All Kinds Of Miscellany

* Knock on wood, my diet is going well. The food has improved greatly since that awful turkey burger. I've been sticking with the plan, drinking lots of water, and haven't had any regular Pepsi. Really, Jenny makes it very easy! I'm sure I haven't lost an ounce but I'm giving it time. Something is bound to happen within the next few weeks. It's just so strange for me to be eating this much food. I haven't felt hungry once!

* I went for a check up on Tuesday and asked the doctor to send me for lab work to check my Thyroid as well. I've thought that I might have an under active Thyroid, hence the weight gain. I also have the dry brittle hair and sluggishness that goes along with it. I'll go have the lab work done this morning before I eat or drink anything.

* This weekend is camping club weekend and we're camping(RVing!) at the beach. I'm really looking forward to the cooler weather and the long walks on the beach. We weren't able to go to the last few campouts so I've been missing my camping club girlfriends like crazy. I can't wait to see them!

* I didn't go outside at all yesterday. I had a list of things to do but stayed inside and got stuff done in the house. I dusted all the shelves in our built-in bookcase and washed all the knick knacks, even doing a little rearranging. It's amazing how fast things get dusty!

* I prepared 10 packages of good mail for mailing, wrote out a sympathy card, a thinking of you card, and 7 thank you cards. I still have 4 more thank you cards to write and more good mail to package up but I need more mailing supplies. That's on my "to do" list for today.

* I spent over an hour yesterday just going through all of the stuff that has piled up on our kitchen table since vacation ie., mail, bills, and all of my Hobby Lobby stuff that I brought home from Colorado. Hey, we don't have a Hobby Lobby here in California so I always need to stock up. Plus, that's why I was able to package up so much good mail today!

* Do you remember my daughter's friend Macey that was hit by the car in December. Please keep her in your prayers right now. Macey had a specially made synthetic flap placed over a portion of her skull a few days ago and her lab work now is very high, possibly showing infection, and/or rejection of the flap. Months ago when they surgically put her own skull flap back in place, it became infected and therefore she needed a synthetic one made. She was very fearful of this operation and the possibility of another infection occurring. Macey is a beautiful 19 year old who just wants her life back. She's tired of wearing that darn pink helmet that she's had to wear all these months to protect her skull! I know Macey and her family would appreciate your prayers tremendously.

* I went into work after my doctor's appointment on Tuesday and although I miss my co-workers and the patients terribly, I didn't wish to be back there! They are so so short handed that it makes working horrible, extremely stressful, and needless to say, dangerous! We need 9 nurses per day to make the place run smoothly, yet they will only have 4 nurses on Saturday!! I feel so sorry for those 4 nurses! Upper management does nothing to help out and they certainly won't reward those 4 dedicated nurses. I did break down and give them 2 days over the next few weeks. I figure one day a week or one day every two weeks will suffice and it will keep my per diem status active. It's really a shame because I used to love my job dearly.

Mail, Mail, and Some Good Mail!

The one thing I dread about coming home from a vacation is having to face all of the mail that has piled up during our absence, most of it being junk mail! It doesn't take long before our mailbox gets completely full, meaning that we always expect to come home to this...


After a few days of the mail sitting in the mailbox piling up and our mailman realizing that we're not home, he collects it all back up and takes it to the post office for safe keeping. We automatically know when we get home that we'll need to make a trip to the post office the next day to collect the mail, and it always ends up coming home in the big box!

Again, the box was heaping full but it had lot of treats in it for me. Lots of good mail from special blogging friends!

Jenn sent me some adorable 4th of July decorations. I love 4th of July and love all of the red, white, and blue decorations that go along with it. As a matter of fact, we went to a potluck get together yesterday and so many people commented on my festive dishes and such. Ohhhh, if they only knew! Have I mentioned before that I'm a holiday decorations junkie!?!


I received thank you cards from Natasha and Andrea, and a sweet card from Kim Sue...


And last but not least, I received a special good mail package from Cheri. It was very sweet and special because she knows 2 things about me...that I love sweet tarts and that I adore dish towels!


Thank you girls for making the painful job of sorting through 2 weeks worth of mail not so painful! It was truly appreciated!

Crazy California Weather!

The last 4-5 days have been absolutely gorgeous here, but not today. It's cold, windy, and rainy outside. I think I'll just stay inside and cuddle up with the Jakester all day. Actually, it's a perfect ironing and TV watching day. I only watch TV when I iron, so today just might be my TV day.

The pool is finished and looking beautiful but anytime you have any type of work done, a mess ensues, so Sunday afternoon was clean up day. My husband hosed down the back yard and patio and ended up getting all of the windows wet in the process. Yes, all of them! So, cleaning the outside windows led me to cleaning the inside windows, which led to cleaning the shutters, which led to wiping down mirrors, which led to dusting, and so forth and so on! I'm sure you know what I mean! Why do I always forget that Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest! I(we) worked our butts off but boy does everything look nice. Spring cleaning has definitely begun!

