Mama needs a nap!

Well, not really... I don't like naps, but I had a busy weekend!

The Mister got a boatload of mulch and in Michigan you gotta make hay while the sun shines or shovel mulch, whatever the case may be!

Don't be jealous of my outfit...jealousy is any ugly thing.

These are my "poop boots".  I had to get them because our old dog (RIP) use to poop giant poops RIGHT where I walked in the yard.  I hear these are boots for KIDS that live on farms, they call them "barn boots".

So how happy am I with my newish yard?!

Before:

After:

New Lavender rose:

Lupines (do you have one? go get some! they spread, come up every year and are gorgeous!)

it made a baby:

then I tore out that plastic trim by our front walk:

After:

After all the mulch and stones we went and got tile for our backsplash.  We ran to Home Depot, Menards, Lowes and some tile shop!  I wanted to make sure I didn't pick the 1st one I saw because I knew in 2 weeks I'd find another that I wished I got.  There was one place that we didn't go because I KNEW I'd go into tile overload!  We ended up with the 1st tile I saw.  We had to go to 2 different Lowe's stores 3 times to get all that we needed- apparently it's been pretty popular!

We're going to do the tumbled marble and then cut the little glass/marble mosaics and insert them randomly.

The Mister is really excited to cut around ALL the outlets:

1, 2

3

4, 5

6, 7

While we were at Home Depot we parked next to this van:

It seems that perhaps they're having some trim trouble... The Mister wondered if it whistled while it went down the road?!  I feel bad for this person, I think they need a glue gun, but the Mister's comment struck me so funny i just cracked up again while typing it!

We went to Target, I got new PJ's

I like the pink ones better but they didn't have the pants in my size (they had stars instead of stripes) the Mister said "you've got enough pink already"

I said SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

All in all it was a productive weekend, which i like!

I've decided I need all new Stainless appliances, so I'm going down to the studio because at the rate I sell things in my etsy shop it's going to take 72 years to make enough $$!

Have a great day!!

and...

Here's my little plug about the BABY HAT DRIVE 

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat (you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. email me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com for my address.

3. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA next fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

Meow...

AWKWARD...

Hope you're having a great weekend!  

We're landscaping and working on the backsplash...

See you on Monday!

Also, I'll just be making a little plug about the BABY HAT DRIVE at the end of each post:

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat (you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. email me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com for my address.

3. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA next fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

The Old Grey Mare, she ain't what she use to be...

I guess since I no longer have a job to think about, I've decided to focus on all my personal/physical flaws.  I don't like being 41, I've said it before, but you know I'll say it again (and again, and again, and again, and again...you know how I am!).  I just want to be 23 again, make different life choices and take better care of myself!  Don't get me wrong, I have taken care of myself- I was a runner for YEARS (and am going to be one again THIS summer!!), I've deprived myself of eating whatever I want (fries from Wendy's and oreo cakesters), I've gone to bed early, I've never smoked (ever!), I don't tan and really never have (except for the annual cruise),  I wear my seat belt, I don't over drink, I see my Dr. yearly, I get a flu shot, I shower daily, I moisturize, I see my dentist, I floss every time I eat anything...

Geesh, I am a FREAKING square!!

But, as I believe, there is ALWAYS room for improvement!!

Let's start with my lashes... Can they ever be too long or too thick?

NO, they can't!!  Are mine thinning?  No, but why wait till it's too late!  Mascara sometimes irritates my contacts so I've tried false eyelashes, but then Brooke Shields was telling how years of wearing false eyelashes while modeling did damage to hers and she has to use that Latisse... So now the falsie's scare me- you know with all my modeling gigs and my desire to overreact.

Let me introduce my new BFF:

Lash enhancer!!

I've only been using it since Monday night, so we'll be following this story

Here are my lashes at the start of this experiment:

Next up... my FACE

If you've been reading for a while you know how I believe EVERYTHING from those "as seen on TV adds"

A few years back OPRAH listed a Clarisonic as one of her favorite things, so of course, I knew I had to have one.  They run right around $200.  I bid on one several over at ebay but never was the WINNER.  I tried the $15 Neutrogena wave

I'm on my 3rd one- dropping them in the shower does nothing good for them!  They're ok, like I said, but I tend to prefer something that feels like broken glass being rubbed into my face - I want to know it's REALLY working!  So like a voice from Heaven the ladies from HSN popped up as I was channel flipping the other night...

