Okay...so my sister and I have been known for having a little bit of a shoe fetish (mine wore off soon after I got married and had to live on a budget!). But Kristin's still holds. I was checking blogs and stumbled across this picture - Hurricane Heels!!! Apparently, they sold out in Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana! Hilarious!

Southern Living at HOME September Specials Too...

After the response I had from my October specials post, I thought I might should have posted September specials too - in case you were interested in partying or ordering this month! So, here goes!

Hostess Special: Patina Wall Tiles ONLY $19.95!! Saves you 67%!!

Hostess Special: Drake Lantern and Hook combo $19.95. Saves you 71%!!! Wow!

Best Hostess Special!!! NEW Cordova Firescreen for ONLY $44.95!!! Unbelievable!

Customer Special: The ever popular Estate Trivet Trio for ONLY $14.95!! Use together...or break it up for three gifts! Saves you 55%!!

Customer Special: Christmas Memories Appetizer Plates set of two for only $9.95! Set of four for $19.95!!

Plus more!! If September interests you, email me today!!

Southern Living at HOME October Specials!!

Okay...I must tell you the fall season for Southern Living at HOME is the BEST!!! It is a fantastic way to start your Christmas shopping! There are numerous decorating ideas in our new fall catalog. Get a group of friends together and SHOP while eating, visiting, and NO CROWDS!! What could be better!? You will also receive tons of FREE and discounted products! Customers will even have the option to receive tremendous discounts. I will list a couple. Check these out!

Hostess Special: Gail Pittman's Cottage Garden Bowl for only $19.95 - that's 60% off!!!!

Hostess Special: Astoria Flatware Caddy for only $27.95!! Saves you 62%!

Customer Special: Holiday Door Bucket for only $16.95!! Great Christmas gift! Saves you 52%! This is my favorite piece for the holidays - on my front door in a wreath like the one shown.

Customer AND Hostess Special: Southern Living subscription for ONLY $9.95! Also available as a gift subscription! Amazing gift for any occasion...or just to have on hand. Saves 50%!

These are just a few of our October specials!! Call or email me ASAP to book your fall party! Or, if you'd just like to see a catalog to take orders at work or school, let me know. You can also leave your email address, and I'll send you a complete flyer for the October specials with detailed information on partying. You will still receive hostess benefits! I will provide the invites and products. You just invite your friends and have fun! Can't wait to hear from you!

Click here to check out our Hostess Program. Click on our online magazine, on my sidebar, to check out all the products!

Welcome Fall!!

So, I've been a little busy this week. I suppose the whole "football season" thing has gotten me in the mood for FALL!! You can really feel it in the air! There's nothing like the feeling of fall. I love it! Well, I've never really decorated for fall before. We ate lunch at Pat and Felicia's Sunday afternoon, and her house looked super cute with all her fall decor. Pat is in the middle of a month rotation in Nashville right now...so, Felicia's up for anything these days. So, last night, we got busy! We stocked up at Michael's first. Then, today, we went by Hobby Lobby to finish up. I made a stop by Bath and Body Works, too, to treat myself to a new fall scented Wallflower. Those are the greatest! I went with Autumn Apple for right now (It has a softer fall scent - reminded me of September.) I also got the newest scent, Leaves - perfect for October!

The wreath I made for my front door. There's a story behind this ordeal!

One of my Hobby Lobby purchases today....Harvest!

Felicia's hard work on the mantle - looks great!

Another Hobby Lobby purchase - on the hearth.

My dining table centerpiece - Jackson Square Tray and Hemingway Hurricane (Southern Living at HOME!)

We made a mess! And Felicia vacuumed! I didn't even argue! She hates to vacuum her house (all hardwood floors). But, she says it's fun to vacuum carpet. Whatever!

Crazy girl! This is one of the two outside wreaths on the front. Remember, I have three front doors.

In my opinion, my house looks and smells great - nice and "homey!" Thanks Felicia!! It was fun!

MSU 34 - SELA 10

GO STATE! GO STATE!!

Yesterday's game WAS much better than last week. Thank goodness! We started our day quite early. My parents were in Starkvegas at the tailgate by 9:30. (Lee and Dustin & Co. set the tents up Friday night.) Russ and I arrived by noon. Soon after, the rest of the crew showed up: Kristin, Lee, Dustin and friends, the Holcombes and their family, and Lee's mom. We had a full 3 tents and a great time! There was an unbelievable amount of food there! I brought Greek pasta salad and peanut butter chip brownies. There were also sandwiches, chicken strips, all kinds of dips, cookies, crackers, sausage/cheese plate, chips, and MORE! It was crazy! We had a great time visiting, watching the Ole Miss game on the satellite, and seeing old friends. The game wasn't too bad either! Ha!

Russ enjoying a relaxing day away from the hospital

The Johnson tailgaters

Mama and Sherra

Kristin and Lee - Kristin arrived in fine Chi O style!

Mama and me

Kristin and me

Daddy and Dustin (Notice the new iPhone in his lap! When he shook it, it sounded like a cowbell!)

College friends, Marcee and Rachael, stopped by for a visit as they always do. Jennifer and Jaysen also stopped by, but I failed to get a picture!

