Go, Me!!

Wow!! I finished NaBloPoMo! Not only did I post every day in November, some days I posted more than once! Not much thought went into the Email Forward I posted, but my 10 Random Things for Friday and Tuesday Random Thoughts were varied, embarrassing and sometimes (if you were lucky) mildly entertaining.

There's still time to get in on a couple of the giveaways if you're feeling lucky ;)

Hey, this was about QUANTITY, not necessarily QUALITY! I had fun with it, and I hope you did too! (My favorite picture of the month is still in the Just Freaking Great post!)

Another Freebie!

I saw this over on Smart Cents Mom (sorry if the text reads awfully similar - there are only so many ways to share identical information ;) ). I'm posting to share it with you as well, and also so I won't forget to go do it myself! I've been meaning to get Maggie a photobook for the holidays with pictures of all of her relatives.

It's a great freebie from American Greetings Photoworks! You get a coupon code and then have until December 15th to redeem your code.

They're only giving the codes out for one day - Tuesday, December 1. On December 1st, you go to www.americangreetings.com and be one of the first 20,000 people to request a special coupon code for a gift from PhotoWorks. For your gift you can choose one of the following PhotoWorks products:

*Free 20 page Photo Clutch Book
*Free Pack of 25 Photo Paper Holiday Cards
*Free 11" x 8" Photo Calendar

To take advantage of this on Tuesday December 1st you should:
1. Go to www.americangreetings.com and click on the PhotoWorks graphic on the home page.
2. Enter your email address and select your gift.
3. Receive your coupon code and enter it during checkout on www.photoworks.com.

**Fine print: Offer ends when inventory limits are reached. Offer valid for U.S. and Canada residents only. Coupon valid for one of the following: a 20-page photo clutch book with complimentary standard shipping, a pack of 25 photo paper cards with complimentary standard shipping, a 11x8 photo calendar with complimentary standard shipping, or a $25 coupon to be used toward the purchase of another PhotoWorks photo book, card, calendar, or photo gift. The $25 coupon may not be used to purchase prints or gift certificates and does not apply to shipping and handling charges. Coupon valid for one transaction per email address and may not be shared. Not combinable with other offers. Coupon expires 12/15/09.

Win a Charm Bracelet!

Don't worry - I haven't been holding out on you! For a while I was stumbling across bunches of giveaways, but then they just seemed to stop. I suspect that some sponsors were gathering their resources for the holidays - let the giving away begin again!

Go check out My Loonyverse for a chance to win an adorable charm bracelet with eight charms from Charm Factory. These are the fun sorts of things that just tickle me. I can spend a completely contented afternoon just browsing charms and picturing the bracelet I'll win - yay! Make sure you've got a few minutes before you head over to enter - you'll have to..er..GET to do your own browsing as well!

The contest runs until December 15 - go here to enter. Good luck!

Bucket List?

I swiped this from the Freaky Frugalite (who says she took it from Fenced in Family, who got it from her mom ;) ). Thanks, ladies - looks like an interesting list!

I've followed their lead on this one and bolded the things I've already done. Why don't you post it up too? I'd love to hear about your adventures!

Been to Canada
Been to Mexico
Been to Florida
Been to Hawaii
Visited All 50 States
Been to Europe
Been to South America
Been to Central America
Been to Asia
Been to Australia

Been on a plane
Been on a helicopter
Been in a hot air balloon
Been sky diving
Been on a Cruise
Been to Washington, DC
Been on the opposite side of the country - what, like the bottom? Silly phrase...
Driven across the United States - is ridden close enough?
Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
Been deep sea fishing

Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
Seen the Statue of Liberty
Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
Swam in the ocean
Swam in the Mediterranean

Gone on a blind date
Watched someone die
Been lost in a neighborhood
Cried yourself to sleep

Played cops and robbers - probably...
Recently colored with crayons
Written a letter to Santa Claus
Sang Karaoke
Paid for a meal with coins only
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
Made prank phone calls
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
Caught a snowflake on your tongue
Danced in the rain

Watched the sunrise with someone
Blown bubbles
Been kissed under the mistletoe
Been skinny dipping outdoors
Gone ice-skating
Gone to the movies
Gone snorkeling
Skipped school
Gone snowmobiling
Lived in more than one country - for three months, anyway

Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
Seen a falling star and made a wish
Truly believe in the power of prayer
Seen whales in the ocean
Ridden on an elephant
Ridden on a camel
Swam with dolphins
Saw and heard a glacier calf

Traveled by train
Traveled by motorcycle
Traveled by subway
Been horseback riding
Ridden on a San Francisco cable car
Been to Disneyland or Disneyworld
Been in a rain forest
Been to Niagara Falls
Walked on the Great Wall of China

Been to the Olympics
Been spinnaker flying
Been water-skiing
Been snow-skiing
Been to Westminster Abbey
Been to the Louvre
Been to a Major League Baseball game
Been to a National Football League game

Done Shopping Yet?

