Drum Corps International

On Monday, Brant called me and sounded like a giddy little school boy. He asked me if we had plans that night, which of course we didn't, so he asked if we could go to the drum corps show. Well I said yes, having no clue what in the world the drum corps was.

A little unknown secret fact about my husband is that he is VERY musically gifted. He can sign like an angel, play guitar and was chosen to be a member of the Denver, CO Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps for playing trumpet when he was in high school. Needless to say, he was beyond thrilled when he found out that the Drum Corps International program was going on in Denton!

Now when I was in high school, marching band was for the geeks; however, I gained a new appreciation for them on Monday night after watching the immaculate skill, talent and coordination it takes to make it to the drum corps level.

This is a video I found of the Best of 2009 Drum Corps Competition:





Then this is the 2008 Best Moments...This video is AWESOME! These groups run like well-oiled machines with perfection and grace!

The Appeal

POLITICS, POLITICS, POLITICS! On Saturday, I finally finished reading "The Appeal" by John Grisham, and it was all about (you might have guess it...)POLITICS!

Now I hold a BS in Political Science, and I work in a law firm, so this book was certainly my cup of tea!

The basic premise of the book is about how politics and people of power can so deeply affect our judicial system. Although the book did now end how I wanted it to, it ended in realistic way. In my opinion, John Grisham didn't write this book to make you smile and laugh, he wrote this book to make the American citizen realize that there is a need for judicial and political reform.

John Grisham definitely did a fine job of writing a fictional story about the factual world of politics. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who either 1) love politics, or 2) wants to know more about the world of politics! I have read quite a few Grisham novels, and this one was definitely different than all the rest. If you're a Grisham fan, pick it up and give it a read.

The next book I've decided to read is "Await Your Reply".

The Amazon book description:
The lives of three strangers interconnect in unforeseen ways--and with unexpected consequences--in acclaimed author Dan Chaon’s gripping, brilliantly written new novel.

Longing to get on with his life, Miles Cheshire nevertheless can’t stop searching for his troubled twin brother, Hayden, who has been missing for ten years. Hayden has covered his tracks skillfully, moving stealthily from place to place, managing along the way to hold down various jobs and seem, to the people he meets, entirely normal. But some version of the truth is always concealed.

A few days after graduating from high school, Lucy Lattimore sneaks away from the small town of Pompey, Ohio, with her charismatic former history teacher. They arrive in Nebraska, in the middle of nowhere, at a long-deserted motel next to a dried-up reservoir, to figure out the next move on their path to a new life. But soon Lucy begins to feel quietly uneasy.

My whole life is a lie, thinks Ryan Schuyler, who has recently learned some shocking news. In response, he walks off the Northwestern University campus, hops on a bus, and breaks loose from his existence, which suddenly seems abstract and tenuous. Presumed dead, Ryan decides to remake himself--through unconventional and precarious means.

Await Your Reply is a literary masterwork with the momentum of a thriller, an unforgettable novel in which pasts are invented and reinvented and the future is both seductively uncharted and perilously unmoored.

I hope you'll read with me!

1095 Days of Bliss

So today I have been married to the love of my life for 3 long wonderful year! Marriage really has been fun and I can't wait for another 3 years...and 3 more after that, and 3 more after that...for a lifetime!

Brant gave me a card this morning because he said it described us perfectly. If you may, allow me to share with you what me and my hubs are really like!

We laugh; we flirt; we love!
We make out, and make up;
We drive each other CRAZY - keep each each other sane.
We hold each other tight, and we hold each other together.
We are each better because of the other.

For those of you that are single, I'll be blunt...marriage is not always peas and carrots - its not always fun. But it is worth it! Yes, Brant and I still flirt with each other! Yes, he drives me absolutely batty sometimes times, but he truly does keep me sane and grounded during the hard times. I am a better person because of him. And that is why marriage is worth it - because I get to spend everyday with my helpmate, my partner, my very best friend!

