Creative Mess

Typical German Breakfast

2010-03-20T04:52:00.001-05:00

German Continental Breakfast, originally uploaded by my_amii.

And it is fantastic!
Especially for those of use who don't prefer sweets in the morning.
It consists of cold cuts, cheese, fresh bread, soft boiled eggs that are always in their cute little cups, a bit of vegtables and what is not pictured is sometimes, honey, nutella and/or marmelade for your bread also.

Oh and coffee! German love their coffee.

UPDATE-- I'm back!

2010-01-23T10:29:00.000-05:00

update your links
I am moving
www.paigetyler.typepad.com

Just don't have the blogging feeling!

2009-10-19T21:10:00.002-05:00

I have several things I need to blog about...but the fact is I just don't want too!!

It will come back to me soon, it always does. Right now I have so much on my plate that the extra 30 minutes it takes to put together a blog post just doesn't make sense right now.

We are getting ready to move to Germany (Keith in December and the kids and I in Jan.), we have to get this house ready to rent and then actually rent it. I have a craft show coming up and this is my 'busy' season with swanky graffiti. The kids school work and activities take up a lot of time! And my prepacking and To Do list for the move is pages long.

So, I will be back when I can breath again.
I do facebook though!
you and find me there at Paige Hawkinson Tyler

Mexico, Projects

2009-09-13T19:17:00.002-05:00

As promised here is the pics of Mexico and the cruise.....

Our boat

view from our room

Keith and I at dinner

Elegant Night

Capital City of Progresso-- Meridia

We went to Mass on accident

Vinyl has been driving me crazy lately. Some days I hate it so much that I feel like I am going to lose my mind. Been playing around with other stuff to help break up the monotony.
Fabric coaster and oilcloth lunch sacks for instance....I don't know why I dream up such stuff.

Keith is turning 40 soon and we are leaving for Hawaii in less than 2 weeks!
Can't wait!!!

What's Up

2009-08-13T10:41:00.003-05:00

Just a few things!
Pictures of Mexico coming soon
But I did want to put up the things I am doing around the house and my birthday stuff.

Pottery Barn sells this for $329
I made one last night and put it up on Etsy

My new coffee table that we bought at an Austin boutique--- love it because it is long and skinny.

And I need to sell alot of the above item to help pay for it! =)

I got my new chairs...well, they aren't exactly new. They are old but have been recovered. They are soooo comfortable and I LOVE them.

And for my birthday, Keith spoiled me! Besides the 5 day party to Mexico
I got a pair of goat-skin boots.

And a Kindle- which I am now completely addicted to!

Must work for the next few weeks pretty hard! But I will be back soon!!

Working on a few things lately

2009-07-24T14:39:00.001-05:00

I have had many projects in the works but here are a few of my favorites things I have been working on.

And my absolute favorite

Homecommings!

2009-07-13T08:57:00.002-05:00

In June I went to every single homecoming no matter what time they occured. It was interesting for sure. Keith was the last one so it worked out great.

Have a few pics to share

This is of the family waiting for Keith to arrive at the gym.

This is me jumping the gun and running towards Keith even though the General is not done speaking...but really, he was on his last sentence because I heard the speech 6 times.

I am glad he is home!

Getting Excited

2009-06-23T11:00:00.003-05:00

Keith is due home in 2 days and we are all getting excited. I am trying to get all my orders whipped out so I can have some downtime but it is not in my favor. Keith would say, "get those orders done!" being the hard charger that he is.

Tomorrow we have a flight of soldiers coming in that I will be attending and then I have to leave to go get Brittlyn in Austin. In the meantime, my house is looking beautiful!

Here is some pictures of Jadyn's room with the shelf that I bought several weeks ago. It looks cool!

And her bedside table is my favorite! I thought I would take a picture of it while you can still see the top of it! She just got home after being gone for a month and I did some serious cleaning and purging in her room. though it did not take long for her to spread out her suitcase all over the floor and be a tad bit messy AGAIN!

Spiffing up the house

2009-06-12T15:16:00.002-05:00

Got a lot to do in a short amount of time and the backporch was bugging me.
So I finally decided to do something about it since it is the place where all company hangs out and I spend many hours out there! I love it, so I should make it reflect that, right???

Well I have no Before pictures, but trust me...it was not pretty!

But here is an overview of it now

I mainly found homes for everything that needed one! And filled all the empty flowers pots that I have accumulated.

The 5 flower pots I have on my porch all got living things put into them!

Then they were arranged to look nice and make sure the cats stay out of them.

Then all the magazines that I love to read on the porch where put into this basket along with all my writing utensils for when inspiration hits. I wish I had a little bench to get this off the ground but that will happen in the near future when I find one I like.

I also made this chalkboard for the back wall on the porch. Many of you would have expected the old standard of a Texas Star to go up there, but I am intrigue with chalkboards lately-- made a little welcome home sign for Keith.

I also put up some Tiki torches around the rock work. A friend has them and I swear, it makes a huge difference with the bugs!

I also replanted some flowerbeds and other pots that are not on the porch-- have to make the yard look good and pretend that it always has since Keith left!! I will be buying a misting fan today for the porch also since the temperature is already hovering around 100 degrees--- even with the ceiling fan out there- it just doesn't cut it. Oh, you all are going to be begging to sit on this porch with me!

Made the coolest sign this last week-- It is a 12x12 board with a 6-4 Cav theme. I have about a million ideas for other themes I am going to work on. It would be cool to have several of these and line them up on a wall.

What to wear to a Rodeo

2009-06-08T00:03:00.002-05:00

First, you must have the biggest necklace you can find. This is Texas after all. Mine is a horseshoe and sometimes I don't think it is big enough.

And then you must have the boots. They say these Frye's will last me the rest of my life. I might need to get them resoled when I am 60. Let's hope so.

Zucchini, Father's Day and Vinyl

2009-06-07T11:56:00.002-05:00

Lot to cover since it has been a while.
Not a lot of motivation lately even though this is the month I need to get some. Keith should be home in just a few short weeks.

The garden has been a raging success so far this year! I have zucchini everywhere and we are eating it EVERYDAY!

The tomatoes are popping out everywhere

The zucchini are always stockpiled in the my kitchen

So far I have made a half dozen loaves of zucchini bread

And some Zucchini boats

We even grill it everyday on the new Father's Day present!

I sent Keith a couple pictures of it to show him what is waiting when he gets home. Bridger and I have had plenty of good meals off it already.

I did a job a couple weeks ago that I thought turned out cool....

Working

2009-05-17T16:01:00.003-05:00

Just finished a pretty big project this week for Buy the Hour Interiors. I am pleased with how well it turned out.

I did 7 or 8 windows total and I got very intimate with those bushes in front. This is the cutest business which you can check out at:
www.buythehourinteriors.com

Just have a couple more days to wrap everything up so I can leave on my trip to Nebraska. Both kids are flying to different family members so I had to get cell phones hooked up today. Never imagined that I would be buying them cells so soon. Bridger's is better than mine now!!
I have meetings, vinyl orders, cleaning and packing to attend too so I probably won't report back here until the end of the month.
Off to have a good time!

Blog World Yumminess

2009-05-17T15:44:00.002-05:00

Here is what I have for great blog ideas!!!

There are a few people in my life who are going to get these!!! I can't wait!
http://tuesdayswithmolly.blogspot.com/2009/04/chalkboard-plates.html

I have enough corks to make one of these I think.

http://thefabmissb.blogspot.com/2009/04/diy-cork-board.html

I am in love with these flowers

http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com/2009/05/fabric-flower-tutorials.html

I think I am hormonal and other loveliness

2009-05-09T14:01:00.004-05:00

because I feel karate chopping anyone who crosses my path these days! Don't worry if you see me around, just smile real big and I will resist the urge. So today I am going to share some loveliness on my blog because that is what I want to be...full of grace and loveliness. (I have a lot of learn)

This week I helped out a friend who was in a hard spot and actually had a real job for 5 hours. She has a store and sells my Wall Words in it and I just love the way she packaged them. They look like a bowl of candy! So I took a few pictures while I was on duty.

Can you see the bowl? I actually think it is a handmade mother of pearl sink that is holding them. All on this cute bed with handmade linens....

Get a closer look

And even closer...the tags tell what is inside.

Isn't super cute? When what you sell sometimes looks like trash, this is a refreshing way to give it more value...must keep it in mind!

On to other loveliness (I am really trying to convice myself that everything in the world today is beautiful!!)
Look what I got!

My neighbor and friend Elizabeth brought over the present and her timing was impeccable. It was one of THOSE days and when I came home from eating dinner with a friend to complain about everything, this is what greeted me. I love these kind of presents. A little of everything in a beautiful bucket!! Awesome!!! Thank You Lizzie!!!!

We also went shopping together and picked up this little number (well it is not so little) for Jadyn's room. It is awesome!! A headboard redone as a shelf.

I can't wait to hang it!!!

Awesomeness in the blog world

2009-05-02T10:06:00.002-05:00

http://theletteredcottage.blogspot.com/2009/04/dropcloth-drapes.htmlThese curtains are definitely going to happen in Bridger's room.

Taco Soup yumminess

Being a thoughtful housewife-- interesting

Torn up

2009-05-02T00:59:00.001-05:00

Today I am weepy. Weepy meaning that I will cry at pretty much anything. While driving my 40 mile round trip to Temple to pick up with kids, I found myself crying to a song on the radio. Halo by Beyonce’. I don’t care for Beyonce’ but I couldn’t turn the channel because I was caught up In the words of the song. I was thinking about the past, which I can’t change but have wonder why certain thing happen the way they do.

I was thinking to myself…who lives this life?? This is CRAZY

I have been without my husband for over 10 months and I still have 2 more to go. This is deployment number FIVE or SIX…I can’t seem to remember but I do know this. Keith has been away from me for years and I am left with trying to live, grow our family and to be strong and frankly, I am tired and feeling a bit inadequate.

He didn’t call me today and when he doesn’t that only means that something bad has happened AGAIN and the phones are shut down until the families have been notified. It makes me so sad that another family is being put through hell…and for what? I don’t know anymore. I tried to explain to the kids tonight that we love our country so much that we will give up having a dad and when he does finally get home that we shouldn’t expect the same person that left. I told them that he has seen some horrible things and it will take a while before it all gets back to normal. Army says expect at least another year until normalcy occurs--- I say WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT

This deployment has been like no other and I just pray that we get a reprieve for just a little while so these kids remember where they came from. It has been difficult to say the least and it is hard to understand if you don’t live the lifestyle yourself. Most people are sick to death of hearing about Iraq or Afghanistan…but with all that said, I don’t think I would change it if I were given a chance. Only because Keith loves it and he was born to do it. I love the adventures, but I despise the loneliness that accompanies it and I don’t care for the pain of families torn up because of their soldier’s bravery. It is such a fine balance.

A year ago I remember going to the Brigades departing ceremony and thinking to myself, “not all these soldiers are going to come back home” and damn it…this time I hate being right.

Things I am inspired by lately...

2009-04-28T20:09:00.002-05:00

Love these little houses. I think they are made by paper piecing and some paint and they are mega cute!

This little cutie is just hand sewn onto some linen that is probably stretched over canvas or a wood frame.

So cute and soooo simple

And this frame is such a knock off of mine!! But that is OK-- still think they are cute. And now I will be inspired to make more of MINE and put them up here! they are chunkier than this frame and the picture hole is a tad bigger.

Tan Lines

2009-04-28T20:03:00.004-05:00

I have been thinking about mine for the last 3 days because apparently I am going to have some strange ones!

I am soooo going to Mexico this summer again and I have no problem laying on the beach in a swimming suit and face mask if I have too. What a girl needs to do have a little fun every once in awhile!

