Weekend Recap: Donuts, Camping, PJs, Prayer & Downton!

The second weekend of January is totally in the books.  It was a fast one <sniff, sniff> but it was a great one.  Here's a brief recap of this chick's sweet weekend!

Friday - 

One reason I adore our church is all the kid friendly activities they offer.  Seriously, that means the world to my husband and I.  Each month during the school year they offer a Parent's Night Out.  For three hours and a very small fee you can drop your kids off for dinner, crafts, games and a movie.  I l-o-v-e this.  It means a lot to me now that my husband has crazy hours and child rearing is mainly left to me.  The flip side is this - I get so lonely!  No one was available on Friday night to go to dinner so I was a bachelorette.  

My "free time" consisted of Taco Bell (I am in a mild state of depression that the Quesarito Big Box is gone), Target (I had to return some shoes for my daughter but also really scored some adorable Valentine's loot from the Dollar Spot), a Big Lots walk through (I swear that place is laced with crack, I'm addicted to walking around Big Lots.), and of course a Krispy Kreme stop.  You're thinking damn Gina on the calories.  However, I balanced them out and didnt go over!

Later in the evening, after the kids were asleep, the husband was home and watched Gold Rush.  He likes it....I think it is man's soap opera.  

Saturday -  

It is safe to say if you read or follow on FB you know I love to camp.  Clarification:  camp in a camper not in a tent.  I would do a tent for a night or two with no kids.  But that's it.  I like a mattress.  As you may also know we have a pop up camper.  Well, the hubs has had campers on the brain for a few weeks and he's ready to start considering upgrading and getting a new camper...in the next 12-13 months.  Saturday was his day off so he was ready to go look at campers around our area.  Little did either of us know there was a Camper & RV show going on in Greensboro.  After his step mom let that little secret out guess where we were headed?

It was the Little Man, hubs, and myself.  Our diva was left at her Pappaw's to help with the cows. I mean c'mon calves or campers when you are eight?  Exactly.

For a mild rip off of $20 we basically saw a gazillion of the same campers.  I will tell you this RV/Camper show was a bust and a racket.  Clarification:  For people like myself it was a waste and a racket.  If you're into seeing thirty-five of the same camper layout then go to the show in Charlotte or Raleigh.  If you're not into seeing thirty-five of the same camper or if you're not into seeing a trailer home on steroids that you can drive or pull around the country that you could never get a little dirt in because the thing is nicer than your regular home then stay away.  I was really hoping to see more booths on places to camp in and around the Southeast but um...yeah that was pathetic too.

At least we got some Mexican afterwards! 

PM- 

It was a rainy day and so by 5:45 I had on my pajamas, the kids were bathed, and we were vegged out in front of The Lion Guard on Disney Jr.  For us who remember the original Lion King this show sucks.

We watched some football (it sucked too, didn't it Texan fans?  Oh and Cincinnati, you are so ghetto.  I mean we knew Pittsburgh was but damn.)

Then we all crashed.

Sunday - Slept in and went to the late service at our church.  A great message about prayer and how it changes things.  I can attest to that wholeheartedly.  It has changed several situations for me for the better.  I signed up for a Women's Bible Study.  Can I just say that I have found it is really a great ingredient to forming a good year by going ahead and enrolling in a study or class.  Last year we did the Marriage Study in January and it really set our year up to be great.  After church we had a grocery run for things I failed to put on my list (oops!)  The hubs went to work and I worked on getting the house ready for another busy week and setting up Downton to record.  Yeah baby.

Simmer on this quote for the week ahead:

What's Going on in North Carolina....This weekend!

This weekend in my little state of prettiness (and agriculture)....

Apparently where I live you can get pickles, eggs, chickens, and cows.....at first I thought it said poison for pickles. LOL

Winston-Salem - Happy birthday to our local gem, Krispy Kreme!  Bailey Park, 9a-12noon on Saturday is the birthday party and you are invited.  Tons of fun and donuts.  We went last year, its crowded but fun!



