Bought, Sold, or Processed...

A new diet, a new office buddy...

2008-12-23T11:37:00.005-05:00

Ok - so I've been watching my diet now for a little over a week and it's improving. I lost 7 pounds the first week but I was also sick for a day or two. Let's see how it goes this week. Weigh-in is Friday. Cross your fingers for me.

I also got a new office "mate" last week. Thanks to my good friend, Nichol (I love ya girl!), my cubicle is just a bit hotter this holiday.

He's 6'1" and definitely easy on the eyes. Although, he has scared a few of my co-workers as they've walked by and forgot that "he" hangs out in my office.

Of course, Nichol and I are still mourning the haircut.

Hopefully it grows out for New Moon!

In other news, I'll be off work for the next 12 days (WHOO HOO!) and hopefully S2H and I will get some stuff accomplished at home. Maggie is off of school and Addie is anxiously plotting her next move to tear something up at the house. I also got my first Etsy custom order and am pretty excited about that, so I'll be knitting this weekend! Plus, I am thinking about scrapbooking again. Some great layouts were up on 2Peas and they were VERY inspiring!

I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday and I'll probably post over the break!

Totally Disgusted with Myself

2008-12-12T23:04:00.002-05:00

I've been avoiding it for a while. I gave up on my diet a few months ago and went hog wild. LITERALLY. Hog wild is definitely the appropriate term. I did not pay attention to anything I ate - did not exercise. My job duties shifted and things have been stressful. But, tonight I realized - THAT IS NO EXCUSE.

I stepped on the scale for the first time in three months. I knew my pants weren't fitting. Quite frankly I have been feeling like shit. Now, I know why. All that weight - the weight I worked so hard to lose - is back.

I am disgusted with myself. I told myself I would not let this happen and I did. It's one of those things where I really wish I could be happy with myself as I am, but I can't. Society doesn't allow me to. My body doesn't allow me to. So, things are changing. TONIGHT.

My mom had just made me some fudge, too. Dammit. Oh well...it's sitting in the fridge and I'm not touching it. I got out the Wii Fit tonight and Maggie and I both worked out for a while. That will become an evening event, especially considering I had to cancel our YMCA membership 2 months ago. Back to the Wii. Back to watching every single thing I ate. Back to trying to change myself.

Such a vicious cycle. Ugh.

I've been tagged by the amazing Laura Stoller

2008-12-01T19:10:00.003-05:00

Ok - so Laura tagged me on her blog (did I mention that I'm a bridesmaid in her wedding next year???) and here goes:

The rules!

Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven Random Things About Me

1) Twilight is the only movie that I've seen more than once in a theatre. If I have my way, I will see it a few more times. Normally, I'm not big on movies in the theatre. Nothing really intrigues me that much. Apparently, Rob Pattinson has intrigued me that much.

2) I had a cat from the time I was 5 until I was 27. She lived for 22 years. I named her Opal after the woman on All My Children. I loved that cat.

3) I am missing eight of my adult teeth. My teeth are HUGE and there was not enough space in my mouth. They were cut out. Talk about painful...and Mr. Ed.

4) I was a total band geek and can play the clarinet. Still have it and sometimes get it out and play a few tunes. I think it's sort of a crisis that schools do not put an emphasis on band programs.

5) I went to the smallest high school in southwestern Ohio. My graduating class was 44 students and that was one of the largest classes in the history of the school. The class after me only had 28.

6) I love spam. I think it's good. My mom breads it and fries it and I think it's pretty darn tasty. With this economic crisis, I'm set because Spam doesn't scare me.

7) My feet are a size 10 and have been since the 5th grade. Fortunately I am 5' 9" (depending on who measures me) so I grew into them, but for a few years, it was pretty awkward being a kid with super huge feet. My daughter is on the same path. (Size 8 in the 3rd grade...)

There you go - my weird/random facts.

I'm tagging - anyone that reads my blog since I'm a horrible blogger and don't post as often as I should. Post a comment with a random fact! :)

Ginger's Sexiest Men

2008-11-25T21:01:00.013-05:00

I was going to post about seeing Twilight (which I loved and am going tomorrow to see again!) but I could not help myself. I HAVE to do the Sexiest Men post. (I usually do this once a year and it's funny to watch my tastes change) Since People Magazine released their selections, I thought it was time that I view mine...

Keep in mind that some of these guys are from Ginger's "back-in-the-day". LOL! Oh - and as a disclaimer my main man is still S2H - but in the spirit of Ross and Rachel's laminated list on Friends, here is mine. (I'm going with 10 instead of five)

1) Robert Pattinson - for the love of everything on this planet - he is to DIE for. The hair, the British accent, the jawline, the brooding facial expressions. Sign me up.

2) Nick Lachey - I have to give Nick props. He has to be #2 simply because he's a good guy.

3) Kellan Lutz - This is a new one for me. I loved him as Emmett Cullen but I got to researching him and HELLO!

4) Ashton Kutcher - I have always thought he was adorable and had a really good look. Still do. Watched the Guardian and OMG - he's the modern day Tom Cruise in Top Gun. If you've never seen the movie - go rent it. It's worth it just to see Ashton!

5) Kyle Chandler - I've had a thing for Kyle Chandler since he did Homefront back in 1992. He still has it.

6) Tyson Beckford - From his early days as a Polo model til now. Tyson is one fine looker! Plus, he has a sexy name.

7) Michael C Hall - I have not watched him in 6 Feet Under, but I do like him in Dexter. He has that "all american guy" look.

8) Josh Beckett - He's an athlete, he has pretty eyes and he reminds me of my husband. Of course, I've always had a thing for ball players.

9) Jon Knight - I still have a lot of 13 year old girl in me and Jon Knight comes with that territory. He's the "shy" one in the boy band. I was always into the shy ones.

10) Hal Morris - Once again, from back in the day. Yes - he has a mullet in the photo, but he was still tight. We're talking 1990 and I'm sure he's still as hot today. I went to so many Reds games back then and my family thought it was just because I was into baseball. Ha!

I have a few honorable mentions but I'll just leave them alone for now. I'd rather post another photo of Rob up here. Ha!

Do you have a top 10? I'd love to hear them.

Move Over Nick...

2008-11-17T10:56:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry sweetie, you've been replaced...

With a hot, 22-year-old. I'm sorry, but his brooding just gets me. Plus, he plays only the most perfect fictional character ever. His hair - in all of its messy glory - pretty much pushed me over the edge.

My friends are cracking up because they never thought Nick would be booted off of the top slot in my celebrity list. Alas...it has happened. Who would have thought?

All I have to say is four more days until the movie. Is it so bad that I keep watching his interviews over and over?

At least one of my friends gets it. (You know who you are girl!) ;)

I think I might re-do my top list again. I was at the bookstore this weekend and Cosmo had a list of the 25 hottest men. I guarantee we disagree. I didn't read it but pretty much I always disagree with those lists.

Of course, S2H always commands the top spot in my heart, but what's wrong with a little eye candy?

Oh - and if you're looking for a good song to download, go for "Tremble for my Beloved" from Collective Soul. It's FABULOUS.

I never thought this would happen...

2008-11-12T09:37:00.003-05:00

My friends that know me, know I do not read. Period. I just cannot get into a book. Call it Adult ADD or whatever (which I swear I have) but I am just not the type of girl to grab a book and read. I'd rather pluck my eyebrows. So, when a friend lent Twilight to me, I was pretty much like "Yea - I'll read a chapter and be done".

WRONG.

10 days and more than 2000 pages later, I've read the series. I was hooked within the first five pages and couldn't stand to put it down. Every free moment pretty much involved my head stuck in one of the books. To the point where I think Scott was ready to set them on fire. I've DVRd the last two episodes of Dexter because I couldn't stand to put the book down.

Now the movie is coming out in 8 days. I already have a sitter, am ordering tickets on Friday and bought the soundtrack last night which I LOVE. I can't wait.

I can't wait to see Edward Cullen come to life!

Whoo Hoo!!!!

2008-10-31T16:03:00.002-04:00

According to this lady, I won't have to work. Hey - sign me up for that!

I mean, Wells Fargo doesn't really need ME to pay my mortgage when Obama is going to. The Marathon down the street will have free gas soon.

WHOO HOO!

(You realize this is all said with sarcasm, right?)

Thanks Glenn Beck for the heads-up!

Hey Suzi, guess what?

2008-10-29T19:59:00.005-04:00

This blog is not for you. This blog is for me and my friends. Sorry you stumbled upon it and sorry that you can't see the difference between something real and a fictional television show. Telling me what I should and should not post is a bit pretentious, don't you think? I never claimed it was a craft blog. Still don't. It's MY blog and I'm free to say what I want.

To answer your question - I DO know Tina and 99% of those that post comments. They are friends and they come here to keep up with what is going on with me. I guess because I don't randomly post anonymous comments without signing my name and using my e-mail, I expect the same courtesy. Silly me...

Oh - and using the word "jerk"... well, that was just me being nice.

Hey jerk...use your name!

2008-10-28T10:04:00.003-04:00

Ok - just had to say something quickly. I got another anonymous post this morning and do you know what cracks me up? People do not have the testicular fortitude to use their name so that I can address them directly.

Apparently, this person is bent out of shape that I watch Dexter, yet have issues with Abortion. Hmmm...let's see... Abortion is real. Dexter is a TV Show. I am thinking it's a bit different. Plus, if you WATCHED Dexter, you would see that there is a plot, a premise and great writing. It was not nominated for an Emmy for no reason. It also does not mean that society is going to hell in a handbasket.

I guess my point is this - either grow a set or shut up. Plain and simple.

Wanna see something funny...

2008-10-22T08:16:00.005-04:00

Regardless of who you support in this election, you have to see the McCain-Obama Dance Off!

Video HERE

Sometimes you just gotta have fun with it.

Looking for some books?

2008-10-20T21:14:00.002-04:00

I thought I would pass along a pretty good deal going on in the MyCraftivityShop.com right now. You can save 40% off of any order if you use code MYC10FOR. It expires on Wednesday night, so you'll have to order soon. But, they have a TON of scrapbook titles, knitting titles and even Kelly Rae Roberts' new book.

It's www.mycraftivityshop.com.

Can't really beat that kind of deal!

Welcome to reCRAFTed! My Etsy Store is Up!

2008-10-19T13:25:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I've decided to just let all of the political stuff fall to the wayside because what's going to happen is going to happen. Plus, I have bigger fish to fry at this point. I finally - FINALLY - got my Etsy store started and have my first four things listed. I am hoping to have more, soon, but for now, these are the things I have. I really hope that you like my knitted hats and please- if you know anyone that is looking for cute things for their kids or knitted hats, please let them know about my store. I'm also going to be adding a lot of my scrapbook de-stash. That is coming SOON!

Here is one of my favorite items in the store. I LOVE this hat! I can always make more, though. Of course, Scott tells me that I don't have the head for a hat, which is why I never wear them.

I have also been contemplating a part-time job. Not sure when I can do it, but I have to make adjustments for my family budget right now. The economy is killing us. Whew...

At least Dexter is on tonight. I am also close to finishing another hat, and will hopefully be done with it tonight.

Have a good Sunday!

I couldn't watch the entire thing...

2008-10-08T12:02:00.002-04:00

I couldn't get through it all. I started sobbing and couldn't handle it. I'll warn you - it's emotional. It's about viable fetus abortions. It's anti-Obama and I'm fine with that. Because, any man that allows this to go on, should NOT run the country that my children live in.

People think that this is ok? Then, tell this to a woman who had a baby at 26 weeks pre-mature. A baby that she wanted and prayed for and begged God for. A baby that she prays every night will see the next morning. Tell that to the woman who sits by another negative pregnancy test, crying because her body has betrayed her and all she wants to do is hold a baby in her arms. I have been that woman. And - to see this disgusts me.

You tell me that's ok. Because as I see it, it's not.

Really?

2008-10-07T13:33:00.002-04:00

Really?

http://palestra.net/news/politics/16349

Wow...talk about unethical. Let's pick up some people who are NOT informed at all and have them vote. People who might not even be of sound mind. They don't have to have an address. Let's use the loophole in a swing state.

Personally, I can't wait for the President to do his "thug thizzle".

Well, I'm 12 again...

2008-10-03T16:53:00.003-04:00

When I was 12, the NKOTB came to town - to Kings Island specifically. They were opening for Tiffany and "Please Don't Go Girl" was the big single, and I was a pre-teen girl dying to go to this concert. Tickets were impossible to get. I called Q102 (our local radio station) for three days trying to win tickets. No luck. I remember sitting at home, crying, because I wasn't there. I thought about all the girls that were there, getting to see them - listen to the music, dance, laugh and have fun. Me, I sat at home and cried, with my best friend, Jenny, sitting with me.

Fast forward 20 years.

Here I am again. Tonight I was going to hopefully go to Cleveland and see them, since that's as close as they'll be to Cincinnati. Well, the economy, the needs of my kids and my job have halted that one.

So, guess where I'll be. That's right. Sitting at home, watching the Behind the Music, in tears thinking about how I missed it when I was 12 and I missed it again. Sometimes, it's not fun when history repeats itself.

Look...they're doing the shuffle during The Right Stuff. Sigh...

Season 3 started...

2008-09-29T22:28:00.004-04:00

Well, it's official. I have a new show. Typically, it would be Grey's Anatomy. But, truthfully, I think Grey's is starting to jump the shark. BAD. The first episode this week was terrible. I knew it was bad when I grabbed Maggie's DS and started playing it halfway through - mostly out of boredom. Seriously Meredith. Make up your freakin' mind. Seriously...

At least Sunday had something for me to look forward to. Since the TV bastards canceled two of my favorite shows this summer (Dirt and October Road) I needed to find something new. When I went out of town with my girls a few weeks ago, we all became hooked on Dexter. Like, 14 hours straight on a Saturday hooked. Finally - some TV worth watching.

Plus, get this. Scott and I just got Showtime for FREE for a year from Directv. It was a "loyalty gift" for being a 5 year customer. Talk about perfect timing. So, I have a year of Dexter to look forward to and this Sunday was the season premiere.

Jennifer, Jana, Nichol, Greta and I are constantly e-mailing about the show. It's great that I can chat with my girls about it and today was no different. Of course the e-mail line was a buzz...especially because there were some new twists thrown in and of course, we're all waiting to see how the plotline develops. Oh - and I guess I should mention that I enjoy watching the show because I find Dexter to be slightly attractive. OK - so he's "I need a cold shower" hot, in his weird little way, but still...eye candy=good show.

I think my favorite thing is in the intro when he pulls his t-shirt over his head. (insert knuckle bite here)

So he dismembers...some things can be overlooked. Ha!

Anyway, that's about all that's going on right now. I've been working 60+ hours/week (new job = tons to do), Maggie has cheerleading 3-5 days/week, Addie is growing like crazy and it amazes me how much she's turning into a little girl versus my baby, and Scottie 2 Hottie (gotta give props to my #1 guy) turned 33 last week. It's still hard to believe that I have been with him since he was 19. But, he's the perfect guy for me and puts up with all of my little celebrity crushes. Of course, Reese Witherspoon is the top of his laminated list. At least it's not Pam Anderson.

Oh and I'm going to miss seeing the NKOTB this Friday. I was going to go but the economy has hit us just as hard as everyone else and I can't justify the cost. No matter how I look at it, I find higher priorities for my family. Bummer, but I have their CD and I guess that's good enough. (Ok - who am I kidding - it sucks but sometimes you have to be the adult and make good choices)

Have a good week and I promise to have a new blog post soon. I'm also trying to stay away from politics. It just ends up ticking me off. Ha!

I'm obsessed...

2008-09-22T18:12:00.002-04:00

I have not been this excited about a show since Grey's season 2. We rented Dexter this weekend and I think I watched it for about 14 hours straight. Greta and I would have watched it all night if we didn't have to get up the next morning.

Obsessed doesn't even begin to cover it. I'm trying to cut things out of my budget to sub to Showtime. Sad...

I think he's also become my #2. He hasn't quite knocked Nick out of the #1 spot, but he's like 1.4. Not quite 2, maybe.

I can't wait for September 28th.

I'm at a crafting retreat - look what I made!

2008-09-20T10:09:00.002-04:00

I'm away this weekend after having four days without any power. Talk about culture shock of being able to flip on lights, turn on a TV, etc. LOL! Anyway, it's a good time. I'm out here with my friends Jennifer, Jana, Greta, Sandi and my newfound friend, Nichol. I've also become addicted to the TV show, Dexter, and am waiting for everyone to ok my putting the next disc of Season 1 in the DVD player.

I've been knitting a lot and planning on opening an Etsy store soon. I brought a bunch of hats that I've already finished and started embellishing them. It's a lot like scrapbooking in some way. You create the base project and then embellish it and make it pretty. Here I am in my hat. Ignore the hair. I let it dry and don't have my straightening iron. Of course, I'm at a girl's weekend away. I should still be in jammies!

Let me know what you think! :)

Some things I just do not get...

2008-09-18T09:04:00.002-04:00

Palin's Account Hacked

Seriously? People are having a fit because she got a personal e-mail where someone was praying for her and telling her to not let "the negative press get you down." Since when did someone praying for you and sending a positive e-mail become a crime? So it's her government address. So what? How many of us get personal e-mails on our work account? I do. I have friends AT WORK that sometimes send me the same type of messages. If I'm having a bad day, they will send me something uplifting. What is WRONG with that?

I'll tell you what's wrong with this. People are looking to bash her on anything they can find. It's wrong to hack into her e-mail account. That's PRIVATE. I'm sure if it were Obama's e-mail, there would be a big stink about it. It's wrong to hack into anyone's e-mail unless it's illegal activity. As I said before, I don't believe receiving a message from a friend with a quick uplifing message is a felony.

This election as taught me a few things. I've also lost respect for quite a few people. It's sad.

Bring it On...

2008-09-15T09:28:00.003-04:00

I thought I'd try to steer away from the political talk for a while and dwell on something else. Right now, life is pretty busy. I have a new role at work which I am adjusting to, Maggie is in cheerleading and Addie is a rambunctious 2 year old. That doesn't even begin to describe her on some days. She definitely has a mind of her own. Anyway, let's go back to the cheerleading part. That has been an adjustment for me.

I never was a cheerleader. Had friends that were, but as for me - I did the dance squad in school and then basically decided that was too girlie for my taste. Growing up with three brothers more or less destined me to be a tomboy. I wasn't all about flipping around in a small skirt. (Which, ironically, I had to do in dance - ICK!) But, more power to those who do. Anyway, now my daughter is doing the cheer thing and I am SO lost. It's almost comical.

Yesterday we had an "exhibition" which means that all of the squads in the area meet and they do their "hello" cheers as well as a dance or more cheers. It's like Bring It On for 8 year olds. Me, I go to support my daughter and her squad because that's important to me. But, what I did not realize is how IMPORTANT it is to other moms.

The girls are 8. EIGHT. Like, you know. They're only 8 years old. Basically in an ideal world, they would still be playing with Barbie's and be totally naive about everything else that us adults have to deal with. But, yesterday I realized that being 8 today is not like the 8 when I was a kid. Thank goodness our coach has a sensibility to her. She's professional and knows what's acceptable and what isn't. But, some of those coaches - WOW. There were girls out there that looked like they just stepped out of a beauty pageant. Full make-up, the "fake" hair ponytails, mama's yelling "Go baby - get those jumps" and doing the dances along with them. Reminded me of one of those bad movies about teen beauty pageants, except these girls were EIGHT. A few of the songs had gyrations in them. I mean, I'm no prude - I give Maggie honest answers when she asks me a question (REGARDLESS of the question) but if she were out there doing the pelvis thrusts to a TI song, I'd probably be fit to be tied. It's bad enough that I had to buy her skimpier underwear so that they didn't hang out of her tights. Add the rap stripper dance and I'd probably call the whole thing off.