Don't ya know their Nutra Sonic facial cleanser was on SALE and get this...

FREE Shipping!! 

 I was all over that word free and before I knew what happened I was at the computer ordering one!

So, now this little baby is on it's way to me!

You know, the Mister is only 6 days shy of being exactly 10 1/2 years OLDER than me, so I have to work very hard to keep up this trophy wife status!

A little boy in Darling's class has a dad who's a Plastic Surgeon... No, no, I don't want new boobs (with my goal of becoming a runner again that's the last thing I need), but a little tweak to my nose would be a wonderful anniversary gift- me thinks!

Although the thought of that man taking a hammer to my nose probably will ensure me living with my current schnaz forever!

Ok ladies, have a GREAT weekend!  I think I'll lay out in the sun while smoking Camel 

non-filters and taking shots of Wild Turkey!

Also, I'll just be making a little plug about the BABY HAT DRIVE at the end of each post:

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat (you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. email me at: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com for my address.

3. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA next fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

Well, good grief!

It's storming here (perhaps I shouldn't be on the computer?) and the stinkin' dog won't quit licking his weenie (& I do mean weenie- he's a stinkin 7 lb Yorkie).  I've changed his name from Theodore Winston to Master Bates.

 I believe that's from the movie The Toy with that black man that set himself on fire in the 70's...

Richard Pryor (yes, I had to google it). 

Because I googled it, I got popular quotes from the movie which i must now share:

Jack Brown: "Do you have a license to drive a car down the steps?" (I don't know why this one kills me, but it does!  Perhaps because I got a mental picture of Unusual and I driving down the steps at some monument in Washington  DC in my old Volvo wagon?!)

or the one most fitting for this situation I have here at home with the dog formerly known as Theodore

Eric Bates: "What do you do with... your thing?"

Jack Brown: "is this a hypothetical question or is there a lady involved?"

moving on...

 He peed on the floor (no, not Richard) right as we were leaving for the bus, which was actually better than him pooping in the backseat of my car, which he did 2 weeks ago!  Of course, he was nice enough to at least poop on my floor mats, yes matS- he got 'em both!

Like I said, it's storming here which had darling in a TWIT!  I drove her to the bus stop and when the bus showed up she jumped out of the car like she'd been shot from a cannon!  She had one of those tree-hugger reusable bags from Target wrapped around her rubber boots.  I was yelling at her to give me back the bag (because I was in my gingerbread girl PJ's and hot pink fuzzy robe and was NOT getting out of the car in that outfit let alone the monsoon).  She kept yelling "I can't" and I'm yelling "give it back, yes, you can" (which is NOT to be confused with "yes WE can").  She has the most panicked look on her face that I've EVER seen... She was terrified the bus driver was going to leave her.  I don't know why the thought of missing the bus strikes the fear of God into her when she seemingly doesn't mind the look I gave her Tuesday when I had to drive like a bat outta hell back to the house to get her glasses or the look I gave today when she told me she didn't have her lunch and we had to get back to the house.  Now THAT look should scare her!!!
BTW: Yes, she did throw the bag back into the car and then took off like a crazy woman!

Someone from Kenya 

(map: because pictures make all posts better!)

just wrote me to tell me she needed me to marry her (I think that's not even legal) to get her out of some financial mess.  Don't worry, she only needs my bank information and will be returning my money and giving me 30% interest on it!  Just when I thought there were no nice people out there anymore.

This morning is off to an awesome start!

Ok, tomorrow we will be talking about some EXCITING news going on in my never ending quest to retain my youth (don't worry, no frilly mini skirts are involved, although a tube top MIGHT make an appearance!).

Happy Day!

Birds of a feather, flock together!

So on Monday I had coffee, chit-chat, and thrift store shopping with a couple of girl-friends!  We made plans to meet at Panera.  The funny part: We each showed up with a book that totally describes each of us!

