What Happened Last Night...

Every year, my company hosts an Agent Banquet, which is where all of our agents come together, and we celebrate how amazing they are. I am not in charge of the agents anymore, so I actually got to sit down and enjoy this one. Sad thing is, it really made me miss these people. There are so many good people and good companies that partner with us.

This is Jeanne and Jan. Jeanne works at our Prattville location and Jan works at our Gardendale location. They are my two of my favorites and such sweet ladies.

Brad and Mitzi were the first agent for me to open. They wouldn't let me take a picture of them outright, so I told them I was going to take a picture of their asses. So I did.

Jeanne and her husband, Allen. Sweetest couple ever!



Jim 'n Nick's decor.

My favorite trainees ever! Ricky (the handsome one), Joel (the smart one), Matt (the crazy one) and Jason (the new kid). They are great. I heart them.

Table of surprises!

Our Gardendale agent won Agent of the Year for 2010. Which made me so happy, because the agent who won it last year should not have won, and they came in second. They do everything they're supposed to do and have great rapport with all the other customers.


They are the reason I do what I do.

Ramblings

• I start cosmetology school in October. I am so excited about this, it's ridiculous. This is my big news that I've been waiting to share. (Did you catch my play on words on yesterday's post title? New Dresser...New Hair... Hair Dresser?? Come on now!)


• Scotty won American Idol. I am so glad! I don't care that he sings out of the side of his mouth and looks like Mad Max.


• I'm going to create an alter-ego like Beyonce... I dont' think I'll go as extreme as Sasha Fierce (is that even it), but maybe something like Victoria, the crazy awesome salesgirl? Does it fit? I dunno.


• My last dance competition was an eye-opener to how much I have to learn in the ballroom world. I have been working super hard on getting the Latin motion down, plus the pointing of the toes and balance. FYI, if you didn't ever finish your physical therapy after a bout with anything that requires you to take physical therapy....you probably should finish it.


• I'm 27. I found wrinkles. I went to CVS stat to try to take care of this. Found this product below there for around $14. It was on sale. It even comes with a sweet little kit to test to see if it's really working. Granted I know the wrinkles are my own fault due to hours in the tanning bed, but I'm trying to reverse all of this..30 is only 3 years away!

(Garnier Ultra Lift Anti-Wrinkle Eye Roller. We'll see how this works.)

New Dresser...New Hair?

I have decided to cut my hair. And I'm going to do it Vegas still while we're out there. The mother-in-law and I have appointments, and I'm so excited about it!

I can't wait to chop all of this hair off! I feel that I have had the same hair style for a good part of my twenties, and I'm slowly inching toward my 30s. So, I've picked three pictures from which to choose.

I love Chelsea Kane's hair! I have fallen in love with this girl since watching Dancing with the Stars. She is a fantastic dancer and super cute! I'm not sure if I can pull this off though. She's got a sweet little face with a little nose, not the big schnozz I was blessed with.

I love this cut so much, but worry a little that it's too short. I mean it looks cute on her, but she can get extensions any ole time she wants.



This is my front runner so far. Mind you when I cut my hair, it will be around 8 inches no matter which I choose. I'm a little nervous about it right now, but with all these things going on in my life right now that I can't figure out, a new cut can't hurt.

Any input? Let me know what y'all think!

My New Dresser! Woo!

Ok, so I've had this dresser for awhile. And fortunately for me and everyone, the world did not come to an end this weekend, so I will get to enjoy my new dresser.

I love how antique-y this thing is. It's incredibly old. My mom gave it to me when I moved to my last apartment in Auburn. While she always told me not to change it, I pretty much guarantee no one in the family even knows this dresser still exists, let alone where it or wants it very much (sorry Mom!), so I decided to not make it an eyesore in my house.

Befores......

Afters!

A fresh coat of white paint and some new hardware. I really didn't want to take away from the oldness of this, so I wanted to find some really old looking drawer pulls. I thought it was going to end up costing me a fortune, plus a month looking online for 10 of these babies. But, I'm sorry, have you ever heard of Hobby Lobby? AKA drawer pull heaven? If not, you should get yourself there. I also got a really cool silk orchid bundle for one of my vases in the bedroom, and scored a sweet fleur-de-lis door knocker!

I'm in love. That's the only project I've been working on for right now; I've been a little busy with everything, but the day in the baby pool with sangria? You only wish you would have been here!

Weekend

Thank goodness for the weekend! This past week was a loooong one, and I'm so glad that it's over. I only have about two more weeks before Las Vegas, and then off to see my dad that weekend. Can you believe it? Like a million flights in one week? I don't know what I was thinking on that one.

