Womanism's

While trying to decide a title for this post I noticed that all of the things I want to mention can be appreciated by women. So let's start with my mentioning of the term busybody two posts ago. I obviously wasn't thinking in terms of the correct definition of a busybody: one who meddles or pries into the affairs of others. That's NOT what I meant...I was thinking more along the lines of I'm someone that likes to stay busy doing things all of the time so as to be a busy body. Make sense? I sure hope so!


Now that we've got that cleared up let me introduce the most fabulous invention that my husband discovered in Sugarland while we were shopping for wedding attire. Drum Roll Please!....

NuBra!!! 

It is amazing, wonderful, fabulous, refreshing, whatever you want to call it. David and I were buying a dress and a shirt for the wedding we were attending in just a few short hours (yes, we are last minuters and I really just wanted to get a new dress even though I brought three :) I'm sure some may have heard of this but I for one had not and we were in a store called Em & Lou...something like that (they have one in Plano) and I was complaining I would like to find a dress that I don't have to wear a strapless bra with because I HATE them. I just think they are so uncomfortable. David says, "Well, you may not need one...look what I found!" While I was searching through the racks of dresses at superwoman pace he was intrigued by this display of Nu-Bra's. He's a GEM and I will thank him forever and ever for this discovery. I will never wear a strapless bra again! I was thinking it would lose adhesiveness and fall off or not support but I was so wrong. It's incredibly comfortable and feels like your not even wearing anything. I think I'm in love!

NuBra Packaging...just in case you go looking! I bought mine for $33, so don't be fooled by other prices.

Like I mentioned, any excuse to buy something new, I'll take it! So I bought some new shoes for the wedding. I'm bargain bragging again in the hopes of helping someone else that just might be looking for the same thing, not to just sound braggy (if that's a word). I found this pair of glorious gold shoes...

They are BCBG...$80 on sale for $25? Um, sure, I'll be more than happy to purchase those! AND where did I get them? Belk. Who woulda thunk it? This is actually the second great shoe purchase from Belk. The first was an amazing pair of bronze Nine West sandals for my rehearsal dinner for $20.

This is not the greatest picture of us. We were all fancied up for the wedding and this is the picture we take at the end of the night? Pfff! I am not the best picture taker, I always forget. Working on it though. Something that I'm not bargain bragging about. We went to Joseph A Banks to buy David a shirt and find one we love and go to check out...$87. What?!?! David and I do not spend that much on shirts for him, that's just ridiculous. But then they said we get one for free so we found another and felt much better about the purchase. He sure does look handsome when he gets gussied up! I was swooning over him all night!

Logan & Ashley's wedding was beautiful and their reception was the craziest, most fun reception I've ever been to! It.Was.A.Blast. I made some new friends, that were old acquaintances of Davids. Fun time had by all!

Saving the best for last and taking it down a notch, all kidding aside....

We went to our sweet Emma Kate's dance recital several months ago in Amarillo. Her dance company is Christian based and they dance to worship music. It's just wonderful. I was in love with the music chosen by her dance teacher. I put all of the songs in my notes on my phone and completely forgot about them, until yesterday. I think it was all for a reason. As you know I'm going through a transition in life right now, feeling very unsure and insecure. School to the work world is hard (for the second time) and even more hard when teaching jobs aren't available. So this song brought comfort to me and it could not have been more perfect timing.....

I really needed this! 

Then, as if the Lord is trying to speak to me in any way that he can think of...which is usually the case. The most precious friend was brought into my life. Now, let's see if you can follow....my sister's husband's cousin's new wife, Taylor. They live in Euless but are moving to College Station like within the next week or two. We had never met face-to-face but I've always heard wonderful things about her, my sister just loves her and she was the babysitter at my wedding. We decided to have lunch yesterday and I just love her and am so sad she is moving! We lunched for over two hours and can I just tell you about her preciousness? She brought me a book that she was reading because I inquired about it on FB out of curiosity. The book is....

CREATED TO BE HIS

Help Meet: Discover how God can 

make your marriage glorious

By: Debi Pearl

Let me just say, she is a GEM! So happy that my sister and Taylor get to enjoy being Cooper's together and spend lots of family time together. And so happy that we've become friends, love her! I almost started crying because I am a sucker for people that are just so kind and caring and do things for people that they've never met!