If you didn't get your loved ones' wish lists filled on Black Friday, I've still got some great ideas for you! Check with your local direct sales folks - we've got great gift ideas, especially for those hard to buy folks.

Dove Chocolate Discoveries has a super-fun 'chocolate of the month' special available. You can have a special pre-chosen product from the exclusive catalog sent to your chosen recipient once a month for three months or six months! The January through March club, for example, would include the Sea-Salted Caramel Collection (my personal favorite), the Dark Chocolate-Covered Fruit Collection and the Chocolate-Covered Cappuccino Biscottini. Trust me, they'll love it! Contact me through the information on the website anytime before December 12 to ensure Christmas delivery for this or anything else from the catalog.

Now through Monday, be sure to check out Partylite's 4-Day Cyber Sale. Lots of wax (candles) and accessories listed at great prices! You can order right through the website and everything will be shipped to your door within a couple weeks.

Do you have a direct sales special you'd like me to share here? Let me know in the comments! I'm all about supporting other women and mothers in business, especially around the holidays :)

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. I'm freezing, but still chewing ice cubes. Go figure.
2. Once I'm done with this post, I get to go crawl in the crib with Maggie (arguably my favorite part of the day...) so she'll wake up and we can go to the Fantasy of Lights parade - yay!
3. I still have an odd urge to bake. Maybe I'll get around to making some spritz cookies this weekend after all.
4. Why did it suddenly start getting cold when we're going to an outdoor parade tonight?
5. The only shopping we did today was for some bolts hubby needed while he works on the car. Maggie was happy just to go in a store - the girl loves sshhhhoppin!
6. Tomorrow morning I think we're going to tackle the tree - yay again!
7. I still need to find out about going to a bounce place this week. Maggie had so much fun jumping around on Friday. I want to find one - and some friends to go with us..hint, hint - one day this week.
8. Mom reminded me that I haven't yet written my wish list/12 days of Christmas posts. If I get home early enough to get on the computer tonight, that should be on my list.
9. Are your holiday cards done? I ordered some today, and hubby is supposed to order the rest this weekend. My dad took some good pictures for us to use yesterday :)
10. Is laundry ever truly finished? I think not.
    

Finally!

It's after Thanksgiving (practically...). Don't get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving, and fall is my favorite season, but now I can listen to my holiday music radio station guilt-free, and people will start putting up their gorgeous artificial christmas trees and getting live ones too! Let the holiday decorating begin!

Over the last two days hubby has decorated a little tree outside our front door - love it! It's a new decoration for us, and I love it :) Either tomorrow or Saturday we'll put up our tree and I'll start putting up the rest of our decorations next week - yay!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yeah, good luck with that one, Turkey! ;)

Hope you're enjoying your holiday with loved ones.

What are You Making?

I know with the holidays coming while most peoples' finances still aren't what they used to be, many folks are getting crafty for gifts. Are you doing this too?

One of the things I've seen that I like are the clear or solid colored glass tiles with the decals and such on them to decorate. Have you seen what I mean. They can make great accents on window sills or other ledges that can hold little knick knacks, or you can put the decals on the glass of a picture frame to really spruce it up.

I'd also seen snowman kits where you give a family the coal for eyes, a carrot nose, stones for the mouth, a pipe and a scarf and it gives them an afternoon of fun building their own snowman!

So where is your craftiness leading you?

Tuesday Random Thoughts

Hubby made it home from jury selection today while Maggie and I were eating lunch. Yay! The bad news? He was actually selected for the jury, so he has to go back tomorrow. We're really hoping the courts aren't open on Friday as well - that would seriously suck for our family weekend :(

And now? Hubby gets to do job 'work' on his day off. At least Maggie is cooperating and napping so I can get my computer/chocolate/ornament exchange stuff done and not have to spend all afternoon keeping her quiet so daddy can work ;)

I'm still mostly confused about what day it is, but have decided I don't care much. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Mommy & Me networking group, and Thanksgiving day we'll head out to my parents. Other than that, the date is just another number on the calender.

Hubby just had a good half hour with my profile up on Facebook and didn't change my status. I think he's losing his touch ;)

Memories...

