a lackluster performance...

I love to look through blogs...the cute ones, the crafty ones, the organized ones, the ones that make me feel totally inadequate, and the ones that make me think "I can do that!".  And as I'm looking through these blogs, I always think that I need to log back into my blog and become committed to it.  So, I log in (almost forgetting my password because it's been so long) and I laugh because I had no idea that it had been THAT long since I posted anything.  Not that anyone reads this thing anyway, but still...  September of last year since I posted and only five for the entire year of 2011.  And now we already have three months gone into 2012.  Not much to post?  Oh, there's plenty going on in this life of mine!  Maybe nothing profound?  Or maybe lack of commitment to writing?  As I was growing up, I loved to write, especially when I was down.  It made me feel like someone was listening to me.  If I got mad, I went straight to my "journal" (because calling it a diary was so third grade).  I would write story after story (and now wish I had some of those stories to look back and laugh).  And then there's the poetry!  Oh, the many poems I wrote, even through college (and I do have some of those).  So I thought that a blog would be the perfect way to write again, but I have not been committed at all!  Or maybe it's that I haven't been organized...  (Oh, man!  Can someone help me organize my life?) Whatever the reason, I haven't been writing.  It's been a lackluster performance.  I'd love to write at this moment that I'll do better, but then I would be really embarrassed if it's not until August when I post again.  So, I'll just say that I'll try.  That's what I'll do.  So for the two people who have ever come across this blog or ever attempt to read my ramblings...I'll try to do better.  Until...

infomercial addict

I have an addiction to late nights and with that comes late night television.  Now, most of you know that there is next to nothing on tv late at night, except for infomercials.  You know the ones...Call within the next 15 seconds, and we'll double the offer for free!  Well, I am the reason those people stay in business.  Seriously...knife sets, blenders, exercise equipment, videos, eating plans, and now...a bra.  That's right, I bought the ahh bra.


In my defense, I didn't buy it from the television.  It was more of an impulse buy from the As Seen On TV section in the local supercenter.  I saw it sitting there on the top shelf, and it practically jumped into my cart.  Okay...that's a lie.  I carefully looked around to see if anyone was watching, and I nonchalantly reached up to grab the box so I could quickly wheel away and look at the packaging.  It just so happened that the box that I grabbed was in my size, so I threw it in the cart.  When I got home, I quickly took it out of the box, disposed of the evidence, tried it on...and was sorely disappointed.


Perhaps if I were a petite woman with little going on in the chest area, I would think it were fabulous, but I am not that girl.  Nope.  They mention in the informercial that it gives so much support that they can exercise in it.  No way.  It gives shape.  Not so much.  The one positive that I have to say is it's comfortable.  It might be one that I would wear around the house if I have no plans to leave, but to go out in public...I'd rather not.


So, there it is...my opinion.  I need to learn one of these days that just because they say it's the solution to all of your problems on tv, does not make it so once it's in your home.  Ahh well.

trash to treasure

First, since I haven't posted since before we went to the Bahamas, I wanted to say that it was an amazing trip!  More than we dreamed of!  Absolutely incredible!  Here we are during our dolphin excursion.

And now for my trash to treasure...

I'm horrible about upkeep to my car, so when it started shaking once I got up to highway speed, I knew that I needed to do something about it.  Not only was my balance off, but also the back two tires were practically bald...not a good thing when I had plans to drive out of town on Sunday.  The tire place could fit me in on Saturday morning, so I woke up early and headed in to drop it off.  Knowing that my hubby got back in the wee hours of the morning from DJing a dance, I didn't wake him to give me a ride back home while waiting, so I walked to my office.  On the way there, I passed a garage sale and found a sewing cabinet that had great potential, and it only cost me $1.

I was so excited about it and had some time to work on it while waiting for my car to be finished that I got started right away.  I wiped it down (and found a few spiders in the process) and removed the pulls.  I had black spray paint left over from a previous project and had some cool knobs that I bought at Hobby Lobby when they were on sale for a different project.  I lined the drawers and the top with a zebra wrapping paper that I bought for another project, so I had everything on hand.  And this is what I ended up with...

I absolutely love the transformation!  This is by far my favorite trash to treasure project!  It has totally inspired me to do many more.  I have a few end tables in my house that have seen better days.  I can't wait to see what I can do with them.

the time is now...

