I've been tagged!

Amazing - two blog posts in one day! :) I realized that I've been tagged by my good friend, Stacey, who owns Junkitz for a blog quiz. (Junkitz ROCKS by the way!) So, I figured I'd better fill this out before Stacey kicks my butt! LOL!

names you go by

1.Ginger

2.Mommy

2 parts of your heritage

1. Hillbilly (hey- that's what my mom says!)

2. English (maiden name was Hasty)

2 things that scare you

1. Spiders - EEK!

2. Death (it's so permanent)

2 of your everyday essentials

1. A little caffeine either in the form of chocolate or Mt. Dew (see - told you I was part hillbilly)

2. Noxema

2 things you are wearing right now

1. CKU Sweatshirt (it still fits me even though I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant)

2. My khaki pants from Motherhood that I paid an arm and a leg for.

2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment)

1. The Killers (LOVE me some Brandon Flowers!)

2. Green Day (Ok - so I have a thing for men with eyeliner!)

2 favorite songs (at the moment)

1. All these things I've done (Killers)

2. Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day)

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love)

1. Trust

2. Honesty

2 truths

1. I have ugly feet

2. I think that the Blue Collar Comedy Hour is HILARIOUS! (Back to the hillbilly thing)

2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex)

1. eyes

2. they have to be funny - ok - not physical but I have this strange attraction to Kevin James and I think it's because he's so darn funny!

2 of your favorite hobbies (besides scrapbooking??)

1. photography

2. sitting on my butt watching tv - especially 80's movies.

2 things you want really badly

1. to be a SAHM or a WAHM.

2. to have enough money that I don't have to worry about my family or how we're going to make ends meet.

2 places you want to go on vacation

1. Alaska

2. Hawaii - to visit my friend Rosemary.

2 things you want to do before you die

1. See my daughters get married

2. Spend a week on vacation alone with my husband

2 ways that you are stereotypically a dude/chick

1. I cry at sappy chick flicks. (The Notebook and Steel Magnolias are faves)

2. I hate to pump my own gas

2 things you are thinking about now

1. All of the baby gear I need to get

2. What colors are my third paper line going to be?

2 stores you shop at

1. Target

2. TJ Maxx

So, there's my answers to the blog quiz. :) I'm going to tag Heather Preckel and Barb Hogan for this one! Enjoy girls!!!

These are always so fun!!!

An Eventful Weekend

Ever have one of those weekends that is chocked full of events, but still seems pretty low-key? That was this weekend.

Friday night we had to take Zelda, our husky, to her new home. Ever since Maggie's reactive airway atack, four doctors have advised that we find new homes for our pets. Zelda was our biggest concern because she was 7 and we've had her since birth and it tore us up just thinking about it. Then - we met the family. They were wonderful people. They already had 1 Siberian and their grandmother was always home with the dogs when the family was at school or work. They had a beautiful house and a nice yard and they were so loving. Zelda took to them right away while we were there. I was amazed. It was as if she "knew" what needed to be done. I cried a little on the way home but I also felt good. We can come and see her whenever we want and I know that she's with good people. I can't wait to see her again!

Then, on Saturday we decided to break down and register for baby items. It's been over 5 years since we've had a baby in the house and my friends were talking about having a shower, so Scott and I decided to run up to Target and pick out a few items.



Can I just tell you how much I LOVE this store? We had been to Babies R Us but everything was so pricey. We went to Target and they had everything we needed and it was WAY more affordable. I tried not to scan too much but that little scanner gun is just a MAGNET for cute stuff! I think we did pretty well and I'm going to start saving now to buy some of the gear. It's nice because it's like a list that you can follow and cross things off as you get them. Plus, Scott's parents wanted a Christmas list from us and baby gear is what we needed. Maggie got to pick out a lot of the stuff - she loved the butterflies on the swing. I also LOVE having her be a part of everything going on with her sister. She told me this weekend that she's going to "pay so much attention to this baby - she's going to be spoiled". I hope that she remembers that once the crying bundle of joy is here! LOL!

Finally on Sunday my nephew moved out. It was time. He's 19 and needs some parental guidance. More than I can give him because I can't discipline him the way his mom or dad could. My house is sure quiet without Kris, Zelda and Lucy there. (We took Lucy to her new family on Thursday - a WONDERFUL young couple!) I didn't know what to do this morning because it was so quiet. Scott told me to wait a few months and that will all change. He's probably right!

Oh - and one final note - Scott got a written warning for speeding. I told him that I wouldn't let him live it down because we're always fighting in the car over how fast he drives. He got pulled over yesterday and given a lecture from the cop. I told him he had better be glad I wasn't in the car or I would have begged the office to give him a ticket to prove my point. HA! I think the cop proved it anyway. :)

Back to work. Monday sucks.

G

Got some photos...

Finally uploaded some of my photos from the past few weeks. I LOVE being digital - but sometimes I'm too lazy to upload/develop/print the photos. But, I had some time on Friday night and ran over to Costco to get things taken care of. LOVE that place!

Anyway, here's how my poor little pumpkin spent her Halloween...



I was so scared last Monday when they admitted her with the breathing problems. She had a reactive airway attack (similar to asthma) and missed Trick or Treating plus a few days of school. Everyone at Children's was so wonderful to her, though. They truly made it a better experience!

She's doing a LOT better now and is playing, running around, etc. We've had to make some changes in our family (the doctor recommended that we give our pets new homes). It's killing us to have to do it but we're doing what's best for Maggie, so that's what we've been doing this week.

On a more positive note - here's my friend Kate and I in NYC almost 2 weeks ago. I have ALWAYS wanted to see Times Square and thought it was fun but definitely busy!



Then, there is this photo of my niece and I. She's due with a baby girl on December 9th and I'm due with a baby girl on March 19th. Her first pregnancy - my 2nd, which is what I tell myself when I see how our bellies compare.



Finally, a photo of me with the love of my life. Gotta love those goofy "hold the camera out" shots. Poor Scott - puts up with my mood swings - he's a trooper. Sweetie - I know you read my blog- I love you! :) (Of course, ask me how I feel about him when I'm about 8 cm dialated and in labor transition)



Happy Monday everyone!

It's a....

GIRL!!!! We are SO excited to announce that we're having a little girl! Maggie is so stoked to be having a little sister!



I have to be honest. This little one definitely had me baffled. I thought for sure that I was having a boy because this pregnancy was so different! But, it's a little girl and we couldn't be happier. We just prayed for a healthy baby!

On another note, sorry for no recent blog updates. We spent the first three days this week in the hospital with Maggie. She had an airway attack (sort of like an asthma attack) and we were there trying to get her oxygen saturation levels back up. She's doing well now and is back in school. (Kids are so resilient!) If you could, please keep her in your prayers that she gets better and that there are no more attacks!

By the way - we skipped the concert last week. Too cold and rainy! In exchange, I promised Maggie we'd take her to see Green Day. It's amazing the negotiating skills my 5 year old has!

In any event, she's happy and excited to be having a little sister. We don't have a definite name picked out although Maggie and I are both pushing for Mallory. :) (Scott - if you're reading this - take note sweetie - we want MALLORY!) Of course, all of my friends laugh because Maggie is like Maggie Seaver from Growing Pains and Mallory is like Mallory Keaton from Family Ties. NO - it's not intentional but funny nonetheless. :)

G

Brrrr.....

Ok - it's cold here in Cincinnati. When I say cold, I mean COLD! We pretty much SKIPPED over fall weather. (blah!) We've gone from high temps and shorts to freezing temps and down jackets. With that being said, Scott and I had this bright idea of taking Maggie to her first rock concert a month or two ago. 3 Doors Down was coming to Riverbend (in case you're not familiar with Cincinnati, Riverbend is exactly that - a stage next to the river!) and the tickets were pretty affordable, so we decided to make this her first concert. Besides they're a rockin' band!



But, it's going to be about 40 degrees this evening. YIKES! So, I guess Maggie won't get to hear much of the concert since I'll have her bundled like Ralphie in A Christmas Story. But, I'm hoping for a fun evening! Maybe we'll miraculously get a heat wave between now and 7:30. Ya think?

I've got soul but I'm not a soldier

Well, it's about time I got out of this funk. This hormonal driven funk that basically left me with little ambition to create. UGH! But, this morning, I decided to do something about it. I cranked one of my favorite CD's - Hot Fuss. I can only hope that The Killers release a sophomore album as great as this.



I was heartbroken because I arrived TWO DAYS after the Killers played in Vegas. You have to understand my infatuation with Brandon Flowers. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but you know that list that they created on "Friends"? Yes - he's at the top of mine. I don't care that he's 5 years my junior. If Demi can have Ashton (ALSO on my list) then I can add Brandon to mine! Ask some of the girls that were with me - every time we were in a cab, I was asking if they had seen him, knew where I could find them, etc. They're from Vegas - I figured what better time to hunt them down then while there. Alas, I never saw him. :(

However, look at him... MEOW!



Ok - Killers set aside, I have to say that I absolutely LOVE the girls I work with. The design team is FAB! We all went to dinner on Tuesday night (with me GREEN at the gills with morning sickness that has decided to show up in the EVENING). Here we are at the fountains in front of the Belagio. (Borrowed from Becky's blog!)