Worn

2009-04-18T10:34:00.002-05:00

Elliptical on Tuesday
Stairmaster on Wednesday
Zumba class on Thursday
Water h2O class on Friday
Spin class on Saturday

And so many orders that my head is spinning.....
equals TIRED and WORN OUT but HAPPY!!!

Updates and Master Bedroom redo

2009-04-12T20:40:00.002-05:00

Wow...I am going on a month with nothing on this blog. I just go through these moods where I just don't feel like it. But its not like I am sitting around doing nothing these days either!

I had a spring craft show that I needed to pull somethings together for and that kept me going for several weeks, besides accomplishing internt and local orders. The show wasn't all that great so I probably won't be jumping into any future spring shows in the future. Fall is the best time for all that work!

Keith's grandfather also passed away which was terribly sad. I did a Red Cross message for him even though I knew there was no way he was coming home. The Red Cross are the official people who verify everything to make sure it is true and send a message to let the Chain of Command know what is going on. When the Red Cross asked me the name of Keith's grandfather all I could say was "Papa Baucom." Then I was embarrassed and told them to ask for "Mr. Baucom because the entire time I knew him, his name was Papa to me. Well they wouldn't go for it! Can you believe that? So I had to call back later and get it all straighten out.

Then my sister came to visit and we had a good time shopping and hanging out with friends. It took nearly 3 days to recover from that!
She has pictures up at her blog
www.stickygraffiti.blogspot.com

So now onto the Master Bedroom redo--- by looking at past pictures I realized that my bedroom really needed an update...so slowly but surely I think I have pulled it together. Everything in this bedroom we have aquired since living here in Texas. In the most ideal situation I would be painting the walls...but I don't feel like it! And we are leaving this house in a short time anyhow. So I concentrated on all the things that could move with us.

First thing I decided is I really wanted the bedroom to have a hotel feel. The marriott is what I had in mind, but I am also sensible enough to know that I had to add my own things to this bedroom too.

Here are the new linens. It is white monogrammed duvet cover with brown trim and a light blue quilt and shams. Maybe I could iron it a little...

I also have simple blue curtains which have my favorite feature-- the grommet at the top. I have two windows so these are on both.

Close up of the monogram on the duvet.

Bought this great bench for the end of my bed at an antique store in historical Georgetown while my sister was here. It has my name written all over it!! I love it because it is fairly low and doesn't cover all the great details on my bed.

And that is pretty much it-- there is a lot more in my bedroom since it is a good size room but this is all the new stuff for sure.

Also here is something else new that we are seeing a lot of lately too! YIKES

Maybe next year...

2009-03-17T14:43:00.002-05:00

with the possibility of living in Europe soon

maybe I can kiss the Blarney next year!
That would be rad

Pillow Love

2009-03-09T11:39:00.003-05:00

Finally knocked out most of the pillow designs yesterday and got them all gathered in one spot. Super excited because most turned out better than I would have imagined.

Chair full of them-- one of each design though we are missing about 3 more that are going to be added hopefully this week!

Here is the breakdown

Keep Calm and Carry On is an old WW2 poster that looks cool on a pillow. It will come in red, dark slate, and brown.

One of my favorites is the long skinny pillow. This shows dragonflies but will also feature Fluer de lis

The ever so famous crown-- on off-white and light beige

Another favorite-- this is the soldier's creed, but it can also be exchanged with the Marine, Navy, or Air force creed.

This is a I LOVE MY SOLDIER (or marine, sailor, airman) pillow
It has a heart with wings a compass and the name of the person on it very discreetly. I wanted to make this-but for it not to be juvenile or obnoxious. I think I did it and it would look great in any home.

And last but not least, another last name established pillow that is a little bit different from the Tyler pillow

All are going up in my Swanky Graffiti Etsy shop today

Mr Steve Jobs

2009-03-07T12:12:00.002-05:00

I am very mad at you!!!!! And I will be personally writing you a letter to tell you how disappointed I am in your product. I am not a computer guru so when one doesn't work properly nothing frustrates me more. Though you would think that a brand new one would not have the glitches that you find on one that is years old.

You see this computer? Well it was not cheap! It was purchased in June of '08 and the glitches came out in July '08--- the second my husband walked out the door. Go figure. It has sat nearly untouched until he could get home to it in Jan. '09. He even took it to Geek Squad who couldn't figure it out---- now I am pissed. What a complete waste of good hard earned money.

So Mr. Jobs---- I need a new computer and I just know you will come through for me!

Felt Love

2009-03-07T12:04:00.002-05:00

Previously I showed my mess with all my felt-- well I have been busy creating with it and the end results will be debuted at my craft show at the end of the month.

They are felt clippies and that are all the rage in the crafting community.

I made them so they can be used on my hair all the way down to super fine baby hair without slipping off. They are super CUTE and a fun project that Jadyn and I have been doing together. We even stamped business cards to hold each clippie so the presentation of them are just darling!

Here is another project....

I found these mini chairs at a craft shop and couldn't resist them. I will be repainting them and using in Jadyn's room. I have seen similiar chairs used in home decor in some of the favorite magazines, and the price was just right.

Nightmare on Sulfur Spring Street

2009-03-01T10:45:00.002-05:00

A couple of days ago I picked up a big job for a business here in town that is getting ready to open a new storefront. I was pretty excited when they called me and wanted me to do vinyl lettering on their car windows and storefront door. Well at least that is what I thought I was doing!
Come to find out, it involved placing vinyl all over a car and I have never done it before. I literally started freaking out about it-- had nightmares for 2 days in a row, it was all I could talk about to anyone who called and everything was working against me in order to get it done when I said I would.

But it got done and it turned out pretty nice

This may seem like a simple car to most but what most people won't realize is that it was 13 seperate pieces that I had to put together. Whew...so glad that its done!

Found some cool pics on Jadyn's camera from our vacation(the kids have a better camera than I do!)

Why I am a mess....creative mess that is

2009-02-21T10:00:00.002-05:00

I might suffer ADHD......
I get so many thing going at once that I almost can't do anything because my head is swirling with new projects that I want to do to.
I did get a lot of things done before Keith came home, but now that he is gone-- I have loads more. I have curtains to hang in our bedroom FINALLY. I have been given the go-ahead on purchasing our new duvet cover, quilt and shams that are going to make our room AWESOME-- yet, I have not ordered them yet. I have too many other things I need to do first! Curtains and rods have been sitting here for 3-4 days now and I have not attempted to hang them as of yet--- I rather work on pillows instead!=)

Or no...look at what I have going here instead of pillows
I bought one of these

And some of this

In every color imaginable--- for another project that I have in my head that I have to get out!!! Another project to be knee-deep in.
I think there might be medication for people like me.

But a couple of things that I did get done.
Hanging some frames in the bedroom

One one either side of the bed
and even a couple on another wall

seeing these pictures makes me think I should be ordering the duvet and shams today!

And I also made these for the toilet room--- Something to look at while your on the pot.

Just some canvas, paint, scrapbook paper and decopauge and it all came together rather quickly.

and check out this frame that I made--- quite different then the other ones I have made previously so hopefully I am not chased by hungry lawyers again.

oh...and notice the baskets??? I am a SUCKER for a basket. I have more than the average person and when I saw these wire ones I knew I had to have them! I also got a couple of them in Mexico. Though I would not use them as home decor, they will be great for trips. The man who sold them to me got quite frustrated as I tried to get him to lower his price substantially. He claimed it took his wife 4 days to make the larger basket and 2 days to make the smaller one...whatever...I just wanted them for Mexican prices.

This is the big one

And her little cousin

Pillows

2009-02-19T10:21:00.003-05:00

I think I mentioned before that I was having a creative explosion for a few days and this is the results of one of my ideas. I have noticed very graphic pillows in just about every catalog and store and for HUGE money too ($50+ range). So my thought was to combine my vinyl graphics with fabric and see what I come up with. Well, the results are AWESOME and I just LOVE it! I am going to specialize in last name customization and see what happens.

These are the first two designs I did and Ali put them onto some shams she had laying around her house and brought over so I could see the results. I was pretty happy with them.

The one with the M on it is her last name custom pillow.

But I don't particularly care for those shams...I don't think they would match every home's personality. So this is where the canvas pillow comes in. I whipped out the sewing maching and got to work and this is definitely the route we are going.

This is my last name pillow

Aren't they super cool?
I already set up shop too!
www.swankygraffiti.etsy.com

I'm back and ....

2009-02-13T10:30:00.003-05:00

I didn't miss this blog at all. I usually do think about it quite a bit when I go away for a while, but didn't do much of that this time around. It wasn't like I was incredibly busy, I just have other things on my mind! I finally got a flow of inspiration concerning some projects I wanted to work on and when that happens, I am estatic. I was in a lull for a while.

Anyhow, Keith has taken off once again and we have about 4 months (God willing) until he returns home again. The visit was great but we are both eager to just get this over with, so left on Tuesday without much mayhem. He set up goals for the kids on his last night of things he would like to see changed. Bridger is super motivated and has been working super hard. Jadyn....not so much. The payoff for accomplishing them is huge, so we will see what happens.

I haven't worked too much in the last 2 weeks but right before Keith got home I had a chance to work on a client's home. It was great fun and I loved her paint colors so much I came home and repainted a few walls in my house to match. It was awesome!

I made this little number for her living room and its the chocolate brown that I copied. It looks awesome.

She still needs to hang curtains so we put the saying pretty high up on her wall. It is done in the cream and gold. Super Cute!

We also put up a monogram above her daughter's bed.

There was talk of putting an empty frame around it because that was the size I made it so it would fit---but I know when I left the final decision hadn't been made yet. Either way, it was going to be cute.

Then this number was made for her son's room. The canvas that was taken out of the frame was painted green and then I attached the vinyl directly onto it-- so when they move it can go with them. It is just as easy to attach to canvas as it is to the wall.

I was trying to dress up my bathroom with vinyl before Keith got home and I made this damask pattern to put on the shower door. It is almost impossible to get a good picture with my lame camera, but I attempted. I think it looks cool.

And the best part....these flowers Keith got for me at Sam's Club!! haha

They were super pretty and just about my favorite color when it comes to roses

What isn't on my New Year's Resolution list

2009-01-17T11:32:00.002-05:00

BLOGGING!!!! Obviously...simply haven't felt like it lately. And now that the month is half-over, I have missed posting a lot of great things.

The kids and I enjoyed a great Mexican cruise from the 5th thru the 10th. They said it was the best vacation they have ever been on. I enjoyed myself too even though I was for the only single mother on that boat. Kinda awkward in the beginning but I soon found nice people so I could actually talk to other adults. I think it is kinda brave to go on a cruise by yourself and I had a better time than expected. So much so that I am contemplating another one in August-- this time with Keith and the kids at camp!

Snorkeling in Cozumel

starfish in Progresso

The kids took a lot more pics than I did so soon I will download their stuff. I am sure it will be better than my batch.

Right before I left, I got a birthday package together for my friend Dena. We (Ali and I)put together bucket Oprah style. It was full of our favorite things. I think I mentioned this before but it turned out super cute and we were so proud of it. So proud that we took our picture with it and unfortunately you can hardly see our gift. It did apply vinyl on the bucket and everything--

Buckets and baskets seem like my answer for every gift in the last few years. There is nothing more cute then picking a theme and filling one with goodies.
Remember this one? The pink and green theme is all it was and it was sent to a friend who needed a little cheer. I love it and I love doing it.

So now that I am back and my vacations are over AND MY HUSBAND is at LEAST IN THE US- I need to get back to work. December was my worst month as far as Swanky Graffiti goes and typically it is one of my highest months. It really was a sad, sad month in more ways than one. I have been working on creating new things but I am still in a little slump. Praying it all comes together soon!
I did create this little number the other day and decided to put it up on Bridger's wall though it many seem a little juvenile for a 12 year old. I at least put it behind his door.

Off to work now!