Brant Williams - I love you more today that I ever have before, and I am honored to be your wife. My life has never been the same since the day you entered it, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Girls Weekend 2010!

This past weekend, I went with some of my girlfriends from college to Lake Bob Sandlin. Jill's dad has a lake house and was gracious enough to let us come for a visit. We left Friday night (yes, in the pouring rain) and headed for the lake. After stopping for a bit to eat, and a quick trip to Wal-Mart we finally arrived around 11:30 that night.

Being the old friends that we are, we spent the rest of the night laughing at silly stories and terrific tales of life after college!

Saturday morning we slept in (until 8:30), then got up and made some delicious mimosas, and a delectable gourmet breakfast!


Then we were off to the water! It was still a bit cloudy, but that didn't stop the 5 of us from getting in! We anchored ourselves to the boat so we wouldn't float too far away!

Now this is what I call relaxation!

Jill, Michelle and Jessica

Me and Mary

Michelle takin' a swim

Me, of course, with book in hand!

After playing in the water, we came in, relaxed some more then got ready for dinner. We had reservations at the Los Pinos Winery in Pittsburgh, Texas. It was a great evening!

Our wine tasting was fabulous.

Mary liked the sweet ones!

And this is us: (From left to right)
Jessica, Michelle, Jill, Mary and Me!

We have a fabulous time together!
I love these girls and can't wait until Girls Weekend 2011!!!

Favorite Bible Verses

Today, Kelly's Korner Blog hop is your favorite Bible verses.

Just a personal favorite:
Call to me and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you did not know.
Jeremiah 33:3


Right now going through an almost two year battle with infertility, one of the verses I have prayed over and over is Micah 7:7. This verse constantly reminds me that I am waiting on his time, not my own. He does have a plan for Brant and I and our hope remains in Him, alone.

But as for me, I will watch in HOPE for the Lord.
I will wait for God my savior.
My God will hear me.


Another verse that I love is one that I fell in love with during a study of the book of Philippians. I did this study in college, which is when I was teaching a Sunday School class of Senior girl. This became the verse that I prayed over them, and have prayed over many, many others, and of course prayed over myself.

⁹And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11


If you know me at all, you probably know that I have a passion for high school girls - which I why I was leading a Sunday School class with them when I was in college. If there is one thing that I remember from high school it was the temptation! I remember so many nights of crying and self doubt because I had fallen to the temptation. This verse is a constant reminder to me that I am not a slave to sin and that there is always a way out of Satan's temptations. This is also a verse that I drilled into the girls' heads to remind them of the same.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful;
he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

Fabulously Frugal Fashion

One of the great things about working in Downtown Dallas is that there are people selling stuff all throughout the tunnels! (FYI - the tunnels are just that...an underground system of passages that take you to different buildings) Each day there are different vendors with all sorts of different things to buy.

Well today, there just happened to be a jewelry lady and she was having a huge sale on fashion rings!

These are my fabulously frugal fashion rings for only $2 each!!!!!!!! Can you believe that - only $2!!! I was so excited!

Fourth of July Weekend

We had a very fun, but busy Fourth of July weekend!

Friday night, we went to Lone Star Park to see Robert Earl Keen. We had been told that even though it was outside, the concert would go on rain or shine...so we were determined to be there.

Jessica and I were prepared for rain!

Me and B!

Me and Jalah

Then on Saturday, we were invited out to our good dear friends' house, Mike and Krista. They have a gorgeous pool and it was a great day to be outside...mainly cloudy with a bit of sun, but not too hot! We had a good time grilling and swimming!


Then the guys decided it would be fun to have a canon ball contest! Brant won!!!

Sunday, we went to church then came home and I clean house a bit while Brant went golfing with a good friend, Derek. When they got back, Derek invited us out to his mom and dad's house for a great firework show. They live outside the city limits and the whole neighborhood has fireworks shooting off! For 3 hours we sat out on the patio and watched fireworks. It was great.