Can I just say that they should NEVER do the fountains set to "My Heart Will Go On" with a pregnant lady in the audience that just watched Titanic a week before? Yes - full blown tears. It was awful. I felt like a total dork, but I'm emotional anyway and now I cry at the drop of a hat. Why couldn't they have played a fun song? Nope - gotta do a sappy song that reminds me of some poor guy that freezes to death in the middle of the ocean. Insert big "L" on my forehead. But, the fountains were cool to see!

That's all for now. Gotta run and pack kits for 400 students for next week and get some creativity flowing. It's about darn time!

Call it hormones...

call it whatever you want. For the past week, I've been hit with this feeling of "what am I doing?" I wonder if it's the right path for me. I kept worrying that the real reason why I scrapbook was getting lost. It was all becoming business and the meaning was no where to be found. I wondered if I was doing the right things, creating the right things, etc. Then, I came across a layout that was so profound to me that I sat at my desk and cried.

We just received a copy of "Your Scrapbook. Your Story" by Memory Makers. I was flipping through it when I came to page 63 and a layout by Polly McMillan. It's titled New Beginnings and it showcases a photo of toothbrushes. The toothbrushes were the first thing to catch my eye. I read the journaling and my heart sank. I began to cry because I put myself in her lonliness after divorce. It was SO profound that I can't even describe it. I thought about my husband's toothbrush sitting in the medicine cabinet and how I move it every day to get to my own. I wondered how I would handle things if it weren't there. I cried some more. I felt for her. I don't know her but I felt for her. My heart bled for her. It was then that I realized that what we do is right. Scrapbooking is right. It celebrates, remembers, heals. It's time to become refocused again.

Back

and exhausted. VERY exhausted. I spent four days in Vegas literally green at the gills. I thought my morning sickness was gone but I was wrong. VERY WRONG. So, if you saw me there and I seemed less than chipper, I apologize. I was just trying not to throw up at any given moment. To say the least, the trip was not pleasant for me. Makes me reconsider my trip in January. I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it considering I'll be nearly 35 weeks pregnant by then. We'll see...

I've just had a bad week. Blah...

Thank you!!

Everyone for your wonderful posts about the new paper. I hope that ya'll like them. :) I was really nervous about this show because it will mark the 1 year anniversary that my paper line has been out in the industry. It just doesn't seem like it's been that long. But then, I hope and pray that it will last even longer.

I have to be honest, I'm a bit sad about leaving my family for a few days. The further along I get in my pregnancy, the more homesick I become. I guess it's hormones (although I've always been a homebody) but it seems to be getting worse. I'm already teary thinking about leaving Maggie for a few days, even though she will be TOTALLY fine and my family and her daddy will spoil her. But, it's just the thought that I'm missing her first field trip, and I can't take her to school in the mornings, etc. Oh well...I guess it's just the ramblings of a pregnant lady.

Did I mention that we're getting THE BIG ULTRASOUND on the 1st? I am SO excited! We're dying to know what we're having. Doesn't matter either way, we're just praying for a healthy baby, but I'd love to be able to buy gender specific stuff. Can't wait!

I'll be back after Memory Trends! Wish me luck!

Ginger

New Stuff!

Wanna see some new stuff????






Hope you like it! :)

PS - for those of you that Spam - SHAME ON YOU!!!!

Scott turned 30

on Saturday. We had a nice dinner with some friends and that was about it for celebrating. I just can't believe he's 30! When I met him, he was 19 - we were just kids. Now, we're these married "adults" and sometimes I still feel like we're the kids. What's so great about him is that he's funny, a total hottie, and the best dad. (Even when we argue over how to discipline Maggie)

What's awful is that I forgot to bring my camera and therefore didn't get ANY pictures! I could stick my head in the mud over that one. Ever since I became pregnant, it's like all the wiring in my brain doesn't quite function. I forgot to bring my camera to events, I haven't had any scrappin' mojo, and I'm lucky to know which day of the week it is. LOL! Oh well...it's all worth it.

On another note, Friday night I went scrapping with some friends. It was the first time that I've been to a crop (where I wasn't working) in over a year. It felt so good to just hang out, laugh with the girls, work on some stuff and relax. We promised to do it monthly so I hope we stick to it. There is a group of about 6 of us - me, Barb, Jamie, Tina, Kim, and Chris. It was a great time!!!

That's about all. I feel like I should always say something sensational in my blog but truthfully - my life is pretty boring right now. We're gearing up for Memory Trends and that's consuming most of my attention as well as CKU Stamford. I'll be glad to have a break for a while. I'm not going to be doing CKU's for some time due to the baby, etc. That'll be a nice change of pace.

The wonderful thing about scrapbooking

is that you make some amazing friends! I was talking to my good friend, Barb Hogan, this morning and she was telling me to stop by her blog. Normally I check it every day but yesterday I was a bit swamped and didn't have a chance to jump online. So, the first thing I did this morning was hop online and check it out and I nearly cried. 1) Because Barb said some wonderful things about me and she is one of my dearest friends and 2) Because she posted photos of me with the "napkin boobs". It's a long story but imagine 10 scrappers crammed into a van then going out to Julio's for dinner in Chicago. Yes - things got a bit crazy. :) So, in the spirit of Barb's blog, I'm posting about the special people I've met through this hobby - Barb included.



Here we are in Chicago. I just don't know what I'd do without these girls. Barb is on the right and she is one of the most amazing people I know. The woman OOZES creativity. I've never seen anything like it. I always tell her when I grow up, I want to be Barb Hogan. She has a heart of gold!

There are so many of my other friends here. Kim, Jane, Renee, Terri, Janice, Sara, etc. I love them all!

Being goofy definitely is a requirement of my friends. LOL!



Kim and Jane are so funny! I met Jane online because her last name was my maiden name, so we figure we're related somewhere down the line. Kim and I met two years ago at a local store and we've been great friends ever since. They absolutely crack me up!

The one girl that I don't have a photo of here in the office is Tina. She's another friend I've made through scrapbooking. We started working together over a year ago and now we've moved on and still work together. She's funny, makes me totally crack up and she's caring. Can't get much better than that! Love ya T!

Then there is Teresa and Sarah. (Talk about a long blog post)



Teresa is one of my best friends in the industry. She is genuine, would do anything for you, and is SUPER talented. Sarah is fun, creative, and totally cracks me up. Here we all are when I told them that I was pregnant. They are just wonderful, wonderful people!

Finally, there is Emily Adams. I don't have a photo of Em with me, either. :( Emily is another person that is caring, wonderful, and fun to be around. (Oh, and I can't forget Kate, too!)

I guess I've just met too many wonderful people in this industry to mention. I feel horrible that I might have forgot someone. (Sort of like those speeches that actors give) LOL! But, to all of my friends - know that I ADORE you.

Ginger

Maggie has a crush!

It's so funny! She's been talking about this boy in class named "Jacob S." and she blushes every time I ask about him. She's been in Kindergarten all of 1 month and already has a crush. Anyway, today I got to meet "Jacob S." We were standing in line waiting for her to go into the classroom and this boy rushes by and he has a cast. (Maggie mentioned that he had broke his arm) He hollers "HI MAGGIE!!!" as he goes by and I can see Maggie turn about 10 shades of red. I bent down and asked her who it was. (I KNEW - Mom's know these sorts of things!) She whispers "Jacob S." and looks away from me. LOL! I was like "Oh...he's cute" and let her go.

I remember my own Jacob S. Although, he was Jason, but the older I got, the more I realized "ICK". LOL! This boy was cute, though. The type of kid that's going to be popular. He had spikey blonde hair and was very friendly. I'd say she's done well for her first school crush. :)

WOW!

I haven't blogged in nearly two weeks. I guess I just didn't have a lot to say. Well, actually, I DO, but not things that I should probably share on a public blogging forum. LOL! Lots of things have been going on, plus I just finished CKU in Kansas City.

On a positive note, I am about 90% finished with the new stuff for Memory Trends. I cannot wait until the show where I can see my friends. That's one awesome thing about this business - you make friends that are near and dear. For me, it's Emily, Kate and Teresa. I would have been SO LONELY in Kansas without them. They made me laugh, cheered me up when I was upset, and we had a great time! Thanks girls!!! :)

From the homestead, things are looking good. Maggie has been in Kindergarten for a few weeks now and she's loving it. It's the getting her up in the mornings that is the worst part. She's a lot like her daddy. Doesn't want to get up and doesn't want to eat breakfast. She cracks me up. Then, of course, every morning isn't complete unless we listen to one of the Kids Bop CD's. Who invented those anyway?

Scott applied for another job within his company. I sure hope he gets it. It will be a lot less physical labor on him. Plus, he might have more time to finish his degree. In any event, I just want to see him happy.

Finally, I want to give out a few overdue "Thank You"s. At the last CKU I received some wonderful baby gifts from Emily, Meg and Michelle. This CKU, I got a gorgeous box from Micki Smith. Thank you ladies for being so wonderful! :) I didn't have your addresses, or else I would have sent you a note. But, I wanted to tell you "thanks". Your sweetness did not go unnoticed!

I better get back to finalizing the papers. Gotta finish naming them. That's the hard part sometimes. LOL!