Our Christmas Story

2008-12-27T09:54:00.002-05:00

Well everything went over well...
I got the kids small things that they would need to go on this Cruise. Sunglasses, flip flops, sunscreen, cameras, goggles and snorkels. I hid their presents around the house in colored bags and told them to find their gifts.

As soon as they did it was time to leave to go see Keith on a video teleconference and he told them where they would use all the gifts at. Jadyn was very excited! She jumped up and hugged me.

So, in a few days we are off to Mexico and then a few weeks after that Keith will be home for his 2 weeks of R&R.

Hopefully time will fly!

200th post!! Yaa Me

2008-12-25T10:45:00.000-05:00

Love this video.
they showed it at church

Wounded Warriors

2008-12-24T10:40:00.002-05:00

It has been on my mind a lot lately in light of everything that has occurred in the last 2 months. A while back ago I came across another blog of a mom who is now a caretaker of her son who was wounded in Afghanistan similiar to Rob. This soldier is missing a large portion of his skull, brain matter, and he was burned pretty badly. Their lives have been changed forever. Leslie, Kevin's mom needs to buy a house that is handicapp accessible in Tampa so they can be close to the VA hospital because eventually he is going to be released. And he needs to stay in a warm area of the country because of his burns though they would love nothing more then to return home to Pennsylvania. And once Kevin is released from the hospital, Leslie won't get paid as caretaker any longer which means she is out of a job. But there is no chance that she can leave Kevin 8+ hours a day to get one.

A couple of days ago I mentioned to her via a comment that she should set up a paypal account so other could donate to help and initially it didn't sit well with her...but everyone jumped on the bandwagon and she did it.

I like giving money to people instead of organizations/companies, especially in light of all this recent corruption where every big business seems to be hemmoragging money and can't pull it together. This way you know 100% of your money is being used exactly how you want it to be and not wallpapering some CEO's McMasion. You can feel good about Kevin and Leslie.

If you find it in your heart to donate to them, here is their blog
http://lesliekamm.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas!

Randomness

2008-12-20T09:52:00.003-05:00

I have many thoughts, but they don't go together:

1. Murphy's oil soap works wonders on wood floors. I finally got all the marshmellow mess off my floor with that and a good mop and they are super shiny and slick as snot.

2. Because they are so slick, I totally biffed it yesterday morning. I knew it would happen sooner or later but if I was any older I would have broken a hip! I totally tripped over a suitcase that I haven't put away from my Nebraska trip at 5:30in the morning and pretty much face planted. Nursing a knee that took most of the hit.

3. A new pass time of mine is sweeping my floors-- love it! And it makes me realize with everything I sweep up in just one day that carpet truely is gross!

4. I am supposed to be leaving right now and heading to Lifeway in temple to buy a birthday present for someone. I am buying the new Beth Moore bible study called Esther for both myself and her and the sale I am trying to get to ends at noon.

5. But I rather sit here and drink coffee on my backporch and type away while watching a house being put up behind me in the distance. My little piece of paradise will be slowly disappearing since I won't be able to watch the deer and birds once these houses go up.

6. I have been debating on how I am going to get through Christmas day with the kids since we are doing it different this year. This year we are going on a Mexican cruise but not until the 5th of Jan. So I think I am going to do a scavenger hunt for the kids. I just have decide what they need for the trip and go and purchase the items still to get this thing set up. I do the last clue is going on post to see Keith on a video teleconference where he will tell the kids about the cruise.

7. I still haven't decorated for christmas. I am thinking that the day after I will go buy a tree and put it up then! haha and keep it up until Keith comes home and we will have a mini christmas then.

8. Keith is about to call me so I guess I will end this now!

Happy Birthday for Bridger and I am terrible at taking pictures!

2008-12-16T09:13:00.004-05:00

I think I already mentioned that Bridger turned 12 in November, but we had to schedule his party much later because I was busy with other things. Then when we did schedule, I had to cancel and reschedule. By the time we had this party, I was pulling my hair out because I just wanted it to be over. I can finally say it is, and I barely have any pictures to prove it. I am missing whole children who attended the party but I have no photographic proof!! Such a bummer

anyhow, we went bowling and ate there and then came home to eat brownies, ice cream and open presents. All the kids got marshmellow shooters and a bag of mini marshmellows to shoot each other with. I was up half the night scrubbing sticky marshmellow off my wood floors.....nice!

Have to go get my 3rd flat tire on the Tahoe fixed this morning! I am really sick of this. Keith has a flat too, but I will worry about it next month!

I'm back!

2008-12-10T12:09:00.002-05:00

Just returned from Nebraska and the funeral and support of Dena and her girls was moving to say the least. Her family is outstanding and the small towns of Nebraska were also outstanding in their support. Every single person who came out in the cold to hold a flag and/or sign as Rob passed by...I just hope you know your support was appreciated and absolutely stunning. For a military wife like myself whose husband is still in harms way, it is breath-taking to realize that there are still people and true American Patriots who remember what is going on in this world and that you realize the sacrifice being made.

I am only going to share a few pictures and stories---- there are MANY of them but a few that I just want to keep to our little group. We shared some precious moments together that I will always cherish.

I was honored to drive Rob's truck in the procession from Lincoln Airport to the funeral home in Osceola. Dena and Ali were my passengers and we followed closely behind the Patriot Guard motorcycles who surrounded Rob's hearse.

I also drove the truck after the funeral to the grave site and once again, just many many people who stood with their flags in support of Rob's sacrifice. They surrounded the grave site also.

The 3 days of activities was emotionally exhausting and I am so glad that we ended our time together with just the 6-4 cav girls. There was snow angels made (I have the picture to prove it!!), snowball fights where we played like children and knew that Rob was looking down on us laughing, and something about a hot tub.....it was nice!

Here we are!!! My dear girlfriends of the 6-4 Cav!!
Jennifer, Ali, Dena, Me, Brittany and Michelle is front and center

It wasn't supposed to be this way...

2008-12-01T21:36:00.004-05:00

Exactly a month ago on Dena's back porch, while we were waiting for her to leave for Germany, we discussed how Rob was going to show up at the guys (our deployed husbands) welcome home ceremony. How he was going to walk in on his prosthetic legs, maybe even a couple inches taller and everyone would be wild with enthusiasm. He would have nothing less than a standing ovation. We all had so much hope and Rob's progress was nothing short of amazing.

My heart is truely broken, but I find comfort in knowing he is in the arms of our Father and he is not hurting anymore. I hurt for his wife and kids though and their pain. And I hurt for my husband and the other soldiers in our Unit who will wake up in a couple of hours and find out the news.

People here have been amazing through all this. Several people have volunteered to help me out with the kids so I can make the trek to Nebraska and that means so much to me to know that they will be taken care of in my absence. I am just really awestruck by those who have reached out to the yllescas', and their family and friends.

Thank you to everyone who prayed on his behalf. Now we must continue to do so for Dena and the girls.

Rob, Keith and I will never forget your sacrifice and your friendship. You are forever etched into our hearts.

We have an AWESOME God!

2008-11-30T10:54:00.002-05:00

Last night was an intense 4 hours...completely drained me (crying does that and so does first hand information) but Dena is such a champ. She kept the world posted through every bit of it and she is such a strength to Rob and others. She needs to rewrite the Army Wife Handbook. What she didn't write is that Rob went into a surgery that had a 90% mortality rate! And he is a 10% kind of person because he pulled through with almost no issues. To be presented with 'let him die peacefully' or 'have invasive surgery where he is most likely going to die' is just devestating. But I believe the power of prayer and God pulled him through and is Dena's rock. I am so grateful today....I can't even begin to express it.

Because I don't know what else to do

2008-11-29T20:22:00.002-05:00

Please just pray like you never have before and ask God for a miracle.

Rob, Dena, Julia and Eva

My latest hobby/obession

2008-11-29T09:33:00.002-05:00

And I think it is a good one. I am like a forever student because it has seriously been on my mind lately that I should go back to school again. But then I think about our uncertain future and where we are going to move and reality hits. It will be nearly impossible to go back and stay in one school for the length of time I need to, and really, am I ready to ditch the kids. Not really...well sort of.

But I digress, there is a new love in my life that helps me get over the need for going back to school. For the past year and a half I have been doing Bible studies. They are courses you can purchase where you do homework 5 days a week and then listen to an hour CD every week that reinforces what you learned and gets you ready for the next week. Sometimes it can be mind boggling because there are certain books of the Bible that are not easy to understand and full of history like Daniel. Or it can be a soap opera epic that you never want to end like Genesis. (How many times have you read Genesis thinking you were going to read the whole bible only to give up in the middle of Exodus?) The point is, I love these studies!

I always have at least 2 of them going at the same time and I try to make time everyday. Most of the time I am doing them in my car as I am waiting for Bridger to finish his piano lesson or Jadyn's choir practice, never wasting a moment.

If this should interest you, I would totally recommend starting with Patriarch's by Beth Moore and the only place you can purchase it is Lifeway. It is the story of Genesis chapters 12-50. It was so good I cried when it was over (Joseph died) and I will never read it the same now that I truely know God's chosen people.

November Recap

2008-11-28T11:06:00.002-05:00

This month sure went quickly, but I am glad it's almost over. I have wrapped up all my craft show orders finally and can breath again! I was thinking about being in one more show this weekend and I am so glad I decided against it because I think I would have lost my mind at this point in the game. I am going to spend my extra time doing things around the house and building up my online stores instead.

It has been awhile since I have posted any pictures in this forum, so I am going to play catch up. I took this pic back in October and it makes me happy that we are going to be moving next year!

This city is ridiculous! Twice we have been affected by this with cars broken into in my own driveway. Keith seems to think we are going to Germany BUT the Army has made us into liars more than once...so I wouldn't believe it until we are actually packing up. And most likely, we will have to rent this house because they aren't selling well and we won't get the money we want for it. Hopefully that will all work out.

Last weekend, Jadyn's school had a winter gala that we participated in and I have a few pics to share from that.
Jadyn's class played their recorders for us.

And the kids got all dressed up.

I got Keith some cool things from the Silent Auction that night--- a photograph of the Cowboys and tickets to the George H Bush Presidential Library. Something to do when he comes home for R&R perhaps.

Yesterday was pretty relaxing- with Thanksgiving and all. I was smart and ordered our food from the Cracker Barrel. It all came in a box!

That Chocolate Pecan Pie on top is to DIE for! The only thing I added was cut up vegtables and hummus dip. It was way too much food for the 3 of us, so we will eating this for the next week. We also went to the movies in which I fell asleep for a good 20 minutes of it!! We were trying to beat the crowds and we all know that turkey eating makes you tired and we went right after we were done eating.

Also, yesterday I picked a ton of tomatoes from my garden.

Isn't it crazy that I am just now getting my bumper crop at the end of November? It was just too hot this summer for them and now that the weather is much more mild. I need to figure out what to do with them since I am not really in the mood for them now!

And lastly, this is picture I meant to put up with a previous post. I came home late to find Jadyn sleeping with the cat on the couch. Too cute.

Keith's Job

2008-11-23T01:01:00.002-05:00

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/11/11/robertson.afghan.winter.rush.cnn?iref=videosearch

Though I don't get why Keith is not in the news clips (oh ya, he is the one actually working), his job covers what this newspiece is talking about. He gets all supplies via helo's to all the outposts. It is his guys who coordinate all the helo's, fill them up and direct them to where they need to go. This piece talks a bit about what they do for the locals and I have never heard Keith mention that part--- so that probably doesn't include him. I never get sick of seeing pictures of where he is at though.

The time of my life!

2008-11-19T22:14:00.003-05:00

This article really hit a nerve with me.

