Deep In The Heart Of Texas

Prologue:

OH. MY. WORD.

I've been trying for WEEKS to put up this blog post! WEEKS I tell you! I finally got the whole, "my-pictures-wouldn't-upload-and-I-don't-know-why" problem solved.  GEESH.  So excuse me if this post is, like, SO old news.  Mkay?  Mkay.

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I've been to Texas and back, people. Listening to my good ol' country music and wearing my cute cowgirl boots all the way!

Some things that made this particular trip wonderful?

1. BLUEBONNETS! I was hoping I'd get to see these little Texas beauties this trip, and I did!  I hit it just right and they were sprinkled all over the roadsides for me to see.

2. Family. Family is always good.

3. Quality time with my dad.  He had to tear the roads up to pick up and drop off and shuttle around my sister and I.  In hindsight, we probably shouldn't have flown in & out of two different towns on four different days.

Yes, that's right.  I flew into Dallas on Thursday, and my sister flew into Houston on Friday.  Then my sister flew out of Houston on Monday and I flew out of Dallas on Tuesday.

Needless to say my dad was glad to see us leave.

Just kidding!

I think.

4. Nobody on this planet finishes a prayer the way my 86 year old Granddaddy can.  Nobody.  It's good stuff.

Someone in my family needs to get this video taped before we can't video him anymore.

(You hear that family?)

5. Old friends are good friends.  Very good friends.  And seeing old friends is good.

6. Catching an Astros game at Minute Maid park with my dad.

I hadn't been to an Astros game since High School. And their new stadium is SO nice.

(*Fun fact alert!*  I've been going to Astros games since I was 6 months old!)

Incidentally, they also sell Blue Bell Ice Cream there. *swoon*

My favorite part of the night? Singing "Deep In The Heart of Texas" with a stadium full of Texans while looking at the Houston skyline at the 7th inning stretch.

Did my little pea-picking Texas heart good.

7. Seeing the newest statues around my hometown. (There were two additions since I'd been there in the Fall.)

The Nacogdoches Statue Trail provides visitors and townspeople alike with an understanding of some of the people and events that have played central roles in the city's history. (From the Visit Nacogodches website, mind you.)

The new Michael Boyett one blew my mind!

Totally captured the settler spirit.

The mother holding the baby was absolutely. amazing. (These pictures do it no justice.)

Nobody does statues as good as Michael Boyett.  Nuh-uh. No sir!

(And okay, I may have dated his oldest son at one point.)

(And okay, his youngest son may have threatened Lazy Dad the night he came home from our first date. They were roommates. And there were guns involved.)

Moving on!

8. Eating my Aunt's famous chicken and dressing.  You know she's right famous for it!

9. Seeing all my cousins again and meeting all their children at my Papa's 85th birthday celebration.  Up until my last Texas trip in the Fall, I had never met a single one of their sweet kiddos.

10.  Hearing my Papa share his salvation, baptism and wedding story in the very church it all happened in.

Priceless.

11.  SUNSHINE!!

12.  My Aunt's Texas-style birdhouse.

13.  Going through a tub of old keepsakes and stumbling across some old New Kids On the Block fan magazines!

Yup, all those things made this trip home to Texas extra special this time around.

That, and the fact I got to go alone!  (Shhh... don't tell Lazy Dad... or my kids.)

And when I was a little sad to have left God's Country when I got back to Toledo, Lazy Dad got me some yellow roses to cheer me up.

The Yellow Rose of Texas is the only girl for me!

Wait.  What?

Oh, never mind.

The Lazy Mom

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I Hate Gas Prices {Giveaway}

I don't know about you, but I HATE gas prices.  It gives me *angry eyes* when I see the prices go up the way they do.  *ANGRY EYES*, I tell you!

