Scrapalicious Biotch

raised brow

2008-10-06T20:56:00.002-04:00

Today one of the lil ones asked me, "Mommy, what does q-u-i-e-t-l-y spell?" I about fell outta my chair! This is a 3 year old mind you. She had the bible in her hand, pretending to read it. And you have to understand just how clearly this girl talks. There was no mistaken to it. She clearly spelled out those letters!

What's new?

2008-10-06T09:36:00.001-04:00

So now all 3 of my kiddos are in school. :( I do have more time to get some cleaning done though. Although, I find myself running errands all the time lately, lol. Eh.

We finally have the van on the road. That is pretty awesome. Much, much, much better gas mileage!! Now if DH would get the motor and tranny unloaded from the back of his truck so he could drive that to work and leave the van for me... that would be great! Meanwhile, I am still driving the gas guzzling SUV.

Fair week

2008-09-28T23:10:00.001-04:00

Fair week starts this week. And wouldn't you know, our nice weather will be disappearing like magic! We have been having nice days of 70s and 80s. Now, there are predictions for a super cold and rainy week this week. Why, why, why? Everyone always ends up sick after the fair cuz of the change in weather. This is going to suck!

I'm still recouping

2008-09-26T20:38:00.000-04:00

LOL! I am still so exhausted from all the rush of the party. We had the huge suprise party for my dad last week. Took lots of planning and time, but it was so worth it. Everyone had a blast. Especially with the roast, lol. I'll try to post some pics later. The party started at 1 PM and I know my dad was still up at 1 AM the next morning! That is sooooo not normal for him. He is usually in bed by 7 or 8 PM. So yeah, he had a great time. And he was sooooooooooo suprised, lol.

Today is the day

2008-09-20T07:04:00.000-04:00

I am so nervous something will go wrong. I was up until 4 this morning working on the photos after work. DH is going to animate them for me this morning since I did not have time to do any of that. Thank you hunny! We will be going to the club in a couple of hours to start cooking. I still have to clean up last nights mess too, cuz I did not have the energy to stay and work on it last night and needed to stay up to work on the photos.

I so pray everything goes well today.

Last night was fun though. My sister, brother-in-law and one of my nephews came to the club to decorate with DH. Well, they did not decorate at all. Instead, they partied and sang karaoke. Which was totally fine with me. It made it a lot of fun.

Hopefully they can come back again to karaoke with us soon.

Happy Birthday

2008-09-19T07:11:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is the big party. Today we will be trying to get as much done as humanly possible. We still have to go get the ingredients for the bbq sauce. Plus decorate the hall. Well, we still have to go buy decorations too. So it is going to be one of those 'pulling my hair out' sort of days. Then I work tonight. I was going to pass on working, but at this point, I need the extra $. So no way am I passing! It's the good night of the week to work.

Did I what????

2008-09-18T21:57:00.000-04:00

Man! I can not believe people. Did I order what??? When did you give me the money to do this? You know we have this big party this weekend. GAH! Yeah, I can not afford to take $150 out of my checking for balloons for the fair. You give me the money... I'll order them.

Some people just do not think much huh?!

Can't skip out tonight

2008-09-18T07:14:00.000-04:00

We have 2 meetings tonight... maybe 3. And there is no way I can skip out on them. I really need the time at the computer... but it will have to wait. I can see some sleepless nights coming. My sister will be here tomorrow. Mom has the day off, so we will get some stuff done in the morning. And DH has the day off to work on the van with dad... so that should buy us some safe time.

Positive response

2008-09-17T20:47:00.000-04:00

More and more people are calling now about the party. So I am hoping it is going to be a success. I know he will love it regardless. But we have put so much into this, it has to be perfect. To me anyways. We still don't have a plan on how to get him there yet. Oh well. It will come together.

Oh... the meeting was canceled. Thank God!

Meetings...

2008-09-17T10:19:00.000-04:00

I can't spare the time for a meeting tonight! I have sooo much to get done for the party yet. I need every available minute to scan and set up photos at this point. And I keep finding more and more pictures that I HAVE to put into the show. I hate to leave really good ones out... but I have not idea how I am going to get all of this done. And I have decided I can't really do family ones... cuz there is a lot of family missing in the pics... so that would be akward. I dunno.

Gas Prices... GAH!

2008-09-16T20:26:00.002-04:00

Why do we have to have this huge increase in gas prices right now? With so many people expected for the party this weekend from out of state... I am afraid it may be a flop due to the gas prices. Of course I would understand that people can not afford it. Heck, I can't afford to drive locally anymore. When is something going to give? I just don't see how anyone is going to survive at this rate. Especially in a rural area where you have to drive 15 miles or more for work.

No way

2008-09-16T17:13:00.000-04:00

There is just no way I can squeeze in time to make more curtains this week. I am so rushed for time as it is. I'm trying to do a photo dvd with hundreds of scanned photos yet this week. I wish I had a super fast scanner. That would make things much easier. Thank God my sister will be here Friday to help decorate and get food around. Otherwise, I would have to just give up already.

Curtains

2008-09-15T23:11:00.000-04:00

How hard can it be to make a couple of sets of curtains? Man. I needed to get these done for the big party this weekend. I'm so frazzled. That is prolly why I screwed up the measurement (that I kept in my head). I only cut it 10 inches shorter than it needed to be. I don't see the big problem with that. Do you? *insert sarcasm here*

4 Wheeler

2008-09-14T18:38:00.000-04:00

We are having a drawing for a brand new 4 wheeler at the club. I am sooo hoping to win it for the girls. It just reminds me of all the fun we used to have as kids on ours. The girls would love it! I am hoping we have a good chance as I have bought a ton of tickets! We will see.

Laundry

2008-09-13T19:05:00.000-04:00

I am sooo tired of laundry! I feel like I live in a huge laundry pile. It really irritates me when I get a big basket folded up and the girls unfold it all for me before I can get it put away. They think they are helping. So it is really hard to yell at them about it. But it makes so much more work. If I could just get caught up. Bleh!

I kissed a girl...

2008-09-13T08:24:00.000-04:00

My new favorite song, lol. Seriously! People are doing this song every week at karaoke and it is hilarious. What is even funnier than that is my friends 6 year old daughter singing it. It's amazing what kids know/say/sing now days. What is this world coming to? I'm really going to worry when she starts dancing to it.

I kissed a girl...

2008-09-13T07:35:00.001-04:00

EEK! Energy Drinks do what???

2008-09-12T16:53:00.000-04:00

Did you hear the health risk of drinking energy drinks? I heard on the news today about an energy drink making your blood sticky! Well that goes without saying... that is not good for you. I told DH he needs to cut down on them. He drinks like 3 a day. Pretty scary stuff right there.

Time flies...

2008-09-09T22:15:00.002-04:00

Wow... 13 years already today! Sometimes it does not seem like even half of that. Sometimes it seems like a lifetime. We had a real nice weekend a couple of weekends ago though. Went out to a really nice dinner with some friends and then the next night we went for a really nice dinner by ourselves. Tonight, we went to Applebee's with the kids. That was wonderful too.

ISTEP

2008-09-09T19:47:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it is time to my oldest to be taking ISTEP already. For one, she does not seem old enough. Second, they keep saying they spend the first part of the year reviewing what the children learned last year for the ISTEP. So I just figured it would be more than a couple of weeks into the year before they were tested. Call me crazy.

Oh well. She says it is easy so far. We will see.