Plus, I don't look like the other moms. I have on a t-shirt and capri pants. I forgot to wear their team shirt (trying to sneak out before the 2 year old realized I was leaving) and I also forgot my button with her in her uniform. BAD MOM. Anyway, I get there and there are moms in full-blown garb with signs and dozens of roses, etc. I was SO lost. I didn't realize I was going to a Bengal's game...Isn't that what you do at one of those?

I could hear all of the parents around me, busily gossiping and chattering. A "rival" squad's cheering section sat behind us (I tried to sit with the parents of the other girls on our squad) and all I heard was negativity about our school and the rivalry. I mean, seriously. GROW UP. I sat there sort of laughing to myself because the funny thing was, these people were from my husband's high school. (We both went to local schools then moved to the district in-between when we got married, which ironically was a "rival" to both of our high schools.) Anyway - it's just foreign and new to me. I didn't bring poms and I feel odd yelling, screaming and stomping like I'm at a pep rally. I guess it's something I have to get used to. I feel like the goth kid that's stuck at a pep assembly. Seriously - give me a pad of paper and let me create while all of this goes on. LOL!

Oh - and on the way home, we got caught in the wind storm of the century! No power. We haven't had any since 2:00 yesterday. No work today. I've got maybe 10 minutes left on my computer battery before I go over to my mom's to charge it. Fun times these past two days. Fun times.

Never Forget...

2008-09-11T09:10:00.003-04:00

Always Remember...

God Bless America!

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

2008-09-03T09:04:00.002-04:00

Shortly after my post last night, I saw where both Obama and Biden asked the media to back off of Palin and her daughter. Obama mentioned that his mother was an unwed teen and Biden stated that children were off-limits. I agree. And, I give credit where credit is due. Very respectable of both.

Whitey Can Vote

2008-09-02T21:35:00.002-04:00

Here's the deal - I grew up in a pretty racially diverse neighborhood. I can remember the neighborhood kids coming over for my birthday parties and I never paid attention to what color everyone was. We were all KIDS. Fast forward to high school when I had a "friend" from childhood condemn me for being white. I never judged her, but rather she decided that she no longer wanted to hang out because I was "a cracker". Hmmm...reverse discrimination?

Through college I talked to everyone. Black, white, gay, straight, male, female, old, young. I really didn't care. If you were nice, we were cool. Isn't that how life is supposed to be? Now, fast forward again - 10 years to a new election.

And I am mad. Yes. Why? This sums it up...

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Everyone is entitled to vote for whomever they choose. But, I am a consenting adult, one that has a right to vote and I also have a right to speak my opinion. Do I think Obama is a good speaker. Yes - I do. Do I think that Jeremiah Wright is a racist. YES - I do. Will I vote for Obama. NO - I won't. Do I think that your mentor can affect how you feel? Yes. I do. Am I not voting for Obama because of race? NO. Am I not voting based on principles and my own morals. Yes. Would I vote for Colin Powell tomorrow. Yes - I would. Does that pretty much defeat any racism argument for my vote. Damn straight it does.

I'm watching Headline News right now and I have to say - I just heard the best quote. The correspondent said "Palin has been criticized more in the past week than Obama in 18 months by the media." Sad, but true. It's amazing how people will only see what they want to see. Everyone is up in arms because Palin's 17 year old daughter is pregnant. Well, guess what - she's not the first, she won't be the last. But, because her mom is running for VP, I guess she is now the target of media scrutiny. Admit it people - how many of us were doing the same thing that could have landed us in that position at 17. I guarantee a VAST majority.

What's the point of this blog? I don't know. I guess just to weed through some of the bullshit that I think is out there.

It's times like this that I think about Marianne Smith, a dear woman that I loved and adored and often called "grandmother". She was a black woman from the south who was a dear friend of the family and someone that I admired. She would tell me stories about growing up in the south and she was never bitter - never angry. She was always loving. She never made me feel bad for being a different color than she as well as vice versa. I lost Marianne four years ago, but I refuse to lose her faith in people. And that my friends, is one of the reasons why I'm taking this stand.

The other? My dad would have been 76 today. He fought in Korea during the conflict - served his country for four years overseas. Am I patriotic? Damn straight I am. Do I expect the same out of my President. Yes - I do.

I know...I know...

2008-09-01T21:44:00.007-04:00

Ok - I suck. I know that. I have been TERRIBLE about blogging and I really do have all intentions of being better. Right now, so much is going on. Maggie is a cheerleader now, so four to five days per week are spent doing something related. Either tumbling class, practice, games, etc. She loves it - and quit Tae Kwon Do to do it. I got a new "title" at work which basically translates to more work - which has me quite stressed. Addie is doing good as is Scott. They're just plugging away. The end of summer is here, school is back in session and life is back to the hectic day to day. Boring, huh?

I thought I'd share some photos from the past two months. I got the new camera and then my card reader died, so I bought a new one two weeks ago and am just NOW getting around to uploading them. Hopefully, you'll enjoy! :)

Our Pups - I bought these shirts for them while on vacation and this is their favorite pastime - looking out the window and watching the cars drive by. I swear, they are the coolest dogs ever.

My girl in her uniform. The lighting stinks because we have a florescent light in our kitchen, but it just amazes me how much she is growing up!

I am still addicted to knitting. Have finished like 5 hats and plan to sell a few on Etsy, soon. (Still trying to figure out if I should...) Anyway, here is Addie modeling one that I made for her. This was my first knitted project, so go easy on me.

I STILL can't believe she is in the 3rd grade! She is loving her class (I think it's because two boys that she's had crushes on are in there!) and she is now "switching" classes, so she thinks she's a big deal. LOL! Everything is Hannah Montana. Folders, notebooks, lunch bag, t-shirts, EVERYTHING!

I guess that's all for now. I'll post more later. It's late and truthfully - I want to get to bed. I thought about watching the Republican National Convention but I'll probably fall asleep. I know I did during the DNC. (But, that might be because I'm a McCain girl) Election year is always a fun time - everyone with their stickers, etc. I have such a wide view on various issues, that it was somewhat hard to determine who I really wanted. Truthfully - none of my preferred candidates made the final cut, but that's just how it goes.

Anyway - I'm off to bed. Hopefully you'll get another post from me this week. :D

CHA CHA CHA CHANGES...

2008-07-24T10:21:00.005-04:00

I'm back from CHA and still trying to pull myself out of numerous piles that I seem to be hidden under. Work, home, yarn, paper - there are a bunch of them. For the first time, I went to CHA as a soft crafter - not a paper crafter per se. It was very different for me. I was yearning to visit yarn booths to touch all of the yarns. Since there were really only three or four booths dedicated to the craft, my void was not completely filled but I did snag some awesome needles from the Clover people. They ROCK! Takumi velvet - like regular bamboo but with more slide. Felt good in my hands...

On the way to Chicago, I finished a hat that I had been working on. Here's the fabulous Laura modeling it for me.

Since this photo I have added a pretty little felted flower. I'll post a photo of the finished product, soon. I haven't had time to upload my own photos. (<--LOSER = ME)

I have to say, I had the best time. Being with friends makes it all worth it.

(I haven't forgot about you, Jane - photos are coming!) ;)

Jana's sister, Julie, met us out there to help celebrate Jana's 29th birthday (aren't we all 29???) and Julie and I had the best time knitting together. Ok - maybe I had the best time and Julie probably thought I was some weird girl with a yarn fetish, but it was awesome! In the evenings, the other girls are playing with Copic markers and stamps and Julie and I were in the corner, needles a clickin'. I can't wait to hang with her again! (If you read this Julie, I'm driving up to Michigan sometime with Jana!!! She just doesn't know it, yet!)

As for papers - I still have the love for them. October Afternoon by far was one of my favorites. So was Sassafrass, Scenic and some Basic Grey. Yummy stuff going on over at the BG booth. Oh - and K&Company is still working with Amy Butler which always makes me happy. Sonburn had some really cool stuff, too. Their Eco line was adorable and truthfully - I have been trying to implement some recycling/eco steps in my life. I recently learned (courtesy of Cosy Cornelius-Bates and her book!) how to recycle sweaters into yarn and am plotting a trip to our local thrift store to try it out, but for now, I have a few unloved sweaters that will soon be coming apart.

Anyway - that's it for now. Maggie is having a birthday party tonight (My baby girl is EIGHT, now) and I'll be posting photos of that for you as well. OH - and her cheerleading started. I'm officially the mom of a cheerleader and last night practiced cheers with her. Do you even know how brutal that was for me? At least she's enjoying it and that's what matters. GO DEVILS GO!

I Dream in Roving...

2008-07-07T16:48:00.003-04:00

It's official - I am hopelessly addicted. I've started scouring the Net for a local store and have joined a knitting group. It's so hard to remember what it was like starting from ground zero when I first started scrapbooking. That was over 10 years ago. I feel like I could scrapbook in my sleep. So, whenever I screw up on a knitting project, I get frustrated with myself. It's also a lot of math. I guess scrapbooking always was, too. I just never realized it.

How do I know I converted? My Amy Butler K&Company tote now houses my needles and yarn... I can't wait for CHA to see the yarns and knitting booths... I've bought six knitting books in the past month... I now have a "yarn basket"...

See the pattern?

Things that make me happy...

2008-07-03T08:31:00.002-04:00

I'm 13 again...

(Oh - and the slut on the beach better get off of Jon...)

Want to see something hilarious?

2008-07-01T14:56:00.003-04:00

We rented "Strange Wilderness" this weekend and I have to tell you. One of the funniest scenes EVER in a movie is in this show. Check this out:

He drew eyeballs on his eyelids. I nearly peed myself laughing at this.

Just had to share!

I'm Baaack and turning 32 today... Blah!

2008-06-27T08:01:00.004-04:00

I am SO SO sorry for not updating my blog as much as I used to. Or, as much as I should. I've been swamped and we were on vacation the past week and a half, so I didn't have time to get on. My apologies completely. I am thankful for those of you that have stood by me and still read my blog. Thank you - big hugs. I promise to start being better. I know - I've said it before but this time I mean it. I have a lot to say and I need to do it more frequently.

On a side note, today I turn 32. Not really sure how I feel about that. On one hand, I'm thankful to God that I get to see 32. On the other, WHERE is the time going? It was like yesterday I was 18. You know? Now, I'm in my 30's? Usually I do a "things about me" post whenever it's my birthday to correlate with how old I am. I'm not going to do 32 things today because I have other things to talk about.

We had a nice vacation - went to Orlando which I will NEVER do again. It's HOT down there. Much hotter than on the coast which is where we normally go and I'm like an old cat - I do not like to be hot or wet. So, amusement parks don't really amuse me too much because 1) It's hot 2) You sweat which means you're gross and 3) Water rides = wet = grumpy Ginger. Plus, I have realized that 2 year olds do not need to go to an amusement park.

Here are some photos for your viewing entertainment. Maggie got her face painting (which is SO overpriced!)

I also got a new baby the night before vacation. I traded in my original digital rebel and my vintage film rebel G2 for a new Rebel XSi. Oh yes...come home to mama. I love my new camera. It's pretty yummy. Has LIVE VIEW. That was AWESOME because on a lot of the rides, you're not allowed to take photos, but with live view and the flash off - they don't know. :) (Especially because they don't expect SLRs to have it!) New toy for me!!!!

When I brought it home, I took a pic of the puppies. Had to take one of my babies! (other than my other babies, which I'm always snapping photos of) Here's the pooches - aren't they so cute?!?

Penny has really warmed up and is a part of the family, now. I even bought them little t-shirts at Universal. I'll be sure to post a pic of them in the shirts soon!

That's about it. Gearing up for CHA. That should be fun because I get to be with Jane and Laura! Plus, see all of my friends and see what's new. Although - I might be spending more time in the knitting booths because I have definitely caught the knitting bug. I'm starting on a blanket for my nephew's baby (I'm going to be a great aunt again!) and some stuff for the girls.

Have a good one!

Sorry - I've been swamped!

2008-06-09T16:59:00.002-04:00

Really, there is no excuse for me neglecting my blog the way I have been. I guess I have just been really swamped at home and of course I was out of town this weekend at a trade show. We're also gearing up to get ready to go on vacation to Universal and Orlando. We leave Friday! :)

Lots of things have been going on. Last week, we saw the Cincinnati Cyclones win the Kelly Cup. If you're looking for pics, Barb has them on her blog. I didn't bring my camera because frankly - it sucks right now. The battery will not hold charge and I refuse to buy another one right now. I'm all about "saving" money.

I'm also obsessed with making money online. So far - since the end of April, I've made about $350 in various online efforts. Not too shabby, huh? I'm pretty happy with the results. I've referred quite a few people to it - so let me know how you're doing. I just got a check in the mail on Friday for $85 and I'm waiting for a Visa gift card right now. I've been researching most of these sites and it's all good. I'm hoping to pay off some debt with the extra cash!

I've also tinkered with the notion of quitting scrapbooking altogether. I know - what am I thinking, right? But, it just does not appeal to me whatsoever right now. I am definitely enjoying the side of the business where I am moreso than the actual hobby at this point. Maybe it's a funk and I'll snap out of it.

Sorry for the drab post. I'll try to upload some photos. Scott got his blackbelt on Friday which was great to see. He's so proud of it. I'm so proud of him! Maggie had cheer camp. This is definitely a new area for me. I'm not used to being the mom of a cheerleader. LOL!

I'll post again soon - I promise!

Never eat Mexican on cheat day...

2008-05-28T15:03:00.003-04:00

I've been pretty diligent about my diet and exercise program, however, I had a cheat day yesterday because I ran out to lunch with some girls from work and 1) I was starving, 2) Lunch was free and 3) I had been craving mexican food like something awful. We're talking, I would take down someone for queso and taquitos. I had queso and a chimichanga because they didn't have taquitos. And...I was sick all day from it. Mental note. No mexican on cheat day. At least, not a lot of mexican.

Oh and as a side note, for the life of me I cannot get a damn photo to upload. If you have a blogger blog and can do it, please let me know. Mine has gone postal here lately and it's bothering me.

In other news since I'm awful and do not blog like I should, things are going well at home. We have the girls' room organized and it's so cute, but Addie still does not like sleeping in the twin bed. She pretty much says "no" and climbs out. Even with the Spongebob sheets, she's not buying it. She did lay down in Maggie's bed saying "Ah Hannah" (Maggie has Hannah Montana bedding) but that lasted about 5 minutes. It's a work in progress.

The dogs have a new "shared" crate and they seem very happy in it together. They hated being separated during the day, so we brought in one large crate with a dog bed and they seem pretty darn content. Let's hope that lasts!

Scott gets his blackbelt in two weeks (well - he has to pass his test but I have faith in him) so that's going to be a big deal in the house. He already claims to be a "lethal weapon" which always cracks me up. He tells Maggie to tell the boys that her daddy is a "lethal weapon". Ok Rambo - chill out there.

Oh - and just a quick vent. Have you ever had to deal with someone that has the personality of a doorknob? I mean, seriously? You want to ask them who crapped in their Wheaties? I know I'm not always Pleasant Princess, but come on. I deal with a girl that literally has GOT to be the single most hateful person on this planet. Cold and frigid doesn't even begin to cover it. What kills me is the scowl. The constant scowl. Ugh. Ok - vent over for now...

For those that are interested in the pay sites, e-mail me with the e-mail you want the referrals to go to. I'm still sending stuff over and have been pretty happy with my rewards so far. (I've hit about $200 in gift cards) The $25 link below is still working, too. Quick $25 - can't beat that. Scott and I are thinking about using it for our e-bay auctions instead of paypal since there are no fees. Hopefully, more people will get on board with the program. Back to the pay sites, if you want the referral, let me know ASAP because one of them is changing their points scales and if you get in before June 1st, you'll be on their current pay scale which is better.

Happy Wednesday!

Ok - try this one

2008-05-21T16:17:00.002-04:00

Someone commented that the offer expired, but it's extended. This is for a new site that is like paypal, only FREE. From what I understand, the owner was the developer of AOL and is hoping to take over some of Paypal's market share. Hey - for $25 free bucks - he can have my business for a while. (Although - I rarely use paypal, but I might use this for e-bay - I've got a few things to list!)

On the other note, I received some e-mails and YES - I do belong to a few sites that PAY you to surf them and quite frankly, it's pretty awesome. I recently made $125 in Visa cards which I plan to use for vacation in a few weeks. I was actually turned onto them by another friend (Amy G.) and she has done fairly well with her account. She gets Target gift cards, which are next on my list since I am going to start earning $$$ for Maggie's birthday and Christmas. I have plans - LOL! The one is backed by Google, and totally legit. (I can see their analytics lining up sometimes when the page downloads) The other, is publicly held, so they're working on investors, too. It's all good!

With regards to the diet, I keep working out and watching what I eat but that damn scale has not budged. NOTHING. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Last night I worked out for nearly an hour (as I have been doing) but I pushed harder. I went faster on the treadmill (did 2 miles instead of one), had more tension on the cycle and went 10 minutes longer and had more tension on the rowing machine. What's a girl gotta do? So frustrating! Oh well...

At least I have a three day weekend coming up. Plus, the Cincinnati Cyclones are in the Kelly Cup playoffs and I'm going on Saturday night. Gotta root for the ONLY winning team in Cincinnati. Plus, I love hockey. Imagine that. A girl that enjoys watching men fight, enjoys hockey. That's right - check 'em into the boards. Nothing makes me happier than when a big enforcer defenseman takes someone to the center ice and pummels them. Makes the game WAY more interesting! After the game, my boy Tito is fighting in the UFC. So, I'll come home and watch that. I blame my brothers. They watched Rocky when I was little and I have just always loved boxing, etc. I even told Scott that when I get more of this weight off, I might take it up at a local training place. (The guy also trains some UFC fighters) We'll see...

E-mail me if you have any questions on those sites. If you want a referral, let me know!

Want to make a quick $25?

2008-05-20T17:09:00.003-04:00

I'm all about earning money online these days. It's part of my "Dave Ramsey pay off Debt" plan.

E-mail me if you want me to refer you to a few places that pay you to surf the web! (Use the button on the side that says "No pimping") :)

Ginger

The buttons and the pins and the loud fanfare...

2008-05-19T09:24:00.006-04:00

Ok - so I apparently SUCK as an NKOTB fan because I completely forgot (UNTIL today) that they were on the Today show on Friday. Totally forgot to set the DVR and everything. I think this diet is rotting my brain. Anyway, watched it on YouTube (what did we do before YT?) and I have to say - when they did "Tonight", I became a giddy, gawky teenager again. Donnie hasn't missed a beat. I keep waiting for him to put on some overalls and wear them down with no shirt. I also would pay good money to see Jordan do "Baby I Believe in You" with the white shirt (unbuttoned - remember that?) and the wind blowing on him. Oh yea...wait - Jon is my favorite. Stick to Jon...

Back to reality. I've been a bad blogger and I apologize. I've been so swamped lately at work and with this new diet, working out, trying to be positive and organized, blah blah blah.

So, I'm pretty pissed off about this week? I worked out FOUR days, at least an hour each time - doing treadmill (fast pace), rowing machine, weights, cycling, you name it. Watched my points and food and I did not lose ANYTHING. I leave in about 15 minutes to weigh-in and there is no hope for me dropping two pounds before 10. So, I am PISSED. I feel like one of those people on the Biggest Loser that does everything they can and doesn't lose but 1 pound. Heck, though. I'd take the pound right now. Happily. Nothing. Nada. Since I started, I have dropped 12.2 pounds - averaging 3 1/2 per week. This week. Nothing. And, I worked harder!

