25th Anniversary Cake & working the corner

The lady that rents an office next to mine ordered an anniversary cake for her aunt & uncle. They scuba dive, so she wanted it to have a theme. She said that one likes chocolate cake and the other likes vanilla, but they both like carrot, so could I make it all three flavors (hu?)
I had the idea in my head (and up there it was much cuter) but I don't think it turned out horrible (too bad my immagination doesn't have a print button!)

the cake before the icing, so you can see how i incorporated all three flavors

I had two different colors of blue and I used this cool technique to put them in the bag together then I mixed them so it looked like waves...in what is obviously a lake!

The dive fins. No, this is not a marriage of 3...I had to make an extra set in case there was breakage!

The finished cake...with the addition of the scuba flags.

live *heart* love *heart* dive

Finished cake...again.

Check out the bottom of their fins...how funny am I?!?!

No...i will not make a cake like this for you.

and...WORKING THE CORNER: I met Marci's cousin this morning to pass the cake off. They have a family reunion this weekend and Marci is already there. So we decided to meet at the Spaghetti Warehouse off Delk Road. As I was pulling out of the parking lot there was a car stopped in front of me with a girl talking to the driver through the window. She was not dressed so fantaliciously, but I didn't think anything of it (aside from the flip flops with socks.)

So I pulled up behind them and a few seconds later she walked away and he pulled out...slowly. As I was waiting for traffic to clear I saw that he had only turned left and was driving really slowly in the turn lane away from I-75 watching her with his head poked out the window. Then a black Lincoln (an airport transport type car) turned into the same lot I was trying to turn out of. This girl was still on the corner just a few feet from my car.

As I pull out of the drive I notice that the girl has approached the Lincoln and then it dawns on me...hello...she is a "working girl" a "don't kiss on the lips girl" a "pretty woman". I felt sorry for her, mostly because of her choice of wardrobe (nasty) and for her chosen profession. Sad times that you can find that sort of "service" right there on Delk Road.

Greyhound Bus...

A few months ago my Kia broke down in Nashville. My friends and I got rides back to Atlanta with other friends that were up there (for yet another pathetic single adult conference.) The following weekend I had to get back up to Nashville to pick up my Kia and although there were numerous offers for rides (thank you all) I opted to GO GREYHOUND!

It was a most entertaining trip...although I hesitate to use the word entertaining, since it was mostly smelly, malfunctioning (yes, the bus broke down), hot, dangerous (an actual Greyhound employee got in a fight with one of the other passengers) cold, rainy, smelly, and long, but hey, it only cost me $50 and that's better than what it would have run me had I filled someone's tank up!

It was after that trip that I figured I would probably never venture onto another Greyhound again. And it was after reading THIS article that I am POSITIVE I will never ride another Greyhound again. FREAKS! I tell you...freaks!

The Law Family: Random & Stalkworthy

So a few months ago when I was blog stalking I ran across THIS blog. I have no idea who they are or how I came in contact with their blog (friend of a friend of a friend of a ...) but I just love reading their posts and looking through their amazing photos! They are living the most interesting life and until I can do the same I have to live vicariously through them. Hope they are OK with that. Check it out, they are The Law Family and I will put a link to their blog on my sidebar. Or you can click HERE too.

new signature

I'm trying out my new signature...I have no idea how it works.

Grocery List Maker...

I know this seems silly, but I thought it was rather ingenious. A list to make your grocery shopping easier and to help you avoid leaving things off your list too!

Click HERE to link you to the list maker.

I created my own fake-o list to see what it looked like:

pretty niffty huh?!

BOGO...Blizzard!

Check it out...join the Blizzard Fan Club and get a coupon for Buy One Get One Free Blizzard. Hello...perfect date night coupon!

Click HERE to sign up!

Cheerios Challenge...

It's the Cheerios Challenge. Sign up to receive Free Cheerios and coupons, just clicked HERE! Do it...it's good for your heart. And I *heart* you!

Pricey Petrol Got 'Cha Down?

...then click HERE!

LEVI McCONAUGHEY

Levi...I didn't know Matthew named his son after you?!?

Happy Birthday Levi...

Happy Birthday Levi...big 25th!

I hope you had a great day and enjoy your new apartment.

Aaaah, they just grow up so fast.

How To Hike In Flip Flops...

Other titles for this post:

~ Dehydration 101
~ Hallucinations of a Television Crime Drama Addiction
~ Who Needs A Treadmill: 101 Ways to Get Exercise Outside
~ Places to Meet Men

Tonight after work I didn't want to mess with traffic so I decided to take back roads around town and run some errands. On my way home I drove on Paper Mill and crossed the small bridge at Sope Creek. I have always wanted to investigate the remains of what I assume is a paper mill at the bank of the creek, but never have. Why not today, I had my camera and figured it was the perfect opportunity since I had no where else to be, my husband had other plans. I parked, grabbed my camera (sporting it's new smaller, more travel friendly case ~ thank you Kelly & Justin) and jumped out of the vehicle ready for a quick walk down to the creek.

About 3 minutes into my walk I came to a sign pointing to Sope Creek. It was a ratty sign with more faded writing below the words "Sope Creek" and when I got closer I saw that it said "Employees Only" so I followed the arrow anyway.

Keep in mind, I have never been down this trail and have absolutely no idea how long this walk will take or how difficult it will be. So I keep walking, over a large tree that looked like it had been struck my lightning and about 10 minutes in, now I was thinking this might be a mistake. I had no water, no idea when the sun went down (park closes at dark) wearing hot jeans and FLIP FLOPS! I figured I was already this far in, I couldn't turn back, I must persevere.

