Become a Friend of George

Just go Here, read about George & purchase a nifty downloadable cookbook for just $1.00. This story touched my heart. Let's all hope & pray for a big change in our nation's "sick care" system.

In need of some MOTIVATION, please. . .

I beg you. . . if you have any to spare, could you please, pretty please with sugar on top, ship some motivation on over to me? I had today pretty much free to get some stuff done. . .well, what you can get done with a 3 year old Power Ranger/Ninja/Spiderman along for the ride. Oh, and maybe I should mention that our well pump decided to kick the bucket after my shower this morning. . . (Thank goodness I got that shower in!) So I guess I should go a little easy on myself considering I had to deal with the well guy coming over a couple of times to get it all taken care of. . . BUT I didn't even get the laundry that was dried already folded & put away. I also didn't bother to even attempt to organize all of the accumulated junk in my office. . . or the fabric & clothing in need of makeovers that are in here. The dishwasher??? Yup, still full of CLEAN dishes. So is the dish rack next to the sink. . .just sitting there all clean & dry & ready to be put away.

It did SNOW today here in De Pere, WI. YUP, you read that correctly. No accumulation of course. . .but it snowed. Is that my excuse? NOPE!

I did schedule to take my MAT so I can apply for grad school. Now I'm thinking I should move that date up a bit as I will be cutting it close.

OH, and did I mention that I had a puking 8 year old this morning? SURE! THAT'S my excuse! Yeah, right. . .he made a quick recovery & Scott dropped him off at school by noon. But that could have set my day off a little drained. Not to mention the 3 year old was in my bed WAY prior to sunrise this morning & we all know how well that goes over. . .

So I decided to brew some more coffee. HOLY CRUD! IT'S SNOWING AGAIN!! SIDEWAYs. . . so I guess those bulbs that I wanted to finish planting won't get in the ground anymore this season. . . There is hope for later this week if our temperatures rise I guess. Does anyone know???? If the sun is shining when it snows is there still a rainbow?

Off to get some of that coffee. .. and procrastinate some more. . .

First Friend Birthday Party a Success!

I'm a cool Mom!!! Spencer told me on Friday night that I'm the best Mom in the world. Oh, and that he was going to remember it. . . love that! The reason behind this was due to these little guys. I made bean bags for his party.

After all of the Plan B preparations due to a forecast of rain & downright dismal weather. . . we didn't truly need the bean bags. But they were fun anyway. Spencer had a fantastic time. He's the 2nd from the right. Carter is in the red Power Ranger costume & Parker decided not to pose for this picture. He was busy playing bean bags in the garage.

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!
Any of you with little girl people that you know or know of. . . should enter this giveaway. How cool is this??? Check it out. . .don't wait. . .just go there now!

Class Reunion

Tonight is my 15 year High School Class Reunion. I'm excited & nervous & all that jazz. I don't know what to wear. . .how to do my hair. . . all of that silly high school crap that I have no desire to return to. But somehow I am so curious about what everyone else will look like & be up to that I so totally want to go. And I AM going. . . but why do we worry so much about appearances??? I guess it's human nature.

I do miss some of my pals from "back then." I know. . .it's not THAT far in the past. . .but far enough. I attended the 10 year reunion. . .but I've grown a whole new person since then. . . (meaning my 3 year old). The past 5 years have been a whirlwind of changes for me. So really, this is all about ME! I'm not used to things being about me. And I'm sure when I get there it will be about so many other people as well. (which reminds me. . .I'd better charge my camera battery & maybe get some pics of my kiddos printed out to show off!)

I also need to get my hair washed so that I can do it later. Oh, & the clothes issue. . . I'd better make sure I have clean ones to wear. . . . there's that shirt that needs mending or altering. . . oh crap! I should just go shopping for something new. . . but I must try to conserve my money. . . & the environment. I will wear something I own already. Enough of my ramblings. . . . I need to get this show on the road. I think I'll go walk on the treadmill first. (I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now. . . I've gained a couple pounds but hey. . . it's all muscle, right?) Catch ya later!

Bloom Quilt finally finished!!!

I am FINALLY finished with my first quilt! Thanks to Camille Roskelley and her most fabulous bloom quilt pattern. This was so much fun to put together. Please go check out Peeky Boos, my other blog. . . Tell me what you think:)

QUILT GIVEAWAY!!!

THIS QUILT is Fabulous & it could be yours!!! You need to go HERE & leave a comment to win it.

I will be done with my first quilt very soon & will post it to Peeky Boos. I know, it's taken me forever. . .but I've been a busy girl. . .

