Sunday, February 27, 2011

WooHoo!!

I am so excited!!


I must admit that I have been down lately - life has just felt out of sorts and I have felt like I had a rain cloud that just follows me wherever I go.  


NOT ANY MORE!!


Several days after I blogged about my health issues and the side effects of my medication I started to feel so much better!!!


I actually feel like myself again!!  Oh how I missed feeling like myself!!!  I am so excited about that - you have no idea!!  It has been way to long since I have felt like this.


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I am also excited because I finally won something - not just ONE thing, but TWO things in one day!!


First I won the contest that we had at work - I blogged about that here.  I won a gift certificate to ETC!!  woohooo!!  With the great prices my gift certificate went a long way!!


Second I entered to win one of three giveaways on Megan's blog - It's A Darn Good Life  - click on her blog name to check out her blog.  Megan was giving away a photography book, a devotional and a photo session - I won the photo session!!!  Megan is a very talented photographer - you can check out her photography blog here.  


I never win anything so to win to things in one day just really really made me happy!!


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My niece, Tennessee, got to spend the night with me last weekend and this weekend my niece, Korrine, got to spend the night.  That didn't make her little brother too happy, but Korrine loved it because she used to spend the night a lot with me and she hadn't been over in quite awhile.  


We did get to spend some time all together this afternoon at the mall looking at all of the race cars!  We are a racing family and going to look at the cars at the mall is somewhat of a tradition and it means that racing season at the local track it getting nearer.  One of the drivers let the kids sit in her car - that's right I said HER car!  The kiddos loved it!!



I even got home in time to see my favorite NASCAR driver win his first race in almost 2 years!!!

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I am truly blessed, even when life isn't going exactly the way that I would want - I am still blessed.   It is those frustrating times that make me appreciate these happy exciting times more!!


Hope you have had a weekend full of blessings!



Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Roller Coaster

There are reasons that I don't ride roller coasters - 1. I don't like the ups and downs 2. I don't like not knowing what is coming next  3.  They make me sick

I feel like I have been on a roller coaster for the past 4 1/2 months.

I have had a hormonal imbalance which caused my monthly "visitor" to come for an extended length of time starting over 4 months ago. So long that it only left for a day up to a few days here and there.  I went on 3 months of progesterone which gave me horrible mood swings and hot flashes!  They did help a little bit as they gave me a couple of 2 week breaks.  I went back for a follow-up a week and half ago and they started me on birth control.  I will have to stay on these for the next 6 months to see if they can get my hormones in check.

I don't like that my emotions are sometimes often out of my control.  I don't like for people to see me cry and I have had some out of control cry-fests in the last couple of months.  The really unfortunate embarrassing thing is that I had one in the middle of a restaurant this past weekend - I started crying and could NOT stop!!  Thanks goodness I really wasn't in the middle of the restaurant but rather in the back corner so hopefully not too many people noticed!

I really don't like taking medication and avoid it if possible, but I guess the alternatives are much worse.  Although the birth control makes me really tired and makes me not feel well most of the morning.  I guess that is because birth control tricks your body into thinking it is pregnant.  Now - I tease my pregnant friends about their baby's taking all of their brain cells - I really feel like I have lost a few myself these last several days!  Unfortunately I don't have a good excuse for it!  HAHA!

Sorry if this is more than what you wanted to know, but it is what I am feeling and dealing with everyday.  I just pray that this works and that in 6 months I can stop taking the meds and get back to feeling like I am me again!  I really miss me!

Hope you have a good week!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Great Birthday!

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!!  I hope you spent the day with people that you LOVE!

I spent the day not thinking about love and all of that mushy gushy stuff, but rather - I spent my day celebrating!  For the last few months I have been thinking how old 36 sounds and I didn't really want my birthday to come, but you know what?  36 is not that old!  It may have helped with all of the love that I felt yesterday!

I started celebrating on Friday and to be honest - I think that I am still celebrating!

A friend took me out for dinner on Friday night and then we watched a movie or rather she watched a movie - I watched part of it and the other part I slept through.

My parents took me out to dinner on Sunday evening.  We started out trying to go to Olive Garden - I really wanted salad and bread sticks - so yummy!  But, the wait was an hour and I didn't want to wait so, we went to Johnny Carino's and it was good!  Then on Monday my co-workers brought TONS of food to snack on all day.  It was all so good!!

