Tickled....

I am so tickled with myself it is just wrong! I can't believe I did this without anyone holding my hand! My three favorite colors in one blog background, gotta' luv it! Thanks to Izzie Grace Blog Backgrounds. Truthfully I needed a little victory this week. More about victories in a minute.

Both "H" & I came down with the what-ever the heck bug it is going around these days. Let's just say I wouldn't wish it on someone I didn't like, let alone my family, friends, or co-workers. I lost 8 pounds in 36 hours but strongly suggest you don't try it for yourself, if you can avoid it. In the process though I missed two days of work, which doesn't make me happy at all. I still LOVE my job!

Speaking of victories....has anyone else ever heard of a "Victory List"? I have no idea where I first heard of it but I got out of the habit and will be re-implementing that into my daily life. It's basically a list of the accomplishments that will bring a smile to your face for those days when you need a pick me up. I will certainly put figuring out how to change my blog background down as one, oh and a month or so ago I saved a little turtle from being squished on the road. You get the idea, so what's on your "Victory List"?

Toodles,

Wendy

My Name Is Wendy & I'm Addicted....

To Decorating Blogs

I won't even estimate how much time I spend reading decorating blogs. My favorites are the thrifty ones because that's my budget as well. Some of these ladies are so incredibly creative it boggles my mind, but it has also changed the way I look at things, especially the larger items I have on hand. For instance how can I redo some of the furniture we already have? I've added several new blogs to my list at the side bar if you care to check them out.

A couple of my most favorites are.....

http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/
http://www.reinventedkb.com/
http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/

I must admit I'm a little overwhelmed though with all the ideas. I think I may need some sort plan for each room, maybe a notebook of some kind. I haven't really done much decorating to the house since we moved in four years ago, for a multiple of reasons, but I suddenly feel an almost desperate need to start. I'll have to give this some thought as I am really on a mission to finally get this house presentable to guests, as well as making it more inviting for us after such long days at work.

Toodles for now,
Wendy

What a difference

What a difference a month or two will make. Let's see what has happened.

-I cut my hair off for locks for love and I love the hair cut I got. If you need an awesome stylist in Longview let me know.
-Howard starts working for the same parent company I work for Tuesday. I will stay in Longview and he will go to Tyler. If he likes it as much as I do, we may have to re-think our housing.
-I joined a gym and have been using the resistence pool until I get some weight off. I'm pretty proud of the fact that of the four days I could go this week, I went three times.
-I misjudged a friendship and it has ended. To say I was disaapointed would be any understatement. It makes me sad but I've apologized repeatedly and I have not gotten a response. Oh the flip side of this Howard and I are spending a lot more time together. Have I mentioned how very much I love this man?

That's it for now,
Toodles,
Wendy

Wonder if I could pull this off and I want this!

I've been reading a blog about a lady in the UK who pledged to spend no new money on clothes for 365 days. That is a long time. While I know I need to embrace that challenge I don't know if its even a possibility for me. I LOVE clothes. Of course I do know how to sew and I could certainly use my stash of fabric to sew some new things. In addition there is a boat load of clothes I'm ready to get rid of and I can use that money for some new things. Her blog is here http://workthatwardrobe.blogspot.com/. It certainly has me thinking. I do need some new cool professional clothes that I won't roast in at graveside services this summer.

I also found this amazing purse. What a fabulous idea. Why oh why didn't I think of that? I need this purse. I bet I could make additional covers for it on the cheap. Here's the link to the website. I looked on ebay and I can get it cheaper there and still earn points. https://www.4miche.com/ver12/index.asp

Toodles,
Wendy

End Of An Era

Last Monday Howard and I had to send our Toffey to the Rainbow Bridge. To say our hearts are broken would be an understatement. We have mutually decided at this time we do not want another furry friend in the house. I'm gone long hours from home and he would have to work his schedule around that. The biggest reason though is that Toffey was a one of kind and neither of us is ready to let go. It wouldn't be fair to another fur baby right now. Hold your fur babies close and be sure you take lots of pictures, we don't have many.
Bye for now...

Big News....

Big News!

I have a new job! I start tomorrow and I'm so excited I'm about to burst. I will be working at a funeral home in family services. It will require me to alter my clothing slightly but I'm excited about it. No more crawling around on a ladder or dragging boxes to the dumpster in good clothes. At this point I'm planning to stay at Catherine's very very part time. Two nights a week until they get someone trained, then I expect to go to once a week. I'll be able to keep my employee discount both there and at Lane Bryant as well.

