THE PAST WEEK IN REVIEW!!!

since mike is watching the packers game and eating the BIGGEST bowl of popcorn (and it was yummy!!) i have ever seen, i decided now was a good time to try and sum up the past week in one post so i can feel caught up!

why does that happen? why does a week fly by like that and then i feel like there is so much to post and i don't get it all???

things are starting to get a lil more back to "normal" around here which is a very good thing. i know i need to post more pictures that i have taken of biloxi, but it is such a tedious task. plus, i think that i hate looking at the pictures.

so since we know what mike is up to, lets start with the kiddos....



mikey had his first day back to school today (thank goodness) and hopefully things will start to feel normal for him again. i hate that he missed out on a month of school. especially since he just started. it was nice to see that his teacher has him down for snack day since we missed it due to the hurricane.

he has already started his christmas list, which is a lil more expensive than years past. he really wants a play station two, but i think that me and mike decided that a gameboy and access to the home computer was enough for now. i don't think a five year old needs that much technology in his life. is this just me??

he's decided this year that he wants to be a skeleton/pirate for halloween and i hope that i can find a place that has a costume to his liking. i am going to try and take him to the party supply place (if its open yet) this saturday and see if we can find him something there.

i luv that he luvs halloween as much as i do. he likes walking down the spooky aisles at the stores and seeing the scarest of things. we also start watching all the haunted shows they have on the travel channel. we luv us some halloween.








my lil bella-boo had to be picked up today from school due to a stomach bug (dear God, please make sure that no one else, and i do mean no one, in this house gets this bug!!!). she acted like her usual self after her nap though. so i hope that is a good sign.

lately she has been fun hanging out with her big bro between their two bedrooms making tents and a big mess!!







after waiting and waiting for her bangs to grow past her eyes and it never happening, i decided it was time for a trim. this was bella's first lil haircut and i was really nervous about going at it on my own. her new bang's look so cute though. she looks so much older than her lil 2 year old self.

this year for halloween, bella is going to be a "witch". i got her the cutest dress at target last week that is orange and black with spider webs on it (which will match the skirt i wore last year. the funny thing is though, when i first showed it to her, she took off running in the opposite direction, screaming and crying telling me "i ont wan to". i don't know what that's all about, but she is wearing that dress ;)


as for me, i have been busy doing much of nothing...lol. i think i am still trying to recoup from all the work. i miss crafting like you would not believe. i have managed to get a couple of xmas scarves completed (pictures will be posted in the future).

here is a list of things that i need to do in the next week or so (note: this is mostly for my benefit):

*take a halloween pic of the kiddos and make my halloween cards

*get said cards out in the mail

*get some bills out in the mail

*find mikey a halloween costume

*decide on a date for mikey's new bday party

*make invitations

*get em in the mail

*decorate the house for halloween

*get our shit together and get a "for sale" sign in front of the house

*cross my fingers that the people already showing interest in the house will buy it

*do some more christmas shopping (online is really all i got right now folks)

*make mikey's cupcakes for school on wednesday

*call my medical insurance company

*file a buncha bills and paperwork where they belong

*add my old "bill" planner stuff to my new planner

*remember to print this list out tomorrow so i can start crossing this stuff off.

i am sure that i am forgetting something.


so that is pretty much what we have been up to. nothing too exciting. i have been surfing around and have found some great new blogs. i have also received some pretty great stuff in the mail. giao i promise that i am going to take a picture of all the goodies that you sent me one day this week. i feel bad that i have not properly thanked you yet.

so i hope that you guys have all had a wonderful september and are in areas where the leaves are already beginning to change and the weather is starting to cool off. i am jealous of the bloggers that have put away their summer clothing to bring out the sweaters. i have another month or so before i can do that.

have a wonderful week :)

FINALLY, A DAY OFF AND THE CORPSE BRIDE!!!

