5 Question Friday

Here lately when I type in the address to bring me to my blog my fingers keep hitting "40" instead of "30". I wonder if that's the universe reminding me that I'm getting old. Or if it is just bad typing skills when not using the numeric keypad.

It's been a long week. The hubs still doesn't have a job. We are hoping for an offer next week. He has interviewed with several companies. I'm trying not to worry too much about it. I'm trying to be thankful that we have some money saved that will buy us some time. We also have plans that will start being implemented towards the end of next week if he hasn't gotten a job. Like adding a roommate to help with paying the rent and utilities. It's not the ideal situation, but it's better than moving.

Tomorrow we will celebrate the life of my husband's cousin's wife, Diane that passed away earlier this week. It broke my heart to know that she would have been 32 the end of the month. Her life was so very, very short. More on that next week. I have an interesting thought process that I had the other morning. Which we will blame on a lack of sleep, and too much homework.

1. How often do you shave your legs in the winter?

I'm one of those crazy, weird people. I shave every.single.day. Rain or shine, sickness or health. My legs are removed of hair each day. My armpits are a whole 'nother story.

 

See, I have super sensitive skin, and shaving my under arms on a daily basis, I'm pretty sure that after day 3 I would die from the agony.

 

They itch, they hurt, I get razor burn or something else, that is just unnatural. So I only shave those when I can feel the hairs when I'm taking a shower, it comes out to about every 3-4 days.

 

I know that right now your thinking that is tons of hair, but amazingly so, I was blessed with sparseness in that area. I hope the older I get, the balder my arm pits get. That would be a bonus.

2. Valentine's Day cards for your spouse: funny or romantic?

Here's the deal. We often don't do cards for Valentine's Day. And the cards usually depend on how things have been going in our relationship. If we are having lots of fun and been on a goofy kick, we lean more towards the funny.

However, if we haven't been seeing each other, or if we have been really busy, we put more effort into the cards and what they say, and what we want to convey.

This year - the only Valentine he is getting is one written on the mirror. But I do have plans for an awesome dinner planned. Since we can't really afford to go out to eat to some where extravagant.

 

3. What are you most looking forward to about spring?

The warmer weather. The green brown that will continue through the spring thanks to the drought. I love the flowers, the birds chirping, the return of flip flops and capri's.

I love the pastel colors. I just love it all.

4. What's your favorite way to pamper yourself?

Not do homework. Read. Take a bubble bath. Take a nap on a random afternoon. I'm not much on pedicures or massages.

New clothes helps too. Usually because I'm cheap, hate to shop, and rarely buy new clothes.

 

5. Does your tax return go into savings or do you spend it instantly?

 

The last couple of years we have used our tax return for other purchases. Not instantly. We bought some new furniture last year, and part of the money went towards that. This year we had plans for some of our return, but not all of it.

 

We were going to take care of a few things that we have been neglecting to get done. Like a diagnostic on my car for a sensor issue. A 2nd TV in our house, so that my husband could have a man cave while I studied, but then I ended up turning his man cave into my office, where I study. So yeah. Maybe I hadn't thought that through completely.

 

With the jobless husband situation our tax return may go to help pay the bills. I hope not, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do to avoid moving in with the parents or the inlaws.

 

Have a happy weekend!

5 Question Friday

Thank goodness for weekends! It's been a very long week, so I'm thankful that for the next two days I don't have to go to work or to school.

Things are still crazy around here. Hubs still has no job (prayers would be appreciated). He is branching out next week, so hopefully something will pop up soon.

Granny is doing better. More updates on her next week

Things are going better, I just keep repeating that. But if you would still say some prayers for us, I would most certainly appreciate it. I'll give better updates next week!


1. What have you done recently that you are proud of?

Last semester I only did what I had to do in order to maintain my grades. I didn't do the things suggested, like reading chapters that we covered in lectures. This semester, I have actually put forth the effort.

The second thing is trying harder to watch what I eat. It's not optional. And I've put forth more effort the last week than I have before, and I'm really hoping to try harder the next week.

2. What is your favorite way to work out? Or if you don't workout, what are you wanting to try?

Does napping count as a workout? Actually my girlfriend does the Beach Body stuff, and she has gotten me addicted to kickboxing. At least when I do it. I usually manage to get a few workouts in then I get sick. So I'm not real consistent, but I do love it. It's such a great stress reliever, especially when you imagine that you are kicking their butt into oblivion.

3. If you knew you best friend was cheating on spouse would you tell?

Yes. It would kill me, but yes. It's going to hurt them anyway, but I wouldn't want to be the last one to find out. I would be as angry at my friends as I would be at my spouse. So if your my friend take note, if you cheat on your spouse, I will tell on you. There are a few exceptions, but they are few and far between.

4. If you could afford a live-in maid or nanny, would you have one?

A maid. Oh yes. Someone who cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, maybe even some homework every now and then. Probably not live in. You know, unless they had their own wing. But otherwise, sign me up. Send the bill somewhere else.

