This is why my brain is not functioning today.

So this weekend has sufficiently worn me out.  Friday I left work early because I wasn't feeling so hot.  I think it was just because I was already tired.  No fever or anything.  Then Friday night my church had a 24-hour prayer retreat, but I was assured that we would have plenty of sleeping time, so I went ahead and attended.  It was a good time.  However, I was even more tired by the time we left.  Then Saturday night my friend Karen was having what we have lovingly come to call a Glee-A-Thon, where we eat and talk and watch an episode or two or three of Glee.  I only stayed through 2 epidsodes because I was so tired.  Then of course Daylight Savings Time had to happen on the day that I had to be at church early (like 2 hours early- so with the time change 3 hours early) to play handbells.  Let's just say that caffeine was most certainly my friend yesterday.  I was trying to not take a nap on Sunday afternoon because usually I can't sleep at night when I do that, but I accidentally fell asleep for about an hour and a half before my Sunday night Bible study.  Luckily though, I was able to sleep last night. 

Also my washing machine kind of went on the fritz yesterday before my nap.  It decided to randomly stop working twice yesterday on the same load of laundry.  I have done one load since then without problems so I am hoping it was just having a temper tantrum.  I don't really want to have to deal with getting a new washer right now.

So onto today.  This has been one disaster of a day.  Nothing really bad has actually happened, it just seems like nothing is going smoothly.  I actually got out of bed when my alarm went off this morning (WHAT??!  that never happens....) and left for work about 20 minutes early with the thought that if I went in early, then I could leave early.  Well... considering that it took me an hour and 10 minutes to get to work and I was 10 minutes late, that sure isn't going to happen.   The traffic was absolutely terrible!  Apparently some fine gentleman put some briefcases on the overpass onto the freeway right beside my neighborhood.  Basically it was a bomb scare and the bomb squad had to come take care of things.  I mean seriously?  Who does that?  People are crazy.  Then there was another accident on the freeway.  And then finally when I was almost to my parking lot, some genious bicyclist (who I couldn't even see- did I mention that it was dark and dreary and raining this morning?) decided that he shouldn't look to see if the person driving the car (me) saw him going through the intersection without even slowing down, and he drove right in front of my car.  Of course when I saw him, I slammed on my brakes and then because of the wet roads, my car skidded across the road.  Oh man, I almost had a heart attack.  I was half mad at the guy and half glad I didn't hit him.

Also I am a Tuesday juror, so I have to call every Monday to see if I have to report to the courthouse the next day.  I have to call between 10 am and 1 pm.  Guess what time I remembered?  12:50.  Seriously. 

Also, in case you have been living under a rock, today is the finale of the Bachelor.  I am excited to see who he picks, but I sure hope it is Emily.  Chantal is crazy and I do not like her.  I have handbells practice until 7:30 (show starts at 7) but I'm going to see if we can somehow work a deal to get out early since we just performed yesterday.  :)

From Hogs to Flowers

Well, last night the Hogs lost to Tennessee in the SEC Basketball Championship.  That pretty much ends the season for us, so I thought I would change my front door decorations.  The Diamond Hogs (baseball) are of course still playing, but I don't really keep up with that too much since the games aren't on tv.  But my brother and I are going to the game when the Diamond Hogs come to North Little Rock for a game!  From the beginning of football season until last night, my front door looked like this:

A Razorbacks sign that I made with two of my favorite things: The hogs and polka dots.

And now it looks like this:

Pretty spring flowers instead of a Razorbacks sign.  Maybe now the weather will warm up more quickly?

Cupcakes!

On Wednesday nights, I hang out with a bunch of 5th and 6th graders at my church.  Usually we go out to eat somewhere together and then come back to the church for a lesson and some kind of fun games or activities.  Tonight is a little different because it is Ash Wednesday, and we are going together to our church's service.  Since we will have to eat quickly, the other teacher and I decided that we should bring some food and eat it at the church.  So she is bringing pizza, and I made cupcakes:

They were supposed to be fudge marble cupcakes, but I was too lazy to actually do the marbling in each of the cupcakes, so I just mixed it all together.  So basically they are chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing.  I hope those kids like chocolate.  I put less icing on them than usual because I used store-bought icing since I didn't have time to make any and I was afraid that I wouldn't have enough.  Since I used less icing, I have some leftover chocolate icing in my fridge calling my name!  And although I can make some that tastes better, it is pretty darn good!

Laid back weekend

This weekend was pretty slow.  Friday night, I went to the card ministry meeting at my church where we stamped with bleach.  I may have killed a few brain cells that day.  Then we went out to eat dinner at Tropical Smoothie, and I got to use the last of my Groupons for that place.  Then we wandered across the parking lot to Starbucks to hang out for a while.

Saturday was my cousin's 13th birthday party and then afterwards we went to eat at On the Border with the world's slowest waiter.  The Hogs lost again in their game that day too.  We still have the SEC tournament, but I'm thinking it is not going to end up well.  I guess there is always next year....

