Local Business: Rice Donuts

We live in a very small town. Last year we got a new gas station and a Sonic which is great because we only had the Ranch House to eat at and the Shell is right in front of the fire station. Recently 2 different crews started renovating some of the buildings here but I don't know what they are yet but 1 of the new buildings is Rice Donuts.

We stopped here this morning and as you can see from the picture I took sitting in my truck, there was a line at the drive-thru. The donuts were good and JT said tell you every bite of the eclair had cream in it. My pig in the blanket was out of this world. The prices are a little more but considering I have to drive 10 miles to get donuts, it's well worth the few more cents.

To top it off, Rice Donuts is owned by folks who live in Rice, TX and who have children who go to school in Rice....... GO Rice.

Preschool Supplies

For quite some time I taught preschool. There are days I still miss the smell of glue, the tiny chairs and tables and all the amazing creations from my little friends hanging in the hallway or in my classroom. As any teacher knows, finding the right supplies makes a huge difference.

At Constructive Playthings there is a wide variety of preschool supplies to chose from. If you are looking for interactive preschool supplies for your little friends, Constructive Playthings is the place to go. There are interactive preschool supplies for movement and music, fitness, playground items and even riding items. At my school the kids loved going out on the blacktop with the tricycles. If you school does not have tricycles or riding equipment, be sure to check out Constructive Playthings under Active Play.



Of course there are art supplies, a major essential, blocks, manipulation toys and activities and even categories such as science and social studies. Constructive Playthings has all your preschool supplies plus many you may not even think of.

Aero T-Shirts

My husband is a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. If you look in our closet you would have a very hard time finding a button down shirt, a pair of slack and if you were looking for a suit, you chose the wrong closet. This year I decided that I was going to find my husband t-shirt that were high quality, comfortable and stylish. The men's t shirts at Aeropostle are high quality, comfortable and of course, stylish.

There are men's t shirts to fit every man's taste. If your man is more into the v-neck shirts, Aeropostle has them in so many colors your guy is sure to be happy. Now that it is becoming colder, Aeropostle also has men's long sleeve t-shirts. The long sleeve henley t-shirts are great for a more stylish look. Long sleeve polos, stripped and mock henley long sleeve t-shirts are also great and come in many colors.

The graphics very from the New York graphic, the 54 graphic and the Aero graphic. It's easy to see that Aeropostle has great men's t shirts.

33 Things I've Never Done

This past week I turned 33 and as a tribute to 33 I am reminding myself of 33 things I have never done, YET

1.  I have never owned a home.

2. I have never owned a horse

3. I have never taken a photography class

4. I have never told my mother how I really feel about things

5. I have never lived on a ranch

6. I have never had or been in a monster truck

7. I have never held an office

8. I have never written a book

9. I have never felt fully complete with my life

10. I have never hosted a holiday at my own house

11. I have never made a homecoming mum

12. I have never never really learned to sew even though I got a sewing machine for Christmas last year

13. I have never really enjoyed going to church even though I love Jesus with all my heart

14. I have never eaten pecan crusted chicken even though I want to really badly

15. I have never eaten Indian food

16. I have never gone to college on campus, not until January 2012

17. I have never been more proud of my awesome children

18. I have never been more excited than when the fire radio goes off

19. I have never given up on the idea of graduating from college

20. I have never learned to attach to the 16 foot flatbed trailer

21. I have never gotten over feeling abandoned when I was a kid

22. I have never stopped missing my Papaw

23. I have never forgiven my stepmother for the mean things she said to me when I was growing up

24. I have never stopped loving my sister Nicole even if I can't stand her behavior

25. I have never been to somewhere tropical

26. I have never driven a boat even though we own one

27. I have never been to Ireland or Scotland even though my family is there

28. I have never had my photo professionally taken as an adult

29. I have never had a family picture made with my children

30. I have never forgotten how much I love small towns and the history that is attached to them

31. I have never loved the way I love my husband and children

32. I have never gotten back to the real me all the way

33. I have never seen 99% of the United States

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Yes folks, today I graced the world with my presence. Honestly, I can't believe I am 33 years old. Funny how through the years it is this year that I am coming to grips with things like my age, my weight, having a kid in high school, having 2 teenage boys, etc.

So what have I done for my birthday? Up at 6am on Saturday to make whoopie pies for Bryan's 4H fundraiser, made birthday cake for the birthday bash later today, got frustrated with my oldest son aggrevating the hell out of me, turned the computer off on my other son so he would get in the shower, fixed Jill's hair, changed clothes 9000 times, am currently wearing my daughter's shoes and socks to show her what it feels like when she wears mine without asking me first and now I am waiting on JT to get here so I can do my hair and make up and we can go.

