life as a battle

Something to make you smile....because it's worth it.

2011-11-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

I think this little man is so cute. Take a look

Single Digits

2011-11-14T10:59:00.001-07:00

Only 9 weeks left until the big BIRTH day. {8 weeks and 3 days to be exact, but I'm sure I'm the only one counting} I just love it when I tell people that I only have 9 weeks left and they say, "wow!! That went fast!!" Listen, when you are not the one with sleepless night after sleepless night, I'm sure the time tends to go by fast. But truth be told, I am ready for this baby to get here already. I'm so ready. Ready meaning that I am ready to have him here so that I can hold him, and smell him, and squeeze him, and love him. Ready to not have my ribs kicked and not have reflux, and not get tired walking from one end of the office to the other. I am, however, NOT ready meaning, that his room is not done, we don't have any furniture, and everything from my fun baby shower this weekend has filled the entire room.

Speaking of baby shower. Here are a couple of pictures from the fun event. My mom and sister, Mariel, went all out. It was so fun to have all of my friends and family with us. Some of the family even flew out for the parTAY!

I was totally spoiled, or rather Baby Battle was.

We have been trying to prepare for the big day by going to Baby Class at LDS Hospital. It's amazing the things you never knew about labor and the after labor that people don't talk about. All that goes into the joy of bringing a baby into the world. I now know that if you find out what all goes in {and comes out of} it that no one would ever get pregnant...so that's why these veterans wait to tell you until it's "too late"! I'm pretty scared for that day. But the excitement of meeting my little man some how still over shadows those feelings.

Last Thursday we got to take a tour of LDS. Husbo even got to "test" one of the labor and delivery beds for the class. He did such a good job!

I am sure the next 9 weeks will fly with all of the fun holidays coming up. I love this time of year and it's even more exciting to think that this will be the LAST holiday season that we will be experiencing as a family of 2!!

Hope you have a good week. I'm still hanging with my family, so gotta go.

Not So Baby, Baby Room

2011-09-06T11:23:00.002-06:00

I'm very excited to get started on Little Baby Boy Battle's room! I have enlisted the help of a friend of mine, Melissa from Garden Rows, to help get the feel that I want. Poor Husbo doesn't get much of a say in what goes on in there. I originally wanted this painting of ours hanging on the wall:

But Husbo wants this one:

I THINK I may give in on this, because I have free reign with every other aspect of the room. But we are still "debating".

Here are some other ideas that we have tossed around:

You can also find Melissa's Inspiration Board on her Blog.

I just don't want anything too baby for the baby's room. You will NOT find Winne The Pooh or Thomas the Train hiding in this room. Not that I have any anything against them...but I am not into themes and such.

I hope you guys had a wonderful Labor Day. Ours was spent with the Battle/Bostron clan in Sunny San Diego. The weather was perfect and the company was even better.

From Unreal to Real

2011-08-18T15:33:00.001-06:00

I have I told you lately that I {we} are having a baby?? I think I forgot to tell myself, because until we saw this on Monday, I think I didn't believe it, and it wasn't even close to real.

But now it seems that ever since I saw that cute little profile it's made it more real. And I guess finding out that we are having a BOY {I still don't think I'm ready for another Battle Boy in my life} makes it that much MORE of a reality.

I have now taken to Google and have been getting ideas to decorate the baby's room -- that once was an office that never got finished. I like to think that I purposefully didn't finish it, because deep down inside I just KNEW that it was for something bigger and better. {I love it when I'm right}

I know Baby Boy Battle doesn't come for another 5 months, but I can't help getting started. I say that now, but I just know that soon it will be 2 months until the big day and nothing will have been done. Because let's face it, I still have no energy and somehow fell like I run a marathon EVERYDAY. When in fact, I sit at my desk all day at work and then go home and sit on my couch all night. {I'm anxiously waiting for that nesting thing to kick in}

Speaking of kicking...when does that start?? I know I've seen the baby, and heard the heartbeat, and know the sex, but let's feel some action already. I really just want this to start, especially seeing some kicks on the outside, so that Husbo can share in the fun. I don't think it's fair that he didn't get to throw up with me for 11 weeks, or feel fat and bloated, or feel like he hasn't slept in weeks {when in fact he got 10 hours of sleep the night before} or had to get up in the middle of the night to pee 5 times...you get the point. It would just be nice to feel something in there for once.

I'm sure I'll keep you updated. And apologize for this turning into a pregnancy blog. Because that's what it is going to be for the next 5 months. Because that is the only exciting think going on in my life. But to be honest, that's about the only excitement I can take.

I'm off to find a place to sneak off to at work so that I can take a nap.

Have a happy Thursday.

It's Hard to Blog With Your Head in the Toilet....

2011-07-25T14:21:00.001-06:00

Wow...3 months??? I haven't blogged for THREE MONTHS!!! I don't know where the time goes. Maybe down the toilet with everything that I have eaten these last three months!!?? Who knows.

And now for an announcement:

Ladies and Gents {probably just ladies} if you don't know, Husbo knocked me up, and then THAT has knocked me down. I would love to say that the past three {almost 4} months have been a walk in the park, but then I would be lying. And I don't like to lie...so I will just be 100% honest with you...This pregnancy has been H.A.R.D. I have had the worst morning {read: morning, noon and night} sickness EVER! And if my job would let me sleep all day, and still pay me, I would do it in a heart beat. But I can't seem to find anything in the FMLA guidelines that will let me do that. So my day consists of "waking up" at 6, "working" until 4:30, rushing home to the bathroom {this sickness works like clockwork and doesn't give me a break, much like I think Baby Battle will be}, lying on my couch until Husbo gets home at 9, and then promptly going to bed and starting all over the next day. .

As AWFUL as this all sounds, the thought of having a little baby that I can smooch and squeeze and love and hold and smell all to myself {If Husbo thinks I'm sharing, he's got another thing coming} pretty much makes it all worth it. At least that's what I tell myself over and over and over again as I flush the toilet...over and over and over again!

I am DYING to go shopping, as you could imagine, but I have decided to hold off until we find out the gender. However, my sister Mariel, could not hold off and sent these to me:

This picture does not do them justice, they are so tiny! I can't wait to put Baby Battle in them...and we (or Mariel) decided that grey hearts are gender neutral. I agree!

I also have my eye on this bedding, but I haven't been able to find my credit card since I first saw it. It might have ran away when it saw the price, which I am not posting, but that's just a guess.

Okay, I am pretty sure that's all I can write for today. I need a nap. I will TRY not to stay away so long next time.

My Future Kids May Hate Me One Day

2011-04-06T11:23:00.000-06:00

My dad sent me this video today and you know how I like to share {and LOVE kids}. Is it bad to want to ship my future kids to Korea?? Am I already a bad mom for even thinking that? Don't call future CPS on me...I'm only kidding.

All joking aside, these kids are awesome...

Also, the video took a while to upload. Be patient...it's worth it.

Currently Obsessing Over...

2011-03-30T11:24:00.002-06:00

This bedding from Dwell Studios. I saw it yesterday when I was visiting Aubs and the babes over at the Christensen Household. The Dwell catalog was just screaming at me from the kitchen counter and then I saw it again on this blog and this blog. It's a sign. I think I need it for the guest bedroom. Or maybe just for the master! If any one is willing to donate to the cause you can send a check {or cash, I ain't picky} to 1513 South 1600 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105. Let's throw in that headboard while we're at it.

Wednesdays are great...half way there. Hope you have a good one.

A.DOR.A.BLE

2011-03-28T17:55:00.001-06:00

I only hope that my kid will be this awesome and try this hard. Loving this. And just so that I am not a jerk {and you all know that when I steal, I give credit} I saw this on THIS blog.

