Christmas 2009...

Here are several pictures from Christmas! It was hard to pick out just a few! I had a wonderful Christmas spending time with family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS....

I hope everyone has a VERY Merry Christmas! I also hope that everyone gets to spend time with their family and friends.

Warm Fuzzies....

You know the things that make your heart smile...

I have a challenge for you. For the next twenty four hours, think of all the things that you love. All the things that make you warm and fuzzy inside. I borrowed this idea from a blog I read!

Here are some of mine:

* I love to hear kids giggle...you know that uncontrollable laughter.

*I love socks just out of the dryer sometimes I will put them in the dryer just to warm them up before I put them on.

*I love to do laundry.

*I love the smell of fabric softener. Since I live in an apartment it seems that someone is always doing laundry so as soon as I get out of my car I can usually smell fabric softener from some one's dryer vent.

*I love rainy days when I don't have to go out in it, when I can open my window a bit and listen to it rain.

*I love God's amazing grace.

*I love a really good cup of coffee.

*I love getting mail...not bills but cards/letters from friends.

*I love really good chips and salsa.

*I love sitting around a table with friend(s) laughing and telling stories.

*I love hanging out with my family.

*I love a new toothbrush.

*I love clean sheet day.

*I love an ice cold Coca-Cola.

*I love to bake...pretty much anything.

*I love birthdays...mine or any one's.

*I love driving around looking at Christmas lights.

So it may have taken me more than 24 hours to come up with my list but it was fun!

Computer Virus & Strep Throat...

Well last week was a "sickly week"!

First my poor computer got a virus. Thanks to the folks at Geek Squad my laptop is alive and well. I missed out on a lot of blog stalking/reading and facebook! No worries I have spent the afternoon catching up on all of the blogs and facebook!

Then EARLY Friday morning I woke up with an AWFUL sore throat and a fever! I went to the doctor on Friday afternoon and I had strep throat! I think strep is the worst! I didn't really start feeling better until yesterday afternoon! It was so YUCKY! I'm alive and well!

I hope everyone has a great week! Now back to my stalking...reading! :)

You Should Watch This...

I'm a Steve Harvey fan! I've been a fan for a long time. I also read his book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man....it was interesting!

Anyway...watch this...click HERE! You'll be sad if you don't!

I'm Alive And Well...

Well last week I was sick! I had a throat infection! Every since I moved I've had some allergy issues but I'm much better now! Nothing rest and some antibiotics didn't cure!

My dad has been VERY sick! He is doing better but not 100%!

It has been a pretty quiet few weeks. I'm still "getting settled" in Conway. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving! I'm so excited about Thanksgiving. I'm most excited about not having to drive from TN to AR and back!

I hope everyone has a great week!

OCD or is it CDO...

Well I have some obsessive compulsive disorder tendencies...yes yes I know all the folks that know me are SHOCKED and admitting I have a problem is the first step....BLAH BLAH BLAH...I'm trying to think of all the possible comments that my friends may decide to leave :)

Anyway funny/interesting/sad/not so shocking story...

Today I had lunch with Crystal and Jareta at Larry's Pizza. Have you ever been to Larry's Pizza in Conway? If you have you know they have table numbers on each table and if you haven't well they have table numbers on each table. Big black numbers on red paper...very noticeable. So Jareta, Crystal and I are having a good ole' time talking and catching up. Anyway...as I'm sitting there something catches my eye the line of tables next to us the numbers are out of order...just one switch would fix the problem...so it wasn't too bad. You better believe I was scanning the whole restaurant to see if there were any other "numbering prolems". Well I'm on the inside of the booth and it took ALL I had not to ask Jareta to let me get up and fix the numbers.

We continue to chat, I'm still fighting the urge to jump out of my seat and fix the problem! We get up to leave and I say, "I can't leave without fixing these table numbers." I know I know...but I just couldn't leave without fixing it.

See I told you I have some issues....and remember I admitted it...Step One! So if you are ever eating at Larry's Pizza in Conway PLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAASSSSSSSEEEEEEE make sure that the table numbers are in order! Thanks in advance for helping me out!

