Happy New Year

WISHING YOU AND YOURS A HAPPY 2011

With Love,

TakiJ

Kakuro Contest

For ages I have loved doing Kakuro puzzles. I like numbers. It is funny to me how all of a sudden Sudoku became all the rage yet it has been around for ages in puzzle books. In those same books they would have Cross Sums also know as Kakuro. Anyway, if you have never tried Kakuro give it a shot. It helps keep the mind quick with numbers. I highly recommend it for kids because it not only helps with getting faster with addition but it involves logic as well.

My daughter and I have spent the better part of the morning having a Kakuro contest. Needless to say I am whipping her however she doesn't seem to mind.

These days I play on Facebook but I used to have a big book full of them. Recently, I haven't been able to find any of the puzzle books in the stores so playing online will suffice.

Killer Abs

Oy!! My abs hurt. My daughter has me doing this with her. Eight minutes of pain. No pain, no gain. This is supposed to be part of my slow road back to working out.

No Words Just Hope

Sorry.  I just don't really have much to say as of late.  The holidays really aren't my thing.  I am desperately looking for a job.  This cold weather and dark at 5 PM thing is driving me crazy.  Lots of let downs and stress.  I am trying to turn things around for 2011 but the light at the end of the tunnel...let's just say someone has told me it is there but I am really starting to wonder if it is.  Hopefully I can catch a small glimpse of it soon just to see for myself but if anything I know that I have to believe it is there.  Once I lose any hope then it will be that much harder.  I know that struggles make success that much more appreciated so I am looking at this time as a period of learning so I can appreciate the success I will have.

Library Junkie

I absoulutely love the library.  Browsing through books of so many different subjects is so relaxing.  Right now I am in a knitting phase so I hit that section up first.  Sometimes it may be cookbooks, sometimes it may be the health and fitness sections.  So many options.

Last time I went this is what I got.

I learned how to knit about two months ago and it has been such fun making new things.  Looking through all of the books finding thing you want to try is great.  Books will absolutely lead you into a whole new world of things you never knew existed.  Next time you go to the library go to one of the sections you don't normally go to and thumb through a few books.  You never know what might happen.

Sally Hansen Laser

It has been a while since I have posted a mani pic.  I have been painting my nails but by the time I have a chance to photo it is chipped and I am ready to move on to the next color.

This is from my untrieds just because I have used I have only every used it to layer over something else but never on its own.  Two layers is enough but three adds a lot more for this mani.  If you have time go for 3 coats.  Give yourself plenty of time because it dries slow.  It may look dry but don't believe it!

Hey Hey Hey What's Happening!!

I am not sure if any of you remember that show from back in the day called What's Happening. Dwayne would always say HEY, HEY, HEY.  Find a few clips on YouTube and you will be guaranteed a laugh.  Netflix has it too!

Anyway just coming back to say HEY, HEY, HEY!!  You know how I do.  First few weeks of the month blogging is regular then I drop off.  So here it is December 1st and I am back.  

Not to much is new but I did get back into the swing of thing with donating some blood yesterday.  They told me I couldn't because my iron was to low and then they retested and I was where I needed to be.  Those little fingertip pricks hurt more than the needle going into your arm.

As a thank you they gave me a cookbook full of recipes from famous people, local news people, Red Cross staff, and donation recipients.  There are a few recipes in there that I would like to try.  Banana Pound Cake, Cucumber Soup and some other ones look pretty good.

With the holidays around us and many places asking for monetary donations remember that donating blood is just as valuable.  Donate if you can, you will be glad you did.

Well that's about it for now.  Hopefully I'll have something to talk about this month.

Devoured- Cheesburger Meatloaf

Another meal my daughters liked.  Liked as in there was nothing left.  I love when that happens.  Since declaring my cooking struggles I signed up at allrecipes.com to get a daily email.  I would peruse the site to get ideas but the daily email helps a lot because there are lots of things I am sure I would miss.  That is how I found the recipe for this Cheeseburger Meatloaf.

