HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOOSIE!

6! WOOOOHOOO!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL!

Can't believe it...

Goosie is going to be six tomorrow... where did the time go?

Valentine's Day for Ballet

Goosie's ballet class has a party for every occassion! It is quite a FABulous studio ;).
This year I decided to make hairbows for everyone in the class. Since they have to have their hair in buns for class... these little pony tail bows should do the trick! They are simple: pink, white, and red. And... they will match some of the new Gymboree and Crazy 8 lines this year!

Valentine's Day Teacher Gift

Simple, useful, and easy...
That is what my goals are this year and when gifting... they should be a rule of thumb. I remember being a teacher and getting coffee mugs... tons of mugs. No one needs that many mugs ;).
This Valentine's Day we wanted to give the Goose's teacher something she could use! Since she has two little ones at home we wanted to make it fun! Valentine's Day cake mix and fun icing, a spatula and towel, THE RED PLATE, and hairbows...
(hopefully she isn't reading the blog today ;).
What's more fun than cake!

Prepping for Valentine's Day!

I can't believe that Valentine's Day is approaching so quickly! Goosie has filled out all her Valentine's and thanks to Vistaprint... they were free (I just had to pay shipping on my order!)

We made these adorable little shovel goodies for her class this year! I have seen the idea featured many places and the shovels were purchased through Ebay at a wonderful price!

All 25 are done! We are working hard just in case the Mr. would return... so we can have plenty of free time with him!

weak

My child is slumbering quietly beside me as she has been hit by the stomach flu again.
Round 2.
And... Momma ain't feelin' so hot herself today.
Ugh.
This time is worse than the last.
Thanks for dropping by... we love visitrs but today we love Lysol more.

Dwindling...

The lunch notes are dwindling... that could only mean one thing. He's coming home soon.
Check this out and make the promise.

Weekend Deals and Steals!

There are some big deals out there this weekend!

First, if you need a cute new lunchbag for your child (planning ahead for Fall?)... head over to The Company Store... they have marked down their lunchbags to a remarkable low. Click here

Also, head on over to www.hip2save.com by clicking here

There are too many big bargains to link for you. Wilson's leather is offering an additional 20% off in their clearance and she tells you how to get free shipping as well. I check this website daily for great deals.
Everyone is buzzing about clearance racks at Old Navy and Target this weekend, too!
I hope this helps with the savings! Happy Shopping!

Also, do not forget about Vistaprint
They are offering tons of free stuff and all you have to do is pay the shipping... There are free pens, free tote bag, free rubber stamp, free postcards, free business cards, free T-shirt... tons!
Why not take the free postcards and customize them for Valentine's Day... send the kids to school with personalized Valentines!

We interupt life...

Because Goosie has the flu and I'm sanitizing this house, again... I'll be back soon!

Some people...

bake cakes...
I seem to bake ribbon.

I'm a very fortunate woman...

Yesterday, I was really down.
REALLY...
DOWN...
and...
I am blaming the steroids for most of it. The lack of the Mr. for a bit of it... and myself for a lot of it.
Thank you to all that filled my voice mail, Facebook, and email with birthday wishes!
And... the gifts!
I even received two flower deliveries!
One from SWEDEN! The second arrangement came from my Grandparents and Uncle!
My Mom bought me a second favorite blanket because my first became everyone else's blanket! (long story but if you have ever been to our house and been on our leather sofa... you will understand the blanket story!)
The Mr. was able to send me some hot cocoa mixes for my hot cocoa maker (PEANUT BUTTER!!!!)
I got a delivery of cookies, too, from Team Day!
My nephew, James, even called... reduced me to tears! I was so thrilled to hear from him.
I cried most of the day, to be honest. I am hoping this was just a fluke with the medicine. I miss the Mr. now more than ever... why is the end so much harder than the beginning?
I don't know if I will have the answer but I do know this... Goosie said she had a dream last night that she was asleep on Valentine's Day Eve and that Daddy snuck into the house and gathered us all in the big bed and we woke up snuggled in each other's arms with Daddy home... I love that dream!