Thoughts and Ramblings

2008-09-08T19:55:00.000-04:00

I got to thinking about something the other night. I was thinking about orphans, less fortunate children and the retired communities. And it made me wonder… how many of you are members of your local Moose? How many of you really know what the Moose is about? I know I used to think the Moose was just a bar that older people hung out at. I could not have been more wrong. The Moose is actually a Family Fraternity! Were you aware of that? Did you know the lodges are ‘family centers’? Have you ever heard of Mooseheart and Moosehaven? In short, Mooseheart and Moosehaven provide homes to children and seniors. But it does not stop there. In addition to the stable housing that Mooseheart Child City and Schools, Inc. afford children, they also provide them with encouragement, support and quality education. They are dedicated to caring for the young and old and to bring communities closer together.Your local Moose lodge probably has a wide variety of family activities for you to join into. And YES! I said FAMILY!! Kids are welcome in the social quarters of the lodge and typically, there are kid oriented things for them to do too. I know my kids LOVE going to our local Moose.

Your local lodge is most likely active in several local community services in your area as well. Yes, your local lodge supports your local community too!!! Call your local lodge and talk to the administrator to find our specifics.

Did I mention, your lodge is not-for-profit? I know our local lodge has the best food in town! And it is cheaper for us to go to the lodge to eat than it is to go to a fast food restaurant. With the outrageous gas prices and struggling economy, cheap entertainment and dining are very important if you want to go out somewhere! We go there for karaoke, dj’s, New Year’s Parties, Christmas Parties, etc. They have activities year round for families. And typically at least one event every week. Our kids LOVE to be able to go do karaoke or dance to a band or dj with us!

And before you ask, this is not some paid advertisement for the Moose. This is totally my thoughts, opinions and ramblings.

So to close, if you are not a member of your local lodge, I would suggest you go with someone as a guest and check it out! Or if you want to know more, or just want to make a donation to support children and seniors, you can go directly through Moose International. Check out their site.. and watch their video on Mooseheart… it will bring tears to your eyes for sure. I believe it is www (dot) mooseintl (dot) org.

Do you know a child that would benefit from a more stable environment and education? Maybe someone with divorced parents, etc that need a chance at having a better life. Or do you know a senior that is struggling and needs a miracle? You should check out the information on Mooseheart and Moosehaven! You may be just as amazed as I am by how much they do to help others! I know I, personally, wish I had known all that Mooseheart does back when my uncle took his own life, almost 20 years ago, and left his very young children without a stable parent to care for them. Perhaps, if they had gotten the chance to go to Mooseheart, theirs lives would have turned out differently. Perhaps… his oldest son would still be living today. And maybe the other 2 would be on a much better path in their lives as well. *sigh*

Ok, off my soapbox and back to photoshop, lol!!

Wow

2008-08-04T06:54:00.002-04:00

How time flies huh? Lets see... what has happened in the past uh.... several months? Well... I volunteer most of my time away these days. Since the end of last year, I have been a volunteer bartender at a local club... which gives me an opportunity for adult conversation. WOOHOO, lol.I will come back and add more later. Just thought I'd hop on and update this for a change. :)

New Releases!

2008-01-19T01:22:00.000-05:00

The Digi Twins have some exciting new products all packaged up and ready for you to take home. With the release of the new products, you will be able to take advantage of a 20% discount on Saturday, January 19th! You don't want to miss this.

Lubby Hippo wants nothing more then his sweetheart Princess Frog! He brings, flowers, presents, and heart stamped letters!

Love birds bring mailboxes of hearts! 9 Valentine inspired pngs to send love to any layout.

Give any picture the look of a jigsaw puzzle with one of our Quick Fix Templates.

Are you ready to get lost in some circles?!?

Think you have what it takes? Then show me whatcha got!!

Here is some inspiration for the Lost In Circles and Show Me Whatcha Got kits done by the amazing Designing-Moments Creative Team!

Tired

2008-01-19T01:20:00.000-05:00

I am so drained. I think I am coming down with what the girls have. They sound HORRIBLE! Even my dad has it now. Lots of OJ will be pumped into the body this weekend! OJ is good for you, right?!

Refinance Now!

2008-01-18T13:47:00.000-05:00

We just signed our papers yesterday! Now is a great time to refinance for a lower rate. Actually, we had our rate for years so we were paying way more than we should have been. By refinancing, we cut our payments more than 50%.

Especially with the state of the economy, now is a great time to get better rates. Let the lenders compete for your business! You will get even better deals that way.

And remember, you do not have to choose a local bank. You can live in Arizona and sign a Florida Refinance agreement. Your local bank will probably just sell your loan off to some big compan anyway. Why shouldn't you benefit directly from the lower rates?

Dentist

2008-01-18T10:38:00.000-05:00

Kat had another routine dentist appt. Again, the dentist mentioned that she will definitely need to see an orthodontist. At the next visit they will do x-rays and then she will get a referral. Funny thing is, I was talking with one of her friends at gymnastics last night. She went to the dentist this week as well. Ended up with a referral to an orthodontist.. had that appointment 2 days later and now has spacers! Already!

Why can't insurance pay more for braces? UGH

Great deal!

2008-01-13T16:55:00.000-05:00

DH needs a new pair of glasses. The ones he has now he has been wearing for over 5 years now. The lens keeps falling out of one side. He is way overdue.

But, the expense of new frames is something we can not swing right now. Even with insurance, our copay we can not afford.

I found this incredible deal though. I am certainly going to see about ordering from them! Great Discovery: www.ZenniOptical.com sells frames for $8.00. Yes, you read right... $8.00 for prescription eyeglasses, with the case included!

How can they do it? It's simple really. They sell only their own manufactured frames and they sell them directly to their customer. They have no middle man. They have virtually no advertising expenses. In the end, the customer saves huge!

Check them out. They have all the lens options too... tinted, bifocal, etc.

yawn

2008-01-13T16:27:00.000-05:00

Today is one of those days. I have so much to do and do not feel like doing any of it. I'm still sore from my lil incident last weekend. (We won't discuss that any further, lol)

Good news! A week ago Friday, Mo decided she was going to be a 'big girl' now. She has been doing pretty good with the potty training now. I'm so proud of her.

The twins are both very excited about their new 'nastics (as they call it) class.

They are growing up way to fast. All three of them are!

New Releases

2008-01-13T15:50:00.000-05:00

New Releases

2008-01-12T23:49:00.000-05:00

lots of new stuff here :)

sigh

2008-01-10T14:20:00.000-05:00

Mom called earlier to say the son of the guy dad works with had passed away. How many more lives are going to be lost to the ignorance of drugs? He was only 18. They had just went to his graduation party this past summer.

They found out he had started messing around with heroin and cocaine about 2 weeks ago. He had no idea what he was doing to himself!

I pray my nephews get their acts together soon. I can not bare to go to their funerals.

Eek!

2007-11-30T08:11:00.000-05:00

The forecast for this weekend .... ICE. They are calling for up to 1/2" of ice tomorrow. The last big ice storm we had, we had to move in with my parents for a week. Everyone's power was out. Luckily, my parents had their generator all set up. We conserved as much power as we could during that time.

And thankfully, my dad had an extra generator to hook up his elderly neighor's house too.

I sure hope it does not get that bad this time!

Dear Santa

2007-11-30T07:38:00.000-05:00

Kat's list to Santa keeps growing this year. Everything you can imagine is on this list. I was pleased to find some things that could be very educational too.

This year, a microscope made the wishlist. I remember how I loved scope time in the science lab at school. So we could have a lot of fun with this at home. I certainly want to make sure Santa brought a good quality microscope though.

Another item topping off the list this year is a telescope. This kid is so interested in what is going on above her, it amazes me. She has always been interested in "luna", as she calls the moon, and the stars. Which is great!

I started looking around to see if I could find some great deals on microscopes and telescopes. In my search, I found OpticsPlanet.com's gift guide. They have great prices on top quality microscopes, telescopes and so much more. You can find everything from holsters to designer sunglasses at OpticsPlanet.com. You can find something here for even the toughest person to buy for. Their best sellers list is sure to help you out if you are unsure which your recipient would like better.

I know I had to add a couple of things to my personal wishlist after looking through OpticsPlanet.com.

