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