Day trip

A couple of weekends ago, Perry & I took a day trip to the beautiful countryside of Virginia to visit my Dad & Karlene. We walked around their farm & fed the cows, played ball with Rambo, went for a drive with the windows down, and enjoyed an oh-soo-good meal of venison speedies, macaroni salad, and green beans! Unfortunately we couldn't stay the night because we had to leave the dogs inside... this was because a) Autumn keeps having major allergic reactions to something in our backyard, most likely an insect bite and therefore, needs supervision when outside, and b) a big storm was rolling in that evening.

Hosing Rambo off after he rolled around in a mud puddle.

Researching types of snakes after Dad ran over one over and over again.

Kiwi's close up

Rambo's head shot

We had a great time, as always!! Thanks & we love you!

On our way home, Perry stopped in the middle of the road so I could jump out with the camera. 

We were probably the only car for miles.

Gas

As you may know, Perry & I had all new heat & air components installed back in February. Prior to that, electric space heaters warmed whichever room we were in and we frequently had cozy fires going in the fireplace. All that and our gas bill for mid-November to mid-December was still $78.

The next billing cycle was the worst. According to the bill from PSNC Energy, the average regional temp from December-January was 36*F. Although the thermostat was set at the same still-too-cold- for-me-to-be- comfortable-if-we- are-truly-being-honest-here temperature, our old rickety unit used more therms and cranked into overdrive, costing us $201.

January-February was a little better at $117. I'm pretty sure I wore my absolutely not sexy plush bathrobe a lot in January.

Our February-March bill was $69. Here starts the change in our usage since the new stuff was put in!!! Basically, the first half of this billing cycle (Feb 12-28) was with the old, the second half (March 1-14) with the new. 

From mid-March to mid-April, we only owed $44! 

I will be taking note of our bills come this December so I can actually compare apples to apples {which is a fun board game, btw!}.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my incredible Mommy, Kathleen

Halloween 1998

My brother Jason's preschool party

Mom made our costumes!

Halloween 2000

Our old house in Apex

Mom also made the Cruella de Vil costume (for me a previous year)!

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom-in-law, Debra

August 1984

Leaving the hospital with Perry Britton

Sometime 2005

Church directory family photo 

Happy Mother's Day to my step-mom, Karlene

October 2009

Downtown Raleigh

My Bachelorette party

Happy Mother's Day to my Grandma, Margaret

Summer 2006(?)

Grandma & Grandpa's front porch 

Happy Mother's Day to my Nana, Elva Jane {I miss you}

November 1985

Nana & Papa holding their 4th grandchild, me!

This might haunt me in the future...

...but I think I actually enjoy ironing!

I've been slack when it comes to this wifely chore. Most of what Perry & I wear is basic and looks decent enough without ironing. Maybe I just don't notice other people's well-pressed clothing? Hah. Yesterday I decided to unfold move my ironing board to the living room so I could at least watch TV while tackling a few of my scrub tops & Perry's pants. I ended up going through our closets to find more things to iron! 

Before {ew.}

After {ahh!}

April 24, 2004

Since I posted about my Junior Prom when Perry & I met, I thought it would be fun to also share a few pictures from my Senior Prom the following year!

My thoughts after reminiscing: 

1] We were so darn cute!

2] I miss my Mom's old house, where I primarily lived from age five to eighteen!

3] Ok. I miss Perry's old Mustang, too. So many memories!

4] We had dinner at Cafe Luna before heading to 

the NC History Museum

{credit}

for the "Hollywood"-themed event! 

There were flashing cameras, a red carpet, golden Oscar statues, and those giant lights that sweep the sky.

5]  The last and ridiculously silly picture of us was taken by a dear old friend in the elevator sometime that night. Can ya tell we had a lot of fun?

6] We were are so darn cute!

To mirror my other prom post... me & my Momma! 

 

He is Risen!

"Praise be to the God and Father 

of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

In his great mercy he has given US new birth 

into a LIVING hope through 

the resurrection of Jesus Christ 

from the dead"

{1 Peter 1:3 NIV}

And for giggles...

(credit)

Phone pics {and other stuff}

And by "other stuff", I mean much older stuff!

Who doesn't love doughnuts? {Rhetorical question} Recently I heard of a Grand Opening of the new Krispy Kreme in Fuquay with a chance to win free doughnuts...  I decided to set my alarm for 0400 and if I woke up, I would go. In all honesty, I knew I would go. I was probably a little too excited about it. I stood in the cold rain and was one of the first 50 people in line when they opened at 0600! {Seriously, many people camped out overnight. In tents, their cars, I even saw a recliner out there... Um?}. Reportedly, the very 1st person got a free dozen every week for a year. I most definitely do not need that many.

My loot = 1 free dozen Original Glazed every month for a year & a t-shirt!!

Sneak peek of the new paint color in the bathroom! ^ "Spring Cactus" by Glidden.

At work, I was the only nurse to get 100% on the latest pain documentation audit! The card says "Lauren, Great job. 100% documentation correct in MAK + Soarian. Way to go!" I'm a super star. I shine!

Speaking of work... walking out of the hospital in the mornings, this is what I see {or don't see because I am walking with one eye closed due to the extremely bright sunshine that fills this walkway}. After 12 night-time hours in a relatively dimly-lit work area, my eyes are sensitive! But it sure is pretty.

Perry renewed Edith the Element's registration and picked out a new specialty plate for me!

While trying on a hand full of bras at Kohl's, I found this gem! I put it on and thought to myself "what is wrong with this??" Then I laughed, out loud. I couldn't wait to show/tell someone about it. Did I mention it was on April Fool's Day, too?! The Indian woman working in the lingerie department did not find it as humorous as I did- her first response was "Would you like 15% off?". I told her "You can't sell this! It has 2 left boobs!!!" but she just continued to pester me about opening up a Kohl's charge card and pulled the but-don't-you-want-to-save-money line. *Buyers beware: I think she put it back on the rack...*

Along the same lines, check out this "Repackaged" youth support cup on the clearance end-cap at Target. Eww.