SO MUCH TO SAY.....!!!

...about nothing really. this post is going to be pretty damn boring, so prepare yourselves now. i haven't posted in a week and i wanted to stop by before you guys thought i may have fallen off the face of the earth (again!). lately, i have just been too busy reading other people's blogs, that i haven't had time (or felt like) posting on my own. hopefully tomorrow or the next day (or maybe even the next day) i will post the finished library card kit i made (well almost finished. i only did 30 cards) and some pics of my bug-a-boos.

for those of you who have asked (and i do apologize for not responding to the posts on my own damn site), mike will be home in another 18 days. i am going to fly up there (knoxville, tn) on the 17th so i can see him graduate. i am so beside myself about it i can hardly sit still. i miss you so much baby, you will never know. the kiddos do too! i don't know what i'm going to do with ya once ya get home (well besides that ;) since i felt that i have been playing single mommy for quite a while now. the idea of having another adult in the house is going to be pure bliss.

for those of you that didn't know, saturday was my birthday. i had all these great things planned. i was going to have my brother come up to the house and keep the kiddos while me and the girls went out and partied it up. i haven't been out drinking in god knows how long (this folks, is what happens when you have children). its been so long that i had do go out and buy what i thought may resemble a "going out" outfit. so my bday weekend started out good (i get a whole bday week if ya didn't know). that friday, the best boss in the whole wide world took me to lunch and then let me leave a lil early. i then went shopping for that outfit, stopped at walmart to get the kiddos and my brother some junk food for saturday night, and then came home. fell asleep on the couch watching hunter with mikey and woke up with an icky stomach (mikey had that at the beginning of the week). i crawled into bed and laid as still as i could praying that i wouldn't throw up. sure enough, we all know what happened next. this continued till i woke up. i lay there listening to bella letting me know over the monitor that she wanted out of bed. my stomach began to grumble...uh oh. i laid still again while i heard mikey get up and come into my room. the lil bug walked over to my side of the bed and i opened my eyes. he told me to go back to sleep so he could tell me happy bday. he remembered which was the best gift of all.

i spent my bday on the couch with an icky tummy falling in an outta sleep. poor mike felt so bad that he couldn't be at home with me and that my plans were ruined. even though i started to feel a lil bit better as the afternoon went on, i wasn't even going to chance going out and then having to make a mad dash for the bathroom.

so that was my 27th bday in a nutshell. later i will post the bday gifts that my mom picked up for the kiddos. i told her that she didn't have to do that since we were celebrating my bday with the kids and mike when he got home, but she insisted. even though they were lil gifts, they were the best. esp. since mikey picked out his own.

my mom also gave me one of my grandma's rings (daph, we both have one of our grandma's rings now :) which is great. i just need to get it resized so i can wear it.

well, i guess i am going to end this boring ramblings here. the bachelorette comes on in a bit and i have to give my undivided attention to my boyfriend jerry. i promise though that tomorrow i will have pictures and all that jazz.

FABRIC FLOWER PINS!!

today, while surfing around craftster, i found a tutorial for cute lil flower pins (or hairclips).

it took a bit to figure out how exactly she was folding the fabric, but once i got the hang of it, i flew through the other two! the worst part is tracing my pattern onto fabric and then cutting them out (does anyone have any ideas that i could use to make this process faster? i prolly just need to find a good fabric pen instead of using the regular ol pencil i have been using)i absolutely love these. i definetly will be using up some of my fabric stash to make a buncha these (wanna join me daph?)

now i have to figure out what i am going to wear tomorrow so i can wear one of these.

BELLA AND DORA HAVE A TEA PARTY!!

this a.m. bella and dora had a wonderful tea party complete with plastic cookies. what i wouldn't give to be her age again!

SEMI-HOMEMADE WITH ELIZABETH MANNA!

have any of you guys ever seen semi-homemade cooking with sandra lee? if not, she cooks things using prepackaged items which make life easier (or so she says).

so this a.m., i took some martha white muffin mixes (blueberry & blackberry) and mixed em up according to pkg. directions. then i made a crumb topping and popped em in the oven. don't let the dark brown scare ya off. they were delicious. def. tasted like something i would pay top moo-la for at the store.

here's the recipe i made up for the crumb topping:

4 T. margarine
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
sprinlin' of cinnamon

cut the butter in with a fork. once cut in pretty good, top on muffins before baking them.

voila!

