Monday, November 19, 2012

Free card from Treat.com!

Treat is Shutterfly’s exciting new greeting card brand that makes it easy for people to create and send one-of-a-kind greeting cards. Treat cards are perfect for holidays, birthdays, congrats, thank yous and every occasion in between. It’s crazy fun. It’s super easy. And it’s totally personal.

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Thursday, November 8, 2012

30 Days of Thanks... days 5, 6, 7, &8

Playing catch up here... sorry folks!

Day 5 - I am thankful to be living in a country where I can vote as I please.

Day 6 - I am thankful to be living in a country where I can pray in peace, and not be persecuted for it.

Day 7 - I am thankful for the impulsive decision to attend a Girl Scout informational meeting three years ago!

Day 8 - I am endlessly thankful for the parents who trust their daughters to me for an hour every week.

I hope everyone's month is going well so far. Even though I am dissatisfied with the outcome, I am glad the election is over!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

30 Days of Thanks... Day 4

Today I am thankful for the gift of music. Music soothes, re-energizes, comforts, calms, seeps into your soul, wraps around you like a warm, comfortable blanket. <3

Saturday, November 3, 2012

30 Days of Thanks... Day 3

Today I am thankful to be a United States citizen. I have the freedom to speak and worship as I choose, and I think a lot of times people take their freedoms for granted. Thank you to all of the soldiers who have fought for me to have those freedoms (and many more), and those who continue to protect those rights.

Friday, November 2, 2012

30 Days of Thanks... Day 2

Today I am thankful for my friends. You know who you are, but specifically, I mean my Scouting friends - Kara, Kindra, Tamara, Marilyn, Breanna - the people I can cut up and be goofy and be myself around, and you still like me anyway! :) Thanks for being there for me in the hard times and laughing with me through the good ones! I love you guys!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

30 Days of Thanks... Day 1

Today I am thankful for my family - my husband and kids, and my mother in law and father in law, and my sister in law and brother in law and niece, and my sister and my nephew. I love you all!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Halloween

So Halloween is upon us... two days until the big day! I'm interested in knowing how you celebrate it (if you do). Parties? Trick-or-treating? Costumes?

My kiddos went trick-or-treating at the local zoo. A good time was had by all, though it was a little warm for my tastes. I mean, come on! We're at the end of October - the weather should be cool enough for bonfires, not warm enough for swimming! But all the girls got to wear their costumes without the added bulk of a coat, which made for some happy campers. (And I got clear photos of their costumes, which makes me a happy momma.)

My birthday has also passed at this point, and it was a pretty good one. I got to go camping with my dear friend the weekend before it, and even though two of the four kiddos were sick the day of, I still got to spend time with them! Then yesterday, we went to a local farm and picked pumpkins. I got apple cider, pumpkin bread, and apple butter... and now I get to spend the next few days consuming it all! (The cider's almost gone already!) Tonight I will get to watch all the girls carve their pumpkins, too.

I look forward to reading what you guys do to celebrate Halloween!

Congratulations! (Winner posted)

And the winner of the $50 Shutterfly.com credit is...

Commenter #2 - Kerry! Kerry, please shoot me your current email address, and the credit code will be emailed to you!

Congratulations, and thanks everyone for reading and commenting!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Christmas Cards

I'm sure you guys have seen me brag about my Photo Christmas Cards from Shutterfly before, right? Well, this year I'm going to do it again, and do it early. I don't know if you're a planner like me, but I like to get pictures done early so I can get all of my holiday cards ready. In the past, that meant taking Christmas pictures in July, since my stepdaughter was only with us in the summer, and we wanted her in the photo. This year, I've been able to relax a little and browse more, since she's living with us (I get a Christmas picture NOT taken in the summer, when the sun is shining and they're wearing spaghetti straps!).

