A Wonderful Trip To Gulf Shores!! Sorry so long!

Sorry it has taken me so long to write this. Today is the first day since we have been back that I have had time to sit down and actually wtite this thing. We left on Saturday June 28th and came home on Saturday July 5th. My parents and Grandparents went with us. The best way to describe how much fun we had is to simply go through each day.

Friday June 28th
We all got up and went to breakfast at Huddle house in Millbrook around 8:30am. We sat and talked and ate trying to waste time since we were so excited but we could not check in to the beach house until 3pm. And for those of you who don't know, we have a 9lbs Peekapoo named Trixie who we bring along, so getting to Gulf Shores early and doing something until 3pm was not an option. So after we got through eating we all came back to our apartment and stayed there for about an hour and a half. Our cars were already loaded down so all we had to do was pack Trixie's stuff of course. And if you know her you know how excited she gets when you take her cage out of the house without her. It is crazy. So finally around 11am we left and were on our way. Daniel and I led the way since we knew how to get there. (Daniels grandparents lived there for many years and Daniel spent many summers with them. He was also excited to show us all the places he used to go). Of course it wasn't very long before our cell phone was ringing saying someone needed to stop and use the restroom. (My parents and grandparents rode together). So after about 3 stops and 4 hours because of traffic on Hwy. 59 we made it to Meyer Realty which is who we rented the Beach House through. Everyone went in to get keys and stuff while Daniel and I sat in the car with Trixie who was by that time barking at everything that moved. So now we were off to our beach house which was about two miles west of 59. Of course all the way from Meyer to our house I was blasting the beach boys. Go ahead call me a dork, you know you like them too! :) Anyway we got to the house, got unpacked, and looked aroung a bit. It was lovely. downstairs was one bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and den. Upstairs was the master with a bathroom, and living room, and another bedroom with a bathroom. It was decided that Daniel and I should get the master since we had Trixie and it was the biggest room and my grandparents got the room downstairs because she is always in the kitchen at the crack of dawn.lol Everything about it was wonderful except for the fact that we waited to late to book so we had to settle for a house across the street from the beach which ended up not being that bad. So soon after settling in it was time to leave and go eat dinner. (we were starving. We had skipped lunch since breakfast was so late) We ended up eating at a sports bar and grill which was pretty good and then were off to Target for some last minute stuff. We went home walked on the beach some and then we were in for the night.

Sunday June 29th
So we got up, got dressed for church, ate breakfast, and left a bit early to try to locate a few things. Turns out we should have located the Church Building first. lol.....we ended up being about 10 min late instead of 10 min early as planned. We attended Gulf Shores Church of Christ. The people were nice and the lesson was good it was just sooooooo crowded. It was insane. Any ways so we left church and went and ate at Lamberts: home of the Throwed rolls. Awesome as always by the way even though you have to wait a gazzillion years. We went home, walked on the beach, rested, and then went to Desoto's for dinner. Great food. The place is a little run down so you wouldn't think it is good but it is a local place which was really good. We left Desoto's and went to Scoops Olde Fashion Ice cream shop and everyone got a banana split except my dad got butter pecan and Daniel and I were too full for anything. We went home, changed and went walking on the beach. Then Daniel and my granddad went fishing off the pier that was on the lagoon less than block from out house.

Monday June 30th
We got up and went to the Tanger Outlet in Foley to shop. We shopped for a few hours and found a few great deals and then it was time for lunch. We decided to go to Godfather's pizza because we used to love the one that was in Montgomery many years ago so we thought we would give it a try. Don't ! It was not at all like the one we had been to before. Not nasty but not good. So we left and went and got Dippin Dots. Which if you know me, you know this could be the sole reason for me coming to the beach...lol. Anyway it was awesome as always. We decided to go back to the house and chill out for a while. In the meantime my mom made reservations at a restaurant called The Voyager. It was inside of Perdido beach resort. We should have known how fancy it was when they said there was a dress code. So we made reservations for 7. When we got there we had Valet parking. We went inside to the restaurant and were seated. OUr chairs were pulled out for us and napkins placed in our laps. As soon as we opened the menu Daniel and I looked at each other. The cheapest thing was $24 Dollars and that was for an appetizer. Now if it had been a special occasion it would have been fine but we were on vacation and were already spending a ton of money already. Well thankfully my grandfather then said "Everyone get whatever they want we are paying". Thank Goodness! Anyway at the end of the meal...for six people...including a $50 tip, the meal ended up being $250. Insane I know but the experience was worth it. So we left there went home and changed and went to Cold Stone Creamery. It was awesome of course. Then we went home.

