Heart day, Miranda and new cars!!!

Ella and Dallas getting their dance on!

How cute will Ella B and I be riding around town in this! It would cause severe hair trauma:)

mini-me

As you all know...Love day is my fav day of the year:) This one was exceptional. It was simply all around an awesome day! I had the privilege of being a part of Ella's class party which was super fun! How could it not be! Fourteen five year olds jacked up on lots and lots of sugar;) that afternoon Ella, the dog Max and myself took a trip Mebane to the outlets. I needed to exchange a bag at the Coach store and of course hit Jcrew while I was there;) Ella informed me just past Durham that Max had his head in a paper bag for most of the journey. I brushed it off and didn't think much of it until I suddenly remembered that I had left a container of dark chocolate edamame in a bag in the back of the truck earlier on the week...well, I called the vet and the receptionist told me I needed to dose the poor guy with peroxide IMMEDIATELY!!
It was in the stretch between Chapel Hill and Mebane so there was NOTHING resembling a Walgreens anywhere! We made it to a drugstore eventually and dosed him as instructed. Nothing happened so 20 mins in I did it again (in the parking lot)as Max proceeded to spit it all over my super cute outfit because he had figured out just how yucky peroxide taste. I called the vet back and the chick finally put the doctor on the phone and he told me the dog was way huge and fat and there was no need to worry about several pieces of dark chocolate. Whew! The rest if the evening went as planned thank goodness and all is well with maxi-poo:) And Ella and Daddy had a magnificent time at the Daddy/Daughter dance as well! Feeling very grateful to be married to a man who knows the importance of his baby girl!
Now on to CARS!!! Went to the uber fab SECU today and was pre-approved for a new car loan:) Hola!!! The iffy bit us we have no idea what to get! Steve found a Wrangler, an X3 or a Tahoe. All great but very different. I absolutely love the Rubicon but feel a little apprehensive driving a five year old around in a jeep. Am I having a mid-life??? I already had a jeep so I'm guessing I should go for practicality! We shall see. The immediate plan is to have a fun weekend away at the Miranda concert and shake my money maker to some yummy music and great company! Hug those babies and squeeze your peeps xx

The Greatest Show on Earth:)

We haven't been to the circus in a really long time and Ella B has never been...until last night. It was AWESOME! I have to admit I went in with a not so great attitude. Clowns freak me out and I adore animals so the whole circus thing usually makes me feel a little unsure. It didn't help that the PETA folks were standing at the entrance of the RBC center casting very not so accepting glances our way as we found our way in. However, we arrived an hour early so our munchkin could go down on the floor and hang out with the performers (no they weren't creepy) and try on clown clothes (which OF COURSE I did not let Ella do because of the enormous amount of kiddie germs etc...) and she even got to see the horses and an elephant up close and personal:) I took advantage of every opportunity I had to gaze into the eyes of every clown, animal or performer I came across to make sure I didn't need to kidnap them and make it all better;) Everyone didn't just look happy but seemed to genuinely enjoy whatever it was they were doing. Ella laughed out loud so many times I lost count! It was simply good, clean family fun! I did have the beginnings of a minor panic attack when the tigers came out because I remembered the horrible dream I had the night before about the hubs being mauled by three tigers in a beautiful Vegas-like resort pool....I know what your thinking but just bear with me:) They hissed quite a bit and seemed a little agitated by The Tiger Man. Then...they started licking and kissing him. On the mouth. This debunked two myths for me. #1 We would not be eaten by big scary tigers and #2 If they were truly mistreated by this organization then I seriously doubt they would be inclined to kiss on The Tiger Man. It was interesting how much it reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Dr.Seuss. It had flavors of both. I'm sure my Cindy-loo-hew hair helped;) If you don't have plans to go then change that! It was worth every penny and lots of happy memories were made for the Bennett's! Now onto the Valentines Day celebration! Daddy and Ella are going to their very first daddy/daughter dance tonight and I get a night all by myself:) Max the dog and I will be hanging by the fireplace:)Hug those babies and squeeze yo peeps!

Daddy's girl...

