Trip stories soon.
Happy St. Patty's Day!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
And she wept...
..when she took her first steaming hot shower in three days.
Because she lived in three airports for two days.
With children.
And no I.D.
Jet-lag, vertigo, and general exhaustion.
The exhaustion on the brink of insanity, where I stare at the walls and 3-D images appear out of the texture. And talk to me.
Many adventures and stories to share.
Just need to balance out a little.
Because she lived in three airports for two days.
With children.
And no I.D.
Jet-lag, vertigo, and general exhaustion.
The exhaustion on the brink of insanity, where I stare at the walls and 3-D images appear out of the texture. And talk to me.
Many adventures and stories to share.
Just need to balance out a little.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Projects & News
First off, this is one of the projects I made for Karen Foster Design, made to be shown on the Home Shopping Network. We were instructed to make projects that show off the Scraparatus, this bag was hole punched and eyeleted to death. I wanted to show this particular project to you simple because the tote was purchased at the Dollar Tree, and I thought it was smashing. They had a bunch of different colors too, and for a buck? Really worth heading over to your Dollar Tree, especially if your kids are like mine, and gather eggs for the annual family Easter Egg Hunt with plastic sacks from the grocery store. We are classy like that. This year they might have these totes. Unless I need to turn in another altered project for someone else...
The next few projects were a departure from my comfort zone. They are vinyl projects available as a Silhouette download. When you buy the Silhouette, you gain access to downloads from Quickutz for purchase. They have recently branched into Home Decor with vinyl words and phrases and shapes. I got to play with ten of them. It was pretty fun, and I have to say, I have been looking at everything in my house differently. "Ooooh, I could put a quote on that clock!"
And I think I will print out a "WASH YOUR HANDS" to stick on the wall above the toilet. And maybe in the boy's bathroom "PAY ATTENTION, AIM."
Vinyl is fun. And addicting.
This turned out to be my favorite project. I cut the big monogram "W" in black vinyl, and then the "WADLEY" in white vinyl and layered them right on the front of the glass in the frame. Then I took out the backing, and hot-glued the glass into the frame. The vinyl looks like it is floating on the wall, there is a shadow behind it that looks pretty cool.
My cool new cookie jar. Jar came from that awful store. Ikea was out the day I was needing to buy the jar for this project. Don't be hatin', I went there out of necessity.
This last one was a frame I had in the closet. The inside size was larger than a 12x12 sheet of paper. I ended up cutting the 12x12 paper, and then machine zig-zag stitching the trimmed paper right to the cardboard photo backing. Then I tied the cardboard into the project using the same color photo corners. I thought it looked pretty cool. Then the vinyl that says "Our Family" and the swirly thingie are slapped on top of the glass in the frame. The paper and photos show underneath. I liked the wallet sized photos, and it will be easy to switch those out. Except for the one of Sam and I. That was painful. Sam refuses to smile. And my nine year old, Shayne took the photos. Sometimes we had heads, and sometimes we didn't. Shayne took about 58 pictures. This was the best I could salvage, and I doubt we will ever take another picture together again. That is probably the photo that will get dug up to use for our obituaries.
Speaking of obituaries...here is the news.
We are leaving Saturday night to go to Ecuador. With all the kids. To Ecuador.
Sam lived there for two years while he was serving a mission for our church. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) He has always wanted to take us back to Ecuador to see the places he served in, the culture, the sights. Long story short, my parents are going, and asked Sam to come down with them and tour guide. If we are ever going to take the kids to Ecuador, this is ideal, to be able to take advantage of the extra adults with all the rug-rats.
We are going to give it a whirl.
Anyone who knows me, knows just how much I despise country music. No offense to those of you who like it, or love it. Different strokes for different folks, and all that. It makes me want to stab my eardrums with an ice pick.
However, this past week I heard the song by Tim McGraw called "Live like you were Dying" and really, that was my deciding factor. I like to plan, and over-plan, and make sure everything is *just right* to travel.
In the end, I don't want to regret missing out on opportunity to live.
So I have packing to do.
Be good 'til next weekend.
The next few projects were a departure from my comfort zone. They are vinyl projects available as a Silhouette download. When you buy the Silhouette, you gain access to downloads from Quickutz for purchase. They have recently branched into Home Decor with vinyl words and phrases and shapes. I got to play with ten of them. It was pretty fun, and I have to say, I have been looking at everything in my house differently. "Ooooh, I could put a quote on that clock!"
And I think I will print out a "WASH YOUR HANDS" to stick on the wall above the toilet. And maybe in the boy's bathroom "PAY ATTENTION, AIM."
Vinyl is fun. And addicting.
This turned out to be my favorite project. I cut the big monogram "W" in black vinyl, and then the "WADLEY" in white vinyl and layered them right on the front of the glass in the frame. Then I took out the backing, and hot-glued the glass into the frame. The vinyl looks like it is floating on the wall, there is a shadow behind it that looks pretty cool.
My cool new cookie jar. Jar came from that awful store. Ikea was out the day I was needing to buy the jar for this project. Don't be hatin', I went there out of necessity.
This last one was a frame I had in the closet. The inside size was larger than a 12x12 sheet of paper. I ended up cutting the 12x12 paper, and then machine zig-zag stitching the trimmed paper right to the cardboard photo backing. Then I tied the cardboard into the project using the same color photo corners. I thought it looked pretty cool. Then the vinyl that says "Our Family" and the swirly thingie are slapped on top of the glass in the frame. The paper and photos show underneath. I liked the wallet sized photos, and it will be easy to switch those out. Except for the one of Sam and I. That was painful. Sam refuses to smile. And my nine year old, Shayne took the photos. Sometimes we had heads, and sometimes we didn't. Shayne took about 58 pictures. This was the best I could salvage, and I doubt we will ever take another picture together again. That is probably the photo that will get dug up to use for our obituaries.
Speaking of obituaries...here is the news.
We are leaving Saturday night to go to Ecuador. With all the kids. To Ecuador.
Sam lived there for two years while he was serving a mission for our church. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) He has always wanted to take us back to Ecuador to see the places he served in, the culture, the sights. Long story short, my parents are going, and asked Sam to come down with them and tour guide. If we are ever going to take the kids to Ecuador, this is ideal, to be able to take advantage of the extra adults with all the rug-rats.
We are going to give it a whirl.
Anyone who knows me, knows just how much I despise country music. No offense to those of you who like it, or love it. Different strokes for different folks, and all that. It makes me want to stab my eardrums with an ice pick.
However, this past week I heard the song by Tim McGraw called "Live like you were Dying" and really, that was my deciding factor. I like to plan, and over-plan, and make sure everything is *just right* to travel.
In the end, I don't want to regret missing out on opportunity to live.
So I have packing to do.
Be good 'til next weekend.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Blog neglect.
Hello?
(tap, tap)
Are you guys still here? Cause if you have left, I don't blame you.
I haven't had much to report, but if I promise to post some pictures of recent projects tomorrow will you come back?
Oh, and I have some news. And if you just thought "I bet she is pregnant."
You are so, so wrong.
And evil.
(tap, tap)
Are you guys still here? Cause if you have left, I don't blame you.
I haven't had much to report, but if I promise to post some pictures of recent projects tomorrow will you come back?
Oh, and I have some news. And if you just thought "I bet she is pregnant."
You are so, so wrong.
And evil.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
The Girls Room
The process:
I am NOT a careful painter. I like to dig right into my work. Some call it messy. I call it passionate. Yeah...passionate. I like that.
And the finished product. Minus any accessories. I haven't hung any pictures or anything, but you get the idea. It's happy.
And in scrappy news...between Saturday night, and this afternoon (post-nap) I am finished with my "7-9 altered items" for the Home Shopping Network featuring Karen Foster stuff. I did nine. Cause I am an overachiever like that. Plus I am saving up to buy a treadmill.
And I got one of my two-page layouts done for Debbie's class.
So tomorrow on the agenda:
*Five more home decor items for Quickutz.
*One two-page layout for Debbie's class.
*Take photos for Debbie's class layout. <--I guess that one should go before the layout, since I will need them to do the layout. Heh.
Somewhere in there I need to break and do something with the kids, since they will be home all day. Hey! Maybe we can play hide and seek. I can send them to hide, and then never do that seek part.
I could get a whole lot done with that plan.
I am NOT a careful painter. I like to dig right into my work. Some call it messy. I call it passionate. Yeah...passionate. I like that.
And the finished product. Minus any accessories. I haven't hung any pictures or anything, but you get the idea. It's happy.
And in scrappy news...between Saturday night, and this afternoon (post-nap) I am finished with my "7-9 altered items" for the Home Shopping Network featuring Karen Foster stuff. I did nine. Cause I am an overachiever like that. Plus I am saving up to buy a treadmill.
And I got one of my two-page layouts done for Debbie's class.
So tomorrow on the agenda:
*Five more home decor items for Quickutz.
*One two-page layout for Debbie's class.
*Take photos for Debbie's class layout. <--I guess that one should go before the layout, since I will need them to do the layout. Heh.
Somewhere in there I need to break and do something with the kids, since they will be home all day. Hey! Maybe we can play hide and seek. I can send them to hide, and then never do that seek part.
I could get a whole lot done with that plan.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Just overheard...
My oldest son, Jayden and his Dad got back this afternoon from the Klondike Derby.
It's a winter Boy Scout campout for those of you who have been living under a rock.
My second oldest, Brendan was bummed about not being old enough to go.
Jayden: "My gosh! I can't believe I was only gone for ONE DAY, and you guys totally bombed the playroom. I can't find any of my stuff!"
Brendan: "Well, Mom didn't take us anywhere for fun while you were out camping with Dad. We didn't have any fun. None!"
Jayden: "At least you didn't have to sleep in a tent with Dad after he ate chili."
Beavis and Butthead laughter.
It's a winter Boy Scout campout for those of you who have been living under a rock.
My second oldest, Brendan was bummed about not being old enough to go.
Jayden: "My gosh! I can't believe I was only gone for ONE DAY, and you guys totally bombed the playroom. I can't find any of my stuff!"
Brendan: "Well, Mom didn't take us anywhere for fun while you were out camping with Dad. We didn't have any fun. None!"
Jayden: "At least you didn't have to sleep in a tent with Dad after he ate chili."
Beavis and Butthead laughter.
Good-bye February!
No offense Mom, Brendan, and anyone else who has the unfortunate luck to celebrate a February birthday, but February stinks.
It is the dreariest, most depressing month.
It is so fickle. Good weather...bad weather...
Take this last week, we had a good couple of Spring-esque days. That glimmer of hope! Where you open all your windows, and think about packing away the Ice-Melt that has been sitting in your entryway for the past five months. It was so nice, I actually got the urge to go running! Of course, I sat down in front of the TV until that feeling passed...
But no. No sirree. Good weather is against February's code of ethics. A storm rolled in and blew that hope away. Rain is pelting on my windows. (Glad I didn't wash them.)
I think March will be nicer.
I have kind of a lot of scrappy deadlines. I have been in denial. I need to get cracking on them. In my scrappy deadline avoidance I got the girls room painted and finished. Nothing like a little home improvement to justify your denial. I would show you, but I am just too lazy to upload the pictures. And a little ghetto cleaning tip...you can put dirty blinds in your jetted tub to clean them. Just don't use Suave Body Wash as the "detergent." Unless you like bubbles. Everywhere.