(Source: allrecipes.com)

I didn't take a picture because I didn't even think to but it didn't look like the picture on the website.  Somewhere along the way I didn't seal the cheese in and it started leaking out a little hole in the side. Oh, well.  All was not lost, just some cheese which I had extra of.  I broke my Fat Smash Diet and tasted it.  Very tasty.  It is nice when you surprise yourself.

Here is the link in case you want to try it.  

Eggnog Fudge- Who Knew?

Whoa!!! What!!  While I was reading a blog today I came across a link to this recipe for Eggnog Fudge.  I just have to share and encourage people to make this.  The goodness of eggnog and fudge rolled up into one.  Mouth watering.  Sorry no pictures, plenty on the orginal site.

I am definitly going to try making this in the very near future.

Wet N Wild Through The Grapevine

The unused polishes are finally surfacing.  I am trying to paint my nails only with colors I have never used before.  Since I don't have them separated it always takes me a while to figure out what is unsed and then from those which one I want to use.  There should only be about 10-15 unused polishes if that so hopefully it won't take forever to work through them.

Wet N Wild Through the Grapevine is pretty, pretty, pretty.  I am kind of upset it took me so long to use it.  The camera and color are not friends, as much as I tried, they refused.  I have taken at least 60 pictures and none of them look quite right as far as the color.  I think this is the best representation of the color though.  It is a tad darker.  

Pictured is 3 coats but two coats is fine.  If you are like me and have throw on one more for good measure then go for it. I don't have a top coat on in this pic.  I should really put one on so it will last longer.  Do you ALWAYS wear a top coat?

Claire's Under the Sea

Claire's Under the Sea has been in my stash for quite some time.  In the bottle it appears more green-blue but on the nail my eye picks up more blue than green (it all depends on the light I guess).  This polish goes on easy and is opaque enough for one coat.  There is a big IF though.  That being, it takes forever to dry which pretty much makes the fact that it is a one coater pointless.  Here are 2 coats with no clean up because I am sure they are probably still wet here.

Ooooh Puurrrrty

Looking at makeup and beauty products in magazines, I love it.  Everything about how they lay it out to entice you to want it.  It doesn't take much, as soon as I thumbed through the Sephora catalog I saw this and my eyes popped out!!

I wish they weren't minis though!!

100 Pushups Revisited

So many excuses for why I haven't be working out lately (last 4 months) but I won't even bother because they are just that, excuses.  Instead I am going to try and get my butt in motion by doing the 100 Push Up Challenge again.  Yes, again.  I have done it several times even though I have never made it all the way through the program.  Maybe this will be the time.

This morning I did my initial test and I was able to do 12 pushups.  Looking back that is the same amount I did on my initial test last year.  Don't laugh.  Hopefully muscle memory will kick in and it won't be too hard to double or triple that number.  I have got to start somewhere.

For more information take a look at the program website.  They also have a squats, situps, and pullups program. Would it be to much to do all three?  I think not.  I'll have a go at the squats tomorrow.

Anyone want to join me? 

Sinful Colors Innocent Konad-ing With M60

I am trying to get my nail polishing back on track.  The last time I did a Konad was...ummm...oh my...back in August.  That doesn't seem right but the pictures and dates don't lie.  But that is the past let's talk about the present.

I love argyle and I have done this print before with different colors but argyle is what I was in the mood for so here you have it:

Sinful Colors Innocent- base
Zoya Veruschka- argyle print
Konad Plate - M60

You can see where the stamping didn't quite make it in some areas but overall I am pleased.  Who really ever gets all that close to my nails anyway.

It Is More Fun To Give

Yesterday schools were closed and my Mom came over to do a community service project with my kids.  The objective is to fill a shoebox with goodies for an underpriviliged child.  My youngest daughter and mom went to the dollar store to pick up some fun things.  I knew that we had some things around the house as well so I decided to get involved in that action.  The amount of joy I got finding brand new, nice things that someone else would appreciate was amazing.  You really get into it.

They made three boxes and I was so excited to contribute to some of them.  We had some clothes with tags still on them that were for an older child.  A few little girls purses with tags still on.  A  new shirt and skirt, a MAC cosmetic case, some Incoco nail polish adhesives (liquids weren't allowed), a ring, 2 pairs of earrings, candy, and some other personal items.  Woo hoo.  These are things that I would have kept but goodness if haven't used them by now I think they deserve a better home.