Tuesday July 1st
We spent the morning out on the beach. We got down there around 9:30. We layed out a little and then played in the ocean a little. I know. Can you believe that I got in the ocean? Granted I was on a float the whole time but still. Floating out past all the swimmers soaking up the sun was awesome and relaxing. We went inside around 12 and decided to go to Sea n Suds. The atmosphere was ok and so was the food. It probably would have been alot better had we not been to that really fancy restaurant the night before. We left there and of course went and got Dippin Dots for me but we went to an Olde Tyme Soda Fountain. This was a real one in that it was actually in a pharmacy like it was in the old days. I had a root beer float and it was true old tyme rootbeer with the syrup and stuff. very Good. We then went back to the house to rest and then we went to the Wharf that night. Pretty good shopping there. We went to eat that night at Live Bait at the wharf and sat out on the water and listened to a live band. The food was awesome there too!

Wednesday July 2nd.
We were suppose to go to the water park on this day but I was the only one who wanted to go so I got out voted. We ended up eating lunch at Calypso Joes which was amazing and then we went to the marina to schedule out Deep sea fishing excursion for Thursday. We came back to the house and me and my dad went to the pool, which we had completely to ourselves, while Daniel and my Grandfather went fishing on the pier again. I of course had my float and was soaking up all the sun I could get. That evening we went over to my Grandmother's Cousins house. They live there and are millionaires. No joke. They have a cabin in Gatlinburg, 2 in gulf shores, and 200 acre hunting lodge somewhere in AL that I can't rememember the name of. Their house was amazing. 5000 square feet. Just amazing!! We grilled out by the enclosed pool and then when we left there Us and my Parents went and played putt putt.

Thursday July 3rd
My grandfather took us deep sea fishing. He once again paid for us at $145 a person. We had been before in Panama City and had a boat to ourselves (and paid more) but we booked too late so we had to do a boat with about 9 other people. It wasnt that bad though.
We left the house around 5:30 that morning because we had to be there at 6:15. We left the dock at 7. I should mention that it started raining before we left. Well we had not gotten far out when the captain came over the intercom and said we were about to go through a squal line. Great! So we all had to go inside the cabin. Which was really hard because the wind was blowing so hard you almost couldnt walk. Well for about an hour we were going way up in the air and back down and sideways. Felt like an hour long roller coaster drop. My stomach dropped each time the boat dropped. Well Daniel was the first to get sick. He was outside throwing up over the side and some of the men were saying he would be the first but not the last. When we got to our spot he was still sick but determined to fish. I too by this time was feeling extremely sick. I never vomited but felt really bad. I still fished for the most part though. My dad never got sick but my poor granddad was so sick that he couldnt even come out of the cabin. He was throwing up and so pale and I felt just aweful for him. I should mention that this was a six hour long trip. He never picked up a pole once. So he payed 145 dollars and then 20 to the first mate to be sick. It was awful. 4 other people were sick besides us. In the end my dad caught 2 red snapper and 2 king mackeral and I caught 2 red snapper, 1 king mackeral, and a shark sucker. Daniel caught 2 red snapper and 1 king mackeral. Needless to say we got back and all went home and crashed in the bed, which still felt like it was moving, for a few hours. We didnt go out for lunch that day but by dinner everyone was feeling better so we went to Wolf Bay lodge. By far the best meal of the week. That was the second time I had been there. Daniel had been there several. It is a little out of the way but well worth it!!!

Friday July 4th
We spent the morning out on the beach again and then went back to the wharf to eat at an Italian Rest. It was good. We came home and Me, Daniel, and my Dad all went to the pool for a few hours. Daniel and my dad got burnt but I didn't. We got ready and went to LuLu's that night. It was ok but after all the hype I expected it to be better. That night we came home and went out on the beach and watched to fire works. Not that great in comparison to the awesome show that millbrook puts on at the Pines every year (which is coming up on Friday the 25th). So that night we packed everything up.

Saturday we got up and headed home. Sad to go but ready to get back. We had a blast that week and as you can see we had ALOT food!

I'm not dead; Just busy!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. Things have been so busy! But I promise there is a new blog about our great vacation coming soon!! Its gonna be a long one I know so I just gotta make the time. Well off to make my daddy's pie for his birthday today. Then we are going out to celebrate it later! Check back soon!

Can i get some privacy please!

