Livin' Like a Gypsy.... EVERYWHERE!

First off....I want to wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!! We all have SO much to be THANKFUL for! This year has been a pretty GREAT one!

My little munchkin turned 2 and has also turned into a BIG-TIME Mommy's Girl. I just LOVE her and that she LOVES me so much!!

I LOVE my little family!!

My PRECIOUS little DOLLFACE!

 I've over-delivered my annual sales goal by 10%. I've gotten my AUCTIONEER'S LICENSE, broke into the BLOGGING world, been a part of 4 sets of my VERY GOOD FRIENDS gettin' hitched, finished my Bachelor's degree, caught the biggest Bull Red I've ever caught, the most bass I have EVER caught at one time, had the opportunity to VOLUNTEER and SERVE with several Non-Profit Groups and Organizations: Rockport/Fulton Mentor Program, TOWN Rockport, The Humane Society, Lions Clubs, VFDs....just to name a few..... I've had the OPPORTUNITY to work at some VERY UNIQUE auctions and with all this.... Met some GREAT NEW FRIENDS and made some GREAT MEMORIES with our long-time friends!!

Pohl Wedding in March!

My BEAUTIFUL best friend (cousin-in-law-ish now :)) where I had the HONOR of being Co-Matron of Honor!

My other BEAUTIFUL friend Brittany! (We are kinda cousin-in-law-ish now too!)
(P.S. I haven't gotten any pics from the last wedding yet, but I was just as HAPPY to be a part of it!)

100 White Bass! We all caught our limit! Had so much fun with Dayna, Dean, & David! (Cousin & Uncle-in-law).

My 1st Bull Red! Thanks Joey!

Along with this....I've kinda been LIVIN' LIKE A GYPSY....on the road!

We've been on the road all over the state it seems like ALL THE TIME! I'm not complainin'. I'M JUST SAYIN' that if you've EVER been to my house this year I hope you UNDERSTAND my Dis-organization. I was on the phone with a friend/client yesterday afternoon and he told me "You don't over-analyze. You just ORGANIZE your thoughts." I told him that I'm glad I can at least organize those because my office is a FIRE HAZARD, our pool table has turned into a LAUNDRY BASKET, & my car looks like I LIVE in it!

What can anyone expect when WE LIVE LIKE GYPSIES.... out of a suitcase...

We' ve spent A LOT of time back home which includes places like: Carmine, Round-Top, Walhalla, Warrenton, Fayetteville, LaGrange, Giddings, Burton. I've been to Bachelorette Parties in Austin, Port Aransas, San Antonio, and San Marcos. Then I spent a little over a week in Waco, some time in Houston. Kyle's been goin' to Sweeny Switch quite a bit (I went once) plus...he's been to South Texas on a bow hunt. I'm constantly on the road with work to places like Corpus Christi, Rockport, Portland, Sinton, Port Aransas, Odem, Ingleside, Taft, Gregory, Aransas Pass, Victoria, and Kingsville. Not to mention our "pretty much annual" FRIO trip to Concan! Robert Earl Keen said it best when he said "The road goes on FOREVER and the PARTY never ends." I'm just glad I've got myself a hardy TOYOTA!

Me and the bride at her Bachelorette Party in Austin!



Me & Kaysie Night #1 in Port A.



The entire group night #2 in Port A!

Night #1 of Brit's Bachelorette Weekend...havin'  a time at High Hill store.

Night on the town at the Riverwalk in San Antonio!

FRIO! We're a bunch!

I give FLIP CUP lessons! Lindsey's a CHAMP now :).

I'm tired just looking at this picture. Simpson & I "wrecked shop" until the wee morning hours.

H2K BABY!! (Heather, Kathryn, Kaysie)

The remaining FRIO survivors ;).

This stuff actually happens people! I roped Steph with the cooler rope that was tied to the tube!

I kind of beat myself up about my un-organized house and I spent a little time REFLECTING on WHY I can't get it together. It all makes sense now ;). What I am the most sad about is I didn't put up my Christmas tree this year. I know....GASP! Here's what it normally looks like and I've always been pretty proud of it.

Just as soon as I slowed down enough and thought about putting it up....Kyle brought to my attention that we would be hittin' the road again in a few short days......

No worries :). It may not be as FLASHY as I like, BUT KYLEE has to have a CHRISTMAS TREE!!

Tree with JUST Kylee's presents.

I dig my fish!

Kylee's 1st Ornament...

Last year's ornament. Slacker Mom still hasn't let her pick one out for this year...

Gotta have my peacock feathers!

Our little tree with EVERYONE's presents for all 4 Christmas gatherings we're going to in the next few days!

This year's wrapping paper...picked out by Kylee :)!

We can't forget about Patrick...

Or...Micky Mouse! If you guys see her, you should ask Kylee to say "Micky Mouse." It's pretty cute!