I Want...

2011-03-22T10:28:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I feel like Veruca Salt when I am online shopping, and want everything and if I don't get it I may throw a tantrum. Right now is one of those times...I WANT IT ALL!!! Thanks a lot Cardigan.

Note to Husbo: This is my favorite!

I wonder....

2011-03-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

Husbo and I moved into our house last June, and I am still not even close to finishing our office. It's really not THAT big of a deal, because we rarely ever go in there, we spend most of our time in our bedroom {oh, la, la} or in the living room, so there isn't a real rush...OBVIOUSLY! Anyhoo... I was browsing my normal daily reads and came across a link on this blog. It brought me here:

This site will sell everything in this picture for a FAIRLY reasonable price {And I think it's a new block of things every month}

and all those items would look AWESOME in our office... The questions is....Could I find similar items for less?? And if so...where would/should I start looking????

Ready?? Go.....

My Presidents Day Activity

2011-02-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

This post has nothing to do with President's Day.

Ask me how long I spent playing with that orange tab, swinging it back and forth. On second thought, don't ask me!

I Wish I Was Part of a Circus

2011-02-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

How cool is this? I would love to see it in person.

Hey, Hey, It's the Battles

2011-02-11T13:23:00.001-07:00

Check out The Battles on one of my favorite blogs!!!

Today's Letters: {Fist Pump Friday!}

Love me some fist pumps and leg kicks!!!!!

Happy Friday-ing, Peeps!!!!

Let's Just Finish This ALREADY!!!!

2011-02-05T07:39:00.001-07:00

Alright...so that I can move on with my life {and you can move on with yours} I am just going to combine the last 6 post of the 30 day challenge here. So here it goes:

Day 24-Something you've learned

I've learned that I have a hard time following through with a plan {i.e. this 30 day challenge}

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Lady Gaga - Poker Face {Poker? I just met her...That was for you Nicole B.}

Damien Rice - The Professor

Adele - Hometown Glory

Louis Armstrong - Mack The Knife

Michael Buble - You'll Never Know

Kings of Leon - Trani

Damien Rice - 9 Crimes

Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto - O Grande Amor

Lady Gaga -- Eh, Eh

Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Day 26-Picture of your family

I did post pictures of my family on this day of the challenge, but here is another picture of them all, just in case you forgot what they looked like.

That's most of them. :)

Day 27-Pets

Name: Roxy {aka: Rox, Babe, Boo, Poops}

Occupation: menace

Likes: Me, Husbo, m&m's {no, I don't feed my dog m&m's, she just likes to try and sneak them}, sleeping, eating, sleeping, eating, and snuggling.

Dislikes: The Vet, The Groomers, anywhere that isn't with me and Husbo.

Favorite Thing About Her:

She doesn't talk back and she loves me no matter what.

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Nothing stresses me out more than when there is a snow storm and Husbo is working up at HAPA and has to make the drive down the canyon. It might be because of this story from 4 years ago on that exact canyon.

Day 29- Wishes

I've heard that if you share your wish, it won't come true, so I'm going to keep most of them to myself, but one of my wishes is to be on a show like "How I Met Your Mother." No, I'm not an actor, and no I've never done it, not even once. But how cool would that be?

AND FINALLY:

Day 30-a picture

Two weeks ago my Ita {grandma} passed away. I was lucky enough to go and visit her about a week or so before she passed and this was one of the last moments we spent together. I love her and miss her everyday.

And so that we don't end on such a sad note, here is a little video to make you smile:

I laughed so hard my sides hurt.

Have a fun and safe weekend.

Pardon My Interruption

2011-01-24T15:49:00.003-07:00

I just needed to share this.

I'm having a hard day, but this made me smile!

DOUBLE DREAM HANDS!!!!

Day 23- Favorite Vacation

2011-01-24T09:42:00.004-07:00

About a year and a half ago, Husbo and I made a trip to Mexico. This trip was my favorite for a couple different reasons.

1) it was the first trip that Husbo and I had taken out of the country and the first real "vacation" that we took together. We had been to California a couple of times, but that was usually for a weekend trip and to visit family. This was a trip we took for us and only us. :)

2) this was the trip that we got ENGAGED!!! So it was truly memorable and such a fun time.

Husbo and I were there for about a week. We relaxed, we swam, we rode wave runners, we had a BLAST!!!

After we had been there by ourselves for a couple of days, my parents, aunt, uncle, cousin and my cousin's then boyfriend (now fiance) joined in on the fun! It made the trip that much more special, because we got to celebrate with family!

Husbo and I also took a trip to Cozumel and visited with an old friend from college that I hadn't seen in 5 years.

We had such a great time!

Hope you have a fantastic Monday.

XOXO,

Day 22 -- Your Favorite City

2011-01-21T10:09:00.001-07:00

I think my favorite city would have to be San Antonio. {Keep in mind, I have not spent much time out of The States, so I am just going off of what I know ;)} San Antonio is like a second home to me. My favorite things about SA --

Most of my Mom's side of the family lives there

I went to college there

The people are friendly

The Riverwalk

NIOSA

No Snow

The humidity does WONDERS for my skin

Austin is only a 2 hour drive away

Schlitterbahn {Which technically is in New Braunfels, but it's a perk}

Taco Cabana

Fox and Hound

Moon Mippy

I just love it. I haven't been in about 4 years...I'm so ready for a visit. Luckily, my best cousin Nicole is getting married this year and the wedding is in SA-town! Love it!

Have a Happy Friday!

Day 21: A Picture of Yourself

2011-01-19T13:45:00.002-07:00

Here is one of my FAVORITE pictures from our wedding last year! Captures the moment perfectly!

It's About Time

2011-01-19T13:41:00.001-07:00

This post will be boring. But I HAVE to get this damn 30 day challenge {read:90 day challenge} done. Day 20 is nicknames.

I have one nickname given to me by this lady -- don't ask what it means, cause I don't think we even know...

Dik A Lik 7 {Dik for short}

So that's it.

Pretty exciting, I know.

Day 19 - Something You Miss

2010-12-23T14:46:00.001-07:00

Quick note about yesterday's post. This also should have included that I regret saying "I would continue to love my husband, even on Football Sundays." These words did come out of my mouth in front of 200 people, however; I think it was the almond champagne that I drank before the ceremony. Damn fizzy drink...

Now let's get busy with Day 19.

It's this time of year that makes me the happiest. I LOVE THE HOLIDAY SEASON. When everyone else is complaining about the Christmas music in the department stores, I walking around humming and singing out loud. I love that stuff. I've been known to turn it on when I'm in a bad mood...it lifts me right up...who cares that it's May.

The Holidays have always been a time when my family drops what they're doing and comes to UT to love each other and spend some good quality time together. But as the years pass and we grow older, it becomes a little harder to meet up. Boarding the dogs and buying plane tickets gets too expensive, jobs get in the way, whatever it may be, it just doesn't happen like it used to. So that's what I miss. I miss waking up with my ENTIRE family on Christmas morning, making cookies with my mom, and watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Hope your Holidays are spent with your family and that you all have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Short and Sweet

2010-12-22T19:02:00.001-07:00

Day 18 -- Something You Regret

Letting Husbo do this to our living room to "utilize" the NFL Ticket

Yes, that is two TVs

Day 17 -- Something You Are Looking Forward To

2010-12-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Football Sunday,

Remember when I referenced you here?? And talked about how much I didn't mind you, because I got to lay around and do nothing all day long. Well, I'm a little older now, and I have way more responsibilities. {Did I tell you that I married that guy Stan?} I have laundry to do and a house to clean and a Husbo to take care of. You're getting in the way of my progress. So if you could, so kindly, take a hike...that would be great.

