How I Met The New Guy-or Why Mom's Always Right....

OK ladies...one of you asked me who The New Guy is and how he came to be. I'll try to tell this story in a coherent manner.

When my Mom was young-about 16 or 17-she kept New Guy in the church nursery at our church (then First Baptist in our town - kind of funny, we went to 2nd Baptist for about 13 years and switched back to 1st Baptist in about 2003 - w/ the exception of my Mom, who is now another demonination then the rest of my family {and yes, that bugs me a little bit}). So, my whole family knows New Guys family from church originally. His family also switched churches and goes to another Baptist Church in a bigger town close by, so we don't go to the same church anymore.

Add to that, my whole life his Dad has been my dentist.

SO, about a year and a half ago I go in to get some fillings and the New Guy is now working in his Dad's office (which would be temporary as he moved to another state after this). He did some work on my teeth and I thought we were flirting :-). Of course, I told my Mom about the flirting and told her how ADORABLE I thought he was.

About six months after that my Mom and I were having lunch w/ her friend. She said "Tell us again what you said about your dentist" so I said how I think he's so cute and seems like he has a good personality too. Well, my Mom was making me say that because (unknown to me) her friend is New Guys cousin. We all had a laugh about me thinking he's cute and finished lunch.

I didn't really think much more about him. As you who read my blog know, I've dated a few other pple this year, and they've come and gone...

SO this year in about October when I was dating Older Guy (who my Mom was NOT a fan of), New Guy (I also call him Dentist) is back from another state and working in his Dad's practice again. My Mom and her friend get to talking and decide to set me and him up on a date now that he's back in SC.

I was still seeing Older Guy and I was NOT game for a MOM setup. I don't like setups anyways (people that don't even know me try to set me up. W/out me even indicating that I would be interested in a set up!). As all of you recall, Older Guy turned out to be way too argumentative for this laid back belle, so that bit the dust. My Mom insisted that I would really like the Dentist and have fun w/ him. So, I gave in and said OK and her friend (his cousin) gave him my #.

We've been out about five times and so far I REALLY LIKE HIM!!!

Recently he had a birthday and I had NO idea what to do about it. Once again, Mom was right. She said to send something little to his work as a surprise. She says guys LOVE to get a surprise in the mail at work. I did as she said...just sent a small something (silly banz of his favorite team). Guess what? He really liked the surprise!! :-) So, Thanks MOM!!

So, I like him a lot and I'll keep you all posted!!

XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Busy Busy...

I've been SO BUSY!! I have not had time to go to the grocery store in two weeks (which has been just great for my diet), much less give any attention to my blog. I've done some exciting stuff...more dates w/ the new guy (I call him Dentist, that's what he is), seeing Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert (they were amazing, go if you ever get the chance), and helping one of my work friend's daughter with her high school pageant. The pageant was last night.

Let me tell you, this pageant has been as much work as if I was in it myself! And somehow even more stressful. I just want so much for this girl. She is the nicest, prettiest, most wholesome and respectful teenager. I've been trying to help this girl w/ her walk, stage presence, interview, etc. A, my roommate and also a former pageant queen, has been helping her as well. We did her hair for her interview and pageant together and it turned out really well...we're a team!

This is the shirt I bedazzled for her for her opening number. I think it turned out pretty good. It was a Lady Gaga theme pageant. Let me add that I don't have a Bedazzler (maybe Santa should bring me one!). I use E600 glue and glue these suckers (rhinestones) on one at a time by hand!
The pageant was last night and the results were dissapointing to us all. Don't get me wrong, I'm very PROUD. My friend's daughter is a beautiful girl and she looked gorgeous. She is a smart, athletic, and accomplished young woman. She was just nervous and not on her A-game. This was only her second pageant.

Losing has happened to us all. I am all too familiar w/ the feeling of standing there (heart pounding, sweaty palms) waiting for your name to be called only to get nothing. Nothing after LOTS of hours of hard work preparing. We've all hard our fair share of losing, I know that. It was still hard to see her get so dissapointed though. I think it may have actually been worse to see her get dissapointed than if I'd been up there myself.

Today is her birthday and when I spoke to her on the phone after she got out of school today she was already feeling much better. She was excited about a date w/ her boyfriend tonight. Her boyfriend is the cutest high school boyfriend ever and SUCH a sweet guy.

This is me rocking my sign last night!


I'll update more later...and fill yall in on Dentist!! I got a sweet text last night asking how the pageant went...aww!!

XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Thanksgiving 2010

I love this time of year and I'm super excited to be traveling home to upstate SC tomorrow to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family!! And Thankful to be doing so!!
I was thinking after my last post about engagements and happened accross this at Tiffanys. Don't you just LOVE?? I love it!!
Naturally I am beyond pumped about the USC v. Clemson game on Saturday!! Last year (34-17) was AMAZING!! I would love a repeat of that!! In all honesty, we can have a losing season and then beat Clemson and I'll be as happy as a clam. Being from upstate SC, which is deep Tiger country, and growing up around Clemson football instilled a real dislike for the Tigers in me (plus I am a USC grad). As far as I go, this is the most exciting game of the year. GO GAMECOCKS!!
As usually it goes, the guy I'm talking to currently (recent development for those of you who follow my blog) is a Clemson grad and a HUGE Clemson fan. It seems like I ALWAYS end up seeing people who are big time Clemson fans. I don't know how it works out that way, but it always does! I think it's kind of funny. I've been invited to tailgate w/ him and his family Saturday for the big game so I'll let everyone know how that goes!!

Hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!!
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Engagements, OH My!!!!

Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE Jessica Simpson. We're both from Texas, both have July birthdays, and both love big hair! I think she is STUNNING. She is so so pretty. So you can imagine my excitment when I was laying in my bed (with Trinket, of course) on Sunday night watching E! and it came accross the screen that she was engaged.

I'm not crazy about the engagement ring. I love rubies (my birthstone) so I think what turns me off is the yellow gold. What do you think?
I LOVED her engagement ring from Nick. It's gorgeous. That's the kind of ring I dream of! LOL In all seriousness, I sort of can't even imagine being married. I've had two long term relationships (one for about five years, one on and off in my teens and then again with the same person more recently), but I just can't imagine FOREVER. It's kind of scary!

AND even MORE engagements!! When I was a little girl I told my babysitter that I wanted to marry Prince William when I grew up because I wanted to ride horses through the English countryside all the time. I think Kate is very chic.
I'm looking forward to seeing what their wedding will be like!

Happy Tuesday!
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

The Older Guy....

Ladies, thank you SO much for the helpful suggestions on my weight loss!!! I'm so ready to shed this pesky 10 pounds. I did yoga last night, which feels like a day at the spa compared to the treadmill! Ha! Tonight I'm doing 45 minutes of cardio (treadmill or elliptical, whichever is free) and then free weights (arms).

SO, The Older Guy. As you might remember I met a very handsome older man early this fall when my school played Southern Miss in football. We had some great dates, and then started seeing each other regulary for about six weeks.

As will happen when you spend time w/ someone I noticed a few annoying tendencies. However, they weren't too terribly irritating and I dealt w/ it. I REALLY honestly tried to give this one a chance. Often I am way too quick to find something annoying or just something (sometimes even something petty) that I dislike about a guy and set him free early on. In the past I've done this because I was still sooo in love w/ my ex that I dated on again/off again for years {my Mr. Big}.

The annoying habit that I picked up on about this Handsome Older Man was that he was argumentative. He would get on a tangent, or stuck on a topic, and just NOT LET IT GO!!

Example: We're riding in the car w/ my BFF A, a mutual friend of all of ours, and obviously, me and Handsome Older Guy. I mention something about having to run by a pet store to get Trinket's food. He launches into a lecture on pet food. I assure him that Trinket eats high quality food. He then proceeds to argue w/ me that I need to read the ingredients and he "gaurantees there's corn in her food"...Umm, no I feed Trinket Blue Buffalo dog food which is corn, soy, and wheat free because she has allergies. There is a BIG badge on the food advertising that it is corn, soy, and wheat free. He just kept talking right over me and wouldn't listen to anything I was saying.

Another time I asked him nicely to please stop touching me because I didn't feel well. He wasn't having it. I might as well have not said anything at all, because he wasn't going to respect my wishes. ANNOYING!!

The kicker was Halloween weekend. He went out w/ me and my friends as part of our KISS group. Afterwards everyone was at my house. Trinket hates him and has already bitten him. The day she bit him, he tried to pick her up. I TOLD him, several times, giving him plenty of warning, NOT to pick her up and that she would bite him. He woudn't listen and picked her up. She got terrified and bit him. So, on Halloween when he was over Trinket was barking, because obviously now she's super scared of him. In front of everyone, he started in on me about Trinket. How she misbehaves, how she's not socialized. He was saying she's so bad because I don't have her around other dogs. I tried to explain to him that I DO have her around other dogs and she's NOT unsocial, she is just afraid of him because he picked her up, totally ignoring that she was terrified.

