Welcome Back, Football!

Happy Football Season, yall!

After watching the South Carolina v North Carolina game and the Ole Miss v Vandy game last night I am more than ready to watch my Crimson Tide take the field in Atlanta on Saturday. Even better than that, I will be watching the game while spending a long weekend at the beach. Does it get any better than that? Not a chance.

The road to 16 (national championships) begins now...
ROLL TIDE!

and what better way to #backthatazzup than getting pumped up with the University of Alabama fight song?

And Then It Clicked..

I wish that I could sit here and say that I am the type of girl who can eat anything I want to and not gain an ounce. That, however, is far from the truth. I’m the kind who can have a cheat weekend full of greasy, fried food and will step on the scale at least three pounds heavier come Monday morning. I would kill to be able to eat whatever the hell I want to and not have to worry about zipping up my jeans, but I know that is just never going to be the case.

If I want to weigh in at my “happy weight” every morning, then I have to work at it. I have to watch what I put in my mouth and I have to work out more than once or twice a week.

Throughout the years I have tried numerous diets. Some have worked wonders, while some have fallen flat. My freshman year of college I was determined to lose the freshman fifteen as opposed to gaining it. I achieved that goal and then some, and that is the best I have ever felt about the way I looked.

So here I am again. Seven and a half months before I walk down the isle and terrible unhappy about the way that I look. I’ve lost the weight before and I know I can do it again. I also know that I have plenty of time to do it, so I need to go about this the healthy way. No crash diets. No starving myself.

This is not the first time I’ve talked about losing weight for the wedding. I think I’ve brought it up at least once a month since I began this little ole’ blog. This time, however, is different. In order to really start changing something in you has to click. For me, I just woke up one morning and it happened. Something in me clicked, and I told myself it was time to do the damn thing.

I’ve began eating breakfast (which I’m usually really bad about doing), packing a healthy lunch to bring to work, drinking a hella lot of water during the day (no more diet coke!), and eating smaller portion sizes at dinner. On top of that I have also began the “couch to 5k” program. There is a great park right across the street from our new house, so working out has actually become easier to do now that I can run home in the afternoons, change clothes, and literally walk across the street to the park. So far, I love “couch to 5k.” I can put my headphones in and listen to music while a voice comes over the speaker telling me when to run and when to walk. It couldn’t be any easier than that!

Time to do the damn thing. 

5 Reasons Why I'm Too Old For My Own Good

I may only be 23 years old, but sometimes even I wouldn't believe that. You see, some of the things I do (on a regular basis) make me seem more like I'm 63 years old. To prove just what an old lady I really am, today I bring you:

One.

I wake up every morning around 5:30am just so I can plop down on the couch for a good twenty to thirty minutes and watch the morning news while drinking my coffee. I need to know what is going on out there in the big scary world before I venture outside my house. You know? I'm also really upset that work has started interfering with my time with Robin, George, Josh, and Lara (These would be the anchors on Good Morning America for those of you who are unaware). 

Two. 

You can find me crawling into bed shortly after 9:00pm every night. If I stay up an hour past my bedtime, I am nothing short of worthless the next day. Homegirl needs her eight hours of sleep over here. 

Three. 

I'm paranoid about the most ridiculous things. Did I lock the front door? Did I turn off the stove? Blow out the candle? Leave my hair straightener on? Did I even shut the front door behind me this morning? All things that my grandmother would be probably be paranoid over as well. Oh, and when I do turn around and drive back to my house to make sure all appliances are off and doors are locked (which I've done on more occasions than I care to admit), the are always turned off and locked. Always. 

Four.

I yell at people who drive too fast. I also yell at people who text while driving. I especially do this when people are flying through a neighborhood. Hello people! little kids playing in the front yard! Slow the eff down! 

Five.
This one dates back even before college. I have always, and will always, be known as the "responsible one." Oh, we are heading out bar hopping all night? Morgan is the one carrying the oversized purse with fifteen wallets, cameras, phones, etc. in it. Don't get me wrong. I always go out and have a good time. Somehow, no matter what happens the night before (even when I don't always remember what happened the night before) my purse always wakes up next to me in the morning. There has even been an occasion or two where I have woken up the next morning still wearing my purse on my shoulder. No wallet, ID, credit card, phone, or camera has ever gone missing while hanging out with me for a night.

There you have it. I'm secretly and old lady hiding out in a 23 year old's body.
Time to go fill up another cup of coffee and stream GMA from my computer at work. 

House Training: Take Two.

