Advice is Nice

Updates on Mousey: Nothing to Report. I am still not convinced we have one. There is no evidence other than the droppings inside the bottom of the washer. I found this advice on the internet:

"If you suspect that mice have taken up residence in a clean area of your house, lay down a sprinkling of talc to catch them in the act." Source: Ezine Articles.

I may try this tonight! Kind of makes me feel like a detective! Except I really hope I don't catch him "in the act". You can read about the Mousey drama HERE

Updates on Ebay Situation: Nothing to Report. I still haven't received ANYTHING (my stuff or the other person's stuff). So I am waiting and waiting... the other buyer received my stuff last Thursday. I don't know why her package hasn't arrived to me... for all I know the seller sent it to some unknown place that doesn't exist. You can read about the ebay drama HERE

And Finally since you ladies are so great at giving advice, (thankyouthankyouthankyou) I need some more advice. I have a male co-worker that keeps asking me out. He knows I am married and I have told him no every single time. The question is how do I make this stop without making work super uncomfortable? I have to see him a lot. Plus it isn't like a creepy thing, its just annoying. My husband says to file a complaint but I don't want to do that because I don't want him to get in trouble. Like I said, it's not creepy like a sexual harassment thing. After a long day he will just say, "Today sucked, lets go grab a drink". Am I too paranoid? Is he just being friendly? or?

Would love to hear your advice on this situation! Hope everyone had a great weekend! I have been working all weekend at the hospital and being exposed to the swine flu. Say a little prayer for me that I don't get it too!

Ebay Drama & Mouse Update

I recently purchased some Lilly items from Ebay. I have been anxiously awaiting their arrival... but today I received this message from the seller:

Good afternoon! I am sorry to say I did an OOPPSS!! I sent someone else your items by accident and I probably sent their items to you! Getting old is no fun! Anyway please let me know when you receive the items they are an off-white cardigan/shell set...I will reimburse you and the other seller via pay-pal to ship to the other buyer she has already contacted me saying she has your items! So I will wait to hear from you to get an address to you if that will be alright! Thanks so much!

Now I remember why I stopped shopping on Ebay.

The question is... when/if I ever receive my item, what sort of feedback should I give the seller? I mean this is a huge inconvenience. Not only to have to wait double the amount of time to receive my purchases... but also have to find time to take this other person's stuff to the post office... ARG! What would you do??

And on the MOUSE front... no news yet! Thanks so much for all of the advice! I think I will be going with the nice humane "set mousey free" option... Unfortunately my hubby is still out of town (until Sunday night) and I am scared to death to trap the mouse by myself! I am in nursing school and can deal with any sort of bodily fluids you throw at me.... I won't pat an eyelash... but throw a little mouse at me and I go running like a little girl

I did clean out our pantry because my mom said they will go in there to find food. She said IF I have mice most likely I will find more "droppings" in there... Well, no more droppings were found, THANK GOD! So I have halfway convinced myself that the mouse droppings inside/underneath the washer were in the washer when we bought it... maybe?!? Here's hoping....

Guess what we have??

I told you guys yesterday the the washing machine repair man found something underneath our washer.... I am sure you have been up all night wondering what it could be.... I know I was... because.......

we have a MOUSE in the HOUSE!!

and I am pretty sure he doesn't look like this guy:

The reason he knows that we have a mouse in the house? When he pulled off the front of the washer there were DROPPINGS all over the bottom of the washer panel..... ewww!!!

Any advice for getting rid of a mouse??

(and please pray that there isn't more than one)

Note to Mr. Mouse: I am leaving you for the day. I am going to Winston-Salem to see my parents. DO NOT make yourself at home. Thanks.

Thursday Tirade

Had a crazy week? Kids hard to handle?

We want to hear about it! Write a post about it and link up here....

We all blog about our daily frustrations... but now you can get support from your fellow bloggy friends!

