Top 10 of '09

Top 10 Things I Learned in 2009

10. Good or bad...actions speak louder than words.
WAY louder.

9. Nail polish, a good pair of boots and jewelry can MAKE an outfit.

8. Music is cheap therapy...
blogging is free therapy.
I love cheap and free therapy.7. I deserve to be treated well.
I won't settle.

6. Anxiety will always rock my little world.
Oh Anxiety... I can mention you lightly & laugh about you at times. I can make jokes about my problems and call you "my biatch" for fun, but this year I learned you will always be with me. I mention embracing you & dealing with it, but man... I'd really love it if you would take a long hike.

5. Being taken for granted sucks, so don't ever take anyone you care about or anything that means anything to you for granted. Easier said than done, right? I know.

4. I'm strong.
I may break down and bawl. I may wallow. I may email Summer at 1am and worry her over my downers... sorry Sum :)
but when I'm done freakin' out the freaks
I am SO. MUCH. STRONGER. than I tend to give myself credit for.

3. Sometimes you just have to laugh at the sky & thank God for leading you down the crazy beautiful road he's chosen for you.

2. Sometimes explaining a frown is the easiest way to cure it.
(Kathy aka Mama Kat actually said that to me last year in response to my #4 "Smiling is just easier than explaining a frown." and it really stuck with me. So, so true oh wise one ;))

Drum roll please...

1.


Happy 2010 y'all!
I ♥ you so.


Wanna check out my top 10 for 2008?

My life in fast forward...

Whew... this life of mine, like many of yours, has been BUSY.
I can't begin to go into everything that has been going on... so this will just be a blurt post.
Ya know, in which I spastically blurt out whatever pops into my head :)

* Celebrated a friend's graduation from nursing school with my gals and their men & then we all went to a restaurant to eat, drink, watch the Saints game & be merry! Unfortunately, the loss of our team brought our merry down a bit, but it's always a merry time when I'm with my amazing friends :)

The little lady to the left of me is the graduate...
& the day after Christmas she became an engaged woman! Woah woah woah, my friends are dropping like flies! (the guy in the blue polo is the lucky man who gets to marry her)

*I met WG's parents last week. They live in Kansas City & this is the first time they've been down here in LA since we began dating. They were nice!

* I got to help my Sister set up Santa toys this year :) Felt very lucky to get to be Santa without ever having to birth a baby! I also got to wake up early and see the look on this little reindeer's perfect face when she saw her display of Santa gifts.
* Spent Christmas day with my family. Soaked up the sweet innocence of my nieces and nephew & the love of my big crazy family! I crawled around on the floor and played dinosaurs & cars with the little Mr.
& rocked baby dolls & nibbled on plastic cookies with the girls. :)
(Me, Squishy Baby & my Big Brother)
* WG & I have been able to spend a good bit of time together recently. We went to Christmas Eve dinner with his family at a plantation called Houma's House in Burnside, LA. It was gorgeous!



How was YOUR Christmas?

Regular posting will be back in full swing just as soon as the holidays are officially OVER!
I've been stock piling things I want to write about!

My Wish For You

Wishing you a blessed day with the ones you love!
I wish I could spend a moment of this day with each of you, because
I sure do Love y'all!

It's probably bad to wish Jesus a belated Birthday...

& that's why I've been a bit absent from the blog world.

I am in full on Christmas spaz mode.

Hey Y'all!

Holy Moly, can you believe Christmas is in a few days already? How in the world did that happen? Eesh.

I have been very stressed this holiday season and feel like I haven't had a second to stop and appreciate the Joy and Merry Bells ringing and whatnot.

Note to self: Enjoy Merry Bells ringing. p.s. figure out what a "Merry Bell" is.

Between doing my own orders & working at the boutique, I'm whooped.

I did get to spend some quality time with WG this weekend & that made me uber happy... but I was still working when there were moments I could fit it in! I think after tonight... knock on wood... I MAY ACTUALLY be done with my Christmas gifts. Amen.

I'm so sorry I've been neglecting all of your blogs. I have been reading when the chance presents itself... I just haven't been commenting much so that I can squeeze in as many blogs as possible!

Are you ready for the 25th?
How stressed are you?

What are you doing to combat that stress?

Where are you CHRISTmas?

I was in a store today and witnessed two women having it out over who was going to be the lucky one to walk out with the last initial "A" clip board. I honestly wanted to walk over, grab it myself and run with it... but instead I turned around and walked out. I couldn't even stand to hear them from afar anymore... so annoying. So petty. Ick.