As I tried to redeem yet another 'free photobook' I heard about online (third one this month that has given me nothing but an hour of wasted time and watching their site crash, but that's another rant entirely...), I perused my old pictures of Maggie. I realized as I looked at February 2008 that there were no pictures of our Bahamas trip. Sure enough, the Bahamas trip was it's own folder, which I very much enjoyed looking through again. The sun, the sand, the surf, the great friends and relaxing times - and of course the warm weather as I shiver in my office. Maybe I'll go check out medical travel Mexico. Why medical? A nice vacation would be very, very good for my mental health right about now!

Color Me Confused

Today is Monday, right? The holidays have already sapped any trace of sense from my head. Because hubby was so busy with other stuff over the weekend, I barely noticed it was the weekend. And since he's off tomorrow for jury duty and then the rest of the week with vacation time and the Thanksgiving holiday, I've spent half of today thinking it was Friday. Ugh!

To help me feel better about my apparently ongoing confusion, I'm going to make myself a nice 'done' list instead of a to-do list so maybe I'll be able to sleep tonight and wake up refreshed. Why don't you try it too? We spend too much time stressing about what needs to get done, instead of appreciating what we've already accomplished.

DONE - on or before Monday, November 23, 2007

• Show invites for show on Dec 3
• Assembled cards for ornament exchange invites (next up: address those bad boys and put the info on the inside)
• Addressed nearly 100 postcards letting chocolate customers know that December 12 is the deadline for Christmas delivery
• Got my nails did (yay!)
• Bought groceries for meals for the week
• Went to the post office and got postage for all the above referenced stuff
• Still caught up with NaBloPoMo (go, me!)

Really?

I have to admit I was surprised the other day when I posted asking about everyone's holiday wishes and my mom said they want a Wii and Wii Fit (I keep typing Wee instead of Wii...hehehehe). Really? I remember when I lived at home that mom was totally into her morning workouts, but that's the sort of thing she could do when they were traveling too. Will the Wii et cetera be covered by rv insurance on the road? Or will they not pack it and just stick with hiking and such when the scenery is more interesting? I'm so glad to have an idea though...mom, watch your stocking!

Another Weekend Gone...

Boy am I glad this weekend is only leading to a short week - I need another break and hardly got to see hubby all weekend. Luckily he'll have some time off around the Thanksgiving holiday, so hopefully we'll be able to spend more time together.

Yesterday and today hubby (along with a couple helpers) put a canvas garage over our boat parked in the backyard. It's BIG. I didn't really see it all set up in the light yet, but he said the dark green he picked for the canvas doesn't stand out as much as a lighter color would have.

Maggie and I went visiting yesterday. My brother and sister-in-law had some people over and Maggie had a blast playing with the older kids. She loves kids and doesn't hesitate to try and go up to kids she doesn't know and hug them :) This time she got hugged back, since they were my cousin's kids and enjoyed playing with our little Maggie. I had a fun time visiting with grown-ups while Maggie was otherwise entertained - yay!

This afternoon I went with a friend to see The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The squealing teen-aged girls were very annoying. I'm assuming they weren't as bad this afternoon as they would have been a couple days earlier, though. The movie was good. Sure, Jacob has a fine set of abs, but I still like Edward better. But if I had to cast an honest vote? I'd like to cheer for Team Alice :) Oh, and Dakota Fanning did an AWESOME job as Jane.

Let It Begin (Holiday Shopping, that is...)

I think Maggie is the easiest to buy for this year. If I ask hubby what he wants, he spouts off big words about tires and automotive stuff I don't understand. Maybe he'll get some (much needed) new clothes again this year, unless he comes up with some way to use a barcode scanner or something to give me a clear 'list' of what he really wants. Remember using those for your bridal registry or whatever? The guys go crazier with those than the ladies, I think...

An Email Forward...

Usually these things just annoy me, but I really liked this list and hadn't seen it before. Hope you get a chuckle out of it too :)

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes - to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this thing I have-- ever.
15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?
19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..
20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet, on any given Friday or Saturday night, more kisses begin with Bud Light than with a Kay jewelry product.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. I scratched my own nose last night trying to pull my covers up. Now there's a big red boo-boo. What a doofus!
2. Are there a ton of homes for rent around you? I'm amazed around here. And it's mostly sad, since a lot of them are houses people couldn't afford to keep. I'm ready for the 'recession' to be over, folks!
3. My afternoon is all in an uproar all of a sudden - lil miss fell asleep in the car on our way home from lunch (til I reached back and tickled her to keep her awake). When we got home, she went straight to her crib and asked for help to get in. Now she's fast asleep. Huh.
4. Tonight I get to go make cards with friends - yay!
5. After several frantic chocolate-y weeks, I'm off (except for networking meetings) until December 3. The breather will be nice right about now!
6. I got really cute lil 4 oz plastic glasses yesterday for martini samplings, but apparently they're a little too 'crisp.' Just trying to use one last night for measuring, we had to throw away like five that were cracked before we got to an intact one! Darnitall.
7. Once I'm caught up with some computer stuff (and entering the last of my orders from the chocolate show last night), I'm going to make the invitations for my ornament exchange on December 11! I'm so excited! I'll share more details later, but it's like a cookie exchange without the baking.
   