Woot!

2007-11-30T07:33:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to say... I got a couple of December Gueest CT gigs. I have the honors of creating for both Jeannie Papai and She's Full of Scrap! WOOHOO. I never thought I'd get selected by them. I am so in shock.

Soon, you will see even more layouts posted! So get prepared, lol.

Sweeney Todd

2007-11-29T12:51:00.000-05:00

One of my all time favorite film combinations are Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I just can not get enough of these great movies. The kind that you can take your kids to the theatre to watch.

Of course, my all time favorite has been Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That is the first movie that comes to mind when I think of Tim Burton and/or Johnny Depp. The Chocolate Factory itself was always one of my favorite movies. I remember in high school, it was my best friends absolute favorite movie. I bet three times a year, we would go to the video store and rent it. Which was unusual for us, as we were always on the go. But this was our special thing. We would just take a night and do nothing but watch The Chocolate Factory.

So when Tim Burton's version of this came out, I could not wait to see it. As soon as it hit the theatre, we took our daughter to see it. I knew, since it was another fabulous Tim Burton production, and featured Johnny Depp, I would not be disappointed. And of course, they did not let me down. Depp was the perfect choice to play Willy Wonka.

You just know when it came out on dvd, it was immediately added to my collection!

Of course, now every time I have cereal in the morning, the line "Do you have any idea what breakfast cereal's made of? It's those little curly wood shavings you find in pencil sharpeners." instantly comes to mind. Hmm.. haha! Bet you are thinking about it now, huh? Of course the squirrel scene is also a favorite of the entire family.

Another example of the perfect Burton/Depp marriage is Edward Scissorhands. I love the line, "Eddie. The guys and I were talking, we'd like want to invite you to our card game on Friday night. Would you like that? Only thing is, you can't cut!" And when he trims the bushes. Great movie.

I am so glad to see this team has gotten together again. Sweeney Todd will be hitting theatres nationwide on December 21st. Johnny Depp protrays a demon barber, Sweeney Todd, who seeks revenge on Judge Turpin while trying to reunite with his daughter, Joanna. Sweeney Todd is based on the hit Broadway musical, which tells the infamous tale of Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd.

To view the trailers visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site. This is another movie that is sure to be please. Sweeney Todd sets up a barber shop in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his tenant, Mrs. Lovett.

Don't forget to visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace to read more about this mysterious tale.

The question now is, will Sweeney Todd replace my all time favorite Depp movie, Charlie and the Cholate Factory? Only time will tell!

In the words of Judge Turpin, "may the Lord have mercy on your soul."

Scary thought...

2007-11-27T18:33:00.000-05:00

I was reading an interesting post on DST today. It really made me think about the scary things that go on in the world now days. You just never know who you can and can not trust anymore. Can you imagine... I mean, I have NO CLUE what the truth is to this particular site. But just in general.. if you were buying these expensive scrap kits thinking the money was going to a good cause. Only to find that good cause was to pay for someone's nice vacation or something.

...just ugh.

Free stuff!

2007-11-27T18:27:00.000-05:00

I use business cards all the time. Such an inexpensive way to advertise, if you order from the right place. You just have to watch for those great "100 FREE business cards" and such deals.

Actually, I currently have 3 different business cards, for 3 different things. However, I am considering making some blog cards to pass out because I get asked all the time if I have a blog or journal. Cards with the information would sure make short work of getting the information to them!

New layout

2007-11-25T14:10:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love the feeling of fall in the air. I love the smell of burning leaves. The thoughts of bombfires, roasting marshmellows and making smores. Even drinking a nice toasty cup of cocoa to warm up a little. The colors of autumn are so beautiful. The outdoors seems so peaceful and quiet. Serenity.

The ultimate relaxation

2007-11-20T09:31:00.000-05:00

I always dreamed of having a fire place here in my house. We had fireplaces at my parents and they are so relaxing. I can just get lost in watching the flames dance for hours. Even the gas log fireplaces work! Of course, the old fashioned wood fireplaces are my favorites.

But alas, we do not have a fireplace by any means at our house.

This is why I was so excited to get the product samples in the mail yesterday from Vat 19. This place has the neatest stuff. We are not talking about ordinary items either. They have Gourmet Scented Pencils and Aromatherapy Stuffed Animals.

I received several goodies from them, including Ambient Fire The Ultimate Video Fireplace on DVD! You have the option of various fire scenes, or to randomly play them all. Plus, you also get your choice of listening to music or fire sound effects!

This will be my little escape from reality for many hours of relaxation. It is in my dvd player right now. Aren't you jealous? Here is a snapshot!

New layout

2007-11-20T08:34:00.000-05:00

Here is my newest layout for Sara Ellis. I had a lot of fun with this one. I figured it was the perfect kit for this photo. Doesn't it just take you back to your own childhood? And playing in the leaves when you were little? I used to love to do that. *sigh* To be a kid again, lol.

Chronic pain relief

2007-11-19T21:56:00.000-05:00

Over 25 years ago now, my uncle, who loved playing football in high school, hurt his knee. He dislocated the knee cap and tore ligaments and cartilage. I can still remember going to the ER with him when I was little. The sad thing is, as I said, he geniunely loved the sport! And after the injury, he was no longer allowed to play. He was so disappointed by this.

To this day, he still has problems with his knee. Chronic pain and discomfort. Playing with his kids at times is too painful for him.

I have seen advertisements for this Freeze It Gel advanced therapy pain relief. This is not like your typical pain relief therapy either. This is all natural with ingredients like aleo vera and vitamin e! This is great for relieving muscle strains, joint pain, even back pain and arthritis. Boy, I know several people that could benefit from this!

They are having a contest right now for a lifetime supply of Freeze It. My uncle sure could use that. Being a single income family of 4, he can not afford to buy any extras, including pain relievers. I feel so bad for him. If he could relieve the pain, he would be able to get around much easier and enjoy playing with his little ones.

His wife suffers from scolosis and therefore, she has difficulty doing certain things with the kids as well. One side of her body does work very well. In fact, she is unable to use one arm much at all. Her leg and foot on the same side are also disabled. As you can imagine, this puts a strain on the ability to function well. We tend to take simple things for granted, such as the ability to easily change a childs diaper or even bake a cake. For her, the simplest tasks for us are difficult for her.

Therefore, if my uncle could alleviate his pain with his knee, it would make things so much easier on their family.

Here is the commercial being played on television.

The School Board Meeting

2007-11-19T21:12:00.000-05:00

DH went to the school board meeting tonight. He was very civil. Much nicer than I would have been. He thanked them for finally sending out notices of the lice outbreak after over 2 months of infestation in the school. Had I have been able to go as planned, a lot more would have been said. However, he did get the point across.

More later.

C'mon gurlies!!

2007-11-12T12:48:00.000-05:00

Who likes challenges? Well I have a fun one for you. Are you a digiscrapper? Or have you thought about starting scrapbooking? Well this is a great way to start!

Here is a fun scraplift challenge by Designing Moments! These are always a good way to get back into the groove if you have lost your mojo... or a fun way to get started in the first place. Perhaps you are looking to improve your technique... this will help you with that too.

Go check it out gurlies and have fun!

New purchase

2007-11-07T23:45:00.001-05:00

Would you look what I bought today? I was waiting for this one to come out. It is another fabulous creation from Hollie Haradon, aka Holliewood Studios over at Oscraps. And it is 20% off today! I was so excited to know it was going to be released today. I have seen some awesome layouts already from Hollie and her CT using this kit. AMAZING STUFF!

Temporary dental fixes

2007-11-07T23:09:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid, my parents went snowmobiling at 'Tip Up Town'. This is a huge snowmobiling event that thousands of people attend. They went out snowmobiling at night, and my dad was always getting a little reckless and having fun. Well the whole gang was riding along and this hit this big mound which threw the sleds in the air a bit. Mom was not prepared for it when she hit it and flipped over the handle bars and windshield.

