bachelor - overnight dates (boomchickabowbow)

Tonight is every Bachelor's dream date(s).  The overnight dates.....I so wish they would kiss and tell, but I think we'll be able to figure it out.  The dates are in South Africa.  Kinda smooth on his part, get the dates around wild animals and scared is a sure way to get them to accept the "Fantasy Suite".

Brad's first date is with Chantal.  They go on safari and see all kinds of beautiful animals (in daisy dukes, of course).  They have a nice day and she accepts the fantasy suite and they sleep under the stars in a tree house with a big bed in the middle.....surrounded by enough bugs, sounds and scary animals to make her hug him tight.  He tells her he feels most comfortable with her out of all the girls and hints that she will meet his family.

Emily gets the second overnight.  Worst position in the line up, hands down.  First doesn't get sloppy seconds, but third gets the last impression.  She is so pretty and sweet and has a good head on her shoulders.  Very possibly the next Bachelorette (if she'll leave the kiddo again).  They get to ride elephants and have a nice dinner.  She basically tells him she'll go to the fantasy room and just talk.  She actually got walls and a ceiling and tells him that she is falling in love with him.  It throws him for a loop.  He tells her that he is as well.

Ashley wraps up the overnight dates. She's a wild card, I think he connects with the other two more, but I'm surprised she's still there because I don't see the connection. So....that may mean he sees more than we do.  She is wearing her daisies too. She totally freaks over a helicopter ride but then realizes how amazing it is to see the animals and scenery that way.  They have a beautiful dinner but it was very awkward as they discussed what she wanted out of her career/life.  Their fantasy suite is INSANE.  Loved it.  Don't know for sure what happens, but my guess, what happens in South Africa, stays in South Africa if there are no cameras allowed.... 

Before the rose ceremony can start, Brad pulls Ashley aside to clarify why their date sucked so bad.  She picked a dress that is the right color for South Africa, but wasn't that pretty and she wore her hair in a sloppy pony tail (not the sloppy on purpose kind either).  He lets her go there rather than make her stand through the ceremony.  Good guy.  She cops a little attitude though.  Good girl.

Back at the ceremony, Chantal is beautiful in a gorgeous dress that majorly accents her bosoms and Emily has a good color on for her, but not crazy about it...kind of a strange mix of turquoise/black/grey pieces, like three dress patterns got mixed up.

Rose ceremony:

1- Chantal
2- Emily

Next week........WOMEN TELL ALL!

On a side note, as everyone knows, I'm really not a Brad fan.  But, I gotta say that he does seem like a truly good guy.  Listening to him decide what is best for him and as he talks things through with Chris, you can tell he is a keeper.  Besides, everyone knows the best boys have a little bit of dork in them...mine does :)
On another side note, I love hippos, giraffes, elephants, monkeys and big cats!!!!

Daycare Diaries

Each time I drop off or pick up Huston from daycare I get a funny story or hear something cute he's done.  Sometimes I wish I could just sit and watch the camera all day and see what he's up to.  Luckily, he's got some pretty cool teachers (two of them anyway, one is an old bat) that fill me in.

This is Ms. Tabitha.  She loves him to pieces and gives me lots of good stories.  I found out today that he and a few of the kids have an unique way of saying "what's up".  They smack each other on the head.  This happened three days in a row and after getting on to him and asking if he was a bully, she tells me it's how they say hi and that they all do it.  Whew. She also tells me he sleeps with his blanket over his head.  I have to pick him up early on Monday for is 18 month appt, so I hope to get this on camera :)  The biggest complaint I get on him is that he is "busy" and "a climber".  Tell me about it!

This is little Lily.  Although he has had many "girlfriends", this is Huston's first crush I think.  She moved to his room a few weeks ago and is the youngest in the class.  Apparently our lil' man has been caught following her around, hugging her and poking her in the eye.  Yes, he pokes cute girls in the eye, she's not the first one....he needs some work on his flirting skills.  I took this picture right after he had her trapped on the play staircase and growled at her.  Hopefully she won't be pressing charges.....  If it's not a crush, it might just be a dominance thing, because she is the smallest, youngest and she still walks a little wobbly...he might just know he can take her.

And this little boy in the background in the blue shirt is Robert.  He is Huston's buddy and partner in crime.  They've been known to link arms and knock kids over, sneak out of the room and peek in the window laughing, climb bookshelves and tables, wrestle each other and run the classroom.  Robert just turned two, so as soon as there is a spot open in the next room, he will be moving.  Poor little H is going to experience his first friend "moving away".  But, in 6 more months H will move rooms too and maybe they will be reunited.  If they even recognize each other......we saw Robert at a play thing the other day and they didn't even know each other out of their element.

Even thought I miss being home with him during the day, I love that when I drop him off he just immediately starts to play and loves being there.  He gets to learn and play with new things daily and I have a reason to put on makeup and heels again....plus, I get a enough PTO that I can still take some days off here and there for a day of fun!

random thoughts

i dig my iphone.

the favorite word in our house is "coookkookie".  H likes it because he likes cookies, i like it because it's funny to hear him say it. 

i'm sick of snow. 

i want a real vacation this year. 

looking forward to watching the oscars with my GNO group. 

i like it when doug kisses me goodbye each morning and i can smell his cologne. 

i want to meet amy's baby girl.

lately i've really been wanting to spend an obnoxious amount of money on a good camera.

