to find an organization that was local (within TN) and one in which they majority of the proceeds would go straight to the cause. I had fun searching and finally found a place that I'm very familiar with and believe in the work they do. Even better, 100% of the proceeds go towards the cause! Be looking for your card to see what organization we chose.

So, when you receive your Christmas card from the Davis family this year, you won't have to feel guilty about tossing it after Christmas because it wasn't wasted money. I just love this idea and I think it's going to be a new tradition for us!

Fun Little Trip

2010-11-24T18:30:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago, Clint and I made a quick trip to Fredericksburg, VA. Clint had a meeting for work and I wasn't even sure I would be able to tag along. Luckily, we found out a week before that I would be able to go. What a neat place! Such a cute downtown and so much history. We lucked out and stay in the only hotel downtown. They had also just decorated for Christmas that weekend and all the stores had extended shopping. On Sunday, we took a little drive and crossed over the Potomac River into Maryland...my first visit. It was such a quick trip we didn't even take any pictures. But, we fell in love with the area and would certainly visit again. Thanks Pepsi!

Weekend Projects

2010-10-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

Besides handing out candy to our trick-or-treaters this weekend, we also tackled a few house hold projects. I started by finally making some curtains to hang in our bathroom. I've been meaning to do this since we moved in. One more thing to check off my list. At this rate, we might have everything complete by the time we decide to sell this house!
Today, I suggested to C that I paint the 70's white square and diamond decals on our door. I was hoping by painting them red that they would blend in. C said it might work better if we tried to remove them. The first 2 came off pretty easy. The last square gave us a bit of trouble but he finally got it off. I still need to paint a few more coats of paint on it, but you can see the difference. Eventually, we will probably have to replace the door due to a few mechanical issues. But, I think it will do for now.

BEFORE- This style must have been all the rage back in the day. There are a few other identical doors in our neighborhood.

I spent Saturday trying my hand at hair bow making. Below are my first attempts with some ribbon I had. Of course these will be going to Ryann along with something else I'm making her for Christmas.

Race for the Cure 2010

2010-10-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

Lo and I a few weeks ago at the Tri Cities Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It could not have been a more perfect day for the event, weather wise. Even though it was not my best race time, I still enjoyed being able to participate with my mother-in-law.

Fall is my favorite

2010-10-06T04:22:00.000-07:00

Ahh, my favorite time of the year has finally made it here. I anxiously await fall's arrival each year and am always so sad when it leaves. Clint can tell you that I'm not good with "extremes." I don't like extreme heat or extreme cold. I guess that is part of the reason I'm such a fan of fall. I love wearing long sleeved shirts without the need for a coat. Once heavy coat weather approaches, I'm about done.

The leaves are starting to change around here and it makes me feel very fortunate to live in the mountains of east TN. Without a doubt, the prettiest season here is fall. Although, sometimes I feel like I leave out the place I was born and raised. west TN. I think it gets a bad rap sometimes. Yes, it is flat land (although I found, not as flat as some of Texas) and yes, most of it is farmland. However, it does hold its own natural beauty.

In fact, some of my greatest memories of Jackson were in the fall at the house I grew up in. I was fortunate enough to be raised in the house my great-grandparents built. I got to live int eh home my grandfather lived in. I love that house for so many reasons but that is the main one. Apparently, my great-grandmother knew a thing or two about plants and trees. (I certainly did not inherit her green thumb.) She planted some of the most beautiful shrubs and flowers. Most of which are still present today. One tree, in particular, I will always remember. I don't know what kind of tree it is (see previous green thumb comment) but it is extremely large and each fall produces the most vibrate color of yellow leaves you have ever seen. The color will truly take your breath away. I remember so many years of playing in the mass amounts of leaves that fell from it. I also remember my grandfather, who happened to appreciate a freshly raked yard, coming over on the weekends to rake our leaves. Sometimes we could be bribed with a few bucks to help rake and sometimes not. Oh, how I miss that tree. In all the beautiful fall foliage here in east TN, I have yet to find a tree that compares to it.

So wherever you are, I hope you take the time to enjoy fall...we all know it won't be here for long. I am including a picture of the house I grew up in. This was taken the first time I took Clint to see it right after we married. (Can't see the tree in this picture, but it's to the left side.)