This week couldn't have started any better:) I was blessed to see my sweet daddy yesterday and today:) Y'all know how much I lurf my peeps so this is huge for me! I made a lovely jubbly dinner for him last night at home and we sat and laughed and talked just like always. Then he took Stevie B., Ella and myself out tonight for a yummy steak. It never ceases to amaze me at how filled up I am after I see him. I guess it's a girl thing;) Something about us southern girls and our daddy's! That man holds a gigantic part of my heart that no one could ever take the place of.
I am SO excited about Valentines Day! And y'all, please know it isn't just about our honeys. I know you girls just had David Beckham in those H+M boxer briefs pop in your head but that's not what I'm sayin. Love your mamas and daddys, husbands and babies, brothers and sisters and especially the ones around you who seem like they need it the most. I promise you the more you love the more you will receive it and the better you will feel about yourself for giving to someone who just might need it more than you do! I. Love those babies and squeeze yo peeps! XX

Blah, blah, blah...

Wowzer scooby! What a busy week! We drove the short drive home Sunday from an amazing weekend in Greensboro. We were supposed to see Miranda but of course the show was rescheduled (for good reason)and we couldn't get the money back for the hotel so ROADTRIP!!!! One of our fav bands played in Winston that night. So between the show, black-out curtains, room service and late check out we were good;) The week started out crazy as usual. My work schedule has been nuts but I'm not complaining! I'm incredibly grateful to be busy but I must say I'm looking forward to a few days off next week:) Wishin I had "my toes in the water" right about now! We booked a beach house for April so it's on the horizon;) Still a wee wobbly with the knee but I'm finally on the mend. Little E called 911 this week just to "see what would happen"...She informed us she loves "croutops" which are croutons. She says she wanted to get her drivers license and that when she has a baby one day she wants to name it Sparkles:) God, I love her. I feel like I have been so crazy busy the last couple of months and have missed my friends that I haven't seen so I'm looking forward to catching back up with my peeps:) Kittykat is back y'all! I'm looking forward to lunches with my girls, fires with Boonies and Iannon clans, quite nights snuggled up with my babies at home and time with my extended family:) Love y'all! Have a wonderful Saturday night and don't forget to hugs this babies and squeeze your peeps xx

Update 1-16-12

Alright y'all...I need to hit on a few different subjects. First is the Golden Globes. I totally want to be Reese Witherspoon when I grow up. She looked awesome. Totally diggin on her hair!!! Madonna is a big fat poser and Brad is still hawt even with a cane. The hubs said I looked like Sophia with her long straight hair... Looked is the important word here:) I had hair and a body (minus the boozies) like that ten years ago. Not no mo'. But super sweet to compare lil ole me to a goddess;) Octavia totally deserved her award and Leo needs to change his hair. He has been pimpin the slick do for too long now. George Clooney's new girl is super cute and Bradley Cooper needs to loose the stash.

The other big news in Kittyland is my recent knee surgery. The doctor presented this surgery to me like it was NO BIG DEAL. In the large scheme of things it wasn't a huge deal. HOWEVER....they lied. I am two weeks out and I am still straight up gimpy. Can't walk down the stairs, can't work out and I can't stand for very long. I'm cool with whatever I need to do but don't fib and tell me it's a breeze and then change things up! My people need their hair did and I'm gonna do it! I have however had great caregivers and wonderful friends who made us yummy food and helped with Ella!

The other big news is that we are going to Greensboro this weekend to see Miranda:) I lahahuv her so I am super excited about Saturday night! Ella gets to stay with her cousins which of course I'm nervous about. I told my sister-in-law yesterday that it is TOTALLY not personal. I know they will watch her like a hawk...but I also explained that my Ella could be outside in the johnboat going across the pond to see the cows in a millisecond! We love that kid more than anything in this world but she is something else;) I could squeeze the stuffing out of her! Well, there's my update. Hug those babies and squeeze your peeps.

Love is a choice...