5. Do you stress out about birthdays (specifically the age) or do you enjoy them?

I didn't used too, but the older I get the more I try to forget how old I actually am. Some days I have to used the calculator, because I can't remember if I'm still 27 or not. Thanks to Mama for pointing out that 35 is halfway to 70. That means my life will be halfway over by the time I graduate from college. Thanks.

And, a bonus question from Scott, that I wasn't brave enough to put in as a regular question...answer at your own risk, or not at all! (Or something...)

Bonus: Lights off or on?

 

If your a parent, friend or someone else that doesn't want to answer the question this is the getting off point for you. Have a Happy Weekend.

 

If you keep reading your eyes are likely to be scarred for life.

 

Turn back now, before it's too late.

 

I'm in what we joke around our house as "summer session." My husband used to have a job that was very seasonal, during the hot, summer months he was very, very busy. One year I was dropping hints about some mattress action when he quickly informed me that this was his summer schedule to get used to the lack of mattress action.

 

Right now your wondering what point all of that serves.

 

Well, I'm busy with homework, work, school and other obligations that often times I'm ran pretty thin and here are some things that just aren't a priority, like mattress action.

 

So when I do find the time for some mattress action, it doesn't matter if the lights are on or off, or if the neighbors are home of if the dogs watch. It doesn't even matter if the neighbors are in are living room. Which is probably why they won't come to dinner anymore.

5 Question Friday

Well, I would love to be all bubbly and sarcastic today, but alas, I have a cold, allergy, sinus thing going on that is annoying/pissing me off. So instead I'm going to be rambly and probably whiny.

No big plans this weekend, except homework (and pimping out my totally awesome digital scrapbooking giveaway). If you haven't already go enter. Hurry!

Sometimes I have missed homework and other times, well, not so much. It's kinda like an ex - you have fond memories and feelings for them, and other times you would like to have the ability to grind them into a greasy little pulp and walk away.

Note to self: no more cold meds.

1. Do you swim in the winter?

I would gladly swim year round. Just give me an indoor pool. Notice I said give. I love to swim. Love it. I suck at it, but I love it. All that water, it's just so relaxing and soothing. And totally fun.

Outside - do the words not a chance in hell mean anything to you?!?!  I don't do anything outside during the winter. I would prefer tunnels to get me from my front door to my truck or wherever else it is that I'm going. If I lived somewhere were it was like 90 during the winter. You bet.

2. Do you love or hate winter?

Define hate. If we could skip it, it wouldn't hurt my feelings at all. I like snow, and I'm good with like a week of winter, but after that, please transport me to spring like temperatures. 80's in the afternoon, and well, we can have the lows slightly cooler. But otherwise, I wouldn't complain if the earth jumped on it's axis and we just skipped over it every year.

 

3. Do you put makeup/actual clothes on when you know you're going to be home all day with just family?

Nope. My husband has seen me when I have to get up and be human on very little sleep. I figure that I was scarier then than I am after a shower, so he usually doesn't get the makeup and fussiness that I usually go through when we are just hanging out at home. And depending on any surprise activities as to whether those people get the makeup and good clothes or not. Usually it's not.

4. How old were you when you had your first alcoholic beverage?

See, right about now all of you moms out there are going to groan. Loudly and tell my mom what a complete goober she was. But - her theory worked.

See my mom actually would buy alcohol for me to try. Her theory was that she would rather I try it at home than feel the need to experiment with my friends and get in way over my head. Thus taking away the need to "sneak" around. Now, out in public, no, she wouldn't buy me a drink. But I've tasted of hers for as long as I could remember. And if there was ever anything I wanted to try, she would get it.

Now, I can count on one hand the number of alcoholic beverages that I've had in the last 2 years. I don't know if her theory continues to work, but it's just not a big deal to me to have it.

 

5. How many ill calls in a 12 month period do you think are acceptable?

 

See, and I hate to even comment on this question. I have worked at my current job for almost 3 years. I've called in sick twice.

 

As long as you can do your job the way it needs to be done, and your not calling in every week, then just go with it.

 

But....there are these people who call in every couple of weeks and those drive me crazy. I have always tried to only call in when I was seriously sick, or when I completely and totally just needed a day off. It's always worked for me. But if I had to pick a number, I would say that if you work 40+ hours per week, that you should get 1ish per month. That doesn't mean that every 3rd Friday you should call in sick, but you should at least get 10-12 per year with no questions asked.

 

Have a happy Friday!

5 Question Friday

Greetings Earthlings! Hope that your Friday has just been so full of awesome that you are about to burst from the wonderfulness of it all.

I'm enjoying the 70+ degree weather we have had, as long as you don't mind the bits of dirt that come with it. Just don't open your mouth, eyes, or breathe and you'll be fine.