 I have purchased my photo Christmas cards from Shutterfly for the last 5 years, and this one is no different. This year, though, I am hosting a sponsored giveaway for Shutterfly! The Giveaway prize: $50 off total order (does not include shipping & cannot be combined with any other promos). If you would like to enter, simply leave a comment telling me which Shutterfly holiday card you would order, and why. The deadline to enter is October 28th, and the winner will be chosen randomly.

 While you're looking at Shutterfly's holiday cards, be sure to check out their awesome special offers, too!

 You can also check out Shutterfly any of these other ways:
 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shutterfly
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Shutterfly
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/shutterfly/
Instagram: Shutterfly
Google +: https://plus.google.com/+shutterfly
 Blog: http://blog.shutterfly.com/

  This post was sponsored by Shutterfly.com.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Books I've Read Since June 24, 2012



  1. The Witch's Daughter, Paula Brackston
  2. Unraveling (Unraveling #1), Elizabeth Norris
  3. Hourglass (Hourglass #1), Myra McEntire
  4. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1), Marissa Meyer
  5. Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1), Josephine Angelini
  6. Dreamless (Starcrossed #2), Josephine Angelini
  7. Hunting Lila (Lila #1), Sarah Alderson
  8. Stray (Shifters #1), Rachel Vincent
  9. Rogue (Shifters #2), Rachel Vincent
  10. Haven (Winterhaven #1), Kristi Cook
  11. Unraveling Isobel, Eileen Cook
  12. Pride (Shifters #3), Rachel Vincent
  13. Prey (Shifters #4), Rachel Vincent
  14. Shift (Shifters #5), Rachel Vincent
  15. Strange Angels (Strange Angels #1), Lili St. Crow
  16. Betrayals (Strange Angels #2), Lili St. Crow
  17. Jealousy (Strange Angels #3), Lili St. Crow
  18. Defiance (Strange Angels #4), Lili St. Crow
  19. Reckoning (Strange Angels #5), Lili St. Crow

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Shutterfly's "Long Live Summer" Photo Contest


Win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever.  All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on the theme of the week.  Get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering! You can enter at any point during the 5-week sweepstakes period.
PHOTO THEMES
•       Week 1(7/9): Americana
•       Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors
•       Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun
•       Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities
•       Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations
PRIZES
       Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!
       Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week)
       Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.
       Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot!


Thursday, June 28, 2012

Books I've Read

Books I've Read Since June 24, 2012



  1. The Witch's Daughter, Paula Brackston
  2. Unraveling (Unraveling #1), Elizabeth Norris
  3. Hourglass (Hourglass #1), Myra McEntire
  4. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1), Marissa Meyer
  5. Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1), Josephine Angelini
  6. Dreamless (Starcrossed #2), Josephine Angelini
  7. Hunting Lila (Lila #1), Sarah Alderson
So, not bad... 7 books in 4 days. There's not much else to do when you're feeling under the weather anyway, right? Beginning book #8 right now...

Friday, March 9, 2012

AUGH

I am not good with confrontations. This you all know, if you've known me for any amount of time.

When someone is upset with me, I much prefer that they come out and tell me, rather than tiptoe around the bush or walking on eggshells and just treating me like crap... but somehow, I can't find it in myself to do the same. I pretend that nothing is wrong, and I do it poorly. I can't figure out why I can't just come out and say, "Look, what you said/did upset me, and this is why." It feels like I've swallowed my tongue when I try.

Suffice it to say that, at the present moment, and for the last several days, I have been agitated. I am agitated. I am angry, hurt, frustrated, so on, and so forth. Add in all of those other words that mean that anger at you has stolen the joy from my last few days, and since you won't go away yourself, I have to find a way to cope with my anger towards you. This is me doing just that.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

wow...

so it's been a while since I've blogged... not sure when the last time even was, since I haven't looked! I hope everyone out there in the blogosphere is doing well! In our house, we are preparing for the birthday party of my youngest daughter - and she's having a Pinkalicious party! I've been going through Pinterest like mad, looking for ideas, and have found a ton, but if anyone else has any, I'd appreciate shared tips and ideas! Right now she's at home sick - a double whammy of an ear infection and strep throat! :(