Nap or Blog. . .???? I choose. .. Both!

I NEED a nap. . .but I probably should update on my happenings as well. So this should be brief. .

Only ONE more week of clinical left! I'm surviving. . . that which doesn't kill us. . .

This week I taught Prep for Labor to expectant parents on Monday evening. . .
Worked 12+ hour days Tuesday & Thursday. . . I know, cry me a river. . .
Taught clinicals Thursday & Today.

I'm a bit exhausted to say the least. So I think I will go chill out for a bit. I'm miffed about WLUK/Fox pulling out of Time Warner Cable (my provider) which means I won't be able to watch the Packers from home on Sunday or any of my other Fox TV shows. . .well, I could attempt the rabbit ears but I'm doubting that will work. . . .

Time to nap!!!

The Secret is in the Sauce: October Giveaway: Photoshop Elements!

The Secret is in the Sauce: October Giveaway: Photoshop Elements!

I Totally WANT this so badly!!! Of course. .. if YOU win you can give it to ME!!!

HOLY CRAP - I'm still alive. . .barely

Yup, I know. . .it's been almost an entire week without a blog entry from me. I've been MIA & nearly KIA. To put it lightly. . .this week has kicked my @$$. But I'm alive. I don't know how. . .but I am. Let me just give you an abbreviated rundown of this week's happenings:

• 1st Cub Scout Pack meeting Monday evening - solo as Scott worked late - score one for Mom as got babysitter for youngest. Split time between 2 dens - score another for Mom!
• Stayed up late working on Quilt for cousin's baby shower this coming weekend.
• Worked 12 + hours Tuesday & 12 hours Wednesday.
• Last minute prep for clinical teaching Wednesday night after working all day:(
• All 3 boys to daycare Thursday AM as Scott had to leave early - clinical started later as was Day 1 - orientation.
• Donned the cape & painted an "S" on chest to get home prior to boy 1 & 2 getting off bus - score bonus point for picking up boy 3 from daycare & still making it home in time.
• Cleaned up the messes made by aforementioned boys & their father from Tues & Wed while I worked later, did 2 loads of laundry, prepared supper, helped with homework, bathed boys & picked my Mom up to stay overnight all before 8 PM!
• Stayed up pretty darn late getting work done for clinicals Friday.
• Up at 5 AM to get ready for clinicals. Yay for having Grandma here to get boys off to bus & daycare.
• Home, with boys, by 3PM. Homework conquered prior to Dad getting home around 4 PM.
• Crashed by 7:30 PM. . . . slept like a ROCK!!!!
• Made taco dip for best friend's baby shower today - & got there a few minutes late. . . but hey, I got there. Girl time watching friend open all those cute gifts.
• Home with family this evening. .. working on final stitching of binding for quilt that needs to be finished tomorrow!!!
• Now I'm blogging. . . & you know why I haven't had a chance to this week. ...
• Making taco dip in the AM tomorrow for cousin's baby shower. . .hopefully will have quilt finished!!!!

I omitted many details. . . . I know. . . how is that even possible?? I need to go iron my red cape & get my red "S" paint ready for tomorrow. I should go to bed before I fall over. . .

Blog Mommas Digital Scrapbook Giveaway!!!

Holy Moses! I am totally enthralled with all of these giveaways I'm linking to lately. This one is super awesome as well. . . go check it out HERE. You could be the proud winner of super cool kiddo scrapbooking supplies. . .including the camera for little ones.

I really need to learn how to create my own little signature. . . they're so cute;)

Cute Necklace Giveaway

She just keeps this going & going. . .Head over to MommyMandy for her fabulous Little Windows Giveaway. You just HAVE to see these awesome necklaces that enclose pics of your choosing. Heck, if you don't want them. . .enter anyway & give them to me when you win! So do as I say, go there now. ... . go ahead. . . right now. . .

FREE Photo Printer!

Go here for your chance to win a FREE Photo Printer. It's pretty cool. But you know what is even cooler still??? The support fellow bloggers give. Don't just follow this link to win the printer. . .but read a little about the people as you follow the directions. There's a lot of love out there!!! Let's keep the world full of hope & peace.

The Secret is in the Sauce: September is SAUCY- Cricut Expressions!

The Secret is in the Sauce: September is SAUCY- Cricut Expressions!

Go get saucy!!!