I'm sitting here in a defeated moment. I'm not giving up. I have a lot going on. Vacation is in four weeks and I will be in a wedding next year, so I need to keep working at it. Plus, I feel better. That is probably the biggest change. I actually FEEL better. I was running the other day and didn't even get winded. Can you imagine? Fat girl didn't get winded. Ha!

Alright - I have a lot more to say but I have to run. Fat camp is calling.

I promise to be better about blogging!

Alright - so I'm 31 and by golly - I'm going!

2008-05-06T08:46:00.000-04:00

You know I'm a HUGE NKOTB fan. I don't care - call me a dork or whatever but from the time I was 12 until about 14, I had posters of these guys ALL OVER my walls. I had the tour jacket, went to concerts, listened to their tapes until they wore out, wore the t-shirts (I still have a few of them) and would die for Jonathan Knight.

Now, I'm 31, happily married and STILL love the NKOTB in a nostalgic sort of way. It just takes me back to being 13 again, when life was simple, my dad was still here, all I had to worry about was buying stamps for my pen pal letters, etc.

So far out of the tour dates they've announced, the closest is Chicago. I have a few friends that are willing to do the drive but I'm trying to figure out if I can convince Scott to let me go. He thinks it's stupid. I think it's me FINALLY getting to live out my childhood dream to meet the NKOTB. They are selling VIP tickets where you get a ticket in the first 10 rows, a meet and greet (DID YOU READ THAT - MEET AND GREET!) and a few other perks. Cost - $350. Is that a bit pricey? Yea. Am I willing to sell stuff I own to do it? Yep!

Here's the deal. I'm 31 now. I'm an adult. When I was 13, I didn't have any money and sat wherever the tickets were that my amazing parents bought for me. Now, I can control where I sit to an extent and I plan on it. You only live once and for 18 years I've been waiting for this. (OMG - I'm old!)

So - here I sit, trying to think of how to get to this concert. It's sort of like being 13 again. LOL!

Oh - and on a side note, I lost 3.4 lbs this week. I probably need to lose another 30 to fit into my NKOTB t-shirt. I'll get there, though. :)

It was just a small anaphylactic reaction...

2008-05-02T13:29:00.000-04:00

Ok - so apparently my swollen lips were no laughing matter. Yesterday morning after I wrote the blog, I ate breakfast and took my 2nd dose of my new antibiotic. Truthfully, I thought the lip puffiness was from the codeine but I was wrong.

About an hour after taking the antibiotic (avelox for those of you in pharmacology), I became a bit disoriented and my tongue started to swell as well. When I realized I was talking out of my head and a bit like Sylvester the cat, I called my doctor. She wasn't in but her office manager said "GET TO THE ER RIGHT AWAY"...

Uh...ok...oh shit.

Fortunately, I work literally ACROSS THE STREET from the hospital. I couldn't walk there because I basically couldn't walk a straight line so one of my co-workers dropped me off at the emergency entrance. Just a note - ER rooms FREAK when you're having an anaphylactic reaction. My wait time was non-existant as they took me into the back pretty quickly and had the doc there right away.

I got a nice coctail of benedryl, prevacid (who would have thought), steroids and an IV for about four hours. That knocked me out and when I woke up, the swelling had gone down. So, they let me go home.

Now I have yet ANOTHER new antibiotic and more anti-histimine and allergen meds than I know what to do with. Just another fun day for me. (Oh and by the way, I passed on the additional steroids because they make you hungry. That's the LAST thing I need right now)

Week 2 of Fat Camp...

2008-05-01T08:22:00.000-04:00

So, this one time at fat camp, I saw a brownie and I knew I shouldn't eat it, but I did...and I was so naughty.

Ok - so I'm totally kidding. It's week 2 and I'm adjusting to fat camp but I think part of it is because I have bronchitis and am so damn sick that I really don't care if I eat or not. I had a great first week weigh-in - lost 5.4 pounds. (Take THAT reformed Twinkie eater!) This week seems to be doing well, but I haven't been able to go to the Y because the slightest bit of exertion causes me to start hacking like Marge Schott. Hence, no Y so far. I might try it tonight if my lungs give me a break. I actually MISS the rowing machine. (What the hell did I just type?)

Well - stupid blogger won't let me post photos again, so you're just going to have to picture this one in your head. Yesterday the doc gave me cough syrup with codeine in it so that I could sleep. I take it - sleep ok - then wake up this morning to swollen lips. That's right - I must be allergic to codeine or something. This happened to me two years ago when I had an allergy to Ibuprofen. Swollen lips. I look like Jessica Simpson's plastic surgeon got a hold of my mouth. Lovely. Plus, because I normally have chicken lips I have a slight speach impediment because my lips are in the way. Lovely. So - not only do I hack every 10 seconds but now I have been possessed by Angelina Jolie's lips. Great. This is going to be a fun day!

Oh well - at least I'm down 5.4 pounds. (Did I mention that?)

In other random exciting news, my good friend, Laura, got herself engaged this week. SO excited for her and can't wait to start helping her with the wedding planning. Hopefully all of us are going to KI this weekend to ride the rides. (Ok - so Laura, Scott and Maggie will ride rides. Me and Chad will stand back and shake our heads and go "Hell no - I'm not getting on that!") It's all good...

Maggie and Addie are great. Addie's potty training is going VERY well. The kid is obsessed with going on the potty - I don't even have to ask her, she just hollers "I go pee pee" and she makes a beeline for the bathroom. Of course, it's embarrassing in public but we'll work on that. One thing at a time. Maggie tied her classmates shoes to the playground equipment. She was triple-dog-dared. I explained that we do not tie our friends to anything and hopefully she got the message. I also told her that a triple-dog-dare doesn't mean squat. She needs to infinity dog dare back - that'll teach 'em. (Just kidding - she is more upset by being embarrassed when I tell family members her story which I hope will teach her to not do anything like that again or else Mom will tell EVERYONE)

That's all for now. I'm sitting here staring at my lovely 100 calorie bagel (1 point if you're counting people) with 1 tbsp of reduced fat peanut butter. It's about the size of a golf ball but oh so filling...(at least that's what I tell myself)

Have a good one!

Earthquakes, layouts and fat camp...

2008-04-24T15:42:00.000-04:00

First and foremost, I have to say that I had the most FABULOUS time with my friends this past weekend. We went to our favorite little retreat for some scrapbooking, I got 17 pages done (which is slow for me - trust me on this!) and I indulged because I knew it would be my last hurrah for quite some time. Truth be told - last summer's clothes are too tight. Ugh.

I have to tell you this funny story about the earthquake. Where we stay is a B&B and the house is older so you always have that "what if" notion that there may be some paranormal activity. To add to this is the fact that Scott watches Ghost Hunters all the time and I'm one of those people that's SUPER freaked out by the paranormal. If I watch Poltergeist, I don't sleep for WEEKS and can't stand to look at my closet. SO - with that said, I'm up on the 3rd floor and in a corner and thankfully two other girls were also up there. At about 5:30 on Friday morning, my bed starts shaking. Not moving. SHAKING. Like, something is grabbing it and shaking it. I wake up completely freaking out and yell out "What is that?" because I'm half out of it.

I run downstairs because I'm SURE that it's paranormal and there is NO way that my ass is going back up there. Everyone else is coming out of their rooms with the same issue. So- at least whatever poltergeist it was, it wasn't just shaking my bed. We turn on the TV and find out it was an earthquake. Who would think of an earthquake in the midwest? We were in Indiana, closer to Illinois, so we felt quite a bit of it. Long story short - that was my embarrassing moment where watching too much Ghost Hunters definitely bit me in the rear. I really have GOT to stop watching that show!

Monday marked the start of my newest session with Weight Watchers. I haven't really been on plan since September and gained back about 15 of the 35 pounds I originally lost, so before I would have to start again at groud zero, I decided to take charge. I'm not going to lie. Usually the first week or so, I'm pretty pissed off and bitter about it. That would be my mood today. Right now, I'm hungry and will probably not eat for another two hours. That's annoying. But, hopefully it will pay off in the end. I would like to lose about 20 - 30 pounds before vacation (which is June 15th). We'll see how that goes.

Of course there is this big part of me that is more about fat acceptance than the dieting piece. Oh wait - WW isn't a diet, it's a "lifestyle". Yea - so anyway, a big piece of me is more about the pizza than the turkey but whatever. I'm hitting the "Y" a few nights each week to work out and we'll see if I get results. That coupled with a healthy diet should yield something, right? One of my favorite quotes ever was during The Biggest Loser Season 1 when Kelly lost some weight and she goes "Diet & Exercise! Who knew? I must go tell everyone!" I thought that was pretty funny. Of course, last night while I'm on the treadmill these two girls get on the treadmills next to me in the row and I hear the one ask the other if she's going to run and the girl responds "Is there a bear behind me? If not, then my ass isn't running - I'll walk fast". I about choked on my water I was laughing so hard. Sounds like something I would say.

Well, before I blabber too much I better end this post. Stupid blogger won't bring up my photo upload, so I can't upload any photos. Sorry about that. I know blog posts are annoying to read when there are no pictures.

New photos, etc...

2008-04-16T09:02:00.008-04:00

Hey everyone! Well, this week has been better in terms of my self-esteem. I seriously do appreciate all of the "love" from everyone that posted. Thank you again. It means a lot because when you're down, it sucks to get kicked - but it's the friends that pick you back up and dust you off. So, thank you!

I am making some changes for a healthier me again. We joined the YMCA last night - so I'll be hitting the workout rooms and the good thing is Addie and Maggie can go to separate play areas while Scott and I work out. I'm hoping it's a good thing. It seems like it will be. (Crossing fingers)

I'm also heading out of town tomorrow night to go on a scrapbooking retreat with some good friends. I can't wait! These weekends give me back my sanity. I miss my family terribly while I'm gone but the time to just sit in my pjs and enjoy my hobby (and sleep in) are so valuable. Plus, you get waited on hand and foot which is totally worth it. No dishes to do, food to cook, etc. (Although, Scott might argue that I never cook and he's probably right) In any event, I can't wait!

I also thought I would post a few photos for you - I know I'm bad about it so I'm making an effort to be better.

Here's Penelope. She has not quite figured out how to pose for the camera like Achilles. She's always on the run so it's hard to get a good photo of her. She also looks A LOT different than he does. The good thing is - she's put on about 2 pounds since we've had her so her ribs do not stick out anymore. She was enjoying a bone here and getting ready to jump off of the couch when I snapped the pick. She cracks me up! She's a good girl!

Here's Mr. Achilles enjoying his squeaky toy. We have two of those things because they fight over them. He's also chillin' in their IKEA dog bed. He loves that thing. Penelope prefers the couch - Achilles is all about the dog bed. Notice his color coming in and he looks like he has on a "mask". We sometimes joke and call him "Batman" now. He's also becoming a little piglet. If Penelope doesn't eat all of her food right away, he's over there munching on it after he's ate his. He's so darn cute. We really adore our pups!

Addie got a new haircut about 2 weeks ago. We chopped FOUR inches off of the back of her hair into a cute little bob. Everyone loves her haircut and it looks much fuller, too! My mom swears it's made her meaner. The day she turned two, it was like an instant moment where she decided she needed to tear hell off of hinges. So cute, yet so mean! LOL!

As for Ms. Maggie, she is 7 1/2 going on 17. Our hands are full with that girl. She had her Father/Daughter dance two weekends ago and tonight she's headed off to Build a Bear with her Girlscout troop. (Whoever invented BAB needs to be smacked!) She's still totally into HSM and the other day she bought a pillow with Troy on it. (I bought it for her because I remember my NKOTB pillow - they're cuter than Troy, but whatever...)

Scott also got his Senior Red Belt last week in TKD so just two more months until the black belt. He's already getting excited about it. I'm so proud of him but if I have to sit through another four hour testing with a 2 year old that is running around like a screaming chicken, we might need to have a talk. Belt or no belt, we might be throwing down the gloves. LOL!

That's it for now. Hope everyone is having a great week! Oh- and if you read my blog and you have not created your MyCraftivity.com page, yet. What are you waiting for???

Thanks and a survey...

2008-04-11T15:20:00.000-04:00

I wanted to thank everyone for your support - it truly means so much to me to know that I have friends that are not going to judge me. I just don't understand it. Oh well...just add it to the string of things I have had to deal with for the past 13 years. Good thing I adore my hubby!

On a more positive note, I thought I'd do a quick survey that I saw on my friend Karin's MySpace page. I like surveys. They're easy and quick! (Fun to post and fun to read!)

Here goes:

Hi, my name is : Ginger

But you can call me : Ginger - not Gina, Jenny, or bitch.

Never in my life have I : smoked a cigarette.

The one person who can drive me nuts is: see above - LOL!

My high school is : located in the ghetto

When I’m nervous : I pick at my fingernails. I know, it's gross but I can't help it.

The last song I listened to was : Barracuda sung by Heart with Fergie. Heart Rocks.

If I were to get married right now it would be to : I'm already married - and he's great.

My hair is : in desperate need of a dye job.

When I was 4 : I was in pre-school and pretty darn demanding from what I hear.

Last Christmas : was a lot of fun. Spent time with family, opened gifts, didn't have any awkwardness.

I should be : online paying my bills

When I look down I see : my keyboard, mouse and Pentel RSVP pen that Karin bought me.

The happiest recent event was : getting my tax refund. Whoo hoo!

If I were a character on ‘Friends’ : I'd be Monica - not by choice but because I'm neurotic. Plus, she was the only one that was ever fat.

By this time next year : I hope to have my house redecorated. (I can hear Scott groaning now...)

My current gripe is : trying to declutter my house. I HATE clutter.

I have a hard time understanding : why people feel the need to judge others - especially those that are overweight. (I am REALLY on this right now!)

There’s these girls : What kind of question is this? Like I really care about those girls?

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be : Scott

I want to buy : furniture from IKEA

Where do you plan to visit : I'm going to Orlando in June.

If you spent the night at my house : you would see why I'm crazy - two kids and two puppies are a lot to maintain.

The world could do without : do you want an alphabetized list?

Most recent thing I’ve bought myself : some Steve Madden shoes. They are crap. The sole is already coming off. I've worn them MAYBE four times.

Most recent thing someone else bought me : lunch

My middle name is : Elizabeth

In the morning I : want to call in and sleep late.

Last night I was : worn out and went to bed fairly early.

There’s this boy I know who : grew up to be a great dad - and I'm married to him.

If I were an animal I’d be : a dog. Sleep all day, run after things, act stupid and it be totally acceptable.

A better name for me would be : She who does not take crap

Tomorrow I am : getting ready for my scrapbook retreat next week

Tonight I am : going to dinner with Karin and Kayla

My birthday is : in 2 months - what are you getting me?

Nothing is worse than a reformed Twinkie eater...

2008-04-07T09:11:00.000-04:00

I really do not know how to start this post today. I'm battling a plethora of emotions right now - from anger, to hurt, to downright depression, back to anger, etc. Here's the deal people - why is it socially unacceptable to discriminate or make fun of a person based on gender, sexuality, race, age, etc., but it's perfectly fine to mock weight? Help me to understand this.

Let me set the scene for you. Yesterday, I am at a party with Scott's family. It's his cousin's first communion. We should be happy, everyone should be celebrating, right? Well, we're sitting outside on some picnic tables and I'm sitting there minding my own business with about 10 other people. All family members. Remember that - FAMILY members.

My oldest is across the way playing on the monkey bars and my little one is playing with bean bags. I'm sitting there enjoying the sun (because it's been so dreary here lately) when I hear my father in law say "Hey Ginger - we can make ten-thousand on America's Funniest Home Videos". He then proceeds to tell me to go over to the swing where my husband's cousin is swinging (she's a bigger girl, too) and get on the one next to her so they can videotape it and send it in after it collapses.

What? Ok - did you just call me out in front of all of these people? You really did not just do that.

Once the shock wore off, I said "Thanks for singling me out in front of all of these people". Yea - thanks a lot. It wasn't bad enough that I was having a particularly bloated day, but now you've managed to call me out as being a Fatty McFat in front of the ENTIRE FAMILY (at least 9 people were sitting there) and tell me that I'm fat. Thanks. That felt GREAT.

I went into the bathroom and cried. On the Biggest Loser last season, Holly (one of the contestants) said that the one thing that you always remember are the comments people have made. It's so true. That one will stick with me for a LONG time. It stung. I don't think he could have come over and slapped me and it stung any worse. Words can be much more powerful.

The problem is this. He's a reformed Twinkie eater. His weight goes up and down. When he's on the downslide and losing weight, he decides that it's time to pick on heavy people. When he's on the upswing, he keeps quiet. Right now - downswing. Like I said. Nothing is worse than a reformed Twinkie eater.

So, here I sit, beating myself up for not being a size 2. I've done this my entire life. Battled the comments, the discrimination, etc. I wear a size 18. There, I said it. I'm an 18, people. I'm also 5' 9", and even at my thinnest (when I was a bulemic at 19) was a size 10. I'm never going to be a 2. Can I stand to lose some weight. Yes - I know that, though. You don't need to tell me. Do you think overweight people are in denial? No - we're not. We KNOW. But, what we need is for you to love us just as we are and accept us. The rest will fall into place. Oh - and before anyone starts posting about diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. Doesn't apply here. My cholesterol is in the 120's, bp runs LOW and diabetes is not an issue. I don't fall into your sterotype.

I just had to get that off of my chest. It's been a long 24 hours. A lot of beating myself up. I've dealt with this my entire life, though. You would think that I would be used to it by now. But, I'm not. I guess I just want people to take me as I am. It's sad when I can be having a perfectly content moment and someone just come in and shit all over it - for no good reason really.

That's all. Just venting in between tears and anger. If you're reading this and you're the type to make fun of the "fat person" remember this - we have feelings. It hurts. You might not care, but you should.

So many boy bands...so little time...

2008-04-04T13:28:00.004-04:00

So, the NKOTB appeared on the Today show this morning. Since it's the time that I drop Maggie off and head to work, I drove in while on the phone with my good friend, Karin, to see what was going on. I was DVRing it, but you know - it's like being 13 again and I had to know what was going on. They didn't appear until later and I was in a meeting, however, they do have the video posted on MSNBC. Which, I watched during lunch! (And was unable to link here but if you go to MSNBC, it's there!)

I would have been one of the screaming fans. Heck - if I would have been at home, I would have been screaming at the TV. This is just so exciting! The last time I saw them, I was 17 and they were doing a tour of their last album, Face the Music, and the venues were small. I had third row because a friend of mine and I waited outside in line ALL DAY (skipped school) to get into Bogart's early. That was a good time and I'd gladly do it again.

I already have a line-up of girls that are going to the concert with me. Maggie is a bit upset that I might not take her. I'm not sure, yet. Does she really need to see Mommy get all giggly like she does when she sees the Jonas Brothers? Maybe. But, if I'm out with the rest of my 30-something friends, we might make it girls night out. I just hope they plan a date near Cincinnati!

So, coming down from my NKOTB high (which reminds me that I need to dig through my mom's attic for all of my stuff!), on another boy band front, Nick Lachey is singing the National Anthem at the Reds game tonight. My brother works for the Reds and I have made him PROMISE me that if he meets Nick, they have to call me. (He did this before with my favorite Reds player, Hal Morris. I'll have my phone on me all night)

That's all in the land of boy bands and reliving my teen years! LOL!

Onto the family. Scott and Maggie get their belts tonight (which is why I won't be at the game) and then we have a fairly busy weekend planned. Penelope is home from being spayed and Achilles has healed quite nicely from his neuter last week. I almost bought him a shirt that said "Sorry Bitches - I'm fixed" but figured that might be too much. A good laugh, though. Oh - and Addie is still embracing the terrible twos. I'm considering Nanny Stella. If she just wasn't so darn cute!

You know it was just a matter of time...

