Day 5 of Love

So on day five I have decided to write about my parents. I love my parents more then I could ever express. I appreciate them even more now that I am married and have a child of my own. They have always been there for me and I know that I can always count on them to help me out.

My Mom is the best. I don't know how she raised all three of us. She is a amazing cook and keeps the house clean as can be. Every time I go grocery shopping I always end up calling her to ask her what to get or what this means. She is also one of my best friends. I can call her anytime to just talk and let her know whats on my mind. Now that I have Virginia I really love watching my Mom light up when she has Virginia over. Mom is so good with Virginia and is the best grandma.

Now my Dad is super cool. He has always been the best Dad. I loved how involved he was with all of us when we were kids. He coached all of our softball teams and never missed a game. Now that I am older I appreciate even more how much he looks after me and my sisters. I wasn't sure how my dad would be as a grandpa. But to no surprise he is super great with Virginia. I believe my Dad and Virginia are super buddies. Virginia just chases him all over the house when we go to visit. My Dad is great with Virginia and Samantha. I enjoy just sitting back and watching my Dad and Virginia get into trouble around the house. I couldn't have asked for a better role model.

I just hope that I can be as good as a parent to Virginia as my parents have been to me. Love you guys!

6 Days of Love

                                                                photo by: Lisa Harland


I came across this blog that was doing 28 Days of Love in honor of February and Valentines day. Well since I didn't find it in time I decided to do 6 Days of Love.  My first love of the day will be in honor of Lisa Harland, birthday girl! The best thing about Lisa is that she has been my friend since junior high. Yep she has put up with me for about 14 years.

Lisa is also a great listener. You all know I can talk and Lisa is the numero uno person that I call when I have something to say. Even living all the way on the west coast doesn't stop me from calling her up and talking for hours. Lisa is always there to listen and to give me great advice.

The one thing that I miss the most about Lisa since she is living in California now is her great taste in movies. Lisa was my best movie buddy. Like myself there is not too many movies that Lisa doesn't like.
Lisa would always be willing to go see the latest chick flick with me on short notice.

Lisa is also easily excited about little things. I always love calling Lisa during the week to have our weekly chat about our awesome CW and ABC Family shows. Just like me she gets excited about talking about the latest drama on the Vampire Diaries Show. Which I must say is the best show ever on the CW and if you are not watching it SHAME ON YOU!

Lisa is also one of the best book club buddies a girl could ask for. Ok well she is my first book club buddy, but I know that she is the best. So far we have read two books and are working on our third book, Dear John. Lisa is my great motivator. She keeps me going and pushes me to finish the books on time.

Last but not least Lisa is dependable. I have always known I can count on Lisa to be there for me. Even thou she lives all the way in California. She still made it back to North Carolina in time to see Virginia born and to help me out that first week. She has  been though thick and thin with me. She always listens to me complain about the dumbest things. She is the best BFF a girl could wish for.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!!

Walking Baby Oh My

Just a short post to show everyone how much Virginia is walking now. This was in the morning and I had just changed her diaper and she was not ready to get dressed. She was playing Mommy come chase me game. Ignore the pile of clothes and diapers I need to wash that is in the corner lol.

Good Eats!

Ok so this is just going to be a super short post. I wanted to share this yummy recipe that I made this week.
I was in the mood for something warm and a little spicy so I made Hot Buffalo Chicken, Bacon, and Cheese Sandwich. I added some extra hot sauce to my wing sauce just to make it a little more spicy. The recipe was a great success and Reiggin loved it. Well hope everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will leave you with a super cute video of Samantha and Virginia playing together.

Cable or No Cable?

My friend Lisa has been living without cable for two years now. She uses the internet and downloads what shows she would like to watch using uTorrent. I have always been curious about doing this. My Timewarner bill always makes me sick seeing how much it costs. We have like two hundred and eighty channels and we watch maybe ten of them. So finally Reiggin threw out the idea of downgrading to just basic cable and keeping the internet.  We would be using this program called Boxee to watch some of the channels that are not offered with basic cable. We would still have Netflix too which is great.  I was sold on the idea. I won't lie I am a little nervous about going to just basic cable and relying on the internet for my shows. I think it will be something that we both will have to get use too. The money we will save will make it all worth it though.