Ginger

Simply Heartbroken

For a few days now, all I keep thinking about is the devastation in Louisiana and Mississippi. I keep thinking about Jlyne Hanback and the sight that she came home to. I keep thinking about what I can do as a person and what Imagination Project can do as a company. I've talked to a few people to try and set something up - to raise money, awareness, compassion.

I can't even imagine - I can't even BEGIN to imagine. All I can do is pray. Pray that it will never happen here, pray that those who are affected can find peace and solace and rebuild, pray for their health for it sounds like things are very dangerous from a biological standpoint. I pray for the animals that were left behind, the families that lost loved ones, and those still waiting to hear.

I'm heartbroken. Simply heartbroken.

Day 3 of Kindergarten

Sorry I've been a lazy blogger. Since being pregnant, I've gained a whole new appreciation for laziness. With that being said, I'm also so TIRED from getting up an hour and a half earlier than normal. But, the best thing is that Maggie LOVES school!

Friday was her first day and it was crazy. It was pouring rain and I, being the new school mom, had NO idea how nuts it can get when dropping kids off at school. I take Maggie into her classroom every day, so I have to pull over into a designated parking lot so that we can go in. Well, there is also the "drop-off" lane on the right. Can we say "Mr. Mom". Except in this case, it's enter from the West and exit to the East. I'm getting the hang of it quickly. I actually go about 10 minutes early, park and wait until the kids can enter the building. I'm not getting caught in the mess again!

She's made some new friends and she tells me about it every day. I love that she has good stories to tell. I'm so worried that kids will pick on her because she's a sensitive child. Plus, she's tall and a bit bigger. She's like her mommy. She's a big girl. But, such a sweet girl. Even when she pouts and gets mad because I won't let her wear her pajamas to school.

So, that's been the focus of my week, weekend, etc. Then, of course, there is the lunch dilemma. She won't eat peanut butter, she won't eat ham, bologna or any other meat, so today, we packed a tortilla with cheese. She told me yesterday that we have to get this "sandwhich thing" figured out. Yes, we do....

There it is...the ramblings of a mom adjusting to her child in school. Oh, and a mom that doesn't get enough sleep. I've asked for a couch at work, but somehow, that's not on the priority list. LOL!

Tag - I'm it!

Talked to Barb today and she told me to check out her blog. Apparently - I've been tagged and need to list 5 random things about myself. (At the end of the blog, I'll also post a photo that Barb mentioned - trust me - it's worth it!) :)

Ok - here's the five:
1) I'm the youngest of four by 17 years. My brothers are exactly 17, 18 and 19 years older than me respectively. Yes - we have the same parents - my mom just had three of us young and then a "change of lifer".

2) I love pickle juice on potato chips, french fries and grilled cheese. This was actually a trait that I picked up when pregnant with Maggie, but it just stuck with me.

3) I switched majors FOUR TIMES in college. Ended up graduating pre-law and was going to be a paralegal and work through law school. Yea - that plan worked!

4) Met my husband on a blind date. I was a waitress and his family asked me for my phone number for him. I think they regret that now. :)

5) The guy I dated for a few years in high school and my husband both share the same first and middle name: Scott Andrew. VERY WEIRD. I almost didn't date my husband because it was weird but now I never really think about it except for these things where you have to list random things about yourself. I just figured it's too odd not to list.

So, here's to Barb, who tagged me. Now, I'm going to tag Heather Preckel. :) Here you go Heather!

Oh, and let me tell you what else Barb called to tell me. She mentioned Tom Brady on the cover of GQ. I'm not much of a Tom Brady fan or a Pats fan for that matter, but I might have to pay more attention to football this year.



I'm quickly going to become the "EYE CANDY" blog, aren't I?



PS - Scott - you're still the hottest one to me sweetie!

If I were not married

to the greatest man on the planet, I'd be chasing this boy...




Yes, Brandon Flowers. Sadly, I'm excited about the MTV awards just because the Killers are performing. My daughter adores them, and quite frankly, I just enjoy looking at their lead singer. Eyeliner and all...

Then, some days, I like them a bit older...




Call it pregnancy hormones or whatever, but today, I wanted to pay tribute to the other "men" in my life. I'm sure when Scott sees this, I'll get an earful (DON'T get me STARTED on Chloe, honey!) but I just had to post photos of these guys for me to look at today.

Hmmmm....... Sigh....

G

It's lunchtime...

With my sickies all of the time, lunchtime has become more of a nusance than an enjoyment. Nothing sounds good - everything makes me sick and I pretty much hate eating. BUT, here's my one saving grace! Today - I'm heading to the mall. At least, I hope. I want something along these lines...



It's the only thing that sounds good....

Photos for Monday!

I had a fairly uneventful weekend. Spent some time with friends on Saturday night, had Maggie's soccer game on Friday night. Sunday was a lazy day, so I figured instead of boring you with some of my humdrum, I'd share some photos! I finally downloaded the vacation pictures and I'm hoping that I actually get time to scrap some of them before the end of the year!

Anyway, here is Maggie and her cousin, Abby, playing the piano. I swear, they look like two saloon girls, but so cute! Look at the too of them with their "hymn books". They were taking this seriously! LOL!



Here's Maggie in her "Shark" suit. My mom bought her this set of shark gear to wear in the pool. Me, being the paranoid mom, still makes her wear a floatie when she's in the deep end. But, how funny is her "scary" pose? LOL!



Then, there are the Gators. We went golfing one night and I couldn't help but take photos of the gators in the pond. (Don't worry - they were fenced in!)



Finally, my family in Florida. My hottie husband and beautiful little girl. Then, there's me. Usually green from morning sickness that lasts all day. Plus, I'm too lazy to photoshop the glare off of my glasses. Oh well...



That's all for today. Going to go tonight to help my niece register for baby stuff. She's due December 9th! I can't wait!!!!

Ginger

WOW!

The support from everyone has just been amazing. Thank you SO MUCH!!!! It means a lot to me and my family!

Well, baby drama aside (I'm praying for 30 weeks of no-drama for the rest of this pregnancy) I'm now focusing on Maggie and getting her ready for school. This time next week, she's going to be in her Kindergarten class! I really don't know where the time went. It seems like yesterday I was bringing her home from the hospital and she was so tiny. Now, she plays soccer, tells me what she wants to wear, has her first "big girl" tooth coming in and she's anxiously awaiting the arrival of her sibling.

Yesterday, I went to her soccer practice to help Scott out. He is the most patient man I know. How he can coach 5 year-olds is beyond me. He has one that NEVER wants to do anything. He sits when they're supposed to run, he gets upset if he doesn't score a goal, etc. I don't have patience for that but Scott does. He's a great coach. Anyway, Maggie was practicing and whenever they had a break, she'd run up and kiss my belly. She's such a sweet little girl. I just hope she still likes the baby when it's here and the attention is focused on it for a while. I'm sure she will. She seems to be taking on the "little mommy" role already. Yesterday, she had a copy of the Babies R Us flyer that came in the mail. I was going to throw it away but she looks it over like she's shopping for the best stuff. She cracks me up.

I promise to post pictures from vacation soon. I finally picked them up from Costco. LOVE that place!

Thank you!!!

Baby is good. Just a scare. They can't explain it but the u/s showed one healthy little peanut! :)

God is good. Thank you for your prayers!

Ginger

Please pray for us...

I leave in about 45 minutes for an ultrasound. Things aren't looking great right now in the pregnancy. I started having problems last night around 6:00 and it's been a night of tears and uncertainty.

Just pray for us.

Thanks...

Let's Talk Cravings

Back to my confessions of a fat girl, let's talk pregnancy cravings. True - I should be eating fruits, veggies and all of that good stuff. However, I am from Cincinnati and I'm a true Cincinnatian. With that being said, there is only ONE thing that satisfies the pregnant palette and that's.... SKYLINE!




Last night at approximately 9:30, I decided that I had to have a coney. Not wanted, but rather NEEDED! One of those sort of cravings where you'd walk five miles in 10 feet of snow to get it. Scott was sitting there playing NCAA '06 and it hit me and the begging started.

"Honey?"
"What?" (as he continues to shuffle through college players)
"I'm hungry"
"And?" (he knows what's coming)
"I want a coney"
"Right now???"
"yes..."

The bantering went on for about 5 minutes before he realized that I wasn't giving up. I could have gone out to get it but I was TIRED. LOL! I wanted him to bring me the coney. So, God love him, he went out and bought me two coneys - no mustard or onion.

For those of you that are NOT from Cincinnati, let me briefly explain Cincinnati Chili. It's not like Texas Chili. It's not hot, but rather sweet. (Rumor is that two of the "spices" are cinnamon and chocolate) There are two main ways it's served: the Cheese Coney which is a hot dog with chili, cheddar cheese, mustard and onion, and then the 3-way - Spaghetti, Chili and Cheese. Either way, right now it's YUMMY! And, one of the only things that doesn't make me sick all night. (Which is actually rare because most other people get sick from it)

So, there it is. Confessions of pregnancy cravings from a fat girl. YUM!

10 Years Today

10 years ago today, Scott and I had our first date. It wasn't anything special - just an evening at Golden Tee which was a place that teenagers hung out - driving golf balls, shooting pool and playing video games.

