I made this necklace today. I was inspired by this necklace,

but it's a little out of my price range!

This version only cost me about $5.00.
(I did have the silver beads on hand already.)

Don't look too closely at the finishing of the clasps.
I'm still working on that!

Finally!

Yep, that's me... hootin' and hollerin' that the Christmas season is over!

It's not that I don't typically enjoy the Christmas season, but this year, my heart was not in it.

Don't get me wrong, I love the meaning of Christmas and what it means to me religiously, but the commericial crap that goes along with it... Well truthfully, it bugged me this year for the first time.

So, don't come knocking at my door and expect to see remnants of Christmas in the air, because it has already been put away, ready to be brought out again the day after Halloween, um... Thanksgiving.

Christmas Greetings!

Everyone, I'm signing off for the Christmas holiday!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas
and remember the reason why we celebrate.

It is because of the birth of Jesus Christ,
who was born into the world
to save us and give us eternal life.

Blessings to you and yours!


P.S. Oh, an if you didn't get a card from us this year... here they are! Later...

The other day, Randy brought Elisan into work while they were out running errands. Elisan made an observation while she was there.

She says, "Daddy? Why is your chair bigger than all of the other chairs?"
Daddy, "Because I'm the boss."

Really? And here I was thinking Randy just liked a comfortable ride.

Later,

Christmas Thrift Challenge

This year, LA, Cyndi and I participated in the Christmas Thrift Challenge. The challenge was to spend $10.00 - $12.00 on either purchased or home-made items. It was a lot of fun! Check out their blogs to see their loot!

Here's my loot:

This is from Cyndi. I love the crosses. She also hand-made this beaded bracelet! I love it and I'm wearing it right now!



This is from LA. She filled the box with lots of crafty items. Almost too many to mention, but I do love the vintage ric-rac - priced at $.15. Wow! That's a deal!

I also love the milk glass plates. They will be a nice addition to my milk glass collection.

And finally, the apron! I'm shocked that she let this apron pass through her hands, since LA is a collector of aprons! But, I'm glad she did, because I love it.



The thrift challenge was fun and I can't wait to do it again! Meanwhile, I'll be on the look-out for neat stuff throughout the next year.

Life, a little simpler

I'm a trial and error kind of girl. I usually try something for a while, until I realize that there is an easier way of doing things.

This isn't such a bad method, because by the time I'm ready to move on to something new, I know what my needs are.

I liken it to building a home. You know that you know you do not want your laundry room and pantry to be combined, so the next time around, you don't do that. It's simple and it makes sense.

So, when I'm sitting here at my computer enjoying all of the wonderful tools I've discovered on the Internet, either by referrals or random surfing, I feel compelled to pass it all along to you, my dear readers!

I love Google and if you've never sat down to explore the wealth of tools that Google has to offer, you are missing out!

First up...

1. Google Reader helps you keep track of the blogs you read. It also lets you know when a blog has been updated with a new entry. But, wait...that's not all. It works with other sites that are checked periodically for updates. Say for example you are looking for a play kitchen on Craigslist, but are getting tired of searching through the many listings. Well, cut and paste your your search URL in the "ADD SUBSCRIPTION" portion of your Google Reader (example: http://austin.craigslist.org/search/bab?query=kitchen) and Google Reader automatically search for your item and post the results in your subscription column. Try this feature with any website that allows "feeds"


2. Google Homepage is awesome. It beats Yahoo homepage hands down! There is a ton of content that can be added to your page, to customize anything from your mail, calendar, news, stocks, recipes of the day, etc. It's much more user friendly than Yahoo (for example). It sooo totally rocks! So, hop onto to Google and start adding your own content!

3. Gmail - (Google Mail) - Love it! Can't say enough about it. I still use my Yahoo account because I've had it for years, but I'm soooo ready to make the switch entirely. Gmail catalogues your mail into conversations. So, essentially you can have a group of emails from one person literally in one email. You can expand the view, collapse it, etc. No more clogging your inbox with the same email conversation from one person... it's all in one. One stop shopping!

4. Google Calendar - has made my life so easy! It's one click function of adding activities or events to my calendar is a life saver. No more of that pesky clicking three or four times to get to the portion of the calendar that needs to be updated. It's literally point, click, type. Beautiful.

5. Google Documents and Spreadsheets - is especially effective if you have groups of people that need to see the same document and or make changes to it. Say for example you are setting up a sign up sheet. Set it up in Google Docs, then email it out. The recipients can add/change stuff on the document, sign up, etc. all in one centrally located place! Are those dudes at Google geniuses or what?!

6. Google Groups - Like Yahoo groups to help manage groups of people with common interests i.e. playgroups, etc.

7. Google Analytics - Awesome tool for website traffic and stats. Tells you who, what, where, and when people visited your website or blog! Awesome, is all I can say. It beats sitemeter.com, no question about it!

