On Hiatis...

Or however you spell it! LOL! I have been wrapped up in Facebook and sadly neglecting my blog...I will be back with a vengance soon...I promise! :-)

Custom Easter Baskets

Custom Easter Baskets...

Easter is Coming Soon! I am creating these Embroidered personalized Easter Baskets...what a great keepsake! I can supply the Basket or you can and I will just personalize them. Pricing: Just personalization on a liner that you supply - $10. I supply Basket and Liner - $20. Baskets and Liners vary. Please let me know if you are interested! I can ship too!

Custom Easter Baskets

Here in My Car...

Cars...we just picked up a new one yesterday for my husband (he commutes over 50 miles to work), it's a cute little car, zippy, fun to drive...if you're a midget! No really, it is cute and I do like it, but I still love my big honking SUV...with 3 kids and all their "stuff" I believe there isn't much of a choice.

I have had a love affair with cars since I can remember. I was obsessed with wanting to drive...I used to pretend our couch was a car and I was driving to the market with my kids (little did I know it's really NOT that much fun! LOL!). I also used to play with match box cars with my neighbor, he had the really cool Porsches and Mercedes cars, of course he would always take the really cool ones and I got the not so cool ones... story of my life...

I also would beg my step-father to let me "drive" the riding lawn mower (much to my nervous Mother's dismay), we had over 2 acers of a "driving" course for me to practice my skills...of course it wasn't always smooth riding...I was mowing around a tree and got a little too close to the lower branches...ouch! I was taken off mower duty for a while...I was bummed!

When I was coming of age to drive, there was no stopping me...I studied for my permit test...I passed with flying colors...well...sort of...when I went to take the test on the computerized machine, a few of the questions came up in English then they started coming up in Spanish (which I don't speak or read), I told the Policeman and he fixed it for me. Well only a few more questions came up then it was over, he came back over and said "you passed"! I think I may have only answered 5 questions and usually there are a lot more...of course I didn't argue with him!

I dutifully took Driver's Ed (my Mom's requirement, she was too nervous to teach me herself) and passed. Not without incident though...I was soo nervous my first time out that in order to stay in the proper lane on our back country roads I managed to hit every pothole in the road, my Driver's Ed teacher was not too happy considering it was HIS car!

It was time to go and take my test and I was READY! Everyone had to take their test at the police barracks in the next town over and they had just put into practice making appointments for the driving test (not a great idea, they changed it back to first come first serve the next year). I forced my Mom to make the appointment months in advance, which was about a month after my sixteenth birthday. She made the appointment for Good Friday, sounding promising to me, what could go wrong...

The guy on the phone told my Mother that he was switching books and would put the appointment in. We took his word and when that Friday came I was ready to go...of course I should've known things weren't going to go my way since it was pouring rain! We got up to the police barracks and I went inside, gave my name and was told I was not on the list...I was devastated! My Mother worked full time, so this was the only week day she had off. My Mother went in and yelled and scremed, but they didn't care. So off we went, determined to get my license some how.

We found out that in another town further away, people could take the test without an appointment, the only catch was that you had to get there at the crack of dawn...I am NOT a morning person...so the next weekend we woke up at 4am and made the 30 mile treck.

We were the first in line...I was exstatic...we waited in the dark and the cars lined up behind us and as the sun was started coming up it was time, 7am. The Police Officer took out his clipboard and started checking the car. Headlights working...check...wipers...check...horn...check...tail lights...che...nope...not working...my Mom's car had one tail light out! We were dismissed...again!

My Mom said on the way home that maybe I am not meant to drive...NO WAY! I had been dreaming of this since I could put my fake key in my couch...nothing was going to STOP me! So my Mom got her tail light fixed and we made the trek again...this time we were 2nd on line...ugh! I had to wait my turn.

I went through the test, praying to God to let me pass...as we got to the end, the guy tells me tha I passed! I almost kissed him...I couldn't believe it! Finally! Freedom and the road...was mine!

I set out to get my first set of wheels, I imagined myself beind the wheel of a cool convertalbe...my hair blowing in the breeze, but my Mother nixed that idea..too dangerous she said. So with my sweet sixteen party money I bought a trusty Aries K (definitely not a cool car). It ran and held a lot of my friends, so it worked for me.

