Yes I'm here...

I have been MIA for a few days now...

Here's what been going down...

• rodeos
• life
• gardening
• spending lots of time with RD&Snuff
• A NEW JOB!!! {which I love!!!}
• and... last but devastatingly NOT least... MY COMPUTER CRASHED!!!

Yes. True story. I cried. Real tears. Ryan thought I was seriously hurt or something. He must have thought it was my neck again because I had my head hung over on the side of couch screaming. 

It was a sight.

I go to turn on my computer {the MacBook that I love SO dearly}.

White screen. Folder with question mark.

Then... NOTHING.

Still nothing.

Nope, I got nothing.

That's when the fit began...

I found out through friends and BestBuy and Apple Support that a new hard drive and possibly completely new computer would be the answer to my ailment.

Ugh...

So... until I can afford a new computer I will be blogging less, designing less and basically stay in my depression. 

I'm currently using Chase's MacBookPro...

{Maybe they should have bought me the Pro and not the Pro-less one...hmm.}

Mac's never crash. 

Never.

But when you save everything you've every designed, photo you've taken in the past several years, and tons of music & more... it adds up quickly and nothing can handle that. 

So...

Here I am. 

Computerless.

Dataless.

Pictureless. {Although I backed up all on cds except from June 2009 - May 2010} 

The next system will be completely backed up periodically and not be full ALL the time.

I mean the thing did have 5 years of college and everything in between on it...

I'm trying to make myself feel better but it's not helping!

Oh well... 

I hope to be back soon :)

I fell in love...

... with this book!

I love love love love {love etc.} Sex & the City! I have seen every episode {I own the box set}, saw the movie at midnight the first night it was shown, and will do the same with the sequel... but I never read any of the books. It was something I wanted to do but just never got around to it...

I have also never read an entire book in one day... This guy is 389 pages and I read it all on one day. That is a big deal for someone who would never dreamed of reading an entire book in one week much less one day!!

It was SOOOOO {so} fabulous!!!!!! It tell the story of Carrie Bradshaw before New York City, her 3 fun friends and her awesome career. It is simply amazing and I loved the ending so much that I read RD the last few paragraphs {which he graciously pretended to really enjoy}.

I read most of it on the hammock in the front yard with my pillow & an old quilt... with this guy underneath me... {All day}.

{He apparently is a big fan of Carrie Bradshaw too... although every time I laughed out loud it woke him up and he looked at me something awful!!}

Anyways... if you are big Sex & the City fan, this book is a must read! It really lets you know a lot about Carrie and why she is the grown up she is in the shows and other books.

Literally the ending.... OMG the ending!!! Ugh.. I loved it! I've already read the last chapter again this morning...

Ok enough with that.. I'm off to buy Sex & the City {the book}... hopefully it picks up right where this guy left off...

In my garden...

... there are...

&

&

oh my!

{along with Corn, Pumpkins, Sunflowers, Cantaloup, Watermelon, Strawberries, Squash, 4 different types of Peppers, & more!}

I have been spending lots {tons} of time in my garden! 

Last Friday I planted all the seeds and plants... And this Saturday I found this!

... my seeds are sprouting!

{YAY!}

I was SO {very} excited! RD was over at his barn working on his tractor... I jumped in the 'hoe {Tahoe} and sped over to show him my sprouting seeds via my camera... 

which he had already seen but pretended that he was so surprised!

... And then there is this guy for sheer decoration {& entertainment because the horses spend hours trying to get it through the fence}!

I love...

... these two boys :)

That'll do...

This guy is so cute {& SMART!!!} that he made the blog header :)

... and boy oh boy does RD love him! {& so do I!}

Baby Cousins...

A {long time} sweet and dear friend of mine, Ashley, is expecting her 2nd baby child {a baby boy}! Her sister, Sarah, is expecting her 1st baby child {a baby girl}! A few weeks ago, Ashley asked me to design a joint baby shower invitation for the shower being hosted by her Mom & Grandmother.

