playing with my camera today...

my ribbon collection!

antique christmas ornaments!

my polka-dotted purse!


the bulldog Alan got me for Christmas!



what you would see if you were sitting on my couch looking into the kitchen...

a picture of a picture of my best friend and I about four years ago.
the tags I ordered in November finally came the other day. How cute!
gotta love the polka dots!

And I'm off to take more pictures!

i've got a...

secret!

yippeeee....

I got my new camera today!

RCIS or...

Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist.

I have this registry exam coming up in the next few months.

I just requested an application packet, so it will be a while before I take the test.

I hate the thought of having to study, but I can't wait to be RCIS.

Hollie Singleton RN, RCIS!!!

for the love of binders...

If you know me well you know I love to organize.
Anything!
Papers, recipes, cabinets, magazines, scrapbook stuff...
People, it really doesn't matter what it is.
My nursing school portfolio was immaculate. I still have it.
My wedding binder...organized to the T.
I have a photography binder.
I have a home decorating binder.
I just can't help it.
It's in my blood.
I really can't explain it.
People have often asked me how I do it.
All I know to say is how do I not do it.
I must have things around me neat, straightened, and clean.
So I say all that to tell you about my new binder.


The DREAM HOUSE binder.
I have been tearing up my Southern Living magazines.
Literally.
I have too many, and I am trying to simplify.

I will soon finish the dividers.
Living Room.
Kitchen.
Master Bedroom.
Bathroom.
Laundry room.
House plans.


When will this be put to use?
Who knows?
But all the information will be in the same place.
It will be organized.
It will be great!
And in the mean time I am having fun dreaming...

really quick update...

Ok...several things to share...

First, here is my growing collection of baby clothes for "one day".
Here's proof that it does exist!

Alan made these biscuits last week! They were so yummy and easy!
A little valentines decor...
Here is the start to the guest basket...
My vintage/antique ornament collection...

That's all!
I'm off to watch American Idol with hubby!

exciting...

Maggie, my little sister turned 20 on January 15th.

My Paw-Paw Williams turned 83 on January 17th.

I met Maggie's boyfriend Will this weekend. He's sweet.

My nephew Taylor was baptized today, by my Paw-Paw Williams.

My mom and sister are coming on President's day weekend!

Tomorrow is Monday. Alan is off work. I'm not...that is so not exciting!

And I am gonna blog more later...

organizing...

This is what I have done so far...

1. I sent out an update e-mail to everyone in my nursing class. Many of my fellow RN's have replied back with updates. I forward them on to everyone. Something about January calls for an update. We have been out of school for almost 3 years. They are wanting a reunion...

2. I made a gift wrap organizer from our old chest of drawers that is now in our guest bedroom.
One drawer for tissue. Another for ribbon, tape, and scissors. (I bought a new pair at the dollar tree that will stay in there. I bought 4 rolls of tape after Christmas for half off.) Another drawer for gift bags. (I cleaned my gift bags out and gave them away at work.) And the final drawer is full of boxes. (I bought many of these after Christmas too.) I love to wrap gifts rather than using a bag. Everyone uses bags, ya know. I have my gift wrap in a underbed storage box in the same room. I have found that the guest bed makes a great wrapping surface!

a little side note. I am a wrapping paper snob. It has to be heavy weight. Hobby Lobby has the best!

3. Alan put plywood down in the attic so now all of our Christmas stuff is up there. Except for the new tree we bought at Target for half off. Now the guest bedroom closet has alot more room. I bought 40 new hangers to hang up clothes that I am adding to my growing collection of baby clothes.

4. I straightened up our entertainment armoire in the living room. Got rid of some stuff.

5. I cleaned out our old dresser that still contained a bunch of my old clothes. Got rid of some clothes, and put some in our new dressing chest.

6. I am still working on my guest basket. I am looking for the perfect basket and for the perfect towels.

7. Just before Christmas I started a new collection of antique Christmas ornaments. Next year, in addition to my red and gold tree, I am going to have an antique themed tree. The tree we got from Target is a 6 1/2 ft, prelit with white lights tree in an urn. I can't wait to see what it will look like. So right now, I have the ornaments displayed in the guest bedroom in a glass bowl and hurricane.