Labor Day Week Travels

2010-09-15T17:10:00.001-07:00

We just returned from our week vacation and boy, did we travel! But, I will say, this is probably the most family and friends I have ever seen in such a short amount of time. It was so awesome to see and catch up with everyone. We started our travels on Labor Day weekend by heading west to Jackson. My family does another camping reunion, of sorts, on Labor Day. As usual, Clint was super excited about shooting his gun, fishing, 4 wheeling, etc. I was just happy about seeing family again. While in Jackson, I also squeezed in some time to see my best friend Rachel. We have been best friends since Kindergarten and do not get to catch up near as much as we would like. It was so nice to talk about fun memories and be able to share them with Clint and her boyfriend Burton. On Monday, we said goodbye to my grandmother and dad and packed up the car headed toward Texas. It was a good 10 hours, but we made it fine and were greeted by Clint's super sweet Aunt Wanda and Uncle Larry. Of course, our highlight was visiting with his grandmother. She was the reason for the visit. I had only met her once at our wedding and that was the last time Clint had seen her too. She just amazes me. She is 90 years old but is so sharp and hilarious! Clint's uncle is a retired agriculture teacher who is now farming. He showed us around the fields. I thought the Texas farmlands would be similar to West TN farmlands but I was wrong. It was neat to see how completely different they are. The only sad part was having to say goodbye. We loaded back up in the car and drove a short distance to Dallas. Since neither of us had ever been to Downtown Dallas we decided to stop in. On a whim, we checked into a hotel and stayed downtown. I am so glad we did. We found a great rate at the Adolphus hotel. Once we checked into our room, we found out they had upgraded us to a junior suite which had 3 different city views. So cool! We just so happened to be staying the night a tornado hit downtown. Never a dull moment traveling with the Davis Family! We were fine, of course, and left out the next morning. This time, we were Murfreesboro bound. We did decide to stop in and stay another night with my grandmother to break up the trip. 10 hours seems to be our maximum travel time in a car. It can be so exhausting. After some more generous hospitality from my grandmother, we made our way to Blue Raider Country. We got in on Friday and stayed through Sunday. It was very nostalgic to be back in the stands cheering on our team. Not to mention eating at all our favorite places we had been missing. We certainly put the miles on our car, but I would do it all again. I only hope it won't be so long before we see everyone again.

Catching up on family news at Hatchie Bottom

My grandmother and dad

Me with Rachel and her son Timothy

Clint with his sweet grandmother

Our gracious hosts, Clint's aunt and uncle

Some of Clint's 2nd cousins

This is just one side, the other part of the room had a desk, couch & 2 chairs with the flat screen

Super nice bathroom

One of our downtown views from our room--I was a little disappointed that I did not see one person wearing a cowboy hat or boots.

Getting ready to go to the MTSU game. (They were playing my former employer, Austin Peay State University.)

Carter Family Fold

2010-09-15T16:58:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago we were invited to tag along with Joe, Lo, Robert, Mandy & Ryann to the Carter Family Fold. We had been wanting to make the small drive to Virginia to see this historic place. I didn't know until we were there that it was the last place that Johnny Cash performed live. We are fortunate to live so close to such neat places to visit. Before we made it to the fold, we had to stop in at "Hob-Nob Drive In" for some burgers and shakes. Ryann sure does love her chicken legs. It was hilarious!

Checking to see if they have chicken legs...

Yup, they do!

Blurry, but shows the live music and "flat footin" dancers

Fun Night at the Fold

Backyard Landscape

2010-09-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, we did a little more work on our backyard landscape. Most of the back is shaded due to all the trees, so it makes it difficult to get plants to grow. It's a work in progress...

BEFORE

AFTER

My Job

2010-08-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

Those 2 words pretty much sum up why I have been MIA in the blogging world. Lately, I have been swamped at work and so tired when I come home that all I want to do is eat dinner and hang out with Clint. I don't even want to "look" at a computer after being on one all day. But, as crazy as it has been, I have loved every minute of it. Even dealing with hateful people at times. That's why I have been so sick the past week and a half.

When I started my job over a year ago, I signed a contract that stated I was hired with stimulus money received from the government. The contract was for 18 months and contingent upon funding. They did it could be longer if the money was there. If any of you work for a not for profit company, you understand. Anyway, I got word last week that our funding was low and we would be cutting back on our services to those seeking training. A red flag went up in my mind and I wondered if my job was going to be on the chopping block along with the programs we were halting. I have been deeply concerned. Especially, since my job is working with job seekers. I know better than anyone how tough the current economic situation is, at least in this area. Coupled with the fact that it was a little over a year ago that I was unemployed for 6 months. It truly makes me sick to my stomach to even think about having to look for another job. But, mostly, I have been so sad because I LOVE my job. I have found my niche with this type of work. I know now that I am a humanitarian at heart and desire to help people. I could care less about having a "prestigious" position at a big name company or working some job only for a killer paycheck. The feeling of making a difference in someone is unmatchable. I don't even mind all the paperwork (most days!). That's why for the first time this past Monday, I was dreading going to work. Not because of the mounds of files I would have to process that day or the hundreds of phone calls I would have to return. But because I was fearful I wouldn't get to do all of it.

Thankfully, I have an amazing husband who constantly reminds me that the Lord has taken care of us so far and not to worry. We both know that His plan is where we want to be and if it means me going through another period of unemployment then so be it. I wonder sometimes about my clients who don't have Faith. How in the world they make it through their hard times and depression from their job loss? They never have that sense of peace that only comes from Him. How sad for those who form their whole identity around their occupation. It can be taken from you so quickly and for those people, their identity is gone in an instant.

Today, I got as much confirmation from my boss as she could give me at this time. She informed me that as of now, her plan is to fight to keep me on board. And that hopefully, even if there is a layoff, that I won't be one of them. Her words did ease my heartburn some, but I had already found peace this morning when I found the verse below while doing my devotions. I know that if I do my part and be as prepared as possible, then God will be faithful.
" Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." ~1 Peter 5:7

What makes a Married couple happy?

2010-07-17T14:23:00.001-07:00

Going from this size bed....

To this...

Ahh...So Nice!