I figure the rest of you feel the way I do about gas prices, so when BlogHer sent me some info about the Fuel Rewards Network™ program, and the chance for one of my readers to win a $100 Shell Gift Card, I jumped on it for you!  Cause, you know, I love you and all.
Anyway!  The Fuel Rewards Network™ program - or FRN™ program - offers consumers a way to pay less for fuel at participating Shell stations nationwide by earning rewards on everyday purchases!  SCORE!!

Now, this isn't your grandma's rewards program... nope.  This program is unique because it allows you to combine multiple rewards offers (or cents per gallon rewards) together for potentially huge savings at the pump!  Woot!  I'm a total fan of huge savings! You?

And y'all, there are lots of ways to save by using your FRN Card! Check it out: 

• Shop Online: Access nearly 700 brand name online merchants offering at least 5¢/gal for every $50 you spend. Some may offer 2x, 5x, 10x rewards or more to multiply your savings! 
• Dine Out: Link a payment card to the Dining program and earn 10¢/gal for every $50 you spend at 10,000+ participating restaurants nationwide. 
• Buy Groceries: Depending on your location, you can link your local participating grocery store’s rewards card to your FRN Account and earn rewards on your grocery store purchases. 
• Get eCoupons: Select eCoupons at fuelrewards.com and earn Fuel Rewards® savings when the eCoupons items are subsequently purchased at participating grocery and drug stores. 
• Shop at Shell: Depending on your location, you can purchase specially marked products inside the convenience store as well as car washes or auto services at participating Shell stations to earn Fuel Rewards savings through the Shell® Fuel Rewards® program.

(All of the above is according to fuelrewards.com on 5/6/13.)

After perusing the Fuel Rewards Network program website, and armed with my new fuel rewards knowledge, I hightailed it over to a local Shell station to see what specially-marked convenience store products or services I could buy that would start to rack me up some rewards!

However, the store I walked into said they didn't have the special deals yet.  *sad face*

But they are supposed to be coming soon!  *happy face*

So instead, I took a picture of their store for you.

Because, seriously.  That's a clean looking store right there.  And I noticed their prices were lower than other convenience stores. I scored a 20oz bottle of water for 89 cents! And that's their regular price!

What? 

It's the little things in life.

Moving on!

If you aren't afraid of commitment and you're ready for a Shell relationship, then simply head over to the fuelrewards.com and click “Sign Up” to activate your FRN Card.  (You can also activate your FRN Card by downloading the FRN Mobile App for iPhone or Android.)

And FYI: The Fuel Rewards Network program is offered at Shell in addition to the existing grocer rewards programs with The Kroger Co. and Ahold. Consumers will redeem their Kroger Co. and Ahold rewards separately from Fuel Rewards savings issued through the Fuel Rewards Network program.

You can also learn more on the Fuel Rewards Network program Facebook page!

Now, to win that gift card!!

How would you benefit from the Fuel Rewards Network program? Enter to win a $100 Shell Gift Card.

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion, including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry" and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post.
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/6/2013-6/2/2013.

Be sure to visit the Fuel Rewards Network program page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

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Hi, I'm Lame. And You Are?

Peoples!

I'm SO excited.

Tomorrow I get to leave this frozen sunless land called Ohio and head to a warm, beautiful, God-filled place called Texas.

*snicker*

(Sorry, Ohio, I just couldn't help myself!)

Yes, today one of my Grandfather's turned 85, and I'm flying home tomorrow to be home for the weekend festivities!  Family I haven't seen in YEARS will all be there.  Should be an incredible time!

In preparation for my solo trip home (yup, the fam is staying here), I have been preparing a playlist of my all-time favorite country songs to keep me company.  These days I only listen to country when I'm in Texas (I mean, who goes to Texas and DOESN'T listen to country? I just can't do it!)

And in preparing my awesome playlist of old favs, I have come across some country music gold, my dear lazy people. GOLD! I tell you!

For instance, this old beauty of a song...

This was one of my favorites back in the day. It still makes me all gushy-like.

