First Class Happiness...

I didn't blog very much yesterday because my Stepmother's mother passed away on Sunday so I was trying to pitch in and help where needed. After being out in the rain yesterday, the THIRD full day of rain I was tired, gloomy and more than ready for Spring.

Then I got home. When I saw my kitchen table the clouds parted, sunshine rained down on me and blue birds sang in my ears.

THERE WERE PRESENTS!!

First one I opened was a birthday gift from my WV pals...BumpIts! Huh? "Bump whats" you may be saying?

These are BumpIts...



They are described as "hair volumizing inserts". I'm happy to say they really work. In fact I'm wearing a small bumpit today and looking cute if I do say so myself.

Then the next package was from Jen @ My Life with the Crazies.

Cause I won TWO different giveaways during SITS Spring Fling, one of which was a Vera Bradley purse with matching wallet from Jen.



Love, love, love it! Green IS my favorite color...

I also won Sunday at Tiffany's by James Patterson from Tiffany @ Poetry and Hums AND Eat at Home.

The same Tiffany that was trading comments for donations to the Global Food Crisis Fund. The same Tiffany that posted a Depression Era bread recipe yesterday that I promptly went home and made.

Yes sirree, after I opened all my gifts I made 6 loaves of bread, a chocolate loaded cake, a huge bowl of baked beans AND dinner AFTER work.

And I even cleaned up my mess. Can you say Superwoman?

Happy St. Paddy's day ya'll!

Good Stuff

This weekend we had the privilege of going to an All District concert to watch my SS perform. He auditioned in December and made 1st Chair Symphonic Band, which is as good as you can get. (Our school had 5 students that performed but SS was the only one that made 1st Chair! They will all be featured in tomorrow's paper. BTW, he's the one at the end and his bff is in the middle.)


This is the fourth year in a row that's he has made All District, starting at 4th Chair Concert Band and then moving his way up a little each year. Of course we were very proud of him and excited for him because now he will get the opportunity to audition for All State.

SS plays the baritone for concert/symphonic band, the trombone for jazz band and the sousaphone in marching band. Even though I insist on singing at the top of my lungs in the car, he didn't get his musical gifts from me. Shocking I know.

Actually I can't figure out which family member he may have gotten this from but I'm glad he's got it because he's made it his own thing.

In other good news, I checked my email this morning only to find out that I had won TWO different contests! Un-be-lieve-able.


First one I got was from the infamous Bakerella saying that I won a Bake L♥ve tee and a year subscription to Taste of Home. If you haven't visited her site you must, you must, you must. Her goodies are to die for...but so cute you don't know if it's edible.

Plus now she's got my crazy profile picture up as the winner so that's reason enough to visit.

Then I got one from Tricia @ Once A Month Mom telling me I won a certificate for a free mini-dessert at Carrabba's. Mmmmmmmm I heart Carrabba's. And desserts. And Once A Month Mom for giving me free dessert.

And my sweetie left this comment about yesterday's post:

"Hey if we do Valentines day nite why cant I play a football tournment early games be home by 3 pm and ready to go by 4 pm. We have valentines day everyday. You are the most perfect gal for me. I dont need one day I have 365 days of you."

~heart melting~

So tell me what GOOD STUFF has happened to you recently.

Tidy Tuesday - The Conspiracy Theory

I'm jumping on Denise's bandwagon, with her permission. In yesterday's post she said it was going to be a Theme Week over at her place. I immediately asked for details and she said I could play along because I would add to her street cred - her words, not mine.

BTW if you are looking for ways to make the most out of your pudding I highly recommend you check out Multipurpose Monday.

So today has been declared Tidy Tuesday.

Conspiracy much? Me thinks yes.

Do you remember a couple weeks ago I mentioned that I cleaned my room but I still had a mountain of clothes waiting to be put away? Well I'm convinced that S sent all you guys an email and asked for help. The only one that answered his tortured plea was Denise and this whole "theme week" was really a ploy to get me to put them away. Really!

Okay not really, but that's exactly what I did started. Let me introduce you to The Mountain.

Most people wouldn't show you this but I'm all about keeping it real. And this is 100% real. All THIS has been laying on my SD's bed for the last 2-3 weeks and each day I pick a shirt, or undies or socks from the pile.

So I started working...

Folding...

Sorting...

I tossed a pair of pjs that had seen better days...

