Questions:

1. What are you wearing right now? RED 3/4 SLEEVE SHIRT, KHAKI PANTS, BROWN BOOTS
2. Do you have any freckles? YES, I HAVE SOME, NOT A WHOLE LOT BUT SOME.
3. What is your favorite Lifesaver flavor? I LOVE THE EASTER FLAVORED ONES, THE COTTON CANDY, BUT OF THE ORIGNAL FLAVORS I WOULD SAY THE GREEN LIME ONES
4. What is the last movie you saw in the theater? I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE'VE BEEN IN A THEATER, WAS SICK ON OUR "DATE NIGHT" SO NO MOVIE FOR US.
5. Would you rather live without tv or without music? HARD ONE. I'M NOT REALLY BIG ON TV, I HAVE 2 SHOWS I WATCH, BUT THEN AGAIN MUSIC IS GOOD, I WOULD PROBABLY SAY WITHOUT TV, WOULD SAVE US SOME $$$ EVERY MONTH, ONE LESS BILL.

R-E-A-D-Y FOR THE Weekend!!!

I'm so happy the weather is suppose to be great this weekend. I LOVE spending times outdoors, and yes, I have alot of "To-Do" things on my list to check off. I am VERY anxious for spring time, I hope to get a fresh coat of paint on my Garden Potting Table, my flower pot stands & my mailbox.
My pansies are looking so beautiful, I think the little extra sunshine & a few quick rain showers have helped tremediously....just a little hint to me that spring time is right around the corner.

{5 QUESTION FRIDAY}

1. Can you drive a stick shift?
NOPE, WELL ACTUALLY THE ONLY TIME I EVER TRIED WAS WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, AND ONE NIGHT STAYING WITH A FRIEND, I HAD TO ATTEMPT IT BUT COULD HARDLY MAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD.

2. What are two foods you just can't eat?
THERE ARE ALOT OF THINGS I CAN'T EAT - #1 IS COLLARED GREENS **THE SMELL IS UNDESCRIABLE** #2 - PROBABLY CORN, MY MOM MADE,(LITERALLY) ME EAT IT ONE NIGHT AND I THREW IT UP, SO CORN HAS A BAD MEMORY IN MY HEAD...

3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?
I HAVE BEFORE, BUT TRY TO NOT BUY TOO MANY SWEEETS, I LIKE THE SAMOAS AND THE THIN MINTS AS WELL.

4. How do you pamper yourself?
I ALWAYS GO TO THE HAIR SALON FOR HAIRCUTS/HILITES/COLOR, NO MORE BOTTLE OFF THE SHELF AT WALMART, HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, ITS JUST SO MUCH WORTH THE EXTRA $$$, A NICE MANI/PEDI IS A PLUS+, BUT USUALLY ONLY GO A FEW TIMES PER YEAR.

5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?
NICKNAME - JULIE-BO - MY GRANDPA ON MY MOM'S SIDE, HE HAS A NICKNAME FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST FAMILY - IT'S JUST STUCK...BUT OF COURSE HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CALLS ME THAT, BUT CHLOE THINKS IT FUNNY :)

{THANKFUL Thursday}

Well today is my 8 year Anniversary @ Department of Natural Resources....seems just like yesterday that I started working here. It has had it's up & downs as any job does, with furloughs etc, but I have to say I LOVE my job!!! It's great to actually have a job that you like coming to every day, and believe me each and every day is a new adventure.
I truely believe that the Lord led me to this career/job, as I had been on a totally different path in life, but was not satisfied, I had been praying and a long-time family friend told me of the job opening, I was a little hesitate at first, but then I had a little voice telling me to go for it. I believe everything fell into place after that....I got the job, was set up by a co-worker to meet my now husband and so-forth....So if God is opening or closing a door in your life.....Just remember God KNOWS ALL.....even if it will not be noticed by yourself until years down the road...Proverbs 3:5 - "TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART;LEAN NOT UNTO THEY OWN UNDERSTANDING"

I'm attaching a photo of my previous boss, he retired the beginning of the year, Rick and my Co-worker, Brenda.

1. Did you know there is a national day of pretty much everything in the universe? Feb 23rd happens to be National Inconvenience Yourself Day...when was the last time you were inconvenienced?