Yes, we finally purchased a King size bed. After spending 3 years of marriage fighting for space in our full size bed, we decided it was time! I will say I held out on this one. Clint has wanted one from the beginning of our marriage. I was always afraid it would take up too much room, look too big, etc, etc. After having 2 weeks of blissful sleep, I will admit I was WRONG. Besides, isn't that what the bedroom is all about! We ended up purchasing a Serta mattress. It was not intentional, we just found it to be the best one for the money. Serta is now our favorite brand for more reasons than one. If you don't remember the other reason, click HERE to find out why. We are a Serta family for sure. Hands down, one of our best purchases so far!

One reason I love Summer

2010-07-10T07:14:00.001-07:00

All the flowers! I absolutly love hydrangeas. I hope to one day find a suitable place to have them growing in our back yard. My Nanaw has the most beautiful hydrangea bushes. These came from her house. We have really enjoyed them. I thought they were too pretty not to share.

4th of July at Hatchie Bottom

2010-07-10T07:00:00.001-07:00

Another 4th of July spent at our property near the Hatchie River in West TN. We had a blast this year, but certainly missed all those who were not there. See you again on Labor Day!

This is what the West TN heat does to me, not a pretty look! But I love that I don't have to fool with fixing my hair or putting on make-up! (with Annie and J.Leigh)

Love this picture. The oldest member of our family talking to the newest additions to Hatchie Bottom (Squ.Thomas, Clint and Abe)

Catching up on Family Time

He will do this anywhere!

Hatchie Bottom was a Coke event long before we were a Pepsi family.(We still use this for drinks!)

Frisbee Time

When I think of HB, I think of this...

And this!

Lastly, I could not resist posting this picture of my dad on OUR bed. This is what the West TN heat does to him. (And yes, he fell asleep with his arm up in the air!)

Bridget's Wedding

2010-06-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, the last of my best friends got married. Bridget and Brandon were married in Cleveland, TN. Sarah and I went up on Friday for all the festivities and to help Bridge get ready for her big day. The wedding was beautiful! Only at Bridget's wedding could we get away with wearing pagent size earrings, so fun!

Beautiful Bride

Bridge and Brandon

My favorite dance partner

Sweet Savannah Getaway

2010-06-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

At the end of May Clint and I took a weeks vacation and headed to Savannah, GA. We went to Charleston last year and loved it and knew it wouldn't be long before we visited this sister town. We stayed 3 days in Savannah in a loft over looking River Street. It was so nice to be able to step out on the balcony and watch the huge container ships coming and going. And if we got hungry, we just stepped out our door and headed down River Street for some fabulous fresh seafood. The highlight of our time in Savannah was taking a trolley tour and learning all the history and eating at the famous Mrs. Wilkes house. I have never, and I mean never, eaten such wonderful Southern food. A definite MUST for a Savannah Trip.
We spent another 3 days down the road at a B&B on Tybee Island. It was nice sitting on the beach catching up on some reading. But, hands down, my favorite part was renting bikes and riding them around the island all day. It was the best way to see the sights.

The view of the river from our balcony.

Forsyth Park

Mmmmm....

Our cute island B&B

Tybee Island lighthouse

Welcome to the World Hunter

2010-05-03T18:12:00.001-07:00

On April 26th our little cousin Hunter was born. Hunter's father is my first cousin Tom. You might remember seeing wedding pictures from Tom and Erin's wedding a few years ago. The whole family has been anticipating this birth because not only is he the first boy since Tom was born but also the first grandchild and great-grandchild. He is named after my grandfather Hunter who passed away over 12 years ago. Hunter was like a father to me and extremely special to everyone in our family. I cannot wait until little Hunter is old enough to learn about his wonderful great-grandfather. Thanks to proud Aunt Margaret for sending me these pictures so I could share them with everyone. Please continue to pray for Tom and Erin as they adjust to adding another member to their family. He certainly is a blessing!

The proud Papa! I can't explain how strange this is for me to see Tom with his first child!

Mommy and Son

He has no idea how spoiled he is going to be by this grandmother!

Excited to be an aunt

Love this one

So sweet!

Ryann Turns 3

2010-05-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

This year we got to help Ryann celebrate her birthday in Knoxville. We played horseshoes, cooked out burgers, ate cake and of course spoiled Ryann. I love living close to family!

She got a "big girl bed!" (It should be noted that Ryann now sleeps in the same size bed as Clint and me!)

Showing off her dress up clothes

More March happenings

2010-04-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and after a cold, snowy winter we couldn't be more thankful! Happenings at the Davis household have been pretty routine. We finally got around to painting the bathroom next to our bedroom. It is a beautiful light blue and looks great. I'll have to post pictures of that soon. We also have started working outside a bit to try to get keep up with our neighbors manicured lawns and gardens. We moved our swing into the yard and created a patio area with a love seat, 2 chairs and table. Clint and I are enjoying sitting there outside after work. We love grilling out and then being able to stay outside to eat. Our dream would be a screened in porch.

We also got to babysit our sweet niece Ryann a few weeks ago. She was staying with Clint's parents for the weekend and they had an event to attend with church. We jumped at the chance to keep her for a few hours. She is the cutest thing and kept asking if we had a "big girl's bed" at our house because she thought she was going to be spending the night. When dinner time came around, she inquired if we had a "big girl's cup" for her drink. Too cute! We can't wait to have her back soon!