So as most of you know Daniel and I live in an Apartment in Millbrook. Well This week was quarterly inspections. Since we have a small dog Daniel called the front office to see if they could tell us an exact time that they would be coming so that I could be home and have our dog put up. (Plus I really don't like the fact of strangers, not very nice ones at that, coming in my home when we are not there). They of course said they had no Idea when it would be and they could only tell us that it would be Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Well gets who gets to sit at home all day waiting on them to come....I didnt even get to go running at the park like I do everyday!! So Monday was a no show. I thought Tuesday was gonna be a no show too because they leave at 5pm and they still had not come around by 3:30. Well Daniel had a playoff game that night at 6:20 so I of course needed to be ready around 5:30 so we could leave. So I figure they aren't coming I might as well get in the bath. I got all my stuff together, got my bath poored, and got in and guess what??? Knock Knock Knock. Well since they have a key to the apartment I knew I had to hurry cause if I didn't come to the door they would come in thinking I was not there. Well my robe was in the other bathroom. Here I am soaking wet and naked (lol) running to the other bathroom to get my robe on praying that they don't walk in the door. If you have ever tryed to put on a cotton robe when you are soaking wet you cannot do it fast. Of course my dog is going crazy the entire time because I was not able to put her up in all the excitement. So I get my robe on and get to the door just as they are opening it. I explain that I was in the bath and they proceed to go around my home being nosy checking to see if anything needs replacing and if we are keeping things sanitary...lol . No joke! The manager looked through every cabinet, my refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, closets, everything while the maintenance man checked the fire extinguisher, and fire alarms. I felt soooooo completely violated...I mean my home was clean but why should I let a complete stranger go through my stuff right in front of me like she owns my stuff and not just the apartment. Anyway thats why we hope to be out of here soon. If the housing market will pick up and I can find a house I consider worth buying...lol then we can move. Anyway out of everything the only thing she could find is that two of my cabinets wouldnt shut all the way so they needed fixing. They have always been this way since we moved in and is not a big deal to me but she decided that it was a big deal to her and that she would send the maintenance guy there tommorrow to fix it. So I get yet another day of sitting at home and doing nothing. And guess what...the whole day goes by and I need to start getting ready to go out to eat before church and I no more step in the shower and Knock Knock Knock...Unbelievable...So I had to scurry once again for him to come in and say "Those arent even bad enough to fix. I don't know what she is thinking" and he leaves. AHHH!!!

For you to completely understand my frustration I need to tell you that this maintenance man is horrible. He never does what he says he is gonna do and every time we have needed something fixed, whether it was the air condition, water heater, whatever he has needed a how to manual and had no idea what he was doing. He told me over a year ago that he would order and replace a mirror in our bathroom that was burned when lightning struck our building and I have yet to see it. So I had absolutely no reason to believe that he would even show up to fix this.

I guess from now on when I want something I should call them and then get in the shower...lol

SOOOOO Worth the money!!!!!

Well I haven't written in a while so I figured it was time to update. I have been so busy lately. It has been insane. We are leaving to go to Gulf shores in about 3 weeks and there is so much I have to do before then! First of all, I have to get a tan. I am usually really dark but havent tanned in a while so I am laying out everyday until then. On top of that I have got to go shopping. I don't have a choice. Nothing fits! This is a good thing though. I have lost about 40lbs so far and 3 dress sizes so I am really excited about going shopping so that I wont have to go naked to the beach...lol..j/k. Also everyday until we leave I have to work out every single day!!! That is a must! I've been trying to keep a variety going between Tae Bo, Jogging, Walking, Kickboxing, Cardio Blast, and Pilates. But I am extremely motivated and I am not backing down..lol So anyways the real reason I am writing this blog is to tell you about my day so far today. For our wedding anniversary in May, Daniel got me a spa package certificate for Smart Skin Day Spa in prattville....BIG MISTAKE on his part...lol...cause I am officially going back once a month now. I went in today for my 1 hour full body relaxation massage. I get there and meet my massage therapist who takes me into this dark tranquil room. She tells me to take my clothes off and lay face down on the table and she will be back in a minute. I should mention there is soft music playing in the back ground. So I did what she said and climbed onto the table and since she didnt come immediately back I looked around a bit. There were candles everywhere and a fireplace (not lit of course) and rose petals around the room. Well she came in a got right to work. She did legs, back, neck, asked me to turn over, then did neck, face, shoulders, arms, hands, legs, and feet! Absolutely amazing....certain techniques just stripped me of my tension. I have never been so relaxed without medication. After she was finished she let me get dressed and then offered me lemon water and food and gave me a thank you letter with a coupon for my next visit. Oh and there will be a next visit!!
I am so glad that I did this! I felt a little wierd about paying that much for a massage when Daniel can give me one at home. (Thats why he had to buy it without me knowing :)) but let me tell you, this is nothing like what you get at home. These people are trained and know exactly what to do and how to do it. They have two other types of massages: deep tissue and hot stone. It is only $65 for a one hour relaxation massage which is so worth the money...I promise! I would probably even pay more. So I told Daniel on the way home that if he would send me there once a month then he will never have to give me a massage...Of course he jumped at that offer. So now I just can't wait til next month. I will be going back next week for the rest of my spa package...I'll let ya know how that goes.


So in Conclusion everyone should have a professional massage at least once in their life!!!!

TruGreen Softball

So alot of you know that Daniel is playing on his company's softball team this year. I was a little worried since he didnt ask his doctor about his back before signing up but that's a whole different story.

