Nashville or bust babeee

I am leaving town..blowing this pop stand.....i'm a basket of nerves..flying alone (still hate to fly- 17 hrs to china one way did NOT cure me of that) but it's girls weekend and my peeps and me....sigh how could I not go? Plus it's easy to cave and buy a NON-refundable ticket quickly a few months ago and push it out of my mind. Now it's looming.

I've gotten the token gifts for Chels' kids....made my gifts for the girls..and have to pack. I took the easy way out for the kids...bought A some stuff now and will pull it out with my luggage on sun LOL

And have to find stuff for K and M. Otherwise I am sure they'll all be fine..and two nights with NO kids..yay me. Big dilemma..bring scrap supplies or not? My girlfriends are not
scrapping..should I bother? I hope to figure that one out soon because if I have down time I love to scrap! And I love to scrap and can do it at a group gathering no problem :)

So thoughts?

I'm a freak

Your Stripper Song Is

Super Freak by Rick James "That girl is pretty wild now The girl's a super freak The kind of girl you read about In new-wave magazine" Freaky? Yes. But you're also pretty darn funny.

What Song Should You Strip To?

thank heavens it's OVER

I am not an easter fan..just ain't...but here are my kids.... :) They've been getting on my nerves lately.....hopefully this too shall pass....

Anyway we had a low key event at my mom's..she invited the outlaws....she's nicer than I am..we had ham and potatoes and all the fixings and we had a poker tournament while the kids played bibleopoly with my FIL....and I almost won....we (Nicole and I split the winnings :) Made Tom mad...we are like that...women...split it, get along, etc Not so cutthroat ;)

1st and last easter egg dyeing

Yep I said it..who the heck thought up this thing? I mean it's bad enough I had no newspaper or wax paper. That should have been a clue to STOP the presses..but with A helping...and then M's friend from next door we've dyed the table red and the chairs a blue. OMG It was a nightmare. I mean seriously. A knocked over the pink dye shortly after we started and I realized that the packing material from Making Memories while waxy on one side was not wax paper..it leaked right onto the table and dyed it a bright pink. So after that and scrubbing for 20 min with 409 M's friend knocks over the green..onto the table, chair and FLOOR. OMG we ran for the cleaner and there is one spot on the table and a lot on the chair from heck that I need to recover anyway.

Here ya go...our reward..again NO more egg dyeing here.

It was a blue, blue day

Tom says it's too dark...LOL but I adore my new fireplace wall...this is opposite that sunny yellow kitchen below in an older post :) And my family room *will* be a creamy yellow in the same yellow family as the kitchen when I decide to paint it. :)

I love paint and how it makes me feel....M wants a navy blue on his bedroom wall (not! This one required a dark primer..ugh) and K wants polka dots. Oh man they crack me up. Looks nice next to our new IKEA shelving unit..need another to balance poor mitzi )

how much is that doggy in the....

don't ask...I am so, so annoyed....mind you the big sister was to be
watching little Miss THANG while I was working in the office...right around the corner from her.
I turned around and I swear big sis was gone for 1 second...and I heard big brother go - uh oh...she drew with crayon on your wall. We've been having issues lately...any ideas on how to stop it?? Anyway when I looked it was a perfectly drawn dog of all things...I mean better than the other two could draw....so now dilemma....mad because she used my WALL or freak out because she has serious talent? It beats the scribbling she's done on walls, doors and dressers.....after this she drew a fish and grass on my bedroom wall..and when I examined my mom's oil painting (one my mom painted btw) I noticed that the duck pond that A's so fond of had a new inhabitant...a large non-scale duck..but a freaking duck nonetheless. SIGH We erased that one off..but this - um found out the hard way that magic eraser does NOT work on builder's paint that is flat. :( Oh well my little artiste....

Little Brothers Rock!

I've neglected my little blog. Sniff sniff..but I am back with a few posts :) My brother Tom is so nice....I've been sick - with a sinus infection/fever/bronchitis for like 2 months...from Feb 12th...finally went back to the doctor a 2nd time and got more antibiotics. BUT I had Wicked tickets right? I had gotten them as a surprise for K's 11th bday...and sure 'nough I am sick as can be. I was so dizzy....and not feeling well.....

