Friday, November 30, 2012

Friday Fun - Christmas edition

Sorry my blog has been lifeless the past 10 days. I decided to unplug last week with the holiday and just haven't found time to blog much this week.

So...without further ado - Friday Fun with Straight No Chaser

Have a great weekend!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Our tree is up!

Other than a couple of snowmen we set out, this is about all the room we have for decorations.





Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you much to be thankful for and people to be thankful with!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Guest blogging

Greetings, readers!  Today, I am guest blogging (for the first time, ever....) over at The B's on Thanksgiving.

Go say hi and check out Amanda's blog - it's AMAZING and she is a great gal!!!!!!!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

#15!

15 years ago, I said "I do" to my best friend!

We've been through a lot (what marriage hasn't?) in those 15 years, but I wouldn't change any of it! No, not even the bad stuff - we're stronger together because of it.

15 years ago last night, it started to snow as we got to our rehearsal dinner - pretty pictures tomorrow, right? [thinks the bride determined not to panic!] When I woke up the next morning, I found almost a foot of snow on the ground. I swore I wasn't going to panic! Alas, not panicking lasted until we went to decorate for the reception and to get our hair done when I realized just how crappy the roads were.  No one would come! Who would risk their life to attend our wedding? By the time We left for the ceremony, there was almost a foot and a half of snow and a very cold wind blowing.

Let me tell you who would risk their lives for us - our family and friends! It meant so much to us that EVERYONE who said they were coming, came. (Ok - except for my brother who ended up in the ditch and missed the ceremony - but we can laugh about it now.)

In 15 years, we have lived in 3 different houses (all in the same town); added to our family; traveled I don't know how many miles together; watched self-employment bloom; watched our son graduate high school and countless other "little" milestones. One of the many things I love about our relationship is, we still hold hands when we walk together - and I hope that never changes!

To those who helped us celebrate our wedding day and celebrate each of our anniversaries, THANK YOU! It means so much!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A little scrapping

A little layout from our trip to WDW a few years ago.  The background paper is my design. The embellishments are all from misc. free digital element blogs.

Just because

This is how I have felt the last 24 hours....

Monday, November 12, 2012

Monday gratitudes

As I wake up to a very cold morning after a beautiful weather weekend, I have a lot to be grateful for.

*Veterans, military personnel and their families
*Our healthy family
*A little sewing time
*DD spening an afternoon with a couple of friends from her old school
*Watching DIY shows and thankful my husband finishes projects he starts
*Finishing a book
*Getting my knitting project finished that I hoped to get done
*I get to have lunch with my husband today

I hope you have many things to be grateful for too!
Have a great week.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Book review - A Little Bit....

A Little Bit of Déjà Vu (Book One of The Return to Redemption series )A Little Bit of Déjà Vu by Laurie Kellogg

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Romance
Publisher summary: Margie Bradford is picking up the pieces of her shattered life following her husband's death. When her cousin encourages her to make a fresh start with her teenage daughter, unsuspecting Margie takes a reading specialist job in the small town of Redemption, PA. The last person she expects to encounter is Rocket Manion, the ex-NFL quarterback and Dr. Phil wannabe who broke her heart nineteen years ago. Strangling her meddling cousin is now at the top of Margie's to-do list.

Divorced teacher and head football coach Jake Manion experiences an eerie sense of déjà vu when his son announces he's gotten his girlfriend pregnant. The feeling simply grows stronger when Jake learns the girl's mother is Maggie, the same woman on whom he's wasted nearly two decades of bitterness.

While planning their kids' wedding and helping them grow up too soon, Jake attempts to pick up right where he left off--in Margie's bed. But no matter how irresistible his kisses are, she isn't stupid enough to let him hurt her again. Or is she?

My review:
This is the first book I have read by Ms. Kellogg and I truly enjoyed it.

This book sucked me in from the start! The characters are well written and believable. The storyline is touching, sexy, funny and a joy to read.

I can't wait to read further books by her.

My inner nerd

I have been LOVING catching up on the podcasts for, Stuff You Missed in History Class.   Their website is great too!

Makes you think and wonder...