I have come to the realization that love is a choice. When you realize it's there...you have to choose to foster it. If you don't it will fade away. If you do, it will grow and blossom into a wonderful thing. And let me tell ya...it ain't easy;) Love hurts like hell sometimes. It can make you cry your eyes out and it can make you have butterflies. It can make you crazy and make you angry but in the same instant it can make you smile the biggest smile and make your heart feel like it's going to fly right out of your chest.  It requires effort. It is work. But it's worth every bit of effort you put in it. To have true, honest and unconditional love is the greatest gift of all. God created us this way because that's how he loves us. Being all human and crazy we make things complicated...but if we will just look around and see what is right in front of us...we can have and be just what he intended for us to be. Loved and lovers. We have many opportunities placed in front of us but we have to choose which ones are best for us. Sometimes the ones in our lives that seem like the hardest to love are the ones that deserve your love the most. We all have crazy families, crazy friendships, crazy relationships period. But if you stop and actually look at the people in your lives I bet you'll realize that you're just as crazy as they are:) Christmas is a few days away and I challenge you to look around you and be grateful for who and what you have around you. I know when I look I see a committed husband that loves me unconditionally, a magnificent daughter who thinks I hung the moon, a family that loves me through everything and most of all a heavenly father that forgives and loves me more than anything. I feel incredibly blessed. I hope every single person who reads this feels my love and hugs. I pray every one of you has the best Christmas you've ever, ever had! Hug those babies and squeeze your peeps ;)

Random thoughts......

Turkey's have totally pissed me off this year. I bought a 21lb bird four days ago and that b...ch is still just as frozen as it was the day I bought it. I knew I should have done Cornish hens this year;) Thank GOD for Trader Joe's! I bought one of the five they had left at 2:00 today. Then I goggled how long it would take to cook a fresh one and it's still 4-5 hours which means I still have to get up at 6am :(  However, I'm still grateful. I have so very much to be thankful for. I have a magnificent little girl. Those of you that know her know how special she is....she is a trip. She makes me laugh every single day. She was super cute in her Thanksgiving program at school this week. I have a cool mama and my daddy that can be groovy when he wants;) My hubs is great and I have a brother that hung the damn moon! One of my fav peeps is my sister-in-law. She is straight up and tells me the truth whether I like it or not;) Some people may not like that but I appreciate it. If somebody really, really loves you...they will lay it out to a sista. If I'm wrong she will tell me in a skinny minute. And if I'm right she will support me like nobody else. Most importantly, if my heart hurts she will wrap her sweet arms around me and love me whether she agrees with me or not. It's unconditional. That is a rare thing these days! It doesn't matter what I say to her or tell her she is gonna love me NO MATTER WHAT. She may be mad as hell, but she still loves me for me. That is such and awesome gift! I also want to talk about my sweet baby Max the dog. I love that crazy white furry monster:) Talk about unconditional love...holy cow! I love the that he jumps in the bed every morning and snuggles up to me to get some love...I love that no matter how mad I get at him he always loves me anyway:) Y'all know he is like Marley;) I need to also tell you about an amazing night out for a show. Blackberry Smoke rocked it out at Lincoln Theater on Thursday. They were such cool peeps. Didn't drink, didn't smoke just good ole' boys hanging out. Thanks to Ryan and Lorena (that was a shout out) for an awesome night!!! If you haven't heard of them check them out! They are a lot like Black Crowes which I love. They were just on tour with Zac Brown and they are getting ready to BLOW THE HECK UP! Sweet boys :) So I guess the gist of this blog is my life is pretty damn good. I have no real complaints. I have so many friends and family that love me and that makes me so crazy thankful! Oh yeah! I  love Pandora too. Pandora on my IPhone and Pandora at Crabtree;) My mama should have named me Anna Kathryn Elizabeth Pandora! Music and Pandora jewels make a girl happy;) And I'm thankful for Johnny Cash singin Folsom Prison Blues! To love like Johnny and June;) I'm thankful for Target but not thankful that they make me spend $100 every time I go in there. I love the magic of Christmas. I love the look in my baby girls eyes when she comes around the corner and see's what Santa brought her! I love that people are a little bit nicer this time of year. However, I wonder why we all aren't a little nicer all year long??? Don't we all want the same thing? Ya'll should give me the parking space dangit!!! I'm just kidding.. I will end this entry with this thought....be with your people and love them whether they love you or not. People are crazy. Some folks don't understand my creative, spirited, black and white personallity...but I'm gonna sing VERY LOUDLY IN THEIR FACE Michel Franti"Say Hey (I love you)" and dance my butt off! I promise if you love them then you will be rewarded no matter how they act. God honors your effort so go squeeze um' anyway;) You will be glad you did. Happy Thanksgiving peeps!!!!!!!!!