CUTE

Preparing for my Big Weight Loss Challenge, beginning this Friday at Noon! I'm pretty excited about it. I'm going to be 100% on it, from Friday the 13th, until July 21st. 14 weeks to a better, more curvy, more fit, sexy BODY!
I will be posting my weight loss EVERY Friday!!!!! I can't wait!!!! And, as soon as I've lost 10 pounds, I'm posting a picture. Sexy, fun, don't know.... just some picture showing my success!

Camping - In Tents

Okay, I'm in!

So, camping isn't meant to be done in cabins, or Yurts... or campers, or trailers. Camping is pitching a tent.... dealing with the discomfort of the ground, or.. trying to sleep on an air mattress.. hoping the air doesn't find it's way out. It's about cooking over a fire, or something like that. Telling ghost stories at night, and holding on to the one's you love, if you get scared. It's about getting back to the basics... or, for the kids, learning what "the basics" are. Using public restrooms, public showers (ohhh... could be exciting) lol.... It's about exploring.... nature.

Baby, I'm in. Bring it on! :)

Just tell me this.... Can I bring my favorite, soft comfy's, and blanket? :)

Let's try it. I haven't camped since I was a little girl. I'm in!!!!! I'm ready!!!!

Wednesday

Wednesday.....

Last night I didn't post. Not sure where the time went, but.. I guess I just wasn't in the mood. Had gone out with the family, for dinner. We also went to see Donna and Michelle, to see how they were doing. Michelle is really doing well. I'm very proud of her. When I first met her, I had no idea what she was like, sober. Now, she's full of positive life. It's nice to see. And, I believe that Steve has helped her a lot in so many ways. He's a good, Christian guy. AND, although he's not the best with words (lol)... he means well. I think he's a good friend for her. A real positive influence in her life. YEAH for Michelle. :) You go, girl.

Went home, relaxed. That's about it.

Today, a mystery.....

Oh, and this hump day picture is for my boy, who simply Loves Camels. :)

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.--

My Happy Place...

I'm taking a minute to write a little. I need a break, and this seems to be a good outlet for me. I need a place, where I can just be me. This is it. I can say what I feel, and for some odd reason, once I get it out, even by typing it... I feel a little better. :)

Today has been a little hectic. I have spent some time (this morning) feeling sorry for myself. Then, after I went to see Brooke, my spirits were lifted, and I felt better. Now, I am just relaxing for a minute....


Sunflowers. The one and only flower that I have ever grown. In fact, I grew a small bundle of them. And, I have the worst luck with gardening.. No green thumb here.
However, when I lived in Missouri, I grew some Sunflowers. Who cares, right? Well, I did. I had so much negativity in my life, that I wanted to take time to create something, plant something, so I could feel good, positive... Sunflowers. I was the talk of the neighborhood. I had people stopping all the time, to tell me how beautiful the flowers were. And, they were. And, I felt so good. Such positive energy.... from silly, big, blooming flowers. Soon after they had completely grown, I learned that I would be moving. I was thrilled, and yet, silly as it sounds, I was going to miss those flowers. My neighbor wanted them. I told him they couldn't be moved, or they would die. He insisted, as I needed to clear the flower beds anyway(according to the rules of the base). He took them, and carefully planted them. During the next few days, I watched them droop. They weren't facing the sun, so they didn't make it. :(

But, here's the thing. I did it. I took seeds, planted them, and watched them grow.
To some, no big deal. To me, Huge deal. And it brought me to a happy place.

We can do anything, if we set our minds to it. I have to remember that. I've been so busy telling myself that I can't do it.... and lost the whole Sunflower concept. I have to reset my mind, and remember, I can do anything, if I really want to. No apologies for rambling. THIS is my blogspot. I can ramble all I want!

Whew! What a Day it's been Already!

I think this is a test.. testing, 123.... testing...

My Night sucked, last night -
My morning Sucked. Fist time I overslept in forever....

Then, I arrive at work safely. THAT was nice.