well, today me and michael finally had another day off of work (thank God!!!). so we had my mom come over for a delicious brunch (sorry no pics, my camera's batteries are dead) and then took the kiddos to see the corpse bride. this was isabella's first movie and she did pretty good! she was so excited to go eat popcorn. right before we left, we woke isabella up from her nap and mike said "ya wanna go to the movies and eat some popcorn?". that lil girl shot up out of bed jumping up and down saying "popcorn, popcorn!! i want popcorn".

the movie is rated (in my opinion) "eh!". it was alright. i'm a big weirdo. i'm not really into that type of thing. i don't think i have even seen the nightmare before christmas all the way through. so i guess you shouldn't go by my rating...lol.

tomorrow we take the kiddos to daycare and me and michael are off to mobile and maybe even pensacola to get a break and do some shopping. i am so looking forward to it.

so thats it for now. i do plan on posting more pictures of biloxi tomorrow :)

THEY'RE KOOKY AND THEY'RE SPOOKY!!!

after alot of pushing and shoving, i finally got my girl greta into the wonderful world of blogging.

now she told me that she doesn't think that she is going to know how/what to write, but believe you me, this girl is awesome and friggin' hilarious, so i am sure that she is not going to have a problem whatsoever!!!! not to mention, her kids are adorable and she has some crafty bones in her body. see why she's my bestest friend?

so be sure to check her and welcome her into this wonderful world!

MANNA-BEARS!!!

my mom picked up these vitamin/gummy bear things while she was out and about the other day and couldn't believe her eyes when she stumbled upon these.

you are prolly thinking "big deal...manna bears". well the thing is, manna is our last name and beahr (pronounced like "bear") is my maiden name.

who'd a thought that there would be a vitamin named after us...lol.

MORE PHOTOS!!!

finally, a free minute at home to post a few more pics. i am hoping that thursday i will be able to drive further west on hwy 90 and get some more shots.

these shots were taken in bay st. louis.


a poor shot of a badly destructed gas station across the tracks (and of course me in the rear view mirror).


a view down the street.


half a house that is not supposed to be sitting where it is.


all thats left of a house...a roof.


a view of the bay st. louis bridge. notice there is not a road sitting on top of it. its just the pillars that the bridge (road) sits on. its almost like a buncha dominoes that are all lined up.


american pride


whats left of a mansion on the beach.


another "house".


a house that i am guessing is from the other side of the street that landed right by the tracks.


all thats left of a church/catholic school. i took this shot from the car. i really couldn't bear to walk up there. greta did though. but she told me that with the statue was also jesus' face. ya know, its really amazing how things were destroyed but various religious statues are still standing...untouched.

I'M BORED....SO HERE'S SOME CONFESSIONS!!!

while i was surfing around today at work, i saw this over at giao's and thought i would partake...b/c after all, i do love talking about myself...lol.

