the difference 5 minutes can make

the difference 5 minutes can make

June 25, 2012

You'd be surprised at what can happen in five minutes. Especially with fire in this south LA heat. But let me digress, I'll get back to the end of this later. 

So as usual on a Sunday afternoon we went to the church to workout, and made a pit stop at the BCM to pick up some music equipment. We were gone a total of an hour and a half tops. I was planning on leaving for Vidalia that night so I was pushing Jeremy to hurry up so I could come home and pack, because let's face it I do not like to drive through Baton Rouge in the dark. When we got home some guy had parked his huge truck behind my car, which immediately made me go on an on to Jeremy about how I had 10 minutes to hit the road and he had to move. Ha! Was I ever wrong.


Our neighbor's brother immediately runs to our can in a total panic saying how he needs in our attic and can barely spit out why, he just wanted our dogs our and in the attic. Something about a fire. And that right there is where the 2 hour delay of fun began. 


I walked into our house to fetch the dogs and was immediately hit with an overwhelming smoke smell. But I couldn't see anything so I assumed it was all out. We took the dogs out and our neighbor went for the attic. 

The was the scene in the backyard before the fire department arrived. Funny thing is I text this pic to one of our good friends and before I had the chance to explain what happened Gerard called and said he was coming over. Nothing makes a sucky situation light hearted like having friends around that you can joke with. 

I initially thought nothing was that bad because the firemen went in wearing nothing, however they immediately came out and put on full gear with oxygen tanks. That is about where I mentally lost it. My biggest irrational fear as a child was a fireman waking me up and being carried out of a smoke filled house. 

Apparently the whole thing got started because the guys next door had a fire going in their fire pit and they thought it was out, but some ash hit cardboard & a couch and went wild. It torched the couch and immediately spread into our attics. Luckily attic damage was restricted to the back of the house and all my antique and irreplaceable items are in the front. I would have died had something I couldn't replace had been lost. Died! 

I really couldn't say enough nice things about our pastor & his family, but to add to just had genuine and kind they are I had posted this on Twitter and within minutes our pastor had called Jeremy and his wife text me that we could stay with them. Most people would probably say sorry, but in a sucks to be you sort of way. But no we have honest to goodness good people as friends. I was very overwhelmed at the thought that people cared about us. We are really blessed with a great church family that cares about people and wants to live out the gospel and spread the word among nations. Of course I knew all this before a couch caught my attic on fire, but doesn't hurt to reiterate it myself. 

When we were talking to the fire chief after it was all said and done he told us that 5 more minutes and we would have been burned to the ground. Attic fires apparently eat your house up quick. 5 more minutes and I would have lost my furbabies, my antique Lincoln rocker that I cherish because my Nanny finished re-upholstering it hours before she died, wedding pictures, and a table that my parents had made for us when we were married. The dogs were in the back of the house, had the fire been in the front I would not have been able to get in and get them out. It just blows my mind. We got home just at the right time, the fire was put out just at the right time. 

God seriously protected us and my sanity. 

However with the sanity I did walk away with I am not sure what I packed, I know I grabbed a swimsuit and my wedding albums, and a few hair products. I have a sports bra and some shorts...but we will check and see just how much I am living out of my sister's closet for the rest of the week. Let's just be glad I was calmed down mentally enough to not take picture off the wall and strap a couple hundred pound table to the top of my car. 

Coping mechanisms for me apparently include but are not limited to eating string cheese and beef jerky I got at a gas station while blaring Hillsong all the way home. I did get home to find a box of homemade chocolate chip cookies, and we won't talk about the fact that I had four while I watched Dilbert on my iPad. I think I deserve the late night carb load after that though haha. 

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[Guest Post] Top Party Planning Tips for the Budget Conscious

[Guest Post] Top Party Planning Tips for the Budget Conscious

April 26, 2012

When Melissa sent me this post I was so excited to share it with y'all. Cheap party planning is my forte, and definitely how we planned our wedding. These tips are great for saving money on parties as small as a baby's birthday party to a full blown wedding. Leave Melissa  some comment love and let her know your favorite tip!