Speaking of gushy-like.... let's all swoon together over this other John Michael Montgomery hit:

Oh, I'm sorry, did you say something?  I was busy swooning.

*sniff* Such a good Trisha Yearwood one (sorry, LeAnne Rimes, Trisha's is better)!

And gosh, you can't go to Texas and NOT listen to these two guys....

 

Texas singing LEGENDS I tell you. 

Oh! I just about died when I ran across this one today. Love, love LOVE it....

What Might Have Been.  It KILLS me every time.

Another good one that causes more swooning....

Oh my!  SO many good ones.  I'm having too much fun making up playlists and reliving High School memories of me in my car belting these songs out to myself.

And just when you didn't think I could sink any lower into country gold playlists... I made an entire Texas inspired playlist.  These songs all involve the great state in some way.

I know, I know.  I'm beyond lame.

But this lame girl's excited!!!

Love,
The Lame Little Lazy Mom

P.S. What else should I add?!

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Photographic Evidence of My Frightening World-Changing Theory!

There's something strange happening around my house.

It's giving me great cause for alarm.

Panic.

Worry.

And yes, even a serious case of the the, *gulp*,  hibbie-jibbies.

Yup.  It's hibbie-jibbie serious.

I've slowly been noticing evidence of this alarming problem over the past several months.  It started off quietly.  Almost imperceptibly. 

But then BAM! It smacked me across the face.  Then another occurrence.  Then another!

Things were starting to get out of control.  My life wasn't making sense anymore.  My mind couldn't take in the mounting evidence I was stumbling upon!   *shudder*

I've taken the liberty to photograph the evidence so as to document the unfolding, world-changing, ramifications.  Take a look for yourselves.... if you dare.

Exhibit A: packages of lunch meat unsealed.

Exhibit B: Packages of cheese unsealed.

And just when you think there might be a recurring theme here, check out Exhibit C:

Yes, even bread bags weren't safe from this sweeping food-spoiling epidemic.

I was beginning to realize the source of this problem.  Yes, the light was starting to dawn.  But I needed more proof.  After all, how many people would believe me, would believe my theory, with just three picture documentations?

And then it happened.  Just when I was beginning to think this problem was contained within the confines of our refrigerator.  Poof!  More evidence!  NOT IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

Yes.  That was the final proof I needed to expose the source of my fear to the world!  I could now prove that...

that...

MY CHILDREN MUST NOT HAVE OPPOSABLE THUMBS!

Ahhhhhhhhh!

The horror!!!  The horror!!!!

Children with no opposable thumbs.  I have documented proof people.

And... and.... I think I know where they get it from...... Their father!

Noooooooo!

The horror!!!  Pray for me, people, PRAY FOR ME!!!!

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Kitchen Revamp Advice

Yesterday I got some really great advice on my whole kitchen revamp post. You all left comments, emailed me, left messages on Facebook.  I truly appreciated it!

(And okay, it made me feel a little loved.) *smile*

The resounding message I heard was "WHITE?! EEK! It shows everything!!"

And I hear you.  I share your concern on that.

I also heard from some of you that with my white appliances, my kitchen may look too sterile with white cabinets.

So I thought it best to show you what Lazy Dad and I are gunning for so you can see what we like about the ideas I tossed out yesterday.

For those of you who haven't stalked me, you don't know that my house has a very "cottagey" look to it.  It's small on the outside, but much bigger on the inside.  From the street it looks like a little green cottage.  Our family has affectionately dubbed it the green Monopoly house.

Actually, it was my friend Tami who mentioned our house had a cottage look to it when we first bought it.  And it was my friend Carrie who first called it a green Monopoly house.

At any rate, we thought we'd continue to run with the cottage feel our house seems to exude, by making the kitchen look more cottage-like.