Sunday, I went to church and then went to McDonalds (yuck) for lunch because my sister said that we should let the kid tastes choose the place for lunch.  Then I decided that I wanted some new shoes, so I went to the mall because I had a Dillard's gift card.  I ended up with these:

They kind of hurt my feet a little, but the people in the store convinced me that they will stretch a little.  I sure hope so because I love them and can't wait to wear them when it gets a little more spring-like outside!

I will try to do better about taking pictures... I know I haven't had a post with real pictures in it in a long time.

Weekend Wrap-Up

I have been lacking in the blogging motivation lately!  I feel like I still have not recovered from my super busy weekend.

Friday night, my Sunday School class had a girls night.  We went to eat at Macaroni Grill and then everyone came back to my house to hang out.  Some of the girls even made some coasters with my leftover materials.  I am glad to get some of that stuff used, since apparently when I bought the supplies, I intended on making coasters for everyone that I have ever met.  :)  I still have about 30 tiles left, so if anyone needs any, let me know.

Saturday morning started out bright and early with a trip to Lows Bridal in Brinkley, AR to look at wedding dresses with Cherry.  She tried on some really beautiful things, but I think her heart is still set on this one from David's Bridal.  I wish she would have chosen my favorite!  :)  Then we made a short side trip and then had to get back to Little Rock because our friend Louisa who came with us had to get back to work.  Then Cherry, Stacy and I went to my fav restaurant, Pei Wei, for lunch.  I even branched out to try a new thing, but I think it is not as good as my old stand by, Pei Wei Spicy chicken.  At least I tried something new.  I was proud of myself haha.

Then on Saturday afternoon, we had a joint birthday party for my brother and dad.  I had to run and pick up the pottery that my sister painted for our dad on the way to the party and wrap it in the car.  It turns out that a chip was knocked out of it when they were firing it or whatever, but it still turned out cute.  I was too rushed to notice in the car.  Then we went out to eat after the party, and they chose Macaroni Grill.  Seriously I ate there two nights in a row.  Good thing I like fettuccini alfredo.  :)  My aunt and uncle also gave me a bed that they don't want any more, so my brother and I had to move it from their house to mine after dinner.  I just put it in storage for now, since all of the rooms have a bed.  But my roommate has her own furniture, so whenever she moves out, I will need another bed.

Sunday morning I went to church and then had a quick pizza lunch with my sister, and said goodbye to my brother who was going back to college.  Then I went to Stone Soup, which is a soup kitchen ministry put on by many of the Methodist churches in the area, who take turns serving the meal at Quapaw Quarter UMC.  My church has the 4th Sunday of every other month, and I try to go as often as possible.  We always have a good time.  This time we made chicken and dressing and fruit salad, and fruit and cake.  We served 114 people, so we had a good turnout.  Then I went straight from Stone Soup to the Bible study that I help lead at my church.

It was a good, but very busy weekend!  Today happens to be the birthday of 3 people in my family!  I hope the basketball Hogs pull out a win in honor of their special day!  :)

Earthquake!

So apparently last night, there was an earthquake about 37 miles from my house.  It happened about 11pm and it was a 4.7 earthquake.  I slept right through it.  I am kind of disappointed in missing my first earthquake.  I really didn't know about it until I checked my Facebook this morning and everyone was talking about feeling the earthquake.  People in Fayetteville (3 hours away) and even Memphis were talking about feeling it.  I kind of feel left out.  :)

ABCs of Me

So several of my blog peeps have done this lately, so I thought I would finally jump on the bandwagon.

A. Age: 25


B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore you hate: Vacuuming.

D. Dogs: Not yet.  I was considering it, and then I dogsat for 3 dogs.  Not ready.  :)  Maybe if I could find one that didn't poop or pee in the floor or bite me...
E. Essential start to your day: Food!  I'm always starving when I wake up.
F. Favorite color: Pink, and sparkly.  haha.

G. Gold or silver: Silver.

H. Height: 5' 9"

I. Instruments you play: Flute, Piccolo, Handbells.  I used to be able to play piano and guitar, but it's been so long that I have probably forgotten.
J. Job title: Clinical Tech II. So now of course you know what I do, right?

K. Kids: None.

L. Live: Arkansas.

M. Mom’s name: Sheila

N. Nicknames: Jess

O. Overnight hospital stays: None

P. Pet peeve: Tardiness
Q. Quote from a movie:  Hakuna Matata

R. Righty or Lefty: Righty.

S. Siblings: One younger brother, one younger half-sister, and one really younger half-brother.

T. Time you wake up: Well, my alarm goes off at 6:42, but usually I roll out of bed at 7:33.

U. Underwear: Always.

V. Vegetables you dislike: Mainly just one – Eggplant.

W. What makes you run late: I’m usually early everywhere except to work... and then sleeping is to blame.

X. X-rays you’ve had: Right hand and dental.

Y. Yummy food you make: According to my sister, I am the best cook in America.  I make some mean brownies and canned ravioli apparently.  But I like to think that I make yummy desserts!

Z. Zoo animal favorite: Giraffe. But I hate the zoo- it smells bad.