The Way I Am

Projects

2011-09-06T12:11:00.002-04:00

I am really bad at updating blogs but I wanted to start posting some of my many hopeful upcoming projects. I have started to frequent pinterest.com and have fallen in love with the site. There are so many great crafts and DIY not to mention other wonderful links to all over the internet. It is like heaven for my ADD brain. I decided starting a list and prioritizing some of the things that I want to accomplish from the website might help me stay organized, haha. So here it is...

Gifts (can't post the actual project until they are completed and sent out)
Kitchen Island
I got the idea from here. Ours will be red to match the rest of the kitchen. We desperately need some more storage space in the kitchen.
Lack Tiled Side Table
I got this idea from two places. I wanted something different for our side table. Something that would add some more color. I saw this at IKEA Hackers and loved it but I couldn't find the right tiles to match our living room. Then I ran across this when I was Pinterest. So I am in the middle of first making 121 2x2 tiles with mod podge, some scrapbook paper, and clear gloss spray paint. After I am done with the tiles then I will glue them to the table and finally lay the grout. This project is almost complete and I will write a complete post along with picture on it when it is finished.
Family Rules Collage
Hopefully this will look something along the lines of this. I want something that I can hang in the living room, maybe framed to remind the kids of our rules.
Bored Jar
Love this idea. It is just what my kids need, especially my middle daughter. On days that she has misbehaved and lost TV and computer time she comes to me at least 25 times to let me know that she is bored. I think this may fix it.
Scrabble Coasters
A gift for my mom.
Detail Chore Cards and Incentives
This is something that I have worked on, on and off. I ran across another woman who did something similar and it reminded me that I needed to refresh mine and start back. I will make a separate post explaining how our incentive plan works or at least how I hope for it to work.
Towel Baskets in the Bathroom
Great idea for our very small bathroom!
Advent Calendar
I want to make sure the kids have an advent calendar this year. Now I just have to decide which one to make.

2011 Reads

2011-07-27T18:07:00.003-04:00

Spinning by Baron, Michael
Eyewall by Bernard, H.W. "Buzz"
Beautiful Disaster by McGuire, Jamie
TEMPUS by Lynn, Tyra
Her Perfect Revenge by Mara, Anna
One True Love by Freethy, Barbara
The House of a Thousand Candles by Nicholson, Meredith
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Johnson, Maureen
Water for Elephants by Gruen, Sara
How to be Cool by Johanna Edwards
Matched by Ally Condie
Crossed (Matched) by Ally Condie
Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck
Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck
Lifelines by C.J. Lyons
Mad River Road by Joy Fielding
Mothers and Other Liars by Amy Bourret
Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3) by Patricia Briggs
Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4) by Patricia Briggs
Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5) by Patricia Briggs
River Marked (Mercy Thompson, Book 6) by Patricia Briggs
Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1) by Patricia Briggs
Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini
Spinning by Michael Baron

Catching up my blogs...

2010-04-05T14:30:00.002-04:00

Life is crazy as usual! There is so much to do and I am so overwhelmed that sometimes it makes me just freeze up instead of getting things done. So very frustrating!

We are moving and I am excited about it but of course stressed at the same time. The new place is a good bit cheaper and Bill is moving in with me so we should be able to save some money. It is only about a quarter mile from where we are living now but moving is still a hassle! The house literally looks like a tornado went off in here. I am in the middle of taking the kids bunk beds apart as we speak and it is a pain in the ASS! Yup lots of stress!

Also lots of other things coming up. My calendar is packed full. There is a trip to Darlington this coming weekend to visit Bills mom, April 30 we are going to French Broad Music Festival, going to NJ on May 7th, after school camping trip the weekend after the kids get out of school, then the following Thursday we are flying to Florida for 4 days, then as soon as I get back I will probably being flying to NJ again.

Ok so it is no wonder that I am stressed. During all that I have to be packing, moving, starting my medications for this surrogacy, taking care of 3 (sometimes 4 kids), and working. How the hell am I going to survive?

Yet another 101 Goals update....

2010-01-17T18:14:00.002-05:00

I want to complete many of these goals but I get over welmed with the amount of things that I want to accomplish. I have decided instead of putting a date on when these things should be finished I will simply say that I will work on them and get them done when I can. I may delete and add to these things as my life continues to change. You never know where life is going to take you. If I only learned any one thing from the past year and a half it is that you never know so be prepared for the unexpected and be prepared to adjust goals, dreams, and priorities.

The Goals

"Daffodils" by William Wordsworth

2010-01-08T17:41:00.001-05:00

Thank you to the wonderful man who sent this to me today. You have made my life so beautiful.

"Daffodils" (1804)
I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

Meal Plan Monday

2010-01-05T21:49:00.004-05:00

So I am a day late posting but my my menu was done yesterday. I have found this great new online software that makes menu planning so much easier (http://www.mealsmatter.org). Add meals quickly to the calender and then select a date range and make a shopping list. East to navigate and lots of recipes in the data base. If you want to use one of your own recipes then add it to the database with a quick copy and pastes.

Tuesday: Cheesy Chicken Biscuit Cups
Wednesday: Farfalle with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce
Thursday: Leftovers or Frozen Pizza (Alexis has a basketball game)
Friday: Dinner at the Restaurant for Bill's Birthday (Happy Birthday Sweetie!)
Saturday: Chicken Potpie
Sunday: BBQ Chicken
Twice-Baked Potatoes
Monday: Jambalaya

Give Me Five Monday

2010-01-04T13:14:00.001-05:00

Five reasons I am thankful this year.
1. My children are awesome and all are healthy.
2. I have a loving family.
3. I have a wonderful boyfriend who loves me and has made my life so wonderful.
4. I have a chance at lots of new beginnings.
5. I have not only a job, but a place I love to work with an extended family there that makes it even better.

