Cali Girl with a Washington Heart

Oh Me, Oh My

2011-10-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

I can't even believe it's been six months since I posted! Life has been good in my absence. I had a chance to go back home to California in July for my 20th High School Reunion and see some old, dear friends and stay with my Mom. We had close family friends move up our way and many campfires we're had with the roasting of marshmallow's ~ some gigantic! 10 and 7 have started school again in September and as a family we've enjoyed a new chapter ~ Junior Football! It's been a full time commitment, practices four days a week, with games on the weekends, but 10 is having a ball!

The seasons have change since last I wrote and now the leaves are changing as the days get cooler and shorter. We made a trip to our local pumpkin patch and picked out our family pumpkins on Friday. Can't wait to see how each of the pumpkins turn out. The house has been decorated for Halloween since mid September as I love this holiday and the Fall season. Thanksgiving is just around the corner as is 7's birthday and mine. One more year and I will be 40! Hard to believe as I feel so young inside. Today is a day of cleaning and laundry getting prepared for the beginning of a new week. If only I could get 10 and 7 to clean without complaining and bickering. It's is so warm and cozy here in cabin, does kind of make it hard to get the cleaning started. Can't we just lay around all day on the couch, watching old 80's movies, filling our bellies with popcorn and candy? Oh me, oh my!

A Good Morning

2011-04-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

I woke up super early this morning ~ like 4:30 early. I had such a hard time falling back to sleep after hubby left for work that I just gave up trying. I made myself a pot of coffee and caught up with the latest episode of DWTS all while listening to 7 snoring lightly in the back ground. I really love having this quiet time in the morning before the boys get up, and really kick myself for not doing it more often. I get to sip my cup o joe while watching the river go by. So peaceful! Man, it's a good morning!

Wednesday's

2011-03-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

I seriously LOVE Wednesday's! Wednesday's are my hubby's Friday so that means I get two days while 10 and 7 are in school all alone with my babe. Yep, 9 is no longer 9 ~ he turned 10 in January. Since the weather has been better and we both are sickness free we started up our hiking again last week on hubby's weekend. It was wonderful to be outside, but man on the first day we could barely make it up our first incline. It was pretty pathetic! Seriously ~ me 38, and my young buck at 36, and we had to stop midway to catch our breath. My legs were shaking and both our hearts were beating so hard in our chest. But at least we were pathetic together. So what is your favorite day of the week?

Loft $100 Giveaway

2011-03-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while but I thought I'd share with you a wonderful giveaway and fabulous blog! I found Really Petite on the Loft Facebook page and she has a $100 Loft Gift Card Giveaway going on right now in celebration of her 1 year blog anniversary. Check my side bar for link to enter!

Dirty, Dirty Bird!

2010-12-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

That's what I feel like saying as I look around the cabin! Monday I had it all nice and picked up and then 9 and 7 came home from school and BAM ~ dirty!

Do you ever feel that way. Feel like "I just spent 5 hours cleaning, and it's all undone in 5 minutes!" Coming from a house that was 1500 square feet to one that is just under 1000, I thought it should be easier to keep clean, but sadly untrue. I'm not working anymore, home all the time, but it seems as if my actions make no difference. Should I just let go and figure our home will be in a constant shape of a total hot mess until maybe the boys are in High School? Does it even get any better as they age, or will it only change once they are grown and out of the house? I know once it's gone, I'll probably miss their messes, but it sure is frustrating at the moment. Even my Facebook status reads my frustration as I'm asking Santa, "All I want for Christmas is for my boys to pick up after themselves." Toys, clothes, shoes, books, just junk in general because I have a mini hoarder (7) living amongst me, surrounds me! That, and the never ending pile of laundry! Boys are just dirty, dirty, birds, but I love them anyway.

Thanks for letting me rant. Whew ~ I feel much better!

Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway

2010-12-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

Head on over to From High Heels to Sneakers for a chance to win a $30 GC from Starbucks! Yep, you heard right $30! Plus, she's such a fun read!

Tackle it Tuesday

2010-12-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

This is my very first time participating in a blog hop! From High Heels to Sneakers started a "Tackle It Tuesday" hop and I'm hoping it will start to motivate me more on getting projects done here at the cabin.

Sunday and Monday I finally put up our Christmas decorations with help from my elves. We still have yet to get our tree, but are hoping to this weekend. I'm think I'm still going to play around with my garland ~ maybe adding some lights. I think it would light up the cabin, and look magical at night!

Garland above our computer now TV hutch. Lights would look so beautiful!

Our fireplace mantel. My hubby's mom made me the wreath many years ago and I just love it! Yes on adding lights here!

Who doesn't love Santa and snowman buddy!

My boys when 7 was just over 1 year old and 9 was almost 4. Sorry for the glare ~ my camera is not that fancy.

I got these rain deer at Goodwill for $1.99 each and then added the bows with ribbon from The Dollar Store.

A little different angle of the coffee table arrangement. The greens on this are real and smell so good!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T13:41:00.000-08:00

Wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving! Enjoy your loved ones, yummy eats, and remember to look back on this past year and be thankful for all the wonderful blessings you've received ~ big or small!

Hello Friend

2010-11-10T12:23:00.000-08:00

Have you ever discovered a book that you've read before but had forgotten about? You decide, "I think I'll read this puppy again", and then open it, start reading, and feel like you've been reunited with a old friend.

The other day I unpacked a few of our boxes that had many of our hardback books inside. Hubby and I like to keep our hardback books if they were given to us as gifts, or if we really enjoyed it. Normally, we would donate books we've read or take them to a used books store to earn credit. So I pulled out all these book, most my hubby's, since he is the huge reader in our family. I stacked them on the coffee table, because that's what I do, make piles. When he got home I asked him to go through his books and decide if there were any he wanted to donate to make room. He kept the majority of them since they were pretty much his collection of Stephen King novels that he loved as a teenager and young adult. But he pulled out a few of mine and low and behold there it was... my old friend, "My Sergi".

If you have never heard of My Sergi it is a true love story of russian pairs skaters Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergi Grinkov. Sergi Grinkov died by a fatal heart attack in 1995 during a routine training session, in front of his wife and partner Ekaterina ~ Katia. It is truly a loving tribute to her husband.

As a young teenager and young adult I use to love to watch the two perform. Watching in 1988 when they first won their Olympic Gold Medals, then later in 1994 Olympics', and then various televised competitions and programs. They skated so beautifully, and what girl doesn't love finding out that the two had fallen in love, and eventually married. His death was so very tragic ~ he was 29, a beautifully strong athlete. It was hard for everyone to believe that he died, and of a heart attack. When I saw that Katia had written a book I told my Hubby, at the time he was my boyfriend, that I really wanted it. That year, for Christmas I received it from his folks as a Christmas gift.

It's been quite sometime since I last read it, and I was debating weather I should hold on to it or donate. I thought "I'll just give it a read" to make my final decision. So that night I started to read it as the boys were watching a movie, and then spent the next day reading, and finished it. I tend to do that if I'm really into a book. I zone out, forget my duties around the house, and just read! Hubby came home yesterday to me curled up in a chair, reading My Sergi. I barley even said hi, and he had even brought me a treat home. He was so considerate, and sat there patiently while I finish the last two chapters with my eye's red from crying, and I really wanted to cry towards the end, but I held it in since hubby was there. Earlier I was crying my heart out since I was home alone ~ didn't matter how pathetic I looked, no one would know. After I finished, I took a deep breath and sighed. Yep ~ it's a keeper. Even though it is terrible sad, it is also so very sweet, and romantic. A definite keeper and if you love romance and memoirs I recommend you grab a copy with a box of tissues.

Thelma & Louise

2010-11-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

So another interesting thing looking back on the old photos was seeing pictures of myself before Thelma & Louise. Thelma & Louise is what I lovingly call my boobs after my breast augmentation that I had done in June of 2005. I didn't blog then nor did I even know what blogging was, but it would of been nice to read about others experiences with augmentation, so I thought I would share mine.

My breast size was something that had always bothered me as a young teenager. While my friends and I all started at the same size, 32 A, I stayed there as they moved on. Though I was always very petite in in high school, weighing only 90lbs, the size of my breast made it really hard to find any sort of clothing that would fit correctly on top, especially bikini tops. I was terribly insecure, with my boney body and flat chest. I always thought that eventually my body would catch up to everyone else and I would finally grow into a slim curvy women. Never happened. So I really dreamed about the alternative, someday to get breast implants.

Life went on. I fell in love, and married my hubby. At the time, weeks before my wedding, my best friend from childhood and I were at the mall, and she told me that she was getting augmentation. I was a little surprised because I thought she looked great as she was, but even though her breast were bigger, she too was insecure about their size. "I would do it in a heartbeat if I could afford it" I told her.

A few years after being married I got pregnant with 9, and my body started to change, and I LOVED it! I was gaining weight, my breasts were growing and getting fuller. Then my good ole belly out grew my breasts, but I was still amazed that I, 32A, was wearing a 32C! After I had 9 my breast still stayed big for a short time while I breast feed, and then they shrunk back to normal as well as my body, and then some. After being pregnant with 6, same thing happened. Big full breasts, after breast feeding, not so big full breasts anymore. In fact, now my breast were a -A! The only thing that stuck out were my nipples. All of the breast tissue I had disappeared, though only my hubby knew. I still wore my 32A padded bras, but I was completely flat chested! Talk about insecurities! My breast were not an issue to my hubby, they were only an issue to me.

Two years later after 6's birth we were financially able to really consider the augmentation. I was constantly watching plastic surgery shows. My hubby and I were researching on the internet for surgeons and looking at before an after pictures. Then one of my neighbors had plastic surgery herself. She had gained a considerable amount of weight between her two pregnancies and was able to lose it all and more but it left her with really loose skin and deflated, sagging breasts. She ended up having a complete body lift as well as a breast lift and augmentation. After a few months on the mend, I called her and asked if my hubby and I could come talk to her about her experience and doctor since I wanted augmentation myself. We went down to her house and talked about her surgeries, and about her doctor, which she spoke very highly of. She said her augmentation was nothing compared to her body lift, and then asked if we wanted to see her breasts! A little shocked we both said yes, and by God, she whipped those puppies out! I was amazed! Her breasts looked so natural, and her scarring was barely noticeable, and she had keyhole incision marks. I said "You can't even see the scars!" We both were completely sold, and as my hubby put it, she had totally made his day! Lol!