Top Party Planning Tips for the Budget Conscious

Parties are usually expensive, unless you put forth some effort to cut costs. If you’re planning an party, you may be wondering exactly how you can save some money and still throw the best party possible for the occasion. Here are some of the things you can do to cut back on the expenses of the party without skimping on the essentials:

·      Choose a venue carefully – Hosting the party at a party hall or other venue will usually cost you more money than hosting it at your own home would. If you’re throwing something like a rehearsal dinner for a wedding, you might not be able to get out of hosting it at a venue. If this is the case, you might want to ask friends and family members of the guests of honor to help you cover the costs. People are usually more than happy to donate a little bit of money to help make the party a success. Swallowing your pride a little bit and asking for financial help may feel uncomfortable, but it can save you some money.

·      Invite fewer people – You may be thinking: “A party is no fun without tons of people!” However, this isn’t always the case. A smaller, more intimate party can be more enjoyable for everyone involved. At smaller parties, the guests have a chance to meaningfully interact with each other, instead of having to mingle and stick to small talk. Plus, if the guest list is short, you’ll have to spend less money on food and supplies to accommodate the guests.

·      Consider DIY Decorations – Pick some flowers from your garden and stick them in vases. You can make a beautiful, elegant floral centerpiece out of flowers you’ve purchased from a local florist or flowers you’ve picked. There’s no need to pay for someone else to design the centerpiece. Just get creative and pair complimentary colors together, while focusing on keeping the overall appearance of the centerpiece balanced.

You can also spend some time making pretty paper decorations and banners. For instance, you could do something as simple as cutting stars out of colorful construction paper and then taping those stars on the walls around your home. There are a lot of attractive and festive party decorations you can make on your own, and DIY party decorations save you money.

·      Make all the food yourself – You don’t have to be a pro chef to make delicious party food. You just have to have some time. Look up recipes to make things like baked ziti and pizza. Generally, you can make Italian food in bulk for pretty affordable prices, and many Italian dishes are pretty easy to make. There’s no need to spend money having the party catered.

If you don’t have time to make all the food yourself, consider making the party a potluck, if that would be appropriate for the occasion. Potlucks ensure that you don’t have to spend a bunch of money on food and that there’s a delicious variety of food for the party guests to munch on.

·      Skip the DJ – You can hook your computer up to your stereo and play music from your iTunes account or from online music generator services like Pandora, Last.fm, and Spotify. You can pick the music for the party and create music playlists on Spotify and iTunes, or you can let a service like Pandora or Last.fm play random songs from a specific music genre.

In order to hook your computer up to your stereo, you’ll need to purchase a shielded stereo audio cable or other, similar kind of cable, depending on what kind of stereo you have. This type of cable will cost you around $7, which is considerably less expensive than what it would cost to hire a DJ or band for the party.

Saving money as you plan and throw a party does require some effort and thought. However, it’s completely possible to pull off a delightful party without breaking the bank. So, try out the tips above and stick your budget!

Author’s Bio: Melissa is a guest blogger and event planner. She writes for a variety of blogs about things like party planning, kids’ party planning, and party supplies, like Mario party supplies and baby shower supplies. 

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{the joy of not doing anything}

{the joy of not doing anything}

August 7, 2010

I don't know what has hit me lately, but I have not felt like blogging at all. I actually had a few recipes I did  and really don't feel like putting them up right now. Maybe next week. 


Anyway, last week, as you may have seen on Twitter, the band Jeremy is in played for a benefit concert. Don't ask me what it benefited, the lead singer of the headliner didn't say it clear or slow enough. What I did understand is that the money went to some Christian group that supports pre-term babies. Who knows.