I got the paint at Home Depot for anyone keeping tabs on the fiasco. It was great paint! Maybe not at thick as the Walmart Kilz brand, but it was mixed correctly and served to me with 100 percent less crappy attitude.
Worth the extra six bucks in my book.
Also worth my six bucks?
A butt-ton of Redbox movies to keep the kids entertained Monday, since they are out of school for some horsecrap Teacher Development day, on the day I really need to get my scrappy crap done.
Good thing Spongebob is up to some new antics.
It is the dreariest, most depressing month.
It is so fickle. Good weather...bad weather...
Take this last week, we had a good couple of Spring-esque days. That glimmer of hope! Where you open all your windows, and think about packing away the Ice-Melt that has been sitting in your entryway for the past five months. It was so nice, I actually got the urge to go running! Of course, I sat down in front of the TV until that feeling passed...
But no. No sirree. Good weather is against February's code of ethics. A storm rolled in and blew that hope away. Rain is pelting on my windows. (Glad I didn't wash them.)
I think March will be nicer.
I have kind of a lot of scrappy deadlines. I have been in denial. I need to get cracking on them. In my scrappy deadline avoidance I got the girls room painted and finished. Nothing like a little home improvement to justify your denial. I would show you, but I am just too lazy to upload the pictures. And a little ghetto cleaning tip...you can put dirty blinds in your jetted tub to clean them. Just don't use Suave Body Wash as the "detergent." Unless you like bubbles. Everywhere.
I got the paint at Home Depot for anyone keeping tabs on the fiasco. It was great paint! Maybe not at thick as the Walmart Kilz brand, but it was mixed correctly and served to me with 100 percent less crappy attitude.
Worth the extra six bucks in my book.
Also worth my six bucks?
A butt-ton of Redbox movies to keep the kids entertained Monday, since they are out of school for some horsecrap Teacher Development day, on the day I really need to get my scrappy crap done.
Good thing Spongebob is up to some new antics.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
KONG Kones and other stuff.
I took the kids to the local Macey's, which is a grocery store here. They sell gigantuous ice cream cones. I thought it would be a good time. The kids hadn't been here before. And when they saw the size of these puppies, they were simultaneously amazed at the size and giddy at the possibility of a major afternoon sugar buzz.
Look how huge they are!
And I am happy to report they were not wasted. Each kid put their cone down. Mikayla got a regular sized cone. I don't know that she could have held that KONG kone on her own.
And since I could not for the life of me get the color right on this picture, I did what any good scrapbooker does...convert it to black and white.
The best thing about the KONG kones? They are $1.29. Cheapest entertainment around.
I am off to Home Depot to get paint. Thank you for all the suggestions!
I haven't set foot in Walmart since that post. I don't plan on it either.
Hopefully I will have room pictures by this weekend.
In scrappy news:
I am guest designing for a class designed and taught by Debbie Hodge over at NYC scraps. I have never taken an online class before. Let's be honest. The first official scrapbooking class I had attended was the one that I TAUGHT for Paperkuts Magazine in Ontario. Yep. Never taken a class.
I got to "take" the first online class that I helped Debbie with a few months ago. I just have to say, it was awesome. I didn't know that I could learn something from a class, I have been designing for so long, but Debbie combines design elements into her classes, with ideas for themes, and sketches for layouts. That girl is the whole package deal. I really enjoyed the class last time, and I am looking forward to this one. Last class I completed four! two-page layouts while following the class. I scrapped a huge stack of photos.
If you are interested, check it out.
I also have some home decor crud I have done for Quickutz that I need to just take pictures of and post. My Silhouette cuts vinyl, and I have been going nuts making my own monograms and quotes.
Fun stuff!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
I'm alive-
Just slammed with projects for a bit.
No, not PAINTING projects.
Thanks for the e-mails.
I will be back to blog hopefully really soon.
No, not PAINTING projects.
Thanks for the e-mails.
I will be back to blog hopefully really soon.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
On Walmart.
I went to buy a couple gallons of paint last night.
I am in between projects and figured I could kick out a good portion of the girls room today.
I had them mix up a celery/limey green color, and it was good.
Then I had them mix a pepto bismol pink.
It turned out purpley.
I walked around the store wondering if my eyes were buggy.
I even stopped and asked another lady if the paint on the top of the can and my paint swatch matched.
She was like "Not even close."
So I marched it back to the paint dude.
He rolled his eyes at me (really he did) and said "Well, I mixed it up right." (arms folded into his chest-chest puffed out)
I was like "Dude. It's wrong. Something is wrong with your machine then."
He was like "It looks right to me."
He kept putting the paint chip in the machine that matches paint.
I was like "Why don't you just read the information on the back of the chip to mix it, instead of trying to match it in the machine. That machine seems to be off."
I sat and argued with him for like ten minutes.
Meanwhile...
My kids are running amok in the store.
I told my older boys to watch the four year old.
They are all in Heeleys, pert near knocking displays over.
Then in the middle of waiting for the stupid paint I hear:
"attention walmart shoppers, there is a lost little girl....blah, blah"
Yeah, its mine.
I retrieve Mikayla from the smug front desk girl.
I find the boys oblivious to life playing the video games in electronics.
Rip them a hole.
Make all the kids stand there (skating in obnoxious circles around me like fruit flies) while I get the paint issue resolved.
He finally mixed up another gallon. Matching the chip (again) in the MACHINE!
It was too purpley too.
I was like "Can anyone else try?"
My hell. It was THEIR paint chip!!
He said "I pretty much trained everyone in this store." (on mixing paint.)
I left the pink there.
I go up to buy the green.
The rang me up in the check-out and I didn't have enough cash? What?
He had picked the wrong kind of paint.
He grabbed the can of some ultra exterior expensive crap.
It was like $30.00 a gallon!
I left it too.
I am NOT paying that for Walmart crap.
So now I have no paint.
The last time I went in to get paint some dude had a seizure right in the middle of the floor in front of the paint counter.
So the paint dude hops the counter and goes over to look important, and place several pillows underneath him from domestics.
(Which incidentally, post-seizure, they just threw those pillows back into the wire cage to be sold to some unsuspecting customer)
Don't get me wrong. I felt incredibly bad for the guy having a seizure.
I really did.
And I was glad paint guy went over there. But...
My paint was literally ready to go in that mixer machine.
Paintman is over helping seizureman, right...so the ambulance people come, and take over.
Where does the paint guy go?
Who the hell knows?
He never came back.
I waited 45 minutes!
Crickets.
I left.
You would think I would learn, but no.
Like an abusive relationship...I keep going back.
I am going to go somewhere else tomorrow.
Not there.
I am still ticked today.
Any recommendations?
I am in between projects and figured I could kick out a good portion of the girls room today.
I had them mix up a celery/limey green color, and it was good.
Then I had them mix a pepto bismol pink.
It turned out purpley.
I walked around the store wondering if my eyes were buggy.
I even stopped and asked another lady if the paint on the top of the can and my paint swatch matched.
She was like "Not even close."
So I marched it back to the paint dude.
He rolled his eyes at me (really he did) and said "Well, I mixed it up right." (arms folded into his chest-chest puffed out)
I was like "Dude. It's wrong. Something is wrong with your machine then."
He was like "It looks right to me."
He kept putting the paint chip in the machine that matches paint.
I was like "Why don't you just read the information on the back of the chip to mix it, instead of trying to match it in the machine. That machine seems to be off."
I sat and argued with him for like ten minutes.
Meanwhile...
My kids are running amok in the store.
I told my older boys to watch the four year old.
They are all in Heeleys, pert near knocking displays over.
Then in the middle of waiting for the stupid paint I hear:
"attention walmart shoppers, there is a lost little girl....blah, blah"
Yeah, its mine.
I retrieve Mikayla from the smug front desk girl.
I find the boys oblivious to life playing the video games in electronics.
Rip them a hole.
Make all the kids stand there (skating in obnoxious circles around me like fruit flies) while I get the paint issue resolved.
He finally mixed up another gallon. Matching the chip (again) in the MACHINE!
It was too purpley too.
I was like "Can anyone else try?"
My hell. It was THEIR paint chip!!
He said "I pretty much trained everyone in this store." (on mixing paint.)
I left the pink there.
I go up to buy the green.
The rang me up in the check-out and I didn't have enough cash? What?
He had picked the wrong kind of paint.
He grabbed the can of some ultra exterior expensive crap.
It was like $30.00 a gallon!
I left it too.
I am NOT paying that for Walmart crap.
So now I have no paint.
The last time I went in to get paint some dude had a seizure right in the middle of the floor in front of the paint counter.
So the paint dude hops the counter and goes over to look important, and place several pillows underneath him from domestics.
(Which incidentally, post-seizure, they just threw those pillows back into the wire cage to be sold to some unsuspecting customer)
Don't get me wrong. I felt incredibly bad for the guy having a seizure.
I really did.
And I was glad paint guy went over there. But...
My paint was literally ready to go in that mixer machine.
Paintman is over helping seizureman, right...so the ambulance people come, and take over.
Where does the paint guy go?
Who the hell knows?
He never came back.
I waited 45 minutes!
Crickets.
I left.
You would think I would learn, but no.
Like an abusive relationship...I keep going back.
I am going to go somewhere else tomorrow.
Not there.
I am still ticked today.
Any recommendations?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
trouble brewing
I graduated Weight Watchers just in time for:
CADBURY MINI-EGG SEASON.
Crap. Those suckers are like crack to me. I saw them at Walmart last night, and I didn't dare buy any. I am afraid to have them in the house. Calling me. Taunting me. In fact, just from simply fondling the bag in the store, my waistband is tighter today.
I have no willpower. There. I said it.
None at all.
They don't hand out willpower at WW like they do the little key-chain charms.
CADBURY MINI-EGG SEASON.
Crap. Those suckers are like crack to me. I saw them at Walmart last night, and I didn't dare buy any. I am afraid to have them in the house. Calling me. Taunting me. In fact, just from simply fondling the bag in the store, my waistband is tighter today.
I have no willpower. There. I said it.
None at all.
They don't hand out willpower at WW like they do the little key-chain charms.
Monday, February 18, 2008
lazy day
The kids are out of school for, um, is it Presidents Day?
February is such a weird month for holidays around here.
We are all hanging out in our PJ's snacking on this:
Pumpkin Pie Cake
Crust:
1 white cake mix (or yellow, or french vanilla...whatever you have that is close)
(reserve 1 c. of cake mix, set aside)
2 T. flour
1 egg
1/2 c. melted butter
Mix all ingredients. Press into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.
Filling:
1 large can pumpkin
2 eggs
1/3 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
2/3 c. evaporated milk
2 t. pumpkin pie spice
Mix thoroughly, and pour over the top of the crust.
Topping:
1 c. (reserved) cake mix
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. softened butter
Cut together until crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of filling.
Bake at 350 degress for 45-50 minutes. Delicious if served warm with vanilla ice cream.
I think it is healthy, right? I mean, with all the pumpkin, it is practically a vegetable. Try it, you will love it.
I think I will throw some laundry in just for some anti-guilt. That plus my favorite velour lounge suit is dirty. A girl needs her comfy lounge suit. Especially when she has been snacking on cake all weekend.
February is such a weird month for holidays around here.
We are all hanging out in our PJ's snacking on this:
Pumpkin Pie Cake
Crust:
1 white cake mix (or yellow, or french vanilla...whatever you have that is close)
(reserve 1 c. of cake mix, set aside)
2 T. flour
1 egg
1/2 c. melted butter
Mix all ingredients. Press into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.