A birthday wish... save my sole ;)

So... today is my birthday. I want a quiet one. I mean that! A QUIET one! I would love a moment in the bathroom without someone asking me to do something for them because they have me captured in a secluded spot.
But, what I really want... a pedicure. I believe the last one I had was when I had a spa day in WV for a Mother's Day. Oh, it was so luxurious to have the whole day plus lunch in a place filled with adults... but, I really didn't know what to do with myself.
EHEM!
Well... back to the subject. Between the neglect, horrible cold, arthritis, whateva... I have the worst feet in the world and the Mr. is heading home soon. I would hate to have him feel my "gravel feet" cuddling up to him in the middle of the night ;).
Oh, and blog comments... I would love some blog comments. I have my ever faithful Mr. and Pernilla leaving me comments but come on people... it's my birthday. ;)

New weekly game night and Momma's birthday picnic

For the longest time, we have claimed Friday nights as family movie night. I love it because when the Mr. is home... we get to have a date at the kitchen island and the kids get to watch a movie in front of the TV and relax eating their dinner as well.
I wanted to start doing a game night for us now on Saturday nights. We put it to the test this past Saturday. I wasn't sure how Boomer would do but he did wonderfully!
We had a great time playing "Don't Break the Ice" and "Don't Spill the Beans." Plus, I wanted to do a little something special with them to celebrate my birthday. We fixed some fun foods: popped popcorn in the popper :), I had made homemade potato chips with sea salt, some cheese and crackers and cashews... some of their favorites! We put down a picnic blanket and watched "The Great Muppet Caper." It was so nice having this time with them! I can't wait for the Mr. to come home and join in game night!

Why I love Vistaprint...

I'm in love with Vistaprint and I have been for quite some time. This website has made savings upon savings possible for gifts, cards and invitations!
Right now, if you search... there are plenty of items for free. You only have to pay the shipping!
I was able to get Goosie's custom Valentine's for free to hand out for school, ballet, etc. I, also, got free sticky notes, a note pad, and labels for baggies I use to put hairbows in to sell! I paid $10.35 for all of it... that was the cost of the shipping. Everything is personalized and one thing you must remember... order in advance so that you can choose the slow shipping. It says it takes 21 days with the slow shipping but I have had it show up earlier than that. This is how you get the savings!

What a great idea so start thinking about Easter, Mother's Day, etc. Scan and see what else you can get for free... rubber stamps, address labels, etc.! ENJOY!

First lost tooth and new ballet hairbows

I can't believe Goose lost her first tooth on New Year's Eve... it popped out so easily there was no drama involved. Unfortunately, it has taken me this long to post a picture of the new smile she is sporting ;).
I had promised her some new fancy ballet hairbows... so she started the new year off at ballet in style. She had missed her ballet Christmas party due to a very high fever so I was more than happy to oblige her with some fancy new bows to start the year off right!
Enjoy!

Got Beer? Got bread!

I had found this VERY easy Whole Wheat Beer Bread recipe... it won't fail you!
My Dad had purchased some beer while he was here for Christmas to boil some shrimp and there is quite a bit left in our garage... nice and cold if you want to stop by ;).
So, I have plans for this little recipe this weekend. So far, I have made some wonton "crackers," homemade potato chips with sea salt, and a few other favorites... including taking time for hot cocoa and some cookies since it is so blustery here in the Midwest.

So... here is the recipe!

Easy Whole Wheat Beer Bread

2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 cup all-pupose flour
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
14 ounces of beer (or 12 ounces of beer and 2 ounces of water)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Slowly stir in beer and mix just until combined (do not overmix). Batter will be thick. Spread in an 8-inch loaf pan and bake until golden brown and a toothpick or cake tester stuck in the middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool 10 minutes more!
ENJOY!!!!!

Yesterday....

could have started better...
I mean... the 4:30 a.m. wake up call from Quinn and then the vomit began. It could have started better. Then, the rush to get to him before he got to the stairs... and...

I


fell


down


the



stairs.

OUCH!
Boomer slept all night last night. I slept on the heating pad with a swig of water and some Tylenol. Luckily, I'm already on steriods for the lost feeling in my right hand. Today, Goosie is home from school due to the snow we had and severe wind chills. I'm thrilled to have a four day weekend with my crew. Thanks to Boomer... all the sheets are washed, all the towels are washed and the house is pretty clean! The big bonus of it all... he was exhausted and I got to hold him in my arms for nearly 2 hours while he slept. It was the best. And... Goose found refuge in her room with her amazing amount of Barbies! Thank you, Santa!

Back to Basics...

I have a question for the readers... PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS...

Do you find yourself doing things to be more frugal?
How have you adjusted you budgets to find ways to save money?
Any helpful hints for those wanting to save more and spend less?

Here we go with the inventory building!

So... the plan is to begin building inventory. I have made over 50 hairbows in the past three days and I just made my second party hat. The goal is to either have a Spring trunk show or attend and sell at a local craft show.
Please, give me thoughts and comments on the party hat, idea of trunk show or craft show!