8. Picasa - Google's photo editing and organizing software - ROCKS! LOVE IT! It's FREE! It's simple and easy to use.

9. Finally, Blogger by Google - Setting up a blog to share with friends and family could not be easier and more user friendly.

It's no wonder why Google's (GOOG) stock closed today at $483.93. They have it going on!

Today's "Yummy Food" installment is probably the easiest recipe you will ever make. It's also one of the yummiest.

A friend of mine from long ago gave me this recipe and I think I've distributed it to just about everyone I know.

I've tweeked it over the years, but that doesn't take away from the ease of the recipe. In addition, I've calculated the Weight Watcher points, for those interested in that information.

Enjoy!

Tortilla Soup

Weight Watcher Total Pts. = 15½ pts (**See note below)

3 Chicken Breast (1 chicken breast = 3 WW pts/each)
1 Medium Onion Diced (1 cup = 1 WW pt)
3 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup** (1 can = 2½ WW pts)

10 oz Water
1-10 oz Can Chicken Broth** (1 can = 2 WW pts)
1 Can Original Rotel Tomatoes (1 can = 1 WW pt)

Optional Ingredients (add at the end):
Handful of fresh chopped cilantro
1 small can of Mexi-corn

Add all ingredients into crock-pot. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Just before serving shred chicken with fork. Serve with jalapeno jack cheese and tortilla chips on top of each bowl.

**Note: I use the fat free varieties of broth and cream soups. Points are calculated w/o chips and cheese. The WW point total is the total for the entire pot of soup. Points per serving not calculated.

"Daddy, today I had a hot lunch at school.
But, it's not really hot.
They just call it hot lunch."

Apparently, she has lightbulb moments, as well.

Blogging Photo Assignment

Today's blogging Photo Assignment is about Christmas ornaments (or decorations). But, here's the catch! I want to see the Christmas ornament or decoration that has traveled the farthest to get to your home.

Either from a different state or country, show us your most well-travelled ornament!

Here's mine! This ornament is from Finland. It was sent to me from my friend Charlotte from Denmark! She knows that I collect snowman. Isn't he cute?



Show us yours!

Love you long time, baby!

Most people don't know that Randy and I sort've grew up together. We didn't attend the same school and we didn't live in the same neighborhood. But, we did attend the same church.

In fact, we both attended the same church from the time that we were in elementary school until we both moved away from home. Both sets of our parents still attend that church.

As tweeners, we both attended the Wednesday night Bible study and small group sessions.

I would go just to see Randy. Oh sure, I would go because I loved church and loved being with my friends, but truth be told, when Randy showed up, my eyes were glued on him the entire time - well, until he looked in my direction, then I'd pretend he didn't exist.

That's the first time I realized that I had a huge crush on him. I didn't know what it was about him, but I was in-love with him when I was 11 years old. I even recall sharing with one of the youth group mentors that "I was going to marry Randy one day" and of course, they chuckled and said the usual stuff like, "You never know what the future holds," etc., etc. But, I knew what my future held and I wasn't ever going to let go of it.

Fast forward about 4 years and Randy and I are in high school. That's when Randy began taking an interest in me. Honestly, I don't know how it all came about but eventually we ended up on a date. I don't hardly remember the details - I know, I'm such a romantic - but I do know that at the end of the date, I was dying to get a kiss from him. And, we did. And you know what? There were no fireworks. Nothing. Nada. Zip. (Hi, hun... love ya long time!)

Anyway, so that was pretty much it for me. We went out again about a year later, but still, it was as friends, rather than as a potential love interests. Yet, the funny thing was, I still held onto that declaration of marrying Randy way back in junior high and here's the proof. This was written in my 12th grade graduation scrapbook:


(Notice that I wrote we'd have two children, both boys. Does God have a sense of humor or what?)

After high school Randy heads out to Texas A&M and I stay home and attend the local university. We see each other from time to time when Randy comes in for holidays, etc., and we chatted occassionally, but only briefly. As time flies by, I see less and less of Randy and the next thing I know, he's living in Central Texas after college graduation.

I remember sitting at the kitchen table at my parent's house talking to my mom about life and love and saying, "Well, I guess I'm not going to marry Randy afterall." You see, a lot of things were going on, one of which was our love lives. I was in a serious relationship and so was Randy. All that was fine and good, but a small part of me still wished that I was the one that Randy was in love with... even though I knew we were just friends.

So, a year or two went by and I only heard tid-bits about Randy from my mom, via his mom. (Our folks are friends, don't ya know...) But, it was also through his mom, that my mother told me that Randy was no longer involved with his previous love interest and that he was single again. Unfortunately, at the time I was still dating my serious love interest.

Literally, a month later that relationship ended as well. That was December. My mom mentioned Randy's name again, but I was not interested and I recall telling my mother that I didn't have "those" feelings for Randy any more.

By April, my feelings changed.