8. There was a lady at my show last night who owns a nail shop and does awesome gel nails. Listening to her made me really miss my nails - especially since I now have two broken down to the quick :(
9. I get to see my brother and sister-in-law's new puppy tomorrow! Isn't puppy breath so sweet?
10. This weekend's to-do-list highlight has got to be taking or finding a picture for holiday cards! I can't wait much longer...
    

The Circus

Last night was another night filled with Maggie being (unintentionally) funny. Maggie and I met up with my parents and hubby/daddy and we all loaded into the car to go to the opening night of the circus!

We knew Maggie was in rare form when we got to the circus and my mom was helping to get Maggie out of the carseat. Since she wasn't totally familiar with the carseat buckles, I was giving her a few pointers as we got Maggie out. Once Maggie's shoes hit the pavement, she said, "Good job, Mimi!" We all laughed over that one!

Maggie's favorite part of the circus was the elephants. It wasn't the circus I remembered from growing up. Instead of three rings, the performance floor was more of one giant oval, so you didn't have to choose what to watch at any given time. I like it better like this - I'm not afraid I'll be missing something cool when I'm watching another ring, you know?


We always joke around about Maggie not being at all shy around strangers. At our trip to the circus she really reinforced this! Just before intermission, the woman in front of us got some cotton candy. My mom and I were cracking up again as Maggie almost leaned between the seats to grab it right out of her hand! Luckily the nice lady shared some with Maggie at intermission. Apparently she made a fast friend, as during the second half of the performance, Maggie wanted to go sit with her! That's right - four adults in our party, and the baby wants to go sit with someone we'd never met before. Goofy kid! I've told everyone a hundred times that this is the same thing Maggie does at school or anywhere else we go - since she usually spends all of her time with me (and this is me with Maggie in the pictures), she likes a little variety and grabs some other adult when she has the chance.

I'm sure you'd have a great time at the circus too! If you're in the Southeast Michigan area, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus is at the Palace of Auburn Hills until November 22. You can get four tickets for $44 by entering MOM in the 'MC Promotion' box when purchasing through Ticketmaster.

Be sure to get there early so you don't miss the All Access Preshow! You'll be able to go right to the circus floor to meet performers, try on costumes, get autographs and just generally 'clown' around ;) We got to watch Kelly the elephant paint a picture, as well as a super tall guy on stilts walk right over daddy's head! It's free for all ticket holders.

Here's the discount details summarized for you:
Ringling Bros. Coupon Code Details
* The coupon code will be MOM to get four tickets for $44 for ALL performances!
* The tickets can be purchased from http://www.ticketmaster.com and by entering the MOM code in the “MC promotion” box when purchasing tickets.
* Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.
* Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity, Front Row, or VIP seating.
* Cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges, facility & handling fees will apply.

Your Holiday Wish List?

So tonight at my chocolate show I asked what everyone wanted Santa to bring them. We were all just making small talk, waiting for a few more people to arrive. I got one answer - a blender to replace a broken one.

I expected to hear big stuff like laptop computers, big screen tvs, game systems (although I think everyone already has one of those but us...).

Maybe I should have asked if they'd been good first, to see what they thought they might deserve! Hahaha... What are you asking for as holiday gifts?

Xerox is Doing Something Cool!

If you go to this web site, you can pick out a thank-you card, and Xerox will print it out and send it to a soldier who is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING would it be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE, and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers need to know we are behind them.

This takes just ten seconds and it's a wonderful way to say, "Thank you." Please take the time to send a card and pass it on for others to do so too! We can never say thanks enough.

Thanks for taking the time to support our military!

Another Fun Giveaway!

Some bloggers have a TON of giveaways, but I tend to just post (and have entered) the ones I REALLY want to win. As I was looking through an ongoing list (updated Mondays) of giveaways at The Frugal Kennedys, I saw an interesting giveaway I'd never stumbled across before and headed to check it out.

OH MY GOODNESS! Growing a Baby in Seattle Reviews is giving away a one-year subscription to Relish!. What is Relish? It's a meal planning site - each week (after I win) I'll get to pick five recipes and one dessert from a list, and they'll send me the recipes and the shopping list. Yeah. For real. I am horrible at grocery shopping, and don't care much for cooking usually. This site? Must have been made for me.