On Monday, Brant and I took borrowed my parents boat and enjoyed a day at the lake with our friends Chad and Jalah, and Derek and Emily. The six of us had a great time tubing, relaxing and just playing in the water. Here are a few pictures of Derek tubing!

And yes, he is tumping out in this picture!

It was a fabulous weekend full of friends, fun and fireworks!

Wanna Read with Me?

So after finishing The Host on Tuesday, I spent some time in my library, my office...standing in front of my bookshelf trying to figure out what book to read next. So, I glanced at my summer reading list and my next book popped off the page..

Maybe it's because I work at a law office, or maybe its because I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, but it seems like this book is reeling me in!

So, if you're in a reading mood, then join me in reading The Appeal. If you have ever read John Grisham, then you know that you won't be disappointed.

The Host

Well I finished The Host by Stephenie Meyer last night and I was SAD! This book was so good that I didn't want it to end!

I will say that after reading the inside cover and reading the first couple of chapters, I wasn't even sure that I wanted to read the book - its sci-fi...and I don't really read sci-fi. But this is certainly sci-fi for those who hate sci-fi!

The first few chapters are background info...its the stuff you need to make everything else make sense. But one you get into the story and love triangle (actually a love square), then it is really fabulous.

If you are anything like me and love a good love story - this book is for you! Great plot, great writing, great reading, great emotion and great ending! However, the author does leave the ending a little open so that she can come back and write a sequel if she wants to ...and I certainly hope she does!!!

Here are a few reviews from Amazon.com:

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best of the Month, May 2008: Stephenie Meyer, creator of the phenomenal teen-vamp Twilight series, takes paranormal romance into alien territory in her first adult novel. Those wary of sci-fi or teen angst will be pleasantly surprised by this mature and imaginative thriller, propelled by equal parts action and emotion. A species of altruistic parasites has peacefully assumed control of the minds and bodies of most humans, but feisty Melanie Stryder won't surrender her mind to the alien soul called Wanderer. Overwhelmed by Melanie's memories of fellow resistor Jared, Wanderer yields to her body's longing and sets off into the desert to find him. Likely the first love triangle involving just two bodies, it's unabashedly romantic, and the characters (human and alien) genuinely endearing. Readers intrigued by this familiar-yet-alien world will gleefully note that the story's end leaves the door open for a sequel--or another series. --Mari Malcolm

From Publishers Weekly

In this tantalizing SF thriller, planet-hopping parasites are inserting their silvery centipede selves into human brains, curing cancer, eliminating war and turning Earth into paradise. But some people want Earth back, warts and all, especially Melanie Stryder, who refuses to surrender, even after being captured in Chicago and becoming a host for a soul called Wanderer. Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. When the pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend in a hidden rebel cell led by her uncle, Wanderer is at first hated. Once the rebels accept Wanderer, whom they dub Wanda, Wanda's whole perspective on humanity changes. While the straightforward narrative is short on detail about the invasion and its stunning aftermath, it shines with romantic intrigue, especially when a love triangle (or quadrangle?!) develops for Wanda/Melanie.

Friday Fives

Today, Beth at Just Me and My Life is having Friday Fives. Just for fun, I thought I would participate. Today's random questions:

1. If given a choice to skip work for a day, how would you spend the entire day?

I would lay out by one of these...

With a lot of these...

2.If you could start fresh, what profession would you choose?

I would teach high school students...either literature or political science.

3.What is your favorite candy or candy bar?

This is definitely a tie between Peanut Butter M&M's and Snickers with Almonds!

4.Have your ever ordered anything from an infomercial or bought an"As seen on TV item"?

5. Whats the movie you ALWAYS cry at??

My Life is Twilight

So ya'll know I love Twilight - the movies, the books - everything! Now no - I don't consider myself a Twi-hard because I'm not that fanatical...but I still do love Twilight.