Ryann watching a movie sucking on her finger.(Look at that gorgeous hair!)

Ryann, Uncle Clint and "Crowie"

She wanted her toenails painted like Aunt Missy.

Some pictures of Chloe on our patio wearing her garden hat

Another fun Birthday Celebration

2010-03-13T19:01:00.001-08:00

This past weekend I headed to Rockwood to celebrate my Nanaw's birthday. It was wonderful to be able to spend time with family to celebrate the lady that keeps our family strong!

We could never tell her "real age!"

Drumroll please....

2010-02-28T14:48:00.001-08:00

Just a few reminders of how it looked before

BEFORE

AFTER

You can see the wall color better-we think the buttercream tones really brighten up the room!

We LOVE it!

27 Years

2010-02-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

This year for my birthday Clint surprised me with a weekend getaway. Last Friday I was told to pack my bags not knowing where he was taking me. We ended up in Mt. Airy, NC the hometown of Andy Griffith and the inspiration for the town of Mayberry. This place was super cute. He had made reservations for us to stay at a B&B right next to downtown. The place was beautiful, the food was good and the weather was perfect. (A well deserve break from all the snow.) We spent most of Saturday walking around downtown, browsing antique store and watching movies in our room. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a weekend.

Downtown

"Snappy Lunch" mentioned on the "Andy Griffith Show." Home of the famous porkchop sandwich

Beautiful

Huge room

On Tuesday (my birthday) Clint and I met his father and grandparents at a local Italian restaurant. Clint continued his tradition of baking me a birthday cake. This year's cake was strawberry with milk chocolate icing. It was delicious!

With Clint's grandparents

Thank you to everyone who sent me a card, called or wished me a happy birthday. I had a wonderful day and feel very blessed to be so loved!

More kitchen!

2010-02-17T18:08:00.001-08:00

Countertops and bar complete

Still working on rest of lighting, backsplash, molding and paint!

One of my favorite features is the custom made shelf with small lights directed on the sink.

Next post should be finished product!

Kitchen Update

2010-02-13T18:24:00.001-08:00

It still has a little ways to go, but such a huge difference...I cannot get over much better it already looks!

Cabinets and all appliances installed.

Under cabinet lights on

Caution: Kitchen Remodel in Progress

2010-02-07T14:13:00.001-08:00

This week our kitchen renovation got under way. Our contractor has been working non-stop each evening and has made some real progress in 3 short days. That's good news for us. It's killing me having the house out of order. I'll be glad when we can take the microwave out of the living room and the coffee maker out of the bathroom! But, hopefully it will only be for a short time and the results will be worth it. Here is a sneak peek at the progress so far:

Kitchen Before:You can see some test paint colors at the bottom of the molding, don't worry, we are not using the dark paint color

Kitchen Before: I sure won't be missing the old appliances!

After a few hours of demo

End of day 1

After day 3:bye-bye old cabinets, hello, beautiful new ones...sorry I can't hold my camera straight!

Haiti and Cell Phones

2010-01-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

Haiti: Every time I see pictures of the devastation that has occurred, my heart breaks. In a time where our country is experiencing a "economic recession" and so many of our fellow Americans are in financial and emotional hardships, it's hard to imagine things getting worse. And for the Haitians, they are going through the ultimate "worse." Something we will never truly understand. Even the poorest American would be considered "wealthy" in most parts of Haiti. We are certainly a very spoiled nation. It is only by the grace of God that we were born in our land of the free. It has become a habit for me to wake up each morning and thank God for the job that I have been blessed with while so many that I see daily still search for one. Now, I realize that my prayer of thanksgiving should simply be for waking up in a warm bed in the house I own and in a country of privilege. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Cell Phone: I have now completed day 2 of not using my cell phone while driving. I think most of you might understand how challenging this could be. I did not realize how much I use it while driving. Even to simply call Clint and tell him something I forgot or to call and check in on Mom. I use to think I was such a wonderful multi-tasker by taking care of business while driving to my next destination. How very dangerous this "habit" is not just for me but the other drivers on the road. I caught the final bit of this topic on the Oprah show and it propelled me into doing some research on my own. I found that one study, "demonstrated that drivers' reaction times were, on average, 30% slower when talking on a cell phone compared to being drunk and nearly 50% slower than normal driving conditions." Wow, that is scary! Not to mention the other statistics about texting while driving. Don't even get my started on that topic. That was not something I was in the practice of doing. I have always been a little annoyed when I see someone texting while driving. And even scared on a few occasions while a friend would down the interstate, talking to me in the passengers side AND texting on their cell phone! I realize they would never do it with the intent of harm, but I don't think people are aware of the accidents and deaths that occur due to driving while using cell phones. I thought texting was the greater offense since it is now illegal in TN. But what I have learned is that our brains simply cannot drive and take in all of our surroundings as normal if we are using our cell phone. And that means just talking on it. I know it's going to difficult, but I am going to do my best and stick to the no-cell phone zone in the car. I encourage you to think about it. So, if you call and I don't answer...I may be driving, but I'll call you back when I put the car in park :)

Sneak Peek...

