The itsy, bitsy...

My husband and I have taken on a second job of delivering newspapers for some extra income. We run the route somewhere between 1a.m. and 6a.m., there is not a lot to keep us entertained at those hours in the morning, so we notice little things that you probably would not pay attention to in the middle of the day.

I have been watching this little guy (or gal) for a few nights now, he/she lives on a farm, in a tree, right above the mailbox and paper tube.

The other night the web was strung over the opening of the paper tube and when I put the paper in I messed some of it up, I actually felt bad. Spiders work hard; it is amazing what this spider will do from night to the next. When we pull into this driveway I always think of the story of Charlotte's Web, although this spider isn't spelling out words, it has usually come up with a new way to spin it's web.

We see all kinds of creatures when we are doing the route, the one below I prefer to see in a field and not jumping out in the road in front of me. We have had a few near misses, apparently at night deer think they run the show.

Falling

The weekend is all but here, I have one hour left in my work week. August has flown by, I know there is still a week left, but it seems it should only be a few days into the month. Fall is my favorite time of the year, I love decorating with pumpkins and long strands of fall colored leaves. I like to get my decorations out as soon as possible, it seems like almost as soon as I get them out it is time to switch to Christmas. I am super thrilled to have a big front porch to decorate this year, one of the things I love most about our new house is that it has very large front steps leading up to a nice sized porch. I plan to start getting everything out next weekend, I wish I could leave my fall stuff out all year, but I know that would look tacky in April.

I purchased my first fall scented candle last night, it's called Iced Carrot Cake! I am not one to spend very much on candels, I love how they make the house smell, but ultimately once their gone, their gone and so is the money I spend on them. My favorite candles are Better Homes and Gardens brand, that are carried at Wal-Mart; they get new scents when the seasons change and they are a great value.

My New Crock

I did it! I started and FINISHED a project and...in one day! I really like how this crockpot turned out. Here is the step-by-step process...

Here is the crock pot that I started with

I taped off the top, the bottom, the knob, and the cord

I used Rust-Oleum Primer in white, which I purchased at Wal-Mart.

I let the primer dry for about 3 hours outside in the sun. When I applied the primer I had the pot sitting right-side up, I quickly learned that I should have turned it upside down as to not get any primer or paint on the inside.

I used Rust-Oleum Chalk Board paint which I also purchased at Wal-Mart. I let the chalk board paint dry outside all afternoon and then inside over night.

And here is the finished product...

This is my first exposure to chalk boad paint, I was worried that the finish might not be true to a real chalk board suface, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was right on the money.

I can't wait to use this at my next party or get-together, it turned out so well, I have a feeling that I will be explaining the process to my family and friends a few times over.

Weekend Project

It is a rare occasion that I do not have plans on a Saturday, tomorrow will be one of those. I plan to stay in all day Saturday, as always there is laundry and housekeeping to catch up on, but nothing to drag me out. I am planning on trying a project that I found on Pinterest. This project is originally from Bright Green Door

I already have the crockpot, my mom and I were having a yard sale a few weeks ago and she set it out to sell, I enthusiastically grabbed it proclaiming "I have a project I need that for!" Let me pause to say that I have a slight obsession with crockpots, I have about 6, they are all different shapes and size and I use them ALL the time. I am excited about this one because it will be great to take to church potlucks and family get togethers, and I can just write what the dish is on the outside.

The temperatures have been unseasonably cool here in Northwest Arkansas this week, so I plan on making some chili tomorrow also. It would be totally fine with me if our temperatures stay this way until fall is actually here, fall is by far my favorite season!

Project Link

Let's try this again...

I occasionally visit this page and think to myself "you should post" usually that is as far as it goes and I navigate away...not this time, I'm doing it!

I was looking back at some of my older post (they are super old) and a lot has changed.

I bought a house in April of 2011

Clay asked me to marry him in January of 2012

We got married in May of 2012

We adopted two miniature dashounds

I got a new job in July of 2012

In May of this year Clay and I bought another house

Those are the major highlights, Clay and I are so happy, he works at a local bank and I work for our District Prosecuting Attorney, I aid crime victims. 

Our first year of marriage flew by! When I was younger I would hear people say the older you get the faster times seems to go by, that is the absolute truth. It seems like just a few months ago I was planning the wedding and now we are past the one year mark.

Recently we accepted the position of Children's Directors at our church. Our group is K - 6th grade and we are having a ton of fun with them. A few weeks ago we took some of the kids to church camp, it was the first time that any of them had every been and they loved it!