Thanked the laundry Gods that I found my favorite A7X shirt...

And wondered how I would ever get all the wrinkles out...

Finally I ended up here


Everything folded in a neat little pile based on where it needs to go.

This is my plan:

Unfortunately I didn't get started until after work, after the grocery store, after making dinner, after emptying the dishwasher, after filling the dishwasher up again and after washing the pots and pans so none of these piles are going to the appropriate place until tomorrow.

I decided to treat myself to a nice cup of hot tea and some trashy TV instead.


But rest assured Denise (& S), this will be waiting on me tomorrow.



Now pop on over to find out what Denise has been tidying up...hopefully there's no pudding involved this time, or maybe it pudding would be a better alternative. You be the judge.

I'm happy...

...because I woke up to this


...S is on his way home!

...I'm still on a savings high from last night's grocery trip.

...tonight is dart night.

...the refinance went perfect.

...tomorrow is Friday! I'm already thinking TGIF.

...that I have my sassy boots on today.

...my Lil Sis is coming by work today so I get to see Beefy.

...eating right and drinking water hasn't been too difficult.

...God is good.



What are you happy for today?

You can be a winner too!

Is it right to say that that I'm relieved the election is finally over with? No worries this post is not going to be political. Although I did take part in the Election GNO last night, which was wonderful as usual.

If you don't know what a GNO is, please go to Mommy Gossip - GNO and find out. Next week I hear the topic will be FOOD. Holiday FOOD. Who doesn't love food?

So with all the talk of a winner this morning I thought it would be appropriate to talk about my recent win. My very first GNO was last week with a discussion about Twilight. My GNO/Twilight post ended up being one of those featured for Topic Talk.

And I won not one, but TWO Twilight-related books from Ms. Lulaville herself. See...



I got them on Friday and I've already read the movie companion from front to back, while paying special attention to page 75 per the written instructions that came with my prize. Thanks Leigh Ann!

Now I have a couple of contests to share with you and maybe you can be a winner too.

Kat at Sunshine & Lemonade is hosting a Wicked related giveaway this week. But wait for it... She will be hosting 10 weekend giveaways in the upcoming weeks that I'm very excited about. Each one will feature some of her favorite things so I'm sure there will be some peanut M&M's floating around. Carrie even made her a special button...




Cute huh?!

Then there is Aleta who is having a bracelet giveaway this week. It's a gorgeous Christmas inspired bracelet that Aleta herself made out of Swarvorski Crystals and Seed Beads. It's a beautiful bracelet that you have to see.

I'm sure you're thinking that I'm being nice by sharing but in reality I got an extra entry in each contest by blogging about them. Plus, I heart these gals and I want you to love them too. So after you leave me a comment go visit each and every one. You won't be disappointed.

Lula
Kat
Carrie
Aleta

And I'm throwing in this one not because she's giving something away but because she's a bad ass that uses bad words.

Tattooed Minivan Mom

Sassy shoes!

Instead of working today I am basking in the glow of my win from this morning. And admiring my new boots.

I got them when we went down to the beach at the end of May and I've been dying to wear them ever since. Finally, it's cold enough although I'm not sure it's a fair trade. Giving up the warm weather for cute boots...I'll have to think about that.

Anyway I'm still trying to catch up on blogs (and work) from yesterday's twitter-thon and GNO from last night.

Don't worry I haven't forgot that I promised you a recipe or two. I promise it's coming...

In the meantime, tell me what's your favorite winter wear this year?

I wish...

It was so cold this morning there was frost on the ground and my car windows. Seeing the temperature change into more winter-like levels makes me wish I were on vacation. Somewhere warm preferably.

I've been to Niagara Falls. While not necessary warm, it's absolutely beautiful there. The Canada side is waayyy more exciting than the America side, with all kinds of carnival like attractions and shops.





We went with our WV friends. They are originally from Buffalo, NY so we got to visit their family and hang out for a long weekend.

These are the same friends that invited us to see Wicked this past summer.



And that we took a cruise with in January.





That particular cruise was only a 5 day trip that went to Freeport and Nassau Bahamas. We've done 5-6 cruises and never did anything shorter than 7 days but this itinerary kept the kids from missing any school.

Next time they will just have to miss. Five days was not long enough.

Cruise ships have taken us to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Honduras, Belize, San Juan...some ports more than once. There is no vacation like a cruise.