2008-04-02T14:51:00.002-04:00

Before I talked about the New Kids reunion. Oh yea - that's right - NKOTB is back. The five bad brothers from the Beantown land are reuniting and on Friday will be on the Today Show. I'm setting my DVR tonight, baby! Why am I so excited? Well, because I've been a New Kids fan since I was 12. My last concert was when I was 17 and trust me - I've been waiting for a reunion ever since.

But, here's what's funny. I think my favorite "kid" has changed. Back in the day, hands down, it was Jon. I had posters of him EVERYWHERE in my room. There was not one single square inch of my walls that was not covered with a photo of Jon Knight. I was really lucky because my aunt worked for a magazine distributor at the time, so she would bring me STACKS of teen magazines every month. I would spend time meticulously cutting out the photos of Jon and putting them in photo albums. (Hmmm...the start of my scrapbooking? Maybe!)

So - I went online today to find my favorite all-time photos of Jon. These were the ones that hung right above my bed so that they were front and center all the time. It's hilarious how I remember EXACTLY which ones they were. Here - have a chuckle:

The one where he is pointing was my all-time favorite. Now, I look at it and I'm like "Uh...ok..." He's still cute, but not drool on my pillow, daydream in class and scribble "Ginger Knight" cute. (All things that I may or may not have done at the time) I have to admit - I still like the photo of him cuddled-up with the bear. Swoon.

Back to the story at hand. I found some updated photos of the band and one of Jon from this year and he has aged well. Considering he is 39 (Holy COW!), I think he looks pretty good. I just can't picture the New Kids at 40. Of course, I'm 31, so I should be able to, but to me - they're still 21. I digress...

Here's Jon today:

He reminds me of someone but I can't quite pin it. I'll have to sit on that one for a while.

And, here's the band. Joey still does nothing for me. Danny - eh. Jordan has moved up a few notches, but the surprise for me has been Donnie. I never cared for him post "The Right Stuff" video. But, hello Mr. Wahlberg. You're lookin' pretty fly in this photo. No, wait...it's still Jon. Sorry Donnie. Jon is still my favorite New Kid.

I hope they turn this photo into a poster. I am SO hanging it in my office.

What about you? Who was your favorite New Kid. (Oh - and I realize some of my readers are too young to even know who they were. Thanks for making me feel old - LAURA STOLLER) LOL!

Meet Penelope!

2008-04-01T13:27:00.000-04:00

This is Penelope. She is the newest member of the Rohlfs household. Penelope is an American Hairless Terrier just like Achilles and the story of how she joined us is somewhat sad, but with a happy ending.

Approximately 2 Fridays ago, I received a phone call from Achilles' breeder. She was asking about him and said she had a question for me. She proceeded to tell me about this pup that a family in Columbus had purchased. They were threatening to put her down because she growled at the dad and snapped at him. She told me that she knew the pup, that the dog was not aggressive and she could not figure out what was going on but she asked if Scott and I would like to have her. We wouldn't have to pay for her - just pick her up in Columbus from the family and give her a good home.

We talked about it and we knew we could handle two pups. Since she's only approximately a month older than Achilles, we figured it wouldn't be too bad, so we made arrangements and we took her. The next day, we drove to Columbus and picked up our new pup.

Truthfully - I have to say, I think that something serious went on with her. I don't want to make accusations but she was approximately 4 lbs underweight, had not been bathed or had her nails clipped in a while. (They had her three weeks) She would also shake and cower when you got near her. To say the least, she obviously had some trauma.

We brought her home, bathed her, trimmed her nails and started feeding her good food. She has since warmed up to all of us, is playing with Achilles now and is a very sweet dog. Her original name was Maggie Blue, but we had to change that because it would be pretty difficult to explain to your daughter why your dog has the same name that she does. Plus, being a Ginger, I've had my fair share of people saying "My dog is named Ginger". Yea - ok. Thanks...

Anyway - just wanted to show off our newest addition. She is so different from Achilles, yet they are so much alike. I'll need to get a good picture of the both of them. She's still a bit camera shy, but I'm sure that she'll get more comfortable with it as she spends more time with us. I'm just glad that the breeder thought of us as a family for her. I'll be sure to post new photos soon.

As for an update on the rest of the family, Scott and Maggie and their TKD testing on Saturday and both passed. Scott is one belt away from black belt. It's hard to believe. I already have his speech planned - I'm sure that will be one worth blogging about! Maggie is back in school after Spring Break and Addie is still Addie. We cut about 4" off of her hair, so she has the cutest little bob but boy is she mean. Her "chucky" photo below is just the tip of the iceberg for that kid. About 2 weeks ago she took a sharpie to Scott's parents house. A total of 8 walls and a leather couch. Need I say more? I'm just glad it wasn't on my watch. LOL!

Heeeerrreee's Addie!

2008-03-27T14:52:00.003-04:00

Lots to post but I don't have all the photos. Just this one of Addie trying to get into my nephews room at my mom's house. I'm telling you - she's mean. LOL! She's a cute little pumpkin, but she's meaner than a striped spider. (However mean they are - it's a saying my mom always uses)

My nephew sent me this photo. He recently bought a Rebel XT and he's always snapping photos of the kiddos. But, this one takes the cake.

I'll post more soon. Promise!

My baby girl turned 2 this week!

2008-03-21T08:35:00.005-04:00

I know - bad Ginger. Not blogging like I should again, but it's because these past few weeks have just been crazy. It's not like I don't WANT to blog - I just can't seem to find the time to do it. But, I have the time right now for a minute (while uploading other things on another window) so I figured I'd get it done. :)

Big news this week was that Ms. Addie turned 2! We were very busy last weekend with birthday parties galore. On Friday, we celebrated with Addie's "Man of her dreams", Colin, as he celebrated turning 2. They were born literally hours from each other, delivered by the same doctor, etc. I think it's destiny for them. :)

Even though St. Patty's Day is Addie's birthday, we had her party on Sunday so that friends and family could all be there. Try cramming way too many people into a few rooms. It was craziness! Plus, Addie is not about singing or attention which just makes her moody sometimes. Here she is as we're singing "Happy Birthday" to her. Last year, she covered her ears. This year, she just stared at everyone or her cake -glaringly.

We also brought our dog to the festivities. He was the hit of the party because he's a good pup and well, he's hairless, so he stands out a bit. Here is my good friend, Missy, and her daughter Alexis holding Achilles. (Whom we have affectionately renamed Batman due to his markings coming in looking like a mask)

Oh - and of course, I'm posting this photo of Laura and Karin because it will drive Karin crazy that I did this. LOL!

I just love those girls!

I think everyone pretty much had a great time. I would post a photo of Maggie but in most of them she's either making a terrible face (she's in the pouty stage of life right now) or she's giving me the cheesiest grin ever. She's excited, though, because tomorrow I'm signing her up for cheerleading. I told her dad that she's going to get to pick and she decided to take a little time off from tae kwon do to cheerlead. It's what she wants to do, so I'm letting her do it. I figure she's old enough to decide these things. We'll see how that goes!

Oh - and big news also on Addie's front. Last night we bought underwear! Ms. Addie has been using the potty quite a bit lately and she decided she wanted some Elmo panties, so I bought her a pack. My mom is trying them today, along with a small potty to see how she does. She's been keeping her pull-up dry so why not try the transition? Wish us luck! (those pull-ups are PRICEY!)

That's all for now. Hope everyone is doing well and have a great holiday weekend!

I've been tagged

2008-03-09T20:47:00.002-04:00

I've been tagged on a few blogs, so I'm finally getting around to posting my 7 random things. The deal is, you post 7 random things about yourself and then tag a few more of your blog buddies. :)

Here are mine:

1) I hate mayonnaise and eggs. HATE them. They gross me out. If either/or is on a plate with my food, I won't eat it. There's no scraping it off. It cannot TOUCH it whatsoever. I freak. FREAK.

2) I'm missing 8 of my adult teeth. My mouth was too small for the size of my teeth. (mom's jaw, dad's teeth) So, I had 8 of them cut out - four before braces and four after so that it wouldn't shift the work they had already done.

3) I had REALLY easy labors with both of my girls. Six and eight hours respectively. I was induced both times and the girls are both born on the 17th - Maggie in July and Addie in March.

4) I wear a size 10 shoe. Have worn that size since I was in the 5th grade. Maggie is well on her way to the same thing. She already wears a women's 6.

5) I live a mile from where I grew up. So much for being adventurous and moving far away from home.

6) I went to a private, Catholic college on a full-ride scholarship. I thank God for my alma mater every day. (I was one of the rare "public school" kids)

7) Betty White and the guy that played Enis on The Dukes of Hazzard and John Michael Montgomery are distant cousins. They're all on the Hasty side.

There are my random facts. Hope you learned something new about me. At least, something that will not incriminate me in a court of law or cause me to never be able to be elected for President.

Now to tag some friends - since most of my friends already tagged me, I might be double-tagging you. Here goes: Heather, Teresa, Janna, Barb, Laura, Angie, Trisha, Jen and Josie.

Oh - and for those of you wondering how our pup is doing, here he is from last week.

Why are people A$$holes???

2008-03-05T11:31:00.002-05:00

Ok - so I'm at home today for the 2nd time this week because I have terrible vertigo, nausea and headaches. Why? Well, because I was slammed into last week. Granted, accidents happen. I get that. Everyone and anyone can have them. Here is what pisses me off - the circumstances. The guy that hit me was an illegal alien from Mexico. He spoke NO English (or claimed he didn't), was driving without a license or insurance, had a carload of people with him and basically I'm the one stuck with a lot of the bills.

Fortunately, my insurance is covering almost everything except the $500 deductible, which I cannot get back because this guy has no insurance, he basically moves from place to place (according to the cops), has no bank account and they cannot confirm his official ID because he gave them multiple names that he goes by. His car was registered to another illegal - apparently in America you can register a car without a license or insurance.

This all went down last week, and then yesterday I get a subpoena to show up to court to testify against him. That is - IF HE SHOWS. Of course, if he shows, I might try to get my $500 and I might be taking out of his ass. (Well, I want to, but unlike a lot of other people, I OBEY THE LAW) The court date is at 9:00 am while I'm normally at work, so I'll be missing more work because of this jerk. (Who was speeding when he slammed into me - I was stopped in traffic and he rear-ended me) I have to say, the cop did arrest him and tried to do what he could, but the issue lies with our own laws and government. I think we need tougher laws on illegals, and we need to address uninsured motorists. Thank GOD I had uninsured motorist coverage, but really - there needs to be harsher penalties for this crap.

Oh- and to compound this - Scott went outside today and our OTHER car has been hit - on the passenger side door and we're not sure when that would have happened but obviously they knew they hit it (white paint on my car) and they didn't bother to leave a note or try to contact us. Once again - Assholes. I hope they get theirs.

Sorry for the vent but can you tell I'm fed up?

MyCraftivity.com - Have you signed-up yet?

2008-02-24T20:29:00.003-05:00

Ok - so at work we've just launched this ultra-cool social networking site for crafters. It's called www.mycraftivity.com and let me tell you - I LOVE it! Basically, we're going to have FREE (that's right - FREE) projects, books by the chapter, giveaways, and all sorts of really cool stuff.

I am so excited to be a part of it and truthfully, I hope if you get a chance you register and check it out. It's basically MySpace for crafters. The social networking feature is SO fun and we'll eventually be adding all sorts of bells and whistles in the near future. If you craft or have an Etsy store, it's a great place to network with other crafters and get the word out about your stuff. If you own a store, you can create a group and send messages to your customers if they're members, too. Or - you can just network with other friends who also like to do various types of crafts. I know that I've really been into the scrapbooking and knitting part of the site, but there are sections for virtually EVERY craft.

Check it out if you get a chance and add me as a friend. I'm gingerjane!

On a side note, my wedding and anniversary rings will be changing very soon. I had to take them to the jeweler to get "dipped" which means they plate a platinum alloy over the gold. I've recently become allergic to something in yellow gold, so I had to take this step in order to be able to wear them. I get them back on Wednesday and I can't wait!

Here's the ring!!!

2008-02-22T10:48:00.005-05:00

Ok - I'm at home today because there is a ton of snow and ice and my mom was freaking out at the thought of me going to work (God love her) and Maggie was out of school, so I'm working at home today. Anyway, I thought I would take a quick break and show you the diamond ring from my hubby!

Sorry for the photo but I used my photobooth program to take the photo. I'm pointing at the ring - it's the one at the top of my wedding set. It looks much more beautiful in real life, it's really gorgeous.

This is how Scott gave it to me. On Wednesday (Feb 13th) I returned home at about 9:00 at night from CHA. I was WORN out and tired and cranky because I had not had dinner so I came in and began to eat something quickly. Scott insisted on taking a bath immediately which sort of ticked me off but quite frankly I was too tired to argue about it.

Scott has this habit of taking a bath and then forgetting to grab a towel out of the linen closet so he usually will holler for me to get one. That's what he did that night and I proceed to go into the bathroom and I'm griping the entire time about why can't he get his own towel. I yank one out of the closet and the ring box falls on the floor. I took one look at it and sort of blanked out and then shut the door. I reopened it and picked up the box and that's when Scott said something about opening it and I started crying immediately. Basically, he set the entire thing up because it's our joke about how he can never grab a towel and that night he wanted me to grab the towel and be surprised by the ring. You have to know Scott. He's not the most romantic guy - but he's perfect for me.

Apparently, he took the girls to the jewelry store while I was at CHA and Maggie helped him pick out the ring. I actually went to the store to get my wedding set cleaned to match (trust me - I didn't realize how messy it was) and the girl that waited on me told me about how sweet he was when he was in there. (She recognized the ring) She was like "I KNEW he wouldn't wait until August" because Scott was originally going to give it to me for our anniversary in August, but he couldn't wait. What a guy!

So - that's the story behind the ring. Silly but sweet. :)

I'm sorry...

2008-02-20T08:35:00.001-05:00

I am sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know - it's been over a MONTH since I posted and I apologize for that. Things have just been really crazy around the house and so much has happened in a month. I'll try to do a quick summary (in order) so that you can see what's been going on.

I returned from TNNA and it's catalog season at work so I've been swamped. I have also totally become addicted to knitting and am working on a blanket - so there's an update from my knitting post. I even joined our lunchtime knitting group at work. It's funny to watch 20 girls sit around a lunchroom table with needles and yarn. The clicking of the needles is quite a site. And - now I'm one of them! Anyway, enough of my knitting speak.

I also gave in to Scott and Maggie's constant begging and we got a dog. His name is Achilles and he's an American Hairless Terrier. Basically that boils down to BALD DOG. Imagine Mr. Bigglesworth, but as a dog. That's my dog. He's hilarious. Here are a few photos that my breeder had sent to me. I have some pictures but once again had no time to upload. Plus, he's a feisty booger, but he's so sweet. He's really a good dog and he cuddles with me at night. He pretty much follows me around the house and sits with me whenever I'm standing still for a minute. He's almost 4 months now, and these were taken last month.

I never thought I'd become one of those people that puts clothes on my dog, but he has his own wardrobe. He has to wear clothes because it's cold and he has no fur. (The reason why we went hairless is because of Maggie's allergies) He's actually a cool dog - whenever we have him out, people stop and make a fuss over him. He's my boy!

We had a tragedy in the family the morning before I left for CHA. My sister-in-law, Gayle, passed away on February 7th. It's a long story as to what happened, but it was a shock and I do ask for prayers for my nephews. Gayle was a big part of our lives. She and my brother were married almost 20 years - they had been divorced the past 7 but were married for a LONG time. I grew up with her, so I have had a lot of grief to deal with and I probably haven't dealt with it very well considering I had to board a plane the next morning and missed the services. But, we're healing. Everyone is healing. My biggest concern are her three sons that she left behind. They're in their late teens, early 20's, but they still need a lot of support. The shock has really taken its toll on them. Anyway - I do ask for your prayers.

CHA was great - all things considered. I traveled with my good friend Jennifer (which made traveling a lot easier to have someone that gets it), and this was the first time that I was with F+W and not releasing a line. I have to say, it was SO relaxing for me. I was able to walk around and talk with stores, manufacturers, designers, etc., without having to worry about "are my lines ok?" or "Do people like them?" I could just appreciate everything that was out there and I didn't stress about the show like I normally would have. Saw some AWESOME stuff! I have to say - I really, REALLY like October Afternoon (not to be confused with October Road which is one of my new favorite shows!). I got some and cannot wait to tear into it. I also love Scenic Route (as always) and American Crafts. I was also excited to see my good friend, Teresa Collins and her newest release. It's STUNNING. My girl is so talented! She was the buzz of the show! Congrats T! You deserve it girl!

I made some new friends and had dinner with the Hero Arts team. They are awesome and so welcoming. I also hung out with Janna Wilson who is quite possibly one of the funniest girls I've ever met. I can't wait to see her at the summer show. (You better go girl!) Talking with our authors was a good time and it's amazing how busy our booth was. I loved it!

I saved the best for last, though. The night I got home Scott had an amazing surprise waiting for me. I'll save how he gave it to me for another post since I need to take a photo of it, too, but he gave me my Valentines/Anniversary present. We were engaged 12 years ago on Valentine's Day and this August we'll be married 10 years. When I got home that night he gave me the most beautiful anniversary band. I cried. It's gorgeous. He took the girls and went and picked out this ring and it's just beautiful. It means so much to me. I promise to take a photo and post about how he gave it to me but just know that it's GORGEOUS and I love it. The diamonds are perfect cut (whatever that means - LOL!) and they sparkle like crazy. He said something about them being colorless and flawless, too, but when you're looking at your ring, pretty much all of that stuff goes in one ear and out the other because you don't really care at that point. You're just so overwhelmed at the gesture. At least I was. So - I was a very, very happy girl and have been ever since.

That's it. There's my update. Sorry for making you wait this long. I realized when I had NINE people at CHA say something to me, that it was time for me to post. Heck - I never realized that many people read my blog. Leave me a comment sometime people! :)

Look what I learned to do!

2008-01-12T11:26:00.000-05:00

I'm at TNNA - which is The National NeedleArts show. At first, I dreaded it because I have never been able to knit. I tried a few years back and nearly poked my eyes out with the needles from frustration. But, truthfully, I've always been jealous of those that can knit. I want to make my own sweaters, especially since I'm a hard fit. But, I had NO CLUE how to do that.

While out here, I was talking with some of our authors and watching Hannah Fettig do some of her knitting. Bound and determined, I got a set of really nice ebony needles from a booth of awesome women and headed to the F+W Booth for a lesson. Hannah wasn't there, but Shannon Oakey was and she gave me a few quick lessons and VOILA! I can cast on and do basic stitches. Today - I'm going to learn to purl.

Do I still suck at it. Yea - I'm learning how to hold the needles properly and get my stitches going, but I'm going to keep working on it. I've already called Scott with my excited news and he has requested a "big ass blanket". I think I can do that with the one stitch that I know. Ha!

All in all, this has been a pretty cool trip!

Oh - and I knitted at dinner last night with a few girls. I got to sit at the big girl knitting table! :)

Happy New Year Everyone!

2008-01-02T11:09:00.000-05:00

Well, I just want to hop on and wish everyone a happy New Year! We had a great holiday and now I'm in the rude awakening of returning back to work after an extended period of time off. Truthfully, it's snowing here in Cincinnati and I want to go back home and climb into bed and sleep another five hours but that's not going to happen. Might as well post a blog and deal.

Here are some photos from the Holidays:

I'm officially back on program for my diet. After losing 35 lbs since June, I have gained back 5, which is completely unacceptable, but it was a fun month. SO, today I start back on plan and am now working on a Biggest Loser diet as well. I'm in debate as to whether I want to do Weight Watchers again or try on my own. I always feel like WW is someone I have to answer to, so it keeps me on track a bit better, but I could use the money that it costs for something else right now. In either event, it's back on track and watching calories, working out, etc.