We were actually a blind date. I was a waitress at a local restaurant while in college and his family came in to celebrate an anniversary. They all began to persuade me to go out with "Scott" who was at a Bengals game that evening. I told them that I'd think about it and I passed along my phone number. At the time, I wasn't really looking for anyone. A few months before I had split with someone I dated nearly three years, so I guess you could say I was still nursing a heartbreak.

Then, I met HIM. I had been on dates before, but nobody ever really caught my eye. Honestly, Scott didn't catch my attention at first. Sure, he was adorable, opened the door for me, drove a sharp car and was so damn cute I wanted to squeeze him, but he never TALKED. I'd ask him a question and he'd give me a "yes" or "no" answer. Finally, I told him - "in order for this to work you have to TALK." Now, 10 years later, I can't get him to shut up! :)

So, here's to 10 years. 10 years of laughs, kisses, hugs, fights, tears and so much more. I can't wait to see what the next 10 brings us. I would post a picture of our first days but my stupid computer won't work. (I think he installed some sort of anti-virus, anti pop-up thing), so you'll just have to imagine two goofy 19 year-olds. Maybe when he gets home today I'll have him fix it. :)

Morning Sickness Sucks!

Or, should I say, all day nausea! Yesterday, I made the mistake of eating chicken at dinner. I should know better. I LOVE chicken but for some reason,if I eat it, I get sick about an hour later. So, we're at Kroger and sure enough - the wave of nausea hits me. I couldn't stand to grocery shop. Scott had to pick everything out. He was sympathetic to my whining and wanting to go right away. I never had this with Maggie, so it's all new to me. Of course, he always says "That's my boy!" with a twinkle in his eye. In the end, we just want a healthy baby but he always jokes because I was never sick with Maggie.

I also had a Dr. appointment this week and things look good. BP is good and they scheduled me for an U/S on the 22nd. She didn't think that my uterus was matching up to the EDD (which right now is March 19th). Another sad thing is that I'm alread showing! EEK! She explained that it could be a large uterus (which I had with Maggie), multiiples (EEK AGAIN!) or I could be farther along then what we have calculated. So, we'll find out on the 22nd.

Sorry to hijack my blog with baby talk. It seems to be consuming me these days because I never thought it would happen again.

Today's my anniversary!!!

On this day, seven years ago, I married a wonderful man! Today, we celebrate our anniversary and I am so glad to be home. CKU was wonderful, but I did not want to spend my anniversary away from him. Although, I've been at work all day and he's been at work and he has golf tonight, etc. But, just knowing that I will get to see him tonight makes me smile.

So, here's to us! What a wonderful year we have ahead of us. A new baby, our daughter starting school, possibly a new home. (If I get my way!) :)

Call it pregnancy bliss, but I love this man!

I'm leavin' on a jet plane...

I've been singing that a lot lately. Gonna keep singing it for the next few months. Gotta love frequent flyer miles! But, I miss my family terribly! Especially now that I'm all hormonal. I have already become teary eyed over thinking about being away from Maggie for five days. I know it's not that long. I know I'll have a great time in Utah. But, sometimes there's no place like home.

In any event, I'm looking forward to going to CKU and Provo. I've never been to SLC and I cannot WAIT! My dear friend, Teresa, is picking me up from the airport and we're going to spend the day in SLC and Provo, stopping by some stores and I'll be getting ready for my classes. I am just praying that everyone likes the class! It's the most nervous I've ever been about teaching.

This pregnancy has also been so different than my one with Maggie. I'm so emotional all the time. I go from being angry to crying in a matter of 10 seconds. I cry over anything, everything and nothing at all. The nausea is at least subsiding somewhat, although every time I eat chicken I get sick. I miss my chicken fingers, but it's all worth it. Oh, and the funny thing is that Maggie swears I'm having a boy and she's already named him Chester. I should have never let her watch "Dude, where's my car?". LOL! She loves Chester. I told her that Chester was not on the table. I've got a few months to try and convince her to like another name. Besides, it could be a girl. In that case, I'll have to convice Scott to like Mallorie. (He always hollers "YO! Mallory!!!")

Anyway, wish me luck in Provo!!!

I'm HOME and a big THANK YOU!!!

First of all, I am completely overwhelmed with everyone's wonderful words and thoughts regarding our pregnancy. I actually was in tears reading everything because it's so amazing to have that much support. Scott and I are still in shock but absolutely ecstatic. Maggie talks about her new "baby" all the time. She's already decided it's a brother. LOL! I keep trying to tell her that it could be a girl but she is set that it's a boy. Maybe she has intuition. :)

I am SO glad that we're finally home. To be gone for 2 1/2 weeks with NO Internet access has been torture. I have no idea what was said about our products post CHA, I haven't been able to see all the new goodies that are coming out (remember - I scrapbook, too) and of course, I haven't had access to my work e-mail which has killed me the most. UGH!!!

I'll post more updates later - like when we found out about the baby and my thoughts about CHA. Right now, I have a house that needs attention because I left it with two teenage boys for 2 weeks. Yes - it's my worst nightmare right now!

Off to hunt down bleach, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and lysol! LOL!

Ginger

I'm PREGNANT!!!

That's all I can say right now. I'm in Tampa and on a computer at a store and had five minutes on the Internet.

I'm PREGNANT!!! Never thought I would see that again! So excited! Scott is beside himself and Maggie is already begging for a baby brother.

Morning sickness (and all day!) sucks! But, so well worth it!

Ginger

Come chat with me!

www.lifetimemoments.com

I'm chatting there tonight at 9:00. Would love to talk to everyone. (Or, anyone that reads my blog) LOL!

Ginger

Wanna see some new stuff????

Ok - gotta share my excitement! :)

2 more days...

Until I leave for CHA. Two more days of kit packing, scrambling, running around, stressed, etc.

I leave on Thursday at 6:00 am for Chicago. Road trip with the girls! Can't wait!!! :)

Then on Sunday, my vacation starts. It's also Maggie's birthday. My baby is going to be five! We're celebrating in Indianapolis at a hotel before we fly out to Tampa. I figured she'd love to play at the pool all night. Then, we're talking almost 2 weeks of relaxation. (Minus the two days I'm teaching at local stores which will be FUN!)

Yes...can't wait!

A change of heart...

Originally, I was going to post a "vent" about the ALPHA female. This originated from Barb's blog since she was discussing the the very topic. I experienced that last night. A female that apparently felt as though she was not being paid enough attention and decided to turn her back on those who were always there for her. Very sad. I don't know what sparked the "turn". In any event, I don't have the patience for such things. We're all adults and we should treat each other as such. We shouldn't throw cold shoulders and have petty little whispers. We should grow up.

With that being said - I want to take this to a more positive turn (remember the positive post this week?) and upload some of my favorite photos from the past three weeks.

We had Scott's company picnic, so I have some photos that we took at the amusement park.





Then there are the close-ups of Maggie and her cousin, Abigail.




The girls had such a great time last weekend playing dress-up and swimming.

Thank GOD for family.

It's Friday!!!

Although, I don't know why I'm all giddy. It's not like I have the weekend to "play". LOL! I'm going to be finalizing classes, etc. Tomorrow I'm heading over to Lenscrafters with my mom so we can get some new glasses. I'm not sure what style I like. Part of me wants something "artsy" and then the other part of me wants something that is less "noticable". I guess I'll know what I like when I try them on, but I'm open to suggestions.

I'll have photos tonight. Had some printed and burned to a CD yesterday. (My Rebel didn't come with the software to upload to my computer and I haven't taken the time to download it from the Internet)

Oh, and hubby just called me AT WORK to annoy me about wanting a new pair of sunglasses. He only has THREE pair now. Drives me nuts. So, I basically took out all of my stress and frustration on him LOL! He didn't need a new pair anyway. (Scott - if you're reading this - YOU DO NOT NEED ANOTHER PAIR OF SUNGLASSES! THE ONES YOU HAVE ARE FINE!!!!!)

Ok - I feel better now!

G

Today is about POSITIVE THINGS

Alright - in the midst of negativity and thread pulling, I have decided that today's blog post will be about POSITIVE THINGS. Even though I am stressed to the point of wanting to pull out my hair, I have decided that I am going to take a moment and reflect on the POSITIVE things in my life right now. Besides, I'm a list maker and I like lists.

With that being said, here are the TOP 10 POSITIVE THINGS going on in Ginger's life right now as we speak. (Sort of like the David Letterman list but not as funny - or maybe as funny depending on interpretation)

1) My baby girl Maggie. I was watching her sleep this morning and I was so thankful that I have her. I sat for a second and focused on my daughter. She's so perfect. I absolutely LOVE this child and I spoil her rotten. She's my only one and by golly, I have every right to do that! (In case you're new to my blog, I have PCOS and have therefore been rendered infertile)

2) Hubby's new hot haircut. Scott has worn this goofy buzz cut thing off and on for YEARS! YEARS I tell you. He's always hot to me but I could do without that haircut on him. So, he's been growing his hair out and yesterday he got it cut by a barber instead of me with the weed-whacking clippers in the bathroom. Result - HOT HAIRCUT. Result - MEOWW!!!

3) My job. It ROCKS. I love what I do. The people I work with are great. I can wear jeans and a t-shirt to work. 'Nuff said.

4) My friends. ALL of them! They are always there for me and they are fun and crazy! They talk with all the shiznit and "get" me in all of my whacky glory.

