The Show was Deen-Licious!!!!

Well, I couldn't wait to get the pix of tonight's show. Paula, Kat and I left town around 12:00 and headed into the Boro to get some lunch. That in itself was an experience!!! We were going to hit up a little place called "Through the Grapevine" that Jenn had told mom and I about. Mom ate there last week and she loved it, so we thought that would be nice to go somewhere a little different. We pull in the parking lot and were soooo excited because it wasn't busy. Come to find out, it was CLOSED for a Private Party. So, plan B was the Front Porch. Now, this place is as cute was can be on the outside, great parking and no line, so in we go!!! We waited about 10 minutes on a table. By this time it is almost 1:00 and we were trying to get in and out quickly! So, we sit and wait, and wait and wait. No one even came to get our drink order and it is HOT in that place, so we leave and go to Plan C. We end up at the Main Street Grill. We walk right in, get seated and are glad that the A/C is working! This turned out to be a great choice, with the exception of the Lemonade that I ordered. It was not so good, but not a big deal. By this time, it is a little after 2 and we are off to Nashville. We got there around 2:45 and after parking we found the newly restored Hermitage Hotel and we were pretty sure this is where Paula was staying. Can you say "Stalkers"?? Kathy said that this was on her list of things to see, so we went in and checked out the 19 million dollar renovation. It is absolutely gorgeous. Picture opportunity!!!! There were 2 ladies there getting tea served to them in the lobby and they were kind enough to make our pix and we gladly returned the favor. If you are ever in downtown Nashville, you really need to check this place out! It is worth your time. After we left there, we were off to TPAC and still had plenty of time to check out the souvenirs and find our seats, which by the way were excellent! It was time for the show to begin and we were so anxious for Paula to come out. The audience rose to their feet and applauded like crazy when she made her entrance. She was absolutely hilarious, as was her husband, Michael. They are the cutest couple. This show turned out to be much more than a cooking show; she is truly an entertainer who loves her fans and interacts with them so well. You can't help but love her! I am going to try out her Mac and Cheese recipe next weekend for my Granny Ma's birthday party. Hey, who knows, I may actually be inspired to cook! Thanks girls for a wonderful day. I won't ever forget it!!!!!

Paula Deen, Here we come!!!

Tomorrow, Paula, Kat Brewer and I are off to see the "other" Paula at TPAC. I can't wait and feel a little more excited about going every time I tell someone, because their reaction is always the same, "Oh, I am so jealous, I wish I were going". So, I have to say Thank You, Mom for getting us these wonderful tickets. I am pretty sure we are going to be right up front near the stage and I am also sure that I am going to have to put "my" Paula in a straight jacket before it is all said and done. She is going to go NUTS!!! I am not a cook, just ask my husband; he will tell you! It is not a secret...I DO NOT COOK! The reason I don't like to cook is because I hate having my perfectly straightened kitchen in a mess!!!!! Logical, huh?? I must admit, the older I get, the more OCD I am becoming about my house. So I guess at this point you are probably wondering why I even want to go see Paula Deen in the first place. Well, I love watching others cook and I love to eat! Those are good enough reasons in my book. Also, she is a Southern Lady, as am I, so she has my attention. Anyway, I dislike cooking, but I LOVE to bake breads, cookies, cakes, etc. So I am hoping to get some new recipes that I can try out for my friends and family. I will have plenty of pix to post tomorrow night after we get home. Look out Nashville, here we come!!!!!

All that hard work...

is beginning to pay off. I have been working in my classroom since last Wed. I realize that most teachers work in theirs all summer, so I am a slacker in their eyes, but I never go to school before the end of July. My brain doesn't work until then!!! I never realize how much I have to do until I get to school for the first time and then reality hits. I leave my room straight, neat and organized, so it would seem that I wouldn't have much to do. However, I have the same children for 3 years, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Language Arts, so I have to change my room around and keep things exciting for them. I mean, who wants to see the very same thing for 3 years? Children love surprises, so that is what I try to give them, a little bit of the unexpected on the first day of class. Arden and I have been at school each day for at least 6 hours at a time and it seems that the time slips by so quickly and I get nothing accomplished. She has been a trooper and hasn't complained one time. This week I inherited an UGLY BLUE bookshelf that is probably older than I am. Granted, I am very greatful for it because I needed it desperately for my Thesauruses (CAN'T live without these) and Dictionaries. However, it had to be the ugliest color of blue known to man, and the fact that blue happens to be my least favorite color didn't help matters. Anyway, I went to work and painted it UT orange, which is the same color I painted my room last summer and is the inspirtation for my new template colors on the blog.(Can't wait til Football Season) After it dried, I took a Wal-Mart bag and some white paint and gave it a sponged look. It turned out soooo cute. I feel like Martha Stewart! I wish that I had some pix of before, but I didn't think to bring my camera that day and I couldn't wait to paint over that hideous blue. Well, here is the progress that has been made so far. Steph, these are for you girlie!