fill in the blank friday

It's the most exciting time of the year!  My mom is already in town and in two days my dad and sister will be here.  And it's only four days until Christmas!  I know Beckett will have no idea what is going on but I am SO looking forward to his first Christmas.  Blanks are from the little things we do.  

1.  Something I swore I'd never do, but have ended up doing anyway is    live in a small town (especially in the Panhandle region).  The funny thing is a lot of my friends have ended up moving back to Dalhart since I made the big move nearly five years ago and my best friend will soon be in that statistic come next month.  Yay!   .

2.  Something I've always wanted to do is  see the world and experience different cultures.  I am slowly working on this goal but I know I will never be able to completely cross it off my to-do list   .

3.  Something I have absolutely no desire to ever do is   jump out of or off of anything.  I have an extreme fear of heights and staring down death just doesn't appeal to me  .

4. The best thing I ever did was   move to a small town (see question #1).  Daniel is here to stay and I am so glad I could get over my phobia of small-town living.  It's not so bad, but if Daniel did ever want to move, I wouldn't be opposed  .

5. When it comes to trying new things, I am  hesitant.  I will try most things but there are some that I won't.  I don't really do spontaneous so there would have to be a fair amount of warning and planning.  I like to plan .

6. One thing I've never done is  break a bone.  The first time I was ever hospitalized over night was when I had Beckett and I had never been in the hospital as a patient until my gallbladder surgery.  I am hoping to make it to the finish line with no broken bones  .

7.  My favorite thing do do is  spend time with Daniel and Beckett.  They are my favorite people and I love watching them together.  Beckett has started smiling a lot this week and makes me so excited to watch him grow  .

fill in the blank friday

It's Friday, which means I am hours away from the weekend, which means that Daniel will be home to help with the baby.  I have quickly realized that being a stay-at-home mom is a lot of work.  I am so thankful that I am able to stay at home but it is nice to have help in the evenings and on the weekends.  Plus, my mom will be back next week, so I will have help during the day.  Maybe I will be able to shower before 9pm.  That would be nice.

1.  When it comes to holiday shopping, I   do all of my shopping online, specifically at Amazon.  For the past two years, I have not bought a single gift in a store.  It is so much easier and I get two free-day shipping since I am Prime    .

2.  A few things on my Chritmas wish list are...  a baby food maker, a Le Creuset french oven, and season 3 of Downton Abbey     .

3.  An intangible gift I would like to receive is   a full night's sleep. That would be amaze-fest USA  .

4. A gift I would like to give this year is   to find the perfect gift for Daniel.  He is the hardest person to shop for.  No kidding, Today Show did a segment on technology-related gifts and he already owned every single item.  Maybe I'll just slap a bow on the baby and call it good  .

5. My Christmas will be spent  at our home with my family.  We are so excited that they are coming and even more excited to start some new traditions with Beckett. .

6. My most favorite Christmas gift of all time was  a Coach purse that my parents got me.  I wanted it so bad and I thought that there was no way I would ever get it.  It was the beginning of my love affair with handbags.  I also love my DSLR camera  .

7.  The best thing about the holidays is  the decorations and the general sense of goodwill among people .

fill in the blank friday

Travel themed blanks from My Name is Purl make me very happy.  I love to travel.  In fact, we are currently planning our 2013 vacation.  I will blog more about it later but I am super duper excited.  

1. My favourite place I have visited (or would like to visit) in the US is New York City. What I love most about it is that there is so much to do and see.  I have been to New York twice and I know that the next time I go, I will be able to do and see things for the first time.  Plus, I love how all the neighborhoods have a flavor of their own.

2. My favourite place I have visited (or would like to visit) in Europe is Ireland. What I love most about it is the people and the landscapes.  I loved Ireland and would love to go back.  It is one of the only places I have traveled that I can imagine living.  We want to go back and drive this time.  It would be very interesting to see my husband and I in a car for a week.

3. My favourite movie (location wise) set in the US is any movie set in San Francisco because I think it is by far one of the prettiest cities in the US.

4. My favourite movie (location wise) set in Europe is The Holiday. Because it is set in the cutest English village ever and it makes me want to holiday in the English countryside even though I would be miserable due to the cold.

5. My favourite band/musician from the US is currently Jay Z.  He will always have my heart and I am still loving Watch the Throne.  Plus, have you seen the video of him taking the subway to his concert in Brooklyn?  He is just the best.