Here it is:

I sent it over to Ashley, who then sent it to her Mom. The shower was a Noah's Ark theme so I stuck 'em in a boat! :) And they both loved it! {YAY!}

I am so excited to meet both these sweet angels! AR is going to be such a sweet big sister/cousin!

One word... well 3...

{Roll Tide Roll}

Days like today...

{Cotton Gin 2008}

...make me want to grab my camera & go on an adventure!

{Hmmm... maybe I will have new black&whites to show soon!}

Today...

I {& Snuff} woke up bright and early and went straight to my garden. I wanted to have plenty of time to get everything I had panned for today taken care of.

I planted more tomato plants and one flower in a bucket that hangs on the pasture fence.

I cleaned up the edges of the garden and sprinkled ant killer on the all the ant beds around it.

Last but not least, I fertilized the garden just in time for the good rain that will be here on Saturday!

Picture posts to come soon!

Just can it...

1. Boil jars to sterilize...

2. Prepare the ingredients... 

3. Boil the jars again {with ingredients in them}...

4. Listen for the "pop" & keep up to one year or refrigerate up to 3 weeks....

5. Eat Yummy Salsa!!! :)  

{RD is going to pumped! The boy loves some salsa!!}

Today...

Today I planted my garden and I wanted so badly for you to come and see it. The entire time I was getting all the grass from the rows and seeding the soil, all I could think about was how you could make anything grow. You always had random jars in every window with what I assumed were dead sticks or "switches" but soon enough they turned green and "rooted". They were then planted and turned into plants that were carefully placed in one of your many flower beds. I always think about you. I know you're happy and you're at peace but it's still hard to believe that you are gone.

I even thought about my sweet neighbor today, who left us on the same day you left us. I couldn't remember if he liked "Big Boy" or "Better Boy" tomatoes, so I bought both. I actually had to catch myself from walking down past the pasture and across the road to ask.

Everyday I have to remind myself that you are gone. I miss you so very much. I know you are looking down from Heaven now and sending me a kiss. Tell my Papaw and Uncle Will that I love them very much. Tell my Codie Mother and Daddy Buck that I cannot wait to meet them oneday. Give all my friends a hug for me and tell them to behave.

Keep an eye on my garden and hopefully it will be half as good as your gardens were. Thank God for sending the rain and I will thank Him too.

I miss you my Mamaw and I love you very much.

Happy Birthday...

Yesterday was RDs 25th birthday! I made homemade spagetti, with salad and garlic breadsticks and a homemade cake made into a Copenhagen can :)

That says Snuff on it in red hots! {the actual Copenhagen type and his dogs name}

I was in a rush and had to apply the icing before it cooled and it totally messed it up... But it looks half way decent and was delicious! So life is good!

I will post pictures from his BBQ birthday party from last Thursday and this Thursday is dinner with Phillip&Heather! Can't wait!

The boy definetly had a full birthday week!!

I can't wait til...

Football season!!! I love summer, don't get me wrong, but I think about football season the entire time! A-Day is Saturday and I cannot wait to hear how well everyone does!! Maybe I can talk RD into stopping by T-Town on our way to the 2nd rodeo of the weekend!! :) RTR!!

Meet Snuff...

Tonight we celebrated RD's {early} birthday.

Two reasons:

1. Susie Q & Creeddaddy will be out of town on his actual birthday {4.19}.
2. And this guy could not be hidden that long!!

{Meet Snuff}

Snuff is a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard.

{He is a cow dog.}

He is blue with amber eyes.

He is 11 weeks old.

He is sooo much fun!

He is very calm and loves his chew toy!

He hates his bandana but was a good boy and wore it anyways!

He is precious!

He came from South Mississippi.

He was a TOTAL surprise!

{RD has been wanting one for a while now.}

...and RD loves him!! 

He has risen...

{Happy Easter}

Finally...

For Christmas Phillip {RD's Daddy} gave me a Summit gift card {one of my top 3 favorite things to get!!}. At the time, RD & I had recently started our Rodeo Productions Company {Rockin' D Rodeo Productions}. We held out first event January 22nd&23rd. It was awesome {deserves a post of it's own} and went better than we could have imagined our first event to go! Although we worked SO hard on everything, we still could not have done it with the help of SO many people.