Filling:
1 large can pumpkin
2 eggs
1/3 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
2/3 c. evaporated milk
2 t. pumpkin pie spice
Mix thoroughly, and pour over the top of the crust.
Topping:
1 c. (reserved) cake mix
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. softened butter
Cut together until crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of filling.
Bake at 350 degress for 45-50 minutes. Delicious if served warm with vanilla ice cream.
I think it is healthy, right? I mean, with all the pumpkin, it is practically a vegetable. Try it, you will love it.
I think I will throw some laundry in just for some anti-guilt. That plus my favorite velour lounge suit is dirty. A girl needs her comfy lounge suit. Especially when she has been snacking on cake all weekend.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Today I graduated from Weight Watchers.
And right after class, the manager of this location (I am standing next to in the photo)said "I am sooooo glad you finally earned your Lifetime goal."
"Thanks." I said, putting my coat on to leave.
"Really, I am so happy" she said "we would really love to have you come work for us."
"Huh?"
So she explained everything, and asked me to please think about it.
I am still laughing.
I don't know why I am laughing. I guess I should be flattered. You have to have gone through the program to work there. I should be feeling something like honored or excited or something. I just feel, well, hysterical.
I just can't see myself being a fat farm motivational speaker. Or the scale lady.
I need to get a grip.
PS. the pants I am wearing are new. I finally went out and got some that fit me. They are a (comfortable) size SIX! Don't be hatin'. When I am not wearing them, I like to leave them inside out, with the size SIX! tag out in plain sight draped over the living room couch right where the front door is.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentines Day
Top Ten reasons that I love this guy:
10- I don't do well when I am tired. He is the official "put the kids to bed guy" I have usually lost all patience by that point, and he makes it fun for the kids. He is also the "get the kids up" guy, when he hasn't worked graveyards the night before. Same reason. I am grumpy. He isn't.
9- He eats everything I cook. Without complaint. Even that recent weight watcher friendly garbanzo bean thing. (shudder)
8- He has been known to fold laundry after I have gone to bed, when he is staying up watching TV. Nothing is prettier than folded laundry early the next morning.
7- He has always taken care of the trash. Or at least assigns the kids to take it out to the curb.
6- He is the official lawn mower. Or again, pays the boys to do it.
5- I handed all the bills off to him a few years ago when we had a "where did all the money go" arguement. He has done the bills ever since. Very nice for me.
4- He is handy with tools. He can fix most anything, be it electrical or motorized, or computer based, or in need of a screw or nail or bracket. <---hope that doesn't throw me into the p*rn category again. (snicker)
3- He gives awesome back rubs. And foot rubs. Knowing that I don't usually reciprocate. Feet kinda skeeve me.
2- There have been mornings where I have gone to bed not feeling well, and have woken up to a quiet house. He had woken the kids, gotten them ready for school (and even braided Shianne's hair) set Mikayla up with a movie, and let me sleep in. THAT, my friends, right there...is worth keeping him around. :)
1- He always makes me laugh.
Plus:
He lets me put my cold feet on him in bed.
He always gets the door for me.
He will run to the store whenever I ask.
He knows directions. I can be lost, and call him, and he is better than GPS.
He knows when I just need a nap. Or chocolate. Or both.
I am a lucky girl!
Happy Valentines Babe!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Some trade show layouts
New stuff from Bo Bunny Press. A different look for them, this new line...I like it. The ad they ran for this line was tagged "This ain't your momma's Bo Bunny." They like to use stock photography, so that is why there are no photos on these layouts.
And then they have their regular style, that they are more known for.
Here is some new Karen Foster.
And here is some new stuff from Quickutz.
These are some Revolution Sports dies.
And these are the brand new 12" border dies. I had so much fun with these! I used the grass die on this one.
So there is some sampling of some of the work I busted out last month.
And also, Blogger seems to be working. All except spell check.
And then they have their regular style, that they are more known for.
Here is some new Karen Foster.
And here is some new stuff from Quickutz.
These are some Revolution Sports dies.
And these are the brand new 12" border dies. I had so much fun with these! I used the grass die on this one.
So there is some sampling of some of the work I busted out last month.
And also, Blogger seems to be working. All except spell check.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
cleaning house
My friend called me from work today to give me the public service announcement that she could no longer access my blog from work. They have filters on their system, and my blog was kicked out. Reason: PORN.
I have been scanning my blog to see which words triggered that?
Or maybe, the internet world has caught onto the fact that I have lost weight, and I am gearing up to post some gratuitous photos.
Speaking of...thank you for the kind words. Some have commented or e-mailed me after the van picture. I have lost 27 pounds. In fact, I graduate from Weight Watchers this Saturday! I am in a comfortable size 8, tight size 6. I would still like to lose about 8 pounds. But I have hit a dread weight loss plateau.
I think my body is just saying, "Enough."
Pretty frusterating considering I am still exercising and watching points. I was hoping that at some point I would lose this "fat belt" I have going on where my waist once was. Something about having five kids, all c-section does a number to that area of the body.
I heard it described best in a book I once read. I am paraphrasing, cause I can't remember the name of the book.
"I never thought I would end up this way. Now, whenever I lay down on my side, my stomach lies beside me like an obedient puppy."
****<---that means new subject.
I wrapped up all my deadlines, and most of my manufacturers are in a holding pattern post CHA. I have been bored, so I took to watching some home decorating shows and got the bug.
I want to re-do all the kids rooms. Right now, the decor in all the rooms is "Junky." We were so busy with the remodel, and the rest of the house, that the kids rooms got last priority.
I started with Jayden's room. We did it in sort-of a skateboardy-sports theme.
And look at me being all artsy...I painted a canvas!
Man, I have talent oozing out of my pores! Okay, it might be lame. I haven't picked up a brush since I was a junior in high school. He likes it. That is all that matters.
Next up is cleaning the studio.
And then if I have any energy left, I am starting on my girls room.
PS Blogger is even more broken. No spell check still. And today, no photo upload. I am linking from Photobucket, and I am not even sure if it is going to work. I am hitting Publish Post....I am so nervous...
I have been scanning my blog to see which words triggered that?
Or maybe, the internet world has caught onto the fact that I have lost weight, and I am gearing up to post some gratuitous photos.
Speaking of...thank you for the kind words. Some have commented or e-mailed me after the van picture. I have lost 27 pounds. In fact, I graduate from Weight Watchers this Saturday! I am in a comfortable size 8, tight size 6. I would still like to lose about 8 pounds. But I have hit a dread weight loss plateau.
I think my body is just saying, "Enough."
Pretty frusterating considering I am still exercising and watching points. I was hoping that at some point I would lose this "fat belt" I have going on where my waist once was. Something about having five kids, all c-section does a number to that area of the body.
I heard it described best in a book I once read. I am paraphrasing, cause I can't remember the name of the book.
"I never thought I would end up this way. Now, whenever I lay down on my side, my stomach lies beside me like an obedient puppy."
****<---that means new subject.
I wrapped up all my deadlines, and most of my manufacturers are in a holding pattern post CHA. I have been bored, so I took to watching some home decorating shows and got the bug.
I want to re-do all the kids rooms. Right now, the decor in all the rooms is "Junky." We were so busy with the remodel, and the rest of the house, that the kids rooms got last priority.
I started with Jayden's room. We did it in sort-of a skateboardy-sports theme.
And look at me being all artsy...I painted a canvas!
Man, I have talent oozing out of my pores! Okay, it might be lame. I haven't picked up a brush since I was a junior in high school. He likes it. That is all that matters.
Next up is cleaning the studio.
And then if I have any energy left, I am starting on my girls room.
PS Blogger is even more broken. No spell check still. And today, no photo upload. I am linking from Photobucket, and I am not even sure if it is going to work. I am hitting Publish Post....I am so nervous...
Monday, February 11, 2008
THE BIG! GUN
I am too darn lazy to edit these pictures, so they are pretty bad, but tell the story anyway.
One of the things I can't stand buying is adhesive. Designing for a few scrapbook companies, and getting a butt-ton of paper, stickers, embellishments, chipboard, ribbon...etc, leaves me buying my own adhesive, and pretty much that's it. Sometimes I have to verbally beat myself for being so ungrateful.
It still leaves me buying lots of adhesive.
There is a local chain here called Roberts Crafts that routinely runs a 40 percent off of one item deal. I have been known to load up all the kids, give them a few bills and have them 40 percent me up some adhesive refills. They are trained well.
I go through a lot of refills.
I finally caved, and bought THE BIG! GUN. The ATG gun was made for framing folks. The folks who take artwork and custom frame it with decorative mats.
It was a whole lot cheaper to go this way. The refills are less than three bucks a roll, and have roughly a billion times more adhesive than the craft store refills I have been blowing through.
I bought my gun at framing supplies. (http://www.framingsupplies.com/)<---blogger won't let me link for some reason.
Apparently they don't believe in BOXES at "Framing Supplies." Cause this is how my BIG! GUN came packaged:
There was a mailing label slapped on a huge old glob of plastic bubble wrap.
We unwrapped enough bubble wrap to safely enclose our van, and here is what was inside.
THE BIG! GUN and a case of adhesive. I am good to go now. And Mikayla has bubbles to pop.
Bonus!
Blogger is being a poop. I can't link, italicize like I like, or even spell check. I have so much more to say, but I am going to wait until at least spell check works, and I can look 37% more intelligent.
Later-
One of the things I can't stand buying is adhesive. Designing for a few scrapbook companies, and getting a butt-ton of paper, stickers, embellishments, chipboard, ribbon...etc, leaves me buying my own adhesive, and pretty much that's it. Sometimes I have to verbally beat myself for being so ungrateful.
It still leaves me buying lots of adhesive.
There is a local chain here called Roberts Crafts that routinely runs a 40 percent off of one item deal. I have been known to load up all the kids, give them a few bills and have them 40 percent me up some adhesive refills. They are trained well.
I go through a lot of refills.
I finally caved, and bought THE BIG! GUN. The ATG gun was made for framing folks. The folks who take artwork and custom frame it with decorative mats.
It was a whole lot cheaper to go this way. The refills are less than three bucks a roll, and have roughly a billion times more adhesive than the craft store refills I have been blowing through.
I bought my gun at framing supplies. (http://www.framingsupplies.com/)<---blogger won't let me link for some reason.
Apparently they don't believe in BOXES at "Framing Supplies." Cause this is how my BIG! GUN came packaged:
There was a mailing label slapped on a huge old glob of plastic bubble wrap.
We unwrapped enough bubble wrap to safely enclose our van, and here is what was inside.
THE BIG! GUN and a case of adhesive. I am good to go now. And Mikayla has bubbles to pop.
Bonus!
Blogger is being a poop. I can't link, italicize like I like, or even spell check. I have so much more to say, but I am going to wait until at least spell check works, and I can look 37% more intelligent.
Later-
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
the hot seat
Tomorrow is Parent-Teacher conferences at the school.
The only thing I hate worse is the dentist.
Nothing is more intimidating...than sitting in those tiny chairs, across from a teacher, and going over all the homework your child has missed. You know, the homework they should have done ALL THOSE DAY WHEN THEY CAME HOME AND TOLD YOU THEY HAD NO HOMEWORK, and then gleefully skipped off to play.
And the teachers try to be all nice about it. That false hope that somehow it is not my son's fault.
"I may have missed giving him proper credit, if he didn't put his name on it..."
Riiiight.
I think I am going to save us all some time and just put it right out there.