Wordless Wednesday (for Blake)...

Settled...Mostly...

The move from Franklin, TN to Conway, AR went good! There were a few very small issues but me and my stuff made it to Arkansas unharmed. Thanks Blake for driving the Penske truck. Thanks Kristen for all your help.

On Saturday morning Dad, Mom, Blake, Kristen and my uncle, Jesse, unload all my stuff into my new apartment (THANK YOU)! I spent almost every day since then unpacking boxes. I'm excited to say that I unpacked the last box this afternoon! Almost everything is put away. I still have a few final details...hang curtains and pictures.

All is well! I stayed at my apartment for the first night last night...super quiet but I'm so tired I don't know if I would hear anything.

Through the month of November I'm working for Premiere Speakers Bureau, I'm finishing up a few projects that I had going. After November I have a few plans still working on all the details. Will keep you posted.

So glad to be back in Arkansas!

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.

~Robert Frost

Wordless Wednesday...

Well...

Four more days of work, some more packing and a I'll be on my way to Conway, AR. I have a bunch of things to do at work. I feel like I have a month's worth of work to fit into 4 days. We had a "farewell" lunch on Friday for me and Joy...she's also leaving Premiere on Thursday. Our boss will be in China next week so we had it a little early! I wasn't sad...very excited! I knew that I was and wanted to move for a long time and it seems like it has taken FOREVER to get here!

I do have most of the "major" moving stuff done: hired movers, rented a Penske truck, got a driver for the truck (Thanks Blake & Kristen), changed my address and had all the utilities scheduled to be turned off here.

I'm going to miss Franklin/Nashville...I love the area and have enjoyed my time here but it is time to be in Arkansas!

Things I'm most excited about in Arkansas as I've said before...being close to my friends and my family (well most of my family)!

I'm excited to be back in Conway! I'll see many of you soon!

Details, Details, Details....

Here are a few details about the BIG move back to Arkansas...

• My last day at my job in Franklin is October 29th.
• I'm moving back to Arkansas on October 30th. Thanks in advance to my favorite brother and sister-in-law for the help moving.
• I'm moving into my new apartment on Saturday, October 31. I got a call today that I have an apartment!

I'm so very excited to be moving back close to my family and many of my friends.

P.S. I don't know if anyone else is having trouble BUT my head has been killing me the last week or so. I think it is the weather. The rain and overcast skies are making my head hurt...ready for some clear skies and sunshine.

I'm Moving...AGAIN...

I'll be living....

HERE....

I'll be back in Arknasas soon!!!

More details coming soon!!!

The Amazing Race...

I believe I have mentioned this before The Amazing Race is one of my favorite show if not my favorite. Last session was just okay....this session started last Sunday night and it was so good! I think it is going to be really good this session.

Even though I really like the show I know that I would never make it as a contestant and have no desire to try. 1. I couldn't eat the NASTY food! 2. I like to sleep! 3. There's a good chance whoever my travel partner might be would leave me in a foreign country because I complained too much! I even had a friend of mine tell me as much!

Anyway it's a great show! You should watch it!

Happy Birthday Jude....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDE!
I hope you have a wonderful day!

Bird Man...

Okay...these aren't great pictures. I took them with my blackberry and I didn't want this guy to see me taking pictures of him. Anyway! You see the white thing on his arm?!?! It's a BIRD! He was at the grocery store when I stopped after work today.

This was the 2nd time I've seen the bird man. The first time I saw him he was on an afternoon walk and the bird was on his shoulder. Kind of a shocking thing to see. I'm so glad I got pictures this time!

Wordless Wednesday...

Movie Saturday...

Well my day on Saturday was spent watching movies...

1. I went to see Fame. Good flick. I expected it to be more of a musical than a movie. It was more of a movie than a musical.

2. Then I watched Julie & Julia. I LOVED it! Very good movie. It has a great story but I think if you like to cook it makes it even better.

3. Finally on DVD I watched Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. I liked it. It was a total chick flick. I'm glad I waited until it came out on DVD to watch it.