One Love,

Erika

P.S. I miss Husbo...please give him back.

What Happens When Life Gets in the Way

2010-12-19T10:27:00.003-07:00

Hello all you peeps out there. No I did not get kidnapped. Thank you to those who noticed that I had been missing...Mariel. It's December. I've been Christmas shopping and Christmas cookie making and Christmas partying. I've been busy. The Blog has taken a back seat. But I'm here now, and that's what matters.

Day...Oh geez, I forgot where we were....OH YEAH...Day 16 -- Your Dream Home

I imagine that my dream home would look something like this....

I mean, imagine how pretty it would be Christmas morning....wait you don't have to!!! Here it is...

AMAZING, right??? And Yes, it is the house from "Marley and Me". I'm obsessed with it. The insides would look a little like this:

Let's start with the kitchen. It has to be SUPER functional. As you all know, Husbo is a chef and our current kitchen only has enough counter space to make a PB&J. So here is my dream kitchen:

The sink would look like this, but minus that ugly light wood.

The dishwasher and fridge would be the color of the cabinets. It would be a dream.

Next up, the dining room. It would have the same feel as the kitchen, and it would definitely have this dining table.

Living Room:

But again, the wood needs to mimic the kitchen and dining table. And I think that the fireplace should have the same stone as the kitchen stone area. But love how this place is decorated.

Bedroom:

And the baby' room...no we aren't pregnant, but I have to plan....

Closet:

And lastly, the bathroom. I don't care what it looks like, as long as it has one of these and enough counter space for the both of us.

And there you have it. Husbo better start raking in the big bucks, this house isn't gonna pay for itself. :)

Happy Sunday. Only 6 more days until Christmas. Is your shopping done?

Day 15 -- A Bible Verse

2010-12-04T07:40:00.001-07:00

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope."

I wouldn't say that I wasn't a religious person, but I haven't been to church in a while. I wear a cross around my neck and have God in my heart. And no, I didn't just know this verse at the top of my head, but this verse helps me realize that when times are tough and I think that life is hard, that it will only get better. The Lord is watching out for me.....

Day 14 -- A Picture You Love

2010-12-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is one of my most favorite family photos and one of my most favorite Thanksgivings. I think this was the first year that HUSBO and I were dating. {He's not in the picture cause we weren't sure about him yet...the Maymi club is pretty exclusive} I think this was 2007. There is another one, where Husbo jumped in the background, but I couldn't find it. It's pretty funny and the first photo I thought of, but again, I cannot find it. :(

Happy First Day of December!!! 24 days 'til Christmas.

Day 13 -- GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!

2010-11-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

I have ALWAYS been one to make goals for myself. I have NEVER been one to follow through. I don't make resolutions because I don't want to be disappointed in myself when it's mid May and I haven't made it to the gym once. So I just don't do it. But for the sake of the blog, I will make a list of short term goals for the month of December.

Get the Battle Home decorated for the upcoming holiday. {Tree is up and waiting to be decorated!!!}
Buy all Christmas gifts before December 24th.
Finish book number one on A&E's book list. {We're reading A Christmas Carol to help us get into the Christmas spirit}
Make a Christmas wreath
Try no to cry on the 26th when the Maymi clan jet sets to Hawaii while Husbo and I freeze our bottoms off in the blistering cold.
~~Change up my hair~~ {Oh yeah, I already did that}

BEFORE:

AFTER:

the stache is from Shirelle's birthday bash,
it is not part of the new look!

So that's about all I can commit to. Anything more and it won't get done. Ha. Hope all you Utah people are enjoy the PRETTY snow. Safe driving and Happy Monday.

Day 12 -- What You Believe

2010-11-23T08:00:00.010-07:00

I BELIEVE

In a thing called love
In the power of a nap
In dancing to your own beat
In Santa Clause and his good friends The Easter Bunny and The Tooth Fairy
In God
In Retail Therapy
That money CAN buy happiness -- over, and over, and over again...just check out my closet. ;). That being said...
Money only buys happiness temporarily.
That if everyone "loved thy neighbor" that all the worlds problems would be solved {almost all of them}
In a good cry
That everyone should have a dog. After all they are a woMAN's best friend.
One day I will be famous
A little bit of make-up goes a long way
Even though you don't want to go to the gym, you always feel better after you've grunted and sweated your heart out.
In heels, the higher the better
In family
In marriage
NOTHING makes me feel better than a long bath, a good smut mag, and down time with Husbo and Roxy
In GOOD friends
In the Golden Rule
That life is constantly changing and that CHANGE IS A GOOD THING.

TV is for Junkies {Day 11 -- Favorite TV shows}

2010-11-22T10:18:00.002-07:00

Hi, My name is Erika, and I'm a TV Junkie. I love TV a lot. And I'm not ashamed of it. I especially love junk TV. There's something about coming home after a long day, throwing on my PJ's and curling up on the couch to watch my shows. Don't get me wrong, I love a good book, but TV is so visually stimulating. I also love to see all the clothes and hair and make-up. In fact, I think that those three things are 75% of the allure {cause let's be honest, I'm not watching 90210 for the story line}

I would go through my weekly line up, but I am embarrassed about how long the list would be. So I'll give you a Top Five

Okay, here we go

My number one favorite show these days is:

If you haven't seen this show yet, you are surely missing out!! It is BEYOND funny. And BONUS, Husbo likes it too. It's one of the only shows that he will watch with me. {If you knew all the shows I watched, you would know why}

Number 2:

The Maymis are a VERY musical family. So it's only natural that I would like a show centered around music. Plus Sue Sylvester is one of the funniest characters on TV. LOVE IT!

Number 3:

This show has Lauren Graham in it and I just adore her. She's quirky and I love me some quirky. It also has Dax Shepard in it, which at first was really weird, but he's actually pretty good.

Number 4:

Okay, I have to admit that this one is a little embarrassing, but I can't help myself. EYE CANDY, EYE CANDY, EYE CANDY, EYE CANDY.

Number 5:

It's a tie for number 5. I like Grey's for the content, but 90210 for the clothes, hair, make-up reason.

Happy TV watching. Have a good Monday, All!

Day Ten -- Something You're Afraid Of

2010-11-21T09:14:00.001-07:00

It's time for a list:

SPIDERS

They're creepy, crawly and they sneak up on you

SNAKES

Please see SPIDERS

HEIGHTS

This one is tricky, because I LOVE roller coasters. But, if we were standing on a rooftop and I went to look over the ledge, forget it...I'll lose it.

THE DARK

Doesn't everything seems scarier in the dark? Shadows are stupid and play tricks on your mind.

BEING ALONE IN THE DARK

This is worse than just the dark because then you start hearing noises and then you start thinking "am I really alone?" CREEPY!!!

DROWNING

I mean...really???

RAISING CHILDREN

To clarify, I am not scared that I couldn't raise children, it's just to raise them now. Kids these days scare me, they know too much too soon and act on too much too soon

GETTING A NEW JOB

This one is about having to start over. Who wants to do that? It's like going to a new school half way into the school year. UGH

WAR

Don't think I have to explain this one

DRIVING IN THE SNOW

Okay, I'm pretty calm when I drive in the snow. But when you're a HUGE semi and you're passing me going 60 in a snow storm, that's scary. Or when you're driving 5 mph in the middle lane and you have your hazards on...that scares me. Please drive safely, not stupid.

SCARY MOVIES

I think scary movies are the biggest waste of money, EVER!! Making them and going to them. I hate being scared, I hate having nightmares because I can't get the scary movie out of my head. It's just not right. There is something messed up about people who like scary movies.