I'm not going to say "Keep Christ in Christmas" because it's become a bit cliche at this point, so ya know, I'll put it another way. While you're shopping for the perfect gifts for your family and friends these next few days before Christmas, remember that the very first Christmas gift was a child. Remember who that child grew up to be and what he gave us all.

To those two women in that store today:
Your initial clip board can't hold a candle to that.

I'd Lick That

Click the picture to visit the site they come from!

I actually have this print & saw Brooke had a tee like it in one of her recent posts & now I think I sort of need it.

Hello Gorgeous! Imagine the pretty pretty pics I could take with this bad boy. & It has a name! I wouldn't even have to give it one! Mr. Pink :) This particular one I've been eyeing up at Urban Outfitters, but of course! It's kind of so cute that I'd want to take pictures of it. Oh the irony.
I need some black heeled boots in a bad way. Love my black slouchies, but sometimes a sister needs to step it up, ya know? These are from Cutesygirl.com. They have some seriously cute shoes!

I've never been a die hard Mignon Faget(min-yon faj-a) lover like many Louisiana ladies, but I've loved this one for years. I think it's b.e.a.utiful! & I think their size five actually fits my finger! I usually can't get rings that come pre-sized b/c I wear a 4 and nobody makes them. BOOOOO on that!

Things I would have licked in the past: (haha)
I
II
III
IV

I'll be seeing you...

"When do you work next?" he asked from thousands of miles away.
"Wednesday.", I replied as I rolled over in my lonely bed to look at my calendar.
"Well... pack your bags!" he said.
I wonder if he could hear the smile on my face?
He will be home tomorrow night.
& I will be right there with him.

For some reason just knowing he's so far away makes me miss him more.
Why is that?
I go days without seeing him all the time.
We live an hour and a half apart... it's the norm.
I've never looked at missing someone as a bad thing though...
if you're missed, it means you mean something to someone.
I missed him A LOT.

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep fried chicken?

Your best friend always stickin' up for you... even when I know you're wrong?

(That's right... those random Train lyrics from '01, do indeed mean that today is going to be one of those lovely random days! Who doesn't love those?)
***

Sometimes when I'm a bit looped on Robitussin... I wonder if Big Brother is watching me through my webcam. It creeps me out to the point where I close my computer.
***
If you have kids... GO HERE & make them a video message from Santa! It's SO cute :) It's a personalized message where a real life ;) santa says their name, state, hair color & what they want for Christmas. It even shows a picture of them!
My nephew was just giddy over it! I promise your kiddo will be too!That's him... the big guy himself ;)
***
I think Suri Cruise is precious. I think she(usually)dresses precious.
HOWEVER...
I'm a little creeped out by these heels her Mom keeps putting her in.

I mean, really? Does she need the extra boost? I don't understand. She would look like a doll in some little flats. Don't you get me wrong now... I had about 4 different pairs of little play high heels when I was a wee one. But Hello, keyword: PLAY. Also, I'd love to get my hands on her hair and pull it out of her face!
***
My loverboy's feet are back on the ground & he's safe and sound in Kansas City for the next few days. Thankful that he had a safe flight & am ready to see him again soon!
It's brrr brrr cold there right now... but it's pretty brrr brrr cold here too!
***
I'm watching a That 70's Show Christmas episode on ABC Family right now & ugh,
I love this show. It never gets old! & That 70's Show + Christmas? Hello? Perfection.
Why are all of my favorite shows off the air? NOT COOL.
***
Alright my lovies, enough of my randomness for one day!
I'll go ahead and finish that chorus for you now...
ahem, ahem, ahem...
me, me, me, me, meeeeeeee
(warming up... clearly.)

Can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance, five hour phone conversations... ...the best soy latte that you ever had & me?

[b/c surely someone will ask... it's Train-Drops of Jupiter]

WG is leaving on jet plane...

... luckily I do know when he'll be back again!(Just a few days!) He's taking a quick trip to his parents for a few days. I'm gonna miss him all crazy like though, of course! Say a little prayer for his safety while he's traveling, wontcha? I knew you would... that's why I love you so.

I'll be working all weekend... so it'll fly anyway. Maybe I'll spend a little extra time with the fam. & my baby loves as well :) & Hopefully get my Christmas presents done! Whew... I'm pushin' it!

Cross your fingers for me!
xo dolls,
Lace

Thoughts From The Past part 1

Vintage Lacey in Love
posts via the old blog address
I only managed to save a few... so I'll be posting them sporadically to get them back into my little world over here.