Folks....2012 looks like it could be full of EXCITEMENT and CHANGES just like 2011. You all better BUCK UP BABY if you want to go along for the ride! GO BIG OR GO HOME....or maybe do both! Who knows?! ;)

Kinda Sorta Hittin´ My Stride...

Hey EVERYONE!! Well, let me tell you.... The FRIO was SO MUCH FUN!! We might´ve been playin´ in puddles, but those puddles, good FRIENDS, (and some adult beverages) took most of my worries away...at least for a little while.

Me (girl in back with cap AND cowboy hat on) and my CrAzY friends on the river!



Me and Some of my pretty girlfriends!!

Just visitin´ with my gal pals and my HONEY!

 If you guys have never been to the FRIO RIVER you need to check it out. When you go...stop by The Frio´s Dry Fifty...click here! They have the COOLEST little t-shirt shop (that has LOTS more than t-shirts)! It is co-run by my dear friend Danna Korbell´s family (who is a TEXAS STATE BOBCAT)!!

The FRIO when there´s water in it!

Well everyone! I helped Uncle Mele at my 3rd Auction yesterday! It was to raise $$$ for the Burton Lions Club. I am SO HAPPY I could help out with this one. I have a real soft spot in my HEART for the LIONS CLUB in general. When my brother, sister, and I were real young the Carmine Lions Club held a benefit for my Daddy to help with medical bills. They were also the NON-PROFIT that supported me when I ran for FAYETTE COUNTY FAIR QUEEN. If that´s not enough...they also awarded me one of their SCHOLARSHIPS when I graduated high school. When I went to BLINN COLLEGE...I became a Blinn College CHARTER member of their Lion´s Club and now am going thru the process to become a ROCKPORT NOON LION! I´m going to get on my SOAPBOX for a little while, so here goes: The Lions Club needs YOUNGER MEMBERS to step up and help lay some foundation for the FUTURE of the organization. It is a FANTASTIC organization that HELPS those that need it within the COMMUNITY. I don´t do as much as I´d like to, but I don´t think it should be passed over when your looking to become active within the community. To check out more click here.

Now that I´ve finished recruiting new Lions... I wanted to SHARE a couple of things that I learned from this auction:
1) Not all PA systems work well inside a hall with a low ceiling.
2) I need to pay a little more attention to my bid callers AND the bidders.
3) Its much easier if you know everyone´s name OR they have bidder #s.

I have a VIDEO to share will ya´ll this time. It will show you what I mean by #1. To explain a little more on #2 and #3. I had a VERY GOOD bid caller on my right-hand side. He was lettin´ me know that I had a bidder (very NICE lady w/ a pretty blouse). Well....he also was telling me of ANOTHER BIDDER that was sitting (almost) right in FRONT of her....at the SAME table. Well...I saw the lady and I THOUGHT he was just MAKING SURE I had her. Well...he was ACTUALLY trying to tell me that the other GENTLEMAN wanted in on the bid. It was really NO BIG DEAL. We got it all straight. It is just really helping me to get a feel of the kind of situations that arise during an auction and what to pay attention to.

Like the title of my BLOG says....I FEEL LIKE I´M HITTIN´ MY STRIDE :)!! I didn´t really have the JITTERS anymore. I mean...I had some, BUT not like the last two auctions. I WAS READY TO GET BEHIND THE MIKE. TURN ME LOOSE! LET ME SELL SOMETHIN´!! I´ve still got LOTS of learnin´ to do, but I WANT TO BE AN AUCTIONEER :).

REALLY... I ENJOY it the more I do it. I can´t wait until the next one.

Uncle Mele told me I get to help at the CHURCH FEAST IN FAYETTEVILLE in a couple of weeks. It benefits ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH. THAT´S MY CHURCH!!! I´m pretty excited about it! PLUS...Mr. Rick Sodek (my Uncle´s Business Partner) will be auctioneering too and he hasn´t heard me yet! I want to APOLOGIZE ahead of time if I FORGET your name while I´m up there. BTW - I´ll be helping out at the tea stand too, SO come on by and visit while you wet your whistle :).

I want to give credit to some of my VERY GOOD friends that have helped me out. You´ll probably hear about them some more b/c they´re some of my runnin´ buddies :)!

Little Ms. Kacie Stanford (One of the geniuses behind the RoWdY MAUI Boutique and Clothing line), has been a VERY big help to me with all this BLOGGING business!! She´s been blogging for years and has really stopped me from "losing it" when I couldn´t get my background the right color or get it layed out the way I wanted. Plus...she probably heard my first blog a bunch of times b/c I´d call and ask..."Does that sound good? Is it too long? Is it interesting?" SO....I APPRECIATE YOU!! MUAH! You all need to check out her shop @ rowdymaui.com! The name says it all BUT to hear my definition: It is the most ROCKIN´, FANTABULOUS, ROOTIN´TOOTIN´IST, AWESOME boutique you´ll ever visit. You can´t go wrong with a place where your greeted by a turqoise and pink EARLESS donkey, DEER heads with PRETTY GLITTERY eyelashes, lawn gnomes that MOON you, and all the BRIGHT, FESTIVE, CRAZY colors that are inside and out. If you´re even a little bit ROWDY you´ll LOVE it!! You can also check out her blog @ pistolsandcupcakes.blogspot.com!