HAUNTED HOUSES

This is the perfect place to stage a murder. You could dress up like a zombie and kill someone, and people wouldn't even think twice. They would think it's just part of the show. I'm not putting myself in that kind of danger...NO THANK YOU!!!

THE FIRST 48

This happens to be Husbo's favorite TV show. It's about the first 48 hours after a murder. I guess that the best chance you have of solving a murder is in the first 48 hours. This scares me because there are SO many episodes and SO many different murder cases that they show, and SO many that they don't solve...where is that murderer???? Looking for a Haunted House, I bet.

KILLERS

This one scares me the most when I am walking to my car from work and it's dark out. Or when I would go on a long run by myself. {maybe that's why I stopped running??}

GHOSTS

I mean....

THE ECONOMY

self explanatory

DEATH

I can lay in bed and think about dying and automatically want to crawl back into my parents bed like I was 6 years old again. No one REALLY knows what it's like to die. Except those ghosts, and I am not about to try and find one of those and ask what it's like. And let's face it, even with all of these fears, life is pretty great!!

I'm A Blogging Slacker

2010-11-19T09:21:00.005-07:00

Motivation to do anything is at an all time low. I blame it on the cold weather. I know you all have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for a new post. So here you go:

Day Nine -- Picture of Your Friends

Of course I can't just give you one picture. I have a lot of people that I call friends. I may not see all of them on a regular basis, but that doesn't make them any less important to me. I find that as I grow older I meet people everywhere. And with the invention of facebook, I am able to keep in touch with all of them. :)

So here is an array of pictures of my friends

Brianna, ME, Erinn, Sam, Ciara, Tangee

Dik {Somer} and ME

Jennifer and ME

Chris and ME

ME and Christine

ME and Zach

ME, CY, and Husbo

Mel, ME, Kate, Kaitlin, Brittany

Adam, Matt, Husbo, Chris, Mark, Mikey, Curt, Jaime, Higga, Dug

Andrea, Erin, Beth

Mikey and ME

ME and Carly

Aubrey and ME

ME and Nicole

Mikey, Mark, Husbo, Todd, Chris, and Dug

So there they are. And if I didn't get a picture up here with you, and you know we are friends, then it just means that I didn't have a picture of you. Which means that we haven't hung out in a while. Which means that we better get on that STAT. Call me.... :)

It's Friday again!! What are you doing with your friends this weekend????

I ♥ Overnight Shipping

2010-11-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

Thank you AT&T for pulling through and hooking it up overnight. No more waiting....

Day Eight -- A Place You Have Traveled To

In April/May of 2008 I took a trip with two lovely ladies, Erinn and Tangee, to the Land Down Under. It was such a fun time. The weather was not as warm as we wanted {record lows for that time of year} but it was still BEAUTIFUL! Tangee hooked it up at a hotel named Ravisi's and it happened to be right on the beach {AMAZING}. What sucks about waking up, walking to your window and seeing the Ocean??? Nothing. I wish I could wake up that way EVERY morning. But we live in UT, and right now all I wake up to is a cold floor and gloomy clouds. :( So depressing.

The view from our hotel window

We drank, we ate, we sang, we danced, and then we drank again. I didn't think we would survive after 14 straight days of drinking and staying up until 4 and 5 in the morning, but we did it, and we did it with grace and class. Well, most of the time we did. But I don't think it's my place to share those stories. What happens in OZ, stays in OZ.

This guy lives on the side of the rocks. What a place to live, eh?

Erinn Flipping for ANZAC Day*

Although the scenery was AWESOME and the parties were fun, my favorite part about the trip was getting to know my lovely ladies even better than before.

Tangee's Best impression of a Kangaroo

Now Tangee LIVES in Australia {lucky bitch} and Erinn and I are itching to go visit. If you're reading this, GAVIN, get going with that marriage thing....we need a reason to visit.

At the Fish Market, YUM!

I just love their money

I'm trying to get Husbo to move there and open a sushi place, but I don't think he's that into it. He's already sad that his family is "so far away" in San Diego and that's only an hour and a half plane ride. Oh well.

Hope your weekend is super fly!

*Click HERE to learn all about ANZAC DAY

Thank you FB

2010-11-12T12:11:00.001-07:00

It's so hard to stay away.

I stole a couple videos and a picture from Facebook. These videos are from two years ago when Mariel and I went to Trapeze School. That's right, I said it, TRAPEZE SCHOOL!!!!

Here is Mariel:

And then the main event {or just me}:

And I was able to steal this picture from facebook:

P.S. I'm really bored at work. Sorry that YOU suffer because of it.

No Internet at Home = No Pictures for the Blog

2010-11-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

I accidentally kicked the laptop off of the couch the other day, damaging our Internet thingy. So I currently don't have access to the Internet at my home. Which means that I can't post pictures from my home computer to the blog, which means that I have to take a break, because what is blog without pictures? I'll be back in 5-7 business days, when the new thingy gets to me.

And just so you guys are all in the know, this is the second thingy we had to get because of it being dropped on the ground, and they have now dropped us from the insurance for it. I didn't even think that was possible. So here's hoping we don't drop it for another year. {That's how long we have to wait until they will insure us again} It sucks being a high liability.

LESSON LEARNED

Don't leave the laptop on the couch when you take a nap.

Hope you guys have a great and fun filled weekend.

Love, not drugs,

-e

Day Seven {Favorite Movies}

2010-11-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

It has started snowing here in the great state of Utah. So that means that winter is officially here. Love it or hate it, it's here to stay. For someone who doesn't appreciate the snow as much as others, there is very limited things that I can do. {Maybe one day I will like frost bitten fingers, runny noses and shivers racing through my entire body -- even though I have 5 layers of clothes on....but today is not that day}

One of the things that I do love to do in the winter time is curl up in front of my TV and throw on a good movie, while drinking hot chocolate, dreaming of a warm fire. {We have a fire place, but it's covered up because the landlord does not want a higher liability...I think it's just plain rude}* I like a lot of movies, but there are a few that I can watch over and over and over again and not tire of. Here are a few of my favorites.

There are so many more. If you want to find out what else there is, go ahead and come on over. The hot chocolate is waiting for you.

*if you are Harrison and you are reading this...I'm only kidding...sort of.

Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Program...

2010-11-05T14:38:00.000-06:00

I'M BACK!!! I know you've missed me!!! When I left you we were FIVE days into the 30 Day Challenge and I was on my way to SD to experience my first NFL game. And boy did I experience... Here is a little glimpse, you can find the rest of the pics here.

Me and My Crew

It was a blast and the Chargers FINALLY decided to win one for us! {look at me saying 'US' like I'm a fan like Husbo} Yahoo. Good times were had by all, and I have the bruises to show for it.

I also went to AZ to do a training for work. That's all I have to say about that, because there's nothing else to say.

On with the challenge....

DAY 6: A Picture of Something that Makes You Happy

This was a hard one. Because there are a lot of things that make me happy. But ABOVE everything...this makes me the happiest. I have to have three pictures, cause I have three of them... so here it goes.

My Maymi Family

My Battle Family

My Bostron Family

It's good to be back! And it's FRIDAY!!!!

Day Five -- Natalie, Mariel, Christian {The Other Maymis}

2010-10-29T08:03:00.000-06:00

Name: Natalie {Don't call her NAT, she'll kick your ass}

Occupation: Singer? Dancer? Dental Assistant? Hair Dresser? We're not sure yet. She's in transition.

