A new diet, a new office buddy...

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

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

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

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...

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...

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!!!!

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?

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!

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...

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?

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!

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...

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?

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...

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.

• VH1 TV Shows
• Music Videos
• Celebrity Photos
• News & Gossip

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

Season 3 started...

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...

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!

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...

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...

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...

Always Remember...

God Bless America!

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

I'm 13 again...



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

Want to see something hilarious?

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!

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!

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...

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

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?

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...

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!

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...

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...

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...

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...

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???