Hey, I am aware that my kid is a lazy turd.
You can't get him to turn stuff in, I can't get him to clean his room. Or hit the hamper with his socks. Or, let's be honest...he is incapable of even wiping thoroughly, no matter how many times I have pointed out his own personal skidded undies.
I don't see any of this changing in this lifetime.
He takes after his Dad.
The only thing I hate worse is the dentist.
Nothing is more intimidating...than sitting in those tiny chairs, across from a teacher, and going over all the homework your child has missed. You know, the homework they should have done ALL THOSE DAY WHEN THEY CAME HOME AND TOLD YOU THEY HAD NO HOMEWORK, and then gleefully skipped off to play.
And the teachers try to be all nice about it. That false hope that somehow it is not my son's fault.
"I may have missed giving him proper credit, if he didn't put his name on it..."
Riiiight.
I think I am going to save us all some time and just put it right out there.
Hey, I am aware that my kid is a lazy turd.
You can't get him to turn stuff in, I can't get him to clean his room. Or hit the hamper with his socks. Or, let's be honest...he is incapable of even wiping thoroughly, no matter how many times I have pointed out his own personal skidded undies.
I don't see any of this changing in this lifetime.
He takes after his Dad.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Things I Have Driven (Part Five, Six and Seven)
Once again car-less.
Sam metioned to his Dad that he was looking for a vehicle for us. His Dad didn't skip a beat, and said "Well, why don't you just take the van?"
Sams parents had been driving an Astro van for a while. It was great for going on bowling trips where they could pack everyone, and all the bowling equipment. However, they only did the whole bowling trip thing once a year. To Bowling Nationals. Yes, Bowling Nationals is a real thing, that is why I linked it. And to expand on the whole bowling thing would be another really long post in itself, so I am choosing to skip it for now. Anyway, the van...
My FIL had wanted to get my MIL something smaller to drive around in, and trade in the van. Well, they weren't sure if the trade in would be worth much. So they gave us the van.
We were so happy! My in-laws rock.
Well, the Astro was great for all the kids. I put them all in the back, and it felt far enough away that I could periodically block them out. As the van aged, it took on some rust. And then more rust. And then one day...
I was driving into town with my neighbor and all of our kids. We stopped at a stop sign, and got rear-ended. The van lurched forward slightly. I started driving away. My neighbor said "Dude! You just got rear-ended."
I said "I know."
"Don't you think you should get out, and call the police?"
As luck would have it, there was a police officer two cars back who saw the whole thing. He flipped on his lights and came over. Crap.
"Ma'am, do you want to assess the damage."
"Nah, that's okay."
"But, you were just hit by that car."
"Yep. this van has cancer anyway...look at it! I just don't care."
So I didn't exchange insurance or anything. The bumper got a little dent in it. In the grand scheme of things a new bumper wasn't going to be any sort of improvement.
The officer kind of chuckled and walked off. I honked and waved at the other car, and took off. I figure Karma owes me one.
Eventually we traded the Astro in for our Suburban.
Sam picked it. He wanted something that would allow him to be able to tow his Jeep down to Moab for Jeep Safari weekend. (He did that a total of two times, I believe) I wanted another van. I am short, and a Suburban was a little big for me.
One day, he called me on his cell phone. It was April Fools Day to be exact.
"Hey honey, guess what? I bought you a car!"
"Oh, riiiiight. Nice April Fools..."
"No! Really, I did...here, listen (fiddles with something and then some country song comes on) Would I have MY RADIO pre-set to THAT?"
I said "????"
"Wait...listen...(honks horn) that is our NEW HORN!!"
Really. How did I luck out and marry this guy? His genious is staggering....
"Never mind," he said "I am almost home."
And true to his word, he was driving our blue Suburban.
We got it in 2001, and she lasted (with only a couple minor mis-haps) until well...two weeks ago. I CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE...(this is so exciting...)
I GOT A NEW VAN!!
It rocks. I mean, it's still a van, but now that you have read the long saga of things that I have driven, you can be excited with me.
It has a DVD player which had already paid for itself.
The kids....well, WHAT KIDS???!
I don't hear a peep out of them as long at the electronic babysitter is engaged.
Sanity for me.
Sweet, sweet sanity.
Sam metioned to his Dad that he was looking for a vehicle for us. His Dad didn't skip a beat, and said "Well, why don't you just take the van?"
Sams parents had been driving an Astro van for a while. It was great for going on bowling trips where they could pack everyone, and all the bowling equipment. However, they only did the whole bowling trip thing once a year. To Bowling Nationals. Yes, Bowling Nationals is a real thing, that is why I linked it. And to expand on the whole bowling thing would be another really long post in itself, so I am choosing to skip it for now. Anyway, the van...
My FIL had wanted to get my MIL something smaller to drive around in, and trade in the van. Well, they weren't sure if the trade in would be worth much. So they gave us the van.
We were so happy! My in-laws rock.
Well, the Astro was great for all the kids. I put them all in the back, and it felt far enough away that I could periodically block them out. As the van aged, it took on some rust. And then more rust. And then one day...
I was driving into town with my neighbor and all of our kids. We stopped at a stop sign, and got rear-ended. The van lurched forward slightly. I started driving away. My neighbor said "Dude! You just got rear-ended."
I said "I know."
"Don't you think you should get out, and call the police?"
As luck would have it, there was a police officer two cars back who saw the whole thing. He flipped on his lights and came over. Crap.
"Ma'am, do you want to assess the damage."
"Nah, that's okay."
"But, you were just hit by that car."
"Yep. this van has cancer anyway...look at it! I just don't care."
So I didn't exchange insurance or anything. The bumper got a little dent in it. In the grand scheme of things a new bumper wasn't going to be any sort of improvement.
The officer kind of chuckled and walked off. I honked and waved at the other car, and took off. I figure Karma owes me one.
Eventually we traded the Astro in for our Suburban.
Sam picked it. He wanted something that would allow him to be able to tow his Jeep down to Moab for Jeep Safari weekend. (He did that a total of two times, I believe) I wanted another van. I am short, and a Suburban was a little big for me.
One day, he called me on his cell phone. It was April Fools Day to be exact.
"Hey honey, guess what? I bought you a car!"
"Oh, riiiiight. Nice April Fools..."
"No! Really, I did...here, listen (fiddles with something and then some country song comes on) Would I have MY RADIO pre-set to THAT?"
I said "????"
"Wait...listen...(honks horn) that is our NEW HORN!!"
Really. How did I luck out and marry this guy? His genious is staggering....
"Never mind," he said "I am almost home."
And true to his word, he was driving our blue Suburban.
We got it in 2001, and she lasted (with only a couple minor mis-haps) until well...two weeks ago. I CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE...(this is so exciting...)
I GOT A NEW VAN!!
It rocks. I mean, it's still a van, but now that you have read the long saga of things that I have driven, you can be excited with me.
It has a DVD player which had already paid for itself.
The kids....well, WHAT KIDS???!
I don't hear a peep out of them as long at the electronic babysitter is engaged.
Sanity for me.
Sweet, sweet sanity.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Things I Have Driven (Part Four)
Alternately titled: "The moment I lost every remaining ounce of my PRIDE."
After I had Jayden, he was so much fun...we decided to have another. So Brendan joined the family 18 months later. He was so fun too, so nine months later I got pregnant again, this time with twins. They came a month early, and our little family consisted of a (barely) three year old, an 18 month old, and newborn twins! Doesn't that sound fun!
What can I say about the Dynasty? Sam found it for me. I was so grateful! I had been without a car for months. I walked where I could. But mostly I was just trapped and at the mercy of Sam coming home from work early, or bumming a ride with someone who happened to have enough car seats.
When you drove the Dynasty, you just felt old. You wanted to pop in 8-tracks of Frank Sinatra, and eat fruitcake. It had crushed velvet seats. And cup-holders big enough for icy cold cans ofEnsure.
I need to back track a bit...we bought the Dynasty right before we had the twins. I remember driving it to the hospital, and then literally filling it with car seats. We had Jayden in the middle with us (it was a bench seat, with no air bags) and then the back seat was car seat row. Brendan was in the middle, front facing, and the twins were on both sides of him, rear facing. That was the only way the car seats would fit. There wasn't even enough room in that car for someone to fart.
We finally resigned ourselves to the fact that we would need something else. We were tossing the idea around when out of the blue, this um, senior citizen came into Sam's work one day inquiring about the owner of the blue Dynasty. Sam thought he left his lights on, or the um, not-so-young fellow had hit the car or something. Well it was a miracle! The elderly gentleman wanted to BUY IT. He said he has been looking for one for a long time. He had CASH! So Sam sold it, right there on the spot.
I was car-less again.
With four babies.
And slowly going mental.
After I had Jayden, he was so much fun...we decided to have another. So Brendan joined the family 18 months later. He was so fun too, so nine months later I got pregnant again, this time with twins. They came a month early, and our little family consisted of a (barely) three year old, an 18 month old, and newborn twins! Doesn't that sound fun!
What can I say about the Dynasty? Sam found it for me. I was so grateful! I had been without a car for months. I walked where I could. But mostly I was just trapped and at the mercy of Sam coming home from work early, or bumming a ride with someone who happened to have enough car seats.
When you drove the Dynasty, you just felt old. You wanted to pop in 8-tracks of Frank Sinatra, and eat fruitcake. It had crushed velvet seats. And cup-holders big enough for icy cold cans ofEnsure.
I need to back track a bit...we bought the Dynasty right before we had the twins. I remember driving it to the hospital, and then literally filling it with car seats. We had Jayden in the middle with us (it was a bench seat, with no air bags) and then the back seat was car seat row. Brendan was in the middle, front facing, and the twins were on both sides of him, rear facing. That was the only way the car seats would fit. There wasn't even enough room in that car for someone to fart.
We finally resigned ourselves to the fact that we would need something else. We were tossing the idea around when out of the blue, this um, senior citizen came into Sam's work one day inquiring about the owner of the blue Dynasty. Sam thought he left his lights on, or the um, not-so-young fellow had hit the car or something. Well it was a miracle! The elderly gentleman wanted to BUY IT. He said he has been looking for one for a long time. He had CASH! So Sam sold it, right there on the spot.
I was car-less again.
With four babies.
And slowly going mental.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
It's all lies.
Sometimes as a paid scrapbooker, you have to rely on stock photography. Or more often for me, since I am cheap, I have to shoot my own stock photography. Like this:
I actually liked this one. I thought it was artistic. I have used it about six times now.
I needed photos of THE SUPERBOWL. For a Super Bowl product line. Now truth be told...we are not football fans. Sam played football in high school and college. I don't give a flying fig about football. I watched it occasionally when I was a teen, in segments, only because football players look pretty good in their tighty little spandex pants...with their calf muscles all bulged out. And the shoulder pads. But that soon lost its novelty, and besides that games were so incredibly long. And now, as a mom, I just look at the grass stains on the tighty little spandex pants,and all the knee injuries and shudder.
Needless to say, I had to shoot some posed and completely fake photos. I have resorted to this quite a few times, which makes me wonder if my kids are going to eventually need some sort of therapy when they lovingly peruse the family memory books later on in life. Full of fake memories.
"Hey, mom... when did we go to Disneyland?"
"Oh honey, we didn't."
"But, look! Here I am standing by Mickey Mouse!"
"Um, yeah...that is you at the video store, standing in front of a cardboard cut-out. Mommy needed Disney pictures."
"HEY! I don't remember that I used to play Lacrosse..."