YES, DID KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PRETTY INTERESTNG DAYS....LAST TIME INCONVIENCED WOULD HAVE TO BE A FEW MONTHS BACK WHEN CHLOE BROKE OUT IN EXTREME RASH,IT WAS A SATURDAY SO WE TOOK CHLOE TO THE URGENT CARE AT THE END OF THE ROAD. THE DR. DIDN'T EVEN CHECK HER TEMPERATURE, EARS, THROAT ETC. JUST WROTE OUT A CREAM FOR THE RASH, A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER, THE RASH HAD GOTTEN ALOT WORSE AND HER JOINTS STARTED SWELLING. WE CALLED BACK TO URGENT CARE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO CLUE WE NEEDED TO TAKE HER TO THE ER. AS WE GET TO ER, (HASSLE, PLUS A $150 CO-PAY), GET IN THE ROOM, NURSE BEFORE CHECKING ANYTHING SAID, I BET SHE HAS STREP THROAT. SHE DID A SWAB, AND LOW- AND- BEHOLD, STREP WAS WHAT IT WAS...THEY WERE IN AWE THAT URGENT CARE, DIDNT' CHECK HER EARS OR THROAT....I WAS HIGHLY-TICKED, A $35 CO-PAY, NOW A $150 CO-PAY, AND HAVING THE HASSLE OF GOING TO THE ER TO FIND OUT THAT CHLOE HAD STREP THROAT = VERY INCONVENICE!!!!!!!


2. When a room in your house needs painting, who does the job?
WELL I HAVE DONE SOME PAINTING IN OUR HOUSE, LAUNDRY ROOM, BATHROOM ETC. BUT THE LAST PROJECT DECIDED TO PAY A PROFESSIONAL, IT WAS WELL WORTH IT, LOOKS GREAT....


3. Are you friends with your cousins?
SOME YES, SOME NO...I THINK AS A SMALLER KID YOU ARE MORE CLOSE BUT AS EVERYONE GETS OLDER WITH THEIR OWN KIDS/FAMILY EVERYONE GROWS TOWARDS DIFFERENT PEOPLE....






4. Do you use an alarm clock-if yes, is it an actual alarm, music or something else?
YES, I HAVE TO HAVE AN ALARM....AND YES, IT'S JUST A PLAIN ALARM RINGING TO WAKE ME UP....



5. What do you put ketchup on?
ALOT OF STUFF, I'M A "DIPPER PERSON", EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DIPPED, IF NOT IN KETCHUP THAN ANOTHER TYPE SAUCE.

6. What smells make you nostalgic?
FRESH CUT GRASS, THE OCEAN....OR APPLE CINNAMON CANDLES AT CHRISTMAS TIME ALONG WITH FRESH CUT CHRISTMAS TREE....


7. Did you hear about the high school English teacher recently suspended for some things she wrote on her personal blog? You can read the story here but in a nutshell she vented a lot of frustration onto her blog. She didn't mention individual students by name but she did make some harsh comments about kids in general and their parents.
NO, I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT IT.....I THINK A PERSONAL BLOG IS PERSONAL AND SHOULDN'T BE ANY CONCERN OF ANYONE UNLESS SPECIFIC NAMES ARE MENTIONED.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY....I'M SO LOVING THIS WEATHER--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 QUESTION FRIDAY.........

1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?
NO WAY!!! I AM VERY KEEN ON CLOTHING & OUTFITS, I WON'T DARE WEAR THE SAME OUTFIT EVEN THE NEXT WEEK, EVEN THOUGH IT IS WASHED/IRONED ETC. I'M JUST ODD LIKE THAT I GUESS, AND I CAN REMEMBER WHAT I WORE ON SPECIFIC OCCASIONS/HOLIDAYS ETC. (JUST THREW THAT IN FOR THE INFO.)


2. If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in, which would it be?
I'M NOT SURE, REALLY DON'T CARE FOR LARGE CITIES, I'M MORE OF A COUNTRY GIRL...IT WOULD BE A SURE STRUGGLE FOR ME.


3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?

DRIVE, YOU GET THE FUN OF SIGHT-SEEING PLACES YOU WOULD MISS IF YOU FLEW, ALOT OF GREAT PICTURE OPPORTUNITIES, AND WHO COULD TURN DOWN GETTING TO MAKE ALL OF THE MANY PIT STOPS TO THE GAS STATION BATHROOMS OR WELCOME CENTERS....YOU NEVER KNOW WHOM YOU MAY RUN INTO...MAYBE SOMEONE FAMOUS...


4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?
SPRING CLEANING, IS ALL-YEAR CLEANING TO ME...I'M A SUPER-CLEAN FREAK!!! BUT PROBABLY MY ANNUAL YARD SALE/GARAGE SALE IS WHEN I DO SOME DOUBLE-DUTY IN THE CLEANING MODE....