5) My mom. She's my best friend and this morning she told me she was proud of me. Can't beat that in terms of compliments. I gotta keep my mom proud.

6) My nephew, Kris. He now lives with us and it's a chance for me to make a positive change in his life. He hasn't had the best home life and now it's my turn to show him how family should be. He's a good kid and I want to make sure he has the tools necessary to have a great life. He deserves that.

7) My dogs and cat. They drive me nuts. But, I love to cuddle with the furballs.

8) Laundry is all caught up. LOVE that! LOVE my husband! He's off of work this week and he has been cleaning the house and doing projects. He did ALL of the laundry. LOVE him!

9) Scrapbook supplies. Bought a bunch this week. Don't know when I'm going to get a chance to use them but I have them! LOL!

10) A tan. Yes - this is the darkest I've been EVER. I've spent a lot of time outside this year and got past the sunburns. (Or, am at least trying to) I've gone from porcelain to bisque. That's a HUGE step for me.

So, there you have it. :) What are your 10 positive things this week?

Gearing up!

Lots of stuff getting ready to happen. I have about 9 days left before all hell breaks loose! I leave for CHA on the 14th and we still have a MILLION things to do. With three trade shows per year, it's such a vicious cycle. You would think we'd be used to it but I know that I'm not. LOL!

I leave CHA and go straight to Indianapolis to fly out to Tampa for my vacation. Scott, Maggie and I are going to spend two weeks down there and I'm looking forward to it. I'm also teaching at two stores during that time. On the 19th, I'll be at Ruban Rouge and teaching five classes throughout the day. I'm looking forward to it because we'll have some new papers from CHA and I absolutely LOVE teaching. The owner is such a sweetie, too. I hear they have a GREAT store!

Then, on the 20th I'm doing some pre-CKU classes at a store in Orlando. I wish I could stay there for a day or so and hang out with everyone but I need to head back down to Tampa to continue our vacation. The only thing is, I'm a bigger girl and my skin is so fair that I'd give Snow White a run for her money, so Florida is not always my best vacation option. However, Scott absolutely loves it down there, so he lays out by the pool while I sit under an umbrella and read. Maggie lives for the swimming pool, so she's with her daddy swimming and enjoying the sun. Thank God she didn't inherit my ultra-pale skin. She actually tans quite well.

That reminds me - gotta buy some SPF 65 for Florida. LOL!

Relaxing in Somerset, KY

Still visiting my family in Somerset, Kentucky, down by Lake Cumberland. My original plan was to go home tonight but we're going to relax one more evening and then head back home tomorrow. Today has been a nice, lazy day. We got up early and had biscuits and gravy. (Gotta love Southern Hospitality!) Then, of course there was the mandatory trip to the Super Wal-Mart. Afterwards, we returned back to my family's hosue for a nice swim. Maggie loves being in the pool. I got some great shots but every one of them she's wearing these goofy goggles. She refuses to take them off!

This afternoon Scott let me take a nice nap and then we just finished dinner from the grill. Ah...such a nice relaxing evening. I wish it could last for a few weeks.

Tomorrow it all changes. Tomorrow starts the next week and a half of pure torture. Of gearing up for the show and getting layouts done and classes written, and projects completed.

Before I forget, I stopped by an AWESOME store in Lexington on my way down. Mountains of Memories is GORGEOUS, HUGE and has a TON of stuff! LOVED it!

Holiday weekend but still working!

Scott keeps telling me I need to relax. I keep telling him that I don't have "time" to relax. LOL! Such a vicious cycle. Basically, I am 12 days away from CHA and have SO many things that still need to be done. Therefore, I'm ready to pull out my hair.

This weekend we're heading to Lake Cumberland to spend some time with my family. I'm still bringing all of my "work" just in case I get some time in the evening to finish some projects, etc. I have three more classes to complete for my teaching in Florida (I had to wait for the paper) and I need to finish my handouts for CKU. I even had a nightmare that I forgot them and that my class was a disaster. Now I'm paranoid, so I've been very meticulous and sure to include everything.

Classes and work aside, I am going to enjoy myself tonight. I plan on taking some great photos, too! I need some scrapbooking material, even though goodness knows I haven't scrapped in so long that I have photos piled up. (Well, organized in photo albums waiting to be selected.) I'm hoping that on the 4th, I will get my "day of scrapping" that I've been BEGGING for. We'll see...

At least it's over!

I am SO glad that the reality show is over! Thanks everyone for your love and support! Trust me, it was not an easy thing to deal with. When you finally realize that you were on hidden camera, all sorts of thoughts run through your head. Then, you forget half of the stuff that you did that day. It's TORTURE! But, I'm just glad it's over! Gotta move on!

Things are getting crazy since I only have a few weeks until the big trade show. I'm actually starting to become anxious about it because I have to prepare 5 projects for a class I'm teaching while on vacation, plus the make & take for CHA and then there is Provo CKU. So many things to do, so little time.

Well...the show starts in less than an hour

I have to be honest. I've seen previews. I'm not looking forward to it. Some of the editing that was done definitely doesn't show what really happened. Plus, the camera adds pounds. (Not that it would really matter considering that I already carry a lot of them.) I think that's the worst part. LOL!

Anyway, remember to laugh WITH me and not AT me...

G

Pictures of my girl!

Lovin' the Sprinkler




Watch out for the blast!


Sorry for the sideways photo!

29 Things ...

Every year on my birthday, I sit and write down things that I love, am thankful for, or blessed with. The number correlates to whatever age I am, so today, it's 29. (WOW! I remember when my brothers were 29 and I thought they were SO OLD! Of course, I was 11, so 29 DID seem old!)

Anyway, here's the list: (in no particular order)

Maggie - my only child and my greatest gift ever.

Scott - my best friend

Family - my mother, brothers, etc. I have a very tight-knit family.

God - He gets me through. I'm not an overly religious person - but I have faith and that's all I need to say.

Pets - Zelda, Nemo and Lucy. Even though they drive me crazy, I love the little creatures!

My job - it's the coolest job on the planet! I love where I work, what I do, and all the cool people I get to meet all the time. Scrapbookers rock!

Scrapbooking - see prior post. Ah...to get to scrap again!

Friends - I have some of the greatest people in the world as friends! They are all fun, absolutely hilarious and always there for me. Never a dull day!

My House - even though it's too small and we've spent too much remodeling, it's MY home.

Mazdas - I have two - a 626 and a Tribute. Once I get one of them paid off, I'm buying a RX-8 so I can zoom zoom around the neighborhood. (Of course, we'll have to draw straws because Scott wants a new Mustang)

Message Boards - what did we do before the Internet? Seriously...

E-mail - it's how I keep in contact with everyone.

Getting packages in the mail - I still love that. I swear, that's been on my list since I was 10!

TJ Maxx - I love this store. I could walk through one for hours just looking for trinkets. They always have cool stuff and cheap!

DOTS - Another cheapie store. They carry these funky clothes and they're cheap! (I turned my friend, Barb, onto them too!)

Creativity - it's so fun!

Capri Pants - Oprah says they are out of style (according to my brother) but I say they are awesome! I love wearing capris, cut-offs, floods, cropped, etc. They're not shorts, and they're not pants. Just perfect for a fat girl!

The Fat Girls Guide to Life - By Wendy Shanker. Read prior posts if you're curious about that one!

Hot Topic/Torrid - Very cool store! I love anything 80's, cultured, etc. and these stores are two of my faves. I was in Hot Topic yesterday with my daughter and they said she was the coolest 5-year old to walk the planet. (Of course, she was wearing a Viva La Bam shirt that I bought at Target for $2.00 - that might have helped her coolness! LOL!)

Cold Stone Creamery - My guilty pleasure. Yes, I shouldn't eat it but frankly, I don't care! Some days I'd give my right arm for a Like It size of Birthday cake with Cookie dough and brownie.

Education - I worked hard for it and it's something my mother said nobody can take away from me. She's right.

Fishing - my second favorite hobby. Lets me relax and refocus when I am struggling with the creativity. My dad taught me this one.

Red Hair Dye - Yes the truth is out. I'm not a natural red head. Haven't been since the 7th grade.

Bath & Body Works Moonlight Path - I LOVE this scent. It's like Luv's Baby Soft from when I was a pre-teen. Yummy!

Polyester shirts - I don't iron. Period! Which brings me to...

Downy Wrinkle Releaser - See above.

A Clean House - Allows me to relax and feel better. I always feel much better when the house is clean. It's like crossing something off of my "to do" list.

Orange - Since Scott painted my living room orange, I've fallen in love with the color!

Organized Living/Container Store, etc. - love organizing places. I want to live that type of life! LOL!

Well, there's my list for 29. Off to get a shower and get to work. (Why don't they have a law where you get your birthday off of work????)

If I don't get to scrapbook soon...

I'm going to BURST! Literally get mad and burst. I have not been able to sit down and scrap for probably two months and it's starting to take it's toll on me. I'm starting to get frustrated with backed-up supplies sitting there calling my name. That's what I asked for - a day of scrapbooking for my birthday. Well, that's tomorrow, so I can kiss that one goodbye. Of course, Scott said we could do it next week. He's working this weekend (OT - God love him - he works 24/7) but I wanted to do it TODAY!