Make Believe Frock GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Make Believe Frock GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Pro Choice

I know. . .. this isn't really my political forum. BUT, this IS a big deal to me. I am VERY PASSIONATE about my stance on women's rights. When asked if I'm pro choice I reply. . .YES! I believe that every woman has the right to make a choice when it comes to whether she takes her pants off or not. Once you cross that line, you must accept whatever consequence ensues. SO THERE! Come on, People! Let's get real here! When we take on the responsibility of having intercourse we know full well that conception could take place. I know. . .there are circumstances where this choice was not made by the woman. . . and in the grand scheme of things conception does not occur for most of these cases. BUT for the percentage of those unfortunate circumstances would it make you feel better if you added another wrongdoing to the mix? Is it that little fetus's fault? Could that little life bring something wonderful to someone else's life? I think so.

I've assisted in the delivery of many babies. . .some that were under 20 weeks gestation. Obviously, those did not survive. . .but I've seen a preterm delivery of 23 1/2 weeks & a baby survived! He is still alive. I've witnessed a live birth of a under 20 weeker. . .who didn't survive. . .but it had a heartbeat at birth! That has to count for something. . . it got acknowledged with a birth & death certificate. I've seen deliveries of babies that prenatal tests showed severe handicap. . . possible poor quality of life. . . once born there was NOTHING WRONG!

So I think the Choice is clearly one that should be made BEFORE conception has the chance to take place. If I've offended anyone. . . so be it. These aren't stray animals we're talking about. . .it's human life.

Mandy's birthday GiveAWAYS!!!!

FREE FABRIC GIVEAWAY!!!!

Go here: Sugar Shop NOW! This is a FANTASTIC giveaway of $75 Worth of FREE FABRIC SHOPPING!!! Don't wait. . . just go there. I can't wait to see what she's been up to. . . Oh my. . .for some reason the pic doesn't show up. . .unless you click on the empty box you see below. . .so go ahead. ..click on it or just use the link above:)

Go To Peeky Boos. . . .

It's right over there. . . .to the right. . . . see the link? It's my new blog for my creations. So go check it out or I'll feel bad & I might cry.

There is so much to blog about. . .but I'm tired. I have a sassy bug bite on my ankle that looks kind of not good. You know. . . like it might have developed a mind of its own & decided to become infected. NICE. I needed that.

Boys started school today. I got all teary eyed when they got on the bus. You'd think I'd be OK with all that by now. They were both in school last year already. But that's OK. . . a few tears are a good thing for us girls. Then I dropped boy #3 off at Daycare & he was super clingy & cried. . . so I felt guilty for bringing him when I was going to be home. He really does wonderfully when he goes 3 days a week though. . .so we need to get him back into that swing. It's preschool too so I shouldn't feel too guilty, right?

I worked on a sewing/quilting project today again. My Mom helped me with cutting applique pieces out. I'm such a newbie at this. I can't wait to finish. I hope it turns out!

OK, so go to Peeky Boos & tell me what you think so far ------------------>

More than I can chew. . .

I did it again. . .or almost did it again. . .bitten off more than I can chew that is. I think I get a little manic at a certain part in my cycle or something when I believe I can take on the world. I could not fall asleep last night. . . seriously. . .I saw 4:20 AM without even dozing off slightly. . . and I was VERY irritated. Of course, this only makes things worse. I had grandiose plans to get things done today as I taught the Prep for Labor class all day yesterday. We did enjoy some campfire time last night as a family. That is good. I'm of low to no productivity today. Of course, there is always COFFEE! I've already consumed a cup & a half. . .

And then I decided to work on some finger knitting. See Peeky Boos for that accomplishment.

I think my insomnia from last night is due to my growing anxiety about starting so many new things this fall. School for the boys starts Tuesday. Flag football begins end of Sept. I start teaching a nursing clinical 3rd week of Sept so that means working my two twelves plus teaching 2 eights & then grading papers & what not. New role for me. . . nervous & excited & scared. I am working on my first ever quilt & really want to have it completed for a baby shower gift. The shower is the 3rd weekend in September. (See a pattern to my anxiety here yet???) Wait, there's more! I considered beginning my Master's program October 27th. . .which would mean taking the MAT now & getting my admissions material in before September 12th. As if that's not enough. . . . I have one set of Grandparents left & we just found out that my Grandpa has cancer. . . . we'll see what the prognosis is this week. That, along with my Uncle's passing in July, my Great Aunt passing shortly before that. . . . & life in general. . . . I think I've taken on a bit TOO MUCH!

So today I made the decision to go with my original plan to begin my Master's in January. I know, this is still a lot to take on. But does life ever really slow down?? Probably not. I will just have a better grip on things by then. . .at least I had BETTER! It will be a wild ride:) I look forward to the challenge!