I love eBay!!!.

I recieved my new coffee mug in the mail yesterday!!! I love, love, love it!!! It's my new work mug! Woe to the person that uses it without my permission!!!

I know, I know, how immature can I be...but I just can't help myself. I absolutely love my old school Strawberry Shortcake!!! And Rainbow Brite too!!!

52 Books in 50 Weeks!!!

I am happy to say that I finished Cleopatra's Daughter yesterday and I really LOVED it! More so than the other books I've read by Michelle Moran. Maybe because there was just a smidge more of a romantic ending...kinda. So that's it. I made it. 52 Books in 50 Weeks! I'm still reading, trying to get in as many books as I can till the end of the year. 

I'll be starting over on January 1...who's with me?

In other news, the heat has been out in my car. Rather the blower moter, for some reason, is out. And let me tell you...I KNOW IT'S COLD!!! Hopefully that'll be fixed this weekend. I can't take much more of these freezing 4 am rides to work!!!

That's it for now Folks!!!

52 Books in 50 Weeks!

I have nearly reached my goal of 52 Books in 52 Weeks this year! I'm sure I get in a couple more books before the year ends! It has been a fun challenge and I plan to start again in the new year!

I'm also thinking maybe, MAYBE, if I can get so much reading done I can set a goal for knitting.... I got the itch to knit. I know I need to get some baby blankets made, that's for sure!

What fairy tale are you?

You Are Snow White

You are unique in your captivating beauty and purity of heart. You are simply a good person. Unfortunately, this also means that there are a few people who are insanely jealous of you. Your graciousness and simple charm make it easy for you to make friends. You are generous and don't have superficial bone in your body. You see past appearances and quirks.

What Fairy Tale Are You?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

E Books

I just started Book # 46. It's an E Book. Now, I don't have an E Reader so I'm not really enjoying the experience... I'm sure having a Kindle or an iPad makes reading these guys much easier than on my tiny HTC Hero. I like BOOKS. I like buying them, I like stacking them in my library, I like holding them...heck sometimes I like reading in the tub...

Has anyone been converted? Lover of BOOKS finds they can't live without their E Reader...? I've thought about buying one but what am I gonna do with all the books I already own? Of course I'll want them stored in that crafty little reader...

Thoughts? Opinions? Comments?

New Author

I'm starting a new book this morning. "Wilderness" by Dennis Danvers. It looks interesting... This is my 43rd book in 46 weeks. I'm getting close to my goal. I've got a full 10 books (including this new one) to read in 6 weeks. It's gonna be tight but I think I can pull it off!!!

The Work Place

I hafta say, I love the people I work with. Yes, we all get a little gossipy from time to time. Yes, we have conflicts...BUT...you have that sort of thing no matter where you work or who you work with. For the most part, I work with some very giving and intelligent people. I look forward to seeing my co-workers, my friends, at work every day. And when we can manage to get out together we always have a blast! How lucky am I?!?!

Random Pics

Okay, okay, I don't have any knitting pics. Because well I didn't start my project...teehee. However we did a lot of running around last weekend...

Friday we met my Bestie, Pink, and her kids for dinner at Zao Island. The pizza place there is amazing! Plus the have mini golf, go carts, a bouncey slide, an arcade, and crocodiles!!! We had a blast!

Saturday we met another friend at Porter Beach! Fun in the sun for 5 hours!!!

Add in the time we spent visiting with friends and shopping and you've got one busy weekend folks! By Sunday night I was snugglin with my hubby! I'm hoping this weekend will be just as fantastic!

Butterscotch Torte

So tasty...give it a try!

Ingredients:
Crust
1 1/2 c. Flour
1/2 c. Walnuts, chopped
1/2 c. Butter, softened

1st Layer
1 c. Powdered Sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip
8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

2nd Layer
1 pkg. Instant Butterscotch Pudding
1 pkg. Instant Coconut Cream Pudding

3rd Layer
8oz. Cool Whip
1/4+ Walnuts, chopped

Directions:
Crust - Mix ingredients together and press evenly into a 9x13 pan. Bake 10 mins @ 350*. Let cool.

1st Layer - Mix ingredients together and layer on top of cooled crust. Put it in the fridge for about 15 mins.

2nd Layer - Prepare instant pudding as directed on packages, place in fridge to set up. Mix pudding together and spread evenly over 1st layer

3rd Layer - Spread cool whip over 2nd layer and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

*Best if left to set in the fridge over night*
*Could also use crushed Heath bars instead of walnuts*

TGIF!

I'm so glad it's Friday!!! We've had some recent changes in our staff at work and I'm now working M-F 4:55 am - 1:30pm. This means that I get up some time between 3:30 & 4 o'clock. Not fun, I assure you! Soooo...let me say it again......I'M SO GLAD IT'S FRIDAY!!!

I think it's gonna be a beautiful weekend. I'm taking the kids to a local arcade for pizza and fun and I think we'll hit the beach as well! What am I looking to the most this weekend? Snuggling with my babies , laying out in the sun and SLEEPIN IN in the morning!!!

I'm definitely getting a baby blanket started this weekend. One of my very best friends is pregnant with twins. TWINS!!! I just need to find out the color scheme for the nursery! I'll post pictures to PROVE that I'm starting this weekend!

Back to work...

Yes, my staycation is over. It was fantastic! I did Nothing! I went Nowhere! I loved it! I have pictures to post tomorrow of my and Davey's birthday! G'night!!!

Neurotic

So I'm going through ALL my posts to give them labels...I can't stand that I haven't been consistant with this. Oi!

