Pages

Monday, August 30, 2010

2010 Emmy Fashion Picks!

Each year I'm glued to the television during awards season-and that one awards show that's stuck in the middle of the year all by it's lonesome! Do I care about the actual awards? Sometimes...Especially if a film or television show really means something to me. But for serious guys, the dresses have my TOTAL attention!

SO, now that I have a blog, I get to share my Best and Worst Dressed!
(This is soo exciting, so humor me!)

Top 4 Best Dressed Ladies:

January Jones


Christina Hendricks


Lea Michelle


Kim Kardashian



Top 4 Best Dressed Men:

Sam Trammel



Cory Monteith


Peter Facinelli


Jon Hamm


Worst Dressed Male:

B.J. Novak


Best Dressed Male:

Neil Patrick Harris


Worst Dressed Female:

Lauren Graham



Best Dressed Female:

Claire Danes

Sunday, August 8, 2010

BB 12 Week 5 Predictions

Obviously I can't get it together with the Thursday posts.
Is anyone surprised Kristen had a boyfriend at home??!! NOPE, didn't think so. Poor girl never had a chance in the home, or with the fans. CBS edited her into a ditzy, shallow blonde. I found it interesting when Reagan had several positive things to say about her. Just made me realize that no matter how many ‘nay sayers’ you may have, there’s always someone who sees the REAL you…Something to take comfort in! Anyway, it was no surprise she went home.
Last episode also left us during the middle of another HOH competition. Of course either Ragan or Kathy will run out of gas first. God bless them! I really think Ragan can push himself farther than he usually does. Hopes he sticks it out.
Because the house seems to be giving people a second HOH run, I really think Matt will grab it. If not Matt, then hopefully Lane. I’d love to see him as HOH. What a cutie! Either way, if anyone besides Brenden wins, Rachel and Brenden will go up on the block!
Send BRENCHEL home!!!!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

BB 12 Week 4 Predictions

By missing my post for last Thursday isn't exactly the best way to begin my BB blogging, however, I followed some great advice and was in a bubble bath for a loooong time, and blogging slipped my mind. Either way, my prediction for live voting was WAY off. Poor Andrew just didn't know what to do with himself, I don't think. If you didn't get tears in your eyes while he was crying/speaking to us about being lonely and not connecting with anyone in the home, you have to be made of stone! Hayden actually hit the nail on the head with his goodbye message to Andrew....He was kind of the last person I suspected would say anything like that, but he did and I thought it was great!
I thought Andrew had it in the bag to stay. In the long run, it really made more sense to keep Andrew as an ally than Kathy. Kathy hasn't been true to anyone in the game, and Andrew is very genuine and a fighter-easy conclusion to me. After hearing the story of Kathy's disease and her son's education, it did make me want to pull for her to stay, of course. Then I asked myself how many other of the contestants are having huge life-changing financial or personal (all except Matt, of course)situations that they aren't speaking about? This economy has hit people so incredibly hard-who knows who is actually employed, isn't in jepordy of losing their home/means of transportation/education-Simply having a stable enough income to take care of themselves plus others? Each person has a huge, rational reason for the money. I'm not a fan of talks on personal affiars and business. I know that may sound harsh, which I honestly don't mean it anyway accept practically.
Now that Andrew is gone and Rachel winning HOH, which I actually saw coming, she and Brenden will have another easy breezy week. Judging from the "tift" she and Kristen had after the HOH competition, Kristen will definitely be put up tonight. I’m not positive that Hayden will. I can see Brendon talking Rachel into keeping Hayden in the beginning, then back-dooring him after the veto competition. So, if Hayden doesn’t go up with Kristen, I would like to see Britney go up and hopefully go home. That girl talks soo much smack, it’s insane! I’m not sure a conversation with her would go anywhere intelligent.
So, hopefully my satellite will resume working before 7, so I can actually watch tonight’s episode on television. ALSO, hopefully Matt will keep his hand from inside of his pants (What is up with that??), and Rachel will shut the hell up about her “Man”.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