Luckily, she did not get hurt badly. However, she did bust out one of her front teeth. The dentist ended up capping it for her and she has been fine with it like that for years.

However, recently her cap came off one night while we were eating supper. We don't know why it came off. I guess it was just because she had had it for so long. Anyway, of course it was after office hours when this happened. She was so embarrassed by this, she refused to go to work without it being repaired.

Luckily, she was able to get an appointment early the next afternoon. She refused to go to the store or even leave the house before her appointment though.

I saw a commercial on television the other day about a do-it-yourself temporary dental repair. This certainly would have been handy when mom's cap fell off! Her embarrassment could have been taken care of in a quick 60 minutes. But it is still good to know for the future. And it works when you lose a filling too! Great news. We know how painful that can be.

Dentemp OS, which is fully approved by the FDA, is dental cement that is available over-the-counter. It was developed by a dentist and provides fast, temporary relief when you loose a filling or have a loose cap. It has been tested and fully complies with the FDA regulations for oral care.

Dentemp OS is a dental first aid. You can use it to temporarily cement loose crowns or to replace a lost filling. It is very strong and you can eat on it a quick as 30 minutes after setting.

This is certainly something everyone will want to keep in mind. It can save you some pain and embarrassment!

New stuff

2007-11-07T23:04:00.000-05:00

I don't know how much I will be around tomorrow. The cable guys are supposed to be here in the morning to set up our new equipment. And with it, we will be considered VIP customers and get the upgraded high speed max speed and their home networking and wireless router. Woohoo. We have our own router however, we have been thinking we need to get one of the new super boost ones. So hopefully theirs will be something like that. We have had ours for a couple of years now, so you know that is out of date.

Anywho.. it is supposed to take 2 guys about 3 hours to install the new equipment. Yay, they will be here all day. I can't wait! Hopefully all goes well and I have internet access when they are done. Cuz I don't have a ton of faith in them :)

A new thrill...

2007-11-07T22:31:00.000-05:00

I was checking out what new movies will be coming to the box office this month and I was so excited to see a new Stephen King movie is headed our way. The Mist by Stephen King will be released in theaters across the nation on November 21st! We will definitely be going to see this one.

Watching the internet only trailers for The Mist were enough to get me on the edge of my seat! I am sure I will be clutching on to something or someone while watching it, but it looks so good. I can't miss it!

I have watched King's movie, IT so many times already. The movie horrifies me. I just simply do not do well watching scary movies. However, IT has always been one I can not turn off. I don't know if it is simply the idea of the evil clown, or if it is the fear for the children as they look into the sewer drain. Even though, I have watched it so many times that I know exactly what is going to happen when, I still jump and hide behind a pillow. Silly, huh?

Of course, Steven King is a very powerful novelist. For me, once I start reading one of his books, I am afraid to turn the page. Yet, I can not make myself put it down either.

If you have not read The Mist yet, you definitely need to go check the trailer out. And even if you have read it, check it out anyway. You won't want to miss it. Dozens of people get trapped inside a supermarket while this mist covers the whole town. They know that the mist is full of horrible creatures that feed on humans. Running to the store will never seem the same after watching this movie!

Trick or Treat

2007-11-07T14:12:00.000-05:00

The girls trick or treating with our dear neighbor who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Even though they believe they caught it in time, I still want to capture as many moments with her as we can. All three of them absolutely adore her. Each week we get together for dinner with her and her daughter. It's always a great time.

How about a cd cover?

2007-11-07T13:49:00.000-05:00

One of the funnest things I have done yet... I had the opportunity to design a cd cover using Sara and Jeannie's Sweet Water Taffy collab. They will be compiling all the covers their teams create and making an album. This will be offered at OAKS soon!

Here was mine.. and I used it to create a cover for the Cheer Team picture cd!

Secret #3

2007-11-06T15:06:00.000-05:00

Secret #3...

*revealed*

I was offered a guest CT spot on Sara Ellis' team! WOOHOOO. Her designs are awesome. Go check them out for yourself. :)

And with that..here is a layout using her collab with Jeannie Papai - Sweet Water Taffy. I simply adore this kit!

My 8 year old daughters cheer team at their October Cheer Competition.

Journaling reads:
What a fun year this has been for you. You girls have so much fun getting the crowds riled up! I am amazed at the ability such young girls have to do stunts! They took the trophy for first place in their category.

Secret #2

2007-11-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

Secret #2...

*revealed*

I made Cindy Doerksen's creative team! I am still in so much shock. I never thought my layouts were good enough for a creative team. I am so amazed. I have applied for others too. Keep watch for further updates!

Plans for improvements

2007-11-06T11:33:00.000-05:00

Next spring we are going to redo the garage flooring. I'm so tired of having to work and work to get oil stains cleaned up as best as I possibly can all the time.

When we did the remolding at the shop, we spent days power washing the floors to get all of the oil off them. And I am not talking about spots. The entire floor of the shop was covered in oil and leaves and garbage when we got it. It was a nightmare. I am talking, we had to use shovels first to clean the place out.

But once it was done, we covered the floor in a professional grade epoxy. That has made it so much easier to clean up the messes here and there.

I think when we do our garage though, we will use toss the flecks around to give it more appeal.

secret #1

2007-11-05T10:11:00.000-05:00

Secret #

revealed...

Yup... can you believe it? Me! I made a creative team. Woohooo. I applied just to see. Never thought I would be picked. I was absolutely shocked! Excited. But schocked.

Another layout...

2007-11-05T09:26:00.000-05:00

The girls had a blast trick or treating this year. The twins are now old enough to really enjoy it. It was so much fun.

Credits:
Cindy Doerksen - Boo Paper Pack
Cindy Doerksen - Boo Element Pack

Oh My Goodness ... TWIN

2007-11-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

No my darling Twin... I am NOT pregnant! LOL

You know a couple of them. And if you will ever SIGN ON, I will tell you another one.

New layout

2007-10-30T12:35:00.000-04:00

Credits:

Beth Kern - Dirty Denim

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

2007-10-30T12:29:00.000-04:00

I have a secret! More to come later this week....

Trim and tone

2007-10-29T10:59:00.000-04:00

I am so painfully aware of the obvious body changes that having kids has left behind. Parts of my body that used to be one place have shifted to other areas. I have tried exercising, but this problem has not been corrected regardless of my persistent attempts. It's those problem areas that seem impossible to get rid of that drive me nuts.

Perhaps plastic surgery is the answer? What about a tummy tuck? Has anyone else considered having one?

The tummy tuck would help tighten the abdominal muscles that have been damaged in pregnancy and weight loss. Liposuction also trims away the saggy areas in your tummy which would give a more toned appearance.

What could it hurt to have a tummy tuck done? I know a flat tummy would boost my self esteem while making me feel younger and rejuvenated.

The Times magazine did an article on liposuction which featured a UK Tummy Tuck facility called Make Yourself Amazing. MYA is one of the largest cosmetic surgery facilites in the UK. Just the name itself gets my attention.

Costume party

2007-10-29T10:56:00.001-04:00

We went to the costume party Saturday. That was pretty fun. The kids had a blast. Food was delicious of course. Had a couple of drinks. They had karaoke which is always a good time. And the 'studs' from last weekend showed up as the chippendales. *smh*

Help with math

2007-10-25T21:51:00.000-04:00

Next week we have parent teacher conferences. The school has arranged to have reading and math tutors available to talk with parents.

I'm looking forward to talking with them to see if Kat needs to get some help. To my knowledge, the school has not yet conducted their testing to find out who needs the tutoring. The last I heard from them, it was being offered based on income rather than need.

This seems completely wrong to me, but what do I know?