And then - BOOM! My phone rings. I see that it's Brooke's school. Ut-oh. She, by far - is my Drama Baby. SO, I figure she needs something. (lol) Of course she does! The poor baby has torn her favorite jeans, IN THE CROTCH!!! So, I have to take a VERY early lunch, and travel back to PA to save my munchkin, who sits patiently, waiting for Mommy to save the day. So, I arrive at the School, sign in, and go directly to the Nurses Office. We hurry into the Bathroom, and she begins to cry. I felt it. I wanted to cry with her. She's having a bad day, too. I totally get it. I relate to her so well. SO, I hug her, and make her laugh. I do what I can to turn it around, and I did it. She started by wanting to go home. She was upset and embarrassed that the kids knew she tore her jeans. I told her it would be okay, and I played with her hair, told her she was beautiful, and blew her face dry. We both laughed, right there, in the bathroom. She was good as new. And, it made the whole trip worth it. Little did she know, I needed that hug at least as much as she did. NOW, I feel a lot better. And I think she does, too.

Tuesday Morning

I had a rough night's sleep last night. At 3 a.m. , I was wide awake. Going over my life, in my head. Trying to figure things out, that really don't need to be figured out at 3 a.m. My head was so full of thoughts, and I couldn't make them go away. Apparently, somehow, I feel back to sleep. When my alarm clock went off this morning, I shut it off. Or something.... And, next thing I know, it's 7:00 a.m. One hour later than my usual wake up time. NO coffee in bed... no wake up time with the news... I jumped out of bed & right into the shower... NOT a fun way to start my day. Everything was so rushed. And, of course, Brandon was late because of me being late. Drill Seargent Mommy kicked in, and we all made it on time! *Whew! Of course I had to drive him to school. That, I don't mind :).

I hope today is a good day. It's not been the best morning...... *Sigh

Monday Evening

Brooke is home. I'm glad about that. She's actually right next to me on the couch. She's fallen asleep. It was a very busy weekend for her. When I pulled in the driveway, she came running out of Lisa's house. She was thrilled to see me. I felt the same about seeing her. As always, when I'm apart from the kids for a few days, they always come home looking a little bit older. More grown up, than when they left. I can't believe how quickly they're growing.

When we got in, I made dinner for the kids. I wasn't in the mood to eat. I still felt a little full from lunch. Fred wasn't home. He was in the shop, having a few drinks with his other wife, Jim. :P

I had all these plans to walk, go to the gym, go to Yoga class... but all of the sudden, I felt really sick to my stomach (again). Sometimes I think it's my nerves, sometimes I don't know. I worry a lot about things. Now, I'm just trying to relax. I'm just not feeling so well, physically.

The kids are back to school tomorrow. It seems like they've been off forever.

I'm not so much in the mood to write anymore tonight. It's a blue Monday evening.... I hope to get to bed nice and early. I look forward to a bright, beautiful day, tomorrow.

Good Night.

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.
Henry David Thoreau

Monday

Here we are again! A new beginning, to a new week! I feel well rested, and ready to take on the 'bats'. (lol)

What a nice weekend it was!!! I had a nice time with the family. I only wish that my hubby felt better. He was feeling down. I think every Holiday season, he feels sad. I guess a lot of it has to do with his childhood. Even if he doesn't realize it, I can see it in him. So, I always do my best to make it nice for him. :)

Mom and Dad came for Dinner last night. Fred made a wonderful Dinner! Me, well... I made a great treat! Strawberry Daiquiri's! YUM!!! I think that was only about the 2nd time in my life that I had an alcoholic drink in front of my parents. (LOL) Weird..... I am 39! It was nice though. :)

I got a beautiful Silver Charm Bracelet for Easter. :) Now I can start my own bracelet of memories. :) I'm very excited about that. I can't wait to search for charms now. Fun stuff!!!!!

Oops! Line of Students!!!!

Fun for the day ~

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!


If you are reading this, you must know one thing. You are a very special person in my life. I have only shared this blogspot with a small amount of people. So, if you are one of them, know - you are loved!


On this Easter Sunday, I did my usual Sunday morning "Postsecret" in bed... with my coffee. I really enjoy that.
While Fred was getting coffee, I hurried out of bed and grabbed his little basket. I stuck it on his side of the bed. :) With a card. I think he liked it. :)

It's funny.... Brooke is away, and Brandon is sleeping. He also has Justin over. And, even though things aren't like they were when the kids were little, and believed in the Easter Bunny, I still feel excited to see them look for eggs, and find their baskets waiting for them. Brooke called me this morning. She had just finished looking for eggs at Lisa's, and she seemed to have had a lot of fun. Lisa even hid a basket for her. I appreciate that she was so sweet, and treats Brooke so special. Now, they're off to Church. I hope they have a great day.