We decided it was a MUST to send out thank you cards. We found fabulously simple, male yet classy tea stained cotton card set. We both loved them! They were perfect. However, they were plain and had no design. Then I discovered this guy.... three Designing ladies stamps at Swoozie's {by the way, they are going out of business. So, if you are at the Summit you MUST go by there!!}

I fell in love. Ordered it. Waited. Waited. Waited. Waited. Did I mention I waited? Waited. Got a call that Swoozie's was closing their doors and my stamp was not going to ship and that I would be refunded my money. Saddened and with a slight case of depression I went in to get my money back {which I had already re-spent in my head} and what do you know! My stamp had came in!!!

Pardon the blurriness... I used the ole iPhone :)

With stamp in hand I walked on out {after looking through all the fabulous deals first!} and love it even more in person! Sadly, I will not be sending out thank you cards anymore. The event was in January and time got away from us... and the fact that we didn't have our stamp to decorate our thank you cards until March 31st!!! But we're all set for next January {but hopefully we will have more events before then!!}

However, you should check out this company! three Designing women 

And then go to Swoozie's and check out the fabulous savings!!!

{Happy Easter! Jesus loves you!}

Sundays....

Sundays {after church & lunch} are for 

adventure, mud and a nature walk :)

Exhausted...

This is what I did today...

A few days a week I work for my very talented cousin at her bridal boutique.

My job duties {include but are not limited to} :

• Cutting out fabric for dresses
• Taking apart vintage dresses to be re-worked {It's becoming extremely popular to wear your Mother's wedding dress to the rehearsal dinner!}
• Cutting out more fabric for dresses
• Emailing people
• Making sure everything is ready to go and organized for the seamstresses
• Helping with setting up appointments
• Sometimes trying on dresses to try new ideas
• Giving my opinion {Like I could I actually hold it in anyways!?}
• Helping with appointments
• Acting silly with her so sweet Intern {Katie Grace}
• Oh and cutting out fabric

I never knew just how much work goes into one wedding dress! There are layers on top of layers of even more layers... I mean I knew there was a lot involved but wow at the various types and textures that make up a dress! I also never thought that I would actually enjoy cutting out the various pieces of fabic and patterns over and over and over again... But it's very calming... Especially when I pop in my earphones to my iPhone and listen to Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, followed by some T.I. That makes for a great day!

Today Heidi met with brides all today and I cut away in the cutting room... It was fabulous! I did not make it home until about 8:30. Kicker: This morning before I went to work, RD asked me to go pick up an oil filter, oil, hydraulic oil, and hydraulic filter from Talladega International Tractor. Well... I picked it up and drove from there to Birmingham. So then he decided to changed all this oil and stuff tonight... so ole RD had to wait a hot minute, but we just finished up. So all is well in the world.

If you want to learn more about heidielnora, go here to check out the 2010 Collection and more. She is so very talented. Her designs are simply breathtaking and fabulous on top of that! I love working at her bridal boutique and hope to be able to work for her full time oneday!

Wild Wild Flowers...

Saturday, I went shopping with this sweet girl & her Mommy {Melissa}! Melissa wanted me to help make some Easter baskets for GL & her sweet big brother, Dylan. We also made one for her {born on the same day} cousin, Brennan.

Our first stop {if you know anything about me&moe} was Wings. Its seems like we always eat there when it's just us {+Erin} or most anytime when we are involved in the decision of where to eat. After eating entirely too many fried pickles, ranch dressing, french fries, our entrees, and 2 too many refills on Dr. Pepper, we were off to Hobby Lobby! 

We gathered all the supplies to make the Easter baskets and more.

Then I stumbled upon the aisle where everything was 75% off... Ugh. 

As you know... I love cowboys. {Obviously.} 

I love stuff that looks old and worn out. {My obsession with antiques.}

I also love Western... Anything. Cowboys to old and dirty looking Westerny things. {idk: Westerny?}

Put the this all together and you get fabulous flower pots!!

This one is just too cute!

It would be perfect if they had a bull rider one... but I'll have to settle for a calf roper. 

