I live in an area that is known for Hot Air Balloons. Basically whenever it is nice out (april - Oct) people will take the Balloons up. They even have an entire fair devoted to the balloons.
The balloons only go up at sun-up and sun-down....I don't know why, but that is how it is.
So, going home from work the past few weeks, this is all that I see. And not just one. I am talking about maybe a dozen in the sky.
It makes me smile each and every time. I am new to the area; but I do not think that I will ever get used to this. I will probably always smile when I see the balloons in the air.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Breast Cancer Quilt
I woman I "know" was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer - she is young; maybe around my age. She is part of an online community that I belong to. I just can't believe it.
A bunch of the women on the board thought it would be a cool idea to collect pieces of fabric and make a quilt out of all of the pieces. Someone thought of me. I love doing quilts and was honored that someone thought of me to make the final product.
So, there will be a post and everyone who wants to contribute will send me a 1/4 yard of fabric; I will then use all of the pieces to make a quilt for this woman along with a matching one for her very young daughter.
Makes me think how lucky I am. My prayers go out to this woman, and her family. Please pray for StaceyLoren.
A bunch of the women on the board thought it would be a cool idea to collect pieces of fabric and make a quilt out of all of the pieces. Someone thought of me. I love doing quilts and was honored that someone thought of me to make the final product.
So, there will be a post and everyone who wants to contribute will send me a 1/4 yard of fabric; I will then use all of the pieces to make a quilt for this woman along with a matching one for her very young daughter.
Makes me think how lucky I am. My prayers go out to this woman, and her family. Please pray for StaceyLoren.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Paint = Prozac
I am really bad about updating this blog. My last entry was a week ago.
Anyway, we are in the middle (OK a standstill) at re-doing our house. The upstairs bathroom (the only one in the house right now) will be the last room that is done. This will be done after all the work on the first floor is done.
Well, this bathroom is the ugliest bathroom ever. The tiles are pink plastic, yes plastic and the floor is very stained and no amount of scrubbing gets it clean. The bathroom is also only 4 1/2 feet wide so it is VERY narrow.
But, we decided to spruce it up a bit. We are going to paint the pink plastic tiles white and the top part a dark beige; we are also going to put cheap stick-on tiles on the floor. Basically just make it look clean. It is all temporary so we are not looking to spead a lot of $$.
So far, we primed the bottom half and painted the top. Boy, what a difference already. We are going to paint the bottom half a pure white along with the crown molding. The top has one coat of paint, not sure if it will get a second. We also have not done the floor yet - we are waiting until all the painting is done and then we will do the floor.
Here are some Before and After Picture - please note that the after pictures were taken at night and I can't figure out how to change the settings on my camera.
Anyway, we are in the middle (OK a standstill) at re-doing our house. The upstairs bathroom (the only one in the house right now) will be the last room that is done. This will be done after all the work on the first floor is done.
Well, this bathroom is the ugliest bathroom ever. The tiles are pink plastic, yes plastic and the floor is very stained and no amount of scrubbing gets it clean. The bathroom is also only 4 1/2 feet wide so it is VERY narrow.
But, we decided to spruce it up a bit. We are going to paint the pink plastic tiles white and the top part a dark beige; we are also going to put cheap stick-on tiles on the floor. Basically just make it look clean. It is all temporary so we are not looking to spead a lot of $$.
So far, we primed the bottom half and painted the top. Boy, what a difference already. We are going to paint the bottom half a pure white along with the crown molding. The top has one coat of paint, not sure if it will get a second. We also have not done the floor yet - we are waiting until all the painting is done and then we will do the floor.
Here are some Before and After Picture - please note that the after pictures were taken at night and I can't figure out how to change the settings on my camera.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Does Parallel Parking define who I am??
I remember when I just got my driver's license it was snowing really hard and I wanted to go to the mall (using my own personal car). Well, my dad basically told me that I could not go unless I was able to parallel park perfectly 25 times. Um, jerk!!
That said, I have gotten better over the years. And now I have to do it basically every day in front of my house. I have a really small car so sometimes I can squeeze right in. But, the reality is that I "Fail" most times.
On your road test, you fail the test if you hit the curb while parallel parking. I never really understood how one mistake could make you fail the entire test. Especially since it is not the norm for most people to have to parallel park every day. Is is a skill that you need at some point in your life, sure. But, you don't see me failing in life for making one small mistake...right?
Could you image if you life was considered a failure if say, you forgot a birthday, or made a typo, or couldn't figure out calculus.
Give me a break. My life is not a failure, even though I can not parallel park.
That said, I have gotten better over the years. And now I have to do it basically every day in front of my house. I have a really small car so sometimes I can squeeze right in. But, the reality is that I "Fail" most times.