For more Give Me Five Monday participants check out BeccA's Buzz!

Update 101 Goals in 1001 Days

2009-09-06T11:58:00.003-04:00

Blue italics = in progress
Red bold = completed

Health and Fitness
1. One month with out sugar
2. Yoga or pilates one day a week
3. Get a relaxing massage 2x/year (0/6)
4. Chiropractor ever week for 2 months (0/8)
5. Take care of me 15 minutes every morning
6. Vitamins everyday for a month
7. Drop 10 pounds, and keep them off for the remainder of the project (0/10)
8. Get all my dental work completed
Personal, Self Improvement, and Well Being
9. Read or re-read 36 books and blog about them (0/36)
10. List a 101 movies I want to see and watch them.
11. No internet for one week (while at home)
12. Cut out caffeine for one month (0/1)
13. Write in my diary at least once a week (0/140)
14. Create a list of 101 things that make me happy
15. Get a tattoo
(completed since first list of goals posted. I am not sure it will be my last but it is a reminder of what I made it through and I am strong despite how I may have felt in the past.)
16. Get a make over
17. Dye my hair
18. Complete a year of school
19. Run a mile without stopping.
20. Walk once a week for at least a mile.
Relationships/Family
21. Hang out with friends outside the house once a week.
22. Spend a full 30 minutes with children each night completely uninterrupted for a month
23. Organize a picnic
24. Write a love letter
25. Weekend away twice a year (0/6)
26. Large family dinner once a month including mom, dad, Erin, Yancey, and Levon.
27. Tell those I love how much I appreciate them at least once a week.
28. Plan and do one family activity twice a month
29. Have a date night once a month (0/36)
30. Email Lynn and BJ once a month or have Alexis do it.
31. Go to the bar with girlfriends (no guys)
32. Be more involved at the kid’s school.
33. Send out Christmas cards.
34. Have one-on-one time with all three of my kids (an outing or activity of their choice) at least once per month.
35. Family dinner twice a week (0/286)
36. Create a family tree for my children
37. Put all my contacts into one, nice, organized address book.
38. Game night once a month (0/36)
39. Meet 2 new people to become friends with.
40. Get the kids involved in soccer
41. Go see Bobby twice a year
42. Schedule an activity filled summer for the kids
(Art, Outings, Science, Writing, and Reading)
Animals
43. Dog to the vet once a year (0/3)
44. Dog groomed and bathed twice a year (0/6)
45. Register dogs
Creativity
46. Catch up on children’s scrapbooks (0/3)
47. Take pictures of each of the children everyday for a month.
48. Read my book on using my camera.
49. Sit down with Ally once a week to bead.
50. Have a professional picture taken of the family
51. Make paper dolls for Anabelle
Work
52. Create a business plan for my Bakery/Catering business idea.
53. Finish Dad’s web site
54. Work on Travelin’ the Mountain Path web site
55. Continue work on Yancey’s web site
56. Finish training manuals
Community
57. Give blood 1x/year (0/3)
58. Vote at every opportunity
59. Pay it forward.
60. Donate clothes
61. Send something to a stranger via sendsomething.net once a month (0/33)
62. Pay for the people behind me in a fast food line
Financial
63. Clean up credit by paying of debts
64. Work towards buying a home
65. Save $1 for 1001 days (1/1001)
66. Keep check book balanced
67. Clip coupons & shop sales for everyday items & groceries for 3 months
68. Make a shopping Price Book
Travel
69. Take the kids to 3 different states a year (0/9)
70. Get a passport
71. Visit an attraction the kids would enjoy 3 times a year (0/9)
72. Take the kids camping once a year (0/3)
73. Hike once a month (0/36)
74. Go to New York to visit BJ
75. Go to Florida to visit Lynn
76. Complete list of 101 attractions to visit.
Purchases
77. Camcorder
78. 32” TV
79. 30 new DVDs (0/30)
80. New laptop
81. 30 Birthday cards that will fit anyone (use them)
Cooking and Food
82. Make 1 new recipe / week (total #)
83. Make a month meal plan and stick to it
84. Avoid McDonalds, Wendy’s, etc for one month
85. Include salads in with meals at least twice per week
86. Try a new restaurant 6 times a year (no kids)
Organization
87. Follow fly lady rules for one week
88. Then one month
89. Plan and follow a schedule for cleaning and organization including tidying, cleaning bathroom, vacuuming, washing, bedding. Include waking up at 6am.
90. Keep kitchen counter and sink clear of dishes 1 week x 6 (0/6)
91. Declutter the last corner of the house where things are lurking
92. Declutter: sell or give-away 101 material items I own
93. Clean out closet of unworn clothes 1x / year (0/3)
94. Print chore chart for the kids and use it!
95. Paint and organize kid’s room.
96. Paint and organize kitchen.
97. Clean attic and get rid of crap!
98. Clean out car once a month
99. Keep a to do list and update it daily in my planner
Random
100. Write a new 101/1001 list on October 10, 2010
101. Celebrate success by buying a fabulous memento on day 1001

New Beginings

2009-09-06T11:15:00.002-04:00

So as usual it has been a while since I have been in the blogosphere. It is very interesting to go back and look at my previous post because I have found myself in a much better place right now. So much has happened in the past year and it has been a very long healing process but I feel better then I have in a long time. There was a rainbow at the end of the storm.

