The Christmas Caper

I look forward to Christmas all year. I love the movies, the dumb music that gets played over and over again as soon as thanksgiving is near, the smells,and the yummy food. And just like that, its all done. A whole year of anticipation and preperation and what do you have to show for it. A MESS!! This year I decided to get a real tree. Keith knows that I am a freak about Christmas so he wasn't too suprised when I spent a lot of money on Christmas decorations to make my tree look like Macy's. It took like 5 hours to decorate it on top of most rooms in the house. The tree decorating was a story in itself. Not going to bore you with how many times the tree fell over as I was almost done decorating and how I had a nervous breakdown! Those details would be too boring. Christmas as our first married couple was important to me. I wanted to get Keith something I knew he would love. He had been talking about the new Hp I-touch computer, however, he mentioned he didn't want us spending too much money. Of course, I didn't listen and bought him the gift I knew he would love. I did my research and after another tragic story, I finally purchased the computer and hid it at work. Keith asked me for a list so he knew what to get me. On my list: (simply suggestions, not all to be purchased) a new knife set, new pots and pans, the Magic Bullet (research this item if you are unsure, you will want one for sure) bedding from pottery barn and at the very top of my list, highlighted and bolded, a new Jewlery Box! Christmas morning, I place the beautifully wrapped computer among other gifts which were on his list under the tree. We opened one at a time back and forth. I got my knife set, my pots and pans and of course the Magic Bullet. Hmm... No jewlery Box yet. Keith got his new work out clothes, a new belt, cologne and yet to be opened, the computer. I was sure the jewlery box was hidden somewhere. How could he not get the one thing I kept talking about? The look on Keith's face as he opened the Hp was the most amazing thing ever. He had no idea I got it and I was so proud of myself for actually keeping it a secret. I also couldn't stand it anymore. "Keith, did you get me the jewlery box?" I was still hopeful. He didn't. I wrote down on the list the color, the store to find it in, Target cause they have it all, and even the aisle to find it in. "Renae, I couldn't find it." was his response. Are you kidding me? Did you want me to just buy it and wrap it for myself? I didn't understand how he couldn't find it. Then i remembered why. He's a guy!!!! So today after 3 hours of cleaning up the department store tree, note to self, next year, buy a fake tree, I made Keith go with me to Target. The whole way there, he was trying to convince me that they didn't have it. I knew better and low and behold where was the jewlery box? Right where I said it was. He felt so bad and then I felt bad for being happy I proved him wrong. Dang it, why do I have to have such a guilty conscience. Hope everybody had a Merry Christmas and if you need a new jwelery box, I know just where to find one!!

I guess I have no Life!!!

Let's See If I Have A Life...

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 of these films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up. Be honest. Have fun.
(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
( ) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane!
Total: 6

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) Anchorman
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
(x) Saw
(x) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
( ) The Princess Diaries
( )The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far:13

(x) Scream
(x) Scream 2
(x) Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
(x) Scary Movie 2
(x) Scary Movie 3
(x) Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(x) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 23

( ) Harry Potter 1
( ) Harry Potter 2
( ) Harry Potter 3
( ) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
(x) The Village
( ) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 25
I have never seen a Harry Potter!

( ) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
(x) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(x) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(x) White Chicks
(x) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
( ) I, Robot
( ) Robots
Total so far: 32

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(x) Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 39

( ) A Cinderella Story
( ) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
(x) Dumber & Dumberer
(x) Final Destination
(x) Final Destination 2
(x) Final Destination 3
(x) Halloween
(x) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
( ) Flubber
Total so far: 46

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
(x) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 49

( ) The Day After Tomorrow
(x) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
(x) Gothika
(x) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
(x) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 58

( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
(x) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
(x) Ocean's Eleven
( ) Ocean's Twelve
( ) Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
(x) The Fog
( ) Ice Age
( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
Total so far: 61

(x) Independence Day
(x) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
(x) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 69

( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
(x) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
( ) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
(x) Big Trouble in Little China
( ) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 76