Clothing needs are both a little more professional and conservative. I have been wanting to really do SWAP for years and I think this will be the perfect timing. The twist this year is that it needs to be representative of a normal week in our lives. I know I'll be wearing a jacket/sweater daily so that will be the biggest change. I'll know more after the first couple weeks but since the time frame for SWAP is extended this year I think it will be quite doable.

41 Things.....

I shamelessly stole this from Patrice's blog. Check her out over at A Day in My World

1. 4 Foods for a deserted island would be shrimp, chocolate, bacon, and cheese. If I could add 3 more it would be pasta, potatoes and tomatoes.
2. I haven't met too many crafts I don't enjoy but I love sewing and beading.
3. I have one sister, a step-sister and step brother.
4. I have 4 GOD children. One amazing little girl and three fabulous boys.
5. I love magazines. I'm afraid to figure up how many I subscribe to or buy at the bookstore.
6. I get my feelings hurt way too easily.
7. I'm way too impulsive.
8. I have NO patience with rude people.
9. I'm good at my job but I don't like it. I've done retail sales for about 22 years. Can we say burnt out.
10. I want to teach school. The little ones please, when they still like their teacher.
11. I've been in 5 car accidents, but I was only driving in 3 of them.
12. I love NASCAR. Go Dave #66! A sponsor would be huge blessing!
13. Both of my parents are divorced and remarried, and they all get along. Thankfully! It makes my life so much easier.
14. I have been thru a tornado.
15. The plane that crashed in PA on 9-11 flew over me when I was visiting family.
16. I love to read Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, I'm pulling for Ranger btw.
17. I'm allergic to penicillin and codeine.
18. I had my tonsils taken out when I was 39, I don't suggest it.
19. My sister calls me the "Spice Queen" because I have so many, and the man I live with thinks salt and pepper are the only spices anyone should ever need. UGH!
20. We have two grandbabies, a little Miss Priss who is six and a red haired boy, who just turned one year old. We are certainly blessed.
21. If I win the lottery I've always said I would buy an old "Martha Stewart" house and renovate, and adopt two little girls from China.
22. When patience was being passed out I must have been in the bathroom because I have none.
23. I am blessed to have four wonderful, incredible, amazing, have my back thru anything friends. One in Texas, one in Alabama, and two in Ohio.
24. I have a clothes and makeup addiction.
25. I don't like black licorice.
26. I love HGTV. My favorite show is Decorating Cents which is now only in reruns. :o(
27. I watch way too much network TV. Just a few of which are "Grey's Anatomy", "Ugly Betty", "NCIS", and "Desperate Housewives".
28. There are a couple movies I have watched so many times I can recite lines, "Devil Wears Prada", "Sweet Home Alabama", "One Fine Day", and "Legally Blonde", to name a few.
29. I refuse to text.
30. It took an act of Congress to get re-registered to vote. I will definetly exercise my right to vote.
31. I want to travel. On my top 5 list are NYC, Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Paris, England.
32. I have been on a second job interview that I want desperately. I will happily accept any positive prayers.
33. The job I want is still in sales, in a Funeral Home.
34. I am not a morning person but I can balance my checkbook at 2 am.
35. I have figured out in the last year or so I have OCD, but I'm not sure everyone doesn't have a little of it.
36. I did not attend my 10th or 20th class reunion.
37. I won a Mary Kay trip to Hawaii.
38. I have had surgery on both knees and one shoulder.
39. I took dance lessons from 2 to 16. Jazz, tap, and acrobats.
40. I am on the hunt for a Chatty Cathy doll, I had one as a kid but it disappeared.
41. I'm 41 today!

Preparing for the Big Show...in my world anyway!

It seems I have the sewing bug again. It's about time already I've been looking for it for months. There has been so much sewing activity going on around me and I think it has finally rubbed off.

There is the "ORIGINAL SWAP" (which I refer to as the Big Show because of how much I love it) over at Stitcher's Guild, voting just finished and results are supposed to be posted later today. You can see all the pictures of the completed swaps here Sewing Information

Then there is the Wardrobe contest at Pattern Review. Link to the gallery is Contest Photo Gallery .

And finally there is a new contest just starting at Stitcher's Guild called "June Capsule Contest", talked about here Announcing: June Capsule Contest . Now this contest only requires 4 pieces of clothing and an accessory. Of course I would do a necklace or two.