Company was just sitting there stunned during all of this. A went to her room and shut the door because she couldn't take another second of arguing.

HE WOULD NOT LET IT GO!!! SO, that HAD to be The End of him!!! I can't stand argumentativeness like that!! I'm a laid back girl and I can agree to disagree. However, you can't agree to disagree w/ a person like him that wants to beat a point to death. THE END. I'll spare you the detials, but he wasn't too pleased about our relationship ending. Yikes!

Hope you all found that amusing!!
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Body Post

As those of you that read my blog regualry know, I've been trying to lose about 10 pounds since August. I saw some pics of myself at a concert, and I wasn't too pleased! It's only about ten pounds, but I can really tell in my FACE and upper body. My legs and stomach are still OK.

So far I've stayed at 150 (I was horrified to hit 150, it's the most I've EVER EVER weighed). It's good that I haven't put on more, but bad that I haven't lost any weight even though I've been trying.

Some history about my weight. Growing up I was teeny tiny. Little stick arms and legs. Both my parents are little, small boned, and skinny. Growing up I played sports, lived on a farm, and ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I never gained any weight and was like this until I was in my mid-twenties.
Around 2008 I had gained a little bit of weight from college (living in the dorms, eating fast food a lot), but not much. After college graduation I was doing pageants and lived off a pretty strict diet and exercised A LOT. I was in GREAT shape. I think I was around 135 here, which is pretty small for someone almost 6 ft tall. I know realistically that this is probably too much work to maintain w/ the lifestyle (work schedule, social obligations) I have now, and I'm OK w/ that.
Fastforward to present day. I've aged out of pageants. They were A LOT of fun and I wouldn't trade my experiences and memories for anything. That being said, I don't miss them all that much! ALL that WORK! Not just for me, but they were stressful for my Mom and dear sweet roommate (who basically got snookered into being my "stage mom" for years). I've had so much more time and money for fun stuff...concerts, trips (to places I want to go, not b/c I'm in a pageant there), more free time...BUT I've gained 10 lbs.

This summer I enjoyed the occasional beer by the pool, ate pretty much whatever I wanted, and was burnt out on the gym so I didn't go all that much. 10 lbs creeped on before I knew it!

Now, I understand 10 pounds is NOT a lot. NOT really even worth being so upset about. And in fact, I wouldn't even be upset except for two things. I don't like feeling like my face is bigger AND so many of my clothes are tight!!

Right now I really wouldn't even say I'm FAT. I know I'm not. I may not be teeny tiny Gisele sized like I once was, but I'm still pretty fit and toned. I'm just BIGGER, kind of like Brooke Hogan. I'm OK w/ it, really.

EXCEPT for the clothing issue! I have put A LOT of my income into my clothes. Add to that I don't make as much $ I used to make, so I don't have as much to spend on my wardrobe as I once did. I also have a car payment now, whereas I drove a car that was paid off for years. Over time I've bought some really nice clothes. $200 Paige Demin jeans that I LOVED are now so tight they are like sausage casing. I can wear them, but they cut into me so much that it's uncomfortable. I can't afford to spend that kind of money on clothes anymore, so understandably, I want to lose this weight and wear the clothes I already have and NOT have to spend $ replacing them. :-[

This is SO frustrating! Last week I went to the gym 5 out of 7 days. I'm going to try to go as much as I can this week as well, although I'm going out of town on Friday. This week I plan on:

Monday (today): spinning
Tuesday: zumba
Wednesday: yoga
Thursday: 30 minutes cardio, about 20 lifting weights

I'm also trying to eat less and I'm NOT buying sweets and treats at the grocery store. I'll keep you posted as to when some of this comes off!!

I welcome any suggestions!! 10 pounds seems to be impossible to shed! I want to get back to 140 so bad I can't stand it.

XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Halloween Recap ~ "You Wanted The Best..."

"...You Got The Best!!!" For those of you that ARENT big KISS fans like I am, that is how KISS opens their shows. I'm a big KISS fan and my friends and I were KISS for Halloween this year! I'll be honest and say that I'm still in touch w/ my inner 14 year old girl and I LOVE the movie Detroit Rock City (which is a movie about KISS, again for those who aren't fans). Just give me a stuffed animal from middle school to curl up with, some popcorn, and I will watch Detroit Rock City ANYTIME!!

