Leslie's Litter

The end of the month (and year) are here!  So this is how I finished out the month.... Complete! -  1.  Read 4 Holiday Themed Books  Complete! - 2.  Send Out Holiday Cards to Friends & Family, by 12/5 Complete! - 3.  Take a Family Picture, Including the Entire Litter Complete! -  4.  Bake Christmas Cookies Complete! -  5.  Create a Rice Krispy Train Complete! -  6.  Holiday Decor Up, by 12/5 Complete! -  7.  All Gifts Purchased/Made,  by 12/9 Complete! -  8.  All Gifts Wrapped & Separated by Families, by 12/16 Complete! -  9.  Host Family Dinner for In-Laws, December 23rd Complete! -  10. Visit The Lights at The Toledo Zoo Complete! -  11. Adopt a Family in Need for Christmas Complete! -  12. Enjoy Hot Chocolate at least Once a Week Complete! - 13. Take Treats to Neighbors with Thank You Notes (Well I forgot the notes,                               but I did take Gingerbread Cookies! Complete! -  14. Watch 2 Christmas Movies Complete! -  15. Host Holiday Par

So.... here is my goal post from January 2012, along with an update of how I did for each of goal. This year I have decided to challenge myself with goals in multiple different areas of my life... including in the kitchen!  I am planning on trying a new recipe, and baking something (FROM SCRATCH!) each month in 2012.  *My husband hasn't decided if he will try them all or not, but hopefully they are not complete failures and he enjoys eating them as much as I enjoy trying to make them. (I didn't do my best at baking and cooking, but I did try a few new recipes and made more food at home rather then eating out - A step in the right direction!) I have also made goals in the financials areas of my life with plans to follow the Dave Ramsey plan and paying off all debt and begin working on our mortgage with "gazelle intensity".  We have also laid out an updated Budget and I plan to strictly stick to this, allowing us more money to put on our debt . (We did wonderfully

Today is the 15th... Almost halfway through the month, and only 10 days until Christmas!! I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday spirit, and not letting the stress of the holidays take over.  I know that I have been able to find a lot more enjoyment in the season by focusing on the positive, and just letting things run their course. Here is another update on my goals so far this month....  1.  Read 4 Holiday Themed Books (I am on books #4 and #5 right now, and one is a beautiful story so far and won't take me long to finish up!) 2.  Send Out Holiday Cards to Friends & Family, by 12/5 (done) 3.  Take a Family Picture, Including the Entire Litter (done x2) 4.  Bake Christmas Cookies (done, and going to bake more tomorrow!) 5.  Create a Rice Krispy Train (still on our list, but hopefully we will be doing this on Wednesday night!) 6.  Holiday Decor Up, by 12/5 (done) 7.  All Gifts Purchased/Made,  by 12/9 ( ALMOST done... just a few stocking stuffers for my nephews to

For only being 6 days into the month I have completed quite a few things off of my bucket list, as well as a lot of things off of my regular to-do list, and some things I didn't even plan.   My favorite trip to make every year (how did I forget it on my bucket list) is to the Wildwood Manor House for a Holiday tour!  I even had some wonderful people join me, and we signed up to decorate a room of our own next year! 1.  Read 4 Holiday Themed Books (2 books started!) 2.  Send Out Holiday Cards to Friends & Family, by 12/5 (My last order was finally delivered to me yesterday, so they were all in the mail this morning!) 3.  Take a Family Picture, Including the Entire Litter (We took one last night, but I think I want another one complete with santa hats and princess crowns this weekend!) 4.  Bake Christmas Cookies (We made cookies last night with a wonderful helper!  Check out the pictures below....) She LOVED the sprinkles!!! They were very focused... thi

December is finally upon us.  My yearly goals have changed quite a bit since January, however I am still creating goals and working on completing them each day, week, and month! Here is what I hope to accomplish this December.  I decided to take a break from "the real world" and focus on friends, family, and the Holiday Spirit! 1.  Read 4 Holiday Themed Books 2.  Send Out Holiday Cards to Friends & Family, by 12/5 3.  Take a Family Picture, Including the Entire Litter 4.  Bake Christmas Cookies 5.  Create a Rice Krispy Train 6.  Holiday Decor Up, by 12/5 7.  All Gifts Purchased/Made,  by 12/9 8.  All Gifts Wrapped & Separated by Families, by 12/16 9.  Host Family Dinner for In-Laws, December 23rd 10. Visit The Lights at The Toledo Zoo 11. Adopt a Family in Need for Christmas 12. Enjoy Hot Chocolate at least Once a Week 13. Take Treats to Neighbors with Thank You Notes 14. Watch 2 Christmas Movies 15. Host Holiday Party for my Work Team What