Not much planned for this weekend, just going to work on getting things organized and put together for school to kick into high gear next week.  I've got some shopping to do for work, which is always fun. Or not. I'm going to go invade a friends house and take her some Christmas care packages for her and her sweet kids. I'm going to attempt to get in a couple of rounds of kickboxing. That about sums it all up.

Now, without further ado...

1. Where do you hide the reeeally good snacks?

I put fat free stickers on them. Then the guys I work with won't touch them. Or I hide it in a plastic container under my desk.

I don't have to hide snacks from my husband. Well, I didn't used to. But after cleaning out our snack cabinet and discovering that he had eaten all of a particular something, I just might have to start hiding them.

I can't hide them much or I'll forget about them, and that would defeat the whole purpose.

2. Do u keep your vehicle clean or am I the only one who has things falling out of their van?

My obsession for a clean house, thankfully runs to a car too. My truck stays fairly clean. We try to take it and dust, vacuum and thoroughly clean the inside about twice a year. The back gets kinda messy with all those recyclable bags that a local grocery store gives you a discount on. But other than that, nothing falls out.

3. Have you ever been to Vegas?

Yes, twice. And I loved it. We actually gambled very little, there is just so much other stuff to see and do that gambling is worthless. The first time we went, we went to see my husband's grandparents who live there.

The second time we went, was when his grandfather passed away. We hadn't planned on anything fun that trip, simply because of the reason that we were going, but due to some misunderstanding, the issues with my inlaws coming to a head, or some other reason I'm not aware of; we were kinda ignored one day, which led to us hanging out on the strip most of the day. We shopped, we took tons of pictures, we hung out, it was amazing. I would love to go back and do it again, and have several days to really explore and wander around the strip and in and out of the casinos.

4. Warm room light blankets or cold room warm snuggly blanket?

I'm usually cold. Even in the summer. So I have a couple of awesome fleece blankets that I made that I cuddle up under and do whatever it is I'm doing. If we are talking at night, when I'm sleeping. I like it cold. I sleep more soundly and sleep better if the room is cold than if it is comfortable with only light blankets.

5. What is the worst airplane/flying experience you've ever had?

There have been several. I'm not a flyer. I thought I might could have been, but the first time I flew was fairly uneventful, until the return flight home.

We had bad turbulence the whole way from Florida to Texas. It was awful. They couldn't serve drinks or anything like that it was so bumpy. We finally landed, which was awful too and I swore I wouldn't fly again. Every time we would hit turbulence the plan would do a nose dive and then a few seconds later a vertical climb. I'm pretty sure that not a single person on that plane thought that we would live through it. Then a couple of weeks later, that pilot and jet crashed due to her error.

I have flown a few other times, and I manage to do okay, but it's not my first choice. I don't think it would ever be my first choice.



Happy Friday! Stay tuned for details about an awesome giveaway!

5 Question Friday

It's official. Less than 2 weeks until I'm back in "college" mode again. I'm not looking forward to the homework. I'm looking forward to graduating. Hopefully that will sustain me another semester.

Today, I'm hopeful that I can pick out a new, cheap, but awesome cell phone. My blackberry is the worlds biggest piece of junk. I got email today that was actually sent last year. Awesome.

So my weekend is going to entail spending hours (because I never make it out of Sprint without standing in line for at least 90 minutes) in line to get 2 new phones, that hopefully all features work on. I'm going to do some cooking, some delivering of Scentsy, and some laundry. Otherwise, nothing big planned, just trying to take it easy and relax and get a few things done around the house, as next weekend is my last weekend before homework.

Hope you are having an awesome 2012. If not, don't worry, the worlds going to end anyway. : )

1. What is the weather like where you are and do you like it?

 

The weather is sucky. Well, it's probably not that bad, but when you would prefer a balmy 72 degrees, it is awful. Our high today is 60ish. But we have a 40% chance of snow and rain for Monday. Oh goody. I just can't hardly contain my excitement. I'm overjoyed.

Gag me...preferably with a snow shovel.

2. When you're sick what do you seek comfort from?

The doctor. She has all the good drugs. Actually it depends on what ails me. Typically a little sympathy, some love from my husband and then LEAVE ME ALONE and I won't have to kill you, usually works best.

If it's stomach issues, don't touch me, don't move me, don't breath on me. Ask me if I need something every few hours, but otherwise leave me alone. Until I feel like some sympathy. But don't worry, I'll let you know.

If it's a cold, then I'm usually good with just sympathy from my husband. I'm less likely to kill for you bugging me when I have a cold..only maim. I'm kidding. Maybe.

3. What do you need to do before the end of the month?

 

Win the lottery. Win the lottery again. Win the lottery for a 3rd time. (Then wash, rinse and repeat for next month and the month after that and the month after that....repeat)

Go back to school. Mail all the birthday cards (preferably on time this month). Find my backpack.

