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African Violet
I remember having these around the house as a kid. Eventually mom thought they were causing her headaches so we got rid of all the African violet. I always thought they were cool because their leaves were soft and fuzzy and they always had pretty little flowers.
When we moved to our new office I decided I wanted to get a few plants for my new desk. I knew I wanted some sort of air plant and I found 2 small ones at Lowes. I thought I had a pot big enough to plant them together but I didn’t so they ended up in 2 separate containers, which was fine. I also knew I wanted some sort of flowering plant. The only thing I could think of was an African violet. So while I was at Lowes I found a pretty purple one. I bought it and decided to use a container I already had. It was pretty much the same size so I broke up the roots added a little new soil and plopped that baby in there. Honestly I wasn’t sure what would happen. To my surprise, it is doing wonderfully. The first few weeks it looked a little rough so I dead headed what I could and removed the few leaves that weren’t growing but now it looks really nice.
Every few days I will have someone ask me what it is. When I say African Violet, most people respond with “oh my grandmother had those.” 🙂 I am not ashamed people! Not many people have flowers on their desks day in and day out but I do!
The flowers look blue in the pic but they are actually a pretty shade of purple.
~k
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Work
I know I haven’t been posting a lot lately. For a few weeks work was very very slow and life was pretty boring. Now things have picked back up a bit but mainly because I am now training for a new (similar) position.
Last year a contract and credit position opened up in another division, I wanted to apply but my manger at the time talked me out of it. Well a year later I am finally training for that position. The girl who currently does this job is the only person right now and she is bogged down. When my group merged with this other division, it kind of made sense for me to start helping her. While the jobs are similar in title, they are quite different. Mine is much more simplified due to the product we sell. The other job is much more detail oriented and very involved so I am going to have to learn a lot more. I don’t mind learning the new job but I want to make sure I do the best possible job I can.
I am excited though, I think this new role will really expand my knowledge and skill set. I also feel it is probably more in line with the way other companies handle contracts and credit.
~k
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Christmas decor
Here are a few pics of our holiday decorations so far.
Our Tree
The Mantel with my Nutcrackers
I am now collecting Nutcrackers. I need more!
Wreaths for the windows
I think I really need to do all 4 windows. Mom said she would pick up 2 additional wreaths if I wanted.
I have a few printables sitting around plus a few nutcrackers that I printed on old book pages. I saw the idea on Etsy and feel in love with them so I ran to Goodwill a week or so ago to find used books. I didn’t really find what I was looking for but it works for now.
~k
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What I bought vs what I wore
The other day at JCPenny I bought a cute pair of wool shorts with a little bit of shimmer. At the whooping low price of $13.00 I knew I couldn’t pass them up. Then I found a cute red top also with a bit of shimmer. They looked cute together but I could also wear the shirt to work so it was win win.
As the week progressed, I started to think the outfit might not be quite as dressy as I would like so yesterday at lunch I decided to run to Marshall’s just to see what they had. I found a couple of cute dressy dresses but nothing I felt would work with the booties. Next I headed to Target for a pair of tights. I walked through the clothes and just when I was about to leave the section I noticed a cute sequined purple top. At $25.00 I knew it was mine. I grabbed my size and was on my way.
I left work early to start getting ready for the company party. I spent a good chunk of my time painting my nails. I think I did a decent job considering. Once I was ready to get dressed I put on my new top, tights, shorts and shoes. Needless to say I was very happy with my ensemble. And happy I got a new shirt.
So without further ado, here’s what I bought and what I wore.
~k
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It’s a football post
About two weeks ago Auburn fired their current head coach Gene Chizik. After an embarrassing 3-9 season it was time for him to go. No one should really be surprised since his record was 5-19 when he was hired a few years ago. Fans were so upset they actually boo’ed him getting off the plane when he was hired. Then came the 2010 season. Chizik, along with super star player Cam Newton, led the Tigers to a perfect season that was capped off with a Nation Championship.