My favorite of the three is Julie & Julia!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Kennedy...

Happy Birthday to my

FAVORITE 5-year-old!!

I can't believe you are five. It seems like yesterday I was meeting you for the first time!

I love love love you!

I hope you have a great birthday!

I will see you soon!

The Weather...

The fall season is officially here and what's even better FALL WEATHER is on the way! Cooler weather I'm so excited. It has been very humid here...as soon as I walked out of my apartment door this morning I started sweating. Today is the first day in 10 days that we haven't gotten any rain in middle Tennessee but rain is on the way! This weekend there is a chance of rain and then the fall weather!


I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!

RAIN BLAHS....

I'm really kind of tired of rain! It has rained for a week (7 days)...BLAH! I watched the weather tonight it is in the forecast for the next 7 days...BLAH!! Rains great and I know sometimes we need it BUT I could use some sunshine.

Also, migraines are worse for me during this kind of weather...BLAH! I've had two migraines...BLAH! So I need some sunshine!

Fun Times...

Well tonight was the night. Let me start with I did not feel very good today/tonight. I had a migraine yesterday and it carried over to today. I wish that I had felt a little bit better.

I was a little worried that he might not be the person I have always thought or that he wouldn't be very nice. He was super nice and funny. He signed books, took pictures and spoke. I'm ready for the next book already...Fall 2010.

Standing on a table..so everyone could see him while he spoke

Signing books...

Still signing...

Not my favorite picture of me...but it's with Nicholas Sparks!

Anyway so much fun and if any of you have ever had the opportunity (probably not the best word) to listen to me ramble about him and enjoyed it ...you would have loved to be in the group of 400 and listen to all of us talk about him. Of the 400 folks...shocker there were about 10 men :)!

I Read It...

It is almost 3:00am on Sunday morning. I just finished reading The Last Song. I wasn't going to read it until after the book signing on Tuesday night BUT couldn't help myself. It is a typical Nicholas Sparks book...sad. So I cried...I have the puffy eyes and blotchy face to go along with it!

Good read. The movie comes out in January 2010...I'll watch it...the movie won't be as good as the book but it should be a pretty good flick. Miley Cyrus will play the lead role. Not a huge Miley fan but I'll get over it.

What the book is about....Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I'm So Excited...

AND I just can't hide it! I'm so stinkin' excited! GUESS WHO I'm going to see next Tuesday night?!?!? NICHOLAS SPARKS

He is doing a book signing at a store in Nashville. I had to go today to get a ticket to get a spot in line. All book stores have different rules, authors have different rules...anyway I had to get a ticket...I'm in Group 1....WOOOHOOO. The book was released today. I'm giddy.

Meeting/seeing him in person/book signing is one thing on my list. Some people call it a bucket list...I don't have a list...I mean one that is written down I have a mental list of things I want to do...maybe I should write it down.

ANYWAY Nicholas Sparks reading and book signing next Tuesday night....WOOOOHOOO!

Here a picture of his new book and my TICKET!!! I think that deserves another WOOOOOHOOO!!!

Wordless Wednesday...

I'm Still Here...

Well I'm still here! I can't believe it has been a week since I've updated the blog. The blog police hasn't even said anything to me....I'm shocked.

Last weekend I was in Arkansas to meet BRYLEE! She is so SUPER cute and very sweet! She has a bunch of hair...plenty for a hair bow. She looks a lot like her daddy. And shame on me I didn't take any pictures while I was there. Trust me when I tell you she is cute!

I came back to Tennessee on Sunday afternoon! It wasn't the best traveling experience ever...I-40 was shut down between Memphis and Jackson. I waited and waited! Then I went through THREE construction sites..at night on the interstate...traffic was down to one lane. Amazing that all this happened on one trip. I shouldn't complain...of all the trips I've made to and from Arkansas this was the worst. I got home much later than planned. Of course Monday morning I woke up with a migraine. I slept a little extra and felt much better when I woke up for the second time. So I was just 2 hours late to work and the migraine was pretty much gone by the end of the day. That's good news.