But this weekend has been productive.... I repainted and re-hardwared an old dresser, made cookies, did laundry, finally bought some tips for my decorating bags (and decorating cupcake purposes!), and even took a shower.

Tomorrow will be relaxing in our pool (baby pool bought at Big Lots for $37. Don't hate. It's gonna be awesome), and drinking from our box of sangria (from Costco. Again, don't hate. It says it's from Spain. Really.).

So I will leave you with a picture (dresser makeover to follow on Monday!), just because a successful blog (not like this is) always has pictures.

I am so not a model, my hair needed re-highlighted at this point, and I found those purple mardi gras beads outside the hotel. It's such a waste to let them go, because they oh-so-match my orange dress? I don't know.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wednesday Ramblings

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  I am going to Vegas in a month! Woo hoo!!


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  I think Scotty McCreery needs to be the next American Idol.


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  I also think Jimmy on this show is creepy for some reason, but I do love me some Jennifer Lopez.


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  I'm contemplating going to cosmetology school. No, I wouldn't be leaving my job for it; it would be after work. I am getting really excited about it, so I know that it would be for me.


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  Sales is getting easier.




• 
  
  Yesterday was the first time I've been to Tuscaloosa to make sales calls. Below are some pictures of the damage of the tornado. Sorry they're awful; they're taken from the 'berry from my car, but you can see the devastation just from the pictures.

** edit ** I'm totally pulling for Haley now! She rocked it last night!

Restaurant Review :: Sugar's (Chattanooga)

We got to Chattanooga on Saturday just in time for lunch. My dance instructor told me about this place called Sugar's. It promised both bourbon and BBQ, so we were there! (after a brief walk in the rain, where Lindsey got splashed by a car).

The bourbon! They have happy hour from 11-7. Talk about happy hour!



They had so many bourbons there, and a different one to shoot everyday (of course except for Friday when we there). Only $2!

They had 7 (or 8?) different kinds of BBQ sauce, ranging from mild and thick, to you'll be feeling this 20 mins later when you run your tongue across your lips like an idiot. I was feeling a bit adventurous.

Pork butt sandwich. With potato salad...before the dousing of the BBQ sauce. This place didn't own a fryer. They grill everything they offer as sides, including okra.

Lindsey's lunch. She got a taco and a mini-q. You can't see it, but she did get the grilled okra, and she loved it.

Rockin' Rita! Our bartender was not stingy on the first drink by any means, so we decided to girl it up for the second drink.

Easy, simple decor. Except for the backsplash of the bar, which I wish I had a picture of. A rose in a rocks glass? I can do that!

I really thought that this was going to be all tourist-y, but it really wasn't. It was lunch time on a Friday, and we were one one of five tables in there. The bartender informed us that they have live blues music on Friday and Saturday nights as well.

The bbq was delicious, as were the bourbon drinks. Two thumbs up from this girl!

Oh, the slacking!

So it's been a week since I've last posted. Not that I've disappointed anyone with the lack of entries, but I just haven't been that interesting lately. Well, I lie. There's always interesting things going on.

This past weekend, I had another ballroom dance competition in Chattanooga at the Choo-Choo Challenge. This time I actually had some competition and got a good run for my money. I did well during the smooth competition (waltz, foxtrot, tango), but got my tail handed to me in the rhythm (cha-cha, rumba, swing).

My hands still look weird, as well as the lift on them. I can't seem to find it in myself to be graceful. I love dancing, but I don't know if competing is for me anymore. I started this so I would have a hobby and learn something new, but I don't like looking like an idiot in front of a room full of people.

Lindsey came with me; thank goodness! This would have been a nightmare without her...

The person who took this picture? A whole new story. Once upon a time, there was a crazy boy who pretended he was Johnny Cash. He worked at the Choo-Choo hotel, and sold pesticides to pay the bills. Of course he had that whole brooding musician thing going on; dark hair, slicked back (like Johnny Cash), nice little country twang (like Johnny Cash) and an all black outfit (like Johnny Cash). So naturally, with my "I can attract any crazy" attitude, this dude came over and talked to us at the hotel bar, where we went after the competition. And he called me June Carter, at least until I went to the bathroom and he found out that A. I was married. B. Lindsey has a boyfriend and C. He wasn't getting any that night.

Oh, did I mention that he had a girlfriend? Oh yeah.

The weekend was finished by a lovely breakfast at the Cracker Barrel.

There would have been more pictures had I not left my Nikon at the house. Don't get me started; I was definitely mad about that.

Oh the drinks we will drink...

