Stimulating The Economy

This weekend Dr. Hubby's Aunt and Uncle and their 2 daughters came to visit. This was the family that got mad cause we would not let Manga Dork go camping with them and the 2 17-year old boys they took along in June. I guess they have let it go. I am SO glad cause enjoy spending time with them.

On Saturday morning his aunt and I woke up bright and early to hit my Longaberger consultant's open house...I found lots of goodies to bring home!

The guys went to Cabelas and a couple gun stores...the girls went to TJMaxx and Michaels! I got the paper pad for $11.99 (reg. $19.99)...4 rolls of holiday ribbon $.60 - $.90 (reg. $1.99 - $2.99)...3 photo boxes 3/$5 (reg. $4.99 each)...AND Everyday Paperdolls cricut cartridge $35.99 (reg. $89.99). Now I got to get busy making my Christmas cards!

Do you send Christmas cards?

Do you make or buy them?

When do you send them out?

How many do you send?

A Surprise That Had Me Jumpin' Up & Down!

My Mom and Grandma told me they were coming for Thanksgiving at our home. I was VERY excited. In the back of my mind I thought "How great would it be if my Dad and Papa would come too." They have never been to the farm. My Dad rarely travels because of his wrecker service and my Papa gets "nervous" when away from home.

Well, I nearly knocked Manga Dork over when I saw them coming up our sidewalk!

I baked my first ham and fixed the dinner (except for the corn and green beans my Grandma brought). This is a big deal because I am not known for my cooking or baking...especially meat.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal. It made my heart swell...

It was so nice to have my family surprise me! I REALLY missed Lil Sis and BIL. We'll all be together on Christmas...

We gave my parents their birthday gifts...Mom got a Snuggie and Josh Groban's Christmas CD.

Dad got Seasons 1-3 of Sanford and Son. He loved that show...probably cause he can relate...he owns a wrecker service and HUGE junkyard.

My grandparents were very anxious about getting home before dark...they drove us nuts talking about time to leave.

It was a great holiday.

What made your holiday special?

Crossing off #3...

*Sorry about the redeye in these photos...my camera only deleted the red eye in a couple eyes. I don't know why...

On Wednesday I got to mark off #3 on my list of 35 things. I met Kado from Our Life In Perfect Cadance for lunch at Cheddars. She and her family are visiting friends for Thanksgiving. I was SO nervous, but this is what my list is all about...stepping outside my comfort zone. Would she like me in real life? Would we have things to talk about? Would she regret agreeing to have lunch? (Yes, I have issues)

I had to bring Cutie and Wild Child with me...I was praying they were on their best behavior. I think they did very well, but you could tell when our time limit was up! Kado and her friend (I can't remember her name and it is driving me nuts) arrived first. Let me just say now...if you thought Kado was pretty on her blog...she is even prettier in person. Oh to be that thin...

She is also as nice as she is beautiful. I immediately relaxed and I don't think I remember tasting anything I ate...I just wanted to talk and get to know her better. The hour and 15 minutes went by way too fast. She did tell me something about myself that I didn't know...I thought my WV accent was disappearing since we moved...evidently I was wrong. LOL! It is odd to hear someone's voice that you have only seen online.

Thank you Kado for the birthday gift and lunch...next year it is my treat!

Thanksgiving Eve Ramblings

My feet are killing me from being on them so much to clean for Thanksgiving.

I am going to pick up a few last minute items today at Walmart...pray for me.

I can't believe last night's episode of "V" was the last one until March 2010.

I am getting the "Hurry Thanksgiving so I can start with the Christmas stuff" feeling.

I am going to mark off an item from my list of 35 things today...

Can you guess which one?

One Happy 35 Year Old!

On Saturday my little family took me out to dinner at Fusion Japanese Steakhouse (yum!)...let me shop at TJMaxx...and challenged me to my first game of indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf! It was an absolute blast! I also got a suprise in the mail from one of my bestest bloggy buds, Sondra! She sent me Twilight on CD so I can listen to it while I scrap. Thank you Sondra!