{RD pointed this out too.}

So now... I cannot wait to plant flowers in them!! 

They will look fabulous with my boot planter !! 

{YAY!}

... now I just need my own yard and front porch ...

hmm...

Last week....

I spent the entire week with these two guys.

M&P

We went to Burger King and played on the playground.

We played in Coco's boots.

We watched cartoons ALL day and 3 Spiderman movies.

We played hide-&-go-seek, twice.

We went to visit my Nannie. She laughed at them and enjoyed their visit.

We played baseball outside.

We talked to their Mommie {Shelley} on the phone.

We went to McDonalds & played with Dylan&GL.

We drank lots of Kool-Aid and ate grilled cheese sandwiches.

We discovered that P will eat any type of chicken nugget but M will not.
We went and played at Uncle RD's house.
Mattson named the first baby calf.
{Coco: What should we name the new baby bull Mattson?
Mattson: Jack.
Coco: Jack?
Mattson: Jumpin' Jack. So he can jump all the cowboys off his back!
Coco: hahaha I LOVE IT! RD will be so proud!!}
...he was very proud too...

We giggled and laughed all day long.

We {I,Coco} were very tired by the end of the day!

We had a blast!

(Pardon the picture quality. I used my iPhone.)

Connected...

I figured out how to make my blog posts appear on my facebook!

Yay...

I know it prolly took me longer than needed...

I was super confused :)

The latest addiction...

This is the newest edition.

I predeicted it would be born today.

{I was right.}

Back in the woods, but still slightly visible, a Momma cow delivered her calf on this rainy cold day. We couldn't tell if we had a new hefer or bull, so off RD went to see. Well... Momma cow did not like this and ran him right back out of the woods.

So.. we ended up with this fuzzy picture captured via RD's ancient Nextel while running and dodging limbs.

We do know, that it's:

Healthy.

Bigger than the first calf born a few days ago.

Black&White.

Cute as a button!

Yay! I love baby calves!

Spring is near...

Susie Q made this creation.

I drew the horse.

She calls him Charlie.

I call him Boosie.

Either way, he's a doll.

Hurry up Springtime!!!

{Outside living room with TV/DVD included (with cable) to come soon!!}

A review...

Ok...

Last night I watched this movie:

Great movie. Laughed the entire time. Broke my neck trying to read the brand on the bull at the rodeo. Loved it. Great movie. Perfect for a date night or chick flick night or anytime. Awesome. Loved it.

Tonight I watch this movie:

I have heard several people say that they and their kids LOVE this movie. Love it. I remember the book from when I was younger and I loved the book. Monsters were much cooler than princesses to me. However, I was completely lost in this movie and felt scared and dumb by the time it ended. My favorite part was when he was leaving the island of monsters and he left a heart with a C in the middle made of sticks. Favorite part.

My mother cried when he was leaving the island. She claimed it was because of the background music {and because Carol was crying :)}.  Chase loved it. Jessica seemed to be on my level. RD decided not to watch it and got his fishing gear ready for this weekend. He would have been overwhelmed and threw in the towel anyway so...

I really expected something different... I don't quite know what, but something. 

I can see where little boys would love this movie... it's got monsters plus a lot of whaaaring!! {I don't know the correct spelling of the word!}

Anyways... That's how I feel about that. 

Go watch the first movie though... it's just fun and not overwhelming and easy to understand :)

It was...

It was the best ever.

Hands down.

Better than Oreo blizzards that RD and I ventured to the Childersburg Dairy Queen at least once a week every week in high school to buy...

Better than midnight Strawberry milkshakes from McDonalds during the summer when we were bored...

Almost better than those chocolate chip cookies he made me that time...

Almost but not close...

It was amazing!!!

A Nutella Shake with Burnt Marshmellow Topping. Go get one. Now.

I've discovered a SUPER fun date night spot!!!

FlipBurger @ TheSummit 

It's on the new side {Anthro side} right by Juicy and some other really cutie store that sells the super hot $200 jeans. Ahh help!

Hopefully you'll have better luck than me when fighting the voices who are yelling "GO BUY SOMETHING!!!!"