5. What is the best book you have ever read?
I REALLY LIKE NORA ROBERTS BOOKS....HAVEN'T READ IN FOREVER SO HARD FOR ME TO REMEMBER.

1. Your favorite chocolate treat?
CHOCOLATE, Mmmmmm....I LOVE DARK CHOCOLATE, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY I HAVE SEVERAL FAVORITES, BUT YORK PEPPERMINT PATTIES ARE ONE OF MY FAVS. JUST THAT LITTLE MINT KICK WITH THE CHOCOLATE = :)

2. What more than anything else makes you feel loved?
I GUESS IT WOULD BE WHEN MY HUSBAND DOES SELF-LESS ACTS TO HELP ME OUT AROUND THE HOUSE, WITHOUT ME ASKING, AS I'M VERY PRONE TO ASK FOR HELP DOING SOME THINGS AS IT SEEMS A MOM'S "TO-DO" LIST IS NEVER ENDING...BUT WHEN I SEE THINGS DONE TO HELP ME OUT, IT JUST MAKES ME SMILE INSIDE THINKING ABOUT HOW BLESSED I AM....

3. Cherries or blueberries?
NEITHER....I HAVE NEVER BEEN KEEN ON EITHER EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SEVERAL BLUEBERRY BUSHES IN OUR BACKYARD (THANKS TO PREVIOUS HOME-OWNERS) WE USUALLY GIVE THEM TO OUR GRANDPARENTS OR SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY CARES FOR THEM....I PREFER STRAWBERRIES, BUT ONLY A COUPLE AT A TIME...

4. What is the one trait you most want the leader of your country to posses?
FAITH IN THE ONLY REAL "GOD" THAT THERE IS. OUR COUNTRY IS SO FAR FROM GOD AND OUR LEADER IS NO HELPER IN THIS MATTER....ALL WE CAN DO IS PRAY DAILY FOR STRENGTH TO LIVE DAILY WITH THE LEADER WE HAVE IN OFFICE.

5. Are you a saver or a spender?
I WOULD SAY DEFINATELY A "SAVER", I LOVE SAVING $$$, AS ONE OF MY FAV. HOBBIES INCLUDES CLIPPING COUPONS, READING SAVING MONEY BLOGS AND MY #1 FAV. SHOP IS GOODWILL. OH, AND HOW COULD I FORGET, MY FAVORITE, VERY FAVORITE HOBBY IS YARD SALING OR JUNKIN' AS I REFER TO IT....



6. If you gave a party for all of your friends would they already know each other?
SOME WOULD, BUT NOT ALL, AS I HAVE SOME FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL, CHURCH THAT LIVE IN HABERSHAM COUNTY AND THEN I HAVE FRIENDS HERE WHERE WE LIVE IN FLOWERY BRANCH WHICH IS ABOUT 49 MILES AWAY....


7. Are you interested in antiques?
YES, I LIKE ANTIQUES, THEY JUST SEEM TO BE SO MUCH BETTER QUALITY-MADE FURNITURE, I HAVE A FEW PIECES.


8. Insert your own random thought here.

I AM SO HUNGRY...WONDERING WHAT TO HAVE FOR DINNER....& LOVING THIS WARM-SUNNY WEATHER.....LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A PERFECT WEEKEND AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

MY ♥'s......

L*O*V*E

Valentines Day 2011, didn't start out quite the way I was hoping for, Chloe woke up in the middle of the night with a virus or food poisoning, not sure which, but needless to say was up for a few hours throughout the night, then gone as quick as it come....(no complaining here though).
So I was home from work with her so we had a Whole Valentines Day together. Chloe insisted we need to go shopping to her favorite store, my 2nd Fav. - TARGET. We did some shopping & then Chloe wanted to stop at her #1 fast food establishment - TACO BELL ( this kid should literally do commercials for Taco Bell & Target, she talks non-stop about how GREAT they are).
We later on came home and spent several hours outdoors - the weather was BEAUTIFUL, in the 60's in middle of February - a rare occassion. Chloe of course rode some of her Power Wheel fleet, as I worked out in the yard some.
When the Hubs got home from work, we decided to go to dinner at a local Mexican restarant & later exchanged cards & small gifts ( nothing fancy, but the words of the cards and wrote words, truely spoke to my heart).

My 2 Valentines, the Love they both show me every day not just on Valentines day is what touches me so much. I am blessed unmeasureably by the little fam that God gave me.....



Quote I found online: " I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you" - Anonymous
And one more Quote : " As we grow older together, as we continue to change with age, There is one thing that will never change....I will always keep falling in love with you."