I started the book today. I'm just doing a chapter a day, even though I really want to read more. I am allowing myself to reflect on what I've read each day and do not want to overwhelm myself. So far, so good. I will say, it's difficult to grasp some of the things she is talking about because I am such a control freak. But let me just say, I think this will make my marriage even better than it is...a marriage that will glorify God even more than we had ever hoped it would.

This is where the title comes from...

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him...And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam...and he took one of his ribs...and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man" 

Genesis 2:18, 21-22

I'll tell you more when I get a bit further. I'm very excited!

This is another song from EK's recital that I really loved! Take it with you into the weekend!

Much Love! 

Food For Thought...Birthday Dinner(s)

Instead of writing a super long blog post this time I decided to break it up by category. No need to lose anyone that might not have a long attention span. So this is dedicated to Hungry Girl recipes and David's birthday dinner(s). At first there was just going to be one birthday dinner. I told David he could choose a few things amongst all that I make that are his favorite. So this is what he came up with (talk about random).

Poppy Seed Chicken

PW's Twice Baked Potatoes (Pioneer Woman)

Sourdough Bread (homemade)

and last but not least.... a Cookie Cake

I said what in world, that is the most random bunch of foods! But, it's his birthday...so his wish is my command. At the very beginning of our relationship I introduced him to poppy seed chicken, well he wanted it all the time. I am PSC'ed out! I don't ever make it anymore because I just can't even bring myself to eat it, not to mention it is so fattening. I used to ask him what he wanted for dinner and his response, "Poppy Seed Chicken?". Yeah, you can imagine how long the asking lasted, that soon came to a sudden stop. Now, he eats what I make. He's not allowed to be picky unless he just really doesn't like something. But luckily, I have a husband that will eat anything! Except....what is missing from his birthday menu? Yup, vegetables. He only really likes broccoli but will eat vegetables if I actually put them on his plate. So that's what I do...don't judge, whatever it takes.

Then I said to him, "Of all the desserts in the world, you choose a cookie cake? I'm not making a cookie cake, how boring!" So I listed off several desserts to choose from and he chose an oreo ice cream cake (which wasn't on the list but it's definitely more challenging than a cookie cake!). So I will be attempting my first ice cream cake...kind of nervous. If it doesn't work out, I can always buy one.

My day tomorrow will be cooking for his birthday dinner and planning for our family birthday dinner on Sunday. My in-law's are coming to our house for dinner to celebrate David's birthday on his real birthday. What's on the menu? Well, I figured I would do Ronnie and Margo a favor and not make them eat David's hodge podge of a meal and plan a real meal. I'm making the most delicious Italian Roast (recipe from Mrs. Carrie Nimz)! This is seriously the BOMB. It just melts in your mouth. Margo is bringing a salad and this is when we will actually eat the hopefully famous oreo ice cream cake. Then I have to come up with some yummy side dish.

(Melt in your mouth) Italian Roast


3 to 4 lb's of beef shoulder or rump roast
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 (4 oz) can sliced mushrooms (drained)
1 onion (diced)
1 (1 1/2 oz pkg) spaghetti sauce seasoning mix
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce


Possible Additions:
1 cup red wine, fresh rosemary chopped and sprinkled over top of ingredients


Season roast with garlic salt, place in slow cooker.
Add mushrooms and onion.
Combine seasoning mix and tomato sauce and poor over roast.
Cover and cook on low 8-10 hrs, or high 4-5 hours.
Serve over egg noodles.

Compliments of Carrie Nimz. I turn to Carrie for recipes when I'm stuck. She and her sister, Jordan, have a gift in the kitchen!

Other foody thoughts....

I've been trying a lot of Hungry Girl recipes lately. Like I mentioned before, some are a flop. So piggy backing off of my fall theme a couple of weeks ago I ran across a parfait recipe...Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Parfait. It looked good and the concept sounded great but the taste...not so much. I think it was the texture that I just couldn't handle....

But it looked pretty....

Although, some of you might actually like it. If it weren't for the texture of the oatmeal mixture, I would have loved it. So for those that want to give it a shot, here ya go.

Panini? Yes Please!!! 

HG's Mega-Delicious Chipotle Chicken Panini is legit folks. I've had it twice and it's super easy to make, especially if you have a panini maker. I'm a big fan! Keep in mind...HG is healthy recipes for people that like the taste of healthy alternatives. Try it!!

Since we are on the topic of food I must mention this....