Last year, Kat really struggled with her mad minutes math tests. This is where they test you on basic math facts and you have so many problems per page. It seemed like it took months before she was able to get the first page done in the allotted time. By the end of the year, she seemed to be progressing quickly with the problems. I think by the last test, she was on the third page or so.

I have not seen much in terms of math testing so far this year. Kat shows a lot of interest in reading, which is a good thing. And we try to keep her excited about math too. We make a game of it and quiz her at home, or when we are driving, etc.

But she may need a little extra help. I would get her a tutor now and get her on the right track than to wait until she is in junior or even senior high.

Weekend plans

2007-10-25T21:47:00.000-04:00

This weekend my sister should be here. That will be fun. We always have a good time. Maybe we will do karaoke again with her. I dunno. This is also the weekend of the big costume party that we would like to go to. So it's still all kind of up in the air. I do hope we can do that too though, so the girls get good use out of their costumes.

Insurance rates keep increasing...

2007-10-25T20:54:00.000-04:00

It seems like every year we get a notice that insurance rates are increasing. Are people aware why they keep going up? Maybe if they understand part of the reason, they would make a change.

I realize the economy is tough right now. I know that has a lot of people under tremendous stress! This ultimately causes people to get distracted when driving. And even in some cases, it leads to road rage.

Some people are just high risk drivers no matter what. They have poor driving behaviors which leads to at-fault accidents.

Teenagers are driving today with cell phones! Does this not scare you?

And lets not even get started on the trucking industry. Trust me! I helped with underwriting insurance policies for large fleets for years. Some of the things I saw come across my desk scared me. Stats show fleet drivers have an average accident rate of 20% a year!

There is actually new technology out that could help with driver safety. GreenRoad has developed driver safety and risk management technology that has reduced accident rates of their customers by 54%! Of course, this helps lower costs at the same time. Great news, huh?

Their focus is on business, fleet and teenage drivers.

The GreenRoad system provides drivers with instantaneous in-vehicle feedback on their driving behavior, without invading privacy. GreenRoad's system detects driving maneuvers to access safety levels. This information is then transmitted to an Internet site to let the driver know where they need improvement.

Statistically, car accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers. Using technology to improve driver safety can help save lives.

Whatta day

2007-10-25T20:50:00.000-04:00

I'm so exhausted. The girls were up before 5 this morning. They stood in the new dresser drawer and pulled it off track and bent the track a little. Sarge luckily was able to fix it tonight when he got home. Thank GOD! We didn't go to gymnastics since he worked over and I couldn't get ahold of gramma. But that was ok with me, cuz I was definitely not in the mood for gymnastics.

Hopes for good things

2007-10-23T16:19:00.000-04:00

As most of you know, I found the wonderful world of blogging for money a few months ago. All is going well! I just wish I had more opportunities available. Greedy? Maybe. But there is little a person can do without money anymore. Besides, it will really help with Christmas.

That is why I am so excited about upcoming release at payperpost next month. I think this will bring great things!

Argus is set to lauch at PostieCon in November. This is the highly anticipated new disruptor! Do you think you can handle it?

I have read endless posts regarding the upcoming release. I am very hopeful that Argus will bring a whole new world of opportunities for us. It will no longer be just about blogs posts and advertisers.

In fact, the powers that be decided it should not be bundled into the realm of PayPerPost as this name would not encompass all Argus would stand for. Afterall, Argus is not some upgrade of the PayPerPost system. It's an all new concept all together!

After much debate and blogger input, they have came up with a new TOP SECRET name for it. So secret, I think they even have men all dressed in black suits, white shirts, black ties, dark shades and ear buds connected to transmitters guarding it.

I can't wait to see what the future holds at payperpost. Are you ready for this?

Fall is here

2007-10-23T16:16:00.000-04:00

We have been so spoiled so far this spring. We still have days in teh 80's. That is so not normal for us this time of year. The annual festival we have here was unbelievable! Sarge himself said he never remembers wearing shorts to it. But alas, fall is showing its presence. Today we are in the 50's. Major drop! I'm sure the cold and flu crud is soon to follow.

Black Friday is coming

2007-10-23T15:47:00.000-04:00

It is almost time for the craziness of Christmas shopping to begin again. People have become so ruthless when it comes to getting good deals on black friday that I do not have any desire to step foot into a store during the madness anymore. I mean, you see the nonsense on the news. People are getting trampled and injured. Is it really worth it?

Perhaps they are not yet aware of online shopping? Yes, you can get fabulous day after Thanksgiving sales without even leaving your seat! You can even view the thanksgiving ads earlier than those who wait for them to arrive via snail mail or their Thanksgiving Day newspapers. In fact, there are many major retailers with ads posted already! Go ahead and take a peek. I know you are curious. Check out the fabulousSears deals now so you can budget ahead!

It's that simple. You can view what your favorite stores will be offering during their black friday sales now and make your purchases online during the sale! You can even sign up for email notifications so you will know right away when your favorite retailer posts their black friday ad! Shop from your seat, and save your feet! Who really wants endless carts rammed into their rears anyway? No thank you!

Too old for bar room brawls

2007-10-23T15:08:00.000-04:00

We went to the bar Saturday and had a blast. We were laughing about the fact that we had literally sat in a bar for 9 hours! How crazy is that?! lol

Anywho... it was a ball. We drank way to much. I ended up selling tickets for game stuff for the bar while we were there. That was funny as hell. This week the manager is getting a bartenders application for me, lmao! Not as a job...no no no! As a volunteer... I'd get to keep any tips I get though.

They had karaoke too. That was big fun. Sarge was feeling real good, so we finally got him to get up and sing in front of others! He can do a mean Johnny Cash karaoke. Johnny, Merle, George, David Allen Coe, Waylon... he can nail most of those. Although, he was feeling a little TOO good and messed up some when the KJ put him on the spot and made him sing Boy Named Sue without notice. LMAO

All was a great time... until the 21 year old boys became too persistant in trying to get phone numbers. When we were leaving and paying our tab, they decided it was time to make a final attempt. The guys had had enough of keeping quiet and cornered them. My friends dad ALSO was pissed off and got into it with them too. Oh fun!

Just short of a full fledged physical fight, the bartender broke it up..we finished paying out tabs and went home.

These boys are in there quite a bit, so it could make things interesting. This weekend, I THINK we are going to the costume party there.

Recruiting and staffing

2007-10-17T20:23:00.000-04:00

When I worked at the hospital, one of the jobs I dreaded most was hiring people. The endless resume search and interviews. Finding a person with the skills required to fill the job was not always an easy task.

Since this job required lengthy training, you wanted to make sure you hired the best candidate for the job. We finally decided to conduct interview panels. This made it a little easier on me since there were other people interviewing the candidate as well and forming an opinion of the person.

We would then compile all of our information into reports and review all the data all at once for all of the applicants. Now there is applications available to track all of this information for you. I wish we had this available when I was doing the recruiting and staffing.

What's new

2007-10-17T19:45:00.000-04:00

The girls bunkbeds are awesome space wise. Meme chose to take the drawer, and we already knew Kat would have the top bunk, so that left the first bunk for Mo. Meme got to pick since she is working hard at the potty training stuff.

I have to say however, the naptime struggle is even rougher now though. Now I have to add the worry about them climbing on the top bunk. Last night, Meme and Mo ended up sleeping together in the drawer. That was adorable!

Waking Kat up for school without waking the other two up is fun too. Since I can not reach her on the top bunk.

Just in time for Christmas shopping!

2007-10-16T20:39:00.000-04:00

Coupons are always a welcome thing in my home. How about yours? Well if you answered yes, I have good news for you!

You can find coupon codes to most any store you would buy something from at NCNaturals. It is so easy to find online discounts on this site, you will certainly want to check it out!

They offer amazing Dell deals if you are considering purchasing a computer this year. We all know kids love computers! Maybe it is time to buy yourself a new one and give them your old one.