I was Peter Criss, the drum player. He's the one that sings "Beth" and sounds a little like Rod Stewart.
**Look carefully and you'll see Michael Meyers in the picture as well**

The makeup is somewhat hard to do. I have a lot of experience doing stage makeup from my pageant days so it wasn't that hard, but it wasn't exactly easy either. I did "Gene Simmons" makeup for him and it was much easier to do a KISS face on someone else as opposed to on yourself.

As you can see in the picture A made "sexyface" all night long. The real Paul Stanley makes this face all the time too. She's a ham!

People LOVE Kiss. Everywhere we went we got a lot of attention! I think we are cursed when it comes to boots and Halloween. Last year I was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and my boot broke. This year A wore black boots and HER boot broke!

I've got a lot going on at work so I'll cut this short for now.

Coming soon: What caused THE END of me and The Hot Older Guy.

XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Halloween Countdown!!

The countdown is on! We are about a week out from Halloween-this is my FAVORITE time of year!! We go ALL out for Halloween around my house. I need to take more pics of our decorations this year. They turned out really cute. Here is one of the lanterns we made. My Mom got us these from Michaels. They are a Martha Stewart DIY craft and are easy as pie to make!
The state fair is in town! A and I went w/ my "someone special" aka the older guy and one of his friends. Is this chicken not adorably cute? Since I was in both FFA and 4H I can tell you that this fabulously fluffy breed of chicken is a Silkie. I kind of want one!
This is us last year on Halloween. Since then I've gained about 10 lbs (from eating junk and treats like ice cream all summer and slacking on the gym) and it KILLS me to look at these pics. I was in SUCH good shape then. I'm trying SO hard to get that body back. Of course, today my lunch partner wanted Mexican and I caved into that, so I don't know how hard I'm really trying :( But I'm going to the gym right after work to try and burn it off and I hardly had any of the chips.
I can't wait to see "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on TV!! One of my favorite things!!
The weather is actually getting a little bit chilly here in the deep South and I am LOVING it!! Last winter we had snow and I was like a little kid-it was amazing! We were snowed in one night of Valentine's Day weekend. I know for many parts of the country this is not an occasion, but let me tell you for two girls from Anderson, SC, it was A HUGE TREAT!!! I so very badly hope that we will get snow again this winter. This winter is supposed to be in a La Nina weather pattern, which is a dry and mild winter in the South, so I'm not sure I'll get my wish.

Hope everyone is as excited about the weekend as I am!!
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

TGIF!!!

VERY exciting news! As I am writing this, ESPN College Game Day is outside my office! RIGHT outside my office. ESPN is here, in my town, at my college, for a football game tomorrow! Can anyone tell how excited I am? Like any good Southern Belle I adore football (and understand it for the most part). Southern women are raised on football. Football season is one of the many reasons that fall is my favorite time of year. As soon as I lock up our building in about 30 minutes I am walking over to where ESPN is set up to take a peek!
Sadly, I won't be attending tomorrow's football game, although I try to attend most home games. I have a GOOD reason-it is my Mom's birthday!! I probably won't even watch tomorrow's game (horrors) because my Mom is NOT a big fan of football. My Mom is a teacher by day, but her hobby is being an artist. Drawing, painting, being creative...she is NOT the football watching type of girl. SO, since tomorrow is ALL about her, I guess I'll miss out. Oh well.

And like any good daughter I ordered a homemade cake. It is from The Sweetery, which is in my hometown. This place is DIVINE! They have even been in Southern Living Mag!! I love how their cakes are so pretty and old fashioned looking. Although NOT part of my diet, I will be enjoying this baby tonight!!! {Not an actual picture of the cake as I haven't left work yet, but you get the idea}
Have a great weekend and GOO COCKS!!
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

We All Have One (Part III)

This is part three of some posts I've done over about the last year or so about my own "Mr. Big". He's much younger and not nearly as big city or sophisticated, but his behavior over the past 10 years is SO Mr. Big. I'll never forget one of the first times I saw S&TC when it originally aired on HBO. I was a teenager and had always been pretty sheltered so I didn't get all the humor, but I immediately recognised Mr. Big's behavior.

In my last post I confessed that I was attending a wedding as his date. Ladies, what was I thinking? Did I really think it would be any different than it's always been? I guess I held out some hope that maybe this time things would turn out differently.