The Simple Dollar

When I think of the happiest times of my life:
I think of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where I lived for 6 months
I think of Buenos Aires, Argentina where I disappeared to for 11 days
I think of Las Vegas and Jackson Hole road trips
Totally carefree with no responsibilities are obligations....especially obligations. That would be why Rome, Italy and Honolulu, Hawaii didn't make this list. Too many of the above mentioned things.

Also I totally get the too much 'stuff' deal too. I am so over STUFF and it has affected my mood lately. I just want to open closets and throw every last bit of it away. That is why we are working Christmas totally different this year because I can't allow more 'stuff' to come into this house. Hope the kids aren't too disappointed. I want to be FREE! To have the time of my life!!

I love stuff like this

2008-11-19T20:41:00.001-05:00

another video made by our soldiers.
Keith's unit is for sure at 2:33 and I recognize a few others before that.
http://www.dvidshub.net/index.php?script=video/video_show.php&id=49976

Updates

2008-11-18T08:59:00.002-05:00

I am behind on EVERYTHING!
Housecleaning, laundry, dusting, orders, homeschool and the list goes on and on.

Yesterday was Bridger's 12th birthday and I have not even ordered his present yet. I told him to hang tight and he would get it soon and he seemed to be fine with that anwser. He did go get himself a video game with his birthday money and he was happy with that.

This last weekend I did my last craft show of the season and though I did not do as well as last year, I am happy with the results. It is a recession going on afterall. But I have many custom orders I need to fill in the next week to get everything caught up.

I have a friend coming over today so I can help her with some sewing on her orders from the craft show and she wants to learn how to knit. So today I will be cleaning like crazy and knitting! ha...I don't think that was on the To Do list!

And I was thrilled this morning to get on the scale after a month of avoiding it only to discover that I had lost another pound without trying. I was convinced that I gained everything back because of my lack of exercise and unhealthy eating. So I am down a total of 10 pounds since Keith has left. That is good news!

The best phone call

2008-11-12T18:26:00.002-05:00

I have SO MUCH to do in the next couple of days to get ready for my biggest craft show of year this weekend. Weeding wall words like CRAZY! Had to get a bunch of things out today from my Etsy sales and of course, running behind. Right when I was about to walk out the door, the phone rings......

I didn't recognize the number so I let the answering machine pick it up. There was a bunch of squealing on the other end!!
the message said this:
"He's here! He's here!! He just called me and is at the Killeen airport. My house is a mess and there is no food in the fridge. I don't believe this!!!"

There was total excitement. No worries about the last things said of course. And curiosity got the better part of me because this person did not say who they were! So I had to call back, of course! Well it was my buddy Erika and she was talking about her husband Preston. He was due to come home soon but Erika wasn't expecting him this soon. And he never told what day exactly, so basically he surprised her and she called me on her way to the airport!

This phone call has put a smile on my face all day!!

Coupon Day

2008-11-10T23:41:00.002-05:00

Did my weekly shopping trip and once again, I blew it out of the water!

Had to go to Home Depot to get some wood for a project. Luckily they were offering a 10% to all military families and that is about as good as it gets there. Save $1.07-- haha-- hardly even worth mentioning.

Then I had to go to walmart to get some other supplies like paint and sawtooth hangers. I thought I should go ahead and shop the sales that I could match a coupon too. They were not all that great, but I take what I get. I spent a total of $56 but paid only $42 for a saving of approx %25....hopefully it will get better in the weeks to come. And the number would be better if I had only bought groceries.

Then I went to Walgreens to finish it off. I did 2 transactions there. The first one I got some meds-- flu, cold, and night time stuff. The reason I did this transacation is because every single one of those meds were on sale and I had a coupon for everyone of them. THEN, Walgreens printed me out a $5 coupon for whatever I want to use it for AND another coupon to get Afrin for free. Saved 47% on this transaction spending only $12.47 instead of $23.47

Second transaction-- I did get the Afrin and I also got toothbrushes, but everything else was actually groceries. I saved 67%!!!!! I bought $77.12 in groceries and paid only $25.28. I used Walgreen coupons AND manufacturer coupons, they subtracted that $5 register rewards AND I used my gift card that I got for my rebates last month. That's what I am talking about!

Walgreen's makes rebates sooooo simple. All you have to do is plug your reciept number into their website and they will either send you a check or a gift card. Once you get your first gift card, you can just choose to reload it. AND they give you an extra 10% if you choose that option. You just can't beat it!

I LOVE Walgreens!

Article on Keith's unit

2008-11-10T13:10:00.000-05:00

It sucks for them...but this is the story

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/world/asia/10outpost.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

Messing around on google again

2008-11-08T21:26:00.002-05:00

I already know my own name so well on google, but I was curious about some other people. Mainly Rob Yllescas...but then I looked up Keith. Mind you, I don't want to see his name on the internet AT ALL, because it would likely mean, not good news. But I ran into a couple of things I thought interesting.

Keith worked his tush off for almost a year on this new humvee for the Army and he barely gets mentioned in this article. It was a pretty big deal.
http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jul2006/a072006wm2.html

Then I thought this article was a joke and so typical. Keith's unit needed these fire helmet deals and being prior Navy, he knew he could get them from the Navy. Keith's sole job is to track down all the stuff these soldiers would ever need and find a way to get it. Well it is not as easy as calling the Navy up and asking to buy some from them, so Keith went through his brother who is a Chief in the navy. If memory serves me correctly, his brother did all the work of tracking these fire hoods down and even sent them to keith with his own money!!! And look who gets the credit. It would have been a much better story had the journalist written it from the viewpoint of twin brothers helping each other out even though one is Navy and one is Army-- one was in Hawaii and one was in Iraq. Such an ameteur.
http://www.defendamerica.mil/profiles/jan2006/pr012606ms1.html

Stupid Cats!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-06T11:09:00.003-05:00

I really do hate them now. I am sick of all the crap they bring home and I do not view it as gifts of love as a lot of people say, but annoying things that add to my To Do list.

Last night I opened the door to let Pepsi in and she apparently had a mouse with her. A real tiny one. when it came in the door with Pepsi, I let out a blood curdling scream and had both kids running to me. Mind you, I used to keep mice as pets when I was younger. But I have no interest in them anymore!

I saw the general direction that the mouse ran in, so the kids and I started rearranging furniture and boxes and whatever we could get our hands on so we could scare the mouse right out the back door again without it running through our house. Of course that thing with the brain the size of a grain of rice found our hole and ran into the living room. Bridger tried to engage it and the mouse ran completely all over him. Up his shirt, down his shirt, over his shoulder and down his backside. I was screaming the whole time I was watching this mouse kick his arse.

Finally Jadyn got a bowl, gave it to bridger and he caught it within seconds. Grabbed it by the tail and threw it out the backdoor. I have been walking around my house with my eyes down because I am still freaked out. So disgusting!!!!!!!!!!! After Bridger released it, he layed on the couch and laughed for 5 minutes straight. He said I should have been on America's Funniest Home Video's....I was thinking the same thing about him!

It's what I expected.....

2008-11-05T08:49:00.002-05:00

I never had any doubt who would win this election-- what was interesting to me is how much the kids got into it. For the past several weeks I have been listening to the carpool kids debate in my car who should win and why. Some of their comments were very amusing and some of them more intellent then what you see on CNN.

I took Bridger with me to the voting booth yesterday and showed him my form. This polling place did not have the computers, but a paper ballot where you fill in the bubbles. Both kids also saw my notes and I told them all the reasons why I was voting for a certain candidate and how the views match up with mine. They get how important this all is.

Last night, I pulled the number where I told Jadyn I had to lay down to sleep at 8pm and told her to wake me up at 9pm. She did, but I couldn't get up!!! I never do so I don't know what I was thinking. I don't remember what time I did get up, but she was asleep on the couch with a notebook in her lap and the TV on to CNN (what was I thinking by letting her watch that channel!?!?). But she was tracking the electoral votes for half the night and had it all written down in her notebook. This morning she was almost impossible to wake up! She told me that she woke up again and watched the speeches and the world celebrating. I am pretty proud that she took such an invested interested in what is going on in the world today. And she is happy that she can vote in 2 elections away.

So after voting yesterday, I got all my coupons together and hit all my stores to get all the lastest deals. I killed it!!! Walked away like a bandit! I hit Target, Walgreens, Family Dollar and Dollar General. Probably why I was so tired last night!

I am voting

2008-11-04T10:13:00.002-05:00

and bringing Bridger along with me. I have the address where I need to show up and I am packing my camping chair just in case- though I think it is only the swing states that need to worry about long lines, you must always be prepared! I have studied the candidates and their views on all issues important to me and I have made my decision. My votes counts!!!! Go VOTE!!!

If you're bored

2008-11-02T14:50:00.002-05:00

you can watch this PBS Frontline deal online and it actually follows some soldiers in Keith's brigade. Helps you see and feel what they go through. In the next year or more there will be more media coming out because it seems they are there all the time. Don't know if that is a good thing or not.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warbriefing/

I am clean!

2008-11-02T00:07:00.002-05:00

Tonight I went out with several girlfriends and I must say it was completely refreshing and cleansing. Ali came with me and we laughed until my stomach hurt. I hope she found it just as uplifting as I did. A few minutes of peace...its all anyone needs to get through difficult times.

One Last Thing

2008-10-31T17:47:00.003-05:00

I meant to mention before that you might recognize the little girl Julia in the pictures in the website link below...she is the same little girl we went to the American Girl store with in Dallas for Jadyn's and her birthday in August. And sweet Dena also took the pictures of the kids with Keith before he pulled out that I shared here on this blog because I forgot my camera.
Ok...I will say no more about this and think about something else, if only for a few hours. It's time to Trick or Treat!

Update

2008-10-31T08:05:00.002-05:00

The blog has been created
here is the link

Dena has done a great job in getting this all written out. As of yesterday I have stepped back because most everything I can do, I have already done. I feel my job now is to just pray for Dena and Rob and to support Ali who is doing the brunt of the work. Ali has come over to the house a couple of time (I am Rob and Dena's neighbor- we live on the same street) so she can clear her mind and just talk-- rejuvenate, per say. Her husband was Rob's Leutenant so they are the very best of friends. So my job is to support the support! Make sense? =) Ali, I am keeping the frozen pizza and wine well-stocked!! The back porch is always open.

Dena has asked Ali if she can bring their car to Walter Reed. The Army will only cover a rental for 3 months and they will be there at least a year. Ali said she needs a companion because that is a long drive. So of course I said, I would be more than willing to drive with her and then fly home. Ali's husband will be home shortly for R&R and then a month later she is meeting her mom in Australia for a few weeks so we have to do it inbetween those 2 events. Most likely we will be driving her car there mid-December so I will be looking for a few people to help me out with the kids so I can do this for Dena, Rob and Ali.

Go show your love on their blog!

2008-10-30T21:05:00.002-05:00

This week has been terribly tramatic for myself and more importantly, for another family whom we consider to be good friends of ours. Keith has been deeply affected by the things he saw and so have I by helping the family move through the mess. Though I don't think this is the forum which I should air all their business, there will be a website about them and the tradegy soon. They should be the first to share the story. And when they do, I will imediately post the link on this site to share with all of you. They will soon be your friend too via the internet and we will witness a story of great courage and triumph over the impossible. I can't wait to see the happy ending.

This would be the reason though why I have been away this week and am emotionally drained and just plain tired. I say that, and then feel immediately guilty because the family is feeling the same thing times 100. Pretty much forgot every obligation I had this week and remembered most of them today. After I took care of my last duty today to my friend, it dawned on me that jadyn does not have a costume for tomorrow night. So we raced out and got a few things together. The kids asked me about pumpkins tonight also (we always carve them the night before halloween), but I just explained that every once in a while, we need to make sacrifices for others benefit and right now, it has to be the pumpkins that go. No lip whatsoever when it I put that way. I have thanked the kids over and over for being so good while I have been away from them. When I came home last night, I found Jadyn and Pepsi asleep together on the couch. I just had to take a picture and hopefully I will get it up here soon.