Isn't this one of the cutest little faces you've ever seen in your whole entire life? Yep. See, normally I would agree with you, however, this little monster has begun peeing in my house again.

You see, this dog was a pain in the ass to house train. He pissed and shit in my apartment more times than I can count. It took months to get him to realize that he was supposed to do his business outside. Finally, a little over a month before we closed on our new house, he got it. He (for the most part) stopped peeing and pooping in the house. He took all most his business outside. 

And then we moved. It was like he had completely forgotten all the training, screaming, crying, and so forth that we had spent months working on. The first night in the new house he went #1 and #2. Since then he has only pooped in the house on one other occasion, but the peeing, it's a serious problem. 

We've tried everything. Rubbing his nose in it and then sending him outside, buying the spray that is supposed to be a deterrent, even using his crate as punishment when he pees in the house (which i was avidly against doing at first). This dog is eight months old. He should be 100% house trained by now. There is no excuse.

I'm begging and pleading for help. I've spent far too many hours at night googling tips and tricks for house training puppies. If anyone out there can stop this precious little monster from peeing in my house I will buy you a pony, name my first born child after you, and buy you unlimited bottles of chard for the rest of your life.
We need help!

At least he has good taste in shoes...

Dear Monday..

Dear Monday, 

I hate your stinkin guts. 

You make me want to vomit. 

You're the scum between my toes. 

Love, 

Morgan

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer

Anyone and everyone who knows Alabama football knows that gameday in Tuscaloosa isn't complete without stoping in Gallettes for a Yellow Hammer or five. This fruity concoction of deliciousness is quite deceiving. It goes down way too smoothly, and before you know it your blackout before kickoff. Not that I speak from experience or anything.. right. Moving on.
Some call this Alabama's signature drink, but whether you cheer for Tennessee, Florida, LSU, or that cow college on the other side of the state, you need to experience on of these. Just watch yourself, one too many and you could end up looking like these fools posing outside of Bryant-Denny.. Roll Tide!

I'm cohosting with Kristin this week for Thirsty Thursday, so remember to link up!
Cheers!

1. Follow Hopelessly Ever After and Believe in the Sparks via GFC or Bloglovin'.
2. Grab a button from below or Kristin's sidebar and put it in your post.
3. Write about your favorite alcoholic beverage.
4. Come back here and link up!!!
5. Get some new recipes or drink ideas for the weekend and make a new friend!! NEW UNOFFICIAL RULE!! 6. Send a tweet with #ThirstyThursday and include @leggs532 and  @morganrae_89 so we can see it!!

Anyone interested in co-hosting (it’s free) email Kristin at: hopelessly_ever_after@yahoo.com

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Blonde Moment

It's finally Friday and for that, I am grateful. 

As of today, the fiancé and I have officially been homeowners for a solid week. However, judging from my house it looks more like we moved in five minutes ago. Boxes are still hanging out in every corner of the house and half of the furniture hasn't even made it into the correct room. every time I mention the clutter and chaos of it all I hear "that's completely normal" or "it doesn't happen overnight. I'm well aware that these things don't happen overnight, but the anal retentive little bitch inside me doesn't quite understand that concept. So in order to please her, I have been busting my ass all week trying to finish packing things up at the apartment (yes. I haven't even fully moved out of the apartment yet. All of our clothes and the entire kitchen have yet to be tackled.) and unpacking things at the new house. But unfortunately, that hasn't even been my biggest headache this week. 

Let me bring you back to Tuesday morning. 

I took Tuesday off at work in order to be home when the security system man, the cable man, and the gas man came over to hook up all the utilities. I had planned on spending the morning working on the house while waiting on all the utility men, and then spending the afternoon running errands and searching for furniture. That was until my mom called me bright and early Tuesday morning asking if I could come by at some point and sign a document that she needed to turn in. My parents live about ten minutes away from the new house, so I told her I would come over right then before I got my day started. I loaded up Cooper and headed out still wearing my pajamas (which translates into a tshirt, sweatpants, and no bra). When I pulled out of the driveway I noticed I had twelve miles until empty, so I figured I would stop and put a few gallons of gas in my car in order to make it to my parents house and back home. I hate putting gas in my car, so I usually only put $15 or $20 in at a time. Seeing though as I had no bra on, I opted to only put in $10 and fill up the rest later that day. Still half asleep and wrestling with Cooper to stay in the car while I pumped gas, I ran my card, pulled out the middle pump (my car takes middle grade gas), and starting pumping away. I noticed that the nozzle wasn't really going inside of car, but the line was all tangled up and I just figured I wasn't pulling hard enough. The gas still flowed right inside of my gas tank like nothing was wrong. I pumped my $10.01 worth of gas and hung the nozzle back up. That's when I noticed what I had done. 