Probably should look for my sanity too. I'm pretty sure I laid it down somewhere and the dust bunnies hid it.

4. Have you ever served on a jury?

Hell no. I beg, I plead, I even brag on facebook, hoping for a jury summons. But nope. Can't freaking get one to save my life. I so want to get jury duty so I can have them fry some deserving bastard. They should just march them out of the court room after a guilty verdict, and strap them down and BAM! out they go. Solves overcrowding of jails, and tax payer dollars. Plus, let's me watch the books that I read come to life. Then I could make up some story and become a bestselling author.

Then not only would I be cute, but I'd be famous too. And rich, after winning the lottery 3 times this month.

 

5. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

I'd be my dogs. They have it so easy. The poop in my yard, they puke on my carpet, they get my sheets dirty, they drag out their toys, and they don't do anything to clean any of it up. They get better treats and food than I do. They get up each morning to send me off to work, then they lay around the house all day napping, only to be let out again when I get home at 5 and then they come back in for love and another nap.

I just realized that I'm maid. However, they don't pay me. I pay them.

Yep, definitely want to be a dog.

5 Question Friday

Hi! I know I've been MIA for a while, I've been trying to find my groove with writing blog posts that aren't horrific. Good news is that this morning I spent the better part of an hour editing posts that I had written a while back (some of them a couple of years ago right after I started the blog), so you will have actual posts. Like 3 + weeks of posts. Scary right.

We have no big plans for New Years. My husband went to the doctor yesterday for as sore throat, (and they swabbed him, bet he won't complain about that again). Thankfully no strep, instead he has pneumonia. Yet they are letting him stay at home. So I'm going to make him sit around and be a bum so that hopefully he can get rid of this gunk.

Have a Happy New Year!!

1. What's the oldest piece of clothing in your closet?

Hmmm, I have a couple of shirts that I bought 5+ years ago. There is a box out in the garage that has some dresses and stuff that don't fit that I just refuse to get rid of from when my husband and I first got married. I'm hoping that those become a regular in my closet sooner rather than later. If the number on the scale stays the same, these clothes are going to go to goodwill next summer. I'm tired of the boxes sitting in my garage taking up space.

2. How many random blog readers have you met?

Not a single solitary one. But I only have like 20 readers, unless you count my husband, and then I live with him. I guess I could make up something here and lie, so I'm going to say I've met at least 200 readers, and they all love me. : )

3. Do you let your kids stay up till midnight on New Years Eve? (Or, if you don't have kiddos yet, did you get to stay up until midnight as a child?)

My mom let me stay up. She wasn't a stickler for bedtimes on the weekends or holiday breaks. I could stay up until 3am and sleep until noon if I wanted too. And during the summer, I did. Now, we barely make it to midnight. Although, the last few months I find ourselves still up at 3am on a Saturday night. We get busy trying to cram something into our day that we end up staying up and sleeping in. And skipping out on church. Oops.

4. What are the gas prices where you live?

Gas this morning at the Wally World was 2.91. They are still doing the 10 cents off  if you get a gift card at the store closest to our house, so if you go through all of that hassle it's actually 2.81. I'll take it. However, my parents live in a small town 45 minutes away, and gas there is between 3.10 and 3.19 for unleaded.

5. What is one resolution that you know you should do but are too afraid to try?

 

I found this blog, totally by accident (and apparently I didn't save the link) and this family is giving up their TV for a year. Sunday their cable will be canceled and there tv's will all be locked in storage for a year. They are trying to bring their family closer together as well as hopefully be more proactive in some behavior changes that they would like to implement in their children's attitude. The only TV that they will have access to is one computer that is capable of playing DVD's.

 

While I have no desire to give up tv completely, I wouldn't mind giving it up a couple of days a week. Because having less time to watch tv, I would cut out quite a bit that I don't really care if I watch or not. I would be able to watch only the stuff I love, like CSI, The Pioneer Woman, and Criminal Minds. My husband is a complete TV-aholic and I can't imagine him giving up his TV time, say 2 nights a week. He drove me crazy that it took us 2 weeks to get our tv set up and working when we moved. He whined (sorry babe, but you did), and whined and whined about finding the stand so that we could get it set up. It's a miracle that he lived through it. It's a miracle that I lived through it. Tv, I could live without, but radio, Ipod, laptop. I'm not sure if I could survive without those or not.

 

 

5 Question Friday

Hi! ::waves hands:: Did you miss me?


I'm done with school for a little over a month, now it's just waiting for the grades. Which I'm starting to think is worse than actually going to class.

I've got a ton of blog posts written. Ones that I had planned on editing a little and then posting, but I just never got around to it. But not to worry, I'm hoping I can manage an entire semester next go round of posts for you. You might be reading about Christmas adventures in May, but hey, it's better than a blank screen.