So we made my consultation appointment. The office staff was so very nice. The doctor was nice as well, but totally business like, which our neighbor warned us ahead of time, because her husband was a lot like my hubby and had a sense of humor, which the doctor did not. When we went to my pre-op appointment to pick the size of the implants, our neighbor had warned us, go a little bigger than your first pick ~ the implant is going under your chest muscle. I wanted to be sure that I picked a size that would look natural on my frame, and did not want to go "Pamela Andersen". I ended up picking an implant that would bring my breasts to a C cup, which the doctor agreed, would look natural, and that really my native breast tissue could not handle any more at that time. I still thought ~ "They look huge!" And really thought I should go a little smaller, but hubby reminded me what our neighbor said, and said "you'll look fine honey."

So the big day came. My mom had the boys, and since my hubby could only take a few days off of work, we arranged that my bestie would fly down from Washington and help take care of me and the boys. I was really nervous and so was my hubby. We waited in the waiting room of the surgery center, watching other patients leave, looking groggy and out of it. When they called for me to go in my hubby looked so nervous and we gave each other a quick hug, kiss, and I love you. Later my hubby told me while he was waiting for me he wanted to run to the back and get me out. He said he thought she's not going to look the same, and is it really worth the risk?

The doctor drew all over my breasts and I found out that one breast was larger than the other! Really? No breasts at all and one is larger than the other? I was walked to the prep -room, and then my anesthesiologist came in, gave me a little prick, and then I woke up in recovery. I don't remember much on the ride home, only that I was in pain, and wasn't allowed to take anything until after I was home, which was about an hour and a half away. I'm not going to lie, and paint a pretty picture of recovery ~ it was the worst for me! Now that's not to say it'll be the same experience for anyone else ~ everyone is different. I had never experienced this kind of pain ~ worse than my two c-sections. I didn't realize how much I used my upper body for the littlest things like sitting up! I was totally in the first two days of recovery regretting completely that I had the surgery. I had paid extra to have a pain pump medication right into my breast to minimize the pain as well as the pain meds they had given me. Still I felt horrible! The bandages they had wrapped around my breasts and body were so tight I felt I could hardly breathe. I was a complete mess! The next day I had to go in for my post-op check up. I was wearing one of my hubby's button down shirts, didn't even brush my hair, was slumped over while I was walking as my husband guided me, and had to sit in the waiting room, in front of other women who were coming in for a consult. If I saw me that day for my consult, I would of completely walked right out the door! And would you know it ~ as I was waiting to be seen, another girl who had augmentation the same day as me was leaving ~ full make up on in her Juicy Couture track suit, carrying her little dog, all by herself, as if she never even had surgery!!! I was totally out of it and hardly noticed, but my hubby was pissed! Why is she okay and my wife's a reck? Come to find out later, the Physician assistant said that the patient was high on pain meds, and was not following the doctors orders by driving to the appointment, carrying her dog, and she was exercising to boot, all because she felt so good on her pain meds. Big mistake! Hopefully she did not damage any of the work or cause herself to get a breast infection. Finally they took me back to be examined, the doctor asked me if I felt like a truck had run me over, I'm sure I said yes with a small amount of drool running out of the side of my mouth. My hubby was able to get them to loosen my bandages just a little to make it slightly comfortable, but they needed to stay nice it tight as to not allow any bleeding and to help with bruising.

Each day the pain level got better, and better. It was so nice to have my bestie there to take care of me and my boys. She had made me a quilt and it even had two buttons made to look like boobs in celebration of my surgery. She cooked, she cleaned, she even gave me a pedicure! I wished she could of stayed forever! Finally the big day came for the bandages to come off! It was like Christmas! I was so excited and nervous. Are they going to look okay? Did I make a mistake and am I going to look like a freak? They looked fabulous!! There was only a small quarter size bruise at the bottom of one breast, though they were still swollen, they were not humongous, and were not sitting so high up on my chest which is very common after surgery. They still gave me a band to wear above my breast to help push them down even more into the pockets that were made during surgery. Stitches came out without pain and so did my pain pump, which I highly do not recommend. Did not do a thing for me or my neighbor, come to find out. Now all I needed to do was still take it easy ~ no lifting, vacuuming, driving and continue to take care of my incisions as they healed. I felt great and finally had the nice curvy, womanly body I had always dreamed of.

Now over five years later I still love my breasts and so does my hubby and I have enjoyed filling out my clothes properly. Not many people even noticed the change. I looked natural in my new size. I have no regrets, and I know that they are not lifetime devices, and eventually I will have to have surgery again. Now I know what to expect with recovery, and maybe I'll be able to manage my pain better next time. If you are considering augmentation yourself, research it well. Talk to others about their experience and their surgeons. Ask the surgeon your considering lots of questions, and make sure they are fully accredited by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and belong to American Society of Plastic Surgeons and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. It's a very personally journey ~ there are many risks, and everyone experience is different.

Really? I'm Getting Old?

2010-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Ah ~ A Young 26

I've been making progress on the mud room and unpacked about 5 boxes or so just within the last couple of days and will be working on some more hopefully today if I can get to it after my chores.

One of the boxes I unpacked had all of our photo's in it and it was like Christmas here in the cabin! I LOVE looking at photo's and not just my own, but my friends and anyone else who'll share. So my sweet hubby and I spent the afternoon looking back on all our memories. Us when we started dating, hanging out with friends BK ( before kids) and enjoying adult spirits, of our wedding day, and then many of our boys ~ their births, first years, birthdays, and holidays! It was like visiting with an old dear friend and my hubby was so sweet to play along, though I know by the end he was getting a little bored. Thanks for bearing with it babe. But then the sad part started to kick in and has lingered around ~ sad being, man am I getting OLD! Inside I still feel 26, but when I have a chance to really look in the mirror I do not look it. But today I'm going to kick that sad right back! To heck with you! I may look old, but that's because I'm soon to be 38, and I've had some really great and not so great times during those soon to be 38 years. I've made some really great friends through those years and happy to say the ones who are important to me are still with me. I've fallen in love and married my best friend and have made it through the good and the bad, and he still makes me laugh like no other. I've made, carried, and given birth to two beautiful boys who like to push me to the very end of my rope, but also shower me with sweet kindness and love. I've had loved ones die, that cause my heart to break, but then have healed by prayer, and wonderful memories. So with every wrinkle, failing eyesight, sagging skin, and scars I'm now going to wear them with pride because "Heck yeah", I'm growing old and I hope to add some more wrinkles to my collection and keep enjoying life!

The Look of a Life Well Lived So Far

Have You Had Your Coffee Yet?

2010-10-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

I'm in need of a cup ~ BADLY!

Hope you have a ghoulishly, frightening, safe Halloween!

Autumn Fun

2010-10-23T15:05:00.001-07:00

Yay Me!

2010-09-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last week I received my very first BLOG AWARD! Kelsey over at Courageous Mother was so very sweet to award my little blog. I have only been blogging for less than a year and I'm terrible at posting daily, but I read all my favorite blogs daily and draw inspiration from each and everyone. You can check my blog roll to see all my fav's, but these fifteen I'm always especially excited to read!

1. A Simple Kind of Life
2. Modestly Styled Modestly Me
3. Nesting Place
4. Second Skin
5. Tater Tots and Jello
6. The Bargain Hunter Extraordinaire
7. The Lettered Cottage
8. The Pleated Poppy
9. What Would a Nerd Wear
10. {Cowboy} Phraseology
11. Thirfty Decor Chick
12. Sawdust and Paper Scraps
13. In the World of Me
14. Clothed Much
15. Farming on Faith

As you can see I'm a gal that loves all kinds of different things, but don't we all.

So my fav fifteen ~ thank you for inspiring me, giving me hope, giving me great outfit idea's, and making me laugh!
Now if you choose, pass on the love to your fav fifteen!

Panic in Seattle

2010-09-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day of all days for me. My very first trip driving to Seattle all by myself to purchase Boys Scout Uniforms for 9 & 6. What I really wanted to do was go with my hubby, but we kinda waited till the last minute so it was up to me ~ Super Kristie!! Hubby had emailed me directions when he got to work in the morning, and wrote " Just follow these direction and you will be fine my love. And to go home just back track EXACTLY." Seriously he wrote exactly all in caps because he knows what an absolute goofball I am. I always, always get mixed up when going somewhere new all by myself, but I though " I got directions, I can do this!"
So after my shower I got all gussied up, grabbed Fritz (our German Shepherd) who is now my partner in crime, and headed out the door. Uh, hello! Aren't you forgetting something? Dang! I left the directions inside! Figures! Grabbed the directions and off we went!
First stop, get some gas! I don't know about you but I hate to get gas for some reason. I always try to time it perfectly that I will need to get gas when hubby is off work. Isn't that bad! So anyway, following the directions we took off. Now most of the way I was totally familiar with because I had been in the area with hubby over the 11 months that we have been here, and I do try to take a look around. So I felt very confident still thinking " I can totally do this!" But then getting closer to my destination, I was getting closer to Seattle, and closer to traffic, "Yikes" and getting a little bit nervous. Then.... you guessed it, I took the wrong exit. I was suppose to exit off to I-90E heading toward Spokane, and well with all the traffic and my nerves I saw "Spokane" on an exit and took it. OH, MY, GOODNESS!!! I knew immediately that I had totally screwed myself and panic totally set in. I grabbed my phone as I was driving over the West Seattle bridge, no way of turning back, and called hubby. Of course he didn't answer! The nerve! Didn't he know his little, helpless wife was driving to nowhere land and would be needing his help! "Okay, I can still do this!?!" My heart was leaping out of my chest, but I made it across the bridge, took the first right I could and turned around. Back over the bridge I went "back tracking" like hubby suggested. Got back on the I-5 going south now, and realizing that the exit I should be taking is further north on the 5! Soooo, I exited again on the nearest exit I could praying to God that it would be so simple to get back on the 5 north. Thankfully again, I was in an area that hubby and I had been in maybe 6 months ago. Back on 5 north, took the right exit this time "Yippee" and got to the area I needed to go.
It took a while, and another turn around and I found the BSA store. Got some help because the Pack did not give us a list of what to get, paid $180, and out the door I went. "Get me the heck out of here!" "Back track, back track" I was saying over, and over in my head. Uh, no way to get back on the I-90 w any where close by. Here we go again!
I finally made it back to my area, pulled over and got Fritz and I some lunch. Then, because I was so distraught, I had to do a little retail therapy to calm my nerves at the local thrift store.
When I got home, I sent my hubby and lovely, caring, "Thank you so much", email and basically told him "Next time you send your wife to an area she's never driven before, keep your phone close by." "Fritz and I are so frazzled we're taking a nap"! And I did! And you want to know what! After getting to the Cub Scout meeting that evening ~ None of the new kids had their uniforms yet. Figures!