On your road test, you fail the test if you hit the curb while parallel parking. I never really understood how one mistake could make you fail the entire test. Especially since it is not the norm for most people to have to parallel park every day. Is is a skill that you need at some point in your life, sure. But, you don't see me failing in life for making one small mistake...right?
Could you image if you life was considered a failure if say, you forgot a birthday, or made a typo, or couldn't figure out calculus.
Give me a break. My life is not a failure, even though I can not parallel park.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
I AM going to Win - I HAVE to
OK, I mentioned before that I am trying to win a contest that would give us $100,000 for house repairs. Well, in addition to entering online, you can also enter as many times as you want by mail. Each entry has to be it it's own envelope and MUST be hand-written.
Well, I enter myself and my husband every day and I just spent the last hour writing out mail-in papers. The contest is a random drawing, so the more times I enter, the more chances I have.
I will probably only do about 100 to mail in, stamps are so expensive. But, I figured that I spend about $40 each time I go to Walmart so that is about my limit.
I HAVE to win this. Frank keeps putting off getting a Home Equity Loan or a Re-finance. Now he tells me that we should wait until Feb to do this because at that time we will have more money to pay back the loan (Colin's braces will be paid off, the Lease will be turned in, the cruise will be paid for)
I really thought that by Dec '07 our house would be almost done. That was giving it 19 months to do the work. It looks like we just started!!!!!! It makes me so upset. I am starting to hate the house.
You can look HERE for pictures of the work that we have already done. It is not much, but it is something. Make sure you scroll all the way down to see all the albums.
When (that's right, not if) we win, we can do all the work and then some "extras"
Well, I enter myself and my husband every day and I just spent the last hour writing out mail-in papers. The contest is a random drawing, so the more times I enter, the more chances I have.
I will probably only do about 100 to mail in, stamps are so expensive. But, I figured that I spend about $40 each time I go to Walmart so that is about my limit.
I HAVE to win this. Frank keeps putting off getting a Home Equity Loan or a Re-finance. Now he tells me that we should wait until Feb to do this because at that time we will have more money to pay back the loan (Colin's braces will be paid off, the Lease will be turned in, the cruise will be paid for)
I really thought that by Dec '07 our house would be almost done. That was giving it 19 months to do the work. It looks like we just started!!!!!! It makes me so upset. I am starting to hate the house.
You can look HERE for pictures of the work that we have already done. It is not much, but it is something. Make sure you scroll all the way down to see all the albums.
When (that's right, not if) we win, we can do all the work and then some "extras"
Monday, September 10, 2007
If relaxing = Pregnant
If relaxing = pregnant then I should be pregnant with about 6 babies now.
This whole summer was just about chilling out. We are on a IF break until Nov. So, we did not think about anything. Did not care about timing, did not chart, no bloodwork, nothing.
Also, we have been really lucky that my parents have a shore house. We have been there 2 times already (going again this weekend - yeah); plus so much more. Here are just some of our "relaxing" this summer
This whole summer was just about chilling out. We are on a IF break until Nov. So, we did not think about anything. Did not care about timing, did not chart, no bloodwork, nothing.
Also, we have been really lucky that my parents have a shore house. We have been there 2 times already (going again this weekend - yeah); plus so much more. Here are just some of our "relaxing" this summer
- Going to the shore 3 times
- Sleeping until 9 am on the weekends (most weekends)
- multiple BBQs
- a movie a week - our local place has mid week specials
- Planning a fall girls only cruise
- Company picnics
- 2 local plays
- general kicking back
I really wish that was the answer. Relax and you will get pregnant.
Friday, September 7, 2007
My First Roomate
There was a poll about roomates on my local board so I thought I would share some things about my first roomate......
I got this roomate when I was a junior in college. He was a very short man. But, the second I saw him I thought he was the cutest. I knew him for 9 months before we co-habitated.
He drooled all the time and I had to constantly clean up his crap. I put up with it though. In fact, I kind of liked it.
After a while he started talking back to me. And most of the time I could not even understand what he was saying.
All of a sudden, all of his stuff was all over the place. It was like he owned the place. In every corner of every room were his "toys".
It did not take long before I was in total love with him. I always knew that we would have a life-long friendship.
Over the next few years, he became more and more dependent on me. I had to drive him everywhere, as he does not have a license. I also had to buy everything for him, he did not have a job. I loved him anyway. More and more each day.
We were always together, then things changed. He started hanging out with his buddies...all the time. It seemed like he was never home. I really missed my guy and always thought about the time we shared just the two of us.
When I met my husband, my "roomate" was so great to MH. They hung out all the time and soon became buddies. I loved seeing them hang out together. What could be better than my two favorite guys together.
Soon, my "roomate" figured out that I would marry MH and he welcomed him with open arms. They really are a great match.
So, now I am married and I took my "roomate" with me (of course) to live with MH. Now, my husband is looking to add a new "roomate" to our bunch!
My Roomate, my son. Love ya.