Fred woke Brandon up. Wanted to see if he was ready to look for eggs.... he wasn't (lol). See, a huge sign that he's growing up. *sigh. Well, instead, I've been running all over the place chasing the cats. Seems they've found some of the plastic eggs that are filled with coins. (lol) I've got one cat rolling the egg down the stairs, and the other one busting an egg open, leaving change all over the floor. Never a dull moment.

Well, this has been my morning so far - and it's only 10 a.m. :)

The rest of the day is a celebration. And, I'll post more tonight.

Saturday in Philadelphia With the Guys!

Well!!! Today was a very fun day!!! I had the pleasure of going into Philadelphia with Fred, Brandon, and Justin. A day out with the guys!!!! We went in to see the Mutter Museum. It's a very strange, yet highly educational Museum that was created, and owned by the Philadelphia College for Physicians. It was Bizarre!!! Most of the stuff in there was real!!! Ewwwwwwwwww.....LMAO @ me when we were out to eat and I asked Fred what the Fetus's in a bottle were made of... (Wax?) No!!!!!!!!!!! They were REAL. It was weird. I had just finished telling Brandon and Justin that most of the things in there were real. I guess it was just so hard to believe. Well, to make a long story short (YES, even I can do that once in awhile... it was pretty cool. :)

After that, we went to the Spaghetti Warehouse. That place is so neat. I think the boys really enjoyed it. They played Video games, and really had a nice time. The food was Okay, but the atmosphere was really cool & Nice.

Now, we're home. We ran out to the Grocery Store to grab some stuff for Dinner tomorrow. I look forward to having my parents over. I do miss Brooke though. :(

PICTURE OF THE WEEK!

I know. This is not the most creative picture of the week. BUT, it does represent this time of year, in celebration of Easter. Also, my family and I have always hand painted Easter eggs. The past two years, we did not. However, we will resume with our tradition, next year. We all agreed that we missed doing it, and don't want to give up on something as special as that. So, this picture of the week makes me smile. It means a lot.

Well, here we are!!! Me and my Boo Boo, out to lunch. I'm still not feeling very well. Not sure this was the best choice (But, I let Brandon choose). We went to "Cheeburger Cheeburger". It's a cute, 50's style Restaurant. Milk Shakes, etc.... fun! Now, we're home.... and I'm trying to relax a bit.

Eat Chocolate!! Live A Litte!

"In most parts of the world chocolate is associated with romance, and not without with good reason. It was viewed as an aphrodisiac by the Aztec's who thought it invigorated men and made women less inhibited. So when it was first introduced to Europe, it was only natural that chocolate quickly became the ideal gift for a woman to receive from an admirer or a loved one, and of course, vice versa"

Friday is here! Let's Celebrate!

How should I celebrate this Good Friday? hmmmmmmm I think I'll spend it with my son! :) YES! That's exactly what I'm going to do. Work? Well, I woke up this morning feeling so horrible in my tummy. I think that I was poisoned by that pizza (lol) no joke!!!! But, I don't want to waste a day like this, moaning about a sour stomach!

So, I'm going to stretch, shower, and make a beautiful day with Brandon! He and I never have any time, just the two of us. Yes! That's my plan.

Don't forget, today is FRIDAY! I'm going to post my picture of the week - sometime today!!!! (lol @ Myself). Hey, this is fun for me! Express yourself!!! It feels great!

"Love One Another" on this Thursday...and every day.