So far, that is it.

just sitting here.

just got off the phone with Lauren.
so glad to have a best friend.
so glad it's her.
so glad that she knows me so well.
so glad that she just knows somethings wrong over the phone.
she said she could just tell.
this has not been a very good week for me.
i am struggling.
i don't know if its because it is January.
or because it is rainy and foggy.
or because i am a girl.
or because the day ends in "y".

work has been stressful.
coworkers.
patients with left main right and left.
STEMI's.
on call.
three people to a room.
unpredictable and inconsiderate coworkers.

makes me feel discouraged.
sad.
lonely.

it all came out tonight.
on Alan's shoulder.
i haven't cried in a while.
it felt good.

i took a shower.
i'm clean.
my hair is dry.
nails are painted. toes and fingers.

now i am still.
quiet.
listening to my ipod.
praying.
reflecting.

glad it's thursday.
tomorrow's friday.
things must be better.

this to shall pass...

1st post of 2008...

PMS is a horrible thing.
I am blaming it for these feelings I am having.
I want to post, but I don't want to post. But I guess I will go ahead and post anyway.
I have had the "blahs" all day today.

Christmas was good. Spent time with family as long as we could.
I had to work Christmas Eve morning and then be back to work on the
27th, but we are thankful for the time that we did have with family.

I was thankful I got to see my Uncle Brian. I don't think I have seen him since our wedding.
We spent the day with him and had a great time. I told him about my blog! (So, Hey Uncle Brian if you are reading)

We got so many photo Christmas cards. I love looking at them and having them displayed so that I can be reminded of our friends and family!

I got some great thoughtful gifts. Maggie got me a cute lanyard
for my work ID and an Itunes gift card. Paige and her family gave me some perfect cards for the stamp I got from Alan's parents. Lauren also gave me some notecards and a notepad to go with the stamp. So cute! Alan gave me an iPod case and an iPod dock. He also gave me a bulldog statue. He's concrete and stained black. He's sitting on our hearth right now. Alan also got me the large Tuscan Baker from Southern Living at Home(can't find a picture). I must say I love it. My parents gave us the Wallace Sleigh Bell ornament for 2007. We have gotten one every year since we have been married. One day we will have a tree full of beautiful silver bells. (My sister has 10! She and Zack just celebrated 10 years of marriage on December 26th.)

The also got us two of our everyday glasses. They were only available at one small store in Alabama when we registered. So that's the reason we are still collecting. :)

I also recieved some very nice sewing scissors. And a mini pair to go with these.Alan's parents got me the WillowTree Creche for my nativity. They also got me the ox and goat to go with the nativity. My collection is complete.

My parents also got me a cast iron covered pot. It's made by Chantal. Their products can be found at TJMaxx and Marshalls. This picture is of the ceramic non-lidded version. I used it last night to make taco soup. It works really well. And it is so cute!

Those were a few of my favorite things!

So anyways. I am gonna list the rest of the stuff I want to say.

1. Alan and I spent New Years Eve at home. We played Monopoly for almost 4 hours! I am so competitive. I won!!!

2. Pray for little Luke, the baby of our friends Ken and Libby.

3. I have been working on my "guest basket". So far I have shower gel and soap from Bath and Body Works. I have a sweet Citrus Cilantro candle from Pier One. All I have left to buy are the towels, washcloths, and a basket. Then I'll need some overnight guests! :)

4. Alan and I need to invest in some nice steak knives.

5. I still haven't taken down our Christmas decorations. I am still enjoying looking at them. It may happen this weekend.

6. I'm getting my hair cut this Saturday morning in Milledgeville. A good hair cut is worth the drive! I get to see Lauren too! Yeah!

7. My nephew Taylor is getting baptized. He wants our Paw-Paw to baptize him. I am so proud and thankful! What a huge and important decision! He is such a sweet, loveable little kid.

8. I am saving up for the Canon Digital Rebel XTi.

9. I'm reading Captivating. I want to read more in 2008.

10. I am so blessed! Beyond blessed.

11. I am happy to hear that a girl from my nursing class is expecting a little boy this month after some struggles with infertility!