Another lie.
So, here are all my boys and husband "watching" the big game. I believe it was July. Scrapbooking, as you know is all about "preserving our memories and traditions" whether they be fake or not. Right? Okay, more like creating layouts for the sake of a company that pays me to display product that I really have no personal interest in.
Besides the money.
I do have personal interest in the money. Especially when it takes me far, far away from the 1,000 inches of snow we got just last night.
And here they are lamenting a bad play/ref. call/player injury/grass stain/whatever. The director (me) told them to "pretend like something bad happened." They are pretty good little actors, no?
And here is one of the many layouts I did using my stock photography:
So there you have it.
The Superbowl at our house.
I don't even know who is playing.
But I am looking forward to a nap.
I actually liked this one. I thought it was artistic. I have used it about six times now.
I needed photos of THE SUPERBOWL. For a Super Bowl product line. Now truth be told...we are not football fans. Sam played football in high school and college. I don't give a flying fig about football. I watched it occasionally when I was a teen, in segments, only because football players look pretty good in their tighty little spandex pants...with their calf muscles all bulged out. And the shoulder pads. But that soon lost its novelty, and besides that games were so incredibly long. And now, as a mom, I just look at the grass stains on the tighty little spandex pants,and all the knee injuries and shudder.
Needless to say, I had to shoot some posed and completely fake photos. I have resorted to this quite a few times, which makes me wonder if my kids are going to eventually need some sort of therapy when they lovingly peruse the family memory books later on in life. Full of fake memories.
"Hey, mom... when did we go to Disneyland?"
"Oh honey, we didn't."
"But, look! Here I am standing by Mickey Mouse!"
"Um, yeah...that is you at the video store, standing in front of a cardboard cut-out. Mommy needed Disney pictures."
"HEY! I don't remember that I used to play Lacrosse..."
Another lie.
So, here are all my boys and husband "watching" the big game. I believe it was July. Scrapbooking, as you know is all about "preserving our memories and traditions" whether they be fake or not. Right? Okay, more like creating layouts for the sake of a company that pays me to display product that I really have no personal interest in.
Besides the money.
I do have personal interest in the money. Especially when it takes me far, far away from the 1,000 inches of snow we got just last night.
And here they are lamenting a bad play/ref. call/player injury/grass stain/whatever. The director (me) told them to "pretend like something bad happened." They are pretty good little actors, no?
And here is one of the many layouts I did using my stock photography:
So there you have it.
The Superbowl at our house.
I don't even know who is playing.
But I am looking forward to a nap.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Things I have Driven (Part Three)
When I got over the sinking/regret feeling that I had just put a tangible price tag on my youth by selling the Storm, I settled into the used Honda Accord that we bought soon after.
It was a nice solid car. Not flashy, but sensible and reliable (much like Orthopedic shoes or Bending Easy pants), and heavy--did much better in the snow.
I gave birth to Jayden, took my six weeks maternity leave, and made plans to go back to work. My boss called me on my last week to see what I had decided. I wanted to stay home. I was so in love with that little eight pound boy, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him. My boss sweetened the deal, and told me he would be fine with me bringing the baby with me to work. What? So I totally went back. With one of those Pack and Play crib thingies. For the first few weeks, it was an awesome deal! My co-workers were in love with baby Jayden. He was such a good baby. Still slept a lot. Most of the day, really.
Then he got older, and more active. And a little fussier. My boss didn't say anything, but I knew I wasn't as productive at work, trying to take care of Jayden too. I knew I needed to quit working, but now we had a car payment on the Accord. It would be really tight with just Sam's income alone.
So we put the car up for sale, thinking I could quit working if we didn't have that extra payment. My mom started tending Jayden for us, while we anxiously waited for the ad we placed in the paper for the car to work its magic.
We got a call the first day the paper came out. They came and test-drove it, and then didn't call back. Again it happened. And a third time. And it went on for a couple of weeks like that. And finally, the last person to call and test drive the Accord called back the next day to me at work.
"Hi. This is Mr. Anal-Retentive Test-Driver Guy."
"Hi!"
"Yeah, about the car...I just wanted to let you know:
*The passenger side door weather stripping is loose.
*I think there is a small leak in the trunk.
*The brakes will need to have new pads soon.
*There is a small chip in the windshield that doesn't look like it has been fixed.
*The floor mats really need to be replaced.
*I noticed a slight hum when you reach highway speeds.
Blah blah blah BLAH...he went ON AND ON, meanwhile I am at WORK, and clients are waiting, and this crack head was monopolizing my time, listing every stinking flaw with a USED CAR.
Finally I cut him off.
"Look, are you INTERESTED in buying the car, or not?"
"Well, no...(and he started re-listing the crap)"
At which point I hung up on him.
I was so frustrated. I don't like dropping everything I have going on to accommodate test drives. I don't like selling stuff. And I did not like being away from my baby because I had to make a payment on a used car that apparently now had a TRUNK LEAK. I wondered if we would ever sell the car.
The next morning, I strapped Jayden into his car seat, and started in to work. I had a ton of stuff to do that day. We had back to back closings, there were things to fax, and checks to cut, and documents to overnight for additional signatures, and Jayden was teething and fussy, and I was just not happy about life in general.
I got off the freeway and headed up the road to work...when WHAM! We got broadsided by a car in the middle of an intersection. I saw the car coming, turning into us, but it was like one of those movies, where everything is in slow-motion. There was nothing I could have done.
We were hit so hard, it pushed our car over to the side of the road.
I remember seeing my bumper in the middle of the intersection, and wondering if I needed to go get it...or leave it...
I sat in the car. Jayden was screaming. I just sat there. Finally a really nice lady came to the door and asked if we were okay. She was on her cell phone to 911.
I told her I didn't want to undo my seatbelt cause I wanted the police officer to know that I was wearing it. HA! I think I was in shock...
She said "Oh honey, he's definitely going to know you were wearing your seat belt."
I told her I was too afraid to pick up the baby in case he had back injury. HA! (shock again)
She said "He is just scared. His car seat did the trick, he is fine."
Then she picked him up, and wrapped him in a blanket, and he fell asleep on her shoulder. She was such a nice lady. I never even got her name.
I called Sam, and he came out to get us. I called work and told them. The police came out, and wrote up all the reports. The other driver was so upset and very apologetic. It was weird day.
Funny how things that seem so important thirty minutes ago are so trivial when you realize how quickly life can change.
We were not hurt. We were safe. So blessed.
A couple of days later, I got the call at work from the insurance company. The Accord would cost more than it was worth to fix it. They wrote it up as a total loss. They were sending us a check for more money than we even owed on old Leaky Trunk. A blessing in disguise.
I went straight away into my Boss' office and gave my two week notice.
We were debt free! And I was car-less. But I didn't care.
For a while.
It was a nice solid car. Not flashy, but sensible and reliable (much like Orthopedic shoes or Bending Easy pants), and heavy--did much better in the snow.
I gave birth to Jayden, took my six weeks maternity leave, and made plans to go back to work. My boss called me on my last week to see what I had decided. I wanted to stay home. I was so in love with that little eight pound boy, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him. My boss sweetened the deal, and told me he would be fine with me bringing the baby with me to work. What? So I totally went back. With one of those Pack and Play crib thingies. For the first few weeks, it was an awesome deal! My co-workers were in love with baby Jayden. He was such a good baby. Still slept a lot. Most of the day, really.
Then he got older, and more active. And a little fussier. My boss didn't say anything, but I knew I wasn't as productive at work, trying to take care of Jayden too. I knew I needed to quit working, but now we had a car payment on the Accord. It would be really tight with just Sam's income alone.
So we put the car up for sale, thinking I could quit working if we didn't have that extra payment. My mom started tending Jayden for us, while we anxiously waited for the ad we placed in the paper for the car to work its magic.
We got a call the first day the paper came out. They came and test-drove it, and then didn't call back. Again it happened. And a third time. And it went on for a couple of weeks like that. And finally, the last person to call and test drive the Accord called back the next day to me at work.
"Hi. This is Mr. Anal-Retentive Test-Driver Guy."
"Hi!"
"Yeah, about the car...I just wanted to let you know:
*The passenger side door weather stripping is loose.
*I think there is a small leak in the trunk.
*The brakes will need to have new pads soon.
*There is a small chip in the windshield that doesn't look like it has been fixed.
*The floor mats really need to be replaced.
*I noticed a slight hum when you reach highway speeds.
Blah blah blah BLAH...he went ON AND ON, meanwhile I am at WORK, and clients are waiting, and this crack head was monopolizing my time, listing every stinking flaw with a USED CAR.
Finally I cut him off.
"Look, are you INTERESTED in buying the car, or not?"
"Well, no...(and he started re-listing the crap)"
At which point I hung up on him.
I was so frustrated. I don't like dropping everything I have going on to accommodate test drives. I don't like selling stuff. And I did not like being away from my baby because I had to make a payment on a used car that apparently now had a TRUNK LEAK. I wondered if we would ever sell the car.
The next morning, I strapped Jayden into his car seat, and started in to work. I had a ton of stuff to do that day. We had back to back closings, there were things to fax, and checks to cut, and documents to overnight for additional signatures, and Jayden was teething and fussy, and I was just not happy about life in general.
I got off the freeway and headed up the road to work...when WHAM! We got broadsided by a car in the middle of an intersection. I saw the car coming, turning into us, but it was like one of those movies, where everything is in slow-motion. There was nothing I could have done.
We were hit so hard, it pushed our car over to the side of the road.
I remember seeing my bumper in the middle of the intersection, and wondering if I needed to go get it...or leave it...
I sat in the car. Jayden was screaming. I just sat there. Finally a really nice lady came to the door and asked if we were okay. She was on her cell phone to 911.
I told her I didn't want to undo my seatbelt cause I wanted the police officer to know that I was wearing it. HA! I think I was in shock...
She said "Oh honey, he's definitely going to know you were wearing your seat belt."
I told her I was too afraid to pick up the baby in case he had back injury. HA! (shock again)
She said "He is just scared. His car seat did the trick, he is fine."
Then she picked him up, and wrapped him in a blanket, and he fell asleep on her shoulder. She was such a nice lady. I never even got her name.
I called Sam, and he came out to get us. I called work and told them. The police came out, and wrote up all the reports. The other driver was so upset and very apologetic. It was weird day.
Funny how things that seem so important thirty minutes ago are so trivial when you realize how quickly life can change.
We were not hurt. We were safe. So blessed.
A couple of days later, I got the call at work from the insurance company. The Accord would cost more than it was worth to fix it. They wrote it up as a total loss. They were sending us a check for more money than we even owed on old Leaky Trunk. A blessing in disguise.
I went straight away into my Boss' office and gave my two week notice.
We were debt free! And I was car-less. But I didn't care.
For a while.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Things I have Driven (Part two)
About a year after I graduated (GO PIONEERS! Class of 1990 RULES!) I got fed up with working at the Mom and Pop Hamburger Stand that I had worked at since I was 16. I decided to try and find another job, preferably one that contained less grease.
I put in several applications around town, one of which was at the local bank. I didn't think much about it, until about two weeks later, when I received a phone call from the branch manager for an interview. I brought my nice clothes to the grease pit, and changed when my shift was over to go to the interview. I smelled vaguely of onion rings.
Gwen started this new thing. Back firing. It was a FABULOUS confidence booster, and much like acid reflux, it was unpredictable and uncomfortable. And embarrassing. So when I arrived at the bank, I parked about a block away.