Did anyone see TBL last night? I'm not sure who I'm rooting for, yet. Probably the blue team, because I think it's cool that they just met and are now competing like this against other teams that have the emotional connection. I don't know - give me a few weeks and I'll figure it out. I usually end up with a favorite mid-season.

Hope everyone had a great holiday and I'm hoping to have a more interesting post sometime soon.

Bringing it home to Cincinnati!

2007-12-21T13:44:00.000-05:00

All I have to say is that I held my breath as they announced the winner last night. I never get into reality shows. Truthfully, I hate them. I can't stand Survivor, I only watch American Idol when they have the REALLY bad auditions and I haven't watched Dancin' with the Stars since Drew Lachey. But, this week - I was all about Clash of the Choirs.

I'm so happy for Nick and his choir! One of the girls I work with knows two members and I've been privvy to some of the e-mails from them describing their experience. It's good to know that Nick is a good guy in "real" life and not just on TV. Plus, Children's Hospital is such a wonderful charity - Maggie spent three days there in 2005 and I could not have asked for a better experience.

So, GO TEAM LACHEY! Cincinnati is proud!

On a side note, I need to take this time to acknowledge my wonderful husband who has put up with my Nick addiction this week (begrudgingly most of the time) and I wanted to post a photo of HIS woman so that you all know he has his own list of celebrities. (Kind of like Ross and Rachel) His is Reese Witherspoon - at least it's not Jessica Simpson.

Not only is he hot...he's a genius!

2007-12-20T09:08:00.001-05:00

Did you watch Clash of the Choirs last night? If not - WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? If you did, then you know my man, NICK LACHEY, (do I need to reinforce how he's my man? Because...I can if you need me to) absolutely blew everyone away with his choir's performance of Flight of the Bumblebee.

In case you didn't see it (which, we'll talk about later!) here are some clips from the performance last night.

http://www.rickey.org/?p=6736

First off was Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" - which is one of the very few contemporary Christmas songs that I LOVE. Nick knows what I wanted for Christmas! (Just kidding Scott!) Then, he did the Bumblebee. WOW. Just WOW! If that doesn't win it, then I pretty much think America has their heads up their rear.

Finally, he closed with "What's Left of Me". Can I just say that I would take what's left of him? When he gets on his knees - yea, he's singing to me. Poor Nick. I'm married. Happily married. We'll just have to wait sweetie...

Anyway - when I snap out of my fantasy world that I live in where Nick Lachey is begging me to take him home, I'll be wrapping presents and doing all of the other Christmas stuff. I'm holding my breath that he wins tonight. My next wish is that he signs on for Dancing with the Stars. He NEEDS to be on there. I wanna see him do push-ups with a cowboy outfit on. HELL yeah...

I need a cold shower now...

I've been given notice...

2007-12-19T16:18:00.001-05:00

Apparently, my frequency of blogging sucks and I know that. I admit it. But, my friend Karin decided that I needed to be made AWARE of how annoying my less-than-stellar update schedule has been.

I promised her I would blog. I'll try to be better about it but I haven't had much to say lately. Been busy at work and swamped at home. Last night Addie got a haircut. Tonight Maggie has Girl Scouts. Tomorrow night I have a Focus Group Study. See the pattern?

Anyway - I did manage to DVR "Clash of the Choirs". Truthfully, it's a cheesy concept but my man is on the show. That's right everyone. I said MY man. That means, hands off (you, too, Vanessa Manillafolder and the chick that claims he was her first kiss!). Now that we have that settled, I've only had time to watch Nick's choir's first performance on Monday and the taped segments during their practice. Mental note - hang out more at Graeter's and SCPA. I haven't seen the performance from last night but the reviews are coming in and it's not good but it's not completely bad. I'm just hoping he makes it to the next level - I want to hear him perform his song. Plus, I get to look at him and it keeps me from throwing a fit that Grey's and Private Practice aren't on.

Here are some photos courtesy of enquirer.com...

His look in the second photo has me biting my knuckles.

Finally, before I forget, I need to mention that my wonderful husband (who is going to yell at me for the Nick post) was also Father of the Year because he had to pick up the Hannah Montana tickets from will call. In an effort to provide equal props, I wanted to mention that.

She got the best of both worlds...

2007-12-14T09:07:00.000-05:00

Ok - so you probably know that I was frantically trying to find a celebrity to call the local radio station so that Maggie could go see Hannah Montana. Well, that failed miserably - BUT, guess where we went last night? That's right - to see Hannah Montana. The best part was, I didn't have to pay some ridiculously overpriced ticket broker to go. We kept checking ticketmaster.com all day to see if any tickets from promoters were released and low and behold - at approximately 2:15 I got a set about 5 rows from the stage! Talk about lucky!

Here are some photos from last night:

My friend, Missy, and her daughter went with us. Alexis and Maggie and the best time!

Here's the Jonas Brothers. Believe it or not, they're not bad. They're all the same height which I think is kind of funny, but they aren't that bad. They have a song that I actually like - S.O.S. It was cute.

Then, of course, is Hannah Montana aka Miley Cyrus! She does "two" shows. First, she comes out as Hannah Montana, and then the Jonas Brothers come back out for a song or two and then Miley comes back out as well...Miley. LOL!

The kid earns her keep - I have to say that. She was dancing and jumping around the stage the entire night. Girls were just SCREAMING - it was actually a decent concert. I didn't feel like the dreaded parent sitting through something lame. I even have considered downloading her CD's from iTunes this weekend for Maggie. (And, maybe put a few songs on my iPod -LOL!)

Missy and I decided to proclaim ourselves "MOMS OF THE YEAR". LOL!

On a separate note, I want to thank two VERY GOOD friends for the lovely boxes I received in the mail this week. One was Sharon Laakkonen, who sent me these YUMMY and DELICIOUS truffles that she and Britt make every Christmas. We used to fight over them at Imagination Project and this year I got my own tin of Cookies and Cream ones. Talk about to die for! They're being rationed out at the Rohlfs household - one per person per day. Thank goodness Scott is not big on chocolate! ;)

Secondly, I got a gift in the mail from Trish who owns Work In Progress kits. (Link is on the side) Her kits are always SO darn cute and she sent me the latest. LOVE you Trish! :)

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season!

Do you know anyone famous????

2007-12-11T08:52:00.000-05:00

Please tell me that you do! Reason is - our local radio station is having a contest where you can win tickets to Hannah Montana and Maggie is DYING to go. Right now, I can't afford them because the lovely scalpers are asking upwards of $500 - $1500 PER TICKET. Last I checked, I don't make that kind of money. So, I thought I'd blog about it and maybe, just maybe, someone who knows someone who might be famous might have them call in for Maggie.

If that's the case, e-mail me and I'll give you the details. (Button is on the side) On a side note, one of the reasons why I am trying so hard to do this is that Maggie has offered her piggy bank full of money to the free store or some other charity where they will either feed the homeless or buy toys for kids that don't have anything. I must be doing something right because Maggie is willing to give and that warms my heart. So - to help celebrate and support her thinking, I thought I would do what I could to try and win these tickets. If she doesn't go, it won't be the end of the world. But, as a mom, I'm going to try to do my part. I'm not telling you that story so that you'll say "Oh - look at her - she's a good kid" but I'm telling you that story because I'm not one of those psycho mom's that has to give my kid everything. But, if there is something I can do to celebrate a good deed from her, then I'm going to try my best to do it. (That also goes without saying that this is the same kid that cut 9" off of her hair for Locks of Love and is growing it back out to do again)

Anyway, I wish I could offer a favor to you - I guess I could come and clean your house or scrapbook your photos. That's about all I'm good for. :)

Let me know if you know anyone!

This man came from Cincinnati...

2007-12-06T11:14:00.001-05:00

Just to think - he grew up a MILE from my house. I lived in Lockland. He lived in Wyoming. Damn...

I probably ran into him at the public library there.

Don't get me wrong. I'm totally happy with my Deer Park boy, but a wife has to have fantasies, right?

Click on the headline to go to the youtube video of Nick singing on Oprah yesterday. Oh - and the other photo - that was his halloween costume. It's Nick in a box!

Yea I know...

2007-12-03T13:23:00.000-05:00

I suck at being a good blogger these days. It's just like all of the sudden, I don't have much to say. I don't know why - I just don't. I've been pretty busy with my house in turmoil right now. We're having a bathroom addition built as well as gutting our main (AND ONLY) bathroom that we had. SO - things have been turned upside down and there is this fine layer of dust that keeps covering everything. I'll dust and it reappears, so I'm just going to let it appear until the work is done and I can do a complete cleaning. In the meantime, it's driving me nuts.

Yesterday the family and I went over to Laura's to have our Christmas photo taken. It turned out pretty well except that Addie didn't want to cooperate - AT ALL. We have all of these awesome shots, but Addie is pretty pissed off in most of them. That's the wonderful life of a (soon to be) 2 year old.

But, what's even more funny is this photo of my niece's kids with Santa. That's the twins (Teagyn and Braelyn) and then their big sister, Ryan. Notice where Ryan is. I was laughing so hard that tears were in my eyes because the look on her face is pricess. I haven't taken my girls to see Santa, yet. I'm sure Addie will have her moment.

Hope you get a good laugh!

The old lefthander rounded third and headed to heaven...

2007-11-16T11:18:00.000-05:00

I ran downstairs here at work this morning and every day the ladies out front put a quote on the messageboard. Today it read: "Rounding Third and Headed for Home" - Joe Nuxhall - 1928-2007. I nearly froze and tears started to well in my eyes.

If you're not from Cincinnati, it might not have much meaning to you. But, Joe Nuxhall WAS Reds baseball. When I was a kid, every game was announced by Marty & Joe. My dad loved to listen to those two and whenever he would take me to games, we'd always look up at the WLW booth to them with their broadcasting gear on. Sometimes they'd wave down to us because we'd get there early. Dad would sometimes bring a radio and listen while he watched. Why? Because they seemed to make the game better. Even if the Reds were losing, you at least got to hear the banter between Marty & Joe. Joe spent SIX DECADES with the Reds...

In the summer of 1994, my dad was very sick from his cancer and unable to really get out of the house. We couldn't go to the games, so dad watched them on TV and of course listened to the radio. I remember how exciting it was that Marty & Joe sent my dad well wishes via the radio - they told him to get better. We know how that story went, but I was just so glad to hear them say that to dad. It meant a lot to him. (My brother had asked them to say something to dad on the radio - which they happily obliged)

I guess it's another ending for me in terms of memories of my dad. I have some that I cherish and most of the time they revolve around Reds games because that was "me and dad's time". I can remember being tore-up about Riverfront when they imploded it to build Great American. Why? Because my dad and I went to Riverfront. Listening to the games on the radio are not the same. Why? Because it's not Marty & Joe. I know things change, but I'm not always ready to embrace them. I'm emotional that way, especially when it comes to my dad.

You'll be sorely missed, Joe. I know my dad will be happy to see a familiar face, but here in Cincinnati, Reds Baseball will never be the same.

Edited to add this photo. It's of my brother and Joe here a few months ago. He just sent it to me. Priceless...

I know...I know...

2007-11-12T12:41:00.000-05:00

I have been REALLY bad about updating the blog. Truth is - I've been pretty busy lately and haven't had much to say. I guess I HAVE had a lot to say but just haven't taken the time. Sorry about that. I've received a few e-mails lately wondering where I am and I apologize. My laziness just got the best of me.

Since I last posted (which I realized was in OCTOBER - Bad me!) I saw John Edward. You know, the medium - Crossing Over, Cross Country, etc. He's amazing! I won't go into details right now because I'm not in the mindset to talk about it (I'm battling really bad vertigo courtesy of a raging ear infection) but I promise to post about it soon.

We're in the midst of bathroom remodeling which is probably going to take until the holidays. Our contractor was only in for 2 days last week. Not really sure what that's about but he's a pretty dependable guy so I'm not going to sweat it. As soon as the rooms are done, I might post pictures. Depends on how much I like them. (Which, for what I'm forking out - I better LOVE them!)

I've also been on a decorating binge. I saw Laura's apartment not too long ago and I LOVE her decorating style. So - now I'm hell bent to redecorate rooms in my house. I've been begging Scott to repaint the infamous orange living room. (We're talking TONY STEWART HOME DEPOT ORANGE here) I'm bouncing back and forth between chocolate and a pretty not-quite aqua blue. I haven't decided, yet. Well, and he hasn't committed to letting me paint it, yet, so we'll have to see.

What I really want, is for it to look like this:

Just clean and ORGANIZED. I'm trying to make an effort to get there - I really am. But, it's hard when you're trying to balance kids, full-time job, etc. But, I know that once I get organized, life will be easier.

Anyway - that's all for now. Sorry that I don't have any words of wisdom or anything. The diet is still...well, it's there. I'm trying. Or, half-assed trying. I haven't had any remarkable weight-loss in the past three weeks. I think I'm on hiatus and in hiatus denial. It'll kick back in. Soon, I hope!

WHY women should love the UFC!

2007-10-22T08:45:00.000-04:00

So, I spent my Saturday night at UFC 77: Hostile Territory with my amazing husband and a few friends. (All guys of course) As I was sitting there (anyone that knows me knows I am always willing to throw down - hence my love of fighting) I was thinking - "Why aren't more girls into this sport? It has EVERYTHING a girl could want. Hot men, hot men only wearing shorts and hot men wearing shorts and sweating while beating the crap out of each other." Seems like a no-brainer to me. So, I decided in an effort to share with you - my girls - WHY you should like the UFC, I have come up with the FIVE HOTTEST MEN OF THE UFC. (This is my my opinion and in no way endorsed by Dana White or anyone else other than myself)

1) Andrei Arlovski - born in Belarus, I could just imagine sweet Russian nothings coming from this guy.

2) Matt Hammill - He's a Cincinnati boy. (You know how I love my Cincy boys!) He's also hearing impaired which makes him even more remarkable. He's an Olympic wrestler and he wrestled Scott's best friend in high school. He's also not too bad to look at but his personality makes him even cuter.

He's the one on the right in the second photo.

3) Rich Franklin - Another Cincinnati boy. Just an all-around good guy. Supports the troops and looks nice while doing it.

4) Tito Ortiz - He's the Huntington Beach Bad Boy and there is a reason. Tito is tight. The only problem is that he dates Jenna Jameson which basically means I would never touch him with a 10 foot pole, but he's still nice on the eyes.

5) Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes - I had to put two guys in here because I realized after saying "Five" that I probably have more. It's a toss-up between these two. Chuck is mellow and has piercing blue eyes. Matt is a country-boy. With a nice body. Hmmm...which one do we pick?

(Chuck is the first photo and the next two are Matt Hughes)

There is a guy who's job is to "pat down" the fighters before the enter the octagon. He checks to make sure they're not "greased" (they would slip in submissions) and he pats down their shorts to make sure they 1) have on a cup and 2) no weapons. Once again - why can't a GIRL have that job. I'll apply for it.

Anyway - hopefully you get a little amusement out of this and understand WHY I totally love the UFC. Seriously - these guys are pretty hot!

Just a busy girl

2007-10-19T08:23:00.000-04:00

Sorry again for being a bad blogger. I've just been a busy girl. Between work, shuffling Maggie to her activities, Scott with TKD, remodeling two bathrooms, etc., it's been crazy.

On a good note, I did go to a great benefit crop last week and got to spend some time with good friends. I've missed my scrapbooking girls. It was SO nice to be around them again - even if a few were missing. (That's right Tina K - I'm talking about YOU!)

Yesterday, Laura met me for lunch. It was like old times. So much fun! I missed her. We laughed and talked and shopped and laughed some more. Good times I tell ya - good times!

One of the neat things that's going on is that Maggie now has a "big sister". There is a very nice catholic school in our neighborhood and some of the seniors have signed up to have "little sisters" from Maggie's school. The parents basically had to fill out a form for their daughter to participate. One Saturday each month, the big sister takes out the little sister for some fun and it's all sponsored by their school. Last night Maggie got a call from her big sister and she was in HEAVEN. She talked to her for an hour and I swear - she's going to be a teenager faster than I know. I cleaned her room and listened to her talk to her "sister" and it was so cute. They were asking each other their favorite music, color, tv show, movie, etc. So cute! Her big sister watches Grey's Anatomy - Maggie was like "Oh - that's my mom's FAVORITE show" and she's doing these little hand gestures. I was cracking up. I think this is going to be a good thing. Her "sister" lives relatively close to Maggie's TKD school and she's STILL a girl scout. I was pretty impressed with that. She seems like a good kid - I'm really hoping this turns out to be a positive thing - both for her and for Maggie.

That's about all. Scott and I are going to see the UFC tomorrow night. That's right - I love the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Blood and all. It's a BLAST! I'm the only girl going with four guys - all the ladies will be jealous. LOL!

Hope everyone has a good weekend and I'll try to be better about updating. :)

Sorry for the lack of blog posts...

2007-10-05T13:34:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry for being a bad blogger. I just haven't had much to say this week. It's been a somewhat stressful week which yielded in my gaining 1.8 lbs, which I actually took with a grain of salt. I deserved it. I didn't make the best food choices this week, but I'm working back on plan now and plan to lose that 1.8 PLUS some next week. It's like I am at a plateau, and that I'm hovering. I just need the swift kick in the ass to get back on track.

I did get to scrapbook last weekend but since my scanner is not working, I have to photograph my layouts. I'm also looking forward to scrapbooking next weekend and this weekend my good friend, Karin, and I are going to be reworking and reorganizing my scrapbook space. She loves to organize and we don't get to see each other very often now that we don't work together, so it should be a good time.

In the interim, I thought I'd post a page with my stinker on it. I did this a few weeks ago at the retreat with my friends. (Which, I will get to go to again soon! Can't Wait!!!!)

All is good at the Rohlfs household. We're getting ready to start the big adventure of bathroom remodeling. Wish us luck. We're scared.

Just some fun stuff...

2007-09-28T08:10:00.000-04:00

First off, thank you everyone for your support on my last post. I think I was just SICK and tired of this entire "lifestyle change" and really wanted to enjoy some tasty food. But, I got back on the saddle and had a great weigh-in this week. I lost 4.2 lbs, which is the most I've lost since June in one week I believe. I was pretty excited about that! That brings my total to 36.4 lbs.

I know I don't always update my blog like I should, but I promise to try. I just don't always have things to talk about. I guess this week I could talk about the new shows (thank GOODNESS Grey's is back!) but truthfully I don't have much to say about them. (Imagine that? Ha!)

So, I thought I'd post this goofy survey that my nephews did on their My Space and take it myself. I'm not 16, so some of the questions I am going to need to skip. Or, answer in a 16 year old manner. LOL!

Here goes:

1. Have you ever thought about getting your lip pierced?
Are you freaking kidding me? I saw it done. WHY would I want to stab myself in the lip? Plus, it looks icky. I get upset with chapped lips. I don't think I want a big ring hanging out.

2. Does a kiss make a cut feel better?
It works for my kids.

3. Have you ever passed out on the bathroom floor?
I've never been drunk enough TO pass out.

4. Can you cook?
Yea, but I choose not to.

5. What shoe do you put on first, left or right?
Right. I'm a sock-shoe, sock-shoe person. It means something. I saw it on Oprah once.

6. Have you ever brushed your teeth while in the shower?
No - I think that's kind of gross.

7. Have you had more than 3 boyfriends/girlfriends at the same time?
No, but in my head I have. I've got a husband and Nick Lachey & Kyle Chandler. :) (Just kidding Scott!)