The light at the end of the tunnel is going to my god parents where I am getting a birthday party with my son (oct 13) and my nephew (oct 14). I am also going to be sneaking my bottle to my party.......I'll provide you guys with the pics and details later....but today, I am feeling every bit of a mom of 5, a wife to someone who works nights and a 33 year old woman but I like it that way



Until Next Time

Pros and Cons

Disclaimer: my blog, my rants and ramblings

Since moving to a small town I haven't made many friends. I am not a "girl" friend kind of person anyways and since I'm married, hanging out with guys doesn't make me appear in the best light, lol. That being said, I will be using my blog to weigh some pros and cons....If you want to add some comments, feel free.


Right now I work in the school cafeteria. It doesn't sound glamorous because it's not BUT I like my job, I enjoy my co-workers (even if they do get on my nerves sometimes), I love the kids at my school (I have babies ages 4-6), my job is steady, my paycheck is what it is (try just over minimum wage minus taxes and child support) and I have an awesome schedule BUT it is not what I want to do with the rest of my life.


In November I go register for classes and for the first semester I am going at night, after work, but the problem comes in after summer break...do I return to work or do I not?

My thought process for staying at work:
I will have a paycheck (granted it's basically nothing)
Other than that, I am having a hard time with it because working means school at night which means no time for kids and staying up late to study and work on papers all while having to get up early in the morning and head to work.

My thought process for not working and just going to school:
I will not have a paycheck but the "leftover" money might just be the same amount I would be making IF I stayed at work
I would be at school while the kids were at school and I would have the evening for them and for homework
The bad thing is I don't have a paycheck coming in.

As you can see I am leaning more toward not working but I am waiting until the first semester to get an estimate of how much the "leftover" money is before I can make a decision....why is it when you try to do the right thing the decisions are always harder?

Until next time

Bedspreads From Brylane Home

I love to decorate. The walls in my house change as much as the curtains do. One way to change the look of a room, such as a bedroom, is by changing the linens. Brylane Home has a great selection of bedspreads that would brighten up any room.

It doesn't matter if you are looking for a frilly bedspread or something more modern looking, Brylane Home has a great selection and amazing prices. JT and I decorated our room a few months ago and now it is time to start on the boy room. The boy room encompasses two sets of bunkbeds and houses four boys ages seven to fifteen, each with their own taste.

Brylane Home provided us with the solution to the boy dilemma.The Delia Bedspread Set is the answer for our family. Coming in five different colors, each boy get the chance to chose which bedspread they would like for their bed while Mom gets the beauty of them all being the same style and totally affordable.

In addition to the bedspreads, you can also order the shams to make it a complete set. Go head over and take a look for yourself.

Downtown Corsicana Texas

Tonight I went to a Women's Business Expo in downtown Corsicana. It was very interesting and made my heart hurt that I do not support my local businesses more (note to self: I will be). My camera is out of order and my I-phone does not take good pics without light. (did I mention i still have an I-phone 3 while hubbs has a 4 and talking about getting the new one). After going through the business expo and grabbing some great goodies from the awesome ladies inside, I decided that I would walk through downtown and snap some photos.

This is from one of the antique shops in town. Happy Halloween!

Just had to share what was going on downtown

This is one of the cool empty buildings in the downtown area. so sad to see nothing in here

I am in love with this trunk....hint hint JT

Just showing the downtown strip

These folks make their own pickles....I have to check them out

More fall events

yes, downtown has brick streets all over the place

What's down there?

this is but where does it go or where did it go?

more local events

I love this bank building. it is super cool

acorns are falling all over, a true sign of fall

bling bling

I thought this was cute how they displayed these items...love the cuff sitting on the couch

Of course I like it: it's big, blingy and a cross

Zebra!!!!

Now I know I am in the right place when they love Dr Pepper as much as I do

Loving the pumpkins

Halloween

Love the old look of the painted advertising on a building that is older than the store

is this little witch hat cute or what

standing behind this door is nothing......that's right just the shell of the building that once was. It's quite sad and mysterious at the same time

Test Results Are In

As I suspected I would do, I failed the math portion of the test. It did make me feel much better when the testing instructor informed me that most people who have no taken a math class in the past 6 months fail the test. When it came to the reading and writing portions of the test, I passed with flying colors. Right now they have my degree plan wrong but that's alright. On November 7th I go register for Spring classes and I will officially be a college student.


Until Next time.