SHRINKY DINK CHARMS!!

last night, me and mikey sat down to color on some shrinky dink paper. lil did he know how magical the paper really was. i was making some charms to turn into jewelry (well, i had my fingers crossed anyway) and mikey was just wanting to make some "art", as he called it.

so i gave him a big square and told him to color away and when he was done, i would cut it in half. i had the intention of turning his art into some jewelry for me. what was great was that he wrote his name on one of em.

so we popped em in my lil toaster oven and watched the magic happen right before our eyes.

now, you would think that shrinky dinks would be fool proof, but i guess not for this fool. i don't know what it is, but i can never get the sides to stay straight and for some reason, only the edges were curling up and the middle was staying in this great hat shape. i ended up pushing the sides down on a couple of em when i took them out.

we had so much fun and as soon as i get some good cording (or search around elizabeth's craft store for some) i am going to turn these into necklaces. i really can't wait to wear mikey's.

WHAT A GREAT HAT YOU'RE WEARING!!

last night when i was on the puter blogging, the kids were turning mikey's underware into hats! of course i had to break myself away from the monitor to notice, but as soon as i did, i ran to get the camera. this isn't my most favorite pic (i mean it looks like the waistband is cutting off the circulation of mikey's head) of the two of them (b/c yes, i took about a dozen of em) but in the other ones, bella had a big ol snot bubble coming out of her nose.

bad thing about cameras, you don't really notice those things until you pop em in the computer and look at em ;) those of course will be filed with the poop pictures for future needs ;)

FOR ALL YOU CUPCAKE LOVERS OUT THERE!!

here is a blog for all things cupcakes! i found it via not martha and lemme tell ya, after scrollin' around that blog, makes me wanna whip up some cupcakes for sure.

hopefully i will have more exciting news to report later on today. i am spending the day getting some stuff done (laundry, the pile of dishes sitting in the sink, etc). i must say, that i have been doing my dishes by hand since mike has been gone due to the heating element going out on the dishwasher. boy, how spoiled i have been and didn't even know it. i cannot wait until he gets home so we can buy another, quieter dishwasher.

thank god my mom made me have dish-pan hand all those years doing her dishes, my poor hands are pretty used to it :)

A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR GRANDMA!!

this is the bday card that i made for mike's grandma for her upcoming bday. i used an old photograph of her, yarn-like ribbon, stickers that look like typewriter keys, page pebbles placed of them, a brass envelope charm that i got from art chix and a red heart button that i placed in it.

i love the way it turned out and am very pleased with the style of the card. i really think that i am going to take all those supplies that i am hoarding in the other room and start to make a lot more cards like this.

A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR GRANDMA!!

this is the bday card that i made for mike's grandma for her upcoming bday. i used an old photograph of her, yarn-like ribbon, stickers that look like typewriter keys, page pebbles placed of them, a brass envelope charm that i got from art chix and a red heart button that i placed in it.

i love the way it turned out and am very pleased with the style of the card. i really think that i am going to take all those supplies that i am hoarding in the other room and start to make a lot more cards like this.

ONE COOL CHICK!!

check out this cool chick!

CANDY SWAP!!!

these are the goodies that i received from new zealand for the glitter candy swap.

do they look yummy or what? i haven't opened anything yet. gotta save it for when the kiddos are not around.


yes, i am a selfish candy whore!

LIBRARY CARD KIT!!!

this is my lastest crafy adventure. i am making me and greta library card kits. i got the basic card template from craftalong but i kinda revamped it in an excel format so i could fit more to a page.

i then printed a few copies out, bought a huge pack of cardstock from office depot and took em there to have about 63 copies made. this ended up being so much cheaper than if i would had printed them from home and used all my printer ink.

for the pockets, i got the template here and traced the design on manilla envelopes. now this process is a bitch and is taking forever. but i know once they are all done (all 250+ of em) i am going to luv em. greta is going to use them to keep track of all the dvd's that she loans and i am going to use them for that and books (even though it breaks my heart to glue something into a book).

so that is what i have been up to. well, that is besides laundry, dishes, taking care of the kids, working, picking toys up every second i am home, and watching my recent obsession "under the tuscan sun".

THANKS STATE FARM!!

yesterday, i received a gc for a free chik-fil-a sandwhich from my state farm agent for my birthday!

poor mike was jealous that he didn't get one when it was his birthday. maybe if he's lucky, i'll share :)

VDAY CUPCAKES!!!

bella finally got her wish and the kiddos had a valentines cupcake for dessert. they thought they were deeeeelicious!

A VALENTINE FOR THE KIDDOS!!

well, today two very special packages arrived for mr. mikey and ms. bella-boo. it was from their daddy. they were very excited to receive mail and then when they saw it was more chocolate than they could ever eat in their lifetime, they were even more excited (baby, i must say that you are nuts for sending them this much candy).





then mommy decided to take on her very meeger presents to give to the kiddos. they still thought they were great which made me happy.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

happy valentine's day everybody! i hope you all got to spend the say with the ones you love.

the love of my life is still out of town, but he did remember to send me some goodies. the box arrived last thursday and i used the utmost restraint and waited until today to open it. as you can see, i took pics of myself opening it (this is mostly for you dear)


here is me with a hideous look on my face...


the beautiful wrapped box...


slowly taking off the ribbon...


the present with the lid off


and voila...a good time to come in the near future ;)

also, as the day went on, the love of my life sent me these


my favorite. a beautiful basket of daisies.


i love you baby, more than you will ever know and i wish that we could be spending the evening with me.