However, anticipating the release of Eclipse, I am doing the chapter countdown with Twilight Series Theories. (If you have never been to this website - it is awesome. I actually went to DBU with one of the sisters that helped create it!) Since Eclipse has 27 chapters, they started at the beginning of the month and are reading a chapter a day.

Well today in my morning read of MLIA (see my post about it here), I saw that there is actually a site called MLIT - My Life is Twilight. So of course I sauntered over to read through a few. Some of them are just stupid, in my ever so twilighted-opinion, but some are HYSTERICAL!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Today my boyfriend touched my face, and for the fisrt time i didn't flinch at how cold his hands were. He looked at me and said............"your pretending i'm Edward aren't you?" I blushed as we both knew it was true. I can officially say MLIT!!!!

Today, I was half naked and getting dressed when my Edward cutout (which I bought on one of my frequent trips to Forks) fell on top of me. Instead of pushing it off, I exclaimed, "Oh Edward! Not this early!" Then my mother walked in and took him out of my room saying, "its for my own good." MLIT

Today I overheard two guys talking in Science, one of them asked, "How old are you?", the guy then responded, "Seventeen." I quickly turned around and asked, "How long have you been seventeen?" The two guys stared at me in utter confusion. My best friend backed me up by responding, "A while." MLIT.

Today, my mom and I were driving home when we passed a doctors office. The sign said "Dr. Cullen MD. But Dont Worry, I Don't Bite." LMAO. MLIT. :)

Today, this guy was asking me for relationship advice. Friends and I were telling him what to do, and he just couldn't understand. Finally I said, "YOU ARE HER JACOB" and he gave me this horrified look and I knew he understood, Twilight is now my inspiration for relationship advice. MLIT

Today, my boyfriend told me he loved me and I smiled but didn't reply. He waited a few seconds before saying "Say it." I just smiled. Then he said "Outloud." I smiled a bit more and whispered "Vampire.". I'm not going to lie, it caused an argument. MLIT.



And just to clarify...no, I have not called my husband Edward and I have not asked him to bit me...no; whether or not I have dreamed of it is another story!!! HAHAHA

Bitter is the New Black

So I just finished reading Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, egomaniacal, self-centered smart-ass, or why you should never carry a Prada bag to the unemployment office, by Jen Lancaster! This book can simply be described in one word: HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know that I have ever laughed out loud so many times from a book!!!


Here is Amazon's description of the book:
"Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life-until real life kicked her to the curb.

She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice.

This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good.

Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon. "

Just for fun, here are a few of my favorite quotes throughout the book!

"Perhaps my first mistake was taking financial advice from a book titled Confessions of a Shopaholic." Chapter 3

"Because I'm not a deadbeat. I'm not about to suck on the government's teat. For crying out loud, I'm a Republican. They'd kick me out of the party if I went on welfare." Chapter 4

"Maisy, this sucks. I have no Cadillac, no esthetician services, no Vegas trip, no tan, and no damn job. My life is a country music song." Chapter 6

"I complain. A Lot. Be particularly cautious if I am hungry, hot or tired. God have mercy on your soul if I am all three!" Chapter 6

"Mom, we're going to Las Vegas. They have EVERYTHING there, ok? I could call the concierge and request a crack pipe and a thirteen-year-old male prostitute, and both would be delivered to the room within the hour." Chapter 6

"My mother and I both lack the internal firewall that keeps us from saying almost everything we think" Chapter 6 - this is hilarious mainly because this runs in my family as well!

"You can insult my parentage, intelligence, or taste but you DO NOT say disparaging things about my dogs!" Chapter 7 - this is SOOO true!!!

All of this to say, if you need a fun, quick read (and don't mind a some language here and there), this is a great book! I'm out the door to purchase the rest of Jen Lancaster's books!

Proposal Story

Today at Kelly's Korner, everyone is sharing their proposal stories.