Coffee Anyone?

2010-09-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I was working on a couple boxes from the good ole mud room and came across the box that had all my grandmothers antique pieces she had given me. I was unwrapping all her tea cups that she had saved of her own mother, my great grandmother Muriel, and then a few newer ones that my grandmother had collected. Back home I had them stored way up high in one my kitchen cabinets, and I thought to myself "Why"? Why had I stored them up so high where I could not easily look at them or even use them? They are all so pretty in their own way, each one different, each one unique. I can just imagine my great grandmother sitting at her kitchen table drinking a cup of tea maybe with a friend or even my grandmother. So I've decided that every morning instead of grabbing my big chunky white mug I'm going to be a lady, and drink my cup o joe from a tea cup!

Free at Last!

2010-09-12T10:27:00.001-07:00

YES!!! This last week marked "Back, back, back, to school Week, week, week"!!! The boys started school and the first time in months my hubby and I had sometime alone to have some fun, and well just reconnect as husband and wife. It was WONDERFUL!

So Monday will mark the first time since we moved up to Washington that I will be totally alone. I have such grand plans of what I will do with my time and I sure hope that I stay on track and succeed. I'm going to start exercising at home in the mornings to help lower my cholesterol, and then tackle that good ole mud room once and for all! I already started last week and yesterday we took three large boxes, and one bag of clothes to GW. It felt soooo good! Send some positive juju my way please ~ I will get this done I swear. I will also be tackling the painting of the furniture. I've already picked up some paint to play with and I'm really excited to get this cabin lighted up since fall is right around the corner and things are going to start getting some what dreary here in October.

So with that said I do love my boys to death, but I could also tell that they were completely happy to get back to school, away from one another for 8 hours, and I'm sure away from their lovely mother who was ready for a break. Completely pathetic I know, but remember I was a full time working mom not too long ago and never spent a full summer with my boys. With all the bickering, and fighting between the two, and no matter how frustrated I got in the back of my mind I knew it was a blessing and I would never be able to get those moments back again. I love my lil men!

Windy's Chicken Tortilla Casserole with Jazz

2010-09-06T18:48:00.000-07:00

My bestie made this casserole for me and the family right after we got up to Washington last year. Isn't she wonderful! Heck yeah! My hubby and I think it is so yummy and perfect now that Fall is just around the corner! Enjoy!

3 Boneless/skinless chickens breasts
1 Cup of sour cream
1 Can of cream of chicken soup
1 Small can of green diced chili's drained
1 1/2 Cups Shredded cheddar cheese
12 Corn tortilla's

Jazz!
1 Half onion chopped
1 Small can of sliced black olives drained

Preheat oven to 350
Boil chicken breasts till cooked. Cool and cube. Take the corn tortilla's and cut in triangles. In a large bowl combine cut corn tortilla's, sour cream, chicken soup, diced green chili's, onion, olives, 1/2 cup cheese, and cubed chicken breasts. Mix well so the tortilla's are all coated in the creamy mixture. Place mixture in a 9 x13 dish and top with remainder 1 cup of cheese, and cover with tin foil. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Serve with salad.

Uh, Yeah, Didn't Like So Much

2010-08-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

Uh, yeah, that Tankini I ordered, well from my title you get my feeling on that subject....

The color really wasn't too bad, but the quality of the suit itself was lacking a bit. The top has "soft cups" which once I tried on were totally noticeable, and I really had ordered the wrong size and should of ordered a size down. Plus it's never a good thing when your hubby tells you that you look like a super hero, though he swears that I looked adorable... Mmmkay. So what I guess I'm saying in this case is cheaper isn't necessarily better.

So today I was on a mad hunt AGAIN to find the perfect one piece. Man I was on the computer FOREVER looking. The suits were either too grandma for my taste or way too sexy. Some of the sexy ones really gave me a giggle.... but finally I found a website, 6pm.com, that had some designer suits discounted. Now I was still on the search for a Bandeau one piece, since hubby really like that style. I found a gray one made by Juicy Couture that I thought would be perfect, plus it was marked down 70% off which still left it at $48.00. The site allowed me to email it to my hubby and I gave him a call to get his opinion. He gave it a go, so I now have it on order! Yay me! So again, I'm hoping that it fits, I can already tell it will cover my post babiness, and lets hope it looks a little sexy, and less like a super hero!

I Had a Little Shaun White and Didn't Even Know It!

2010-07-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday 6 bangs were so in his eyes that I decided to give him a little trim. Boy did I botch it up! I had even trimmed his bangs dry since his hair is curly and knew when wet it would shrink. He still looks cute in my eyes even though it looks a little Lloyd Christmas.

Later on in the day the boys were playing down by the river and there were a group of tubers going by. Seriously ~ as soon as we hit warm, sunny weather, the tubers have been non stop floating down the river. One guys shout "Hey little Shaun White ~ You're a little Shaun White!" It never even occurred to me ~ but wadda ya think? Lol! He may resemble Mr. White with the curls and red hair, but he will always be my lil pickle!

On a Search for the Perfect? One Piece

2010-07-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

So I finally got up the courage the other day to tell my hubby that I didn't feel comfortable wearing bikini's anymore... I'm 37, and had two pregnancies with two over 8 pound babies in my small 5' 1" frame. Can we say stretch marks ALL over the tummy. I love my hubby for still loving my post baby body and still wanting me to wear a two piece swimsuit, but I'm sure that no one else wants to look at those marks, and I never want to be one of those women that people look at and say "She really shouldn't be wearing that!" So the key for me was to find a swimsuit that was inexpensive, cute, and a little sexy. I searched at Victoria's Secret, and they did have some very stylish suits, but too expensive. We were going to Satan's Playground (Wal-Mart) that day and hubby suggested we take a look there. Nothing in the Juniors, and in the Women's only the most ugliest, grandma swimsuits were left, plus nothing small enough to fit me. My guess was I was looking too late in the season at the store, and my best luck would still be to search on-line. So that's what I did! I found a great website, Shopstyle.com, that pulls items from other websites. So many one-pieces, but so little money. Hubby found the style he really liked (Bandeau) in a beautiful suit by Marc Jacobs, but $170! Never gonna happen!

Marc by Marc Jacobs

So we limited the search to just Bandeau and I continued looking as hubby got ready for bed. A lot of the suits from Newport News were really in my price range ($39 and below) so I headed over to the site to look in more detail. What I found was a Bandeau Tankini at $15 dollars a piece (my kind of price) a little similar to the style hubby liked (because of the belt). I called him over to take a quick look before he slumbered off, and he gave it a go. I think the color is kind of different (Peridot and Dark Peacock) hopefully in person it won't look like I wearing baby poop on top. So here I wait patiently for it's arrival.... that it fits, covers all my post babiness, and still looks a little sexy.

Newport News Tankini

Hi ~ It's Me

2010-07-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

It's been over a month since my last post and I thought I ought to get back on the wagon again......

The last month has been pretty dark for me, but the sunshine is starting to come through and I feel like I might be able to breathe again. I hope that I will be feeling renewed here shortly, like the signs of Spring, and can final tackle the things that I have been wanting to do in the cabin, like finish unpacking.....yikes, and paint some furniture. And as a dear friend suggested maybe making those things to do a family affair!

So, I hope that you stick around as I get back on my feet, and I pray that life has been treating you all well my friends.

9 ~ Soon to be a 4th Grader

2010-06-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

First Day of School

And Today ~ Last Day of 3rd Grade

I'm so very proud of 9! Lots of changes this year, and though he liked goofing off in the classroom, he has earned Honor Roll for Excellence in High Grades! Today is a short last day ~ only 2 hours of school. I think that both 9 and 6 deserve a special treat ~ ICE CREAM! Yay US!

My Little 6 is Growing Up

2010-06-23T13:16:00.001-07:00

First day of school

Last day today

Today is the last day of Kindergarten for 6! I can't believe how much he has changed in 10 months! I too, wish that my littlest guy would stay little sometimes forever.

A Stranger Among Us ~ Continued

2010-06-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

More like "strangers"!!

Yes ~ You read it correctly!

Hubby got home and was able to move out the mattresses out of the closet while I stood there holding the flashlight. Tucked back in the corner of the closet was our little friend. He was not very big, and I could hardly imagine something so small could smell so bad! I moved the little bugger with the dust pan trying to some how scoop it up and hubby came to the rescue with a bag a took the smelly guy away. I proceeded to spray almost a whole can of Lysol to disinfect, and help eliminate the smell ~ it was SO rank!I was proud of my man ~ he was able to hold his breath, not gag, and take care of business. "You rock babe!"

Later that evening I could still smell the decaying aroma. Did another spray down and closed the door in hopes that the smell would magically disappear.....

The next morning the smell still lingered. I decided to search the internet for solutions. It stated it would take a few hours for the smell to go away after the mouse was removed (Hello! We are on the second day here!), and to speed up the process place a bowl of un~brewed coffee grounds, which I did immediately and closed the door. I felt like I was going crazy, because even with the closet door shut, I could not get the smell out of my nose. All day long, I could smell the nastiness! Hubby couldn't smell it, 9 said he could smell it off and on, but seriously, was my mind playing tricks on me?!? Was I scarred for life, by witnessing and smelling my first decaying mouse?!? How could something so little continue to stink up the cabin!

Friday I was out of the house really early to meet my bestie for a girls day in Port Townsend ~ beach combing, and pub burgers. While bestie and I were at the gas station getting gas before making our way hubby called.