( ) X-Men
( ) X-2
( ) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
( ) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
(x) Jeepers Creepers
(x) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
(x) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 86

(x) Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
(x) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
(x) Ice Castles
(x) Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 93

( ) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
( ) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
( ) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
( ) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
( ) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 94

( ) Baseketball
(x) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
(x) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
(x) Mothman Prophecies
(x) American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 98

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
( ) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
( ) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 99

(x) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
( ) Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
(x) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(x) Waterworld
Total so far: 102

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
(x) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
(x) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 106

( ) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
( ) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
( ) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
( ) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
( ) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
( ) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 106

( ) The Matrix
( ) The Matrix Reloaded
( ) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
(x) Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
(x) Hannibal
Total: 109

So it boils down to the fact that I clearly watch way too much TV!!!

Culinary Skills

At my work for our Christmas party, we are doing a cookie or candy exchange. I decided that I should make fudge and carmels. Our oven is broken so cookies were not an option which I know for a fact I can excute those well. I call up my good ol friend Teri Jill and she gives me a simple carmel recipe and I found a simple fudge recipe off the internet. I was so excited to come home and get the party started in the kitchen. I started off by cooking the carmels. Recipe says to cook till hard ball stage. Hmm??? What the heck does that mean? I called Teri and she informed me and and also taught me the ice water trick. I got this!! I deciced in the essence of time, I would melt the butter in the microwave and pour it right in to the mixture. BIG MISTAKE!! I got oily, nasty, hard as a rock carmel. So needless to say, that didn't work. Carmel no longer edible or useable. As I was cooking the carmel, I decided to start on the peanut butter marshmellow fudge. Sounded easy enough. I had to double the recipes to ensure I would have enough for all my co workers, however, I didn't gage the butter. "Keith, would you mind running to the store?" Like a good husband, he did. Upon his arrival, I noticed that the fudge looked funny. I realized that I doubled everything but the marshmellows and the peanutbutter chips which I was now out of. "Keith, would you mind going to the store again?" And he was off again. At this point, I still didn't know that the melted butter trick was a bad idea so I used this method in the fudge. So now I have bad carmels and bad fudge. Third time is a charm. Chocolate fudge next. I had learned from my mistakes so I was sure I would get it right this time. WRONG!! I followed that recipe to a T and it still turned out bad. Guess I am headed to Costco to get some cookies. Glad Keith didn't want to marry a domesticated woman!!

Snow in Vegas... Believe it

Keith informed me yesterday that Vegas was suppose to get snow today. Of course I didn't believe him. As I was getting ready for work today, the radio announcer said Vegas was to get four inches of snow. Was this guy serious? Hello... we live in the desert. Keith and I live in the southwest part of Las Vegas which is close to Mt. Charleston (or what Nevada considers a mountain). As I left for work this morning, it was cold, but no snow. What do these announcers know anyway. I have lived here four years and I have yet to see snow. The closer I got to work, which is close to the mountain, the more I noticed that Keith and this radio guy may have been on to something. Sure enough, ten minutes after being at work, it started to snow and the flakes were huge. It didn't stop till around 9 pm. I couldn't believe it. My coworkers and I decided to go out and take some pics to mark the occasion. I figured it was good proof because I didn't know if anyone would believe me. Heck, its Vegas, I wouldn't have believed me.

Husband Tag

5 Things he Loves
- Me!!!
- Italian food, he is outta control!
- Keith loves his work
- Florida Gators
- Candy!

5 Things on his to do list
- work is always on his to do list
- Christmas shop for me cause we are procrastinators
- Watch OU play Florida Jan 8th
- Get the oven fixed!!!

5 Foods he enjoys
- Italian!!!
- Mexican! We got something in common, hahaha
- Hamburgers
- Salad
- Tortilla Chips

5 Things you may not know about him
- He carries two cell phones at all times
- He is a practical joker even though he comes across quiet and shy
- He has to sleep with a pillow in between his legs
- He has his pilots license and is always asking me to go flying, but I refuse

5 Quirky things about him
- He has to layout all his bathroom supplies, (razor, shaving cream, cologne) before he will use them
- He has to change his clothes immedietly when we come home from an outing into someting more comfortable
- He is obsessed about watching Judge Judy, he has to DVR all episodes
- EVERYTIME he gets in the car, he lays his suit coat in the back seat, belts himself in then puts on his glasses! In that order, the routine never changes
- He will only drink his milk if the glass has been in the freezer so the milk stays colder

Your a funny guy and I love you!!!