Interests: John, wedding planning, moving, shaking, moving and shaking, shopping, hair

Likes: John

Dislikes: When you call her Nat

My Favorite Thing About Her: She's has the voice of an angel

Name: Mariel AKA: Martie {but only to those who knew her way back when}

Occupation: Photo Editor at InStyle Magazine, mother of two rats, wife of Thomas

Interests: Gogo and Rocket {the rats}, yoga, being cool, eating cheese, looking good, magazine shopping, LEGGO MY EGGO

Likes: Me

Dislikes: Being so far away from Me

My Favorite Thing About Her: What's not to like.

Name: Christian

Occupation: Chef

Interests: Cheffing, eating, movies, marathoning, back talking, golfing, smooth talking

Likes: His friends

Dislikes: When the hollandaise doesn't turn out right.

My Favorite Thing About Him: He's funnier than a funny man.

Those are all the biological siblings, but there's also my brothers and sisters by marriage

THOMAS
Favorite Thing About Him: It's like he was MEANT to be my brother. Thanks for marrying him, Mariel

Husbo and Curt

CURTIS
Favorite Thing About Him: He knows EVERYTHING about Husbo, so if I want the dirt...Okay, he probably wouldn't tell me.

JULIE AND JAIME

Favorite Thing About Them: Julie's cute personality and Jaime's Jaime-isms

CORINNE

Favorite thing about Her: Girl can shop

Guess what? It's Friday. I'm leaving for San Diego for my first Chargers game tonight. Wish me luck!!! There may be a break in posts cause I'll be gone until next Thursday. Don't cry...I'll be back.
Have a WONDERFUL and SAFE Halloween weekend.

Day Four -- Joan and Jerry {The Parents}

2010-10-28T08:00:00.006-06:00

Name -- Joan AKA: Mom, Joanie, Le Joan, Junk Food Joanie and many others.

Occupation -- Awesome, as well as mother of 4 {six including the Husbo and Thomas. ALMOST 7, Not there yet, John}, Office Manager and Wife of the Year.

Interests -- Smut mags, wine, working out, balance bands, her kids, her dogs, her husband.

Likes -- Order {she's a LITTLE OCD, and when I say a little, I mean a whole lot ;) }

Dislikes -- Back Talk

Favorite Food -- Lays Potato Chips, with a side of burger.

My Favorite Thing About Her -- She likes the thrill of a roller coaster as much as I do.

Name -- Jerry AKA: Dad, Jerry 'Jamaican me Crazy' Maymi, Lardo Gerardo

Occupation -- Dentist, Actor, Comedian, Father, Ice Skater, Circus Performer, Paparazzi

Interests -- Facebook, taking pictures, spending time with his family, cooking, Junk TV

Likes -- Making his family happy

Dislikes -- Cold food

Favorite Food -- Food

My Favorite Thing About Him -- He's young at heart!

LOVE YOU SO MUCH MOM AND DAD!!!!

Keep on Keeping On.

Day Three -- Your First Love

2010-10-27T08:00:00.002-06:00

This is going to be short and sweet.

What? You expected some sappy story of a school girl crush? Or that I didn't find love until I met Husbo? Not a chance. Husbo knows who my first, second and last love is. And now so do you.

Day Two -- Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

2010-10-26T09:45:00.001-06:00

If you don't know, I used to be a Maymi. A Maymi is an awesome thing to be. If you're a Maymi, then you know you have awesome friends and and even more awesome FAMILY!!! For 28 {almost 29} years, I wore the last name like a badge of honor. In fact, and Husbo is going to kill me when I say this, I toyed with the idea of NOT changing my last name. Not that 'Battle' isn't a cool name, but Maymi is near and dear to my heart, it's hard to let go of. It's hard to get rid of the name you know and love. But alas, I took the plunge and changed my name. I started this blog shortly after Husbo and I bit the bullet. It used to be called A Family Named Battle, but since I am the only one of the Family Battle that writes on this blog, I found Life As A Battle more appropriate. And that, my friends is where Life As A Battle came from.

Where Life as a Battle really started

P.S. Erika Battle may not be as cool as Erika Maymi, but she is a little tougher. With a name like Battle, I think you kinda have to be!

Happy Tuesday, Lovers!

What's Next? A Challenge, Perhaps.

2010-10-25T15:11:00.003-06:00

Now that I am back to the land of FB I need a new focus. I was perusing blogs and saw a 30 Day Challenge and I think I'm up for it. It's not much of a challenge to talk about myself and my life, so here goes nothing. Here is what you should expect in the next 30 days.

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite TV shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

DAY ONE -- INTRODUCE, RECENT PICTURE, 15 INTERESTING FACTS

Well, I've already done this, so just refer back to THIS POST and here are 5 more interesting things about me --

My favorite color is purple
I've ALWAYS wanted to be a race car driver
Don't feed me after midnight. I will turn into a gremlin.
Monday's are my hell, just call me Cathy.
"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints"...and you know why.

Hope your Monday wasn't shittay....even with the "snow".

This is How I Dealt....

2010-10-24T12:29:00.000-06:00

In an effort to cope with the loss of FB, every time I had an urge to update my status I wrote it down on paper. So over the past 40 days, this is what I came up with....

You'll never be another bitch in a dress.
What's Hunky Dory? It's how awesome people say, "Great".
Get a life, and then come talk to me. -EMB
Heaven is so much better than Hell. You should really come up here. -AF
Some lady just told me that she couldn't give me a recorded statement right now. She doesn't have time, because she is doing something for the President....true or false?
OTH was OTH
I'm not only dying, I'm dead
Grey's are you kidding me. Cutting that kids head open Gaaaaaaross.
Hungover for the first time since....I can't remember.
Thank You, Grilled Cheesus.
My president is black, my lambo is blue, and I'll be damned if my rims ain't too.
Little Orphan A-hole
I was booooooooooooooooooorn, to love you. I was booooooooorn to lick your face. I was booooooooooooooorn to rub you, but you were born to rub me first.
Just ate dinner with the Jay-Zs.
Those mustaches, you gotta Nair that shit
You is some handsome boys
Midnight, all alone in the daylight
I don't get drunk, I get awesome.
Before we duet, we're gonna do it.
Stay sad, I'll be back
Eat the sword.
I want chicken pot pie.
The dog is happy, and we have pickles.
Hot like Eskimos.

Done and done. Back on FB, and it's like I never left. Oh well....on with my life.

TWO More Days

2010-10-21T11:31:00.006-06:00

As Lent SLOWLY comes to an end, I would like to reflect on what I have learned in the past 38 days.

♥ I am not the first or the last person to be obsessed with all things facebook.

♥ I have now become obsessed with blogging. Reading them and writing them.

♥ I don't NEED facebook, but it sure is fun. {the word facebook in this sentence can be replaced with new shoes, new clothes and smut mags}

♥ My house is cleaner, I have a husband, and I watch way too much TV. {maybe a sabbatical from TV is needed??? You bet your bottom dollar that's never gonna happen!!!}

♥ The great outdoors are truly great.

♥ my friends and family are the best. {not that I didn't know this already, but just thought I would remind YOU}

♥ I have never been more productive at work. I won't go into detail, but when I started Lent my daily tasks list was well over 100 things to do...today I only have 20. :)

♥ I don't care if Lent was a good thing...I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ON SATURDAY, FACEBOOK!!!!!!!!

I Steal

2010-10-17T14:54:00.000-06:00

I saw this on this blog, and I'm not ashamed to steal it.

ENJOY!!

I ♥ The Osborns -- and NY

2010-10-16T08:57:00.002-06:00

This past weekend I visited my sister in NYC! I do this trip at least once a year, and sometimes by myself and sometimes with my family. This time was a loner trip. We did the usual -- watched movies, shopped a little, ate a Lucali's with Jay-Z and Beyonce *, and our new yearly tradition -- went to SIX FLAGS!!!!