Testing Today

In not very long from now I will be headed up to my college and taking my entrance exam. Of course I am super excited but I can't help the feeling of wanting to throw up a little. I haven't taken a test in I don't know how long. I'm not scared about the reading or the writing passages but I am terrified of the math section. If I don't pass it I will have to take remedial college math and retake the test after I complete the class. It sounds like no big deal right, wrong!

Looking at the classes I need to take is giving me anxiety. Am I going to be able to do this? What am I taking away from my family? Am I being selfish? All questions I am dealing with right now and the other big one is school during the day or school at night.......right now though I just need to focus on the test.

Let yall know how I did later.

Until next time.

Can't Live Without Satellite

Right now we have satellite but we also live at my mother in law's house while we get out of debt and save money. Lately we have been looking at some property closer to here and dreaming of the day we will be moving out and into our own home once again and one of the things on the top of my to do list: Get the Satellite hooked up.


Since Direct TV has become such an essential part of our lives, I'll be calling the folks at Expert Satellite to come hook up at our house. Now you might be thinking that satellite is expensive but in fact there are packages starting as low as $29 for your viewing pleasures.  It's quick, simple and easy. Simply contact the folks at Expert Satellite, schedule a time for the instillation tech to come out and Presto!

Besides, could you really go without watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Jersey Shore or Texas Women?

School Supplies For Less

I work for our local school district and I am the mother of 5 children. Back to school supplies are one of our biggest costs when August comes around each year. As if buying regular back to  school supplies wasn't costly enough for our large family, the first day of school brings an entirely new school supply list. Recently, I found a place to help school teachers, those who home school and those of us with children in public school with the cost of school supplies, School Supplies For Less.



School Supplies For Less makes their website very simple to navigate.  For school, my favorite section would be Arts & Crafts along with Early Childhood being that the school I work at is an Early Childhood Center. They have amazing links for teachers and even a close out section for those of us on a very strict budget.

For those who home school, there is an entire section devoted to  Biblical principals, as well as general educational books broken down by subject.

I especially like the idea of being able to buy my children their supplies, and for a discount price, while also grabbing celebration certificates, furniture and office supplies. Make sure you stop by School Supplies For Less and take a look for yourself.

Making Trunk or Treat

Oh I love Halloween. I know, I know, I told you this yesterday but today I wanted to share some progress. don't laugh noting except my ghost is all the way done.

BOO!!!!

  

I like my bats (there are 2 more besides this one). Please forgive my dirty hands I've been spray painting and forgive my open craft drawer.

 Now I know my spiders don't look like much right now but they are still a work in progress.

Until Next Time

Straight Talk

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Being that we have a large family I am always looking for a way to save money and I found that with Straight Talk. With no contact and nationwide coverage, Straight Talk is a great solution. I bet you can think of all the things you can do with the money you will save. With Christmas right around the corner, this is a great option for those of us with teenagers.

 

The price is great at $45 a month and gives even the heaviest cell phone user options that work for them: Unlimited text messaging (an option I definatly need), web access, picture messaging and unlimited phone calls so you can Call a friend

There are amazing phone selections too. If you are looking for a refurbished phone, $10, yes I said $10. There are phones that meet the needs of every customer. If you are looking for mobile web access, mp3 players, instant messaging and BlueTooth capabilities. Looking for the latest in phones from Smart Talk?  You can even get an Android on Straight Talk

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdgidnzRx1I

 

Straight Talk provides you with a great deal, the whole Hook, line and sinker.

 

See what customers have to say for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx4K5aY9Wlk&NR=1

This Is Halloween

I probably love Halloween more than any other holiday. Christmas runs a close 2nd. This year we are doing the 2nd Annual Rice Volunteer Fire Department/Auxiliary Trunk or Treat and this year we are going big! I have started bringing boxes home from work so we can start making our trunk or treat decorations. Last year it was pretty last minute but this year is going to be even better. Since I love you guys I am going to share my ideas and pray that no one steals them.

JT is taking his little Honda which we decided (meaning the kids and I) that we were going to cover his car in spider webs that glow under black lights, have his trunk open and a huge spider coming out of his trunk. Spider is currently drying out in the back of the house as we speak. We are going to also have my Tahoe there so we are going to do a big scene in the middle to tie the vehicles together but also because there are not a bunch of us and we need to look bigger than what we are.

First my Tahoe: Instead of having the back open, The kids and I are going to open the glass and fill it with eyeballs. I know you are wondering how....well, at work we get oranges in these boxes that have holes in the bottom. we are going to spray paint the boxes black and fill the holes with eyeballs, attach them inside my Tahoe and then stream spider webs and again have another spider crawling down the side of my truck on the backside.