I cleaned the house all day yesterday with the anticipation that I could scrap today. No dice. Fortunately, family is in town, so I'm going to go visit them instead of sitting her pouting about my lost day. LOL! Maggie will enjoy that. (Oh, in case you're wondering - my day included him taking Maggie out for the day. My baby girl LOVES to "help" mommy when she scraps and sometimes her help messes up pages. LOL!)

SO, I'm looking forward to next weekend. Maybe...possibly...I might get to scrap....


NEED...TO....SCRAP....

Trying the photo thing...

Here's my precious Siberian - I need to upload regular photos but a layout will do for now.

Doggie Drama

Yesterday was definitely one of those days that is just full of DRAMA! Something I try to stay away from. It actually started the night before when my Siberian vomited her dinner. (Sorry for the visual) Scott and I didn't think much of it because she sometmes eats so fast that she gets sick. But, something kept telling me that she wasn't feeling right.

Well, fast forward to 1:00 am and 5:00 am when she did it two more times. Scott ended up taking her to vet first thing in the morning. We were worried that she ate one of Maggie's toys or got a hold of something that she shouldn't have. They X-rayed her, did a bunch of bloodwork and 9 hours later we got the verdict: Gas. She had some sort of intestinal bug that was causing her gastric issues. Great - $250 because my dog had gas. But, at least I can rest easy. I was sick over it yesterday thinking she would need surgery or of course thinking the worst. She's home now and is on a bland diet. She seems to be doing a lot better.

As for the remainder of the day, just small, minute pieces of drama. Sometimes I wonder why one can go for DAYS without any emergencies, etc. and then BAM - a day full of nothing but dramatic issues.

All I can say is TGIF! Here's to hoping for an uneventful and peaceful weekend!

Come Chat with Me!!!

I'll be on www.myscrapshoppe.com tonight at 9:00 EST to do a chat. Come by and chat with me. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to talk and answer questions. (I'm the geek that enjoys Jeopardy because I love to answer questions)

Show has been moved!

Just in case anyone was interested, the episode of "Fire Me Please" that I'll be in will be aired next week on the 28th. They moved it for some AFI movie show or something. Anyway, one more week of torture waiting for them to air it.

We didn't get confirmation that it had been moved until today.

We have a loose tooth!

My daughter has her first loose tooth! Don't know why I'm so excited but I am. Actually, it's a mixture of excitment and sadness because that definitely means my baby is growing up.

If I ever take the time to figure out the picture thing, I will post one! :)

Ginger

Thank you...

For your support. I have to say that I was overwhelmed at the amount of support on my "fat girl" entry. That makes me feel so much better. I was worried that people would tell me to "get over it" or "quit eating", etc. Truth be known, the only time in my life that I was ever thin was when I was bulemic. Maybe one day, I'll share that story.

Anyway, I've had a great weekend since deciding to live my "fat girl" life. Friday night I took my cousin to dinner and we laughed and dined and I didn't worry about what the waitress thought or what other diners thought. I decided they had their own lives to think about and I'm going to live mine happily.

We also had Scott's company picnic at an amusement park, to which Maggie had an AWESOME time! (I have really got to figure out how to upload photos because I got some great shots of Maggie on the roller coaster!) We had SO much fun - Maggie loved riding EVERYTHING (I swear, that kid has no fear) and I finally rode the ferris wheel with Scott. I'm not a ferris wheel type of person, so this was a stretch for me. It's not too bad after the first turn but I think I'll definitely not ride one again any time soon.

Finally today we're celebrating Father's Day. I bought Scott a remote control plane and he's in heaven. (Although my husband shows NO excitement LOL!) We're going to fly it later today at his parent's house. We're heading up there for a grill-out. Gotta love summer grill outs.

I'm also hoping to get some cleaning done in my scraproom. Here's to wishful thinking!

Confessions of a Fat Girl

Warning: LONG POST AHEAD and some strong language

That's right. I said it. FAT GIRL. That's me. The token fat girl. A few events this week have definitely pushed me over the edge to the point where I'm going to embrace my fatness and vow to change the opinion of society. (Of course, I am definitely pipe dreaming here - goodness knows that society will probably NEVER change it's views on the overweight but I'm going to make a damn good effort!)

All of this newfound courage has definitely been fueled by my reading "The Fat Girl's Guide to Life" by Wendy Shanker. First and foremost let me say that Wendy is amazing. She's charming, she's funny, she's real and we're kindred. Enough said. Secondly, I realized how angry I am because I'm made to feel like an outcast 99% of the time simply due to my weight. I'm going to try to change that - to not let outside factors influence how I feel about myself. Of course, two specific events this week did not help.

Today I was the receiptent of one hell of a slap in the face. The intentions were good I'm sure, however, the delivery was poor. I was shopping at Borders during my lunch break. I needed to relax because I was having a particularly stressful day and I wanted to pick up some magazines and something sweet. (Let me also add that I was having a TERRIBLE day with PMS, etc. It was an 800mg Advil day) One of my co-workers comes into the bookstore and begins to follow me around. Honestly, she's a sweet person but definitely overzealous in the "self-help" and "let me help you" department. I casually mentioned that I was going to pick up a brownie and head out when she proceeds to say that she'll be back in a second. Ok - no biggie. I figured she was looking at books for herself. She comes back with one about emotional issues and overeating. She suggests that it might help me with my struggles. Uh, ok...not really sure where the struggles are. It was just a brownie. She goes on to tell me that the author goes around conducting seminars that are expensive but helpful for those of us that are "overeaters". He tells us why we eat - what emotions trigger this.

I didn't quite know how to handle that one. Trust me - I don't believe it was malicious. Like I said - poor delivery. I just smiled and said "No thanks. I'm good." Truth was - my face stung from the slap. WOW. Why not just say "Hey you fat heffer. Here's a book you should read that some guy wrote about why you are so horrible and fat. Maybe it will prevent you from shoving your face full of brownies and all the other foods you enjoy." Yep - that's the interpretation I heard.

Secondly (and more minute) I had an altercation with an Escalade full of middle-aged jackasses. A friend and I were headed to Chipotle for lunch and I turned the corner to get ready to pull into a parking spot. The car was pulling out, so I figured I would pull in when they were finished. Meanwhile, an Escalade with about 5 middle-aged guys in suits pulls up and whips in. They just looked at me in disgust. I guess I'm not worthy of lunch. So, my friend and I get out and I can feel the fat girl bubbling up inside of me. She was angry and hurt. Had I have been a beautiful, thin girl, they probably would have gladly waved me into the spot. But no...I was a lowly fat girl. Frumpy and undeserving of any respect or God forbid modern chivalry. They all got out of their oversized SUV and laughed to each other. I, on the other hand, steamed. My friend steamed as well. She was appauled and I was embarrassed. I did however tell them that I didn't realize Chipotle served that many pricks at one time.

I'm not sure of the moral of my stories. Maybe I just want people to know what it's like to live in a fat world. Maybe I just want to vent for a minute. Maybe I'm taking Wendy Shanker to heart. Maybe I want to make a change and this is the first step. Maybe I want sympathy. Maybe I want to be left alone. Who knows. All I know is that the fat girl has awakened. She's here and she's going to stay.

Thank Goodness for Ms. Clairol

Or, Loreal Preference in my case. I have to renew my license since my birthday is coming up and I figured no better time than this morning. Which means I need to update my hair color. Can't have a license photo with faded color! So, at 6:45 this morning, I was in the bathroom applying color. (The things we do for a great license photo!)

New Bike & New Friend

I picked up Maggie's new bicycle last night and she absolutely LOVES it. She rode around for a while until her new friend came over to see it. We live across the street from a Romanian family and they have a daughter that's 6. The parents do not speak a lot of English, but I'm able to communicate with them fairly well and their daughter just loves playing with Maggie. So, we went across the street so the girls could play in their backyard. Their daughter is speaking English fairly well and translates for if we need her to.

I sat with the mom (Aneta) and looked at photos from Romania. Her hometown is beautiful - lots of gorgeous architexture. They are also very tight-knit when it comes to family. She was showing me photos of her family and telling me how much she misses them. She wants to go back now that it's no longer communistic. It was so interesting to talk to her about how different her country has become since democracy.

I feel for her because I think she's lonely. She's older (47) and due to her language barriers, a lot of the other neighbors don't really talk to her much. I've always made a point of talking to her because they are amazing neighbors. Very friendly and quiet. Plus, Maggie just adores their daughter, Andrea. (Pronouned Ohn-dray-a) I'm glad that I've become friends with her. I plan on helping her with her English and I'm even thinking about teaching her some scrapbooking. She had a LOAD of photo albums and she loved telling the story behind the photos. She was telling me how she e-mails pictures to her family in Romania. I snapped some shots of the girls playing and I told her I would e-mail them to her to send over there. She was so excited. Her family has never seen her daughter except for in photos and she was hoping they could there to visit next year.

Lots of great things in my opinion. A new friend for Maggie and I both. :)

Decent sale and other weekend ramblings

We had our yard sale this weekend and I have to say, it went better than expected considering it rained most of the morning. (Darn rain!) But, I was able to get rid of some things and I made enough money to buy Maggie a new bicycle.

