The Registry

Don't get me wrong, registering for gifts when we got married was very cool! But since I had been in my apartment for years, and he had been in the house for years, there really wasn't much we 'needed'.

Now, we have a new house, with twice as many rooms (practically), and I'd love a day with the barcode scanner picking out everything we need/want. Hahahaha.....

Although I certainly won't do it with my kids being only four years apart, I can see why the excitement carries some people away and they do a second (or more) baby shower ;)

Guess I need to start working more to get a few more of the things we want for this very exciting year!!

10 Random Things for Friday

1. I'm tired. I realize 8AM isn't early for most people, but for me to already be up and showered by this time is early for me!
2. We bought the house yesterday - woo-hoo!! Maggie was upset when we got home to the old house with all the stuff because she thought we should just go live in the new house. She totally does not get the concept of taking our stuff to the new house.
3. I'm totally wearing jeans and a Dove shirt to my chocolate party tonight. Usually I insist on wearing dress pants, but I only have one pair of maternity dress pants that aren't capris. It isn't quite warm enough for capris yet, and I need to wear my dress pants to the event on Saturday and Sunday. So jeans it is for tonight....
4. I'm hungry. After I got up so early, I decided to sneak into the office and get some of this done while Maggie's still sleeping. So we haven't eaten yet (since I usually get both of our breakfasts at the same time...).
5. I love the fact that I'll probably have to wake Maggie up within the next hour so we can get ready and leave for the midwife appointment on time. Yay for a kid who isn't into mornings (just like me!).
6. I really hope the next kid is on the same page with our arrangement ;)
7. My cat has taken to meowing and scratching the doors to get in some rooms in the wee house of the morning lately (and by wee hours I actually mean 3 or 4AM). Being waken up at that hour makes me very angry. Last night I locked her in her bathroom for a while (where her food and litter is). It seemed a little quieter, maybe.
8. I have someone who has agreed to have a chocolate tasting party but needs to set a date. I've talked to her twice this week (when I called her) and she's told me how excited everyone is and said she'll call me later. Then she hasn't. I don't want to be a pest, but as long as she keeps saying she definitely wants to reschedule, I'll assume she just gets busy and forgets to call. And I'll keep calling her.
9. Hmm....I'm getting hungrier. And really looking forward to Applebees for lunch after our appointment this morning. Have I mentioned their soup and salad special? Once or twice? ;)
10. And while I'm thinking of being so hungry, I really need to get to the grocery store and get the Little Debbie Nutty Bars that I prefer for breakfast. Toast and Cheez Whiz is getting old fast.
    

Excited!

What a lot of great things going on at once!

Besides closing on our new house this afternoon (and trying not to stress about moving over the next couple weeks!), I'm also participating in a local Internationl Women's Show for my chocolate business.

Luckily I'm not in charge of the table this time, but I'll still be there with some promo items and hopefully generating lots of new leads and business for myself!

These sort of events are different from my regular shows, and I remember looking a lot at reviews of other promotional companies when deciding how to set my display up and what to give people to entice them to follow-up with me, or at least fill out my door prize slip! I'm used to a lot more one-on-one interaction with hostesses and guests at my show, not just handing out personalized notepads and hoping for the best.

The location of the expo gives me some hope too. It's in the middle of some more prosperous suburbs, and at a large, well-known location. It's even a bit closer to the new house, which will hopefully help me build contacts in my new neighborhood.

Lots going on - hope it all pans out as positively as it could!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Wow! Was it only yesterday when I said I was going to jot down some of the randomness in my head so I'd do a decent post today? I'm such a liar sometimes.

I'm mildly bummed. I got the new OPI gel axxium manicure a couple weeks ago. It's sort of like gel instead of acrylic nail polish, and it almost grows out instead of actually coming off. Unfortunately the 'almost' means that I have a bit of it lifting off the ends, and a bunch growing out, and now I just can't fit a new manicure into the schedule before I'm going to see a bunch of people this weekend. And so I decided to just do the straight gel nails, but that takes even longer so really, really can't fit in my schedule. So I would LOVE to have pretty nails (especially since it's been so long), but it's still not meant to be. And they look worse than usual, since they're falling apart and I don't have time to properly remove them and polish them on my own.

