Proud mom!

We found out that DS made the dean's list for last semester
AND
He was invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

52 in 52

This is my project for the year: 52 Photos in 52 Weeks I like the idea of a photo a day but know that my schedule does not allow for that kind of commitment.

I intend to turn each of these photos into a small scrapbook page.

WEEK 1 - "NEW"

A new friend from build a bear

WEEK 2 - "SHINE"

The main tree in the rotunda of the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago

WEEK 3 - "COMMUNITY"
The main window at our public library
The inscription under the window reads: "Erected for the people and dedicated to the advancement of learning"

WEEK 4 - "REST"
A mouse resting in his little nest in his cage

I will post more photos as I go through the year and try to add the scrapbook pages too.
Thanks for stopping by!

Unbelievable!

It blows my mind the way some people talk about others! I hear lots of little gossipy conversations going on around our office. Then I find out that things are said about me. I thought I worked in a grown up office environment, not a junior high!

I guess if it makes people feel better to talk nasty about others - so be it! Just don't involve me - I don't want to hear it and you better expect me to stand up to you if you question my integrity or you talk about my relatives!

Vent over...

Don't get me wrong, I love my job but sometimes I think working with men only would be a wonderful change!

We are finally on the mend at our house. We've been sick most of this week and I THINK we're all finally getting better.

The best kind of therapy

After a hellish week at work this week and not being able to get myself unwound all week, we went to go see some friends who have a 4 month old. This little girl is SO sweet! I got to hold and snuggle with her for about 2 hours - talk about relaxing!!!! My favorite thing was Baby E sprawled out on my chest sound asleep - ahhh!!!! I'm pretty sure if I'd had a blanket too, I would have slept right with her. I felt so relaxed and had a new outlook on the world when we left.

Thanks, T & M for letting me get my baby fix!!!!

Have a super weekend all!

Darn winter!

Winter found us in northern Illinois. Now I will admit we have been very spoiled this winter (temps in the 40s and no real snow until last week)
Last Thursday we had about 3 inches of blowing snow. It was rough for a few hours but nothing terrible. It has been cold since then...
Today is BRUTALLY cold! And with a nice Canadian wind to go with it - it's wintery refreshing. The forecast for tomorrow calls for single digit temps with 4 - 9 inches of snow, depending on what the temps do and where you are. So we shall see what Mother Nature has in store for us!

Dear Mother Nature,
If you must send the snow, please make it enough for a snow day! This snow that is enough to slow everyone down a little and make it so I have to clean off my car, is annoying. Make it count if we must get it!
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Wishing for a Snow Day

Monday gratitudes

I haven't done one of these posts in a long time.

*My family's health
*A roof over my head and food on my table
*My family & friends
*Having a sense of humor
*A little time to scrapbook this past weekend
*I have a job that I love

Have a blessed week!
HUGS!

check it out!

Reviews on Curling Up with a Good Book

I hope you'll consider joining this reading challenge for 2012.

Happy Friday the 13th!

I hope you all have a good day and a wonderful weekend!

Winter most certainly found us yesterday - brrrrr!!!! (and it's white here now...darn!)

HUGS!

1/12/12

Happy Birthday to my hubby!!!!!!!

#45

The one with...

the jerk at the gym!
A little backstory on this...there's a squirrely guy who is there every morning and he goes full tilt during the whole time I'm there. He's kind of like Jim (see this post) on speed. Anyway...he always gets on a machine next to someone who is already working out, even though there are 6 other empty machines - he's done it to me a few times, I've seen him do it to others too. (I am a "personal space" exerciser, if possible)

So yesterday morning, I'm getting going on the elliptical machine and lo and behold, here comes Meathead (I haven't come up with a good nickname yet...it's a work in progress). He gets on the elliptical right next to mine - there are literally 5 more not being used. He gets on and starts his sprint then leans over and says "Is that all you got?" Excuse me?! It took every ounce of willpower I had not to push him off his machine. If I was paying him to be my personal trainer and be in my face, then fine...but I'm not - so back off buck-o!!!!!!! I was SO mad! I just turned my ipod up and didn't even give him the satisfaction of any reply. Because YEAH - that's all I got!

I laugh about it now. I was telling my co-workers the story when I got to work and they were dying and swear he's hitting on me. One of the guys said I should have said "And if you don't back off, my husband will kick your ass when he gets back from the UFC circuit". I did like the suggestion of making 2 "Out of Order" signs and putting them on the machines on either side of me and then taking them off when I'm done.