We took her to Toys R Us today so that she could pick it out. She ended up getting an 18" bike (the TRU guy said that it would be better considering her age and that she'll outgrow the 16" right away). It's really cute - purple with streamers on the handlebars and a basket in the front. We even bought her the matching purple helmet. (I have to be honest - I NEVER wore a helmet as a child and looking back, I cringe at the things I used to do while on my bike.) So, we have a happy Maggie with a new bicycle. You know I'll be taking more pictures soon!

My brother also returned from Alaska and brought us gifts. He always brings us the coolest things from when he travels. He brought Maggie an eskimo doll and he bought me a stuffed husky (since we have a Siberian) and a magnet for my refridgerator. (Did I tell you how much my brother ROCKS?) Anyway, I felt bad because Maggie was napping with Scott when he stopped by so I had her call him and leave him a voice mail to thank him for the stuff. She ended up taking possession of my dog as well. Such is life when you have kids.

I'm headed up after this entry to clean and organize my scraproom. If I spent as much time scrapping as I do cleaning and organizing my stuff, I'd probably have all of my assignments done. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect room.

Feeling better about the show...

I watched the first episode of "Fire Me Please" last night and I have to admit - I laughed my butt off! It was hilarious! Part of me wishes we had the guy in the coffee shop because he was a riot! Now I'm thinking it won't be too bad. Looks like they edit out A LOT and that it focuses on the wild employee.

I can't believe I'm saying this but now I think I might actually be looking forward to it. I remember some of the goofy things that Angela did while in the store, but I'm sure that they'll catch some hilarious facial expressions. Trust me - Tina (my co-worker) is too funny! She makes these faces that always crack me up! The girl was driving her nuts so I'm sure you'll get some entertainment there!

I feel so much better!

Favorite 80's Movies

Totally inspired by a thread on 2Peas. Here is a list of my favorite 80's movies:

Sixteen Candles
The Breakfast Club
Poltergeist (don't ask me why - still creeps me out but I LOVE that movie!)
Top Gun
Uncle Buck
Vacation (Both regular & European)
Steel Magnolias
Pretty in Pink
The Little Mermaid
For Keeps
Rocky IV (Yes - I was about 9 when he fought the Russian and I STILL love it!)
Dirty Dancing
ET
A Christmas Story
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Revenge of the Nerds

I'm sure there are a bunch that I've forgot but I'll remember them eventually. I just pretty much love 80's movies. Could watch them over and over! :D

Not enough hours

in the day! Last night, I went to bed around 9:30! I fell asleep on the couch and just could not wake up. I managed to make it to my bed, but I was so worn out that I don't remember much else. Even this morning I'm tired.

I had all of these plans to get a ton of stuff done last night and I slept the evening away. Tonight I'll have a lot of catch-up to do. My nephew has started moving his stuff in. He loaded all of his boxes into the garage and I believe today is the last day in their old house. I feel sorry for him. That house is all he knows. He's lived there his entire life. But, I think Scott and I can provide a better home for him anyway. I did the same thing for his brother a few years ago, and he's doing great now. So, I'm praying for the same outcome.

Speaking of not enough hours, I have so many things to finalize for CHA. I'm starting to get a little nervous. All of the paper is done. As a matter of fact, we just released a pre-CHA mini-collection yesterday and that will ship in less than 2 weeks. The new papers for the show are done and will be ready ahead of schedule. It's the embellishments that are worrying me. Oh well...all in due time.

Plus, I have the yard sale this weekend. I've already placed the ad, so there is no turning back. LOL! I just hope I'm able to sell a bunch of stuff and clear out my clutter. (I'm such an organized living freak!) LOL!

To Tuesdays!!!

"Un" Pack-Ratting

I made this concious decision to live a more organized life. In that, I never thought I would realize how much I pack-rat. Seriously - I believe I have enough scrpabook supplies to open up my own store!

I have spent the past three hours cleaning out boxes of supplies and pricing them for a yard sale. That's right - YARD SALE! I'm having a big yard sale next week (at least I hope to) and I'm going to sell a ton of stuff. Things that I don't use, don't think I will use, might not use, etc. It's all GONE! I'm keeping some embellishments, ribbons, paper, and that's about it.(Oh, and some stamps) Everything else is GONE!!! (At least I hope some huge scrapper comes by and buys it all!) LOL!

Good Day Sunshine

I'm in a good mood this morning. Not sure why - maybe because it's Friday. In any event, I'll take the positive feeling. Makes me want to accomplish a ton of things today (which goodness knows I need to!).

I haven't thought about the reality show much. Still trying to avoid that. My friend told me the other day that she wouldn't be happy about it, either. The first time someone agreed with me. LOL! Everyone else thinks it would be totally cool to be on television. I'm not a reality TV person, which is the irony of all of this. But, I'm hopeful that maybe my few minutes on TV won't be so bad. Maybe I'll be funny like the producers claimed I was. Maybe I won't look as horrible as I thought I did. The whole day was a blur after we found out that it was a show. I just wish I could see the episode before the rest of the nation. Ooops - I said I haven't thought about it much. Guess I was wrong! LOL!

My plan this weekend is to work on my scrapbook room. My nephew will be moving in with us next week. I get to be the "parent" of a teenager again. (My other nephew lived with me from the time he was 18 - 20.) Maggie is excited claiming that she's getting another brother.

Well, better get ready and get to work. Got lots to do!

The Ultimate Scrapbook Room!

I'm in search of it! Or, at least the right furnishings for it. Basically, I thought I had my scraproom all set up but now my nephew is moving in with me and he'll be taking some of the space. (I have two bedrooms in the upper level of my house and so he'll be taking one and I'll have the other space. They're not quite two separate bedrooms. You have to walk through one to get to the other. But, they're two rooms nonetheless separated by a door.) Anyway, now I'm looking for the perfect furnishings to finish the room since my Target cubes just won't fit properly anymore.

I've poured through the Ikea catalog and still haven't really come up with anything. I guess I'm looking for suggestions. (Oh, and I can't afford Pottery Barn - so we're talking Target, Ikea, etc.)

I'm also hoping to figure out the "photo" thing so that I can start posting photos in my blog. I love looking at blogs with photos - makes it more interesting. Actually, my friends tease me that I don't read books unless they have photos in them. I'm such a visual person.

Speaking of visuals, I've been diligently working on new products for the upcoming CHA Summer show. The stress level is definitely climbing! But, it's what I do - it's what I live for! :) Stay tuned!

Great weekend!

I am so tired today that I can barely get up and get motivated to go to work. If it wasn't for the fact that I absolutely LOVE my job, I probably would have already contemplated calling in. But, the sick thing is - I ENJOY going to work. I'm literally lost without my work e-mail and Illustrator. I know - sick, sick girl.

Anyway, we had a great weekend! Saturday we went fishing and anyone that knows me knows I love to fish. When I was a little girl, my dad used to take me all the time. He would tell me that if I dug up the bait, he'd take me fishing, so imagine a little girl digging through the garden to find worms. That was me. Maggie is almost five and I cannot even picture her touching a worm, much less digging through dirt to find them. Although, she does think it's funny when I catch the fish and make them "pee". (Basically I squeeze them a little bit and their water bladder squirts - totally harmless - I promise) Usually it happens on accident when I'm taking them off the hook. I don't eat fish, so I simply catch them and throw them back into the pond.

Sunday we had a family reunion and I had a great time. I literally got FRIED from being out in the sun all weekend (picture fat, overly white girl and it's just not a good thing in the sun) but I was having so much fun that I didn't really notice. In Cincinnati, we have a game called "corn hole". Anyone who is not from around here automatically thinks it's some perverse thing we Cincinnatians do. Actually, it should be renamed "Bean Bag Toss" but the reason they called it cornhole is because the bags you throw used to be filled with dried corn. (Nothing like a blog history lesson, huh?) But, the game is total fun! It's like horseshoes but you don't have to worry about the kids running around getting whacked by a horseshoe. We played that all day at the reunion and by the end of the night, I was getting to be fierce competition. (Plus, it's great exercise!)

Yesterday was a total cleaning spree. Complete with reorganizing closets and everything. I'll probably run over to the organizing store today and buy some more containers, etc. It's a sickness I tell you!

Gotta run - gotta get showered and ready for work.

The Fat Girl's Guide to Life

I came across this book over the weekend while shopping at Torrid. It called my name and I am so glad that I bought it. Even though I'm only through the first 30 pages, this girl is writing about MY LIFE! I laughed, I became teary-eyed and for once, I actually felt ACCEPTED. Wendy Shanker is now my idol. The woman has so much depth and personality and she is so inspiring. Yes - for once, a book that's real.

Finally back with news...

I've been so sick this past week - just general allergy/sinus type things. But, it was so draining. I couldn't tell if it was the medication or what that was making me drowsy, but I will be so glad when the weather stabilizes and I don't have this.

Of course, I also received news that a reality show that I filmed in August last year is going to air. Now, let me preface this by saying that it was NOT MY CHOICE to film the show. I was actually one of the "unsuspsecting coworkers". Translate: I'm the manager of a LSS. The owner hires a girl (because she's in on this) and I'm training her on her first day. Employee turns out to be totally crazy and I fire her after a LONG and WILD day. Meanwhile, my other co-workers are freaking out over the girl and I'm trying to keep them calm while dealing with our new crazy employee. And, it's all on tape.