Friday, November 09, 2012

Friday Fun

I think is the perfect way to start a weekend!
Happy Friday!

And because I have a Beach Boys theme going and was blown away by the OSU Marching Band....check this out!

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Book reviews

The Sugar QueenThe Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Southern fiction

Sarah Addison Allen is one of my favorite authors. Her book blend romance and magic perfectly.
I loved this book! The characters and storyline are believable AND magical!

A Kiss at Midnight (Fairy Tales, #1)A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Romance

This the first book I have read by Ms. James.
I really enjoyed the first book of this series. It's a fun spin on the classic Cinderella fairytale. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

And this recent book review: Beyond Belief

Happy Election Day!

Make sure you exercise your right to vote!

Monday, November 05, 2012

Monday gratitudes

I hope you all had a nice weekend!

My family and friends
A "girls day" with DD - see previous post
Clean laundry - who doesn't love the smell of clean laundry?
Bears win - Woo hoo!
Finishing a fun book
A beautiful fall day yesterday and a cheery walk - to the library
My blog readers and comments - I love your comments!
The encouragement I have received to keep writing - those of you who have cheered me on knowing or unknowingly - THANK YOU!!!!!!

I hope you have many things to be grateful for this week!

Sunday, November 04, 2012

A day at the theatre

DD & I went to the theatre yesterday. If you live in the Chicago area (or are visiting) and have kids between the ages of 3 and 10 - you have to check out the productions by Emerald City Theatre. They are amazing!!!!!!
 DD meets "Trixie"
  
 DD meets "Alice"

We had a great time - with lunch at America's Dog. It was pretty good - not a real big location but the food was good and plentiful.

Friday, November 02, 2012

Friday Fun - Election version

Seeing as election day is right around the corner (don't forget to vote Tuesday...). I found a couple of my older blog posts about voting.  Enjoy!

From November 8, 2006 post:
In other "news" - I DID vote yesterday. It was an agonizing process. I had to take DD with me so that was an adventure in in itself. She LOUDLY proclaimed as we walked in that the people were "hiding". Everyone in the place was rolling.... So I get my ballot and take her in the booth with me and she insists that she wants to "play your game with you". I explain quietly that it is for big people and that it's not a game, it's voting. She looked at me and said "We are boating?" and begins to sing "Row Row Row your Boat". UGH!!!!!!! I am ready to die of embarassment at this point because she is NOT quiet. When I finally finished, everyone in the place was watching us and a few of the ladies were crying they were laughing so hard. I'll probably have my voters card revoked.
(our DD was 2 1/2)

From my November 8, 2008 "recap" post:
Mon., November 3 - One day until election day. DD told us how the election works....
DD: John McCain and Rock Abomber want to win. People go into the little house (voting booth) and pick who gets to be re-present. I think it comes in a box.
Me: What?
DD: Re-present. You know, like you open.
Me: It's president, not present. President, it's a person.
DD: Ooooohhhh. Well, whoever wins gets to live in a big, white house.
If only 4 year olds ran the world...I'm sure we'd all laugh a lot more!

Tues., November 4 - ELECTION DAY! I hope you all voiced your vote - whatever it may have been. Good for you! We took DD with us to vote so she could see how it was set up - she was very quiet and got her very own "I voted" sticker. She was quite impressed with herself. Her class held it's own election that day between Mrs. Fox (DD), Mrs. Beaver and Mr. Bear. When I picked her up she proudly proclaimed "I voted for myself!" She lost by a landslide but I think everyone was ok with it. :-)

Wed., November 5 - DD's opening question in the kitchen.... "Who got bought for President, John McCain or Bara Obama (getting closer)?" After DH almost picked himself up off the floor - sorry, we both had to laugh over that comment. We told her that Barak Obama was going to be the next president. Her response "Oh. Can I have my cereal now?" Life goes on....
I hope this election will be just as much fun...
Happy Friday!

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Book review - Beyond Belief

Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come BackBeyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back by Josh Hamilton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


WOW! That's all I have to say. This was an interesting and inspiring read. I was riveted to his story and inspired by his courage. I cried through the last quarter of it.

READ THIS!!!!