RIP Thai Coconut Shrimp Salad 

How sad is this? I went in and of course was looking for my salad and it's nowhere to be found! They apparently discontinued the salad because they got a new corporate chef that wanted to make some changes. Well, they said they get at least 10-15 people a week asking for that salad...shouldn't that tell you something Fish City Grill? Duh! They said they could make the dressing for me and I was thoroughly pleased. You just have to ask...not in all cases though. We were in Sugarland for a wedding and I ordered it and they weren't even going to budge. It never hurts to ask, just in case.

I'll have to take pictures of my famous oreo ice cream cake. I'll let ya know how that turns out. I'm also attempting my bread for the second time. The first was not so successful. Keep your fingers crossed!

This, That and The Other...another novel

I promised I would blog sooner than thirty days, so I'll do it in 14. It's better than nothing, right? What's been up at our house? Well...my hubs is seriously doin' some work! Work, work, work! I on the other hand am bored out of my mind but not in the mood for anything. I think it's because I NEED TO WORK! When a busy-body has nothing to do and gets tired of doing the same mindless activities everyday, well, they I turn into a lazy bum that has zero motivation. I know this is normal when someone is in my position, my husband can totally vouch for me. He was laid off about two & a half years ago for 4-6 months (not nearly as long as me, except I wasn't laid off...I quit my job to go back to school. Finishing school THIS month and looking for a teaching job in this nasty educational recession... and he went through the same thing and had the same internal feelings. no fun.)

I haven't been crafting, sewing and antiquing in the past few weeks because quite frankly I just don't feel like it. Don't take this comment as me being sad because I am far from it. I'm loving life, just a little lost in limbo. And honestly, this heat is DE-PRESSING! I don't leave the house most of the week unless I have to. It's way too hot to even swim! I did a re-read and all of the above makes me sound so depressed and sad but I promise I'm not, haha! 

I'm ready for this....

Pumpkins totally represent anything fall.

The sound of football in the house because I don't really watch it.

Pumpkin Spice Creamer, YUM! Of course available year-round but who uses it any other time?

Fall fashion! Especially cowboy boots and jeans!

And for it to look like this outside because that means waaaay cooler temps around here!

And then this...what brings most excitement to my fall...

You won't believe what I did, and I never do things like this but glad I did. So I was driving home Monday night from class, an hour commute, and get a phone call from a wrong number. It was a vacation sales call. They said they had to offer it to me even though I wasn't the preferred customer they were calling...just because they called. So I thought, why not..what else am I going to do on this drive home...I could at least listen to their spiel. So long story short, I was intrigued but I don't ever make decisions without my husband. I asked the lady if she could hold, called my husband and merged the calls. I then said, could you please tell my husband what you just told me? We both said, "You wanna do it?" "Sure, sounds fun!" So we bought a vacation through the Wyndham hotels and resorts. It's a 4 day, 3 night vacay to one of several locations for $169...for everything, for two people, for the whole trip. Sooo we decided that we are going to New Orleans in October because A) we really want to go there and B) we can drive and won't have to pay outrageous airfare. Sounds like a fantastic trip that we won't break our bank for! We.Are.Excited! Ready for the atmosphere, food, night life and just all around good time! (and I can wear my boots and jeans comfortably) 


So I've been researching the Wyndham Hotels in New Orleans. I want to stay somewhere authentic, so I can get the whole experience. That means in the French Quarter right in the middle of all the action. So far, two that I like are not even close to authentic, but I love them because I'm a hotel snob and I really like nice, clean and up-to-date hotels....now don't take my words out of context because I'm totally down for the Hilton Express...that's nice, clean, and up-to-date to me...so snobby? No. Just certain preferences. I love the W, but I'm a penny-pincher...so would I stay there? Yes, but on someone else's dime. You get me?


These are in the running:
1) Wyndham Riverfront New Orleans
2) Wyndham Garden Baronne Plaza New Orleans
3) Bourbon Orleans Hotel
4) Wyndham La Belle Maison

1 and 2 are obviously the least authentic but sooo clean and new. Also, some have more stars than others in terms of how people rated their stay but I read some and they are ridiculous. A big deciding factor is location...is it easy to walk to several places? So if anyone has any input or actually knows which would be the best PLEASE comment! Oh and one more thing, I am REALLLLY excited for the food because I LIVE for spicy food! I like it so spicy that it burns my mouth, makes my eyes water and my nose run! I know, I'm weird.

Back to the sales call....