Mission Accomplished

2008-10-27T07:58:00.002-05:00

The floors are done and I am slowly getting my house put back together. Thank goodness because it was hard to sleep this last week when my bed was all out of whack and my furniture was pushed in every nook and cranny trying to keep it out of the way. Now the that the floors are done I am inspired to move forward with some other home projects like curtains, new linens, rugs, etc.

I think they look way better in person that on camera. They are super pretty and will for sure be a huge selling point when it comes time to get rid of this house.

Did a craft show this weekend and I did quite well. I was $19 from attaining my goal when the show ended, but then I got an online order yesterday from the show that more then made up for it. So this week I am going to be hoppin' busy filling the custom orders.

Coupon Savings this week

2008-10-23T08:17:00.002-05:00

This week I have slacked but I had to go do my grocery shopping last night which took way too long. We didn't get home until 9:30. I was a bit frustrated because the ads were different from what was actually on sale at the stores so I didn't really stick to my list. Between Walmart and HEB I bought a total of $127.90 worth of groceries but I paid out of pocket $99.43-- so only a savings of $28.47 or 22%!!
That is not very good. Then to make it worse, I went through a drive-thru last night to feed the kids because I can't cook in a messy house and spent $18 of my savings!! Go figure, right?

So I think I am going to cancel my membership to the Grocery Game because I have found that I can get all the same information for free on other blogs that devote themselves to where all the savings are. And the stores are holding out on big sales this week, so I am thinking they are saving them for the Thanksgiving holiday. I am sure there will be huge savings in the weeks to come.

Floors day 3

2008-10-23T07:53:00.002-05:00

Starting to suffer from sleep deprivation again--- if I could just get my hands on a sleep pill I would be good. Might have to go see the Doctor. The best sleeping pill is Keith himself- but I may be suffering this week because my house is a complete disaster zone and gets worse everyday! There is dirt/dust covering every inch of my house and our routine has been disturbed. I am just trying to stay caught up on Swanky Graffiti orders which I am not doing a great job this week.

So, the living room is mostly done-- just needs finishing trim work around the edges so I can move my furniture back into it.

oh yes, and good cleaning!
And my bedroom was started.

And I did get to see Keith yesterday on a video teleconference-- I took his picture.

Floors Day 2

2008-10-21T22:12:00.002-05:00

Well these guys don't like to work much. I think they may have put in 4 1/2 hours today which is fine because I am not paying them by the hour-- I just hate to live in a mess for any longer than I have too. It makes it hard to concentrate on doing the things I need to. I tried to stay in my office for most of the day and have laser focus on work. I managed to get a lot done, but my house was far from quiet with sawing and hammering going on in the echo chamber that my living room now is. And I can't walk across my floors yet so I am having to go out onto my porch, walk around the side of the house and into the front door...things like that. I am starting to freak out about not being able to come into my bedroom when they start in here. The end of this week won't come soon enough.

With that being said, the floors are soooo pretty.

The boxes are full of the hardwood and they are being used as weights on the floor.

That couch is like 18 inches from the TV right now because that is the only little strip we are allowed to walk on. Its like playing frogger in your house!

Floors Day 1

2008-10-20T19:48:00.002-05:00

Kind of a slow start today. Only got the living room carpet out of the way and started on one side of it. But I can tell it is going to be beautiful and keith gets to take all the credit on this on. he is the one who spent hours searching the internet for the perfect wood and I think he did a good job!

Video

2008-10-19T07:19:00.002-05:00

I got a link to a video of where Keith is at. It is a reporter asking Keith's colonel what is the difference between Iraq and Afghanistan. They show some other officers in the video too and I am going to have to ask Keith why he never makes it onto one of these. They interview another officer who has been there for a week, but don't interview the guy who has spent 2 years in Iraq.

But then I remember that Keith doesn't come off well on video. Not in the least! They probably interviewed him and he dropped a cuss word or two and had a heavy country drawl. No good for a British reporter!

But, check out the scenery. Keith and the Colonel are are in the same little place.
Go here

Gotta Love Texas

2008-10-18T17:54:00.002-05:00

For the awesome weather! It is a nice, breezy 80 degrees and made the Fall Festival at church perfect! My cookies were actually purchased by the pastor for $11-- that is pretty good for a couple of cookies. But I already have my plans for next year to do carmel apples for the auction. I bet those will fetch $30+.

Then we came home and Jadyn tried to get out of the car, but screamed and slammed the door. There was a snake in the driveway!! We thought we may have run it over because its neck was flat. But upon closer inspection, it was still alive and well.

Took a picture of it next to Jadyn's flip flop- it is just a baby. Bridger decided to catch it because the most it was doing was hissing at us.

I hurried to the internet to see what kind of snake it was. It has the nose of a pig and can flatten its neck at will, therefore it is a Hognose snake and is not venomous and likes to eat frogs and toads. At least it didn't surprise me on the back porch like snakes usually like to do. Bridger is trying to convince me we need to keep it as a pet-- NOT!

Bridger had a good time at paintball last night and he has only one wound to show for it.

This is on his back and he said it was 'friendly fire' since it hit him from behind!

Friday Night Plans

2008-10-17T19:17:00.002-05:00

Bridger is at church playing Paint Ball for the next several hours and I am so happy for him to get out of the house! I don't know how in the heck we ended up in a neighborhood with no kids-- but we did. I have kind of noticed that anywhere I go here people complain of the same thing-- no kids come out to play which I think is a total bummer because everywhere else we have lived, you couldn't keep the kids away. Always knocking on the door wanting to play. You don't really see that around here.

But I also have health concerns about him because he is a tad bit overweight. Well, don't let me lie, he is off the charts because I checked them online today. He has resisted getting on the scale until today! I threatened that I wouldn't let him play paintball unless he got on it. Of course, I was joshing him, but I wasn't about to tell him that. He got on it and dang, I was a tad bit miffed.

There was a time when he was on medication that wouldn't allow him to gain weight. The doctor told me that I was to feed him a bowl of ice cream everynight before he went to bed. BUT I didn't do it because I thought that was ridiculous advice and a bad habit to start. We don't keep junk around the house and the only person I buy it for is Keith, and he takes it to his office so there are no worries around here.

As soon as Bridger came off the medicine it has been a downward spiral for the guy. And moving here has only made it worse! In Kentucky, he was always playing outside with his friends. In Virginia, we were always riding our bikes, walking around site seeing, and he was playing golf nearly every weekend with his dad. And then Texas....Keith's job has made it so he is so tired on the weekends that a game of golf doesn't even tempt him. No kids in the neighborhood and I gave my bike away and the rest of them need repairs. So he is not exercising like he should be. I either go to the gym or run on the treadmill so we are not doing it as a family anymore.

His 12th birthday is coming up here and he has asked for a Trikke-- they are pricey, BUT we are thrilled he wants it because it is a total workout to use it. I am also toying with idea of putting him Ta Kwon Do which would be 2 nights a week and then there is a local gymnastics place that has parent's night out where he would sweat like crazy playing around there. I think just writing this out makes me feel better because we have a game plan to help him get healthy but without trying to make it obvious about what we are doing or knocking his self-esteem.

Now with that said!

Jadyn and I are making chocolate chip pumpkin cookies tonight! Ya I know, why would I do that with what I just said before? Church is having a Fall Festival tomorrow and it includes a dessert auction which I volunteered for. Both kids love to cook, so I thought that is how I would spend my Friday with her while Bridger was out playing paint ball.

You can get the recipe here

And also notice the new links on the sidebar-- a couple of my new favorite blogs for your reading pleasure!

Today's Money Saving Tip =)

2008-10-17T13:00:00.002-05:00

I will be an expert on this before you know it!

I have mentioned that hardwood floors are going to be installed next week and I had to go buy the floor glue which is not cheap. I looked online and at both Lowe's and Home Depot and Lowe's was the better deal. But I kept thinking about that coupon I always get when I move to a new place from Lowe's for 10% off. Of course, I didn't use it before the expiration date and Lowe's never puts out coupons other then that.

So yesterday I was obsessing about how to get my hands on one of those 10% coupons. I went to the post office even to see if they had those Change of Address forms there with all the coupons in it. No luck!

Last night I looked online and I could buy one, but then I would have to wait until it was could be mailed to me and my time is short. But I found a place where you could buy one and it would be emailed to you instantly, and you just print it off and go. I was nervous that it wouldn't work because buying coupons is actually illegal. They only way you can get away with selling coupons is to state that you are being paid for your time to 'cut' and 'organize' them for the buyer. But for $3.49, it was worth it.

I bought it and it worked! Therefore, your tip for today is if you are going to spend any kind of money at Lowe's (I would say more than $75), get the coupon online first. It saved me $55 (minus $3.50).

I know this may get old quick

2008-10-16T09:15:00.002-05:00

for you all anyhow, but not for me!
Went to Walmart last night and got $50 worth of groceries for $30--- that is a 40% savings just by printing some coupons off the internet. The day will soon come when I only need to spend $40 a week to just stock fresh produce. That is the end goal that will hopefully happen in January by everyone's calculations. I will keep hoping.

Groceries results

2008-10-15T07:00:00.002-05:00

Me: Bridger, Jadyn and I are running some errands. Post office and walgreen's. we will see you in a few.
Bridger: Mom, get some milk while your out please.
Me: Dang Bridger, I had my grocery list down to where I would pay less than $1. Milk is never on sale and I don't have a coupon for it, besides it should only be drank by baby cows! Do you know how much weight a baby cow puts on just by drinking its mother's milk? It's disgusting!
Bridger: Please mom, I need some milk.
Me: Grrrrrrr

So, instead of getting my 15 dollars worth of groceries for 66 cents, I paid $4 something.

Face Paint

2008-10-14T08:43:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I did a local craft show, which may I add, was TERRIBLE. It was 2 days of slow torture because #1 it was too small and #2 there was nobody in attendance. Nobody knew about the thing and the only advertising done was 2 weeks in the Sunday paper. That doesn't cut it, especially when there are so many advertising opportunities around here and the 2 people who put it together banked. Because of it, I decided that I wasn't going to do a show coming up this weekend because it is too much work not even to break-even. And the show this weekend that I had an opportunity to be in will also be very small. My only saving grace was a I got several online orders (thanks to Rate My Space) and I have had a couple of people follow up after the show to order.

And let me tell you, they are badly needed! Next week, we are having hardwood floors installed in the house. The living room and my master bedroom will be done. We purchased the wood (bamboo) this last summer and it has been sitting in the garage all this time. I am so ready to get this over with! I went to Lowe's to price the glue needed and Oh MY WORD!! It is $135 a pail and I need 7 of them. Killing me over here! It is on my To Do list today to price glue online and see if I can't find a better price somewhere else.

But last weekend, the kids had to hang out with me for the entire show which was interesting because they demanded some sort of entertainment. They got their faces and body parts painted several times.

Look at my pretty frames--- Love them!

So, there are a couple of products that I NEED to buy this week. Toilet paper and feminine products unfortunately, so I sat down with my supplies last night and organized them all. I checked the ads because I am trying to figure out how I can get it for free or nearly free. I got my gameplan figured out and it just made giddy. I could certainly just go out and buy it, but this way makes it so much more fun. Keith has been laughing at me (or maybe with me) but I have teased him that if can save the 5-6K a year that we spend on food that his downtown Argentinian loft could most definitely be a reality by the time he retires. He has this plan to live part-time in the States and part-time in South America. I am game!

Feeding my new addiction

2008-10-13T09:02:00.003-05:00

Because I am new at this it took me some time to get all my stuff together to make my first trip to Walgreen's with the goal to pay as little as possible. Typically I go to Walgreen's for very little, because I feel like it is overpriced and their selection lame....well I am eating my words!! The Grocery Game and a couple of blogs helped me figure out what it was I needed to buy

I couldn't take advantage of all the mega deals because I only have one week's worth of coupons, but I did discover that a lot of manufacturer's put coupons on their websites. Good ones too!

