Surprise!

Do you like my new look?? Does it look good on me?

I decided to change my template in celebration of my 200 posts. Well, ok, so that's just my excuse for changing (not that I really need one, do I?). I liked the other one but a few things were starting to bug me about it and then I found this one, so it was really a no-brainer!

So, this is the little surprise I mentioned earlier. I know, not much of a 'surprise', but I bet you weren't expecting this now were you?

I do plan to have at least one more post with a peek into my world but that will have to wait at least one more day. It's Sunday and I'm off to take a nice little nap!

Number Two Hundred and One!

Today is the day that I've hit 200 posts, and then I went and passed it! I have been a part of blog world for a little over a year now and I LOVE it!!! My thanks to Wendy and her inspiration with her own blog. It's funny, a little over a year ago I really had no clue what a blog even was and now look at me, I'm blogging up a storm! It's official....I'm a Fragile Flower!!!

So, I've noticed that once a blogger hits a milestone such as 100 posts, a year anniversary or the like, they will do a list of a things about themselves or have their fans ask them questions. As much as I enjoy reading the lists and asking questions of my new friends, I thought I'd do something a little different. In this post I have several pictures that make up a portion of my world. Mostly they are pictures of where I live along with some tid bits of what fills it up and therefore sharing a bit of myself with you. So without further ado.......here's a bit of my world:


This is my front door, welcome to my house! If you look hard enough (or just click to enlarge the picture) you will see a pretty little glass beaded wreath on the door. I like the wreath, it's ok. But what I love most about it is that I got in on clearance for 7 bucks! What can I say, I'm cheap and find difficulty passing up a bargain (note to self: don't make eye contact with the dollar section at Target!).

Once through the front door you'll see my living room (in much need of a completed make-over, for those of you who have been following my living room saga.....I'm still mid re-do and have lost inspiration or desire to finish. HGTV please send me a make-over team to help me!).



If you turn around with the living room behind you, you'll see this, my 'formal' dining room area. We bought this table just a few months ago. It's fabulous!!! It pulls apart easily and a hidden leaf unfolds to enlarge the table. The table goes from seating 8 to 14 people in a snap! We are having Thanksgiving at our house this year and I'm excited to use our new table for the occasion. I'll have to be sure to take and post pics of it when it's decorated all pretty and festive and laden with glorious food!



Don't look too closely, but this is my kitchen. I tried not to clean up too much but I did have to do a little. I wanted you to see me as I am, untidy kitchen and all. I'm sure you'll notice the clutter point on the counter. This is where all the mail finds itself. And receipts. And change. And my purse and keys. And papers from Mae's school. And too many other things. I hate this part! It is the bane of my homemaker existence. Ok, on to other things (please stop looking into the vortex of the clutter corner!)



Just to the right of the kitchen is the 'informal' dining room/area. I love that table too! It has a fabulous stainless steel top that is super kid-friendly. Every household with young children should have one. It can be marked on, spilled on, and it is easily cleaned up. I'm telling you it has preserved the peace in our house and relationships!

Well that wraps up day one of the Flower Tour. Stay tuned for more peeks into my world. Oh! And I'll also do a drawing later on for some fabulous home-made cards soon too (details to follow in another post)! I do have one little surprise in this 200 milestone marker. It will be revealed sometime this weekend. Anyone want to take a guess???

Look At Me!!!

A couple months ago I submitted this picture at TopMomma.

What does TopMomma do, you ask? Well, they have a limited number of photos posted with the intention of having visitors click on them to visit the persons blog or website. The more clicks or referrals a Momma gets the longer their photo stays up. In essence, it is a nifty way to get new traffic to your blog.

So, go visit and don't forget to give me lots of clicks!!! Because...........

**and if you're visiting from TopMomma, thanks for stopping by.....and don't forget to leave comment and say 'hello'!

Dear Lord,

Please help me through these next few days. I am unable and incapable to live each day in a way that is honoring to you, without your help. Ryan has been gone since Saturday and came back last night but then is off again this morning. Thank you for his safe travel and the little break with having him home last night. I needed that, thank you! I've made it through the first part of the week with relative ease, but it's getting more difficult now. Please help me to choose patience, kindness, and love today. I need to hear and be aware of your voice speaking to me these next few days. Help me to be sensitive to your voice and presence in my life. Thank you for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank you for the love you have for me. Thank you for hearing me and for your sympathies in my situations. And thank you for allowing these times to come so that I can learn more dependence on you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Overheard At the Dinnertable - the Toddler Edition

Isabel, sit down.

Eat!

Isabel, get back to the table.

Eat or go sleepy.

Eat. Your. D I N N E R ! ! ! !

What to do?