I arrived at his house on Friday evening (he lives where I'm from, about two hours from where I live currently). About as soon as I got there he started in on how much he's changed, he's back in church, and reading his Bible. He's been staying at home thinking about things and is making some changes for the better. Of course {although I was skeptical} I was happy to hear all this! That's what I've been praying for since I was a teenager.

We spent most of the day Saturday at the Fall Festival at his church. When we were dating we always attended his church, so his church is like family to me. It was a good day and I got a kick out of the kids in the youth group saying that my ex looks like "The Situation" from Jersey Shore. Haha!

That evening we went to the wedding. It was at his parents house, which is GORGEOUS, and it was a perfect wedding. Great atmosphere, great weather, great food. He and I were slow dancing and I was on Cloud Nine!! After the wedding we sat on his front porch and he was still telling me about how much he's changed.

Something didn't sit right with me. I've known him for 20 years, and after all this time, well-I just KNOW him. I did something sneaky, but I have to look out for my best interests. I've had plenty of experience "investigating" him, if you will. I waited until I was alone with his Blackberry and I had a quick peek. Going through it let me know he has NOT changed and is still the same person he's always been. Without revealing too much I'll just sum up what I found by saying he's up to no good. Needless to say that was VERY dissapointing, but I knew better than to really believe that he's changed and that it could be genuine.

All this really makes me mad. For one thing, if you've changed SO much, you shouldn't have to go around telling everyone (or updating your facebook status about church all the time). People can see that you've changed from how you are living your life, if it's sincere.

Secondly, change or don't change...do whatever you want to do. No judgement, I don't care what you do with your life. I'm FINE. I'm OK without him and I have friends here, a job, a social life, my gym, etc. BUT, don't go seeking me out, asking me to plllleeeaase see you and saying you've changed when you really haven't! Just leave me alone if you don't really mean anything you are saying. It's not like I would call him or text him - when I don't hear from him, I just go on about my life and don't initiate communication with him. HE is the one that asked ME to give him another chance, but I don't understand WHY since he clearly didn't mean it.

And of course, do you think I've heard from him since I've been back from the wedding weekend? NOPE! I'm fine, I haven't cried or anything, but sheesh. I just wish if he didn't want me he'd just stay gone instead of popping back on my radar just to play with my feelings.

And of course he always does so when I might actually be trying to like someone else or give someone else a chance.

SO, that is my Mr. Big update for you all. Hope everyone is having a good week. Yay for Hump Day!!

XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Taco Dip Recipe!!

It's not often that I have a recipe to share on my blog, but when I do, I promise you it's a good one! I made this (no special occasion, just to be sweet! Haha) and brought it into work last week. It's super easy to make and it is SO delicious!

Taco Dip:

Ingredients
•1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
•1 (16 ounce) can refried beans (we buy Old El Paso)
•1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened (I skip to cut calories)
•1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
•1 (16 ounce) jar salsa (I buy store brand, MILD)
•1 large tomato, chopped (I add more)
•1 green bell pepper, chopped
•1 bunch chopped green onions (I skip the onions)
•1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained (we love the olives)
•2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
1. In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.
2. Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans.
3. Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese. Garnish with black olives (we put the olives under the cheese).

I even made a picture of the dip to share w/ you.

It all got gone when I brought it into work and let me tell you ladies, I was SO PROUD!

This weekend I'm going w/ my old beau to a rodeo on Friday night and a wedding at his parents home on Saturday. I'm very much looking forward to the rodeo as I haven't been to one in years. Probably not since high school. I'm also excited about the wedding. It's sure to be a good time. His parents have the most AMAZING house on a gorgeous farm. The wedding is outdoors in their backyard/pool area. I think it will be perfect for an early fall wedding.

I'm not really telling anyone I'm going, so you all are in on a secret LOL. Most of my friends and family would probably be disappointed to hear I was doing ANYTHING with him so I'm not going to volunteer that unless I'm asked. I'm going over and over what to wear. For the rodeo I want something like this:
To the wedding on Saturday I think I'm either going to wear the red dress I'm wearing here, or the black dress A is wearing (she's standing right beside me):

Which dress do you think? Or another one entirely? I'll probably bring a few to chose from.
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Mad for Mad Men!

Ladies, thank you for all the positive feedback about my question from my last post! You are the BEST!!! I'm still feeling this guy out. There doesn't really seem to be anything WRONG with him, I'm just not sure how much I'M feeling it. I'm not really sure that I feel chemistry for him, and you can't just be interested in a person because they are one of the very few guys you've run accross that don't behave badly. So I am taking my time. I think that's actually what you are supposed to do, but that's never been how I've rolled in the past, but you live and you learn!