I've spent so much time scoffing at those silly people on Facebook who get sucked into their Farmville, or Mafia Wars, or whatever those little games are. And then Facebook just showed me Zombie Lane. I love zombies. Please come be my neighbor ;)

Usually I know my schedule inside out for weeks in advance. I just get nervous if I don't. Lately I'm so excited about everything, and probably suffering from baby-brain, that I have to check my calendar all the time! I'm continually convinced that I'm about to miss something important!

Not Crazy Yet!

I was a posting fool for a while there, and now nothing for a whole week? Sorry to leave you hanging like that!

I've actually been mostly spending my extra time working on my seasonal test scoring job instead of blogging or even working with my brand new scrapbooking software. It'll probably be June before I'm back to my old groove, and the first thing I'll be doing with extra time in June is settling in the new house!

We're scheduled to close on the new house this week, so I've finally started to make more of an effort packing. Hubby and I decided to take about a week moving most of the 'little' stuff before we move the furniture and such with a moving truck one weekend in May. And then we'll still technically have time to finish up with any boxes and such that didn't make it before that. I'm dreading the moving process, but really looking forward to settling in the new house.

While you've read more than once about me struggling with finding enough randomness for a whole post, tonight it's ready to spew rapidly. Since Random Tuesday doesn't actually start for a few more hours, I'll try to jot it down on paper the old-fashioned way so I'll have plenty to post for ya'll tomorrow :)

Weekend in Review

I can't remember the last time I was so grateful to see Monday! What a busy weekend.

On Friday, hubby left for the Lemons Race (that's him in the second picture). Maggie and I decided to relax and enjoy the day, since my chocolate party that was originally supposed to be that evening had canceled. We took our time going to the mall to see the Easter bunny and pick out a dress for me for Easter. I also found some fabulous new makeup that so far I'm really happy with :) Friday night was Maggie'e Tiny Tigers karate class. She's doing a great job with it and I'm really proud of her. After Maggie went to bed Friday night I started working on my new seasonal third job.

Saturday morning I got up and bustled frantically to get ready for the rest of the day Saturday. We went out for lunch with a friend, and then headed to my mother-in-law's house for a Premiere Designs jewelry party. My mom met us at the party, and we did the Maggie pass-off, where Maggie headed to Mimi's for a sleepover and I continued on a work-filled weekend.

From my mother-in-law's house I tried to head to a fundraiser I was doing for a local library. Unfortunately, my GPS decided not to join me on the journey, so I spent a chunk of the almost hour drive on the phone with my mom to figure out where to go! The fundraiser was a great success, with two more chocolate tastings booked and a couple of items sold. Saturday night I was able to put in a couple more hours on the third job before crashing into bed.

Sunday morning was as early as I could make it, as I had to get ready for a tasting event on Sunday afternoon. Instead of baking cookies (which I wouldn't have had time for anyway), we had a mousse dessert decorating contest at the party, using my leftovers from Saturday night. The party was fun, but I was anxious to get back to my girl. I got to Mimi and Papa's house in time for yummy spaghetti dinner, then worked up the energy to move the carseat back to my car and head home for an early night of much-needed sleep!

Whew!

Trial Run

Well, moving could start in a week or so. We've been told the paperwork is just being processed and everything is with the underwriters. In the meantime, hubby and a friend are taking a trial run on the whole moving thing. Our friend has re-done his condo and now it's up to hubby to make sure the truck insurance is up to date and go move some furniture from storage to our friend's fresh condo.

When it comes to our moving, I think we'll be using a covered trailer or two more than the truck. Since we're moving closer to hubby's work, the plan is for him to take a trailer full of boxes each day and empty it after work. While he's at work, I'll either fill up another trailer, or put full boxes in the garage to be loaded on the trailer once he gets home, and repeat the whole thing each day til we're moved.