CBS did a press release about their new reality show "Fire Me, Please!". The third episode features our store and it airs June 21st. I'm a nervous wreck and sick over it because A) I look terrible. The owner had us wear our uniform shirts (which we hardly ever wore) and it was summer and they are heavy denim, etc. B) Goodness only KNOWS the things I did and said on camera. C) I'm fat - enough said about that one.

So, I'm not looking forward to seeing it. Plus, we won't get to see an edited version until the night it airs, so I have NO IDEA what they are going to show. I'd say that 8 hours of film can translate into anything. We all know it's in the editing. Meanwhile, as I await my reality show fate, I'm getting no sleep and I'm avoiding CBS at all costs in the event that a clip becomes part of a promo.

I just hope I survive it. EEK!

Crazy Week

I vowed to keep my blog updated but this week has just been crazy. I'm starting to feel the "stress" of CHA July and Maggie and I are both sick. We went to the doctor last night and my baby has pnuemonia. (it's early in the morning, so excuse the misspelling) The doctor said it's ok and she gave her a strong antibiotic, but of course, being the parent of an only child, I freaked out. The doc also diagnosed me with seasonal allergies so now I have to take Allegra D which has resulted in cotton mouth. I feel like Jim Carrey in Me, Myself and Irene.

Sans the sickies, things are going well. I wrote down some embellishment plans for the next show and possibly the show after that. We'll see how things go. I'm a little bummed that I haven't scrapbooked in a while. I haven't had the time and it's so hard to go from product development to just "playing" while scrapbooking. I never realized the disconnect until recently. Although, I have been accumulating quite the stash for whenever I finally get a chance to work on my own albums again. I'm hoping to have a quiet Sunday.

TGIF!

NSD and Mother's Day

For the first time in about three years, I had NOTHING to do on National Scrapbook Day. I have been dying to have some crop time but this past Saturday Scott wanted me to go with him to see Kingdom of Heaven. Fortunately, he did let me "feed" my addiction by taking me to two scrapbook stores. I am an idea book junkie and purchases the newest one from SS - Scrapbook Inspiration. I highly recommend it if you haven't purchased it, yet. I'm a simple scrapbooker, so it's eye candy for me.

Oh, and before I forget. I did not care for Kingdom of Heaven. 1) Too long, 2) Too Bloody (Gory would be a better word!), 3) The ending was blah. So, there is my movie review for the week. :) The nice thing was that I got 2 1/2 hours of time with Scott which I cherished WAY more than the movie!

Mother's Day was also nice. I did a little shopping in the morning then visited my mom for a while. After that, we went over to Scott's sisters and I got to fish for a few hours. Anyone who knows me knows that's my favorite hobby next to scrapbooking. I love to fish. When I was little, my dad would take me fishing as long as I dug up the worms. Imagine a five-year old digging worms in the garden. That was me. I still have that love for fishing. Funny thing is - I don't eat fish. But, I can sit and fish for hours. I also got a nice sunburn that will probably never tan. I never do.

I have the best husband!

I love the man. I truly do. He's the best husband in the world. I'm sitting here at my desk staring at the most gorgeous vase full of 24 roses. He knows how to cheer me up and make me feel loved. What a man! They smell wonderful and they are beautiful. They are a light orange with coral tips - just like the colors in my new living room. I'm telling you - the man is a genius! He knew exactly what to get.

I had been having a rough few days and this just made everything disappear. Mother's Day was coming up and I was having a slight setback on my infertility dealing. You see, I have PCOS, and am therefore infertile. I can't even begin to tell you what it does to your emotions to know that you just can't have a child. Or, if you can, it's because you've gone through months of treatment and thousands of dollars worth of medication. We've been through the treatments and ended up with nothing. Maggie was even a fertility drug baby, but this time things were different. The normal drugs didn't work. So, we took a break. A 2 year break. In the meantime, I focused on other things to occupy my mind. It's working for the most part but occasionally I have set-backs. This week was a set-back. I had enrolled Maggie into Kindergarten and the idea that my baby was going to school just killed me. So there you have it - the set-back.

Don't get me wrong. I thank God every day that I have Maggie and that he has blessed me with her. I am so grateful for that. I guess I just wish she could have that brother or sister that she asks for. I haven't given up yet and time will tell what happens. For now, I think I'll take time to stop and smell the roses. Literally.

I miss my friend...

My friend Bonnie. I don't know what it is but sometimes she'll pop into my mind and I miss her terribly. Bonnie passed away suddenly in February while we were in Atlanta at CHA. One of my good friends, Barb, and I were there with IP and some of the girls that worked at a store where we all met were there as well. Bonnie died suddenly on Saturday night and none of us knew it. I didn't find out until I returned on Wednesday. I still remember those words when they called me - "Bonnie died". Bonnie was young - she was only 55 and so full of life. I adored her. She was like a second mom or a sister to me. I used to take Maggie to the local mall on Sunday's where Bonnie worked part-time just so we could say "hi" to her and gossip for a few minutes.

Bonnie helped me get my car because she worked for Ford and she knew I wanted another Mazda. She picked out the sweater that I wore on DIY. She had recently reconnected with a high school friend who was stationed in Iraq, and they were falling in love. She had a second chance at love, at life, at everything. Then, it all ended suddenly.

I cried. I cried for days afterwards. Her funeral was so hard. I sat there in the midst of numerous people who didn't know me and I sobbed. I cried because I felt like she died alone, I cried because I didn't get to say goodbye, I cried because I thought it was unfair. I cried because I wanted Bonnie back. I wanted my friend back.

It will be three months on the 12th and I still think about her often. I've even caught myself typing in her e-mail to forward a joke to her. Those are the days when it really stings.

I am now addicted

to orange. I am in LOVE with my orange living room. At first I was hesitant. I kept visualizing orange barrels on I-75 or Home Depot buckets. But, I really like it! We have the curtains hanging and some of the furniture reorganized. My mom bought me these gorgeous coral pillows and they are perfect for the room. I've been heading out to stores all week to see what accessories I can purchase to decorate it. So far I haven't found much but I'm on a wicked hunt. I'm sure that TJ Maxx will get more stuff in. The other day I found this awesome orange leather picture frame and of course I had to have it. It's gorgeous!

Oh, and in case nobody saw it - or if you did, my DIY episode aired on Monday night. I of course looked hideous and that was one of the reasons why I decided to diet. I inevitably inherited my mother's double chin and I'm trying to figure out how to either 1) Mask it or 2) Get rid of it altogether. My cousin and I often joke that we should submit for "The Swan" but you have to be gone for 6 months and I can't take 6 months off of work. LOL! Besides, I'd miss Scott and Maggie too much.

Tonight we're taking our Beagle to be spayed. Poor thing. Plus, she was born with a hernia so they're going to examine her before the surgery and see if they can correct it while they are doing the spaying. She's six months old and so hyper, so I worry about her opening up her stitches when she returns, but I also hope that the spaying will calm her down. A lot of people say that it helps. She's such a cute dog and so loving. She follows me around the house all the time. Last night some neighbors came by to pet her and she would only follow me around the yard. She doesn't even play with Scott as much. I guess because I pick her up and carry her around like a baby. Yes people - I'm a dog person. LOL!

Loose ends and Monday rambling

Do you ever find yourself in a mode of completing everything you have on your "to-do" list? I'm in that mode now. I finally finished naming some of my new paper lines, I ordered furniture this weekend to finish our living room and I might actually go out today at lunch to purchase some accessories for the living room. I'm going with a minimal approach that's more streamlined and clean in design. I wanted to do all the same size photographs in 12x12 frames (I like the square shape) and of course in black & white. I give it less than two days before I'm over at TJ Maxx looking for unique items for my living room.

I also lost two pounds this past week. Not as well as I had hoped but hopefully two pounds that's gone forever. At this rate, I should be doing ok by the next year. They say that a safe weight loss is 2 lbs per week. I would prefer 10 a week, but you can't always have what you want. LOL!

I also have to say that I recently read Cathy Zielske's blog and God love her! She wrote a post about Oprah's show the other day and I was so happy to see someone take a stand on weight issues. It goes without saying that she definitely has an amazing scrapbook style and her "Clean and Simple Scrapbooking" book is my Bible. I carry it with me to crops and it inpires me to be a better journaler. It's just good to know that she's on my side with regards to weight issues. God love ya Cathy! You go girl!

Scott finished the living room and it looks great. Of course, I tend to nit-pick sometimes but all in all it looks great. He has definitely come a long way on his painting skills. He might not have wanted to tell me that, though, because I'll have him painting the entire house before all is said and done. I just can't wait until next weekend when the furniture is delivered and we have a dedicated living room again! Did I mention how excited I was?

Lastly, we went bowling yesterday. A local alley has a special for $5.99 for two hours in the morning so we take Maggie and meet one of Scott's friends over there. He usually brings his little boy and the kids bowl on one lane while we bowl on the other. I realized that I don't have the patience to be a bowler, however, I could sit and watch my husband bowl all day. He's amazing! He basically has enough skills to be pro (I watched him bowl a 258) but without a sponsor he can't do it. So, there he sits and he bowls in a league through work and the occasional weekend. I watched him nail 7 strikes in a row like it was no big deal. If I break 100, it's a big deal.

Oh, I almost forgot - this was a big soccer weekend. Maggie had two games and scored a goal in each one. :) That's my girl!