Hump Day

It was so hard to get up this morning! I'm just chanting "3 more days to go, 3 more days to go" I finish up work at 1:30 on Friday and then I'm on staycation!!! I'm off for a week and a half and I can't wait. What am I gonna do? NOTHING...well...relax, go to the beach, spend time with the kids. Of course, those are all things I do on a regular basis BUT I won't have to be in to work. See how that makes it all sound so much better!?!

Not too much goin on for me today...working till 1:30 and then I have occupational therapy. My wrists are bothing me again. I've stopped massaging and it wasn't much help. So since I've had Carpal Tunnel surgery on both wrists (in 2008) my doctor is looking into my cervical spine to see if the problems are stemming from there.

I watched Nanny McPhee with the kids Sunday night. I love that movie, the magic of it. My FAVORITE part of the movie is the end. The Snow in August. I'd like a Snow in August one day!!! Most everyone that knows me knows I'm a dreamer. Since it is a sleepy morning and I'd rather be at home, in bed, asleep & dreaming here are some of the things I dream about...

My Dream House from the movie Practical Magic

My Dream Car...Infiniti FX50 AWD

Beach somewhere on Crete

Favorites!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings.
These are a few of my favorite things.

Love, Love, LOVE Coin Pearls!

Bert's Bees Apricot Baby Oil is Amazing.

Roses are my favorite flower. Shades of Pink and/or White, if you please!

Leopard Print Peep-toe Platform Heels! *sigh*

More Peacocks

I just can't seem to help myself...

On my mind...

Greece...


I want to go to Greece! I'm teaching myself to read, write, and speak Greek! You could say it's a love afair! And I'm jealous, just green with it, my friend Anna just left for a 5 week visit. Of course, she grew up there so she goes EVERY year to visit home and hop from island to island. I've decided that I. Am. Going. Sometime within these next 5 years.

And when I go, I want to GO! I want to see EVERYTHING!!! And so...that is just what I'ma gonna do! This picture was taken just off of the island of Milos. Isn't it beautiful?!

What's Your Gaelic Name?

Your Gaelic Name is Kylea Cairine

Time is a good story teller

What's Your Gaelic Name?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

Peacocks

One of my favorite animals is the Peacock. I'm scouting for some jewelry that strikes my fancy. Here's some of what I've found so far...

The King Must Die

"The King Must Die" is my all-time favorite book. I've read it well over 30 times! As well as "The Bull from the Sea". Both books are historical fiction by Mary Renault. They tell the life story of Theseus; King of Athens, from his point of view. Starting from his life at 7 years old until his death. It's a fantastic mix of myth, fact, and fiction!

My favorite passage...

"Deep blue, and black, the Isthmus is in my memory; blue sky above, with seldom a cloud to break it; and always on the right, black plunging rocks with their feet in a blue sea. The pink dusty road before us, the scrub and the dark pines, lay always between these depths of blue. The sea was calm; as one looked down, it drowned the eye like a second zenith, but bluer still; bluer than lapis, or sapphire, or whatever flower is bluest; and then again, in the dark clear shadows round the deep roots of the rocks, green and grape-purple, like the ring-dove's sheen. It must have been seldom I stood in quiet to gaze at it. My eye was sharpened for other matters. Yet it is the blue that I remember."

Michelle Moran

I just finished "Nefertiti" tonight. It was really very good. It's told from Nefertiti's younger sister, Mutnodjmet's point of view. If you like historical fiction of the Egyptian variety you won't be disapointed!

I accidentally read "The Heretic Queen" first. Don't do that! It won't completely ruin it because the books don't run one right into the other...but if you're like me at all it'll just drive you nuts!

I'm gonna pick up "Cleopatra's Daughter" this weekend. I'll let you know what I think!

Portage Historical Society Festival

A couple months ago I volunteered to help my Bestie, Pink, out with the kids games at this festival. What a blast! It was definitely on the small scale but there was plenty to do and see. Here is just a sample of what fun we had this weekend!






We had some fantastic vendors! Two of my favorites...

Tututerrific



Andrea's Jewelry Designs

Portage Historical Society Festival

So hot out here at the festival. I'm helpin Pink (my Bestie) run the kids games. Not too busy but there is a ton of good food and some interesting entertainment! We'll be out here tomorrow, 10am to 5pm. Come see us!!!

I've Fallen...

In Love...




I came across Robindira Unsworth in June's Lucky magazine and I love it! Go check it out!!! I know what I'm getting myself for my 32nd birthday next month!!!

Summer Fun

It's Beach Season! I've got a little competition runner with a co-worker; Who can get to the beach the most!?! I'm at 6 visits so far, squee! I'm gonna keep a running tally and I'll post pics whenever the mood strikes me. I really do love The Dunes. It's so beautiful, I can't imagine living somewhere else...unless it was near the ocean.

I've got absolutely nothing on the needles right now. My sister had a baby boy, Luke, in February and he needs a blankie just like his big sister. So I'm gonna start it in the next week or so. Nothing fancy just my standard "washcloth, blankie, shawl" pattern. Now to pic the color...

It's supposed to be a hot, sunny day...takin the kids to the beach after work. Visit #7!!! Have a great day!!!

Resurrection

I've decided to resurrect this blog of mine...not that anyone reads this anymore! I havent posted in a year and a half! Oi! So, here is a recent picture of the kids and I at the Lincoln Park Zoo about a month or so ago. More to come...yeah, yeah, I know heard that before...