My Momma & Daddy!

August 3, 2012 ~ One of my favorite places in the whole world is home. When I say "home" I mean like momma and daddy's home. They worked very hard to build this house and on my 3rd birthday we moved in! Yep a whole 36 years ago and I still love coming back! Not much has changed here except daddy built momma a big front porch which is something she always wanted. I think when you live in the country is almost a requirement! I love coming down the road and seeing them sitting out on the porch watching the cars go by and just spending time together.... seems after almost 41 years these little love birds are just starting to have some fun!

Thank you mom and dad for loving me and Ashley unconditionally. I know it was rough through the years but now that I am older (and a little wiser) I owe you so much! Although we didn't have much money you gave us one thing that money can't buy.... and that's love. You made sure we had a roof over our head, clothes to wear and home cooked meals on the table. As they near retirement together (they are both retiring on Feb 23, 2013 - dad's birthday) I imagine we will be able to really enjoy family time! Thank you for all you've done for us girls... you did good!

Goodby 35 and Hello 36!

August 2, 2012 ~ Happy Birthday to me! I had an amazing birthday today because of all the wonderful, kind and caring people I have in my life! Getting older doesn't scare me. (loosing people that mean a lot to me is what scares me) I truly feel like I'm in my 20's although I may look like I am in my late 30's, which I am totally ok with! In my older age I am comfortable with who I am and really enjoy my life! I have an amazing husband who loves me to the moon and back and we really have a lot of fun together. I have an amazing mom and dad who love me unconditionally and have taught me values and a great work ethic. I have an amazing sister, brother-in-law and nephew who are my world! Getting older has allowed us to become very close and I love it! I have family and friends who are my rock. They love me for who I am and I appreciate each one of them in my life. Thank you!

So I thought this getting older stuff was pretty easy until this morning.... I had not one, not two but three senior moments before 9:00 am! Senior moment # 1: As I am typing "Thank you" to each person that took time to wish me Happy Birthday on Facebook, I accidentally post "Happy Birthday Catherine Atkins" on Cathy's wall.... what the heck?!? Seriously Michele, it's not her birthday it's your birthday! What a dingbat! Senior moment # 2: At the Chiroprators office I am filling out a form and it says today's date. So I put 8-2-1976. Hello... it's not 1976! So I cross it out and put "2011".... seriously Michele.... It's not 2011 you dingbat... it's 2012! Oh Lord! Senior moment # 3: This is my favorite.... So for the last 2 weeks I have been driving our Jeep Wrangler (6-speed) and today I took my white car (automatic)... As I was pulling out of the parking spot at the Chiropratic office I gave my car gas and just before I rounded the corner to stop and get on the outer road of I-70 I slam the break with my left foot and just about throw myself through the windshield! My first thought... what did I hit or who hit me! Then I look down and realize my left foot is parked on the brake! I laughed so hard for the next 15 minutes.... it seriously was priceless and my face said it all I'm sure! I went to see my best friend, Misty Lynn and when I walked through her door the daycare kids all started singing me Happy Birthday! Loved it!

So my mom had to take her car to Rick Ball in Boonville, MO to have warranty work done on it. I picked her up and we went to 87 Dinner for lunch! (Figured I should spend a little quality time with the woman that gave birth to me ya know) and we had an awesome lunch!

I love this woman.... not because she's my mom but because she is truly amazing!

We decided to go to New Franklin, MO to see Ashley Simpson! Mom hasn't been up to her store, My Favorite Things for awhile so we went to visit! Ashley had stepped out for a few minutes and we walked over to the train  to check it out. Then it started to sprinkle so we headed over to sit on the porch of the store.

Mom bought me a blackberry cobbler (my favorite) from Ashley! What a nice surprise! We then headed up to the Peach Tree Farm to get some fresh peaches. They were out of peaches (another variety would be ready next week) so we got nectarines! They are so good! I took momma back to her car and headed to a ribbon cutting while she went to pick up Jaxon from daycare!

I got to spend some time with this little turkey today! He's so funny and I am trying to get him to say "Aunt Shell" although it comes out as "Shell". He throws a fit just like his Aunt Shell like when he's hungrey or when he wants something and you won't give it to him! Love that little guy!

My daddy surprised me with roses and a card today! He has never done this before and it was so sweet of him to think of me for my birthday.... I really love him in his older age..... so thoughtful!

Then tonight I got to spend some time with my awesome brother-in-law, Greg, my sister, nephew, momma and Brandon having dinner at Cracker Barrel! Ashley got me some Sugar Loft cupcakes for my birthday (which are my all time favorite)! Between the text messages, songs, videos, private messages, e-mails, phone calls and cards I can honestly say it was a great day! I am so lucky to have great people in my life that make me happy! Thank you all so much!

"My Favorite Things"

August 1, 2012 ~ Ashley Simpson is the owner of a great little shop in New Franklin, MO called "My Favorite Things"! She opened her store in November 2011 and had her sister, Sara Evans (the country music artist) do a book signing to kick things off! It's hard to believe in just a few months she will be open a year! I took my mom up to see her store and started visiting with Ashley and instantly we started talking weekly. I got hooked on their blackberry cobbler and was ordering one a week! I always enjoyed our little chats about life, family, business and other ideas for her store! She is a super sweet woman who is talented, caring and funny! She had a dream of  being a business owner and has done an amazing job! I am very proud of anyone that is able to follow their dreams and turn them into a reality!

