3.31.2009

Spring Break...

The kiddos are on Spring Break this week...this means that Josh has less than 9 short weeks till he graduates. Can this really be possible? Time is FLYING! But I'm sure you get tired of hearing that one, eh?

Em spent the day with a friend today and is on her way home now. Josh is with Teri, of course. I've stayed home,trying to get things done around the house. I've done a bit here and there but definitely haven't accomplished what I could have accomplished. Once again...this computer...sucks me in and moves the hands of the clock ahead at least a few hours, without me seeing it happen.

Right this second though, I have dinner in the oven waiting for everyone to get home to eat. I just joined E-Mealz at Mealtime Makeover. This is a site that was mentioned on the Dave Ramsey podcasts that I listen to. Here, you can choose from a selection of various menus. Menus that range from a family of 4-6, to cooking for 2...and even meals put together for those that are following certain meal plan type diets. (think Weight Watchers)

Anyway, I joined the family menu option and it just so happens that they have the option for my local store too. So, my menu comes to me on Wednesday...based on my local grocery store sales paper for the week. I LOVE THIS!!!

Last night, we had Cajun Chicken Pasta with baked bread and fresh strawberries. Tonight, we're having Chicken Divan, rice and cantaloupe. The other meals on the menu for this week are just as appealing to my family. I am loving having a plan that I don't have to put together.

Alex had been a little skeptical because he didn't want to spend the money. I asked if I could give it a shot...just to see if it helped ME with cooking at home AND helped us to save a bit of $$, in the process. He agreed...and here we are.

I strongly suggest that you check it out.

I'm off now to finish picking up the scraproom in hopes of getting a bit of stuff done in here tonight or tomorrow. I have a total of 13 orders that need to be completed. I'd love to get these done and delivered by the end of Spring Break.

Oh...and did I mention??? I'm working on a garage sale for Friday too. I know...I'm a glutton for punishment. But hey...Dave Ramsey would be proud!

Till next time!!

;)

3.28.2009

Happy Saturday morning!

Good morning all. It is a cloudy Saturday morning here and I'm trying to get my groove on...trying to get the to-do list done for the day and also to find the motivation to get started on it too. I've only been up for about 45 minutes and am only on the first cup of java though. Maybe I need a little bit of time for it to kick in before I get moving.

Yesterday was the start of Spring Break for my kiddos. We started the break with a day at Florida State University. This is where Josh will be headed in a few months and yesterday was our first visit to the campus. Needless to say, he is far more excited now and cannot wait for August to get here! I'm pretty excited for him too but I know that things are going to be a lot different around here with only Emily living at home.

The weather in Tallahassee yesterday was awful! It started off a bit cloudy but by 11am, the storms were coming in and there was even a tornado warning for the area. I could not believe how dark it got for a while and the rain was coming down in BUCKETS!!

However, because of the rainy day, we were able to see the latest fashion trend. WELLIES!!!! Or at least that's what we used to call them. Not sure what the official name for them is now but they were EVERYWHERE!! And there were hardly any two alike! As the day progressed, it became a joke between Alex and I...and probably another something for the parents to use to embarass the soon to be college student too...when we saw someone else with them on, we'd point them out and "ooh and ahh". There were soooooooo many different styles...stripes, polka dots, hearts, camo, citrus fruit, frogs, rubber ducks and plain...just to name a few. It wasn't till the end of the day though that I thought to take a couple of pictures...duh!

Speaking of pictures. Josh told me before we even left Orlando that he would NOT pose for any pictures while we were there. And boy, did he hold me to it. I was able to snap a couple while he wasn't looking...like he and his dad mapping out the course of the day...but other than that...NADA! At the end of the day though, we at the stadium and I snuck a couple of others but when he saw me...this is what I got. I sure hope that he changes his outlook on pictures and takes LOTS in college. Now my job is to start working on him...warning him that when we move him up there in August...I "WILL" be getting a LOT of pictures. I gave him this time and might even go without pictures at orientation in June...but college move in time is MINE!

Well, Alex just came in and told Emily that its time for her to "get to work". I guess that's my cue too. Darn it...time to get the to-do list done for the day and get busy! Ho hum! But hey...on a good note...if I get my stuff done now, I can play later...right? (that's what I tell the kids...maybe I should start by example?)

I read all of my LOM handouts in the car and listened to Stacy's audio messages too...I'm ready to catch up on the LOM assignments. Excited about them actually...excited to scrapbook again soon! I haven't done a layout since August and by golly, (yes, I said by golly) I MISS IT!

Till next time!!!!

3.26.2009

I think I can...I think I can...

November...December...January...February...MARCH. SERIOUSLY??? Has it really been close to 5 months since I've blogged? Funny how life throws a few curveballs and things start going in an entirely different direction than you thought you were headed.

Back in November, things started getting a little interesting here with the teenager. Everyday seemed to bring a new challenge. I have to say...Josh is a GREAT kid. He gets decent grades, is in the Nat'l Honor Society, is an Eagle Scout...an overall really good kid. A Sr. in High School...counting the days till he turns 18. Wanting more and more freedom as the days progressed. These things took a lot of time, energy and even more patience. I won't say that life with this teen is all peaches and cream but we seem to be in a MUCH BETTER place at the moment.

The time and energy that I was putting into these family issues made me rethink my position with SumpinElse...the partnership that I had formed with Maggi and Carmen. I had to reprioritize things and decided to leave the SumpinElse trio...to get through the holidays and then try to do what I can, when I can...on my own.

I opened my own shop on Etsy and am adding new things here and there. I've been blessed with new orders locally. I'm certainly not complaining, this just hasn't given me the chance to create new stuff for my Etsy shop. That is certainly a goal that I have. I also have a few frames that I did while with SumpinElse that I would like to relist in my own shop.

Lately, I've been doing very well with my daily to-do lists. Concentrating on one item at a time, on the list, for 20 minutes at a time. My friend Michele and I call these our "20 minute challenges". They certainly help to keep me a bit more focused. Updating the blog was one of the items for today. Another item that I can now cross off the list!!

My 20 minutes are about up and the laundry is ready to be folded and rebooted. We're headed to Tallahassee this evening for a Campus Tour of FSU with Josh. He's soon to be a SEMINOLE and this will be his first time on campus. I'd better make sure I charge the camera batteries. (although he's already said that he refuses to 'pose' for pictures...WHATEVER!)

Before I close...I'll share my latest creation. One of the wonderful paraprofessionals at Em's school is retiring today. She is a customer of mine who is always commenting on my work and how much she loves it. I wanted to give her something that I knew she would appreciate. So I made her this lovely set of notecards. I was inspired by Trendycards...someone that I follow through Twitter...if you get a chance, check out the gorgeous items that she carries in her shop.

Till next time!!!

I KNOW I CAN...I KNOW I CAN...