10 Random Things for Friday

1. Maggie woke up early this morning as hubby was getting ready to leave :( I just wish she'd still take a nap then, because I know she'll be tired of listening by later on this evening...
2. I moved the first of our belongings into the new house yesterday - three rolls of toilet paper because I was tired of getting out there and then having to pee (necessitating leaving to find a bathroom only because of a lack of t.p.).
3. My best plan, I think, is to go to the mall and get Maggie's picture with the Easter Bunny today. That way once work on my seasonal job starts next week I won't actually need to go do it. (Need being a relative term and mostly relating to my guilt from missing Easter Bunny pictures last year...)
4. The vacation that just keeps going - Audrey the cat's new favorite toy is one of our wrist bands from the water park last weekend. She walks around with it in her mouth, while talking to us, or bats it around the room. Fun, fun, fun..
5. I realized while looking at a business book this morning that what I thought of as a new sticker company has actually been around since 1998. Wow! Glad they're getting the word out now - I finally heard about them at our conference last July!
6. My May is shaping up to be crazy - and that's not even counting the fact that we'll be moving at the same time! We've got a weekend of family stuff, a weekend of Memorial Day, and then Mother's Day is yet another Sunday (half of a weekend). If you want a week-day chocolate party, please contact me! I still want to work too :)
7. I'm also sort of re-thinking my plan for an event tomorrow. I wanted to make some mousse and display it all pretty, but now I'm worried about the temperature/consistency staying the way it should. If I can't keep it cold enough (in a cooler, since I'm leaving my house hours before the event), it'll be sort of runny. Still yummy, but probably not very pretty for display. Hmm...
8. Seriously? I just called for a new payoff on a loan we just paid off, because the mortgage guy said there was still a balance showing of less than one payment. The chick on the phone wanted me to register for an online account to pay off immediately instead of giving me a 10-day-payoff. What a hassle! When I told her I'd just mail a check and wait for a bill of less than a dollar next month, she relented and gave me the payoff amount. Really? Why do some things have to be so complicated? Glad she finally did it the easy way in the end.
9. I like when there are stars I know on Sesame Street. Like Adam Sandler singing the Elmo song.
10. Has anyone seen my motivation? It seems to be slipping away this morning...
    

As Things Still Go Swimmingly....

There are some features hubby wouldn't have minded in a new house, but now that we're listing off the (relatively few) things we want to take care of before moving in, it's probably a good thing we don't have an above ground swimming pools! We noticed last weekend when we stopped by that the leaves were never cleared last fall, so we need to do that in the yard (but not necessarily before we move). There's only one 'safe' side to walk around to the back of the house because of dog turds on the other side. Yet another reason we don't deal with a pet besides my darling cat.

While the weather lately would be getting better for a pool, I'll be content to enjoy our deck, patio, and peaceful end lot! I'm excited to see what the landscaping and such looks like, since only the gorgeous little crocuses are in bloom so far. Hubby observed that we probably need to redo the wood chips around everything, but again that's something not crucial to settling in otherwise. So much to do, but I'm sure it'll be worth it!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

I miss the warm weather we had for a whole day already :(

I think I may have found a good preschool for Maggie by the new house. I'm figuring out what day this week to head out that way again. This time we'll have a school to visit, and a friend staying near there to do lunch with.

I totally should take a shower before I go do my chocolate show tonight. Just sayin...

I also keep forgetting to go to the mall and get Maggie's picture taken with the bunny. We totally missed it last year with everything else going on - I really want to get it done this year!

Yesterday at the store I got some cool plastic eggs that look like chocolate ones. I wanted to use them for a booking game at my show tonight. But I'm not sure where they are now. Hopefully on the counter in plain sight....

I realized during my customer service calls today that one of my favorite hostesses (and a good friend!) who moved in the fall is going to be pretty close to our new house - yay!! It's always nice to find new (existing) connections in a strange new world ;)

Next Steps...

So everything for the new house is falling into place. If, of course, if we mean by 'falling into place,' that I'm starting to feel rather lazy about it. See, I'm afraid to seek out any professional carpet cleaning tips or wool area rug cleaning austin until we have the keys in hand.