Ashley's store is a consignment shop and most all of the things in it are made by local people/artists. She is constantly trying to move things around to highlight or showcase the items so that each time you come into the store you find something new! I have several things at her store and 100% of the items I sell goes back to charities. She has things from candles, yummy mixes for dips/breads, cards, blankets, jewelry, paintings, books, clothing and much more. She is trying to get more furniture in that has been painted on or re-purposed but as fast as she gets them in they sell! (That's a great problem to have!)

She also has the best cobblers and as I said earlier the blackberry is my favorite! They are homemade and taste so good! Well worth the drive to good ol' New Franklin, MO! Today she had a "Million Dollar" pie that I had to have a piece of and was so good! It had pineapple, mandarin oranges, sweetened condensed milk and some other stuff on a graham cracker crust.... Oh my.... yummy goodness! Perfect for a summertime dessert!

Ash has 3 adorable kiddos.... Gretchen, Ruby and Iris. They are usually at the store when I go and today Miss Iris made this for me! Those kids are so cute and the top item on their list of things to do for the day..... go swimming! They are some silly little girls!

So make time to go up to New Franklin, MO and stop by and see Ashley (Wednesday - Saturday), like her on the business Facebook page (My Favorite Things) and give her a day notice on ordering a cobbler by calling or e-mailing her at 660 848 9757 or mfthomestore@gmail.com  You won't be disappointed!

Girl Time!

July 31, 2012 ~ This is my good friend Shelly DeVore.... I love spending time with her as I feel that we were separated at birth somehow. (We both share the same "real" name of Michele with one "L", we can just about finish each others sentence, we are always up to no good... and have fun at it, etc.)

So today she treated me to a little "girl time" and we got our nails done! I needed to get mine done in a bad way (last place didn't do so good) and she was getting ready to go on a trip to Canada! She made an appointment for us and we had the staff laughing at our craziness! It was so much fun getting to spend time with her and then she even bought my lunch AND a Baskin Robbins milkshake.... LUCKY GIRL AM I!

Then tonight we meet up at a Chamber of Commerce ROI (Return on Investment) Mixer. I was one of the prizes (Spry-ize) along with Anne Williams for a lunch date and who do you think won??? Rusty Strodtman and Shelly DeVore! Awesome!!! So the idea for this little Spry-ize and Anne Williams is to take Rusty and Shelly out to eat and learn a little more about them and them about us! So we thought it would be awesome to coordinate with the other winners (6 of us were the "prize" and 6 winners) to all go out together so we have even better conversation! Brilliant! You know me.... I don't ever shut up long enough to let anyone else talk but I promise to be on my best-est behavior..... and find something new about each person!  Now that's gonna be a miracle unless I duct tape my mouth shut....... Ha!

2011-2012 Ambassador Chair Photo Book

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Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.

July 31, 2012 ~ I added the last pictures to my Ambassador Chair Book and ordered it! The 2011-2012 year was truly amazing and I am so proud of not only our Chamber for having such a vibrant organization but proud of all of the Chamber Ambassadors! They volunteer so much time and energy to making the ribbon cuttings in Columbia, MO so successful. Without each of the Ambassadors we wouldn't be possible. If you want to see my book click up above and see how much fun we had over the past year! Enjoy!

"You are my sunshine"

July 30, 2012 ~ I had an awesome lunch with Heather Stewart and her adorable little blonde girls today! I love my friends and I love when my friends make me something from the heart rather than buying some random gift. Heather made the "You are my sunshine" (which is now hanging on my wall next to my desk so I can see it everyday) and her daughter Megan made me the baseball / Cardinals tile! Yep she hand-painted it just for me! I love it! Of course you all know I love my St. Louis Cardinals and giving me a David Freese bobble-head was like totally awesome but honestly I just enjoy spending time with my people! Friendships are golden to me and this friendship is special! Thank you for my birthday gifts but most of all thank you for just being you! Love you Stewart girls! :)

Tiger Ambassadors ~ Welcome to the SEC!

July 27, 2012 ~ Can you believe we are officially 43 days away from our very first SEC home game for the Missouri Tigers? Ahhhh.... MIZ-SEC! I am very much a Missouri Tigers fan and I was asked many months ago by Greg Steinhoff to spearhead a group similar to the Ambassadors for Tiger Town. I am so passionate about my Chamber Ambassadors that I quickly said yes! Not even thinking about how much work this would be to create something from the ground up but ya know.... I like a good challenge! I put together a great core team and together we have started putting the piece together to make this division of the Tiger Town a reality! We are very lucky to have such dedicated people to help pull this event together. We really want to get excited about this new opportunity and showcase what Columbia, MO has to offer.... from the University of Missouri campus to our thriving downtown district to all the businesses in our community. (Just remember.... all those people that are traveling from outside our town will be spending money at our shops, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, dealerships and more so we've gotta show them what the Missouri Tigers are all about!)

So we recently got our logo (special thanks to Mike Vangel and his awesome team) and working on details for the website ( www.TigerTownMissouri.com ) which will be the most up-to-date information on everything Tiger Town and Tiger Ambassadors. We are hoping to roll this out and start recruiting Ambassadors the first full week of August! It's exciting and nerve-wracking all in one. I want it to be successful and want everything to flow smoothly during the 2 of the 4 SEC home games. So if you come experience Tiger Town on September 8th (Georgia) & October 13th (Alabama) watch for the Tiger Ambassadors! Interested in becoming a Tiger Ambassador.... visit our website or ask me! M-I-Z.....