Anyways... I wouldn't take children but it's great for a date. Fun music. Great decor. The architecture is phenominal!!! The food... I devoured my cheeseburger before taking a photo. Sorry :)

I had the FlipBurger only cheese and mayo... And it's to die for burnt mayo!!! With fries. Best fries ever!!!

Go now.  

{It's like an art store of cheeseburgers. 

And yes, its really that good}

A new addition...

Saturday we had a new addition to the herd!! A baby bull calf!! So precious :)

{Look very close at the Momma cow's eyes. She has markings above her eyes that look like painted on eye brows! They are so cool looking in person!!}

And Sunday... I drove the tractor to put out hay! 

I have a feeling that when RD is out of town this is now going to be my job! 

Gotta go... Gotta go...

Gotta Rodeo!!!

Tomorrow, Me&RD will go on another lovely road trip! 
Robertsdale, Alabama here we come!!! Yes, we will be less than an 1/2 hour away from sand, sunshine, and endless seafood - But NO we will not be venturing any further than a dusty arena, awesome fast food, and hopefully a very rank pen of bulls!

See you soon! As in Saturday morning at like 3:00 :)  

But tomorrow will begin with my two favorite boys!! 
{Sweetest&cutest too!}

I am keeping Mattson&Payson!!

Yay for Dora and chicken pot pies!! :)

Isn't my road trip rodeo cowboy so cute in my Juicy Couture glasses!? 

{Which by the way he thought were cheap gas station glasses and has been throwing them about not understanding why I always fussed at him and put them in their pink, fabric lined case!!! It was priceless!}

He really hates those glasses... :) 

Guess where we're at...

Yep. Leakesville, MS. 2 rodeos. Hopefully 2 checks :)

Blog Button...

I can't sleep...

I started googling how to make blog buttons...

I did everything like it said...

And it still does something weird...

But it looks cool....

Until you click it.

{Ahh...}

** It works now!!!! YAY***

Words on Wednesday...

Today is Wednesday, March 3, 2010. On April 19, RD will have a birthday. On that very same day last year, we celebrated his birthday. We had cake, his favorite foods, and lots of presents. One of which was a gift card for an audio store in Pell City to have his truck speakers replaced {they were cheap factory speakers and easily broke}. This was a gift from Susie, Creeddaddy & ChaseLee.

As you know, most gift cards expire one year from the date of purchase. He kept the gift card in his truck console with the speak brochure. It stayed there until March 2, 2010. This is when he was supposed to bring it inside to me so I could get everything together for March 3, 2010. This is the day I would take his truck to get the speakers installed. 

Well...

The brochure was there in mint condition. No gift card. No where. We went through his always spotless, no stashes of trash truck and found nothing. He went through the trash. We both dug through drawers. Nothing. It has literally been less than a week or so since I last saw this gift card. 

{nothing at all}

So, I loaded up this lovely, bitterly cold morning and took his truck to have speakers installed. The people said that their gift cards expire after 30 days. {REALLY? The gift card said 1 year on it!!} And they even called their accountant who told them that ALL gift cards sold in 2009 had been accounted for.

Umm... I think you need a new accountant. {Or fib telling classes.}

I knew it was a stretch to ask for someone to honor a gift card that was not physically there, but they could have at least NOT lied and looked it up on the computer system {which was clearly in front of me}.

So... this sweet guy now has fully functioning speakers. They have actually been paid for twice now. {Once by Susie, Once by RD.} But nonetheless they are paid for.

The point to ranting on & on... Why could the people not have just said, "Ma'am we can not honor an invisible gift card." or "Ma'am I am not going to yell at you today."

Either would have been well welcomed by the time it was all said and done....

But no...

The lady was rude horribly rude. She talked to me like I was stupid. She lied {to my face} about calling her accountant, unless her accountant missed the $150 that was purchased in April 2009. She did not explain the policy change of One Year on gift cards down to 30 days. He had prepared himself for having to pay for the speakers, after all he had lost the gift card. But why were the people so horrible?? They even called, after we {Me&Susie} dropped the truck off and were visiting with a dear cousin in Pell City, and said that they did not know what kind of speakers and no one had spoken to RD and set up an appointment.