Today I am thankful for the libraries and the librarians! When I went in today they had a cart sitting by the check out that had all kinds of holiday books featured.  There were mysteries, giving, crafts, recipe, history, fiction, etc.  It was just what I need on this last day of November, to push me into the December Holiday Season! And... EVERY time I go in there they are always so nice, smiling, laughing, and just all around pleasant people.  How often do you find that any where, let alone a library!?

Free Food!  YUM!  I mean really.... what can be better? Today we have a food show going on and there are stations and more stations with food displayed and samples to try! My favorite so far was the dessert station!  Deep fried cheesecake, chocolate pyramids, and much, MUCH more. The mushroom stuffed ravioli, chicken salad lettuce wraps, and bacon jam dip were all delicious too.  It's too hard to resist good food when it is just looking me in the face! What is your favorite dish?

Today I am thankful for radio stations changing their Holiday Music guidelines.... I cannot handle holiday music more then a few days a year, and it seems like the past few years the stations around my area play it NON-STOP! Luckily this year, it is November 28th and the music has not yet started!!!! Here is to hoping that they hold off a little while longer!!!

Today I am thankful for online banking. Without online banking I would be lost!  I rely so heavily on being able to open up my web page and check my balance, see what I bought, and make sure that I remembered to pay my bills!   There are so many things in life that we didn't have 10 years ago, or even last year, that we all of a sudden take for granted because they are standard to us now... Don't lose site that life will still go on without all of these things, but isn't it great that it doesn't have to!

Pandora is my friend, today and everyday. It is wonderful to listen to at work, in the car, and especially at the gym! It is so nice to be able to tune "the radio" to songs that fit my mood and energy level, and skip past songs that I don't like or have heard to many times. This is a great way to get me through my day, each and every day. What makes your day go faster?

Today I am thankful for one more day off this month... I am going to spend the day getting back on track, making my to-do lists, washing towels, sheets, clothes, dishes, the rugs, and so on. Just one more day to take an afternoon nap, read a few chapters of my book, and snuggle with my kities.... Luckily December is only a few days away and I can have some more days off of work! What do you like to do on your days off?

Today I am thankful for the Fighting Irish and the fact that they are #1!!! How can you not be thankful for an undefeated team that is headed to the BCS Championship Bowl!

Today I am thankful for Black Friday!  It is so much fun to wake up early, grab a cup of hot coffee and head out to the stores.   I am not good at standing in line or fighting with others, but I still love the rush and the fun of going out and spending and getting rock bottom prices! I spent all morning  noon, and night out shopping with my family.  Luckily I was able to get almost all of my shopping done, and I got some great deals along the way.... I may have even bought a thing or two for myself ;) Did you shop for anything you couldn't live without today?

On Thanksgiving I am thankful for so much.  Friends, family, food, fun, pets, and so many other things that can be so easily be taken for granted.  Today, and every day, remember to be thankful for what you have.  It is great to strive for something more in life, but don't forget everything that you already have!

Today I am thankful for visits with friends, no matter how short they are. I got to pick up my friend at the bus station and we were able to spend some time together catching up.  I love times like this when we can just sit and do nothing but talk, and drink Starbucks! I wish that I was able to have time like this every day, but I am sure that I wouldn't be as thankful as I was at the end of today. What makes you thankful for your friends?

Today I am thankful for a decent hair day.  My mom and I had to go have photos taken for our concealed weapon permit and luckily my hair was somewhat cooperating with me today.  Unfortunately, the white background that we had to stand in front of what not so nice.... especially with my pale skin. Oh well, we have to take the good with the bad and focus on the good.

Today is the beginning of a new week, a week that I do not have to work! I get to enjoy the time off, get ready for the Thanksgiving Holiday, and celebrate with my family and friends everything that I love and am proud to call mine. I was able to work on a lot of my to-do list, run errands, and spend some time with my litter, as well as spend time with a beautiful new baby cousin. Today I am thankful for new babies, the way they smell and sound, and their cute little baby toes!  Especially when I get to hold them, feed them, and them pass them off when they cry or need a diaper change!