Anyway Tom volunteered to take her...of course they were like 4th row $80 tickets....but she had a great time withUncle T lavishing her with attention and we rescheduled our girls' night out to when I was feeling better. Thanks Tom...you're a peach.

And he'd shoot me if I didn't mention it..but if you are looking for property he's a real estate agent and is a good guy too...call him at 773-616-6488 ;) Public service announcement off!

It's my party and I'll sleep if I want to

Yep she slept..I should have known and had her party at midnight when she's usually awake..she slept while the girls ran around screaming around her. We took few pics....I was SO tired and Mom didn't make it - but we visited her later that day.

Notice in our 2nd pic she has NO desire to be doing her candles and cake? Mikey and I blew out the candles..what a crabby gus. :) I'm very lucky that a good customer Scrapnsmile (Laura) is driving in from MI this weekend to help me pack kits. There might be a chance that I catch up after all ;) Tomorrow it's scrap day here..I'm not getting up til I scrap at least 2-3 pages :)
Wish me luck.

My Baby is turning THREE

I can't believe it...she looks so cute in her new clothes and I got some awesome photos of the two who were here (K is out at a friends). She is getting so big....her phrases and everything and has a total understanding of things...it's like it clicked in her head finally and when you explain something she goes ok.

Yesterday we were outside after eating out and the kids were going to ride bikes...she said..I want to ride MY bike....and we said ok..and she goes Ok? and we say yes and she says; Don't worry I'll be careful - waving her hands like we were going to leave her out there. ROFL

Another cute one...The alarm goes off this am and I get to it to turn off and she goes Whew..that was close. :)

Here ya go..one photo from the shoot and the rest you'll have to see on layouts!

Future's So Bright

I've gotta wear my shades...it looks SO many different colors of yellow in different light- it's amazing..It's sure as heck NOT boring ;) And the fireplace wall has been primed a nice dark grey and will be going bold blue shortly. We want to do the entry in a burgundy red but that's a lot of work on real high ceilings.

Here ya go though!

She's too sexy for our boards

no way she's disco dancing ;)
Holy cannoli woman...yeah you are taking it off the boards never to be seen again right? HAHAHAHA

Doncha love technology? I figure it's payback for NOT getting your ticket to Chicago yet. So get on that would ya? My dear friend Anita here teases me that she is coming in to help out with "our" Mom and to visit and then nothing but net. SIGH

And then one day I open my boards to go read and see this image of Anita as her AVATAR and almost fall out of my seat. You totally suck girl you know that right? I mean that adorable face, those kissable lips and that come hither look? Who took this photo? If it was the little one- please bring her with ya ok? I need some pics. :) Dang straight hair of yours..you are too freaking hot for words. Smooches Love! :)

mellow? yellow?

ok it's NOT mellow---think mustard but you know how when you get a wild hair? Well I got one and had to get the kitchen painted. Obscene with all the other stuff going on in my life....for those following- riss came through the surgery with flying colors...she was released on Monday and is now resting at home..those that sent cards- thanks so much she's so thrilled with each new one that arrives :)

No new photos of the kitchen..although it's relatively clean. I hired a cleaning lady last week and she starts tomorrow. I think I am totally in love with her. :) She's been working in this area (and lives near here) for over 10 years....and I got along with her great when she came out for a quote. Praise be...finally someone to help me out. You know how you get so sick of your OWN voice always nagging everyone to clean up while you do it all yourself? I figured it was time to get help!!!!

So that wild hair. I don't know what to start with...but I decided that the fireplace wall should be painted..at *least* that wall..figured it was easy...and that kitchen was daunting to me. So I picked red....and then taupe for the entry and dining room and um I forget the color now for the kitchen....some other color..thought about doing the kitchen red too and Kev freaked..man he wanted white..that was it. No creative vision in this man's head So ok I go and get paint and while I went to get it I saw a picture of wedgewood blue and some other color so I commit to the blue in the kitchen now- following me yet? LOL So I buy a quart of the blue and decide- I hated it. I know it's stupid right? I painted a wide swatch on the kitchen wall and part of the fireplace wall. I could never see it that color..so odd.

