Happy 28th to ME

Wednesday August 13th.
Julie (Jason's sister) took the kids I watch during the day (Aaron and Alyssa), so I can have a quiet day all to myself. I had a allergy induced cold, so I was feeling crummy...
Veida picked me up, we met my Grandma, Aunt Denice, and Mom at Olive Garden. I got some fun stuff....My Grandma gave me a lanebryant gift card (the pics below show the shirt I bought with it, I also got pants and earrings and undies). My Aunt gave me some cash, that I later blew at the mall. My mom gave me tickets to a circus in October, and the Fort Worth Zoo. Veida tried to trick me...she gave me four movies...each movie had a common theme, and that was New York. Then she used her crafty skills and created a faux boarding pass...for New York...her surprise is that she and I in October when the weather is pleasant....are going to go to our sister trip to New York.
After Olive Garden, Veida and I went to the mall, I tried to spend all my gift card at lane bryant then...but learned they were having a rad sale on Saturday, so I managed to walk out at that time with only a clearance shirt for $10.
We sat in those awesome lounge/massage chairs for 8 mins while it pleasantly tortured my back... yum. Then we went down to the hair place Trade Secrets and I used the cash my aunt gave me to buy nail polish (OPI Log On To Love) some Biologe shampoo and conditioner... Then we went to look at purses in Macys, because when it was Foley's they used to have wicked awesome clearance....not so much as Macy's but, I guess thats why Foleys is out of business...boohoo.
We left for Target...there I got some cute blue and pink pails and baskets (with the rest of the money my aunt gave me) that I can use to help organize my desk with..
We also went for Happy Hour....at Sonic. I had to have a Happy Birthday Route 44 Dr Pepper with extra ice. ...
I came home, took a nap, went to church....then after church, the kids went to Tracy's and Jason and I ate a yummy meal at Don Pablos...I was really wanting some chicken fajita nachos!

(Thurs and Friday were not my birthday days, but Jason surprised me with him doing lots and lots of laundry, and also washing all the dishes and keeping the kitchen up.....it was the best ever!)

Saturday August 16..

Went to the mall. Had to get my blackberry fixed, I broke the tracball out of it...stupid me.
After getting my phone back in working condition..we went to JC Pennys and got the kids some school clothes. Tracy took the kids home while I got my birthday party outfit...
Went right home, showered and went off to my party...


At the party..There was a bit of confusion as to how many people they would seat at a time in the same area so I didn't have to go through the whole restaurant to spend time with all my friends and family...after seating was figured out....and all the guests arrived, I floated from booth to booth chatting and visiting... I enjoied myself.
Veida's husband (it is hard for me to write that..she is too little to me to have a HUSBAND) George gave me a ticket to the Alanis Morisette Concert in October (looks like October is going to be busy for me!) Veida has the other ticket...This is SO exciting...we saw Alanis this past Feb with Matchbox 20, but she didn't get enough stage time if you ask me.....so I get to see an encore! YAY.
And my dad sent a gift........The Sewing Machine!!!!!!
YAY!!!!! I am stoked!

The party was over, everyone left, Whitney was the only person to come back to the casa and hang with Jason and me....then she left....and my birthday was over.
But feel free at anytime to send me a birthday gift! ha ha ha, jk!

This was the scene at my birthday party. Well it was more like a gathering of the people who love me and care for me...I had evited, and most didn't show up *sad* but these fine fun people did! Yay for Texas Roadhouse....I needed some Kabobs for my birthday! yummy yummy!

Pictured:
Jennie and me
Chelsea and me
Matthew and me
The Saddle I had to ride when the people sang happy birthday
Laura, Jennifer and Veida
Whitney and Matthew
Jason and Me
Aaron, Alexis and me
Me and Alyssa
Aunt Denice, Uncle David and Me
Me and Grandma
Me and Whitney
Then the pics start over...because Picasa hates me.

My puppy dog

His name is taiko. He is so ugly that makes him the cutest dog ever!

28 things to know.