OK- so here is the breakdown.

First, every bit of this was ON SALE at Walgreens. Second, I had at least ONE coupon for every single item, most of it being Walgreen store coupons. Third, I had several manufacturer coupons that you can combine with Walgreen's so a couple things came out to be FREE and all of it was deeply discounted.

I only bought things that I would use and I passed up plenty that I wouldn't use even if it was free, I mean, why would I want a diabetes monitor even if its free!?
So, here is the breakdown:

If I had just walked into Walgreen's unprepared and bought all this stuff on sale, it would have cost $51.80 (not on sale at all, you are looking at about $70 worth of stuff!). That by itself is a decent savings!

With my coupons I got it down to $33.82--- That's pretty good right?

But not good enough!! It gets even better!! The reason I bought 3 Children's Dimatapp's is because it would make me money. With the sale and my coupons I actually made $4 because they gave me back with thing called Register Rewards for $10 that I can use as cash in the store in the future on anything I want. The 3 Dimatapp's only cost me $6--I get $10 in return. And really, I will for sure use it this year- though maybe not all 3.

And the candy--- normally I would NEVER buy it, but with Halloween coming up I just had to do it. I get a rebate on it and if you choose a rebate in the form of a Walgreen's gift card, they will rebate the amount plus 10%. You can do it all at the end of the month so if you have several rebates coming, it will all come on one card and you can choose just to reload the card at the end of every month.
So far, I have a gift card coming with $6.60 on it.

So my total out of pocket expense is................$17.22!!!!!! That is a savings of over 70% and it will only get better in the future because...
1. I don't need to buy these certain items again, I am stocked up laundry soap, dish soap and cold meds and will not need to make a last minute run to the store to pay full price.
2. I have a gift card and Register Rewards to use next time so my out of pocket expense will be something close to $5 or less with $70 worth of groceries and will continue to be that way if I continue to shop the same way.

That's what I am talking about!!!!

My friend Shelia told me years ago that for Christmas one year she made everyone a cold kit, or a sick kit. She put everything in a basket that you would possibly need if you had a cold. Medicine, cough drops, tissues, chicken soup, etc. How cute would that be especially if you got it all for practically nothing? Even to take to someone who is sick, and not as a Christmas gift at all!

I am completely addicted!

2008-10-10T08:26:00.003-05:00

That's right, I have a new addiction and this one will save me money instead of spending it! Lately on all the TV talk shows there has been a ton of information on how to save money in these hard economic times and Keith has been on me to save money since none of his deployment cash has hit the savings account! Really I don't know where it all goes!! And my biggest complaint is that everything has gone up in price. There was a time in our budget and Gas and Groceries where one and the same. Whatever I didn't spend it groceries, I put in the gas tank and it was more than enough. Now, whatever I don't put in the gas tank, I use in groceries!!

No really, now they are two seperate items in the budget because it's no joke filling the tanks of a Tahoe and F-150. And groceries are outrageous. I don't buy a lot of prepackaged food because it is the most expensive. Our biggest splurge in that department is frozen pizza which our favorite brand has gone up $2 in just the past couple months.

And when it comes to groceries being in the house, Keith and the kids are only pleased if our pantry and fridge are well stocked. Nothing makes for more of a sour attitude if there is nothing in the house that they find appropriate. And in order to do that I would spend anywhere from $500-600 a month. And that does not include when we eat out. Though we don't eat out often, I would say at least twice a month and you can throw another $100 into that mess.

Well no more! I have found this group of people who are serious about spending less than a $100 a week on groceries and many of them spend half than that! And you should see their pantries and freezers. They are overloaded (and that is what makes Keith happy) so much so, that a lot of it gets donated to local homeless shelters.

This is the website www.thegrocerygame.com

This is the gist of it. Every week you get a list from this website that has your local stores sales items. Then it also has listed by each item the coupons from the previous weeks Sunday papers that you can combine with it. They figure most everything goes on sale approximately every 12 weeks, so you go and buy enough to last for 12 weeks. When all is said and done, you get the items at pennies are free! and you get better at the game as time goes on, because practice does equal perfections!

So this would change some things for me. Instead of making a grocery list of items that I need to make certain meals, I would go buy what is on sale only and have a coupon for and make meal plans according to that. And did I mention how much I hate to grocery shop? Well make into a game and a competitive one at that...and I am in! However pays less, wins! Who wouldn't love that!?

So, yesterday I practiced for the first time. I got $106.50 worth of groceries for $72. Not a huge savings, but my coupons are not built up yet and I only hit our one local store, HEB. I also will visit Walgreens, where using this system, you should never pay more than pennies for cleaning supplies, medicine, make-up, toiletries and some food items. And I figure if if I can get the item for free or nearly free and I don't need it, I will just donate to the food locker on post for other soldier families are in need.

So if you are in need of tightening up the budget, hate to grocery shop and need to inject some fun, and would love to spend less than $100 (most can get to $55 at the 12 week mark) a week for a family of 4+, join in on the fun. All the work is done for you via this website so it might take you an extra hour a week to save hundreds. Keith is going to be thrilled!!!!

Normal Day Thursday

2008-10-03T09:12:00.002-05:00

I worked vinyl so much yesterday that I now have a nerve in my neck and back that are bothering me today. Being bent over a table for hours on end isn't my idea of fun, but I kinda deserve it because I waited too long to prepare for upcoming craft shows.

This is what it looks like under my work table which is bad I know! But I have picked up in the mean time only to throw all my scraps down there again.

I wish my life this week was like this magazine

Bridger had piano lessons today so I made him practice all morning to ensure he would play well.

And then we had to run errands afterwards, dropped packages off at FedEx and run to Hobby Lobby for more supplies. Had just enough time to run to my craft store booth and pick up some extra stuff for tomorrow and pick up all the carpool kids.

Bridger's piano teacher convinced me that I needed to go to this adult Hip Hop class last night, so I did.

Then they have an adult tap class tonight and I told them NO WAY. I am too busy and I can think of a million other things I rather be doing on a Friday night then tap dancing. Perhaps if I wasn't overscheduled as it stands now. Maybe when Keith gets back........by the way, today is 3 months since he left.

Jadyn also took art class today and they are learning shading techniques. She continued to work on it at home.

So I started this normal week in my life last Friday and today it is Friday again! Whew, I am done!!! Now I am going to print all these pics out and make a quick photo album that shows what one week looks like. And I will do it again next year.

Normal Day Wednesday finally

2008-10-02T21:40:00.004-05:00

Well after a fitful night sleep I got up and did the usual. Then I drove all these rugrats to school.
Jadyn sat in the front seat.

I can't stand when kids try to have a conversation from the backseat. Especially the 3rd row. That is what I learned.
Tyler family shelter opened up again this morning. A cat came to visit and I fed it because I met the person who it belonged too and now I have to be nice.

I have this great hummingbird feeder. It was cool to watch those birds come up on you like you weren't there. They are not shy at all.

Got my new warmer from Scentsy FINALLY-- loved it so much I ordered another one today with more scents.

My friend, Marilyn stopped by to go out to lunch. She was in town for a Dr.s appointment. She is having twins! A boy and a girl. We ate at Chedders and then stopped by Target to admire a crib.

Worked even more on some stuff for this craft show

Then I went out with another friend, Erika to pluckers. We always have a good time together though she was getting mad at me for taking pictures. I had to take 5 just to get one with her eyes open.

Bridger talked to Marilyn about going out to her property to hunt. All this talk got him thinking about his shotgun. So he got it out and cleaned it a little bit. I told him to get it put up and scat because I had to go to bed.

I almost got to bed before 11pm...it was close. But then Keith called at 11:30pm.

Not the normal day I wanted

2008-10-02T10:02:00.003-05:00

I am having camera issues at the moment so I won't be able to post this morning, maybe tonight I can post yesterday pics because it was an interesting day. As of this morning I am stuck inbetween two fighting wives in the FRG-- and boy, are they MEAN. Like I had nothing better to do, huh! Such little drama queens.

Normal Day Tuesday

2008-10-01T08:54:00.003-05:00

Reporting for yesterday with pics, but today I am soooo tired. Worked like crazy yesterday and then crashed fairly late only to wake up a million times because I had to run the carpool this morning and I was afraid I wouldn't wake up in time.

Jadyn is just like her daddy, can't keep her eyes open for pictures, even after 3 of them.

dropped her off at the carpool starting point

After I made her get the mail from the day before

practiced piano with bridger

painted boards

got a few more done

got the mail for a second time

it was a good mail day, got a book from paperback swap. still haven't opened it but I think it is Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vogennaunt (spelling?)
Tried to go to bed just after 11pm, but Keith called at 11:30 and then tossed and turned.

Normal Day Monday

2008-09-30T09:55:00.003-05:00

The more I think about it-- there is nothing normal about this week! But oh well, this is the week I am doing this and the kids think I am weird to be taking pictures of every little thing.

But normal everyday is telling the kids to get their clothes off the bathroom floor!

And I make Jadyn's lunch everyday. This consisted of Guacomole with fiber crackers, corn, and fruit cocktail.

Started laundry finally!

And ran on the treamill...

while Bridger laid in my bed working on some school stuff on the computer.

This pictures ensures me that I need to do something with this room. It is so plain still with no bedside lamps or curtains. I am thinking a new comforter and wall color also. It is also having hardwood floors laid on the 20th. Big Changes coming!

Bridger and I made Chicken Dumpling soup which we will also be eating today.

And the kids picked our first watermelon which was terrible tasting.

And I fell asleep reading this book way too late may I add.

Rate My Space

2008-09-30T00:15:00.003-05:00

Apparently I have a couple things that I have made that is on the website-- Rate My Space. I have been told by a couple of people through Etsy that they saw me over there. Lord, I hope this doesn't get me into further trouble, but I went over there and sure enough I found one pretty quickly.

Sunday normal

2008-09-29T10:29:00.002-05:00

A few pics of my sunday, though it was not all normal. Generally I do not work on the weekends at all and I pretty much did all weekend in light of a show coming up on the 4th.

I did go to church

And I didn't do laundry

But he had a good day

I forgot to take a picture of the lost cat that wondered into your backyard and we found his owner soon after. Mean cat is what is was and once again, the tyler animal shelter holds true.

wordle of my blog

2008-09-28T14:23:00.002-05:00

the biggest words are the ones I use most often on this blog....

thanks karin

He is 39 today!

2008-09-28T08:01:00.002-05:00

Today is Keith's birthday, but I won't be able to talk to him because he has been gone to play army in the Hindu Kush mountains. I know he is secretly hoping to engage the enemy today as his birthday present...I am hoping not! Next year, hopefully it will be more fun. Maybe the Cowboys will win and that would be a good present too (if they are playing this weekend?)

Normal Day number 2-- I guess this is normal for a saturday. I just do a bunch of things I didn't get done over the week, though if Keith were here I don't know if this would be considered normal. I worked on a ton of vinyl stuff, drove Bridger to a pool party, painted, worked on the computer, cleaned out the hermit crab cage, dishes.

I love lottery scrach offs-- got a few of those and didn't come out ahead, of course

Read my awesome mag on blogging

And a friend made this paperchain for me. It represents every payday that Keith will be gone. It was only made for 12 months (as opposed to 15) because we are really hoping that is what it will be. There are 19 more to go!

Go Make One!

2008-09-27T20:25:00.002-05:00

I have been playing with this website for a while but I finally made a piece of art to print out and I am going to frame it for sure. Go check it out.
www.wordle.net

Look at what I made
title="Wordle: tyler family"> src="http://wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/214848/tyler_family"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

The normal

2008-09-27T12:26:00.003-05:00

this week I am playing along with some other bloggers to capture a week in ones life. The normal things that people don't think twice about. The kids are making fun of me for taking pictures of things they don't deem picture worthy, but I think it could be fun, if it is only for one week.