Then my sister took me out to lunch at my fave Mexican restaurant - Carlos O' Kelly's!

Then on Monday night a friend brought over German Chocolate Cake and ice cream!

So as you can see - I have been well fed and I probably went backwards on the weight I have lost in the last 3 months!  So, I guess I need to be more disciplined this week!

I was also blessed with a gift certificate for a manicure - (can't wait for this!) and I also got chocolate - lots of chocolate and beautiful flowers and a balloon!

I also got lots of texts and messages on fb!

I am so LOVED!!  I am so BLESSED!!!

Thanks to all of those who helped me celebrate - it meant the world to me!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

I heart ETC

Some people think that I am crazy because I work 6 days a week.

I work in corporate America 5 days a week and on Saturdays I work at my local thrift store.  The Et Cetera Shop to be exact...find them on Facebook here or on the web here.

A lot of people ask my why I choose to work 6 days a week.  I started working at Et Cetera on Saturdays about 3 1/2 years ago.  It all started as a way to earn some extra cash and to have somewhere to be on Saturdays.  I have grown to absolutely love working there.  It is a way to connect with and serve the community.  I have made so many new friends from the people I work with to the volunteers to the customers and the people who donate.  I love interacting with the volunteers - I love hearing about their families, eating all of their yummy treats and enjoying all of the vegetables they bring me from their gardens every summer.

I love that the Et Cetera Shop meets the needs of so many on so many levels.  It serves as a place where people can donate stuff they don't want or can't use any more.  It serves as a place where people can buy clothes and household items for a fraction of the price of buying it new...which helps all of us living on a budget.  It serves as a meeting place - relationships are formed between staff, volunteers, shoppers and those who donate.  The best part of all is that the Et Cetera Shop is not only serving the community, but the world beyond.  It is helping the environment by keeping things out of the landfill.  The profits of the Et Cetera shop are donated to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).  "Your purchase or donation supports the disaster relief, sustainable community development and justice and peace-building work of Mennonite Central Committee locally and globally."  Learn more about MCC here .

I love finding vintage treasures!!
 Need shoes?
 or maybe a new coat?
 These great wooden toys are handmade by one of our volunteers - aren't they great!?!
 Clothing and other items that can't be sold are used to make rugs or place mats or coasters or bookmarks.
These are made on the looms right in the store!
 Need craft supplies - so much more affordable to buy them at Et Cetera rather than your craft store!
 Need buttons - there are always plenty!
  There are always lots of books and magazines too!

 Today was an extra fun day - the Saturday crew was challenged to put together an outfit.  These are on display in one of the front windows and we posted pictures of them on the Newton Et Cetera Shop Facebook page.  We are having a contest between the four of us to get the most "likes".  Below is the outfit that I put together.
I love, love, love vintage things and this is a great vintage dress.  I also love the red vintage purse.  They are sort of hard to see, but there are some awesome red sunglasses hanging on the pocket of the dress.  Go check out the rest of the outfits and vote for your favorite by clicking on 'like' under the picture.  Don't worry I won't hold it against you if you 'like' one of the other outfits more than mine!  

If you live locally and if you are now intrigued by the Et Cetera shop and you want to spend some time with me on Saturdays we are always looking for volunteers.  We have so much fun and you wouldn't be disappointed!  


Friday, February 11, 2011

Scarf Giveaway Winner!!

I am sorry to be posting this a little late today, but I am turning another year older on Monday and the birthday festivities have started already tonight!

**Thanks for a great dinner and a movie, Nancy!  - Sorry that I am getting so old that I can't stay awake during a movie!  HAHAHA!

Okay so, I know you just really want to know who the winner it is so here you go.....

Winner of the SCARF GIVEAWAY is.....

STEPHANIE!!

I love the big snowflakes that are falling right now and covering everything with a blanket of snow. I don't like the wind I also see out there! 
Stephanie


Stephanie, Congrats - send me an e-mail and let me know what color you want!!


Thanks to everyone for entering and keep watching for more giveaways! 


Hope you have a great weekend!



Thursday, February 10, 2011

10 thoughts

It once again the 10th of the month!  Where or where does the time go!?!

