Things I want to try...and stuff.

I'm sure by now you're all getting really bored with my List. We are still working hard on the basement project- but it is definitely almost finished!! It is awesome. I have discovered that I absolutely L.O.V.E. pegboard. Add that to my List. I'm thinking of doing my whole house in it...

just kidding!

I may post pics soon- haven't even had time to mess around with uploading photos the past couple weeks. Just bear with me a few more days.

Anyway!

Here are some things I am thinking I'd like to try. If any of you have, give me your opinions!

• Ouidad Climate Control for Curly Hair- toted as the best defrizzer for curly hair.
• YogaToes- supposed to improve and prevent foot problems.
• Frizz-Ease Weather Works shampoo/conditioner/style sealant cream. Editor of Sept. '08 Better Homes & Gardens raved about this.
• Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes.
• Dove Clinical Protection deodorant. I use Dove now, and this is supposed to be super good, plus no aluminum chloride.

Also- something of extreme interest- on Friday, September 5th at 8 pm ET/PT 7 pm CT on ABC, CBS, and NBC there is a groundbreaking, nationally-televised event entitled Standup To Cancer. They say "This is where the end of cancer begins." Be sure to tune in!! (standup2cancer.org)

The List

In the January 2008 issue of Real Simple (a little backlogged here), the editor included a partial sampling of her "The List" of "old faithfuls- things that never disappoint".

I really enjoyed reading her List, and decided to compile my own partial List (in no particular order).
(I also decided to expand on some of my list items since posting this- so there is new stuff to read!! haha!)

THE LIST, by Gina

• Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap (100% natural and that peppermint is SO invigorating in the morning!)
• Sheer Cover Mineral Powder (I actually bought this after watching an infomercial in the middle of the night while overnighting in Oklahoma City while I was a flight attendant- being alone in my hotel rooms sometimes got lonely- and I was so impressed by the infomercial that I HAD to have it- and actually loved it!!! haha!)
• White Cotton Sheets (the more they're laundered, the softer they become- heavenly! White bedding reminds me of a breezy morning by the sea, and since that is where I fantasize I live instead of stuck in the midwest by a river... the sheets help!)
• Old Navy Jeans (just below the waist w/a slightly flared leg is perfect- and since I know my size and favorite fit, I can grab them at the thrift store for a couple bucks!! Already broken in, to boot! I think I own about 8 pairs now. I love jeans.)
• Starbucks Tall Latte (always hits the spot)
• The Rainbow Vacuum Cleaner (there is just nothing as domestically pleasing as dumping that water basin chock full of all the eweygewey dirt and hair that's just been sucked out of my home, leaving fresh, clean air and surfaces in it's wake.)
• My La-Z-Boy Livingroom Furniture (they have come soo way beyond the basic recliner! and are so comfortable and stylish- I am a happy customer!)
• Covergirl Outlast Lipcolor (it will actually last for 14 hours)
• Paula's Choice Skincare (I've posted about this before)- these products actually revolutionized my problem skin, and I'm not getting paid to say that.
• Baking Soda (for everything from cleaning the house to exfoliating my face to brushing my teeth- love that stuff!)
• Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar- raw, organic, unfiltered, with the "mother". Delicious!
• Pedicures (this doesn't really need an explanation)

What are some of your favorite things??

Sunday ramblings...

Survived my Saturday at work. I was soooo tired- it felt like the longest day of my life. BLAH.
But, I survived!!
Today is Sunday- I don't have to report back to work until Wednesday. woohoo!!
We are really seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for this basement project, and hopefully can have the appraiser come out on Tuesday. I HOPE. Lots of other little things to do, too. Trying to do things here and there as I can.

Tomorrow our oldest grandchild (yes, remember, I am a child bride and I have grandchildren) turns THIRTEEN!!!
Is that even possible?!?!?!?!
How did this happen?!?!?!?!
He's such a great kid. Turning into a bit of a teenage snot to his mom, but not too bad. Could definitely be worse!!!!
So tonight we are having a big family celebration of his entry into the FABulous teen years at a local ribs joint. The kid loves ribs.

Okay. I'm off to paint some boards while I wait for George to get home from Home Depot (our home away from home, dontcha know).
Have a GREAT Sunday!!

Git 'er Done

We are gitting there. That basement is almost whipped into shape. I am so tired I can hardly see straight- and I get to work today.
So this is a short little post to say hello. I'll chat with you later. Feel sorry for me.
;-)
Oh- and have a GREAT weekend, everybody!!!

Terrible, terrible local tragedy

A terrible accident has occurred here in Cincinnati at the Bible college where we have both attended and have many friends who are employed there.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008308200081

Please pray for this mother, and her family. I cannot even imagine the horror and the grief and pain she is experiencing right now for her mistake.

It's easy to judge her- but I know in my heart that I have the capacity to make a mistake like this, too. I think, really, we all do.
It's so very, very sad.