The tie together is going to be a creepy looking building with all kinds of ghouls and goblins lurking about and of course lights but I have saved the best for last


We are going to have an a hayless hayride. Yeah well we are in a drought and the cost of hay is through the roof so we are making a haunted pirate ship with ugly looking skeletons we are making from paper mache and JT is going to dress up as a dead pirate even if he doesn't know it yet and me, I'm going as a spider of course lol....I don't know why the kids are so into spiders and bugs right now but hey, I'll go with it.

I am super stoked to be doing this Trunk or Treat! Pics to come soon, promise.

T.Hee Greetings & Gifts Blog Party

Last night I attended a blog party for DFW bloggers hosted by T.Hee Greetings & Gifts!

This was my very first ever blog party and a big thanks to the nice folks who invited me out to their store. As usual, I was the VERY first to arrive and I am glad my promptness paid off. 

There are so many things to look out that even after making my way around the store 3 different times, I still did not see everything. It would be very easy to get lost in the store. After talking to a fellow blogger, we agreed this is an amazing store that everyone should check out. No matter who you trying to find a gift for or even if it is just something for yourself, there is something for everyone (yes, including men and boys)!

The challenge was for us to find 5 things we loved.

Only 5? But there were hundreds of things I loved but alas, I did manage to whittle it down.

Coming in a number 5:

  I'm not sure what my obsession with pumpkins is, maybe because I am a fall baby, maybe because I love the story of Cinderella or maybe because you can display these little guys from September all the way through Thanksgiving!

Number 4:

Out of all of the things at the table at the front, this little guy is the one thing that jumped right out at me. I am not a friend of spiders but how cute is this little guy?

Number 3:

Not that I want another child or can even have one and not that I want to rush grandchildren by any means but these sweet socks make me miss the days of kissing little toes instead of asking the boys to leave their shoes on the front porch after football practice.

Number 2:

I guess I just like things that are cute because I would love to have this little gobbler sitting on the entrance table for Thanksgiving.

Number 1:

I didn't see this until I got home and opened my gift bag......This is by far the most favorite thing! This Vera Bradley ID clutch fits right on my keys and since I'm not a handbag kind of woman this is perfect for holding my ID, extra fire badge, some cash and all attached to my keys so I don't have to keep up with multiple things.

If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area you have to stop by T.Hee for yourself.

T-Hee is located at 6465 E Mockingbird Lane, Suite 314, Dallas, TX 75214 or visit their website for those of you friends in other states.

Oh, and don't forget to like their Facebook page.

Until Next Time!

Indian Pow-Wow

Our church has started holding an annual Indian (Native American) Pow-Wow. We didn't go last year but thought it would be cool for the kids to experience. Both JT and I have been to several throughout our childhood but none of our children did. It was really neat watching the dances that they do but what was most impressive to me, besides my fearless daughter dancing with these amazing folks, was their heart. I say that because they believe in honoring those who hold positions in the tribes and who help out with the dances. In their culture it makes your richer to give than to receive, something we could all take a lesson from. I took lots of pictures but some of them are hard to tell what they are since these guys were dancing. You can also tell which outfit my daughter liked most because that's the one guy we have the most pictures of.

  I so wish this pic was in better light so you could see the feathers on his outfit

These are the ladies who danced

The conchos on the back got smaller as you went down and started at the top of his shirt and all the way to the ground

I tried very hard to get a picture of this man's face as he was the image of a Native American. He looked beautiful, like he belonged in a painting.

The color guard

color guard

This was the head man dancer

This was the 2 most decked out guys doing a dance. It was so much better in person and I wish you could have all seen it.

More dancing

Color Guard again. I just thought this was beautiful for these people to honor their heritage, the military branches that they served in, the United States (especially considering the U.S. has not always been very kind to them) and they invited all Veterans to join them.

Look how beautiful they are.

warrior dance

this little girl was just there and she was enjoying herself in a major way.

In the white jacket is my fearless daughter. They said all people could go dance and she wanted me and her brothers to go but she was the only one of us with the guts to it, amazing girl

Not all of us had a good time but that's alright.

I thought this little boy decked out and dancing was the cutest thing ever.

Again, my daughter Jill.

Get it girl!

I love this picture because Jill was in love with this man's outfit and here you can see her dancing right beside him and looking at him in amazement as she did.

My children thought it would be funny to put their feathers in my hair and take a pic of me with no make-up.

Come on Mom!

Surprise!

We had the best time and I think Jill may have enjoyed herself more than anyone.

Until next time.