Chronicles of an Unusual Girl named Christine is on the left: http://viewsbychris.blogspot.com/

Miss Cheeky Green is on the right: http://cheekygreendesigns.blogspot.com/

Chris is our fine artist, Cheeky is our tree hugger-styrofoam hater (oh shut up, you know I mean this in the BEST way possible!!).

and me...

Need I say more?  

I LOVE this book and if you crochet (or want to learn) GO grab it!!!!!  Joanne's lets you use their 40% off coupons on books!

Unusual Girl and I met at that horrible job that said "Designers Wanted" but what they meant to say was: "Come in and sell carpet and get the same respect as a used car salesman!"

I knew I was going to love Unusual Girl the moment that the MEAN girl, (I had to sit next to her in our "cube") came back to her desk and said "I heard those new girls talking bad about me in the break room".  This mean girl was an unhappy girl!  She was married to a guy that made a lot of $ but had total control of it.  She ate because he couldn't control that- her trash was full of candy wrappers and potato chip bags... It would have been sad if she wouldn't have been so CRUEL to people!  So anyway, Unusual had her number right off the back!  Our manager was going to move Unusual next to Mean girl so I could get away from her (Mean) without starting a war.  We were going to empower her by saying she could train the new girl and I could go sit in the cube on the other side of the bathrooms... Not always the best smelling spot in the store, but mean -VS- poo smell... I choose poo!  Don't ya know, Unusual was too smart to give up poo (where she was sitting at the time) for mean, so in the end, I got moved next to Unusual and poo while the other new girl sat next to Mean-girl!

It was friend love at 1st sight... for me anyway.  Unusual said she wasn't sure what to think of me, she thought perhaps I was  high-falootin'!  Why she thought this I'll never know...of course, this was before my shirt!

Anyway after working together for about 20 min we knew...

Siamese twins joined at the brain separated at birth and reunited through this crappy job!

Cheeky and I met through ebay!

A good friends of Cheeky's bought a scrapbooking bag from me on ebay.  She couldn't remember her paypal password so she asked if it was ok to just send a check.  I emailed her my address and she promptly wrote me back saying OMG- you live about 5 miles from me, It turned out to be 7!  She ended up inviting me to a crop at another friends (Yeah, that gal was thrilled that someone M met on the internet was being invited to HER house!!  They were quite sure I was going to be some kind of serial killer and slaughter them all... all 4' 11 3/4" of me!!) and we've been fast friends ever since!  Since M and I have the same name, I'm often known as Ebay-M and was introduced that way for years!

So, Monday we drank coffee, ate and talked and talked and talked!  None of us live close enough and if only everyone would buy into my idea of THE PERFECT NEIGHBORHOOD where it's invite only, we could all live within walking distance of each other!!

Unusual had a meeting so Cheeky and I headed to the Korean Market for some seaweed (yes, to eat, I told you I eat weird Mel!) and then went to a thrift store that is now in the store where Unusual and I met!  It was weird to see used bras and slips in the spot where the self proclaimed DIVA use to sit!  Our spot was full of handcrafted items made by people in other countries.  There was a woman in our bosses old office- I hope she likes the manly horse wallpaper border... ugh!

The thrift store was AWESOME, I got darling daughter over $30 worth of books for $5!  One of the books I'll be saving for a few years... Are you there God?  It's me, Margaret. by Judy Bloom.  Oh the memories that I have of that book!  In 5th grade someone had this book and there were about 5 of us passing it around reading it every second we could!  Bras, periods, spin the bottle... it's pretty much where I learned everything about "becoming a woman"... I just might read it again!

 Chinese Baby Hat drive:

1. Make a child or baby's hat (you can knit, crochet, felt, sew, or even buy one).  I need all sizes, colors, and styles.  IF you don't make stuff but want to be part of this, buy a new child's hat or a GREAT condition gently used hat and send it my way!  Most of the kids are girls, but there are a few boys.  Honestly, the Chinese don't seem to care that girls are in pink and boys are in blue- so any colors are fine.

2. Send me the hat(s)

Email me for the address!