It is so fun to give and the girls really enjoyed it too. 

Sinful Colors Innocent

Sinful Colors Innocent is one of those colors I had to try.  It just looked so odd to me and not like something you would wear on your nails.  I am still trying to figure out whether I like it or not.  All day I find myself glancing at my nails trying to decide if I like it and how to Konad it.  I like polishes that throw me for a loop.

Lately I have been particulary hard on my nails and hands all together. As if you can't tell from the nubbins and dry hands. Lots of cleaning and a bit of stress is no good for my hands and nails. I know I should wear rubber gloves but always forget. Bear with me as I try to get them back on track.

Charla Never Disappoints

Zoya Charla made an appearance for my daughter's Homecoming dance. She was mucho excited and wanted some sparkle with a pop of color to go with her outfit. All of the girls looked so pretty. I say girls but I should probably be saying young women.

She spent the night at her friends house but when I picked her up her first words were, "I had so much fun!"

All I could ask for.

Smack Me, Please!!!

Have you ever been in a "mood" and aren't really sure why?  Right now I am feeling kind of glum but I can't even pinpoint when it started or what triggered it.  It may have something to do with the cloudy, gray day outside  because when I woke up this morning I was fine.  Then I went to run errands I started to get more and more down as the day dragged on.  

Somebody PLEASE come smack me out of this.  I can't stand when I get like this.  Ugh!!

I posted this on my other blog as well but want to just put it here too.

This Really Bugs Me

I have no idea what the scientific name of these things are but there has been an insane influx of them this summer.  The kids call them “stinkbugs” but thank goodness I haven’t had to be the beneficiary of the odor they emit.  Apparently when they feel threatened or are smashed they release something that is quite offensive.  This was demonstrated by one of the soccer dads shaking one up in hands and telling us to “smell my fingers”.  Umm, no and  thanks.  After a few jokes he even showed a trail of “stink” that the critter left.  YUCK.

They are everywhere.  Hanging out by my front door.  Diving toward me when I am entering and exiting my car.  Don’t be caught standing still.  It is almost like they are out to get me.  I hate bugs.  I have said it before and yes, here, I have posted about my weapons of choice when trying annihilate these suckers from afar.  I did find out that the ant spray works pretty well.  It isn’t an immediate death.  It is slow and torturous which I feel they deserve for all of the fear they inflict upon me.

Oh and then there is this thing on my back screen door.

Can I scream now?

Think Pink

As everyone knows October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Now is the time when a lot of companies put out special products and the proceeds are donated to one of the many, many foundations, hospitals, local groups that are involved in fighting breast cancer and its effects.  I somewhat opted to not buy anything this year and send donations directly to the association of my choice and support friends who are doing walks, runs, etc.

This mani is a few days old now so I am only showing 3 out of the 4 fingers I usually show and hiding some of the tip wear.  I chipped my index finger while knitting.  Yes, I learned how to knit!!!

I used 3 coats of Claire's Mood Polish in Fabulous/Funky with a coat of NYC Love Letters on top.  For 97 cents this Love Letters is well worth it.  The shimmer it adds is beautiful.

I did try to capture both colors of the mood polish but the flourescent color it produces with warmth would not translate for my camera.  I am thinking Love Letters with all my manis for the rest of the month!!  Maybe :-)

Mrs. Fix It

I am the handyman in my household.  If it is broken and can be taken apart then that would be my job to get it fixed.  Unless it is something really expensive I don't want to be blamed for breaking even more I will typically try to fix it myself.

Well what do we have here? Any thoughts on what this is before I tell you?

Give up? It is a garment steamer, flipped upside down awaiting surgery. I had used it for about 2 minutes and then lots of cloudy dripping water then nothing at all. Mineral buildup was the culprit per the troubleshooting guide and the resolution was to run a water-vinegar solution through it.  That's no fun so I  opted for the learn-something-new-everyday approach.  