8. Have you ever thought about your death?
Yes, I'm terrified of it.

9. Have you ever had the naked dream?
Yep - it's always BRUTAL, too.

10. Have you ever climbed up a water tower?
I may HAVE hillbillies for family but I'm NOT one.

11. Where do you put your towel after taking a shower?
I hang it over the curtain rod to dry

12. What color are your shower curtains?
Red, White and Blue. I'm very patriotic.

13. Have you ever had stitches?
Yes - but nothing like a major wound.

14. How long ago did you hug someone?
Maggie this morning

15. Did you believe that boys had cooties?
No, I've always been boy crazy.

16. Do you know how to use chop sticks?
Yea, but I prefer a fork.

17. Can you finish the phrase, “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?"
Spongebob Squarepants. Which, ironically, Addie goes "Ooohhhh" when she hears the music. It's hilarious.

19. Do you sometimes believe that guys have PMS?
Yes I do! I'm glad you asked. I think everyone has a "time of the month".

20. Who was the last person you couldn't take your eyes off of?
My husband - S2H

21. Have you ever given money to a homeless person?
Yea - I do it all the time. Not when Scott's around, though.

22. Have you ever run over an animal?
No. But Scott hit a squirrel.

23. What is your favourite cereal?
What are we, Canadian? What's with the u? Anyway - it's Chocolate Special K.

24. Have you ever had an Oreo with peanut butter?
No - I don't like chocolate and peanut butter together

25. Have you gotten a text today?
No

At least you know my stance on 25 lame questions. :)

Off to the doc - I did something to my shoulder and can't move my arm very well. Took me a while to type this with one hand!

Is Anybody Out There?

2007-09-21T16:18:00.000-04:00

Just checking to see if anyone still reads my blog or if I'm talking to myself. Either way, I'll probably keep rambling.

The past two weeks have been rough on the diet front. I just seem to have plateaued and it's like I'm sick of dieting. I know it's a lifestyle change, blah, blah, blah, but there have been a few days where I just wanted to go out with family and friends and have a meal and not think about it. So - I did. And, of course, I gained .8 pounds this week. Very disheartening. But, as of this morning, that was gone, so I'll take that. I learned my lesson. Will it happen again? Probably. But, am I going to give up? No. I'm going to keep plugging along.

Fortunately, we have a low-key weekend planned. Scott's birthday is Monday so tomorrow night we're having dinner and probably watching the fights. That's right - I enjoy the UFC. If you don't watch it, you should. There are some hot guys in the UFC and they fight in tight shorts. That's all I needed to know.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Had a Great Weekend & Update on Addie

2007-09-18T16:12:00.000-04:00

Sorry that I haven't been updating as much as I used to. I've been working through lunches and sometimes only update during breaks since in the evenings it's almost impossible to get online. (It's Fantasy Football Season, so Scott is permanently attached to CBS Sportsline)

I had a GREAT time on a scrapbook retreat this past weekend with my friends Jana and Jennifer. I also met some other girls that were just awesome to sit and chat with and one of them was needlefelting which of course sparked my interest. I predict by the end of the year, that will be my new hobby. (It will not replace scrapbooking of course, but I could see myself doing it.) It was nice to get away with the girls and of course being around creative people is always inspiring!

I also wanted to update on Addie. She has started physical therapy for her walking. She has not started walking on her own yet, because she has what they call "hypermobility in her joints" which has caused some muscle weakness in her legs. We are working with her to increase her muscle strength as well as support her ankles with special shoes. (They are currently holding off on the ortho braces that they first recommended because the shoes seem to be doing the trick.) We had a great appointment today and by the end of the hour, Addie was moving all over the place with minimal support from her therapist. They believe it will just be a jumpstart to get her to walk and everything will be just fine. Developmentally, she's on target or ahead in all other areas except the walking. I figure it's a minute detour that we're heading off at the pass. She'll be good to go in a few months. The PT jokes that once Addie takes off, I'll wish she weren't walking on her own again. She's probably right considering that Addie moves like a mad woman and climbs on everything she can. She's also got a mean streak - I gotta break her of that.

That's all for now. Gotta get back to work (took 5 minutes for my afternoon break).

Hope all is well with everyone.

Never Forget...

2007-09-11T08:54:00.000-04:00

First and foremost, I just wanted to take a second and think about all of those that were affected by the 9/11 tragedy. Not just on 9/11, but the aftermath and all events that ensued. We're still dealing with it to this day. This morning I told my daughter to "put things into perspective" because she was having a meltdown over her outfit. I have to keep remembering that - keep things in perspective...

Instead of a really sad post today, I decided to post some happy photos. This is me and Addie playing with the photobooth program on my Mac. She cracks me up. She LOVES seeing herself on the screen and so we made some faces.

Uh oh...

This of course is my favorite. It's her "mean face". When she gets mad at you or you say "mean face", this is what she does...

By the way, these were taken last week. Since then, I cut about 7" off of my hair. EEK!

Here is my other princess, on her first day of 2nd grade. Where does the time fly?

She's hit the age where fashion is pretty important. It's starting to drive me crazy actually. God love her - she's all about primping and accessorizing. She's much more girlie than her mom ever was.

That's all for today. I haven't been the best about watching my diet this week so I'm dreading the scale tomorrow. It's like Celebrity Fit Club says - The Scales Don't Lie...

Ramblings in my head...

2007-09-07T15:45:00.000-04:00

I thought I should post more than just my weight-loss journey, even though that seems to be a large presence in my life right now. Anyway - today's topic is RAMBLINGS IN MY HEAD

1) Yesterday I went over to the mall to eat Subway and take a walk. Within the 10 minutes I was at the foodcourt, I saw TWO SEPARATE instances where moms were there with their kids (who were maybe 2-3 at the most) and in once case, the mom was in line at the Sbarro and her daughter was running around tables and quite a distance away from her. The mom didn't even bother to look to see where her kid was. ANYONE could have taken that child and she wouldn't have noticed for a few minutes I'm sure.

In the second instance, the mom was walking a little one in a stroller and the toddler was following behind. She wasn't holding her hand or anything. She was on the phone and looking for something in her purse while pushing the stroller and the toddler wondered off into a different direction. (Because - well, she was a TODDLER) It took the mom a couple of minutes before she turned around and hollered for her kid.

I don't know - but I think that these parents probably would be the first ones to pitch a bitch if something happened and their child was hurt/abducted, etc. I'm thinking an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

2) I'm driving over to my mom's this morning and this truck is literally on my tail end. I'm sure that my mazda sign is stuck to his bumper now. Being the moody chick I am (I think lack of food is finally catching up with me), I brake-checked him. Wanna talk about someone backing off REAL quick. Because there was construction traffic, there was nowhere I could go and the option to speed up wasn't available, either. He needed to get off of my tail. Is brake-checking the best option? Probably not. But, I bet he'll think twice before tailgating a white Mazda 626 again...

3) I've switched over to 3-Ring versus post-bound albums. My favorite? American Crafts Modern Albums. They're affordable, they hold a TON of embellished layouts and the colors are pretty. I'm so glad that I made the switch. They look a LOT better on my shelf versus the multi-colored post-bound albums.

4) Britney Spears is performing on Sunday and I'm actually thinking I need to tune in and watch it. It's like a train wreck. I can't turn away from it.

5) I'm having my hair done tomorrow. I don't know what type of cut I want or the color. My greys are really coming in full-force these days. Gotta get those covered. Now, the question is - short or long. If there is enough for locks of love, I'm thinking of going to a bob. But, then the idea of cutting off all of my hair scares me. My face is probably too fat for it and I'm too lazy to style a really cute cut. Decisions...Decisions...

6) Barb and I had a good conversation about "working moms" and the flack that we take for having our "priorities" out of whack. Well, let's see. I love my children dearly and they are my first priority but paying my mortgage is high-up, too. Why? Because I need to put shelter over their head. Buying groceries. Another biggie. They need to be fed. Clothing? Sure...They can't go out naked. This is all stemming from a woman in Cincinnati who left her 2 year old in the car while she worked. I'm thinking she had other issues besides the fact that she was a "working mother". It seems that the letters to the newspaper editors and the call-in talkshows are flooded with opinions - most highly negative towards the working mom. It's sad. We should all support each other.

7) Did anyone see the Ms. Teen USA interview or whatever? The one where the girl rambled about a map, South Africa, Iraq the taliban and a partridge in a pear tree? I was waiting to see how long Mario Lopez could keep a straight face. I wouldn't have been able to do it. I'm sure that nerves had a lot to do with it but I think we probably need to take a good look at our educational system. I believe so many kids are pushed through for the sake of graduation statistics, etc. I went to school with athletes that had "personal tutors" (i.e. kids that did their work for them). I'm sure those athletes are doing well these days. Considering none of them went pro and most are drifting from job to job, that worked out well.

Ok - that's it. Enough ramblings for today. It's just sometimes you gotta get your thoughts out there.

In a Total Funk...

2007-09-05T14:47:00.001-04:00

Well, let's see. I feel like I'm in a total funk today. Actually, most of the past week has been a funk in one way or another. I think I'm just tired and really need to rest to tell you the truth. Or - I need to bump up my exercise again because I've been slacking off in that arena.

Had my weigh-in today. I only lost 1.6 lbs. I should kick myself for saying "only" but when you're used to averaging 2.6 per week, it does seem smaller. However - I deserved it. I didn't eat as well as I normally do and I know that. I went to a crop with Barb and Jana on Saturday and had the most magnificent dinner and dessert. It was delicious and worth every calorie. As long as I don't make that a habit, I think I'll be good. The crop was fun! That's for sure. I missed scrapbooking for the fun of it and nothing more. I have about 8 layouts that I need to upload to RMH. Maybe tonight...

So - with my weigh-in today, I'm down a total of 33 lbs. You know what's frustrating? I went to a few parties this weekend and it was like NOBODY noticed. I mean - 33 lbs. That's a TODDLER. You know? I would think it would be noticable but nothing. Not one word. That's always frustrating because then you get to thinking "Well, if nobody is noticing - then why am I bothering". Of course, I'm at my lowest weight I've been in about 6 years so I am very happy about that. I just wish I could get out of this funk.

I promise to blog more. This week was really busy and I didn't have much going on. I don't want it to be a bitch session about my weigh-loss journey. So - if it seems that way, my apologies. This is just a very emotional roller-coaster.

See that number?

2007-08-29T16:39:00.001-04:00

See that number right there? Not only is it my age, but it's the number of pounds I've lost so far. That's right - had another great weigh-in! I'm so excited! I was honestly surprised because to tell the truth - I wasn't that good all weekend because once again - drama with the family. One of these days I'm going to move - far, far away so that I don't have to deal with it. I'm going to pack up the kids and the husband if he's willing and move. (After all, it's mostly HIS family that I would try to get away from - although mine have their moments)

On a separate note, yesterday we took Addison to see her physical therapist. Because she's not walking, yet, they wanted to have her evaluated to see if there were any issues. Apparently, Ms. Addie is SUPER flexible. She has a broader range of motion in her joints and because of this her feet pronate due to her ankle flexibility. I knew the kid was flexible because you should see how she contorts herself when she's ticked off, but I never thought it would be an issue where it could affect a physical action. They believe it will be quickly corrected with some orthopedic braces and a few months of PT. Her next appointment is on the 18th and now the battle with the insurance company begins. I just love that...

That's about all that is going on right now in Ginger land. I am scrapbooking this weekend! Whoo hoo! First time in MONTHS that I've been to a crop and I can't wait. I'm meeting my friend, Jana, at a local store to crop the day away and Saturday can't get here fast enough. Then, it's family time for the rest of the weekend. Last week I took Maggie out for Mother/Daughter day so I'm sure she's going to be asking when the next one is. I can't afford them - we went to Justice and I spent WAY more money than I intended to. But, she was so darn cute in those clothes. Her whole "fashion" thing is killing me these days. She's way more girlie than I ever thought about being.

Anyway, got a long weekend which also means that I have to be SUPER careful on this food journey/diet/lifestyle change that I'm on. Don't wanna overload with bbq and all sorts of food and tip the scale in the wrong direction.

Later!

In such a good place...

2007-08-23T11:36:00.001-04:00

I had a great weigh-in yesterday. Lost another 2.6 lbs, so I'm down 28.8 since June 6th. I started my new job on June 4th - and I attribute most of my success to being in a good place right now both in my personal life and professional life. Not to say that I wasn't in a good place before, but it was like a rebirth for me. I'm home earlier each night and we eat dinner as a family now. We don't grab and go for food or eat junk. We actually take time to prepare our meals.

I'm less stressed because product design is SUPER stressful. Marketing has it's moments but all in all - it's a manageable level of stress. Plus, the support here at work has been fantastic and the support of my friends has been awesome. Scott's support has been the best, too. Even though occasionally he likes to have that double-cheeseburger from Wendy's, he eats my low-fat meals and even made us a low-fat yummy breakfast on Sunday complete with turkey sausage. That's my man! We exercise together and he makes it fun. (Unless he gets all "weight trainer" on me. Then, not so fun!) ;)

Maggie's school reopened today and all is fine. It was a downed power line that apparently caught something on fire but didn't affect the school, so no big deal. Things get SO blown out of proportion.

Addison is still plugging away. She likes to poke her belly and go "bee-bee" now. (For her belly button) Cracks me up. She'll say "belly" but I call it her "bee-bee", so she says that. I need to post updated pics of the kids. I might exercise, but I'm a lazy ass when it comes to everything else!

OMG...WTH?

2007-08-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

Actually, I guess the graphic is a bit more intense but I saw the shirt on Print Liberation and cracked up and had to use it. But, it sort of fits the day.

Maggie's first day of 2nd grade is today so we did the ceremonial photos, I walked her in to talk to her teacher, etc., etc. (Her teacher by the way looks like Cheri O'Teri) This is the first year that she was very adamant about her "first day outfit" (high school musical tee) and she had to accessorize with earrings and a bracelet. Anyway - they already had it set-up to release the classes early because of a heat alert in Cincinnati and only half of their school building has A/C. (Fortunately, Maggie's class happens to be in the AC'd part)

So, my phone rings. They have this "call command center" voice mail system and they use it A LOT. It's the 800# so I pick it up thinking it's a reminder about the early dismissal. No. It's the principal telling everyone that the kids are on the front lawn with their teachers because the power is out at the school, there are firetrucks blocking the street to access the school and that we can come and get our kids if we want to. They haven't had lunch and they will keep our kids till 1 but if we want to get them, we can. WTH?

Then, I get a phone call from one of the parents that's a friend of mine and she's like "I think the fire is at the school. That's what everyone is saying. There are firetrucks EVERYWHERE". She had to park a few blocks away and walk up to get her daughter. She said it's chaos there.

I call my mom because she's the one who picks Maggie up and my nephew is going to go get her. His really good friend's mom works there so she'll release my daughter to him (trust me - I've talked to her before - it's all good) and thank GOD he's there to help. But - it's just crazy. First, the heat. Then, the power outage. Now, a fire. All on day ONE of 2nd grade. Sort of overshadows that High School Musical shirt and monogrammed earrings, doesn't it?

Hopefully the fire isn't at the school. Hopefully this is the only chaotic day we'll have this year. Hopefully Tim has no issues picking Maggie up and doesn't have to park 10 blocks away. At least everyone is safe - they said in the voice mail that it was not an emergency. (Maybe the lunch lady burned the sloppy joes?)

On a side-note, my weigh-in is in less than an hour. Wish me luck!

Feel like crap today

2007-08-20T12:45:00.000-04:00

It's Monday - and I feel like udder crap. I started getting a migraine last night. I NEVER have those, so I have no idea why I'm getting one. But, I've had it all night and today. I'm sitting at work (finishing up my lunch hour) and I've already taken four tylenol today. (I can't take ibuprofen - allergic to it) My stomach is also bothering me. It's like my body is worn out or something. Anyway - this post is more whining than anything. Sorry for that. I just want to go home and take a nap, but I have to push through the next four hours.

I found out that my e-mail button isn't set up for my new e-mail. Duh... Sorry about that. So - I'm fixing that today.

Let's see - I need to make this post at least halfway interesting. Oh - before I forget - thank you everyone for your support about our vacation. It's definitely tense around the Rohlfs household. Actually, not ours, but when we're around the ILs. Anyway - hopefully some resolution comes out of everything. Who knows...

Back to halfway interesting. I'm one of those "list" type people, so I think I'll list 10 of my guilty pleasure songs on my iPod. Here goes:

1) White Lines - Don't remember off hand who sings it. Grandmaster Flash? Freeze...Rock!

2) Around the Way Girl - LL Cool J. Need some bamboo earrings...

3) If You Go Away - NKOTB. That's right - New Kids on the Block when they dropped the "kids" thing and went with an acronym. Circa 1994.

4) Say You Say Me - Lionel Richie. LOVE me some Lionel.

5) This is How We Do It - Montel Jordan. Wasn't this his only song? 1 hit wonder.

6) Islands In the Stream - Dolly and Kenny. That's right. I like Dolly and Kenny. LOVE them together. Grew up to hillbilly country and ghetto music. Talk about a mix.

7) John Deere Green - Joe Diffie. Refer to above post. I can't explain it.

8) Forever - Kiss. Just some good 80's hair band love songs. Gotta love hair band love songs. My iPod is full of them. Don't make me break out singing "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue.

9) White & Nerdy - Weird Al. This song is HILARIOUS. Rollin'...In my Segway...

10) Your Baby Never Looked Good In Blue - Expose. Come on. Every high school girl cried to this song. Admit it. You played it over and over and cried. No? Just me???

Alright - that's my guilty pleasure iTune list. I've got a lot more but I don't want you to think my taste in music COMPLETELY sucks.

I would post a photo but I don't have any here at work. Sorry 'bout that.

Well, I'm back. That's all I have to say about that.

2007-08-16T13:11:00.000-04:00

I got home from vacation on Monday and sadly, it was one of those situations where I was GLAD to get home. I keep debating what I should write about my vacation. Should I be completely blunt and truthful or try to sugar coat things for fear that it will cause a family uproar. You know me - gotta be ballsy - so I'll do a balance of both.

We go to Florida every year with Scott's parents and his cousin Kelly and her two children have joined us the past two years. Kelly's kids and ours get along GREAT - they adore each other and Kelly is great. His parents and I have always had our differences but 99% of the time it's because of how they treat his sister over Scott. THAT bothers me. Well, this year his parents brought his sister's kid. I thought it would be a nice time to bond with him. Boy was I wrong.

He managed to bite, kick and pinch Maggie. He smacked Addie and yelled in her ear. He taught the kids the middle finger, to which I found out from Scott's aunt that his heinous sister taught her son that because she thought it was funny. This is the crap I'm dealing with. I'm no prude and Maggie knew what the finger meant, but it's embarrassing to deal with at a restaurant and quite frankly - it's pathetic that his mother TAUGHT him that. (Don't even get me started on him knowing what SEX is. He apparently can explain it IN DETAIL)

The fact that he picked on our kids ticked us off and NOBODY would discipline him and when Scott and I stepped in we got the "well, he's only five". Yea - Addie is ONE. She couldn't fend for herself and Maggie is too respectful to knock his head off. Anyway vent over. We're making different plans for next year. I'm sure this isn't the end of the whole ordeal. But, for now - we're home and settling down.

I weighed-in yesterday after the vacation, and I was definitely nervous. It's hard to eat right when you go to restaurants every night but I made the best effort I could. It paid off. I dropped another 3.6 lbs for a total of 26.2 lbs so far. I still have a long way to go, but it feels good to have 26 lbs behind me. I just keep plugging away and taking it one day at a time.

Oh - and as for vacation pictures - I didn't take many. Sad. I know. I was preoccupied with trying to make sure my kids weren't being attacked. Ugh...

Leaving for Vacation Soon - Can't Wait!