Then on Sunday we went to church and then after a quick lunch it was time for CAKE!


Dr. Hubby and the girls picked me out a perfect cake at Walmart. He had the BRIGHT idea to put 35 candles on it...it took a while to get them all lit...notice Cutie looks like she is gonna fall asleep...lol!


Dr. Hubby says he no longer has hair near his wrist thanks to the flames. They sang to me and I made a wish...and then...I was so thankful there wasn't a fire alarm near or it would have went off from the smoke! Time for PRESENTS!

Wild Child game me The Proposal DVD and Cutie gave me The Ugly Truth DVD.

Manga Dork surprised me with a Betseyville bag...I had fallen in love with it at TJMaxx the day before!

Dr. Hubby gave me a wallet (and all the above presents he let the littles give me).

Here is my Betseyville bag...it is called "Sweet As Can B."

In true Betsey fashion the inside contains an unexpected surprise...this is the lining. Why screws? I don't know...do you?

And the rest of my loot...

My little family gave me a hilarious card!

It made me LOL!

I got phone calls from cousins, Lil Sis, MIL&FIL, SIL & niece, my mom, and we'll just say BFF Ruth is in BIG trouble!

Thank you all for your birthday comments and thank you to my SSS message board buddies for the wishes on the board!

Happy Monday...I'm eating birthday cake for breakfast!

35 Things I Want To Do While I Am 35 (Part 4)

Happy Birthday To Me! I can't wait to tell you all about my great weekend...it's not even over and I have had a blast!

26. Girl's Night Out at least once every 3 months...we used to do this alot...I miss it.

27. Flat Scrappy Adventures...I have loved this idea for awhile...{for those who don't know what it is} you take and make a paper doll and use a pic of you for the face...you mail it to hosts who take the paper doll around their town and take pics spending time with "you"...then you make an album using the photos. I would love to visit my internet friends...if you would like to host Flat Scrappy...let me know!

28. Make my home less chaotic...I want to make my home a haven...a place of beauty...a place of peace...gee, I think that is part of the Home Interiors mission statement...I sold their products for 5 years so I think it must still be in my brain...I want to make my home warm and inviting...this has slacked due to having 2 little ones...but it is time to decorate!

29. Host a home product party in my home...not sure which one...I used to love to do this and I haven't for several years...probably has something to do with the living room carpet...looks like wild dogs have lived in there...I can't wait to remodel!

30. Host a crop at my schoolhouse...adults only...with little goodie bags and food and FUN!

31. Volunteer for something...I have NO idea for this one yet. I just know I would like to do it.

32. Meet someone famous...I don't care who. I am just so star struck...a vampire would be nice!

33. Do the SSS "Book of Me" challenges...these are layout challenges for pages that are all about you...I scrap my kids, my hubby, and family stuff...but I don't scrap much about me.

34. Sundaes on Mondays...I want to invite people over on Mondays in the winter for make your own sundaes.

35. Have family photos taken...you don't even want to know how long it has been since we have done this.

35 Things I Want To Do While I Am 35 (Part 3)

18.. Finish organizing and decorating my scraproom...just figured out there is an IKEA in Pittsburgh so I know where to get my while bookshelves! I need to stop scrappin' (for a minute) and get it decorated!

19. Reach my goal weight...I have fallen off the wagon, but I want this to be the year I reach my goal. I can do it! {Stop rolling your eyes...I know I've said that before...lol}

20. Be featured on a party site....I love throwing parties and I would love to see one of mine featured. It's all about the details...

21. Go camping...{yes, you read that right}...one family trip for at least a weekend.

22. Enter a float in the 4th of July Parade...I was inspired at Mardis Gras World!

23. Go on a family vacation...usually we go to visit Lil Sis in May...this year I want to rent a beach house for the week...I secretly dream of Disney.

