August already?

I just cannot believe it's August. Already. I blinked and now summer is almost over.

Here's the lowdown of our happenings since the graduation & cruise:

The teen has made the decision on what his future will hold that I will reveal at a later time. He hasn't told everyone in his family yet (most notably his mother) so I won't advertise it until he does. Just in case the wrong set of eyes sees it. Ahem.

There's been a lot of working and very little playing. We haven't been on the bike once this summer. Blasphemy! I plan to rectify this next weekend...now if the weather would just cooperate.

Speaking of weather we've been sweating. A lot. The norm has been 90+ temps for this summer so it's not been ideal for any outdoor activities. So I've taken to indoor activities like shopping. Specifically Christmas shopping.**

We just got back from an impromptu trip to WV to meet up with friends for a 24 hour visit in the wild & wonderful state. Fabulous.

...and well that's it. Seems like I've been busy doing nothing. How about you?

**Christmas is only 144 days away. How's that for a reality check?!

The Perfect Cure

This weekend we had a celebration for a combination of things - birthdays, Mother's Day, a new birth - and all the kids were in attendance.

I'm still trying to climb out of my blah-ness. Trying to get back to normal. Well as normal as I can get anyway. I can't say I've ever been quite right.

Nothing brings a smile to my face more than seeing their happiness.





See what I mean? It's almost impossible to be in a bad mood with them around. You can't help but smile.

Sometimes I wish I could bottle it up and save it for a gloomy day.

A little of him...


A touch of her...


And a ton of this smile...


Throw in a mushy moment...


Serve with a side of cake.



It would be the perfect cure for the blahs.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...right?

If that statement is true then ya'll must ADORE me! :D

I won't bore you with all the details (at least not til I've uploaded all my pics!) but we have been highway bound for the last week.

First a trip to Albany NY to visit friends and see some of the great places that upstate New York has to offer. Or should I say what great EATS they have to offer since I sampled my way through the city. From Pasta Fagioli to chocolate cream puffs, to Polish coffee cake (Placek) and the perfect soft serve I had it all.

Let's just say I imagine heaven to be like Bella Napoli's - the Italian bakery we went to. Breads & desserts oh my!

Thursday we had to return home so that we could go to the teen's college on Friday in order to register him for classes. "On the road again..."

Then we returned to his future college on Saturday for a special invite only scholarship reception.

When we got home that night I was b-e-a-t. I mean totally exhausted.

But you know what they say...no rest for the weary...

Guess that's why we had a belated Easter picnic/egg hunt yesterday. Three hours in the park with the little ones would wear anyone out but then like complete fools we worked in the yard after that.

Phew!

Needless to say I've got a lot of catching up to do - with blogs, with work, at home, etc, etc, etc. and no energy at all to do any of it.

Good, Bad and Pure Awesomeness

Good News: The teens college visit/audition went well.


Bad News: Waiting to mid-April to find out if he made it. And if they are offering him any scholarships.

Good News: Not killing anyone using my new pressure cooker.


Bad News: But I did kill the roast & potatoes, aka they were slightly overcooked. Thank goodness for gravy.

Good News: Having a sleep over with my very adorable niece.


Bad News: Who is also very active in her sleep. She started at the top of the bed & ended up turned around at the bottom.

Good News: I spent a very rainy Sunday on my couch.

Bad News: My house looks like it. Ahhhhhh!

Pure AWESOMENESS: You have until Wednesday to WIN 2 medium sized bows from Made Just 4 You & moi! Have you entered?

What was your 'Good, Bad or pure AWESOME' moment from the past week?

Good News, Bad News Monday

Good News: Having this big ole' box of K-cups was on my doorstop.


Bad News: We got pretty darn low before ordering.


Good News: Little Man & Lil J joined us for one of the teens concerts this weekend.


Bad News: I didn't get very good pictures because while the church was beautiful the sun was behind the band. My point & shoot camera did not like that.

Good News:I had The. Best. ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins.

Bad News: We had 3 hours to kill the teens second performance because no one, ie the teen, didn't tell us it was a private party affair.

Good News:The weather was beautiful this weekend.

Bad News:Raking leaves and cleaning up the yard from a bad winter. Not so much fun.

Downright AWESOME: Cream cheese brownies!