I have a big tirade... I lost a Follower!!!! I am SO SAD! I was happy because I finally had a nice roundish number (75). Now I am back to 74... What happened?? Where did you go?!? Why did you leave?!? Don't worry... I have made a list of the rest of you to make sure no one else leaves... haha... just kidding (maybe)

Also, our WASHER broke this past weekend. Husband calls me (last Saturday) at work and informs me water is ALL over the floor in the laundry room. Lovely.... why is everything breaking in our house... it is only 4 years old?! I am down to my last pair of clean underwear (repair man coming tomorrow)... I am hoping he fixes it so I don't have to beg a friend to let me come clean all of our dirty clothes at their house...

update: repair man came and said nothing was wrong with our washer... we need to call a plumber because our drain is clogged in the back. our washer is under warranty... our plumbing not so much... out comes the checkbook :( AND... he found something else under our washer which I will tell you about TOMORROW.. stay tuned....

Lastly, Husband has been in Texas all week on business. Poor Gracie has been missing her daddy so much... she keeps looking at the door and making this pitiful cry everytime she goes downstairs... and she keeps looking at me like this:

I think she is saying, "when is he coming back?!?!"

ok, now its your turn!

Write a post, grab the button and link up!

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ALSO, I received this from Lori @ The Peterson Family's Blog which has recently become one of my new favorite blogs to read!

The Splash Award is given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring blogs.

if you play my carnival today, I am giving you this award!! Congrats!

Gracie: The Model

Gracie wanted me to take her picture today to show you guys her pretty dress.

She posed for the picture and said cheese.

Just for all of you.

(Too bad her mommy is a bad picture taker and it came out blurry...)

View other people's pictures at:

Seven Clown Circus, 5 minutes for mom, and Ordinary and Awesome

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for the Thursday Tirade!!

Pay it Forward Winners/Awards

Drum Roll Please....

The Winners of the Pay it Forward Giveaway are.....

M @ The Duncan Dialogues (first commenter)

AND

Kassie @ The Girly Gallivanter (chosen by Random.org)

Congrats Ladies!!

Please send me your address via email: justaddwalter(@)gmail(.)com

I wish EVERYONE could have won... but for the runners up I would like to offer you all a couple of awards (Yes, you get them BOTH!!)

I received these awards from the sweet Brandi @ My Three Bubs.

Here’s how this one works: USE ONLY ONE WORD! It’s not as easy as you might think. Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It’s really hard to use only one-word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? brown

3. Your mother? awesome

4. Your (step) father? great

5. Your favorite food? pizza

6. Your dream last night? crazy

7. Your favorite drink? Tea

8. Your dream/goal? NURSE

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? reading

11. Your fear? spiders

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? mother

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something that you aren’t? mean

15. Muffins? blueberry

16. Wish list item? camera

17. Where did you grow up? North Carolina

18. Last thing you did? study

19. What are you wearing? dress

20. Your TV? big

21. Your pets? Gracie

22. Friends? fun

23. Your life? busy

24. Your mood? happy

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Vehicle? Tribute

27. Something you’re not wearing? shoes

28. Your favorite store? A.Taylor

29. Your favorite color? pink

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? today

32. Your best friend? reliable

33. One place that I go to over and over? movies

34. One person who emails me regularly? Mom

35. Favorite place to eat? Blue

This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to six bloggers who must choose six more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Amy @ Keeping up with the Schultz Family

Kathie @ my net finds

Alicia @ It ain't easy being cheesy

Katie @ My first year as a Wallace

Kristen @ Ladybug Blessings

Anna @ Southern Champagne Wishes

So there you go! Congrats to all the winners!!

Vera Bradley @ Rue La La

An exclusive invitation-only boutique with boutiques from major designers

Click Here for your FREE invitation from ME!

One of today's boutiques:

Check out what I bought:

Pinwheel Pink Tall Zip Tote

Retail Price: $84.00

Rue La La's Price: $39.00!!!!

RUN OVER TO RUE LA LA AND PICK OUT SOMETHING BEFORE THEY ALL SELL OUT!!!

Pay it Forward and First Day

A couple of weeks ago I participated in "Pay it Forward" @ Tickled Pink and Fabulous.