So Kev said let's go check out our Menards (I had gotten the stuff from Home Depot)...get to the place and decide on yellow LOL the rest is history. Now what colors look good with a bright mustard yellow? I got a different like caribbean blue for the fireplace wall and might do the whole family room that color to make it be more toned down :)

Anyway that is my whole day yesterday in a nutshell...whee

Tomorrow the house will be sparkling..I'll pack orders probably and scrap please? LOL I have to make all the to-go boxes for Anna's bday party on Sun and then get the treats in them. Plus I have to get the cake made (a flower cake) and hang the streamers, get balloons and hang the chinese lanterns :) oh yeah and make the sauce - we are having pot stickers and homemade pasta sauce, veggie tray and other goodies..might need to make more food..oh yeah a salad :)

Spring Flop and I'm too sexy...

oops I mean festival....Mom will tell you- what a joke...it was um over $50 we'll never see again. LOL

I think I expected this show in a theater..unfortunately it was more like a dance recital of kids in chinese dance in a gym at the college..it was OVERsold and crowded and disorganized.

They had some games for the kids but we literally sat from 12noon until it started at 3pm and I didn't even last the whole time...and we were squished in like sardines.

Longest day of my life. And I am still not feeling 100% so I was wiped out after.

So I am back..and NO I didn't go password only but thought for a while that maybe I had locked myself out. :)

I tried this am to get a decent shot of the kids...give me a break...25 shots later...omg they were beasts....all in their nice clothes and acting like morons LOL

So what's been going on since I've been locked out? I did subscription and it took me about 3days with all the stopping from being exhausted ;)

I had quite the day last week and I was all set to write about it..but it seems so stupid now anyway -I did book my ticket to Nashville...a group of us who met when we were all adopting are getting together for a GIRLS ONLY weekend. It's amazing but I am flying alone and spending time away from the barnacle baby.

I realized after this past week that we are probably done having kids..lots of little things and a nice compliment from my brother Tom convinced me.....now if he'd just get himself married and him and Nic can have all the babies..I'm ready to spoil some nieces and nephews :) And with Dave getting married this summer- sigh...soon right? Someone will make me an aunt again.

Anna has her flower girl dress ordered..it's cute....with this tulle with flower petals in it..and when I asked if she was going to be in Uncle dave and aunt vicky's wedding she said- where's my princess dress...alas she hated it on and told me it scratched her....I can't wait to see what hysterical thing she does on the wedding day. She threw a 15 min tantrum when she realized that on Sat it wasn't uncle dave's wedding. :)

And yes I got my dress for Dave's wedding..it was getting more and more obvious that I had NOTHING fancy enough....it's a pretty formal wedding I think...at this nice hotel in downtown Chicago and well my um wardrobe runs to stains and sweats - so we went to Von Maur- that store ROCKS (think free alterations) and found a black silk beaded number. Fancy schmancy. :)

So I wrote that friday I went to the doctor? Or maybe I didn't..but i was so sick on friday that I sucked it up and went. Yep..3 weeks sick and finally went to my new doctor who is a doll...I love that man...of course he gave me antibiotics...so maybe that is where my love stems from? I have bronchitis and a nasty sinus infection- yeah yeah yeah the same crap Bonni had about a week or so ago..I was jealous what can I say? It's funny cause I gave her *such* crap when she was sick and didn't go in and then I wait 3 weeks..and have the same dang thing. LOL

I took Gram to the store this weekend and then to lunch..she's such a dollface..I wish you all could meet her..too funny and sweet...I showed her the layout with her in the big book from Joanns and she kept saying...would you look at that...doesn't that beat all...LOL I'm so glad they chose a layout with Gram....she's my doll :)

Ok So what do you get when you have three hams and no smiles? Dad...who sings behind me I'm too sexy for my body..which gets them giggling and we end up with this:

where did my blog go?

ok so I ignore it for a few days and now it's telling me I am not authorized to view it...pretty sad state of affairs....

Oh well maybe it will return with this post? If not I am going to scream...well maybe not since my throat is sore still and I feel like crud.