So this morning I have been cleaning. Or I am supposed to be cleaning. Haha! I came across my 101 Goals in 1001 Days list. While I have completed some of them most I have not but writing them has still made me think about them every now and again so I have decided to renew them. Some are obsolete at this point so a fresh start is good. Maybe I will keep up with them a little better this time. Most of them are things that I would really like to accomplish. So look for them in the next post...

I need to write...

2009-02-02T18:40:00.003-05:00

I need to get out all the pain, frustration, aggravation, and every other damn emotion I am unable to shake. I try to write to get some of these emotions out on paper but my thoughts become a jumbled mess. In my head they are clear. It is clear what I need to say or write but when it comes to getting it out whether on paper or out of my mouth it comes out in a jumble. I wish it came easier to me. I think it would make things easier if my mind could connect the two; from what I think to what I write or say. Who knows maybe I am not making any sense as I write this very blog but at this point I don't care. I need to write. I may just decide to delete it anyway. I always feel bad for those who come to read my blog with my very unclear thoughts. But anyway... on to what I actually came here to do. To vent...

Hmmmm....

Where do I begin...

My ex, this is where the pain, frustrations, aggravation, and every other emotion begins and ends anyway isn't it. OK well maybe not ends but this is defiantly where it began. He or maybe me or maybe both is where this mess all started. Why do i focus on all the things that I can not change. Simply focusing on the fact that I may not have been wife of the year but I certainly didn't deserve this. Why focus on that, whether I deserved it or not it has happened and there is nothing that will change it. Move on damn it! I also find myself talking to my ex like he is my best friend. While some people would think this is great, at this point it is not healthy for me to call him sobbing. Granted at this point I don't have anyone but my family to call because friends seem to be scarce. Calling my ex just makes the pain worse the next day. I know this and I still pick up the phone. And sometimes he listens and comforts me and other times he gets defensive and angry. This is not healthy for either of us. But what else do I do when I am sitting in my quiet house at 11 at night crying because I feel lost and lonely? What do you do when your best friend is your ex who betrayed you in the worst possible way?

Speaking of best friends... What the hell happen to my best girlfriend? I have always known she was self absorbed. I have always known that when it came to choosing a guy over her friends the guy would win. And not just choosing but we are talking completely forgetting she has friends to devote her entire life to a guy who she will get tired of in 6 months. Who cares that I am the one who never missed a single doctor appointment when she was pregnant with her daughter or that I allowed her to live with me rent free in a time of need. She left me walking on the side of the road for God's sake. I found out my husband has a love child and instead of picking me up she left me walking on the side of the road because she had a party to go to. Why do I even consider her a friend much less my best friend? Why do I miss her now that we aren't speaking? And to set the record straight, she is not speaking to me because I called her out on the fact that she wasn't being a good friend. Did she really think she was?

On to the most recent frustration in my life... I hate having to start over in the dating scene. It sucks. I keep seeing the commercial for the new movie, "He's Just Not That in to You". I want to make that trailer disappear because every time I see it I question my very new relationship. I question it even more with the lack of communication over this past weekend and the unanswered texts. He has a lot on his plate but couldn't he just let me know that we are ok and that he will be back in touch as soon as everything is settled. I guess he can't really say "we" are ok because we never talk about us. And maybe that is the issue. I was all about talking about feelings before but with everything that has happened I have become uncommunicative I don't talk about how I am feeling and since he doesn't either it all just goes unsaid. Not sure how to solve this one either. Do I tell him how I feel or do I just go with the flow?

There are so many unanswered questions in my life right now. I hate unanswered questions. I like to have a plan. I have no plan. Where do I go from here? I probably ask myself that question a hundred times a day. It is driving me nuts. I think I am actually going crazy! So here it is, my jumbled thoughts. My spelling is horrific, my grammar is terrible, and on top of that I have no idea what I am saying but I need to write! Sorry to those who are actually reading this.

Oh and my solution to all this tonight... Drink to much wine!

Sick Day Tuesday

2009-01-27T15:48:00.006-05:00

So the girls and I have not been feeling great. Alexis stayed at home yesterday and then today Anabelle wasn't feeling really well either, so then of course Riley wasn't feeling well. So we all stayed home and have spent our day on the couch watching tv, doing homework, and just relaxing.

They really look like they feel bad.

This one on the other hand I think he is feeling fine.

I am including Alexis' poem that she had to write for class. When I first saw the assignment I thought we will have fun with this and it won't be that hard... Two hours later this is what we came up with. We wanted a theme so we finally decided science since it is Alexis' favorite subject. The poems are called Alphabet Alliteration Poems.
First word has to be an adjective, second a noun, and third a verb, and they all have to start with the same letter for each letter of the alphabet.

Silly Science Sentences
by Alexis Lamar

Active air answers
Bubbly bacteria boils
Curious computers caclulate
Dramatic dinosaurs discover
Evil electricity explodes
Freaky fossils fade
Grumpy galaxies guard
Humorous humans hammer
Icy inventors identify
Jumpy joints join
Kind knowledge kills
Lumpy life lasts
Mindful magnets matter
Noisy nature needs
Outgoing oceans overflow
Painful planets punch
Quiet quark questions
Raging robots race
Shy space scares
Tasteful time teases
Understanding universe unites
Vicious volcanoes vandalize
Wonderful water whirls
X-rated x-ray xeroxes
Youthful year yodels
Zany zones zigzag

And can't forget Anabelle's creativity today. Anabelle loves to take pictures. There are hundreds on her camera and I never know what to do with them. So some of the ones she took today I made it to a simple collage so I could share her hobby.