Last year, when we all went to NY to celebrate Thomas' 40th birthday, Mariel and I left Husbo, Thomas and the rest of the Maymi Clan behind and headed out to Six Flags. We had so much fun last year, we decided that this years trip to NY would revolve around going. And THIS year we had an even more fun time, and have decided that this will be our new annual tradition. Next year they are opening up a new ride -- THE GREEN LANTERN. It sounds and looks AWESOME!!! {You're standing, not sitting}

Okay, back to this year...we bought this thing called a flash pass {read about it here}, but the short of it is that you get a pager and they let you know when it's time to ride. You literally get to cut in front of everyone to ALMOST the front of the line. We got to ride all the big rides twice and our favorites about four time. {For those of you wondering, El Toro and Superman are the faves.}

And I apologize, but I have been to NY so many times, that I didn't take any pictures really, except for at Six Flags. So here they are....oh I forgot to mention that we made it Mustache Monday...ENJOY

Where should we go next???

I also usually don't ever see famous peeps, but this time we saw Jake Gyllenhaal AND the back of John Mayer's head. {Mariel saw the front and by the time I knew what she was talking about, he had passed and I missed that mug of his...oh well}

I had so much fun, can't wait for next year!!! GREEN LANTERN HERE WE COME!

Have you ever been to NY? And if so, what's your favorite thing to do there?

*we didn't actually eat with Jay-Z and Beyonce, but they were sitting two tables away and no one was sitting in between us. So now we're best friends. : )

RUFF RUFF RUFF

2010-10-14T13:55:00.000-06:00

....That's Happy Birthday in dog!!! So here's to the best dog in the WORLD!!!! Happy Birthday, Pooch. I love you for so many reasons, but especially because you love me no matter what. I hope we get to spend so many more years loving each other! Just wait 'til I get home....I may squeeze you until your head pops off!!

One love!

If I Just Had That Money Tree....

2010-10-02T16:31:00.003-06:00

The other day I was watching The Rachel Zoe Project and just about fell off of my couch when I saw the Burberry Prorsum Show. Can you say LOVE? {And I don't even like Burberry} I'm not really that great with words, so I am not going to try and go all 'fashion guru' on your ass. Instead, I will just let the pictures speak for themselves. You can check out the complete collection here, but here are some of my favorite pieces. And you bet your bottom dollar that if I had that money tree growing in my back yard, I'd buy the ENTIRE collection:

What would you buy with a money tree???

A Few of My Favorite Things...

2010-10-01T09:14:00.001-06:00

....about Fall.

When I was younger SUMMER was my favorite time of year. Not only was school out, but it was sunny and warm and GLORIOUS. Pools, laying out and soaking up rays were the only things on the agenda. But, as I grow older I find myself LOVING the Fall weather. Don't get me wrong, Summer still holds a HUGE place in my heart, but there is just something about Fall that reels me in more and more each year. I'm not too sure what it is, but these things might play a part:

Colors - Orange, Brown, Yellows, deep Reds. YES PLEASE.

Clothing - Sweaters, tights, boots, thick socks, sweaters, scarfs, jackets, sweaters.

Smells - the crisp air {in the morning and night, but especially in the morning} and pumpkin spice

Speaking of pumpkin spice, how about that latte?

Halloween

Fall drives with the windows down

Curling up by the fire with Husbo {We don't have a fireplace, but I'm imagining that this would be marvelous}

Did I mention sweaters?

Carving pumpkins

Just straight up -- pumpkins

Fall means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner and that means more time with family. {Except this year the family is all going to Hawaii for Christmas. Husbo and I cannot go because of our jobs. Dear Jobs, you suck.}

FBS is back {I haven't decided if this adds to the allure of Fall, but it does something...}

Porching it -- the act of sitting on the porch, wrapped in a blanket and watching the people walk by

It may be getting cold outside, but this list just warmed my insides. And now I'm starting to sound a bit too cheesy...that must be my cue. I'm out for today. I hope everyone can enjoy this first day of October and the rest of Fall!

This Happened

2010-09-24T09:53:00.001-06:00

So this happened yesterday and made my day.

I think 1000 views is pretty cool. I'm a huge dork, and I don't care who knows it. Have a WONDERFUL Friday!!!

Maybe I Should Get This

2010-09-22T05:44:00.002-06:00

I was watching Ellen when I got home yesterday {yes, I do TiVo Ellen, and HIGHly recommend it if you need to get your daily laugh on} and she showed this little video

Given recent events, I think I could get some use out of it. I figure if I am not going to be communicating with people via the modern way, why would I take pictures the modern way? But then that would mean that I would have to stop watching tv, stop using my cell phone, stop using this computer, stop blogging...OK, wait, wait, wait, wait, WAIT, forget it, I don't think I could live without Facebook AND you! You guys keep me going through this difficult time. So to you I say, THANK YOU!!! And please don't stop reading. :)

Happy Wednesday! Half way there peeps...HOLD ON, we can do it!!!

P.S. This was also on Ellen. NBD....

Can I have him???

MISS YOU!!!

2010-09-21T07:46:00.004-06:00

I saw this today and it brought a tear to my eye!!! I MISS YOU!!!!

Is it cheating if I see this???

Running Out

2010-09-20T13:53:00.000-06:00

On Saturday night, after taking care of the CUTEST kids ever, my good friend Aubrey came over and stayed with the Battles. Aubs does not enjoy staying at her apartment by herself when her BF, Dill is out and about on the town, so we invited her to spend the night. Anyway, we spent 45 minutes talking about these puppies....

...life is not as exciting as it used to be. Ha ha. Sorry that I am running out of things to talk about, but that's what happens when you don't know what's going on in the world and you're stuck at home with no where to go.

ATTENTION WORLD: I disappeared from Facebook, not real life...GEEZ!!!

What a Concept...

2010-09-18T16:25:00.002-06:00

Today was the first Saturday that I have had to work during Lent. My productivity was way up. And by way up, I mean THROUGH THE ROOF!!!! Maybe something good will come out of this "sacrifice". Maybe NOW my boss will stop looking at me like this:

And start looking at me like this:

Only time will tell.

Hope your weekend is Super Bad Ass Sweet Daddy Jones!!! See ya.

P.S. I didn't miss FB much today. Looks like EVERYTHING is looking up! :)

Getting Status Updates Via Nicole is NOT Cheating

2010-09-16T09:58:00.001-06:00

FB has become such a part of my life, that I sort of feel out of touch with the world. Yesterday I went to lunch with my lady friend, Nicole, and she asked me to clarify what my dad's status meant. I reminded her that I was in FB AA and that I had no idea what she was talking about. {See, I can't even get through lunch without FB being a part of the conversation.} Anyway, she continued to taunt me by sending me this text:

I really doubt that she will stay true to her word and not tease me anymore for the next 37 days. It's a cruel world, people. ;)

Have a Happy Thursday everyone!!!!

Day Two

2010-09-15T07:17:00.003-06:00

Day two of Lent. All limbs are intact. We're off to a good start. However, I was playing around with Photoshop online, and I desperately wanted to make this my profile picture:

UGH...my ♥ hurts.

P.S. I almost clicked on the FB link on my shortcuts menu. Time to remove it from the shortcuts menu. Temptation sucks. HUH...maybe this is like Lent, NOT minus the Jesus part....

Lent

2010-09-14T13:14:00.003-06:00

Hi Blog Friends, how was your weekend? Mine was AWESOME!!! Girls sleepover was a HUGE success. However, I have not gathered you here today to discuss that. Today I am here to make an announcement...