In April, my mom and dad was invited to attend Randy's father's ordination ceremony. My mom called me up and told me they were going and I that I should go with them. I remember thinking, why would I want to go with them? Unless... Randy was going to be there. So, I went and he was there.

After the ceremony, we stopped and spoke only briefly, but I knew I wanted to see him again, so I made the gutsy move of asking him out to dinner before he went back home.

Our first date was wonderful. I knew, and he did too, that this time it was finally right.

We continued our long distance dating until that following September when he proposed to me. We got married that following December. December 5th. Which also happens to be my birthday.

I can get all hokey and say that marrying Randy on my birthday is the gift that keeps on giving, but.... I'll spare you...

Okay, I won't spare you... because it is. Randy is the best thing that has ever happened to me and his love is the gift that keeps on giving. And he knows it too, because I'm the best thing that has ever happened to him.

So, Happy 8th Anniversary babe. I love you and I always have.

First of many...

Today's post will be the first of many ...I am sure of it... posts about the perils of shopping.

While at my local Bath and Body Works, I was looking for something for my sister in law, since she loves their stuff. Because they have sooo much to choose from, and I didn't know if she like fruity, clean or perfumey scents, I just opted to purchase her a gift card and be done with it.

As I'm making my way to the check out, I remember I have a B&BW coupon for a free item (up to $12.50 value!) with any $10.00 purchase. Cool!

So, I go and pick out a bottle of Japanese Cherry Blossom, my new favorite scent and bring it up to the register.

I tell them I want a $25.00 gift certificate, hand her my coupon and lotion. She then tells me that the coupon is only good for $10.00 of goods, not gift cards.

So, the gist was... the "with any purchase" was a basically false (or better yet... A LIE, people!)

Then, she asked me if I'd like to purchase $10.00 of goods to receive my free item. At that time, I told her nope, that I was taking my business elsewhere and I walked out.

What's up with that? Can anyone explain to me why spending $25.00 in gift cards doesn't constitute goods? I mean, money is money, am I right?

Someone please... I'm beggin' ya. Explain this to me!

Need I say more?

I thought these became obsolete about the same time Gore invented the Internet

I received in the mail today a chain letter.

Oh, it says the same "this is not a chain letter..." blah, blah, blah... But, it's a chain letter, nonetheless.

In fact, if I send out my 20 letters (within 96 hours) to unsuspecting family and friends, I too, will come into serious cash.

Unfortunately, if I don't send out the 20 copies of this letter to "friends, relatives, associates, even people you don't know" I can stumble upon serious consequences.

Do people still do this? I'm truly astonished and slightly offended!

The funny thing is that there is no return address. The letter specifically states not to sign it and the ending states this (which is thoroughly ironic to me):

"I don't know what your beliefs are personally, but I believe in Blessings from GOD through Jesus Christ our LORD."

I've been a Christian for a long time, and if I recall correctly, God doesn't promise to bless us only when we send out 20 chain letters to friends, relatives, associates and even people we don't know. God's blessings are poured out to His people for many reasons, but chain letter ain't one of them.

Maybe whoever sent this to me, doesn't have a computer or else they would have taken the easy (and cheaper) way out and just spammed me instead.

Oh well, whoever you are, consider it broken. You wasted your $.39 on me. (And probably the remainder of you $7.41 wad on everyone else.)

Public Behaviour

So, today I'm in the pick-up line at Elisan's school. I see E's class approaching the pick-up awning, when I notice that Elisan is walking kind of funny.

I crane my neck to see what's wrong with my girl, and to my horror she has one hand (or rather arm) down the front of her pants. She's...ehem...taking care of some personal business down there to which she is totally clueless to anyone around her or the public hygiene rules that I've ever-so-gently tried to convey to her from about the time she could understand the spoken word.

And there she was... oblivious.

I began looking around at the other moms standing around to see if they were watching her and thankfully, it seemed they were oblivioius too.

After she removed her hand, she used her other hand and began yanking her undies out of her booty, because ya know... undies tend to get bunched up when your takin' care of business.

Ah... to be five again.

I'll be sure to delete this post when she discovers my blog.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

It's Thrifty!

Last Friday, I stopped by a garage sale in our neighborhood. The lady had a ton of stuff out in her driveway so it was hard to resist. As I was strolling down her makeshift aisles, I came across this stainless steel peppermill. It was one of those purchases that you make without knowing (or really caring) what the price was. But, lo and behold, I bought it for a bargain price of $1.00!

Let me just say, that I love this pepper mill. I've gone through two pepper mills in the recent years, but this one looks like it will stand the test of time.

It's so rewarding to find a something that you know you just can't live without, but didn't know it, until you found it!

By the way, my friend L.A. has declared Christmas a "thrift or handmade" holiday of gift giving this year. I (briefly) considered giving the peppermill to my friend Cyndi as one of her Christmas gifts, but decided against it. I couldn't part with it.