I just did a little adding up of numbers and found that I am four posts away from my 200th post (well, ok, it's really three once I publish this one). So, what should I do? I could do what lots of others do and do a list of 200 things about myself, or maybe just 100 since I missed that one way back when and to be honest I think 200 would be too difficult and too dull to bore you with. I was trying to think of a creative little something to do but all I came up with was to take pictures of things and places around my house that would give my readers a better idea of who I am. But really I don't want to take the time. But then again maybe I will. I don't know (can you tell?)!!!

So, what do you think? Should I do the list of 200 or even 100 things about myself? Should I ask you all to ask me questions then I'll answer them in the 200th post? Should I take a bunch-o-pics of my world and share?

Really, please do share your thoughts.....I wanna know!

Thanks for your input!

I'd Love to Have This.....

Who wouldn't want to have a Dyson? Maybe someone who already has one? Well, I don't have one and would very much like to be a proud owner of one. But since we can't, or may never, be able to afford one I entered a contest to win one.

5 Minutes for Mom is giving this pink Dyson away. And you could win it, just go here and sign up!

Dyson has made this limited edition pink vaccum and $40 of each sale goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. They are sold exclusively at Target (my favorite store!).

I'm not a fan of pink but I sure wouldn't mind me a vacuum in the color! Who knows, I might look quite fashionable while cleaning the house....I'd love to find out!

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Of course I wouldn't mind this handy little set of tools either. There is a choice of pink or blue and in this case I choose pink. I think it's a theme....pink tools must go with the pink vacuum, right? Go over to Muti-Tasking Moms to sign yourself up! They are offering two sets!

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I entered this contest too!

How would you like to win $50 to spend in a vintage children’s store? Kailani of An Island Life is holding a giveaway to Warm Biscuit Bedding Company. Stop by before September 28th for all the details.

My Living Room Makeover - Part 2

Wow, so many people eager to know what happened next! Well, Ryan came home and of course noticed right away. I stood there by the door in eager anticipation, along with a look on my face that pretty much said look!-I-rearranged-the-living-room-and-I-know you-don't-like-it-but tell-me-you-love-it-anyway-and-mean-it. I didn't get the response I wanted, only the one I knew was coming. *sigh* His first words......'no!'. And that was literally seconds after he walked through the door. *double sigh*

I explained my reasons, but they were only met with criticism. My argument was that we could not sit on the couch and watch tv (it was too far away, and it was!). His argument is that only one person can sit on the couch and watch tv from the current angle (this is true, but he's comfortable laying on the floor watching tv and I'm not. so I'd be the one on the couch, no change there!). Ryan also does not like the couch in the middle of the room. Well, I do. It helps break up the cavern.

In Ryan's defense, he did tell me later than night that when we had time we could talk about the options for moving things around. At this point we are leaning toward moving the cabinet to the right of the fire place, but that is only if the cable cord will reach that far. I was tempted to clear out the cabinet today and pull out the car jack with wheels so I could move it to a new position, but I restrained myself (ok, so I took a nap instead). I'll wait until Ryan can help me - or- until he's gone on a trip and try again! hahahaha

We did want to watch a movie last night and the couch in its current position wasn't going to work. So what did we do??? We moved the couch around and watched our movie! The pictures below will show you what we've done for the time being, it also shows how the kids are now watching tv (for those who asked). I'm tellin' ya, I need some of those hefty and handy men that they have on those redesign shows......you know, the ones that come in and move the furniture in and out of the rooms? Yeah, those ones, that's what I need to solve this living room delima....that and a few dollars to purchase the just-right furniture!














Mae looks quite happy under the bench, don'tcha think?!

See What Cable Television Has Done???

It's no secret. I've been watching a lot of HGTV lately. A lot. And I am a stay at home mother who needs a creative outlet. Put those two things together and you've got a girl who needs to redo her house!

Enter my living room.

It is HUGE and we have like 3 sticks of furniture to fill it up put in it. The last few people that have stopped by to purchase things I've listed on Craigs List have all said pretty much the same thing, 'did you just move here?'. Now, why would all these people say this? Well, because we have the cavernous living room with three sticks of furniture, that's why.

Enter cable TV.

So, we got cable tv a couple weeks ago and I love watching HGTV, namely the design shows. I love seeing the before and after shots as well as the crafty ways they make things or put things together. Now, we are renting so I can't exactly buy paint, and we are also saving for a down payment so I can't go out and buy furniture to fill the space either. Nor do I really want to, this is a rental and I'm not into investing money in something that doesn't belong to us.

Enter the need to do something!!!!