Once again it's a list of 10 for you.  Today is just a random list of 10 things on my mind....here we go

1.  I am thankful for good friends and family who pitch in when I am in need.
2.  I am tired of all of the snow!
3.  I am really, really tired of spending money on my vehicle.
4.  I am anxious about my Dr's appointment tomorrow.  
5.  I am tired of feeling overwhelmed.
6.  I am thankful that my dad taught me about vehicles so that I could make minor repairs like change bulbs all by myself!
7.  I am tired of being emotional.
8.  I am sort of not really looking forward to turning another year older on Monday.
9.  I need to plan a girls night with my mom, sisters and nieces.
10.   I am thankful for my patient friend, Olivia who taught me how to crochet so that I could make lovely dishcloths and scarves! (thanks also to my mom who tried to teach me many times before I was actually ready to learn!)

Today is the last day to enter for the Scarf Giveaway.  If you haven't entered yet you can do so by leaving me a comment here.


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

SNOW Day!

What do you do when you wake up to 17" of snow and giant snow drifts?

Well, you dig yourself out first of all!  
These pictures don't really show the depth of the snow very well!
 The snow drifts around my vehicle are knee deep.  
It is just as deep the further into the driveway you go.
 You can see here how deep the snow was in front of my vehicle.  
 You can't see it very well, but the snow drift on this side is higher than the bottom of the door!

 All of the snow we had to shovel off the driveway is now almost 
as tall as my trash can! 
 Most of this snow was drifted between the two cars in the driveway.  
 I am tired all over again after looking at all of this snow.  
I am lucky enough to have a 4-wheel drive so, after I was done shoveling I drove up and down my street in front of my house to pack down the snow so that my neighbor could get her car out.  
So, what do you do after all of that fun?  

Well, I really wanted some Diet Coke so I asked my neighbor if she needed anything from the store and then I called my other neighbor and asked if they needed anything and then we ventured out to get what we needed or I guess wanted in my case because I am sure I would have been fine without my Diet Coke and the other few groceries I got.  

Then when I got home it was time to shower and relax for the day.  So, while I sat and watched daytime TV I finished the scarf for my niece, Korrine.  She requested that I make her a purple scarf.  
I really hope she likes it! 

Don't forget to sign up for the scarf GIVEAWAY!!  
You can win one of your own crocheted scarves  all you need to do is comment on the post here.


What did you do today?


Monday, February 7, 2011

Scarf Giveaway!!

All of my scarf “orders” are finished with the exception of one.  I am currently working on a purple scarf for my niece, Korrine and will be done with it by the end of the week.  That means I need to start crocheting something else and that is where you come in….

It’s time for another  GIVEAWAY!!

When someone gives me a good suggestion I listen!  My friend Karri suggested that I giveaway one of my crocheted scarves – I think it is a GREAT idea!!

To enter to win a crocheted scarf of your own just leave me a comment below and tell me one thing you like about winter.  If you are like me and you HATE winter  then tell me what your favorite season is and why.

A winner will be chosen at random on Friday, February  11, 2011. 

I am going to let you choose what color you would like your scarf to be so be thinking about it!

Good luck!

If you want to see some of the scarves I have made see my post here.

**Thanks for the suggestion, Karri!


Thursday, February 3, 2011

Book Club

A friend and I were out to dinner one evening talking about how we didn't really feel like we were being challenged or spiritually fed at church.  I started telling her about Crazy Love and how I had read about it on several other blogs....she reached into her purse holding up a copy saying "oh, you mean this book?"   We decided we should read it together and discuss and that we should invite other ladies to join us so, that is how our book club began.

Shortly after that I got an e-mail from another friend of church about extra copies of a Beth Moore book she had from her book club.  So, we bought those and that is what we are reading now.


I heart Beth Moore!   I have done several of her bible studies, but haven't really read one of her books.

I am looking forward to everything that God has to teach me through this book.  You see - I am sooooo insecure.  You have NO idea how much!  I really hope that I learn how to overcome that!  We are only several chapters in and I have learned some good things so far!


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Yucky Winter Day

 This is right where I should have been all day!
It is a blizzard out there - we have a wind chill of -20!!  YIKES!

So remember me telling you about the dishcloths I was crocheting?
Well, I have moved on to making scarves now!
 The one above I made for myself.
I made one the same color only wider for a co-worker.
 This one was for another co-worker.
It is kind of hard to see in the pictures, but it is gray and pink.  
I made this one for an ex-coworker.
In return she made me some beautiful cards!!

I have two more that I am currently working on.
I think it is a good night to stay by the fire and work on the pink scarf!

Stay warm out there!

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