2010-01-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

This week we got a very exciting delivery...our new cabinets. They are beautiful! We opened each crate (26 in all!) to make sure they were not scratched and I just had to take a picture. They are maple and a little bit darker than this picture is showing, but pretty close. I'm still trying to determine a wall color. For some reason that seems to be the hardest decision for me. Any suggestions?

Stay tuned for kitchen updates!

Under the sink cabinet

Christmas Time 2009

2009-12-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

This year, we went to Rockwood for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We made it there just in time for Candlelight Service at church, which is probably my favorite part of the entire Christmas celebration. We had such a wonderful time visiting with family. On Saturday, we came back to Kingsport to visit with Clint's side. We are so thankful for all our blessings, but most especially our wonderful family!

Chloe Claus

J.leigh and Abe

Christmas Day

Clint playing with his new recording toy

Our sweet Ryann with the pig we got her.

Another year celebrated for Clint

2009-12-30T16:50:00.000-08:00

Clint turned 26 on December 20th. We celebrated by eating sushi with the family after church and then going back to Joe and Lo's house to open presents and eat "cake" since we did not have electricity. Unfortunatly, the snow storm that hit the Tri-Cities was the weekend of his birthday. So, we were pretty much snowed in but thankful that we had family close by that had lights and heat!

Every good Florida fan must have their very own Snuggie!

Clint wanted a donut cake this year. Thankfully, this didn't need any electricity to make!

Happy Birthday Momma!

2009-12-09T15:37:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet Mother! So glad I was able to celebrate with you a few weekends ago!

Boy for the Barkers!

2009-12-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

I was so happy to find out today that my 1st cousin Tom and his wife Erin are expecting a BOY!! Tom is the only boy surrounded by all female cousins. I know he is so excited and I couldn't be happier for them. It's been a while since we have had a little baby in the family, so we will all be excited to welcome the first great-grandchild! Congrats Tom and Erin.

The 1st Cousins

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2009-12-07T17:17:00.001-08:00

Chloe with Charlie (he is staying with us for a week)

One of the pictures Brooke took for our Christmas card

Our stocking hung with care

Clint's colored light tree

Our Christmas tree

Black Friday shopping

2009-11-28T05:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, I was among the millions who woke up early to get some deals on Black Friday. I scouted the ads on Thanksgiving and saw some items that were worth braving the cold, dark morning. I was fortunate enough that I didn't have to go alone. My poor husband of course had to work on Friday. (Which was to his benefit since he was the most shopped for on our trip!) Clint's brother Ben mentioned he wanted to get up and go shopping so we decided to go together. I was even more excited when he offered to drive. (Or maybe I suggested it, not sure.) I HATE driving on crowded roads and parking in busy parking lots.

So, what was such a super deal that I had to get out of my warm cozy bed for early Friday morning? The answer: Appliances. I mentioned in a previous post that I might have some exciting news to share. Well, Clint and I have moved forward and hired a contractor to remodel our VERY outdated kitchen!! When we bought this house, we knew that it would need to be done at some point down the road for re-sale value. But, when we received our tax credit from purchasing our house, we thought it would be a great time to go ahead and do it. We both knew it would probably always be something we talked about doing but probably wouldn't do until we decided to sell the house. Why not do it now so we can enjoy the upgrades. Beside, who the heck knows how long we will live here....maybe forever?!?

We have already ordered our counter tops and cabinets. The next item for debate was appliance color. Since we are doing our very best to stay within our tax credit (or right at) we had to weigh our options very carefully since this was a purchase that could easily bust the budget. (Who knew appliances were so outragious!) After doing research and talking to friends, family and our kitchen expert, we decided on black appliances. One for the price break and two for the maintenance. I think having stainless steel would drive this OCD cleaning girl crazy! And really, as our kitchen expert told us, "Everything is a fad and will be outdated at some point."

We had gotten tipped off that Lowe's was going to have an appliance package deal on Black Friday. Something these two budget conscious homeowners had to investigate. Turns out, it was a pretty good deal. We purchased all our appliances: fridge, OTR microwave, dishwasher and stove for the price of what one nice refrigerator would cost! Saved us at least a grand. Have I mentioned, I love a savings?! We still have to pick out our sink, faucet, color for walls and tile for back splash. But, I think we are nearing the end of decision making. It can be so exhausting...but I know it will be so worth it. We are looking at beginning our kitchen renov. the first of January. Stay tuned for pictures.

Grove Park Inn

2009-11-15T11:10:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, my cousin Margaret and I made our way to Asheville, NC to visit the popular historic hotel, The Grove Park Inn. It was truly wonderful! I arrived on Friday a few hours before her and had the chance to get lost around the huge hotel. The views of the mountains are breathtaking. And the weather could not have been more perfect. On Saturday, we spent our entire day at The Spa. And I mean entire day. We were there at 9am, left 2 hours for dinner, came back and spent the rest of the evening there until it closed at 9pm. We both are "get your monies worth" kind of girls...runs in the family! I have never been to a more luxurious spa. They really did think of everything. I won't even try to describe all the amenities because I would for sure leave something spectacular out. We both had hour long pedicures that consisted of a mini-foot/calf massage, hot stone massage, sugar scrub, neck and eye scented pillows,champagne, chocolates and of course painted toes! I don't think I'll ever get any other pedicure that will top that one. It had to be one of the best girls getaway trips. Thanks again Margs for everything, but most of all your fabulous company! Sadly, we did not get a picture together. But, who had time for pictures when you are maxing and relaxing all weekend!