Hmmm... that's why she crossed his name off the appointment list when I arrived and told her his name.

WOW. People kill me. And the experience was opposite of pleasant and nice...

No. They were rude and mean at 9:00 in the morning.

So after ALL this... a 45 minute appointment slot took 3 hours.

Yes, 3 hours.

{I feel much better. Thanks}

Surgery update...

The doctor just called...

NO CANCER!!

We never believed it was, but there was always a chance. 

{It's always nice to know for sure!!}

There's nothing better....

...than a razor back cardigan and a floral mini!!!

oh how I am loving this whole "Miss Me" line!! :)

Maybe these guys will get to be ordered SOON!!

{YAY!}

Ugh.

{i so love that boy}

That's how I feel.

Ugh.

I hate having surgery. Hate it. You wake up sick and dizzy... & I stay that way for about two days. I'm already over it.

I had to go in this morning at 5:30. I had two masses in my right breast that had to be removed. They seemed to be benign but they were sent off for re-assurance.

I had this same surgery last January for one mass. Two is much more difficult. You feel twice as sick and twice as sore.

And to think... I was just starting to feel normal again from neck surgery. Oh boy...

I will post a report of what the masses were. Please keep me in your prayers :)

Oh & Happy Monday!

(The picture is from Sunday. We spent the afternoon painting and carpeting the bucking bull barrell. This is where I spend lots of time with ole RD. It turned out quite lovely and will last much longer since it had rusted over since we bought it. I'll have to post a video of him on it & one of me if you're lucky. It was quite funny!! I pretended I knew what I was doing and drove my shoulder out like him and all...)

A deal is a deal...

And there is nothing better than getting a pair of $169 jeans....

...for $49.99!!

{Thanks ebay - i'm super excited. I will be able to rock this guys at yet another rodeo this weekend!}

{Untitled}

Photographed by CodieLee

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.

A quilt...

This is my first {possibly last} attempt at quilting. Cowboy boots + stars + egg shell colored fabric with an outline of cowhide = RD's Christmas {turned into V-Day} gift.

He loved it. He thinks everyhthing I do.. Is what does he say.. Oh yeah.. Adorable.

He even said that about that homemade lemon pie... Looked good. Smelt good. No taste until after you swallowed it. Even then you had to pay close attention.

It was halarious.

Anyways I wanted to share this. It's finally finished!!

Thank you Mrs Sue for your help :)

Precious...

This is my Nannie. {Creeddaddy's grandmother... My great-grandmother} We just celebrated her 89th birthday.



Weekend Wrap-up:

Friday:

Date night + 1 kid that came home from AU {Chase}. Me + RD + Chase = random trip to Leeds for dinner at Ruby Tuesday's & Bass Pro {which was closed by the time we finished eating our nasty food.

Saturday:

A 5 hour drive + $20 ticket {Note: I have NEVER paid to get into a rodeo... especially NOT that much!!!} 1 rodeo + Cooper's phone getting stepped on and broken while in his riggin' bag = Mad dash to find an AT&T store....

followed by.....

1 more rodeo + having to pay $20 AGAIN + getting asked to move not once but 3 times by the usher people = Another 5 hour drive home....

We were 50 yards from the ocean and I wanted so bad for it to be 97 degrees outside!

Although it was 65... but still.

We {Me + RD} had a fun little road trip with our sweet friend Cooper.

Sunday we watched live blog posts by the Bassmaster people and cheered on KVD {via ESPN360} to a much deserved victory. We debated driving to the BJCC but opted out...

My sweet Nannie came up for steaks with the whole bunch of us... She is so precious.

Monday was spent cleaning my truck {much needed} and piddling... now I am waiting on RD so we can eat dinner!

See you soon :)

It's almost Easter time...

This is what Creeddaddy got Susie Q for V-Day.... the darling little basket... which she promptly decorated like so....

RD's egg....

Me&Chase...

The entire deal...


I love it... I told her when I move out that it will be going with us :)