A CUPCAKE SNEAK!!!

me and mikey made some cupcakes for his valentine's day party. we had them all frosted and decorated sitting on the counter. me and mikey were in the living room when bella came in and we noticed she had something on her face. i was clueless at first and then i realized what had happened...that lil sneaky devil had reached up on to the counter and grabbed at one of the cupcakes and got frosting all over her fingers and proceeded to lick them off.

here's a picture of her trying to get another go at em

SUBLIME STITCHING!!!

well my order arrived from sublime stitching and i cannot wait to try my hand at embroidering. i am esp. looking forward to using the bowling one.

the next time me and the girls go bowling, i will go in style!

MY GIRL LUUUVVVS SOME KETCHUP!!!

tuesday, i fixed the kids a delicious & nutritious lunch (i was off for mardi gras) of pigs in a blanket and chips. well, i gave bella some ketchup and she was eating happily.

however, about half way through the meal, i looked over at her and she was bending herself over and sticking her face (mostly her nose) in the lil pile of ketchup she had in her plate.

whata mess!

VALENTINE SWAP (RECD.)!!!

i received the most wonderful pkg. from megan for the valentine's swap on glitter. not only did she send me goodies, she also sent the bug-a-boos some bug fingerpuppets (not pictured b/c they are being played with).

i cannot wait to wear the necklace and the chocolate bar (heaven) is almost gone. megan was a great partner and i hope she had as much fun as i did!

GOODNIGHT ELIZABETH!

ya know, i luv all things that have my name in them. maybe its b/c its not that common to find a book title, a song, a movie title, etc. with the name elizabeth in it.

but hot damn, if i didn't discover that the counting crows sing a song called goodnight elisabeth. of course i downloaded it and have been obsessively listening to it (yes, i am that vain, however, i must admit its strange hearing my name in a song).

here are they lyrics for your pleasure (even though they are kinda sad)

goodnight elisabeth

I was wasted in the afternoon
Waiting on a train
I woke up in pieces and elisabeth had disappeared again
I wish you were inside of me
I hope that you’re ok
I hope you’re resting quietly
I just wanted to say

Goodnight elisabeth
Goodnight elisabeth

We couldn’t all be cowboys
So some of us are clowns
Some of us are dancers on the midway
We roam from town to town
I hope that everybody can find a little flame
Me, I say my prayers, then I just light myself on fire
And I walk out on the wire once again
And I say

Goodnight elisabeth
Goodnight elisabeth

I will wait for you in baton rouge
I’ll miss you down in new orleans
I’ll wait for you while she slips in something comfortable
And I’ll miss you when I’m slipping in between
If you wrap yourself in daffodils
I will wrap myself in pain
And if you’re the queen of california
Baby I am the king of the rain
And I say

Goodnight elisabeth
Goodnight elisabeth


also, it seems edgar allen poe wrote a lil diddy about "elizabeth" too (which was his mother's name).

Elizabeth, it surely is most fit
[Logic and common usage so commanding]
In thy own book that first thy name be writ,
Zeno and other sages notwithstanding;
And I have other reasons for so doing
Besides my innate love of contradiction;
Each poet - if a poet - in pursuing
The muses thro' their bowers of Truth or Fiction,
Has studied very little of his part,
Read nothing, written less - in short's a fool
Endued with neither soul, nor sense, nor art,
Being ignorant of one important rule,
Employed in even the theses of the school-
Called - I forget the heathenish Greek name
[Called anything, its meaning is the same]
"Always write first things uppermost in the heart."


i am sure i will have more to add to this post as i continue to google "elizabeth".

note: sorry i can't help it ;)

SAMPLER PT. 2!!

well, today i received my second sampler and i love it!!! the envy was filled with the most beautiful things. i cannot wait to wear my valentine heart earrings from bellaceti and the candy heart necklace (which the hearts say "buen dia" & "amor" from luster studio

what a great thing to come home to :)

SAY WHHHHAAAAA!!!

ya know, today, for whatever reason, i thought about this sign that we saw at some po-dunk gas station during out maggie valley, nc trip.

someone please explain to me what this means. now of course ya know what popped into my head ;) i mean why else would i have taken this picture.