Now I am giving all of you a chance to play and win a small gift from ME!

The rules:

Be the First Commenter on this Post

OR

Comment and get chosen randomly by me

(2 winners total)

**You must of course be willing to give me your mailing address**

Once you receive your gift, you agree to write a post about it, and link back to my blog.

You also agree to "Pay it Forward" and send gifts to 2 more people that comment on your blog.

Sound like fun?

It is!

Look what Michelle sent me:

She got me some really cute nail polish, Reeses chap stick (yummy), Body Wash (you would not believe how good it smells), a really awesome paddle brush, and the cutest hairclip/brooch ever! Thanks so much Michelle!!

Oh, and thanks to everyone who sent me sweet messages on my first day of school! You guys made my day. I was so nervous but it was a great first day. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

My first day of school picture:

Where I will be learning lots of fun things:

Where I will be doing clinicals:

photo credit: CMC

OK... now start commenting for your chance to win the "Pay it Forward" giveaway...

if you can't think of what to comment on, tell me something fun like your favorite book

UPDATE: I will be closing comments at 6pm EST 8/25/09... so hurry up and comment!!

say a little prayer for me!

Tomorrow is my first day of nursing school!!

I am hoping my day will be as easy as this checklist:

But unfortunately I think the day will end with me looking more like this:

prayers and well wishes are welcome!!!

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!!!

and the winner of the giveaway is....

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

52Powered by RANDOM.ORG

KATIE @ "The Perks"

Katie, congratulations!! Please email me at justaddwalter(@)gmail(.)com and tell me which item you are choosing (if you changed your mind). You can view the items again HERE

Thanks so much to Living Rooms Direct for sponsoring this giveaway!!

Say hello to my little friends!!

So, I mentioned here that I LOVE tailgating.

We have a friend who knows someone that makes pinatas for our games. We basically beat the heck out of bust open a representation of the OTHER TEAM'S MASCOT before every home game. It's so much fun!!

Here are the pinatas for the upcoming WAKE FOREST football season (aka: the people we want to beat):

1st Home Game: Baylor Bears on September 5th:

2nd Home Game: Stanford Cardinals on September 12th:

3rd Home Game: Elon Phoenix(es):

or whatever is the plural of Phoenix?

wondering what "M" @ The Duncan Dialogues thinks of that one... hehe

4th Home Game: NC State Wolfpack on October 3rd:

5th Home Game: Maryland Terrapins on October 10th:

6th Home Game: Miami Hurricanes on October 31st:

7th Home Game (the last one): Florida State Seminoles on November 14th:

They are pretty cute huh?? Well, they aren't cute after we do this to them...

Behold the destroyed Clemson Tiger from last year:

Wanna see how cute our mascot is:

Yep, that's right.... The Demon Deacon is so cool he has his very own custom Harley Davidson.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR FOOTBALL SEASON!!!

Thursday Tirade

Are you ready?? It time for the Thursday Tirade!!!

Time to vent... to get it all off your chest...

Good, Bad, Doesn't matter.... just join us in the fun!

Tell us about your job, family, friends...whatever you want to talk about... just link up at the bottom so we know you are playing!

.... and don't forget to visit the others and give them your support too!

So my week started off with a bang. My husband noticed that my car was leaking oil (big deal I thought). We apparently it was a big deal.... after fixing that (and some other things they found) I walked out of the car dealership with a big $715 bill!!! ARG!!! not a great way to start the week. Not to mention they had to keep my car overnight which created some major car pooling issues since I was starting orientation the next day. Poor hubby had to work from home all day just so he could be around to chauffeur me around town all day

Along with that I had to buy books for school on Tuesday..... totaling about $500. I forgot school books were so freaking expensive! So in two days I have managed to spend over $1200.... GREAT....

Then last night I was tossing and turning all night long trying to sleep when all of the sudden Gracie (sweet little fur baby) leans over and proceeds to throw up all over me!! REALLY?!!?! Not exactly what you want to happen in the middle of the night (or at all). Poor little baby has been sick all day and I have been practicing my fabulous nursing skills on her by nursing her back to health!