Can you tell what her favorite thing to take pictures of is. Poor dog has been forced to pose all day long, that or teased with a toy so she would try to climb the walls or do any other trick Anabelle thought would be fun to take a picture of.

TMI Tuesday #2

2009-01-27T11:24:00.003-05:00

TMI Tuesday - Movie Edition

1. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
High School Musical 3 Woohoo! LOL
2. What is your favorite movie theater snack?
Hmmmm... probably just a big bad of any chocolate candy.
3. Have you ever snuck in 'outside' food into a theater?
Of course who hasn't, they rip you off at the theater.
4. Have you ever made out in a theater?
I think that I may have kissed someone in the theater but nothing more then that.
5. What is the 'farthest' you have gone in a theater?
Like I said, probably just a kiss.

Bonus: What is one of your favorite movie sex scene?
The sex scene in Thomas Crown Affair. It is quite sexy!

Ten on Tuesday #1

2009-01-27T10:31:00.010-05:00

10 Favorite Articles of Clothing You Own

Here is mine and a couple of pictures I have taken in them.

1. Black rue21 sweater. Paid $20.
2. Grey dress pants from rue21. On sale for $12.
3. Black short sleeve shirt from rue21. Paid $15.
Seeing a trend? This is the outfit I wore on my first date with Scott! :)

4. Black ruffly tank top that I got from Silver Buttons.
5. Jean skirt that I got from Silver Buttons.
6. Black Steve Madden boots that I got at Silver Buttons for $30. I LOVE THEM!!!

7. A gray shirt that I got from Silver Buttons. Probably no more the $10.
8. Gray button up sweater that is sooooo soft and cozy! Got it from JCPennys for $12.
9. My black pea coat. It was a gift.
10. Any pair of jeans, I love a good pair of Jeans.

This list makes me want to drive down to Silver Buttons on Saturday! I may have to do that!
Favorites

Monday Movie Meme

2009-01-26T12:23:00.005-05:00

Featured Presentation from Monday Movie Meme
Musicals...

Mama Mia - although after my 9 year old playing the songs over and over again on the CD player I am not sure I will ever be able to enjoy the movie again.
Sounds of Music - This movie will hold a place in my heart forever because it was the movie I always watched with my grandmother as a child.
Beauty & The Beast - Yes I know it is animated but I love the song Belle sings in the beginning. Yes I am a dork.
Rocky Horror Picture Show - Funny for this to come after a Disney movie but this was my favorite all through high school. We watched it over and over.
My Fair Lady and Singing in the Rain - two others I watched a lot with my grandma as a child.

And while on this topic I have to comment how interesting I think it is that Musicals are making a comeback with the younger generation. There were a couple when I was a kid but all the movies that my daughters even watch these days are Musicals. All the High School Musicals, Camp Rock, Another Cinderella Story, the Cheetah Girl Movies, and Hair Spray are more popular then anything else right now. And yes I have seen them all, although you will notice I haven't included any of them in my favorites.

Meal Plan for the Week

2009-01-26T07:49:00.000-05:00

Mission Accomplished, the first week was a success!!! I followed my plan and made a weeks worth of great dishes!

Monday ~ Leftovers from the week before. Kids have a sitter and Scott and I are going out for Sushi, mmmmmm!
Tuesday ~ Three Cheese Tortellini w/ Pesto and roma tomatoes
Wednesday ~ Beef Stroganoff
Thursday ~ Chicken and Vegetable Stir-fry
Friday ~ Pizza or Stouffer's Meal
Saturday~ Garlic Shrimp and Butter
Sunday ~ Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2009-01-26T06:15:00.003-05:00

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY...
Outside my window... is a town that I love. I cannot say enough how much looking out my new bedroom window and having a view of a town that has raised me and loved me since I was a child has helped my heart heal. We have been in the new house a month now and each day I realize what a blessing it is and what it is doing for us all.

I am thinking... how nice it would be if I would start feeling better and my nose would stop running. I have been sick twice in a month and a half and it is really getting old.

I am thankful for... so many people right now because with out them I would have not survived the last 5 months; my children, my family, Scott, my ladies at 3LM, and my extended family at the Purple Onion.

From the kitchen... came 6 fabulous meals this week. Thanks to Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday! My favorite being the Beef Fillet with Bacon and Gorgonzola Sauce. It is the first time in my life that I have ever cooked a fillet and it came out amazing! Scott seemed to like it too.
I am wearing... my favorite gray shirt (which needs to be mended soon) and jeans. Nothing too exciting.
I am creating... a new blog which is coming along nicely and giving me something fun to do. I am also creating an office/craft room which I am very exciting. I can not wait to get back to creating scrapbook pages and actually having the room to spread out.

I am going... to go and eat sushi at Umi tonight with Scoot and then go grab a drink at The Black Rose so we can say hello to Dana. I have been craving Umi since I left the first time we tried it. It is amazing sushi in downtown Hendersonville NC. I am getting avocado rolls, tuna rolls, and the rolls with crab in them (can't remember what they are called).

I am reading... Some Other Place, The Right Place by Donald Harrington. And of course I am reading my daily dose of internet. I started getting in to reading a couple of blogs because that has become my new thing. I am reading 3LM of course. My military wives keep me sane! Love you girls! And then reading what ever else random thing I come across on the internet.

I am hoping... that I will be feeling better tomorrow so that I can work. Also hoping that the kids are feeling better tomorrow so that they can go to school. I really can't afford to take the days off.

I am hearing quiet which is very unusual in my house. Nothing but the sound of me typing and my labored breathing due to this cold. I love nights and early mornings for this reason. While I love my children it is always nice to have just a little but of quiet!