And then the lady said, "Mrs. Clark you are eligible for a second package, same as the first, for only $88!" I said, "Well, HOT DAMN! Sign me up!" I didn't really say that, I really said..."Hmm, sounds tempting...$88 for 4 days/3 nights in a nice hotel...hmm, wellll, ya, I'll take that one too." So next year sometime when it's warm we are going to Destin! I'll have to watch for really great airfare prices because you KNOW that I don't like to pay full price for anything! We are very excited for both trips but obviously for New Orleans because that's in about 3 months! (Oh and I forgot to mention we have to listen to a two hour sales pitch for a time share that we WON'T be buying!)

Annnd looking for a teaching job, what a time to finish school and look for a teaching job. Worst.Timing.Ever. Who knew in December of 2009 when I quit my job to pursue teaching that this mumbo jumbo pile of crap educational job freeze/job losing/no money fo' no school would be happening? Not me! (raising hand)


But all of my other teacher friends that are in the same boat are also raising their hands. We can do it ladies! It might take a year but we will teach. There's my motivational speech for the day. Trust me, I've been in a much worse position...with a job or two. So I know, this isn't as bad as it gets.

Other News...

I'm still running. I ran a 5K on the 4th of July with my SIL-Merry and well let's just say I've had better runs. I'm up to running 6 miles, but my ankle had been aggravating me for a week or so, but I just ignored it. Welp, I ran a 5K...3 measly miles and injure my ankle for real after mile 1. So I walk mile 2 and run most of mile 3. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. It was my first race too :( So I took this past week off and David came home with two different ankle braces one night (sweet thoughtful surprise).


What I've learned from running a race:
-Running outside and running on the treadmill are two different things...I have now (as of today) started running outside. I ran 3 miles to ease myself back into it and can hopefully run my long run of 7 miles this week or next week.
-Pace is really hard, so I must run outside to learn how to pace myself rather than the treadmill where my pace is set.
-I'm extending my training into the Fall because its way too hot and after an injury I don't want to push myself to only get injured again.

My fab SIL Merry! She's a great little runner with all kinds of cool runner things like this great water bottle that her hand slid into and had a zipper pouch and tennis shoes made to fit her foot! I'm not that cool...maybe when I'm a little more hardcore one day when I near my 13 miles! She's a great motivator and always has tips for me!

GEL NAILS! I love gel nails, they are so fabulous!

That is my real nail with just polish and my nails look fake and fabulous! I've had this polish on for a week now! The last time I had my nails painted they were painted for three weeks. It's just polish...can you believe it? I highly recommend this for ladies that like to have pretty nails but don't want fake nails because fake nails are painful and so bad for your nail! DO IT! 

Food For Thought...

A couple of somewhat healthy snacks that I've been enjoying...

These are everything (as in the bagel) pretzel thins. They are delish with some laughing cow!

Greek with honey already in it...portion control is nice.

Have you tried Hungry Girl recipes? There are some I like and others that I don't. It's real hit or miss. 

I did not like my homemade Chinese food...

I just liked the egg drop soup. I looove egg drop soup!

I did like....

Not pictured: Pulled Pork Sandwiches

They are BOMB.COM! She even includes weight watchers points on all recipes for you ladies doing weight watchers. David even LOVED them! That's sayin' a lot for a meat and potatoes guy. He probably lost 5 pounds for each sandwich that he ate, you know how easy it is for guys to shed pounds. Whatever, it's just annoying. 

Annnd last but not least, we've had a visitor for the past few weeks...

Meet Lucy girl. She's in the purple collar. Lucy is Tuff's sister, not biologically. My sis and BIL got Lucy their first year of marriage in 2003 and then got Tuff about a year later. They lived together for about 5 years and then I adopted Tuff from them because it was just too busy at their household with the twins and two dogs. Then my parents adopted Lucy a few months ago because now it's really too busy with the twins and a 1 year old. My parents have been traveling so I've had Lucy girl going on three weeks and loving every minute of it! I just love it when Lucy and Tuff are reunited because they really love each other. Aren't they such sweet brother/sister schnauzers?! :) Yes, they are. 

My posse.

They follow me around all day every day. David just laughs at me because I'm so accustomed to carrying on conversation with them so when he's home he gets a full dose of the dog talking voice and is probably thinking..."My wife needs to get out more!" Lucy girl is front and center.

Welp, that's all I got! Wedding this weekend, David's birthday the next and this, that and the other in between!

Things to take from this blog post:

1) I'm not depressed-just need to be busy with something new

2) Get excited for Fall

3) Tell us where to stay and go in N.O.

4) Get Gel Nails

5) Make Hungry Girl pulled pork sandwiches