That's the bad thing about thrifting... it's usually just one-of-a-kind. I thought this challenge would be a cinch, but I've learned that all of the good stuff I find, I want to keep for myself!

Absolutely the best cranberry sauce I've ever tried! This recipe is super simple, it makes plenty and it's great on warm bisquits the next morning! And, the best thing is that it's a recipe you can make the day ahead.

It's by Williams Sonoma and here's the link. But, for your convenience, I've posted it below. Enjoy!

Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce

1/2 orange
2 cups water
1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, pippin or
McIntosh
3 cups fresh cranberries
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves



Squeeze the juice from the orange and set the juice aside. Remove and discard the membrane from inside the orange rind and cut the rind into small dice. In a small saucepan over high heat, combine the rind and the water and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes, then drain and set aside.

Peel, core and quarter the apple. Cut into 1/2-inch dice and place in a saucepan. Sort the cranberries, discarding any soft ones. Add to the apples along with the orange juice, orange rind, sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to low and cover the pan partially. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, the apple is tender and the cranberries have burst, 10 to 15 minutes.

Transfer the cranberry sauce to a heatproof bowl and let cool for 1 hour before serving. Or cover and refrigerate; bring to room temperature before serving. Transfer the cranberry sauce to a sauceboat and pass at the table. Makes 3 1/2 to 4 cups.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library Series,Thanksgiving & Christmas,by Chuck Williams (Time-Life Books, 1993)

This week's "Blogging Photo Assignment" is easy. There is no excuse for non-participation and you know who you are....

Show us your keys!
(courtesy of Not a Cookie Cutter)

Here are my keys.

Do you ever find yourself looking for the perfect keyring only to use it for a month or two, before you are cursing the day you bought it? I know I do. That is until I forked out mega-bucks for this Coach Trigger Snap Key Fob. Okay, not really mega-bucks, but for a keyring , it is...

Anyway, I love, love, love this keyring. It snaps onto my beltloop when I don't want to carry a purse or I snap it onto my purse strap ring for easy access to my keys. It also has a valet snap so you can release your keys, but keep your keyring if ever you are using valet parking.

All in all, it's the best keyring I've ever bought and dare I say, well worth the dinero!

So, now, it's up to you... show us yours!

Two-Hole Punch

Back in the day, I was a file clerk at one of the largest law firms in the city. That's where I met my friend Angie.

It was a "dream" job since I was studying Criminal Justice in college. I was working at a prestigious law firm, rubbing elbows with some of the most brilliant attorneys in Texas. I have a lot of fond memories from working there. That's why when I spotted this during my weekly trip to Goodwill, I just had to get it.

For those who don't know what this is, it's a two hole punch - which is synonymous with file clerking.

I recall toting my two-hole punch from one office to the next, as I did my work. In fact, every work station and secretary had their own hole punch, but there was something about having your own hole-punch that made your work easier. Maybe it was the familiar squeak it made as you put all of your body weight on the handle to try to punch holes in 45 pages at once, I don't know.

I do know, that I needed to buy this hole punch at Goodwill for a whopping $1.99 this weekend. If anything, it brought back many memories of my file clerking days. I've since cleaned it up and stripped off the "this is mine, don't touch it or I'll kill you" post-it note that was taped on the top of it. No two-hole punch is complete without that. But, alas, I did remove it, since I don't live in the 11th floor supply room. I know Angie would agree, that she would have bought it too, had she come across it.

A great gift idea!

One of my hobbies is creating post card stationery. It's cheap and easy and everyone loves personalized stuff.

With Christmas coming up, personalized notecards make great gifts for teachers, extended family, long-distance friends, etc.

Here's how to do it!

• Create your design in a photoshop type software program. (I personally do not own photoshop. I use Adobe Photodeluxe Home Edition 3.1 - which was FREE with the purchase of my scanner.)
• Size your blank template to 8x10in. (You will be reducing the size, but it needs to be large enough file to scale down without reducing the quality of the image.)
• Create your design
• Save as a .jpg file
• Open up a blank document in MS Word
• Insert your new image.
• Resize the image to 4.25" x 5.31"
• Change the layout to "square" and drag it to the corner.
• Copy the image and paste three additional images in the other three corners.
• Save the document.

You can print these at home, but you will need high quality cardstock, a laser printer and a cutting board to cut straight lines. OR....

Upload your document to Kinkos. The site will walk you through the ordering process. At the Kinkos near my home, one page of black and white ink (on any color of paper) was $.20/each. Because you are printing 4 cards per page, you are essentially getting each card for $.05/each. Kinkos does charge a cutting fee which is $2.50/cut, but it is worth it - trust me! If you decide to go with color ink, the cost goes up to $1.20 per page (or $.30/card).

The final cost for 24 post cards (or 6 pages) on premium cardstock is approximately $6.20 (that includes the two cuts).