As the Years Go By....

Okay. I should be in the basement helping my husband.
But I am actually feeling a little cranky after going hours without eating, and working all day... so instead, I am playing around on a VERY fun website I learned about on Mama's Losin' It's blog.
Here I am, throughout the years.... have a laugh!!! I sure did!!!

1956- I actually had my hair cut like this a few years ago!!!

Wanna go to the drive-in??

1966

1974- Hmmm. I am kinda liking myself in long STRAIGHT hair!!!

1978- Oh yeah! This is what I look like when I get up in the morning, actually.

1990- Ummmm.... is this my actual yearbook photo?!?!?! I totally had this hairstyle (graduated 1989).

M.I.A.

Okay, okay- I've been really bad about blogging here lately.
We have been SOOO busy trying to get some things done around the house to get it more "appraisal ready". The market in our area is in a real slump so property values have plummeted, and we need to squeeze every dime we can out of it right now.
I feel very overwhelmed by all we're trying to get done in just a few days- so I barely have a minute to spare for anything extra.

As for my last post... just forget my little color dilemma for now- I'll have to get back with you on that!!!!!

Otherwise- things are fine. Just noses to the grindstone. George has a check-up tomorrow, so it will be good to know what his psa levels are. He spoke on the phone today with Dr. Issels (as in, Issels Treatment Center- this is the son of the founder) and that was all good. We're very much looking forward to October!!!

Alright- gotta run! Just wanted to at least post SOMETHING so you know I'm still alive.
I'll try to check in on everyone... but the likelihood is I'm going to be behind until next week.
I'll let you know how things go!!!

White? or Green?

I am soon going to be painting my dining room a beautiful soft green- soon as in by the end of next year. haha! Maybe sooner... need to get in the mood. It will probably wait until we get back from the treatment center.
Anyway! That part is irrevelant.
I just got a printer's tray that I am going to use for displaying delicate little miniatures like this fabulous little blown glass vase....
Isn't it PRECIOUS?!?!
I just love things like that- and they're usually pretty cheap- so this will be a fun, inexpensive collection (since I seem to have a need for collections) that I can build over time.
SO.
Here's my question that I'm putting out to you:
Should I paint the tray white? or should I paint it the same color as the wall (green) so that it sort of disappears and the collection "pops" more??

WE HAVE A DATE!!!!

October 13th.

George starts his treatment at the Treatment Center we've been raising money for!!!!

We paid our deposit and made our reservation.

WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are still several thousand short of my goal- so keep spreading the word!!!!

But we have enough amassed (thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!!!) that we know it's going to happen, and we've
SET THE DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Updated:
WHAT THIS ALL MEANS....

We will both be out in CA for the 3 week treatment program. His first day will be the 13th and his last the 31st. It is an outpatient situation, and they have a condo unit that they use for their patients, so we will be staying there, which will be so rough because it's right on the beach!! This is going to feel like a vacation/treatment all in one! We're both so excited!! The treatment center is 2 miles from the condos, so our plan is to rent a car for use while we're out there. He is treated Mon-Fri so we will have our evenings and weekends to relax, enjoy the area, take mini road-trips... just enjoy being out there, healing, together. Breathing fresh sea air.... ahhhhhh. (unlike here, where all you breathe is smog).

I will definitely post updates as we get our airline tickets figured out, etc. and I will try to blog FROM there while we're out there. We don't have a notebook computer that works right now to take along... but I'm sure we'll have some internet access somewhere.

I'm telling!!

You know, I really hate to be a tattle-tale.

But sometimes you just have NO choice in the matter. You can either sit there and try to "be nice", or you can do something that will hopefully bring forth positive change.

I've decided that I've been nice long enough.

No more Mrs. Nice Guy!!!

The multi-family rental that we have the sheer JOY of sharing a fenceline with has just been a thorn in our side for too many years, and I. HAVE. HAD. IT!!!!!
(Believe it or not, the owner is a minister which just burns me up as a Christian myself. I want to take pictures and send it to his congregation!!! He's just making money and not caring one iota about the property or the neighbors.)

Anyway- enough of my RANTING.

I have decided that whenever the property starts to get out of hand- as in, trash scattered around, animal mess, grass overgrown, stuff strewn all over the yard and driveway... you name it! (this is the joy of urban living)... then I am going to send a detailed email to the city (there is an email address specifically for complaints like this! hooray!) and report them.

The city is very prompt in replying to my complaint emails.

I sent one today and have already received a reply!

It's just not fair to the rest of the street who are trying to keep our properties up (it's an older neighborhood with big old houses in a modest-income area) to have an eyesore like this that is neglected. I mean, my neighbor on the OTHER side of me keeps her yard beautifully- and I try to do the same, as do the people across the street.
But this problem property looks like a 3rd world country lives next door!!!
What's up with that?!?!?!

So.

I'm done being nice.

I'm taking back my street!!!