[ ] I am bisexual or homosexual.
[ ] I've run away from home.
[ ] I listen to political music.
[ ] I collect comic books.
[X] I shut others out when I'm sad.
[X] I open up to others easily.
[ ] I am keeping a secret from the world.
[X] I watch the news.
[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs.
[X] I own an I-Pod.
[ ] I own something from Hot Topic.
[ ] I love Disney movies.
[X] I am a sucker for hair/eyes.
[ ] I don't kill bugs.
[X] I curse regularly (a lil too regularly)
[ ] I paid for that cell phone ringtone.
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name.
[ ] I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation.
[ ] I love Spam.
[X] I bake well.
[ ] I would wear pajamas to school.
[ ] I own something from Abercrombie
[X] I have a job.
[X ] I love Martha Stewart.
[X] I am in love with someone.
[ ] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
[X] I am self conscious.
[X] I like to laugh.
[X] I smoke a pack a day (am i drinking too?)
[X] I loved Go Ask Alice (and my mom found it and took it away from me)
[ ] I have cough drops when I'm not sick.
[ ] I can't swallow pills.
[X] I have many scars (can you say two csections???)
[X] I've been out of this country.
[X] I believe in ghosts.
[ ] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
[X] I am really ticklish.
[ ] I see/have seen a therapist.
[X] I love chocolate.
[ ] I bite my nails. (just the skin around em...does that count?)
[ ] I am comfortable with being me.
[X] I play computer games/video games when i'm bored.
[ ] Gotten lost in your city.
[ ] Saw a shooting star.
[X] Gone out in public in your pajamas.
[X] I have kissed a stranger.
[X] Hugged a stranger.
[X] Been in a fight with the same sex. (HIGHSCHOOL!!!)
[ ] Been arrested.
[ ] Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.
[ ] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator (too afraid it will make the elevator break)
[ ] Made out in an elevator.
[X] Swore at your parents.
[ ] Kicked a guy where it hurts.
[ ] Been skydiving.
[ ] Been bungee jumping.
[ ] Broken a bone.
[ ] Played spin the bottle.
[X] Gotten stitches.
[ ] Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
[x] Bitten someone.
[ ] Been to Niagara Falls.
[X] Gotten the chicken pox.
[ ] Crashed into a friend's car.
[ ] Been to Japan.
[ ] Ridden in a taxi.
[ ] Shoplifted.
[ ] Been fired.
[X] Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
[X] Stole something from your job.
[ ] Gone on a blind date.
[x] Lied to a friend.
[x] Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
[ ] Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans (no but i have in biloxi...right next door)
[ ] Been to Europe.
[X] Slept with a co-worker.
[X] Been married.
[ ] Gotten divorced.
[ ]Saw someone dying.
[X]Driven over 400 miles in one day.
[ ] Been to Canada.
[X] Been on a plane.
[X] Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
[X] Thrown up in a bar.
[X] Eaten Sushi (just california rolls which are veggie...does that count?)
[ ] Been snowboarding.
[ ] Been skiing.
[X] Been ice skating.
[ ] Met someone in person from the internet.
[ ] Been to a motorcross show.
[ ] Gone/Going to college.
[ ] Done hard drugs
[X] Taken painkillers.
[ ] Cheated on someone else.
[X] Were so bored you took this survey.
[x] Have a tattoo

WHEW!!!

a vehicle we passed today while driving around bay st. louis.



well, i finally found a free moment to post a lil something about what has been going on here. today is my first day off in....hold on lemme count since i really don't know what the date or day is....12 days. me and mike have both been working 12 hour shifts 7 days a week. life right now is a lil hectic.

i have been able to drive around a lil bit and take a few pics. i'll upload more later. i'm not sure how much longer we are going to be working these hours, but it could be 12 hours shifts for quite a few months.

i never imagined that life would take a turn like this. to drive around the town you live in and feel like you are visiting a third world country filled with devistation. i must say though that there is a lot of hope around here. it may take a few years to get things rebuilt but everyone has the gung-ho attitude about taking what has happened to the beautiful mississippi gulf coast and making it better than before. it breaks my heart though that a lot of the history is gone.


the grand casino which used to sit on the other side of the median which had another 2 lane road, boardwalk, & the sand beach. that casino was on the other side of all of that.


another shot of the grand and an old hotel.


a view of damaged homes on a street.


the front of the main street post office.


the biloxi port commission which is just a few years old and now the two bottom floors are completely gone.


a shot of reynoir and hwy 90.


another shot of reynoir and hwy 90.


what is left of the bombay bicycle club which is across from the beau rivage casino/resorts







i know i don't have descriptions, but its time to get dinner fixed. i'll be back later.