I interviewed and got the job. The manager asked me if I had my own transportation. I said yes, and he looked at me funny. I just shrugged.
Every day I came to work and parked a block away. For two weeks.
Then...well, then I got my first paycheck. I couldn't believe all the money I had. EUREKA! I was filthy rich. I decided it was high time Gwen and I broke up, and I replaced her with a vehicle much more worthy of my newly-found high roller life. And my fancy bank clothes. And besides, I was sick of walking a whole block to work every day.
So I thought about my options for about 15 minutes. To please my Dad, I even went through the premise of test-driving practical vehicles, in which I had no interest. No siree, I had my heart set on a Geo Storm. Small and sporty and new. Bright Red. Gray interior. Stick shift. (Yeah, I mastered that one, even on a hill.)
We pulled into the car dealership, and I saw IT. I just knew. And I am sure the salesman knew. I didn't care. I just wanted it. So I signed the papers, and drove it home. Grinning ear to ear. That new car smell replacing the french fry grease that had long been permeating my clothes.
The radio worked. It had a CD player! And an airbag! The keys stayed in the ignition! It didn't back fire, or shake like it had palsy at freeway speeds. Yep, it had all the bells and whistles...and all of a sudden I went from "cute girl" to "hot chick in a sports car!"
My payment was $239.00. My insurance was like 50 bucks a month. I still has money to spare. Until...
...I got my first speeding ticket.
I was flying to the movie theaters on the freeway. I was doing 90mph in a 55. That put me on probation. I had to go to traffic school. In traffic school I learned that little red sports cars were cop magnets. And it was.
Also found out that the back seat wasn't all that comfortable. It was cramped, and was pretty much a total bummer for a post-date make-out sessions.
The final straw was when winter hit Utah. The snow fell, the roads got slick, and the Storm was useless in the snow. It was like a $10,200.00 toboggan. A couple of times I missed my freeway exit to work because the car slid right past the exit. Winters were awful. But still, it was such a darling car...
Time passed.
I met Sam, married Sam, got another job, got pregnant with Jayden. Decided the back seat wasn't going to work for a car seat and sadly, sold the Storm.
Bought a Honda Accord. Just like my Dad tried to get me to buy five years previously, when I insisted on having my frivolous youthful fling with the Storm.
I put in several applications around town, one of which was at the local bank. I didn't think much about it, until about two weeks later, when I received a phone call from the branch manager for an interview. I brought my nice clothes to the grease pit, and changed when my shift was over to go to the interview. I smelled vaguely of onion rings.
Gwen started this new thing. Back firing. It was a FABULOUS confidence booster, and much like acid reflux, it was unpredictable and uncomfortable. And embarrassing. So when I arrived at the bank, I parked about a block away.
I interviewed and got the job. The manager asked me if I had my own transportation. I said yes, and he looked at me funny. I just shrugged.
Every day I came to work and parked a block away. For two weeks.
Then...well, then I got my first paycheck. I couldn't believe all the money I had. EUREKA! I was filthy rich. I decided it was high time Gwen and I broke up, and I replaced her with a vehicle much more worthy of my newly-found high roller life. And my fancy bank clothes. And besides, I was sick of walking a whole block to work every day.
So I thought about my options for about 15 minutes. To please my Dad, I even went through the premise of test-driving practical vehicles, in which I had no interest. No siree, I had my heart set on a Geo Storm. Small and sporty and new. Bright Red. Gray interior. Stick shift. (Yeah, I mastered that one, even on a hill.)
We pulled into the car dealership, and I saw IT. I just knew. And I am sure the salesman knew. I didn't care. I just wanted it. So I signed the papers, and drove it home. Grinning ear to ear. That new car smell replacing the french fry grease that had long been permeating my clothes.
The radio worked. It had a CD player! And an airbag! The keys stayed in the ignition! It didn't back fire, or shake like it had palsy at freeway speeds. Yep, it had all the bells and whistles...and all of a sudden I went from "cute girl" to "hot chick in a sports car!"
My payment was $239.00. My insurance was like 50 bucks a month. I still has money to spare. Until...
...I got my first speeding ticket.
I was flying to the movie theaters on the freeway. I was doing 90mph in a 55. That put me on probation. I had to go to traffic school. In traffic school I learned that little red sports cars were cop magnets. And it was.
Also found out that the back seat wasn't all that comfortable. It was cramped, and was pretty much a total bummer for a post-date make-out sessions.
The final straw was when winter hit Utah. The snow fell, the roads got slick, and the Storm was useless in the snow. It was like a $10,200.00 toboggan. A couple of times I missed my freeway exit to work because the car slid right past the exit. Winters were awful. But still, it was such a darling car...
Time passed.
I met Sam, married Sam, got another job, got pregnant with Jayden. Decided the back seat wasn't going to work for a car seat and sadly, sold the Storm.
Bought a Honda Accord. Just like my Dad tried to get me to buy five years previously, when I insisted on having my frivolous youthful fling with the Storm.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Things I have Driven (Part One)
I failed my first drivers test.
I really did.
I was devastated! I begged my Dad to take me down to the DMV on my birthday so I could get my licence. Then I had to beg him not to tell anyone that I failed. Sadly, it was a full six agonizing weeks when I finally earned my ticket to freedom.
In fairness, I took my test late afternoon, when the sun was setting, and I could not see the red light on the fake drivers test course. I ran it. Apparently that'll fail you. Running a red light.
When I got my licence my Dad bequeathed to me his beloved old Toyota work truck. She was a sturdy gal. Back in those days cars ran until they literally fell apart. You just fed them some gas and oil, and they ran. And ran. Aaaaand raaaaan.
She had over 500,000 miles of experience on her. She wasn't much to look at. Her once blue exterior was savagely ravaged by cancerous rust.
The interior was just as rough. Her dashboard was cracked from hot summer sun magnified by the windshield. The seats were covered with a scratchy woven fabric that sent particles of dust floating whenever you sat on them. She smelled exactly how you would expect the truck of a hard-working construction man to smell. Sweat and sawdust, and the lingering aroma of talk radio.
Nevertheless, I was thrilled to own her. She was christened "Gwen." (It's a long story)
The first Saturday I owned her, I spruced her up good. I washed her, and even hosed out the interior. The rusted out floorboards were great for drainage. I polished the dashboard and gauges with Armor All. I attached all the key-rings I had been collecting for this rite of passage. I even added a Little Tree Vanillaroma air freshener to the rear view mirror.
I went into the house, drunk with freedom! And nonchalantly I announced: "Hey, I am going to THE MALL (in the BIG CITY!) anyone want to go?"
Stunned silence.
Finally, my younger sister fed into my ego, and said she would go. We donned our best duds, and headed off for the big city.
I guess this is the part where I tell you that Gwen was a stick shift. I had only driven a stick shift a couple of times. But I did real good! And really, you kill it a time or two...and it's all good, right? Everyone struggles with first gear. It's just hard.
I merged onto the freeway.
I did great. I checked my blind spots. I signaled clearly when I changed lanes. I kept the mandatory two car distance between myself and the other traffic. Gwen had a tendency to shake when she reached her top speed of 50. She shook a lot. Enough that eventually she shook the keys right out of the ignition. They almost went through the floorboards, had it not been for my plethora of key-rings, I am not sure how that would have ended up.
Everything was going great. Until I hit my exit. I merged off the freeway just as...
...the light turned red. I stopped, and my heart started pounding. This particular exit is on a HILL! And the realization hit me that not only would I have to do the whole first gear thing, but I would also have to NOT ROLL BACKWARDS.
A car pulled in behind me. Then another, and another, until there were a whole string of cars. Waiting for me to do first gear. And not hit them.
My palms were sweaty, and I was literally sick.
The light changed. I gave Gwen some gas. I eased off the brakes, more gas....too much gas....and killed it. "Okay, I can do this.." I try again. I kill it. Try again, kill...oh please...
By this time, the cars behind me are passing me, I am sure they were honking, I was so upset I can't remember. I just remember thinking that I would never get off of that hill. My sister was down on the floorboards. I figured she was just mortified, and trying to hide.
"GET UP! HELP ME!!"I was desperate.
"I AM!" she said, "I am praying!" She was desperate.
Finally, I got it.
I crested the hill, and coasted down to the next traffic light. It was just turning red. I ran it. It was survival.
We made it to the mall. We made it home.
It was a long time before I drove old Gwen again.
Eventually she took me through high school.
Eventually I had to share her with my younger sister.
Eventually, she went through more oil than gas, and started to die a slow death.
I drove her to my first real job interview, and my first job, and clear up until eventually, in 1991, I bought my first brand new car.
I really did.
I was devastated! I begged my Dad to take me down to the DMV on my birthday so I could get my licence. Then I had to beg him not to tell anyone that I failed. Sadly, it was a full six agonizing weeks when I finally earned my ticket to freedom.
In fairness, I took my test late afternoon, when the sun was setting, and I could not see the red light on the fake drivers test course. I ran it. Apparently that'll fail you. Running a red light.
When I got my licence my Dad bequeathed to me his beloved old Toyota work truck. She was a sturdy gal. Back in those days cars ran until they literally fell apart. You just fed them some gas and oil, and they ran. And ran. Aaaaand raaaaan.
She had over 500,000 miles of experience on her. She wasn't much to look at. Her once blue exterior was savagely ravaged by cancerous rust.
The interior was just as rough. Her dashboard was cracked from hot summer sun magnified by the windshield. The seats were covered with a scratchy woven fabric that sent particles of dust floating whenever you sat on them. She smelled exactly how you would expect the truck of a hard-working construction man to smell. Sweat and sawdust, and the lingering aroma of talk radio.
Nevertheless, I was thrilled to own her. She was christened "Gwen." (It's a long story)
The first Saturday I owned her, I spruced her up good. I washed her, and even hosed out the interior. The rusted out floorboards were great for drainage. I polished the dashboard and gauges with Armor All. I attached all the key-rings I had been collecting for this rite of passage. I even added a Little Tree Vanillaroma air freshener to the rear view mirror.
I went into the house, drunk with freedom! And nonchalantly I announced: "Hey, I am going to THE MALL (in the BIG CITY!) anyone want to go?"
Stunned silence.
Finally, my younger sister fed into my ego, and said she would go. We donned our best duds, and headed off for the big city.
I guess this is the part where I tell you that Gwen was a stick shift. I had only driven a stick shift a couple of times. But I did real good! And really, you kill it a time or two...and it's all good, right? Everyone struggles with first gear. It's just hard.
I merged onto the freeway.
I did great. I checked my blind spots. I signaled clearly when I changed lanes. I kept the mandatory two car distance between myself and the other traffic. Gwen had a tendency to shake when she reached her top speed of 50. She shook a lot. Enough that eventually she shook the keys right out of the ignition. They almost went through the floorboards, had it not been for my plethora of key-rings, I am not sure how that would have ended up.
Everything was going great. Until I hit my exit. I merged off the freeway just as...
...the light turned red. I stopped, and my heart started pounding. This particular exit is on a HILL! And the realization hit me that not only would I have to do the whole first gear thing, but I would also have to NOT ROLL BACKWARDS.
A car pulled in behind me. Then another, and another, until there were a whole string of cars. Waiting for me to do first gear. And not hit them.
My palms were sweaty, and I was literally sick.
The light changed. I gave Gwen some gas. I eased off the brakes, more gas....too much gas....and killed it. "Okay, I can do this.." I try again. I kill it. Try again, kill...oh please...