What was your 'Good, Bad or downright AWESOME' moment from the past week?

The good, the bad and the downright awesome

Good News: Finally getting a much-needed pedicure.


Bad News: Having it rain every day after.

Good News: Keeping this cutie on Friday.


Bad News: Because she had a fever.

Good News: James "Survived" another week.


Bad News: He's hurt pretty bad & probably won't make it much longer.

Good News:Getting The. Most. Amazing. birthday gifts.

Bad News: Um, there ain't nuttin' bad about that!

Downright AWESOME:Today is S's birthday! Happy birthday babe! xoxo

What was your 'Good, Bad or downright AWESOME' moment from the past week?

**Is that Barbie cool or what?!

Good News/Bad News revisited

Good News: Having a birthday week where I get awesome gifts like this:


Bad News: Only one more day of being 33.

Good News: The sun is shining and the temperature is a'rising here today.

Bad News: My toes are not sandal ready yet. Must. Get. Pedicure.
**

Good News: The teen has a jazz concert this coming weekend.


Bad News: The teen has TWO jazz concerts this weekend. On the same night.

Good News: Making THE. BEST. spaghetti & banana pudding for Sunday dinner.


Bad News: Cleaning up.

What was your 'Good news/Bad news' from the past week?

**Obviously NOT my actual feet. Ick!

Let's play 'bad news/good news'

Good news: Waking up to this


Bad news: Realizing it's Monday.

Good news: Getting a new Droid Eris with all the bells & whistles.*


Bad news: Had to get a new phone because my other one went kaput on Friday for no apparent reason

Good news: The teen auditioned for All State this weekend and placed 10th overall.


Bad news: They only take the top 8.

Good news: We sold one of our cars.


Bad news: We bought a used F-350.**

Good news: My birthday is next week.


Bad news: I'll be 34. ***

What was your 'Good news/Bad news' from the past week?


*This is no way implies that I know how to USE all the bells & whistles. Cause I don't.

**Not bad exactly but I'm just wondering how many cars a 3 person family needs.

***THIRTY EFFIN' FOUR.

Remembering the good parts.

You would think after such a lackluster week of posts I would have something spectacular to write about.

Um, not really.

I can tell you that last week I had some pretty good parts even with all my hormone induced bitching.
***
The teen received his first scholarship. And I say first, because we're hoping for like a million more.
***
We totally dominated during our dart match, smashing the other team with a 10-1 win. That's pretty hard core even if the other team does suck.
***
Lil J came to visit me on Friday and she was relatively well behaved. It wasn't till the end when she got tired that she got whiny.


The 5th frame is downright scary looking huh?! At that point she wanted everything I touched including my camera and that just wasn't going to happen.
***
My coupon class was a complete success. I've actually been invited to speak to two other groups as a compensated speaker. Dolla, dolla, bill ya'll...who couldn't use a few more of those?!
***
And finally my favorite author Denise Grover Swank has sent me Chapter 17 of her soon-to-be-a-smash-hit book Chosen so I'm off to read!

What I did on my Winter vacation...

This is what I did on my Winter vacation, aka the two weekends I was forced indoors because of snow, ice, sleet and other crappy conditions:

I watched movies. Most notably Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which was good right up until the last 10 minutes. Then not so much.

I also watched the newest flick in the American Pie series. Sucked. Skip it.

We caught up on the DVR, watching episodes of Burn Notice, Human Target and Wendy Williams*. I also watched and re-watched several episodes of The Real Housewives of Orange County cause I'm a glutton for punishment.

In between that, they shoveled while I took pictures.



We napped. And it was glorious.

Then I channeled The Pioneer Woman and baked.

Cinnamon rolls in the morning.


Apple dumplings in the evening.


So to sum it up, I gained 10 pounds on my Winter vacation.

*I'm forced to DVR Wendy because the asshats at our CW removed her from their line up in lieu of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, which btw, I hate. Now I can only find her on BET. At midnight.

Marathons & Me

Now don't get too excited. I'm not talking about a running marathon. Or even a walking marathon. In fact I'm not talking about a marathon that requires me to exert much energy at all.

I'm talking about a TV marathon.

Gawd I love those.