I got this roomate when I was a junior in college. He was a very short man. But, the second I saw him I thought he was the cutest. I knew him for 9 months before we co-habitated.
He drooled all the time and I had to constantly clean up his crap. I put up with it though. In fact, I kind of liked it.
After a while he started talking back to me. And most of the time I could not even understand what he was saying.
All of a sudden, all of his stuff was all over the place. It was like he owned the place. In every corner of every room were his "toys".
It did not take long before I was in total love with him. I always knew that we would have a life-long friendship.
Over the next few years, he became more and more dependent on me. I had to drive him everywhere, as he does not have a license. I also had to buy everything for him, he did not have a job. I loved him anyway. More and more each day.
We were always together, then things changed. He started hanging out with his buddies...all the time. It seemed like he was never home. I really missed my guy and always thought about the time we shared just the two of us.
When I met my husband, my "roomate" was so great to MH. They hung out all the time and soon became buddies. I loved seeing them hang out together. What could be better than my two favorite guys together.
Soon, my "roomate" figured out that I would marry MH and he welcomed him with open arms. They really are a great match.
So, now I am married and I took my "roomate" with me (of course) to live with MH. Now, my husband is looking to add a new "roomate" to our bunch!
My Roomate, my son. Love ya.
$100,000 Grand Prize
Yup, I will win this prize. I am not going to tell you about the contest because I don't want you to steal my chance. You can enter every day from now until Oct 31. This means (at least to me) that the drawing will be random so the more time I enter, the more chances I have to win.
With $100,000 I could get the stuff that I want instead of the stuff that we can afford. Which is a huge difference.
There is also another contest (different place) that will pay your mortage or rent for the rest of your life. I am going to win that one as well - so don't bother entering yourself.....you will be wasting your time LOL.
With $100,000 I could get the stuff that I want instead of the stuff that we can afford. Which is a huge difference.
There is also another contest (different place) that will pay your mortage or rent for the rest of your life. I am going to win that one as well - so don't bother entering yourself.....you will be wasting your time LOL.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Make it Grand
Do you wonder what it means?
Well, a few years ago I started a favor business. Mostly on ebay, though. I was trying to think of a name that was not "Amy's Favors" or basically anything that had my first or last name in it. It makes is seem too "I do this out of my basement". So, my last name (well, my madien name) has the word "Grand" in it. So, this guy at work said, "why not Make it Grand"? He then also gave me the tag line of "Why have a great event, when you can Make it Grand?"
It stuck.
I still use this as my name, but now I also look at the catch phase as a personal motto. Why do something good/great if you can make it grand. It reminds me to savor everyday and live life to the fullest.
In case you are wondering, I started a little website as well. Right now it does not have any other the favors on it. I am just doing free designs for announcements/invitations/holiday cards and I started selling quilts as well.
I started to the free designs to keep me busy. It really does pass the time and make me less stressed about IF issues. The quilts are because I gave them to a "nestie" who is having triplets. Yes, triplets. 35 people from my local board went to a shower for this nestie and over 100 girls chipped in to buy her the triplet stroller.
Well, everyone at the shower loved the quilts and suggested that I sell them. Here is the Website (Make it Grand, etc)
Well, a few years ago I started a favor business. Mostly on ebay, though. I was trying to think of a name that was not "Amy's Favors" or basically anything that had my first or last name in it. It makes is seem too "I do this out of my basement". So, my last name (well, my madien name) has the word "Grand" in it. So, this guy at work said, "why not Make it Grand"? He then also gave me the tag line of "Why have a great event, when you can Make it Grand?"
It stuck.
I still use this as my name, but now I also look at the catch phase as a personal motto. Why do something good/great if you can make it grand. It reminds me to savor everyday and live life to the fullest.
In case you are wondering, I started a little website as well. Right now it does not have any other the favors on it. I am just doing free designs for announcements/invitations/holiday cards and I started selling quilts as well.
I started to the free designs to keep me busy. It really does pass the time and make me less stressed about IF issues. The quilts are because I gave them to a "nestie" who is having triplets. Yes, triplets. 35 people from my local board went to a shower for this nestie and over 100 girls chipped in to buy her the triplet stroller.
Well, everyone at the shower loved the quilts and suggested that I sell them. Here is the Website (Make it Grand, etc)
I am a slacker
I really want to keep up this blog. I did not post yesterday, sorry. Got my period, finally after a mere 75 days. Lucky for me I got it without meds. This is a first for me. I have had only 4 cycles this whole year. I had to go on meds to get the first period in 2007 (after months of no period). Then 87 days later, meds again.
I tried 2 cycles of clomid and each of those cycles were about 35 days. I never ovulated on either one.