For instance, in the cottage genre of kitchens, this is the look we like:

photo credit: ferncreekcottage.come

We LOVE the butcher block counters (I think I even prefer the dark finish like the one pictured). I also love the use of bead board as a backsplash.  Bead board is SOOOO cottagey, no?  In fact, it already graces our bathroom.

I also like the country feel of it.  Reminds me of living in the country and Texas and that homey feel.

Here's another one that caught my eye:

Photo credit: indulgy.com

I like how the white appliances blend in with the cabinets instead of sticking out like a sore thumb.  I also like the white tiled backsplash which is so making a comeback from the good ol' days.

Photo credit: dcdcabinets.com

Oh, how I wish I had a window over my kitchen sink!  I love this look.  I love the old-style door pulls.  I love the counters (again).

Another thing I love in these cottage style kitchens are the fun that can be had with pops of color.  For instance:

Photo credit: plainfancycabinetry.com

I don't know if I'm that bold, and I definitely don't have room for a lovely kitchen island, but I jut love how everything else is white and BAM! Color is thrown at you.

I love how this following one uses dishes to add that punch of color:

Photo credit: houzz.com

I also love the open shelving idea, but I have two realistic thoughts about that.

Thought #1: I would NEVER be able to keep it a cluttered-free heap of a mess.
Thought #2: Maybe if my shelves were that simple, I would HAVE to keep it a cluttered-free heap of a mess.

Now this picture gives a different appealing idea from the whole beadboard or white tile backsplash:

Photo credit: the inspiredroom.net

Marble!  I like it!  Easy to wipe down!

This one plays again off of the punch of color idea in cottage style kitchens.  I like it!

Photo credit: sherimhoward.com

But I keep coming back to the use of bead board, butcher block countertops and old-style drawer pulls.

Photo credit: homedreams.net

Not sure I like the off-white cabinets though?

Now, here's another take on the bead board... make it the punch of color!

Photo credit: elledecor.com

That's kind of fun!

I also love how cottage style kitchens often have freestanding hutches.  But I don't have room for that. *sad face*

So yeah... not sure what we're going to do.  But it's fun dreaming, isn't it?

What's your thoughts now that you see why we are heading into a cottage-type feel?

How do I turn this:

Into this:

Photo credit: pinterest.com

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Replace, Reface or Renew? {Sponsored Conversation}

So Lazy Dad and I have been wanting to revamp our kitchen.  It's kind of... well... blahhhh.

We freshened it up 7 years ago when we bought our house, but you know... we have kids... and a life... and people over... A LOT.

One of the things we've been thinking about doing is painting the cabinets white.  But we're s-s-scared! *insert scared scream here*

My wonderful friend Traci totally gave us the steps and tips and tricks to do it, but we're still frozen in fear.  *insert blood curdling scream here*

Another thing we'd like to do is replace the countertops with butcher board ones and change the backsplash to bead board.  I TOTALLY think all of that would freshen our poor lil' ol' kitchen right up!

What are some things you would suggest for us in our kitchen revamp quest?  Do we replace, reface or renew our cabinetry? And how do we stop being frozen in fear over painting the cabinets if we go that route? *insert scream of horror here*

Check out the video below to see if a cabinet replace, reface or renew might be best for you, too!


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Piña Colada Cake {A Lazy Mom Recipe}

This morning I saw a recipe my sister-in-law shared on Facebook.  It totally caught my eye because it sounded delicious AND it was a Lazy Mom Recipe!

SCORE!

So, my goodness!  How could I NOT share it with all of you lovely people out there?

Forgive me for skanking this recipe right off Facebook, mkay?

Piña Colada Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained
2-14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk
8 oz. Whipped Topping
2/3 cup coconut

Prepare cake mix as directed on the back of package. Mix 1/2 can of pineapple into batter. Bake according to package directions.

With a fork, poke holes in warm cake at 1-inch intervals. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over cake. Allow cake to cool.

Spread whipped topping over the cake. Sprinkle with remaining pineapple and coconut. Refrigerate.