"Hey babe."
"Hey ~ I found the other mouse."
"You did!!"
"Yeah ~ it's raining and I went to look for my rain jacket in the closet and the smell was even worse than before. There was a mouse that had built a nest on the shelve in the corner."
"Oh God!" (various sounds coming out of my mouth ~ gasping, gagging, closing my eyes)
"Yeah ~ it built a nest out of that jacket (I forgot to mention in my original post that a sweater jacket my grandmother had made that was hanging in the closet and looked like the collar had been chewed or eaten up) and the nest was the size of half a volley ball. The mouse was about five times bigger than the mouse we found below. I think that must have been a baby."
"Oh God!" (Again ~ I made various sounds, closing my eyes, covering my mouth with my hand, while my bestie looked at me wondering what was going on. I hadn't even had the chance yet to tell her of our discovery a few days before, but she caught on REALLY quick)
"I didn't examine it really well, but it was pretty bloated, moving, (gasp, gag,) and there were lumps in the nest."
"So there must have been more babies?"(gag)
"Probably, but I wasn't about to pull the nest apart".
"Oh God!"
"Just wanted to let you know that it's all taken care of and the smell is all gone. I vacuumed up all the droppings on the shelve and sprayed the shelve down really well to disinfect it. 6 and I are now heading out to get some breakfast." (brave man)
"Okay babe ~ you rock! I'm so glad you found it ~ I thought I was losing my mind!"
"You guys have fun!"
"I love you"
"I love you too!"

So needless to say, we will be placing Decon in the mud room and in the kitchen in case any more visitors decide to make our house their house to. I cannot forget that I live in a rural area, on five acres of land, and that Spring apparently around here is the time that all the field mice like to come inside. I certainly DO NOT want to go through that again, but I have a feeling it will not be that last time. Too bad life is not like a Disney movie where all the little creatures are cute, clean, and help you by cleaning your house, making you an outfit, or cooking you up a fabulous meal....

A Stranger Among Us

2010-06-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

I can't even describe what I have been feeling all day! In my hall closet something lies..... rotting..... waiting.....

For that last two weeks here at the cabin we've been trying to catch a mouse ~ I pray to God it is only one (please lord, please). We've put out traps ~ starting with peanut butter, which the little, vile, creature ate, and then cheese, which was never touched. Nothing happened ~ no new droppings (gag) ~ nothing, poof, and he was gone! 6 had mentioned that he heard some squeaking sounds from the hall closet ~ I thought it was his imagination, because why would the mouse go in there? No chance to find any food in there...... but last night 9 opened the hall door, and said "Mom I think the mouse was in the closet.... and I think it's dead". Hubby was already asleep in bed, and I was NOT going to check it out in the middle of the night. NO WAY!! I decided to check it out this morning ~ opened the door, and yep it's dead ~ or least it smells like it's dead! ( gag, nasty, disgusting, my skin is creeped out all over) I immediately shut the door and called my hubby at work, all the while gasping for fresh air.

"Hi." (opening up the kitchen window)
"Hi honey."
"Babe, I think I found the mouse ~ it's in the hall closet, and it's dead." (fear in my voice)
"Did you get it out?"
"I can't do it ~ you're going to have to do it. I'm so freaked out!" (still fear in my voice)
"But it's dead! Are you afraid that the dead mouse will jump out at you?"
"I know, but the air mattress is in there, and it's heavy, and I'm really afraid there might be some creepy crawlies in there too.!" (panic in my voice is rising ~ I am SO afraid of spiders..... so very, very afraid)
"So you're going to make me, with my weak stomach, go in there to get it out?" (hubby has such a weak stomach for fowl smells ~ he has thrown up more than once while changing 6's poopie diapers, cat litter duties while I was pregnant, and a woman at his work has such bad breath that he has to leave the room or he will literally gag)
"Babe I'll help you anyway I can ~ I just can't, won't touch the mattress....."
With a chuckle " That's fine.... I'll do it when I get home".
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Bye."

Praise the Lord!

I wonder if he'd be willing to pick up pizza for dinner on his way home?

To be continued......

Just Hopping Along

2010-05-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Did you miss me? Not much has been going on here at the cabin, just a little cleaning, a little selling, and a little bit of raining. The river is the biggest it has been since our arrival last October. It is beautiful and scary at the same time. 9 and 6 our home two extra days with me because of Memorial Day. Pray for me that I make it through, as I will be needing all the help I can get! Boys never do anything small, or quiet for that matter, as any of you with more than one boy will shout AMEN as you read this right now! Good thing my hubby took me to get some vitamins this week, and I'm all stocked up with some St. Johns Wart (which helps to promote a positive mood) and Dong Quai (female Ginseng) ~ oh and a multi vitamin along with some calcium. Whew! So this is the start of my third day taking my self help vita's and I must say I do already feel a little different, a little more peaceful, with a touch of a little more patience. I'm counting down to when 9 will comment about my change ~ let's see if he'll even take notice. Since he's a lot like me ~ I say yes!
Now to introduce you to two new members of our family ~ Mr. Toad and Leap! We've had these little guys for over a month now, and they are still ALIVE! Our neighbor caught these two little tree frogs while she was mowing her property and set them aside for 9 and 6. Hubby and I were able to find a aquarium at good ole Goodwill, and it was so fun to watch all my men collect moss, rocks, and tree clippings for the little frogs. It's crazy fun too to watch them gobble up live crickets when they are fed. We did have a Salamander (Sammy) as well, but decided to let him go last week, as his coloring didn't look too well, and 6 was so sad, but he didn't want Sammy to die. They both helped hubby let him go under a nice dark spot under a log with lots of ants all about.

Playing Catch Up

2010-05-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was kind of a crazy day here at the cabin. Hubby came home early as he was feeling poorly and we also had a terrible wind storm going on outside. The aftermath left tons of debris all over the place including the deck and loss of power for 13 hours so today I am playing catch up with my daily chores. Dishes, laundry, vacuuming, and just plain tiding up. Whew ~ I'm already tired and I've only done two loads of laundry and the never ending "hand" washing of the dishes! Aw ~ yes I miss my old dish washer in Cali. The smell of Advance Cascade ~ can I get a Oh yeah! ~Sigh~
As I posted before ~ I am so proud of myself last week for unpacking 5 boxes! YES! All of it was clothing, but still patting myself on my back. My goal for this week is another 5. I can't wait for my yard sale pile to grow to bring in some much needed extra cash, and some of the clothing I posted last week I posted on Ebay as well with some starting bids as low as 99cents so check it out. I've posted other pieces that were not included last week. My store name is j3000tt ~ not sure if you can look up by store name because I new to Ebay. Hope the start of your week is treating you well my friends!

Shop My Closet: $5 Buys

2010-04-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Whew! I finally got some boxes unpacked from the mud room and need to make some room in my very small closet here in the cabin. Maybe make a few dollars to help the old budget too! Lol! All pictured items are $5 with $5 dollar shipping US only. If you see something you like please email me at jhoneycutt16@msn.com. I will accept Paypal and personal check (will ship once check has cleared). Keep checking back as I will need to purge more! Want more detailed pic's of the items just let me know! Also any feed back from you on how to post description actually under the pic's would help me ~ still new to blogging and haven't quite figured that out as you can see. Tee hee!

1. S ~ Red Line Demin Shirt GW find NWT Nordstrom Rack
2. PM ~ Apt 9 petite Black/Cream Blouse
3. PS ~ Daisy Fuentes petite Brown/Burgundy Blouse ( Missing Satin Belt but can be worn with or without )
4. XS/S ~ AT Loft Sweater
5. XS ~ Mossimo Target Grey/Red/Burgundy Blouse
6. 4P ~ Hillard & Hanson petite Jacket (There is piling all over jacket)
7. S ~ Mossimo Target Black/Grey Jacket

Getting Better

2010-04-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I feel like I am doing a little better, but PMS has the best of me this week. This month I am more crazy mad, irritated, just plain miserable and I feel terribly bad for 9 and 6. I do not have the patience right now to deal with their normal boy things like bickering, wrestling, and horsing around. I'm sure my husband is so thankful that he's at work for the good part of the day and not having to put up with me for long periods of time. But as any good husband, today he will be bring home some yummy treats for me that sometimes a must when Aunt Flo is on her way ~ Chocolate! See's candy! Three pounds if I'm lucky or shall I say if my whole family is lucky! Last night I had to slowly savor my crispy chocolate bunny from Easter to tied me over. Tonight will definitely be better!

So my sweet hubby is helping to bring back structure to my life by leaving little "To Do" list's this week. It's like a breath of fresh air actually having part of my day planned out for me. I know it's sounds probably a little pathetic, but for whatever reason I am too overwhelmed myself to come up with a plan. He's starting out small which I can truly appreciate and which will eventually lead up to me unpacking. I also broached the subject last night about us possibly having a yard sale once I have made more progress with the unpacking and the purging of things in hopes of bring in a little extra money to help on the home front. We have been pretty bad and have not been sticking to our budget and falling back into old bad habits, mainly eating out a lot, and that's not good! My unemployment will be running out soon, and that money certainly would of helped us in the long run. All we can do is get back on course and pray for the best. I have been very good about not shopping though. I have not made any daily trips to the thrift stores and made my last purchase on ebay a couple weeks ago. So that's a positive! Also our taxes seem to be working out even with the Short Sale of our home. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is true and that we ARE getting a refund. I won't believe it until I see it!

My bestie and her family came out on Saturday for lunch and some exploration around the cabin! It was such a nice visit. The kids played football with besties hubby, and her and I walked around while she took pictures of trees and even two deer who ventured out down the river. We were like 250 ft away from the deer! Her camera is amazing! She told me about some of the trees, bushes, and flowers around the cabin and we even saw a garden snake! EECK! Kind of freaked me out a bit, but she said they are harmless and her mom has one that visits her regularly in her own garden. We've made plans to have a camp out this summer with them all ~ tents and everything! I can't wait!

UGH! Feeling Gloomy!

