Because Sometimes Those Silly Cliches Are Really True...even for me!

I hope you are prepared for a WHOLE LOT of HAPPINESS! When is the last time I said that on this blog?! I will admit it has been awhile!

First order of business. School. School is going really, really well. Even though I am still little bummed that I switched my minor to Human Growth & Development that are two really major positive outcomes. The first is that it compliments my Psychology major a lot more that my first minor did and secondly, I can take every single course for my minor online! Hallelujah! I go to campus once a week and observe at an on site daycare for an hour. Some weeks have been difficult but the last couple have been just fine and (drum roll)....I even drove myself the last two times!! Whoo!  I will be signing up for Summer and Fall classes next week. I am taking two online courses this Summer and taking a leap of faith and choosing to take one course on campus for the Fall. I am nervous and very, very excited! 

Secondly, yes I am driving some!!! Seriously, it feels so nice to drive again. I feel like such a carefree teenager when I am able to drive. I even have a "car-tunes" playlist on my iPod just for the special occasions. I only go places close to home. (Like the pharmacy or to get a pedicure.) I am planning to go to the library this week or next. It is about 25 minutes away. I always drive when someone else is at home and has access to a car-just in case I get where I am going and get sick and can't make it back home. Always be prepared.

Okay, this is my biggest and most exciting news!! I am really nervous but so super excited at the same time. I have decided to go with my best friend Kim to Austin, TX, the first week of April. Kim, her roomate and their friend from church will be coming from Maryland during their spring break. They are coming through Alabama and I will ride the rest of the way with them. I am a little nervous because my mind likes to scream at me and remind me of all the horrible things that could go wrong so far from home but then there is another little voice that is like, "Hey, put on your big girl panties! You have been way too sick for way too long to give up an opportunity like this!" Even though the little voice scares me a litttle, I happen to agree with it and I am taking a huge leap of faith and I am going to Austin...like a regular, normal person!! I am so excited!!! 

My own Friday's Frills!

I had my very own fun filled, live action Friday's Frills, this past Friday. It was so much fun! I have wanted to get out of the house with a big-o list of things to do and just paint the town red. I totally got to do that! And I took a bazillion photos just for extra fun. :)

Out of all my cute notepads & pretty post its...I just grabbed a Netflix envelope and wrote my list on it. It worked though. I would also like to add that I was able to get everything on the list except shampoo. That never happens! 

Our first stop was at Petco and then we headed to Target. Target just puts me in a good mood. Don't y'all love Target too?

Mom getting some storage tubs for her China. 

Me, trying on a headband that I ending up buying and wearing the rest of the day.

The cashier was not amused by my photo taking at the check out. I tried to explain that I had a blog and I needed my Friday photos for Project Life but she was like, "Hey crazy girl, get on with it." Oh well. 

Next was lunch & dessert at our favorite bakery, Edgar's. I got a fried green tomato BLT. Yeah, it is so good. And we got cupcakes. 

We went to Belk's. They were having a massive shoe sale but I sadly didn't find any that I liked. There were some really unattractive shoes at this sale. I can't leave out that before we left, I managed to knock over a rack of sweaters with the wheelchair. Slightly embarrassing, I will say. Fortunately, no one was around and Mom quickly cleaned up my mess and we were on our way!

And lastly, we went to the movies. I have been wanting to see Country Strong. I know the reviews haven't been that great but we loved it! It was so good. I promptly came home and downloaded a couple of the songs on my iPod. 

Our last photo of the day. We are in front of the theater. It was freezing and this photo was taken in hurry! 

It was such a fun day, y'all. I am so thankful that I felt like going out. I hope I can do it again sooner rather than later! :)

The Sound of Music

This past Friday my Mom and I had the most fun night together. We went to the Alabama Theater to see the Von Trapp Children sing!! It was amazing, to say the least! They are the great grandchildren on the real life Captain Von Trapp. (Their grandfather is portrayed as Kurt in The Sound of Music. ) It was soooo very neat. They sang heavenly and told stories that had been past down in their family. The girls wore the real Maria's dresses to perform in! It was a very special night and I am so grateful that I was able to go. I saw in wheelchair accessible seats which just happened to be 5 rows from the stage! (Okay, so using a wheelchair does have its rewards! ha!)

They sang so many beautiful Christmas song and nearly all of the songs from The Sound of Music.

Mom and I before we left.

Outside the theatre.
 And my coat is new! Last Christmas, the Polyvore team sent me an amazing Christmas surprise and I used the gift card they sent to buy myself a new winter coat. So, thank you Polyvore!