BB 12 Week 3 Predictions

Since Big Brother hasn't been as interesting as usual this year, I decided to blog my weekly predictions each Sunday and Thursday prior to the 7pm shows because well, why the heck not?! Beware-I’ve also decided to not hold my tongue, even when it comes to personality opinions, and will most likely contradict myself from week to week since Big Brother always seems to suck me in to the point where my mind changes constantly! Accordingly, if I seem rude, mean, shallow, bitchy….No apologies! 
SO, Thursday night, they left us in the beginning stages of the 3rd HOH competition, "Hang Ten" (Of course I got the name from the website). Concept seems simple enough; be the last standing on your surfboard. Since Rachel is the reigning HOH, she was not able to participate, which actually brings about a good/bad complex. Good because she cannot again win HOH giving us a week off from seeing her in the diary room 98% of each episode, as we did this past week. And Bad, due to the fact we have to listen to her constantly route for Brendon during this competition. I'm hoping the opening sequence tonight will be of Brendon yelling, "Shut up you crazy fo red head!". The “Brigade” seemed to have things under control, while Britney and Kathy already looked to be having difficulties, especially after Big Brother added the strong ‘wind’ to Hang Ten.
I believe Britney’s game is going to drastically change this week due to her gossiping buddy, Monet, being evicted 7-2. Big Brother hasn’t shown Britney in a comfortable position with anyone else in the house, so we’ll see who she decides to cling to! Probably Kathy, who I’m still not convinced, is Britney’s mother....maybe. Oh and Britney, please save us from hearing of your PMS woes! So, I do not see her lasting very long during Hang Ten. Possibly another fake injury to her knee??
Kathy will be one of the first to drop off her surfboard tonight! I’m not sure she has a solid game plan, or at least not one that we’ve seen.
Ragan is floating along each, but I definitely wouldn’t count him out on at least making it to the final 4! He really seems to try during each competition, so tonight he won’t win, but will be one of the last standing.
Hayden and Kristen are definitely one of the cutest couples I’ve seen on Big Brother! I wish they would edit the episodes to show Kristen actually speak a full sentence….I have faith she’s a smart girl. I don’t, however, feel that she’s even on the show to win. Seems as though someone within her entourage pulled some strings guaranteeing her a spot on the show in order to up her modeling career. So, if she’s of that mind, along with believing Hayden will fight to keep her around (which he is), she doesn’t have to put forth much of an effort. Hayden wants to win this game, and seems to be willing to do whatever is needed to make that happen. His plan seems to be focused more on his physical ability than mental.
Brendon and Rachel are grossing me out! Rachel, please stop straddling Brendon on national television, and calling him your “Man” in your goodbye messages….It really makes you look dumb and a bit desperate (for lack of a better term). BUT, Rachel does have some pretty good sense when it comes to reading people! I was shocked when she actually understood what Matt was up to when he offered himself up to be a pawn. If she keeps her head in the game, she can make it. Brendon seems like a nice enough guy, and may be textbook intelligent, but doesn't have the mindset of a good Big Brother player. He's a bit too trusting, and is, as we witnessed last week, willing to share details concerning his gameplan when he probably shouldn't. He'll stay in as long as Rachel fights for him.
Andrew, you're awesome!! I would love to be friends! Isn't it refreshing to have a cast member who is that devoted to their faith? He's awkward and not too sure of himselef within the game, which is exactly why I love him! He's going to be that cast member that sticks around and everyone can't understand why.....like Lydia from last season.
Matt is an idiot! Did he not watch the rise and fall of Ronnie last season?? Although I don't agree with the house freaking out because of someone actually playing the game the way you're supposed to (ie playing both sides of the house), BUT because of what happend last season he should have known better. I think that fingers will be pointing towards him this week.
Lane and Enzo seem to feel safety within the 'Brigade', which could a false sense of hope. They'll have 3 more weeks before they'll have to really try within the game.
Tonight, I think we'll see someone from the Brigade win HOH....possibly Enzo. I can see Rachel and Matt(as a pawn)on the block. We shall see....

My Eli is 1 Year Old Tomorrow!






The little puppy, first named "Dobie", is turning 1 year old tomorrow, July the 23rd! To say he has been a total ray of sunshine in my life is a serious understatement! I credit him for helping me keep my sanity from this past October to present. He's definitely my 'happy dog' because he constantly has a SMILE on his face, which is so refreshing to see after any type of day I may have. Although we're continuing to have some potty issues (as of late he's found it more important to eat goose poo outside, and bark at the wind blowing through the trees instead of doing his business, but we're hoping after the 1st year mark, he'll fully catch on), Eli continues to make us laugh and will actually sit still in our laps when we need it! Couldn't ask for a better fetch buddy!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

The McAuley's & Brownings Take On Chattanooga!










Aunt Sherry and Ashley invited us to go on a weekend girls trip to Chattanooga, TN. Not only was it a wonderful surpise, it was also an AWESOME time with great memories made! Ruby Falls, Rock City, Mystery Dinner Theatre, Fireworks over the river, and Zipline course...Just awesome!!
For the 4th we headed back home and had a great cookout with the family, followed by setting off lots and lots of of our own fireworks! It was Ashley's first time doing this, so it made that night even more special!
I felt so fortunate to spend time with you two!! Can't wait for Thanksgiving in Dallas! Oh, and we have to see Harry Potter at the Movie Cafe!! :)

Thursday, July 1, 2010

When the Sun Shines, it BEAMS!







