Alley Family Fun Days!

Happy Sunday, friends! 

We had a fairly low key week around the Alley household {shocking, I know!} I cannot express how much I needed that week full of movie watching and staying at home with my ball & chain {yes you, sweet Charles!}

I'm not sure what religion each and every one of you are, but as  you probably know. my family and I are Catholic, and this coming week is Holy Week. It's a very sacred week full of tradition and I absolutely love this week. It brings back amazing memories. As much as I love Holy Week, it is a very busy week, especially for those who are joining the Catholic Church, like my husband. So this coming week, we have mass on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday night {when Charles becomes a member of the church..stay tuned, this proud wife will be blogging all about it}. On top of that, we have a Board Meeting for the Riverfront Blues Fest {coming June 20-21..don't miss out!} and Charles has class{Mr. College Graduate coming in December 2014! {Another proud wife moment..} 

As you can see, my next week will be quite the busy one, but I'm looking forward to it! 

Let's rewind to take a look at my not so eventful week from last week!

As a closing prayer in Charles RCIA classes {yes, I'm the crazy wife that tags along for moral support..but hey, he asked me to, and how can I say no to that sweet man?] we say this closing prayer, and Charles and I fell in love with it from the get-go. We now incorporate it into our nightly routine!

Yes, we watched Frozen. No, we don't have children, unless you count the fur babies. This movie was adorable!

Boozing and baking banana bread! 

The puppies always know we are going on a trip when they see momma bust out some of her Vera collection. 

If I'm going to make it through a Friday afternoon 2 hour meeting..essentials are required. 

I just had to have some Apple Pie Moonshine {don't worry..this kind is legal!}

What's an Alley Family Fun Weekend without mimosas all around?! Pre Arkansas Derby drinks with the Alley's!

The better half and I...and then some more. 

2014 Oaklawn Arkansas Derby! 

My mommy in law && the Brother In Law's GF, Jen! 

Charles turned his car into a "limo" by putting down the middle seats and him and his dad rode in style on the way to the races! 

Before we got to the racetrack, a few of us stopped into The Savory Pantry in Hot Springs to get some delicious dips, marinades, & spreads. Charles and I found THE most DIVINE blue cheese herb mustard dip that we purchased, and I don't even like Blue Cheese!..if you're in Hot Springs, you had better go check it out! 

The races were PACKED, so we were very blessed to have box seats so that we could sit down and relax! I mistakenly wore wedge heels...my feet were not impressed. The box was my safe haven. 

Run ponies, Run!

When we got home on Sunday, I ran to the grocery store to stock up on some foods for this week. I pack our lunches every day, and since we are going to have quite a busy week, I figured I better do a lot of food prep today. We made it home from the lake at a reasonable hour, so I had ample time to prep food for lunches and even some dinners for this week! It only took about an hour to do, and it was so worth my while!

Charles was begging for his favorite after lake recovery food, so lo and behold, I went to Pho Hoang to get his favorite meal. I got myself some Chicken fried rice and barely made a dent in it, so I packed it up for Charles to take in his lunch tomorrow. He loves leftovers! 

Since Holy Week is such a precious time in my family, I thought I would share a little story with you that I found rummaging around the internet one day. We all need little reminders that God is always with us..

"One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each, I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was only one. 

During the lowest times of my life I could see only one set of footprints, so I said, "Lord, you promised me that you would walk with me always. Why, when I have needed you most, would you leave me? 

The Lord replies, "My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you" 

We all go through hard times. We lose friendships. We grow apart with people. We lose jobs. We fight with our loved ones. We feel sorry for ourselves, and think that our problems are the worst out there. But they aren't worse than others. And you have the power to control the negativity in your life and turn in into positivity. 

We also don't know the struggle of others, and we need to realize that there is power in forgiveness. Never make someone be too afraid to reach out to you for a helping hand, or to rejoin your life. Acknowledge their strength. 

"Once you become consciously aware of just how powerful your thoughts are, you will realize everything in your life is exactly how YOU allow it to be" 

Sunday, Monday, Happy days..