There was a ton of sand-like buildup  that was clogging the tubing and the heating well impeding proper water flow through the unit.  Water and vinegar was not  going to fix that amount of deposit.  With lots of meticulous unscrewing of this and that I was able to flush the buildup from the tubing.  Trust me, it was far easier said than done.  In the end there was water everywhere but mission accomplished.  Needless to say this wasn't the best project for my hands and nails.  Lots of chips, scratches, and a few almost burns.

At times I really think I should have been some type of repair person.  I really enjoy taking things apart.  It is even better when I can actually fix it and get it put back together.

Finger Paints Art Appreciation Apricot

Pleasantly surprised are the words I'll use to describe Finger Paints Art Appreciation Apricot.  I got this quite sometime ago on the clearance table at Sally's.  It has sat untouched and untried because it seemed like such an odd color.  Today I finally went at it and was shocked that I really like this color.  It is dark rusty, orangy color with a tinge of gold shimmer.  This is the second Finger Paints polish I have used but I'll consider it the first because the other was just a layering polish.  The formula was thin but it gave a great coverage.  Two coats is sufficient but if you have read any of my other posts I get antsy and do a third to cover up any damage I have done in the first 10 minutes.  

The weather here was pretty cloudy so I'll see if the sun will come out tommorow so I can get a better picture.  This picture does not pick up the shimmer.  Another thing I liked about this polish was how shiny it dries.  This is 3 coats no top coat.

Fall- Hayrides, Bonfires, S'mores!!

It seems like there was an immediate jump from hot summer to cool fall days where I am.  One of the things we look forward to every year is going to a get together hosted by our real estate agent at a local farm.  I haven't been in 6 years because of scheduling conflicts with soccer but this year the whole family was able to go. Yea!! That doesn't happen to often.

We went on hayride around the farm and then had a bonfire with S'mores.  Yummy!

Here a few shots I took:

View of the lake

Animals doing what they do!

Hayride-- our wagon was very creaky. It sounded like we were going to be disconnected from the first wagon.

S'Mores-- don't mind my daughters nails. I fussed with her about taking that polish off. BTW it is Zoya Suvi.

 


Messy, messy, s'mores!!

We had a good time. Can you believe I have never made S'mores before. It was so much fun. Figuring out how much I like my marshmallows toasted. Some people had their marshmallows burnt to a crisp on the outside. I like mine to be browned but not black. It was quite messy but who cares.  That is part of the fun.  

Thanks for letting me share our little outing with you. We all had a great time together.

Let's Meet Meets BM21

Happy Friday!!!

I decided  to try and tone down the brightness of the yellow by using China Glaze Side Saddle with Bundlemonster plate BM21.  It didn't really work though.  Maybe a different image that would have transfered more brown onto the nail would have toned it down more.  I do like the combo but goodness I need to keep practicing with the alignment.  You can see how the image is crooked.  

I used the upper left image.  When I chose Side Saddle I knew it was brown but when I put it on the plate it looked purple.  I had to double check and roll the bottle a few times.  Then the brown goodness came out.

Bye Bye Dairy Queen!

If I order an Oreo Blizzard at Dairy Queen the is it wrong of me to expect...hmmm...let's see, some Oreos in it.  What is going on DQ.  I remember the days of ordering an Oreo Blizzard and barely being able to see the vanilla ice cream because there were so many pieces of Oreo in it.  I know times are tough for everyone but if I am going to for over my $$ for an Oreo Blizzard then serve up the Oreos.  

What I got today was so bad I just had to say something.  He handed me what looked more like a cup of blended vanilla ice cream with one Oreo blended through out.  I asked him what was going and told him it seemed like they aren't putting any Oreos in.  He said that when the Oreo bits are really small you can't see them.  Well if it tastes like vanilla ice cream and you are calling it an Oreo Blizzard then there is a problem.  I just remember how they used to be.  He did offer some extra Oreos for me to put in myself but goodness for $4.20 don't you think it should have been an actual Oreo Blizzard to begin with.