::All I Want Is You::
via

All I want is someone to cuddle up to on cold mornings and sprawl out with on hot nights... Someone to wrestle with... Someone to call me before bed... Someone to dance with... Someone to jog with... Someone to bake for... Someone to tickle... Someone to go out of my way for... Someone to worry about me... Someone to worry about... Someone to tell my weird dreams to... Someone to be proud of me... Someone to put their hand on the small of my back... Someone to hold my hand... Someone to touch my face when they kiss me... Someone to leave love notes for... Someone to take goofy pictures with... Someone to smile at from across the room... Someone to be better for... Someone to sit next to at family dinner... Someone to share my nieces and nephew with... Someone to look pretty for... Someone to laugh with... Someone to like...

Someone to LOVE. Someone to LOVE ME.

Am I asking too much?

Rain Rain On My Face

Keep linking up your How-To's HERE!
If you're here via Jen from JenHinton.com, Welcooommme lovies!
She said she was going to mention the Holiday How-To on her radio show today... what sweetness! Did you guys know that Jen & I know one another in REAL LIFE? Gasp, I know! We went to the same High School & were on dance team together! Yes, the girl can bust a move & ugh huh, she's just as cute in person. Soooo, if you're not here from Jen's place & you've never been there... go there now & say hello! :)

I woke up today knowing that the day would be long.
I felt drained.
I'm hacking like your Grandpa because of this cold & my body just isn't up for much.
My glands are sore, my feet hurt from the shoes I wore on Saturday & my hair has seen better days.
I was feeling sorry for myself.
I sent WG a text at 3pm... "I'm sooo tired. This is the longest day ever."
Poor me.
I made it through the day(imagine that) & came home to my warm house & my warm bed.
I ate a nice meal & took a hot shower.
I talked to my cute boyfriend, emailed my BBB & watched some happy TV.
I tended to my funky hair, took some medicine & climbed in my cozy bed.
I opened my computer to catch up on my blogs &
just as my dashboard popped up,
my computer died.
"Ugh, freaking awesome."
I searched around for my adapter for a few minutes before realizing I left it in the car earlier.
"Crap, crap, crap!"
I slid on some shoes & ran downstairs.
As I hit the garage button I heard the rain begin to pour out of the clouds.
"Grrrreat!"
I looked for an umbrella, a bag, a towel... anything to shield my freshly coifed hair.
NOTHING.
I rolled up my pants & decided to brave it.
As I dashed out across the driveway, I felt the rain begin to hit my skin.
Suddenly, I stopped.
Right there in the middle of my driveway.
I shut my eyes and turned my face towards the sky.
I laughed.
I cried.
I laughed because I cried.
I came back in and decided to let my hair dry naturally.
It will curl up & it will look crazy,
but I think that's just how God wanted it to look today.
I think he was reminding me that I have it okay.
It could be worse.
It could always be worse.
Life is great & crazy & tragic & scary & exciting & dull & perfection...
& It could always be worse.

Holiday How-To

Welcome to the Holiday How-To event!

So here's the deal...

We want to get a bunch of you folks to post a "Holiday How To."

Imagine how much everyone could gain from this!

For those of you who aren't crafty and are thinking this will be zero fun for you...

I'm here to tell you that you're wrong!

SORRY... hate burstin' bubbles like that. But this carnival isn't about crafts alone...

It's HOW TO get through the Holidays!

A few things you can already expect to see on the list are,

How to: Hair, Make-up, Fashion, Fitness & yes...DIY gifts.

So whatcha got?

A food recipe?

Packing/Traveling tips?

Decorating tips?

A craft for kids?

Santa tips?

A cocktail recipe?

The more the merrier!

There can be multiples of whatever too...there's a different way to do everything!

MckLinky will be up all month long, so don't feel the pressure to post just today.

Come back later this week, next week....anytime this month, and make sure to keep checking back as well for more How To's!

***When linking up, please link with the name of your "How To" rather than your blog name...and make sure the link goes directly to your blog post, not simply your blog. Anything else will be removed....blah blah blah.***

Time for my How-To!
Are you ready to get a little crafty with me?
Well, let's do this thing than!

While this project is great as a little gift for yourself & your own home, it would also be a great gift for teachers, white elephant, co-workers, friends, family, neighbors...
everyyyyybody! (PSST: It's A kid friendly project, so if you have kiddos get them in on the craftin'!)

Sparkle & Shine Holiday Wreath
1. Unwrap old wire hanger

2. Bend into a circle & twist ends together

3. Wrap bead garland around the wire circle.
There's no form to this... just go crazy!
There's no need to use any hot glue or adhesives, just twist the end of your strand to a piece of the strand that's already wrapped in place and voile', it's where ya want it to be.