2007-08-02T08:12:00.000-04:00

I've only got a few more days before the family and I head off for our annual trek down to Florida. I can't wait! This is the first time in about four years that my vacation won't be cut short due to a trade show. It's also the first time that I don't have to "work" while on vacation.

By the way, the quiet little neighborhood that I live in actually made CNN.com yesterday. We have a nutso neighbor about 10 houses down from us that was apparently an "animal hoarder". Not only that - she had 40 DEAD animals in her freezer. What's sad is that the neighbors have complained about her for quite some time. I know on any given day she had 6-10 dogs in the back yard. (She lived on a corner lot so we could see her backyard) One night I came home from a crop and saw a huge snake in her window and a parrot. I used to tell my husband "Something is NOT right about the house on the corner." Sure enough. It wasn't. This morning when I left I saw that they had set out a bunch of disgusting animal cages for the garbage people. I think that hazmat should take care of that - not our poor garbage guy.

On a more positive note I had a great weigh-in this week. Lost another 2.4 pounds so my total is up to almost 23. I actually got to shop this week and bought two pair of shorts that were TWO sizes smaller than what I did wear and got some shirts in the regular department at Old Navy. Feels good to shop there again! Hopefully when I go back to the doctor, my PCOS will be under control. I've still got a long way to go on the WL journey but I'm pretty satisfied with my start.

Well, if you don't hear from me for a week or two that's because I'm enjoying time with my hubby and two girls.

Oh - and for all of you that have shown support - thanks. It means a lot. :)

The Girls are Here!!!

2007-07-31T16:51:00.000-04:00

Had a busy weekend - my niece had her twins on Sunday. I have to say - I got the baby itch BAD when I first saw them but quickly remembered what it was like to be up at 2 am, then 5 am, etc. Plus, considering that I carry the same twin gene - I'm scared that baby #3 would end up being #3 and #4. Anyway - all of that aside, she's doing well. They decided to take the girls c-section because they were vertex breach. (one was sort of "wrapped" around the other is how it was explained to us)

Here are photos that my brother sent me. Because I had a birthday party for Maggie on Sunday I only got to see the twins for about 10 minutes after they were born. They were still being cleaned and evaluated so my photos aren't as "pretty" as these.

They look SO much alike! They're supposed to be fraternal but boy do they look alike. And they have our trademark Hasty nose - that little pug nose that makes us all look alike!

I could just snuggle them all day long. I'm heading down after work to give them lots of love!

So - that's the exciting moment going on for me right now. I weigh-in tomorrow but Aunt Flo is coming to town so I'm sure that any weight I lose will be a stretch. I've been a good girl, though. Hopefully that pays off. Saturday we leave for Florida and it can't get here soon enough. This time next week, I'll be sitting on the beach. (Hopefully people won't be trying to push me back in thinking I've beached myself!)

The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Gossip

2007-07-27T13:03:00.001-04:00

Ok - normally I don't pay attention to industry gossip because I've seen so much bs out there that it's almost funny. Someone grab me a shovel and some boots because here comes the shit. Literally, that's how it is. But, I had to post about a funny one. A friend of mine sent me a link to a thread yesterday where a girl posted that she had info from a "good source" that I would have product coming out soon with a new company. ????? Really? I didn't know that. And, it's supposed to be from ME? Interesting...No wonder my friend was wondering why I didn't tell her. Heck - they didn't even tell ME!

Anyway - truth is - I have NO intentions of doing product right now. I don't have any deals inked and honestly I'm just enjoying the job I have. I love the fact that I got to walk around the show and enjoy the papers and scrapbooking like I USED to. That was a great feeling. I can use WHATEVER I want and not have to worry about promoting my own stuff. Right now I can scrap for the pure enjoyment of it again. Trust me - that feels GOOD! (Besides, Gin-X was never that big - it was a fun ride but too much work.) LOL!

So - if you're looking for some good industry gossip- here it is:

I had a shagadelic 10 seconds with Austin and let me tell you - it was randi baby! I laughed so hard that I had tears in my eyes. This guy was hilarious. He had the entire motion of Austin Powers down pat. I thought he WAS Mike Meyers. So - there you have it. Fat girl with Shagadelic Brit. Show me love!

Back from Chicago and Checkin' In!

2007-07-25T14:14:00.000-04:00

Well, I got back from Chicago on Sunday night and let me tell you - it was SUCH an adjustment for me at the show. I'm used to getting there a day or two early to set-up and then being tied to my 10x20 space for the entire day, with breaks for the potty or lunch. Not this time. I had the freedom to walk around and it was ENCOURAGED. I didn't quite know what to do with myself. I had an absolute blast walking around with my good friend, Jane, and talking to a lot of people that I adore dearly but only get to see at the shows. (Or talk to on e-mail)

Here's a photo of me and Jane on Thursday night. She's so spectacular! Our new joke is: "Do you know Jane Hasty?" Reason is - that woman knows EVERYONE! It's hysterical.

I tried so hard to be good in Chicago. I packed protein bars to keep my blood sugar stable and I only ate turkey at the "expoteria". Kitty and Wendy (The fab-o girls that did Find Your Groove) brought me some 100 calorie snacks - God love them! All that hard work paid off because I dropped another 3.4 lbs on the scale this week. I love Weight Watchers. It's been so good for me! Since June 6th, I've lost 20.2 lbs. I hit my first goal. I wanted to lose 20 lbs by August 4th when I leave for vacation and I've done that ahead of schedule. The next is another 5 pounds. Since I have a long journey, I'm doing it five pounds at a time. I can only hope to hit my next big goal. The support of my friends has been so crucial. So, THANK YOU!

Sittin' at Concourse C...

2007-07-19T13:46:00.000-04:00

Ok - seriously. EVERY FREAKING TIME I have to fly to Chicago, through Chicago, or anywhere NEAR Chicago I'm delayed.

Here I am - sitting in Concourse C waiting for my next flight delay. I've already been delayed twice. Good thing is - my Macbook is charging and I got some new stuff uploaded to my iPod.

Yesterday's weigh-in was good - 3 more lbs gone. That brings my total to 16.8 so far. I still have a long way but I'm also still going strong. I packed snacks for the trade show so that I don't blow the diet and Jane and I are going to work out each night. (I can't wait to see my girl - I've had to call her twice to let her know I'm delayed)

Oh - and as a result of those 16.8 lbs, I bought three new jeans today. Two pair are size smaller and one pair is TWO sizes smaller. Hell to the yeah!

Since I'm sitting her blogging, I thought I'd put up some new photos of my precious girlies!

This is Maggie right after she won her medal at the TKD tournament last month. I need to take a photo of her with her new haircut!

This is Ms Addie's "mean face". If you say "mean face" she gives you this look like she's going to kill you. It's hysterical.

That's right - all 19 lbs of her will kick your ass!

Oh- I think I might hear a boarding call... later!

My First Baby Turned 7

2007-07-18T06:56:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Ms. Maggie Mae turned 7. This is going to sound totally cliche but I can't believe how fast kids grow up. In the photo here, she was about 3 1/2 and so sweet. Now, she's still adorable, but sassy quite a bit. (I keep warning her that if she doesn't quit that crap, she'll be lucky to see 13!)

I did make the day about her, though. She wanted to go to TKD to get her birthday "whoopings" that the instructor hands out. (I told her she was sadistic!) Then, we let her pick where to eat dinner and afterwards we all played the Wii back at home. That was her birthday present and it's SO much fun. I'm beginning to think it was more of a present for all of us versus just Maggie. But, it's been a great leveraging tool, too. She gets all of her chores done so that she can play it. It keeps her off the couch because you have to be up and moving with the remote. I love the boxing! Usually she and I will "box" a few rounds every night.

I'll have to post a photo later this week - we also had her hair cut off on Saturday for Locks of Love. She's been growing it for a year and a half now and they lopped off 10", giving her the cutest little bob. She absolutley loves her new hair. It cracks me up to see her swinging her head all the time to feel it twirl. Goofy kid.

That's all for now - I'm heading out to CHA tomorrow. I weigh-in in about 10 minutes so wish me luck. Hopefully, it's been a good week!

Ooops, I did it again!

2007-07-12T09:02:00.000-04:00

I can't even begin to tell you how much the Weight Watchers group here at work means to me. They're so supportive and the fact that I've only been here a month makes it more amazing. I joined immediately - 2 days after starting my new job and I'm happy to report that as of yesterday I'm officially down 13.8 lbs!

EVERYONE there and I mean EVERYONE is so supportive. Not only during WW meetings but whenever we run into each other in the hallway or during other meetings, etc. It's really helped to keep me on track. (Buying smaller clothes also feels pretty damn good!) We have this friendly competition where the Biggest Loser for the week gets to keep a Mrs. Potato Head at their desk. I won it again yesterday. (I got it my first week, tied the last time and won it again) My new friend Marissa and I seem to be the one vying for her every week. I adore Marissa - she's my inspiration at this point. We both have PCOS so we relate and we both know what it's like to deal with weight. I was so worried I'd have no friends here but she is definitely someone I can hang with. So Marissa, if you read this - thanks girl! :)

I also wanted to thank everyone for their support on my last post. You know - some days you just have to tell everyone how it is. So much BS goes on - lies, rumors, assumptions, etc. Really pisses me off sometimes, but I have learned that at the end of the day, it's the important people that matter. Those that understand, support and are just simply there. I appreciate that. More than you probably know. So, thank you! From the bottom of my fat cow heffer heart, thank you.

Do you know what's funny?

2007-07-09T08:32:00.001-04:00

People make so many assumptions about others without knowing them. They don't know their life story, who they are as a person or pretty much ANYTHING about them, yet they make a judgement call. Me? I'm guilty of the same thing sometimes. I read what the press says and I make a judgement call. I really try to live by the motto of my good friend Laura. She always said "no judging" whenever topics turned to gossip and you know what? She's right. People are people first. Treat them as such.

It's funny because I've received a few e-mails on why I decided to walk away from Gin-X or people will send me links to threads here or there. I avoid all talk because it's speculation and usually it involves some sort of unrelated personal attack on me and quite frankly - I don't need that shit. But, here's the deal. There are so many factors as to why I left and those close to me know the story. I'll give you the basic 411 - I needed stability and benefits for my family and honestly - I was sick and tired of some of the BS that goes on in the industry. There, I said it. Feels good to put that out there. What's interesting is that scrapbooking is a business, but you'll find that in this industry, that is not always the case. Fortunately, I always tried to surround myself with genuine people and I think I did a pretty good job of that. I am a no BS kind of girl and those who know me know that's my motto. If you have something to say - say it to me. If you need a favor, ask. It's that plain and simple. There are a few bad eggs out there - figure out who they are and avoid them.

On a positive note, I've made a lot of great friends through my three years in product design. Good friends that I still keep in touch with and plan to see at various trade shows, etc. Good friends that I met through managing a store (even if it was just briefly) that I adore dearly and who stand by me and encourage me every day. I wouldn't trade that or my experience at IP. It's all a part of life and sometimes when you get what you want, you realize that it's not everything you thought it would be. I think that's what it boiled down to for me. In the end, I just didn't want to play the game anymore.

So - I'm happy now. I'm back in a corporate environment, I have stability and benefits and I love what I do. I sit at a desk in a cubicle and I punch a time card again. (Ok - so not literally but it's a pretty straightforward 8-5)

Hopefully my post does not get turned around into something it's not. Don't try to read more into it than there is. Man - I hate days when I have to attach a caveat to something I say but there it is.

Oh - and for my PSA of the day here it is. Support your scrapbook stores whether it be online or brick and mortar. They're the foundation of this industry and without them, there won't be an industry. I don't want to go back to using whatever I can find at an office supply store.

Happy 4th!

2007-07-05T07:53:00.000-04:00

Well, we made it though Independence Day. My good friend Melissa had a BBQ at her house yesterday and I was quite nervous because Melissa - being Italian - always has GREAT food. I e-mailed her a few days ago and just asked if she could offer something low-cal (or I would bring it) - especially in the dessert arena because that seems to be my biggest weakness. God love her, she managed to grill chicken and offer me a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich. However, these were sitting on the table:

Anyone who knows me knows my favorite thing on the PLANET is brownies. (without nuts of course!) I looked at them, looked at the nutrition label and that was it. Didn't look at them again (except to feed one to Ms. Skinny Addison - goodness knows she could use the calories)! For me, that's an accomplishment. I'm taking them one step at a time. I managed to stay under my points for the day - all that worry was for nothing.

This weekend we're heading out of town to visit my family in Somerset, Kentucky. That basically means GOOD FOOD again (southern soul food) and an accent that I'll pick up and carry for a few days. My cousins are such wonderful people and so hospitable. I can't wait to see them and Maggie is anxious to swim and spend the night with their kids. Good times await!

Hopefully I don't bore you with my trials and tribulations of weight loss. I don't weigh in this week at WW due to the holidays so I have to be extra good for next week. Plus, I have a goal of 20 lbs total that I want gone by August 4th when we leave for Florida. Gotta stick to plan. Learning to live a lifestyle change. It's all good.

On a side note, I need a new hollywood boy toy. I never thought I'd say that but Nick has me just a bit ticked over his open tryst with Vanessa Manillafolder. I preferred to think of him as pure and virginal. Ha!

Been a busy week...

2007-07-02T12:30:00.001-04:00

I'm sorry that I don't post as much as I used to. I'm trying to keep caught up since I have a lot of friends that I haven't talked to in a while and this is how we keep up, but as always I'm swamped and with the new job, I don't get very much time online unless it's during lunch. But, anyway, it's lunchtime and I'm about to settle down with a lovely Weight Watchers turkey dinner (whoever thought I'd say THAT?) and a bowl of veggie soup.

First off - Scott and I went to Def Leppard last Wednesday. It was one of those things where I was a HUGE fan when I was 11 and so we thought that now we're in our 30's, we'd check them out.

I was cracking up when I found this photo on Google. They don't look like this anymore, and they don't sound like they did in 1987.

I swear this poster hung in my room - next to my TV stand with the old school Nintendo thank-you-very-much. Back to the evening - I think the best part of the concert was the people watching. It was like a trailer park convention. Where do I start? First, there was the suburban mom that obviously hasn't had a night out in a LONG time, drank three beers and was dancing to a song that was NOT the one playing. Scott and I cracked up every time she started in. Then, there were the three NASTY girls that needed a bath and some time with Stacy & Clinton that thought they were looking good. One was a bit "thick" to say the least but INSISTED on tucking her shirt into her bra so that her midsection roll could hang over her black, painted-on denim. Oh - but wait - her friend decides to FLASH the roadies in front of us. I swear, it was boobs, but even Scott was offended. People really should be realistic about their appearance. I'm a big girl and I would NEVER do either of those. (I actually think recalling this experienced has caused me to vomit in my mouth)

Finally - there was the "orgy" about two rows ahead of us. I have NO idea what the situation was there. We tried to decipher it. It started with two guys, each with a girl and one couple was wearing wedding bands. During the opening acts, I know they got to at least third base with each other. Once DL started, they were joined by two other girls and the original couples switched off and then it was an all-out God knows what. I am not a prude by any means but for crying out loud, they needed to get a room. I think the three rows around them needed cigarettes.

Anyway, it was a good time - even if the band is not as good as they once were and it stormed so we were soaked. Fact of the matter is -I was with Scott and I got to see a band that I can now cross off my list. It does make me re-evaluate Poison though. Ha!

The rest of the week has been good. Been watching my food intake and working out. Last night we did some laps around the track - it's nice having Scott there even if the both of us are jamming to our own little tunes on our iPods and in our own worlds. Addie enjoys the stroll. (Note - gotta buy a jogging stroller. NEVER thought I'd say that!)

My weigh-in last week was ok - it was 1.8 lbs for a total of 9.2. I wanted to cry but then I remembered to be HAPPY that it was a loss and not a gain. Plus, Aunt Flow is coming any day now and the bitch always brings a few pounds with her. We'll see how it goes next week. (No weigh-in Wednesday due to the 4th)

Later!

31 Random Things

2007-06-27T11:29:00.000-04:00

In celebration of my birthday, I always have to make a "list" of things. Usually it's what I'm grateful for but today I wanted to go with random facts. Not that I'm not grateful but I'd rather have a humorous post versus a mushy one. So - here are 31 random facts about me:

1) I hate mayonnaise. And Eggs. And Sour Cream. And Cottage Cheese. Seeing a pattern here? They all make me gag.

2) I only buy Levi's jeans anymore. No other brand fits me right.

3) I have no ass. It's like Nebraska - flat and wide. No badonka donk here. No junk in the trunk. I'm constantly hiking up my drawers.

4) Spam is tight. That's right - I love fried Spam. My mom breads it and fries it and it's good. Not diet friendly so I haven't had any in a long time, but boy do I crave it.

5) White Castles is an awesome restaurant. Nothing like sliders at 2 am.

6) I don't drink alcohol. Don't care for the taste and I prefer to be in control because if I DO drink too much - it's instant slut.

7) My favorite cartoon is Tom & Jerry

8) I was once in a local commercial. A friend of mine's grandfather owned a furniture store and I was in the background.

9) I scrapbooked my non-professional wedding photos in 1998 and can't find the album now. Probably a good thing because the last I remember, it involved deco scissors and some francis meyer stickers.

10) My iTunes is full of boy bands and teeny bopper music. Yes - it's my guilty pleasure. I just downloaded Tiffany's Greatest Hits. Don't judge me.

11) I DON'T care for John Mayer or Dave Matthews. Gasp! I know...

12) My house was built in 1957 - the same year my parents got married.

13) I had a cousin that was on Jerry Springer. I disowned her. So, I'm one cousin less. Ha! (She probably doesn't even know I don't claim her)

14) My first car was a 1985 Chevy Celebrity Eurosport. I was a studette.

15) I change my license plate every year and decorate my basement with the old ones. My goal is to make it look like a sports bar one day.

16) My parents bought their first house off of my husband's great aunt and uncle. We didn't find that out until 2 years ago when I was looking at their old papers from that closing.

17) The movie Poltergeist FREAKS me out. I love to watch it but then I don't sleep for two weeks because I'm afraid my closet will open and suck me in.

18) Feet gross me out. I can't get over everyone at Tae Kwon Do with their bare feet. I feel the need to santize whenever I watch Scott or Maggie because it grosses me out so bad.

19) I think farting is funny. Cracks me up. Admit it. Farts are funny.

20) Some of my dearest friends are ones I met through scrapbooking and I am SO thankful for that. (There is my grateful comment!)

21) Scott proposed to me over the phone. We were 19 and 20. It was more like "Hey - wanna get married?"

22) I met him through a blind date that his DAD set up. I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar...No seriously - I was a waitress and waited on his family and they thought we would be a good match. I thought they were crazy...

23) I'm still close with my ex-boyfriend's mom. She's a dear friend of mine - and always will be. She's like a 2nd mom. She adores my husband and we adore her.

24) I can speak ghetto and hillbilly. Seriously. Ask my friends. They've seen me do it.

25) I graduated high school 3rd in my class ONLY because I lost by like a tenth of a point and was pretty pissed about it. Am I still bitter? Eh...

26) My feet are a size 10. They have been since the 5th grade. Do you know what it's like when your feet get there 5 minutes before you do?

27) I know a TON of useless pop culture facts. I was watching VH1's "Superbowl of Pop Culture" or whatever and I was spankin' the contestants. Schweddy Balls were on Delicious Dish. Duh! (SNL reference there for those of you not in the know)

28) Addison's name was going to be Reese Addison but our families nixed it when they came into the room to meet her. It was a resounding "NO". So, we switched it. I should have stood my ground.

29) I like melted ice cream. I've microwaved a pint before. (Just enough to soften it pretty good)

30) I taught myself how to use Illustrator when I was designing papers. No formal training. My undergrad degree is in LAW.