Yesterday I wrote some thank you notes that needed to be sent out, packaged up some good mail, went to the post office, then worked in the yard.

Yep, today just might be a TV day!

There's A First Time For Everything

And last week was the first time I had ever tried this...


Am I the only one out there who had never heard of or tried Fry Sauce before?

A few weeks back my blogging buddie Andie, who was visiting relatives in Utah, mentioned Fry Sauce in one of her posts. I commented that I had never tried it and low and behold, that sweetheart sent us a bottle. She said she couldn't picture me going through life without ever trying Fry Sauce!

Not only did I try it, but I bent my "no fries" rule and went to Wendy's for some fries. Wendy's has the best fries and if I'm going to bend the rules, I might as well go for the best! I've given up french fries completely and haven't had any in months but I wanted to taste it for myself...


Pretty darn good stuff I might add! It tastes like Thousand Island dressing and I love Thousand Island dressing! We don't have Fry Sauce here in CA (is it only a Utah thing?) but Thousand Island dressing or a mayo/ketchup mixture would be the next best thing.

Thank you Andie for making sure life didn't pass me by without trying Fry Sauce. My life is now complete!

Good Mail

Last week I received a package in the mail from my blogging friend Jill. Every now and then, Jill will pick names and send out gifts to people who leave comments on her posts. I happened to be one of those lucky winners. I was excited because Jill is very creative so I knew it would be something good, it definitely would be some "good mail" as we call it. When I opened it up, not only was I excited, I felt giddy!

Jill went to Paris at the end of last year to visit a friend that was living there temporarily. She documented her trip so perfectly that I felt like I was right there with them. Paris looks like a incredible, beautiful city and God willing, I'll make a trip there myself someday.

While at a flea market in Paris, Jill purchased buttons from a vendor. I remember reading about her flea market excursion but never dreamed I'd be the recipient of a gift from there. Jill was kind enough to send me some buttons and a lovely magnet from Paris as my gift. I've got the magnet on the refrigerator but this is what I did with the buttons...


I knew I wanted to do something special with the buttons and that I'd never take them off the card that they are affixed to, which states Bouton Tailleur Frabrication Francaise, so I displayed them in a frame along with some scrapbook paper I had on hand. Jill didn't know this, but I love buttons and have a glass jar where I have some displayed. I adore my new framed buttons and look how great they look along side the button jar.


Jill's gift, which she brought all the way home from France, meant so much to me. It may have just been a little gesture on her part, but it was hugh to me. This goes to show that when you do something nice for someone else, however big or small, it can truly touch their heart and put a smile on their face. It did both for me! Thank you again Jill!

So, this leads me to ask, when was the last time you sent out or delivered some "good mail?" You just may make someone's day!

OH...MY...GOODNESS!!

You are not going to believe what I got in the mail today...




This is mail that I sent out in November! November 28th to be exact!

I'm so embarrassed!

This package was a Christmas gift for an ornament exchange that I participated in. Obviously it never made it to my partner! You want to know the worst part about this, I received my ornament from this person and even hung it on my tree proudly.

I'm so embarrassed!

The other bad part about this is that I don't even remember who hosted the swap so I can't contact her to verify this person's exact name and address.

Oh my goodness, I'm so embarrassed!

I now again have the person's name who I was sending it to but the address probably is wrong or maybe she moved. I'll google her name and see what I can come up with. With the way the US Mail handled this package (keeping it in their possession for 5 months!), maybe I can have it in her hands by this next Christmas!

Lordy, Lordy, I'm so embarrassed!

The Weather Outside...

Is absolutely gorgeous! What a beautiful April day we're having here in CA. I've got the windows and the doors open. It's not too hot right now but they say it's suppose to reach the high 90's tomorrow and Monday. Wow!

It's been a busy day already with projects and stuff getting done around here. I finished a fun project that I started a few weeks ago and it turned out great. I'll post about it on Monday for Metamorphosis Monday...it really was a metamorphosis in the making.

I also have a plate project in the works so I've been busy spray painting today. Yes, spray painting plates! I'm hoping to get them hung this weekend and you know I'll take pictures.

Been busy washing all of my crystal too. When the carpet was installed we had to take everything out of the china cabinet. Where do you put EVERYTHING when EVERYTHING is getting moved!?! In the spare bathroom of course! We had to empty out closets, china cabinet, clear off dressers, everything...so I just stuck it all in the spare bathroom and closed the door! Well it's been almost 2 weeks so I ventured in there today...and I almost couldn't find my way out! Slowly but surely I'm taking things out, cleaning them, and putting them back in place. Fun job huh!