I think Dairy Queen has lost a customer.  More often than not I come away disappointed.  My money is better spent elsewhere

I Am Back With Sinful Colors Let's Meet

First and foremost let me thank you all for the well wishes.  Death expected or unexpected is something that as I get older seems to be harder and harder to deal with.  I feel so deeply for the wife and son that were left behind and my heart just aches for them.  Monday was the funeral which my husband and I attended and then yesterday I felt like I could not function.  This is not someone who I was super close to, we went to college together.  I have seen him off and on through the years.  The fact of the matter was he was such a friendly and nice guy.  Always positive, always respectful, always funloving.  When someone like that dies there is always the question of why.  One of which I have racked my brains with for that past week and know I won't come up with an answer but still try.  Sorry for being long winded but I think I just needed to get it out.

Moving on to brighter and happier things I decided to do a bright color on my nails.  This is Sinful Colors Let's Meet.  You can still see my nail line after 3 coats but I like this color.  

I haven't done a Konad in ages and am clueless as to what colors might go well with this.  Any thoughts?

Zoya Raven

It's is black.  Like my mood.  Death sucks.  Unexpected death of a young person sucks even more.  I couldn't bring myself to do any other color.  I am human.  It always takes me a while to process things like this.  As much as I know I shouldn't question things I just don't get it.  It seems so unfair.  I wish someone would tell me there has been a mistake but it seems I am out of wishes. :-(

Blue Gradient Attempt

Not to many words because I am not sure how I feel about this.  So much so the left hand is done and I am probably going to remove it in the next hour.  Gradient manicures are so pretty and since I have never tried one I thought I'd give it a go.  Total failure because I didn't have the makeup sponges to do it.  What else do people use or is that pretty much it.  I just used a regular sponge, lol, and hoped for the best.

Not horrendous but I will get the makeup sponge and try it again another time.  I took the picture close enough but far enough!!

From the cuticle to tip I used:

Zoya Ginessa

Funky Fingers Mad Hatter

Funky Fingers 220 Volts

Funky Fingers Alice

Zoya Ibiza

Hmmm...Lot's of Sinful Colors Posts.

Isn't it funny that I was clued into the fact that Sinful Colors was on sale be the sheer number of blog posts this week swatching Sinful Colors polishes.   I haven't been buying much polish lately which means I haven't even been checking for sales.  When I noticed so many Sinful Colors post in my blog stream I immediately pulled up the Walgreens flyer for this week and my theory was correct.  Sinful Colors $.99 this week.  I put $5.30 in my pocket and headed to Walgreens.  I allowed myself 5 bottles but only ended up getting 4.

Here are the lovely new additions to my collection:

From left to right: See You Soon, Let's Meet, Under 18, Innocent

Thank you to my fellow bloggers for the subliminal notice that it was time for me check out the sale.

Water Marbling- It Has Been A While

Hi everyone, hope your week is going well.  In my previous post I showed a quick swatch of Sinful Colors Snow Me White.  Perfect base for water marbling.  I went with a purple's theme this time.  I really like water marbling but usually don't have time for it.  Hence only one hand was done and I was off to something else.

Either way I am sharing the one hand with you.

Colors used:
Sinful Colors Snow Me White base and marbling
Zoya Perrie- OMG!! I have never used this before..I have to go check my pictures and see. 
China Glaze C-C-Courage
Sinful Colors Let's Talk

Sorry no clean up. Like I said sometimes it is off to something else.

Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Hey everyone.. it has been a while since I have done a nail post but I have a few coming.  I have really laid of painting my nails so much as the acetone or something really seemed to be weakening my nails.  I was itching for a quick mani so I just did a white polish that I haven't tried yet.

I remember when I was a child and me and my sisters would go to my grandmother's house for the summer.  She was the church secretary so she had office space in the basement to get work done.  Even though she had all sorts of nail polish upstairs there was nothing like painting our nails with a bottle of white out.  That used to be the white nail polish when I was young..lol!!

Salsa Chicken

Here it is. . I can't cook.  No one ever really taught me how.  On a daily basis I struggle with what to make for dinner.  We have the same meals over and over and over.  Tacos, grilled cheese, spaghetti, sausage and rice and there is of course breakfast for dinner night. Time is of the essence with so many schedules so I am on the lookout for yummy recipes that don't take forever to make.

As I mentioned before tacos is high on our list.  We also like chicken.  I found this Salsa Chicken recipe on allrecipes.com and gave it a shot today.  Prep time was like 10 minutes max.  Seriously that is my kind of meal.  Looks kind of gross in the picture but hey, it is what it is.