WE ARE ALL OKAY!!!

just wanted to take a quick minute to let ya'll know that we are all safe. my house had very, very minor damage to it compared to others. me, the kiddos, and my mom were in tallahassee, florida when the storm hit while i had to leave mike behind to deal with the devistation. we got back on wednesday (on mikey's bday) to no power or phones. driving around is surreal. you look at things and see that it is nothing like it was before. i'm still trying to take it all in and think "this really did happen here". we got electricity at our house yesterday so we packed up our things from mom's and headed back here. now its time to try and get back to normal. i have to go back to work tomorrow and help out at the police department so our officers (many of whom lost their homes) can get paid.

sorry that this post really doesn't make much sense, but i promise that later i will post a better post and a good bit of pictures.

i also want to say thank you for all your posts, emails, and text messages i got showing your thoughts and prayers. that means SO MUCH to me, i can't even express it in words. that people who have never met me in real life care and are concerned for my family's safety. i wish you guys were all near so i can give you a big hug!!

thanks again.


lotsa, lotsa luv and hugs,

elizabeth

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

well, they now have katrina headed this way. supposed to arrive some time monday evening/early tuesday morning.....DEEP FUCKIN' SIGH!!!!

i'm not even going to go into all my ranting and raving like the last time.

i'm trying to remain calm (NOTE: my house is becoming the cleanest it has in quite some time due to my stir craziness...lol). today is amy's bday party so i will be getting ready to head over there in a lil bit and then when i come home, i guess i will get me and the kiddos packed so we are ready to head on over to mom's on sunday/monday.



here's my mom with jim cantore from the weather channel down on the beach. if you happen to feel like turning on the weather channel and they show jim and his location, that is where i live. the last time he was on, you could see a "pirate ship" which is the treasure bay casino.

i'll keep everyone posted and this evening i will prolly post what i made for amy and her party.

wish us luck :)

OATMEAL COOKIE BISCOTTI!!!

while over at baking sheet (only one of the best food bloggies i have ever come across), i saw a post for oatmeal cookie biscotti and boy did it look good.

so since i had all the ingredients at home already (cept for the raisins & cardamom, so i used extra cinnamon), i thought i would give biscotti a try (i have never made it before). i must say i am quite impressed with the way it turned out. i did not get 4 dozen outta the recipe, but since i am new to biscotti making, i wasn't sure how big to make the logs and how thick to cut em. so mine are kinda large.

i cannot wait to have one with my morning coffee when i am getting ready tomorrow.

here's the recipe for you guys and for my future reference :)

oatmeal cookie biscotti

2 cups flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom
3 eggs, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries


Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat eggs, adding sugar gragually, at medium speed until smooth and light, 1-2 minutes. Stir in flour mixture and raisins.
Drop spoonfuls of batter onto baking sheet and, with well floured hands, form into rectangular logs about 1/2 inch high. Sprinkle a few oats on top for decoration. Length and width are your perogative. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
Slice logs into 1/3-1/2 inch thick slices (1-1.5 cm) and lay flat on baking sheet.
Lower oven temperature to 300F. Bake sliced cookies for 15 minutes, flip them and bake for an additional 15 minutes. If cookies are not firm, depending on how thickly they were sliced, turn again and bake for 10 more minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Makes 4 dozen

recipe courtesy of bakingsheet

A POST FROM WORK!!!!

I WISH I WAS AT HOME CRAFTING.
I WISH I WAS AT HOME CRAFTING.
I WISH I WAS AT HOME CRAFTING.

these are the things i have to craft this weekend:

*finish a bday scarf (before saturday)
*make a purse (before saturday)
*make a buncha owls for swaps and mail goodies (before saturday)
*make so'more button rings
*go thru fabric and take pics of for flickr group

I WISH I WAS AT HOME CRAFTING.

AHOY YE MATEY!!!

these are the invitations i sent out for mikey's bday party next saturday. we also got a box full of goodies from oriental trading and noticed that i forgot to get the eyepatches. so i also ordered a box full of goodies from dead men tell no tales which is a great website full of pirate-y goodness.

my camera is still battery-less so hopefully tomorrow i can post pictures of all the goodies :)

i got the map design from coolest-kid-birthday-parties and saved it to my pictures folder. i then entered all the text with one of 1000+ fonts i have on the computer. they were printed out on a beige paper and i attempted to burn the edges but that was a big ol disaster. it burned really slow and then when i burned the flame out, it kept on burning. so i then tore the edges and took a black ink pad and blotted the ink pad on the edges. voila!