The next year Cam left and the team was not the same but they did not have the terrible season we faced this year. I stopped watching the games because we looked awful. It was like watching a train wreck and you could do nothing about it. Even my crazy football superstitions weren’t enough to help.
Needless to say the fan base was not sad to see Chizik receive his walking papers. Then the hunt for a new coach began. Several names were thrown around, each of which stirred some sort of emotion with the fans. I had a few ideas of who I would like but I figured our AD wouldn’t make the best choice. When you have a powerhouse school like Alabama a few miles up the road you really need to think about who can bring your school back to a competitive level. But I don’t want competitive! I want a coach who is going to come in and DOMINATE! (I guess every school hopes this but I feel like it should be Auburn.)
Last night it was announced that former Auburn OC and current head coach for Arkansas State Gus Malzahn had been hired. Okay so we could do worse right? Sure. But could we do better? Hell yeah! Granted Gus was at Auburn for the 2010 season and National title but he’s only been a college head coach for one year! To me, he has yet to prove himself. For the most part the fans seemed to welcome Gus back to the Plains but only time will tell what will really happen. Is he “the” guy? Will he take us back to a NC? Will he beat our rivals? At this point I guess he just needs to win more than 3 non conference games.
Only time will tell where our program will go but if we want chance, we need a change and we need to start at the top. I’m looking at you AD Jay Jacobs! May your time on the Plains is short!
~k
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Can we talk about “the New JCPenny?”
I know a while back they decided to “slash” their prices but truth be told I probably haven’t been to a JCPenny in 5+ years. I know I haven’t been since I moved to NC since the closest one is in North Hills, which isn’t on my normal shopping route. (And let’s be honest, JCPenny isn’t really a place I would shop.) Last week however, I just happened to stumble across some fantastic glittery booties and I decided I MUST have them for my company holiday party this week. I also found some really cute dresses for $20. $35 and $40. (I’ll post pics of the whole outfit on Friday.)
On Saturday I hopped in the car and headed to North Hills to check out “the new” JCPenny. I was a little overwhelmed when I first walked in the store. It was a good bit bigger than I expected it to be but I found the shoe department fairly quickly. I found my awesome booties and asked for my size. The guy brought out the shoes but the 6.5 was a little tight, and I like my boots to be a little big, so I asked for a 7. They were out of 7’s so I asked for a 7.5. They are a bit big but nothing an insole can’t fix.
Once I paid for my shoes I decided to look for the dresses. I was totally blown away! Not really with their dresses per se but with their selection of clothing and more so by the prices. Most everything I picked up was under $30.00. I found several cute dresses that had good prices and tried them on. I couldn’t settle on anything so I decided to keep browsing. I kind of had my heart set on a pair of mini shorts and a top. Everywhere I looked I saw something glittery so of course I was in heaven.
I spent the next hour and a half walking around the store picking up items to try on and looking at the multiple clearance racks that said $4.00 and up or 8.00 and up. And for the most part the items on those racks were close to that price. Not just like one item listed at 4.00 and the rest at 19.00.
Guys, this might be my new fave place to shop! I’m not kidding. Had I been looking for more than one outfit I probably could have spent $100.00 easy and come away with 4-5 outfits. Most of the clothing I looked at was pretty good quality. I didn’t feel it was super cheap like some places (I’m pointing at you Forever 21!) I feel like I could buy items here that would last more than one season and it wouldn’t break the bank either.
So there, I’ve said it. Go check out JCPenny! You might be pleasantly surprised. I know I was. And just for the record, the North Hills store was pretty clean and orderly. I can’t say the employees were super friendly nor were they dressed as nice as most retail places (most were in jeans) but this won’t stop me from going back.
~k
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This ain’t no fashion blog – Pumps
Yesterday I walked into the office with one of our HR girls. She was dressed nicely in business clothes, I of course in jeans, but I couldn’t help but notice her shoes. Ugh! I’m not much for plain pumps to begin with but these has horribly long, pointed toes. As we walked I kept wondering how in the world she wasn’t tripping over the long pointy tips. I would have killed myself. Not to mention after a day of wearing something like that they would be all scuffed to hell. Clearly I’m not the best walker in the world. 🙂
Here is a pic I found similar to what she had on.