It was a spectacular night! If you have a chance to go see the Von Trapp, you must go!

Merry Christmas!



Happy "Holly" Days to Me!

This past Saturday, December 11 marked mine and Holly's first year together. She is such a little angel.

I am now a crazy person who is in love with their dog! I never thought that could happen!I now understand why there is a seletction of "pet cards" in  Hallmark. Until now I thought that was pretty crazy. But when I bought my Dad two Father's Day cards-one from me and one from Holly, I knew that my crossing over to the dark side was complete! ha

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010

Holly is the best dog there has ever been. (Yeah, I know I am little bias!) We know one another. She knows when I am sick. She knows when I have a headache. She knows when I can't play. She knows right where to find me, when my parents say, "Let's go see Mama!" She LOVES socks! Socks are her favorite toy. She has now learned how to find them and pull them through the slats in the laundry basket. I call her my little sock monkey. She loves her toys. She usually can't decide which ones she wants to play with and tries to put both in her little mouth! So cute, I am telling you!

Sweet. So very sweet.

Winter 2009

Summer 2010

Please tell me...how could you not love this?

Merry Christmas!

days of hope

I have so many praises to share with you all. They are all so wonderful!

First, my sweet friend Rachel is having a baby! I am so, so happy for her. Rachel and I haven't seen one another in quite a while but I have known her since we were teeny babies. She is so sweet and kind. I know she will be a wonderful mother. Here is photo of Rachel and her husband Keith.

photo courtesy of The Pilston Papers.

Do you remember this urgent prayer request a few weeks ago? Well, the FDA reconsidered their decision and they ARE NOT taking the medication ProAmatine off the market! This was such wonderful news to hear! I am so happy for all of my fellow Dysautonomia friends who take this.

And yes, I am receiving my IV fluids each week. Yesterday was my 5th week. (And that is why I am online today!) I usually get about 1 to 1 1/2 days where I feel a little better. And that for me is a BIG miracle! I am online...who knew that would be a milestone! But I take what I can get!!

And finally, my biggest and happiest news...

2 weeks ago, I was able to get dressed and get out of this house for the first time in over a month!!! I was so, so happy! I was in bed for days after but I didn't care. The fluids that I had received on Thursday allowed me to feel like kicking up my heels the next day! It was magic! See for yourself!

We went and had visited my sister at work and we had lunch with her. I don't really like this picture of me (it is far from flattering!) but it will have to do! ha!

Thank you for your prayers and support. And if I need to reply to an email, I promise that I will!

Therefore, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,

and speak tenderly to her.

And there I will give her her vineyards

and make the Valley  a door of hope.

And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
\as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.

Hosea 2:14-15

Some things that are making me happy.

I have felt quite bad today. I haven't been able to be out of bed very much. I hate these kind of days. I am getting ready to go to bed. I have my block scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7. I am glad it is early for a couple of reasons: 1. I can't eat after midnight, so the earlier I have it done the faster I can eat breakfast! 2. At 7 am, I shouldn't have to wait too long.

Anyway, Holly is asleep on the foot of my bed and that just makes me so happy. All day today I have been thinking about things that make me happy. And here are a few things that I thought about.

My birthday party and the lovely cupcakes that we will get to eat next weekend!

This book. I saw it at the bakery where we ordered my cupcakes and I really want it! It is so pretty!

 

I can't wait until everyday looks likes this!

I can't wait for my wonderful goodies to arrive from the The Gilded Bee! Yay for that! She is soooo talented!

(notice the lorina lemonade bottles in the background!)

I love listening to the Evening Soundtrack when I feel bad.

And finally, Mango sorbet. I love it!

photos form here, here, here, here, here and here.

Happy Posts are nice.

Look at what I finally created! :) I am super excited! I think it may be okay to say that I quite possibly am addicted to digital scrapbooking and Photoshop! This was fun. I wanted you guys to see my creation. I have been watching tutorials at Shabby Princess and this post was very helpful! I found a couple of digital kits that were on sale (only $2.00!) at The Digichick. Perhaps, I am not as technically challenged as I thought!

Did you all have nice weekends? I hope so. I am happy to report that I haven't fainted since last Saturday! Yay! I am still spending all of my time in bed but now when I do get up, I am not fainting! I am so excited! Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me! It really does mean so much!

Have a great day!

I love a good party! What about you?

How about a fun, light-hearted post, huh? Yeah, I think so too. :)

I love a good party! My Mom and I love to throw them! I love planning the menu and the theme. I love getting out our crystal plates and punch bowl. I LOVE that all the people I love are gathered together in one room. The only thing that I don’t love about parties is the after party clean up job. That part isn’t much fun!