Photo Credit: facebook.com/TexasRecipes

Whoever makes it first, let me know how fabulous it is!

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Last night I did my very first Zumba class.

Yes, while my daughter was taking her ballet class, I was next door sweating to the oldies.

Oh wait.  Wrong class.

I was learning how to Zumba.

I walked in and the hour long class had already started.  I was greeted by a friend and then promptly took a spot on the very back row.  I'd hate to show everyone up that had been coming to the class for years, and all.

*ahem*

Okay, okay.... feeling a little self-conscious I tried hard to push aside the fact that I hadn't shaked my derriere like that, or swiveled my hips in ways that I hadn't in years.  "I can do this," I thought.  "I used to be a pretty good dancer.  Surely I can do this and not look stupid!"

My first steps were awkward.  I was going right when the instructor was going left.

What in the world?  Something must have happened to me in the last 15 years.  Why can't I move like I used to?

Oh yes, I wasn't "packing as much heat" back then, as I am now....

Another song goes by.  Okay, the steps are coming to me now, so I don't feel completely lost.  I didn't even worry about the arm movements at this point, since I was concentrating so hard on getting my feet going the right direction at the right time. 

After the first two songs I was starting to sweat, but I wasn't out of breath.  Not bad, but surely this class was halfway over, right?

Wrong.

It hadn't even been 15 minutes.

We did more songs.  I was still trying to get the basic steps down.  Tripping over my feet, swinging my hips, trying to let my hair down, I just about froze like a deer in headlights when one of the moves had us swivel around in a circle... promptly putting my rotund back-end in the face of everyone that had, up until this point, been showing me their back-ends.  

I liked it better that way.

I glanced at the clock, silently begging, pleading that this class was almost over!

What?  How can it only be 20 minutes?  Surely we've been doing this for three hours!!!

Another song kicks in.  I'm really starting to sweat now.  I'm still feeling a bit self-conscious, and my face is turning red from the way the instructor is moving her body.

I make a fatal mistake of taking my eyes off the instructor, and glancing at myself in the mirror.  AHHH!

Mental note: don't do that ever again.

The clock was now at the 30 minute mark, I slowly realize that this class is a life sentence the way it creeps by.

I hadn't danced for more than 10 minutes in a row in years, and that was at random weddings I attended.  This dancing without any real breaks is really making me sweat, and I realize my face is not beet red from the way the instructor shakes her groove thang, but rather from me moving my body for more than 30 minutes without a 20 minute break somewhere in there.

40 minutes goes by.  I'm starting to let down my self-consciousness after I steal glances in the mirror at others around me and see they are moving as awkwardly as I am.

By minute 45, I'm still praying the class is coming to an end, or at LEAST the cool-down part.  But it doesn't.

However, I AM starting to feel more sure of myself.  I've got the basic Zumba steps down, but I still have no clue when they are coming, or in what order.

50 minutes goes by.  I'm thinking I'm starting to look good.  Surely I look just like the cute instructor does, since I'm clearly moving my body the way she is.  My hips and legs and moves match her beat for beat.  Feeling confident of this new revelation, I take a glance in the mirror at myself. 

The stark reality hits me: I look NOTHING like the cute instructor does.

"AHHHH!  Why do they insist on putting mirrors in these rooms," I freak out to myself.  I'm hardly even moving my feet, I'm barely swinging my hips.  I feel like a bull in a china closet.

55 minutes and counting.  I keep waiting for that cool-down to kick in.  It never happens.

I watch the clock meticulously just waiting for my daughter's class to end so I have an excuse to leave.  SLOWLY 5 more minutes creep by.  I wave to my friend, grab my stuff and high-tail it out of there.  "Phew!  It's over!"  Red-faced, sweat pouring, but yet, strangely not breathing heavy, I congratulate myself for sticking it out the whole hour.  Thank you Jesus that's over!!

I can't wait to go back next week. :)

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