For you Mad Men fans, was last night not SOOO GOOD?! It's about all I can think about at work today. I can't wait to watch it again on Demand. I'm sure they'll take their sweet time getting it on Demand, but I can't wait. Last night was seriously one of the best episodes I've ever seen.

So, I think last night was evidence of what we've all been suspecting for a long time, and that is that Joan and Roger still have something lingering for each other. I love the story line between the two of them. \
I'm starting to really like the secretary, Megan. I think she's so pretty. I MUST get a yellow dress after seeing her's on last night's episode. It looked so good with her dark hair.
And do men come any hotter than Don? He's just SO handsome!!

UGH, I can't believe it's Monday AGAIN, already :-( Weekends just go by too quickly. I'm all tired out from the weekend still! I am very much looking forward to DWTS tonight!! I can't wait to see Jennifer Grey AND "The Situation"!!!
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

How Old is TOO OLD??

I try to be pretty honest and open on my blog...I have a question that I have a feeling I'll get all sorts of answers to...and I'm just going to go ahead and ask it. When it comes to dating, how old is TOO OLD?

Is it all a matter you what YOU personally feel comfortable with? Or is there an "Ick Factor"??

Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas are 25 years apart. It happens ALL the time. A younger woman an an older man is hardly a novelty.

I met a man a few weeks ago. I met him through my roommates co-worker, who is a platonic friend of ours, and whom we think the world of. I met this mutual friend at a Thursday night football game, went out the following Thursday (on a really nice date BTW), went to a football game on Saturday, and out on the lake yesterday.

This guy actually has some manners, is very successful, likes dogs, knows how to behave and knows how to treat a lady. He opens doors, he shows up on time, and is not only curteous to me, but also to A (she came along for the football game and the lake this weekend). I've met so many rude guys! Or guys who, like one I met at the gym, will want to (instead of asking you out on a regular old fashioned date) suggest you accompany them to a party or suggest they come over to "hang out at the pool at your place." Umm, no! That just does NOT impress me, not at all. And let's not even get into the real jerks, the disrespectual guys, and ones that just plain want to get into your pants.

I like to be wined and dined. I like to feel like the other person, especially in the beginning stages, wants to extend the effort. I dated a guy for almost 5 years in college, S, and looking back, I put way too much work into that relationship! Never again! I feel like I'm worth the extra effort.

SO, this guy I met, is about 20 years older than I am. I will admit, I have never really dated anyone so much older than I am, and it freaks me out a little bit!! I'm not really sure exactly WHAT about it freaks me out, or WHY it's making me wig. Saturday morning when we were getting ready to go meet this guy and his friends to tailgate I was almost in meltdown mode! I was seriously wigging about the big age difference! Then, once we got there, I had a great time and everything was fine.

SO, any thoughts?? Is it somehow "wrong"...or just a matter of preference?

XOXO
Gamecock Queen

My Current Faves...

This won't be the most deep or meaningful post (seems like I don't post many like that anymore-but I will one day, when I have a good topic or reason). This is about my current favorite things.

First of all, after a miserably hot, stifling, long summer, I am beyond excited about FALL! I think I write every year on this blog how happy I get when the temperature drops. When I was a kid I HATED to see the end of summer, but since I've been grown I've come to love it! No battling the extreme heat anytime you need to go outdoors to do something (even just walk to your car), college football, Halloween (we are dressing up as KISS), pumpkins, the state fair (and fair food)...I could go on! I can hardly wait to put up my fall/Halloween decorations in my office at work. My Grandma gave me this candle from Yankee Candle and I'm saving it until the weather gets a little bit cooler.

Right now I'm reading the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris. I love these books! This is like Twilight for grownups. And even better to me because it is set in the south. The little bar/grill place where all the action and drama takes place reminds me so much of the place I worked for years as a waitress in my teens and early 20s. I've seen some of the TV series that is based off the books {True Blood} and I like it, but the books are way better. I'll probably get around to watching more True Blood eventually, but we don't have HBO so I have to watch it on DVD. As a side note, I've had two people tell me I look like Jessica on True Blood lately, only without the red hair. I don't really see the resemblance, but it's definitely a compliment, and I'll take it :-)
My newest thing is that all I want to drink now is Fiji bottled water. I don't drink enough water as it is, I prefer soda and so does my roommate A, so that's what we buy. I bought a bottle of Fiji the other day before my spinning class (I'm down about 2 pounds and feeling a little bit better about myself-more on that later) and it's so much better than regular old tap water or other brands of bottled water. I probably don't need to get more picky than I already am since I'm a picky eater (my ex-boyfriend was bothered by this to no end), but Fiji just tastes better. I've been drinking the liter size everyday at work, and believe it or not, have NOT gotten any headaches this week. I don't know if I was dehydrated before or if it's just coincidental, but I'm happy about that.
I'm super excited about more Gamecock football this weekend!