The beauty of it is, that you can do several different jobs at one time: 6 pages for the teacher, 6 pages for a friend, 6 pages for your sister, but only pay the cutting fee one time! So, if you do decide to do this project, do as many as you need at one time, to avoid paying the cutting fee for each job!

And finally, because they are post card sizes, they can be mailed without an envelope and you can use postcard postage rate, which is $.24/each.

Like I said, cheap and easy! Here's a sample:




Have fun creating your designs! If you need technical help, feel free to contact me!

I love making hair bows for Elisan. I think I've made her over
30 handmade hair bows in various colors!

I made these two Christmas hair bows today
and I thought they turned out very cute!

I'm such an old fogey!

Yes, this post (or rather, rant!) is about cell phones (again!)

I'll admit, I'm an old fogey in my 33 years, but there are some cell phone users out there who need a good dose of cell phone etiquette!

Here are three examples of people who are so wrapped up in themselves, to pay attention to those around them.

In the checkout line: The other day, a lady in front of me at the grocery store was chatting it up on her phone as she was checking out. The cashier looked helpless as she was trying to get the girl to finish up her transaction without, God forbid... interrupting her telephone conversation! When it was my turn to check out, I asked the checkout girl if that got on her nerves, and she said that it was one of the most annoying things she's ever had to deal with.

At school:
I was waiting to pick up Elisan from school when I noticed that one of the dads who was picking up his little girl did not even acknowledge anyone around him, including his little girl, as he was dialing a number on his cell phone. I'm thinking to myself, 'Could you at least say hello to your child and perhaps the child's teacher, make your way to your car and then place your call?' I thought his behaviour was so incredibly rude. He's also one of these.

At the car wash:
I was hanging out at the car wash, when a girl from across the room caught my attention. She was having the most animated conversation! Hands raised in the air, body shaking with laughter and she was using a very loud voice. When I looked to see who she was chatting with, I didn't see anyone at all, because what?... yes, she was on her cell phone (with the ear attachment.) Not only did she look ridiculous having this totally animated conversation with no one present, but she was disrupting those around her.

Whatever happened to good ol fashion conversation with those around you? Why is it that people are more concerned with chatting with someone on the phone, rather than striking up a conversation with the check out girl? Or teacher? Or, heck... even your own child?

Don't get me wrong, we are a no land-line family, so my cell phone is my only form of outside communication, but gee whiz, I do understand the importance of common decency and manners.

I know... I'm just an old fart who maybe is just not important enough to get phone calls all throughout the day from important people.

Sure, that's it.

Right.

Just don't get me started on drivers on cell phones, again!

Just a little reminder!

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I'd remind y'all that Thanksgiving is next week. Yes, that's right... it's already here.

Oh... what was that? You already knew? You mean, I'm the only one who is just coming to the realization that Thanksgiving is next week?

And that I need to buy a turkey? Plan a meal for extended family? Oh, and also bring down all of the Christmas decorations and decorate the house the day after because the girls will not stop bugging me about it until it is done?

Oh.

Yes.

That's right.

Everyone has something in their home that makes their life easier! Here's your chance to show it off!

One of the things I disliked most about this home when we bought it was the pantry and laundry room. The two are combined and this room is located in my kitchen. I couldn't get past the fact that my dirty laundry room was in my kitchen! Ewwww! But...we bought the house anyway.

Not long after we moved into the house, I commissioned Randy to make the room more user-friendly. He made my shelves deeper, put in some elfa shelving baskets, added a laundry pole high above the washer and dryer to hang freshly laundered clothes and finally, he put in the peg-board on the wall so I would have a place to hang everything from my purse and keys to dustpan and brooms.

So, here are some photos of my pantry/laundry room. The peg-board has by far made my life easier and more organized!





Show us what makes your life easier!

This is not my recipe, so I must give credit where credit is due. This recipe belongs to a friend of mine named Cheryl from church. She gave me a Christmas tin filled with this wonderful "Hot Mocha Mix" last year and it is THE best hot chocolate recipe I've ever tasted.

It makes a huge batch, plenty enough to go around to friends and neighbors (hint, hint!).


Cheryl's Hot Mocha Mix

You will need:

Large pot
Large sifter if you have one. (I just used a strainer)
*Keep all the containers to refill with mocha

Ingredients:
8-quart instant dry powdered milk
Largest size Nestlé’s Instant Chocolate Milk Mix
Largest size Coffeemate Creamer (Original Flavor)
1 box Powdered Sugar
½-1 cup Cocoa (either “dark” or “milk” chocolate)
6 tbsp. Cinnamon
Optional: Container of instant coffee mix.

Use the better-known products like Nestlé’s, Coffeemate, etc., because they tend to have a richer flavor.