Today I am thankful for the craftiness that others possess.  I do have to admit that I am a little  jealous of all of the crafty things that others can create, but I do enjoy looking at everything, and just buying the ones that I cannot live without! At a craft show today we saw paintings, handmade journals, jewelry, jewelry, games, jewelry, and so much more!  It was amazing to see how many things people can create, and how much stuff you never realized that you can't live without. Luckily today we only walked away with a warm pretzel and cheese, but so many days I walk out with handfuls or bagfuls of all these fun things, that I forget why I needed them, but I just wanted to show other people that I am thankful that they can do things that I cannot. What kind of fun things can you create?

Another beautiful wedding on this gorgeous Saturday evening. Today I am thankful for each bride being able to make the day her own.  Down to every last detail.  And details are what filled up tonight. Each table was set just so, the "keys" to life were displayed around the room, on place cards, in shadow boxes, and on the memory table, and the bride even painted a special design to be hung over the fireplace and the bridal table so that the day really was all about her and her groom. My favorite detail was the fact that they hung pictures in our front hallway, over the every day pictures that are there.  This way the guests saw that this was all about them from the moment they came in.  They were tasteful, elegant, and just added so much character to the lobby and tied everything into one beautiful event. What special details do you like to have surrounding you!?

Today I am thankful for GPS, and I realize how important it is in my life. My mom and I went to a sale at the Libbey Glass Factory, and of course we got lost, and of course we were not in a safe neighborhood by anyone's standards.... We even ended up on a bike trail for a few minutes, just thinking that maybe we would just find what we were looking for!  Luckily we were able to get turned around, get on the correct street, make it to the sale, and buy all kinds of goodies, for pennies on the dollar!!! Thank you GPS for making life easier, now if you could just make sure my phone got a signal 100% of the time life would be grand!

Cupcakes!!! Cupcakes made from Scratch!  Delicious flavors, yummy frosting, and they look pretty too! How can I not be thankful for these today?  Sugar Plum Sweets right here in Sylvania made 440 of these beauties for a luncheon at work today.  Of course I had to try one of every flavor, just to make sure they all lived up to my standards! All I can say is.... YUM!  Go check them out, and ask for the peanut butter & chocolate cupcake.... by far my favorite!

On this lovely Wednesday I am thankful that I am able to make my own hours at work, around the events that we have going on. I was able to go to work (at 6 a.m. again :/....) and then go home for a little while before heading back in to finish off the day, and night. I am lucky that I was able to work around what is going on, and not have to fulfill the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours that so many people have to. Today and every day I work around what needs to be done, and not just sitting at a desk staring at the computer waiting for the clock to turn!

Today I am thankful for trade shows and all of the fun stuff that vendors hand out to everyone for free! We had a trade show today for 55 companies in the area.  It was amazing all of the things that were handed out; movie passes, note pads, pens, hand sanitizer, etc.  The things that you can always use, but usually don't want to pay for. My favorite is always note pads.  I love all the different shapes and sizes, and it helps to give me the motivation to start new lists and gives me the goal to work all the way through the stack of paper, before getting bored or moving on to a new idea or set of projects. What kinds of things do you like to get for free?!

Today I am thankful for leftovers. I came home to 9 loads of laundry, dishes, cleaning, working on my "mega project" and I have a long week ahead at work.  I LOVE the fact that I could reach in the fridge and pull out leftovers today. I was able to heat them up, eat between laundry, and get back to my to-do list. Now I am comfortable and in bed at a decent hour while I prepare for my alarm clock to go off, just when my dreams start to get good! I hope everyone else enjoys their dinner, made from scratch, out of the freezer, or restaurant leftovers, just as much as I did!

Today I am thankful that my husband and I can drive around in the car for hours together, and still have something to say to each other. We drove up to Grand Blanc for our nephew's birthday party, and made the long drive home, and decided that we didn't know what we wanted for dinner so we drove around the city just talking and debating, telling each other random stories, and laughing at ourselves and each other. A drive is just a drive to some people, but to us it is where we can actually take time to focus on one another without distractions like dirty dishes, making the bed, laundry, or other people wanting to be part of our conversation.  It is just about us, and being together.

Thankful for beautiful weddings and nice bridal parties.  There are so many days that people just think you are below them because you are working at their event.  It is so wonderful when people actually realize that you are a person, working, but still a person, and that you have feelings, emotions, and take better to kindness then to rudeness. Tonight was a gorgeous wedding, with an amazing bride, groom, and wedding party.  They were all fun-loving, happy, and ready to party!  They had common sense and were as polite as could be. Even their centerpieces had a fun flair to them! Remember, it's the small things that count.  A smile given to someone walking down the road can brighten their day, and yours. Take a chance, Smile at the next person you see!