I know I will personally be grabbing up some Kohls coupons when I do my shopping for the kids.

I'm sure I will take advantage of the Macys online discounts as well. We always try to do the kids clothes shopping at those two places so the savings will be wonderful!

The meeting

2007-10-16T20:35:00.000-04:00

Last night was the PTO meeting. One of my friends and I went to discuss the decisions that have been made about the halloween party and schoolwide parade. I now understand why they nixed the parade and I totally agree with their decision. Who know a small school could have so many protective orders in their office?! However, I am still extremely peeved that the 2nd and 3rd graders will not be allowed to dress up for halloween. While the K, 1st, 4th and 5th graders will be allowed to dress up. THe decision should not have been grade level based! It should have been school wide!

Starting a new business can be a lot of work

2007-10-12T18:40:00.000-04:00

When Sarge and I started our business, we found out there was a lot to getting set up. And a lot of decisions to make about what type of business you want to start. Each type of business has their own liability levels and requirements.

If you want to start a corporation, you need to remember there are requirements that must be met. In a corporation, you are required to hold regular meeting with shareholders and directors. All important decisions must be made through a meeting of the directors and be documented in the company minutes. Even if you have a one person company, these meetings and documentations are still required.

The IRS will even request to see this documentation, so make record keeping and minutes from meetings a priority.

When you first set up your corporation, you need to have a meeting with your directors and shareholders to adopt your bylaws. The bylaws establish how the corporation will be ran. They also establish the duties and responsibilities for each member of the board of directors.

There are resources for helping you get all of these things set up. You can get free llc forms to help you get started.

The most important thing you can do before setting up your business is research! Make sure you do yours first. You don't want any surprises that will cost you in the end.

Hello there.

2007-10-12T18:36:00.000-04:00

Wow. It's been a few days huh?! Let's see... I had a sinus headache one day... and then the LO challenges.... and cleaning. Yeah, that about covers the last few days for me. Tonight, Kat and I are going to Shannon's to help her clean up some. The construction crew gutted 1/2 of her house today so there is lots of vacuuming and picking up that needs to be done so they have some place to sleep tonight. And with the walls having been plaster.. that will be fun to breath in the dust.

Home Improvements

2007-10-06T08:28:00.001-04:00

We three kids, we really need to do something about only having two bedrooms. We have a full unfinished basement where we could possibly expand, but that takes money.

We are considering getting a home equity loan to help us remodel. Home equity loans can be a very good way of doing home improvements because you can get financing with low interest rates. Plus, since it is a second mortgage, your interest is tax deductible.

We have also considered mortgage refinancing to get a lower mortgage rate and lower our bills.

RECYCLE

2007-10-06T08:25:00.000-04:00

We went to the local fair this week and I saw the funniest thing. There was a couple of women who had a booth of stuff for sale. They had a bake sale, which looked yummy! And then they had some non-food items for sale. Hmm... is that accurate? Non-food? Seeing how they had purses made out of frozen food boxes, ie: Hot Pockets! And purses made out of plastic grocery bags. Maybe non-food is not the best wording.

I was lmao!!

Stretching the dollar

2007-10-06T07:57:00.000-04:00

Kat's cheer team will be starting competitions soon. This means we will have to order her cheer shoes, which are not cheap by any means, as well as paying for the competitions. While I am excited for her to begin her competitions, and hope they do well at regionals so they can go to Orlando to compete, I do not look forward to the extra expenses. Especially if they do place high enough to go to Orlando.

We are talking about $2000 in costs just for Kat to go. And I have no intention of letting my little girl go to Florida without a family member with her. So that will increase the cost greatly.

When living paycheck to paycheck, there is no way we can swing that out of pocket. Even with saving up a few dollars each week ahead of time, I am sure we will have to get a personal loan in order for her to go.

I know it would be the time of her life and I do not want her to miss out on the opportunity. If they do place, I'm sure we will find a way to make it happen. Whether we have to do a cash advance from a payday loan company or find some other means to cover it, we will do everything we can.

Breast Cancer Awareness

2007-10-04T16:16:00.000-04:00

We all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I can not stress to you enough the importance of doing self breast exams and having exams done annually by your doctor. If you at the age of mammograms, it is so important that you get them done! Breast cancer can be cured. But only if it is caught early!

I always try to do what I can to support the research for finding a cure for breast cancer, and several other charities as well. Here is a great opportunity to make a donation...

Who needs some bling?

2007-10-04T15:57:00.000-04:00

Jewelry is always a great gift for women, that is no secret. I always love to get earrings especially. We women love to accessorize after all!

I have been looking around to get some ideas for my Christmas wishlist this year. I would absolutely love to add a pair of blue topaz double pear drop earrings to my jewelry box.

I also found a pair of Coyote Palm Rose earrings that I would love to get for Shannon for Christmas. Palm trees are one of her favorite things right now. The ones I found here are absolutely gorgeous too. They are finished with an antiqued brass with the palm leaves adorned with czech glass crystal beads. They would make a perfect gift, and very affordable too!

Shopping

2007-10-04T15:48:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I have shown ya's my great finds. So I figured I would do a little catch up. There are lots, so it may take a few entries to get them all. There a lots of great sales going on in the digi scrap world right now. Lauren Reid is leaving scrapartist.com and Angela Barton is retiring from SweetShoppeDesigns.com. So of course there are many 'do not miss' items there to pick up. Although, Lauren will be selling in another store, to be announced.

Here are a couple of my new purchases...

Both are on sale right now at mydigitalmuse.com... 15% off!

Tutoring

2007-10-03T22:16:00.000-04:00

We went to the meeting last night to get information on what the state has mandated for our school to provide the students due to not meeting the "No Child Left Behind" standards again.

This year they are required to provide free tutoring for eligible students. But they did not go into details of whether or not the students would be individually tested to see if they needed the tutoring.

We were given a bunch of information on Reading Tutors read over and choose a provider from. They will compile a list and see if they have enough students enrolling in the provider you have selected.

The part I found the strangest was of the parents that attended the meeting, ALL of their children were in the second grade and struggling with reading. I think this made a strong statement.

I believe there must be a strong need for reading tutors within our school. This is a critical time in their education. If they become frustrated with reading at this stage, it will effect their education throughout their lives. It is very important to get these children the help they need right now.

Stand Up and Scrap

2007-10-03T18:51:00.000-04:00

Week three is here already. I am so pressed for an idea for this challenge. I have no clue what I am going to do at this point. I need to just open PS and start scrapping. Then it will prolly just come to me. That is how it usually works. I was happy with last weeks LO. The first week... that was a rough one!

Organizing

2007-10-03T18:39:00.000-04:00

I'm on this major reorganizing kick. Trying to make sure everything has its place, and that it is clearly accessible when needed. The things that are not used daily, I am putting into storage bins or boxes.

I found some really neat ones to use for the kids craft stuff and labeled them so they are easily identified. All the out-of-season clothes are in storage bins. I also went through the kids toys. I let them select ten toys to keep out to play with. The rest went into a storage bin. In a month, we will rotate them. They will be allowed to get ten more out, and the current ones will be put into the bin.

Organizing is a good thing! Especially when you are limited on space. Next, I am attacking the tools and things in the garage. All of the outside toys are already put into bins. Now it is time to get all the other garage stuff organized.

More on the head lice epidemic

2007-10-03T18:29:00.000-04:00

My friend called the principal last night and told him off about the lice epidemic. He first claimed to not know anything about an outbreak. So she confronted him with the fact that 1/2 of one of the 3rd grade rooms had it 3 weeks ago. Well then maybe he did hear about it. After a total chewing out, he assured her he would look into it first thing this morning and they would send out letters and do head checks. Well, there were no head checks. And the only thing my daughter has in her backpack, is homework!

*grumbles*

Do you like to try new things?