I think it's best to use bead garland that has different sized beads on it to give it some interest.
It would take A LOT more wrapping & layering if they were all the same size!
Looka Looka how pretty it came out! Doesn't it look fab?
Yup, that's my bathroom folks. I like to spread the holiday cheer all over the stinkin' place!
I just recently put all my goodies on a vintage cake
stand that was given to me by a friend & I'm simply in love with how sweet it looks!

Here's how it all evened out:
Hanger-free
Bead Garland- $1.00 each (end of season clearance at Target last year) I used three 6' strands.
Feather clip- .50 on clearance at Hob Lob (you could use wire ribbon to make a bow too!)
Monetary Total: $3.50
Time Total: 15 minutes

Seriously... YOU CAN DO THIS!
It was ridiculously easy!

YOUR TURN!
Link on up, friends! Teach me a little somethin' somethin'!

I'll be back later on this week to share another!

Busy Little Bee

That's Monday! WOAH WOAH WOAH, even December is starting to fly by!
Everybody come join us, pleaaassse! We would love to have you!

Busy weekend ahead!
Some time with WG,
Some shopping,
Some time with the family,
Some time with WG & the family,
Nieces birthday party,
WG's work party,
Maybe a craft fair
& then some work!
I'm tired as it is & still can't shake this cold...
by Sunday I'm going to be POOPED!
But happy, because it will be a blessed weekend for sure!
Full of loveliness!

Have a fabulous weekend, dolls!
xo, lacey

I can't begin to explain what was happening in this picture,
because I seriously don't remember.
But I love it all the same! :)
It's so my girls.
I lurrvvve them
BIG TIME!

Skype & Sex & Candy... oh my.

Holy Moly.
I used Skype for the first time tonight & seriously...
where have I been?
Hello 1993 video phone.
So entertaining.
I'm much better at communicating when I can actually look at the person as opposed to just hearing their voice!

I find that I also like to just sit there and make stupid faces at the other person when the conversation gets quiet.
Also entertaining: doing the robot.
It's like I'm 6 years old.

That was off topic.. MOVING ON.


Verse by verse, dissect a favorite song you had in 7th grade.
Gah, Who liked Junior High? NOT ME. It was horrible. I mean, I had some good times and all... but kids are so nasty to one another at that point. 5th-8th grade are the WORST. High School was all good and well, I'd do it again if I could- great times were had... Junior High, ICK.
((my face sure does look sweet and baby like though, eh? Should have caught the attitude I could spit though... WOAH BABY, was a I sassy one.))
One of the songs that pops into my head from 7th grade is Sex & Candy by Marcy's Playground. Remember that song? My 7th grade boyfriend, David & I were talking about how we didn't have a song one day while we were hanging out at his house, so we decided whatever song was on the radio when we turned it on would be OUR song. Well, low and behond it was Sex and freaking Candy. We laughed and joked and decided that couldn't be our song... but from then on when it came on we would smile and think about that goofy moment... and it kind of became our song after all. Highly inappropriate for 7th graders, right? I know. Sorry people.
Don't worry... there was only smoochin' going on.

So here it is... torn apart by your's truly!

Hangin' round downtown by myself
(he smelled funny... nobody could stand to be around him)
And I had so much time
To sit and think about myself
(and he didn't understand why nobody wanted to be around him)
And then there she was
Like double cherry pie
(She was there and it made him super excited... like 2 pieces of pie excited, that's serious)
Yeah there she was
Like disco superfly
(she was prob. super high from being at the disco & that's why she didn't notice his stench)
I smell sex and candy here
(The smell of sex and candy overpowered his b.o.)
Who's that lounging in my chair
(some guy was in his chair)
Who's that casting devious stares
In my direction
(and giving him the stink eye because he smelled funny)
Mama this surely is a dream
(no... it's not, but I like it when you call me Mama)
Hangin' round downtown by myself
(still stank)
And I had too much caffeine
(aka booze)
And I was thinkin' 'bout myself
And then there she was
In platform double suede
(hooker... which might explain where the sex smell is coming from)
Yeah there she was
Like disco lemonade
(ahem, again... booze, but the lemon part may explain where the candy smell is coming from)
I smell sex and candy here
(see? it all just came full circle for him)
Who's that lounging in my chair
(same guy in his chair... i feel like he's regressing now)
Who's that casting devious stares
In my direction
(same stink eye... definite regression)
Mama this surely is a dream
Mama this surely is a dream
(still not a dream... and we've lost him)

Wow. MOVING, right?
Whew, I know.
Dry your eyes. No need to weep over the beauty that is Sex and Candy.

