Happy New Years Eve 2012!!!

Hope You Have A Happy & Safe New Years Eve 2012

Let's All Be Careful If You Are Out & About...

Please Remember - Don't Drink & Drive - Call A Friend or Taxi.

Cindy Lou...

My New Years Traditions... What's Yours?

Do You Have A New Years Eve or Day Tradition?

Here is my list of New Years Eve & Day Traditions.

We always take our Christmas Tree down before New Years Day.  Why?  If you leave it up until New Years Day you will have an entire year of bad luck.  

Staying up until Midnight if you so you can Ring the New Year In.  Why?  Because it's good luck to be awake when the New Year Starts and to watch The Fireworks.

Kissing Your Date On New Years Eve at the Stroke of Midnight.  Why?  I think people just like to ring in the New Year with something pleasant and what's more pleasant than a good lip lock. 



Making a Toast at Midnight.  Why?  To spread Good Cheer & Happiness to all my Friends.

 We always eat Turnip Greens on New Years Day.  Why?  Turnip Greens are good luck for your green money and if you do not eat them - you will not be prosperous in making lots of green money for the entire next year.

 We always eat Black-Eyed Peas on New Years Day.  Why?  Black-Eyed Peas are good for you coin money and if you do not eat them - you will not be prosperous in making lots of change money for the entire next year.



And finally, I make a Resolution to change something about myself, for the better each year.  And this year it is to lose the weight I have put on since starting nursing school.  So I will eat more healthy food and exercise daily.

And I Will Gladly Take That Weight Back!!!


So Happy New Years Eve & Day To You!!!
What's Your Traditions???

Cindy Lou...

Cool Sand Beneath My Feet

WOW...  Christmas for my family was wonderful and very busy this year.  Thanks to my new addiction Pinterest I took on way to many projects for the 2 week time frame that I had to work with.  But I put it all aside to spend some time with my 2 daughters, my mother and some special friends.  I even found some time for me.  

I will take you along on one of my adventures.  A 4 mile (round trip) hike through the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge - Pine Beach Trail.  And I must say that not only was this my first time to take this hike.  But it most definitely was worth every step of that 4 miles.

Map of the trail from start to finish.  

You enter the parking lot of Pine Beach Trail from Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  Along the first mile of the trail you are walking through a Maritime Forest full of huge live oaks draped in spanish moss and ends at Gator Lake and Little Lagoon.  At this point there is a two story observatory where you will find a spectacular view.

Views Through The Maritime Forest

 Through these Live Oaks & Saw Palmetto you will find swamps.

 Little white cotton puffs of lichen called Reindeer Moss was everywhere.

Lots of bright red Swamp Holly for the Birds to Nom Nom on.

 Although not a fan of Termites - They were far from starved along this trail.

Saw Palmetto scattered throughout the Maritime Trail.

Views From The Observatory Overlooking Gator Lake and Little Lagoon

 Bridge over Gator Lake

(notice the bridges reflection underneath the bridge)

 Bridge over Gator Lake

 Bridge over Gator Lake

 Reflection of the Sky in Gator Lake

Little Lagoon

At this point the trail crosses over the two channels of water for the second mile of the walk through the sand dunes and to the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.  While walking this stint of the hike I took off my shoes and walked in the cool sand.  The sights completely changed as if I were on an entirely different adventure.  There was much evidence throughout this part of the trail of the devastation of Hurricanes Fredric (9-12-79) and Ivan (9-16-04) and Katrina (2005).  Remains of decaying old beach houses and scars on trunks of pine trees from floating debris.

Views Across the Channel through the Sand Dunes & to the Beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

 Pine trees with floating debris scars & overlooking Little Lagoon.

 Had me within a bird's eye range.

 Remains of a decaying old beach house.

 Remains of a decaying old beach house.

 

Remains of a decaying old beach house.

 Sand Live Oak - Dwarf version of a Live Oak.

 Dunes

 Sand Pine

 Final stretch of the hike.

 I Have Arrived - 2 Miles and NO Regrets.

 Of course the beaches behind this sign were covered in Big Shells.

 Shell Covered Beach.

 Breathtaking... 

 I Could Never Grow Tired Of This View.

And I must travel back to where the trail began!!!

I hope you enjoyed the views of my hike.

Cindy Lou...

Da' D*#m Cat Is Outta Da' D*#m Bag!!!

About Last Night....
On The 8th Day Of Christmas Cocktails

I Drank A "Tinsel Bellini"
(as seen in 12-15-11's blog)

And About Yesterday!
Weird, Weirder & Weirderest...

I searched a couple of hours yesterday for this picture and could not find it (see below).  I had every intention of blogging this story yesterday.  I stayed so busy that I did not have time to look at my oldest daughter's blog yesterday until late night, and when I did - WOW.  Great Minds Really Do Think Alike (my oldest daughter had actually blogged about this very picture and story herself & it is about her).  (You must see www.keepitclassyalabama.blogspot.com) Yep, I am a Proud Momma Braggin'.

So, Without Further Adieu, (Drumrolllll)  "The Story".