Children are overrated

Yep I said it....maybe it's cause it is winter still and cold and the kids are all cooped up but they are making me batty....

A thinks throwing a fit guarantees her whatever she wants.....M tells her no and they are like oil and water and K is mouthy. I need a vacation :) Doesn't help that I've been pulling 10 hour days for the business..what the heck. A hobby indeed ;)

We took them to the park today to get the heck outside for a while. Anna slept soundly when we returned. :) I'm ignoring the computer after today and heading to mom's to scrap and watch the OSCARS..it's tradition with us..we dish on all the dresses, etc :)

NO KIDS - repeat after me- NO Kids :) Even though she's mouthy at times she's a doll right? She's a huge help with Miss Nastypants too :) Poor kid...does a lot around here.....no excuse though LOL. Any not feeling very sage so I will just sign off for now. Filling preorders for Basic Grey and Chatterbox and American Crafts can do that to ya. If you haven't ordered that stuff do it soon as it's flying out the door here. Peace and OUT

Held Hostage?

It's true Carolyn posted a comment that she's holding my blog hostage and if I post no ONE will get hurt! So here ya go ;) I listen when ordered around. I know I haven't updated in a big..I've been in a MOOD...man oh man. I have a moody - overemotional 10 yr old...who is obnoxious to be around and now the almost 3 yr old has been a beast..chicken pox for her and then the 7 yr old has been ok actually.

Don't read if you don't have time..fair warning it's gonna be long LOL So this past weekend I went to Mikey's Blue and Gold dinner...I wish I had brought more reading material..seriously - it's that long. But the food was good and Mikey was *so* proud to make both his bobcat and his wolf at the same meeting. He did NOT want to go up there though. I had to push him up there to get it. Then the rest of my weekend was subscription. Ah my least fave thing to do next to packing kits

But it's all done. YAY...then my week was spent at doctor's. People wonder why we help Riss with her healthcare...she's nuts...she fell over a toolbox at my mom's a week or so ago and never told anyone. She's limping around like an invalid and mom finally asked what was wrong. Her leg was freaking 3x the normal size and all shades of black and blue, etc..so off to the doc and hospital then on Monday from 2:30-9pm. Yep 9pm...

While there I can say without a doubt I had a Grey's Anatomy moment and while I'd love to be able to say it was an Alex- closet-sex moment it was more of the -code Yellow moment and what the hell is yellow? Is that like Black? The staff wasn't amused but I sure had a chuckle over it.

Hospitals are so much LESS glamorous than that show..seriously!

So on Tues I had to go to Riss's doc appt for her mass. It is a mass and is presenting like cancer :( The doc wants her in for surgery- she'll be in the hospital for 5 days and then we'll see when he's in there if he takes the kidney or just the mass. It's on the outside of the kidney so that's good. Not sure til the surgery on the 23rd of March if it's cancerous or not. Please keep her in your prayers.

Then on to the doctor for mom- this was a funny one- she'd probably kill me but do you know the amt of material at a behind doc? I mean seriously! I could NOT stop giggling. Did you know you can just drop trou and kneel on a table that moves up and down and angles for his viewing pleasure? OH MAN I am so eating her high fiber diet with her...no visits for me. He told her that in bolivia they are considered married now.

He came in saying mom looked familiar and I felt like saying...do you say that to all the butts you see? All holes look alike? See what I mean? I couldn't stop giggling. So at one pt I tell him that the poop is knee deep in here w/his compliments ;)

Poor mom...but if I had to suffer in there like that. Oh and a funny about the waiting room- it's jam packed...but they have 3 normal chairs and then this space age type thing.it's like a seat sling ok? And they are all attached together onto metal. I really should grab a photo of them. I took one look and grabbed one of the two chairs that were normal but this guy comes in and takes mom's chair. Being the good daughter that I am i go sit in the damn thing and would you know I almost fell...not very comfy and the guy behind me kept bouncing like mad. One new guy comes in not realizing the new age nature of this beast and falls into his chair and almost snaps my neck. Mom was laughing so hard.