6. My favourite band/musician from Europe is currently Mumford and Sons.  I love their new album Babel and Beckett likes to listen to it as well. They are on my concert wish list.

7. I love where I live in Texas because people in the Panhandle have a lot of pride in where they live.  I also think there are a lot of good things about living in a small town.  It is amazing how we come together around those that are going through difficult times and it truly is sincere.

fill in the blank friday

I must apologize again for my lack of blogging.  My family was in town and then my mom had to leave earlier than expected for a meeting.  I am have been practicing my juggling.  I feel like the next 18 years  plus will be spent juggling my needs and Beckett's.  So far, he is winning in the priority contest.

1.  "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is..."   by remembering the reason for the season   .

2.  The holiday season is  even more exciting now that Beckett is here.  He's too young to fun things like Elf of the Shelf, but I am trying to establish traditions starting now.  I want him to look back on his childhood and see how special we tried to make it    .

3.  When it comes to holiday decorating...     it takes me a while to get motivated but I love it when I am done.  Last year I had a friend decorate for me and she did an amazing job.  I have continued her work and added a few more decorations.  I really love how sparkly everything is.   .

4. The thing I look forward to most about the holidays is   buying gifts.  It is no secret that I love to shop and I get a serious thrill out of finding the perfect gift for people.  I also like getting gifts if we're being honest  .

5. My favorite holiday tradition is  Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve.  My family has been doing this as long as I can remember and Beckett will get to enjoy this tradition .

6. This year my Christmas plans include  establishing new traditions.  In the past we have gone to my family's house or Daniel's but this year we are going to be staying local.  My family will be coming to town but we will be setting the expectation that Christmas day is about our little family.  I want Beckett to have memories of opening gifts at our home, not someone else's. 

7.  My favorite holiday food is  mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and all the sweets  .

fill in the blank saturday

Breaking news, babies keep you busy.  But really, they do.  Between feeding Beckett, doing his laundry, doing our laundry (which I would have to do less often if he didn't insist on spitting up on our sheets), taking care of the dogs, and all the other obligations I still have, I feel like I barely have time to breathe.  So these blanks are a day late and I have a blog about Beckett's birth half written.  I hope to post it tomorrow but I'm not making any promises.  Blanks are from the little things we do.

1.  My best quality is   that I am insanely organized and my memory.  I am great on committees because I make a mean list and I remember everything (well, most everything.  Having a baby has made things a little more fuzzy)   .

2.  One of my less flattering qualities is  that I can be too trusting and want to see the good in everyone even when they have shown their true colors.  I had a friend that was going around town saying really horrible things about me and I kept wanting to give her second and third and fourth chances.  She didn't stop and by trying to save our friendship, I gave her more insight into my life which she then turned into more lies about me.  We are no longer friends    .

3.  I'd rather be    sleeping.  I used to be able to sleep all day and then Beckett came along   .

4. Something I have been challenged with lately is   letting Daniel do things his way when it comes to the baby.  I am type A and it is hard for me to give up control.  I want help but at the same time I want things done my way.  I have had to accept help and the fact that sometimes it's easier to look away if it means I get a break  .

5. I am looking forward to  Thanksgiving!  My family will be in town and it's the first time my dad and sister have seen Beckett since he was discharged from the NICU.  Plus Thanksgiving means lots of food and decorating for Christmas.

6. A super random factoid about me is  that I have to be walking or moving around when I brush my teeth.  I cannot stand still and brush my teeth.  Maybe I feel like it is more affective if I am moving  .

7.  I want to  plan our anniversary trip, which will be our first trip sans baby.  I am completely unprepared for how hard it will be to leave him, but I now that vacations are good for both my soul and sanity.  I have an idea of where we are going to go but I need to start doing my research  .

fill in the blank friday

I'm back (or trying to get back in the swing of things).  I am going to do my best to update the blog this weekend.  We survived our first week at home with the baby but between feedings and trying to get all the things done that I had wanted to get done before his arrival, things have been hectic.  I thought I would ease back into things with some blanks.

1.  I like   being able to shop again (and trust me I have been shopping), having my mom here helping with Beckett, having Beckett at home, and getting used to my new job as a mom   .

2.  A life goal of mine is  to be the best wife and mother I can be.  I want to be the kind of wife that doesn't take her husband for granted and I want to raise children that contribute to the world and are good people.   .