The weather has been amazing this week in Tennessee! My allergies are acting up a bit. I've been told it's ragweed. I'm taking Zyrtec...it worked in the spring. I'm hoping for the same this fall :)!

No big plans for the long holiday weekend. I have a closest that has boxes in it that have never been opened from when I moved here...so I'm thinking I'm going to see what are in those! Couldn't hurt! There are also a couple of Nashville sites I've been wanting to see and I have a free pass so I may try to check those out too.

I hope everyone has a very safe holiday weekend!

Thought Of The Day...

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean", she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this." The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

Wordless Wednesday...

Week In Review...

So last weekend I was in Arkansas. I went to see Shep in person! He is SOOO super sweet and snuggle! A very sweet baby as were/are all the other Condray kiddos.

I started off this week with a three day migraine...BLAH! I felt better on Thursday and was over it completely on Friday. I think my next thing to try is a Chiropractor. There is one here in Franklin that several people have recommended...even better chiropractor visits are covered by my insurance! So I think I'm going to give it a try. We'll see I'll keep you posted!

On Wednesday.....BRYLEE ANNE BREWER...arrived!

Congratulations Jody and Jodi!

She is super cute! I can't wait to see her in person! I'm planning a trip to Arkansas soon to I can meet her!

I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend and a wonderful week!

Wordless Wednesday on a Thursday...

Happy Birthday Kristen...

Happy Birthday

to my favorite sister-in-law!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Pictures From Lane, KS...

Here are some pictures from last weekend. I didn't take tons of pictures. Of the pictures I did take there weren't very many good ones. I have one picture of me in the pics but it isn't very flattering so I passed on posting it...just pictures of the houses....kind of pointless but here they are anyway!

The lake house...where I stayed!

The main house...where we had breakfast, lunch and dinner!

The back of the main house where most of the eating and cooking took place.

Again I had a great weekend and as you can tell from the pictures the weather could not have been any better! I also had to save some of the "scenic pictures" for a Wordless Wednesday post.

Update on Shep...

Paige was home this afternoon and posted an update! Please click here to read the update! Also, she posted pictures of the little guy!

Welcome To The World...

GEORGE SHEPARD CONDRAY

He was born yesterday at 1:45pm. Please pray for this sweet baby boy! He is having some breathing issues and is spending some extra time in the hospital. He is on oxygen and antibiotics. He had a good night last night..which is wonderful news!
Also, please pray for his parents and his siblings!
I will update as I know more!

Spent The Weekend In Kansas...

I went to Lane, KS this weekend. A couple of my friends hosted a large group of their friends at his family's farm. It was a great time and the weather could not have been better!

I left on Friday evening for Kansas City. I was originally scheduled to leave at 5:20pm but didn't leave until 6:35pm...I became VERY familiar with the Nashville airport.

I've only been to Kansas once that was for a stop on the Huckabee book tour...I didn't see much of Kansas ONLY a book store! Oh and a hotel. Once I got to Kansas City I picked up a car that was left for me and I drive to Lane, KS...about an hour away...in the dark. Lots of poeple can testify to the fact that I do not have the best sense of direction but I made it to the farm without any problem...I was pretty excited.

I got to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time. We got to catch up and meet some new people. However the most exciting part of the weekend is one of my very dear friends got engaged on Saturday afternoon. So Saturday night we celebrated the engagement!

Great weekend, great friends!

I'll post pictures later in the week! I hope everyone has a great week!

Wordless Wednesday

Great Day & Weekend...

I was in Arkansas this weekend! I had a great time!

Friday night I got to meet/hang out/eat dinner with some wonderful friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. Saturday I went over to see baby Brylee's room. I can't WAIT for her to get here and meet her.

I've had a wonderful birthday today....I had lunch with Mom, Dad, Blake and Kristen! Mom also cooked breakfast for me and I got to take a birthday nap :)! Now I'm back in Tennessee safe and sound!

I'm glad I got to see everyone while I was in Arkansas!

Thanks so much for all the comments, text messages, calls and facebook messages! I have the greatest family and friends...Love you all!

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun.