I was reading through the blogs that I love the other day, and came across a blog post about this girl that has vowed to be celibate. My first thought was, WOW, Bitch is crazy. My second thought, I haven't given up anything since Lent '99. {Way back when I was still a Bulldog at good 'ol JMCHS.} You know that time every year when Easter was coming and it was time to sacrifice for 40 days? And it was right then and there that I made a decision.....

I made the decision that, I too, was going to give something up. But what? What could I give up for a short period {40 days is nothing} of time? There is no way that I was going to vow to be celibate...are you kidding me? Husbo and I JUST got married. So I continued to think....What is a guilty pleasure that I don't need? Something that I could eliminate from my life, and in the end possibly make my life better???? And then it hit me, like a golf club to the head, I have become EMBARRASSINGLY addicted to Facebook. So it is here, on this blog, that I VOW to you, Blogsters, that I will be giving up Facebook for 40 days and 40 nights. Like Lent...minus the whole Jesus part.*

And to prove to you how embarrassing my addiction is, I am going to make a list of all the reasons why my addiction is a bad thing {I guess this could be sort of like confession}

~ Signing onto FB often. Often includes, but is not limited to:
   First thing in the morning
   At ~~the stop~~ every other stop sign on the way to work.
   In between phone calls at work.
   During a recorded statement. {Sorry Lynn}**
   Upwards of 30 times during FBS
             Upwards of 30 times during work
             Upwards of 30 times during anything that gets too boring
   Sometimes if I wake up at 2:00 am, I'll take a little sneaky sneak

~ Changing my profile picture more than once a day.
~ I once tired to erase the app from my phone and see if I could stay off...it lasted a day.
~ I mean, how many of you know what we did on our honeymoon???
~ How else would my family rallied over 1000 votes to win a free print from our wedding photographer
~ I updated my status 3 times today. Lame.  I don't even want to know what's going on with myself THAT much.
~ I'm guilty of facebook stalking....I do it all the time.
~ My feelings get a little hurt when my friends post pictures and I'm not in any of them. {If FB is controlling my mood, this might be the best decision I have EVER made.}

Okay.... I think I have embarrassed myself enough. The list could go on and on.

I hope that I can make it the full 40 days without the thrill of a notification. {Yes, seeing that little red box at the top of the page gets me all hot an bothered} So if any of you facebookers are reading this, maybe you can let me check on your facebook for you? That's not cheating, right???

From this point on my profile has been deactivated. Don't worry, I can reactivate it with a click of a button.

I have no idea what I am going to do with all this free time. Maybe I'll take over the world????

K, Love you lots. And Facebook...I MISS YOU ALREADY!!!

*i don't know who reads this blog, but if this offended you, I am sorry. that was not my intent.

*this doesn't really happen, just trying to get a laugh. ;)

Is This YOUR Tube?

2010-09-10T20:19:00.002-06:00

This morning I was feeling down, and then I saw this on one of my home-boy's {yep, I'm gangsta} FB page

SERIOUSLY? Who is this kid? Did it make you smile, laugh, pee a little?? I'm still laughing and I watched it 12 hours ago.

While we are on the subject of videos, here are a couple more of my favorites:

Yes, Ladies and Gents, that is La-Lohan her self, high kicking away! Love it when stupid people do stupid AND funny things.

Now I KNOW that a lot of you have seen this one, but it's a RIOT. This little lady has got it right. {Sorry if you've seen it. You're welcome, if you haven't.}

Who doesn't like BACON? {Well, besides those vegan/vegetarian/pescetarian people} This kid, on the other hand, has taken it a bit too far...

And last, but most certainly NOT least, a little Lionel.

Hope you've enjoyed this little bit of visual stimulation, and I hate to leave you, but like Lionel says "hello", I have to say good-bye. I have to go brush up on my hair braiding and nail polishing skills. Tomorrow is Girls SLEEPOVER 2010!!!!

PEACE....I'm outta here!

A Little Piece of my Heart

2010-09-01T10:20:00.000-06:00

This, my friends, is my cousins little girl, Mireya. Just thought I would share. She makes my heart melt. Especially when she tells her mom that she wants to wear barrettes in her hair and a sparkly scarf like me. One day I might steal, I mean, borrow her!!!

AND, their little boy, Nolan, isn't bad either!!!

Sorry if this post was useless to you, but it means the WORLD to me!

Have a happy first day of September everyone.

It's Good to Be a Winner

2010-08-27T11:37:00.004-06:00

Good Morning, Blogsters. So here we are, Friday, and I still feel sicky. BUT, drum roll PLEASE, I have something to BLOG about! YAHOO. Let's back up just a bit....

Picture this, August 14, 2010, a young girl sitting at work, with tons to do, but distractions EVERYWHERE!!! One distraction in particular...the blogging world.

I have often been fascinated by people who can sit down and write about a trip to the grocery store and make it sound like the most amazing trip to the grocery store ever. It may even make me want to go to the grocery store {If you don't know, the grocery store and I hate each other}. That is how good THIS blog is. Anyhoo...I decided to join this world, sceptically, because I am a horrible writer/speller/grammerist {not a word}, but I think I'm pretty funny...so I gave it a shot.

My trip here has been short, but fabulous. And I have learned that there are SO MANY BLOGS to read. As I was browsing the many, many, many blogs I stumbled across Ms. Mimi at Style Du Jour.

This blog is everything that I could hope for. Style, and celebs and cuteness all rolled into one! Well, Ms. Mimi had a little contest going with Tampurse. {Tampurse is a great invention and cute to boot...read about it HERE.} Long story short {is it too late for that????} I entered and WON!!! And got mentioned on Style Du Jure's blog!!! She has a GAZILLION people read her blog daily...maybe one day I could have a GAZILLION and one read mine!

So, the moral of the story? Try new things, it's never a bad thing...unless it's drugs.

Love you, mean it!

So Sorry For the Delay....

2010-08-25T10:37:00.002-06:00

....But you're just going to have to wait a little longer.

I am sorry that I haven't written in a while but, A) There is not been one exciting thing to write about and B) I feel like I could do this:

any moment now. Being sick does not make for a very funny Mrs. Battle. So until I start to feel like this:

You're just gonna have to keep on waiting. SO SORRY! Hope this doesn't make you love me any less.

On a side note {you know how I love those}, I am half way done with our THANK YOU cards....Keep an eye out for yours if you haven't gotten it yet. :)

Don't Call My Name...

2010-08-18T08:54:00.002-06:00

I know I JUST posted last night, but I have decided to make a change. This blog was originally started as a family blog, but let's be honest, Husbo is never going to write an entry. And I pretty much talk about myself and what is going on in MY life all the time anyway. So I have decided to change the name of this blog to Life As a Battle.

Okay....carry on with your day. :)

FORE!!!

2010-08-17T22:30:00.003-06:00

I have often heard of golf described as a game for old men. If you have to be an old man to enjoy driving around a cart, throwing back beers, chatting it up with friends, all the while soaking up some rays -- then call me Merlin. {That's an old man's name, right?}

On Sunday, we were invited by Lee and Shelly Marshall, some of Husbo's regulars at Hapa, to play golf at Glenwild Golf Course. Now if you are not a golfer, and I'm not sure how many of my five readers are, you probably don't understand how stoked Husbo got. Glenwild was named "The Best Golf Course In Utah" by Golf Digest. It's described as a difficult course with fast greens. Whatever that means. That was enough to get Husbo out there. I on the other hand needed a little bit more persuasion. Husbo then proceeded to tell me that he once saw Michael Jordan on the back nine. SAY WHAT? All I heard was famous people. SOLD! And so I thought, what any girl playing golf for the FIRST time would think....what am I going to WEAR!?!?!