Big plans this weekend. My husband and I will celebrate our 12th anniversary on Sunday! Eek! It's hard to believe that its been that long ago. I'm also doing some cooking. Well, lots of cooking. Cinnamon rolls, fudge, cookies, oh my! And delivering a whole lotta Scentsy. I had a couple of parties the first of the month that I finally got the orders in, and I have a lot of people to drop off their loot this weekend! I love getting orders in, it's like Christmas!  I bought my new Christmas warmer and it's absolutely beautiful. It's white with snowflakes and when you turn it on the light shows up the snow flakes brilliantly! I want to leave it out all year, but John kinda protested last night. I'm hoping to grab some pictures this weekend! It's beautiful!

1. What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?

There have been a lot of great things that I have gotten over the years. But there really isn't one specific thing that stands out. John always gets me something that I will love, and my grandmother does an awesome job with getting me the best and neatest kitchen accessories that a girl could ask for. My parents always have something that's totally unique and off the wall too.

This year, I'm getting a Nook, or a Kindle. I'm not sure which yet. Because of school and the universities affiliation with Barnes and Noble, I'll probably go with a Nook. (Think cheap text books.) John's going to add a new firearm to his collection. Yippee. Actually, I'm finally thrilled that he has something he is excited about. It's nice that he has a hobby that he can share with my grandfather, and that keeps him from driving me crazy. Now, if only I could get him to love to read.

2. Worst/Funniest White Elephant gift ever received?

When I was in high school, my youth group at church did an exchange of white elephant gifts. I ended up with a tumbleweed that had been spray painted gold. It had ornaments on it and everything. It was funny and awful at the same time. I'm just thankful that I didn't end up with the gold cow pie.

3. Is your Christmas tree plain and simple (white lights and matching ornaments) or is it wild and crazy (colored lights with lots of ornaments collected over the years)?

We have a wild and crazy tree with 12 years worth of ornaments on it. When we got married we started our collection of ornaments. We have discussed doing something a little less crazy next year, but our tree is pre-lighted with multi colored lights. So I'm guessing until our tree dies, that we are going with wild and crazy!

4. "How" do you iron your clothes? The old fashioned iron/ironing board way, the shower, back in the dryer, etc.

Is this a trick question?

I have an iron. I have an ironing board. I do not use it to iron clothes. Period. If I buy something that has to be ironed, it hangs in my closet until I am tired of it collecting dust and then off to Goodwill it goes. I don't iron. Period.


I'm probably about to be stoned for saying this, but - I think it's a waste of time. You can buy clothes today that are made to withstand wrinkles. You can buy washing machines and dryers that steam your clothes so that you don't have to iron. And if you don't have the fancy equipment, a damp towel and 10 minutes in a hot dryer works the same way.


I only have an iron to press my cross stitch pieces before I frame them. But technically it only works as my dryer, since I wash everything before I frame it.

5. How much baking do you do for Christmas and what are your "must make" items? (I'm looking for recipes here, peeps...)

I try to bake quite a bit. But this year, with school and work, the baking hasn't even began. So I'm cutting way, way back.

I'm making cinnamon rolls this weekend. I promised my husband, and my friend Andrea that they could have cinnamon rolls. It's my first attempt using yeast. I hope I don't destroy my kitchen.

I usually make fudge. Last year I made 4 different kinds all total and divided them up between us and both of our offices. We had fudge running out of our ears. This year. Well I'm making 3-4 kinds. I'm dividing it up between 8 families. So I'm making a bunch of it. Hopefully no overload. Not sure the flavors yet. I have a lemon fudge, and a cookies and cream that both sound full of awesome, and then theirs the old standbys. 

My standbys are Chocolate Marshmallow Fudge. If you are on a diet (or trying to pretend to be on a diet) this is the fudge for you. It's not perfect, but it is more diet friendly than most and it's a breeze to make.

1 2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup fat free evaporated milk
2 tbsp reduced calorie margarine
12 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
14 large marshmallows

Spray an 8x8 pan with cooking spray. Dump everything but the chocolate and marshmallows in a pan. Cook over low until everything is dissolved. Once you have lost the "grainy" look, dump in the chocolate (I use a bag of chocolate chips, no chopping). Stir until melted. Add marshmallows. I cut up my marshmallows (or try to use minis) because the large ones take so long to melt. I estimate about 4 mini's per large mallow. Once everything is all melted, dump in pan and refrigerate about 2 hours until firm, then pull it out and cut it up.


My other favorite is Marbled Orange Fudge (which is actually not too bad for you either). Think creamsicle fudge. Yep. It's full of awesome. The only thing I do different from the exact recipe is we reduce the orange extract down to 1.5 tsps. Which, right now I know your thinking - why? Well, if you like strong orange flavor leave the 3. If you want more creamsicle ice cream bar flavor, knock it down to 1.5. I also always add more food coloring until it's the shade of orange I want. So feel free to play around. It makes a lot, and it's very, very rich. So make sure you plan on sharing! The first time I made this, we split the pan in half with another family, and we both ended up throwing half away. You can't eat more than one piece at a time!