2007-10-03T17:27:00.000-04:00

Do you like to try new things out before they go on sale? Do you like to do beta testing? Then you need to check this out! Zuujit Mobile is looking for beta testers. For every bug you report to them, you will be entered into a pool to win a free unlocked HTC Ty TN II smart phone. One winner, which will be chosen on November 15th, will receive the smart phone.

What is Zuujit Mobile? Well if you are an eBay addict, you will love this! Zuujit Mobile Beta turns your smart phone into an all-in-one, powerful listing tool for your eBay auctions and listings. You can create your complete listing, including your photos, within minutes!

Have you ever been away from your computer and needed to check and respond to your eBay messages? I know this happens to me all the time! With the smart phone, you can take care of all of that too!

How handy is that? You can check it all out, and possibly win a free smart phone just for telling them what you find wrong. Sounds cool to me!

Random Thoughts

2007-10-02T21:51:00.000-04:00

Did I mention how happy I was the Brett chose Jess? Mhmm... that was totally the right choice!! I wonder if they are together still though... hmm... I will have to go do some internet digging huh?!

And, that darn Niki!! She has got me hooked on Gossip Girl. Oh yeah, tomorrow night on CW people. LOL

And one last thought... will they ever have another "Rockstar" on CBS? That was my favorite reality show. Jordis and Dilana...those were my choices. Neither won though. Although, Dilana did get runner up in season two.

Yeah... I'm off to google me some Brett/Jess gossip now.

Weight loss procedures

2007-10-02T20:47:00.000-04:00

I feel so bad for a friend of mine. She had the gastric bypass surgery done a couple of years ago and now she is having nothing but medical problems. She can not stop losing weight. She has been in the hospital multiple times now and the doctors keep trying to help her, even to the extent of feeding tubes. She is a single mother with little children who need her. It's just so sad.

I wonder if she had done the LAPBAND procedure, if things would have turned out better for her. I was reading some more about it and is the only adjustable, and completely reversible weight loss surgery available in the US today. The LAPBAND system is a gastric banding system, so as I said, it is adjustable.

She may have had to have traveled a little for the procedure but I found a Houston Lap band surgeon who seems highly credible. Dr. Collier's facilities sound like they make their patient's comfort their priority. To me, that is always a priority, regardless of what kind of procedure you are having done.

The LAPBAND procedure is all done laparoscopically and the patient gets discharged home within a few hours. Again, this makes the patient more comfortable.

The LAP-BAND system has helped many people not only lose their excess weight, but also begin living a healthier, more productive life.

School frustrations

2007-10-02T20:35:00.000-04:00

I am so frustrated with our school this week. They schedule the parent meeting about their failing the federal education and development standards for tonight at 6:30 and send out a notice on Friday about it. Well the problem with that is, tonight is the start of our little festival here. Not that the rides, etc are important, however, our kids and ourselves are involved in other things...which were part of the activities starting at 6:30 tonight. And the parade is at 7:00. So how convenient is that? Let's hold a meeting and set it at a time when 75% of the parents will not be available! Just cuz we can!

Second... my friend called me this morning and told me to check my daughters hair when she gets home today to see if she has head lice because she just found that her daughter has it and they were together this weekend. So we start talking about head lice policies, etc. I get out the handbook for our school... guess what?! Head lice is an UNEXCUSED absence. So what does that tell parents? If your kids get head lice, you better send them to school cuz it will be unexcused if you don't. So yeah, lets just infest the entire school while we are at it! Thank God my daughter does not have a sign of it..... yet!

Lastly... it was raining here yesterday. The kids go out for their morning recess, which it is pretty chilly here in the mornings now.. and it is sprinkling. A few minutes later, it starts flat out raining. One of the teachers tells my daughter and some of the other kids to go ask their teacher if they are going to go back inside. My daughter's teacher says 'no, we are staying out'. So who will pay for those doctor's bills? hmm..

And we will not even start on the bus driver.

My dream garage...

2007-10-02T17:15:00.000-04:00

One of the nicest things about the latest car hauler dad has is all the diamond plating it has, which means heavy duty! Even the cabinets are diamond plated. You know those will last a long, long time.

I was thinking, I would love it if we could put diamond plate cabinets in our garage too. They would never go out of style, that is for sure!

Because true diamond plate made from aluminum will never rust or corrode, we would never have to replace them like we would metal cabinets. What an amazing showroom style look this would give the garage! And we certainly can use the extra storage space. I even saw a complete desk made out of diamond plate. That would add an extra bling!

Oh yes, I definitely want to have a diamond plated garage. We would then become the "Jones" of the neighborhood for everyone else to keep up with.

Update

2007-09-28T12:50:00.000-04:00

So this weekend will be hectic. Tonight will be the most relaxing I'm sure. Tonight is a bonfire and birthday party so I am sure I will be able to drown out some stress. Then tomorrow morning we will be leaving to go to Grandma's. The kids will enjoy the little fair there. Then next week starts the big festival here.

On a side note, I'm so frustrated with Pando it's not even funny.

Captured Moments

2007-09-26T09:53:00.000-04:00

One class I wish I had taken in school is photography. Sometimes I get so discouraged with the way my pictures turn out. I wish I had that gift to make any moment look beautiful. Some people just now exactly what angle to grab. Maybe it has to do with lenses too.

But my photos have improved quite a bit, I must say. I credit my Sony Mavica digital camera for that. Especially because it has programming effects where I can change the style of picture I want to take. I can tell the camera to make the images black and white before I take them. Or I can capture sepia toned photos. I can also add a little fun to it and make them negative art forms or solarize.

Sure, there is software out there that can change the outcome of your photos. But I sure do like the option of just snapping the picture the way I want it on the camera and printing it off, without having to manipulate it first.

I am so glad to have the options of digital photography. How would I do my digital scrapbooking without it? We all know my addiction to digi scraps! And with my memory stick, I can take hundreds of pictures at a time without having to change disks or film.

Plus I don't have to print off an entire roll of film. If there is an image I don't want, I can delete it.

I bow to the people that invented the digital camera! I am always snapping pictures of the girls. The photos end up being a daily journal of their lives since I use it so much. And I don't have to grab a seperate camera to do video now either. I can capture it all one one!

One day I hope to have a Canon 40D SLR camera to take my digital photography to new heights! It's good to have dreams, right? It's even better to capture them!

I hate being sick.

2007-09-26T09:48:00.000-04:00

I started my day off with a headache yesterday. Took 2 sinus excedrin. About an hour later, took a vicodin. And then a 2nd. By about 2 I was feeling pretty whoozy. I could hardly hold my head straight and it was still pounding. Decided to go lay down only to jump back up about an half hour later and bow to the porcelain God. Let's see how today goes. So far, I have taken 1 sinus excedrin.

1 tequila, 2 tequila, 3 tequila, floor!

2007-09-24T23:47:00.000-04:00

I am not even certain I would last that long. To the third shot that is. Especially if we aree doing shots. Maybe Margarita's, but I can not slam too many tequila shots with salt and lime.

But seriously, have you noticed that more and more people are drinking tequila these days? It's become more popular than vodka! And how about one of the newest brands, Voodoo Tiki Tequila which comes in a variety of different flavors and strengths.

I personally am very eager to try their flavor infused blue kiwi tequila! How good does that sound? Any volunteers to hold my hair?

Shannon and I are supposed to get together this weekend. I am thinking we will be trying out some new tequila while we stumble around the internet. Maybe we will even play spin the bottle for old times sake while we are registering our bottles! HAHA. Or even better yet, we can attend Tequila University and earn our degree! If those ten different flavor infused tequila's are as good as they sound, I will be needing that degree!

In case you missed it...

2007-09-24T23:43:00.001-04:00

Here is the video of the Force/Bernstein crash @ Fall Nationals. Thankfully, this was not a fatal crash. But it certainly could have been.