You will need to sift all ingredients by putting small amounts of each ingredient in sifter, (alternating ingredients) sift it into pan and then just keeping doing it until you have mixed all of it ~ then use the empty containers to refill. You will still need a couple of extra containers because it makes so much. Be prepared for your kitchen to be dusty ~ you and everything around your preparation area will be dusty, but it is worth it!!

I have thanksgiving in my heart!

In honor of my friend, LA of The Pink Kitchen, I'm posting 50 Things in which I am thankful for.

My
HEART
is full of thanksgiving for...(in no particular order)

1. Randy, the love of my life.
   
2. Elisan Rae, who is truly my Rae of Sunshine.
3. Kyla Mae, who has my heart wrapped around her finger.
4. My home, my fortress, my safe place.
5. Randy's job and his abilities to do it well. And because of his job I'm capable of...
   
6. Being a stay at home mom which, I have found, is my niche'.
7. My mom, for her boldness, forthrightness and preserverance.
8. My father, for his kind heart, loving spirit and empathy for those down-trodden.
9. My brother, for being so utterly and completely opposite of me... At least one of us turned out right - (snicker, snicker!)
   
10. My SIL, Christi who is a neat person to be around, a great wife and mom, a true inspiration.
11. My nephews, who are strikingly handsome and darn-right sweet as can be.
12. My BIL and SIL, who through adversity, have become a force to be reckoned with.
13. My niece, who is beautiful and Elisan's best friend.
14. My extended family, who has taught me that it's okay to be a red-neck.
15. TiVo. What did I do without you for the last 32 years?
16. My recipe collection, namely my salsa recipes.
17. Texas! Yeehaw!
18. My church. I've made a connection like no other.
19. Volunteering at my church. What a difference it has made in me.
20. My mini-van. Who would have thought that luxury is found in a mom-mobile?
21. My Ipod. (read #15)
22. Blockbuster Online Rentals. DVDs in the mail are pure bliss. Which brings me to #23...
23. 24, absolutely THE BEST SHOW on TV ever! We're starting season 4 tonight on DVD.
24. Texas A&M. Although, I'm not an Aggie, my husband is and I see the influence it has on his life.
25. Speaking of Aggies... my friend Cyndi, who is also an Aggie (2%er). She talks faster than a speeding bullet and I catch every word. Truly, a friend 'til the end.
26. My friend LA who, as she put it, is my kindred spirit. There's really no better way to describe it. We suit each other to a T.
27. eBay. Which has given me a source of income over the last year.
    
28. Goodwill. It's taken me a long time to discover the wealth of GW, but now that I have, I've found a little somethin' for everyone there. Just because it ain't new, doesn't mean there isn't any life left. (Just think if our men in our lives felt that way!)
29. Clorox Ready Mop. Why is it that I'm always the last to know about cleaning products that make my life easier?
30. My health and the health of my family. We've been blessed with tremendous health - barely a sniffle 'round here.
31. My Lord, Jesus Christ. Without Him in my life, I'd be nothing at all.
32. Music. Music has filled my home from as far back as I remember. I hope to carry on that legacy for my kids.
33. Hot Wings from Wing Stop! Why hot wings? Well, because it's about the ONLY thing I cannot cook. And, because I crave them at least twice a month!
34. Mexican Food. Living in Texas has taught me to appreciate the ART of Mexican food.
35. Denmark. I never knew anything about the Danish culture or people until I was submerged in their country. I'm thankful for every minute I spent there. Hi Charlotte!
    
36. My friend Pam. She's a great friend and I'm fortunate to have such a strong Christian influence in my life.
37. My friend Angie, who I can call upon at any time of the day for fashion and etiquette emergencies.
    
38. My friend Amanda, who to date, is my longest-running friend ever.
39. Mommy drinks - which consist of Coffee, Soda and Hot Chocolate.
    
40. "AT WAIST" jeans by Old Navy. I love these jeans! THEY.ARE.NOT.MOM.JEANS.
41. Shopping! I'm not a shop-o-holic, because... well, I can't afford to be one. But, I love a bargain and I love telling people about it.
42. That we've paid off the girls' college funds, so that they will be afforded the opportunity to further their educational career.
43. The ability to be able to send Elisan to private school.
44. Internet and email. I'd be on the phone a lot more, if it weren't for email.
    
45. Instant messenger... for those times, when I just can't wait for email.
46. H.E.B. grocery stores. The best store-brand of foods ever!
47. Outdoor cooking. You can't beat the flavor of grilled meat.
48. Blogosphere. What a novel concept.
49. A good hair stylist.
50. My ENELL bra. It has saved my self-image. That is, until I can get a boob reduction!
    

Today's Forecast: 87 Degrees & Sticky

Yes, the word "sticky" was used to describe today. Oh yay! It's November and time to break out the summer clothes.

Randy said he was ready for some snow. Mmmm, be careful what you wish for...because if I recall correctly, we lived in Minnesota and Denmark, remember?