Lee and Russ

After the game, we went bowling with Kristin and Lee. (Dustin had to work the gate for a party after the game) I know! We are crazy! It was 11:00 before we left the tailgate. We bowled until close to 2 am!! Then, we went back to campus to take the tents down until next week. Russ and I got home around 3:30 am!! Reminds me of my late night college days! Ha! We had a great time!

Lee, me, and Kristin

Russ's bowling shoes

Look at that form!

Kristin and me

MSU vs. Southeastern Louisiana

Like many bulldog fans, I wasn't sure what to think after last week's game against Louisiana Tech. However, I'm feeling a little better about the whole situation now. I have to! It's Friday. You know what that means - MSU home game tomorrow!! I can already feel it! Tailgating with friends and family, catching up with college friends, cowbells, the fight song, Bully himself! I can hardly stand the excitement!


Tomorrow night, at 6:00, the bulldogs will face Southeastern Louisiana. Now, I've been a bulldog fan for a long time. And let me just tell you! I have sat through rain, snow, sleet, and more during a 20 points (or more) loss! I DO NOT leave ballgames early! My dad and I are, sometimes, the only people left out of the family. But, we're there - cheering for the dawgs no matter what. All that to say...we better have something to cheer for tomorrow night! Because I'll be there win or lose...and I get ill if we sit there for a terrible loss!

So, if you want to know where Russ and I will be tomorrow...we'll be in God's country - cheering for our dawgs! GO STATE!!!

Wednesday's Words from Mrs. Johnson's Class

One of the joys of teaching is that you never know what your students will say. You may be steaming mad one second, and doubled over with laughter the next. Today, is one example. I have always had moments when I thought to myself, "I MUST write that down." But, I never do. So, today, when I had a moment...I decided I'd start putting them on my blog for you to enjoy!

I was teaching about rounding today. I started out by asking the question: "I'm going shopping, and I need to keep up with how much money I'm spending. I can't take a calculator. I'm buying ten things." I gave examples of how much they might cost, like...$1.99, $12.75, etc. I posed the question to the students, "What can I do to quickly find out how much money I'm spending?" Obviously, the correct answer was "round/estimate." I would have taken a number of answers. But, instead, one of my cutest little boys raised his hand. Let me set this up for you. Charles is probably not even four feet tall, and has the cutest little disposition. He is a bright student. Anyway, he raised his hand. All attention was on him! When I called on him (anticipating the right answer from my super class), he picked up his pencil and said, "Could you tell me those numbers again?" Of course, I smiled - trying so hard not to laugh. The class was giggling, and he had no clue why. I just smiled and said, "Well, it really doesn't matter how much. I just want to know HOW I can do it." I couldn't even remember the numbers myself!


As I was setting up for a lesson, and the class was transitioning to get ready for math...Jo'Neshia said something that I couldn't hear. There was no one around, so I know she wasn't talking TO anyone. So, I was getting ready to get onto her for not raising her hand to speak to me and asked, "What did you say?" She quietly replied, "I said you are pretty." She was just smiling sweetly.


There are certainly days when I wonder, "Why in the world did I decide to be a 'miracle-worker' (Van Winkle's word for teacher)?" It doesn't take long to have one of these cute, funny, or sweet comments to bring me back to my passion. I love these kids, and it amazes me each year how I can love each class as much (or more) than the one before. I always have a fear of "disliking" my class. This has never been a problem for me. TRUST ME...there have been opportunities to "dislike" my classes. But, like my principal always says, "These parents are sending the best that they have." As a teacher, in my mission field, I will do the best I can for the ones I have. I am so thankful for the job God has entrusted me with. Gotta love it!

Monday Morning Reflections

You may have already seen this video. I know my dad has used it as an illustration in our home church before. I came across it again recently, and I just had to share. This video will renew your hope in agape love in the lives of men and women.

Happy Birthday, Dustin!

This weekend, Russ and I traveled the familiar 3 1/2 hours to spend the Labor Day weekend with our families. We arrived in town around 7:15 Friday night, and spent the evening with Russ's family. The whole fam came in to see us (or at least that's what I like to think!). We stayed until midnight before we crashed at my parents' house. Saturday, we visited with my grandmother, ate at Mike's with my family, and watched the very embarrassing MSU game. Can you believe my bulldogs?! I just know that next week, when Russ and I make our way to "God's Country" we will be ready to play football for real! I'll be there with my cowbell!! Anyway, Sunday the girls went shopping in Jackson, TN. My grandmother treated us to an early Christmas shopping spree. It was a fun weekend! We also spent my brother's 20th birthday with him. I can't believe my baby brother is 20 years old!! I feel so old! Have I ever mentioned that he must be the favorite? He'll tell you if you don't know! You should have seen all the gifts! The biggest one that surprised even my mom was his new iPhone! I don't think Mama and Daddy communicated about that one...so, Dustin was doubly blessed with gifts from the parents! Man, I wish I had a September birthday! Ha!

We opted for a Labor Day cookout for the big birthday bash.

Daddy grilling on his charcoal grill

White chocolate pie for a birthday cake - Dustin's favorite

The big reveal

I'm pretty sure Dustin had a great birthday!