By this time, the cars behind me are passing me, I am sure they were honking, I was so upset I can't remember. I just remember thinking that I would never get off of that hill. My sister was down on the floorboards. I figured she was just mortified, and trying to hide.
"GET UP! HELP ME!!"I was desperate.
"I AM!" she said, "I am praying!" She was desperate.
Finally, I got it.
I crested the hill, and coasted down to the next traffic light. It was just turning red. I ran it. It was survival.
We made it to the mall. We made it home.
It was a long time before I drove old Gwen again.
Eventually she took me through high school.
Eventually I had to share her with my younger sister.
Eventually, she went through more oil than gas, and started to die a slow death.
I drove her to my first real job interview, and my first job, and clear up until eventually, in 1991, I bought my first brand new car.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Ringtones.
Since I am a modern woman of the 80's, I guess it should come as no surprise to you that I am so technically advanced as to have several personalized ring tones for my phone.
I downloaded them myself. For free.
You can get some too, for free HERE.
My friend Wendy gets her own ring tone...it is by Crazytown. She has seven kids. She is one of those kind of friends that always makes you feel better about your life. If you are having a crappy day, she can call, and tell you what is going on at any given point in her life, and instantly you feel a whole lot better about your own situation.
Like the time I called her, and she was getting pulled over by a cop. Right then. For swerving all over the road. Why? Because she was changing clothes in the car. She was late for her daughters graduation. And it doesn't end there. She couldn't find her drivers licence, so she just gave the officer her Costco card.
She is Crazytown. (Love ya, Wendy!)
The kids calling me from home call in the ring tone of The Wonder Pets!
All other miscellaneous calls ring to me in Maroon 5's "Wake-up Call."
All except Sam. He gets his own ring tone too. He gets Hot Chocolate "You Sexy Thing."Let me tell you, this song sticks in your head. He called this morning, and all day long I have been singing "I believe in miiiiracles, since you came alooooong, you sexy thang..."
Even Mikayla gets into it.
Except this morning she switched the words up:
"I believe in SANTA CLAUS...."
I downloaded them myself. For free.
You can get some too, for free HERE.
My friend Wendy gets her own ring tone...it is by Crazytown. She has seven kids. She is one of those kind of friends that always makes you feel better about your life. If you are having a crappy day, she can call, and tell you what is going on at any given point in her life, and instantly you feel a whole lot better about your own situation.
Like the time I called her, and she was getting pulled over by a cop. Right then. For swerving all over the road. Why? Because she was changing clothes in the car. She was late for her daughters graduation. And it doesn't end there. She couldn't find her drivers licence, so she just gave the officer her Costco card.
She is Crazytown. (Love ya, Wendy!)
The kids calling me from home call in the ring tone of The Wonder Pets!
All other miscellaneous calls ring to me in Maroon 5's "Wake-up Call."
All except Sam. He gets his own ring tone too. He gets Hot Chocolate "You Sexy Thing."Let me tell you, this song sticks in your head. He called this morning, and all day long I have been singing "I believe in miiiiracles, since you came alooooong, you sexy thang..."
Even Mikayla gets into it.
Except this morning she switched the words up:
"I believe in SANTA CLAUS...."
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A new routine
I still don't like to exercise. Wish I did. But...I have been exercising. That is the good part. The bad part, is that Sam has been exercising with me. Okay, I guess that is not all bad. The motivation is great. If I put it off, he asks "Hey, are we doing a tape tonight?" So, I have been pretty regular about it. Almost every night, in fact. And yes, we do TAPES, as in VHS. Shush.
We put the kids in bed, and THAT is a term I use very loosely. They always end up getting out of bed for a million different reasons. Mostly for the sheer entertainment of watching both of their overweight 30-something parents huffing and puffing to an exercise tape.
Which leads me to the bad parts of Sam exercising with me....
Why.
Why do men have to make noise when working out? Why?? PLEASE TELL ME! Why is it, when he lifts weight he always has to grunt? We are both lifting weights. I am sure my weights are just as heavy to me, as his are to him (comparatively), and yet, physically it doesn't help me to Gaaaaaarrgh! Hmmmmff! and Yyyyooooorff! when I lift mine.
And when we are doing abdominal work, side by side on the cramped family room carpet, the intense crunches ALWAYS elicit a fart from him. Always. Sometimes a string of farts. To fill the small room.
And when we mix up the routine with those giant exercise balls that you sit on for core work-outs, you should hear him rip farts off those! In fact, I am sure you have. They are that resounding.
And then he laughs. It's so funny!
I just love working out with him.
I found a tape we both like. Please do not laugh as I make a recommendation for an exercise tape, and yes they sell it in that new-fangled DVD format. I like the tape because:
1- It requires no coordination. For which, I have none.
2- It mixes weights and cheesy lunges and stuff. And you don't even need weights, really. I have moved up to 5 pounders, but you could start out with like soup cans or something.
3- It is only 40 minutes long. Including warm-up and cool-down.
4- The tape has three workouts on it, two 40 minutes and a ten minute for when you don't really want to do much.
5- I can make it through the whole workout.
6- You will be sore the next day. But not the sore that you curse all exercise and never want to be sore again, just the "Whoa, I feel my thighs!( Arms! Butt!)"
7- It's only a penny on Amazon. And $2.98 to ship.
Are you convinced yet?
Sam likes it for the same reason that you all are going to make fun of me...
Please don't make fun of me...
Just spring for the three bucks, try it, and then shoot me an e-mail. Thanking me for changing your life and toning your body.
It's...um, Cindy Crawford.
Sam likes the eye-candy.
I wish she could smell his gratuitous fart offerings.
We put the kids in bed, and THAT is a term I use very loosely. They always end up getting out of bed for a million different reasons. Mostly for the sheer entertainment of watching both of their overweight 30-something parents huffing and puffing to an exercise tape.
Which leads me to the bad parts of Sam exercising with me....
Why.
Why do men have to make noise when working out? Why?? PLEASE TELL ME! Why is it, when he lifts weight he always has to grunt? We are both lifting weights. I am sure my weights are just as heavy to me, as his are to him (comparatively), and yet, physically it doesn't help me to Gaaaaaarrgh! Hmmmmff! and Yyyyooooorff! when I lift mine.
And when we are doing abdominal work, side by side on the cramped family room carpet, the intense crunches ALWAYS elicit a fart from him. Always. Sometimes a string of farts. To fill the small room.
And when we mix up the routine with those giant exercise balls that you sit on for core work-outs, you should hear him rip farts off those! In fact, I am sure you have. They are that resounding.
And then he laughs. It's so funny!
I just love working out with him.
I found a tape we both like. Please do not laugh as I make a recommendation for an exercise tape, and yes they sell it in that new-fangled DVD format. I like the tape because:
1- It requires no coordination. For which, I have none.
2- It mixes weights and cheesy lunges and stuff. And you don't even need weights, really. I have moved up to 5 pounders, but you could start out with like soup cans or something.
3- It is only 40 minutes long. Including warm-up and cool-down.
4- The tape has three workouts on it, two 40 minutes and a ten minute for when you don't really want to do much.
5- I can make it through the whole workout.
6- You will be sore the next day. But not the sore that you curse all exercise and never want to be sore again, just the "Whoa, I feel my thighs!( Arms! Butt!)"
7- It's only a penny on Amazon. And $2.98 to ship.
Are you convinced yet?
Sam likes it for the same reason that you all are going to make fun of me...
Please don't make fun of me...
Just spring for the three bucks, try it, and then shoot me an e-mail. Thanking me for changing your life and toning your body.
It's...um, Cindy Crawford.
Sam likes the eye-candy.
I wish she could smell his gratuitous fart offerings.
Friday, January 18, 2008
There's some talent!
Going through some brochures and whatnot leftover from Cancun. I found this.
Can anyone explain?
And how does one procure tickets to an event like this?
Can anyone explain?
And how does one procure tickets to an event like this?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Here is the tally
The last twelve days I have completed:
41 layouts
12 cards
2 mini-albums
and
8 miscellaneous projects (those mailboxes, bag toppers, altered notebooks, etc)
(insert applause here)
I have four layouts, and two cards to go.
(insert booing and hissing here)
I am tired.
I still love what I do, but I am due for a break, no?
Maybe back to Cancun, without kids, maybe without husband(?)definitely without adhesive of any sort.
41 layouts
12 cards
2 mini-albums
and
8 miscellaneous projects (those mailboxes, bag toppers, altered notebooks, etc)
(insert applause here)
I have four layouts, and two cards to go.
(insert booing and hissing here)
I am tired.
I still love what I do, but I am due for a break, no?
Maybe back to Cancun, without kids, maybe without husband(?)definitely without adhesive of any sort.
Sharing some stuffs.
New QuicKutz stuffs that I worked on forever ago, and finally released today. A new cookie cutter alphabet, called Diesel, and some new shapes that remind me of being a kid in the 80's (rainbows, mushrooms, cherries...)
In other news. I am almost done with my trade show stuffs. Almost. Hopefully by tonight. I am heading for a burn-out.
I will break for American Idol. It starts tonight, and this week and possibly next are the only weeks worth watching. When all of the kooks come out to audition. Yeah, I know it's probably 90% staged, but I find it entertaining anyway. And it makes me feel pretty hopeful about my own singing ability. I can belt out a good "Here Comes the Rain Again" in the shower.
I think even Annie Lennox would be proud of my stirring rendition.
In other news. I am almost done with my trade show stuffs. Almost. Hopefully by tonight. I am heading for a burn-out.
I will break for American Idol. It starts tonight, and this week and possibly next are the only weeks worth watching. When all of the kooks come out to audition. Yeah, I know it's probably 90% staged, but I find it entertaining anyway. And it makes me feel pretty hopeful about my own singing ability. I can belt out a good "Here Comes the Rain Again" in the shower.
I think even Annie Lennox would be proud of my stirring rendition.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Compliments that are also burns.
What do you call these?
I know people mean well, but sometimes you just aren't sure how to respond to certain statements.
Some recent gems:
"WOW! That is so awesome you actually get paid to do THAT!" (Said about my scrapbooking projects)
"I honestly didn't think you had THAT MUCH weight to lose!" (Said about my recent 25 pound drop)
"You look so great for having five kids!" (Um, what if I didn't have ANY kids? Then would I look like crap?)
I always just smile and say "Thanks." And pacify myself with a 100 calorie pack.
I know people mean well, but sometimes you just aren't sure how to respond to certain statements.
Some recent gems:
"WOW! That is so awesome you actually get paid to do THAT!" (Said about my scrapbooking projects)
"I honestly didn't think you had THAT MUCH weight to lose!" (Said about my recent 25 pound drop)
"You look so great for having five kids!" (Um, what if I didn't have ANY kids? Then would I look like crap?)
I always just smile and say "Thanks." And pacify myself with a 100 calorie pack.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
white trash snow fun
Sending the kids out sledding in the neighbors yard, because they have a slight hill. The kids buried the bike ramp in the snow and made their own sled jump.
Good freaking times!
I tried to clone out the house in the background to make it look like we actually took them somewhere to sled, and then I got a crick in my neck from staring at the screen in photo shop for so long, and thought...WHO CARES? Who cares that there is a garbage can in the background?
So here are the kids. And yeah, I am avoiding my scrappy deadlines for today. I have done a lot in the last week, and I needed a break. Don't tell.
Do me a favor--
Next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a 25 pound bag of sugar. Carry it around for a few aisles...see how it feels...