Hello, blog friends! I hope you are all enjoying a relaxing and cozy Sunday afternoon. Mother nature in my neck of the woods decided to play a prank and make it an extremely chilly April day, for which I was not exactly thankful...

It was another one of those busy weeks in our life, but a fun one! We were blessed with quite a few fun nights and a lot of time to spend together. Lucky for you, this means a lengthy photo section! Your lucky day! Let's get to it. 

Monday night was a dinner with my coworkers at Landry's downtown. We had a blast, and I got to introduce Charles to a few new people he hadn't gotten to meet yet. 

Nothing better than a glass of wine, a hot grill, and sunshine..

So excited that we got to mow the yard for the first time {and by we, I mean Charles...} I have a strong love of the smell of freshly mowed grass, especially since I haven't smelled it in so long! 

I discovered these Odwalla bars at the store the other day. I haven't been getting enough protein in my diet, especially after a workout. These are a delicious way to get your protein in. 

An absolutely amazing couple overheard that we were newlyweds and had the staff bring us these as a gift to bless our marriage. So sweet! We felt so loved. 

Even Cholla had to look out on the beautiful Saturday we had!

We took advantage of the beautiful day and sat on an enclosed patio drinking mojitos! Can't beat it!

We also took a short trip to the Fort Smith amphitheater to watch the pretty, albeit a bit cloudy, sunset! If you haven't gotten a chance to go, I highly suggest going!

It was a big day for Charles today, so I surprised him with breakfast in bed!

Getting ready to be blessed and welcomed into the Catholic Church. Two more weeks until he becomes Catholic!

All in all, we had a beautiful week and weekend. I hope you've enjoyed the same!

Next weekend, we will be fortunate enough to go to Derby day and spent another lake weekend with the family. I can't wait to share all of our adventures with you!

"Everyone wants some magical solution for their problems, and everyone refuses to believe in magic"

There's snow way to make it stop

Happy Sunday, sweet friends!

It's thundering here! Thunder means thunderstorms, which means spring has sprung...right? 

Wrong. It's "thunder sleeting" here in good ole Arkansas. In the words of Charlie Brown...good grief. I am beyond irritated with this snow/sleet/mess. I probably wouldn't be bothered so much by it if my work didn't have such a strict inclement weather policy, but since we do, bah humbug. 

Moving on...it was another busy week in the life of the Alley family, but I can't complain. I not only managed to keep the house extremely clean all week {it called for laundry right when I got home, loading the dishwasher each night, making the bed and cleaning the counters each morning...phew}, but I also managed to get quite a bit of work done at the office. Score! I was rewarded by a nice weekend at the lake with my love...which was cut short by this weather..but I won't even go there. 

Charles and I returned from the lake this morning at around noon, and since then, I've managed to cook lunch, unpack everything, do a load of laundry AND a load of dishes, take a nice long bubble bath, slather on a face mask, make a steamy cup of coffee and light a fire, and start blogging! That's a successful Sunday right there, I tell ya. Charles and the lazy puppies have been ever so cutely {it's a word....right?} taking a nap. Oh, and Disney movies are playing on ABC Family all afternoon. I'm set for the night..just waiting to get a glass of wine here in a bit. 

Photo journal!

Bubbles on Bubbles

Only a few minutes in...

My go to "after bath" products 

Part of the note that Charles wrote me on our wedding day. It's nice to be reminded how much they care!

Late night lake night

Bonfire, anyone?!

If you haven't tried Babylips, you MUST go out and get some, like, yesterday. They're easily my favorite. I need more..don't tell Charles. 

Cholla adores going to the lake...this was taken when we got into the car and told her she was going to the lake on Friday. She was the happiest pup you ever did see.

This Wednesday is the start of Lent, or Ash Wednesday. I hope you all know what you are giving up for lent if you're Catholic! And don't forget to go to church! Lent is one of the most beautiful and solemn times in the Catholic Church. I absolutely love the traditions of Lent. No meat on Fridays may be a huge sacrifice for some, which is what it is meant to do, but for Charles and I, no meat Fridays is easy as pie. I. Love. Fish! I hope you all take this time as a time of reflection and prayer. 

"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return"