Coupons!  Sales!  City Cash! Today after work I went with my mom to New York & Co. to use some City Cash that we had.  We also got lucky and had coupons that they let us use as well! Amazing deals were had when we mixed and matched with the sales!  As much as I didn't NEED anything, I really did want a few things, so it was wonderful to get them for 1/2 price or lower! So.... what do you think of my new coat?! Be thankful for retail sales! And coupons to lower the price even more!

It's Thursday, and I am thankful for getting my second wind, just in the nick of time. It was a long day at work.... Going on hour 11, I started getting really tired, thinking about how much longer I needed to be there, and how early (6 a.m. = waaay to early for me) I have to be at work tomorrow.... then I sat down, took a few deep breaths, and drank a cup of coffee, and started my second wind. It got me through the night, and I am now home sweet home, and ready for bed. I hope that tomorrow morning I wake up nice and refreshed, and make it through the day! What are you thankful for today?

Today, I am thankful for lists.  I love lists.  I like to make lists of my goals, books to read, things to do, anything, just like to make the lists. My litter is so used to my lists that they just sleep thru it now ;-) Today I made my lists for habits that I want to work on, updates on my goals for myself, and people that I need to holiday shop for. What do you make lists for?  Are you thankful you can get it all out of your head and on to paper?

Today I am thankful for our right to vote.  It is not a great system, not even good all the time, but we still have the right to walk into our precinct and vote for who we believe in.  Truth being we never know who is the right person until it's too late, but at least we are free to make our choices. We are not threatened or chased away from voting and we are not forced into doing something that we do not believe in (or at least the majority of us don't believe in). On this day remember to take a few minutes and go place your vote.  Don't worry about voting for everything, especially things you don't understand, but at least place a vote - because you can!

Today, as I sit and order my holiday cards, I am thankful for my annual family photo, and the fact that my husband doesn't complain (too much, anymore) that I make him dress in Christmas colors in the middle of fall.   Every year I take a family photo for my holiday cards.   We gather our litter together, set up a tripod, and hope for the best!   I usually take this at the end of October or early November so that I can use the best of the best deals as they come through for free or discounted cards.  I have even been known to pull down a few decor items to spruce up the pictures!   This year we took our picture on October 30th, on our way out the door to the airport.  I finally just sat down to download it to my computer, and good thing I did.... a FREE coupon for 20 photo cards, expiring tomorrow! What is better then free, especially for something that I know that I am going to be buying anyway.  A little planning ahead can save a few bucks in the long run! Here is last ye

Hot tea. Yes, a random thing to be thankful for, but it is something that gets me through many days, nights, and trying times. I love hot tea of most flavors, not all, but too many to list.   I am thankful that I can drink hot tea throughout the day without getting coffee mouth, or over caffeinated, or too many extra calories from drinking things with sugar. I can wake up with tea, I can go to bed with tea, I can warm up with tea, and I can drink tea while trying to clean the house.  Today has been one of those days where I just wanted to cuddle up, relax, play on the computer, and read a book.... so I did, along with multiple cups of hot tea! What is your go-to drink that makes you feel better, no matter what your mood?

On day 3 I focused my thanks on my yard full of creatures. No matter how many times I look out the window, I am always bound to see something of beauty.  I have squirrels running around and burying nuts.  The rabbits are creating homes under my shed.  The birds are building nests in my porch posts.  The leaves are falling. All of this is taken for granted so many times, until I saw how excited my nephew was each time he saw something.  I realized that my backyard is an amazing one, and I am grateful that it is mine each and every day. I have a quaint little pond that my husband put in for "our" animals, and I have a creek that houses dozens of baby ducks in the summer.  I have baby trees, and a hundred year old ash tree, along with just about everything in between. I couldn't have asked for a better view then the bay window looking out from my kitchen, except for maybe the sliding glass doors looking out my living room :) What do you look at every day and never