I have had many cars since then and I have yet to possess a "dream" car, but I know I will...someday...right now I am relegated to a reliable SUV that holds all of my kids and our stuff...I still have a love affair with driving...give me an open road and some tunes and I am content...dreaming of the day I can feel the wind blowing through my hair in my convertable (sorry Mom).

It's Official...I am an Addict!

Ok...just thought I would bring you in with the title of this one! I am a Facebook addict! OMG...I never knew having a personal page and connecting with old and new friends could be so much fun! I know I was a virgin blogger and definitely a virigin my spacer...now I am getting experienced in both...I have been neglecting my blog a bit (sorry bloggie), due to my new found fascination with all that is Facebook...

My friend "turned" me on to it and I haven't looked back...she had been asking me for months if I had a page and I kept saying "no", not wanting to even attempt it...but NOW...OH MY! I can't stop...looks like I am not alone either...so many friends...so little time!

As I mentioned in my last blog, I found my HS Reunion info on there...so great!

I'm afraid this blog will be short today because I spent way too much time on Facebook today uploading pictures and updating my page...my brain is a bit fried...but I promise to be back again soon to blog up a storm...I have lots more ideas for great blogs...I promise bloggie, don't be sad...I hope it doesn't know I am "cheating" on it with Facebook! LOL!

High School Reunion...

Ok...ok...so I missed another day of blogging...I am already a slacker...I was going to try to post every day, but my days are getting busier and busier and my brain tends to forget a lot of things if they aren't written down...ugh...getting old here (my 38th birthday is on Saturday, can't believe it, inside I still think I am 14!).

Speaking of getting older...being 38 this year marks the 20th anniversary of my graduation. I can't believe it...20 years! Where did the time go? I FINALLY found a site that has my HS Reunion info on it and I am super excited! Now I know a lot of people don't look forward to Reunions, it all depends on your experience in HS.

Mine was good...could've been better...but I attribute that to my own stupidity...I tended to hang out with the "older" crowd, ever since I was in Junior High I was that way, and you know what happens when the "older" crowd moves on and out of school...you are left with people your own age...and by then they had my number so I wasn't in the "in" crowd much...but I WAS friends or friendly with almost everyone or at least tried to be...I was kind of neutral...like Switzerland...

Although while looking on the site with our Reunion info, I am surprised to see that I don't remember a lot of my classmates...we did have a big class, but I really thought I KNEW everyone...it blows my mind...

You know, I was a major "goody goody" in school...didn't drink much or smoke or party...but I had my "bad" moments too (my parents have the link to this blog so I refuse to disclose too much here, but you can read the book soon! LOL!). I thought everyone liked me or was indifferent to me and I was nice to EVERYONE...or so I thought.

My bubble was burst a few years after graduating, I was looking for a part time job and my boyfriend at the time's sister was working for a local pizza place. I thought it would be a great 2nd job so I asked her to put in a good word for me. She came back and told me the manager went to highschool with me and said he would NEVER hire me because I was a snobby B#@*&! WOW! I couldn't believe it! I asked her several times if she was sure he had the right person and she said yes (although sadly I knew he must becuase my maiden last name is one not too many people forget). I was soo shocked and dismayed...I had always thought I was being soo nice to everyone and here I missed someone...The funny thing is, I didn't even recognize HIS name, so he was someone I apparently didn't even know very well...oh well...can't please EVERYONE! (I keep trying to tell myself that, but it doesn't always work...that's another one of my diseases...People Pleasing...but I AM getting better at that one too!)...

Sadly I really haven't kept in touch with many of my HS friends...one or two here and there, but not on a regular basis...I am a bit of a loaner you know...but it would be nice to reconnect, especially after 20 years, we all probably have more in common now than we did back then.

So I did join the group that the HS Reunion Committee formed and will wait and see what transpires...they say the end of November...which is great for me since I just started my diet (again!), but it will give me a lot more time than if they hold it in the summer...in this day and age people post pics of themselves and you get to see what they look like now...back in the day you had to actually GO to a reunion to see how people turned out...hmmm...that's a thought...what a great surprise that would be! But then again, I was never great at waiting for surprises (I used to find most of my Christmas presents BEFORE Christmas, sorry MOM!).