I started last night, had a get together at my house which was fun. And I haven't done it since Keith left so it reminded me that I should do it way more often. Create my own fun.

Not going into an explaination of each pic, that takes the fun out of it me. So here is a Friday night.

I was tired....

2008-09-24T07:58:00.003-05:00

and now I am not anymore. For weeks I have been running on empty, so tired all the time and a bit grouchy. After a full day of running around Austin with the FRG group I came home, caught up on some of my TV shows and went to bed early. Keith refrained from his usual midnight phonecall even though I still put the phone in my bed just in case. I woke up this morning feeling completely refreshed. I will need a couple more nights like that to be 100%, but I am now more convinced that going to bed at a decent hour is worth it. Everyone should try it!

Last week, I took the kids to the Dallas World Aquarium for a 'field trip' that I thought I would share here. Jadyn was supposed to go with her class, but when the school told me that I could not help drive the kids because I had Bridger with me, I just took matters into my own hands. The school does not have buses so they get parents to help drive and no one has ever told me who can drive in my car and who can't. So I informed them via a letter that I would be more than happy to Jadyn out of school that day and to drive to Dallas with just Bridger and Jadyn. By doing so, we got to hang out there for 5 hours instead of the 2 hours the school did. Worked out way better than I expected.

This place is a rainforest and an aquarium. Just about the coolest one I have ever seen and we have been to several all around the country. Behind the kids is a waterfall that goes into a big pool that has alligators, manatees and just about the biggest catfish you have ever seen. In the center of this pool is an island called monkey island.

We had lunch there also and this was our view from our table while eating. Very entertaining.

Here is a friendly bird that put up with Jadyn mauling it. I had to drag her away so others could get a turn petting it.

I have a feeling that Jadyn is going to find herself doing something with animals when she grows up. I have been trying to figure out what her passions are so I can help her foster it. With Bridger there has never been any doubt in my mind, the boy is going to do something with construction. I have tried to look into things for him to do, but I run into insurance problems with his age. Habitat for Humanity will let him help build houses, but not until he is 16. Jadyn has been bothering to me contact a human society so that we can foster some animals, but I have held off because we don't have fence yet. I suppose we could foster some kittens...

I love to blog

2008-09-21T20:44:00.003-05:00

really I do!!! I think about it nearly everyday and I have at least 10 good blog stories going on in my head at any given time. I just rarely act upon them. I was thinking about keeping a notebook of my ideas so I can just follow up on them anytime inspiration hits. A lot of time I download pictures of something I was going to blog and then I think about it for a while and change my mind because the idea was turned lame on me.

So today, I am going to share some pictures that were taken back in May but I am just now messing around with them, playing with the color and getting them printed, amazingly enough. I'm slow....
Anyhow, we had out family photos done while visiting Utah. I wish I like hell I was thinner then, but I wasn't. So I have just decided that I am going to happy with them and better luck next time!

Tyler family on the path of life

Tyler family by the pond

We are in this together

Anyhow, about being thinner. There are definitely periods in my life that I am more motivated then others. Last week wasn't one of them, but I am happy to say that I am maintaining an 8lb weight loss. That is really too slow, but I will pick up the pace a tad bit more. Really, I will!!!!

I have many more experiences to put on here soon but one that is killing me right now is a conversation I had with Jadyn this week. This girl is quite funny though I don't think she means to be. Just this last week they were supposed to go to school dressed like what they wanted to be when they grow up. She rubbed white fur fabric all over her black shirt and told everyone that she wants to be a chinchilla and ferret breeder when she grows up. She didn't win at school, but I thought it was hilarious and quite creative. I mean, have you ever heard of that job??

We also had a conversation that went like this.
Jadyn: Mom?
Me: Yes?
Jadyn: If I were to get pregant the same way Mary got pregnant with Jesus, would you make me take a lie detector test?
Me: (my eyes bugging out of my head)Oh, I think I would make you do more then that! Why are you asking me this? You are not as virtuous as you think child! Don't think you can get away with this when you are 16 or 17!!!
Jadyn: well I don't think that would happen, I was just wondering.

With that kind of entertainment, what is there not to love about blogging!

An American Girl

2008-09-08T08:29:00.002-05:00

I am behind on blogging...I know. I have barely reading them though I think about it all the time. I love my blogs, really, but it is one of the first things I drop when I get busy.

Over Labor Day weekend, I sent Bridger off to church camp and Jadyn and I went to Dallas to spend the day at the American Girl store for the her 10th Birthday. We had a good time spending our day shopping, ice skating and eating. Day 1 was spent at the American Girl store and then ice skating. Day 2 consisted of shopping for school clothes and to a 10 year old, some 'unmentionables'.

Here are some pics of Jadyn shopping.

Here is a picture of the American Doll we brought along with us. We just bought her this new outfit and Jadyn has the skirt that matches.

At the Bistro, they let your doll sit and eat with you.

The super cute Birthday cake

Elizabeth and Mary Reilly joined us too

Jadyn feeding her favorite baby

I mentioned before that I was eating like a China man-- right? I bought the dishes that makes it more official.

And last night when I asked Jadyn what she wants in her lunch, her answer is that she wants to eat sushi all week. I am on to something here! So I made enough vegetable-only california rolls to last all week. I don't dare mess with the fish aspect of it at home. Maybe if I lived on the coast........

I saw Keith yesterday

2008-08-29T11:44:00.002-05:00

On a video teleconference and he looks great. Must have dropped like 15 pounds which kills me but he does it everytime he deploys. I know he is eating pretty good over there and not exercising everyday so really, what is his secret? It is not burning up hot like Iraq and Texas so he can sweat it out sauna style. Perhaps he is not sitting in his office all day. I know every once in a while he hikes over the nearby village but not enough to call it an exercise routine. I tell you what, it gets on my nerves!

I have been sweating it out for weeks now and my own weight doesn't make sense to me either. You know the first couple of weeks you all out-- exercising all the time until eventually you have to find a balance or quit. Well I haven't quit but I am not going to the gym everyday anymore. I only lost 3 pounds after 4 weeks of sweating and thought I was a hopeless case. I was getting a ton of cardio, lifting weights and eating fairly decent. I got rid of that nasty trainer I actually gave money too and went out on my own. So I am a little slow....

I think exercising too much might be a detriment to me (wouldn't that be awesome!) I decided to start eating like a China man. Lots of rice, noodles, vegtables and broth soup (miso). I went to an Asian market where I couldn't understand most of the packaging and no one speaks english to find all my ingredients. These last 2 weeks I have been devouring it--- and I know last week I only worked out twice (this week I am already up to 4x) and the weight just fell off. I am not kidding- just melted off of me. I will post number later-- when they are much lower!

So I think I am onto something. No more weight lifting until I am within 15 pounds of my goal and eat rice, sushi, seaweed, vegtables, noodles, eggs, and miso. I am also going to buy all the traditional dishes these meals should go into. I am eating with chopsticks also! If it works--- you got to full out, right?

And you should read all the labels on this kind of food also. I hope they don't pay their intrepreter very much because he is not very good. It is better then reading the cerealbox.

And this is the cold noodle dish that includes a little mustard oil-- blah!! Mustard oil tastes like what I would imagine snake venom to taste like. So I only made one bowl with that crap.

Worked on a few things last week also for SWANKY

And the shadowbox frame that doesn't have the glass frame in it yet.

Jadyn turned 10 this last Wednesday and we are celebrating this weekend. Bridger is going to church camp today and then Jadyn and I going to Dallas. We are doing a whole American Girl theme day there. We got reservations at their Bistro and we are going to shop like crazy. This is also my birthday present so I can't wait.

My Garden

2008-08-16T17:56:00.002-05:00

I have done a pretty good job journaling about my gardening and yard projects on this blog and I thought it was about time for an update. Unfortunately, not all has gone well this year which is such a bummer since we worked hard getting everything built up. But, it is not all my fault either as I have spent many hours in the yard working it. Some of my failures are due to this Texas heat. It has been unreal!

My 8 tomato plants are suckin! The only ones that produce are the grapes tomatoes and even those are the size of marbles. Not very good to eat. I did some research online and in my Texas gardener magazine and I found out that tomatoes don't like to grow when it stays above 80 degrees at night. Well it certainly does around here, so my huge plants probably won't get any tomatoes until the end of September.

This is the jungle I made of them, I could probably spread them out a little more next year. But my zucchini and cucumber died off also. I am reseeding inside the house now and will plant them again the first week of September as Texas Gardener said to do. Lets hope I get something.

Now some plants that have faired pretty good in the heat are the plants along the back of my house. If you remember when I first planted and it looked like this.

Now I have this

There is one little bush behind the red starflower that didn't grow very much but the reason I planted it behind the flowers was because it was supposed to get much bigger. Maybe next year? Should I try some miracle grow perhaps?

Anyhow, here is close ups of my plants that LOVE the heat.

This is called the Egyptian Star Flower-- I plan on getting more of these for my future planter in the back corner of the yard.

And I love these, they are a form of rosemary but I can't remember what kind. I will definitely be getting more of these.

And this little guy is actually a groundcover called Ice. Its leaves are like a succulent and they grow out pretty big. I love them.

Today was the first day in a long time that it has stayed under 90 degrees so I got some weeding done. I also worked up another vinyl project for the Etsy shop. It is a chalkboard Menu-- I think it is cute.

When it rains, it pours!!!!

2008-08-14T09:59:00.003-05:00

The last 48 hours have to have been the craziest part of this deployment...hopefully! Spouses complain all the time that that everything falls apart the second their husbands walk out the door. I know mine complains that I break everything when he leaves! A couple of weeks back all my computers wouldn't connect to the internet and I was stricken with panic. No communication with the outside world!! What is a girl to do? And I didn't even know who our internet provider was to call them. So I had to wait until Keith called to help me figure it out, and he said "geez paige, I haven't been gone 30 days and you already broke all 3 computers!" It turned out the modem was shot and I replaced it quickly...so NOT MY FAULT!

And last night I went to leave the house and my Tahoe wouldn't turn over. It just clicks. I went to get the neighbor to see if he could help me hook my battery up to Keith's truck battery and while doing that the neighbor locked Keith's truck with the ONLY key inside and it still running! Grrrrrr. So not only did it NOT help my Tahoe on bit, now I had to call Pop-A-Lock to come out and open the truck that only had like an 1/8 of a tank of gas. Once they did that, I drove straight to the gas station to fill it up and I missed a Family Readiness Group meeting.

I need a little sunshine over here!

Happy Birthday to me!

2008-08-10T15:22:00.002-05:00

so today is my birthday-- I am now a whopping 34! Nothing very exciting today, went to church and just waiting for my kid's playdates to arrive. Jadyn's birthday at the end of the month will be way more exciting

But I have a couple of other people who I know whose Birthdays are also today. So here is my shout out to Karla Glidden, Kim Folkman and my cousin, Steve Hawkinson.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Trying to figure out

2008-08-09T19:55:00.002-05:00

how to copy this DVD onto my computer that Frontier Camp put together for the week with music. It is very awesome and gives a good overview to what the kids did for the week. When I picked them up this morning, Jadyn said it felt like she got there and for next year I should leave her there for 2 weeks and the only class she wants to take is horsemanship. She is begging me to buy a horse-- dream on child.

Bridger also had a fantastic time and asked to return next year. I guess his best sport was archery because he won some award for it and then got to go on an extra excursion because of that award to put his archery into practice in the woods. He also loved horsemanship but said he never could get up on the wakeboard, so next year he would rather take kayaking.