On the 2nd day of thanks I have found that I am grateful for memories, and the ability to help others create memories. Today we went to tour the Hoover Dam, just outside of Las Vegas.  While we were walking around I noticed that so many couples were trying to take pictures of each other, or take pictures of themselves while holding the camera backwards.  While this works great in a lot of cases, it is not the best way to get a good picture of you WITH the scenery that you are trying to include. I watched as people passed each other by, trying to do take the pictures themselves, but never once offering to help each other, or ask someone for a few seconds to take a picture for them. Knowing how important memories are to me I offered numerous times to many different couples and families to take pictures for them.  I want them to be able to look back in a few days, months, years, and have a really wonderful picture to tell the story of their day.  No, they are not going to remember me

As Thanksgiving draws closer, the spirit of giving is in the air. As many others are giving thanks for something each day, I have decided to do the same.  While I am VERY thankful for many of the things that I see people starting with (husbands, family, friends, pets, etc.) I am going to mention the things that I often forget about, or take for granted.  As I go through each day I plan to find something that I appreciate that I don't usually notice or give credit to. So, for Day 1 of November I am thankful for Breakfast at Tiffany's.   As Sean and I walked around Las Vegas today we decided to go into Tiffany's  to get some of my jewelry cleaned.  While we were in there Sean asked if they carried a telephone dialer, as he does every single time we go into a Tiffany's store.  To me it never gets old, it makes me laugh, as well as appreciate a Classic. Later on we went out to the casino and came across a slot machine themed after Breakfast at Tiffany's.   It

I was just reading Roman's Opinion and came across this statement.... " Family, marriage and competitive forces constantly face caterers and create added stress. Caterers are often faced with choices between work and personal aspects of their life. Imagine being faced with the realization that you have a huge event on the same day as your child’s first play at school and you have to choose between the two. You’re going to have stress simply from the guilt you will feel about letting down either your customer or your family, depending on the choice you make. In my own career as a caterer, I missed many family occasions because I always chose the company first over my personal obligations. I was often stressed in anticipation of the guilt I was going to live with because I was a cateraholic." This really hit home for me, especially as I sit here debating whether or not I should go to a football with my husband that he has been planning for 2 years.  He will go no matter

I have recently been listening to Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University while driving around for the last month.  It has been 13 hours of the very educational listening, including budgets, investing, saving, insurance, everything financial. Today on a business trip I decided to finish up the CDs since I had 3 hours of nothing else, and I have finally taken the "Don't Text and Drive" Pledge (took me long enough...right?). The last CD of the series was Dave's personal testimonial.  It talks about how he got where he is, what made him change his life, and just other things to think about as you move forward in your own journey.  I began listening to how he had everything he had ever wanted in life, but still felt like he was missing something.  For some reason it really hit home and when he started to talk about his journey to find God and church that showed him what he was looking for (and not just get talked at my a pastor) I started thinking about my own pe

I was recently given free coupons to try out the new Glade Expressions air spray and diffuser, from BzzAgent.  I was given the coupons to try the product at no charge, so that I could give my honest opinion.  I decided to go with the Apple Cinnamon scent and I LOVE them!  I went out and got quite a few more during a sale last week so that I could stock up before the winter season when my windows are closed up and no fresh air can get in without us freezing! The air spray lasts for longer then any other air freshener that I have used in the past.  I also love that the container is plain so I can leave it sit out without being a distraction to my decor. The air diffuser is also wonderful.  I have it placed on a table right inside my entry door so that every time I walk in the door I smell the Apple Cinnamon right away.  It helps to fill living room with the scent, and it is wonderful not having to spray anything, move anything, just have the scent around the room. I suggest you t

October, when it finally starts to feel like fall all around us.  It is now time for candles, pie, sweatshirts, and best of all.... CRAZY CAT COSTUMES! My mom stopped by this afternoon, and how could we not take this opportunity to dress up the cats with the costumes that I had laying around,  Needless to say... They were less then thrilled, but still as cute as ever!  (Especially the Roll-Away Pumpkin) It is moments like this that we need to remember the small joys are what make us the happiest, and enjoy every moment for what it is.... a blessing. What have you been blessed with today?