The Grove Park Inn (a very small part of it!)

Sunset

Fall colors were still hanging on

Halloween 2009

2009-11-15T10:59:00.000-08:00

I know I'm a little behind on my posting! (Seems to be the norm around here lately.) We had a very peaceful Halloween this year. Chloe had a friend (Charlie) sleep over. We dressed her up in her costume before the trick-or-treaters started arriving. She was a chicken for the 2nd year in a row. The 2 dogs loved having visitors coming and going all evening. We were excited because we had 15 little cowgirls, ghosts, rockstars and creatures. If you remember from our previous Halloween posts, this is by far the most we have ever had. Although, I'm not sure how Clint really feels about it. Midway through the night, as he looked into the dwindling candy in the bowl, he made the comment about turning out the light to save the rest of the candy! I think he was getting too use to not having any trick-or-treaters and eating all the candy himself. Of course we did not turn off our light and were pretty much cleaned out by the end of the night. We also watched a pretty awesome UT football game that night too!

Race for the Cure

2009-10-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

Today was the Tri-Cities Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It was a beautiful day and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to run. I was a little nervous because I wasn't as prepared as I would have liked to have been. However, I was pleased that I ran the entire race and didn't have to walk...that was my goal. I'm not exactly sure of my time yet, but I know was close to the same time of my last 5K. Clint, Chloe, Joe and Lo all came to support me. It was great having them cheer me on to the finish line. Thanks again for all of you who supported with prayers and donations!

Reason for my run

Getting ready to cross the finish line

After the race with my family

MTSU Homecoming 2009

2009-10-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful time at this year's MT Homecoming. Bridget, Sarah and I rode down to the 'Boro and meet up with Jennifer. We got there just in time to watch the parade. After that, we did some socializing at the ADPi Alum tailgating tent and then headed to lunch. We made it back just in time for the game and watched MTSU beat Western KY. It was so great to be able to see friends that I don't get to see anymore. Can't wait for next year!

Jennifer, Sarah, Bridget and me

Tailgating

Roomies

Go Blue Raiders

Busy Weekends

2009-10-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

Seems like I don't have a free weekend in sight. But, it's not a bad thing. Fall is the best time to travel and visit with family and friends...and I will be hitting the roads of this great state (and surrounding ones) in the weeks and months to come.

This past weekend Mom came to visit and finally got to see our new house in person. We had a fun time catching up, shopping and watching movies. It was very relaxing. No matter how old you get, it's always good to have your momma home...come back anytime Mom!

This weekend I will be stopping in at Sarah's new house (& new visiting with her new hubby) to spend the night before we meet up with Bridget and head to MTSU's Homecoming. This has become an annual tradition with us and something I always look forward to. I driving back late Saturday so that I will be ready on Sunday to run in the Susan G. Komen 5k. (Say prayers that my legs will carry me because I have only been doing abbreviated runs in the mornings!)

In 2 weekends from now, I will be heading the other direction and meeting up with my favorite cousin Margaret for a girl's getaway in Asheville. We are staying at the Grove Park Inn and I'm so very excited because I've always wanted a chance to stay there. No doubt we are going to have so much fun!

Nothing is on the schedule for next weekend. I'm keeping it free so that Clint and I can hang out on Halloween and pass out candy to the little trick-or-treaters. I'm just hoping we have more than we did last year. (If you remember, we only had 2! Ha!) I can feel it, this is going to be our year!!

Stay tuned...hopefully soon, I can share with you all the exciting news of what else has been consuming our time. (P.S. It is nothing to do with us becoming potential parents...it's about our house!)

Goal Reached!

2009-10-07T16:34:00.000-07:00

I have reached my donation goal! Thanks to everyone who donated to the Race for the Cure. I'm very excited to be running for such a wonderful cause. I have been trying to increase my distance each morning when I run. I am doing my best to be as ready as possible. I know it's only a 5K but its been awhile since I've run in one. And, I'm only use to running 1-2 miles a day. But, I've still got some time. I'll be sure to post some pics from the race.

Thank you again to everyone for your support and prayers, it means a lot to me!
P.S. If you would still like to make a donation, just visit my race page. (The link is on my previous post.)

Employee of the Month

2009-09-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

This month we found out that Clint was named Pepsi Employee of the Month at his plant. This is a great accomplishment since there are over 100+ employees that work there and considering that only 12 people get selected out of the year. This past week was also employee appreciation week there and I got to go take the tour of the buildings during a cookout and got to see his name on a plaque and his picture displayed. He works so hard everyday and I think he definitely deserves it! Can you tell I'm proud of him?!?

Not only that but today I received this delivery at my office:

I was very suprised when I read the card:

Sure, I'll take credit for his hard work, ha! I thought it was very thoughtful.

To say he works for a great company is an understatement.

