Black Friday Success

My BFF and I went out "late (12 p.m.)" yesterday for Black Friday and still managed to get all the great deals we had on our lists! Not only were we done making the rounds to all the stores by 3 p.m., we managed to snag our stuffing from my sister's house from Thanksgiving dinner the night before! YMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm!

I gotta go, more to come!!!!!!

Thankful

I must say that I am thankful everyday but with Thanksgiving tomorrow I thought I would share a few, okay a lot, of the things that I am thankful for.

1. For God's love. He really does know me best.
2. For my brother's desire to get back in connection with God, even if he feels unloved God will show him His love!
3. For my dad's health. It has allowed me more time with him to get to know who he was, is and is to be.
4. For my family(That includes you Jaime!). Even in their pain we are all growing closer(what a sad thing to say but it is so very true).
5. For Jaime all on her own. She has been the second person in my life who honestly would do anything for me, never tell me when she has done something for me, encourages me EVERYDAY to chase my talents, throws me birthday parties like no one ever has, supports my fireman dream (of me catching one of those boys one day:), allows me to cry as long and as hard as I want to when I think about my Grandma C and never allows me to put myself down too much. Much luv sista!
6. Neely. She is my angel. There is a special connection there that I cannot possibly explain.
7. My creative talents. Once I figure out how to work them all together, I will discover my purpose in this life.
8. A warm place to live, a little money in the bank to buy groceries and a car that gets me from point A to point B.

The list could have gone on, but I do need to get peeling all of those sweet potatoes. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Sorry, I'm A Total Fan!

Enough said! I can't wait until Britney Spears new album comes out!

Boy Stuff....or Not

I have been having a hard time finding digiscrapbooking supplies for boys that I like. I came across this pre-made LO freebie by Amber of Stolen Moments who designed the kit HE IS LATE FOR CLASS. The pictures go perfect especially since Nolan's outfit for the first day of school has the same colors as the LO.

credits:

Amber by Stolen Moments

DigiScrap and Other Crap

Since I have figured out my Adobe program, I have made 10 layouts! I'm pretty proud of myself. I wish that I could say that I have made more but the truth is my computer is on the slow side lately. The problems I am experiencing doesn't have to do with me learning what Adobe has to offer but its about the obvious computer upgrades needed, the file clearing and the break downs in secutiry. I have come to the conclusion that what I need in order to be a sucess (even if is only in my mind) is the power that a new computer has to offer! Yesterday and today I have been doing some serious research and deciding what is best for my needs concerning my talents as a creative designer. I simply can't wait to finally make the decision and hit the buy now button.



I have been talking to a few people about the way businesses are being operated. I am concerned with the state of the economy just as much as the next person. I utterly believe that the only way "we" can survive whatever it is we're going through (recession/depression/obsession) is to band together locally/demographically and support our local resources. I live in one of the best places to live. That is no joke! Forbes listed Spokane as #9 (http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/1/bestplaces08_Spokane-WA_2542.html http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0803/gallery.best_places_to_launch.fsb/77.html) as well as many other major news & magazine sources. We have everything to help us sustain our lives that we could ever want or need. An amazing agricultural region, plenty of water, four seasons (it feels more like 3 seasons lately but who cares too much), some of the most resourceful people around and the best scenery money can buy. Hmm? Maybe that is why the slogan for Spokane is Near Nature Near Perfect! There is NO reason why we can't make a great life here. Gosh! It sounds like I am trying to convience myself. LOL!



I hope to one day open my own business to help sustain the local economy, but don't plan on it being something ordinary. I have great ideas and I can't wait to put them to good use.

Lazy Thursday

Neely & Nolan last weekend having fun with their Aunties!

I can't stand Thursdays!!!! Every week it feels like Thursday is Friday. So I am utterly disappointed when I realize @ 5 p.m. Thursday that I still have an 8hr day ahead of me (insert scowl here). Unlike my BFF who is allowed EVERY Friday (as long as she puts time in during the week to make up for it) to leave @ 1:30 p.m.! What a great job. Teacher hours, teacher benefits, 7 weeks paid vacation! I am totally being a "Bitter Betty" here and I know it.

So, I got a great e-mail from a nurse who helped my Dad to recover at Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital (NIACH). She is one of the nurses that my Dad loves to talk about. Such a sweetheart and wants to meet up to scrapbook with me. I can't wait until December to get going on some great projects with my free-time. LOL, if I ever get any free-time.