Enjoy the trip. ~Author Unknown

I love birthdays, other people's birthdays and MY birthday! I really don't have any issues with getting older...I'm 32 today! I look forward to another year! I just think birthdays are fun! What's not to be excited about!?!??!

SO TRUE....

Paige found this and sent it to me! I had to put it on my blog! So true! If there is a choice between anything and chocolate...I pick chocolate no question!

Wordless Wednesday...

1 year ago...

Playing along with Paige....here's my post from one year ago today.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Fish Pedicure Anyone?...

Fish pedicures: Carp rid human feet of scaly skin

Watch the video

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - Ready for the latest in spa pampering? Prepare to dunk your tootsies in a tank of water and let tiny carp nibble away. Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the D.C. area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said 5,000 people have taken the plunge so far.

"This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet," Ho said. He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary. Ho was skeptical at first about the fish, which are called garra rufa but typically known as doctor fish. They were first used in Turkey and have become popular in some Asian countries. But Ho doubted they would thrive in the warm water needed for a comfortable footbath. And he didn't know if customers would like the idea. "I know people were a little intimidated at first," Ho said. "But I just said, 'Let's give it a shot.' "
Customers were quickly hooked.

Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md., heard about it on a local radio show. She said it was "the best pedicure I ever had" and has spread the word to friends and co-workers. "I'd been an athlete all my life, so I've always had calluses on my feet. This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely," she said. First time customer KaNin Reese, 32, of Washington, described the tingling sensation created by the toothless fish: "It kind of feels like your foot's asleep," she said. The fish don't do the job alone. After 15 to 30 minutes in the tank, customers get a standard pedicure, made easier by the soft skin the doctor fish leave behind. Ho believes his is the only salon in the country to offer the treatment, which costs $35 for 15 minutes and $50 for 30 minutes. The spa has more than 1,000 fish, with about 100 in each individual pedicure tank at any given time.

Dennis Arnold, a podiatrist who four years ago established the International Pedicure Association, said he had never heard of the treatment and doubts it will become widespread.
"I think most people would be afraid of it," he said. Customer Patsy Fisher, 42, of Crofton, Md., admitted she was nervous as she prepared for her first fish pedicure. But her apprehension dissolved into laughter after she put her feet in the tank and the fish swarmed to her toes. "It's a little ticklish, actually," she said. Ho said the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn't support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available—including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can't bite it off.

In addition to offering pedicures, Ho hopes to establish a network of Doctor Fish Massage franchises and is evaluating a full-body fish treatment that, among other things, could treat psoriasis and other skin ailments. Ho spent a year and about $40,000 getting the pedicures up and running, with a few hiccups along the way. State regulations make no provision for regulating fish pedicures. But the county health department—which does regulate pools—required the salon to switch from a shallow, tiled communal pool that served as many as eight people to individual tanks in which the water is changed for each customer. The communal pool also presented its own problem: At times the fish would flock to the feet of an individual with a surplus of dead skin, leaving others with a dearth of fish. "It would sometimes be embarrassing for them but it was also really hilarious," Ho said.

It grosses me out a little but I think I would do it!

What do you think?

Book Review...

Have you read Redeeming Love? If you have you loved it I'm sure...I did. I have a book series for you Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers. It is a three book series. I read the first two books really quickly...I'm one of those readers that will stay up late into the night reading when I have a good book! I didn't think she could write another book that was/is as good as Redeeming Love but the first two books of this series are AWESOME! I haven't read the third book but I've been told that it is just as good as the first two.

The books are Christian novels...which normally that is a total turn off for me...because most of the other Christian novels that I have read are totally CHEESY! These books are different. If you haven't read Redeeming Love you should. If you want to learn more about Francine Rivers and her books...click here!

Nashville....

Sunday we went to the Adventure Science Center in Nashville. The museum was geared more for kids we still had a good time. We finished up the day at Joe's Crab Shack. Pictures are below...

Can you find Blake in this picture?

The Nashville sky line from the science museum

I had a lot of fun with Blake and Kristen while they visited! It was a busy weekend but a blast!