3.  The last thing you would ever expect me to like (even though I secretly do) is   Investigation Discovery.  I am obsessed with Dateline and shows like it.  While I was pregnant, it was pretty much the only channel that I watched  .

4. Some wise words that I love are   from the wise Oprah Winfrey "Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."  She is my angel  .

5. Most mornings you will find me  in bed watching the Today Show eating breakfast and drinking hot chocolate.

6. Right now I am super into  trying to find the perfect pair of motorcycle boots and sweater leggings. I am also loving tops with drop sleeves  .

7.  Right now I am super over  people sharing their political opinions on Facebook.  What happened to not talking about religion, money, and politics?  .

fill in the blank friday

It's a big weekend at the Brown house.  I am taking a breastfeeding class tomorrow and I hope to have all my questions answered.  I'm sure my friends are getting tired of my random questions so hopefully I will feel a little more prepared after tomorrow.  I also plan on buying the last few things I need for my hospital bag and then placing it in the car.  I had a moment yesterday where I started to feel like I was running out of time, so I am hoping to quell that feeling this weekend.

1.  One thing I plan on doing to relax this weekend is    trying to purchase a few more things for the nursery and hospital bag.  Being prepared relaxes me.  I'll probably also take a nap or two   .

2.  A big pet peeve of mine is  when people complain about their circumstances but are unwilling to do anything to change them.  One of my husband's old employees would constantly complain about how much he hated our town, his job, and pretty much everything and yet he stayed.  He had no real reason to stay but he did.  I also have worked with people who complain about having no money but are unwilling to pick up extra shifts.  If you are unhappy with your life, do something to change it   .

3.  I am really loving   pumpkin-flavored foods.  A friend brought me a pumpkin roll and it was amazing.  I have also been enjoying decaf pumpkin spice lattes.  It makes it feel even more like fall  .

4. The rain is   the best!  We depend on rain in this part of the country and I love getting to stay home while it's raining  .

5. My favorite girly indulgence is  shopping at Sephora.  I love trying all the new products and getting samples .

6. A song I always get stuck in my head is  pretty much every song that I can't stand.  For a while it was One Direction and then it was Carly Rae Jepson.  If I seriously dislike a song, it will eventually get stuck in my head  .

7.  The best cure for stress is  watching Investigation Discovery.  Things could always be worse  .

fill in the blank friday

1.  My favorite flower is    hydrangeas.  I love them but it is hard to buy arrangements of just hydrangeas.  I do not like roses.  At all.  Or glitter on flowers which is apparently now a trend   .

2.  You should never talk about  politics or religion.  I think that everyone is entitled to an opinion and these discussions quickly turn nasty.  You aren't ever going to change someone's opinion by calling them names or telling them that they are stupid.  On a side note, it seems like the people who are the most vocal on Facebook, are the people who know the least   .

3.  My favorite discovery as of late is   the pain relief provided by heating pads.  My back has been killing me and my heating pad is the only thing that has helped.  I've even used it to try and move the baby away from my ribs.  Even a couple hours of relief is appreciated  .

4. This fall you will probably find me wearing    oversized tops, leggings, and shoes that require little to no effort to put on.  The closer I get to my due date, the more comfortable I want to be.  If I could wear leggings all day, I would  .

5. I wish I were  more motivated to finish the nursery.  We are so close and really just waiting on a couple things but all I want to do is sleep .

6. My favorite TV show currently is    the Mentalist.  I love it.  I am trying to decide if I want to rent Homeland and start watching that show.  I'm not sure I have the time to commit to a new show .

7.  This weekend I want to  make some more progress in the make some more progress in the nursery, relax, and get some chores done around the house since I am working on Sunday  .

fill in the blank sunday

These blanks are just a little late.  We have had a busy weekend and I didn't really want to blog while my mom was in town.  We had an amazing baby shower yesterday and we are so blessed by our community/friends/family.  Baby Brown is a very lucky boy.

1.  The last thing I ate was    a leftover petit four from my baby shower yesterday.  I love petit fours.  When I was in college, my sorority served kite-shaped ones on preference nights and they always bring back lots of good memories.  The ones at the shower were pretty delicious   .

2.  The last time I went to the beach was  when we were in Savannah.  It was windy and the ocean was not so pretty but it was nice to go to the beach at least once this year   .