Tonight I'm going on a date with someone I met at the last football game :-)

XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get back onto blogger. I'm going to start with updating about the KISS concert. KISS was worth every penny spent on tix! They are so energetic and put on a great show. There were people of all ages at the show, lots of families, I guess everyone just loves KISS. I have a little crush on Paul Stanley (the one with the star face) and he did not dissapoint. No one would ever know he's a 58 year old man that's had two hip replacements. I mostly took pics of Paul.


We bought lawn tickets and weren't supposed to be as close as you can see we were in our pictures. As we were walking around before the concet, a guy in a tent starting talking to us. Out of me and A, I'm the more cautious, so I wasn't very excited to be talking to the guy. He was a promoter and asked us to walk around with one of the bands opening for Kiss, helping them hand out their posters. I wasn't enthused {it was only about 100 degrees out}, but A really wanted to, so I said sure. We ended up walking around with this band that openend for Kiss and they were the nicest, sweetest guys. They are a band from Ontario, called The Envy, and are really good. They were young guys, about 21 and 22 years old. At first they couldn't understand how I talk because of my thick Southern accent! They were sweet as pie, and after we walked around with them handing out fliers, totally not expecting anything in return, they gave us some passes and led us to really good seats!

That was so exciting we've been on cloud nine from it ever since! I have lots of catching up to do on the blog...weight loss (about 2 lbs so far), product reviews, some books I'm loving, etc.

Hope everyone had a good Labor Day! Yay for a 4 day work week!!
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

Kick Up Your Heels~It's FRIDAY!!

As usual, I'm estatic about Friday. No surprise there. Today I'm especially so, and extra impatient for five o'clock, because I am going to see KISS tomorrow!! This is kind of my middle school fantasy concert come true! I've probably told this story before on my blog, in middle school/early high school I used to babysit two little boys (brothers). When they went to sleep there was NOTHING to do so I would sit in the kitchen waiting on their Mom and listen to the Classic Rock radio station. I would read their mom's Cosmopolitans and other big girl mags. That began my love of Classic Rock, and although I stray from it, or forget it sometimes, I always come back to it.

I've never seen KISS before, but from what I hear they put on a great show! I am looking forward to it so much and will post pics.

This is Trinket this week.


I am STILL 150 pounds and wearing dresses to work because all my pants, and especially jeans, are tight. BUMMER! :-( I'm keeping up with the gym (and attemping to eat better) so hopefully soon I'll see some results. Getting back down to 145 or 140 would make me so happy right now.

Have a fabulous weekend!!
XOXO
Gamecock Queen

p.s. As promised, here are the pics of the Pirate Birthday Party we attended last weekend. If you can't tell, I was DESPERATE, just DYING, to get away from the guy I'm talking to here! I was thinking "HOW can I escape and get you to leave us alone?!" LOL

Product Recommendation {Zzzz}

I used to post about products on a {semi}regular basis. Like most girlie girls, I love my products! And probably have WAY too many of them - if you saw my bathroom you would agree. Anyways, I'm going to attempt to bring back product reviews and recommendations to my blogging.

My BFF/roommate A introduced my to this stuff. It is Bath and Body Works Warm Milk and Honey Pillow Mist. I don't know for a fact that the actual smell really puts you to sleep, but I love the scent and I think since I think it works it's somewhat effective. I guess what I'm saying is I'm not promising this is going to cure hardcore insomnia (which I've suffered from off and on since I was about 14), but on a good night you will enjoy falling asleep to this light scent. I spray my pillows and the pink pig stuffed animal I sleep with. Yes, I'm 26 and I sleep with a stuffed animal. When I used to travel for my old job I had MAJOR sleep issues and began traveling with a collection anything and everything that could be of aid in helping me sleep...Advil PM (I take the gel caps), a white noise machine (which I no longer use-it broke and was on the pricey side so now I just keep a fan on for white noise), a sleep mask, and my stuffed animal. Juvenile, I know, but I liked having something familiar in my hotel room.
I have to admit, when I am able to get quality sleep, it's like a sport or hobby to me. I really love it. That may sound really lazy but when you've struggled with as insomnia as much I have, you enjoy it when you can get it.
Zzz...Zzz...Zzz
Gamecock Queen