 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Project Christmas tree is underway! One Tree is up and the Second is going up today. I have acquired enough Coca-Cola ornaments that I have enough to do a tree in just those, that tree will be in my dining room since my kitchen is Coke themed. I will post photos when I'm finished!

Back in Black!

I'm back.....after waaaaay too long! I am now the proud owner of a brand new laptop (which was an awesome early Christmas gift, thanks to grandparents!). I had to go read my last post to see where I left off.

Let's update -

1. I still live on my own, but I am no longer in the apartment, I am renting a house!

2. I am still working in the County Office that I have been in since January 2009

3. Still totally in love with my boyfriend, Clay!

4. I am working very hands on with our church's youth group right now, we are between Youth Pastors right now, so Clay and I have taken on a large portion of that responsibility.

It's pretty late and I didn't really have much to post, I just wanted to start the ball rolling again, stay tuned!

Logged On

I'm actually getting a chance to be online for more than a few minutes! Quick review...I moved out about 3 months ago and got my own apartment. Totally love living there! I got some goldfish over the weekend, 2 died, so now I'm down to one. I haven't named it yet, still working on that. I'm thinking "The Phantom"...I have no idea why? I don't have a lot to update about, I'm still liking my job, I still learn new things everyday. I'm hoping my head doesn't explode one day from all the things I'm cramming in there and trying not to forget!

That look on my face...it's shame...

Yes, I do realize it has been a month and one day since I have posted anything. There is about 3 inches of snow in the ground right now. It's pretty, but honestly I hate it! It totally ruined my plans for the day. I'm a tad bit bitter, I'll get over it.

What's new in my life?

Well I have a boyfriend now :)

(I know what you're thinking and, no, this won't become one of those blogs where I go on and no about that subject, promise!)

I'm liking my new job, it has stressful days, but all in all I like it.

My new car is great!

(I know, still no pics)

There hasn't been anything very exciting going on in my life lately. I need to add some pics from the 33miles concert I went to, maybe tomorrow. I'm going to a Sanctus Real concert next Saturday in Mountain Home next weekend! Pretty super excited about that!

So I think that's all for now...

Ice Ice, Baby!

So there is ice everywhere! Yesterday morning they were saying this could be the worst ice storm we have seen in 10 years, I think they were right! Springfield and the surrounding southern Missouri areas got a really bad ice storm 2 winters ago, but we were only on the edge of that. This is definitely the worst one our town has seen! Here's some pics I took in our yard.

Our cars, yes, that's my new car!

The field behind our house

We left work early Monday, the courthouse was closed today, and it is closed tomorrow...

Becoming "Girl Friday"

Today was day 15 of my new job. I'm still learning new stuff, I'm pretty sure until I have been there a few months I will be learning new things. There's just so much, but so far I am enjoying it! As for the title of my blog, I am definitely becoming "Girl Friday". Three days into the job, Bethe who place I took informed me that after she had taught me everything I would indeed be Girl Friday. So far I believe it she knows how to do everything there is to do in our office and hopefully I will someday too. Please note she still works there, she just transferred to a different job in the same office.

Moving on, I got a new car!!! I don't have any pics yet, it's a 2000 Chevy Malibu. I got an amazing deal on it and the inside looks brand new! The insurance company involved with my wreck called today and they are for sure going to total my car, and I am actually getting $100 more dollars than what I paid for my new car!

God has blessed me so much in the last few months. This verse completely sums it up...

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 1 Thes. 3:3

Right off it says the Lord is faithful, enough said. He is so faithful and when we are faithful to him his works are evident in our lives.

Stablish literally means to establish, God has totally done that for me. I was was working a part-time job where I wasn't eligibly for insurance or any benefits. I get a call telling me that I was being dropped from my dad's insurance plan and within 2 weeks I got a full-time job with benefits, that as stated above I am loving! I would definitely consider that becoming established, I am basically starting my adult life and so far it's of to a great start!

Secondly the verse says he will keep us from evil. All evil comes from satan, and there is nothing more that he likes than to see the children of God suffer. I could have been really hurt in the car wreck, but I know God's hand was with me and he was protecting me that morning.

Where to begin???

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the blogging planet, although I'm hanging by only finger tips.

I had a great Christmas, I actually had like 4 of them. I ate way too much food! New Years was good too, I got to spend it with my BFF.

I started my new job on January 2, that was an adventure. There was/is a lot to learn. Things are crazy busy with ending out a year and starting a new one, all with payroll thrown in the first week of the year. I'm liking it so far, but I will be glad when it slows down a little.

I saved the most current news for last, I was involved in a car wreck today.