Top 50

Our local country radio station has named their Top 50 songs of 2011

1. Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not - Thompson Square
2. Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
3. Felt Good On My Lips - Tim Mcgraw
4. Let Me Down Easy - Billy Currington
5. Somewhere With You - Kenny Chesney
6. A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans
7. Honey Bee - Blake Shelton
8. You Lie - The Band Perry
9. Heart Like Mine - Miranda Lambert
10. Voices - Chris Young
11. This - Darius Rucker
12. Someone Else Calling You Baby - Luke Bryan
13. Tomorrow - Chris Young
14. Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean
15. Barefoot Blue Jean Night - Jake Owen
16. What Do You Want - Jerrod Niemann
17. Who Are You When I'm Not Looking - Blake Shelton
18. Am I The Only One - Dierks Bentley
19. If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away - Justin Moore
20. Knee Deep - Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett
21. My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
22. Put You In A Song - Keith Urban
23. Country Girl (Shake It For Me) - Luke Bryan
24. Without You - Keith Urban
25. Old Alabama - Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
26. As She's Walking Away - Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson
27. Mean - Taylor Swift
28. Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum
29. Crazy Girl - Eli Young Band
30. Colder Weather - Zac Brown Band
31. This Is Country Music - Brad Paisley
32. Take A Back Road - Rodney Atkins
33. I Won't Let Go - Rascal Flatts
34. Live A Little - Kenny Chesney
35. Just Fishin' - Trace Adkins
36. You And Tequila - Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
37. Remind Me - Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood
38. Made In America - Toby Keith
39. Back To December - Taylor Swift
40. Why Wait - Rascal Flatts
41. Here For A Good Time - George Strait
42. Long Hot Summer - Keith Urban
43. If I Die Young - The Band Perry
44. Mama's Song - Carrie Underwood
45. Turn On The Radio - Reba
46. God Gave Me You - Blake Shelton
47. Country Must Be Country Wide - Brantley Gilbert
48. Farmer's Daughter - Rodney Atkins
49. Stuck Like Glue - Sugarland
50. Anything Like Me - Brad Paisley

It looks like I have a few more songs to add to my ipod...

A wish list item...

So hubby went to Best Buy with our son (who had gift cards to burn) and he brought me the brochure for this...
AWESOME!!!!

I was almost drooling on it. I know it's not a Nikon or Canon but I want to go play with this camera... It's a "little" (ie: a lot) out of our price range right now, but maybe someday.

Maybe if I can get my photography business going here and justify 'upgrading' our camera...

So if you are interested in being a photo subject, let me know!!!

**************************

PS: I have book reviews below...can you believe it? Now to just keep up with those...

2012 Reading Challenge - January, part 1

I have joined this reading challenge for this year... 2012 Cupcake Wars Reading Challenge. January's genre is Young Adult fiction.

Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Books of Wonder) by . Frank Baum
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have seen the movie COUNTLESS times and finally read the book. It was wonderful and has a little bit more to explain the movie story.
LOVED it!

(this also helps me with my 'bucket list' - read the 100 greatest books)


Pirates of Savannah: The Hunt for Shamus's Booty by P. Lupo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun read. A little bit of Savannah history, a little treasure hunting and four very different characters that were fun to see work and come together in their treasure hunt.


Both of these were free Kindle downloads

It's coming....

202 days from today!
We are getting excited in our household.

LONDON 2012

Check this out!

We saw this gal get a tattoo on the TV show - NY Ink and as she told her story to the tattoo artist, DH & I got seriously choked up. They showed this clip on the show and we were both sitting there crying.


Unfortunately I have been unable to locate a clip from NY Ink - her story is incredible! And as parents of a child with a severe hearing loss, it hit us pretty hard.

Reading Challenge

I know there are LOTS of reading challenges and reading challenge blogs out there, BUT - I have decided to join this one this year: CURLING UP WITH A GOOD BOOK 2012 CHALLENGE I am hoping it will help me branch into a few other genres. I am also hoping this will blog more about the books I read!

January is Young Adult Fiction

Feel free to join in!!!!

2-0-1-2!

Here's to a better year this year!!!! Wishing you all health, prosperity and a very blessed 2012!

Kenny Chesney has a song called Live a Little that I am going to make my 'anthem' for this year. (Pardon the copyright I am breaking here...) The lyrics I really like are:
...I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one...

I have made a few goals for this year...
(we'll see how well they get completed)
* Read 100 books
* Run a 5K
* Finish DS's afghan
* Complete scrapbooks for:
-Vegas
-Disney
-Hawaii
* START covered bridge wall hanging quilt
* Do at least 1 photo shoot each month

I think that will get me going this year.