2 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1 pkg (10 to 12 oz) white baking chips
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
3 tsp orange extract
12 drops yellow food coloring
9 drops red food coloring
1. Line a 13x9 inch pan with foil and coat with cooking spray; set aside. In a small heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, evaporated milk and butter. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in chips and marshmallow creme until smooth.

2. Remove 1 cup and set aside. Add extract and food coloring to the remaining mixture; stir until blended. Pour into prepared pan. Pour reserved marshmallow mixture over the top; cut through mixture with a knife to swirl. Cover and refrigerate until set.

3. Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Discard foil; cut fudge into 1 inch squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Makes 2 1/2 pounds, 1 - 1 inch cube

5 Question Friday

It's been a week of crazy around here. But then again school is going on, so that's nothing new. Between work, school, and life in general things are super busy. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving, because them I'm on the back side of this semester. And I'm most certainly ready for this to be over with. I hate my classes, and I just can't seem to find the umf to study like I should be.

No big plans this weekend, except homework. I know, try not to jump for joy.

Don't forget to leave your porch light on today to honor our veterans and the sacrifices that they have made.

1. What's the last thing you spent too much money on?

Groceries. I haven't really bought anything lately that hasn't been essential, so I'm guessing that would be what I have spent too much money on. But seriously - it's too much money considering I walked out with 4 bags and it was $162. Apparently I bought caviar and prime rib, instead of chicken.

2. What celeb chef would you want to make you dinner?

Pioneer Woman. She doesn't do weird. She doesn't do fancy gourmet stuff (except every now and then) but I could have her refrain. Rachel Ray would be fun, she seems like she would be a lot of fun to cook with. But then again, to someone who measures out everything, the dumping stuff in the palm of my hand would bug me. Then I would probably offend her when I gave her measuring cups as a thank you gift.

3. Where do you hide things when visitors pop over or do you let them see the real deal?

Well, that depends. If they tell me they are coming and warn me a week in advance, then I don't hide anything. Because I clean it all up.

But for the most part I don't have to hide anything. John and I are both fairly neat and tidy, so except for school books that are just piled around and mail that neither of us seems to be able to go through and dispose of when it comes in, there aren't too many messes to worry about hiding.

4. Who is your oldest living family member?

Um..I don't know. I don't know if it's my grandmothers sisters, or who it is. How's that for knowing your family.

5. What is your favorite DQ treat and/or Sonic drink combo (ie: cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper)?

DQ...now I'm thinking about ice cream and it's 8:37am. Oops. I'm a blizzard fan and a vanilla ice cream cone fan. If I go to DQ it's one of those two. The blizzard flavor varies, but not by much. Oreo, cheesecake or cookie dough. No chocolate syrup please! Just ice cream and oreos, or cheesecake or cookie dough. Don't screw it up by adding chocolate syrup. If I wanted chocolate ice cream I would have asked for it.

Sonic -probably a cherry limeade. Now I'm thinking about those too. At least it's ok to think about something to drink at 8:40am. But alas, I'm stuck with water.

Have a great weekend! If your bored, I know where you can find some *free* awesome activities to occupy your time. Calculus, Spanish, History of Rock and Roll, I've got it all.

5 Question Friday

I know, I know two posts in one week. Don't fall over from shock.

I'm still fighting that cold from 3 weeks ago. I go from being completely exhausted to a zombie. It's a pick and choose kind of thing. I figure I should go back to the doctor, but I just don't have time. I'm trying to save a Spanish grade and a calculus grade. I'm so very, very thankful that after next semester my math classes will be non-existent.

This weekend doesn't bring big plans. Just hanging out and doing homework. Well and a much needed trip to the grocery store unless a sandwich with moldy bread, crunchy, crusty cheese and condiments is your food of choice. Or an apple. I do have apples. I'm not sure where they came from, but there are apples and milk. Mostly because there is a CVS across the street from my house and that's convenient for milk.

1. What movie do you love to quote?

I'm not much of a movie quoter. I'm a movie watcher. My husband however quotes Elf often. Maybe he should feel this one out.

2. Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?

Yep. Well, it was a dirt bike, but close enough. Yes, my mom knew about it. Yes, I wore a helmet. And the overly cautious person in me wouldn't go more than 20 miles per hour. So the only thing I was in danger of was skinning my knees.

3. What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

Read. There is nothing better than curling up in a comfy chair and reading. I don't get to do it often enough and I miss it. I would rather read books for fun than for school any day of the week.

My second favorite thing to do is cook. I don't know why. So if I'm home all day and it's rainy there is usually something extra yummy for dinner.