Is it wrong that I am thankful Craig was not involved? Since he is family and all..

This is a long video but well worth the time, if you missed the race. I have to say, I am glad I was not at this one.

Setting up shop...

2007-09-24T22:51:00.000-04:00

Niki and I have been talking about setting up our stores on our domains. This has lead me to do some looking around the internet to see just what it will take. One thing I know I will definitely need is a reliable, secure shopping cart software to use.

Since all this HTML stuff is still a bit confusing for me, I am trying to keep things as uncomplicated as possible for myself. However, I do know that there are a few MUST-HAVE's for my own peace of mind.

One of the biggest things for me is the shopping cart software must accept Paypal as a form of customer payment. This is the online payment system I am most comfortable with receiving payments though.

Another big requirement I have is customization. I want to be in control of how my shopping cart looks. I do not want to be restricted by templates. I like things to feel personalized.

And of course, AFFORDABLE! That is a huge one. It must be affordable, yet offer technical support. Because I am certain to mess something up along the way. I always do!

Ashop Commerce offers a shopping cart software with all of these features and more! Their ecommerce software helps merchants reach the top of search engines which means you will have more traffic. And of course, the more traffic you have, the more potential sales you will make.

So it sounds like Ashop Commerce is the total package when it comes to ecommerce software. You can manage your website and online business all at once!

Bleh

2007-09-24T22:47:00.000-04:00

Today was a rough day. I worked on my challenge for Stand Up and Scrap. I did my best to not let myself think too much about things. I did a great job at that most of the day. Then this afternoon I got a phone call and it all came crashing down. The conversation during the call related indirectly to my LO. After I hung up, I broke down.

Why?

How about a little extra spending cash?

2007-09-24T22:14:00.000-04:00

I know our budget sure could use a little extra padding, how about yours? If you are reading this, then you are obviously familiar with blogging, and possibly even have a blog of your own. Am I correct?

Have you answered yes to both questions now? Are you nodding?

Are you aware that you can get paid for blogging? Yes, you absolutely can! You see, advertisers have become aware of how popular blogs are today. And with so many people blogging, and reading blogs, it is a whole new world for them. Well, not really. Companies have been advertising on blogs for a while now. I guess I was just skeptical to believe you could actually blog for money. We all know the saying, "If it sounds too good...". I guess that is where my thought process was coming from.

After a good friend of mine had been contracted with a company for a while, and I saw that the was actually getting paid to write her own opinion or review on a site, product or service, I became more interested.

Then I signed up for a very reputable service that offers me opportunities to make money online. The great thing about this service is they allow me to make my own decisions. There is no pressure. I get to pick and chose what is right for me. They give me information about an advertiser who is hiring people to advertise on blogs with all the specifics. I review the information and decide whether or not I would like to take advantage of the opportunity given to me.

I only give my honest opinion too. Which I think is very important! I do not want to lead my friends astray with bad information. So I review the information from the advertiser and then tell all of you exactly what I think about it. It could also be a product review from time to time, which can be fun.

If you would like to earn some extra money for the holidays, give this blogging for money thing a try. What do you have to lose? The registration process was quick and easy. And they will even send you your earning via Paypal! Which I absolutely love because it is so fast. And when I have money in Paypal, I can go shopping for digital scrapbooking goodies! It's a win-win situation for me!

Check it out, I'm sure you won't be disappointed that you did!

Gasp

2007-09-23T18:09:00.000-04:00

Did you all hear about the Funny Car crash at Fall Nationals? John Force and Kenny Bernstein had a horrific wreck. That is one thing I personally worry about everytime I watch my loved ones race down the track. Fortunately, Kenny was not injured and John's injuries were not fatal. Although, he is pretty banged up.

My prayers are with both families. Obviously John's due to his injuries. But also with Kenny's because they must have been HORRIFIED as they watched on.

I just can not imagine.

Let's save some money!

2007-09-22T12:44:00.000-04:00

You know, with my dad traveling all the time for business, you would think he would want to take advantage of saving money on travel expenses when he can. I keep telling him there are places on the internet where he can save money on hotel reservations, airfare and car rentals.

Some sites, like even offer vacation package savings. And you can book your flights, rental car, hotel, everything right through them. So you don't have to jump around from one site to another making reservations. It can all be taken care of in one place.

If you call the hotel or airline direct to make your reservation, or book your flight, you are going to pay full price. Unless, of course, of you are an AARP or AAA member. Then you may see some savings. But with a travel discount site, you get competitive rates with huge savings over direct bookings.

offer great discounts on world wide destinations. Whether you are booking a resort, motel or hotel reservation, they can offer you huge savings.

There are other travel discount sites out there too, but this is the one I find to be the most consistant. Like I said, their rates are competitive with other discount sites and yet, much cheaper than direct bookings. Not only that, if you find a cheaper rate on another site, with the exact same travel dates and hotel, you can contact them within 24 hours of your reservation and they will confirm the rate with the other site. Upon confirmation, they will either match the competitors rate or cancel your reservation without a cancellation fee, whichever you chose.

They even have special offers from time to time like Gas Rebates!! I know that personally, with the gas prices today, we are hesitant to take any vacations. But if you can take advantage of an offer like that, what are you losing?

Dad was certainly happy with his "Special Internet Rate" he got for our recent vacation. I guess seeing is believing!

My stash

2007-09-22T12:27:00.000-04:00

Lookie what I bought!! Woohoo. I am so excited about making these. I will go out in a little while and purchase some materials to get started on my first set. The twins will absolutely ADORE them. Mo is such a clothes freak anyway, lol.

This site had so many cool patterns, I had to start a Kaboodle just to keep track of everything I want. haha.

The rollercoaster of dieting..

2007-09-22T12:02:00.000-04:00

Some of the women and I were talking at gymnastics the other night about the roller coaster of dieting. You lose weight, then put it all back on, and sometimes you even put on more than your originally began with. Then you try another diet, lose weight and again put it all back on.

One of the ladies there was a grandparent of the little gymnast. As an older woman, she said she is unable to lose weight no matter what. She is at the point that she can't really much exercising and her weight is actually settling into her legs. No amount of dieting has helped her. She has tried everything short of weight loss surgery.

Some of the other women told about people they knew who had went through weight loss surgery and now are much healthier and have improved their quality of life.

One of them is going to bring information next week for some support groups for her to join. Hopefully she will find a way to feel better about herself soon.

Scrapalicious Biotch

*raised brow*

What's new?

Fair week

I'm still recouping

Today is the day

Happy Birthday

Did I what????

Can't skip out tonight

Positive response

Meetings...

Gas Prices... GAH!

No way

Curtains

4 Wheeler

Laundry

I kissed a girl...

I kissed a girl...

EEK! Energy Drinks do what???

Time flies...

ISTEP

Thoughts and Ramblings

Wow

New Releases!

Tired

Refinance Now!

Dentist

Great deal!

*yawn*

New Releases

New Releases

*sigh*

Eek!

Dear Santa

Woot!

Sweeney Todd

Scary thought...

Free stuff!

New layout

The ultimate relaxation

New layout

Chronic pain relief

The School Board Meeting

C'mon gurlies!!

New purchase

Temporary dental fixes

New stuff

A new thrill...

Trick or Treat

How about a cd cover?

Secret #3

Secret #2

Plans for improvements

secret #1

Another layout...

Oh My Goodness ... TWIN

New layout

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Trim and tone

Costume party

Help with math

Weekend plans

Insurance rates keep increasing...

Whatta day

Hopes for good things

Fall is here

Black Friday is coming

Too old for bar room brawls

Recruiting and staffing

What's new

Just in time for Christmas shopping!

The meeting

Starting a new business can be a lot of work

Hello there.

Home Improvements

RECYCLE

Stretching the dollar

Breast Cancer Awareness

Who needs some bling?

Shopping

raised brow

yawn

sigh

Gasp