That was last Friday. This past Wednesday was Jeremy's birthday. We ate sushi, I forgot my camera. But I also made a really good Banana's Foster cake. Only problem was that I had never frosted a layer cake before and it was so ugly that I called our friend whose husband was also one of the birthday boys and asked if everyone would just come by out house afterwards for cake. Thank goodness they agreed to it. It was dang ugly.

I forgot to buy candles for the cake so Ethan and Jeremy had to blow out my Creme Brulee candle from Lola's. Notice the ugly leaning cake with the frosting that is sliding off?

 I asked Bekah to serve the hideous cake to everyone. Bekah and her sister make beautiful cakes, they actually made the one for Ethan and Bekah's wedding back in June. I figured if anyone could cut that sliding cake without it falling apart it was her. Side note- I put skewers in it so it wouldn't fall apart...that didn't stop the leaning. 

Happy (late on the blog) 26th Birthday Jeremy! 

Like I told you in your birthday card...only 24 more years until your first colonoscopy. Don't take them for granted. Love you.


........................................


I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Let me fill you in on what I've done.

Nothing!

This is the second weekend of the summer that I haven't gone out of town for something wedding related(except the family reunion). Isn't it glorious to not do anything all day! 

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{anti-bday fun}

{anti-bday fun}

February 28, 2010

So Thursday was my 24th birthday. Was I excited about it? No, way...but yes at the same time. Everyone in my family cat attest to the fact that over the years I have hated birthdays with a major passion, this hate died down once they stopped singing to me. As a kid/up until high school my grandparents would take me to Shonny's or Ryan's to eat for my birthday, and every year those retched servers would show up singing. It took a few years but eventually I became wise to the upcoming events. Even at my Mom's birthday dinner one year I heard the servers coming towards us clapping and immediately took off running for the bathroom. I don't care who's birthday it is, I don't want to hear that song.

I'd have you know my sneaky kids pulled a fast one on me and found out it was my birthday and the next day when I walked into homeroom those suckers started singing. I ignored the whole thing and went along as usual, after the 3rd out of tune rendition of "Happy Birthday" I finally turned around laughing and told them they would all recieve conduct marks if another word was spoken. I hate that song.

Last year at work the same thing was pulled on me...granted they sing to me every time I go into the restaurant now. I rarely go in there at night shift much now for that reason.

Other than the singing we had a great time, and when I say we I mean we. Thursday night J and I went to our favorite sushi restaurant Samurai and then stopped by Eskamo's for ice cream. My wonderful husband can read my mind because as my present he bought me a new scarf, candy, and new running shoes. I had mentioned wanting new shoes but never once told him what kind...and I'll have you know he come home with the exact pair I wanted, hot pink and gray shocks. Whoop whoop!

Saturday my Mom and I used my birthday as a perfect excuse to go get facials at the Riverfront Spa in Vidalia. Neither one of us had ever had a facial, I though I like massages...until I had a facial. I'm telling you now, go get a facial. It was the absolute best thing ever and my skin looks awesome today. Yesterday evening Pop came by and we all ordered Fish Fry and ate Dippin Dots cake, yum yum. That was another one of J's surprises. I told him every year I get a ice cream cake from Dairy Queen and I didn't think this year should be different{wink wink} and he trumped my cake and decided to be sneaky and "stop by the mall for dinner" on our way out of town. Turns out it was strictly for cake pickup. I thought he was crazy, but again he thinks ahead. He had hid an ice chest in the trunk. Good man.

So if I had to rate it I'd give this birthday a 9 for minimal singing and tons of fun. Had I not had to hear that awful son Friday it would be a ten.

On a funny  note Wednesday a student asked when my birthday was and another student immediately butted in with "There are two things you don't ask Mrs. B, her birthday and her address!" I nearly fell in the floor laughing when she said that.

Hope you all have a great Sunday, I'm going to be eating my leftover fried pickles and Dippin Dots cake and playing with this little guy:

 

{photo www.twosuez.com}

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