My Forever Friend

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden. ~Author Unknown

This is Kelly, my beautiful, amazing sister. She lives in Florida and I’m in Arizona so we don’t see much of one another. Of all the women in the world, she is the one I am most in awe of.

She’s four years older than I am so by the time I began high school, she was getting married and moving out of state. I didn’t have time to steal her favorite sweaters or ask her advice on makeup and boys.

She’s the kindest person I know, she’s strong (a breast cancer survivor), and she’s funny.

She is an amazing wife and mother and has always been an inspiration to me.

We had our fair share of "She's touching Me!!!" (Which she did A LOT!)

We did get chance to get together a few months back in New Mexico where they have an adorable mountain home. My parents live there so it was a wonderful family reunion.

I love you and miss you Sissy!
 
Holly

Happy Birthday to Us!!

Today was a great day!  Got to spend it with my daughter who is one of the sweetest, funniest people I know.  We almost share a birthday.  Mine is on the 25th and hers is on the 27th so we usually have a girls day to celebrate.  We started off by going out for lunch at a place called Pita Jungle. 

My daughter is a vegan so it can be difficult to find places that we both enjoy going to but this place was great!  Katie had some kind of pesto pasta salad and I had the chicken pasta salad.

We had a lot of fun and talked girl talk.  See how cute she is!??!!

Then we headed out to get Manicures and pedicures.  So relaxing.  Look at them toes!!

I love my sweet little baby girl and cherish every moment I get to spend with her.  Happy 23rd Birthday Katie!  I love you!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Live Out Loud!!

Holly

I lost 40 lbs at Walmart Today!

My husband and I went to Walmart today and I was standing at the back of the truck while he loaded the bags into the back.  I happened to glance down into the very dirty chrome bumper of the truck and lo and behold, I had very skinny legs.  They looked pretty good, even though there were bugs all over the bumper.  As soon as we got home I ran inside and grabbed my camera and took a few shots of my legs because I hadn't seen them look like that since I was like 12.  My husband saw me with the camera.

Brian:  What are you doing?

Me:  Taking a picture of the reflection of my legs in your bumper.

Brian:  Okay.

God love him, he understands me!!  Okay, maybe he doesn't understand me but he knows better than to question me when I so obviously have a great idea.

So, here is the pic I took of the "bumper legs".  Ignore the bugs and dirt, just look at my legs, my wonderfully thin legs!  This is so much easier than "photoshopping".

Unfortunately, here is what they really look like.

(By the way, that is a white design on my shirt, not a big toothpaste splotch on the mirror)
I may just have to spend more time outside washing my husband's truck. 

I bet I would look fabulous in a bikini!!

Live out Loud!!

Holly

Couldn't be Cuter!!!!

You know you've done it.  Don't tell me you haven't.

We were at a friends house the other night playing cards and they told us about a stray cat that had a kitten in their back yard.  Well, you know the rest of the story.  She is making herself at home now (along with my other two cats and my dog).  Just what we needed, but come on, would you just look at that face?

We haven't named her yet.  Any ideas?

We were thinking:

Keeper

Juneau (from our honeymoon)

Ellie Mae

Dammit (my husbands choice)

Bella

Skootch

What do you think?

UPDATE 9/26/2010

Well, Brian named her Gizmo but I say her name is Miss Gizaboo, Princess of the Royal Litterbox.  Been calling her Gizaboo or Gizee.

Live out Loud!!

Holly

Missing the Honeymoon!

Three and a half years ago, my dear husband and I went to Alaska on a cruise and I am sure missing it right now. We had such a great time.

Husband didn’t get bored.

Had the bar to myself!

He was so brave.

Need to get back!

Love ya'll,

Holly

How do I love thee???

Oh my...I have found the perfect kitchen.  It is a dream come true.  There is nothing about this that I don't love, love, love.  The paint color is amazing, the sink, divine.  I adore the blue and red.  So perfect.  Check out this blog by Erin.  She is an amazing woman with such a flair for decorating, motherhood, and just plain life. 
Just look at this blue kitchen .  It does my heart good!

Live out Loud!!!

Don't hate me because I'm not busy!

I'm not a busy person.  People don't like that about me.  It seems that being busy is the natural excuse for everything these days.  "Can you come over?"  "Sorry, I'm busy."  I do understand that most people are busy, busy with work, families, chores, obligations.  I get that.  I however, am not busy and I'm getting some flack for it. 

I have a great job, my kids are grown, and I'm not really involved in much.  I work from home and my job allows me to work any schedule that I like.  I have great friends and a husband whom I adore with all my heart.  My life is not really all that planned out, I take each day as it comes.  The only things in my day planner right now are a hair appointment on Friday and some birthday reminders.  My question is, why do people get so upset when they find out I'm not as busy as they are?  I'm available if they need me for anything, can drop everything I'm doing and can pitch in. 

It's just not popular to be "not busy".

I love my time and don't get bored.  I like to plant flowers, find new recipes, find new ways to save money (making my own laundry soap and hanging the clothes on a line).  I enjoy heading out to estate sales and thrift stores.  I don't always buy, sometimes it's more fun to just look. 

I don't hate you because you're busy, don't hate me because I'm not.

Heading out to the grocery soon, been feeling like making a rubarb pie lately.  I haven't had one in years and my husband has never had one.   Found a good recipe in my new Womens Day magazine and I'm going to use the Duggers pie crust.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

I'll try to get a picture of my finished pie in my next entry but you know, I might just be too busy.