So anyway he had his first game last Tuesday. It was a double header. All I can say about those two games is WOW. TruGreen was not good! LOL..Daniel and one other guy were the only ones who could catch and the other teams were awesome. So myself and the other TruGreen wives were sitting on the side lines wishing it was a coed team so that we could all show then how it is done..lol

Thursday's game was not much better. The guys fielded a little better but still they could not score a run to save their life. It was bad.

Last night they had another game. They played American Lubefast. Well what do you know the boys finally woke up and won a game. They didnt even look like the same team. They were hitting awesome and catching balls that were not easily catchable. I was so proud. I guess the embarassment woke them up.

Anyway the main reason I am writing a blog about this is because as most of you know I played softball for many many years. It has however been 8 years since I have played. I had no idea going into this that it was gonna have this effect on me. I realized I MISS THIS SPORT SOOOO MUCH! It is really hard for me to sit on the sidelines and watch and not play. I had not picked up a bat or glove in 8 years and this past weekend I did. :) First of all Daniel and I went to the batting cages on Friday night. I was a little worried that I would not be good after 8 years but I found out that it is like riding a bike. Once you learn it you will always be able to do it. We each hit 100 balls each and we had a blast. I of course was very sore the next morning. But holding that bat and connecting with that ball felt so good and so right. It took me back to my softball days, the smell, the feeling, and the excitement. It mad me sad. So TruGreen was having a practice on Sunday afternoon but Daniel felt he would get better practice if he and I played around for a while. I course this made me very excited. So Sunday after Church we went to Ruby Tuesday's with Jason, Myra, Jackson and the girls and then we headed to my parents house for some backyard practice. Daniel and I took turns hitting each other ground balls and pop flys (which catching is the same as hitting, like a bike) and then we just kinda threw the ball around. I can't believe how good of shape I used to be in the practice long long hours and play long games. I now was huffing and puffing (of course Daniel was not taking it easy on me..lol) But man I am out of shape. Anyway before we went home I got the bright idea that I was gonna try to pitch. As many of you know I was a fast pitch pitcher for many years and was even offered scholarships for it but turned them down..another sad story, but anywho I was pretty good back then if I do say so myself...lol....my fastball was clocked at 65mph when I was 12...i never had it clocked after that but I know it got faster. So here I am getting ready to pitch to Daniel with my dad watching of course. All the memories flooding back over me as I stood in the exact spot that I stood so very many afternoons practicing with my dad. Well so I pitched...and guess what? It was a strike! Yes! I continued to pitch for a few minutes and realized that hey...I STILL GOT IT!..haha....so now it has me thinking that I really want to play again. Daniel is trying to find me an adult fast pitch league, if anyone knows of one let me know, but I said that I was gonna go back to college full time so that I could play...lol anyway just taking a trip down memory lane and being sad. I can finally now understand why my dad was so involved in all of my sports. I know I will be that parent who is coaching little league and going to every single game and being so involved! I can't wait!

New Found Stress Reliever!

So I have recently started walking 3 miles a day. I want to work up to about 6 miles a day but Hey this is my first week. So anyway I go walking at a park in Millbrook. Not the one in downtown Millbrook, The one off of Deatsville Hwy. I go around 1:30pm and I am usually the only one there at the time. Once around the track is 1/3 of a mile so I walk around 9 times. This has become a new favorite pass time. Not only am I exercising and making my heart healthy but it gives me time for myself. I take my headphones and listen to the radio and just think about all the many things that are on my mind. It gives me a chance to really connect with my feelings while enjoying the beautiful outdoors. We all know that the sun gives you an incredible high. So anyways I leave there feeling so refreshed both physically and mentally and it is just so awesome. It gives me something to look forward to each day. So anyway just thought I would share my new stress reliever. It really works!

Life Quotes

I just wanted to share some of the Life Quotes that I enjoy or that have great meaning to me and help me through some things. Hope you enjoy!

1. When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck

2. If I can endure for this moment,whatever is happening to me.No matter how heavy my heart,or how dark the moment may be.If I can but keep on believing,what I know in my heart to be true.Then darkness will fade into morning,and with this dawn a new day, too.

3. Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow. ~Dorothy Thompson

4. Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. ~Winston Churchill

5. Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

6. If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~ Anne Bradstreet

7.The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers. ~M. Scott Peck

8. The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. ~ Thomas Paine

9. Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. ~ Dale Carnegie

10. There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. ~ Peter F. Drucker

11. There are no gains without pains. ~ Benjamin Franklin

12. I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen. ~ Frank Lloyd Wright

13. Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try nothing and succeed. ~Lloyd Jones

14. Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly ~ Robert F. Kennedy

15. Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.

16. All love that has not friendship for its base,Is like a mansion built upon the sand

17. A faithful friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.