When I got to the camp at about 8:30 this morning, I saw Bridger right away playing ping pong with his Jr. counselor. He also said he wants a ping pong table bad! Once again, dream on child!!! But I didn't get see Jadyn until we all met in the chapel. The kids sang Christian rock songs and danced around like it was and Oingo Boingo concert. I even saw Bridger jumping up and down with his hands in the air!! That never happens y'all.

So I signed them up for next year, put my deposit down and everything. They are ready to go. I don't think I could ask for anything better for my kids then fun, a good dose of God and His plan for their lives, and an appreciation from me to finally have them back home again.

I tried to take a picture

2008-08-07T15:30:00.002-05:00

but I can't get it to upload for some reason and instead of wasting anymore time I am just going to say what I have to say. It was a beautiful picture of my diet this week!

Being all by myself in my own house has been interesting to say the least. Haven't slept well at all this week. Right before I went to bed last night I saw this commercial by Brinks home security systems of this guy trying to break into a house. It made my heart race and then I tried to go to bed. I mean it was midnight and all.

Anyhow, the diet this week has been
1. Sushi - just been buying it from the grocery store instead of making it and it is delish!
2. Goat cheese and pita chips with a side of grapes-- very upscale!!
3. Strawberries
4. can of refried beans
5. marinated mushrooms

That's it-- that has been my diet this week! I wish I could get away with it forever but this week is almost over.
I am going to out to eat tonight and trying a new resturant. I am hoping that I get authentic Italian food- that would be nice!

Very Excited for the kids - Camp day 2

2008-08-05T00:05:00.003-05:00

Just got some updates from the website and snagged a few pictures to share here. It seems that the campers got up at 6am for prayer and devotionals. wow! They are eating like kings and having the time of their life.

Here are two pictures I found

do you see Bridger? The only one with a shirt on all fours? Apparently they set up a huge tarp and covered it with shaving cream and had a heck of a time. They also launched waterballons and rode the water weinie. And this was after all their classes today that I mentioned above.

Here's Jadyn, hanging out with a buddy! good for her.

Looks like they aren't missing me a bit!!

Camp Paige

2008-08-04T17:28:00.002-05:00

Dropped the kids off at camp yesterday and I know they are really going to love it. it was beautiful- nice cabins, great counselors, beautiful lake, gorgeous horses, the works. Jadyn got teary eyed when I had to say goodbye. I kind of felt bad for her- but I also know she is going to have the time of her life!

They sent us parents home with a CD to listen to in the car that gave a great overview of the camp, information for next year, an interview with your child's particular counselor and a great sermon on how to parent using the 25 year plan. I love it and found it extremely helpful.

Jadyn's activities include: horsmanship, outdoorsmanship, dance/cheer, kayaking
Bridger's - horsemanship, archery, riflery, wakeboarding

This camp also has a website that I can access with a password and read the overview of the day and see all the pictures from the day. I did find one picture of bridger as of last night. Will eagerly be looking everyday to see what I can find.

So this week I am all by myself-- in more ways then one-- no contact with Keith even as of yet. I wish I could figure out what is going on over there!

I have all these great plans to get things done around the house- hopefully it will all work out and Saturday won't come too fast!=) Day 1 has been very enjoyable for me!!

Can't think of a title!

2008-07-30T15:02:00.004-05:00

I thought about a title for like 2 minutes and then thought 'what does it matter'--- maybe I should have named it that!

Anyhow, such a lazy summer but there should always be things that I am busy with, I just choose to ignore or procrastinate!

One of those things was getting Jadyn into the school I wanted-- went as far as getting an appointment with them some time back, but then canceled it. Kinda wished I hadn't because I found today that the school is full!!! And I have to go on a waiting list for next year! So....remember all that crap I talked about the Montessori? Well, it seems like that is where she will be going for one more year. They go to the 4th grade, so she is still welcomed there. I called them today and they were more then thrilled to hear from me. Evidently, they don't read this blog!

Just got done with a project for a friend and it turned out mega cute.

These ones are a little harder for me because I almost hate decopauging now. Done it so much-- but I will get over it especially if I can whip up a demand for it. And I have to use a much higher quality wood to get the sharp edges on the board I prefer when decopauging. But that is sort of a shame too because you don't even see the wood! I may have to rethink this one a bit. But anyhow, I love it.

Keith had this picture taken of him when he flew thru Maine.

There are these people that greet every plane that lands there, takes their pictures for a website and give them cell phones to call home on. It is very nice of them and someone finally found this picture of Keith to send my way. I was thinking that perhaps Keith skipped the photo ops.

Another awesome picture of our trip--- I think I may have this one printed in an 8x10 I love it!

Sunday boredom

2008-07-27T21:03:00.002-05:00

Sundays are always boring since Keith has left. Nothing ever much to do. Once church is over, we just kinda stare at each other or lay around. So I thought I would put a few thing up here.

Keith sent me this kinda cool picture
It is of his boss and the village representatives. If you can look closely, you notice that under those tans, most of them are light-skinned and a few have blue eyes. This part of the country converted is Islam only within the last 100 years and are descendants of Alexander the Great.

So, yesterday and today I was awakened by the noise of a saw cutting brick in my backyard...FINALLY! I thought my yard was destined to always be a mess- but the guys finally showed up and got to work. This is what is finished thus far

It is a 2-tier planter right in the back corner of my yard and it is HUGE! They are coming back next Saturday to finish it out. I have to order a dump truck full of dirt to be delivered so they can hook up the sprinkler system in the planters. Now I get to pour over my catalogs and decide what plants I want to order to create this space. Such fun- though it will probably have to wait until fall. It is way too hot in Texas right now. So hot that the only plants that are doing well in my vegtable garden right now is the tomatoes and watermelon-- such a bummer. Next year I will be looking for a way to provide my plants more protection from the sun.

And here are just 2 random pictures of our last trip. The first one is of fuzzy dice we picked up and the second one is the old school house on the Arizona Strip.

Show this to your daughters...like at least 10x

2008-07-19T15:41:00.001-05:00

BEAUTY

A couple of more pictures

2008-07-16T10:57:00.002-05:00

I am really behind in orders as I have not had much of a chance to work on anything in the last 3 days- so today is my day to get caught up. Thought I would share just a couple more pictures that I have sized correctly for this forum until I can get a few more done.

4th of July-- Bridger eating a super long corndog and lemonade. We celebrated on post and it was actually really nice. Had fun

And Bridger gets to have all the fun--- In Las Vegas I bought him a day pass on the rollercoaster at New York, New York- tried to get a picture of it.

We also went to the M&M store and bought a ton of them in all different colors- it was very cool.

In Arizona at the family reunion we stopped by the one room schoolhouse and got some great pictures- but I only have this one to share at the moment

Notice the 16 year old looking like she is having the time of her life. Don't let her tell you different!

I made this photobox for my grandmother- it has the lyrics of a song about an old house-- made it to match her room. Turned out very cool

And another photobox I made for a local client- I think she had it made for her sister.

Have to get to work on some more of those photoboxes along with 10 other things!
More later

Real Quick

2008-07-15T14:51:00.003-05:00

Some of our family has tried calling in light of the recent news and I have not been able to take those calls. Just know that everything is OK! I have spent the last 3 days fielding 15-20 calls a day trying to keep a happy face (voice) and calm the fears of parents and spouses. It is absolutely emotionally exhausting and hasn't let me sleep very well either. I wish I had some great insight to offer each of them, but really, I don't know more then they do. I am just a spouse and mother too.
All I can do is smile voice and say I am confident we are OK-- pray for those who aren't.

BUT, I did get to the gym this morning. Have I mentioned how much I hate my personal trainer? Oh, I really do, can't stand him. Only 3 more sessions and I can be done with him.

I must get work accomplished today..............

Keeping busy...

2008-07-12T14:17:00.002-05:00

I feel better now! I think it is completely normal to mourn for a few days (or weeks) right after the soldier leaves. And because this is time number 3 I also know that month 7 there is a weird hump because it feels like it has been an eternity but yet you are on downside of the deployment (hopefully, if it is only 12 months). I go a little crazy or maybe just depressed would be the right word.

But I am planning ahead for my month 7-- it is going to be very exciting for the kids and I and I will definitely share it here when the time gets closer. The only hint is that I got the kids and I passports---hummmmm.......

So, I have been reading like crazy and all my new friends on GoodReads.com have been coming over here. Aren't they like the sweetest people ever!!! It almost makes me want to weep. I appreciate your comments and THANK YOU- it puts a smile on my face every time.

Keith sent me a few pictures this morning and I want to share one here. It is kinda cool because it is of a village.

I wonder how this village gets their food. I can't quite see if they grow anything- though you think they would with being right by the river. But I love the mountains and I know Keith does too.

In fact, before Keith left, we took this trip to Las Vegas, Arizona and Utah and saw and hung out in many mountains. we just love them!

These mountains are so pretty that this picture does absolutely no justice to it whatsoever.

These are some black lava rocks we hiked around in

And then, we played all over the red mountains (all of these are in Southern Utah)

And this is Brittlyn just hanging out-- red and turquiose look good together!

Deployment pics

2008-07-07T20:27:00.002-05:00

I heard from Keith today, he is snug as a bug where he is supposed to be. He said the place is absolutely beautiful and the Taliban sent in some nice welcome presents.

Here are some pictures from the morning he deployed. These are standing at the bus that are going to whisk him away any second-- probably about 5am.

So, I guess the cats have not been informed that Daddy is gone and they need to quit acting like hellions! I had a headless mouse on my backporch this morning and I am not happy about it! I thought I would spare you the picture but I did get this picture a few weeks ago.

It is a baby snake and the second one I have found on the porch in the morning. I just know those dang cats bring them over to play and it is irritating. Its a good thing Bridger is not chicken like I am.

Talking about wayward animals, I got a phone call from an angry non-dog owner who was mad about the dogs and their owners who think her yard is the sewer. She demanded a sign immediately for her yard and for Bridger to come over and pick it up. Just the sight of it makes her go kinda wacky. She treats dog poo like I would a tarantula. Anyhow, here is the sign I worked up for her.

Nothing like a woman's scorn to bring in business! ha

What I am sad about today....

2008-07-06T22:23:00.002-05:00

Seriously, if you are a military (especially Army) wife, don't read this! We have little empathy for each other because we're always caught up in whose spouse has been gone the longest or how many previous times they have been deployed, or what events (births, anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, funerals) were missed,etc. No matter what, someone always has it harder than you and I realize that.

So here is the egotistical part of me that will probably drive you other Army wives nuts.

I was actually sad doing laundry. Well, that probably makes a lot of people sad because they don't like doing it, but I was putting away Keith's clothes. It was just kind of weird still doing his laundry when he is not going to be wearing this whole closet shoved full of clothes anytime soon. It just gave me a pause.

The first morning he was gone, the jar that holds our toothbrushes stopped me in my tracks. There is only one lonely, purple toothbrush in it now. The blue one disappeared. I really thought he would buy a new toothbrush to take with him and leave his old one here. I might have to send him a new one.

This morning I actually had to iron my own clothes for church..grrr... It is not my thing, but Keith loves to do it. I even bought him a new ironing board upon moving here! I haven't ironed anything in quite some time...months, maybe even a year. He also likes to sweep the floors...they are dirty right now. (sigh)

When Keith is here, I sleep soundly, when he is not the slightest noise will wake me and my mind goes wild with what caused the sound. 2 nights ago I straight up in bed because I was positive I heard someone turn on a lightswitch in the living room. And the turning on of a lightswitch doesn't make a big sound. I layed in bed for 30 minutes trying to convince myself that I am crazy and need to go back to sleep.

I know all this stuff works out over time(give me 2-3 weeks). I know it does because I have done it before. So go ahead, I know you want to say it. I can take it!

Suck it up, get over it, dry it up, put on your big girl panties and move on!!!