Salisbury - Time to shop in Historic Downtown Salisbury.  Krazy Klearance Sidewalk Sale and Karnival (yes I know those are C words but this is Salisbury we're talking about, just kidding!)  Come out on Saturday from 1p-9p for great deals in the Downtown Shops and fun for the family.

Spruce Pine Bluegrass & BBQ Festival - Beginning on Friday Spruce Pine is hosting a BBQ contest and bluegrass festival.  Entry to the festival is free but there are some charges for the music areas.  This project is sponsored by the local Rotary Club and money raised will go to their various charities.  You may want to head to Mitchell County to cool off if the 90 degree temps don't suit you.

King's Mountain - History buffs this is for you!  Liberty Mountain is a powerful war drama that is focused around a battle that changed the shape of the Revolutionary War.  The production will be presented this weekend.  Tickets are $15.   After you enjoy that then head to the Beach Blast for beach music bands, water fun, watermelon contests, vendors, and fun.  It's Myrtle Beach a couple hundred miles inland!



China Grove -  Oooohhhh ohhhh China Grove....sing a long.  Saturday in China Grove (see you can go to Salisbury and then go to China Grove because they are close together, two for one, score!) is the 33rd Annual Farmer's Day.  It may just be worth the drive for the Little Mr. & Mrs. Farmer Contest.



Benson - You don't have to look for Copperhead Road just go to Johnston County and check out one of North Carolina's premier Moonshine Distilleries.  Broadslab Distillery offers $12 tours that include the history and science of moonshine making and you get some freebies in return.  Restrictions apply.


What else is happening fellow NC'ers?  Share it in comments.  Or put it on the Facebook page!

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Fun June Dates!

June is here!  This month is the month for:

Aquariums are a favorite in ABW

Aquariums (honored this month)
Candy
Dairy
National Fresh Fruits and Veggies
and...
Turkey Lovers Month (not making that one up)

The first week of June is National Fishing Week!

Are you an old maid?  Well don't be down and out!  June 4th is your day!  Yes, it is Old Maid Day.



June 5th head over to Krispy Kreme and get a FREE donut in honor of National Donut Day!

June 7th is Chocolate Ice Cream Day....I know that will make many of you happy as a lark.

June 8th make a point to call your BFF....its Best Friend's Day!

June 9th is Donald Duck Day...I still cannot talk like that crazy Duck, can you?

June 18th is Go Fishing Day....so you know where we'll be.  Pack a picnic when you go fishing to observe National Picnic Day, which is also June 18th!

June 21st is the longest day of the year AND Father's Day AND summer's official start.

Need an idea as to what to wear on June 23rd?  Wear pink!  Its National Pink Day!

You love your hair stylist so celebrate he or she on June 26th.

Have a great June!!!

Guns, wine, & donuts

2.11.13 Raining again.

Good Monday to ya!

A little housekeeping - I share my blog link via Twitter nowdays.  So if you are a Facebooker who is wondering why I haven't posted links - read yesterday's blog post.  I am no longer a part of the FB land. 

48 hours post FB - still breathing and living.  Its been a great choice thus far!

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I hope you guys had a terrific weekend!  We did.  Saturday was probably the longest day on the planet for my husband and I.  We decided to be good law abiding citizens and take our conceal to carry course.

The word boring doesn't do that class justice.

We had nearly 9 hours of brutal boredom.  The only time that seemed to catch our attention and keep it was the thirty minutes on the range.

My husband and I have either great luck or bad luck, we don't get that in between luck ---- ever.  So when we took our handgun, which we purchased a few days before because the other one is very crappy, to shoot on the range portion of the class - it jammed up.  Jammed up handgun - uncool.

Needless to say my husband ended up using the instructor's gun.

I used a larger caliber, smaller bodied gun.  And it kicked......the recoil was out of this world.

My husband's target.