I'M AN INTERNET JUNKIE!!!

a tshirt that i have to own from urban outfitters

okay, i admit it, i'm addicted to the net. i have been for years now. i can't help it. everything i need is right at my fingertips.

i have been on the computer since about 7:30 this a.m. if you'll notice, it's now 12:30 p.m. (yes, i have been feeding my kids and changing bella's diapers in between page loadings).

i hop from one blog/sit to another. its like a never-ending cycle. i keep a notepad on my desk to write down the sites that i wanna check back later (b/c after all my favorites is a long list of sites that have god knows what on it) or that i wanna add to here.

its a sad addiction. but i can never give it up. absolutely. never.

I'M A P-P-P-PISCES!!!!

i am a pisces through and through and am very proud of it. i strongly believe in astrology and hold true to what the signs say about people.

what's your sign?

courtesy of harvey sid fisher

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO LITTLE FISHES
AND EACH HAD THEIR OWN LITTLE WHIMS AND THEIR WISHES
PISCES MOODS KEEP CHANGING SOME SAY I'M INSECURE
TO BE OR NOT TO BE I CAN'T DECIDE FOR SURE
I LOVE FANTASIZING, MY WORLD IS ON A SWING
IF DREAMLAND HAD A RULER, PISCES WOULD BE KING

PISCES, PISCES, PISCES THE WATER SIGN
THE MAGICAL MIND
SO GENTLE AND KIND
P-P-P-PISCES, P-P-P-PISCES,
P-P-P-PISCES, P-P-P-PISCES,
P-P-P-PISCES, P-P-P-PISCES

I CAN PICK ME UP NO MATTER HOW FAR DOWN I FALL
BUT I HAVE TO STAY REAL FAR AWAY FROM DRUGS AND ALCHOHOL
I FALL IN LOVE SO EASY AND GOODBYES HURT THE WORST
IT'S SO HARD TO NOT GET SCARRED WHEN THEY SAY GOODBYE FIRST
I'LL NEVER GIVE UP LOVING, I'LL TRY 'TIL I SUCCEED
I'LL TURN ON ALL OF MY CHARM TO GET ME WHAT I NEED.

PISCES, PISCES, PISCES THE WATER SIGN
THE MAGICAL MIND
SO GENTLE AND KIND
P-P-P-PISCES, P-P-P-PISCES,
P-P-P-PISCES, P-P-P-PISCES,
P-P-P-PISCES, P-P-P-PISCES
P-P-P-PISCES, P-P-P-PISCES.

VALENTINE SWAP GOODIES (SENT)!

since megan received the valentine swap pkg. from glitter, i can post some of the goodies that i sent her.


a picture frame with heart buttons in the corner


a flower pin


a scarf that i had so much fun knitting and i am really thinking of making one for myself. the scarf kinda twists up on her own and i luv how it does that. plus, it's really long.


some valentine's day pins i made

PLEASE CROSS ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES....!

....so that maybe one day really soon, bella telling me that she has to go to the "baff-room" and sitting on her potty, will result in her actually going to the bathroom.

yes, i know its still early (she's 21 mos.) but the idea of never having to buy diapers again (well, that is until we decide to have #3) sounds like pure heaven (to both me and my checking acct.)

i'm just really thankful that she is at a point where she recognizes that she has gone and she is interested in sitting on the potty. mikey wants completely trained until he was about 3 1/2.

wish me luck!

THROW ME SOMETHING MIKEY!!!

yesterday, mikey's prek class rode a float in the children's mardi gras parade at the town green. his class made mardi gras tshirts and had fun throwing out beads, candy, and stuffed animals. this parade is great b/c only children participate and of course there are not huge crowds. i am glad that mikey's school was in the parade b/c that is the only slice of mardi gras we will be participating in (mardi gras in biloxi is getting to be quite the ordeal and the kids are too young to take down there. not to mention, mike is usually working and i don't want to take the kiddos down there myself).

mom and bella met me down there and bella rack'ed up on some goods. i think that bella weighed an extra five lbs. from the beads she had around her neck. all in all it was some good fun!

SATURDAY FUN!!!

courtesy of chaotic harmony (who's blog i just discovered and luv...thanks daph...can i call ya daph???)

Please recommend to me:

1. A movie
2. A book
3. A musical artist, song or album

AND

Ask me three questions, anything you want to know (b/c after all, it is all about me ;)

AND

Copy and paste this into your blog, if you have one.

RENTING PURSES!!!

check this site out. apparently, for a fee of $20-$100 you can rent these top name brand purses for as long as you want and then return them.

how cool is that? i immediately thought of greta when i saw this! this is so up her alley.

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER!!!

my girl loves the computer. she mostly loves tapping the hell outta the keyboard keys.

hopefully she will grow up and learn all about em and not get frustrated like her mommy when she can't figure out what she is supposed to do and she has to ask someone for help ;)


see daphne, look at that mess on our computer desk. and that's clean :)

BELLA BOO!

bella put on mikey's clifford backpack and walked up to the front door and said "bye". wonder where she thought she was going? i took quite a few pics, but these two are my favorites!