31) I'm PETRIFIED of balloons. HATE them. I get really upset and jittery when I'm around them. No kidding. Kids parties have NO balloons at my house.

Well, that's it. I'm a total freak. You know 31 random/odd facts about me. Hopefully, it's not enough to scare off my friends!

I think I'm finally there...

2007-06-25T12:09:00.000-04:00

Back in 2001 I joined Weight Watchers and lost almost 40 lbs within 4 months. It was a long process simply because I had just had Maggie and most of my weight was NOT baby weight but rather the type you gain from eating bad things. I drastically cut what I was eating and the weight came off with a lot of exercise. Fast forward six years, infertility drugs, PCOS, depression, and another baby and there you have it - the weight is back plus it brought some friends along. (To the tune of about 15 lbs)

When I started my new job a few weeks ago, they told me they had Weight Watchers at work. That was perfect because in those six years, I tried it again probably 3 times but never committed. Things always seemed to interfere - no childcare to go to meetings, too tired to go after work, too stressed to eat healthy, etc. But, now I have a support group right here. My weigh-ins are during lunch on Wednesdays and I have people to talk to and it's like we're all in the boat together. Plus, Scott is doing it with me and it's nice that he's not enjoying a cheeseburger while I'm picking at grilled chicken. He's eating the chicken right beside me.

We've started to add a pretty good exercise routine to our schedule which involves the entire family so not only am I benefitting, but they are, too. Each night we take walks around the local track at the high school and we add about 1/4 mile each time. Plus, Maggie and I are going to have a dance-off tonight. I've burned a CD of some of my favorite booty shakin' tunes and she and I are going to sweat. (More importantly, I'll wear her out so that she goes to bed early!)

I guess the point is - I finally feel like I'm mentally there. Before - I was in denial. But now - I know that I need to make changes and I'm actually MAKING them. There were a few milestones for me this weekend and I hurdled them with ease. My cart at the grocery was filled with fresh fruits and veggies and whole grain products and fat free milks, etc. The biggest change? No box of Little Debbies and I didn't even take a 2nd glance at the aisle.

My third weigh-in is on Wednesday. So far, I'm down 7.4 pounds in two weeks - which I consider to be a fairly decent start. It's not "Ranch Loss" like on The Biggest Loser, but it's a start and it's better than where I was 2 weeks ago. I'm taking it 5 pounds at a time, so my next goal is 2.6 pounds for an even 10. Then, the next five pounds and so on. If I stay dedicated, I could be back down to my high school weight by next year. I can't even imagine!

Confessions of a picky eater...

2007-06-19T10:44:00.000-04:00

Ok - here's where things get rough whenever I meet new people. (Or, have a new job)I'm a picky eater. To the point of embarrassment sometimes because on any given day I don't eat most things - eggs, mayo, salad, seafood, sour cream, etc., etc. I have a very basic palette and although I'll venture every once in a while, right now I'm just not that into it because I'm doing weight watchers and most stuff I eat is pretty bland. I don't want to go off or over my points.

Today we had lunch scheduled at work. The entire team is going out and they want to do Thai.

Guess what? I don't do Thai. It's not my cup of tea. Nor Sushi (which is their other offering). They ask if I like Thai. Of course, what do I do? I say "no". So, they switched lunch. Do I feel like a jerk now? Yes.

Ok, so let me get this straight...

2007-06-15T08:12:00.000-04:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_he_me/kids_food

Kellogg's has to change their ENTIRE marketing campaign and food formulations because parents can't simply tell their kids "no"? There are child obesity lawsuits because a cereal maker puts a toucan on the front?

Here's the deal people - WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO EAT. WE ALL KNOW what choices we're supposed to make. The last time I checked, my 7 year old didn't have any money to go into Kroger and buy a box of Fruit Loops. I don't buy her Pop Tarts because of the sugar, fat, etc. Now, I'm a big girl. Always have been for the most part, always will be. (Thanks Mom for the genetics) I've made bad food choices in life and I'm trying to change that. BUT - as a parent, I am the one making decisions as to what comes into the house that my daughter can choose from. I buy her Fruit Loops. (The reduced sugar style) I don't think it's going to kill her to have a bowl of Fruit Loops every now and then. I also bought her a swingset and she has to go outside and play every day. It's a matter of the PARENT taking the RESPONSIBILITY.

This is why our world is screwed up. It's always someone else's fault.

Oh and for the record - I lost 4.8 lbs on weight watchers this week.

Yes, I'm still alive...

2007-06-08T08:42:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy week. I've started my new job and LOVE it - it's stressful but fun. I'm learning about so many new areas of crafting and it's an exciting time for me. The great thing is - I get home earlier now - yesterday I ran to buy some stuff for Maggie's birthday and still managed to get home by 6:00. That would have NEVER happened before. Most days, I'm home by 5:20.

Anyway - random thought of the day: Why is it that I love Mountain Dew but hate Orange Juice? I was just reading the "ingredients" of the Dew and one is concentrated orange juice. That's like the raisin paste in A1. (That's right people - read your ingredient labels. WTH is Raisin Paste???)

Oh well, next to concentrated orange juice is caffeine. Now, that's the good stuff! (Note: Normally, I don't drink soda, but I'm tired. I'm adjusting to a new schedule. Had to have one this morning. Cost me 3 points on weight watchers. Damn Dew.)

My Last Day

2007-05-30T09:34:00.000-04:00

Today is my last day with Imagination Project. It's bittersweet for me. On one hand, I am SO excited for this new venture and cannot wait to get started. On the other hand - I have so many good friends and memories here. Nobody ever said life was easy - that's for sure. But, today I'm going to celebrate - the friendships that I've made over my three years here and hopefully the new friends I will meet!

I'm taking two days off in-between to organize my home, have a yard sale and spend some time with my kids. Maggie's last day of school is tomorrow, and I'll be at her party which is a first for me. She's super excited about it and truthfully, so am I. It's not easy being the "working mom" whenever you go to a school function. All the other moms know each other and you can tell that they don't quite understand where you're coming from. I went to her awards assembly yesterday and felt very out of place. But, this is a decision that I made a long time ago. One that I really don't have a choice with but one that I need to embrace anyway. Maggie thinks it's cool some of the stuff her mom does. Let's hope it stays that way.

I just wanted to end this with some funny pictures of some of the things I've done of the past few years. Good times...

Moments

2007-05-24T09:17:00.001-04:00

You ever find those little moments in life where you capture a picture and you see more than maybe what others see? I was going through the photos from Nic's wedding and found two that I absolutely LOVE. Normally, I wouldn't pay much attention to them, but they actually had me chuckling and bursting all at the same time. My husband is a great dad. I mean that - A GREAT DAD. When I met him YEARS ago, I knew he would be. He was just very attentive and fun. Those were two traits I KNEW would equal "great dad".

Before the wedding, I wanted to snap a few shots of Scott with the girls. Of course, it turned into an all-out hair pulling event with Addison. Maggie has this gorgeous, long hair and Addie likes to grab on tight sometimes. This photo is actually one in a series where Scott is trying to hold onto Addie, hold onto Maggie's hair and Addie is going to town. Of course, I'm laughing as Maggie is hollering. (This happens ALL the time) Good thing she's a good sport about it!

This one was taken at the end of the day - Addie was tired and Scott was holding her. His girls are his absolute pride and joy. I'm sure one day Addie will love seeing this picture - I'm thinking of blowing it up and framing it in the house.

On another note, I've talked to a few of my future co-workers and am VERY excited about my new role. It's almost bittersweet because I'm going to miss so many of the people I work with now, but I love to meet new people. Good times ahead!

A Great Weekend and Clarification

2007-05-21T09:34:00.000-04:00

You know - it's funny how you can have a great weekend and then come in Monday to a bunch of rumors, incorrect facts, etc. It amazes me how people think that they "know" you - and they make assumptions, verbalize their disdain (which in my opinion is completely unwarranted) and have no problem hiding behind the Internet and it's anonymous protection.

Anyway- first things first. The positive. My cousin, Nic, got married this weekend. He's like a little brother to me and I love him dearly. I was 8 when Nic was born and have watched him grow up to be a fine young man. It's always nice going back to Somerset to see my family because that feels like home to me. Even though I don't get to visit as often as I used to, it's just nice going back to a close-knit family and feeling welcome. I miss them!

Here's Nic and his wife - it was a beautiful wedding!

Then, my mom - being the comedian she is had to embarrass him. They had "request time" and the DJ let her tell this story from when Nic was about 6 years old. We were all at a fair and he wondered off (It was a small town festival) and next thing we know, he's on stage singing "Achy Breaky Heart". So - she had the DJ tell the story of "Nic the Performer" and then they had to dance to Billy Ray. Trust me - you had to be there to gage how funny it really was!

Good times I tell ya - good times.

Now - for clarification. It's funny how rumors, etc., start flying and truthfully - I don't understand why some people feel the need to tear me apart. But, for those that were genuinely curious as to what I'll be doing, etc., here's the 411. I'm not going to work for Memory Makers. I'm working for F&W. That's different. It's the parent company and I'll be working in the books division as the Marketing Manager. Not only will I work on craft titles, but also other fine arts & hobby titles. So, this isn't just in the scrapbook industry. It's in multiple industries. I do not "own" the company that I work for now. Gin-X is merely a licensed brand under Imagination Project and I was their Creative Director. I am the one that made the decision to move on - I wasn't "fired" or anything else. I made this decision based on my family and they are the most important thing to me. Plus, I wanted to be back in a corporate setting and I wanted to go back to marketing full-time.

If you still have questions - see that little rim that says "No Pimping" on the side? Then, click it and e-mail me. For those of you that have shown your support - thank you. I really appreciate it.

Cha...cha...cha...changes....

2007-05-16T16:56:00.000-04:00

You know - life is about changes. They can be good, bad, up, down, anticipated, unexpected, exciting, etc. Right now - I've got some changes coming up. Changes that I'm excited about and ones that are going to benefit my family greatly.

What type of change do you ask? Well, my last day as the Creative Director at Imagination Project will be May 30th. I've accepted a position with F&W Publications as their Marketing Manager in the Books Division - more specifically the craft, fine arts and woodworking books. (Yes - that includes scrapbooking titles!) Truthfully, my roots are in marketing and to be able to combine the two really excites me! I love marketing (anyone who has ever heard me go on a marketing rampage knows that) and of course, I love crafting (especially scrapbooking) so there you go. It's like when Reese's figured out chocolate and peanut butter. Or Forrest with his peas and carrots. Yes - marketing and crafting. Good stuff...

I'll have releases for this show for Gin-X. It's very emotional for me, though. I must admit. Gin-X is my third child - a baby that I created three years ago and have nurtured through 23+ collections. It's a part of me - that's for sure. But, as I said before - things change. And, the best way to handle that is to go with the flow.

Been Tagged...

2007-05-10T09:49:00.000-04:00

I know I don't update as often as I should and I promise (lightheartedly) to be better about it! But - sometimes I worry that I'll bore you with the mundane details of my life. (i.e. Took Maggie to school. Went to work. etc...)

But, at least Barb H. gave me something to write about! She tagged me on her blog (link to the left) so now I have some questions to fill out. You know the geek in me loves questions! Here goes:

FAVORITE SNACK FOOD - If it's stamped "Hostess" or "Little Debbie" and involves chocolate with NO nuts, then I'm game. But, since I guess those are "desserts" and not really a "snack", then I'll say chips and salsa. Have you tried the new flour Tostitos? Yummy stuff! With some Jack's fresh garden salsa. HOT!

CATS OR DOGS & WHY - Well, 10 years ago I would have said cats, no question. I had a cat from the time I was 5 until I was 27 when we had to have her put to sleep. I LOVED Opal. But, then I got married to a dog person. And, we had two dogs until Maggie had an allergic reaction. I loved BOTH. My dogs were great and my cats (I had a cat, Nemo, with the dogs) were awesome. It's a hard call. I think it depends on the pet. My lab was the greatest pet ever. If it were based on Sicily, I'd have to say dogs.

COKE OR PEPSI - For dark cola, Coke all the way. (no ice) If it's a different type of soda, then Mountain Dew. (Hey - you knew the hillbilly was bound to come out in me at some point!)

THREE PET PEEVES - I only can list three? Let's see.... 1) When people honk at you immediately after the light turns or when you're at a stop waiting for a car to pass by. Had a chick do that this morning and she and I nearly had a bout at 8:00 am at a stop sign. Then, she saw the car coming. That's right - she had to wave her hand in apology. She was about to get stomped! 2) Stupid questions. Think Bill Engvall's "Here's Your Sign". Ever doing something and someone walks up and asks a dumb question? Don't you want to say "Here's your sign". Idiot... 3) The word "embellies". Drives me nuts. Don't know why - but it gets under my skin. 4) That's right - I took a fourth. Cockiness. Who cares how great you are? We all have some positive traits so get over yourself.

THREE NEW THINGS THAT I'VE TRIED THIS YEAR - 1) Dave Ramsey's budget plan. Trust me - the man's a genius. It works! 2) Curves - a great spot to work out. I get up at 5:30 am three days a week to hit the circuit. 3) Sunless tanning lotion. Hey - when you're as white as I am and reflect the sun, you gotta try something. Jergen's works best!

So - I'm going to tag a few friends of mine - Heather, Teresa, Stacey and Angie. Would love to hear yours! :)

Is it possible that a vacuum cleaner can make one happy?

2007-05-04T16:30:00.000-04:00

I realized that I'm getting old when all I want is a vacuum cleaner. For months I've been saving for a Dyson and finally bought one this week. Can I just tell you something? It's life changing. I remember talking with Tricia Reubens probably three or four years ago about Dysons and she said that there is nothing like it. Ever since then, I coveted one but never had the guts to actually shell out the cash for it. So, I saved. And my mom kicked in the remainder (early birthday present) so that I could buy it. Can I just tell you - love at first use!

I bought the one for all floors so that I could vacuum the carpets, ceramic tile and hardwood. It's a total gem. My old vacuum would blow everything around on a smooth floor, so I always had to use the attachment. Not this baby. It sucks it up right away without any additional air flow out the sides. Amazing how something so simple can make your life so much easier.

Balance

2007-04-30T14:52:00.000-04:00

You know - sometimes I have these great blog entries in my head and then when I go to write them down, they somehow disappear into oblivion and I'm left with some blank entry that isn't deep or funny, etc. Same goes for the one today. I haven't really posted in over a week because I've been swamped but I have been thinking about my post. So, bear with me as I try to write something witty and funny (kind of like Meredith's monologue at the end of each Grey's).

I've been wanting to talk about the decision I made to create more balance in my life. This past weekend, I taught at Cord Camera in Macedonia and it was GREAT! Felicia (the manager) is one of the sweetest people on the planet and I tried to convince her to move to Cincinnati so we could hang out. (Felicia - if you read this - I'm telling you - I know a lot of cool people here. You'd have a great time!) Anyway - a few of the girls that came to my classes had went to CKU in Detroit and had asked about me and I received a few e-mails from scrappers wondering where I was. Basically, I have cut down my teaching at private stores as well as going to CKU because I wanted to have more family balance in my life. I wanted to spend more time with Scott and the girls and at one point in 2005, I was gone at least 1 week per month and it was just too much. So, when 2007 rolled around, I decided that I would do VERY limited private teaching and focus more on internal operations here at IP, etc. That's why you don't see me around as much as before. It is a decision that I made and fortunately others have been very supportive.

With that being said, I do have to say that I had a GREAT time in Macedonia with the girls at Cord and even talked about possibly going up again later on in the year. When we pulled in to the store, I was pretty excited to find the sign out front had my name on it. How cool is that?

Here's a photo of some of the girls in class. We had a great time - not only did we do a fun project, but we laughed and talked and I got to know the students and it was awesome. I LOVE meeting new people! Especially when they're good-hearted and fun! Plus, the Cord staff couldn't be better! Seriously - the sweetest people you'll ever meet! Even Kerig the photo guy was absolutely wonderful! I can't say enough good things about everyone there.

Anyway - I think a good time was had by all!

If you live in Ohio and want to take some cool classes...

2007-04-19T17:01:00.000-04:00

Do I have a proposition for you! I will be at Cord Camera in Macedonia on April 28th teaching three SUPER fun classes. This is the first time in a long time that I've really looked forward to teaching my projects because I just LOVE them! I was surprised at how easy the Project Essentials line made it for me to put these together and I guarantee that if you take the classes, you'll LOVE them!

Cord Camera Macedonia Schedule

The first one is called "Year in Review". This little book was put together with some very fun Chloe's Closet and Office Supplied papers, plus embellished with cardstock stickers, coasters, buttons and more.

The second one is about "Goals". You know how everyone makes resolutions in the beginning of the year? Well, they don't always stick but I think that if you make goals, you're more likely to follow-through with them. That's what this fun little album is about.

Last but not least is the board book album - made primarily from "As You Wish". And, you guessed it - it's about YOU. These little board books (about 5" x 5") are smokin' hot!

In all seriousness, I cannot wait for these classes next week. Scott is taking off of work to drive up with me and we're doing the crop on Friday night. (Well, I'll be at the crop doing Make & Takes and giveaways - Scott will be watching ESPN back at the hotel - the football draft is next weekend.) I hear the crop is going to be a good time - complete with pizza and I plan on doing some serious giveaways. You might want to call Felicia at Cord and sign-up as soon as you can!

If you don't live in the Ohio valley, e-mail me if you're interested in any of the projects. I might be able to hook you up!

Hopefully this is a better week...

2007-04-16T12:29:00.000-04:00

Last week was just too much. With Margaret's death, the funeral, and my mom having an emergency CT Scan because they thought she had appendicitis (turns out to be diverticulitis instead), I pretty much had a rough week. I'm praying that this one gets better.

Of course, we did have one bright spot in the week - Scott and I got a brand new Sonata. I have to be honest when I saw that I never thought I'd buy a Hyundai. I remember the days in the 90's when Hyundai's weren't necessarily your best car. They weren't Yugos, but they weren't Toyotas, either. However, with the rise in gas prices and our SUV that sucked gas constantly, we decided that we needed to check out the mid-size sedans and see what we could find. (Especially since Addie's car seat probably wouldn't fit comfortably in an RX-8.)

We had already test drove the Mazda6 (LOVED IT) but the dealer wouldn't work with me on pricing the way I wanted him to. (After trading in 13 cars in 12 years, I know how to harass a dealer!) I started asking friends and family about their cars because were were going to buy outside of Mazda and my SIL and Barb H. both have Sonatas and LOVE them. Like, serious LOVE. The type of love for a car that causes them to light up when they talk about it. They're simple cars, yes, but I'm an adult now and have realized that sometimes the basic cars are the good ones. Boy - were they right! I picked it out - Dark Grey. And, new car smell. LOVE new car smell.

Good thing is - my payment is cheaper, so I'll have it paid off about the same time or sooner than the Tribute. Plus, this baby has XM Satellite radio. I never realized how awesome that is! I've been enjoying my morning commute with my 80's, 90's and Hitlist channels and Maggie's pretty stoked about Radio Disney.

Anyway - not too sure what the purpose of my car post was except to say that I'm now the PROUD owner of a Hyundai. Maggie wants it when she turns 16. (I'm sure she'll change her mind by then!) But, hopefully it will be gas friendly (seems to be so far) and everything that my friends and family said it would be.

On a final note, if you do not know about Jen Gallacher and her little boy, Joey, please check out the link at the side of my blog. It's heartbreaking to think about everything her family must be going through right now. Anyway - Tania Willis has organized a benefit for the family and as someone who has been touched by cancer in her life, I know how much this can mean to someone. So - please check out the benefit information. There are a lot of great scrappers donating a lot of time and products and if you donate, your name may be drawn to receive one of the amazing gifts. I believe in the power of many.