My proposal story happened on Valentine's Day, 2007. Brant and I had been dating for about a year and a half, and I knew this was the man I would marry. We had talked about a summer wedding because he knew I didn't want to get married in the fall or winter (only because we already have too many birthday and family "stuff" during that time) and I certainly didn't want to wait until next spring.

Well the night before Valentine's Day, I remember us being on the phone and Brant told me that he didn't know when I would get my wedding. He had planned to buy an engagement ring with his tax return, but he didn't know how big his return would be or when he would get it. So I spent most of the night in tears...but he promised me that he WOULD marry me one day.

So for Valentine's Day, we had plans just to go to dinner, so I told him that I would meet him at his apartment after work. So as soon as I got there, he asked if I was ready for my present, and I told him yes. So he asked me to sit down in the chair and close my eyes. I felt something heavy in my hands, and when he told me to open my eyes, there was a beautiful leather bound Bible with Ashley Williams engraved on it. Well, Williams is of course my married name, so at the time, I was Ashley Wages. Brant told me to open my new Bible to 1 Corinthians, chapter 13. There, tied to the small satin bookmark was a beautiful diamond solitaire.

If Brant were describing this story, he would tell you that it was at that moment that I turned into Niagara Falls. He then pulled me to my feet, untied the ring, and on one knee, asked me to be his wife.

The rest is simply history. We were married 5 short months later and I was able to have my summer wedding. In July, Brant and I will celebrate 3 years of marriage. It seems like we had our first date just yesterday. Well, I guess we'll see what the next 50 years holds!!!

East of Eden

Well I just finished East of Eden, an incredibly novel by John Steinbeck.

WOW!!!

Throughout my reading, I wasn't always thrilled with the story line and sometimes I got confused, but there was something that kept me turning the page. This book my made my mind think about things I had never thought of before - of my faith, of my choices, of my will. The message of this book is one of the most powerful that I have ever read, although I didn't realize it until the last page, literally.

The story follows the history of two families: the Hamiltons and the Trasks. This story is 601 pages of good versus evil, and right versus wrong; it is 601 pages of love; it is 601 pages of blindness, betrayal and deceit.


This is John Steinbeck at his best! J and S Books says this:

"East of Eden is described as the classic Cain and Abel story replayed. The conflict of brothers is powerful in both generations. The Biblical story itself plays an important role in the novel. Yet East of Eden doesn't end the same as the original story in the Bible. Plus this novel takes the story further, showing the effects on the people around the brothers as well.

This is a masterful book, complex, and layered. The characters stay with you when you close the cover. After I finished it, I kept going back and re-reading different parts. The tone of the book is determined when Samuel, Lee, and Adam discuss the meaning of the wording of the original Cain and Abel story. That section needs re-read numerous times to get the full impact both of that scene and on the whole book.

East of Eden is considered one of John Steinbeck's greatest works. ... This is a longer, deep novel. It is worth every page of reading. Prepare to meet real people that you will respect, disregard, like and dislike depending on the circumstances - just like the people we know every day."

Finally Finished!!!

If you have been to my house in the past 6 months, then you might have noticed that there was no table in my formal living room. As soon as the holidays were over, we decided to paint our formal dining room table black so that it would coordinate with all the other black tables in the living room (because the formal dining is open to the living room).

This is the living room. This table has been in house since I can remember, and my mom and dad gave it to Brant and I when we got married because they got a new one. I think its awesome that my kids can grow up with the same table as I did...and who knows...maybe they'll have it in their house one day too. But this is what the table looked like before.

So after 6 months of the table being the in garage, it was stripped, sanded, primed, sanded, painted, stained, and finally got put back where it belongs!!!!!

I am really thrilled with the way it turned out! And whole room looks great! Yes, there are few bumps and scratches, but that's just a part of it having some personality!

Now, my biggest issue right now is the centerpiece! I originally wanted something completely new, but then I put the candles back in the middle and I love the way the red tones pop off the black surface.


What do you think??? Leave the candles, or something new????

Well, I hope you like the new table as much as I do!