For your chance, check out the post here, but I'm going to win this one. I have to.

Tuesday Random Thoughts

Today? I get to clean the house. Not much, really. Dust, vaccuum, clean the bathroom. I just wish there were more people coming to my Jewel Kade party to appreciate my efforts! I'm going to make my nacho dip, a big tray of Dove fudge brownies (which will actually be split so I can take some to my show on Thursday), probably a Tastefully Simple cheeseball or Garlic Herb Triscuits with Winschulers cheese, and maybe some oatmeal scotchies...

Dear Meijer: Thank you for the penny pony. Maggie loves the ride at the end of each shopping trip.

I love playing catch with Maggie lately. We say, "Thank you," and, "You're welcome," ever time we pass the ball back and forth. She's so adorable. She also likes to make me or her dad stand up so we can hold hands with her and dance. Oh, and either she or any of her toys or animals can become 'Jasmine' by putting a blanket, towel, or washcloth on their head. Lots of fun around here :)

I've started shopping for hubby's stocking. I hate dropping a bunch of money on little things all at once. By starting now, I get something for a few bucks each time I'm out, and he should have a fun, super-full stocking by Christmas!

I remember when I was little there were tons of outfits for Cabbage Patch Kids. Are there still? Maggie's Cabbage Patch Kid has been wearing the same dress (and diaper, for that matter) for a year. Ew. I think I just came up with something else for Maggie's holiday wish list. ;)

The outdoor lights from one of my posts last week? Are done! Hubby put in two lights at the end of the garage, one on the front porch, and one with a motion detector on the back deck. It's so bright and nice looking now :)

Hubby said he was 'having fun' and going fast down a dirt, curvy road last week when Maggie leaned back in her car seat and said, "Be careful!" Smart girl...hehehe....she also says it to me when I do something silly like pick her up upside down.

A Holiday Giveaway

Daisy is giving away a gift certificate to her Etsy store, Daisy Bookworm's Hair Pretties. Looking through her site to pick my favorite items for my entry, I wished I had longer hair! Such sweet, unique things!

The contest runs til December 16, so head on over to get your entry in!

Can't Really Win :(

Yes, it is past midnight, and unfortunately this is not a scheduled post (meaning I could be asleep right now). I'm not asleep, but I am tired.

Last night/early this morning I had a horrible dream that colored a good part of my day, and now I don't want to go to sleep again, even though I'm pretty darn exhausted. And of course Maggie won't understand any of this. Whenever I go to sleep, she'll wake up by 8 AM or so (or 6:30 AM, like this morning) and I'll have to be up for the day. Right now? That's worth it, to not have the horrible dream again :(

For now I'm plugging away at my favorite part of business stuff - looking over the brochures and flyers that I've picked up from other tables at vendor fairs or multi-company shows and re-creating them for my business. You can never really know what works til you try it, and by modifying what others have done, I'm not using even more resources to re-invent the wheel!

As I get more and more befuddled and tired, I can only hope that I'll fall into a very sound sleep without dreams...at least bad ones...

Next Week - We're Going to the Circus!

Next Wednesday is the big day - Maggie's first trip to the big top! We received complimentary tickets as Feld Family Activators -yay! I'm hoping she's more comfortable with clowns than with the big-headed Disney characters or we could be in for a pretty short trip to the circus..

There are discounts available for you too! If you're in the Southeast Michigan area, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be at the Palace of Auburn Hills from November 18 - November 22. You can get four tickets for $44 by entering MOM in the 'MC Promotion' box when purchasing through Ticketmaster.

Be sure to get there early so you don't miss the All Access Preshow! You'll be able to go right to the circus floor to meet performers, try on costumes, get autographs and just generally 'clown' around ;) It's free for all ticket holders.