Today was a busy day. Tonight, a busy night!!! We had an appointment to look at a house at 6:00 p.m. All I can say about it is - WOW. Not only does it make me feel even more grateful for the home I have, it allowed me to take a peek into a very sad, and unhealthy family's life. We went tonight with the idea that we might be able to buy this house "as is", and make it a beautiful place, for a nice, happy family in need of a decent home. This place was so filthy, and full of deep, darkness, and bad feelings.... I can't even explain it. The place was so horrible. There was brown drips, dried up, all along the walls. It was there from years and years of cigarette smoking in the house. There were holes in the walls, the carpet was full of grunge. I mean it, I have never seen such a bad place. You'd never know, from the outside. The people were in the house. It was almost sad seeing them. I think they were drug addicts or something. Very strange feeling in that house.
Needless to say, we're not buying the house. I can't stop thinking about it. It was so strange. wow........
Fun stuff (on the other hand). I taught Fred something tonight. Usually he's teaching me something. Especially if it's something from the Bible. I taught him what Maundy Thursday is. I told him about it, and showed him things about it. I enjoyed teaching him something new. He was impressed. :) And, I was happy to share.
What else? Well, we went out for pizza. It wasn't very tasty. However, I was thrilled to eat Pizza. (lol) I've been eating low carb for awhile. ANY pizza tastes yummy. lol!!!
It's now after 9:00 p.m. - Tomorrow I will go to work, and then do some Easter "goodie" shopping. A very close friend of mine reminded me how important it is to celebrate.... hide eggs, enjoy. And it's true.... no matter the age, it's a beautiful thing, to take a few moments, be a kid again. Live life like there's no tomorrow..... and, I plan on doing just that. :)

Pets.... Our furry family Members.....

I feel so sad For Eveline. She was just on the phone with her Vet. I could hear sadness in her voice, so I looked over at her. She could hardly hold herself together. :( Her dog is sick, with a Brain tumor - and needs to be put to sleep. When she began to cry, I just wanted to go and hug her really tight. But, I know she needed her space. I Feel sad for her, and their family. Pets are so special. They are wonderful additions to a family. They love you, no matter what. They are non judgemental. They love, unconditionally. I am sorry for what Eveline is going through. I really am.

Curves Rule....

Who ever said "THIN IS IN"
I say, Curvy rules.

Embrace a curvy body....... :)

Thursday! Freezing Cold ~ BUT still... A Sunny Day!

Good Morning.... What a beautiful day it is today! I think I slept well last night, because for the moment, I have this incredible burst of energy. I'm keeping it very LOW key, here in the office. WHY? Because once these bats know I'm in an especially happy mood, they'll try to bust my bubble. Shhhhhhhhhhh....... :)

Anyway, I hope for nothing but goodness on this fine day. Nothing special, just goodness.

Quiet night....

Nice, quiet evening. Went out for Dinner. It was nice. I guess all this running around is finally catching up to me. I look and feel exhausted. I really look forward to a nice, cozy night's sleep. Tomorrow, I will be back at the 'stuffy' office. Well, the week is almost over. :)

Not much to say. I guess I've reached (or over exteneded) my quota of words for the day.

Sleep well - tomorrow is a mystery. Sweetest of dreams.

Happy Wednesday!

Yes, we're 1/2 way through the work week! Looking forward to a fun filled weekend! Although I feel like we should celebrate each and every day, I must admit..... I love the weekends!!!! But, until then... Happy Hump Day! WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON - Busy busy busy! Is it Friday yet? :)
Today would have been a perfect day to stay in my comfy's and watch movies in bed!!! Yeah... nice! I'm daydreaming! lol. Seriously, it's a good day for something like that. Instead, I'm sitting here behind my desk.... working away! *sigh..

Getting Brooke Ready For Wildwood

Busy night!!! Brooke leaves for Wildwood tomorrow!! It will be the beginning of a season of beach weekends for her with her best friend, Lindsey. She is quite fortunate to have Spring Break, and a best friend who spends weekends at the beach house! I am up late tonight packing for my little munchkin. I'll miss her when she's gone, but I'm thrilled that she has this opportunity to spend so much time at the NJ Shore! She loves it!!! I hope she has an awesome time!!!! We'll be thinking of her, smiling. :) As for me... ANOTHER late night. I'm a busy girl, in a busy world! I keep on going and going.... sorta like the energizer Bunny!

Fun Fact.... The Bumble Bee lives an average of one year. A pretty bumble bee came in my office today through the window. All attempts to save him/her failed, and it died up in the lights. :( This prompted me to look up their lifespan. - Just a fun fact about this fuzzy buzzing bee.