So anyone like chicken? If I get enough requests I will go type by beloved Chicken/Broccoli casserole here..it's SO dang good...I mean you shred munster and then use a cream sauce and omg it's good :)

What else? I will tell you that 10 yr olds and mouths are overrated! What is it with them? It's all the end of the world and it's all a drama. I am so sick of arguing with her. Projects due at the last minute she forgot about because you know MO-OM I can remember and rarely write it in my assignment book...she forgot the papers today too. Am I bringing them to her? I doubt it. We'll see if she remembers she forgot it. :(

At any rate she better settle down soon or I am raffling her off..no returns on that one ok?

And finally my final thought- If you are bold enough to ask me how much my adoption costs and to say you are going to "get one of those" do not even presume to think I am going to want your jerkoff of a dh to COLD call me to sell crap for you. Um hello???

Yep so I get a call yesterday on my biz line....it's some guy and did I remember his wife from "happy nails" in dec..we talked about adoption. Takes me a minute or two but I did finally place the obnoxious woman. And it wasn't at happy nails idiot...it was a different name..but anyway I digress....this gal did say to me she wanted to get one of those..and meant my daughter. Unfortunately my mom came in after and when I was explaining to this gal I didn't have a card (yeah right) mom whips one out. It's all her fault ok?

So this guy goes on to snip at me - do you remember. I'm like yeah but we have lots of ppl who ask us about adopting- duh. So ok he asks if I am interesting in options and do I have 8-10 hours a week to devote to his streamline marketing..where they cut out the middle man by adding me the middle man to sell things to consumers from like best buy. I was dumbfounded and he heard silence so now he's like- HELLO are you there. I'm like YES i am listening. He says so let's get together for coffee and interview each other..I'm like HELL No. So I say I don't have an hour for myself let alone 8 a week and I am sorry. He's like incredulous and says we are talking 6 figures here. I'm like no thank you and do you know that SOB hung up on me without even a goodbye.

I'm like...oh no you don't and go look at my caller id and no freaking number registered so therefore I couldn't call his behind back and ream him out. How freaking dare you?

It's an imposition enough to call me and ask me about china adoption- but to think that gives you license to then cold call me and get nasty when I am not interested is just plain absurd. Hope I see that broad again in happy nails...I'll use my happy nails on her face. And if they allow her to adopt I'll vomit.

MAN
that's it...how do you like that???

LOL
so ladies are you sorry now that Carolyn hijacked me? See why I was ignoring my blog? I'll end with ONE layout I like and that's it...since the other two are poop!

Mea culpa

Ok so I ignored you all a bit...I have been working like a dog seriously And for the last two days have walked on the treadmill....walking 3x a week is not working for me but now I've set it up that I walk everyday..no more excuses..just get down there.

Read Amy is on a soup diet but it's hard enough ignoring the brownies and other goodies...can't fathom eating only soup right now...don't think I am not saving that diet though for the future if I don't drop the weight before my brother's wedding ;)

Of course A is as thin as a rail and I am not so I better start the soup diet now

Ok so my week so far...pedicure on Monday- love Mario Tricoci...best pedicures around. So now my feet are not offensive to myself....but it's subscription time and I am tired. Plus I am working on my weight and then worrying about a possible 4th child and my brain will NOT relax.

So we were in the Chinese buffet place today....odd waitress...fawned over Anna - deliberately misunderstood Anna's province (I know I am saying it right for cry pete) and then told me...oh she a banana....white on the inside and yellow on the outside...ok first..if I am going to compare my kids to food - why not a twinkie...and 2nd....wtf? I was seriously annoyed......and then she asks the million dollar question- oh she no speak chinese no more--- um yeah just as well as you speak english. I politely point out- she was brought to the US at 8 mos of age...not too much Chinese was being spoken yet as far as I knew but she just didn't get it.

Then again here's the rest of the day there...the bill comes and I about pass out...it was $41 for me and three kids to eat the buffet and I am not even stuffed because hello I am eating 1/2 of my normal intake....omg I was floored...turns out that 4pm there must be dinner and there were no signs posted..and well frankly the food was crap..what a disappointment...esp with this new budget we are on.

So when I left I thought to myself...so we are comparing ourselves to fruits are we? I am a prune- sucked dry from my overpriced, horrible dinner LOL

How's that for fruity?