12. Alan and I have been together 6 years as of January 2nd.

Happy New Year everyone!

etsy.com

Etsy.com was featured in an article in the NY Times today.
How I love etsy.com and the thought of buying something someone made.

My ultimate goal is to start making something to sale on etsy!

Look at these awesome things for sale on etsy.com!

oilcloth bib

oilcloth lunch sack

pink stationery set with initial

black lab christmas cards (she can make the lab blonde like Dixie!)

snowman outfit for little girlies

love everything from paperologie (have some tags on the way!)

it's an "H"

burp cloths

for the "baker" in me

cute, fun notecards

ohmygoodness birth announcements

baby girl hairbows

faux robees

personalized stamp (much like the one on my Christmas list)

precious pacifier clips

lil' pumpkin

how cute

your name on a wall

established

Ok, I guess enough is enough!
If you are anything like me, you are hooked already!
Let me know what you find while you are out there...etsy-ing!

Good night!

12.15.07 and baking...

Well, the nasty cold I had turned into a sinus infection that left me with swollen eyes and a tender face. I ended up not going to work on Friday. I went to the doctor instead. She put me on Azithromycin, which seems to have helped me! I am feeling much better now.

As I mentioned earlier on the blog, December 15th 2004 was the day

Alan and I got engaged. I went back to our wedding

web page on theknot.com and read the story of the proposal.

Sweet to read and remember exactly how I felt that night!

Here is the account:

Well, Alan was leaving on the 16th to go duck-hunting in Arkansas. He called me before church that night and asked me if I would go look at Christmas lights with him after church. I gave him several excuses about why I couldn't go, but obviously he persuaded me to go with him "because I wouldn't be able to see him for three or four days". So after church we rode around a few neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. Then we stopped and got a cappucino to drink. We got back in the truck and he said "I bet the lights at Georgia College are on, let's go see". I was thinking ok we will drive by, and then he'll take me home. Well, I was kinda wondering what we were doing when he pulled up in the parking lot and turned off the truck. I was like "what are we doing here, and I am not getting out of this truck, it is freezing." But once again he got his way. So here we are bundled up in our coats and gloves with cappucinos in hand on the coldest night in December on the Georgia College campus. So then he starts talking about "do you remember this, do you remember that..." And I am thinking why is he saying all this, as we proceeded on down the sidewalk towards Front Campus. After walking around for a few minutes I started asking if we could go back to the truck because my toes were about to freeze to the sidewalk. So we were walking in front of Atkinson Hall (one of the most beautiful buildings on our campus). He asked me if I saw any shooting stars, and I was like "I don't see ANY stars, can we just please go to the truck. I am freezing". So he stopped and told me to give him a hug, maybe that would warm me up, so I did. I needed to get rid of my cappucino cup, so I turned around to throw it away, and when I turned back around there he was on his knee, with a beautiful and just-what-I wanted ring in his hand and a smile on his face and he asked me to marry him!!! Between the SHOCK (I thought the day would never come), the excitement, the security, the happiness, and the love, I suddenly was very warm! :) Of course my answer was "Yes! Yes! Yes!" It is wonderful to know the God brought us together, and that through much prayer, Alan and I know that this is God's perfect timing for us! I am blessed to be Alan's future wife. Please pray for us as we prepare to spend the rest of our lives together. :)

So you can guess what we did last night. We rode around and looked at Christmas lights.
We had already had our Starbucks (the peppermint white chocolate mocha is delicious) for the day, so we didn't stop for cappucinos. But I am once again reminded at what a sweet and precious husband that I have. You see, last night was all his idea once again!

On to today...this is what I have been doing all afternoon...
I made all these for my co-workers in the Cath Lab!

These are for Alan to take to work for his co-workers!

Here are the peanut butter balls. Freshly dipped and drizzled with chocolate! Yummy!

I talked to my sweet friend Laura this afternoon and I told her what I had been doing all afternoon. She told me I should start posting some recipes on here. So here is the recipe for the goodies in the Christmas tree platter.

