Wicked

Jason and I saw Wicked on Saturday night. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! The cast, the music, the scenes, the storyline - everything! It may be a favorite musical of all time now. We had great seats (a very early anniversary present) and enjoyed the evening together. I highly recommend going to see this musical - Jason even liked it! I can't say enough to say how much I enjoyed it! I would so see it again!!!


My all time favorite song.

I also bought a t-shirt that says Defy Gravity. I'm going to look rocking awesome in it=).

Things I would rather do

I had to get my blood drawn today to check on some things. I hate getting my blood drawn. I repeat hate. The thought of it shoots off my sympathetic nervous system and my palms become all sweaty and I feel queasy. I look away while they put the needle in my arm and give myself a pep talk that it will be over in less than a minute.

Yeah, I give myself pep talks. Glad I put that out there.

I've known about this appointment for about a week so I've been trying to prepare myself for it, but instead all I could think of was things I would rather do than get my blood drawn. So in no particular order here they are:

• Walk 5 miles in heels
• Touch raw meat
• Do paperwork =)
• Run a half marathon
• Watch The Terminal
• Listen to a really boring lecture
• Herd cattle into stalls

Shutterfly

(I've meant to post this for several weeks but I kept forgetting)

I love to scrapbook. I have been scrapbooking since high school and always enjoyed it as a past time, but to be perfectly honest, I haven't had the time for it since I went to grad school. I still have to scrapbook my summer in Europe and that was almost 5 years ago - eventually, I will get started on it. Ha!

I decided a couple of months ago to look into online scrapbooking because I had given up on getting caught up. I found Shutterfly and started playing with their photobook material. When you sign up, they send emails every so often with deals. They sent me a 50% coupon for a photobook and so I thought I would give it a shot since it wouldn't cost me as much.

I was not disappointed.

Shutterfly gives options for different backgrounds and layouts. They don't have stickers that you can put on the pages but I didn't mind. I was completely pleased with the end result.

I highly recommend Shutterfly. I actually have a photobook in my hand and the pictures are no longer just in a box or on my computer. I think that is worth the money. =)

The Tassle is Worth the Hassle

Last weekend, Jason and I went to Louisiana to see one of his younger brothers graduate from high school. I can't believe that he is already graduating. It feels like yesterday that he was a freshman. The weekend was spent enjoying time with family and celebrating Jordan's accomplishment. He will start college in the summer (he's a real go getter) in music education. We had a graduation party for him on Saturday and then he graduated Saturday night outside.

Jason grilled all the burgers and hot dogs for the party.

The cake that was delicious!

On our way to watch Jordan graduate

All the siblings

All the Raccas

That's Jordan on the left walking down the aisle

Getting his diploma!

Jordan saying his speech. Did I mention he was the valedictorian? Well he was. He's a smartie!

They're done!

The graduation was great and it made me reminisce about my own high school graduation. I remember the excitement, feeling so grown up, excited about going to college, etc. And now its going to be 10 years next year..gosh...I don't know if I can handle that...

Fingers and Toes

Last Tuesday, my friend, Jessica, and I got pedicures and manicures at a place called Polished. It was well deserved and we had fun relaxing and talking. It was my first manicure ever! I've had acrylic nails put on before for weddings and such, but I never had the nails to get a manicure.

I bit my nails well into college.

Whew! That felt good to get off my chest.

Then one year a couple of years ago, I decided that I was going to make a new year's resolution to stop biting my nails and I accomplished it (shockingly). Don't ask me about my other resolutions - I don't have a good track record.

Anyways, I want to get manicure and pedicure every week now! I had forgotten how awesome they were. Any donations you would like to give for this indulgence would be appreciated.

Jessica's pretty fingers and toes

I chose Ms. Hepburn polish for my fingers. I figured I could channel some of Audrey Hepburn's grace and daintiness - and then the next day I dropped a rolling stool onto my leg.

Purple Rain on the toes

I can't wait til my next one. If you live in the area, sign up for their mailing list. They give specials all the time.

Mom

To the woman

Who has always encouraged me to reach for my dreams

Who always has a listening ear for my problems

Who stayed up to help me finish projects when I procrastinated

Who treats her dogs like her own children

Who has a heart of gold and loves unconditionally

Who loves Jesus

Who has been a terrific mother to me and a great best friend

Happy Birthday! I love you.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I know its been a while since I blogged but I have had a pretty lame - I mean slow - couple of weeks =).

In honor of my friend Jacque who absolutely loves Cinco de Mayo mainly because of her love for the number of 5, I have a recipe for everyone. I made chicken enchiladas and sopapilla cheesecake for Cinco de Mayo tonight. The sopapilla cheesecake was so good. I've made it several times and always get compliments from it. So because I love ya here it is:

Sopapilla Cheesecake

• 2 cans of crescent rolls
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• 2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick of butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Press 1 can of crescent rolls on the bottom of a 9" X 13" pan. Mix cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Spread over rolls in the pan. Cover with other can of rolls in the pan. Melt butter and stir in the rest of the sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the top. Bake for 30 minutes. Can be served warm or at room temperature.

ENJOY!!!