Because I am a "blogger" and because I want to be cool like all the other bloggers in the world, I was going to do a "100 things you don't know about me" post.....but I am so boring, I couldn't come up with a 100.
Since my 28th birthday is in a few days, I thought....I can do a "28 things you do not know about me" post....so here goes..

28 Things About Layla

1. I wanted to be a pediatric cardiologist when I grew up - then I learned what that meant...no thanks.

2. Perfection to me is a Route 44 Sonic Dr Pepper with extra ice.

3. I fell in love with basketball to get myself over a relationship, it worked.

4. I took two years of French in high school by default - Spanish was full.

5. Because of Dr Quinn Medicine Woman I wanted a daughter named Michaela. I have a cousin named MiKayla that will do.

6. I was the first person (besides parents and hospital staff) to hold my cousin's son Jackson. I stayed at the hospital ALL NIGHT to see him...it was so worth it!

7. I like to eat plain yogurt with some rices dishes.

8. I used to think I could tell when I was getting a cold because the roof of my mouth itched...now I know it is allergies, not a cold detection talent.

9. I wear the wrong sized bra, because I am in denial.

10. I've never really tried dieting more than once...and that was a low carb doctor perscribed diet...I gained it all back in inconvient places.

11. I am afraid of losing weight because I don't have the money to fix all the hangy skin that I will have.

12. I owned two pair of REAL diamond earrings, but lost one set in the drain, and this last pair I lost after my sisters wedding.

13. I am obsessed with hangers. Wire hangers make me mommy dearest crazy and all my hangers in my closet have to be white.

14. I am in love with snowcones with soft ice. One day I want to own a snowcone stand so I can eat all the snowcones I want.

15. I can not do a cartwheel. I actually have never tried - I am too chicken.

16. My normal body temp is not 98.7 like most normal people....it is actuall around 97.2

17. When I was 6ish, I was diagnosed with Marfans Syndrome (like my dad and sister Veida) but when I was 14, I was de-dagnosed chalking my symptome up to genetics....do I have a lawsuit on my hands?

18. As a pre-teen my dad made me practice volleyball on Monday nights sometimes...I hated it....Now I wish I didn't give it up.

19. I learned to wiggle my ears while sitting on my grandma's bed watching American Music Awards. I figured it out while I sat and kept the beat of the music with my head.

20. I don't understand football - but I try to watch it with interst.

21. I interviewed for two reality shows. 1999 - Real World/Road Rules My cousin Libby, and friend Stephanie went, I guess we were not contriversial enough for them.. 2003 - Extreme Makeover - I was dragged there by some of my cousins...I guess I was not ugly enough for them.

22. I had my bottom wisdom teeth pulled on Feb 14,2001 and was recovered and eating Chicken Parm on Feb 15th, It was a great experience.

23. I want to be a belly dancer.

24. I like to wear Jason's clothes as pajamas, I think it is cute, he thinks it is annoying.

25. I have found a reason for my long hair (besides Jason liking it) I am going to donate it to locks of love.

26. I learned as a kid how to put the little loopy thing on top of Dairy Queen's icecream cones.

27. I met George W. Bush at a rodeo when I was with a youth group from church.

28. I weigh 318 pounds, and this my 28th year will be the last year I will have to admit that.

I hate six flags!

Anyone feel sorry for me? It is middle of the summer in Texas I am in the 100 degree heat at 6 flags! Gag

Field Cookies....aka Westbye cookies.

A family that I grew up with had a cookie recipe that I love and love and love....then I lost it....a few times...then I get it again....then I lost it again.....then got it again.....and now I am eternalizing them on the Internet so I will never lose it again. Although getting it again, allows me to visit with Elisabet again and catch up with her, when I wouldn't normally because I am lazy like that.....

Make these cookies NOW!!!