I was driving to work this morning and I saw a truck stopped in the oncoming lane quite a ways ahead of me, then I see a deer cross the road. I start slowly slowing down then I deer number 2, I slow down more, I look to right in the field where the first 2 came from and there are 2 more so I come to a complete stop, not knowing if they are going to cross the road or not. They get pretty close to the road, but then run back to where they came from. After being completely stopped for maybe 4 seconds a truck runs right into the back of my car! I was so relieved that I didn't any of the deer, and right when that thought rolls through my mind is when he hits me. It was so scary, he was going pretty fast. My foot was holding the brake completely to the floor and the impact still pushed my car quite a few feet. My seat went all the way backwards and is still stuck there, the back part of the seat reclined and that is what kept me from hitting my head on the steering wheel. I know God was watching out for me today, it could have been so much worse. At this point I'm feeling okay. I hope this is still true in the morning, they say it takes about 3 days to really see how much something like a wreck effects you. I'm still not sure why the guy didn't stop or even slow down, guess I'll never know.

Hibernation...

Hey kids! I didn't disappear, I swear! I have been kinda busy, not so much so that I couldn't have blogged, that part just happened cause I'm sort of a slacker. Opps!

So today is my next to last day of working at the library. It has been kin of slow this afternoon, I think it's too cold for people to get out. This morning I went over to the county clerks office, which is where I will be working starting January 2nd. I thought I might get a small taste of the job and see what it's going to be like. While I was there a couple got a marriage licence, two people needed passports, and we worked on paying a bunch of bills. I had never realized the process it takes for county offices to pay their bills, way complicated..lol! I'll have a full report after the 2nd!

So here's what I've been up to lately...

About 2 weeks ago I got a Blackberry Curve!!! I (heart) it!

I went to Silver Dollar City last Friday with my boys, here are some pics...

Last Sunday we had a 60th Wedding Anniversary for my Grandparents, that was fun. 60 years is a long time, most people don't make it that long!

So I think that's it!

Deputy without a Badge!

So, I will be starting a new job soon. I am going to be a deputy clerk for our county. The official job title is weird to me, I feel like I should have a badge, or a gun, or a really butch hair cut!? This will be a full time job, I'm only part time at the library right now, so that will be a change. The main reason for the change is I got dropped from my current insurance, and I had to find a job where I would have that. I'm really excited to start, I know I will have to learn a ton of new things, but there are going to be some other people starting jobs there too, so I won't be the only new kid on the block. So that's really all I know at this point, guess I'll have more to say about it after I start!

Black (Eye) Friday

Ok, so I didn't really get a black eye, but it would have been totally possible considering as man was killed at a Wal-Mart store early Friday morning!

I did do a ton of shopping, that started at 4:45 Friday morning. I got a camera at Wal-Mart. Then to Springfield and the mall. I got some clothes and a bunch of stuff at Bath & Body works, I heart that place! The best purchase of the day would be the Kathy Van Zeeland bag I got! It's green, it's shiny, it's fabulous! I will have to post a pic.

This is completely random, but while in Best Buy in Springfield I saw the band Hinder. No, I don't mean on an album cover, I mean the real deal, They played a show there Thanksgiving night and they were doing a meet and greet in Best Buy.

I guess I should backtrack, I kinda skipped Thanksgiving. This year I spent Thanksgiving in West Plains with my BFF and his family. Our fam doesn't really do much, so I decided while I had a little bit of time off work I would go there. I got some great birthday gifts while I was there, the best was this bible from Clay -

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/KJV-Ancient-Faith-Bible/Holman-Bible-Editorial-Staff/e/9781586404666/?itm=33

It is pretty much the coolest thing ever! The edge of the pages are bright gold and it's only about 5 or so inches tall, it will fit in my purse so great!

Birthday, BABY!

When your birthday is on a random Thursday not much excitement usually happens. My birthday is actually going to stretch until next week. Here is today's birthday recognition...

I got flowers at work from my family!

Here is my name on the bulletin board in the Youth room at church.

A close-up

20!!!

So this concludes the birthday countdown, I am now 21!!! The photo above is last year at the library, my mom brought me the cake and pizza. If you look closely you can see my name is spelled wrong on the cake..lol "Mellissa"

19, my last "teen" year...

This is on Thanksgiving after my 19th birthday, which is only about a week. Not much to say about it, there is a lot of green in the pic...

18, now I can vote!

This is yesterday's post, I'm a slacker! Again, not a party photo, I do remember my 18th birthday was on a Sunday and I had lunch with my grandparents (we had Chinese!) This is me the August after I turned 18, I decided to cut all my hair off.

Before...

After...

Buttons!

I just posted my first listing at my Etsy store!!!

Check it out!

www.TheAwkwardTurtle.etsy.com