I had an idea on how to rearrange a couple of our sticks to make the living room feel less cavernous. The problem is that Ryan does not like it when I do this. Being the designer that he is, he needs to have a purpose as to why I would move something. For some odd reason I can't just move stuff around just for the sake of moving it around. This is something I don't understand. At all. But he is my husband and for the sake of keeping the peace I restrain myself. But I can't take it anymore! So, I did it. I moved the couch, coffee table and rocking chair. That's it. And really, they were in that position, for the most part, when we first moved in. We moved things around when we got the cabinet the tv is now on. My current issue with this, aside from having a cavernous feel to our living room, is that to be best comfortable watching tv, we lay on the floor in front of it. And you know what? My neck hurts. Enough I say!

Enter the before and after pics.

Before
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view from the front door entry

view from hallway (just left, or straight ahead of the front door)

view from the 'dining room'

After

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I'm pretty sure I'm going to get in trouble for this when Ryan comes home, but at this point it's worth the risk. I do have a smaller rug in another room that will work better in front of the couch, but I won't move it unless I get approval first. And I think the tv cabinet can be moved a little farther down the wall toward the windows, as well as move the tv itself to make watching it a little easier. I also have my moms old hope chest that I can move to the half wall once it is repaired a bit. Again, I'm not going to make anymore changes until Ryan ok's what I've done so far. But what do you think?

**if there are no more posts after this, then be aware that I will have lost all tv and computer privileges until further notice.

A Kind Note

Yesterday I received a nice little note from my dentist's office. Here is what it said: Deanne, It was a pleasure having you in our office. signed Dentist and Team

Lies.

A big fat lie I tell ya! I know there was no way that I was a pleasure to have in their office the other day. Remember the tears? Hello?!?! You know what this means, don't you? They are teeth-scraping, face-sucking, tooth-pulling maniacs that enjoy wielding scary objects of torture! Just another reason for me to stay away. Right?

I Want It!

I saw this on someone's blog today and I totally want one! I'm not one who likes to cook let alone deal with meal planning, so this is right up my alley. The only thing is.....I have a birthday coming up and as much as it would be a great gift idea I don't think I want to wait that long! I know, I live in an instant society and I've totally been assimilated.....so where's my new family meal planning cookbook already???

Dental Update

Well, my dreaded morning came and went. It's over, but not really, just prolonged. Things went fine, so they tell me. But I beg to differ. I have a small cavity forming under a filling and some bonding is needed at the base of the same tooth to cover/protect the exposed nerve. In addition to all that fun stuff I also have to have a deep cleaning. See? Fun stuff I tell ya.

So, I left the office with yet another appointment. I had a feeling that would happen. The dentist doesn't like people to leave without getting a commitment of some kind for a return trip.

The good news is that the bad news isn't terrible news. And all that needs to be done can be done in one visit that will endure take an hour.

Overall I suppose my time in the torture dental office wasn't so bad. But a visit, for me, is never complete with out at least two tissues and a good cry in front of people I've never met. Now I have another four weeks to gear up for the next one. Yeah. Can't wait.

Pray for Me!!!

I have a dental appointment tomorrow. Ugh. It's just a cleaning appointment, but still, I haven't been to the dentist in little over a year. This will be a first time appointment at this dentist so I will get the 'new client' treatment, which I am sure will include (but not limited to) x-rays, cleaning, flossing, scraping, and the dreaded suck-your-face-off straw suction thingy, as well as a lecture about my brushing and flossing habits blah blah blah.

I'm really looking forward to it. Can you tell?

My prayer and hope is that I've done at least an adequate job with my dental hygiene in the past year that I will be able to leave the office without having to make a follow-up appointment. Oh, and that I won't cry and/or have a panic attack while waiting, sitting, waiting, and enduring.

So, think of me (and pray) tomorrow between 9:30 to11:00 (they tell me it will take that long...stinkin' lousy!). In preparation, I will line my pockets with tissues so I can easily pull one out to dry my tears, as well as practice easy breathing techniques (who knew labor would come in handy later on?!). And I'll do my very bestest to be a big girl and to act like one too.

This Is Only a Test....

85%How Addicted to Blogging Are You? -

I'm not surprised, are you?

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Deanne -- [noun]: A hermit living in the big city 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

This one does surprise me....how do they do that anyway, is someone watching me???

La Fiesta!

Yesterday we went to a real fiesta! One of Ryan's co-workers is Hispanic and his family was celebrating their two daughter's birthdays (age 5 and 1). Ryan was invited, so we all went. This famliy went all out man! The fiesta was at a park and had an inflatable jump house and was fully catered with authentic mexican food that also included delicious shaved ice (no wonder Ryan wanted to go!). Of course no fiesta would be complete without a ginormous Hello Kitty pinata!

I was not looking forward to going, but really I did not have a choice. It would have been perceived as rude if I did not attend with Ryan and the kids, and in our culture it would have rude as well. So I grudgingly went. Phooey on me for being such a poop. I didn't talk to many people, as I suspected would happen, but it turned out better than I thought it would be. The entire family was so hospitable and friendly (and the food wasn't so bad either!).