Great time to buy!

We have some amazing deals right now and I want to share!

1 - Uppercase Living offers vinyl expressions that you can apply in a matter of minutes

2 - There is a "A Perfect Place to Start" brochure to help you get started

3 - "Find Your Inspiration" promo through March 15 (every $50 you spend you get FREE expressions!)

4 - You can order online/phone/open house

http://walljewelry.uppercaseliving.net

the best laid plans.....

weekend getaway didn't happen.  being a planner can really stink when you are so excited about something and then the plans don't hold up.  makes me (and H) want to scream.  i won't get into the details, but i will tell you what we did do.

we did make it to newport, ky.

we did see some fish.

and yes, we did play on some benches.



The Bachelor - Hometown Dates!

Before the breakdown on the hometown dates, I thought I'd share some of the spoiler info I found.

Ashley Hebert: 25, ex boyfriend died right before she came on the show, tattoo on her wrist that says Crazy Beautiful, in dental school.

Chantal O'Brien: 28, daughter of former Seattle Seahawk and owner of big auto chain, works as her dad's assistant, divorced from Jason Vena a lead singer of the musical group Acceptance.

Emily Maynard: 24, 5 year old daughter, Ricki, father of her died in plane crash in 2004, also dated Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Shawntel Newton 24, works as an embalmer and funeral director at their family owned funeral parlor.




Chantal gets the first hometown date in Seattle.  She's a cutie.  Her dog has on clothing.  Really?  Her house......cha-ching!  Can I pick her?  He really bonded with the dad....no uncomfortable moments on this one.  Had to laugh, Brad brought them wine and they went down to this HUGE wine cellar.  Wonder how much his bottle cost?

Ashely next in some town in Maine.  She's a cutie too, but like a little girl.  He's asked a question in French and replies "Si".  Tool.  She then points out his crown when he takes a bite?? They really do have fun together but not in a couple-way.  She's not in love with him either.  She's the only one who hasn't told him.

Shawntel has the next one in Chico.  Right before her date, they air a commercial for her family's funeral business.  Strange.  She starts off the date showing him the funeral home.  He's clearly uncomfortable.  Next they go to her house.  Her family is a little odd and basically told Brad that she was taking over the family business.  He has made it clear that he isn't leaving Austin, so I think they just sealed her fate.

Emily wraps up the hometown dates in Charlotte.  She gets to see her little girl which is sweet.  She is a beautiful woman and I really like her, but it looks like the daughter is a big of a handful.  A 5-6 year old that still sucks her thumb and won't even meet her moms new friend (or let her waist go), probably isn't quite ready to be on camera for this show.  Emily's accent is so cute.  They do a home date and her kid's room is so cute!  She wants a kiss and he won't because her daughter is upstairs.  Wierd.  She finally lays one on him when she walks him out.  He seems like he doesn't know where to put his hand though.

All in all - I think he is most comfortable with Chantal O.  She's my pick.

Rose ceremony........Emily, beautiful in blue.  Ashley didn't fix her hair.  Chantal, gorgeous in red.  Shawntel scary dress.

1. Ashley
2. Emily
3. Chantal

Shawntel goes home.  She scared him to death.  (pun totally intended).

Next week OVERNIGHTS!  Hopefully they will have some raunchy, steamy moments since the hometown didn't have any of the crazy family members.......

what does forever mean?

i witnessed something truly touching today.

i needed a mommy-break and went to my favorite nail salon.  i wanted to try out this gel overlay they do on nails now that is supposed to last for several weeks - they call it 'forever nails'.  on the way there i was thinking how "forever" has a very subjective meaning.

when i got there i was seated by two older ladies.  they were getting the full pamper day......sea salt, masks, wine, etc. as i sat there getting my nails done (they look fabulous) i learned that they grew up together and now lived in different states.  one was 70 and the other was 68, they are 13 months apart, one is the "smart one" and one is the "pretty one", they went to the same college, one just lost a sister (which is why they were together), they each have children and grandchildren that they adore, and they had a chemistry that only certain friends have.  i only learned this by hearing them talk.  the only thing i contributed was marc anthony's name when they were trying to figure out who j-lo's husband was :).   they were absolutely precious.

when i got up to go, they told me that they hoped they didn't talk too much.  i told them that i thought they were cute and that they made me miss my girlfriends.  one said, "well honey, call her".  she's right.  i know that regardless of the miles between us, the days between talking and our lives changing daily - i am a lucky girl to not only have one, but several girlfriends like this.  two got stuck with me at birth, my cousins jamie & jennifer.  one i met my freshman year in high school, diana.  and one i became close with much later in life, although we are from the same town, alanna.  these girls will be with me when i'm 72 and want to get my nails done or drink some wine and i love that.