Around the house there is peace because it is clean and has stayed that way for a month. I can not tell you how good that feels! I don't know why it was so hard in the past to keep a clean house but it just never seemed to be neat and tiddy. Now that it is just me and the kids I am able to get it clean and still have the time to spend time with the kids and take some time for myself. The only thing in the house that needs to be done is the laundry and I blame this darn cold.

One of my favorite things is to curl up with my babies and watch a movie on the couch. We have been doing that a lot lately. The girls and I weren't feeling well yesterday so we curled up and watch the Titanic. Boy did I forget how long of a movie that was. But it was good and afterwards we all felt a little better and were able to get some chores done around the house.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Well work and school of course... then tonight is Sushi night and the kids have a sitter, Wednesday is LOST night and Scott is coming over, Thursday is Grey's Anatomy, and the rest of the week is pretty free. Hopefully I will come up with some things to do to keep us busy. It also feels like I am forgetting something but I can't think of what.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

because now that I have written about sushi, it is all I can think about!

StumbleUpon #2

2009-01-25T20:10:00.006-05:00

So a friend of mine who is also addicted to StumbleUpon sent me this picture and it made me laugh so I had to share it.

And of course below five sites that I stumbled across tonight...

1. Guess the Google - look at the pictures and try to guess what the google image search was. Kind of cool.
2. Unusual (and fun) Date Ideas - Some of these would actually be fun to try. Some are a little too out there LOL!
3. ZooBorns - Awwwww baby animals! How cute!
4. Reflections of Life with LEGO - Pretty cool but some people obviously have too much time on their hands.
5. Raised Doughnuts - Mmmmmmmm I am going to have to make these some day!!!

Hopin' to Begin Scrappin' Again

2009-01-25T12:08:00.004-05:00

I have been trying to get my office/homework/craft room organized in the new house. This was one of the rooms that I was most excited about. It is also the most daunting room that I had to tackle. So yesterday I went about beginning the organizing process. I bought a couple more plastic drawers, made labels (I LOVE LABELS), and started putting things in their place. I am a bit of a freak when it comes to my organizing things. So here is what I have so far.

It has been 6 months since I have scrapbooked so I am hoping to get started again now that I have a special room and a table (besides the dinning room table) to scrap at!

Maybe I will have a before and after picture for Tackle it Tuesday!

Weekly Wrapup #1

2009-01-25T10:54:00.003-05:00

In the past week, have you made or gone to any appointments?
Yep

If so, what were they?
An appointment with Deb.

Do you generally live on schedule or are you more of a walk-in type of person?
I try to keep a schedule. With three kids you kind of half to but unfortunately I am not a BOP (born organized person).

If you make an appointment do you try to show up early, on time or fashionably late?
I try to show up on time or early but with three kids that isn't always possible.

Should I be offended?

2009-01-23T19:28:00.005-05:00

I wait tables at my families restaurant a couple days a week. Make decent tips for the most part. This is defiantly the most unusual. This came from a group of ladies who looked to be successful middle age women.

So the check was $29 and the tip ended up being $5.50. So it comes out to be a 19% tip. Was the change still an insult? Be truthful!

Idiots of 2008

2009-01-23T19:20:00.002-05:00

Number One Idiot of 2008
I am a medical student currently doing a rotation in toxicology at the
poison control center. Today, this woman called in very upset because she
caught her little daughter eating ants. I quickly reassured her that the ants
are not harmful and there would be no need to bring her daughter into the
hospital. She calmed down and at the end of the conversation happened to mention
that she gave her daughter some ant poison to eat in order to kill the ants. I
told her that she better bring her daughter in to the emergency room right away.

Here’s your sign, lady. Wear it with pride.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Number Two Idiot of 2008
Early this year, some Boeing employees on the airfield decided to steal
a life raft from one of the 747s. They were successful in getting it out of the
plane and home. Shortly after they took it for a float on the river, they
noticed a Coast Guard helicopter coming toward them. It turned out that the
chopper was homing in on the emergency locater beacon that activated when the
raft was inflated.
They are no longer employed at Boeing.
Here’s your sign,guys. Don’t get it wet; the paint might run.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Number Three Idiot of 2008
A man, wanting to rob a downtown Bank of America, walked into the
Branch and wrote this, ‘Put all your money in this bag.’ While standing
in line, waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone
had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the
teller’s window. So he left the Bank of America and crossed the street to
the Wells Fargo Bank. After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to
the Wells Fargo teller. She read it and, surmising from his spelling errors that
he wasn’t the brightest light in the harbor, told him that she could not
accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of America deposit slip
and that he would either have to fill out a Wells Fargo deposit slip or go back
to Bank of America.
Looking somewhat defeated, the man said, ‘OK’ and left. He was
arrested a few minutes later, as he was waiting in line back at Bank of America.
Don’t bother with this guy’s sign. He probably couldn’t
read it anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Number Four Idiot of 2008
A motorist was unknowingly caught in an automated speed trap that;
measured his speed using radar and photographed his car. He later received in
the mail a ticket for $40 and a photo of his car. Instead of payment, he sent
the police department a photograph of $40. Several days later, he received a
letter from the police that contained another picture, this time of handcuffs..
He immediately mailed in his $40.
Wise guy……..
But you still get a sign
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Number Five Idiot of 2008
A guy walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all
of the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the
robber saw a bottle of Scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf.
He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but the cashier refused and
said, ‘Because I don’t believe you are over 21.’ The robber said he
was, but the clerk still refused to give it to him because she didn’t
believe him. At this point, the robber took his driver’s license out of his
wallet and gave it to the clerk.
The clerk looked it over and agreed that the man was in fact over 21
and she put the Scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his
loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of
the robber that he got off the license.
They arrested the robber two hours later.
This guy definitely needs a sign.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Idiot Number Six of 2008
A pair of Michigan robbers entered a record shop nervously waving
revolvers.
The first one shouted, ‘Nobody move!’ When his partner moved,
the startled first bandit shot him.
This guy doesn’t even deserve a sign.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Idiot Number Seven of 2008
Arkansas: Seems this guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that
he’d just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some
booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at
the window. The cinder block bounced back knocking him unconscious. It seems the
liquor store window was made of Plexi-Glass.
The whole event was caught on videotape.
Yep, here’s your sign.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Idiot Number Eight of 2008
We live in a semi-rural area, (Weyauwega , Wisconsin), and we recently
had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the
removal of the Deer Crossing sign on our road. The reason: ‘Too many deer
are being hit by cars out here! - I don’t think this is a good place for
them to be crossing anymore.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STAY ALERT! They walk among us, they REPRODUCE
. . . and they VOTE!

