Uppity Update

...On my bloggity blog.

Guess who is the best little barista in town?? Me, duh!

Remember last week when I was going to start volunteering at my church's coffee bar... well last night was my second week doing it and I LOVE it. All caps, serious wanna marry it, love it.

It is just a short shift and we are done by 8, but I really don't want to leave... I want someone else to come and order a big ol' mocha latte. Um, not a smoothie, though, because I make a mess with those... I digress, another story, another day!

Anyway, back to thinking about what an amazing barista I am...

It was my calling. I knew it, I knew it!

The Bees Knees

Yesterday BF and I went halfsies on a old school Mobile Traveler. Yep... that's right! We're the proud owners of a big ol' RV!!

We picked it up when it was dark, so I couldn't take a picture... but this guy above bares a striking resemblance.

Ours is way better and has so much more character though... the door doesn't match because the previous owner's son in law had a bit too much to drink and decided to move it with the awning still out. The replacement door was found on the internet and was the only part left of another RV that had gotten swept away in the devastating 2008 Parkersburg tornado.

It has thick orange shag carpet and is decked out in Iowa State posters, banners, etc.

There are four home games left... this thing is going to be a tailgating dream!

We can't stop when the season ends though... Oh no. Why stay in a Marriott when we can plug in to campgrounds all around Nation and vacation in real style!!

What Can I Get Ya?!

One of my life's dreams is to open a coffee shop. It would have big, huge comfy chairs, and it would smell like hazelnut candles... Sade and Sarah McLachlan would be soothing our souls.

It would be one of those places that you totally love going to, because we are so nice and happy and inviting and we know peoples names and how they like their coffee...

I could day dream for hours and hours about my presh little coffee house. But, alas, it is just a dream... I considered working at Starbucks or Caribou a night or two a week and pretending it was mine (minus telling people what to do asking to see profitability reports)... but working all day and then having a confirmed commitment at night seems like a bit more than I want to deal with.

But guess what!? My church has a coffee shop and they need volunteers! Woo hoo! It is going to be like working at my own coffee shop, but only when I want to! I am sooooo excited, you can't even imagine.

I start tonight. I will be sure to remind the person I will inevitably spill on that they have to forgive me... 7 times 70, right, this is church after all!

Try Try Again

I made a pact with myself Monday to not go to lunch at all this week, to save money... I have recently gotten in a really bad routine of going to grab this delicious salad from a deli close by.

The not going to get the salad part is going very well... the saving money part, not so much.

Monday had lunch from home, but went shopping and bought a new sweater. Fail.

Tuesday had lunch from home again! ...But decided I needed a pedicure. Fail.

Running to get a salad was way cheaper!

Next weeks pact will have to be to not only bring a lunch... but to not leave my desk!

Get In Line....... After Me.

My germaphobic issues may be getting a little out of hand. Even I can tell. Last week was the Iowa/Iowa State game, which is practically Iowa's Superbowl. Since it is our busy time, they couldn't very well just give us the day off, so we had a potluck. Potlucks are about the sickest thing I can ever imagine. The second I look at the homemade green bean casserole, I imagine someone coughing in their hand and picking a piece out to "taste test". And, then I want to barf.

One girl was nice enough to walk by my desk and tell me her contribution was store bought...Clearly, I am not doing a very good job of hiding my crazy.

Well. I can tell you that I certainly didn't do a very good job of it today, when I about took somebody out. Football tackle style.

A lady in our office is leaving; today is her last day. I really like her, because she always talks about drinking Busch Light and she wears totally funky jewelry. Important friendship basis factors. So, when I heard her stand up and start her walk around the office for goodbye hugs, I decided I would actually give her one. She seems healthy today, after all!

Right about then, I heard on of the girls nearby say, "Sorry you have to hug me and get my germs today!" THE HELL SHE WAS! I practically took off in a dead sprint to intercept; yelling, "Wait! Hug me first!" I wasn't going to allow this chick to swim in a Petri Dish before I got to say my proper goodbye!

I would like to think they saw my eagerness as sincerity, but I think they have me figured out...

Humpity Hump Day

Today, I feel a lot like this fella. Down in the dumps. I think it is because I totally love that it is getting chilly out. Weird, right, that I love something and it makes me down in the dumps?! I am not actually down in the dumps because I love the weather, but rather because there are things that I love, love, love that I am missing out on!

Like this weekend is the Pumpkin Festival, by my home town. And, instead of being in that presh little town, enjoying my family and the awesome pumpkin crap... I will be doing something that is not that. I don't know what, and it may even be fun... but it won't be that.

And, it is my totally busy season at work, so that means weekends at the office and that is making me a total grump too.

In other news, that I am too grumpy to really enjoy, but wanted to share anyway... because in a couple of days, I am going to love that I rediscovered it...

These guys do exist!

Where Two Or More Are Gathered

It makes me sad that in this Nation, One Nation Under God, formal prayer was banned at the memorial services for one of our Country's greatest tragedies.

When we take time to consider the hurt and pain and anger that was inside those that attacked us, how can we not, as a Nation, cry out to the Lord to thank Him for the Mercy and Grace that He shows us each and every day... and thank him for allowing us to find peace and comfort in the moments that will change our lives forever.