Whew! I feel better

Now it's your turn!

Write a post, grab my button, and link up at the bottom!

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Thanks for blowing a POOL in my backyard

The other day it was REALLY REALLY windy....

I look out into my backyard and look what had blown into our yard:

Really??

Thanks wind...

I would love to have a pool but this wasn't exactly what I had in mind...

PS: I know my grass looks crazy... we are having some major issues with our lawn and I tried to use photoshop to cover up the issues but got bored....

Only 3 days left to enter my very 1st GIVEAWAY!! CLICK HERE!!

View other people's pictures at:

Seven Clown Circus and 5 minutes for mom,

100th Post Already??

It seems to be a tradition that on your 100th post you post 100 things about yourself. I can't believe I have already had 100 posts.... but Blogger doesn't lie... so here goes:

1. I am starting NURSING SCHOOL in 1 week!!
2. I am SOOOO nervous about going back to school since I have been out of school for 5 years
3. I already have a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University.
4. I did not use my degree.... hence why I am going back to school in 1 week!!
5. I worked in property management at a luxury apartment home community before deciding to go back to school to become a nurse.
6. I currently work as a CNA at a hospital
7. My job is not the most glamorous job in the world and the pay kind of stinks but I am learning a lot.
8. I cannot wait for football season, it is my favorite time of the year.
9. We have a group of about 20 people that we tailgate with every year.
10. I enjoy the tailgate more than the actual game
11. Sometimes we tailgate for over 8 hours straight
12. I love living in the South and being a Southerner
13. I love sweet tea
14. I love southern accents and country music
15. I think every southern girl (or any girl in general) should have a strand of her grandmother's/mother's pearls
16. I have a couple of strands
17. I have a stuffed animal named Oatmeal that I have owned since I was born that sits next to my bed on the floor
18. I will never get rid of Oatmeal. I don't care that he has a hole in the back of his head when my cat once attacked him or that he is losing his nose.
19. I love to go shopping even if I don't buy anything
20. Sometimes retail therapy is the best kind of therapy out there
21. While I was trying to thing of 100 things to tell you guys, my husband went downstairs and made me this:
22. It was really yummy!
23. Did I mention I have a great husband?
24. We met our junior year of college at Wake Forest University.
25. We were both pledging a coed service fraternity and fell in love (awww...)
26. We dated for exactly 5 years, 6 months and 7 days (5,6,7) before we got engaged
27. He proposed to me on a surprise trip to Jamaica (he didn't know about the 5,6,7 thing)
28. We got married on 06/07/08 (6,7,8).
29. On the day we got hitched we had been together for 6 years, 7 months, and 17 days (17 days could be read like 1+7=8 so you get 6, 7, 8 again)
30. This was not planned either
31. I turned 25 (which I think is a significant bday) on 05/06/07 (5,6,7)
32. I like the numbers thing
33. Especially since my husband is an accountant
34. My husband graduated a year after me since he got his Master's degree
35. He is probably one of the smartest people I know
36. He is currently doing a crossword puzzle next to me.
37. He thinks I am obsessed with blogging
38. He may be right
39. I never had anything monogrammed before getting married
40. The reason why: my initials were ADD and I didn't like people making fun of me saying... haha, you have ADD
41. Now I love getting things monogrammed. I especially like my last initial "W". It is a really pretty letter to get monogrammed... some letters are ugly, but not my letter
42. We have a sweet fur baby named Gracie
43. She has over 50 outfits (I have lost count at his point)
44. She actually loves wearing clothes and gets excited when I go and pick something out of "her drawer"
45. Yes, she has her own drawer... where else could I put all of those clothes?
46. We had a fish for 3 years named Hannah.
47. She passed away a few weeks ago and we buried her in a golf ball box in the backyard.
48. This is the 2nd fish we have buried
49. I hope we aren't starting pet cemetery out there.
50. Speaking of pet cemetery, I LOVE horror movies.
51. My favorite movie of all time is the movie "Psycho".
52. I had/have a mild obsession with Anthony Perkins (Norman Bates in Psycho).
53. Old black and white movies are the best
54. I love going to the movie theater by myself and getting a big box of popcorn just for me
55. I also love to read
56. I read the same books over and over and over and over....
57. I don't have a favorite book
58. I have read the twilight series 4 times (all 4 books)
59. I am so excited to see New Moon
60. I have a group of friends that have already planned to go to the midnight showing
61. I have a great family
62. My father passed away when I was 5 (maybe one day I will tell you all about that)
63. My mother remarried to a wonderful man that is a great stepfather. I am very lucky.
64. I also got 2 stepbrothers in the process. That makes 4 brothers total. (plus 2 BILs)
65. I am the proud aunt of 12 nephews and nieces (8 boys, 4 girls)
66. My immediate family members all live within 1 hour of each other so we get together a lot
67. Justin has a brother in Washington State and Virginia. His parents live in FL. We aren't able to get together as a whole unit very often.
68. I have had the baby itch...
69. but I don't think I am ready to have children yet
70. I do want to have 2 to 3 children (one day)
71. I would love twins (they don't run in our family... darn)
72. I know blogging will be a great resource when I do become a mom
73. For now you get to see lots of pictures of my fur baby, Gracie
74. I love taking pictures
75. A lot of my friends get annoyed at my incessant picture taking
76. I tell them to get over it... hehe!
77. I am horrible with directions
78. I get lost using the navigation system
79. I am LEFT-HANDED.
80. I immediately feel closer to people when I find out they are left handed too
81. I hate talking on the phone and I am really bad about calling people back
82. I wish I could change that
83. I love getting "real mail". People don't write letters anymore... it is sad
84. I love getting dressed up and "going out"
85. I love trying new foods
86. I will try anything once
87. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?
88. This list is kind of crazy
89. It's my 100th post... I can post like I want to
90. I want to learn to sew better and to learn how to quilt
91. I have a sewing machine.
92. So far all I have made are beanbags for cornhole and hemmed a few pants
93. Do you know what cornhole is? Its a tailgating game and its lots of fun. Maybe I will post about that closer to tailgating season
94. I love reality TV... I can't get enough of it
95. DVR is the best invention in the world
96. I wish my house could clean itself
97. Blogging is so rewarding
98. I can't believe I have 68 followers
99. I love meeting all of these new people. What a blessing you all are!
100. I hope that wasn't too painful and that you learned a few new things about me!