2010-04-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

I've really been in a funk for a couple months now! I'm not motivated at all in doing much of anything and I'm still in my pj's as I write this while 9 and 6 are watching tv...... It's officially their Spring Break and yep ~ we're sitting in the cabin! UGH! It's pretty gloomy today, but hasn't rain yet. My house is a mess, the boxes in the mud room still remain in the mud room untouched, and I know my hubby though as sweet as he has been is probably terribly frustrated with me. I'm so ready to snap out of it and I'm even considering going to the doctor to get prescription help, but would rather try and work through it but I'm not quite sure I'll be able. I kind of just want to take something to smack my head with to get myself back! Sheesh! I'm still able to do the norm like eat, make meals, do the dishes and laundry but anything else, forget about it!

My Easter brought me sunshine and lighten my spirits. Spending time with my bestie and her family was such a breath of fresh air. They only thing that would have made it any better is if my hubby had been there too. We filled our bellies with yummy grub. I got to see all the treasures she's been making for her upcoming craft show, and just hung out and laughed. Good times. I hoping that they will be able to make it out to the cabin this coming weekend for lunch and so her kids can explore and check out the river.

Enough being mopey ~ think it's about time I jump in the shower and get my day started!

Easter Blessing's to You and Yours

2010-04-04T08:34:00.001-07:00

He is risen!

Another Addition......

2010-03-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

It arrived yesterday in the afternoon! Can you believe it! I was SO thrilled and my hubby teased me as I tried ripping it open while we waited for 9 and 6 bus to arrive! Hubby opened it, as he was afraid that with my excitement in cutting open the bag I would murder the jacket. I slipped it on and sighed ~ it's a perfect fit! LOVE it! Another wonderful addition to my jacket collection if I say so myself!

I'm SO Excited ~ and I Just Can't Hide It!

2010-03-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Look what I won on Ebay the other day for $10.45!!! Just got an email that it is being shipped and I'm SO EXCITED!!!!! I know, I know ~ I'm supposed to be taking a break on shopping, but I just could pass up the chance to possibly win this bid! Brand new originally $248.00 and I won it for $10.45!!!! It was my lucky day! Now back to house work and sippin my cup o joe!

Easter Egg Hunt a Week Before Easter

2010-03-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday our neighbors held their Annual Easter Egg Hunt and invited 9 and 6 to come join in the fun! I thought it would just be family and friends, but it was open to the public with a small fee. There was a huge turn out and they hid over a thousand plastic eggs filled with goodies, everything from candy to money, and numbers to win grab bag of prizes! Kids from all ages attended and it was so nice that they let the little ones have a head start on the hunt before the bigger kids were allowed to join in! We had such a great time and can't wait till next year!

Erika's Tater Tot & Egg Breakfast

2010-03-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

My friend Erika made this yummy breakfast for me on our coffee Tuesday's and now I love making it for my family! She help spread her dollar by buying tater tots instead of traditional frozen hash brown's!

4 Eggs
Butter
1 Heaping Cereal bowl full of Frozen Tater Tots
Cheese
Any other yummies you want to add

The above ingredients are for a breakfast of 2. Melt butter in fry pan over medium heat. Defrost in the microwave bowl of tater tots. Once taters are defrosted add to frying pan and break up with a spatula. Keep turing over to get the tots nice a crispy. Season to your liking with seasoning salt, or salt and pepper. At this tine you can add any other yummies! I like adding a little bit of chopped up salsa. Mix in your yummies with the tots. Add the four eggs as shown in the picture. Cook to your liking. I like to break up the yoke and kind of scramble in the pan. Once eggs are cooked to your liking top with shredded cheese. Serve over toasted english muffins, tortilla's, toast or all by it self! Sure to satisfy everyone in your home!

I Want It!

2010-03-26T07:58:00.001-07:00

I LOVE Shade Clothing and this dress is adorable!

Celebrating the Last Day of Winter

2010-03-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

After 9 and 6 got home form school Friday we decided to have some fun down by the river ~ did I say right in our back yard ~ with hot dogs, marshmallows, and just some good old family fun!

Hello... My Name is Kristie....

2010-03-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

And I'm a thriftaholic!!! Honestly ~ it is getting WAY out of hand, and I told my hubby last night after showing him my loot from yesterday that I'm going to stop for a while. Instead of going a few times a week, I think I'll cut it down to maybe once a month. I don't really spend a lot of money, but if you add it up for the month, it does accumulate a bit. I have SO much to do here at the cabin, I think I was also using my shopping trips as a diversion to get what I really need done, done! Sheesh! Get with it Kristie!!

* Enjoy my pic's of me struggling to come to my decision of cutting back...... I look pretty sad huh? Sad in my husbands thermals that I now sleep in since they are so comfy warm! Lol! No, really my hubby was playing with the camera and I found these on there.*

Some of My Treasure's

2010-03-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in over a week, but after getting over my last cold I was feeling a little bit run down and well just down in general. Lot's of changes going on in my life.... So like most of us women, I did some retail therapy over that time at Goodwill where I found some wonderful items, my favorite being the grey sweater from Banana Republic. It is SO incredibly soft, lightweight, but kept me very warm last Friday night over at my hubby's aunt and uncle's house in Kirkland. I really love BR's item's. They seem so classic and well as much as I love all the trends going on, I'm 37, and don't want to ever have someone look at me and think I'm dressing too young for my age. Do any of you feel that way? Yesterday I finally hit up a thrift store in town that I've really been dying to go to and I hit the jackpot big time! I got all my loot for $8.79!!! 8 items!! She had five racks that were $1, and I only had time to look at the one and found so many things! A lot of BR, and a really pretty peasant blouse from Loft! I was so excited to show my hubby when he got home, and I'm heading back there today after 6 heads out to school to really take my time! All my treasures have been washed and ironed and are now waiting patiently for me to wear! I'm really glad it's still chilly so I have time to wear them all before it gets too warm. Hope you all have a fun and safe St. Patrick's Day!

A Beautiful Day!

2010-03-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

Such a amazing day here at the cabin! Look at all the lovely's popping up all over the place! Yes ~ one is a weed, but still just amazing!

Sick and Tired!

2010-03-03T08:12:00.000-08:00

Argh! I can't even believe that I'm sick again! 9 caught a cold last week and lucky me, I caught it last Friday! I'm starting to feel back to normal a bit, but seemed to be choking on some serious mucus for days now! So freakin gross ~ and I'm sure your totally thrilled that I shared that lovely info with you! So needless to say I have not been up to much this week. Laying around a bunch, but still doing laundry, cleaning dishes, and sharing lonely time with my trusted friend My Mac! Oh how I love thee! You truly allow me to keep in touch with friends and family. You don't judge me. You know that I'm a Blog~aholic, that I visit Facebook frequently everyday. That I loved to browse clothing website that I could never afford. You know I have imperfections, but you love me anyway ~ because you know not everyone is perfect. Yikes ~ did I really write all that out loud for you all to read?!? Must be all that mucus going to my head! Don't hate the writer ~ hate the cold with the meds and what it causes the writer to say, or write what the writer is thinking.... uh, yeah, hmm, m-kay.....

When I Look in the Mirror

2010-02-26T10:40:00.000-08:00

This last year and a half have truly been one of the most difficult times in my life ~ actually the last two and half years would be more accurate. Loss of many "things", but with those losses I gained strength. It's amazing to me that the things I have endured have not crippled me, made me curl up in a ball, refusing to go on. In times of toil and trouble I have always tried to be a positive person ~ don't get me wrong, I also go through the gamut of emotions ~ anger, sorrow, bitterness. I cry, but in the end, I try to focus on the positives. When I look in the mirror I see someone looking back at me who has aged this past year, more wrinkles, gray hairs, and bulges where bulges didn't exist before. I know that I'm not a young buck anymore at the tender age of 37, but have always felt young and still looked young until now. But maybe stressors in your life can truly change your appearance, along with age of course. With this move, my hubby and I really feel as if we are starting fresh, in his career, our home. I think that maybe it can also be a fresh start for me, in the way I take care of myself. In the past I never had to worry about what I ate, but now there are bulges where there were none earlier. By no means am I over weight, but I am less active than I was when I was working in California, and running around with my busy former life. Being here I'm living a slow paced life, not out and about as much mainly due to the weather. So while I try and get this home unpacked, organized, and de-cluttered I think I will take the time to try something new, 9's yoga dvd, that my mom so eagerly bought for him while we were living with her during our transition. I'm going to try and limit my coffee, which me LOVES, and drink more water. Maybe even actually start using that Retin-A that my mom swears by to help them lovely wrinkles around my face, that even though is aging, my hubby still loves. When I look in the mirror I do see someone who is aged, but who is happy, feels blessed, and who is excited about this new chapter in her life!

Quick Chicken and Mushroom Dinner

2010-02-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

1/2 ~ Onion Chopped
1 ~ Pkg Fresh Mushrooms
2 ~ Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 ~ Pkg of your favorite Pasta
1 ~ Cup of Milk
Shred both Chicken Breasts from Costco Rotisserie Chicken
Olive Oil

In a large pot, boil water for your favorite kind of pasta. While waiting for water to come to a boil, in a large skillet pan, add a a little bit of Olive Oil to sauté your chopped onion. Cook over low/medium heat. Once the onions are starting to look translucent, and in your fresh mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes then start adding in the cream of mushroom soup and the cup of milk. This will be your yummy gravy like sauce so play with it. I usually cook this with out measuring out the milk, so if you like you sauce thicker, add a little milk at a time to get it to the consistency you like. Start adding in your shredded chicken breast. Season to your liking ~ I add season salt and pepper. Using already cooked chicken saves you time, but you can make this recipe by cooking the chicken as well, just cube up 2 to 4 chicken breasts, and cook in the skillet before adding in the onion and so on. Once your pasta is done cooking, dish onto plate or bowls and cover with the chicken and mushroom gravy! Serve with some warm crusty bread and a salad!

You can mix the recipe up as you like! Add different veggies if mushrooms aren't your thing. I often make it with rice instead of pasta. If you want a more stroganoff taste add 1/2 cup of sour cream. Hope you enjoy!