I put diesel fuel in my car by mistake. 

Damn it. Thankfully I knew better than to turn my car back on. I started to call the fiancé, but I knew he was already at work on the other side of town and wouldn't be able to help me anytime soon. So obviously I did what anyone else in my stranded position would have done. 

I called my dad. 

He, of course, jumped in the car and met me at the gas station where he began calling tow trucks and the Tom Williams dealership where he bought my car. Two hours later, the tow truck finally arrived and began towing my car back to the dealership so it could be nursed back to health. For the rest of the day all I could think about were dollar signs and how the money I had been saving for furnishing my house was about to be shelled out on my car. Several hours later my dad called me to let me know the car was ready. I cringed as I asked him how much it was going to cost. His response? "It's already taken care of." 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 

I'm one lucky girl. Not only did my dad take several hours out of his morning to take care of my mistake, but my parents also paid for my horrible blonde moment. I don't know what I would do without those two. And it goes without saying, I will always be a daddy's girl. 

My $10.01 worth of gas on Tuesday morning ended up costing over $600.00 by time the day was over with. 

Life lesson: Always double check what kind of gas you are putting into your car before pumping. 

Happy weekend!

Home

We are slowly but surely unpacking boxes and settling into our new home. 

Baby Steps. 

I keep having to remind myself that this process isn't going to happen overnight, but if you know me at all then you know that the disorganization and chaos of it all is about to drive me straight into the psych ward. 

But even with the clutter and mounds of boxes in every corner of the house, I can't help but smile. It already feels like home. 

As much as Steven and I are enjoying the new house, I think the dogs love it even more. It took them a few days to get used to the fact that they could roam the yard without the pulling and tugging of a leash, but once they figured it out, they were hooked. Now I can't for the life of me get this dog to come back inside. 

Cooper and Kane aren't the only boys enjoying the new backyard. The fiancé couldn't wait to fire up the grill out back! I was just excited that he was the one who decided to cook our first meal in our new home. 

It's safe to say that we are all adjusting just fine. This weekend we are having two PODS full of furniture delivered to the house. Hopefully once we get those unloaded the nagging little bitch inside of my head will calm down a bit. 

Until then, there is always wine...

The Beginning of a New Chapter

We are officially homeowners!
After signing our name five hundred billion times on Friday afternoon, Steven and I were handed the keys to our very first home!

Closing wasn't nearly as stressful as I thought it would be and didn't take nearly as long either. We were in and out in about 30 minutes. Nevertheless, afterwords, we were in desperate need of a drink! We made a quick stop by the apartment to pick up the mattress, television, and puppies, then it was off to our new home. 

As soon as we arrived we took the puppies out back to explore their new big ole' fenced in yard. It was love at first sight. I think they may even enjoy their new home more than Steven and I do (which is saying a whole hell of a lot). 

We then hooked the tv up in the living room floor, set the mattress out in front of it, popped open a bottle of champagne, and began our first night camping out in our new home. I'm so thankful for my coworkers suggesting the "camp out." It was a memory that Steven and I will never forget! Our first night in our new home together with nothing in the house except a mattress, tv (which we used to play movies because we won't have cable until mid-week), and our fur babies. 

Saturday we woke up bright and early to start on the moving process. One mattress delivery and a few truck loads of furniture later, we called it a day. We actually didn't have a ton of stuff to move over from the apartment because I sold most of the bigger items (washer and dryer, couch, and bedroom suite). 

 By the end of day one we were only left with a few things left at the apartment. This week my evenings will be filled with packing the kitchen and our clothes, all of which are still sitting in the apartment.

Sunday Steven drove to Georgia to pick up the furniture that has been in storage for a couple of years. I took the day to do important things like pick out curtains, shower curtains, and comforters. Priorities people. 

And by the end of the weekend we are more than halfway moved in. Next weekend we have two PODS being delivered which are full of furniture that was in my parents house before they downsized last year. I'm taking off work tomorrow to meet with ADT, Direct TV, and the gas company. Hopefully I'll also have time to go through a few boxes and get some things organized. I'm not good with the chaos and disorganization going on right now. 

It's a slow process, but I can already see the light at the end of the tunnel! I can't wait to show off pictures once everything gets settled!

As always, linking up with Sami for weekend shenanigans! 

Today is the Day!

It's closing day! It's closing day! It's closing day! 