I may just have a tiny voice, but for that tragedy and for those that were affected by it, I will stand in the gap...

Dear Heavenly Father -

You held a father back for just an extra few minutes, because Your plan for his wife and children were bigger than that day. You looked upon a mother that lost her daughter and held her heart, allowing her to take her next breath, even though the pain was so deep she thought she couldn't. You pulled us out of the darkness of our doubts and fears in a time when that darkness was so consuming.

Thank you for the people you put into place during that time, that saved lives, that gave their lives, that endured so much to show your love.

Thank you for being the Great Protector and the Great Healer. Thank you for Your mercy and grace, that knows no boundaries.

In Jesus' Name - Amen.

Weekend Wrap Up

Boyfriend, the little babycakes and I went to his grandma's 88th birthday party Friday night. The cake balls were a huge hit! The preparation improvisation went completely unnoticed! His family is so much fun; it reminds me of being with my fam, because everybody is just so relaxed and joking and normal. I knew we had to drive home that night, but we started playing dice and I totally didn't want to leave. So, by the time we left, it was later than we wanted and it was storming so bad outside!

The second we started driving, we knew it was going to be a sketchy situation; we couldn't see even a foot in front of the car and the wind was really bad... but once we got to the highway (we were gravel roadin' it to this point) it seemed to let up just a bit. Perfect timing, since I have the bladder of a 3 year old... and had to ask bf to stop. He probably wanted to lean right over and push me out of the car. Because, it really does seem like every time my seat belt clicks in place, something in my brain sends a message to my bladder that within 10 minutes we should probably stop. And, tonight was not the night to be stopping for this nonsense. What's worse is that since I was already stopping, I figured it would be appropriate to get a cup of coffee as well. Time was just a tickin!

By the time I got outside, I could hardly open my car door, because the wind and the rain was so bad... my pit stop allowed the storm to catch up! BF's son was not having it at all, either. At. All. I was going to have to watch my back, for sure. BF may not have pushed me out for asking to stop, but there was nothing stopping this precious little spider monkey from attacking me and dumping hot coffee all over my lap for causing us to be in this scary situation!

So, down the road we headed. Or so we thought, we couldn't really tell. Every once in a while the lightning allowed us to confirm we were still on the road though, so we had that going for us. The car was shaking, the rain was going in circles and there was so much debris on the ground. If I would have been driving, you better believe I would have thrown up my arms and belted out Jesus Take The Wheel, Carrie Underwood style. BF was holding it together though. Right up until the car started vibrating and we happened upon a downed tree, completely covering the roadway. That's what got him, I think. So, we drove to the next town up and stopped at what we assumed was a fully operational hotel. We couldn't really tell though, because all the power was out.

You guys do know that I am deathly afraid of storms, right? Do I need to remind you of that? I was actually hoping for the spider monkey attack and spilled coffee, because then I wouldn't need to explain why grownups sometimes have accidents in their pants!

As we made our way to the rooms... led down the hallway by emergency lights and I happily announced "Boys in one bed, girls in the other! What a cool adventure!" I was secretly wondering if I had a permanent marker in my purse, so I could write my Social Security Number and next of kin of my thigh.

Anyway. We made it through the night though, safe and sound. The. End.

Chapter two.

Isn't this the longest bloggity blog I have written in years?! It's like I woke up this morning and decided to give you a little literary treat!

So I am going to get a little vulnerable.

Please hold.

Ok. I typically write about crazy happenings in my little neck of the woods and keep the serious-ness to myself. But, today, I decided that I am going to share a short little snippet of something with you. Because I got to thinking... that I would like to be able to look back a year from now, or 5 years from now and know just how happy I am in this very moment.

Yesterday, BF and I were headed home from him his hometown. No tornadoes this time! And a drive that would normally take about 2 hours (including bathroom breaks) took about 7 and I loved every second of it. We just drove and talked and went down roads we didn't know existed... and BF showed me a covered bridge. We even drew "BF + Charlie-Girl Forever" in it. It was a day that I wanted to have a million more of with him in my life.

Cheater Cheater Cake Ball Eater

We are visiting BF's hometown tonight to go to his gram's birthday party. Whenever we go there, I feel so bad, because I didn't prepare anything in advance of the visit and I show up to the party empty handed... and my mamma taught me better than that.

So, last night, I decided to make my famous cake balls. BF's little girl babycakes helped me!

Unfortunately, we were a little short on time and cake ball making is really an involved project. You have to bake the cake first, then smash it up with the frosting, then roll balls, then freeze it, then roll it in almond bark... Aren't you totally tired just thinking about doing all of those steps?! And, I don't even have eggs and oil... so this is a start from scratch process! With that, I decided to improvise.

Now... I know when you are baking with an impressionable little girl, you should teach her the proper ways to do things.

I have never even turned on my oven since I lived at my new place, though, so maybe learning anything from me in regards to food preparation is not the best idea.

Off to Walmart we went, to get a completely pre-made and decorated cake. And, some almond bark.

Step 1: Take the cake out of the container.

Step 2: Smash the whole thing up!

No extra ingredients needed! No dirty mixer! No need to wait for baking and cooling time!

We eliminated the first two hours of work!

Geeeeeeeeeeeenius!