After 8 years, 11 breakdowns, 4 tows, 211,000 miles, and forking out $$$$$, my 1994 Jeep was laid to rest yesterday evening around 8:15pm at Town and Country Ford in Bessemer, AL. And, I was on some level, devastated. I literally had to touch the steering wheel one last time and got that rush of emotions, as if I were giving a long time friend our last goodbye. Good ole Jeep has been with me through it ALL-and in my opinion, breaking down to save me the trouble of going through it myself! If I hadn't of looked like a horrifyingly loony individual, I would have high-fived one of the side mirrors as a 'see ya & take care!!’. Although, it was still great way to say farewell to the past and hello to the future!
Along with leaving the Jeep, I purchased my first car. A 2010 Ford Escape! Unlike the car hunting within the past, this was amazingly easy and quick, quick, quick! Wednesday morning I had no idea that I was even remotely close to the realm of buying….I hadn’t even settled on what I truly needed as opposed to wanted! Around lunch time, Monte called me to let me know he just spoke with one of the owner’s of the dealership (who funny enough attended church with my family at Meadow Brook), and was on his way to, ‘talk numbers and options with a salesman’. I hung up the phone in a funk, simply because this has been an everyday thing for the past month-Literally. So, no hopes were high.
By 4:30, I received a call asking to come up to the dealership, so Monte could show me something. Got there, saw the car, fell in love instantly, gave it a test-drive….aaaaand was then told I would need a co-signer. BUMMER! We’d tried that a few times already with no success, but I agreed to give it one last shot……apparently buying a 2010 came with a few “perks” making it more affordable than a used car.
So, our names were run, it was perfect. So the next hour and a half was spent running around trying to find the title to the Jeep and getting back to the dealership for the mounds of paperwork before closing time! I was driving off of the lot before 8:30!
Another wonderful God Thing!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Hardened

"There's a crack (or cracks) in everyone....That's how the Light of God gets in"
I read this line tonight from the deliciously interesting book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I sat and read this sentence over and over. By the fourth read, my stomach was in one huge knot. Where is this 'crack' within me? It was then that I realized the outside of my body was thicker then the thickest piece of concrete. Rough, solid, COLD. The happenings of the past week washed over me in an overwhelming manner, followed by memories, guilt, pain, anger, sadness, embarrassment, confusion, etc. from the past few years. I put my forehead to the floor begged for the answer to the all too familiar question, "why ME, God?". I told Him of the exhaustion, I blamed Him for the affects to my body(mentally, emotionally, physically). I asked for Him to tell me why I don't deserve a happy life...for good, positive things to happen on a daily basis. I reminded Him of the years of faithfulness to His will(walking the straight and narrow, resisting any sort of temptation, sharing the Word with others)...as if I deserved a prize for acting the way He asks of us. In the middle of my rantings, the word/letter, "I" began to grossly stick out. So, I began to think back on the number of times I said, "I..I want..I know..I don't..". WOW.
And that was the moment I held my head up (dramatic as it sounds) to our Lord and said "I'm sorry"...I'm sorry for putting so much of "ME" into what I've been doing/thinking/saying day in and day out! But thank YOU for your patience, for once again showing me myself in the mirror, and allowing me to finally understand what I saw...as much as it hurts to see myself that way....thank You!
I got up, dug my Bible out of a bag in the back of the closet, opened it randomly and saw this verse, "My soul finds rest in God alone. My salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken-Psalm 62 1-2" (A song from Children's church began to flow through my mind..."Jesus is the rock of my salvation, His banner over me is love") Seeing this scripture was a totally awesome God Thing. Wow, Lord...I hear You, I understand, I am open to You.
Of course my concrete shell didn't immediately break apart, but His Light was beginning to shine from the inside out, which with time will bring me to where I need to be. I have to change ME without focusing on ME, which I can do through TRUSTING in His Might and Will. His Banner Over Me Is Love....

Monday, June 21, 2010

PCA Weekend














Monte ran the porche this past weekend at Barbers Motorsports Park. It was the first time I was able to watch him drive, and it was so much fun! Even though Saturday was rainy and muggy, the cars were zooming around the track! The facial expression Monte had after his first run made my heart the happiest it's been in a while. I love that he's found something that he's not only good at, but that also brings him such joy!

Friday, June 4, 2010

To Blog or Not To Blog...

So, I want to follow in the steps of my best friend by leaving the Facebook world behind and begin to blog. This, however, is seeming to be more of a feat than I thought! Usually, I'm pretty savvy when it comes to comouter systems/social networking sites, but setting up this blog is seeming almost impossible. Perhaps that's a sign?
If anyone knows of good instructional websites, or has some knowledge to spread around, please let me know!