I was hooked from the first one.

They have all been with Carnival except one time on Royal Caribbean when we got to take our Motorcycles with us.

We loaded that bad boy right on the ship and took it to 3 ports of call-San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas. (We weren't allowed to ride in Nassau at the time; now you can.)

It was all pre-arranged through this company and it was the most surreal of all the cruises.

In San Juan they literally shut down the interstate for 20 bikes, along with our police escort.



Surreal.

We've also been to Key West on our bikes. Yes, we rode the whole way. I rode the whole way. It took 3 days. In the sun. In the rain.

I loved every day there. We rented a house about 4 blocks from Duvall Street so once there we didn't ride very much. Instead we relaxed and walked a lot like the locals. We went to a nude rooftop bar.

Unfortunately, our vacation was cut short when Hurricane Charlie decided to head our way. So we rode back. It took 3 days. In the sun. In the rain. With a hurricane chasing us.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Other than Key West, I've rode to Emerald Isle, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC countless times.

This time last year I was getting ready to go to Puerto Vallarta. It was our first all-inclusive and since it was west coast, we flew to Salt Lake City, UT and then our destination. It was a long flight for me.

But the place was gorgeous, the people were friendly and the drinks were included.





I wish I were there now. Or on a ship. Or in Key West. Or in my bed. Anywhere warm & toasty would be nice right now.

Where would you like to be?

Later today...

I will FINALLY get my new tattoo.

I've been waiting since April to get this and while it will be worth the wait, I'm anxious. My step-brother-in-law is a tattoo artist and he owns his own shop with his brother, but he also works full time elsewhere so getting our schedules together has been difficult.

But he's the only one I would trust so I waited. Patiently. Sorta.

He did this tattoo for S about 6 years ago and it still looks new. Anyone who knows anything about tattoos knows that yellow fades quickly...but it hasn't because Troy is THAT good.



This will be my fifth tattoo...

Let's review.



My first is an ankh on my right boob. Sorry no pic, but it's purple and small, but not great looking after 14 years and frankly I wish I would have gotten it somewhere else. At 32 I find it a little tacky but I'm stuck. If I have it redone then it just brings more attention to it.

The next one was Stevie's name...this is not a great picture and please ignore the shiny whiteness of my thigh. I realize it looks more like chicken skin but it is what it is.



S and I have both have this tattoo on the our right calves. It's our oriental birth sign and it supposed to mean power. I find it ironic that it looks like someone leaning on a cross. Ignore my chicken skin again.



And for you naysayers, S has my name permantly inked on him too.


Last but not least this is a cover-up that Troy did at the same time as S's Harley one. Originally it was a crappy tribal dragon on my left shoulder. He arranged it so there are now two dragons and the oriental sign for Luck in between them. Obviously I'm into symbolism. It's really hard to see in this picture but the dragon eyes are green. Like mine.



And the one today?



Mums the word here. I'm making you wait till it's done.

Go ahead. Give me your best guess.

Applelicious

This weekend was absolutely beautiful in my neck of the woods. And it's supposed to be in the 80's today and tomorrow...so while it doesn't feel like fall, I started on my seasonal cooking Saturday.

Applesauce & Applebutter - Crockpot style

First thing I did was core and quarter a peck of Rambo apples. No, not this Rambo...



...THIS Rambo


After I quarted them I peeled each piece and plunked them in the crockpot. I know it sounds weird to quarter and then peel but I read this tip somewhere else and it really did seem easier to me.


So after I had a crockpot full of apples (I was using my 6 quart Nesco) I added a cup of water and about 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Then I sprinkled a generous amount of cinnamon over the top. I didn't use sugar at this point because I was still debating on what to use my apples for.



I let them cook on low overnight. The next morning I discovered the apples were cooked through but there was a significant amount of "juice" in the bottom. Next time I will omit the water and just toss the apples with the lemon juice.

I scooped my apples out and poured all the liquid from the crockpot.



Next I took about 3 cups of apples and put them back into the crockpot in order to make applebutter. Since it was a pretty small batch I just added vanilla, brown sugar, white sugar, ground cloves and more cinnamon to taste. No exact measurements needed. I left that mixture in the crockpot for another 3 hours.

The remaining apples were smooshed (yes thats the techinical term) into applesauce and I choose not to add any sweetner because I will be using it for baking. If I were eating it plain, then I would have definitely added some sugar.