The kids had a blast jumping in the Hello Kitty jump house, as well as taking their turn whacking the pinata. Ok, I have to admit that my kids, being a bit older than most of the others in attendance, were pretty wimpy when it came to the pinata. Ryan and I were amazed at the force with which the other kids whacked at it. The only conclusion I can come to is that they are used to doing this. They are seasoned pros, no doubt.

We left the fiesta three and half hours after we arrived. I am a little surprised that only one of our kids fell asleep on the way home. They played so hard (but maybe not hard enough?). However they did go to sleep rather quickly last night! The food was so good and plentiful that I didn't have to cook dinner. Sweet! All in all it was a fun party, oops, fiesta, and I'm glad that Ryan drug me there. *big grin*

Ewe! Bugs!

I've come across four spiders over the course of this day, and one of them almost touched me! That's not good for this bug-a-phobe and I'm freakin' out over here. In fact, I have a good case of the heebie geebies! Every little unexpected wisp of air or a stray hair on my arm sets me into a fit of arm and hand flailing just to make sure no creepy crawly is on me. I'm also watching my steps as I walk down the hall or around the house. The bug juice has come in pretty handy today, let me tell ya! The bugs really have no chance of survival. They either cross the perimeter and perish, or drown in a pool of juice that I spray on them until they stop moving. See? No chance.

I hate bugs. I really really do.

Passport Please

Do you remember the movie "While You Were Sleeping"? Lucy was a wanna-be traveler and had her heart set on getting a stamp in her passport, among other things. Well, today I became a 'Lucy'. I am now a proud owner of a passport and have dreams of filling it up, or at least getting one stamp.

Next summer Ryan and I hope to travel together to Spain when he does his yearly research trip. We have lots of details to figure out before then but getting my passport was essential. Now that I have it, I know I am one step closer to a trip away with my husband (no kids allowed!). Like I said, there are plenty of details, but for now I am dreaming of that solitary stamp in a very specific location!

So Stinkin' Hot!

I'm not sure what to write about today. All I want to do is whine about how miserable it is here with the heat and humidity. But no one wants to read that. And I certainly don't want to think about it anymore either.

Yesterday we didn't have many options for escaping the heat so we did what any So. Cal. people can do.....we went to the beach! It was either that or stay home and run up the electric bill.

We got to the beach town in time for lunch, then walked down to the beach with all our gear (stroller and all!). What sweet relief was had once we finally got to the water! It was soooo nice, to say the least. The breeze was just right and the water was perfect, a little cool when you first get in but always refreshing. We stayed for 3 hours! Typically when we go to the beach we will stay for maybe an hour, but this time we were there under different circumstances.

Now all I have is the sweet memory of the cool water and playing with the kids in the waves. That, and I have a nice show of red on my face from all the sun. Today is supposed to be cooler and tomorrow even more so. If I can make it through today then I will have survived this heat wave. Ugh. I'm ready for winter.

August Movie Review

August was a busy month for us. We did some traveling and Ryan worked a lot too and was too tired some nights to watch a movie. So, for those reasons we did not watch too many movies last month. Here is what we did watch:

1. Wives and Daughters (This is a BBC miniseries that we had seen years ago, but I felt it was time to watch it again. It takes place in the early 1800's in a small English village and is about a coming of age young woman as she deals with change in her life as her widower father remarries. I like her character a great deal and I enjoyed seeing the movie again. I highly recommend it if you like Jane Austen-type movies.)

2. Hulk (Slow and terrible. And to that I add.....oh please don't let them make a sequel!!!)

3. Bridge to Terabithia (yet another family movie night. Good family flick, would recommend)

4.Gandhi (I somewhat enjoyed the film. I thought it interesting from a historical standpoint. To be honest I did not know much about Gandhi and what he did (and what I did know, or thought I knew, was waaaaay off!). If the movie was good at portraying who Gandhi was, and what he did, then I agree that he was a great man and he did great things for the people of India. From a spiritual perspective, however, it sad how 'good' a man can be, yet still be lost.)

5. The Devil Wears Prada (Ryan and I saw this at the theater last summer when we were in Tahoe for our 10th anniversary. But when my mom was visiting the other week she mentioned she had not seen it and would like to. So we rented it and watched it together. It was a fine movie and fun to see a second time.)

6. The Fountain (Weird. That's all I can really say. Just, weird. When I was a teen, my dad would let my brother go out on a Friday night to pick out a movie rental for the family and he would tell my brother "don't come back with anything weird". Well, this is exactly the kind of movie my dad would have been talking about, and I'm pretty sure my brother would like it -or at least rent it. How's that for a cryptic movie review?!)