So now we sit and wait, excitedly. The next items on our agenda are providing proof of hubby's pay this week. Really, I can't rush that. We have nothing on the to-do list until Friday. Which means Friday I'll hurry up to submit the appropriate paperwork so we can wait again. Our closing is definitely going to be scheduled before the end of the month, but at the rate things are going, it may be a bit sooner than that.

Once we have the keys, things will be fun and frantic again. We need to get some carpet re-stretched, one room of wallpaper taken down, and maybe consider carpet cleaning phflugerville for the kids' playroom. But scheduling anything now may mean it's too soon, or too late. So we'll wait a little longer, and just keep company with our plans and dreams.

28 Days Later

Yay! Another zombie movie :D

Admittedly, I don't think this is one of my favorites, but at least it's still worth thinking about the next day. Since watching 28 Days Later last night, I have put the next sequel in my Netflix queue. What I liked about this movie was, well, duh! the zombies! And as is typical with lots of zombie flicks, when there's only a few 'human' characters, it seems like they are pretty likable and well-developed. I didn't like all the violence (yeah, I keep renting horror flicks but say I don't like violence - go figure) and the fact that the worst villians weren't the zombies at all. I'll leave it at that so I don't spoil it for you.

Overall, I'd still recommend seeing 28 Days Later, and I am planning to see the next one (even though the description of that one gives a pretty sad spoiler right off the intro blurb).

Plan Ahead?

Plan ahead? Now why would I do that? Hahahaha....

I remember saying in school that I worked best under pressure...some things never change! Right now I'm totally focused on relaxing and having a great weekend at the water park. We're meeting friends there, and I know everyone is excited for the party to get started!

Monday, however, the conference calls kick back in. And to really add just a bit more pressure, I'm actually running the call on Monday night. It'll be about hostess coaching. Help me out - if you have home shows, what would you like the consultant to do for you to help you be prepared for your show? I'm mainly talking about following up frequently and providing exact information about what to expect both in writing and verbally over the phone. Email is great, but too often there's no confirmation that it's understood or even received! Postal mail followed up by phone is the surest way I've found to communicate information, unless your first emails are returned promptly and enthusiastically.

I figure I've got most of the day Monday to work out an outline and brush up what exactly I want to say. Besides, I work best under pressure, right? :P

Decorate, Celebrate, Illuminate

So my latest in-home show to be a hostess for (which is different from my chocolate shows, where I'm paid in cash, not products!) was a Partylite show last night. Our consultant was my good friend Amber, who is really going places with her business! Showed us some of the new products, brought all of the scent samples for us to smell, and generally made it a good time to have fun with friends and family, while shopping for beautiful and wonderful smelling candles and accessories.

If you've been waiting to get some of their great new spring products, call Amber this weekend and have your order added to my show, please! In addition to a couple of the sconces shown above (which can be hung vertically or horizontally), I really want this gorgeous sconce which can sit on the floor (and will, in front of our new fireplace) or hang on the wall. How's that for versatile?

Dear Masters of the Universe

I think the Masters of the Universe must be on the other side of the world from Michigan. Just look at the seasons. We all travel to see all the family members we can find in some of the biggest blizzards of the year around Christmas. In the spring, it is never quite warm enough for little girls to wear the sleeveless dresses they put on the racks for Easter.

More importantly, the best dress-up holiday of the whole year doesn't come until the warm weather has passed and we need coats. What's the point of having revealing adult halloween costumes if you have to wear a jacket (and scarf, hat and mittens) that cover them up?

I've heard the weather is usually the opposite on the other side of the world, so they must have things going just right. No traffic problems over the winter holidays, plenty of sunshine and warm weather for spring finery, and pleasant Halloween weather when you can comfortably wear whatever you want...Whoever is in charge of all this, it doesn't seem they care a hoot for Michigan!