(and if my new knock-out roses end up in the street like my tulips did, I'll know why!!! no one said there wouldn't be risks.)

I just don't know....

What do I want to be when I grow up?!?!?!

I really don't know.

I think about this a lot.

I am 37 years old. And I still. don't. know.

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Here is what I have done:

• Retail (hordes and hordes of retail)
• Custom framing (you know- where I "framed" my hubby)
• Flight Attendant
• Interior Decoration
• Artist
• Travel Business (currently- with hubby)
• Antique Dealer (well, more like vintage clothing dealer)
• Sales- lots of sales
• and probably some other stuff not coming to mind right now...

I have enjoyed all those things. Right now I work part-time at an antique store. A BIG part of me would like to have a PROFESSION of some sort- something I could always fall back on. Another BIG part of me wants to own my own business of some sort.

But I really have NO idea doing WHAT!!

And I guess I'd have to, like, go to college or something for that to happen (the profession part)?!?! haha!

Interior Decoration is still what has the most "pull" for me- but I get easily intimidated in that field. Maybe I still need to "grow" into that.

Being an artist is something I have dreamed of- but I start to think too realistically.

Jewelry design has always appealed to me. But again- I think too realistically.

Sigh.

I really have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

How much time do I have before that happens, anyway?!?!!

Thank you!

I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you who read my blog, and especially all of you who take the time to comment on my blog.

When you receive that little email announcing that you have a new comment, it's just like getting a Hallmark Card in the mail! Somebody cared enough to send the very best! Now, granted, it didn't cost you 43 cents or whatever the heck postage IS these days- and you didn't have to make a last-minute trip to Hallmark in order to BUY the very best- but it's the thought that counts.

RIGHT?!?!?!

I feel like I have a special little group of friends out there whom I have never met face-to-face but still swing by and visit my teensy little corner of the vast, wide, giNORmous world of cyberspace just to see how I am and to say a howdy-do and give me cyberhugs.

It totally makes my day!

And trust me- a lot of days, I really, really, REALLY need it.

So, thanks!!

From the bottom of my heart.

08-08-08!!!!

I think that's so cool- and it took me all day to realize it.

Getting there!!!

Today is feeling very exciting- and a little scary!

August has been the month that I have mentally determined would be the month that we begin the process of making the reservations at the treatment center, exploring "back-up" availability of monies (ie. borrowing) just in case my fundraiser doesn't meet it's goal (but remaining optimistic!!), then making the airline reservation, the rental car reservation... etc.!!

It's starting to feel REAL!!!

We have raised enough money that we know this is going to happen, so we are now moving forward to MAKE it happen.

WOOHOOO!!!!

To tailor or not to tailor, that is the question

Okay. I don't have TLC anymore, so I got a "fix" of "What Not to Wear" via Netflix (oh, how I love Netflix....)
One thing that Stacy said that really stuck out to me was that the "crotch of your pants should hit at your anatomical crotch".
Mine don't.
I am very skinny, but I'm 5'6", so even the smallest sizes in a line of clothing is often too big (I can't do petite b/c I'm too tall). I have a straight figure- turn me sideways, stick out my tongue, I'm a zipper... that whole deal.
So a lot of my pants make me have a "saggy butt". NOT a good look. Think it's time to gather them up and head for a tailor.

How many of you follow Stacy & Clinton's advice and actually TAILOR your clothes??

EX-HAUST-ED

Well, let's see... today I decided to do a little weeding, which led to a little bush trimming, which led to a little replanting, which led to a trip to Home Depot to get plants and mulch and lattice, which led to mulching (waaayy overdue), which led to putting up some lattice along top my fence to try to block my view of our horribly trashy rental neighbors (remember I told you about them?) and now I am covered in dirt and bug bites and scratches and- get this- even BIRD POOP because a bird decided to drop on my leg while I'm trying to single-handedly manhandle the lattice up (which helps TONS by the way!!).
SO. I am off to wash this filth off of me in a nice hot shower.
And then lay on the couch comatose for the rest of the day.
Oh, but wait.
I CAN'T.
I still need to finish the laundry and juice carrots for George and figure out dinner.
A woman's work is NEVER done!!

Sunday Matinee Double Feature!

(be sure to turn up volume!)

Enjoy this slide show from my recent trip to my sister's:

"BABY LOVE!"

I wish I had more pictures to share, but after discovering that my camera does VIDEO, I got carried away with that.... and ran out of memory.

FYI: The credits are for an entire CD I made for my family, so not everyone being credited was shown in this particular slide show. That was my Dad holding Genesis, and my sister, Amanda, holding Isaiah, and yours' truly in several shots...my mom and bro-in-law didn't make it in. Not an intentional oversight- a memory card situation. They make it in the next feature...

(note to self: pack extra memory card.)

This slide show is from my trip back in March before the Famous Rt. 30 Baby was born:

"WE ARE FAMILY!"