My target - bad recoil for me.  I think plastic surgeons would appreciate me.

As you are reading this you are probably thinking out of one of two schools of thought:

School 1:  Gun nut.

School 2:  Cool.

Let me clarify my stance here -

I took the conceal to carry class because I want to have the permit in the event my gun is in my car when I get pulled for a taillight being out.

I took the conceal to carry so if the day ever comes that carrying a gun is truly warranted, I can do it.

I didn't take the class because I'm some freakshow who is in love with guns and bang bang blow 'em up.

I didn't take the class because I'm paranoid.

I took the class to be a law abiding citizen who has a couple handguns.

And P.S. I'm pretty good with it - so don't mess with me.

And P.P.S. I never want to have to use it against anything other than a distempered fox, rabid raccoon, or a big fat bad copperhead.

I advise anyone who wants personal protection to take the class because you'll find out - you cannot shoot anyone at any time unless they are breaking into your home (NC) or they have beat you to a bloody pulp and won't stop.

Anyway, the class was an eye opener.  Many of the people in it - personal thought - didn't need a gun within 150 feet of them....due to advanced age, questions they asked, and some of them had strong paranoia going on....tis the world today.

I left with a stronger idea of what to do in a situation - run.  If you run you'll probably keep your life and stay out of jail.  If I had to pull a gun I think that would be a hard task....my job isn't to take life but to respect it.

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Post Law Abiding Citizen training we had to celebrate....glass of wine was much needed.  The buffalo chicken dip was an added incentive.

Then a trip to the grocery store for more wine.

Why is it when you meet someone in person for the first time you have to look bad?  A friend of my little darling's is up for a play date with us one weekend when the weather starts looking more spring flowers than spring showers.  I had conversed with the dad at school drop off and pick up.  The mom, only through email.

So it was only fitting that I should meet the mom on my wine run....in the beer section....of the grocery store.  In my arm are two bottles of wine, gingerly cradled.  In my husband's hand a box of beer.  I of course had to blow it off with humor.  Then I realized - hey they are in the alcohol section too!  My two bottles of wine and my husband's box of beer all in our arms matched up to their six pack....yeah feeling like real winner now.

Ok so only one bottle was for me - the other a thank you to my mom for watching my children and her demential riddled mother.

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I didn't even break the seal on that wine....I was too tired.  I passed out on my own accord.

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Do you know why I love my husband?  (Valentines Day is around the corner, lets talk love)

I love my husband because Sunday morning was spent in peace in Target.....alone.  The mission - to purchase some dirt cheap Pampers, get a giftcard for buying said Pampers, and come on home.  Target at 8:45am on a Sunday is a blessed place.  No children, no annoying voices, no long lines....just a few people in a big store. 

I was able to aimlessly roam the store....score the diapers, the giftcard, and two shirts for my Hulk baby on clearance for $2 a piece.  The little princess even score a pair of yoga pants for dance and or soccer.

I even had time to run in Michael's - and get great ideas for the design of my kitchen when we tear it apart.

How did I celebrate this lovely time to myself?  The picture says it all.  When I got home with heaven's melt in your mouth gifts of love.....my little princess was pleased as punch.  (And the baby was asleep!)

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Yesterday I made a London Broil.  It was my first attempt at this cut of meat.  I can perfect it as I try again however it went over rather well.

I made my own marinade -

1/3 c worcestershire sauce
3 cloves of garlic cut up
1/2 a large yellow onion cut up
Black Pepper

It soaked for about four hours in that.

I scored it.
Then broiled it for about 10 minutes per side.

Served with couscous (I buy Near East, yummy) and sauteed yellow squash and portabellos.

Delish!

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Have a good Monday.....tv tonight:  How I Met Your Mother (CBS 8e), Dallas, Monday Mornings!

<----- TV cannot stand a chance when my little man is jumping his heart out! Then the sister joins in...pretending she's in one too......hilarious.



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Until we meet again -


                                     Brownie