Rubber Ducky Quiz

You Are Quirky and Lovable

You are hard to describe because you're so one of a kind. You're unique without trying to be. You are very artistic and expressive. You were born with a natural flair, and you've never lost your magic touch! You are playful, and you especially like creative play. You're happiest when you're creating. You prefer waters with a strong current... so that you can swim against it!

The Rubber Duckie Test

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

What Next?

Last week was the one year anniversary of my heart surgery. I know - nuts, right? When I was a whopping 37-years-old, I was diagnosed with a birth defect that had previously been unnoticed. It was an ASD, which is a hole in the heart. The catch is, all infants are technically born with it, but then the heart usually grows over the hole. Mine didn't, and at 37 I still had an 18mm hole that needed to repair so my heart could stop being enlarged from the extra work and heal its way back to normal.

Surgery actually wasn't complex from my point of view. A leading pediatric cardiology surgeon went in through two cardiac caths - one to take the device to be implanted, and one to take the camera so he could see what he was doing. After implanting the device was implanted, I needed to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Once I was back home, it was business as usual!

If I thought that was simple, I can only imagine what will be coming next for people with electrosurgery! How totally sci-fi! I'm so grateful for my surgeon's skills. According to some information on the internet (which is always right, right?), a hole larger than 12mm usually requires crack-open-the-chest open-heart surgery for repair. Yikes!

One year post-op, my heart still shows some enlargement, but it's getting back where it should be, and I'm told 20 years have been added to my life expectancy! Now it's up to me to use them well!

10 Random Things for Friday

1. Great news - Applebee's lunch special that I love is good Monday - Saturday. (I thought it was just weekdays...). You get unlimited soup and salad. You can pick if you want the salads with meat or without, for a couple dollars difference. And then get comfortable - you can choose a different soup and salad from the list for each go 'round! I just stay and keep eating til Maggie gets too bored :D
2. I got a great big Laffy Taffy while I was grocery shopping yesterday because it just looked good. It is very good.
3. For the first day this week, we have nothing to do until this evening. Well, nothing outside the house anyway. It'll be a very good day to just chill out while getting laundry done and making a new recipe for dinner.
4. Why do they play Sprout commercials on regular PBS? Believe or not, my child does not make our cable decisions. For realz.
5. Hahahaha.....not having anywhere I have to be during the day has me sort of disoriented - I feel like I'm forgetting something!
6. Hey - if you need any Partylite, leave me a comment or message me TODAY - I need a couple more orders on my party to get what I want for free from my party last night :D (More on this in a later post...)
7. I kind of can't believe it's raining AGAIN...
8. I'm so excited about the leftover chicken dip for last night, that I might have lunch very soon ;)
9. I finally turned our grandfather clock's chimes back on. I like em.
10. Hmm....this Laffy Taffy is a really yummy appetizer before my deliciously unhealthy chicken dip :D
    

Only One More Week!

On top of everything else going on lately, hubby's racing next weekend as part of a four person team. They've been having nights each week when they work on the car, discuss aem cold air intake, and other stuff I don't get, but next weekend is the actual race.

It's actually a 24-hour endurance race with a car that cost $500 or less to start out. I know the guys have all been looking forward to it, and I hope they do as well as they expect. They've definitely put the work into it!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Should you have to take a printer for adjustments? I go through literally three or four sheets of labels each time I have one sheet worth to print, because they end up so crooked that only a third or so of them are usable. Ugh...

Why do I finally feel like working at nearly midnight? I will regret this tomorrow, I'm sure...

Do you know a team or organization which needs a fundraiser? I'm putting together goodies right now to give groups the opportunity to earn $7 - $12 plus free chocolate for selling our Divine Desserts Collection to their friends and family. Good for the month of April only - who doesn't love chocolate?? And no deliveries afterward - Dove ships straight to the designated recipients!

I've made it almost halfway through this busy week. Actually I think I'm into the fun part now (aw, who am I kidding, I've been having fun anyway!). Still to go: a meeting tomorrow night, lunch with a friend and then a PartyLite show at my house (you can order online and ship straight to you, just put Becki B as your hostess) on Thursday, Maggie's first karate class Friday night, and then a weekend at the indoor water park - yay!!