3.  My last vacation was   Savannah, which I still need to blog about.  It was our last real trip pre-baby and probably our last vacation for a while.  I am trying to plan a trip for our five year anniversary next year.  I think it will be good for everyone to get a little break.  Plus, I don't know that I can go that long without traveling.  It's my favorite  .

4. The last place I drove was    to Amarillo to take my mom to the airport.  Boo!  The good news is she and the rest of my family will be back at the end of next month (or sooner) for the baby's grand arrival  .

5. The last song I listened to was  I have no idea.  I didn't really pay attention to what was on the radio but it could have been Ke$ha.  I do not love the music channels on Sirius so much and would love to get a car with Pandora built in .

6. The last thing I watched on TV was   America's Next Top Model.  That show is like a car wreck and I cannot look away  .

7.  The last time I said "I love you" was  when I was saying goodbye to my mom.

fill in the blank friday

It's Friday!  Once again I am working so my weekend will be cut a little short.  Thankfully  I am only working tomorrow and after this shift, I will only work two more times before Baby Brown arrives.  We have been pretty busy at work so I am looking forward to being done for a while.  Our plans for Sunday include church, signing up for a baptism class, going to the pumpkin patch and working on the nursery.  I keep wondering when I will get a day to do nothing but I don't foresee that happening for a while.  Enjoy this week's blanks.

1.  My first memory is     probably when I put a rock in my nose at daycare.  I'm not sure what I was thinking besides the fact that I obviously needed attention.  I put a rock in my nose and wouldn't let anyone touch me until both my parents left work to come get me.  I even remember that the rock was a green aquarium rock   .

2.  My first love was  a learning experience.  I learned what I would and would not tolerate for future relationships.  It helped me recognize what an amazing person Daniel was when we came along and for that I am thankful     .

3.  My very first favorite color was    hot pink and black.  I especially liked the combination of these two colors on articles of clothing like stretchy bike shorts, which seemed like appropriate everyday wear in the early 90s .

4. The first time I really felt like a "grown-up" was when     I moved to Abilene for my first real job.  I had to find a place to live, set up utilities, and learn my way around town all by myself.  My family was six hours away and my future husband was five hours away.  I was very much alone and on my own .

5. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is  check my Facebook and email, read my devotional "Jesus Calling," pray, and then turn on the Today Show.  I am a creature of habit and rarely sway from this routine .

6. The first CD (cassette tape, record, etc...) I ever bought was   Whitney Houston's "Whitney" record.  I loved pre-Bobby Whitney.  .

7.  My first car was  a green Honda Civic.  It was a great car to learn how to drive with and handled like a go-cart.  I blame my need for speed on that car  .

fill in the blank friday

It's Friday and there are blanks thanks to the little things we do.  Today is a day full of getting things done.  I think I may say that every day though.  We are going to the big city to run lots and lots of errands.  I need to get lining for drapes for the nursery, find a cream crib sheet, look for some nursery accessories, and of course go to Target.  This nursery has consumed my life, but the good news is we are slowly but surely finishing up.   

1.  Something I am very proud of is     our home.  We have put a lot of time, effort, and money into this house.  It was a hot mess when Daniel moved in and still a hot mess when I moved in.  It has been a nearly five year project, but we are almost done and I think it looks amazing.   .

2.  My favorite thing about myself is  my ability to prioritize large amounts of tasks and get things done.  I credit this in large part to my deep love of to-do lists.  This skill is especially helpful when I am at the hospital because it is so easy to get overwhelmed and I think it will be super handy with a baby.   .

3.  My favorite color for fall is    emerald green, which is the color of the season.  I even got an emerald green bracelet for our anniversary because apparently I talk a lot about clothes .

4. Something I've been learning lately is    people change and sometimes you have to walk away.  You also cannot stop someone from talking about you but you can stop caring because what they think really doesn't matter  .

5. A book I am reading now/have read recently is  the last book I read was "Sarah's Key," which I loved.  I need to find a new book to read.  I am open to suggestions (minus "50 Shades of Grey."  I just can't do it.) .

6. My favorite Pandora Station is  the Adele station.  I love her, fank you very much  .

7.  This weekend I will   attending my best friend's baby shower, going to church, sanding a repainting a rocking chair that belonged to Daniel when he was tiny, maybe decorating for fall, and organizing  .

fill in the blank friday

The weekend is here!  This would be more exciting if I wasn't working both days this weekend.  What can you do?  I am very excited to watch Tech extend their winning streak and get some organizing done.  Next week should be far less busy than this one with one exception.  Daniel and I will be celebrating our four year anniversary!  I cannot believe how quickly they have gone by!