Past Imperfect...

Ok...so I wasn't so good at posting over the weekend...I really wanted to, but with 3 kids at home, it is tough to find a moments peace to do anything by myself...going to the bathroom is one of them...you all know what I mean...

Yesterday was a snow day, so that extended the weekend by a day, which for any Mom is usually a blessing or a curse. Could be a blessing if there isn't several inches or feet of snow hampering your way out of the madness or the curse being you are stranded inside...ALL DAY! Well, the kids do go out and play, but in freezing temps, not for very long, or not as long as I would like!

Please don't get me wrong...I sincerely LOVE my children, but I also sincerely LOVE my sanity too and after two days I am ready for a break, mental, physical, you name it. I am a SAHM with a toddler at home, I do get a break from my older two and a couple hours in the afternoon when naptime arrives, I say "AMEN" to that. But where does the time go? Before I know it, the older ones are coming home and the little one is up, barely anything gets done...ugh! How did I do it when I was working...beats me...

I don't know what I will do when my toddler stops taking naps...I say "Pre-School"! Actually, I really think it is great for children, especially high energy ones like mine, to go to school for a couple hours here and there, get them ready for the big leagues of real school. My little one pleads to go to school with the older kids...ahh...little do they know that they will be begging to stay home once they are old enough!

Now I know a lot of parents out there will agree with me and also disagree, saying they love playing with their children and are glad to have them home. I say "God Bless You"!

I wish, that I was that kind of Mom, I really do, you know the ones, that come up with great crafts and fun things to do with their kids (I have a friend who is one of those Moms and she loves it, I envy her). And those Moms seem to geniunely enjoy playing with their children. That is really great. I wish I could do it, but I just can't bring myself to.

I do play with my kids and we do fun stuff and I am a very crafty creative person...just on my own. I have what they call a "perfectionist/control" problem, it is hard for me to do a project with someone else without having to take over and do it myself. I have had this affliction my whole life or for as long as I can remember.

It is not a blessing but a curse, because it drives me and everyone else crazy. I have tried to let go of it, but sure enough, it comes creeping back in to my personality. I personally think since I have had children, I HAVE gotten better, BUT it is still there to some degree.

So, I go about my days with my affliction, trying to suppress it when I see the state of my kids' bedrooms or the kitchen...or the attempt at a craft project during that fateful snow storm that closed their school. Maybe if I leave it long enough it will get done AND put away...hmmm...better not place any bets on that one...

The Jon & Kate Debate...

Hello all out there in the blogasphere...it is I...the virgin blogger...and I am into day 3 of my blogging adventure...this is just soo much fun...I have soo much to write about and limited time to write it, so I am pacing myself...one blog entry a day seems to be a good start...I am sure anyone out there couldn't handle more than one dose a day of my "insights" into all universal things...but I do apprecaite any and all of you who are hanging in with me...my blogging "Comrades"...I feel such pride and kinship with thee...

Ok, enough kissing up...down to business...as the title of this blog suggests...there is a hearty debate going on in the houses of Jon & Kate Gosselin (Plus the 8 of course)...the houses I refer to are the "Lovers" and the "Haters" of the show and all that is Jon & Kate.

For the record...I am a fan of the show as well as the family. That being said, I don't always agree with what goes on or how it is handled, but my opinions are always keeping in mind that the family is just that, a family...full of as many human imperfections as the rest of us...they are just doing it weekly in front of millions of people...by their own choice...yes, we know...

I have been a silent witness to many blogs and posts about this family of 10. Reading with amusement the lighthearted comments and the not so lighthearted comments made by many people. I would like to mention that one day, purely by accident, I happened across a Blog by a very nice lady, "Baby Mama", she keeps track of the show and posts great article links, updates about appearances, posts videos and photos. I really enjoy checking out her blog weekly and getting some fun info on the family.

I was so bold as to e-mail her and to my surprise she e-mailed me back, very quickly I might add, with a very nice response...I believe in praising people as much as you can and since I am a blogging virgin, I can use all the praise and help I can get...

