A New DO!

I needed a change! My hair was basically lifeless. So I decided it was time for a new perm, which is the only way my hair has any body to it. When I made up my mind, I headed to the local salon, but found out that my hair was damaged and if I attempted a perm...Well my hair would most likely fall out. So we (my wonderful stylist and I) started on a conditioning program, which I highly recommend even if you don't have damaged hair. We did a couple of protein treatments and changed my shampoo and several days later I was ready for curls.

First the before picture. The picture was taken about a week ago at my friend April's wedding. It's not the best before picture, and my hair doesn't look all that bad (thanks to a lot of hairspray). But trust me when I say it was bad.


Now here is my new do! I really like it. It is so easy to take care of. A little mouse and some Biolage' Silk Therapy (and that stuff is amazing!) and I'm ready to go. Now these were taken with my web cam, which I have never used before today so they aren't real good. But be impressed that I figured out how to use it all my self.




I still need to get it colored but that won't happen until at least December and that gives me plenty of time to decide whether I should become a redhead or stay blonde.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

Today my hubby and I have been married for 13 years. Hard to believe. So much has happened in those years. Last week, to celebrate we took a little road trip to Nashville, TN. The kids were on fall break (good planning on our part, huh) so we didn't have to worry about school and how we would get them there and all the after school activities that we have during the week.

When we first arrived at the hotel, our room wasn't quite ready, but since the hotel was right by the Country Music Hall of Fame I talked Bryan into going there while we waited. He really didn't want to go. He's not a big country music fan (although I am slowly bringing him around to where he can at least tolerate some of my favorite groups). This is an incredible museum and well worth a visit if you are in Nashville. Everything from the very earliest folk music to stuff from today's top artist are here. A cadillac that belonged to Elvis as well as his gold piano is here. Gowns worn by Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton and a couple of Porter Wagner's suits are also on display. That evening we had reservations at a restaurant that was voted most romantic and best chef in Nashville a few years ago. It was very nice inside and the food was delicious. They even decorated our table in honor of our anniversary. Later that night I talked Bryan into going to a honky tonk. Tootsie's Orchard Lounge was packed but it was still fun and the band/singer Scott Collier was really good. The drummer playing that night played the drums for Tim McGraw's song Live Like You Were Dying.
Friday morning we got up and headed over to Centenniel Park to see the Parthenon. This is a replica of the one in Athen's built for Tennessee's Centenniel and when the celebration was over it was to be torn down. Fortunately the people of Nashville didn't want that to happen and after a huge restoration project the Parthenon still stands today.
The small statue of Nike in Athena's hand is 6 feet tall if that gives you any indication how tall she is. For lunch we went to the one place that I wanted to go to in Nashville--Jack's Barbeque. Recommended to me by LuAnn McLane, one of my favorite authors, and having been here last November with my friend Rhonda while we were at the National Clogging Convention, I wanted Bryan to try it and it was just as good as I remember it. Checking out of the hotel, we headed over to Opry Mills which used to be the amusement park Opryland. This is one HUGE shopping/outlet mall and we were there over 3 hours and that's with only going in a few stores. One that we loved was called Black Lion. A large consignment type store made up of individual "sections" where we got a bit of Christmas shopping done. Very neat place and I really wish we had one here. We had a wonderful time despite the fact that it rained on Thursday (and the annoying drizzle kind too). Who knows where we'll go next year although I wouldn't mind going back to Nashville. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BRYAN!! I LOVE YOU!!

Pumpkin Picking Time

Some days I really don't mind when the kids' have a half day of school. Like when one of the busiest places to visit on the weekends in October is the pumpkin patch.

So with that in mind, we took off to the rolling fields full of pumpkins. Thanks to a fairly mild summer, the crop of pumpkins was good with many to choose from. That also works well when two of three kids are very picky about find the "perfect" one. The third and oldest of the 3 was not exactly thrilled that mom made him go and made him pick out his pumpkin and had to have his picture taken several times. Teenagers.

After finding our pumpkins and riding back on the tractor it was time to gather a few other goodies from the farm market. We ended up coming home with homemade apple butter, apple cider, caramel apple bread and pumpkin bread. It's kind of hard to not walk out of the farm market without one of those delicious treats this time of year.

Then being the wonderful mom that I am, it was time to head over to the ice cream shop (again full of homemade treats). The boys were excited to find that they had apple cider slushees. Just look at that enthusiasm from the oldest. (Did I mention someone did not want me taking pictures of him.)

Despite some grumbling, fussing and just regular sibling gripes, we still had a really good time. It was a perfect day to go. Temps in the upper 70s with a light breeze.

I really love this time of year and wish it would last year round.



(I'm adding these next pictures so I can look back and see how big they grow over the next year, as darling daughter reminded me---"You have to take my picture mommy so I can see how much bigger I am".)

Clogging Exhibition

This past weekend Toe Heel Express Cloggers, of which I clog with (not dance, but clog--big difference *g*) performed for about 350 people visiting Louisville for the National Religious Vocation Conference Convocation. It was probably our best performance of the year and definitely our most fun.

Here are a few pictures from our performance:


Don't we look AWESOME!!! By the end of our performance, the attendees were up and dancing around the tables and many of them came up afterwards to tell us much they enjoyed our performance. It was fun for us to see them enjoying it too. I don't think we have ever had a more enthusiastic audience (well except for our usual entourage).