I also want to give a SHOUT OUT to my VERY DEAR and LONG TIME FRIEND...Ms. Shannon Buck!! She is the gal that took the pictures of me in my second blog. (She only did it because she loves me.) She specializes in engagement, senior, and wedding portraits. That girl is SO busy, but one thing is for sure. SHE CAN TAKE SOME PICTURES!! You can check them out at http://www.shannonbuckphotography.com/!

Thank you all for reading my blog!! I hope I see you all soon. You all get ready to BUCK UP at the next auction! I want to see all those hands up waving at me :)! Ya´ll take care until next time!!

Some of my Inspiration :)

THANKS again to everyone that keeps reading and to all you new-comers!!

I have a little lag time between my last auction and the next one in Burton, but I wanted to let everyone know about my inspiration :)...an UNCLE I have so much RESPECT for and that I will never be able to repay...My Uncle Melvin!


Here he is with my baby doll Kylee Jo and his long time Gal Pal Lillie. Folks...Ms. Lillie could sure use some prayers. She´s been diagnosed with the "ugly word." If you´ve got some time and would fold your hands and bow your heads I´d really appreciate it.

I look up to him very much. Not just for his auctioneering skills, but just him as a person. He gives, and gives, and gives, AND GIVES! I told him one day that he didn´t have to do all he did and he said "Heather, the good Lord put me here for a reason and this is one of them." Not only has he been VERY giving to my family all my life, but to his customers.

Uncle Melvin used to mainly haul cattle, and he´d go to a different sale almost every day of the week. We went with him EVERYWHERE as kids: Flatonia, Schulenburg, Columbus, Caldwell, Giddings, LaGrange...who knows where else...

We not only went with him to sales/auctions, but also to help him pick up cattle from ranchers around our home town and surrounding areas, doctored all sorts of livestock, AND helped him up at the holding pens (where they hold the livestock before they go to auction). We´d tag them in, write them up, all that kind of stuff.

Well...what has ALWAYS struck me is that everyone that Uncle Melvin helps with their cattle or their place or an auction is SO very LOYAL to him. He has hauled and at times doctored their cows for so long and never asks for much. GUYS...he´s been doing stuff like this since he was 15 or 16. That´s a long time!! If you´ve ever met him you know that he doesn´t talk a whole lot, but LET ME TELL YOU...actions speak WAY louder than words.

I used to work in the back at Lee County Stockyards and Giddings Livestock in Giddings (click here for their website) and it was a pretty regular thing to hear some of the cattle buyers complain a little bit, about Uncle Melvin working and working and working a bid to get the highest price yet. I can understand some of the frustration from a buyers stand point. Some of these guys drive a pretty long ways, just to have to get back home that night and get up and go to another sale the next day.  I can also understand it from a workhand´s perspetive too...especially when it´s HOT! Guys...I´ve seen auctions last INTO THE NEXT DAY! So...I get it.

Giddings Livestock Commission - Sale every Monday


HOWEVER, being in sales I know that Uncle Melvin´s number one priority as a business owner and as an auctioneer is to make that animal bring the absolute most for the seller. You have to respect him for that. His customers sure do.

YOU KNOW... it really is funny how the older you get, the clearer you see things and understand them, and appreciate them. Being in sales I know that you have to stand by your word, be honest, ´fess up when you make a mistake and do your ABSOLUTE BEST to fix it. Not all sales people are like that. What my goal is, as a salesperson (TV ad sales), is to become my clients´ friend, to really help them grow their business, and be successful. I am honest and I give them the most fair rates I can. I´m not just blowin´ smoke either. I do.  I HAVE  to give Uncle Melvin credit for that.

I have LOTS of FANTASTIC people in my life that inspire me or motivate me in SO many different ways, but I really have to give KUDDOS to UNCLE MELE. I wouldn´t have even thought about auctioneering if he didn´t do it. And now....I REALLY enjoy it.

Well guys...STAY TUNED! Show me some LOVE and LEAVE A COMMENT.  It gets kind of complicated to leave a comment sometimes...even for me, but I do like reading them. I´m not sure if my next blog will be about my next AUCTION, OUR ANNUAL FRIO TRIP, or just some RANDOMNESS. Whatever it is...I´ll try to make it entertaining. Remember to THROW THOSE HANDS UP and BUCK UP BABY!!

FRIO RIVER BABY!!

If you need to sell some "Moo Cows" as Kylee calls them :)...check out Giddings Livestock Commission....Sale every MONDAY!!!