This is the best pic I could find and maybe they weren’t quite that pointy but they had a nice point to them.
Honestly I HATE shoes like this. I don’t think they are attractive AT ALL! Not to mention, where do your toes go? (Yes I know I have freakishly long toes but still.) I think they look unattractive and uncomfortable.
Just so you know what I’m talking about I found another pic of some pointy toe pumps that I do approve of. Would I wear them, probably not. (Long toes anyone?) But I do at least think these look nice and attractive.
I have plans to start with the Christmas decorations tonight so wish me luck!
Happy Friday!
~k
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Holiday Humbug?
I feel like Thanksgiving was super early this year and I’m having problems getting into the Christmas spirit. Last Friday Mom and I braved the crowds, at lunch, to do a little Black Friday shopping. We found a few items and I bought a few more gifts for Matt.
When we finally got home, I pulled in to the driveway and what did I see, Christmas lights on the house! My awesome husband had put them up without me even mentioning it. I think he grumbled something about it being cold as balls over the weekend and Friday was in the 60’s. 🙂 Whatever, I now have lights up outside!
On Sunday he asked if I wanted to help him get the Christmas stuff out of the attic, to which I grumbled, NO! I wanted to have a super lazy day and I had no interest at all in starting to decorate. I still have no interest. My goal all along had been to decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving so hopefully I will be more in the spirit by Friday.
I have decided I want to hang some wreaths on the 2nd floor windows. This could be a challenge but Matt has said he will help. He probably would prefer I not kill myself trying to get them up. Hopefully the windows open for cleaning and we can just stick them out that way. If not I have plans to hang them from the 3rd floor windows using fishing line. Should be interesting. 🙂
Happy Tuesday!
~k
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Matt and I had a nice thanksgiving day. We woke up, finished straightening up the house and waited to begin lunch. Matt put the turkey in the fryer a little after noon and my parents arrived around 1:30. I started the rolls when they arrived and then began cooking around 2:00. Everything went fairly well and by 4 we were almost ready to eat. The stupid corn casserole took a lot longer to cook than the recipe said but it turned out to be a fan favorite.
On the menu this year we had turkey, of course, dressing – it was okay, Mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, green bean casserole – which was actually my least favorite dish, and homemade dinner rolls. I think we now have an Edwards family menu. I can’t believe I forgot to take a pic of our spread. 🙁
I mentioned I was making homemade apple pie on Wednesday night. Peeling the apples was the WORST but making the crust was pretty easy. The pie itself was delicious. It is definitely getting added to the menu but not until I get an apple peeler. I told Matt he was lucky he hadn’t asked for this or he would have been peeling apples. Ugh! I did take pics of the apple pie process so I will share those. 🙂
I hope everyone had a great day!
~k
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Faux Thanksgiving
Last week, Matt decided he wanted to fry a turkey this weekend so we picked one up at the grocery store along with a few other items for our Thanksgiving meal. We decided we would run to Costco and get another turkey for Thanksgiving. Well while at Costco yesterday we couldn’t find a turkey the right size for Thanksgiving so we grabbed a smaller one to fry when we got home. We didn’t think it was frozen until Matt started to cut it open and then he realized the inside was still just a tad frozen.
Matt put the bird in the fryer and we let it cook for a while before I started a few side items. I made some sweet potatoes, which were delicious and stuffing. The stuffing was a little lacking for me and I added some cranberries to my side. I think I’m going to have to play with that a little more. It was also a little too gooey so I’ll adjust my cooking on Thursday. We also made some gravy. It was pretty tasty but it wasn’t quite thick enough for my taste so we might adjust that a little bit more as well.
The bird looked pretty delicious out of the fryer but there were a few spots close to the bone not quite cooked. We just ate around it. 🙂 It was delicious. I’m kind of glad we did a little test run before Thursday, not that we really did anything on the menu but dinner was yummy!
~k