1. Would you rather be on ABC's Extreme Home MakeOver or TLC's What not to Wear?
DEFINATELY THE HOME MAKEOVER....I'VE DID ALOT OF REMODELING/UPDATING ON MY OWN, BUT TO HAVE A WHOLE TEAM TO DO IT WOULD BE AWESOME!!!

2. Do you have any tattoos? NO, NOT ONE AND DON'T REALLY PLAN ON ANY, OCCASSIONALLY HAVE A WASH-OFF ONE FROM CHLOE AS SHE LOVES FOR EVERYONE TO MATCH AND HAVE TATOOS ON OUR HANDS OR ARMS.


3. Do you tell your kids about things you did growing up? WELL MINE IS TOO YOUNG, ONLY 3, BUT AS SHE GETS OLDER I WILL, I WAS A GOOD KID SO NO BAD PAST TO CONFESS.


4. If the traffic signal turns yellow, do you stop or speed up? DUH!!! SPEED UP!!!


5. What's your preference: chocolate or chips? I ACTUALLY LIKE A COMBO OF BOTH, IF I HAVE SOMETHING SWEET TO EAT, I ALWAYS WANT SOMETHING SALTY TO EVEN MY TASTE BUDS OUT..I LOVE ME SOME DARK CHOCOLATE, BUT SOME GOOD CHIPS ARE GOOD TO GUESS IT'S WHATEVER MOOD I'M IN.

{THANKFUL Thursday}

As I try to reflect every week on things I am Thankful for, sometimes I feel that I should put really, really important things but sometimes just the small things need to be thanked for as well....God knows ALL and Provides ALL of our needs!

1} My Job - So many people now days have lost or don't have a job to go to every day. Some mornings I find myself dreading the lug of getting ready, getting a toddler ready and all out the door in a timely matter, but then I reflect back on the great opportunity I have....So many would love to have a job to go to support their families. I have been at my job 8 years this month & actually it's a job that I actually like coming too...There is work, but then it is flexiable enough that I can take off when needed or just if I want to go on a vacation with my little family. I believe that God led me to this job, as its a WHOLE different field than what I had intended on pursing, not great pay, but the benefits far out weigh that.

2} Turquiose Jewelry - I have always LOVED this type jewelry - a little Western flare, but unique/classy at the same time

3} My DVR - All I can say is "WOW"!!!!! What was life without one ????? A busy life being a working mom & wife I never have time to just sit down and watch TV, I'm on a constant move - I think I ramble around and have that extra energy that I have been charging up all day at my paid - job....I only have a handful of things I like to reccord, but nice to sit back later on at night and actually enjoy watching it, and an Extra + getting to rewind through all of the commercials!!!

4} Crystal Light Packets - I try to be health-wise about drinking lots of H2O but just plain water gets soooo.....old. I have numerous Crystal light packets in my pantry...Always nice to add a little spice to my plain 'ol water...

1. What is more important to you-doing what you love or loving what you do?
I THINK THAT THEY ARE ABOUT THE SAME SO I WOULD SAY BOTH.



2. Do you like bleu cheese?
NO WAY!!! THOUSAND ISLAND ONLY.


3. What is the most difficult emotion for you to handle?


FEAR - I AM A CONSTANT WORRY-WART, I TRY MY HARDEST NOT TO BE BUT IS SOMETHING I BATTLE ALMOST DAILY..

4. Fresh flowers or chocolate?


I WOULD SAY FLOWERS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY FRESH ONES, I WOULD SAY A PLANT OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD LAST & COULD BE PLANTED, DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE CHOCOLATE, BUT TRYING TO STIR CLEAR OF TOO MANY SWEETS..

5. What's a song you love that has the word 'love' in the title? It doesn't have to be a 'love song'.


I COULD THINK OF TONS, BUT FIRST TO POP IN MY MIND WAS "LOVE LIFTED ME" THAT WE SING AT CHURCH.


6. Are you the person you wanted to be when you grew up?


YES AND NO. I DID WANT TO BE A WIFE & MOMMY BUT WHAT CAREER I THOUGHT I WOULD ENJOY DIDN'T PAN OUT...

7. Any special Valentine's Day plans?


WELL WORK FOR DURING THE DAY AND MAYBE JUST A LOW-KEY DINNER OUT, NOTHING FANCY, JUST MYSELF, MY HUBBY & CHLOE....ANYTHING BEATS ANOTHER NIGHT OF HAVING TO COOK OR COME UP WITH THE DINNER MENU...

