Easy Peasy V-Day Cards

Isa needs 30 valentine's by tomorrow. Of course I knew in advance, but I sure didn't act on this knowledge. In advance.

The poor girl has been sick the last few days and hasn't even been in school.  But we are trying our hardest to get her healthy so she can join in the LOVE celebration going on at her school tomorrow.

We needed something more grown-up (uhemm) and something super, easy peasy!

The idea was to get a good picture of her - but that didn't work out since she wasn't feeling so hot. So I went through Picasa and tried to find some pictures I could use. I found a few:

We finally settled on this one:

They are at Walgreen's right now getting printed off. I already purchased the foam they will be attached to, in addition to the ribbon and the mini-snicker's bars (bites, really!).  Where outstretched arm/hand is, we will attach a mini-snickers! 

I will take a picture of the final product as soon as I get them put together this evening! We also got some treats for the class party and V-Day pencils for the entire class.

I know Valentine's Day isn't until Monday, but it sure is fun getting started early on the celebrations. You know, like forcing your #1 man to take you out for a romantic date?! He's taking me to the movies tomorrow night. Where we may or may not make-out in the dark theater.

A Weenie Roast

Yesterday was trying.... more for my parents than for me. But it hurt me to see them going through something so difficult, so life changing.

I got a call from my # 1 man around noon telling me to CALL MY MOM. That she had been trying to get a hold of me.

I called and she said that they had a fire at the house and that she couldn't talk because the insurance adjuster was already over taking a look around.

Come again?!?!

Didn't we just have a post about that here?!  I thought we did.

Thankfully my dad could think through all of the chaos and found the fire extinguisher (that hadn't been moved or touched in 15 years!). And thankfully he knew what to do with it. I probably would have thrown the thing at the fire then run the other way. Really.

I called my boss and told him I was vacating the office chair and got Nic dressed and out the door. We picked Isa up from school and settled in for the 40 minute drive (going way too fast).

Nic finally asked where we were going. I told him that grandma and papa had a fire at the house and we had to go help them.

Nic said "We need to get tents and sticks. We can put the tents up and then we can put the hot dogs on the sticks and put them in the fire."

Only Nic would think of something like that. Such a sweet, innocent kiddo.

Sweet and innocent are not words I can use to describe the fire or the aftermath. Thankfully no one was hurt. Their poor dog, Princess, was covered in soot and dirt. I called PetsMart (where she's gone for years) and asked if I could get her in so that she could be bathed, they scheduled her for 6pm. My aunt is going to take care of her while my parents are displaced. When my mom and dad went to go pick up the dog later on that evening, PetsMart didn't even charge them for the appointment. What dolls!!!!

My parents are expected to be out of their house for about a month while everything is cleaned, while the kitchen and surrounding areas are gutted, while we slowly try to put their home back together. Thankfully, most of the damage in the largest portion of the house is smoke related, not fire.

My parents are wonderful and STRONG!!! - they are going to be just fine. We have a terrific family who is going to make sure of that. My brother and his girlfriend are doing what they can from a far - offering up their ♥ and support. I will  be fighting my aunt for custody of my 'rents on the weekends. They will be busy working and handling Blackstone Tactical (their business) during the week. I am sure time will fly and they will back in their new, put-back-together home before we know it.

Let this be a reminder... Make sure you have a fire extinguisher (or 5) in  your home. You can save on your Homeowners Insurance by having one! Make sure you have smoke alarms (if you have the electrical kind, also get the battery operated ones). Make sure you have a PLAN!

This bathroom is towards the back of the house... and the door was pretty much closed... but look how much soot & smoke made it's way in, regardless...

Nic was a little disappointed that he never got his hot dog from yesterday, so I made sure to add it to tonight's menu! ;)

Got me my Cracker Jacks!

Okay, not really - they aren't part of Operation: Bikini Tankini Body. I will have to settle for air-popped popcorn with a little Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. Should I change my post title? Neh. Too lazy.

Today marks Day 1 of baseball tryouts for Alex (and other kids @ his school, I presume. One kid not a team makes, right?!)

Nic and I had to get dressed and venture out into the cool air this morning (don't worry, I made it worth our while - a side trip to Mickey D's - chocolate milk for him and Iced Tea for me!). We had to get the last of Alex's athletic paperwork turned in and his fee paid (yes, we had to pay the fee BEFORE we find out of he even makes the team. WTHeck?).  Nic got to see Alex at school - and then started crying when we had to leave him.   I was all for leaving Nic there - but the front office ladies vetoed my request.

This will be Alex's first year ever playing team ball. He's put a lot of work in as of late. Open field, weight training, and playing catch with me and Isabel as often as possible.

Tryouts last all week. Send my boy some good luck vibes, will ya?!
Too bad they don't let you on the team based on looks alone.

Cuz my baby would be a shoo-in.

Does this make me a thief?

It's Sunday - Super Bowl Sunday, to be precise.
I've spent the morning cleaning my office, looking for tax documents, and filing a mountain of paperwork.

After a few hours, I decided I needed a break, so I started going through my favorite blogs. I have my normal blog roll, which I read every.single.day, without fail. And then way dooowwwwwnnnn there, bottom left, I have a few special sites that give me goosebumps, every.single.time.i.visit.

Have you ever been to Maillardville Manor?

If not, check it out (after you are done reading this post, though).