Friday Fill-ins #1

2009-01-23T18:25:00.005-05:00

1. Oh, I am so very very tired!!!

2. Life changes, big and little.

3. During my shows, I play on the internet too.

4. Roommates; are you kidding me???

5. Right now I'd like to be curled up on the couch with someone special!

6. I would have to say my laptop is my favorite gadget.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to sleep, tomorrow my plans include cleaning and a trip to wally world and Sunday, I want to maybe drive up to Asheville to see my sister and the baby Levon's nursery!

Thursday Thunk #1

2009-01-22T20:17:00.005-05:00

1. Obama tattoos. What do you think of people who got one?

Ummm this is weird! I like tattoos, I have a couple myself. But getting the president tattooed on you doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But I guess each to their own... it's their body.

2. How many blogs do you read a day, and do you always comment?
Not that many right now, I need to start reading more and commenting more.

3. Do you know to swim?
Yes I know how to swim.

4. Describe your favorite shirt.
The favorite shirt I own...
is probably a black shirt that I have. It is short sleeve with a nice squared off neckline.

5. What is one thing that is ALWAYS on your grocery list? Extra points for imagination and creativity.
I don't really have that imaginative or creative grocery list. Almost always on my list is probably cereal, we go through it like crazy!

6. Have you ever done any acting?
Yep, my entire family did the production of Cinderella when I was kid. My dad was the herald which was hilarious!

7. I just made a delicious smelling dinner with mystery meat. Will you have some?
Probably not because I am kind of picky about the meats I eat. I don't like to eat cute things. LOL! Yes I just said that.

8. If you are driving in the rain and you see a person walking along the road, do you intentionally try to splash them?
No, of course not! I am a really, really nice person.

9. Yearbooks- do you still have any from school?
Yep, three or four.

10. What kind of shampoo do you use?
Pantene Pro V right now. I change in all the time.

11. And just to counter Ber's first question from last week.... What's the hottest temps you have experienced?
Probably not too hot, no more then 100.

Booking Through Thursday ~ Inspired

2009-01-22T19:42:00.004-05:00

Since “Inspiration” is (or should) the theme this week … what is your reading inspired by?

My reading is inspired by a book that takes me somewhere else and transports me in to someone else's life. I am inspired with good descriptive writing a quality characters. A book where even if you know it is impossible it makes the situation so real you believe that it is actually happening to you. Where fantasy becomes reality!

That's My Answer - LOST!

2009-01-21T17:53:00.005-05:00

Question from "That's My Answer"
The season premiere of Lost is tonight, are you watching it? What is your all time favorite episode? And here’s the big question: Jack or Sawyer?

Of course!!! Can't wait to watch it. I got hooked on the DVDs and watched all of them up until now last month. So Scott and I are curling up on the couch to watch them tonight! YAY!!!

I think my all time favorite episode would be the episode with the VW bus! I love them driving along with the music playing! Great episode!

Hmmmm Jack or Sawyer???? That is a tough one! I think it may depend on the season. I liked Jack less and less as season 4 progressed and then Sawyers act of kindness in the end of season 4 made me really like him. He gave up a lot! He might now have realized how much he gave up but it was still quite a selfless act! We will see what happens with season 5!

I want... Wednesdays

2009-01-21T17:26:00.004-05:00

What do you want to teach your (Current, future, or fictional) children.
I want to teach my children to be respectful (to all), independent, responsible, and self-sufficient.

What else do you want this week? Feel free to share it all.
Tonight I want my dinner to come out tasting fabulous!

TMI Tuesday

2009-01-21T17:20:00.006-05:00

1. Have you ever dated/married purely for money?
Nope! You would just end up unhappy and money doesn't bring happiness.
2. What is your type?
My type I guess would be someone handsome with a sense of humor. Kind, loving, and a romantic. As far as features, I love brown eyes and nice arms.
3. What is the best sex game you have ever played?
Haven't really ever played a sex game. I know I need to get on that!
4. Have you ever given or received an orgasm from a person whose last name you did not know?
Yep, I think I have. Or at least I can't remember it now.
5. Have you ever masturbated in front of a sexual partner?
Yea

Bonus (as in optional):At what age do you think men and women reach their sexual peak? Do you think you have hit yours yet?
Men reach theirs at about 20-25, woman a little later around 30. I am not sure, I don't think so but how would you know if you haven't reached it yet.

Love a good deal!!!

