Me time...

I just wanted to share my favorite little corner of our house with you guys. I hope to spend more time here than I did last year! #metime #momcave #craftroom #sew #paint #mine #peace #office #create #loft #bloggin 

Just Because

It's Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama Y'all!

So I know that Valentine's day is next up on the holiday list but here in Mobile, Alabama it's time for Mardi Gras! Our carnival season kicks off on January 31st however the parties and balls have already begun. There are a lot of folks who think that Mardi Gras originated in New Orleans, LA but anyone that is from Mobile, AL will tell you quick that we started it all! It's true! Mobile, AL is the home of Mardi Gras. Sorry New Orleans, you may have a bigger party, but we had it first. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the last chance a Catholic has to indulge before lent begins, the time when they give up something for 40 days. 

Oh how I love Mardi Gras! Two weeks of festivities! In my younger days (not that i'm old) I would save my vacation time to use during this time of year. It's so fun to catch a parade and/or get all dressed up to go to a ball where the music, food and drinks flow. What a great time! Fighting over a spot on the barricade or getting beamed in the head by a flying moonpie! Yes, Mardi Gras, where people act like complete idiots over a five cent trinket or dirty stuffed animal! It's great! It's all part of it! Just the atmosphere of being in  crowd of revelers where everyone is buzzing with excitement! It's worth every shiny string of beads caught! You might go home with nothing but sometimes you come home loaded down and it's awesome!  Mobile's parades are family friendly, so kids are more than welcome, and are sure to go home loaded with trinkets and beads. Come join us for the best, oldest, party in the south!

To celebrate the start of this Mardi Gras season I thought I would share some of my most favorite Mardi Gras pics straight from the streets of Mobile, Alabama!

Laissez lez bons temps rouler!
Jess

Kelsey's 13th Birthday Bonfire! #Kelsbonfire

Welcome! Today I wanted to feature my daughters 13th Birthday Bonfire. I cant believe she is already 13! Seems just like yesterday she was a little girl who loved Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob! We have moved far beyond that and now it's boys and bonfires and my head is spinning!! We had a popcorn and hot chocolate bar and a smores station. We also had pizza and birthday cake. I know the cake don't really fit the theme but she is obsessed with Starbucks so I thought I would surprise her with a Starbucks themed cake. She loved it! The hot chocolate and popcorn bar was a hit however I did end up with quite a bit of left over popcorn in my attempt to fill the bucket! Two pounds of popcorn goes along way! We are still grazing on it! I wanted to print some custom popcorn bags on brown paper lunch bags but just ran out of time so we used little paper french fry baskets instead. The kids loved the giant Jenga game I borrowed from a friend. They also had the teen party staple, "Glow Sticks" that of course ended up in the bottom of the pool! I hope you enjoy the pics and find some inspiration for throwing your own bonfire! #kelsbonfire

The Birthday Girl!

My party inspiration came from: Catch My Party

A New Year.....A New Me!

Can you believe it's finally 2015? We had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hosted a Christmas party for my in-law's and it was so cute however I didn't take any pics because I was running around like a crazy person trying to make sure everyone was taken care of. We spent New Years in Slidell. LA with my husbands family. It's a tradition and the fireworks are awesome!

This year gone by so fast! It was a good year but i'm glad to see it go! I am very excited so see what 2015 brings!  Have you set any goals for yourself? I don't really like to call them "new years resolutions" because i'm probably bound to fail at them. I do however like to reflect on the past year and try and make a few positive changes or set a few goals for myself.  I hope to be more dedicated to my blog! I just stay so busy it's hard to post everyday.  We are still looking forward to my reversal surgery. We hope that maybe in March we should be set to go! I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to balance everything but I'll just put my faith and trust in God and know that it will all work out according to His plan!  I'm still on the fence with the itWorks home based business that my sister in law has excelled in. I am currently using their products and have to say that it does in fact work. I hope to spend more time with the kids doing family things. I want to focus on organization in my home, room by room. I also hope to coordinate a wedding or two this year. There are many more things but i'll keep the rest to myself.

I hope you are off to a great start in 2015! Check back soon for my next post on my daughter's 13th birthday/bonfire. It was a blast!

Jessica

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Seasons greetings!! My Christmas decorating is in full swing at the Simmons household! I love to decorate for Christmas! This year I have added a couple of new trees to the rooms. The living room is finished along with Kelseys room and our Master. I still have to put up my late mother in laws tree in the den and I hope to start a new tree for Jack's room! Here is where I am so far!

Sorry for the late post! I though this posted weeks ago but it never went thru! Merry Christmas yall!!