Sarah's Reception

2009-09-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

2 weekends ago Clint and I attended Sarah's wedding reception. I had mentioned earlier that she had a destination wedding in Florida. Sadly, I was unable to attend due to lack of vacation days! However, I was so happy to find out that she was going to have a reception after the wedding when they got home. We met up with Bridget and her boyfriend, Brandon and had a blast celebrating with the bride and her new husband. Love you Mrs. Campbell!

Bridget and Brandon

Race for the Cure!

2009-09-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I couldn't think of any better way to create awareness than by running in our local Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure. Like many of you, this cause is one that is particularly close to my heart. So, on Sunday, October 25th, I will be running in honor of my mother-in-law, Lo Davis.

I believe there is a cure and I believe that one day we will end the fight of breast cancer when it is discovered. If you would like to make a donation to help me raise money for a cure, you can visit my personal webpage:

http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=306998&supId=271397922

You can also follow the status to see if I can meet my goal! I do not like soliciting for donations, so if anything, I am asking for you to keep me and more importantly this event in your prayers.

In Love with the Lowcountry!

2009-09-08T16:25:00.001-07:00

Aww, we just returned from our amazing mini-vaca to Charleston, SC. It was pure heaven. If there was ever a place to make you feel the rich heritage of the South, it has to be Charletson. We stayed in Mount Pleasant, which is about 5 minutes from downtown Charleston and about 3 minutes from the beach. Simply, the best of both worlds! We spent all of our beach time on Sullivan's Island. It wasn't too crowded and the weather couldn't have been better. I think God knew this girl needed a break!

We stayed at the Plantation Oaks Inn B&B. Our hosts were lovely and the food was great. But, the best thing was our view outside. Their home looked out into a clearing of mossy-covered oak trees. Beyond the trees was the marsh. It was so picturesque! Not far from their home was the Boone Hall Plantation home which has one of the longest moss-covered tree lined road. Roll down the windows with the breeze blowing in and look up at the trees...ahh, it was great! The home was also featured in one of my favorite movies, The Notebook. We also drove less than a mile from our B&B to visit William Pinkney's house. He signed the United States Constitution for South Carolina. It was a beautiful place full of old, very unique trees. (I know, who would have though trees would make me so happy, I loved them!)

And, the Lowcountry did us right by way of food! The first night we ate at a local favorite in Mount Pleasant called Locklears. Hands down the best crab cake I have ever put in my mouth! All melt in your mouth crab meat, no fillers!

The next night we ate at the Swamp Fox restaurant in the Frances Marion hotel in downtown Charleston. I had an amazing BBQ brisket along with pepper jack grits and yummy red rice...mmmm! We of course walked off our meals (well at least some of it) by either taking a stroll along the beach or walking down Rainbow Row dreaming about living in one of the breath taking homes! As if we weren't pooped enough from each days activities, we had to end it by browsing some pretty cool antique stores in the area.

I really just couldn't get enough of the history in this area. I didn't want to sit down for one minute because there was so much I wanted to do. Clint was so good about doing whatever I wanted to do or taking me where ever I wanted to go. I think he enjoyed his time too. He got some quite time in the early morning on our screened in porch drinking coffee while I slept in. (FYI: I found out that 8:00a.m. is considered "sleeping-in." This coming from someone who can only "sleep-in" til 5:45 a.m.!!)

We had such a wonderful time and I'm already planning what I want to do the next time we visit Charleston.

Lighthouse on Sullivan's Island

Outside our B&B

Our B&B's boardwalk to the dock in the marsh

Boone Hall Plantation

Tree lined road leading to Boone Hall

Charles Pinkney's house

Rainbow Row

Antique Finds & House Progress

2009-08-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted to show off our antique finds from last weekend.

Clint's purchase...it's a Pepsi bank that sorts the coins in slots in the back, pretty neat

Love this sweet little silver lamp!

Couldn't pass up this bird picture!

I'm finally posting pictures of our living room after it has been painted. I have been waiting until I found curtains. I knew exactly what I wanted but it has taken me forever to find them. Actually, it has taken me forever to find a DEAL. You know I never ever buy without a sale. I found these jewels at Pier 1 for $8 bucks a panel...that was 4 for the price of 1 (regular priced)! It was even cheaper than buying fabric by the yard. It was like finding a treasure, it's the small things in life people!

Before

After--We are still searching for a rug and some other accents.

Entry way--Notice the door is a different color than the walls? That was the original wall color...still thinking on what I want to do with it.

Den before

Still working on the den, but this is how it is so far.

I have already posted pictures of the bathroom since we painted (above), but Clint recently framed the mirror. It looks so much better.

I still plan on painting the cabinet.

A blog update

2009-08-23T17:41:00.001-07:00

I do apologize to those of you who read my blog (if there are any of you still out there). I have been neglecting it just a bit lately. It's true what everyone says about being a home owner: It can be a blessing and a curse since there seems to always be something that needs to be done. However, we are looking at it as a blessing and trying not to let the projects consume our days. (Although, Clint seems to be better at this than I am.)

This weekend we made the decision to forgo painting since Clint is still fighting off a cold. Instead, we took it easy. We finally got around to walking around Kingsport's downtown area. We love the fact that it is lined with antique stores. And nothing makes for a better day in my mind than browsing around antique stores all day. That's exactly what we did and then of course went for some frozen yogurt, yummy! And both of us found some treasures, even better!