4. Do you prefer a bunch of small gifts, or one really big, (expensive) gift?

To be honest, I've gotten to the point that I prefer nothing. We have done wish lists with my family in the past and I love doing that. I list things I want, regardless of price, and I'm always thrilled, because the gift was something that I already wanted. As long as it's something that I want, or something that the giver knows that I will use, price doesn't matter to me.

5. Do you ever lose track of days and show up somewhere wrong?

Not yet, but there is a first time for everything. If I don't start getting some sleep, I might start doing this more often than I will admit too. Think my boss will mind if I take a nap? Think I could tell him I thought it was Saturday when I get caught?

Probably not, but a girl can dream.

Have a Happy Friday!

5 Question Friday

I'm so glad that this week is in the books. It's been a tough week to stay focused and on top of things while I have still felt icky. So glad that things to appear to be on the mend.

No big plans this weekend, I have a Spanish exam on Monday and a calculus exam next Thursday, so my weekend will be filled with...wait for it...STUDYING!!! Yeah, still not thrilled about it.

I'm not planning on much, simply so I can try and finish kicking this yucky gunk I've been fighting to the curb. Good news is all that sickness and no appetite/everything tastes yucky, I've managed to lose 5 pounds in the last week for a grand total of 11 pounds in 2 weeks. So part of me kinda wants it to hang around. Just for the weight loss.

Sad, but true. What we chunky people will do to lose a few pounds.

Have a good weekend!

1. Where do you escape to when you've had enough?

I cry. When I hit rock bottom, I cry. It's what I do. Then I clean. Because cleaning and scrubbing gives me time to think whatever is stressing me out over and it gives me a chance to figure out a new way to approach things. Plus I get a clean house as a bonus. But we are talking serious cleaning, like scrubbing the grout lines with a toothbrush and organizing every nook, cranny, and crevice. So my husband knows when something is bugging me, and thankfully he either pitches in or hides. But he never questions. He's probably afraid that I'll pin him down and scrub him too.

2. What shows are you watching this fall?

Well, see, when I decided to become a "real" full time college student, I sorta had to cut TV down to the bare minimum. So I have tons of stuff on the DVR, most of which will probably be deleted before I ever get around to watching it. I kept CSI, Criminal Minds, The Pioneer Woman, and The Little Couple. There are other things that are DVRed, but those are the only ones that I attempt to watch on a semi regular basis. Everything else can wait until Christmas break, or I'll delete it.

3. What was the longest roadtrip you've ever taken and where did you go?

Minnesota. Oh my. In a bus with no a/c in the middle of July with 25 other teenagers. It took us 2 days. It was miserable. Because of the hot, but the trip itself was awesome. We worked as youth counselors at a camp in Minnesota for a week with our church youth group. That week opened all of our eyes to the suffering that goes on for other kids and people in the world. We all went home changed.

4. Do you plan on taking your kids to Disney World?

Nope, I'm not paying for a ticket for a dog. I love my puppies, but no. Now, my husband and I would both love to go. And I'm willing to pay for his ticket.

That might be an awesome way to celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary. Disney Style. It would be cool. It would be groovy.

I think I just might have to look into that.

5. What is something people would surprised to know about you?

 

*That I'm not much of a junk food person.

*That I don't like speaking to or in front of large groups of people I don't know.

*That it takes me a while to warm up to you, but once I do, I don't shut up.

*I like things to be done my way, and if you don't do it my way, I will often redo it when you aren't looking so that it's done "right".

*I don't like to shop. I like new clothes, but I hate the process of acquiring them. I have to be in the right frame of mind to shop.

*I don't like to get up and eat breakfast like everyone says you should. I like to get up and eat breakfast about 90 minutes after I get up. But I won't get up early enough so that I can do this while still at home.

*I like frilly clothes, lace, ribbon, bows. Yet, I'm not so frilly that I don't mind playing with cars in the dirt.

*It takes me 30 minutes to take a shower, get dressed, fix my hair, put on makeup and be ready to walk out the door. It takes me longer to take a shower than any of the rest of that process.

 

So you got more than one. Consider it a bonus look into my head. Probably one that you are wishing you could undo right about now.

 

Have a great weekend!

5 Question Friday

I'm still sick and instead of getting better, I think I now have an ear infection. So my Friday evening will be spent sitting in the walk in clinic getting the good drugs. Hopefully they are ninja drugs, because whatever this stuff is deserves to have it's butt kicked.


No big plans this weekend, mostly because I have a ton of homework due Saturday and Sunday. So I will spend most of my weekend doing homework. Fun. Or not. Hopefully I'll also be feeling better.


Today, however, I'm going to a reception this afternoon honoring me. For making the Dean's List. My first semester of college in 12 years and I pulled that off. Yeah, don't worry, I'm not sure how I did it either.

1. Do you prefer your ice cream in a bowl or in a cone?

That depends. Every now and then a yummy waffle cone is fabulous. But the regular old sugar cones. No thanks. I try to be home when I'm to that point and give my dogs the cardboard flavored sugar.