The verdict is in:  Both kids liked it.  At least that is what they told me.  They said it tastes like a chicken taco.   Ummm...ye-ah!!! It was pretty good with a dollop of sour cream on top.  How could anything smothered in chedder cheese and sour cream be a  bad thing.  I'll put this on the calendar to have again sometime next month.  Now I have to find something to make tomorrow for dinner.

Any suggestions for quick and yummy meals.  I am all ears!!

I Hate Bugs...

And the more I hate them the more I see them.  Call me a chicken if you want.  I know I am 20 million times bigger than them but I am scared of them and they have no business showing up where they don't belong.

I have started seeing the craziest bugs that I didn't used to see.  Growing up we had a damp basement so I was used to seeing the long bugs with 1,000,000,000 legs.  Box elders in the windows, a daddy long legs here and there.  Whatever, I got used to that.  Somewhat.

Recently between spiders, thousand legs, and some other things I can't even begin to identify I am just paranoid.  I don't even want to get close enough to squash them dead.  That is how afraid I am of these things.  Typically I'll call a braver family member to do the dirty work while they get their laughs in at my expense.  That is fine as long as it is dead.

My weapon of choice when nobody is here to do it for me, anything that I can spray.  Something that I can stand as far away as I can and kill it (or at least immobilize it).  Hairspray, Lysol, air freshener, tub cleaner, ant spray, carpet cleaner are all in my arsenal of bug killing weapons.  There you have it.  I just killed a bug with some Scrub Free and watched it shrivel up and die.  If it would have just stayed outside where it belongs then there wouldn't have been a problem.

High School Mom

I sent my oldest to high school this morning.  She has been quite excited and the day has finally come.   I am officially the mother of a high schooler.  Wow.  You know how you know something is coming and despite what you do to prepare for it, for some reason you never feel fully prepared.  That is how I feel right now.  This day has come, we spent the summer talking about it, shopping, and getting prepared.  Today was it.  Now I sit here moment by moment wondering what she is doing, what she is thinking, how she is feeling.  A typical mother I guess.  Mother of a high schooler.

On a side note we painted her toenails with Zoya Charla last night!! You can't go wrong there.

Sally Hansen Byte

Sally Hansen Byte is from the Hi-Definition line and let me say it is a beauty.  This picture does not do it justice.  In the past I have only used this polish for layering.  I have several HD polishes and they take about 3-4 layers to get a nice opaque finish.  Pictured below is 3 coats of Byte and one coat of Sally Hansen Top Coat.

On a side note this mani was done while I was in the car on my way to PA.  Don't worry, I wasn't driving.  Doing your nails in the car is sooooo hard.  I am proud my mani looks this decent.  Lots of bumps and braking to contend with.

Confetti Moonstruck-- Already?

No doubt I loved the color and application of this polish.  Not the wear though.  It chipped the 2nd day I wore it.  So sad.  All hope wasn't lost though because I used Seche Vite top coat and for some reason that makes all of my polish chip ridiculously.

In need of a quick mani I used this color again because, well because, I love it.  Instead of using the Seche I opted for my OPI and used some OPI drying drops.  Well I am happy.  This is what my mani looked like 5 days in.

Happy, so happy that it was probably just the Seche.

Packaging Hidden Treasure

Recently one of my Twitter pals mention she was having a hard time finding Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure in her area.  I had an extra bottle so I offered to send her one.  I would be quite sad if it broke in transit so I made sure it wasn't.  Here was my packaging process.  Maybe a bit of overkill but hey, I wanted to make sure it got to here in one piece.

A few layers of bubble wrap:

Inserted into small box.  Which happened to be an old box that perfume came in.

Inserted into larger box with lots of newspaper stuffed around it.

Now if that isn't Hidden Treasure then I don't know what is!!!

It arrived in once piece and I believe she enjoyed it for 1 mani at least.  She tweeted that her son flushed it down the toilet with her contact lens case.  Not sure if was able to be salvaged or not.  Yikes!!!