So every time I go to New Orleans...all I talk about is the food. The food is great, but the drinks? Even better. Even the Diet Cokes taste better there. I don't know why, but here is a quick run down of the very-much alcoholic beverages to enjoy while in the Big Easy.

The famous Hurrican from Pat O's. This is definitely a touristy destination, but seriously? One of these and you'll probably be giddy. Take one of these, plus one of their Cyclones? You may as well call it a night.

The Hand Grenade. They claim it's the strongest drink on Bourbon Street, and who am I to argue? They definitely give you a little buzz. And for them to look so sweet with their little alien head cups? Just a lovely little front...

The mimosa. At the hotel restaurant (which was super nice by the way!). I spilled my first one all over me in classic Laura style. They did give me another one on the house! With lots of champagne. Offered at most places in New Orleans for brunch. Name me another city that can do up brunch like this place!


The New Orleans Bloody Mary. It's a good idea to sip this out of the straw, or your lips will be burning for a half hour. Trust me. This is from experience.

The hole in the wall Hurricane. These are probably half the size of the ones from Pat O's, but pack more liquor. Hang on to your skirts ladies!

Ahhh....Abita. Local. Awesomeness. Try the Turbo Dog or Purple Haze. Both delicious, and totally beat the heat while we were eating outside.


So there ya have it. I'm sure there are many that were left off (the frozen daiquiries you can get on every corner...Banana rules!), but you will just have to go down and try them all for yourself.

With the amazing food.

Sunday Stupidity

• I am so excited about the things that are happening in my life right now. There are soooo many amazing things that are going on, and I can't wait to be able to share them with you all.


• I get to go to Chattanooga this weekend for my dance competition. My goals are to let go of my self-consciousness and actually dance like I know what I'm doing!


• The people on The Biggest Loser are amazing. I have so much respect for these people, it's unreal.


• I finally got to watch the Royal Wedding this morning at the in-laws this weekend.


• I found a dress I actually wanted to buy at modcloth.com, but lo and behold (and of course), it was out of stock. I hope they restock soon.


• I'm about to read the sex secrets of 30,000 women in Glamour (only the best mag ever...next to Southern Living of course). I'll share what I learn. Maybe.


• I picked a horse based on the name for the Kentucky Derby. The damn horse came in dead last. Oh well. At least there wasn't any real money on the table.


• I don't have any pictures for this post; sorry.

TGIF...for real.

My goal for this weekend....

hubs, me, danny..yes, he looks like rob lowe

To not look as bad as I do in this picture. (Thank you humidity!)

Oh and also? To finish watching all my boy meets world on DVR...talk about TGIF. Maybe I'm taking it too literally? I'm gonna go with no...

And Happy Mother's Day to my mom, because I know she reads this now. Your present/card are on the way! Love you June!

New Orleans Beauty

Okay. So here continues my monster obsession with New Orleans. I know there are a ton of pictures, but I love having them to look back on. These are all taken on St. Charles Ave. I left Bourbon Street out of most of these, because I have quite a few of them already. And luckily, we got to stay in a hotel (that strangely had two of the exact same picture right next to each other) right on St. Charles. I'm so obsessed....

Really neat. The night before Easter.... (there was also a vampire tour straight to the left of us when this picture was taken...I liked the irony...)

I really could live on any of the houses on this street.

Pretty pink flowers on St. Charles....


Yet another work of beautiful architecture...that I would totally live in.

I can't tell you who lived in this place, but when we passed by it the first time, there was a guy who was sitting in a lawn chair on his roof. I chickened out to get this picture first go-round. I checked on the way back, and he had gone inside. How cool does this look? If I ever get a metal fence, I'm totally copying.

The Hornets were playing the Lakers on Friday night. They lost, but this town has such a pride for their sports team. The Saints? Hel-loooo? I'm pretty convinced they won because of the backing of their people.

These were plastered around a lot of the businesses there. They were all painted something different. They have something like this in Auburn with a tiger and all... sort of fun!

This was just too awesome not to...

Shouldn't everyone have fleur-de-lis on their doors? (God forgive me if I misspelled that. It's almost a sin seeing as how much I love this place..., but I'm too lazy to dictionary.com it up)

Fountain inside one of the many courtyards.

I'm like a grandma with the flower pictures sometimes. I'm sorry. They're pretty.
(and to speak about flowers...guess who's hydrangeas are finally starting to bloom! Take that black thumb!)

I'm a sucker for everywhere I can't get in. The gates you see right there were padlocked shut.

These folks were something serious about their no trespassing. I remember seeing at least 3 signs that said it.

One of the marvelous gates that guards one of the billion dollar homes.


If you ever get the chance to go, I highly recommend it. Make sure to check your luggage. I can totally fit into some of it.