SELF PORTRAIT TUESDAY PT. 1!!!!

okay, whenever i read other "self portrait tuesday" posts, i think "self, one day you are going to remember this on an actual tuesday and not a thursday or friday". so of course after i posted about the lil vintage purse, i was checking out a few other blogs and i was reminded. again, since the old camera does not have any working batteries tonight, i scanned an older picture.




i love this picture. partly i think b/c of the story that goes with it but mostly b/c of the way that i am looking at him and even though you can't see his face, you know he is looking at me.

it was my birthday about five years ago and a buncha us went out to a bar/club in one of the local casinos. as usual, once i get to drinking, i wanna smoke. at that time, michael didn't really like that that much and of course, an argument ensued. this is partially due to the fact that since i had been drinking and it was my bday, i had a cigarette anyway.

this is us making up. i sat on his lap and had just popped in a piece of gum (note: if you look close enough at the picture, it looks like i had prolly popped in the whole pack) and we were saying our sorry's (and as usual, i prolly said it first ;) after that we had kissed and everything was back to normal again.

the rest of the evening was fabulous. we stayed in a suite in another casino hotel and it was gorgeous. one of the officers (okay lieutenant) that was with us had had chocolate covered strawberries and champagne set to our room. we also had a jacuzzi tub that we definetly enjoyed ;)

it was a good bday!!

THE LIL VINTAGE PURSE!!!

since the batteries are dead in my camera and i am unable to show you pics of the scarf that i made for a friend's upcoming bday or isabella's new cast, i thought i would show you a pic that i took about a week ago for a post that i never got around to.



i bought this purse at the thrift store when i was in highschool and going thru my "wear men's jeans, tshirts, flannel shirts, i don't care about putting on make-up or doing my hair" phase. i love the 70's orange/green combo. i love the flowers and the odd shape of the purse. the only thing i don't love is how small it is. i can't fit all my crap in it. so this purse only makes an appearance on special occasions when i don't have to carry around all that crap.

i can't believe that i have had this purse for about 10 years. glad to see that my style hasn't changed much...well except for the fact that i now wear women's jeans, cute girly tshirts, no flannel shirts, and i do care very much about my hair and make-up ;)


on a side note, i just have to tell ya'll how much i LOVE microsoft access. i love the idea that i am one of two at work that even know how to open it up. i love that i (okay and the other one of two) have designed a database for my office that is very useful. i love that i am almost done with mike's database and that i figured out a whole new part (creating a switchboard) today without anyone's help at all. i even love how stressed out i was last friday (to the point of actual tears) when i thought that i had deleted the whole darn thing (thats three weeks + of work people). i love the accomplishment that it gives me. i love how my boss asks me if i am still in love with access when he hears me swearing on the other side of the wall.

i just love access.

COCONUT CUPCAKES!!

saturday, while i was surfin' around groucy frog i saw some yummy looking coconut cupcakes and i knew i had to try them out.

i used 1 box of white cake mix, followed the amount of eggs and oil on the box and instead of water, used coconut milk. i then frosted them with vanilla frosting (next time i will use a more "white" frosting and maybe add coconut oil to it or just make my own), toasted some shredded coconut and voila!

coconut cupcakes.

they are so friggin' good. the coconut milk does wonders to the cupcake texture. it really didn't add much of a coconut taste, so i think i am going to try it with other cake mixes too!

okay, i'm off to go eat one :)

SNAIL MAIL SWAP PT. 2!!!

yet again, i received a wonderful pkg. of goodies from giao. of course two items are missing...a pack of pina colada bubble gum (yum!) and some post it notes in the shape of an "e". they are currently residing on my desk to use for special occasions (i juse post its like there's no tomorrow). i absolutely cannot wait to get that yarn on some knitting needles and i think that will turn into a scarf for a friend.

thanks again giao!!!