24. Start our home remodeling...BIG things are about to happen to this little home...the garage will be the family room...the basement will be redone...a HUGE fish tank between the family room and dining room in the wall...new bedroom...new master bath...new master hugemongo closet...new master bedroom...2 fireplaces...I.C.A.N.T.W.A.I.T!

25. Go on a date night with Dr. Hubby once each month...we try this each year and do well up to April...this year we are going to make it all the way!

Hope you have a very happy weekend! I am being held hostage and taken to the sale at Cabelas. Help!

35 Things I Want To Do While I Am 35 (Part 2)

Can't wait to hear if you all liked New Moon...remember don't spoil any surprises...I won't be seeing it til later.

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

9. Visit San Francisco...I haven't thought about alot I want to do here yet (Golden Gate Bridge, streetcar, Fisherman's Wharf)

10. Dress more fashionable...I am really starting to love a certain "look" and I am ready to shed the jean skirts and striped tops!

11. Start using reusable shopping bags...I think if we all did this it would be great!

12. Eat at The Jug...this is one of those only open in the summer places. It is beside the river and you can get your food and eat at a picnic table. I pass it often and always say I want to eat there...never have.

13. Host a Kid's Creative Club in my schoolhouse...It would be my kids, my niece and nephew, and a couple kids from our community. I want to get them creating and thinking about their dreams.

14. Have s*x every day for a week...I think that couple that set out to do it every day for a year is NUTS! But it would be interesting to see how one week affected the relationship.

15. See the Christmas lights in Ogleby Park...it is supposed to be FABULOUS! We put it off every year.

16. Read the whole Bible...I need to read it more anyway and I would like to be able to say that my heart has been exposed to every word.

17. Make a new close friend...I wold love to have someone to do things with here. This takes me out of my comfort zone. I am not a good friend maker in real life.

TGIF!

35 Things I Want To Do While I Am 35 (Part 1)

I want to record this list that I have worked on for several weeks. These are things I want to accomplish while I am 35...some are small and some are BIG...but the first step to making your dreams come true is WRITING IT DOWN!


I am going to share a few items from my list each day ending with my birthday on Sunday. I hope to inspire you to write down your dreams...


1. Visit Las Vegas...We will be traveling to Vegas at the end of March 2010 for a conference. I hope to see the lights at night...take the dam tour (heehee)...visit the Grand Canyon...see a magic show...and lots more!

2. Make handmade cards for the special occasions in all my favorite peeps' lives...I did not realize that Christmas was after my birthday when I wrote this down...yikes! I am going to be a busy girl!

3. Meet a bloggy buddy in real life...this may be the first one I get to mark off! Don't get too jealous but...if everything goes well...I get to meet Kado from Our Life In Perfect Cadence next week!

4. Get a mani/pedi...I want to do this before our summer vacation.

5. Eat at DaVincis...this is an italian restaurant in the little town we lived in before we moved to the farm. I always say I want to eat there, but in 7 years we never have!

6. Visit Dresden, Ohio...this is the little town full of great shops made famous by Longaberger baskets. I have been wanting wrought iron sconces for my dining room and a basket tree FOREVER!

7. Design a dream board...this is a bulletin board with pictures or notes that represent your dreams or "bucket list." I want to hang it in my scraproom.

8. Surprise someone with a gift...I want it to be someone who is going through a rough time and needs a BIG cheering up!

What is something you would like to do? (BIG or small)

Lucy And Desi Become Parents!

Not THIS Lucy and Desi...
THIS Lucy and Desi!
On Saturday Wild Child discovered a little surprise!

Meet Little Ricky!
(This is one of those tiny McDs Build A Bears)

He is so little, cute, and cuddly.

(This is a small basket that hangs on a doorknob)

Welcome to the Family Little Ricky!

God Has A Perfect Plan To Make A Family

Just realized that my puny last post was post #600! Boy I could have done that one alot better. Thank you Becky for inspiring me with post ideas! I thought I would share with you all what led us to adoption. {Sorry about the bad "photos of photos"...it is a very dreary day and the lighting is awful}

It starts all the way back on November 22, 1974. I was born...