Here's the discount details summarized for you:
Ringling Bros. Coupon Code Details
* The coupon code will be MOM to get four tickets for $44 for ALL performances!
* The tickets can be purchased from http://www.ticketmaster.com and by entering the MOM code in the “MC promotion” box when purchasing tickets.
* Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.
* Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity, Front Row, or VIP seating.
* Cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges, facility & handling fees will apply.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. As much as the laptop annoys me (especially its moody keyboard!), I like that it keeps my lap warm. I've very frequently cold, but this keeps me cozy :)
2. I don't watch tv usually, but I just heard the funniest radio preview. "On Dr. Phil today, a 20-year-old Amish girl gone astray." Then there's a woman's voice, "I never expected my daughter to end up in the porn industry." Amish porn. Huh. Please tell me I'm not the only twisted individual giggling about this.
3. On our way to school this morning I noticed this business that I've noticed before...it's called 'Transitions Salon,' and I always expect to see a bunch of transvestites or sex change candidates coming and going from there. I've never seen anyone there, but I'll keep watching.
4. I got new bunny slippers yesterday, but I got a medium-sized pair. I should have gotten the larges. Hopefully as some of the fluff gets smooshed down they'll fit better.
5. I need more guests for the jewelry party I'm having next week. Have you seen their stuff? It's Jewel Kade. Go to www.slideshow.net and enter keyword Jewel Kade to look at the catalog. Feel like getting someone a unique holiday gift and helping me out at the same time? Let me know in the comments to this post and I can contact you about placing an order.
6. I think Maggie is still awake in her room, when I need her to be napping. She's going to have a long night with all the moving around and leaving home and coming back - she'll enjoy it much more if she's not tired.
7. The people across the street from me put out their outside holiday decorations a few weeks ago - a light tree and a sleigh with Santa in it. Then last week they took the Santa away but left the light tree. What's up with that? I hope no one is holding Santa hostage. That would really suck for the holidays...
8. I think hubby forgot that I wanted the porch light and the lights at the end of the garage working before my party next week. I wish this was something I could do by myself, but I don't think electricity is a good hobby to pick up with no training. Maybe there will still be time for him to do it yet this weekend. I hope so - it's really dark out there at night for people to be walking to and from our front door.
9. Maggie and I are still coughing, but not quite as bad as we were, I think. As I told a friend yesterday, at this point, coughing is just sort of a hobby that doesn't really mean anything. Even if the people at the mall were looking at us like we were spreading the plague yesterday.
10. Post idea for anyone who wants it: Starting December 1, I'm going to do 12 Days of Christmas again. I'll post something I want each day, so when my family asks, I'll know where to send them! And I start it on the first so there's time to order the things on the 'net. In preparation, now is the time to start jotting down these nifty gift ideas big and small :)

Just Freaking Great!

Okay. So this is just one of those things that I'm hoping happen to everyone else too. Maggie and I were at the mall and I couldn't resist the lure of the photo booth. But most of the buttons didn't work. When I tried to scroll and change the themes, or just get it to say anything other than, "I freaking love you," yeah...obviously I had no luck. I suppose it could be worse. I do, in fact, freaking love her, and she's freaking adorable - no one can argue that!

I saw a speaker this week, Eleni Kalakos of Eleni Speaks. At a meeting I attended on Tuesday we saw an abbreviated version of her Touch the Sky presentation. At the time, it was nice. She's a great singer and speaker, and I chuckled more than once at her recollections of being a teen-aged girl and then a young woman trying to follow her life's purpose and dream. All I could think, though, was that at this time and stage in my life, Maggie IS my purpose. I can't be running around chasing any other dream, even if I could tell you I had another dream. When I got home was when Eleni's words really sunk in. I want Maggie to feel 'cosmic goosebumps' and follow her dreams. Nothing I could think of for myself could top that. And a small part of me wasn't sure if this is good or bad. Am I still supposed to have dreams besides being a mother and wife? Will I have these sort of dreams when I'm not 'needed' by a little one 24/7? What do you think?

Wordless Wednesday

Dentek Custom Comfort Night Guards

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again: I'm a lucky girl. The same week the dentist said I needed a $480 bite splint, Dentek asked me to review their dental mouth guard that is specifically to prevent teeth grinding (how could it be tooth grinding? It requires multiple teeth, right?). In summation? I can't tell how well it's working or not, since the only result of my teeth grinding is tooth damage, which I can't tell from home... But it's easy enough to use, so hopefully it's doing what I need it to!



*This review is a result of a feedback campaign by DenTek Oral Care, Inc. I was asked to give my honest opinion about the product I received. Good reviews were not incentivized and poor reviews will not be censored for recipient's opinion of the product.

Tuesday Random Thoughts

Well. I'm back out at the laptop that misses some keystrokes again because my desktop is typing even worse. It doesn't go forward as it types letters, so everything shows up backward unless I use the arrow key to go forward after every letter I type. As opposed to this keyboard, which just randomly doesn't register keystrokes. Grr....

I'm one of those people who are already listening to holiday music since I found it on the radio last Friday. Yay! It's on in my car and the house, as long as hubby isn't around to override me ;)

Just got the outfit that Grandpa and Grammy got Maggie for the family holiday party. Very cute! It's a plaid skort, coordinating leggings, and a matching shirt and sweater. All from Lands End. I'll work on getting her to try them on tomorrow (but I'm sure they'll fit perfect). She still has the big noggin - may as well make sure everything that has to goes over it before I wash it all so it doesn't bug her sensitive skin.