2009-01-21T08:07:00.008-05:00

So yesterday I went in search for dinnerware. I have been looking for plates that I like for sometime but I am very picky and also don't want to pay a fortune. Well yesterday I really wanted to find the perfect set because Scott was coming over for dinner and I had a great meal planned. Of course I had to have the perfect dinnerware. With kids in tow I went to 3 stores and had about given up. I talked them in to one more store with the promise that we would be in and out in 27 seconds. We went into World Market which I usually consider to to be expensive. Walk in and didn't see anything. On the way out I found them!!! 50% OFF!!! Got a set of 6 for under $30 and on top of that I got bamboo placemats and beautiful napkins which all look great together! So yes I had to take a picture because I was so excited about my purchase and how great my table looks!

The pictures aren't the greatest, I took them with Anabelle's camera and they didn't come out great.

I meant to take pictures of dinner to because I was so proud of it! We had rosemary pork tenderloin and rosemary roasted potatoes with a Greek salad. It came out beautiful except for the meat being a little overcooked which I am notorious for. Always afraid that it won't be cooked through. Oh well, Scott and the kids loved it and they all cleaned their plates. That's all that matters.

So all in all it was a successful day! And for anyone who needs dinnerware or anything else for their home, World Market is having an awesome sale on everything. Furniture included!

Monday's a Bitch

2009-01-19T17:37:00.007-05:00

Another meme to pass the time. Yes I just go through and find Memes to do on the internet. LOL! I find most of them on thedailymeme.com.But it gives me something to write about and you learn more about yourself through writing. So even if no one reads them at least I learned something about myself. Right?

If my life were a movie....
1. What would be the title?
Crazy in my World
2. What would be the tag line?
Another mother consumed by the everyday struggle to survive.
3. Who would be the main characters? Who would you cast to play them?
The characters would be Me of course played by Jennifer Connelly, although I am not sure why, she is a lot hotter then me but it seemed to fit. My children played by themselves because no one could pull of the part like they can. The wicked ex and a handsome new suitor would of course be in the cast.
4. What would be the climax in the story?
The climax have be the weekend of my trip to Atlanta. I think that may be the climax in my life not just my movie.
5. What song would play for the closing credits?
The end would show a perfect day with no worries and the song playing would be "Beautiful Day" by U2

I have a dream!

2009-01-19T12:01:00.003-05:00

What a great day to write about your dream. I got the idea from the Meme Express and decided to go for it. I have many dreams; some are big, some are small, some are personal, and some are dreams for the world to share. This will be nowhere close to the beautiful speech that Martin Luther King delivered and unfortunately not as inspirational but it is important to me to think about what my dreams are so that one day I can say, I accomplished my most sought after dreams.

For myself I dream that my children will grow to be successful adults and maybe by some far off chance I will have played a positive roll in their success. I dream that I will be able to travel the world, nothing extravagant, just enough to learn what is out there and to satisfy my curiosities. I dream that I will own my own house, nothing big, in the middle of enough acreage that I will be able to frolic naked without the blinds closed or my neighbors thinking I am crazy (although they will probably be right). And I dream that one day, as an old woman I will sit on the porch of this house in the mountains of North Carolina with a man that I love and we will be able to talk about our life and realize that I have accomplished what I set out to achieve and all is complete. What more could you ask for then that.

For the world I dream big and while I can't control whether these things happen I can dream and pray for them to become reality. We live in a time of great adversity. We have much to overcome and I dream that things will become easier in my lifetime. There will always be strife and conflict but I dream that my children will grow in a world where there is less of it. I dream that our soldiers can soon come home to their families. I dream that less people will have to worry about how they are going to pay for their next meal. I dream that the world is a kinder and more peaceful place to live. I know that everyone says these things but the more people that dream and hope the more it is possible to overcome.

The next question in the prompt asked whether I believed if dreams came true. To answer this I must point out the dream of the man we celebrate today. A dream made in a time where people felt like there was no hope and no justice. And look what has become of that dream today. One day after we celebrate the man who dreamed big for those of all races, we will swear a man in as President of the United States of America whose comes from not only a race other than white but he is biracial. So can dreams come true? The simple answer is of course they can. Will all my dreams come true? Only time will tell!

Where I've Been & Where I'd Like to Go!

2009-01-19T10:32:00.004-05:00

I would love to be able to travel more in my life. I always said when I reached fourty and the kids were out of the house I would travel as much as I could. I have decided that I don't want to wait that long and I am going to try and start marking off my lists as soon as possible.

I found this super cool program where you can list all the places you have been, lived, and would like to go. I added the places that I would most like to go. There are more that I want to go to but if I did that they whole map would be green. So here it is, my list!

Menu Plan for the Week

2009-01-19T06:16:00.004-05:00

Working to better organize my house and my life... The next step... Dinner!

Monday ~ Hamburgers w/ French Fries
Tuesday ~ Rosemary Pork Tenderloin w/ Ranch Roasted Potatoes & Greek Salad
Wednesday ~ Beef Filet with Bacon and Gorgonzola Butter
Thursday ~ Jessica's Chicken Nuggets, Mash Potatoes, and Mac-n-cheese
Friday ~ Pizza
Saturday ~ Pork Chops and Potato Casserole
Sunday ~ Mediterranean Chicken Alfredo

Some of these I have made before; some of them I have not. We will see how it goes.

StumbleUpon #1

2009-01-18T23:13:00.005-05:00

Since I don't already have enough to do I have gotten addicted to StumbleUpon. I button that is now on my tool bar that allows me to come stumble upon web page after web page. At times I will run across a page that I really want to share so what better place to do that then on my blog!

So five sites that I ran across while stumbling tonight.