Field Cookies

1 lb butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 c brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/ 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
6 c flour

Cream together butter and sugars. Then add eggs and vanilla.
In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon.
Slowly add the flour mixture into the butter mixture. After batter is mixed add one of the following...(I usually put a whole bag of resses peanut butter chips and 1/2 bag of milk chocolate)

4-6 c chips
2 c raisins
2 c nuts
1 1/2 c old fashioned oatmeal
1 1/2 c coconut

Scoop 1 inch balls and this recipe will make about 116 cookies.

Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes, no longer. Cookies will not look done. They will be fluffy and tall and good!!!

Adding the eggs to the sugar mixture

Kitchen casualty....poor spatula

Right out of the oven...see they don't look quite done.

But they are delicious goodness.....yum!

360

Tonight I lay in bed; my thoughts are scattered.
My brain is foggy.
Emotions are built up in my chest.and I am unable to process them all.
Things are changing.....quicker than I thought they would.
Relationships are being tested, order of it all has been evaluated, rearranged, and put into place. Words have been spoken that have never before considered.
The changes are for the best
And they are not bad ones, just difficult.
But isn't it true what they say "good thing come to those who wait"
Jason and I have decided to work on our emotional relationship and find the Lord in it all. A shift has happened.

But right now I want the selfish tears to stop and I just want to sleep.

Aaron

He is so gangsta

Brownies with icing

These are the BEST BROWNIES EVER!!! I got it from a church cookbook, that I love!
It is not only brownies, but frosting too! Yum!

Brownies:

1 stick of margarine (melted)
2 eggs
3/4 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. cocoa

Mix ingredients thoroughly. Pour into 8 inch square, greased and floured pan. Bake at 350* for 22-25 minutes. Do not overbake!

Brownie icing (can be used for up to 3 pans of brownies) :

1/2 stick of margarine (melted)
1/2 c. cocoa
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 c. powdered sugar (add a few more tablespoons to the icing if it is too thin)
1/3 c. milk
1/4 tsp. salt

Add cocoa, vanilla, salt, milk, and powdered sugar. Mix well. Frost brownies when they are cool.

We made these a few weeks ago for a church potluck. They were a hit!















Alyssa was my little helper.....she had a good time!















Whats better than getting a chocolate face from licking the beaters?















The evidence can be washed off!

My Rant on Facebook

I HATE FACEBOOK! I do. I know it is the cool thing to do...and I have one....but I hate it....all the applications and sending random crap to random people...poking...what the hell is that all about? it is stupid.
And Myspace is not far behind. It is now using facebook applications....and it drives me CRAZY.

I have both of these as a virtual "connection" to people who I would not normally know what happened to from my past...a lot of kids I went to school and church with are on it...I like to drop an email or comment their way every now and again....but COME ON...PUHLEASE.....barf. I am almost totally done with it.

Not to mention, blogging and reading people's blogs are so time consuming, I don't have the time or want...to sit and poke people. blah.

Polaroid Flashback....

This is a picture of Me, Shayda, Veida and the local grocery store Easter Bunny.....Shayda was just a newborn...... what I would different.... just about everything....too bad there isn't a rewind on life..

My aunt has a sign on her wall at her house that says something to effect of "Experience is the greatest lesson, but the tuition is costly" (Denice correct me if I am wrong with this....) I am a true believer in this saying...because I know I am who I am because of the experiences I have had....but sometimes I feel spent. And with that feeling comes utter exhaustion......but it makes me a better person......that is sort of how I feel right now......spent.

My favorite thing to do..

Holding hands while watching a movie

Two out of three..

My sister Veida...what can I say...she has piercing eyes, the most beautiful olive skin, and the brown curly hair most women dream of....and she is my right hand woman.....she is the part of me that I don't have the guts to be sometimes. She says no, when I would say yes even though no is what I wanted to say. She gives me the courage to do what is in my heart, not what others want me to do....and she helps me to NOT buy random stuff, even though I influence her to buy more than she wanted to....
As a child I wasn't the nicest person to her. But as we have grown up, we have learned to appreciate and love each other more than words can say. She (along with Shayda of course) is the reason I am me today....she is loved. By me.