I put a cup of the applesauce into freezer bags and pushed the air out while flattening the bag. In all I had 4 cups of applesauce to put into my freezer and 3 cups of applebutter that I divided into two containers.





Why did I lay them flat?



As you can see my freezer stays a bit on the full side. And the chest freezer downstairs is just as full as this one so it helps to save space.

Remember the "juice"? I used it to make pancakes and topped mine with a few of the apples.

Mail call!

Last month Kat hosted her first ever gift swap - A Favorite Things Swap.



It just so happened that out of 43 bloggers she got my name. And boy am I glad she did! Yesterday she gave a little preview to what I was getting...



Suffice to say I was estastic to get home and see it sitting on my kitchen table. After opening my packages I think Kat is my long lost sister. She and I seem to have very much in common right down to the packing material we used.

That "mountain" behind my goodies is made up of grocery bags from Kroger and other various sources. And here I thought I was quite clever in using them in the package I sent to Angie.



Here's a list of the greatness I received:

Cucumber Melon handwash from BBW - A regular staple in my house ♥
Pumpkin & Spice shower gel - It smells good enough to eat.
Sharpies!!
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie who I adore
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore - a humorous look at religion
WICKED journal - I guess after I stalked her page in order to hear the broadway tune Popular from Wicked it was pretty clear I would love this. And I do.
3 magazines - FULL of recipes
HUGE, I mean GINORMOUS bag of Peanut M&Ms - That S prompty tried to steal

I was thrilled with everything - getting to know Angie and Kat a little better, plus I love getting this kind of mail. I'm definitely in for the next one.

Bring. it. on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wasn't the only one to get a package yesterday. Look what our WV pals sent S...




They are hardcore Barrack supporters and S adores Palin. Not for her politics - he just thinks she has that hot teacher look.

And if you want to know what a GILF is, just let me know...

Back in the day...

I could have learned an important lesson.

When I was 7 or 8 my biggest worry was being able to walk to the store a few blocks away to play pinball and buy a candy bar. I could do both for a dollar and still have change for something else.

I always thought that money was just THERE. I'll never forget one day when my mother informed my sis and I that she didn't have any money... my clever reply was "to write a check".

Obviously I didn't understand that you still needed money for that.

Now I had a rather good excuse since I was still in elementary school and my parents and extended family took care of me. Since those years I've learned a lot.

Both S and I have great work ethics and with a few kinks we have pretty good head when it comes to finances. Trust me, it has been a learning experience. Going from no credit to bad credit before I was 19...I loved me some credit cards! Cleaning up that mess after we were married and buying my first house at 24 felt really good.

Until I started getting the credit offers. And accepted. And more came. And I accepted. You see where I'm headed with this. I realized one day that I was actually juggling credit card payments so I made a list of our debts and while they were still "small" in relative terms, I could not believe that we owed almost $10,000 in credit card debt. We I was definitely living beyond my means.

It was that day we decided to pay them off and cut them up. Which we did and never looked back.

I'm proud to say that was over 4 years ago and we still do not carry any credit card debt. We do have one visa and one mastercard that we use, but any balance gets paid off every month without exception.

We've managed to raise our credit scores to over 790 and start a nice little nest egg. We call it the black hole. It goes in, but it never comes out. The best part is we did it all on our own.

I think the mortgage companies and federal government could learn a thing or two from my lesson. It's simple...you don't live beyond your means and you don't rely on credit to buy things you don't need and can't afford.

And for those wondering...yes 70 pairs of shoes are a necessity.

Meet the band & my punkin' cake

Saturday was our first competition of the season and we placed 2nd overall. Not bad considering we moved up a group and we have a lot of new students this year.

Let me introduce you to the Marching Cavaliers.


Here is our main stand; we also have one on the back side for the 2nd drum major. Notice that nifty keyboard stand in the back. The VP painted our "logo" for the season on it.



Marching in...


...onto the field


Pit and color guard setting up


Second tuba belongs to me-it's SS.


Colorguard getting a little risque with the chairs.


Oh yeah!


Sassy, but classy ladies!


Pit crew loading up; see the design on the back of the shirts...yep it matches.

Oh and I baked this scrumptiouslicious dessert yesterday....Pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting so I thought to snap a picture before we ate it all.



Mmmm...it was even better tonight!