Down a few hills and avoiding the "we grew like this to trip you" roots, I was now walking parallel with Paper Mill Road and had I needed to get to the black top, it would have only taken a little effort and possibly getting wet & muddy. 5 minutes later, after a few sparsely placed signs, I managed to make my way to the mill remains. It was beautiful. There was a lot of overgrowth, but it just looked so serene and peaceful, I wish I had had more time.

It was strange though, there was a Mexican family gathering something...they were lifting rocks and digging in damp areas...it was very strange, almost as if they knew something we didn't know. I looked around and the only thing I saw were a million fire ants.

Yes...fire ants. OK, so maybe they were not fire ants, but they were red, so they very well could have been. Regardless the only thing that I was concerned about was the fact that I was still in flip flops. I kept moving my feet as I stood to take pictures, but I am sure they are still crawling on me even now, five hours later! Here are a few photos I took while I was at the remains:



My camera rocks...seriously! The little Mexican family was till there digging away (I think I even got one of them in one of my pictures) but I knew I had better be on my way. The majority of the hike toward the river was downhill, so I knew I had my work cut out for me and my flip flops on the way back.

Funny thing...that little Mexican family parked on the other side of the bridge. Literally a 1 minute walk over the bridge to get to the same location that took me 20 minutes!

Anyway, before I left I thought I would dip my toes in the creek and took these photos:


Sadly, there were a few collections of crap along the creek side. I wish I had had a bag with me, I would have carried it out. I mean come on people! They put a trash can right at the beginning of the trail. And maybe it's not the hikers, maybe it's you up there, throwing trash out of your car as you pass over the bridge. Not cool. Don't pollute!



When I turned around to leave I noticed that from the creek I had a really great view of the main building remains so I took a few more pictures:





It sort of reminds me of my trip to Mexico with Heather. When we toured Chichen Itza, that was far more grand and amazing on so many levels, but it just had the same feel in a way.

Anyway, I headed up the trail and as expected it was horrible. It was getting dark and I am pretty sure Freddy Kruger was waiting out there to kill me. I know it's not funny by any means, but the only thing I kept thinking about was that girl that got killed in the north Georgia mountains. Then I was thinking I need a dog, a dog would have loved that hike.



I kept seeing this little green round berryish things:

I was wondering if they were poisonous or if I could eat them if I never made it out of this hike!

Then I found what I had been looking for...the parking lot!



All in all a great time was had by all. And by all, I mean just me, since I was alone. I think the hiking bug bit me while I was down there, now I am going to try to find other trails around town with "points of interest" that need their picture taken.

Total elapsed time of hike: 42 minutes
Number of people I passed on the trail: 0
Number of Mexicans digging for gold: 4
Number of dogs/owners I seen in parking lot: 6

I hope you enjoyed this post...it took me forever to put together.

I smell smoke...

This morning I stopped into McD's to purchase a frosty cold beverage for my drive into work. I have been trying to avoid poor choices in food and today I had early lunch plans with Lisa Best so I was skipping breakfast. I know! I know! Moving on.

So I pulled up to the drive thru and waited patiently for the car in front of me to order. He was an older gentlemen, which I only noticed because I looked toward his car after smelling his stinky cigarette. He was busy multi-tasking placing his order for breakfast while taking his last puff on the cig and promptly flicking the used butt out into MY world. Yuck and gee thanks!

Fine, whatever...kill yourself. But then as he pulled forward to pay for his Egg McMuffin something else caught my eye...a small tube coming from the mans nostrils, then wrapping around his ears. Um, yeah...he was on oxygen. Smoking. Nice.

It reminded me of when I worked at the University of Utah Hospital. The walk into the hospital was lined with patients dragging their IV and oxygen tank out to smoke...all the while with their naked bum hanging out of their hospital gown!

today is my birthday...

Today is my birthday, I am a little sad.
This is a picture taken of me on grandma's couch December 1977.

happy birthday to me

Abbi & Jenna photos

Abbi & Jenna came to hang out the other night and I took some really cute photos so I thought I would share:

Photo of the night:

Kelly's Baby Shower

A few weeks ago, with the help of Mom, Sarah & Jo, we had a baby shower for Kelly. She and Justin decided not to find out the sex of the baby, so it was genre friendly and I am sure Charley/Jack will love all the things she/he got. We had a great time and there was so much food we didn't even know what to do. Here are a few pictures from that day:

Mommy to be, Kelly

Photo of the Day: The famous Duck Face

pretty roses

Honorary Aunt Lisa & actual Aunt Sarah

That is hilarious! I want one and I don't even have children.

I knew she would do it, just glad I caught it on camera.

I am not exactly sure what was just said, but imagine the fun we could have with exciting captions for this one:

Gender friendly chocolate covered strawberries. Yumm!

Look at that spread! We had such amazing food...thank you to everyone who brought something to the party!

We spent the better part of the morning watching the latest ultrasound video...over & over & over again...trying to figure out what sex the baby will be. I couldn't see a thing!

What can I say, I had really fun games and even better prizes so everyone was dead set on giving it their best shot.

...seriously, they wouldn't stop playing even to eat!

Thanks to everyone that came...that was seriously one of the best attended baby showers I have ever thrown.
Can't wait for Charley/Jack to get here...