Faster than you can say FORE!!!! I ran to my closet to find the perfect golf outfit. Something that says, "Hey look at me, but don't look too hard, cause then you'll realize that I don't know what I'm doing." Something made me think that THIS:

might be a little too much. So I decide that less was more in this situation and went with shorts, a golf shirt, and my gym shoes. {Note: golf shirt was purchased about an hour before we went to play, along with a golf glove. No, I did not have it hanging in my closet.}

We headed to the driving range at about 3:30 and by 4:00, after MANY missed shots, The Course Marshall came around and said it was time for us to move to the 10th hole and get going. We only played nine, the crew didn't want to scare me. The good news: I hit the ball. The bad news: the ball NEVER went where I wanted it to. UGH. I think I almost hit Lee in the head with my ball a couple of time. OOPS! Sorry, Lee.

All in all it was a fun filled day. Except when Husbo "accidentally" hit me in the head with a club. I may, or may not, have deserved it. A story for another time...

I did, however learn a lot about golf...Never talk during someones back swing, make sure you rake the sand, and golf is really just another excuse to shop.

I'm going to buy these.....

Oh, I know what you're wondering, and NO, I didn't see any famous people. Maybe next time.

{Give Me} MORE MONDAYS

2010-08-16T07:35:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday, All. I know, I know, what is happy about a Monday? Well, I'm attempting to make them a little better by introducing something I like to call "More Mondays."

Do you ever have something that you cannot get enough of? For me, it's shoes, for you it may be chocolate covered raisins, I don't know. But Mondays will be the time to share some things with you that I just want more, More, MORE, of. Now, don't go crazy, this does not mean that I will be writing on the blog EVERY Monday, or everyday for that matter. This only means that if I happen to find something else that I love, on a Monday, that I will share it with you. I would LOVE to blog something to you everyday, but let's be honest, I am not even CLOSE to that interesting. I spend most of my time with my TiVo, Roxy and Husbo. NOT going out and grabbing life by the horns. {Okay....can you say, tangent?} ANYHOO, back to the task at hand...

Please, please, please, give me MORE of JAMES ANTHONY APPAREL. You will see for yourself, but this individual oozes talent. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. James way back in the days of high school {whenever that was}. I don't remember much of our interactions back then, but I want to remember him now. :)

His clothing is more than just something good to look at, but also has the comfort of your old favorite pair of jeans. And we all know how good that feels.

I am lucky enough to own this tunic:

I am DYING to get this:

And This:

And maybe theses {For me, NOT Husbo}:

Best things to sleep in

So hop on the good foot and do the bad thing, or hop on the bad foot and do the good thing...I don't know, I'm confused...whatever...Just do it. Get yourself something nice.

See, now isn't your Monday a little happier??

P.S. I went golfing for the first time ever yesterday. Let's just say that ME + club + ball = disaster. ;) Have fun with that mental picture, you're welcome.

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!

2010-08-15T10:30:00.000-06:00

GOOOOOOOOOOOOD MOOOOOOOOOOOORNING! Well, I'm back. I wasn't sure if I would return. But alas, here I am. My blogging debut was well received. {At least by the TWO people that read it} Thank you Bekah and Aubrey. Onto the post...

Sundays are a HUGE thing here at the Battle home. Let me rephrase, FOOTBALL Sundays are a HUGE thing in the Battle home. Husbo is a little bit of a SAN DIEGO CHARGERS fan. And when I say little, I really mean an ENORMOUS fan of the Chargers. Ever seen a grown man cry? Well I have. And it's usually during the month of January {although I have seen it throughout the season as well}, when the Chargers come oh so close to playing in the Superbowl and then disappoint, just like last year. The crying is usually followed by a hole in a door or something of the like. I'm not going to go through all of his stages after a Chargers loss, but if you want to get an idea, here are the 5 stages of grief.

My Football Sundays are a little bit different. They go a little something like this...

8:00 am -- Wake up to find Husbo ALREADY in his Chargers jersey (mind you Husbo does not wake up before 10 am if he doesn't have to)

8:15 am -- Put on any Chargers/San Diego garb I own to show support for crazy Husbo.

8:30 am -- Get in as much ME TV time as possible. This usually involves lots of TiVo with a little side of E!

9:00 am -- Peek my head into the kitchen, where Husbo is surely cooking {best part of FBS}, and ask if he needs help. The answer is always NO! I'm okay with that.

9:05 am -- Continue ME TV time.

9:30 am -- Start to greet the many men that come over to help cook and watch the games.

Side note: I am usually the ONLY woman here. There are A LOT of single men at my house on Sundays. Ladies, this is your chance. Join me...PLEASE!!!!!

11:00 am -- HERE WE GO!!! Football begins. The next 11 or so hours {NO JOKE} is a combination of sleeping, eating, reading smut, eating again, sleeping some more, and reading more smut.

10:00 pm -- Watch Entourage

10:30 pm -- TIME FOR BED!!!

All in all, I don't mind Sundays in the fall. I actually {after three seasons} have started to enjoy them. It's not hard to like a day where you basically do nothing. But it does mean that Saturdays are spent cleaning a preparing for Sunday. A small price to pay for relaxation.

I will leave you with one of my favorite images from an FBS last year, when Husbo and I were only Erika and Stan, and Husbo and and I lived with Higga. Husbo thought that he should buy the most HIDEOUS Chargers shirt this side of the Rio Grande {or both sides for that matter}.

GO BOLTS!

WATCH OUT WORLD...Here come The Battles

2010-08-14T16:07:00.003-06:00

Ok, so here I am. I'm not sure what I am doing here, or why I felt compelled to even travel into the blogging world, but I'm here, I'm proud, I'm loud, get used to it.

Allow myself, to introduce, myself. Hello, my name is Erika Battle {formerly known as Erika Maymi} and this --

Isn't he pretty {wait, don't answer that}

is my husband Stan. We met three and a half years ago and are the NEWEST, FRESHEST, HIPPEST married couple on the block. We got married June 20, 2010. We're coming up on two whole months, and we are still alive and kicking. Now that's what I call success. We like to make each other laugh, snuggle with our dog Roxy, and just enjoy life together. Stan is a chef, which I LOVE {my butt and thighs on the other hand, hate it}, and I am a Detective of Accident Reconstruction {or that's just the fancy name I give it to make it SOUND more interesting}. I'm really just a claims adjuster for Allstate Insurance Company. I actually went to school to be a teacher, and hope to get back to teaching some day. But for now, until The Battles decide where to plant their roots, I am to remain at Allstate.

So here are 10 9 things you need to know about me:

1. I am a HORRIBLE speller -- I apologize in advance

2. I think I'm really funny, you might not find me as funny -- again, I apologize in advance

3. I REALLY love my dog and my husband -- in that order. Only kidding.

4. I like to shop like I've got a money tree in my back yard, it's an illness.

5. I love Lionel Richie -- He knows all about love and dancing on the ceiling.

6. I enjoy eating good food. I'm a little bit of a food snob -- I blame that on my husband.

7. I've been told, on more than one occasion, that people really like me "AFTER they get to know me." So keep reading, one day this might be love.

8. My friends and family are the most important things in my life. You mess with them, you mess with me...WATCH OUT!!!

9. I am a strong believer that when in doubt, you should dance it out.

Exhibit A. {doesn't that look like fun}

So, why are there only 9 things that you need to know about me? Well, the 10th thing isn't really something that you NEED to know. But I'll tell you anyway. I like to drink from time to time, and get a little out of hand from time to time. So if my blogs start to not make sense, well, you will then know that I have had a little bit to drink...so enjoy!

Alright, blogging world, I am out. I hope this helped you get to know me a little bit better, and I hope that I have sparked your interest. You sure have sparked mine.