When "Prissy Miss L" was 4 (now 23), I was in the hospital and had just given birth to my second child on December 4th 1992 - so naturally OUR Pediatrician was going to come by and check us all out.  When he did "Prissy Miss L" was there straight out of Catholic School sporting this cute little shirt she had made at school.  Mr. Pediatrician engages in conversation with her and asks her "What is on your shirt"?  To which she replys - A "Waindeer".  He responds, "Well what is that on top of his head"?  She replies, "It's Egglers".  Him, "It's What"?  Her, "I said, It's Waindeer Egglers".  He laughs and laughs (we all did).  He then tells her, "I am writing a book about my patient's and I am going to write about you and the Egglers".  She still to this day remembers that day (or remembers how much we have talked about it).  How cute - Out Of The Mouth Of Babes.  And believe me, you never knew what she was going to say.  
I Sure Got Caught A Few Times When She Let Da' D*#m Cat Outta Da' D*#m Bag.  

Speaking Of Cats (well, I was), that very next week she stayed with a family friend of ours while I was in the hospital (A Single Lady At The Time - "Ms. D" & She Was Just As Prissy, BUT With A Whole Lot Of SASS).  And "Ms D" made cornbread and put it in the window to cool (yes, I know what you are thinking - and yes, we country folk really do put cornbread in the window to cool).  Well, next thing you know (granted I have only heard the stories) Butttttt the D*#m Cat ate the D*#m Cornbread & the D*#m Cat got in a lot of trouble for eating the D*#m Cornbread, which is something that "Prissy Miss L" remembered All To Clearly.  I know this, because she came to the hospital the next day, and proceeded to tell "Everybody She Saw", in detail how the D*#m Cat ate the D*#m Cornbread.  I couldn't hardly be mad because it was sooooo D*#m Funny.

"Waindeer Shirt With Egglers "
Face is her two feet dipped in paint 
& 
Egglers is her two hands dipped in paint.


I had to share a DIY Pinterest Project that a friend of mine posted on Facebook last night.  She made this as a gift.  Now how stinkin' cute is this?  A picture frame with 7 picture slots = Weekly Events Reminder = use dry erasable markers = also use scrapbook paper of your choice for backgrounds.  I sure wish I would have seen this before I started all 1000 of my other Christmas Gift DIY Projects.  Thanks "Mrs. MG" for such a Great Gift Idea (Yours Is A-Door-Able).

 ANY WHO...  If You Still Have Time To Get In A DIY Christmas Gift Project - Wouldn't This Be A Great Gift?  I Know I Would Love It!!!

Cindy Lou...

Let's Make A Drunk Christmas Tree

On The 7th Day Of Christmas Cocktails

I Drank A "Triple Layered Vodka Jello Shot Tree"...

(the more you drink - it looks like a tree)

I suppose that drinking your way through the 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails has it's hazards.  I am only drinking one a few of my Cocktails a day - NOT an Entire Tree for Goodness Sakes!!!  But in my research While I was drinking I might have been searching the web for blogging ideas related to Christmas and perhaps that is why I chose Booze Christmas Trees.  Some call them Redneck Christmas Trees - But I 
argue that can't be so if they are also made of Bubbly & Booze.  
Maybe "Drunk Christmas Trees" is a good name.  Obviously somebody drank all that booze.  

Very Bubbly Tree
(Just Add OJ For Me Please)



Get Crunk Tree


Don't Whine (Santa's Watching) Tree



Who Dropped A Bomb On Me Tree


Where Is My Funnel Tree


Watch Your Beer Belly Tree



Hot Off The Sh"ELF" - I Obviously Haven't Had Enough To Drink
Where's My Ornament Flask?








If After Drinking Your Tree (Literally) To Make Your Tree - You May Find Yourself Drunk As A Bicycle.
But DON'T Ride This Tree!!!

Drunk As A Bicycle Tree

I Am Sure You Have Now Found Yourself Desiring To Make Your Own Drunk Christmas Tree.  So I Have Provided You With A Step-By-Step Video On How To Make A Drunk Christmas Tree!!!

So My Wish For You Is:  Go Out And Have Yourself A Beery Bubbley Boozey Christmas!!!

Cindy Lou...

Just A Few Christmas Funnies!!!

First off, let me catch you up on my 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails.  As I continue to drink my way through Christmas - I have been very busy cooking and crafting, and I can't wait to share all my finished projects with you soon.

On The 4th Day Of Christmas Cocktails - I Had A "Christmas Ca-Ca-Cake Martini"

On The 5th Day Of Christmas Cocktails - I Had A "Re-Re-Red Headed Slut"

(Yes - I Said It)

On The 6th Day Of Christmas Cocktails - I Had "Vodka Infused Gummie Bears"

Christmas Funnies

And I Love Me Some Starbucks!

Bahahahaha! Ho Ho HO!

Jealous - I Think Sooo!!!

I'm With Maxine On This One!

And This Is No Joke...

I Sure Hope It Never Comes To This!!!

Hope You Have A Very Merry Tuesday!

Cindy Lou...