I came across her post from the other day where she revealed her new library. And I gasped.
Out loud.
Look at this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful space:

(via)

(via)

I seriously couldn't stop drooling. I have library envy. Big time.

Do you see those curtains off to the left? She made them from two tablecloths. That she bought from Target. On clearance. I read that, and like Speedy Gonzalez (with Isabel in tow), I was out the door and on my way.
I had to have them, and if there was ANY chance that all of the housewives of Queen Creek hadn't taken them, I was going to get them for myself.

I got the LAST four tablecloths.

I've decided to use these "curtains" (along with MM's library) as my inspiration for my formal living and dining rooms. 

Remember these:

Ignore the "It seats eight" wording. I went back to try and find pictures of the two rooms from before we moved and evidently, I never took any shots. So, I used the next best thing - or the only pics I could find. To help set the scene though, the formal living room is at the front of the house, off of the main hallway - and the formal dining room is towards the back of the house. It's one large room, two spaces.

I feel like I'm confusing even myself. lol...I will take a good "before" picture soon enough. 

Anyhow, all this rubbish is to help explain why I bought the last FOUR tablecloths. Each window will need two panels. Each panel is 84" long. Depending on how I hang them, I may need to copy MM and add a bottom border piece in order to reach the floor. We will see.

That's my EXCITING news for the day. I so hope MM feels honored - and not in the mood to file a restraining order for decor. I just love her style... I cannot wait for my own room to take shape!

P.S. I hope my mister likes them. ;)

I'm moving in with Lucille.

Happy Saturday!
I made a get-away today - a whole 4 hours to myself (with no kids & husband in tow), to spend with my mom, my aunts, my grandparents, and my cousins (just the girl ones).

Me, crusin' by myself:

It was our annual Add to our Calendar event. This time it was at Lucille's BBQ (yum!) - our second time there as a group. We meet with our calendars and notebooks and plan out all of our family events for the year; birthday's, Christmas, special day trips - everything. It's a sweet treat for us gals, so we try to pick a nice place to visit.

'Member that movie where that girl lives in a Wal-Mart (Where the Heart is???)  - I want to live in Lucille's. For real. Their service is SLOW.  The food is okay. Their sweet tea and biscuits are divine... But their decor is to die for.

Have you ever been there?!

Is it weird that I took my camera into the bathroom?! I am fascinated by such cool decor.

And I LOVE the bathroom door. I want one!

Look at this tile!! Beautiful!

Get a load of this baby!!

Fishnet Stockings!

We spent 3 whole hours there - talking, planning, and sipping sweet tea. What a lovely Saturday - spent with the some very loverly people!  Thanks for making it fun, peeps!

24 Degrees

No, not a new boy band...
But, oh the possibilities - Jack Bauer?! With back-up singers/dancers?!

No? Moving on.


That's the actual temperature right now (8am - Thursday morning).

I am grumpy.
I hope my plants don't die.
They don't look good.
Some of them didn't look good before the cold weather - but I am sure my landscaper will blame it on the freeze - even though I tried to get him out here before.

I had a great night last night, though! With my Bunco group.
It was Megan's turn and she threw a pajama themed Bunco. And it was also Valentine's Day themed. Two themes. One fun night.

I got home and crashed - and then was woken up by my 15 year old (whom I found on the phone with a GIRL last night at midnight - there's gonna be a fight today!) - he woke up late. I wonder why. So I drove him to school. And there were girls wearing short short shorts. In 24* weather. Really?! Have they not seen the Weather Channel?

Regarding the midnight phone call - all cell phones (of minor children) will now report to me at 8pm.  Each night. They have no need for cell phones (or texting) past then.

Oh how I wish it were Friday. Not too much longer now.
Hopefully I will be in a better mood tomorrow.
But if the temperature gauge thingy (or the Weather Channel) doesn't show 70* and sunny - then I wouldn't put too much stock in it. You know, my mood?!

A moment like this

Keeping our fingers crossed, good things are coming our way.

The husband & I were supposed to get away in December for our anniversary. Due to timing - it never happened. Instead, we've been chatting about where we could possible go this summer.

North Carolina.
Georgia.
Oregon.
California.
Florida.

We called out different states. I immediately took California off of the list... we've been there so many times. I wanted this trip to be special. We never went on a Honeymoon, and this will be our first REAL trip away without the kids (I have guilt already!).

The husband said...What about Hawaii?

Hawaii?? Obviously. It's been a dream of mine for... FOREVER.
I've always thought of going to Hawaii as a big production - you know, a 20 year anniversary trip? - but maybe it doesn't have to be?!

All of a sudden, Kelly Clarkson started singing in my head - this song:

Could we pull this off?!
Costco Travel and other sites like Expedia say that we can.

So for all intensive purposes, it looks like my love bird and I are going to Hawaii! Of course, all of this will feel more real in two weeks when we book it, Dano! (hehe, I love CBS' Hawaii 5-0). And even more real when we are actually on the plane (6 hour flight?!).

So, today being February 1st... We have about 165 days until our trip (give or take a day)! 

I have so much planning to do! We need to open a savings account to start putting away spending money. I need to work on the bikini tankini body. I need to figure out where the kids are going or who's coming to stay with them (hello, mama!).

Have any of you ever been to Hawaii?! Anything you feel like we need to know or go see while we are over there? Do tell!