Graham Cracker Bars

2 sticks butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup of pecans
Mini Semi-Sweet chocolate chips
Graham crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter in stovetop pan. Add sugar and cinnamon. Stir until melted.
Line cookie sheet with foil.
Layer graham crackers on a cookie sheet.
Pour butter, sugar, cinnamon mixture over graham crackers.
Add pecans on top.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Immediately add as many chocolate chips as preferred.
Cool completely then break apart.

This recipe was given to me by my friend Sarah Hobbs! Hi Sarah! She is a wonderful cook! She is always making something new in the kitchen!

more random things...

1. I was conceived in the hospital when my dad was a patient. My parents told me that back in the summer. I guess that's why I feel so at home in the hospital (at work). Hehehe!!!

2. My face hurts right now...especially the bridge of my nose. I am sick with a nasty sinus infection.

3. I won't take medicine for my nasty sinus infection.

4. Thursday is my call day. I clocked out at 7:00 pm. I am so glad I don't work 12 hours shifts anymore, except the occasional late call day.

5. Alan and I have been married for 2 years and 7 months.

6. I light a smelly-good candle in my house almost every night.

7. One of my New Years Resolutions is to make a "guest basket". Complete with big white fluffy towels and washcloths monogrammed of course with the word "guest", different soaps, candles, lotions, razors, shampoo, conditioner, q-tips, cotton balls...and whatever else I find!

8. I play Pac-man or Solitaire on my iPod almost every night before bed.

9. I got my iPod on the first day the third generation iPods came out. It's silver and I love it.

10. My husband always makes animal noises. Turkeys, this kind of duck, that kind of duck, deer, owls. Sometimes I feel like I live in a zoo.

11. I addressed my Christmas card envelopes last night. Still haven't made the cards, or the pictures. (Sarah, I got yours today. You go girl!)

12. I am frustrated by people who talk negatively about their husbands and their children. Aren't they blessings God has given to us abundantly!

13. I am frustrated by people who "blame" my happiness or joy on the fact that we are newly married. Quit stealing my thunder people!

14. I helped a doctor put in two stents today. While in nursing school I didn't know what a cath lab was. Funny how God puts us right where we belong. I love it!

15. I see Alan and I with a little girl one day. Her name will be Lanie.

16. Sometimes I think I waste my creativity.

17. Our neighbors brought us over some homemade tamales last night! They were yummy!

18. I collect "H"'s.

Ok, I can't think of anything else right now. And my nose is running and I keep sneezing. I need a warm shower and then I'm off to bed!

random things...

1. I am making chicken and dumplings right now.

2. My toenails haven't been painted since umm...August.

3. I got off work at 10:30am today.

4. I cleaned our bathroom today. It's my least favorite place to clean.

5. Only 13 more days till Christmas!

6. I recieved an early Christmas present in the mail today on accident. OOPS! But I love it!

7. Alan is hunting...again!

8. We are almost done with our Christmas shopping.

9. Alan and I got engaged on December 15, 2004.

10. I love looking at baby clothes in stores. Alan thinks I am crazy.

11. I still haven't made our Christmas cards.

12. I bought three new ornaments for our tree today.

13. Alan and I made peanut butter balls, fudge, and white chocolate covered pretzels on Sunday afternoon for our neighbors and our bosses.

14. I love the idea of buying things that are handmade from Etsy.com

15. I have been a nurse for 2 1/2 years.

16. I love Christmas time.

17. I am the middle child. My sisters always told me I am adopted.

18. One day I would love to own a gift shop with monogrammed stuff, stationary, gifts, etc. I would call it Evie Lou's, after my two grandmothers.

19. I went to 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.

20. I would take a nap every single day if I could.

21. Alan calls me "Boots"...why? I have no clue.

22. I'm tired of this list.

Good night!

it's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Here are some pictures of our house decorated for Christmas...

our little tree in the kitchen (rooster)

This is a great idea and recipe book!
Renaissance hurricanes from Southern Living! Love them!
Some of the presents under the tree...with themed wrapping paper.
Christmas placemats!
Several of our tree in the living room...


The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...
My willow tree nativity! I hope I am getting the creche for Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

lots of stuff to share...