Cause that, my friends, is how much weight I have lost so far with Weight Watchers.
25 pounds! Almost a whole toddler.
Back to trade show work...
Cause that, my friends, is how much weight I have lost so far with Weight Watchers.
25 pounds! Almost a whole toddler.
Back to trade show work...
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Trade Show Mode
The author of this blog will be temporarily unavailable due to overwhelming work loads. CHA winter 2008 is imminent and the author is in the arduous process of completing deadlines for manufacturer obligations. We appreciate your patience until we are able to resume regularly scheduled blog-casts. Please send condolences. And chocolate.
Thank you,
The Management
Thank you,
The Management
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
In case you missed it, or shockingly don't live in Utah...
They aired one of my projects on Good Things Utah (a morning variety-type show) during the craft segment.
This was the one that I kicked out in the two hours the other day.
You can see it HERE.
That coupled with my muy professional video demonstration segments for the Scraparatus by Karen Foster which are now on YouTube .
I guess I am pretty much famous.
I think I will start sending my laundry out to have someone else do it. Cause that is what we famous folks do. But wait...then would it be sold on eBay? Just because I wore it?
Fine. I guess I will have to do it myself. Like the peasants.
They aired one of my projects on Good Things Utah (a morning variety-type show) during the craft segment.
This was the one that I kicked out in the two hours the other day.
You can see it HERE.
That coupled with my muy professional video demonstration segments for the Scraparatus by Karen Foster which are now on YouTube .
I guess I am pretty much famous.
I think I will start sending my laundry out to have someone else do it. Cause that is what we famous folks do. But wait...then would it be sold on eBay? Just because I wore it?
Fine. I guess I will have to do it myself. Like the peasants.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Impossible Pie
When I was a little girl, (in 1976 to be exact) I used to beg my mom to make this pie. I just thought it was awesome, and I could actually "help" make it. We found the recipe for it in The Friend and the recipe is still online, I looked it up.
I had forgotten about this pie, and found it in some old recipes. I made it last night with the kids. I mostly just instructed them, they can make it themselves. The coolest thing about it, is that you just throw everything into the blender, buzz it for a minute, and then dump it into the pie plate.
The pie separates while baking into a crust, and then a custardy-flan-ish middle, and the coconut floats to the top and toasts. It is quite delicious, and like I said before...entertaining for the kidlets.
Here is the recipe:
1 c. coconut
2 c. milk
4 eggs
1/2 c. butter
2 t. vanilla
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. flour
Spray pie tin with pam. Dump everything into the blender. Blend. Pour into the pie tin. Bake 45 min. at 350.
Enjoy that.
In other news, I have been cranking out scrappy stuff. I can't share anything. It's kinda a bummer. CHA winter stuff can't be seen until after the trade show is over, and the QuicKutz stuff I have been doing is for the trade show and the February releases. Sigh.
I will share when I can.
I am thinking about getting a perm. What do we think of that? Opinions?
I had forgotten about this pie, and found it in some old recipes. I made it last night with the kids. I mostly just instructed them, they can make it themselves. The coolest thing about it, is that you just throw everything into the blender, buzz it for a minute, and then dump it into the pie plate.
The pie separates while baking into a crust, and then a custardy-flan-ish middle, and the coconut floats to the top and toasts. It is quite delicious, and like I said before...entertaining for the kidlets.
Here is the recipe:
1 c. coconut
2 c. milk
4 eggs
1/2 c. butter
2 t. vanilla
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. flour
Spray pie tin with pam. Dump everything into the blender. Blend. Pour into the pie tin. Bake 45 min. at 350.
Enjoy that.
In other news, I have been cranking out scrappy stuff. I can't share anything. It's kinda a bummer. CHA winter stuff can't be seen until after the trade show is over, and the QuicKutz stuff I have been doing is for the trade show and the February releases. Sigh.
I will share when I can.
I am thinking about getting a perm. What do we think of that? Opinions?
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Weight Watcher friendly snack review.
These are Quaker Rice Cakes. They are not the rice cakes of the past. They are actually a pretty good snack. They have flavor and everything.
Ranch flavor--Pretty good.
Cheddar Cheese--Haven't tried it yet. (Anyone?)
Caramel Corn--SO good! I mean, really good.
Cinnamon Apple--Haven't tried, not really a fan of Apple Jack-y stuff. (Anyone?)
Chocolate--SO foul. They taste like butt. I would rather eat a whole plate full of beets.
I had to quickly cleanse my palate with some Hershey's Kisses.
Ranch flavor--Pretty good.
Cheddar Cheese--Haven't tried it yet. (Anyone?)
Caramel Corn--SO good! I mean, really good.
Cinnamon Apple--Haven't tried, not really a fan of Apple Jack-y stuff. (Anyone?)
Chocolate--SO foul. They taste like butt. I would rather eat a whole plate full of beets.
I had to quickly cleanse my palate with some Hershey's Kisses.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Spam.
I get on an average 10-15 spam e-mails in my spam folder every day.
I just delete them...but sometimes while the computer is taking its own sweet time while disposing of them, I happen to catch a couple of lines.
Like today:
"shauntewadley Unleash the Dragon in your Pants."
I am not exactly sure what that means, but I am quite certain that I would need a prescription for it.
I just delete them...but sometimes while the computer is taking its own sweet time while disposing of them, I happen to catch a couple of lines.
Like today:
"shauntewadley Unleash the Dragon in your Pants."
I am not exactly sure what that means, but I am quite certain that I would need a prescription for it.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
I am awesome.
Not only do I grow great hair...but...
I got a call late yesterday afternoon from one of my manufacturers with a last minute project request.
Of course I said yes. The trip fund is low ever since Cancun.
So the box of product gets sent overnight.
It had to be some sort of holiday themed home decor project. I can't be more specific until the segment airs, then I can share the goods. Anyway, Sam wanted me to go out with him and see a movie that night. We saw National Treasure II, which was entertaining, but that's about it, IMO.
Anyway, periodically during the movie, I am running ideas through my brain. I multi-task like that. I also thought about laundry. Working on that today too.
I had an idea so we stopped off at Target on the way home to grab some stuff for my project.
Next morning.
The Brown Truck drops off my package at 11:30. I open the box. Right then my manufacturer calls to make sure I got it...and also, that they had someone in my area checking on the new catalog...and possibly could they pick up the finished projects? (!!)
I needed to complete one project. Make another duplicate project half-way done, to be completed on air. And another duplicate, with all the fixin's un-adhered to possibly be completed on air. Three projects. Plus instructions.
So I crank on some tunes and dig in.
I meet the guy at 1:30 for the drop.
Two hours, people. Two hours!
But the real miracle here is that in that same two hours, I also showered, got dressed AND did my hair and make-up.
I think I need a medal of some sort.
I got a call late yesterday afternoon from one of my manufacturers with a last minute project request.
Of course I said yes. The trip fund is low ever since Cancun.
So the box of product gets sent overnight.
It had to be some sort of holiday themed home decor project. I can't be more specific until the segment airs, then I can share the goods. Anyway, Sam wanted me to go out with him and see a movie that night. We saw National Treasure II, which was entertaining, but that's about it, IMO.
Anyway, periodically during the movie, I am running ideas through my brain. I multi-task like that. I also thought about laundry. Working on that today too.
I had an idea so we stopped off at Target on the way home to grab some stuff for my project.
Next morning.
The Brown Truck drops off my package at 11:30. I open the box. Right then my manufacturer calls to make sure I got it...and also, that they had someone in my area checking on the new catalog...and possibly could they pick up the finished projects? (!!)
I needed to complete one project. Make another duplicate project half-way done, to be completed on air. And another duplicate, with all the fixin's un-adhered to possibly be completed on air. Three projects. Plus instructions.
So I crank on some tunes and dig in.
I meet the guy at 1:30 for the drop.
Two hours, people. Two hours!
But the real miracle here is that in that same two hours, I also showered, got dressed AND did my hair and make-up.
I think I need a medal of some sort.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
P.S.
The kids FINALLY go back to school tomorrow.
Thank goodness.
They have been like locusts....descending on a clean room in the house, trashing it, and then moving on.
I have been on "pest control" since December 20th.
All cooped up in this house, with LOCUSTS. Messy, cluttery, bickering LOCUSTS.
And I swear...I just get through feeding them, cleaning it all up, and they need to eat again. It never ends. Ever. But it will tomorrow, oh yes, my tax dollars at work for my sanity.
On the plus side...they have been in the same pajamas since December 20th, so the laundry is down.
The kids FINALLY go back to school tomorrow.
Thank goodness.
They have been like locusts....descending on a clean room in the house, trashing it, and then moving on.
I have been on "pest control" since December 20th.
All cooped up in this house, with LOCUSTS. Messy, cluttery, bickering LOCUSTS.
And I swear...I just get through feeding them, cleaning it all up, and they need to eat again. It never ends. Ever. But it will tomorrow, oh yes, my tax dollars at work for my sanity.
On the plus side...they have been in the same pajamas since December 20th, so the laundry is down.
told you there were more pictures coming.
I think if you click on the pictures you can see them bigger.
Me and Sam in Kindergarten together. Awwwww, for cuuuute! Sam jokes around that he probably looked up my skirt in Kindy. But I know better. I never wore skirts. I was more of a tom-boy. I bet I kicked his trash at the monkey bars. That's more likely. Neither one of us remember clear back then.
Me and Sam in second grade. Don't remember much about him in this grade either. I know I was in the highest reading group in the class. He wasn't in my reading group. Which is not to say that he wasn't smart or anything. Just not as smart as ME. In second grade. Come to think of it, he still doesn't read. Unless you count off-road magazines. Which I don't.
And finally our first date. My future mother-in-law took the picture. I am so glad she did! I am happy to have something tangible from our very first date. And holy cripes! Look at my hair! Have you seen such hair? I bet there were live animals living in it at the time. That's some hair. And we matched. Awwwww, for cuuuute!
Me and Sam in Kindergarten together. Awwwww, for cuuuute! Sam jokes around that he probably looked up my skirt in Kindy. But I know better. I never wore skirts. I was more of a tom-boy. I bet I kicked his trash at the monkey bars. That's more likely. Neither one of us remember clear back then.
Me and Sam in second grade. Don't remember much about him in this grade either. I know I was in the highest reading group in the class. He wasn't in my reading group. Which is not to say that he wasn't smart or anything. Just not as smart as ME. In second grade. Come to think of it, he still doesn't read. Unless you count off-road magazines. Which I don't.
And finally our first date. My future mother-in-law took the picture. I am so glad she did! I am happy to have something tangible from our very first date. And holy cripes! Look at my hair! Have you seen such hair? I bet there were live animals living in it at the time. That's some hair. And we matched. Awwwww, for cuuuute!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I am always confused. Do we say Happy New Year 2007? Or Happy New Year 2008?
And how would we put this in the scrapbook:
Photos of New Year 07...or 08?
Does it depend on if they were taken pre-midnight, or post-midnight?
Ugh, its all so confusing. Especially when you are all hung-over on the Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider. Heh.
This is the first year in a long time that I haven't stuffed myself with a whole bunch of appetizer crappies and felt bloated and slightly sick...then to write out my New Year's Resolutions; always including LOSE WEIGHT.
So glad I joined weight watchers back a few months ago. I felt pretty good about NOT writing down "Lose Weight" this year.
Now I am going to focus on "Get Rich." Or "Reverse Gravity."
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