I really, really hope my computer works when I turn it on later on tonight. Although I've got plenty to do if it doesn't...I need to make cards to use as invites for a party I'm doing in December, and we have Shaun of the Dead from Netflix that we can watch tonight if hubby gets home at a reasonable hour.

Chocolate business is BOOMING! I'd have to juggle some things to fit in even one more party before the end of the year! Want to join my team? I could use a hand!

I'm digging make-up more again lately. It might be from catching some YouTube videos while looking for other stuff, but I'm trying to juggle my personal budget enough to get a few things to keep me pretty in my middle age ;)

Happy Veterans' Day!

Yes, I know I'm a little early, but I've got a reason - I'm listing some freebies for active duty service people and veterans. Thanks for all you do/have done for our country! Hope you enjoy some of these freebies that are being offered by various merchants/restaurants/businesses.

Outback Steakhouse is offering a free Bloomin Onion and beverage to all active duty military and veterans with proof of military service on November 11.

Applebees says all active duty military and veterans eat free with proof of military service on November 11.

I read on another news site that Krispy Kreme is giving away free donuts to active duty military and veterans all day on November 11, but I couldn't find anything on their website stating this. Worth a try, right?

Home Depot is offering 10% Military Discount (up to $200) in store on single-receipt purchases November 5 - November 11, 2009.

The same news site referenced above also said Lowe's is offering 10% off to active duty military and veterans from November 8 - November 15. I couldn't find this one on their website, so you'll have to check with your own store.

Golden Corral is offering a special free 'thank you' dinner on Monday, November 16 from 5 PM until 9 PM to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited.

Unos Chicago Grill is offering a free entree or individual pizza (with entree or pizza purchase of equal or greater value) to all active duty military and veterans on November 11 if you show up in uniform, with a picture of you in uniform, or with a military or veteran's ID.

While supplies last, AMG Medical Inc in cooperation with Sam's Club is offering a folding cane and one-day Sam's Club pass to veteran's with proof of U.S. military service.

Do you know of more? Leave me a comment and I'll add it to the list! Feel free to swipe this list and republish it - just let me know in a comment :)

Thanks to our veterans, and thanks to all of those showing their appreciation.

Are You Ready for some FOOTBALL!!

My friend's son is the awesome #9 in this video. They're looking for ratings to receive $15,000 for their school from State Farm.

Please rate this video on YouTube to help their high school (my alma mater) win $15,000 in State Farm's Friday Night Feats Video Contest.

Go to the following link and sign-in to YouTube to rate the video - rate it as high as you can! I only started doing this as a favor to my friend, but the way this kid plays is fun to watch - he literally shows how to 'walk all over' your competition!

Go here to rate the video



I'm hoping you all go do this today - it's really important!! Go #9!!

The List Never Ends...

I know it's the way it is with everything, but lately my 'honey-do' list for my husband is making me feel guilty. Don't get me wrong, I'm still keeping up with as much stuff as I can on the inside of the house and with our daughter, but there are some things that require his expertise.

Before he could leave town yesterday, he needed to fix his car up and do the brakes on my car. And then I had to tell him that sometime this week after he gets back, all of the outdoor lights (on the front porch and the garage) need to be made operational before I have people over the week after that... He said it's not a big project, but I definitely shouldn't be messing around with electrical wiring - not at all my area of expertise.

Hopefully once the lights are all set again the list will stop catching up with us for a few minutes and we can enjoy some family time together when we're not so busy with stuff that needs to get done!

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. I'm so glad I remembered where put the cards I bought last year. I got holiday cards at a stamping party but they came in too late to make them and send them out. I remembered putting them in with the holiday decorations even while thinking that I wouldn't see them again til it was too late. Today when I wanted them - I found them right off (well, almost..)
2. Maggie found her Mickey Mouse stuffed animal from Disney on Ice! I was thinking it was lost since I haven't seen it since the show, but it was stashed in an extra hamper in her room. She opened the hamper today and said, "Mickey Mouse!"
3. I'm packing up the halloween decorations today. I figure it's time, since I got to hear holiday music on the radio this morning :)
4. I'm having a Jewel Kade party in a week and a half. Very pretty stuff, and I've never seen it before - can't wait!
5. I've started doing my to-do lists again and I am getting so much more accomplished. Or at least it looks like so much, since I can see the list get shorter. Either way, I like it.
6. On Wednesday night Maggie and I went to a friend's PartyLite show. Hardly anyone showed up, but the four of us had a great time catching up and planning more stuff for the fall and next year.
7. There's a bunch of stuff I want to get done for a craft fair and girls' night out I'm working tomorrow, but I'm really strongly considering getting myself a nap this afternoon. It looks like an even better idea in writing than it did just knocking around inside my head.
8. I'm on the laptop in the living room right now - please excuse any typos. This keyboard doesn't choose to acknowledge every keystroke, so I do a lot of back-spacing to re-type the letters that have been ignored. I'm sure I've missed some. Sorry.
9. The mail has already been here so I'll be heading out to check it soon. I usually don't care, but I'm expecting a box of homemade cards I won in an auction and an Amazon order.
10. My hands are really dry, and winter hasn't even started!