Goodwill Hunting Monday

2010-02-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was all by my lonesome and decided to swing by my Goodwill after I had run a few errands! All green tags were half off and I found some fabulous finds! At least I think they are fabulous and that what's important, no? You know me and how I love me some jackets.... I found these two and they were both green tagged! Whoo hoo! The leather jacket is a Wilson Leather and I got it for a whopping $7.49!!! The brown cord jacket is Tulle and $3.00 with the discount. The pink waffle J Crew henley I saw a few weeks ago but didn't grab it, went back the next day and could not find it. Yesterday it was found and half off for $1.99! YES! The tunic under the leather jacket was not on sale so I did spend $5.99, but it is brand stinkin new! LOVE IT! And the boots are the Shop Goodwill find that I posted about and finally picked them up at the Post Office yesterday! They are a yummy chocolate brown Anne Klein brand new! I won the bid for $19.00, but with shipping and handling they ended up being $30.00 a little too much then I would normally spend, but ME LOVES THEM anyway! I spied this coffee table while I was there and took the whole family back last night to look at it. Now I know it looks pretty ugly, but I'm planning on painting it either black or maybe a cottage white, but distressing it a bit. Even if it turns out bad it was only $19.99. What do you think? Oh, and since my love is always on my mind, I picked up this Eddie Bauer sweater, and YES it was green tagged and only $3.49!

We Did It!

2010-02-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

YES ~ We did it! Our stuff is finally out of storage and here in the cabin! Yay! My hubby's folks paid us a visit since 9 and 6 are out all this week for Mid Winter Break. We made two trips to storage ~ first with me, hubby, and 9. We loaded all but 5 of the boxes as well as the hutch/buffet. Then the second trip was me, hubby, 6 (to supervise), and fabulous Father~in~law, for the rest of the furniture! We couldn't of done it without his help! And fabulous Mother~in~law watched over the cabin and feed the troops with some yummy grub! Awwww ~ so nice to sleep in my wonderful bed last night! Four months on an air mattress equals NO GOOD! So now the real chore will begin! Getting organized, and reducing our stuff to the local Goodwill! But first things first ~ got to clean up this place and get the furniture exactly where we want it.

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

The "Love" Ring

2010-02-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

The Story of The "Love" Ring as told by my grandmother Verna Long who wrote it down per my request over seven years ago....

On September 7th 1935 Sidney Long put a wedding ring on the finger of Verna Kendall. At Sidney's request Verna had picked it out at a jewelers in Santa Monica and had it shipped C.O.D. to Sidney in Tucson for Sidney to figure out how to pay for it!! As I recall the ring cost $60.00. It had a double row of diamonds on a gold band.
After about 30 years of wear two of the diamonds were lost. Verna was working at the Piano and Organ Center in Santa Monica with the owner Fred Mengarelli. Fred had a brother who worked in the San Francisco area for a Jewelry company. He had agreed to design a ring for me. I used the diamond solitaire that my mother (Verna Muriel Kendall Chestnut) was given as her engagement ring to my stepfather, Charles Chestnut. (This was a story book marriage). Other small diamonds and chips were gathered by my sister Katherine and me from other old jewelry we happened to have on hand including my original wedding ring. I sent everything we had gathered to Fred's brother, who designed this ring. There could never be another exactly like it. I had forgotten exactly how much I had paid for the finished ring, but am sure it was less than $100.00.
Because my ring finger had developed an arthritis bump, I could no longer get the ring off my finger. I had decided to give the ring to my granddaughter Kristie. When Kristie was about 6 years old, I had lost the large diamond. Kristie was the one who found it on the floor of my Corvair. I promised her then, she would inherit the ring when I could no longer wear it.

My grandmother Verna and I went to a local jewelry store in my hometown of Escondido where the ring had to be cut off her finger. I was hoping to wear it on the ring finger of my right hand, but it was too large. It fit my middle finger perfectly without any adjustments. My grandmother passed away the following year at the age of 92 preceded by my grandfather in 1992. After she had given me the ring I would wear it occasionally. Because it was so special to me I was afraid to wear it daily for fear that something would happen to it. Now I wear it always as a reminder of my wonderful grandmother and as a tribute to both my grandparents love for one another as well their love for my great grandmother and great aunt. Happy Valentines Day ~ may your day be surrounded in "Love".

Yes ~ I was One of Them

2010-02-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

My hubby and I have really been reflecting on our lives and how we've made mistakes in the past with decisions we have made in order to "Keep up with the Jones". Yes it's shameful to say ~ I was one of them! Influenced by my former life in Southern California ~ needing to have the big vehicles, all the big toys, nice furniture, perfect house, etc. I didn't know it at the time, but have come to realize that it was exhausting! How freeing it has been to lose most of it and to live a simple kind of life. I find that I am so much more happier now, but did cry a lot along the way. My hubby and I both losing our jobs December 2008 really was in the end one of the best things that could of happen to us. It drew us closer, though we've always been best friends, but we really became a team. We did definitely go through emotional ups and downs, having to short sale our home, hubby feeling worthless at times since he was not working, and felt his worth was to provide for his family. But the nine moths he was out of work we got to spend our days together, along with 6, going to the park, buying ice cream cones at Rite-Aide for 99 cents. Little things that meant so much. Adjusting to our new life by shopping at stores that I would of never really considered before simply because I didn't need to and now kicking myself thinking how much I could of saved in the end. Moving to Auburn, Washington has been such a blessing, the obvious, my hubby finding employment with a wonderful company, but life here is so simple, and slow. People here are not trying to impress one another with their Juicy Couture clothing, or zooming by with their huge SUV's ~ the SUV's here are ones from the 80's that are rugged, but well loved and cared for and they would care less to what you drive and how big your home is. A dear friend of mine went through something similar and has a sign hung in her living room above her fireplace as a reminder reading "The best things in life aren't things". It took my hubby and I a big kick in the gut to realize that. I hope to find a sign as well as a simple reminder, because it is so easy to fall back into something when that's all you've know for quite a while and I don't ever what to be back there again.

Love Me Some Jackets

2010-02-11T09:04:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I finally wore my new jacket that I got on my girls day out with my BF when we met up in Gig Harbor. I love it! I wore it with my new Drape Front Cardigan from Shade. Please excuse my cheesy smile ~ my hubby has that effect on me! My other new fav jacket is a Halogen I found at Goodwill for $6.99. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It's such a pretty green and fit's me like a glove. It hits a little past my enlarging hips (they seem to be growing everyday including other parts of my lower half, while my hubby is losing ~ sheesh) and has all these wonderful zippers everywhere. So fabulous! A friend of mine suggested I look on-line at Shop Goodwill. I did and got hooked right away and made about five bids in one day. Pretty scary! The prices are pretty reasonable until someone out bids you of course, but in the end the shipping and handling really gets you. I was on the hunt for some boots that were a little more rugged than the high heeled ones I have. I ended up winning bids on two pairs, which was good, but the shipping and handling ended up costing me about as much as I had bided! Lesson learned ~ I'll just keep hunting at the local stores and try to remain patient.
Now on to other news.... we didn't move our stuff from storage on Tuesday. 9 and 6 will be home all next week due to Mid Winter Break, and we decided that to get the most out of our U-Haul and time we would wait till then. 9 really wants to help load the truck, bless his heart, and we really would of only had about 3 hours to get it all done this week since we have to be home by a certain time to pick the boys up from the school bus. So next week it is ~ and I can't wait!

Time to Get Mooving!

2010-02-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

Okay ~ so my work in progress really hasn't been progressing. I really haven't unpacked too many of the boxes in the mud-room, first because we've been sick, and secondly I really don't have anywhere to put most of the stuff since our furniture isn't moved in yet. Hubby and I are planning on renting a U-Haul tomorrow to bring over everything else from storage that he and I can move together. There will be a few items like our computer armoire that I won't be able to help him with, but we'll work it out and get maybe one of his uncles or cousins to help with that. My plan of attack is to put most of the boxes stacked neatly in the mud-room, put the obvious boxes like our clothing in the bedrooms and move what furniture we can in the house and get the landlord furniture back to him tomorrow. Whew! I'm already exhausted thinking about it! I'm just so tired of not having our things here, furniture wise. I'm terribly worried that the landlords furniture will get ruined somehow because of 9 and 6. I would just feel awful if that happened! My hubby is really anxious about having all the boxes here ~ he does not like clutter, but I told him he has to be done! We are paying $163.00 a month on the storage unit now and that sure could be used for other things. So tonight I plan to get a good night sleep and take a deep breath in the morning and dive in! Wish us luck ~ we'll need it!

A Hairy Situation

2010-02-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

I'm in desperate need of a trim and when I look in the mirror I'm wishing my hair looked more like the above. My hubby needs a trim too. I suggested at lunch today that next week we should go together. I can just tell the hairdresser "I'll have what he's having".

A Good Laugh

2010-02-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

So last week on Facebook was celebrity look a like week ~ or perhaps it was the week before and I was totally way behind! Anyway, I had no idea who I even looked like and asked my hubby for advice so I could play along. "You totally look like Elizabeth Perkins" was his reply instantly. She's cute and my hubby has this thing for older women ~ He LOVES Diane Lane, Dana Delaney... you get my drift. I was hoping for Audrey Hepburn, or Natalie Portman, but Elizabeth is cute. Now you have to imagine me with my long hair again and no glasses. Do you see it? One of my friends on FB had stated that she had gone on website to find her look a like by actually downloading a photo for comparison ~ so late night I was feeling good and completely bored and took a shot at it. I did multiple photo's (the website suggested it and said "see who keeps coming up and that's your celebrity twin). Giddy with anticipation.... my celebrity twin was JAMES SPADER! AHH HAHA HA! LOVED IT! We do look quite alike no? It's terribly funny to me too, because I think he's pretty hot, not now, but especially back in his Pretty in Pinks days, and my hubby thinks he's pretty gross! I can't wait to share this info with him today. He'll now know HE'S SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY!!!! So give yourself a giggle today and go to myheritage.com and try it out and let me know who your celebrity look a like is. Hope you have a good laugh!

Sick....

2010-02-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

Hubby still sick.... I'm sick...... and 9 is sick.....I pray that 6 does not get it... Hubby did not work at all this week and 9 is staying home from school today. Hubby sounds like a heavy smoker when he coughs or gets a giggle. At least the illness has not caused him to lose his sense of humor. Today I feel like my head may explode. It doesn't help that our heating oil ran out Saturday, and we didn't notice of course till late and so we've been living in the chill. Woke up this morning with the house at 52 degrees. Got my cup o joe in my hand and the oven on in the kitchen......