Good Mail! I received some good mail I want to show you. But first of all, I want to say thank you to so many of you who have sent cards and notes lately. I love going to the mailbox and finding good mail from blogging friends. I received thoughtful Easter cards and continue to get the most beautiful notes on the most beautiful cards, alot of them homemade. There is so much talent and goodness out there in blogland! It's very heartwarming!

I received a precious plaque from my friend Valerie and I knew the perfect spot for it the minute I saw it. It says "Friend, I thank my God everytime I remember you. Philippians 1:3." She even signed and dated the back. I love it Valerie, thank you! If you have some time, stop by and visit Valerie's blog, you'll be drawn in as I was. She is a beautiful Christian wife and mother who shares her heart and life with us...and she has become a treasured friend!



So that's it in a nutshell. Hope you're having a great Saturday and that you're having some beautiful weather too. We're all a little ready for some Spring about now!

I Felt The Good Mail Love!

I've mentioned previously that I display all of the notes and cards that I receive from blogging buddies. I started blogging last February, and since then, I've been the lucky recipient of several pieces of good mail. Here is a picture of what my good mail collection looked like earlier today...


What a beautiful sight it has been for me to see everyday during the year and it warmed my heart today as I looked over them and read them once again. I'm amazed and thankful for the friendships that have been made through blogging and I hope you know that I count many of you as very dear friends!

So today, with a smile on my face, I bundled up my pile of 2008 good mail....all the while thanking you for each and every card, note, and gift that was sent my way. I truly felt the love!


My card holder is now ready for 2009 good mail...and we're off to a good start!

Whew...I Need A Vacation!

After the whirlwind of the Christmas season, I need a vacation...and guess what, I'M NOW ON ONE! We thought we'd visit family in Colorado or even go back to Oregon again but we're not doing either. The bad weather all over has made us decide to stay home and get stuff done, spend New Year's Eve with friends, visit my FIL in Palm Springs, and overall just enjoy the time with no schedule. It sounds like heaven to me.

Our Christmas was dramatically different this year yet enjoyable. No family came into town (due to bad traveling weather) so it was unusually quiet. My sister Kim and her husband came for Christmas dinner which was nice. We all helped out in the kitchen and worked together to get dinner prepared. This is new for me. I'm learning to let go of things and enjoy the moment more, trying not to be so in control of everything. I don't have to "do it all" and I'm finally realizing it...and it's sure making life more fun for me and for everyone else in the process. We all helped out with the preparations but here is a picture of my two cute sidekicks and myself...




We originally had planned on more company coming and my thought was to include all of the women with the cooking so I bought aprons for everyone. We ended up only using 3 of the aprons but I thought it would be a cute "party favor" gift idea. My sister kept saying "you mean this apron is mine, really!?!"

Friday, bright and early, Kim and I hit the ground running. We were at our first store by 8:00am and I didn't get home until after 8:00pm. It's all caught up with me today and boy am I tired. This has been a pajama day...and I don't plan on getting dressed. I NEVER do this but I am today!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and that you are making time to relax too. I've thought of you so much over the holidays and wondered how you've all been. Each one of you have enhanced my life tremendously and made my Christmas so much more meaningful and festive. I appreciate you so much!

Speaking of appreciation, thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas cards and good mail that was sent my way. I loved it all!

Thank you Kacey!

Thank you Deb!

Thank you Jan!

Thank you Bren!

Thank you Jennifer!

And finally, this is what happens when your daughter gets a hold of your camera. I'd say she's got the SPT idea down pat wouldn't you!

Good Mail, Good Friends!

Are there people you've met in blogland that you have just connected with? Fellow bloggers that you know you'd be fast friends with if you lived close to each other? I have one such friend. Janiece and I have become friends through blogging and I know for certain we'd be BFF if we were neighbors!

I worked on Monday and had a headache all day long that I just couldn't shake. All I could think about was getting home, putting on my pj's, and going to bed. I called home before I left work and asked about the mail, "anything special in the mail today?" I got so excited when I got home that I forgot all about my lingering headache. Look at the good mail that was waiting for me when I got home...



Janiece, you obviously know how much I adore plates and how I enjoy displaying them during the holidays. I love it! Thank you dear friend for my first Christmas gift of the season!

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap - Part 2

We didn't buy much at the Craft Fair but I'm always able to find a few new ornaments each year to add to my collection. I was thrilled to find just the right ornament for an ornament swap that I'm in and some ornaments for a small Christmas tree that I want to put in my kitchen. I think a kitchen ornament themed tree is a cute idea and I plan on doing it this year. Here are the ornaments I picked up to put on the kitchen tree...


I'll be putting this cute one on there too...