First of all, at the beginning of November we hosted a baby shower for our sweet friends Ken and Libby. The tablecloth below is my first finished product with my sewing machine. I used the fabric that Libby used for the baby's nursery bedding.
In mid November I celebrated my 26th birthday. Alan went to Arkansas on the Friday before my birthday so we had cake on Wednesday night before he left. I thought he did a great job picking out colors for the cake!

And below is a picture of Libby and Ken's precious little bundle, Luke!
They welcomed him to the world on the afternoon of November 24th.
He is absolutely perfectly precious!
I can't wait to take more pictures of him!
What a blessing from the Lord!



On Friday night Lauren and Chris came to dinner at our house. We set the date months ago to ensure that we got together this December. Last year we met halfway at Cracker Barrel to exchange gifts. I made this little snowman cheeseball for an appetizer. Mom and Dad gave me the cute red polka-dotted platter. It was perfect for the little snowman cheeseball.

We tried to take a Christmas card picture of ourselves today. It didn't work so well.
I did get a cute updated profile picture of myself out of them though.
Look at the top right ------->.

Hope everyone's holiday season has gotten off to a great start!

welcome fall...

I can't believe November is more than half way over!
I have so much to write about I hardly know where to start.

Maggie came to stay with me on Friday night. On Saturday we
went to Hobby Lobby. I bought a big picture for the living room.
I will post a picture whenever Alan gets it hung up.
(He went to Arkansas on Friday for a duck hunting trip.
He is having a blast!)

Mom and Dad came last weekend. We had
a great time. They had not been to see us
in quite a while. Mom and I shopped all day on Saturday!
She made me shop till I dropped! Usually it is the other way
around. :) It's always good having them around.

Hopefully they will come back in January!

The Saturday before that, Alan's parents came to visit.
We also went shopping and out to eat.
It seems like the thing to do when family comes!

My mom brought these plates to me when
she came. Paige gave them to me back in the summer, but
Mom "put them away" and couldn't find them.
So she found them! Aren't they cute.

This is my favorite part of fall and winter. Warm fires on cold nights. Alan loves building fires, and I love falling asleep on the couch next to them!

I am ready for Christmas! We are about halfway done with Christmas shopping! I started wrapping presents last night. I can't wait to break out the decorations and decorate the tree. I have been listening to Christmas music this week!

I bought this cute door bucket from Southern Living to go on my front door. I can't wait to replace the fall leaves and pumpkins for this cutie!

nothing is better than...

soft clean sheets.

a freshly made bed.

crawling into the soft, clean sheets on the freshly
made bed after a hot shower on a Wednesday night.

Charleston is in one more work day away.
We can hardly wait!
Night-night!

I'm back...

from my blog hiatus! Bought this ribbon today at The Pottery in
Commerce, GA. They are going out of business.
Don't you just love the Santa Claus one!
I couldn't leave it on the shelf.

I'm on call this weekend. Going to Libby's shower tomorrow.
Lauren is coming! :) Southern Living at Home party at Joy's on Sunday!
I love weekends!

Since the last post I have read Velvet Elvis, Redeeming Love, and I bought
Simple Sewing! I am still working on reading that one. Redeeming Love
is probably my all time favorite book. I would recommend it to anyone.
I checked it out from the library, but would love to have my
own copy. It is just that good. I am still waiting for Blue Like Jazz to
become available at the library. It has been on hold for almost three months.

eggplant...

We have had a relaxing, slow, and quiet weekend.

It has been very nice to just be at home. Cleaned the whole house
and washed all the clothes on Saturday.

Remember that eggplant we planted. Well it produced
these two little beauties...

and I made this Eggplant Parmesan on Saturday night.

We went to Barnes and Noble tonight. I found 4 books I want, but I think I am gonna check them out from the library first, and then if I want a copy of my own I will buy them.

The books are :

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Singer Simple Sewing Guide by Idontknowwho

I am overwhelmed by all that I want to do sometimes.

Sewing curtains. Making yo-yos. Reading the above books. Making cards. Scrapbooking. Creating a collage of pictures on our living room wall like the ones in Pottery Barn catalogs. Taking sewing classes. Planning a trip to Charleston.