Hurry Up and Wait

I feel like my whole life is about to move really, really fast. We're building up to the closing on the new house, and I'm still working on building the perfect baby in my uterus ;) While taking care of me and the baby is my top priority, the house currently requires a lot more planning and attention.

I've got a notebook I'm carrying with me now where I jot down ideas of things we need to do, or pack, or just take care of. Adding to the list are things like find a covered trailer or two for moving our stuff out to the new house in May, and keeping a utility knife handy for use with all of the packing supplies and such that will be taking over my life next month.

What's your best moving tip? We luckily have a few weeks to get everything moved, but I have a feeling it will take even less time than that once it all gets rolling. And of course I don't want to have half of my stuff in each house, as Murphy's law will guarantee that whatever I need at any given moment will be an hour away at the other house ;)

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part Three

Today Sunday Stealing ripped off a blogger named Leo from the blog Leonine's Journal. He was tackling a meme that his blogging site, Live Journal, hosts. It has 5,000 questions. He did a hundred. So, we will break it up into parts. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part Three

Cheers to all of us thieves!

51. Make up a definition for the following silly words...

Fruitgoogle: A fabulous beverage

Ambytime: That sleepy time where you should go to bed, but you're too tired to get ready.

Asscactus: Definitely a prickly pain in the keester.

52. What was the last thing you made with your own hands? A home for hubby's baby tree/sapling.

53. What was your favorite toy as a child? Maybe my Big-Bird Alarm Clock?

54. How many TVs are in your house? I believe two, but only one is ever on.

55. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Drive on a nice day, or just relax and enjoy the sun.

56. How do you feel when you see a rainbow? Awe.

57. Have you ever dreamt a dream that came true? Sure

58. Have you ever been to a psychic/tarot reader? Yes!

59. What is your idea of paradise? Warm, relaxing.

60. Do you believe in god and if so what is he/she/it like? Not really.

61. Do you believe in Hell? Nope.

62. What one thing have you done that most people haven't? Given birth to a ten-pound-baby without medications/intervention.

63. What is the kindest thing you have ever done? I suppose that would be up to the recipient.

64. Have you gone to WTIT's facebook page and hit "like" yet? If not, why not? (No pressure.) I don't think so...

65. What holiday should exist but doesn't? I can't think of anything that doesn't have a holiday but should.

66. What holiday shouldn't exist but does? This could be a much longer list..

67. What's the best joke you ever heard? I will always love the one about the drunk on the swing...

68. Where is the most fun place you have EVER been? Hmmm....Maybe the Bahamas with Andy and Maggie.

69. Is your hair natural or dyed? Natural for now.

70. Do you have any deep dark secrets or are you pretty much up front? I'm pretty much up front.

71. What is under your bed right now? Wrapping paper and bows, and probably a couple cat or Maggie toys.

72. If you were in the Land of Oz would you want to live there or go home? I suppose it would depend on who was with me.

73. If you drive do you frequently speed? Not really. Too expensive to get caught ;)

74. What is the world's best song to dance to? I'm not really much of a dancer...

75. What song was on the last time you danced with someone? I'm sure it was something in a move, maybe Princess and the Frog, and I bet I was dancing with Maggie ;)

Too Much Fun to Pass Up

Sometimes I consider getting out of sales. If I wanted a more flexible schedule, I could always go into medical assisting or something. I'd make good money and still be able to have a pretty flexible schedule. On occasion I figure something like that or more business-y would work well when the kids are a little older.

But then I'll have a fun night like tonight. I'll work, but forget I'm working. Then? Sales really feels like the place for me. I have fun, and I help other people have fun too. How can someone not smile when you tell them chocolate is your job? Sharing smiles really just multiplies the income I make from sales.

Fantastic News!

I know I keep referring to all the changes lately in my life. One of the biggest announcements made it to Facebook yesterday - we're having another baby! I'm 15 weeks pregnant now and due at the end of September.