1.  Right now the weather where I live is     changing.  It has been so hot but it is finally beginning to cool down.  I am loving the fall weather but could do without the wind   .

2.  The best piece of advice I've been given is  to pray.  When in doubt, pray it out.  I prayed a lot when we were dealing with infertility and it really did give me a sense of peace and calm.  I pray for anyone and everyone (see question #4). Prayer has definitely helped me get through some difficult situations.

3.  My most favorite person in all the world is    my husband. He is my best friend and I know how lucky I am to be married to someone like him.  He is a good balance to my type A personality.  He was supportive when I decided to quit my job and works super hard so I can stay at home with the dogs (and Baby Brown before we know it) .

4. If I were to have a "mission statement" for my life, it would be    "Constantly changing and growing but making sure to laugh a lot along the way."  I think this past year has been all about growth.  I am getting ready to become a mother and I have started to realize what is important and what is not.  I would rather have less money and be happy than be miserable every day.  I also realized that friendships end and cutting some very toxic people out of my life has been one of the best decisions I have made .

5. My most favorite item in my closet is  impossible to choose.  That would be like choosing a favorite child.  If I had to pick one thing, it would probably be a handbag.  They all represent a different memory (or trip) and I love them all.  I may have to pick my Chanel classic flap bag.  She was my first Chanel and I had dreamed of owning one since I was little.  I also really love the black Sandro dress I bought in Paris .

6. The best cure for a bad day is  hot chocolate, junk food, a couch, and Bravo  .

7.  Today is   a day full of getting things done before I have to work this weekend   .

fill in the blank fridays

It's time for blanks from the the little things we do!  We are in Houston enjoying civilization and having everything a pregnant girl could crave at our fingertips.  Maybe it's a good thing we live in the middle of nowhere.  My mom and I went shopping today and Baby Brown got even more clothes.  This child has more clothes than his father, but still no signature accessory.  The hunt continues.  And now for the blanks.

1.  My favorite grade in school was     my senior year.  I think by then you have established who your friends are and the pressure to fit in is pretty much gone.  Plus my friends were a lot of fun   .

2.  My favorite teacher was  Mrs. Rioux who taught Honors World History and AP European History    because,  I loved history and she made it fun.  Her histoy class was one of the hardest at our school but I liked her so much I took European History as an elective.  Nerd alert     .

3.  The highest level of education I have completed is    three Bachelor's degrees.  I have BA in advertising, a BBA in marketing and now a BS in respiratory therapy.  I am a degree slore and I don't know that I am done .

4. School lunches for me were usually    brought from home and the same thing almost every day.  I am a creature of habit so I pretty much ate the same breakfast and lunch every day of high school .

5. The amount of money you'd have to pay me to go back to high school would be  a lot however I would go back to college for practically nothing .

6. A few things that will always remind me of going back to school are:  school supply shopping, picking out new clothes, and fall  .

7.  The first day of school was always   good and bad.  It was exciting to get to go shopping and pick out an outfit but I never really got that excited about the actual act of going to school   .

fill in the blank friday

The little things we do has started posting blanks again!  I didn't realize until I saw them on my sister's blog, but I am so excited!  For a while it was writing prompts and that was a little too reminiscent of high school english for my taste.

1.  Over this labor day weekend I will be     working and relaxing.  Daniel and I have both been sick so I am still trying to recuperate.  I also have a rocking chair for the baby that needs to be sanded and painted.  Oh and I will of course be cheering for the Texas Tech Red Raiders tomorrow night!   .

2.  With the political debates going on right now, my thoughts are   it is impossible to satisfy everyone and it would be nice if candidates spent less money campaigning and focused on debates   .


3.  Today    I am feeling much better than I was yesterday  .

4. The best thing I've cooked recently was    I have been slacking on my cooking duties.  I did make a strawberry shortcake cake that was pretty delicious .

5. The last thing I bought was  a glider for the baby.  Holy cow, those things are expensive .

6. The best movie I saw this summer was  I cannot tell you the last movie we say in the theater.  We did watch 30 Minutes or Less and I thought Aziz was pretty amazing  .

7.  The best book I read this summer was   Sarah's Key.  I cried and cried.  It is hard to read a book about how poorly we can treat/have treated our fellow human beings.