Anyway...back to my point...I do read the neutral and negative blogging sites as well, being an open mided person, I like to get both sides of the story. To be honest I am very surprised as to how many blogging and posts there are regarding the Gosselins, but I guess as some may say, "if they ain't talking about you then you're not doing something right"...so if they stir up so much controversy, which I believe may be their point ("their" being TLC and possibly the Gosselins themselves), then they must be doing something right, they are still out there, in the public eye, popular, unpopular, but still out there...

Now to address that...I have to say that the children seem like nice kids, they have their moments, but what child doesn't...(I have a daughter who could be Maddie's other twin, personality wise, but lets save that for another post)...I have to say this, "walk a mile in someone's shoes" before judging them...if I had 10 people in my family and had to support them, I think I would do all I could to get it done. Plus if I can add the perks of trips and free stuff that I couldn't afford otherwise, yes even a huge new home, I would do it...and I can understand why they seem to have soo much going on right now, why not, I say strike while the iron is still hot. I think they realize fame is fleeting and the interest in them may fade, so while things are going good, keep it going...keep your family out there...

So what if neither parent has a what most people deem a "real" outside job...their family is their job and making as much as they can for down the road is their job. The point is, it is their family, their choice to be on TV, the kids aren't being tortured or physically harmed (except by maybe eachother, but that's how it goes with siblings...LOL!), then what is the big deal? You either watch the show and take it for what it is, entertainment, buy their DVD's and Books and enjoy them for what they are, entertainment or you don't, period.

I know debating someting is healthy, but when people get into really intense arguments or post things that are really really harsh, that seems to be, in my opinion, a bit unhealty.

I also want to talk about Kate, I know A LOT of people have a problem with her lately, but I want to say this...these people are not professionals at this, they are not actors. And yes, I did some research and went back to look at some of their earlier shows and Jon and Kate do appear more affectionate (well for them anyway, as they say themselves, they are not lovey dovey people), then they do now. But I believe the pressure is greater now, they have a lot more going on than just the trials and tribulations of their own family life...yes, this was brought on by themselves, but again, they are struggling to adjust to all of this in the public eye and are not professionals. Even professionals are human beings and are nice or nasty to their fans based on what is going on in their lives...you either love em' and understand that or leave em' and move onto another celeb that you feel deserves your time and affection.

I have had the pleasure of meeting several celebrities, one of which was Kathie Lee Gifford, back in the early 90's, at the height of her popularity on Regis and Kathie Lee. I won't go into the whole background story (it will be great fodder for a future blog post), but I met her several times and she was always wonderful to me, however, I know several other people who met her as well and said she wasn't so nice, who knows, it could've been interpreation, mine or theirs. I look at it this way, if I expect too much, I won't be disappointed and honestly, I am usually pleasantly surprised that things go better than expected...

I have several lady friends who have similar personalitites as Kate, they tell it like it is, nice or not, you have to take it for what it is worth. And if you can't, then you don't stay friends. And I do believe that editing has a lot to do with it too...since they know showing Kate in some not so nice moments gets people talking and ruffles some feathers, then why not keep showing it, maybe Kate is happy to shoulder the blame, be the "bad" guy, she doesn't seemed to be too bothered by what anyone thinks of her...like I said before...good or bad, people are still talking about her...

And that's all I have to say about that...for now anyway...until tomorrow...

Survival of the Fittest...Uh I Mean Plumpist!

Ok...I am doing great with this blogging thing! It is my second day as the brand new owner of my shiney new blog and I am actually blogging! How neat is that! I was super excited that I had actually created a blog and I am going to discipline myself to writing something every day...maybe not on weekends...ah what the heck...even on weekends!

Well, I did it again...I joined Nutrisystem for the millionth time...no actually for the 5th time in my life...why, then, you ask am I doing it again...I am glad you asked...I first tried Nutrisystem back in the late 80's early 90's...yes I am dating myself here...and I actually lost about 20 lbs, getting down to the thinnest I had ever been in my life, well not my life, I would say over the age of 18...looking back, I was actually too skinny at the time...but you know how it is, during the time period you think you are soooo FAT! UGH! If only I could be THAT FAT again!