I'll collect them thru the end of this summer and then will take care of shipping them to an orphanage in China.  I still have to decide on an end date and an orphanage, but I have time!

any questions??  Email me: chinamommy_04@yahoo.com

Mother's Day Weekend...

I was out runnin' yesterday, not as in exercising but as in having coffee with friends.  

But here's my Mother's Day Weekend (I don't believe in limiting MD to just 1 day!) re-cap:

1. Friday- Went out to eat

2. Saturday- Got a dozen roses in orange and coral! 

They looked better Saturday (although I love them when they open up), but I didn't grab a picture till 10 min. ago!

The Mister knows better than to get red.  I was a florist for years and next to carnations, Red roses are the flowers I like the LEAST!  EVERYONE wanted a red rose that was tightly closed (they're called a bullet rose people- they're never going to open and they're ugly!) and baby's breath.  The super cheap guys, you know the ones that buy those pants out of the Sunday paper 2 for $35, get a dozen carnations (in mixed colors).  I admit a carnation smells good and they really are pretty, but if a guy buys you carnations- RUN, he's cheap!

3. Went to see How to Train your Dragon in 3D with Darling while the Mister worked on my new counter-tops!

4. bought Mother's Day gifts (and one for myself that I can't show because I haven't sent my Mom's to her yet and mine is kinda sorta almost the same) 

5. went out to eat again

6. Sunday-Opened presents

(I'd show you the candy, but I hid it cause i don't want to share)

7. went to Church

8. went out to brunch (ate a disgustingly UN-healthy meal...)

9.  went to my In-laws

10. took a nap

All in all a great weekend but did I take pictures of my ONLY child with myself ON Mother's Day, NOPE!

I spent yesterday being a social butterfly... I'll share tomorrow!

Hope you had a great weekend!!

OH...before I forget- IF you knit or crochet and want to help a Chinese baby stay warm this next winter, I'm going to do a baby hat drive... 

I'll have more information tomorrow, but in the meantime, feel free to email me for more information!

chinamommy_04@yahoo.com

So stinkin' tired from moving....around!

I didn't "move", I just moved...as in: around the house!  Vacation sure can take it out of a girl like me!  In the background they're talking about The Riverbank Run here in our city, it's making me want to take a nap!  I need a job people!  I worked my tootie off finishing laundry on Monday and then that was all she wrote... I have done NOTHING this week!  Well, I've chatted my face off on facebook, emailed, talked on the phone and caught up on my tv watching... Can you say slacker?  I have too much time and really am feeling the need to give back (I can hear my friend Chronicles of Chris saying "who are you kidding?"), but I'm needing a purpose besides screaming at darling to get ready for school, I mean what will I do all summer if that's my only reason to get out of bed... perhaps I'll put her in summer school so my vocal cords don't weaken!  

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

To those of you that are mothers and to those of you that have mothers or those of you that had mothers...

I wish for you a weekend of enjoying your children, or dreaming of those to come.

A time of finding the good in your own mother or the happy memories with moms that are no longer with us!

I feel SO blessed to have this little girl in my life!

She truly has given me something I never knew I was missing before I met her!

4th of July 07

with my mom in Chicago.

My mom has "weird eyes" because I always tease her about being afraid the devil will steal her soul if she looks into the lens of a camera, so she's proving to me she CAN do it!  Looks like darling is now afraid of that!

Darling and her "GG"-Great Grandma (who will be 101 in july!!)

Yes, Darling has a broken arm in this picture...the wagon MIGHT have been going too fast in a bumpy yard- don't ask, I STILL feel bad!

South Carolina Spring Break 2008

Hanging out with some friends in their dingy...

thinking of running off with the Carni's!

Just landed in Maui (& Darling MAD that she had to wear itchy flowers!)

2 peas in a POD!

Oh little girl, do you even know how lucky you are?  I hope this picture will prove it when you're a teen and begin to wonder...

I chose to adopt, it was the best decision I EVER made.  I'm always looking to spread the word on how many wonderful children are out there looking for their Forever Family- hey, maybe THAT is my purpose?!!  IF you've ever thought about it for a second, I encourage you to step out in faith and research this wonderful experience!