Hiatus, Happy Happy Joy Joy and Other Random Babbling

I started off the month being diligent with my blogging and then fell off the wagon.  These little hiatus are basically when life has got me doing 20 bazillion other things so no time to blog, paint my nails, or do much else.  By the time I have time to myself it is usually enough time to keel over and get a few winks of sleep.  Anyhow, thanks for still coming around and checking me out.  I love getting comments as well as reading your blogs.

On to other stuff I guess!

Well I was pretty happy when I got $2.19 a gallon for Premium Unleaded.   Lookie here, lookie here!!! $1.87 (really $1.88 but whatever).  I have a gas guzzling SUV.  I am happy.  Crazy enough to stand there and take a picture.  It's the small things.

 

Life has been crazy this summer.  With the kids home my attention has be devoted to them.  They are fun kids to be around.  School starts Tuesday so hopefully my blogging will pick back up again.  It is tough to balance work, family, and time to yourself.  It is the time to yourself that always ends up with the short straw.  Oh well.  No complaints though.  My daughter and I picked up sewing in June so my attention has also been devoted to that.  I love it!!  We started another blog about it but haven't been doing the greatest job keeping it up to date.  I am about to go do that after this.  

I have so many pictures in my camera it is a crying shame.  I want to blog about all of them but when will I find the time.

Purple Heart is coming on Friday.  I have packed up 12 bags of clothes and shoes.  Still not done either.  At least I am getting rid of it and someone who can use it will.  Plus I need to make space for all of my new clothes that I am making for myself.

I am feeling bad because that blood donation I couldn't do, I still haven't gone back to donate. I am completely off schedule.  Bummer.  I have to get back on track with that.  A fellow blogger actually  posted about getting a blood donation.  It does make you feel good to know that you are helping someone, somewhere.  Actually, it makes me feel AWESOME!!

The family went to Hershey Park earlier this summer, I am getting to old for those roller coasters.  I am....wait for it....35 years old although my WiiFit told me I was 43 last night.  In my defense we had added the WiiFit plus and I got some fitness test that I had never done before.

Well I could go on and on.  I feel like I have been gone forever.  I know it hasn' t really been that long but I do miss blogging at least once or twice a week.  Hopefully once I get back on a normal schedule with the kids being back in school I'll get my flow again.

Family Game Nights? Bamboozle Anyone!!

In my family we love to play games.  Getting everyone to play can be a challenge at times but even if it is only 2 of playing we still have fun.  Growing up I would ask my sisters to play games with me all the time.  There were some times when they said yes but of course I remember the times they said no.  That left me to playing games by myself a lot.  Anything from I-DeClare War to Monopoly I would sit and play alone (don't judge me).

We had some family over and pulled an old game out the woodwoork.  Actually the last time I played this game my kids weren't even old enough to play yet.  This game will bring out the competition in everyone.  A lot of laughs and fun to be had.  

 

Objective:  Be first to score required points.

Playing: Two teams try to guess the words the other team came up with for them. Shake up the dice, see what the letters are, make words that start with those letters.  A timer runs while each team makes their list of words.  That is the amount of time the other team will have to guess the words.  The longer it takes for you to make the words, the longer the other team gets to guess them. The clue giver from each team swaps lists.  The clue giver then has to give clues so their team can guess the words on the list. (Not the best description but hopefully you get the gist)

"WHAT" , "HURRY UP", "UMMMMMMM", "COME ON YOU KNOW THIS" always leads to lots of laughs and fun for everyone.  As fun as it is, it gets quite competitive.  

What are your favorites for Family Game Night?

It Takes C-C-Courage To Show These Nubbins

I have had this polish for a while now and realized I have never done it as a mani.  If I am not mistaken I have used it for a pedi and liked it very much.  Have you noticed I don't show pedi pics on my blog.  That is to spare you dear readers.  My feet aren't horrendous but not great enough to share pics of either.

This is not new so most of you have probably seen China Glaze C-C-Courage before but just in case you haven't, here it is.  You see how short my nails are.   I have no idea when they all broke but over the weekend I found myself filing them constantly because they kept breaking.  Oh, well, a fresh start is always good.

Purple, glitter goodness.  I am glad pulled this one back out of the stash.