I definitely wanted to wait until well after the end of the first trimester to make any sort of general announcement, and then April 1 was too good of a time to pass up :D I had another midwife appointment earlier in the day and she said everything's going perfect, so I figured it was time to spread the joy.

Of course half of my Facebook friends think it's a joke, but a joke wouldn't have pushed me out of my regular pants and into elastic waistbands already ;)

Now What?

Hehehehe...I am SO verbose when I'm driving by myself. I could have written blog posts to the moon and back while driving a couple hours to and from my chocolate party tonight. Now? I've suddenly got nothing....

The party went well. You know how sometimes you meet people and they're 'your kind' of people? We just all clicked. It's always a really fun confidence booster. They laughed at my jokes, individuals took it as I intended when I was just teasing them, and then I talked to someone who may be interested in joining my team on top of it all! Not the highest dollar sales I've ever had, but definitely a very pleasant evening :)

Earlier in the day we got to hang out at my niece's second birthday party. I was quite thrilled to pretty much gorge myself on BBQ (YUM). And then we got to top it off with cake and moose tracks ice cream - one of my favorites! I had to leave before presents were opened, but I was told the kids had a great time riding around the house in O's new wagon :) I really hope lots of pictures turn up - it sounds like they were having plenty of fun!

Furnishing Fun!

We are in the process of closing on a new house, and I spend half my mental energy trying to figure out where we'll put our furniture and stuff. Instead of one living room, we'll now have a fancier living room and a family room, but of course only enough stuff to fully furnish one for now. No worries.

I keep considering which wall of the family room to put the tv on (I think we have that settled), and whether to use the tv stand we have now, which nicely holds the receiver and other paraphernalia, or go with a floor stand. If we did that, we'd probably still use the table-y stand we have now nearby, because we'd still have wires to the receiver and stuff. Decisions, decisions.

Can You Help?

I read about this the other day on Facebook, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Based on the information provided on their blog, Nathan and Elisa were diagnosed with advanced cancers nine days apart. Now they are struggling with treatment plans and living their life to the fullest with their 18-month-old daughter.

Can you help? While they do have health insurance, that will not cover all of the additional expenses of missed work, getting to and from all their appointments, and extra child care for their daughter. If this story tugs at your heart like it did mine, consider giving what you can.

Yay for No Stink :)

Maggie yelled at me yesterday for laughing at a stinky old church bus that was belching out several colors of smoke. She said it wasn't nice to laugh at stinky. Where she gets these ideas, I often don't know!

Luckily I was able to pass the stinky bus quickly. Even more luckily, our new house is not stinky! Some houses we went and looked at, the first thing you'd need to move in would be air purifiers. One that really made up our minds to buy the nice one fast, was a big house so full of incense that it looked smoky nearly everywhere. I couldn't get out of that one fast enough!

10 Random Things for Friday

1. We watched Conviction last night. I originally put it in my Netflix queue because a guy I graduated from high school with has a small part, but the movie actually ended up being pretty good :)
2. Maggie and I have been running like crazy all week - as expected! Today includes story time at the coffee shop (if I get my butt in gear fast enough!), a doctor's appointment, and going to see Hop with friends.
3. Wow - we look like real movie fiends lately, eh?
4. I still want to get around to putting pictures of our new house up here, but without the actual address revealed. Yeah. Go figure.
5. On top of all of Maggie and my busy-ness today, hubby and some others are meeting up to be at the new house for the home inspection this afternoon. Ever have a couple stressful things going on at once? Arrgghh!!
6. I'm hoping spring is actually here finally! I haven't complained about being cold in, like, days! 'Course, there's a 'chance of snow' on the forecast for tomorrow and next Tuesday :(
7. Having read that, I hope it doesn't actually snow tomorrow. I have a lot of driving to do on my own.
8. I've still got the song from the ending credits of Conviction stuck in my head. At least a few bars of it, anyway...
9. Have you tried Tastefully Simple's Pomegranate Chipotle Sauce? We had it last night with bacon-wrapped chicken - YUM!
10. I would say TGIF, but somehow the weekend is just as busy!