{Instilling the Value of Saving $$$}

All women/girls I know LOVE $$$, well actually all human beings do - just nature I guess. I've always been a "big saver" instead of the opposite "big spender"- I used to save my birthday/Christmas/tooth fairy money for either a really big item or just for use later on.
To this day, I still really ponder on purchases wither big or small - I always think is it something I REALLY need or more of a frivolous pleasure.
As a middle-schooler I actually grew greenbeans in my grandparents garden to sell to a local produce market for some extra cash - It was humid/hot/mosquito-swatting weather, but not too bad for the money I would make to save, as I had started, well actually my parents did a savings account for me to save for a car or college one day.
When I got about 17 years old, I had finally saved enough for a small compact car - I got my cute, little Honda Accord & paid cash for it, felt good to be so young & determined to pay for such a big-purchase. As most teens I knew were given a vehicle to drive and didn't care for it as someone that had worked very, very hard to get.

I could go on & on but now as a parent I am trying to instill the virtue of saving money to Chloe ( she's only 3 1/2 years old, I know, but never too young to get on tract) As she thinks that all of the toys/candy look so good, but I try to convince her of the things that she could buy one day with the savings she has put back. I started Chloe a Savings account when she was 3 months old - As an old saying goes..." Never to Early to Start Saving for the Future."

{ Not So Great "Date Night"....}

I was so looking forward to my husband & my "Date Night". My parents were keeping Chloe for us, had the whole evening planned, wanting to go to a nice restaurant, have a peaceful, quiet, relaxing meal with no potty breaks, or unexplained outbursts, just adult conversation....And then a nice movie at the theater ( hate spending $20+ for tickets, but I LOVE the atmosphere...cozy, and don't as likely fall asleep in the theater as I will home on the couch)....

After lunch Saturday, I start feeling not so great....was hoping it was just something I ate, but as my stomach started making noises & I had started getting light-headed I knew I was doomed....I went to my medicine cabinet and loaded up on Tums & some other meds, hoping this would help....A few hours later, I was a sick lady...I was so upset...but my Wonderful, very considerate husband insisted we just go get some Chicken noodle soup and head home...He could have got himself some take-out but he insisted he would eat some soup with me...As I lay on the couch he makes me some soup...and covers me up with the many blankets ( as anyone knows I am VERY cold-natured)...So needless to say our "Date Night" was a Saturday night laying on the couch ( in between many trips to the potty room), sipping soup, watching Hallmark movies....
Just little moments like this really remind me of the generous/caring/self-less man I married....I felt like a princess ( even if sick as a dog) just by being cared for in not- the - best - of circumstances....(Never once did he care that he might catch the virus I had, could have been food poisoning as well though from not -so - great place we ate lunch at.)
Thanks to my Nurse-made Husband for making the most of our night together.......

THE ORIGNAL S.U.V { just had to post when I saw this }

cowboydirectory.com

{THANKFUL Thursday}

1) My Ol' Faithful 'Yota SUV - I've had my Toyota 4 Runner for a while - It's 11 years old with 215,000 miles, going strong (knock on wood....) I Love having a PAID for vehicle - has a few scratches & dents but I can over look that to save my wallet....

2) My Photo Albums - I LOVE taking photos as well as looking back through our visual history of our Life...always one lying around somewhere....Chloe loves reminiscing through them as well...

3) Scarfs - All colors - They add so much to an outfit, plus keep me warm....as anyone that knows me very well, knows I am VERY cold-natured...

4) Date Night - So Excited to have a Dinner/Movie night with my Better-half Saturday night....

5) Weekends - Time to spend with my Hubs & Little Princess - A time to just be lazy, venture out together - sometimes with no particular destination in mind - but as long as were together - "I'm a Happy Camper"...Then Sunday's Church Day - We drive 90 minutes (roundtrip) to go to our church - I Love worshipping with my extended family & friends - We spend all afternoon with my parents & usually go visit with one of my 2 sets of grandparents as well...

{SPRING Fever}

I think after this past weekend....I'm am even MORE ready for Springtime!! It was so warm & the sun was shining, the last few months of being so gray & dreary has put a damper on my mood...I need some warm sunshine to get me in happier/cheerier spirits :)
Yesterday I had to veer towards the gardening isle - the seed packets, bulbs, garden tools....were SCREAMING my name!!!!!! I love working out in my flower garden & sprucing up my home with pots of colorful flowers...Looks like we may be get an Early Spring due to the Groundhog predictions....(Now that put me in a chipper mood, now if it only actually happens....)