Tell Me Thursday

So now that you've seen my Wordless Wednesday post, I can give you the background on Maggie's latest cool gift from Mimi!

See, now-a-days kids aren't supposed to have any sort of bulky winter coat between them and their carseat. But who would really want to take off their coat as soon as you get in a cold car? Not me, so I'm guessing not Maggie! Maggie's Mimi made her (and her cousin) awesome ponchos. I think my brother and sister-in-law had an easier time introducing it to their six-month-old, but Maggie and I now call hers her 'twirly poncho.' It's much more fun to put on if you can twirl and watch it all fly around you right away ;) And it's so super soft and fuzzy it makes holding Maggie even more cozy than usual!

Wordless Wednesday

Number Two?

I'd already heard that Halloween was the second most decorated holiday, but now I'm hearing a lot of chatter that leads me to the belief that it's the second holiday requiring weight loss too! Hahahaha...

Whether it's on Facebook, forums, or other blogs, everyone seems to be sneaking a little - or more - of their kids' Halloween candy. And then feeling guilty about it! We're pretty much still free to take what we want from Maggie's stash as she doesn't really get the whole concept yet, and a lot of it is stuff that she just can't eat yet anyway (at least that's our excuse!).

How much of your kids' Halloween candy have you eaten? Are they sharing willingly?

Tuesday Random Thoughts

Maggie is napping now for the first time since Thursday! Of course, she went down at 2 and I've got to wake her up not much later than 4 to get on with our day, but boy are these few minutes of peace and quiet great and much needed!

I haven't left the house yet today, but I'll be gone all evening, so I'm calling it okay. Hubby is the sort who has to go somewhere or be doing something in particular most of the time, but I'm perfectly content to hang out where it's cozy and warm. We are showered and dressed, but just doing stuff inside the house instead of facing the rest of the world.

Yesterday was the 'fun' project of getting more Dreft baby detergent and re-washing all of Maggie's pants in an attempt to help her get rid of the rash on her leg. I feel awful that it took me nearly a month to realize it looks just like the rash she had before I started using Dreft. And then it came back when I ran out of Dreft a year and a half later. Duh. Silly mommy. Sorry for the itchies, Maggie! We should have you on the mend soon!

Hubby and I watched Serial Mom and Coraline over the weekend. I'd recommend both flicks. Please be aware, Coraline may be animated, but it's not for kids. There were some scary parts in there!

Yay for Weekends!

As it gets colder, I can only assume the lovely pattern our weekends have ended up in this fall will have to change. Lately we've ended up out at my parents' house more often than not. Maggie loves running round their big yard and exploring all of Mimi's fun little birdhouses and lawn ornaments, and of course playing in the 'jungle' (an alcove of trees in the front yard). As evening falls, we're lucky my parents have one of those outdoor fireplaces. My dad will get a roaring fire going and we can all warm up and visit around the fire pit. The fire is enough warmth in the fall, but come winter we're going to find ourselves indoors much more.

October Top Droppers

That's German for Thank You. I say it out of habit (especially to hubby) since living in Germany for three whopping months in 2007. So today? It's what I have to say to my top ecard droppers for October - thanks!
They've all got great blogs for you to check out as well, and they fall into a variety of interests - there's sure to be something you'll like in this list! Enjoy :)

Come Along for the Ride!

I'm sure you're noticing a lot around lately about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), but don't forget about NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). I have completed NaNoWriMo once before, but I'm not quite up to that level of dedication with a toddler underfoot 24/7. Playing with her takes priority around here! But blogging...I fit that in after she's asleep each night (okay, and sometimes during her nap).

Why don't you join me? You may be seeing this (barely) before midnight on November 1, or you may have 'accidentally' posted on November 1 without knowing it would fit in with a goal ;)

If you do sign up, please leave me a comment so I can come check out your new posts (or pictures) while I'm online each day this month.