That's it's I am in such a funky mood I am not fit for polite company (then again some of my readers..)

OH yeah..forgot the main reason for my foul mood...I get an envie the mail with a gift subscription from my outlaws..I'm thinking - cool maybe Soap Opera Digest...or whatever right? It's the freaking Portals of Prayer- their Lutheran um I guess daily devotions book. Now I am steamed.

Why you ask? These ignorant people have an incredible knack of badgering Kevin on issues and usually right after I convince him we need to find a Church..sure 'nuff...anyway I emailed the publisher and pointed out that I've been catholic my whole life much to my outlaws dismay and that since I was just going to chuck their information into the trash they might as well remove me from the mailing list even if my dh's parents are too stupid to figure it out. And they removed me.

So how to deal with it? Talking to them won't net me anything....so I have decided to fight fire with fire..first catholic charities magazine...and then some other religions too. Those (**%^%^%$%$$%$% idiots.

pretty cool!

saw this on another blog..thought the words were very TRUE :) Go to this site to add it to your blog :)

http://www.snapshirts.com/custom.php

What's new....? Nothing much...today I am scrapping if it kills me..but I have a pile of work sitting next to me....a huge pile..that really should be entered into qb before taxes are done.

The house is a mess...what else is new? I am hoping we get it cleaned soon...and this weekend we have lots going on....packing kits on sun (love ya mom) and tomorrow a CNY celebration...Anna's first playgroup. YAY we are bringing these awesome easy to make pot stickers (Ling Ling) from costco..they and the plum sauce that comes in there are delish.

Contemplating signing up for thegrocerygame.com Elaine mentioned it on our boards and it sounds good...esp if I can save 65% on groceries. :) Hey if any of you sign up use Elaine's name if you know her or mine please...we can earn free weeks...

I am hoping it saves me SOME money somehow.

That's it...ok off to scrap :)

Maybe I'll post a layout later.

If you haven't visited the store lately- Basic Grey preorder is up as well at Cbx...MM going up later this weekend and we are hoping to have the product soon.....we are almost sold out of BG and we also are offering the new American Crafts rubons for sale....not too many of those left either...they have a TON of letters! And are packaged so smartly!

Also lots of other new stuff in the store now. :)

More from me later and hopefully more pics soon!

Santa Baby

I've been singing this crazy song all season. And I saw a layout in some magazine that had that title and I said..bingo :)

So here's my sneak peek..totally UNlike an xmas layout. :) using an upcoming kit name is hush hush LOL

Using Bonni's awesome sketch which I think might meet a Catherine challenge too!
Enjoy!

Paved with good intentions

I thought today...Wed..Anna would to go visit Rissi..I'd get my few orders cleared off the desk..do the Post office and head home and SCRAP...well the best laid plans right? Monday Kev was sick with the stomach flu...I was determined to NOT get it. Yesterday Anna wakes up w/a fever...turns out she was probably our first sick one...Katie comes home sick after school...Mikey follows..I'm fine...hahaha...until about dinnertime when I get super nauseous and then get sick. Fun! NOT...three kids home..kev is well enough to go back to work and Anna is healthy enough to be a PITA...and I am sitting here miserable. I am going to try and scrap later...working on laundry now and just sitting and staring ;)

Never a dull moment...of course we have play tickets friday..we got the subscription series for Broadway in Chicago - but alas haven't been to one play yet. They have changed every date and it's been a disaster. What was supposed to be Me, Mom, Riss and Pat has turned into 4 other tickets for Pat's friends and no one is ever available at the same time. We had to forgo the tickets the first play cause Mikey was at the ER for his foot. Now I'm sick. I better feel better...I want an ADULT dinner :)

The past week in review: Katie's concert was fast but nice...she really has stage presence...um with me and her Nana as her relatives is it any wonder? (for those that don't know..placed 2nd in state solo competition in hs/have had professional singing lessons/mom and i have been in tons of plays..and musicals- it's in the blood ;) Even Mikey who has to attend with Katie each week was singing along to all the songs...I know his future too!

Other than that and cleaning the basement..nothing much.

Sorry I've ignored the blog for a few days...maybe I'll upload a sneaky again later :)