In only a matter of hours Steven and I will officially become homeowners!

We decided as a way to celebrate the occasion, we would bring pillows and blankets to the new house, order a pizza, pop open a bottle (or three) of champagne, and spend our first night in our new home camped out on the empty living room floor. There will not yet be any furniture, cable, or anything. Just a night spent together marking the occasion of this new chapter in our life. I couldn't be more excited!

And in honor of our new homeowner status and #backthatazzupfriday I bring you the most appropriate song I could think of. You're welcome.

The Blogger Behind The Blog

I've noticed a few new faces around here lately, so I figure now is as good of time as any to give a little more insight into the blogger behind the blog. 

Only problem, I seem to have an issue when it comes to finding things to tell people about myself, so instead of blankly staring at the computer screen for hours trying to come up with something to make me sound even slightly interesting, I am going to take up Erin on her offer and steal her alphabet questionnaire.  

The ABC Survey  - Giving You A Little Insight Into The Blogger Behind The Blog. 

A: Attached or Single? Very much attached to my fiancé and the love of my life!

B: Best Friend? Is there even such a thing as only one best friend? Rachael, Cortney, Katie, and Bailey - the girls who will be standing beside me as my bridesmaids on my big day! 

C: Cake or Pie? Cake. More specifically, Edgar's Strawberry Cake. It is pure heaven in your mouth.

D: Day of Choice? Saturday. No work and all play!

E: Essential Item? My engagement ring. I can't help but smile every time I look down at it. 

F: Favorite Color? Pink! Growing up my room was light pink with the ceiling painted hot pink (and a chandelier hanging over the bed, of course). And when I say growing up, I mean it was painted that way until the day I moved out of my parents home. 

G: Gummy Bears or Worms? Worms - as long as they are the sour kind!

H: Hometown? I was born in Florence, Alabama, but I spent most of my childhood growing up in Birmingham, Alabama which is also where Steven and I have made our home. 

I: Indulgence? I know this question is looking for an answer like chocolate or shopping or something, but am I allowed to say New York? Oh what I would give to be able to hop on a plane to New York whenever my little heart desires. I was just there in May to buy my wedding dress and I am already having withdrawals! 

J: January or July? July all the way. There is nothing better than spending weekends at the lake in July. 

K: Kids? None yet (need to get the whole wedding thing out of the way first you know) - but I can't wait until the day we start trying for babies! Ideally, I want three. Two boys and a little girl. 

L: Life isn't Complete Without? The love and support of my family and friends. I seriously don't know where I would be without them. I also don't know what I would do without my two little fur babies, Cooper and Kane. I couldn't imagine life without those two monsters! 

M: Marriage Date? April 12, 2014

N: Number of Brothers/Sisters? One younger brother. I can't believe the little brat is already 21 years old! 

O: Oranges or Apples? I'm more of a banana and strawberry kind of girl. 

P: Phobias/Fears? Every time I leave my house I'm terrified that I left my straighter on, coffee pot on, stove on, or candle burning. I have a mental fight with myself every morning on the way to work not to turn around and double check that everything is turned off. I have this irrational fear that I will be driving home one day and will see my house going up in flames. I have no idea where this fear steams from. 

Q: Quotes? "Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway - Eleanor Roosevelt

R: Reason to Smile? I have no reason not to smile! I am embarking on the next chapter of my life with the man of my dreams and our two fur children. 

S: Season of Choice? Football season. Roll Tide!

T: Tag 5 People. No thanks. Considering I borrowed this little survey from Erin, I'll suggest everyone to do the same!

U: Unknown fact? I like to think of myself as an open book, so I can't really think of an unknown fact. Lets just go with something incredibly boring like the fact that I changed my major four times in college before finally settling on something. 

V: Vegetable? This is actually a tough one. I love most any vegetable! I would say some of my favorites include squash, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes (even though that's technically a "fruit").

W: Worst Habit? overreacting to things. I am really bad about that. I can be a bit of a drama queen from time to time. Whoops.

X: Xray or Ultrasound? What? Neither at the moment? I suppose in the (somewhat distant) future I would pick ultrasound in hopes of seeing a little nugget in my belly. 

Y: Your Favorite food? Japanese Hibachi bars, pasta, and chicken fingers. I could live off of a diet of those three things alone.

Z: Zodiac Sign? Libra. Refined, social, artistic, vacillating, intellectual, communicative and concerned with relationships. Yep that about sums me up. 

Well hopefully maybe you learned a little something about me during that alphabet lesson. 
I'm off to continue packing my life away. We close on our new house tomorrow!