As much as I would love to have real seasons, i.e. a true brisk Autumn, cold Winter, glorious Spring and hot Summer... it's just not going to happen. Not here in Texas.

I was listening to Rush Limbaugh yesterday and he was talking about South Florida, where he does his live broadcast. He was reveling in the fact that it was Summer year 'round where he was. If only I could gain that perspective, I wouldn't have these fits of discontent when the forecast is "hot and sticky" in mid-November.

Want to be my friend?

(Disclaimer: It is not my intention to offend. This is simply a dissection of my life, thoughts, feelings and emotions - most of which, should not be read too deeply into too, because really... I'm a surface-only kind of gal. If you are reading this, and find yourself offended, step away from the computer...)

I was recently chatting on the phone with one of my closest friends and we both had such an amazing realization that I wanted to blog about it.

I've come to realize that my friendships no longer thrive around my children. That my relationships with my girlfriends is simply that... because they are my girlfriends.

When I first had Elisan, I was very lonely but within a year, I fell into a wonderful group of women, who not only filled the lonely void in my life, but we had common interests and that was mainly the fact that we all had children in similar ages.

What we found, was that each of felt as if we had fallen into that lonely pit of despair and found solace in each other. We had formed a group of friendship, but it centered around our children.

As the years passed, all of us (with the exception of one) had more children. Our group was a wonderful support group for our growing families. The group evolved from being about us surviving as new stay at home moms, to survival with two or more kids. Our little playgroup was no longer little. The outlet for moms was quickly becoming overshadowed by the overwhelming size of the group.

Soon after, the layers of the friendship began to peel away because of busy schedules, part time jobs, volunteering and school. It wasn't much longer before our group began to peter out. Several of the women continued to meet weekly (and still do) but for the most part, the group had disintegrated.

It was a tragic end to a group of women who formed a bond out of loneliness and pure survival of motherhood. It still pains me to know that I no longer have relationships with these women whom I shared intimate thoughts and feelings with.

As the year passed, I began to develop closer relationships with a few of the moms from the original group that I had more in common with. As as the months flew by, I realized that my friendships with them didn't involve our kids anymore, but it was about us, being moms, wives, friends, employees, etc. It wasn't about our kids anymore. It was about us. What a revelation!

Oh sure, don't get me wrong, our kids still played together, but realistically, I was more concerned with my friendships with these women, than I was about my kids getting to spend time with other kids.

As it turns out, two of my best friends have since moved away, but it doesn't stop us from blabbing on the phone (or Instant Message) for at least an hour a week. Another friend is working, so I don't see her as much as I'd like, but my busy schedule and her busy schedule keep us from getting together much any more.

I have new friends now, who I love and cherish and hope that they know how much they mean to me. They are my friends because of me! Not my kids...

Finally, to the relationships that I put on hold because I didn't think I had anything in common with them once I had kids... I'm sorry. It's taken me a long time to "find myself". I hope that we can re-kindle our friendship to the level in which it was left off.

So, that's it in a nutshell. For the first time in a long time, I'm completely content in my life and in my female relationships.

Do I have room in my heart for more friends? Of course! Can a new friend have children that my girls can play with? Sure! That's even better! But, will my friendship exist because of our kids? No... I'm not that person any more. I want a friend that likes me for me and I like them for them.

You've got sole!

Show us your shoes... And tell us why you like them.






I like these shoes because they are mary janes and I love mary jane shoes. I like them because they are a flat heel height and are comfortable to wear all day. I also like the color because they go great with jeans and khakis. Finally, I love them because they are preppy.

I bought them at Wal-Mart for $22.00. They are leather and one of my best purchases this season.

Show your shoes!

There's something about music

Music has a way of bringing back a moment, a feeling, an emotion that we may have long forgotten.

Music was an important part of my growing up. I recall my dad putting an LP on the record player and the sounds would filter throughout the house. Those are fond memories to me because it was always such a happy time. Who can resist the wonderful sounds of music?

My mom and dad still to this day has a huge collection of LP's. There's a little bit of everything, from Elvis to Charlie Pride to Jose Felciano. But, what gives me the most vivid memories of those days long ago, is none other than Willie Nelson.

The "Red Headed Stranger" was played all the time in our house. I don't recall having a great fondness for the actual music as a child, but I do now, as an adult.

Not only does it bring those childhood memories rushing back, but the sound of Willie Nelson's voice, is just... well, soothing and comforting. (I know! Willie Nelson! Who woulda thought?)

I continue to love the songs of Willie Nelson. I've even seen him in concert, but really that's not anything special since a LOT of Texans have seen him in concert. It kind of goes with the territory, ya know?

I hope that as my kids grow, the music they hear today will create lasting memories for them as well. I hope the music that I listen to not only brings them joy, but comfort as well. I want them to have a flood of memories of their childhood when an "oldie, but goodie" comes on the radio when they are driving their kids to school one day.