My Mom has always thrown big birthday parties for me and my sister, Haley. I love looking through photos and seeing the themes that she came up with each year. She is a pretty spectacular and creative person. So, my love for parties started pretty early. I guess my love of parties was revitalized when I was a Senior in high school and I threw a friend a surprise party. Over the last few years, we have had wedding showers and lingerie showers at our home as well as several over the top Christmas parties for my friends as well as my sister’s.

But no party even comes close to the last one we had in October of 2007. It was an amazing party for a pretty amazing feat! Okay, so I am going to try and explain this amazing party as lady-like as possible because I know that a couple of gentlemen read this and well…it is the Internet! Two years ago, after years and years of being completely frustrated, embarrassed and uncomfortable I decided to finally have a breast reduction. It was by far, one of the BEST decisions that I have ever made. Because I was now ridden of these “burdens” I decided to have a party and celebrate the magnificent milestone. So, I had a “Burn the Bra Party”. And I have to say, it was pretty fantastic!

My friends, family, family friends…everyone came! It was very much, “out with big, old grannies and in with the new, pretty and feminine!” ha!

Here are some photos from the party.

The table with all the goodies! We love good party food!

How lucky am I? Look at those girls! I am so blessed to have so many people love me!

Grammy, Aunt Ginger, Mom, Cindy, Leslie, & Gwen

See, I told you! Here is the burning of the old, ugly & granny and in with the new pretty and feminine! Great memories!

What about you guys? Are there any parties that stand out in your memory as being really spectacular?

Let the Christmas shopping begin. {Check.}

Soooo cute! :) My holiday shopping has started.

Remember the other day when I was telling you about all the little goodies from Etsy that I wanted for Christmas. Well, I can check these cuties off my list!
Cute camera bags from Hooray Design....{check!} I am so glad that I can call Alli a blogger friend.

When I get them I have an idea of a simple little gift for my friends for Christmas that I will have to share. (I hope they aren't reading! ha!)

Love, Heather

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

Here is a list of dreamy items from Etsy that I would love to have! Please feel free to purchase any or all of the above in time for Christmas!

Love, Heather

1. The most precious bags with hand stamped cameras...so cute! These are from my blogger friend, Alli's Etsy Shop, Hooray Design. I love her store!

2. A beautiful bangle created by Magnolija Dress. Her creations are so dream-like! I love this beautiful bangle. It is called the Snow with Cream Bangle...how cute?!

3. This beautifully silver plated bowl that has been painted and turned into a chalkboard! So Cute! This extraordinary little beauty can be found in a shop on Etsy that is based in my hometown of Birmingham, AL, The French Flea Shop.

4. These beautiful tags are from the Etsy shop, Seasonal Delights. I placed an order at her shop a couple of weeks ago and received my beautiful Christmas tags and hand stamped ribbon. She is an artist! Her work is so nostalgic and sweet! Love her work!

5. Okay, this necklace just blows my socks off! I think if wouldn't brighten any one's day, don't you? I think I might have to break down and buy this for myself before Christmas! What a beauty! The necklace and other beautiful pieces can be found here, Miss Bee Designs.

6. Last but not least, is this precious, old typewriter. I have always wanted one and I think this one is so darling. The typewriter isn't the only vintage piece, Lovely Vintage, etc. has. This Etsy store is heavenly if you love old and beautiful things!

In other news, I will be putting up my Christmas tree and other Christmas decorations in my room this week! I am so excited. My family started decorating for Christmas in early November about 10 years ago. I cheered in high school and my sister twirled, so once the holidays started Mom and Dad ran out of time to decorate, because my sister and I kept them so busy! So, we started doing it on Halloween. It has become a Thomas Family tradition. It is a little strange to have our tree up this early but we do enjoy it. And besides, my Mom takes down our Christmas decorations down on the 25th after all of our family leaves so it sort of balances out, I suppose. Weird family, I know! ha!

Happy Post

My new blogger friend (and real life friend) Rachel has made my day! :)

Rachel is probably my oldest friend, ever. We were the only two children at Second Baptist Church for years! We were surrounded by adults who loved, pampered and spoiled us to pieces. We both eventually found new church families and lost touch over the years as so many friends do. In February we ran in to each other in Target and we have since tried to keep in touch through Facebook.

Rachel is a wonderful, Godly woman and I am so honored to call her a friend. She has a great blog, The Pilston Papers. You must visit her.

She blogged about my bedroom, which made me very happy because my bedroom is very special to me. Here is the original post and photos that Rachel blogged about. Enjoy!