Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving this year! We got to spend several days in Senatobia with our families which was very nice. I enjoyed shopping with Meme and being lazy at home with my mom!! Oh yea- there was also a pretty good football game! :-)

Aunt Becca and Annie! 

Trying to get a family picture- didn't really work out, haha. 

Ne-ne got Annie a HUGE bone to keep her busy during Thanksgiving! Unfortunately, she wasn't too interested. She eventually came around..haha 

On Saturday, we headed to Oxford for the big game. Let me just tell you- it was cold!!!! I am NOT a fan of this type of weather. You know it must be true love if I sit out in that mess! It was well worth it. This game was one of my favorite I've seen in the Vaught. We are so proud that our Rebels are going to a bowl game!!  

Jim and I getting ready for the game. I was all bundled. I even had warmers in my boots. I'm a whimp. 

It was a great night to be a rebel! We don't get to celebrate that often- so celebrate we did:-) 

While at home, I also got to do some Christmas shopping. I think it is so important to support small businesses! I am especially partial to my Senatobia stores. Lauren and I always like to do a little shopping around town the day after Thanksgiving. We headed to Mimi's, The Other Side, Special Daze, and The Closet!! I think we were pretty successful! On Saturday before the game, I was able to visit with my dear friend, Erin. She has the most PRECIOUS store on the square in Oxford. She was one of my baby owls back in the day:-) I am so proud for her! Of course, I found just the gift I was looking for! 

The first gift under the Simpson Christmas tree. If you are in the Oxford area- shop Olive Juice Gifts! 

Even though it was a great break- I did miss my kiddos. It is always good to be back in the swing of things... and The Brandon Bulldogs are in the state championship as we speak. We had spirit week all this week.

The only time I will ever cheer for a bulldog!:-) 

I guess it's time to kiss November and fall goodbye! Onto Christmas it is!!! 

So long Maybeline

If you are aware who Maybeline is- then either you have been in my life since high school or I have at some point given you a ride home. Maybeline was my trusty old saturn that I proudly drove for almost nine years. She was a great car. I have so many fond memories from many stages of life that include that little car. In fact, here is a picture of the day I received good ole maybeline.

I sorta had to take a picture of a picture, haha. This was taken in the parking lot of MHS when I was 16! My parents surprised me at school with a new car. My friend Whitney (who's also in the pic) was so in on the surprise. The first place we went- no other than SONIC! If you grew up in Senatobia you know that this was the place to be. We were so cool.

Sadly, Maybeline was getting too old and too expensive to maintain. Therefore, we traded her in for what I consider to be a grown-up car, a Honda Pilot. Don't get me wrong- We are thrilled to have a new car and very thankful. But saying goodbye to my first car was bittersweet.

I hope I have many new "grown-up" memories in our new car. I think I even look older driving it.

But what will it be called? It's hard to beat Maybeline. 

Visitors and Mistletoe!

Well ya'll we are only about 4 days away from a long awaited Thanksgiving break. To be honest, I love to work. But about this time, I start getting very antsy. I think I snapped at one of my kids today. I told him if he didn't straighten up then fourth grade was going to eat his lunch!! Meaning that it was going to kick his butt if he didn't get into gear. He thought I literally meant I was going to eat his lunch. It was at that point I realized we were all a little tired of each other. 

The end of last week was super exciting. It all started on Thursday. Once school was over Kelli, her daughter Madison, and I scurried to Mistletoe! This has become an annual tradition. Kelli and I are good shopping partners- we think just alike. This is why we work so well together. We bought Jennifer Thames necklaces, and I bought a new pea coat for the egg bowl along with some cute earrings. This was mistletoe round one. 

Beautiful centerpieces in the food area

Look at all these crazy women. Yes we were two of them!! 

When I got home- I had a visitor waiting on me. The one and only Denise!! She even came to eat lunch with my class on Friday. It was very fun! Magnolia Heights was playing in the state championship so the whole gang was here. After school I received this picture: 

It said, "We are waiting on you!" You better believe I high-tailed it to Clinton. Look at that sweet little Emilee. The game didn't turn out so great. I'm sure many of you sports fans remember the infamous game of 2004. I mean it was a big one. The one where Magnolia lost by merely inches-ha! This one wasn't much better. Even though those memories are bittersweet-it was still fun to watch a magnolia state championship game. It had been a long time. 

Saturday, I took Denise to Mistletoe. This was the result of round 2: 

It's Annie's first Christmas and NeNe had to buy her an ornament. 

It was a great weekend! Made me very excited about going home for Thanksgiving to spend some time with family and friends. 

Everyone remember to do your shoeboxes this week!! Help spread God's love this Christmas. It's so easy to do! Normally I always do girls because I love buying girl stuff. This year I decided to switch it up and do two boys! Here is a picture of the assembly: 

So easy and inexpensive! 

Pack those boxes people!!!!! 

Lazzzy Weekends

And a lazy weekend it was! It was much welcomed with all the recent traveling we have done lately. Amazingly, I won't be going anywhere until thanksgiving comes and we head to good ole tate county. Can you believe it? I love staying home even though I miss my family terribly. Some highlights from this weekend:

After school on Friday, My teacher friends, Anna Katherine and Woodward, and I headed to Dirt Cheap to dig for some bargains. I love a good deal. I also have no shame. As long as I like what I'm wearing and feel good in it- I don't care if it costs $5.00! However unfortunately it usually costs more than that. My mom has always told me I have champagne taste on a beer budget. HA! We found some good deals though. I got a sweater for  $7.00, and two dresses. All for the whopping total of $28.00!!! We left the poor pregnant woman guarding all our junk:

Friday night, we cooked out at Ginny and Brandon's. It was super fun and Julie and Andrew joined as well. Saturday, we just laid around and watched football. Annie loved snuggling up with me all day.