FAT Friday :-(

This summer I've taken it easy. I've been enjoying the occasional "adult beverage" at the pool, going out to eat a lot (esp. fast food on my lunch break - w/ an hour for lunch it's hard to do much else), and buying TONS of yummy groceries (read: junk food) from my local Piggly Wiggly.

My body has always been pretty forgiving of eating bad. However, I've ususally only done "cheat days" and haven't eaten poorly ALL the time. Until lately. I don't know what has come over me!

I got on the scale on Sunday and I was HORRIFIED! I will be totally honest and tell you that my scale was at 150! That is the MOST I have EVER weighed. I knew something was up because my clothing has been tight, but I thought maybe I was bloated. Not so. This is ALL from food!

In my tip top best shape I weigh 135. That is IMPOSSIBLE to maintain and I don't have to look like that to feel good. It was from following a VERY strict diet and was when I was doing pageants. I can be happy without being that small, although let me tell you, it felt like a million dollars.

I'm 5'10", but I'm small boned. I'm good with weighing 140. I feel great and my clothes fit great. I can deal with being 145. BUT this 150 pounds has GOT to go!

So, after Sunday (I had already been to Sonic) I have had NO fast food. I've brought my lunch from home (a turkey sandwich most days) and have kept snacks in my office so I don't become starving and pig out. I've had dinner at home every night as well. And I plan to keep up the eating at home instead of going out.

I've also recharged my gym workouts. This week I did:
Monday: 30 minutes of cardio (treadmill) + some machines (legs)
Tuesday: Spinning class (I died!)
Wednesday: Yoga
Thursday: Body Pump (a weight lifting class)
Friday: Today after work I'm doing JUST cardio....I plan on about 45 minutes.
Saturday: OFF - letting muscles rest
Sunday: Cardio (they are playing Beverly Hills Chihuahua in the cardio cinema at my gym-perfect motiviation to go!)

Last Halloween I was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader for Halloween and I was in pretty good shape! I was going to spinning classes a good bit then. I felt like I rocked the belly baring Cowboy Cheerleader uniform. Right now I feel bad wearing my two piece at the pool :-( This seems like it's happened overnight, and I am going to put a stop to it!

If I can just lose 5 pounds and be at 145 I'll stop freaking out and be happy. Anywhere in between 140 and 145 is good for me weight wise and my clothes won't feel like they are cutting my circulatioin off.

What's a post with no picture? This is us in Helen, GA last weekend. I was NOT on a diet then...we had fries, a funnel cake, a candy apple, and fudge! It was oh so good.

Hope everyone has a terrific weekend! We are going to a pirate theme party and wearing costumes so I'll post some pics.

XOXO
Gamecock Queen

My Weekly Blogger....

OK so I haven't been on here in a week! Except for to read a blog or two here or there when I've caught a spare second, I just haven't had the time. Right now is an EXTREMELY busy time for me at work as all the students are about to come back. Today I'm trying my very hardest to get caught up-there is nothing, NOTHING, I hate more than having to leave something sitting over the weekend for Monday morning. Yuck.

I'm SO excited for this weekend. To say I'm overexcited is an understatement. This weekend A and I are going to Helen, GA. There is an adorable little Alpine Village there we will be visiting. It's a little hokey and touristy, but we are going to embrace it. It has all the usual stuff-county fair stuff, crafts, homemade candles, homemade fudge and candy. We will also be tubing the Chattahoochie River. I can't wait!

This would be the river Deliverance takes place on. I'm not a big fan of the movie (and it seems like it's always on TV), but I did like the book. The book is very suspenseful and I thought it was better than the movie. James Dickey, who wrote Deliverance was a professor at the university I attended.

Everytime I say that we're going to be tubing the Chattahoochie River I start singing Alan Jackson in my head "Way down yonder on the Chattahoochie....."

Here are a few pics of Helen, GA. I've been once before, with my Mom and her AWFUL boyfriend, Claude. He was truly terrible and we are still laughing about him. When we went before it was about 1993 but I remember it pretty well.



Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!
XOXO
F