And, just for my dad, I occasionally throw in a Willie Nelson song for good measure. You can never get enough of Willie and there's no reason why they can't love his songs as much as I do!

What songs bring back memories from your childhood?

Me + IKEA = Lotta Luvin'

In less than 2 weeks there will be an IKEA within throwing distance of my house. I'm giddy with anticipation I can hardly stand myself.

And because I have the luxury of being a stay at home mom, I look forward to perusing the aisles in the wee small hours of the weekday morning. Now, if only they carried milk and bread, I'd be set!

IKEA was always a blue box mystery to me. Driving by in Houston, I recall someone telling me it was "just a furniture store". (Oh, the lies!) So, I never bothered to go in, since I was never in the need for furniture.

When we moved to Denmark, our friend Theis (pronounced "tice") recommended that we shop at IKEA for our household essentials. I was thinking that was weird, but in a foreign country, you don't really argue with the natives.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into IKEA and saw that big blue arrow pointing the way to organizational bliss! I loved it.

After that, we went to IKEA all the time. It was our entertainment. And apparently, we were not alone, because it was by far the most crowded store in Denmark. (Denmark, a country of 5 million people was home to 4 IKEA's.) We affectionately named it "The Wal-Mart of Scandinavia".

Upon returning to the states, one of our first orders of business was going to the nearest IKEA and buying some of the must-have items we needed for our new house. This is one of those items.

Yes, it is a garbage can! This is the most awesome trash bin ever. In Denmark, it was marketed as a laundry hamper. But, for us...it was an AMERICAN sized garbage can - because you know us American's...we're glutinous and excessive. We bought not one, but two of these wonderful trash cans...well, because we're so glutinous and excessive that we needed two.

To this day, I'm still completely in love with my trash bin. So, now after finding the garbage can of my dreams, I'm officially IKEA's biggest fan!

Now, go forth and find the trash can of your dreams!

My Hair Affair

I've always had the same hair style with the only variation being long or short. I've always sported all one length hair, except for one unfortunate memory lapse when I forgot the reason why I don't wear bangs. That was back in 2002ish and it was a long road getting my hair back to my usual all one length style.

When we arrived back in Texas from Denmark, my hair looked like this. I kept the long hair for a while, not really knowing what I wanted to do with it. At one point, I decided to donate it to Locks of Love and I cut my hair chin length the fall of 2004.

Here's what the new style looked like. It was a cute cut, but as always, I was regretting cutting my hair so short. Like I said, I didn't stray too far from my variation of long/short hair.

By February, a year later, this is what my hair had grown out to. Look familiar? Yes, it was long, straight and (um...) all one length. Go figure.

Then one day, I decided to go for it and get a really sassy hair cut and pay mucho dinero (that's Spanish for "oh my gosh, you just spent waaaaaay toooo much money!!!") to get my hair cut at a salon in town. It was an 'upscale' salon and my appointment was made with one of their mid-level "star" stylists. (Whatever that means... does anyone really know?!)

I arrive at my appointment and meet the girl who's going to butcher, I mean, cut my hair. The tips of her hair are dyed in blue. That right there, should have been an indicator to high-tail it right outta there, but no... I didn't want to be mean! (Puh-leez!)

But, because I had arrived at the salon with the intention of coming out of there with a new 'do, I told her to take my long luxurious locks and treat it as a blank canvas. Okay, no I didn't actually say that, but it was essentially what I was doing.

This is the result of that haircut. Sure, it doesn't look too bad. But, what you don't know is that I have natural flat curls in the back, so this cut, only accentuated the natural flat curls of my hair that I always desperately tried to hide. I also had many, many, many (many, many) layers cut in my hair, so I couldn't even get it around a curling iron because the hair would go everywhere. It looked horrible and I hated it. I felt as if I had "BAD HAIRCUT" stamped across my forehead.

I lived with this haircut for about a month before I went to one of those cheapy hair cutting places to try to fix my hair. It was my lucky day, because I made appointment with a man named Andy and he has been salvaging my hair since April. I've probably had 4 haircuts since then and finally I am happy with my hair.

Why? Because it's my same old 'do I used to. But, truthfully, I can live with this style. It's me! Kind of like a little trademark. I owe it all to Andy. He's awesome - and at $14.95 a cut, who can beat that?

So, now... I've memorialized my hair affair in commentary and photos, hoping to avoid more unfortunate hair offenses.

Drive time conversation

The school commute always produces lots of conversations. Some meaningless, some meaningful. Not sure how to catergorize the following conversation.

Elisan: I don't want to have a baby when I grow up.
Me: Why not?
Elisan: Because it will hurt my booty when it comes out.
Me (playing devil's advocate): Kyla Mae wants to have a baby when she grows up.
Elisan: Kyla, do you want a baby?
Kyla Mae: Yeah, and a puppy too.