Weekend with the Girls

2009-08-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

I spent this past weekend with my old roomies, Bridget and Sarah, for Sarah's bachelorette weekend. There was a lot of food, shopping and fun! How I miss my girls! Can't wait to see them again for Sarah's reception.

Getting ready to do some shopping

The future Mrs. Campbell

All the girls in Nashville

With the Bride-to-Be

Still Here

2009-07-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

Even though I have taken a little "blog break," we are still here. I have been busy learning the ropes at work. (aka-figuring out ALL the mounds of paperwork.) So far, I am really loving it. I have been training with the other Career Specialist and they are some of the best people I have ever met. I knew I was in a good place when at the first staff meeting, the director prayed before we began the meeting. So rare these days! Dealing with people on a daily basis who are unemployed or have been recently laid off really gives me a sense of what tough times we are going through. I say a prayer of thanks every day for this job and the opportunity God has given me to help those individuals.

I have been out of town the past few weekends so we haven't gotten much accomplished as far as the house goes. We did paint the living room but I am waiting to post pictures until I can find window treatments I like. Who knows when that will be! Our plans are to tackle painting our master bedroom and bath next. Whooo! It makes me tired just thinking about it. But, it will be so worth it once we are finished.

Hall Bathroom

2009-07-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

This weekend was spent painting the hall bathroom. This was top on our list because if you remember before it was purple sponge paint. I chose a deeper tan color. It turned out more of a rich golden. But, I really like the clean look it has with the white accents. We still have some things left to do: 1) Frame out the mirror, 2) Paint the cabinet white, 4) Install new light fixture, 5) Replace the blinds. I'm already loving the changes!

This weekend we are hoping to paint the living room.

BEFORE

AFTER

You can see the real color without the light

Hatchie Bottom 2009

2009-07-08T16:35:00.000-07:00

Well, it's a miracle. I came back home from Hatchie Bottom with less than 25 mosquito bites! I believe this is a record. Our annual 4th of July tradition proved to be an exciting one this year. I got to catch up with family I haven't seen in a year and some even longer than that. Clint had a blast shooting his gun and becoming more familiar with the motorcycles. As usual, the food was amazing! It rained on us a bit but we still pulled off some fireworks and sparklers. We are already looking forward to next year!

FYI: This year's mosquito repellant of choice was the OFF fan that you clip onto your clothing. I give this product 4 out of 5 stars. I think it really did keep my favorite flying friends at bay!

My dad loves to show how it's done.

Daddy with his "Bond Girls"

Club House

Sarah learned to drive this Gator and 4 wheeler this year.

J.Leigh, my little (big) cousin Tom and Abe (J's b/f)

Cotton field in the morning

Clint woke up early Sunday morning and took some pictures

My dad describes Hatchie Bottom as "primitive" and you can see why! Clint took this picture b/c he loves the fact that the girls have to use this!!

Our First House

2009-07-06T17:18:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of our new house. I was going to wait to post them until we got every room painted and decorated. Then, I realized how long that might be until all of that work was complete! And since so many of you have asked to see, I thought I would post the "raw" pictures. We are still in the process of unpacking whenever we get a spare moment. We went to Jackson this weekend for our annual Hatchie Bottom 4th of July trip so we really haven't gotten to far in the unpacking process. This weekend I am going to tackle the first paint project--purple hall bathroom. I'll be sure to post before and after pics of each room when we finish.

I cannot tell you how much we already love this house. Every morning I wake up here and it seems like I'm a guest in some other person's home. Our neighborhood is so quaint and all the neighbors are extremely friendly. I know this house is going to require work, but I also know we are going to love making this house our home!

Front entrance and living room

Hall Bathroom (purple!!)

3rd bedroom/office

Guest Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Kitchen and dining area

Fireplace (This is not deocorated, just put stuff up there until I get to it!)

Den--Laundry room is off the den and the garage is off that

Happy Daddy's Day!

2009-06-21T17:37:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day to our dads Joe and John. Thank you for your support and guidance. We love you both!
Also, to our grandfathers, those who are still with us and also those that have passed on. Thank you for playing very important roles in our lives

Joe and Lo

Clint with his parents

My Daddy

My dad and sister

Picnic + River= Mistake

2009-06-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday was such a nice day that we decided to pack a picnic lunch and take Chloe to a nearby park. There was a wonderful trail that followed a flowing river nearby. We spotted a bench that was right off the path and agreed it would make for a nice lunch spot. Boy, were we wrong! I noticed a few mosquitos landing on Clint's legs. I made mention of them and thought I was getting a few bites myself. Well as it turns out, while I was lunching on my sandwich, the mosquitos were FEASTING on my legs! When we returned to the car I told Clint that I thought I had been bit and asked if he could tell. "Oh my gosh," was his reaction. I counted over 20 bites on each leg! I have been in complete misery for the past 2 days. We were suppose to go on a hike with our Sunday school group the next day but had to opt out b/c I couldn't stand to think of getting bit one more time.

I have been in complete misery for the past 2 days. Not only does it itch like crazy but both my legs look disgusting. I'm stuck wearing pants in this hot weather. I must have some tasty blood!!!