The Twelve days of christmas tag!

1 Embarassing moment: The first time I tooted in front of Keith!
2 Best Friends: Teri and Dana
3 Things I buy regularly: Gas and clothes hahaha
4 Places I want to go: Italy and New York at Christmas time
5 goals for the upcoming year: Lose this extra 10 lbs I have been complaining about for like 3 years. HAVE A BABY!!! there goes those ten lbs
6 things people don't know about me: I sleep walk, I secretly watch reruns of beverly hills 90210 and enjoy it! I sing very loud in my car. I count my steps in myhead as I walk (I am a freak) I actually cook very well!!!
7things i would never say: I have no shame, I say it all
8things i love about christmas: The lights, decorating the tree, all the movies you have seen for the past 15 years. The yummy food. The presents and seeing the looks on peoples faces when you get them something they really wanted.
9things i say to my kids: No kids, Next question
10 things i do a lot: Talk, vaccum, laundry, shop for clothes, get gas, shop for clothes, get gas, shop for clothes.... Do I need to go on
11 things i would rather not live without: Keith, my weave, running water, chocolate, being able to shop for clothes, family, pizza on the run (when I go home)
diet mt dew, blowdryer, makeup, electricity!
12 people I tag: Teri, Dana, Brook, Kara, Becky... Whoever else wants to. Do I even know 12 people hahahaha

Wedding Pics!!!

Here are a few of the wedding pics. We had close to 700 pictures so it was so hard to decide. My favorite is the one of Keith watching me walk down the aisle. He made me cry! Dang it!!!

Another Renae Padilla??

So I was at the DMV today attempting to change my last name and make Renae Ball official. While I was there, I was informed that I had a suspended license and had a warrant for my arrest with several outstanding tickets close to 4000.00!!! What?? I told her there must be some sort of a mistake. The lady explained to me that my license had been suspended since April! I was never informed of anything. At this point I am completely confused and now I am freaking out. I had gotten a speeding ticket a year ago september and had it reduced to a parking ticket and paid 90.00. How could I be in this deep over that?? After leaving, I contacted my lawyer friend that had helped me get the ticket reduced in the first place and explained to him what the situation was. He was just as confused as me. He looked me up in the records and it said I was paid in full. The DMV wasn't going to reinstate my license till the matter was cleared. After some investigating, we soon discovered that there is another Miss Padilla in Las Vegas who is a bad girl!!! Her full name is Rena Renee Padilla. She is a big time trouble maker and her charges were being put on my record and my charges were on her record making her look like an angel and me look like a criminal. She as born in the same year as me and with matching last names and matching ID numbers except for the last three digits, she was my evil twin in Las Vegas causing me all this drama. We finally got the mess cleaned up and the DMV was able to change my name. People beware, you may have an evil twin out there!!! HAHAHAHA

Thanksgiving Trip

Keith and I decided to come to Denver for Thanksgiving to see Teri and Dana. Living in Las Vegas makes me realize how far away I am from everything and all the people that I believe to be awesome. Coming to visit them is always so fun and it doesn't matter how much time has passed, you just pick up right where you left off. I am sure all of you have great friends like that. Keith and I got to go with Teri to see Justin off before he left for Afghanistan. It truly makes you realize how important family is and how great it is to have the kind of friends that will be there for you when times are the toughest. Teri is a strong woman. I am greatful to have her in my life. Dana, if and when you read this blog, your amazing too and I couldn't imagine us never talking or losing touch. You make me laugh and I always know when I need a pick me up, you are right there with a dumb remark:) Not trying to be sappy, just wanted to express my gratitude to these two amazing people. Thanks for everything.