1. A Rainbow Cake ~ How cool is this! I can't wait to try this at the next kids birthday party. Never seen anything like it!
2. Bomomo ~ No idea what is up with the name or what the real point is but it is fun to play with the colors and shapes!
3. 26 Cakes Perfect for Geeks ~ Not sure what is up with the cakes tonight but these are hilarious!
4. People Bucket ~ You seriously have to be wondering what people are thinking when they are writing the programing for some of these silly internet games.
5. Face your Pockets ~ This is a pretty cool project! Wish I had a scanner and something interesting in my pockets or my purse to make mine really cool but I have neither.

Recipe Index: A work in progress...

2009-01-18T18:44:00.007-05:00

My blog is going to be a little bit of everything that I am working on in my life and also things I can share with others that may also help in their lives. So tonight I am starting on my weekly meal planning. I have started this 4 or 5 times and never get it done like I want it. So maybe sitting here in front of the computer I can accomplish at least making an index of a bunch of recipes that I know the kids like or that look good and I want to try.
The idea came from...

Check her out! There is a lot of great information on here.

Beef

Spaghetti and Meatballs ~ we could eat this once a week and the kids still wouldn't get enough.
Lasagna
Beef Stroganoff
Beef Teriyaki
Tacos
Hamburger w/ Fries
Beef Stew
Beef Fillet with Bacon and Gorgonzola Sauce - Great

Chicken

Polynesian Chicken
Chicken Pot Pie
Breaded Chicken w/ Mash Potatoes & Green Beans
Chicken Enchiladas w/ Black Bean & Corn Salsa
BBQ Chicken w/ Corn on the Cob & Mash Potatoes
Chicken Stir-fry
Mediterranean Chicken Alfredo (add Kalamatas, Spinach and Feta to this recipe.) - I thought it was great but the kids weren't so keen on it. I will probably still make it again.
Oven Fried Chicken
Jessica's Chicken Nuggets, Mash Potatoes, and Mac-n-cheese - Love these chicken nuggets!

Pork

Pork Chops and Potato Casserole - Eh, it was so so. Not a lot of flavor but the kids ate it.
Zataran's Jambalaya w/ Sausage, Corn, & Tomatoes
Pork Tenderloin w/ Mash Potatoes, Broccoli
Breaded Pork Chopped w/ Green Beans & Roasted Potatoes
Rosemary Pork Tenderloin w/ Rosemary Roasted Potatoes & Greek Salad - Good

Meatless

Seafood

The house...

2009-01-18T13:03:00.006-05:00

before we moved in!

The kids loving the new place!!!

Are the a great looking group of kids or what?!

The living room...

The office...

The dinning room...

The kitchen...
It has a dishwasher which is probably my favorite part of the house. After 5 years of washing dishes by hand I am loving it!!!

The laundry room...

The downstairs bathroom...
Oh and the second bathroom is another big plus.

The stairs...
The picture of the duck was from the previous owners. Still haven't taken it down. LOL

The upstairs bathroom...
Love the big mirror and all the drawers!

The kids room...

The cubby holes....
All the bedrooms have one of these. The kids have build a great little hideout in theirs!

My bedroom...
and one of my favorite rooms in the house. It looks over down town Saluda! I love being able to wake up and look out at the town I love!

The third bedroom...
Right now Kara is in this room but it will eventually be Riley's room.

Hopefully I will post pictures with the place all put together in the next month but right now I still have lots of decorating to do!

A year later...

2009-01-17T15:38:00.004-05:00

Well it has been exactly a year since I wrote my last blog entry. There have been lots of change in my life and I think this would be a good time to start writing again. I have been preaching to myself about the chance for a new beginning for a couple months now. While many of these changes have caused much more heartache then I ever expected to have to endure in a lifetime, they are also giving me the chance to start over.

The exciting changes begin with a chance to start over with a new home. We left the negativity and clutter of the old house and moved to a new place in the heart of the town a love. My bedroom even looks over the town so that when I awake in the morning and am feeling lonely I can look out and remember all the people in this town that love me and are looking out for me. The kids love being in town, close to their friends, a walk away from the park and school, and closer to family. So although it was a little more of a financial burden it has caused a lot more positive changes then I ever thought it could!

As far as those I am surrounding myself with, my new motto is "Never make someone a priority, when they only make you an option". I have felt betrayed by a lot of those that I considered to be good friends and have decided to let this too go. New beginnings, new friends! I am going to surround myself with those that will be there for me like I am for them. I would not have made it through this with out a couple people who have stayed true and really been there for me. I could not have survived without Jamie. She has come to my rescue more then once and listened every time I needed a friend.
Then the ladies at 3ML! Although many of them I have never met I would have been lost without their kind words and their wisdom. Whether I am a military wife or not I know that I can always count on them. Also my extended family at the restaurant has been so wonderful through this all. Lots of thank yous go out to all these people.

A change that I am still a little reluctant to talk about is a new friend in my life. Don't want to ruin anything by making to big deal about it but he is a great guy and whatever it becomes we will at least be great friends.

Some quotes that help defined some of these changes:
"Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway."
"I will not live the life that someone else thinks that I should live!" ~ My own personal quote
"Never make someone a priority, when they only make you an option."
"Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has yet to come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

Snow Day

2008-01-17T19:15:00.002-05:00

To begin with I love the snow. We haven't had a good snow in about 2 years so I was very excited when it started last night.

5:30 am

This morning when hubby woke up to see if he had to go to work he woke me up to tell me there were a couple inches so I got up, got dressed, and took the dogs out for their first time in the snow ever. Then crawled back under the covers for another hour and a half of sleep.