I'm the person that wastes away her entire Sunday re-watching (cause you know I watched them all before) The Real Housewives of 'insert city', Top Chef or Millionaire Matchmaker.

I'm the person in her pajamas all day curled in a blanket with a drink on the table and the remote in my hand.

I'm the person gets upset when they suddenly switch to Law and Order. I mean I love L&O. They have been part of my marathon days many, many times. But seriously don't tease a girl with a whole day of shows and then not play the most recent one.

That's just dirty.

I'm the person that buys the Seasons on DVD just so I can watch them all at once. One of my Christmas presents was Tudors Season 3.



That we watched in it's entirety. In a single weekend.

Then last week S surprised me with The Weeds Season 5 on DVD.



Any guesses as to what we did this weekend?

**I did manage to drag myself out of the house to go grocery shopping at Kroger. All my trips are listed on Craving Savings and I'm also giving away a box of GM cereal so drop by to enter!

Walking with GERMS

Friday night I had a hot date. With my 6 year old nephew.


Walking with Dinosaurs came to town & being that he is all about some dinosaurs I knew that he would love the show.

What I didn't know is that I would too!


Saying it was awesome really doesn't do it justice. At. All. Neither does my pictures since I only took my little camera & we were in row "L" otherwise known as the nose-bleed seats.

But I did manage to take some AMAZING video footage of the show:


They had some really cool lighting and special effects that brought the whole show together.

If this shows comes to your town you must go see it.

Just take your hand sanitizer with you.

I can only guess one of those short, germ infested, snot-holders are the reason why I am sick. Again. For the third time since September.

It's a wrap!

Another Christmas over and gone. Bah. Where does the time go?*

Christmas was great and chaotic all at the same time.

We always spend Christmas Eve at my aunt's house, crowded in her apartment, opening presents and enjoying holiday only foods. This year was no different although I do think, much like Gremlins, we multiplied because it seemed to be more of us than ever.

The more, the merrier right?!

I guess it was that phrase that led to me having 5 extra overnight house guests on Christmas Eve plus an additional 4 on Christmas morning. For the math challenged that would make 12 peeps at my house.

Everyone seemed to love their gifts, including me. S gave me some fabulous stuff including the new Glee soundtrack, The Tudors season 3 DVD(that we've already watched in it's entirety), stainless steel pans, cast iron pan, boots, purse, etc. etc.

He spoils me. And I deserve it.

Lil Sis gave me a Keurig carousel for my k-cups and my middle sis gave me knee socks that are adorable. (I'm wearing a pair today!} My aunt gave me a new Kathy Van Zeeland purse.

I'm carrying the red one that S got me today but trust me when I say it was a tough choice since they are both cute!

Okay, enough bragging. Let's just say I had a great Christmas!

As documented by the 350+ pictures I posted on FB. Woowee! Here are few of my favorites:

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

It's a wrap! Literally...

*Please tell me I'm not the only one that honestly thinks she is a year younger than she really is & catches herself trying to put the wrong age on forms. All. The. Time.

White Out

You may have heard about our blizzard here on the East Coast. Let me tell you we are not used to that kind of winter weather here.

Oh yeah, sure we get snow every year but this time we got
S-N-O-W.

As in 14-20" inches of snow. I measured 14" on my deck but it was still snowing so I don't even know what the final tally was at my house.

Nor do I care.

Cause even though it's breathtakingly beautiful, it was also dangerous, expensive & messy. Not to mention extremely inconvenient since it took place the last weekend before Christmas.

It started on Friday around 2 in the afternoon and by 3 it was already covering the ground. It came down fast & sticky.** The snow fell for the rest of the night on Friday and well into Saturday before it stopped.

Because it was SO much (and VDOT was sorely unprepared) we were stuck in the house the whole weekend and Monday. I finally left the house yesterday afternoon but the roads were still not great. Even today with the sun out it will not melt much, and what does melt will become ice as soon as the sun goes down.

Friday night



Saturday morning




The expensive part (this is our dog's kennel where the roof collapsed)


The beautiful part



And Monday morning


Topping off all this, they are now calling for wintry mix/freezing rain on Thursday & Friday. Oh joy.

To all those people who yell "Let it snow!" you can SUCK IT! And I mean that from the bottom of my frozen heart.

**That's what she said.