Wow!  Since December I've been working on earning a trip through Arbonne, and at the end of May, I did it!  Now, after months of anticipation, we leave for the Bahamas!  It's time!  How exciting!  I've never been to a beach before.  My kids have never been on a plane before (that they remember).  And it's been nine years since we've gone anywhere further than Texas.  It's so surreal!


So, what am I doing up just over two hours from when we're supposed to leave.  Things that I procrastinated at over the past couple of weeks.  Don't get me wrong...I've done a lot to prepare for this trip.  I started packing bags a week ago.  We've secured people to take care of our animals and watch our house.  (Of course, since we're farm headquarters, someone is here all the time anyway.)  It's all the little things that I hadn't done.  Like clean out my purse and pack my carryon bag.  And choose a carryon bag.  :)  Update my ipod and my phone.  Making sure I haven't forgotten anything.  Cleaning up the house so it's not a complete mess when we get back.


When we get back, summer will be officially over in our house.  School starts the day that we come home, so the boys will miss the first day of school, but what's better than a first day of school picture in the Bahamas?  I can't think of a thing!

my new friend...the wonton wrapper...

Oh, how I crack myself up.  I talk in one post of how disappointed I am about not writing in my blog and how I'll do better.  Then the next post is seven months later.  I've totally redeemed myself...NOT!  (I'm a child of the 80s/90s, so I can still use that "not" like that, right?)


I won't waste the time trying to catch up.  A lot can happen in seven months time.  So, I'll just jump in as if I haven't been absent.


Here goes:


For those of you that know me, I am not a grand cook.  Often, people think that I'm lying about this, but I'm totally not.  Yes, my mother was an excellent cook and baker, but I did not inherit these genes.  I don't enjoy it, so why try to kindle a love for something that you know you don't?


However, having a home business, two growing boys, and a husband who works nonstop but loves to eat, it's a necessary evil, so I've been trying to find a database of go-to recipes that I can easily make.  One that I found, tried, and loved was from kevinandamanda.com (which has tons of recipes and free fonts, too, like the ones found in my header).  As soon as I saw the picture for mini lasagna cups, I knew I had to try them.  And let me tell you, it was a crowd pleaser!  That is, with the exception of my oldest son who is the pickiest eater in the world, but with a few alterations, I know he'll learn to love them, too.  Of course, to try and fool him into liking them, I called them cheesy sausage wontons.  I know he doesn't like lasagna, and I know he doesn't like hamburger, so I omitted those words.  All was well until his little brother said, "Hey, I thought you said something about having lasagna."  That's all it took to make him stop eating.

After filling up my muffin tins, I decided to experiment with the leftover wonton wrappers.  I had never used them before.  They are my new friend!  In my mini muffin pan, I put the remaining wrappers in the tin and added goodies.  In one group, I added peanut butter and chocolate syrup.  In another, we had butterscotch chips and chocolate syrup.  And the favorite of the night was peanut butter and blackberry jam.  YUM!  Why have I never used these little wonders before?  I can imagine so many possibilities!

How about you?  What do you put in your wonton wrappers?  And do you have a picky eater?  How are you able to please them?

happy 2011!

Happy New Year!
Okay, so maybe I'm a week late.  I hope yours was a great one.


So, I've been beating myself up.  It's the time for new beginnings, but it seems that I can't get over my past.  Not necessarily about things that I've done but rather things that I haven't done.  I haven't followed up with people as quickly or as often as I initially planned to.  I haven't kept up with systems that I put in place.  I'm constantly trying to get organized and have yet another failed attempt.  I have so many plans in place and then just don't get them done.  And yet another...I'm going to write on this blog on a regular basis.


But...I'm not going to beat myself up anymore.  When I logged on, I realized that I doubled my amount of posts last year from the year before.  That's a definite improvement.  I'm constantly working on becoming a better me.  Some days I succeed.  Other days...not so much.  So, I'll just keep on working on me and hopefully become the person that God wants me to be.


Today may have been a fail, but I got things accomplished, so it wasn't a total fail.  I'm going to focus on the positive.


I'll list my new year's goals another time...that is, if i return to the blog in the near future.    If I don't, it's all good.  :)

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