SOME BDAY PARTY PLANNING!!!

i stumbled upon a great website called coolest-kid-birthday-parties while doing a search for pirate party ideas.

they have great ideas, along with free printables, and pictures of members' parties for even more ideas.

i ordered a buncha goodies over at oriental trading including treasure chests that will hold on the goodies such as an eye patch, a telescope, bubblegum "gold coins", a skull sucker, and more!

now the manhunt starts for pirate related gifts :)

TIME TO PLAY A LIL CATCH UP!!!

okay, this post may be long and it may be sporadic, but i am going to try and sum up the past couple of weeks in one post.

all about elizabeth



*i received the most wonderful pkg. from debbie as part of a swap we are doing (again debbie, i apologize even though you don't think i need to ;) she included something for everyone and the kiddos loved their presents. i too am in love with the lil handbag. it was a great pkg. and a great boost for my mood. i do hope that you enjoy your pkg. just as much.

*part of what is contributing to my busy life style right now is physical therapy. i know it mentioned it before that i was having problems with my right knee. it was determined that i have fluid in it due to the muscle by my knee not being strong enough and causing the knee cap to move too much! can you say gross!!! i have been going twice a week and it is kicking my ass. i only have a couple more times to go, but i will have to do some of the exercises 3-times a week foreva...thats right folks, foreva!!! the only good thing about it is, i am seeing muscles in my legs that i didn't even know existed. hell yeah!!!

*i have been so slack on the crafting. oh it sucks. i miss it so much, but i feel like i am so friggin' busy and then by the time i get home, i don't feel like doing anything but watching back to back episodes of law and order until its time to go to bed. i am hoping to get more into things in the next few weekends.

*i currently working on planning mikey's birthday party (his bday is the 31st). he is going to have a pirate party at a local aquarium. i am so excited but this post does remind me that i have to get on the ball with the invitations. fortunately, the party isn't until labor day weekend.

*on top of the physical therapy, i am also trying to walk in my soon to be new neighborhood a few times a week. this sure does make for hectic evenings.

*i am currently awaiting for the fall time to roll around. even with the holidays, it feels like things slow down a bit.

all about mikey

*mikey started his first day of kindergarten on the 4th!!!!! he is having so much fun and loves every minute of it. its so funny to see him in his lil uniform. he looks so much older than he does in "street clothes". he catches the bus to and from school at the daycare and he has a hoot on the bus. he has wanted to ride a school bus since he knew what they were. i can't believe my baby is a kindergartener!!







*mikey's tonsils are also doing so much better and he is back to his normal lil self. thank goodness!!

all about bella

*ahhh, lil bella. she still has the same lil cast on her arm, but it is progressing nicely. the doctor will see her next monday and take this one off and put a smaller one on. i have no idea how long she will have to wear the smaller one, but anything is better. she does so well with it. she still runs around, jumps on furniture, etc. still the same lil bella. nothing gonna slow her down...lol.

*bella too is having fun attending her "school" aka daycare. whenever mikey has stories to tell about his day, she does too. even if i'm not 100% sure what she is saying ;)


all about michael

*on the 2nd of this month, we took the kiddos to the pd for natl. night out. mike had a booth set up and the kiddos got to eat, play games, and see all sorts of cool stuff. i love bringing th kids up to work. all my coworkers are so great with them and love to see them. heck, they've known the kids since i was preggers with em.










well, i guess that is a lil summary for now. i just hate getting behind on the blog. i feel like i miss out on posting about so much. i also have so much blog reading to catch up on. i feel like i have fallen outta the loop and i don't know what is going on with anyone or what crafty inspiration i have missed out on. i have missed everyone and hope that everyone is not as busy as i have been and are still enjoying the lazy days of summer :)

YES, I'M STILL ALIVE!!!

i just wanted to take a quick second to let everyone know that yes, i am still alive and kicking its just the manna's have been SUPER DUPER BUSY the past couple of weeks. tomorrow is mine and mike's anniversary so i am hoping that sunday i will be able to post all the going ons around here.

thanks everyone for the emails/comments of concerns.