Hookie

2010-01-27T11:58:00.000-08:00

So yesterday my hubby decided to keep 9 and 6 home from school so we could have a family day. We decided to take the ferry from Seattle over to Bainbridge to check out the area and see what we could find! Had lunch at a grocery store that has a massive salad bar where you can load up and pay $7.99 a pound for the traditional salad fixings. They also had soup bar which I helped myself to since I loves me some soup. Then we let the boys play at the local park close by then headed our way to Poulsbo! Had so much fun there and they had a YUMMY bakery called Sluy's where 6 got his massive donut! We walked around window shopping ~ and secretly I was hoping to find a Goodwill to do some shopping of my own, but with no luck! It was a great day, but my hubby was feeling the coming ons of a terrible cold, which is in full swing today. Even feeling as bad as he does right now he's at the store picking up some groceries so I can make some sausage and potato soup for him. What an awesome mountain man I have!

Shopping, Sharing, & Eating

2010-01-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

My Saturday was WONDERFUL! I was able to spend a good part of my afternoon with my Bestie doing my three fav things! You got it ~ shopping, sharing and EATING! YES! Was so wonderful to get away from 9 and 6 and have a breather to recharge myself! Bestie and I met up in Gig Harbor, a half way point between our worlds. We started out at the local Goodwill where I found two cute pairs of comfy cargos ~ The black pair are a little snug, but were half off and might give me the motivation to tone that tummy! Still no luck with any white home accessories. Bestie picked up two cute purses, one for herself, the other for her sweet daughter. Then we had an amazing lunch at Blazing Onion! I had died and gone to burger heaven! It must have been the best hamburger I had ever eaten in my 37 years! The food was yummy, the service was great, and we walked out of there with satisfied tummys! Yay us! The burger joint was located in a really cute shopping center that we were able to walk around and get our fill of window shopping. We stopped in a cute shop called Heart and they were having their Annual Sale and I got this cute little jacket for $15. When I got home and showed hubby I noticed that the back of the tag said $168! Holy Cow! What a steal, but to be quite honest ~ not worth $168 and that's probably why it was marked down, DoWn, DOWN! Bestie picked up a cute purple hoodie for $15 too ~ I'll have to ask her what her tag read.... But my best score of the day would have to be the charm necklace Bestie made me for Christmas! I LOVE it so and wore it all day! I love the 50's pic's especially the lady carrying the grocery bags expression! If you likey too check out my previous post "Gotta Show the Love" to her Etsy shop! It was such a fabulous day and didn't want it to end, but had to get back to my men! And back I did with a HUGE smile on my face ~ kinda like 50's gal.... Hee, hee!

Shade Clothing

2010-01-21T09:38:00.000-08:00

http://shadesurvey.questionpro.com

1.Thank you for taking our customer survey. The survey should take 3 - 5 minutes to complete. Once you have finished the survey, you will see a "thank you" message that will contain the link for the 30% off coupon.

If you LOVE Shade Clothing visit this link and complete the survey to get 30% off coupon for any regular priced item! I was finally able to buy the front draped cardi which I have been wishing for! Yay me!

Work in Progress

2010-01-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL sunny day in Auburn so we took the opportunity because of the weather and also the holiday to make it over to the storage unit to bring over our first two loads of boxes. 9 and 6 were SO excited to get some of our things over to the cabin, and were especially excited to have found a couple boxes marked "Toys" ~ it was as if it was Christmas morning all over again! So this morning after my post I will start to unpack and go through some of the boxes in hopes to "Simplify" things for the present and the future. Wish me luck!

Also, I need some input on how to lighten up some of my furniture. Our bookcase also has a buffet/hutch that is matching and I am thinking of repainting to lighten our decor because of the darkness inside the cabin. Any suggestions of what to do or any websites that you have visited that might help me? I have decided to start collecting some white accessories too in hopes of brighting up things! Did you see my Acorns and Pumpkin from my previous post? I love them and got them marked down as well as an additional 40% off at Freddy's! I hope to make it over to Goodwill and take a look at what white treasures they may have!

Stuffed Green Peppers

2010-01-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

4 - Medium Green Peppers
1/2 - 1 lbs Ground Beef
2-2 1/2 - Cooked white or brown rice
1/4 - Cup Chopped Onion
6 oz - Whole canned corn ~ drained
1/2 - tsp Worcestershire Sauce
4 oz -Tomato Sauce
1/2 - tsp Salt
3 1/2 oz - Grated Cheddar Cheese

Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Precook in boiling salted water for 5 minutes; remove and drain well. Sprinkle insides with salt. Brown meat and onion; add rest of ingredients except cheese. Simmer until hot. Add cheese and stir until melted.
Stand peppers in baking dish and fill with mixture. Add 1/2 inch water to baking dish. Bake 40 minutes @ 350.

Another one of my Mom's recipes that I loved growing up. Still yummy good, but needed a little more spice to me. Thinking about changing the recipe next week and making Stuffed Green Peppers with pizza filling ~ like Pepperoni, Black olives, pizza sauce... you get what I'm saying! So many ways to change this up a bit, and tons of more recipes for this on~line!

Hooray!

2010-01-13T08:46:00.000-08:00

So last night kicked off getting our home organized! Went made a trip down to the local Ikea to look for some storage furniture for our boys 9 and 6. Now part of the problem here with the clutter and piles is that our furniture has not been move here from our local storage facility. If you remember our furniture finally arrived from California mid December ~ so with the holidays and weather conditions (you know ~ RAIN all... the... time....) we decided to hold off on bringing everything over. So not to make excuses for my mess, but I really have no where to put the clean laundry when it is done. We also lost a dresser when we moved since in our old home we had a Closet Maid System, and now my hubby and I will have to use the large dresser that was once ours, but we had given to the boys, and so it's our again, once it's out of storage of course! So my hubby found these cute little storage units that can be used as a small dresser with the totes as well as a bookcase. So 9 and 6 will each have their own and my hubby has also decided to get the boys a new bunk bed which 9 is SO excited for since they are currently sharing a bed and 6 keeps pushing him to the very edge. I picked up two of the cute hampers so that the boys can sort their own laundry by placing lights in one and darks in the other. We'll see how that will actually turn out in the end.... So after my hubby comes back this afternoon from a meeting (he's interviewing for another position at his job as a supervisor ~ which will be HUGE for our family if it happens ~ so please pray for him) we are going to head back to Ikea to get the goodies and start cleaning up this place of clutter! Hooray! Yippee! Woo hoo!

Changes Are a Coming

2010-01-12T09:32:00.000-08:00

So since it's the beginning of a new year I have finally decided to really try and make some changes here at home since I have plenty of time on my hands. I want to try and become more organized and to purge some of the things that I really don't need or use too often. Now I wouldn't say that I'm a complete slob, but do like to make little piles around the house ~ piles of paper, piles of laundry. You get my meaning ~ hence the picture. Everything will have it's place and that's where it will be put from now on. Less clutter will make my hubby extremely happy and myself as well since our rental is quite a bit smaller than we are accustomed to. Once our stuff is brought over from storage ~ yes I said storage ~ I am going to take the time to go through every box, and pull out those items that I really just don't need. Thus making less stuff to move when our lease is up ~ so at least I have about ten months to get this done! Lol! Good lord I hope it doesn't take me that long! Also last night I made a list of chores that my 9 year old and 6 year old will be doing nightly and weekly. I want to teach them some responsibility, and also appreciation for what I do daily around our home. Now the organizing is something I've always wanted to do, but recently I have really been feeling the urge, first because of our fresh new start and wanting to kick some of my bad habits, and secondly I have been watching a show called Hoarders on A & E. It is frightening to watch but also fascinates me to no end. It's like a train wreck that you cannot turn away from no matter how hard you try, and honestly as bad as it sounds, it actually makes me feel a little better about my housekeeping. How sad is that! These people have a horrible disability and it makes me feel better about myself!!! I am SO ashamed! So this will be I guess one of my New Years Resolutions ~ Get Organized! I think it will set a tone for my boys to follow and hopefully they will start picking up after themselves WITHOUT being asked. Yeah I know ~ will never happen!

Chili Soup

2010-01-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

My Mom made this a lot when I was growing p and I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it! I hope you'll enjoy it too!

1 1/2 - 2 lbs Ground Beef
2 c Chopped Onion
12 oz Tomato Paste
2- 15 oz cans Stewed Tomatoes
3 c Water
4- 15 oz cans Kidney or Pinto Beans
2 Garlic Cloves crushed
1 T Chili Powder
2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Cumin

Brown beef with onions in very large pot. Drain excess fat. Stir in tomato paste and stewed tomatoes. Break up tomatoes. Add water, beans, garlic, chili powder, salt and cumin. Mix well, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Serve with corn bread or biscuit's. You can also garnish the chili with, shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions. Use left over chili for chili baked potatoes the next night!

Gotta Show the Love

2010-01-08T19:17:00.000-08:00

My Bestie has opened up her own Esty Shop! Check it out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Weebird44. She is SO creative and I cannot wait to see all the marvelous things she will be posting! Maybe this will get my creative juices flowing too! It's been a long time and I sure have enough time on my hands now! So cheers to you my friend!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

I hope that your holidays were magical and you were surrounded by family and friends! May your New Year be filled with love, happiness, health, and many blessings!

Christmas is Coming... Christmas is Coming....

2009-12-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas is just around the corner and I'm starting to feel a little anxious about it all! We've finished all the shopping for our boys, but have yet to wrap the gifts. I have no idea when we'll be able to now that the boys are on winter break. I think I will have to wait till after they have gone to sleep and do some mad wrapping! I was hoping to get more of our stuff over to the cabin from storage, but it has been raining the last three days. I've lived without our stuff for so long what's a couple more days eh.... My hubby's folks arrive tomorrow from Walla, Walla to visit with us all before Christmas. The boys are so excited to see their Grandparents! Then the following week Grandma and Ito come from California for a visit! I'm so excited to see my Mom! I hope they're prepared for the cold! So the count down begins... How are you spending the next few days before Christmas?