Otherwise I'm a bowl girl.

2. What three things do you love the smell of?

Rain, Scentsy, my husband's cologne.

I have loved the way that rain smells since I was a kid. My favorite rain smell memory: I was about 7 or 8 and I was outside riding my bike and my grandfather was watering the orchard. It was getting dark and starting to thunder, so I headed back to the house. My grandfather and I sat outside for the longest time just smelling the rain. I was always asking questions about why this and why that and I remember asking him why rain smelled. I can't remember his answer, but I remember sitting there with the wind blowing and that smell.

Any of my favorite Scentsy Scents are awesome. (Power girl - you still haven't picked out your free warmer!)

And my husband just smells yummy. It makes me want to chase him down and rip his clothes off and ....sniff. (Mind out of gutter.)

3. Giftcards or no? (In regards to gift giving...)

Absolutely. It's the perfect gift. Especially if you get one to a place they like. They pick out the gift, and their happy and your happy that they are really happy and not fake happy.

Plus they are helpful when your a busy college student and don't have time to shop like they used too before school.

4. What sports did you play in high school if any and do you still play them?

I was a band nerd.

 

I'm not competitive enough to have the drive to play sports. I don't like coaches being bossy to me either. Yeah, I was that kid that was out in the field chasing butterflies. In Jr. High.

5. Were you in band in high school? What instrument did you play?

I was a band nerd. Hello, my name is Abby and I'm a band geek. I'm that person, "And this one time at band camp..." Yep that's me. Hi! (Waves)



And no, I don't still play. I sold my clarinet many, many moons ago. I don't miss it.

UPDATE: Good news. Went to the doctor. Got drugs. Back to normal by Monday. Yeah!

5 Question Friday

Thank goodness! It's been a long week of exams, homework, tutoring and procrastination. Whew. I'm exhausted.

We don't have much going on this weekend. Tomorrow is Tech football, so the hubs has to work the majority of the day. I think I'll shop stay home and study. I have got to find some time to get some of my Scentsy stuff taken care of so I can have my open house in 3 weeks (gasp). That's probably more realistic vision of my day tomorrow.

The fair is going on here, and I'm thinking we might put in an appearance tomorrow night, while the rest of the city is glued to their television watching the football game. I got one word for you people - DVR.

Have a wonderful weekend.

1. Dream job...realistic and completely unrealistic.

Accounting. That's my realistic one. I love the stuff, which is a good thing since that's what I'm going to school for. I am so ready to start taking accounting classes, because they are just so much fun. No, there wasn't sarcasm included in that last statement.

No I'm not crazy, why do you ask?

Unrealistic. Retired and rich. So that I could travel and go on vacations and see all these things and go shopping instead of paying the bills. Because I would have people who paid the bills. And I would have more money than the national debt and it would double every week. Wait, the national debt kinda does that now, so maybe the government could just throw that money at me. Who do I talk to about that?

2. Do you fart in front of your significant other?

Yep. He's a guy. He does guy things. When we are at home, or in the car together, fine. But when others are present. Nope. It's rude.

And never, under any circumstances fart at my grandparents house. They are just too snooty to do something like that. Ever.

3. What's the furthest you've ever traveled from home? How far and where was it?

I've been to Minnesota and Pennsylvania and Florida and California. I don't know which was the farthest, but they were all far away from home. But then again, school is far away from home and it's only across town.

4. How do you celebrate birthday for your kids? Family only or friends? ... Alternate for those without kiddos: How did you celebrate birthdays as a kid?

We do birthday dinners. On my side of the family the only "kid" that is nearby is my 10 year old cousin. They live 2 hours away, so we don't always get to celebrate a birthday with him. But we try to have dinner for the birthday's. Which I love.

We used to get together with John's parents and sister and her fiance for birthday dinners, but since we became evil, we haven't done that since February. We weren't invited to the June birthday, we didn't invite them to the September birthday (mine, considering I didn't get a phone call, but a message via my husband I'm kinda glad I didn't) and I'm guessing we won't be invited anymore. Which is fine. 90 minutes of walking on eggshells isn't my idea of a birthday celebration anyway.

5. Fave thing about fall?

 

 

Cooler weather. Halloween, it's my favorite spooks birthday. The fair, my birthday, and football.

 

 

I don't care if I see the football or not. But there are good memories spent at football games with my grandfather. And those memories get me through October when we celebrate his birthday, his wife's birthday and their anniversary, as well as the day we lost him. I don't know that I will ever be able to watch a football game in that stadium ever again.

 

 

Oh, and I can't forget the awesome temperatures, because it's great when it's 54 in the morning and 98 in the afternoons. In September. Because it's not like that doesn't confuse a body.

 

Happy Weekend. You have until Midnight to enter my giveaway. Other wise, my good friend "anonymous" gets the warmer.