If you are interested at all (or think you might be) in China I encourage you to check out the agency I used:

http://www.gwca.org/

(they have added other countries besides China, so check them out!)

The number of children that go to bed without someone to say "good night and I love you forever" breaks my heart.

So, all I'm saying is: think about it, say a prayer and see where it leads you!

Oh geesh I'm feeling all sappy, must mean I'm going to get my period!

Have a great weekend friends!!

The trip is coming to an end...

Ok, here is the last of my trip...

I hope I'm not boring you with the last few days... There are no more cracks or hairy backs, no more beaded hair or rat trap snares, no more farts or tawdry tarts...

All I know is that I have to get this posted and move on.... literally as in, move on to something else here at home!  I did NOTHING yesterday... NOTHING!  I hate days like that!  I got dressed after chatting and emailing the day away and by that time I had to go pick up darling from school.  Maybe I need a job.  Here are my requirements:

-work 2 days per week

-work from 9 am to 3 pm

-make $80,000 a year

-nothing involving prostitution or general nudity

If you hear of something that might fit the bill, let me know!  

Ok, so the last couple days were really hard work on the cruise...

water slides:

blue water:

our room was the very back of the boat this year.  last year we were at the very front, I think they moved us to the back after the Captain looked out (from the glass room where they steer the boat) to see the Mister standing on our balcony in his boxer shorts!

Lobster Dinners:

Don't I look TALL standing next to our waiter?

Good Friends:

Shakin' our $ makers:

and...

making sure we know where our Xanax is for the flight home!!

It was a GREAT trip and I'm already ready for next year!!!  We're headed to 4 of the best beaches in the WORLD!!  whoo-hoo!

Ok, I gotta shut up and do something today!!

Have a great day and WELCOME NEW FOLLOWERS!!!

Where we went and what we bought...

Our 1st stop on the cruise was

Progresso, Mexico.

I heard this wasn't the best place to walk around (Thanks to Pickles on Pizza!!) so we signed up for a private beach excursion... otherwise known as: "throw $150 away on a chilly wet day at the beach".  I took NO pictures at the resort, ate 4 small pieces of melon at the buffet, used the bathroom once (there was a sign that said "throw paper here" next to a can... I'm pretty sure that meant you weren't suppose to flush the paper- thankfully I just had to pee...Ewwww, I almost made myself gag just thinking about the alternative), laid on the beach wrapped up in thick beach towels, and sat under a pavilion while it rained!

I did get this picture on the way to the beach:

can't see it?  look below... 

see that black box at the base of the cement block?  

It's a RAT trap and they were every 25 feet!!!!!  

and you thought your job sucked!  How would you like to be the one checking the traps? 

I should have taken more pictures (i ALWAYS say that after a trip)... 

Here we are getting back on the boat:

Don't worry, he didn't hit me even though he was wearing a "wife-beater".

We got a hammock and.... 
the best find ever...

Nacho Libre!!!

IF the Mister and I had a baby:

Hahahahaha, oh, I kill me!!

Ok, on to Cozumel where we had a TON (too much?) fun!!

Hey...I just noticed the Mister's hand... watch it buddy!

Yes, the Mister is blinking in this picture, but the other picture, where his eyes were open, was a terrible picture of me and you know how I am... and WHO this blog is REALLY about!!

doesn't he have BIG...boots?!

Get your ticket to my gun show!!

Even though the Mister wouldn't buy me the $11,700 Tanzanite ring I fell in love with, he did get me some pretty silver jewelry here in Cozumel:

and beaded jewelry and...

dichroic glass jewelry!

But again, aren't the best souvenirs the least expensive ones?

My mother is SOOOOOOO proud right now!!

As we were getting back on the boat I realized I had missed a souvenir...
BRAIDS! 

I bet he couldn't keep his hands off her once they got back on the boat.....
(shiver, gag, shiver).
Goodbye Mexico, it was fun while it lasted!  I'll always remember you when I wear my Nacho Mask and my Fart T-shirt!!

Happy Cinco de Mayo