By the way, ^That's my seven dollar sweater. 

We also went to celebrate our friend's sweet baby boy's first birthday

Happy Birthday Jack! 

Saturday night, I decided to set my dining room table for Thanksgiving. I'm not hosting Thanksgiving, nor will we even be here for the holiday. Jim gets some days off that week and we'll head to Senatobia on Tuesday. I just did it mainly because it makes me feel good! ha! I'm not quite finished. I have to get the rest of my napkins dry cleaned, but it makes my house feel ever so cozy. 

I love a good place setting. The china is Wedgewood-Vera Wang Champagne Duchess. I picked it out when I was 16! Ironically, the year we got married, the pattern was retired. Thankfully, I was able to get several place settings! 

The charger is Annie Glass- only the best thing ever. 

The gold flatware was my grandmother's and is another favorite. I love gold as you can tell! 

The napkins are Vietri- the second best thing behind Annie Glass. Can't wait to bring out Vietri Christmas in just two weeks!! 

The placemats were also my grandmothers! 

This week is going to be exciting- Election day and Mistletoe! My mom is also coming down which I am very excited about. Magnolia is playing in the state championship Friday afternoon. She will hopefully come down on Thursday and stay until Saturday. We also only have two more weeks until Thanksgiving break- so much to look forward to! 

Handing out treats!

Well I would say Halloween was a success! I love this holiday mainly because I love kids so very much. Halloween always reminds me of the neighboorhood I grew up in (good ole BACC.) Even when I was little-before we moved there, We would go trick or treat to see my Nana and Gamby. Then I became too old and did what every teenager did:: rolled yards! My first yard to roll was my grandmothers- she let us practice on hers. Such fun memories:) Even when I was in college, I would love to hand out candy to all my babysitting babies. It was so fun seeing them in their costumes.

Last year, I was so sad because we had very few trick or treaters. This year- being in our new house, I just knew we would have a TON! And a ton we had. Almost to the point of running out of candy. It made me so very happy. I dressed up as the "good witch" and sat by the door the entire night to pass out our treats. Poor Jim- he was doing Annie duty. She would have rushed out the door into the halloween madness.

Yep- this was around 7:30. I was panicking. Luckily, I began to ration the treats. Only 1 per kid. 

 Me and my teacher buddies, Woodward and Kelli! As you can see Woodward's costume is very creative:: 2 little pumpkins for the 2 little babies in her tummy:) We are so excited. 

I enjoyed seeing everyone's babies on facebook!!!! And my mother assured me she held down the fort in the BACC passing out candy and special happies to all my babies. 

Until next year.... 

To Arkansas We Went!

In case you haven't heard, we believed that Ole Miss would be celebrating their first road SEC win. And by the grace of a field goal, We did!! Hooray:-) This football season has been ever so exciting. Now call me crazy with optimism, but I BELIEVE we will be going bowling. Even if it's just in Memphis or Shreveport, we'll take it, Hugh!

We were lucky enough to be in Little Rock for the game with all of our Simpson family. Our favorite brother and sister in law live there so it was double the fun. Josh, who for the record frequents my blog as it was recently discovered on his Ipad favorites, (Thanks. Josh.) was such a gracious host. He even purchased a bagel for me to eat, gum for me to chew, and pizza to enjoy at the game. Such a good brother in law. I also got to spend time with my sweet sweet sister-in-law as well! I think a good time was had by all. And thankfully we left with a big "W." I would NOT have wanted to make that long drive home with Jim Simpson should we had lost.

Fun times at the game! Celebrating a huge field goal!! 

Ahh, victory is sweet. Especially when people don't expect it. 

Hotty Toddy Y'all! 

F is for FALL AND FUN!

I can't say it enough but fall is my favorite time of the year! With the cooler weather and the anticipation of the upcoming holiday season, We are just loving life. However, we have also been so busy; It has been difficult to keep up with all the fun happenings. Here's what we have been up to this season: 

We hosted a sip and see at my parent's house for my mom's best friend's new granddaughter, Elle! It was great fun visiting with everyone. I even got to spend time with one of my favorite people, Mrs. Robin, who I used to work with. I have missed her so much!! We are kindred spirits:-)  It was a fun Sunday afternoon.

We attempted to take Christmas card pictures with our Annie! Despite her resistance, we actually had a couple of choices to pick from. Thanks to my parents who were good sports in helping us-haha! Christmas cards are ordered and have already arrived. It's just around the corner! 

What is fall without a fair?  I was so excited to have a partner to ride with me. Last year, I had to BEG Jim to ride! Carlin was a good sport. 

We are so much more fun than our husbands! 

Jim and I cheered the Rebels on to their first SEC victory!! 

We celebrated our favorite October babies, Julie and Margaret, at Sal and Mookies! 

I've been doing a little fall decorating as well! I can hardly stand the wait to Halloween. I just know we are going to have LOTS of trick or treaters. 

Does my front porch scream "Come Trick or Treat HERE!!?" That's the look I am going for:-) Thanks to my mom for the Halloween lights. 

This is the centerpiece for my dining room table. But I mean really- You could throw coal in Annie Glass and it would somehow look festive! Oh there are so many days I miss working with tabletop.  I went to buy some wedding gifts earlier and I just loved browsing all the new styles. It will always be my favorite. You can tell a lot about someone's style by what they register! ha. Who needs clothes-give me dishes:-) 

We are home for the weekend and I am so enjoying it! I have been very productive. Last night I spent two hours cleaning my house and it was amazing. I feel so put-together when my house is in order. I also finished my grocery shopping today (normally I go every Sunday after church.) Tomorrow, I plan to do some organizing around the house. Oh the things that make me happy now:-)