Ridiculous.

Yeah, clearly I don't know what the heck they were talking about.
But you don't really either, right?
Just be thankful I didn't do I want it that way by the Backstreet Boys or I want you back by N'Sync, cause I came pretty close. Try "disecting" those. Yeah, that's right...they already did it for you.

Today's post was brought to you by
Mama's Losin' It- Writer's Workshop
and viewers like you :)

Parental Advice From A Non-Parent

You probably clicked into this post thinking you were going to want to slap me by the end of it.
Who wants parental advice from a non-parent?
No worries...if you love me now, you'll still love me at the end of the post.
I'm not stepping on any bloggy soap boxes here!
Continue on... it's safe :)

Thanksgiving is over.
The leftovers are disappearing.
Christmas is in full effect all around!
Makes me giddy, y'all.
(Giddy is a funny word, huh? Say it a few times...seriously.)
Giddy, giddy, giddy, giddy.
(See? You're beginning to question if it's really a word at all now, right?)

Soon, if not already, children everywhere will begin slipping their letters to Santa in the mailbox & sticking up the little red outgoing mail flag.
If I can urge anything to parents around the holidays, it is this:
Grab that letter, make a copy, and tuck them both away somewhere very safe.
Somewhere your children will never ever care to look... like a folder labeled "Taxes 2002" ;)
Do this every year, and when your children are all old enough...
wrap those letters in a box & stick them under the tree.
My Mom did this for my siblings & I many years ago and it gave us the best
Christmas morning giggles she'd heard in years!
We all sat together on the living room floor reading our letters aloud to one another
and laughing our heads off at the requests we had made.
It was the sweetest gift...
one better than any request we could have ever made on a Christmas list!

Go on, go on...
grab your sharpie & get to marking that file folder!
You'll thank me when you hear the giggles of your grown children on Christmas morning many years from now.

Smooches,
Lace

Party Time & Goals

First & foremost...
On this great day, a short 31 years ago...
a girl named Summer was born.
I hope it's great lady! You deserve each and every one of your wishes!
p.s. The cake in the picture is calorie free, of course. & in the boxes you'll find a La Mer watch, Loubies & like, everything at Sephora(clearly that's all in the big box).
Enjoy your day! Big ol' birthday hugs to you!

(This was my party that I told you I'd be having over here via text earlier. Go wild. Shake your groove thing, shake your groove thing! Yeah, yeah! Show 'em how to do it now!)

Go wish Summer a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled program...

It's coming. It'll be here before we know it! How did that happen so quickly?
January 1st. The start of a new year. A fresh start.
We all usually start that day with some ridiculous resolution that we stick to for a month & then decide to shoot to h.e.doublehockeysticks...
so this year, I've decided to make a small list of attainable goals that I'd like to reach before the years end! It's the old reliable "baby steps" method!
Hopefully that'll make the start of my year feel extra fresh, ya know?
Most are silly and simple,
but they are uniquely mine :)


Goals for this Holiday Season:
-Take more pics with The Dubs (WG)
{I think my boyfriend is seriously dreamy:)}
-Get a blinged out manicure!{I gave myself a purple sparkly polish last night & i love it... need more sparkles in my life}
-Lose a few lbs{I've gotta lose a few b/c when crawfish are back in season I'm going to gain it all back from sodium intake! But YUM, so worth it!}
-Make as many of the gifts that I'm giving as possible!-Go ice skating!{If I saw them while ice skating, I would SO pull a Tonya Harding. OH like you wouldn't!? I haven't been ice skating in 10 years! It's time to hit some ice!}
- Approach 2 new boutiques

Etsy Buy Handmade LaceyInTheSky

-Watch it "snow" on Fulton Street{Snow machines on the rooftops make the area all winter wonderlandish! In one magical moment last year, we did receive some snow here in South Louisiana last year, but I'm not holding my breath this year or anything...}
-Give to charities as often as possible{Those people ringing those bells volunteered themselves for those charities. I need to remember to smile and say hello more often & reach in my pocket for a buck.}
-Visit my GranddaddyI grew up living next door to my grandparents. I miss being able to walk outside and yell out to my granddaddy or walk next door to give him a kiss when I get home in the afternoons. I need to make more time to go see him.
-Kiss under misteltoe
{Remember? I have that super delish boyfriend up there ;)}

What are your goals this holiday season?