I was born at Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, WV. My birthmother had already decided to give me up for adoption. She was 17, unwed, and in a bad situation with her parents. I am not sure of the exact details, but my birthgrandparents were Catholics and the pregnancy did not bring out the best in them. Somehow I ended up with a death certificate so my birthmom could return home. My birthfather was a foreman at a coal mine. He was married and had 2 children. When I look at this photo I feel very sad and it is hard not to cry. I feel alone and deserted...unwanted.

I went to a foster home. My foster parents' last name was McClellan and they called me Kelly Jo. I traveled to San Diego, CA with them one time.

At 6 months my adoptive parents picked me up at the Fairmont, WV DHHR. They had always wanted a child and were VERY excited to get me in their arms.

This photo should have been a warning...I have been an emotional mess since birth!

This is one of my fave photos from my childhood...can you see the attitude?

I was very loved and maybe even a litttle...spoiled. Don't ya just love the matching outfits! Ah! Glad I can't remember the 70s.

At 5 1/2 years my hair was down to my rear. Mom made this dress too...she obviously got better at picking fabric!

When I was almost 7 Lil Sis arrived. She was a very exciting surprise after 18 years of marriage.

I have never felt like an adopted child. My parents never made any difference between us. I would NEVER change being adopted. My family is the world to me.

Around 18 years old I did start "looking" for my birthmom, but getting married at 19 and having Manga Dork at 20 kinda took over my time. After becoming a mom I lost interest in finding my birthmom. In the last few months it has crossed my mind from time to time.

I have always wanted to adopt because of my positive experience with it. The second thing that made us consider adoption is the fact that I have not been able to get pregnant after Manga Dork.

I will save the story of the little ones' adoption for another day.

Furbabies

I love this...I just want to pick each of them up and squeeze them.

I am having "blogger's block" again so I looked through my photos and thought I would introduce you to some furbabies. This is Blossom and her baby, Henry. Henry arrived while I was in NC visiting Lil Sis in August.

Happy Tuesday!

Ok All You PreThanksgiving Christmas People

I {heart} Thanksgiving. I love the family moments, feasting, thankfulness, etc.

Today on the way to drop Wild Child at preschool I noticed that the preThanksgiving decorators had been very busy while I was at home cropping online this weekend. Now I totally understand putting up your lights on a beautiful warm November weekend...I get that. BUT...there is no exscuse for putting Santa on your porch...or FROSTY! I mean come on...wait til you eat the turkey and then pop that Santa out the door...takes maybe 2 seconds. AND resist the urge to turn on those lights until Thanksgiving evening. Y.O.U.C.A.N.D.O.I.T.

At our home we barely mention "the C word" til Thanksgiving Eve.

How do you eat Thanksgiving with Christmas decor staring at ya? Don't your guests get confused when they walk up on your porch and are greeted by Rudolph wishing them "Merry Christmas?" If your not careful Cousin Clifford with his IQ of 70 will think he is late and turn around and go home!

I was almost home and safely past all the "C word" decorations when Britney Spears came on Sirius Ch. 20 singing her smutty "3"...I refuse to listen to her garbage...so I changed it to Ch. 23.

They have renamed it "HOLLY" and I was greeted by Michael Buble singing "The Christmas Song."

I give up.

Fast Food Recycled

The other day when driving thru McDs for a hit of sweet tea I was handed something that sparked my imagination and inspired me to create! It was...




a drink carrier...{insert angels singing harmoniously}

I needed a challenge for the November crop at Scrap Sisters Studio...{insert lightbulb moment}...I will challenge the girls to take a fast food paper product and turn it into...

MAGIC!

I am going to use this to hold my adhesives on my scrap table. It could also be used as a gift basket...2 candles sit in it very well.

Thank you McDs for inspiring me to create something other than cellulite and fatrolls!

Funny HaHa

I am creating this weekend and having a blast at the crop here!

Happy Weekend!

Coincidence?!