When I get free time, I often waste it because I don't know what to do.

That just sounds ridiculous!

I gotta go to bed.

blessings...

Saw these two precious sets of people weekend before last.
Above is my Paw-Paw Williams and Palmer his wife.
We went to visit with them on Sunday afternoon.
Below are Taylor and Cade, my nephews.
We took them to the Braves game on Saturday the 14th.

My Paw-Paw is just an amazing Christian man.
So loving, caring, gracious, and a prayer warrior!
Has been since I can remember.
Momma says that when I was less than a year old riding in
my car seat, I would bounce up and down when I figured out we
were going over to my Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw Williams house.
They used to live on a big farm. Complete with cows, chickens, ducks, a huge
watermelon patch, tractors, a couple of ponds, and a big vegetable garden.
Me and my sister Paige would ride on the tractor with Paw-Paw all
afternoon. We would go up the ladders and get the eggs the chickens
had laid. We would play on the big round hay bales in the
barn too. I was telling Paw-Paw the other day that I remember going
out there and picking potatoes up out of the field.
He told me it was easier for us to get them because it wasn't as far for us
to bend over. We just thought it was a game to see who could pick up the most.
I am just so thankful for them.
Thankful for who they are.
Thankful for the examples they are to Alan and I.

I can't imagine loving two kids more than I love Taylor and Cade.
When I hear their little voices on the phone my heart just
smiles. They always want Alan and I to come over, to spend the night,
to go swimming, or watch them play ball. Sometimes
the distance thing is hard to explain. They are so loving as well.
Always want to tell you they love you, always giving hugs, or wanting you
to sit by them or lay down by them. I asked Taylor the other night
if he was happy he was at the Braves game, he said "Yes, thanks for letting
me come". He is so sweet. Cade just cracks us up.
As you can see from the picture below he just lost his first tooth.
So, we see this homeless man downtown Atlanta who happens
to be missing his front tooth. From the backseat Cade says "I think
he lost a tooth too." As if the man had lost his the day before and had
layed it under his pillow for the tooth fairy! :)

I am just so, so thankful for the blessing of these people in my life.

It's hard to believe they are nine and six!

Went to dinner tonight with our past Sunday school teacher,
mentor, friend, and financial advisor, Todd.
It is always great to see him. He always encourages us spiritually and
financially as well. Lets us know what is going on at our home church
in Milledgeville. Alot of people tell us we don't need a financial advisor to save
money, but I sure appreciate the accountabilty and expertise.
Lauren and Chris also joined us for dinner.
It is always great to see my bff too.

Trying to get back into my routine with walking.
In college I was walking 3-5 miles 4-5 days a week, so I want
to try and build back up to that. Also trying to watch
what I eat better. I really need to lose some of this
pound-age I have found since we got married!

how you live....

loving this.

You must go look at this.
It is so timely for what I have been experiencing this week. We lost one
of our cardiologists and his son in a car wreck this past Sunday.
It has, therefore, been an especially hard week at work.
Seeing his partners, black ribbons on everyone's scrub tops,

memories of his high-water scrub pants and

his dorky bouffant hats, remembering
his smile and magnetic-ness.

Being at his funeral only revealed that he was
even more wonderful than we already knew he was.

Been doing a whole lot of soul searching this week.

Preach the gospel at all times- If necessary use words. -Saint Francis of Assisi

they're ours...

the rocking chairs that is.
My handy-man put them together with no problems.

We went yard sale-ing this morning. Found some awesome deals!
I need to take photos to share...
I'll do that later.

Hope everyone is having a great Saturday! It's hot and muggy here!

Edited to add...
Here are some pictures of some darling baby clothes
I bought from my neighbor.
And no, I am not trying to tell anyone anything. I am going to
put these up in the closet and save them.

Sweet summertime...

Sitting on the porch rocking away and drinking some ice-cold lemonade.

Doesn't that just sound like summertime to you?

We have already stocked up on lemonade, now all we
need are two of these.
Hopefully we will buy two of them tomorrow.
:)