After the craft fair, we girls went thrifting. Thrift shopping is new to Courtney and I but Debbie and Bette Jo are seasoned experts. It was fun to watch them in action. As soon as we'd enter a store, they'd disappear, each having areas that they hit first. We went to one thrift store that was having a 1/2 off sale on all Christmas items that day. Courtney sat on a chair and guarded the "piles" while we bigger girls shopped...and the piles just kept getting bigger and bigger. Our seasoned thrifters took it seriously as the back of our car demonstrated. It was packed! Oh I wish I would have taken pictures of this fun outing, especially the jam packed car!

Nights were very relaxing. We did crafts, talked, watched tv, snacked, played on the computer, and just generally enjoyed each others company. It's nice because the dining room table and the family room are right next to each other so even though each person may be doing something different, you're all right there together. Debbie and Steve's vacation home is cozy, warm, and has the feel of being tucked far away in the mountains although it actually isn't. The house is located in a "neighborhood" so to speak but take a look at the backyard. It's open, beautiful, and one never tires of listening to the sounds of the creek that's located at the base of the yard...


Debbie and Steve are the ultimate hosts. They make each guest feel welcomed, cared for, and they spoil you rotten. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and we owe it all to them!

The drive home was long but we didn't hit much holiday traffic which was a hugh relief. We were tired and didn't get the mail until Monday but I RECEIVED SOME GOOD MAIL...my first Christmas gift of the season...and I love it!

I'll share my good mail with you tomorrow and also show you what my hubby's been up to while I was busy at work on Monday and Tuesday. Until then, have a great day!

Birthday Goodness - Part 2

My blogging friend Jan sent me the greatest gift package for my birthday last month. Each and everything she picked out is something that I would buy myself. She also sent along a bag of carmel corn with cashews that was amazing. The carmel corn didn't make it into the picture because, well...it was long gone way before the picture was taken! Jan, thank you again for everything.


Another wonderful blogging friend, Janiece, sent me this special treat and I love it. I didn't have a "Home Sweet Home" plaque so when it arrived I was thrilled! Janiece and I have been blogging buddies for a few months now and like I've told her...if we were neighbors, I know we'd be fast friends! Thank you Janiece for my very welcomed and special gift.


Now I'm sure all of you know Kacey from Doodle Bugs Paper, but if you don't, you need to check out her blog soon. She has such talent! Kacey sent me a birthday gift that I truly just about screamed out loud when I opened it up. She sent me the most darling little pouch with stickers inside and as you can see they are just about the cutest stickers around! Kacey, I hope you're making and selling these now because I know I'm going to need more real soon!


Kacey's sister Kim Sue is a blogging buddy too and was sweet enough to remember my birthday as well. Kim Sue sent me these adorable gift cards that will certainly come in handy. Being a lover of all things paper, this was the perfect gift. Thanks Kim Sue!


When I got home from vacation there was a sweet package waiting for me...a package from blogging friend and fellow RN Jennifer. Jennifer sent me something that is a favorite of mine and something that I like collecting. I love dish towels and put a special one out for all occasions (just ask my family!) Thank you Jennifer for my special fall dish towel!


Last, but not least, thank you blogging buddies Jennifer H, Lene, and Patti for the birthday cards you sent my way. They were so appreciated!

As you can see I was spoiled rotten this birthday by wonderful, thoughtful friends that I've met through blogging...women I adore and whose friendships I cherish. Thank you to each and every one of you. Also, thank you to all who left a kind and loving birthday comment. I should have started blogging years ago...bloggers made this one of the best birthdays ever!

Birthday Goodness - Part I

Generally, I don't like it when my birthday rolls around...in fact, every year I dread it! I really don't know why except for the fact that I hate getting older! I feel much younger than I am and I don't like being over the hill!

But this year was different!

This wonderful group of blogging buddies that I have come to know and love showered me with so much kindness, generosity, and love that it turned out to be one of the best birthdays ever. I'll take some time over the next few days to show you the wonderful, thoughtful gifts I received.

A box filled with awesome goodies from sweet Bren was the first to arrive. You could tell with each item that she really thought about things I may have said and then picked up on it, even down to the pink packaging it was all bundled up in. She knows I love pink! She also included photos of 2 children, a boy and a girl. She said she thought this was maybe what my 2 kids looked like when they were younger. Now really, how thoughtful and special is that!!! At some point soon, I'll dig out some older pictures of my 2 loves and you can judge for yourself (I'll tell you though, Bren did a pretty good job!)


And you gotta love the candles..."31"...just too cute! You can't tell by this picture but she also sent some biscuits for my little Jakester and a book which I forgot to include in the picture, it's a devotional and entitled "Footprints in the Sand." I've always loved the Footprints in the Sand poem...it can bring me to tears just thinking about it.

Thank you Bren for everything but especially for being the person that you are! You are loved and so appreciated!