November 6, 2008

Click on the 2008 date above and check out my post for that day...I'll wait here for you to get back...go on...it was a great day with Wild Child...but there is also a wierd coincidence...

This year on November 6th I was traveling home from New Orleans carrying a mardi gras mask! It looks almost like the one I posed with at TJMaxx in last year's post. I didn't even know I was going to New Orleans at that time...ssspppoooookkkyyyy!

Happy Friday the 13th!

Mwhahahaha! Oh This Is F.U.N!

I was kinda creeped out by voodoo dolls. BUT I was SO glad to come across the Jamie Hayes Gallery at the Riverwalk Mall. His Voodoo Child Dolls are SO cute. I just had to have this one to hang in my scrappy schoolhouse.

While in New Orleans I told my MIL that I had bought a voodoo doll...well during that same phone call she had to RUN to the bathroom...it hit her all at once. I talked to my FIL until she got back. She joked about me sticking a pin in the doll and making her have diarrhea...we laughed. I explained that my doll was an artist creation and not that kind of doll. I also teased her and said that I wouldn't stick the pin in the doll's butt.

Since we have been home she has been sick with the flu, back pain, and other assorted ailments. My SIL told me yesterday that MIL had mentioned my voodoo doll and the fact that she had been having problems ever since the day I had purchased it.

Hello my mom's peeps this is Manga Dork she is talkin to dad and I stole the keybaorf mwahaha so alll I want to say is that my mom has the best blog eva! and u should comment right now you heard me DO IT!!

Very funny Manga Dork.

Anyway...I decided today to post about this on my blog. I wanted to take a pic of my doll so I drove down to the schoolhouse to get it. As I was walking out the door my MIL&FIL pulled in the driveway and asked if I was going to be there for awhile. I couldn't resist holding up my doll and saying, "No, I just came down to get my voodoo doll." The look on her face...priceless.

My 2nd Web Addiction

My blog is my first stop every morning...then I head over to Scrap Sisters Studio Message Board. I have made some amazing scrappy friends there and learned so much. It seems we have each other's back in good times and bad.

My latest paper creations are these ATCs I created for a Pop Culture ATC (Artist Trading Card) Swap. I love reading People Magazine. I definitely need a new subscription for my birthday or Christmas. So much fun to get it in the mail.

If you are a papercrafter you should definitely check out SSS...you'll be glad you did!

Important Upcoming Events...ok not REALLY important, but VERY f.u.n.

8:00 pm est {Vampire Diaries}

10:00 pm est {Real Housewives of Orange County}

10 more days til my 35th birthday! Woo Hoo!

I Should Be Ashamed

(Shirt (Gymboree), Tights (Walmart), Shoes (Skechers Twinkletoes), Tutu (Popatu from TJMaxx), Hair Ribbons (Walmart)

The 2 little ones had school photos at preschool this week. Yesterday Cutie was SO excited to wear her TUTU! She looked so cute!


When my kids go out in public they are always dressed very nicely. Everything matches...down to the shoes and hairbows. Most of their clothes come from Gymboree and TJMaxx.
But I am here to confess a secret...


The child that does not attend preschool on that day gets in the car like this...


Old playcoat...pajamas...bedhead...cowboy boots. LOL! Sh! Don't tell...

I love dressing my kids...here are a few things I am currently dreaming of from Gymboree...
Did you know Gymboree has a sister store? Yep...it is called Crazy8. They provide the same collection based shopping experience at lower prices! Here's a couple examples I am in love with...


And if you are wondering where the clothes are that I am dreaming of for Manga Dork...well...nothing else will fit in her closet...lol!

Where is your favorite place to shop for your kids?

Would You Do This?

Does this photo bother you?

Would you allow your child to smoke a cigarette?

You might as well let 'em light up if you smoke around them.

Secondhand smoke is very dangerous to their health.

If you won't quit smoking for your health...at least protect them from your nasty habit.

The cigarette in the above photos is a faux prop from Manga Dork's gangster Halloween costume.