So I tried it another time after I had my son and lost some weight, then another time and lost some weight, then last year and lost some weight. I know it sounds crazy, but it is sincerely the only program that works for me. I have tried every diet under the sun and sadly I can't stick to any of them, except Nutrisystem. That is why I keep going back...plus they keep improving their food.

Now, I am sure you are sitting there, shaking your heads, saying "what is wrong with you", as we all know it only takes some portion control and exercise to lose weight right? Well, to that I say "easier said than done".

Sadly, my love affair with Nutrisystem was never able to continue past a month or two, because I wouldn't have enough money to justify purchasing the food...but this time is different...I have a plan folks...I am going to do it for 2 months and see where I am, physically and financially and then go from there...I am not going to pressure myself into a long term fantasy of staying on the program for 6 months, but hey, if I am blessed enough to have the money to pay for it and it is going well, so be it...if not, then I believe I can jump start myself into losing weight and eating properly on my own...really, I can!

The last time I did Nutrisystem I actually kept the weight I lost off for 10 months, then I relocated back home to cold weather and my body went into shock and piled on the fat for warmth! Ok, ok, so the truth is that I am eating more and less active, but I like the warmth theory, it works for other mammals in the wild!

I had a diet doctor tell me that all of our bodies are basically still programmed to function like we are cavemen (AND women) and we store fat in the winter and survival of the fittest, (well, with extra fat we are not really the "fittest" per say, but you catch my drift). So some of us have to work really hard to fight against the nature of our bodies to mold ourselves to what society deems an appropriate weight...oh and for health reasons too!

While I am pondering that theory...let's bring up the fact that many paintings in past centuries only show depictions of well rounded and curvy ladies...I have yet to see one with a woman who is stick thin...and wasn't it true that the plumper you were was a sign of wealth, because you could afford to eat? If you were stick then, then you were quite possibly a beggar on the street, more likely to die of disease or not last the winter when food was scarce.

What on earth happened? The roles have totally reversed themselves...now if you are plump you are deemed poor or slovenly and the thinnest people are held up as the standard for how we should all look and they are the picture of wealth...well, I say those people better hope we don't have another ice age...survival of the fittest, baby!

Ok, ok I admit, I want to be a "thinny", well maybe not too thin, but healthy. Although, look at some people who are fitness addicts and supposidly healthy and die of heart attacks and disease...so which is right, being healthy or living life plumper? What is right for one person is not right for another, so we all have to choose our path. For me, I like being thinner because it makes me feel better physically, get rid of my C-section baby blubber...anyone offering free tummy tucks out there, please drop me a line!

Blogging Virgin...

Ok...I finally did it, I am Blogging! I am probably the last American Blogging Virgin! It seems like everyone and their Uncle has a Blog, except me. So I decided to give it a try and here I am happily blogging away, not that anyone cares or might see it, mind you, but I am giving it a go anyway.

How did I get here you may ask? Well, I love to write, have loved the written and spoken word, usually English, for as long as I can remember. As you my or may not guess, I am a talker, I can go toe to toe with the best of em'. If there was a Guiness Book Record for talking someone's ear off...that would be my claim to fame. Now, I am a very good listener as well, but for whatever reason, I can't help but interject and start talking too...

So as I write this blog, my very first one, that will float out into the universe, I have many many ideas floating in my head. Ideas of what I want to write, who I want to write about, so many things that I need to say, so little time to say them...ugh!

And being a blogging virgin, I hope all of you professional bloggers will please forgive my run on sentances and jumping from one idea to the next. It is purely inexperience and excitement on my part. But bear with me, I hope to be an expert blogger soon enough. And anyone, even the one person, who may read my blog, if you have any comments or tips on how I am doing, or in response to any of my posts, I would love to hear them...a writer needs feedback, positive (oh please make it positive!) or negative (or as I prefer to call it "Positive Criticism").

So please be kind...us "Virgins" are timid at first and my shy away from trying again...and you all have to remember when you posted your very first blog...you were all blogging virgins are one time too!

Thanks so much! Can't wait to Blog again!