Jaime (BFF) Dad is coming into town tomorrow and she can't wait. He hasn't been up here since he picked up his truck we borrowed and drove up here from Vegas (what a memory that is to think about). We have some fun things planned. But right now we are both cleaning, cleaning and assembling a new dinning room table. I wish it was a LAZY THURSDAY but not today.

I just uploaded some new pics from my cell phone. I'll post some below. This week I have made 6 digital scrapbook pages and LOVE making them. I've got it down to an hour a page. I'll post the first page in a few. I have to figure out the credits part of posting. I finally figured out how to work my Adobe in one day (By myself thank you. Sure, I have a lot more I can mess with to make my pages look GREAT, but I'm content (for now) dinking around. ), my favorite day, Saturday! Saturday inspires me. I feel sooooo creative on Saturdays that if I don't create something, I'm a bitch! Here is my first digital page. I hope you enjoy it and much as I enjoyed creating it.

Credits:

Beach Glass by GingerScraps

http://gingerscraps.blogspot.com/

Credits:

Bubbliciousby Ellie Lash

Rain, Fog and A New Table

I have been busy working at Addus Healthcare helping them get ready for their audit. What a mess an impending audit can make! I was thrown in to the mix by accident and am very thankful to have the paycheck. I guess I didn't realize what I was getting myself into. It has been a challenge for me to stay focused on the tasks and not over analyze every little thing the company could be doing to stay on top of things. Today (time and a 1/2 for Sat. work) I got to be involved in re-doing some policy & procedure documents. I had a lot of fun. I really have a desire to find a full-time job where I can make a difference. It doesn't have to be monumental, life changing work, but it would be great if I COULD find that perfect fit for me sooner rather than later.

This whole week it's been raining here. If there is anything I hate worse than rain, I don't know what it would be right now! Ugh! I really can't wait for the snow. I am getting all ready, going to Cabela's tomorrow and finding my huge feet some good boots. Look out, I am getting my throwing arm ready for all the snowball fights. Beware, I will get you if you drive by!

Tonight Jaime decided it was time to get her new dinning room table. What a freakin' mess that turned out to be. Too many reasons why I have a headache, so I will spare you all the nasty details and get right to it, we finally brought a table home to be assembled tomorrow. Pics will surly be posted of that process! On the way home the eerie fog rolled in. Just another sign that winter is on it's way.

Halloween Has Come and Gone

I cannot say that I am too sad about this Halloween coming and going so quickly. It is Nov. 1st and my mind is already on Christmas. I cannot wait! I love the reflection of life on the fresh fallen snow at night. I love hearing my niece and nephews laugh and bake with me. I simply cannot wait. One of my fave memories was taking Neely and Nolan to Mission Park to go sledding for the first time. Nolan was nervous, but man, once that kid went down you'd a thought that boy was made for extreme sports. (He totally is by the way.) Neely was more reserved and kept her feet diggin' into the icy hill ALL the way down. But that is just how she is in life too. A little cautious and a lot more reserved than her brother. Here's a pic of the fun day we had. They were tuckered out by the end of the 2 hr. stint. I knew what I was doing. Wink!

I am not sure what this Christmas season is going to hold for our family. I pray for my Dad's health and that our family can get closer. As all the kids get older I find that I cling to all the time we can get together. I can see only one more year before they all have the Santa thing figured out. That is a sign of impending tween years, boyfriends and girlfriends, sports and who knows whatever else. I got a little ahead of myself for a moment. But in all honesty, it's coming. I love them all so much and want nothing but the best for them. I am so excited to get to spend time with them during their 2 week winter break, lots of scrapbooking memories being made and gifts for me to make for them. LOVE IT!

F.Y.I., I came home from work tonight and found Jaime standing over the oven with a spoon full of orange goo with the biggest grin ever! Boy, did I catch her by surprise when I snapped the pic?! (I might have time to post that tomorrow!) I also found a very cute Halloween shirt waiting for me on my bed. We went to P.F. Changs for dinner tonight, did some shopping, got some movies and veged out at home.

I hope we get the kids tomorrow night! We have pumpkin pizza, soda, orange rice crispy treats, candy and cats! What more could two kids ask for in having the bestest Aunties in the World!?

I sure do hope everyone had a fun-filled Halloween! And don't forget to set your clocks BACK tomorrow night before you go to bed.

H