A present? For me??

A little less than a month ago I participated in a MONOGRAM SWAP over @ Jewish Girl in Wasp's Clothing (aka JGIWC).

I was fortunate enough to get paired up with the lovely "SAB." @ Sunshine In The City. (I am not sure if she uses her real name on her blog... so I will just call her by her monogram: "SAB"). She has a really cute blog and an adorable puppy named Blair Waldorf. Definitely go check out her blog and you can see pics of Miss Blair HERE.

Anyway, I got my package yesterday and here is what I received!

Along with a sweet note she sent me a super cute PINK koozie with my initials and an INTERCHANGEABLE badge reel with my initial on it. I have never seen one of those before. If I want a little change I can just pop off the one button and add the other one! LOVE IT!!! If you want one of these for yourself, she got the koozie at Madame Monogram and the badge reel from the Chocolate Gumball.

Thanks so much "SAB"!

I love swaps! I think one day I would like to host one.

Do you guys like swaps? Or giveaways? Or both?

Vacation is over....

I talked a lot about our trip to Charleston... but haven't blogged about our time in Jacksonville, FL at all...

I bet you thought we didn't have any fun...

Well we did, and here is the proof:

We did a little tubing down the Ichetucknee River

We watched a little dog racing (and won some money) on Mr. Walter's 67th birthday!

And spent some time catching up (and having a few drinks) with our wonderful friend, Ed.

The vacation is over.

Now we are back in lovely Charlotte, NC with this sweet little girl:

I think I'm ok with that!