We are on a break until I see an RE in Nov. The break is for personal reasons. As much as I would like to have a baby, we planned a huge family cruise for April 2008. This was booked in Aug 2006. I thought I would have had a baby way before the cruise and be pregnant again on the cruise. Obviously, I never got pregnant. So I figured out that if I get pregnant between June and November then I can not go on the cruise. The cruise does not allow women over 24 weeks pregnant to board the cruise ship. And you need a note from your doctor faxed prior to the cruise stating how many weeks you will be when the ships departs the dock.
So now, I finally get my period after not having it for the whole summer. Even though I have not ovulated on my own or on Clomid, I now have to be dilligent about figuring out our timing. For almost a year I have been trying to get pregnant, and now for a few months I will be trying not to get pregnant. We are not using any protection and we figure if we do get pregnant it would be a miracle. We will then just not go on the cruise.
If I am not pregnant by Nov, I will go to an RE. That will be over a year of trying.
I tried 2 cycles of clomid and each of those cycles were about 35 days. I never ovulated on either one.
We are on a break until I see an RE in Nov. The break is for personal reasons. As much as I would like to have a baby, we planned a huge family cruise for April 2008. This was booked in Aug 2006. I thought I would have had a baby way before the cruise and be pregnant again on the cruise. Obviously, I never got pregnant. So I figured out that if I get pregnant between June and November then I can not go on the cruise. The cruise does not allow women over 24 weeks pregnant to board the cruise ship. And you need a note from your doctor faxed prior to the cruise stating how many weeks you will be when the ships departs the dock.
So now, I finally get my period after not having it for the whole summer. Even though I have not ovulated on my own or on Clomid, I now have to be dilligent about figuring out our timing. For almost a year I have been trying to get pregnant, and now for a few months I will be trying not to get pregnant. We are not using any protection and we figure if we do get pregnant it would be a miracle. We will then just not go on the cruise.
If I am not pregnant by Nov, I will go to an RE. That will be over a year of trying.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Youngest Mom, Oldest Child
Today is the first day back at school. So I was talking to the other parents at work. It turns out that Colin is the oldest kid. Cool. BUT, I am the youngest mom out of all of the parents. By a lot!
Getting pregnant at 19 was not really in my life plan, but whatever - you deal with what you are given. Most times I don't think it really makes that much difference. I have a great kid and think I am a good mom. The "young mom" usually is not an issue. But now, he is almost a teenager and I still look pretty young. Not 16 young, but younger than I am. I am constantly getting, "you have a teenager?"...."you do not look old enough to have a 12 year old"....."are you his sister?"
When he was first born, I looked like I was 15-16, boy did I get the stares. It was really bad when he was about 1-2 yrs old. I still looked like a teenager, but now with a toodler, which in their eyes meant that I was 14 when I had him.
I think being a young single mom made me the person who I am now. Let's hope that I will not an "old" mom when I ever have another kid.
Getting pregnant at 19 was not really in my life plan, but whatever - you deal with what you are given. Most times I don't think it really makes that much difference. I have a great kid and think I am a good mom. The "young mom" usually is not an issue. But now, he is almost a teenager and I still look pretty young. Not 16 young, but younger than I am. I am constantly getting, "you have a teenager?"...."you do not look old enough to have a 12 year old"....."are you his sister?"
When he was first born, I looked like I was 15-16, boy did I get the stares. It was really bad when he was about 1-2 yrs old. I still looked like a teenager, but now with a toodler, which in their eyes meant that I was 14 when I had him.
I think being a young single mom made me the person who I am now. Let's hope that I will not an "old" mom when I ever have another kid.
The Tiger is blind in one eye..
Huh, the tiger is blind in one eye?
We are back from the shore. I really was a great weekend. We went to a zoo that is basically a rescue place for all types of non-domestic animals. Most have been rescued from other zoos, some from a circus, some were "pets" that got too big.
Most of the animals there had a little sign with their story. Where they came from, how they got there, etc. There was a tiger that was originally someones pet (??) and it was brought to another sanctuary. That sanctuary closed and the tiger was sent to this place. But somehow along the way, the tiger became blind in one eye. Yeah, well every animal that we saw (and I mean every animal), Colin would say "yeah, well the tiger is blind in one eye"
It became a joke. We were even saying it when it did not make any sense.
It was a great weekend. A much needed break.
We are back from the shore. I really was a great weekend. We went to a zoo that is basically a rescue place for all types of non-domestic animals. Most have been rescued from other zoos, some from a circus, some were "pets" that got too big.
Most of the animals there had a little sign with their story. Where they came from, how they got there, etc. There was a tiger that was originally someones pet (??) and it was brought to another sanctuary. That sanctuary closed and the tiger was sent to this place. But somehow along the way, the tiger became blind in one eye. Yeah, well every animal that we saw (and I mean every animal), Colin would say "yeah, well the tiger is blind in one eye"
It became a joke. We were even saying it when it did not make any sense.
It was a great weekend. A much needed break.