Ok so I am on day 2 of just basic cable. I have to say that it has not been that much of a change. I say this and think that most my shows are on holiday break. So ask me in January how I am doing.  I have had more time to read my book and play with Virginia. I am still able to follow my morning routine of watching The Early Show and then The Rachael Ray Show. Life is good!

It's Christmas Time!

It is really starting to feel like the holidays. We have our porch fully decorated and a tree all lit up with a few ornaments that we have collected. The delight of my nights is watching ABC Family's 25 Days til Christmas. I love this time of year. It is much more enjoyable now that I don't work in a restaurant. I even love listening to the Christmas music that plays on Pandora.  My Mom's post on Facebook about her and my Dad decorating the tree and their making plans for the annual trip to McAdenville made me think of the Christmas traditions that we had growing up and the traditions that I will be creating with my family now.

For the Fords, it was always tradition for my Dad and Susan to put the lights on the tree. My Mom and I would start putting the ornaments and balls on the tree. Susan would always put a old school picture ornament of her on the top as our angel. Then to finish off, the orange squirrel would find its rightful place on the tree. Don't ask where the orange squirrel came from, but the tree never feels complete until it is on. On Chrismas Eve, we would all pile into the car and drive though McAdenville to see all the Christmas lights. Man, I am going to miss that trip though McAdenville this year.

Now, I think ahead to what kind of traditions I will make with my family. Virginia is getting older and she is starting to enjoy watching the Christmas movies and cartoons with me on TV. She was thrilled watching "Yes, Virginia" the other day. Reiggin helped me decorate the tree as Virginia enjoyed the lights. We have hidden the presents for Virginia in the closet. Which reminded me that every year my parents hid our presents under their bed. I would always go and try to peek in the presents when they were gone by pulling up part of the wrapping paper. I believe they knew. If not, sorry Mom! It is amazing I stayed on Santa's good list. Virginia is no fan of Santa just yet. Reiggin dressed up as Santa for work and Virginia was scared to death. So that trip to see Santa will be postponed.

I just love this time of year and I do try to remember the true meaning behind Christmas that it is more then just the gift giving and dinners with family. But that the most important thing is that Jesus was born. So I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Also, share with me what traditions you grew up with and what traditions you have started with your family.

Book Club

I had a little wild hair telling me that starting a book club with Lisa Harland would be a great idea. Luckily I didn't pull that wild hair and decided to go for it. The first book we decided to read was The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright.  I was a little worried at first about the book club. Most of you know I am not a big reader. I can't even remember the last book that I have finished. But I was determined to make this book club work. If only to proof some jokers wrong that teased and made jokes about me going to the library.

So I rushed off to the Statesville library, Virginia in tow.  First I had to get  a library card. To be honest libraries always make me a little nervous. They are always so big and finding my way around them sometimes is a challenge.  The ladies at the library were very helpful and I was on my way. I got my book pretty quickly. Then I decided since I was getting a book that I should get Virginia one too.

We made our way downstairs to the children's area.  I some what remember what the Gastonia libraries children's area looked like. But I was truely amazed at the set up that the Statesville Library had. They took up the whole downstairs. There was an area for kids to use computers. Then the best of all they had each section organized by age.  It was very easy for me to find the baby section and find a good first book for Virginia. Her first book was a great Peek A Boo book. Virginia has fallen in love with this kind of book. So when we returned my first book I found a great series called Peek A Boo!

Overall I was very happy and our book club was off to a great start. I rushed home and jumped right into my book. It took me about a week to finish the whole book. It wasn't to long or to short of a book. It made me cry, laugh, and say what? I would recommend this book to anyone. It has a little romance, mystery, and full of emotions. I also enjoyed being able to call Lisa up and discuss with her what was going on in the book. I started reading the book a few days before Lisa. Which was a good thing because I remembered that Lisa is a super fast reader.

Now we are on to our second book which is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I just picked it up from the library yesterday. I read a little last night and so far so good. But I am a little worried at how big this book is. I am sure that it will be ok and that Lisa will keep me motivated though this book.

If you guys have any suggestions on books that we should read, please leave me a comment and tell me the name of the book.