Tuesday

Well..... Here we are again! Sometimes I feel like I never leave this place. I arrived here this morning to see Lot's of pouty, grumpy faces. I wish these women would go ahead and break out their 'toys' or something. It's frustrating to come in to such a cranky office. I refuse to let the misery ooze over to my area! Life is too short to frown all the time. I am totally convinced that I was put on this earth to love, be loved, and be fun, silly, happy, and so forth. :o) So, despite the cranks around me, I am happy to be alive, and happy to be here. In case I don't mention it enough (although I think I do), I appreciate my job, and the benefits it brings both me, and my family. I am so grateful to have such a nice job, with such good job security.

Monday Evening

After coming home from a long day at work, having dinner, taking a walk with the kids, doing homework with Brooke, and running out for a bit - I have to say, I am completely exhausted! Sleepy sleepy girl! Monday's are usually the most difficult for me. But, this one was especially long & busy!!!! This little snuggly bear needs some rest <3

“Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.”—Romans 12:10

Monday Monday....So good to me!

What a Morning! (whew)...... Passports, check! I finally got the kids passports taken care of. I am so grateful to the nice man in the post office!!! He really went out of his way for me. That was a prime example of how you get more bee's with honey. When Brandon pointed out to me that the passport window didn't open until 10:00 a.m. .... lol. What else could go wrong! We showed up at 7:45 a.m. and the place didn't open until 8:30 a.m. Good thing Dunkin' Donuts was around the corner.. and then this!!! lol. So, I had a little meeting with the kids while waiting to go into the post office. I told them how important it is to be nice, and good to people. That, not only is it the way to be, but it can sometimes help you when you need it most. In this case, PASSPORTS! Matt, the passport man could have gotten into a lot of trouble by doing us that favor. However, I put no pressure on him. I think he just saw that we were in a bind. Good people...they know what it's like. I appreciated his help a lot. There's no telling when I'd get the opportunity to get there again. I am so relieved. Huge pressure lifted! Now, on to the next thing.

Getting in shape for my swimsuit!!! Last night, after I posted my "blog" for the evening - The kids and I went Walking in the Rain! We laughed, and walked really fast. It was fun!!! Once we realized that it was way to rainy, and we were getting soaked... we ran into the gym to finish up. Each of us jumped on a machine, and worked out a bit. I really love the way I feel when I exercise. Even though I dread the thought of it (before I go), I always feel better once I've finished. :)

Ooops! I better get to work! Post more later!

April Showers....

What a cool and rainy day!!! I was really looking forward to a beautiful, sunny day today. Yesterday was chilly too! Brrr.. I hear that it's Spring, I'm just not feeling it yet!!!

This sexy little woman to my right is representing today's forecast!!! She doesn't look like she minds the rain!!! So, it's a little message to me.. It's all what you make of it!

I took advantage of this day, and started out with my regular thing... POSTSECRET! Every Sunday morning I read the new secrets. Every week, there's at least one that stands out. Today, there were a few. I can relate. Sometimes that makes me happy, and sometimes It makes me sad. BUT, either way, it reminds me that we're all human, and some of us share similar feelings, or thoughts. It's nice to know that we're not alone. It's refreshing to me. I really enjoy the Postsecret website. It's a lovely way to begin my day.

The rest of the day was gloomy. It's okay, though. My hubby and I had some good laughs this morning. It felt so nice. If life was always full of smiles and laughter, I'd be the happiest girl in town. I felt so warm and cozy. It was nice. Being silly (which was what we were laughing about) is my specialty. I love to be silly. It's the next best feeling to being sexy. Sexy, Silly, and fun. My 3 favorites!!!!! So, this morning was cool. I posted a couple of my silly pics, so that when I'm feeling down - my own smiles and silly face will remind me that life is good. :)

Today was ok. And, despite the ugly weather -- we ventured out to enjoy the last day off before we head back to work. We checked out a few "Open Houses". I enjoyed the houses, but I'm thinking that it might be best to wait a little bit longer, before we buy. Lots of reasons..... yeah. Not sure I'm ready to buy. But, it's always good to get out there to see what's going on. I like to keep up with the market. You never know... it's always good to be prepared!!!!
I felt sexy this weekend. I've been up, and I've been down. This weekend, I felt sexy. It was nice. I pretty much kept it to myself.... but I felt good. Everywhere!!!! :) *smiles. I'm not ready for the weekend to be over. What can you do.... Time waits for nobody. It just moves on, and passes quickly. Ready, or not. Sometimes, that scares me...... but not much I can do about that.