Hmmm.....could this be the perfect starting point for me? Every year I plan to do the "ORIGINAL SWAP" that Julie at Timmel Fabrics hostesses for us so graciously every year. Yet every year I never seem to get past the planning stages. Could it be the 11 pieces simply overwhelm me to the point of not getting started? What if I did a capsule in June and again in August, using new patterns both times? This would give me a starting point in January for the grand show that Julie puts on.

OK, that does it I've sold myself on the idea. Patterns to be chosen and posted by the end of the week. I'm off to drool over patterns.

Toodles for now....

This and That....

#1....We have a new baby! DD#2 gave birth on August 22, his name is Luke, he has red hair and I am in LOVE! I don't think she would like her brand new baby's pictures on my blog so you will just have to take my word for the fact that he is sooo awesome.

#2....We had our 5 year old GD here last week, the one that DD#1 shares with us. She is just too much. I only wish they lived a little closer. We managed to have some girl time, which both she and I love! In fact I have black toenails with white sticker flowers on them. I can only imagine getting that color off. :o)

#3....H no longer works for Lowe's! Can we say ALL RIGHTTTTT! He is working at a used car lot in the next little town over and loves it. He says it has ruined him. It boils down to he is happy with it so that works for me. Oh and he gets an hour for lunch every day so he comes home to take the real boss out to go potty. I've mentioned before that Toffey runs the house, and I promise I was no kidding.

#4....SWAPPING, it's getting close to SWAP time again. We don't start sewing until January so I'm putting together my list of what needs to be tested between now and then. The goal is to have the plan on paper before the end of the week.

#5....Today I am officially no longer 30 anything. I turned 40 at 12:01 am! Funny I don't feel any different than I did yesterday.

Well I'm off now to make my birthday dinner. I'll let y'all know how it is. If its a keeper I post the recipe later. Toodles....

WAITING.....

I know I've mentioned in the past I'm not what some might call a decisive person. However I don't think I have mentioned how I seem to lack patience when it comes to waiting for good things. "H's" youngest (now to known as #2DD) is due to have a little buddle of joy in the next couple weeks. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. "H's" oldest (now to be known as #1DD) has a little girl which we adore. They tell us the new baby from #2DD is going to be a boy and so we are tickled that we will have one of each to love and spoil. But I am getting antsy, the phone rings and I run for it. LOL It could be a long couple weeks. My boss tells me she will get me a couple days off so I can go to Austin but we'll see if that really happens. I'm working on some sewing and Christmas craft ideas so I will be posting more in the next week. Toodles for now!

"100 Lists"....

The number 100 (or 101) keeps coming up in conversations, both in real time and in our blog world. Let me show you a couple for examples sake.

First there is ahhh sew . This a blog belonging to Austin in Florida. She has 101 things she wants to do in 1001 days. Now she credits Triplux :: 101 Things in 1001 Days (it took me three tries before this site opened). I find this terribly interesting.

Then you have Whatever is on my mind today . Now this blog belongs to Mamafitz. Part way down is a post that fills us in on 100 things about her.

Now lastly if you go to google and type in "100 Things" this is what you get 100 things - Google Search . But if you type in "101 Things" you get a little something different 101 things - Google Search .

About now I'm sure you may be wondering okay where on earth is she going with this? Well I think 100 is a nice number and I am currently working a few 100 lists of my own. Because I have no computer access at work I have a notebook that I have started these in and when I get to 100 I'll post each list. I find myself doing a lot of composing posts offline recently. Hmm why is that, do I see a greater need for a laptop?

Anyway here's what I have so far:

1.) 100 Reasons I love you....This is for the wise bossy one for Father's Day. He hates, I means dislikes when I spend money on him, now usually I ignore him and buy him what I want but I thought this might be perfect for him this year. I'm up to #78. On second thought this may be the only 100 List I don't publish. It's not racey, please this is me here, but he is pretty private and I don't think he would appreciate me putting it on my blog.

2.) 100 Things about Me....I think this is a great way to get to know someone. I've just joined a www swap and I could see where this would really a help a partner out.

3.) 100 Recipes to Try....No explanation needed except that I am forever finding a recipe I want to try but when I get ready I can't find it. So now I can list here. By listing either what notebook it's filed in or what cookbook its in I think I will be more motivated to try new things, preferably Weight Watchers friendly ones.

4.) 101 Things to do in 1001 days....Come on you didn't really think I was going pass something like this up did you?

5.) 100 Patterns to make....Giggle! Talk about kid in a candy store. Oh wait you mean I don't have to buy 100 new patterns. Well okay if you insist, I suppose I can use a few that have already.

This is certainly a good start. So tell me what "100 List" would you like to make?