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

2009-12-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

Our stuff finally arrived yesterday from California! Yay! Because the area we moved to is so rural, we had to have all of our stuff put in storage, and in the next couple of weeks we'll be moving it to our home in my hubby's small truck. I'm so happy to have it here! Yesterday we had to hustle ~ my hubby's aunt and uncle were coming over in the evening for dinner, and wanted to have a few Christmas decorations in place. So while the movers were unloading our goodies, my wonderful husband was sure to grab all our Christmas totes so I would be a happy girl! The cabin is starting to look a little magical with all the Christmas goings and hoping that this weekend we'll be getting our Christmas tree. Have you put up your decorations yet? Do you have a favorite decoration that you look forward to putting up or placing on the tree?

Snow?

2009-12-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

So supposedly it's going to snow tomorrow.... I am excited, but a little scared as well. Yesterday my hubby and I went to Fred Meyer and bought our boys some winter boots with Christmas money from the grandparents. Obviously our guys got that Christmas gift a little early, but at least we are a little prepared for what could happen tomorrow. Winter boots, check ~ warm coats, check ~ gloves, check ~ beanies, check ~ scarves, check ~ snow shovel to make our way to the bus stop..... Oops! So we shall see if we are to wake up with a blanket of white surrounding our home..... hopefully we won't need to shovel our way out!

Potato and Sausage Soup

2009-12-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

1 package ground italian sausage

3 potatoes diced

1/2 yellow onion diced

3 cans chicken broth

1 package of pre-packed baby spinach

Brown ground italian sausage in 2 Tbs olive oil. Combine in large pot chicken broth, diced potatoes, diced onion, and browned sausage and cook over high heat for 20 minutes. Add baby spinach to pot and cook 10 minutes more. Serve with a crusty bread and salad!

A friend of mine shared this recipe with me the other day and it was so yummy good I'm making it again tonight! I like to add a bit of milk into the soup! Yum yum! Tonight is another cold and chilly night ~ perfect for warm soup and crusty bread to keep me and my men warm. What is your favorite thing to cook on a cold chilly night?

Frosty Morning with Blue Skies

2009-12-03T09:26:00.000-08:00

Yay! It's a winter wonderland when I woke up this morning! My hubby will be home today and it's blue skies all the way! I'm so excited to have him home ~ it's so hard being away from your very best friend in the whole world! As promised ~ I was able to capture pictures of the frost spider webs this morning. They look completely different from yesterday so I'm hoping in the future to get a picture of the webs with the frozen dew drops. They look like diamonds all over the web and so magical! It's terribly cold outside but looks absolutely breath taking! I seriously cannot wait for it to snow and I will probably be bitting my tongue when that actually happens! But in the meantime I will enjoy my frosty morning sipping on my cup o joe with blue skies all the way!

Good Day ~ Sunshine

2009-12-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

Yes ~ it's true! I have had two fabulous days of sunshine and blue skies! I only wish my hubby was here to see it with his very eyes! He'll be home tomorrow afternoon and I pray that the lovely sunshine will be here to greet him as he arrives home! Along with that wonderful sunshine has been much cooler temperatures. It was 30 degrees this morning as I walked my number one son to the bus stop. The spider webs looked amazing with the frozen dew and I am hoping tomorrow morning I can capture a picture. Now time to run off and make some Ramen to warm up my hands and tummy!

My Day!

2009-11-30T10:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Me today! I am 37 years young today and feel so blessed to be happy and healthy! Though today will be the first birthday in 16 years that my hubby will not be here to celebrate with me he'll be here in my heart. He left early this morning to San Diego to arrange our final move. Yay ~ sooner than I know it our stuff will be here and I can start making our rental house a home! My boys have promised me by written note this morning that they will behave for me on my special day ~ they also made my bed and my number one son poured me my coffee and served it to me on a plate! So sweet! I hope this day finds you in great spirits and you have a blessed day ~ I know I will!

A Time to be Thankful

2009-11-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

I wish that I could remember to be thankful everyday for all the blessings that have come my way. It is sad for me to think that because tomorrow is Thanksgiving it is the only time I really take a moment to think and remember... Why? I should do it everyday, so then I can remain positive in spirit and mind. Though this past year has been a really hard one on my family and myself we are still together, we still have food on our table, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads. There are many people who do not ~ I am thankful. I am thankful for all the blessings in my life ~ for my wonderful and supportive family and friends! Without them, well I just don't know how I would of survived! So from this day forward I will always take a moment and think of all I have to be thankful for. I hope that you and yours have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving and remember everyday that you have many things to be thankful for.

Feeling a Little Blue

2009-11-21T10:35:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning hoping that today will be a new and better day especially since it is the weekend. This last week has been pretty hard and I have felt blue off and on. I think that it's probably hormones and the weather here is finally catching up wit me a bit. It's been really raining and gloomy all week and though the rain here has pretty much only been showers I think it's really the gloominess that is bring me down a bit. It doesn't help that our rental ~ the log cabin ~ is pretty dark inside with all the wood everywhere. Thank goodness the carpet is white so at least that's a little brightness! Lol! It killed me at first to see the white carpet when we got here ~ really, why would anyone put white carpet in a rental ~ but now I'm happy it's here! I pray that once our stuff is here I will be able to "brighten" the house with all our familiar things, and especially once our Christmas decorations and Christmas tree are up. I can't tell you how excited I am to decorate! My hubby leaves on my birthday to fly down to San Diego again to arrange everything with the movers and our belongings should be here around the 12th of December. I can't wait! This Christmas will be a little different this year ~ a little less under the tree ~ probably no presents from us to our boys, most all coming from Santa himself, but a least there will be something. So many children out there go without any presents so I'm thankful that we'll at least have a little to give to our boys. Of course they will be spoiled by their grandma's and grandpa's, uncle's and so on. We are so blessed to have such wonderful, and supportive family. So today, I hoping to get out of the house for a bit and make a trip to the local library as well to the local Goodwill ~ on a hunt to find jeans for my number one son! Target used to be my fav store, but now I've found that I really enjoy Goodwill! Someone else's trash are now becoming my treasures, plus it saves us money and is good for the environment! Reduce, reuse, recycle! Hope you have a blessed weekend!

Things - When Will You be Here?

2009-11-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

As I posted yesterday I am SO enjoying the blogging world and all it has to offer! Today I have found another site that I have fallen in love with ~ American Girl Primitives - N - Such! She has currently decorated for Thanksgiving and with Fall being one of my favorite times of the year I am so anxious to decorate myself! But poo ~ my fall decorations are still in storage in brown Cali....

Yesterday my hubby flew out of Seattle early in the morning to San Diego to retrieve my car and pick up a few essentials that we left at my moms. We are shooting for the movers to pick up our things by the 17Th of this month, but I'm not sure how long it will take for it to arrive here in Auburn. I must be patient, but I am ready to make our rental house a home with our familiar things. Sigh.....

Happy Blogger!

2009-11-03T13:24:00.000-08:00

I am having so much fun exploring all the blog sites and have found some truly amazing ladies out there! My husband and I have always been "people watchers" ~ an now I get to people watch in the comfort of my own home, snugly warm, enjoying my cup o joe! Every site is unique, and creative. I love the fact that some list recipes, since I'm always trying to hunt new ones down, I have one boy whose a picky eater. One site is close to my heart ~ my very first blog I ever followed, and who suggested that I blog myself, A Simple Kind of Life. She's a dear friend, who now is two states away, but I still feel I'm sitting there at her kitchen table chatting with her over coffee as I read what's on her mind, or new with her little men, and so on. So now that I'm in a new state, I feel like I have made some new friends that I can catch up with whenever the moment hits me! Thank you for sharing and allowing me to follow!

Spooktablous Halloween!

2009-11-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

This year marked the first year that my wonderful hubby was not able to participate in Halloween. We have always been so very blessed with his previous employment that he was always home and able to come along with our boys to Trick or Treat. But because in California with the economy being as it is construction has slowed down tremendously, being on the out of work list of hundreds in his union with no end in sight he decided to fall back to truck driving. Instead of driving over the road we decided that he head up to Washington since he has family there, and it is somewhere we had always dreamed of going. We were unable to pay our mortgage and we're having to Short Sale our home of seven years, we had nothing left to lose. Thankfully after being up there for over two months he found employment. Whew ~ we could actually breath again! He is making half the pay and having to work evenings, but he's home everyday, sleeping ~ but home, and we are able to start to rebuild our lives. So this year at Halloween we still did our annual costume shopping with our boys (but on a budget), trip to the local pumpkin patch, and carving of the pumpkins. Halloween day though, the boys and I were able to go spend the weekend with my dear best friend in Silverdale and hour and twenty minutes away where we got to join in their tradition of Trick or Treating in the neighborhood ~ which was a good thing, because here in Auburn it is so rural where we are and the house are so sparse and far apart that the only way we could of possibly have done what we thought was normal Trick or Treating was to either drive to another neighborhood or go to Supermall! Now that would of been interesting, because I'm sure my boys would of been window shopping as well as Trick or Treating and asking for everything under the sun! So my bestie and I took our kids around the neighborhood in the clean crisp mountain air to get their yummy treats. We even got lost along the way and had to call her hubby for help as he was trying to had out candy to the goblins and ghosts who stopped by for a treat. And you want to know the best part about it ~ my boys enjoyed themselves even in their budget friendly costumes, made some new traditions, like selling back some of their candy to my bestie for cash, and even though my hubby wasn't there, he was able to listen the next day as our boys described in detail their Halloween night and how spooktablous it was!

Here We Come Auburn!

2009-10-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

So I've been here in lovely Auburn WA for over a week and I am still amazed at the beauty I see every day! It does not feel real and I feel that any moment something is going to jar me awake and I will find that I'm back in California living at my mom's with my two boys and my husband two states away. I pinch myself and YES I am really here and it feels wonderful!

So far I have not really ventured out too much since my car is still in brown Cali but I have been to the local Super Wal-Mart! Right now I am very content just staying in our rental and looking out my window at the Green Valley River that flows behind our home. I enjoy watching the fall leaves slowly drop down to the river as a light shower suddenly takes over. No ~ even after being here over a week I have not gotten tired of all the rain, it feels as if God is washing away all the dirt and grime my family has gone through this last year and is making us fresh as we start a new chapter in our lives ~ Auburn WA!