Fall is my favorite season of the year!  I live in an area where the weather gets cooler, leaves change color, cider mills open up, and corn mazes are ready for family fun. I haven't been on this blog much lately, but I have been busy trying to come up with new ways to keep my home and myself organized.  It is a continuous up and down for me as some new ideas work, and others make me fall of the wagon.... I do know that I have gotten better about completing things off of my to-do list, as long as I make my list up ahead of time, and create due dates for the larger items that need to be done. While, blogging has been temporarily moved to the back burner, you will see me here and there.  In the mean time try to check a few of these off of your to-do list this fall.... We all need a little fun in life ;)  

I was given a free coupon from BzzAgent recently to try a variety the new UNREAL Candy Collection.  I decided that a Snickers Bar sounded good, so I tried UNREAL #54.  Much to my shock I discovered that I actually really enjoyed this candy bar. It still had sugar, chocolate, nuts, caramel, everything that I was looking for in picking up a candy bar, but it didn't have all of that.... other stuff.   You know, the stuff you can't pronounce, you don't know what it does or doesn't do, you just know that it is there. This candy bar proved to me that there is no need for all of that extra JUNK to be put into my candy bars, adding to the sugar, fat, and calorie count.  Adding extra chemicals into my body, and just being there for no reason. Next time you are out at the store, try a bite of something UNREAL, you may have just found your next favorite snack! <img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/unrealCandy.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=6106959830&C

I have been trying to look back at my past goals in order to make sure that there is not anything important that I forgot to do... After re-reading June's goal list (see below) I have found that I actually was able to accomplish most of the things that I set out to do. I listed to an audio book that I got from the library, The 100 Ways to Bring Out Your Best I read MORE then 2 books (Including 50 Shades of Grey!) I spent a multitude of time with family and friends, including a 3 day weekend celebrating          my grandma's birthday, and a week at Cub Lake with friends on the boat! I hit my Earning Goal of $1,000 for Surveys and I am on track for another good month! June Goals Re-commit to the  Money Saving Mom's   4 Weeks to Organized Challenge Try 1 New Recipe Each Week, Including Homemade Pizza Pockets Listen to at Least 1 Audio Book Read 2 Books, Hopefully 1 of them is  50 Shades of Grey,  I keep hearing Wonderful Things! Spend More Time with

This is how I choose to live my life.... Pink may not be my favorite color, but I do believe that it brings out the best in girls.

I was recently given the privilege of being part of a BzzAgent Campaign and I was given a multitude of items to try from the Kroger Family of Foods. They included water enhanced with vitamins, tortilla chips, popsicles, and frozen pizza.  I have found that all of these items match up to their nationally branded competitors, bite for bite - if not better! My favorite by far has been the vitamin water.  The flavor was outstanding, and thirst quenching.  I am so excited to go back to the store and grab some more!  The price is so much better then other brands, and even though there are not as  many flavors, I feel that the flavors they do have are much better blended then some other brands I have seen. The tortilla cup chips are also wonderful.  I have had them at a friend's party with Mexican dip and we were able have so much more dip and flavor on our chips then wit a regular chip.  I also recently had them with chili and I think they are great and make mini soup bowls, wh

Now that I am back on the money saving train, and focusing on my long term goals and plans I am here to share one more tidbit that I find helpful. Don't always believe that "One Day Sales" won't be there tomorrow.  Whether they are in the same location or not is one thing, but to think that if you don't buy today you will never have another chance, is just a way to make money off of you. For today only....  we will offer you this $2,500.00 bedroom set for $999.00...   Remember to ask yourself, how much is it at another store? How much do I really  need it in the first place?  Am I absolutely in love with this model?  Do I then get the floor model with all of the scratches and other people jumping around on it? Usually if you have a sales person trying to pressure you in to a sale it is because they know that once you walk out the door and do your research that you will find something better, or less expensive, or both.  They need to make sure that you d

... And in the business I am in, this is GREAT news! I have 3 weddings this weekend, and a birthday party to celebrate 70 years young! Being in the party world gives me me a sense of contentment.  I am able to help people celebrate the things that are most important in their lives, and I get to enjoy once in a lifetime moments almost every weekend.   In between work I plan to spend time with my litter, and get some reading done.  Hopefully I get an email from the library soon letting me know my reserved book in ready for me to pick up, because I am going stir crazy waiting to find out what happens to Ana & Christian ;) I hope that you are spending the weekend with your loved ones, and enjoying what is important to you!

Heading into the weekends we are always looking for something fun to do, good to read, or exciting to see.  I have been a Pinterest follower for the past few months, but I found that I was too busy pinning to actually do anything that I found.  I took a hiatus from the addicting website, along with almost everything else in the computer world over the last 2 months, but I am now back on Pinterest, and ready to share some of my pins.  Hopefully we can all learn something new, try some fun things, and maybe start new lifestyles in the meantime. So for the 1st "Pin of the Week" I have decided to show you how easy it is to make Homemade Foaming Hand Soap, for a FRACTION of the cost of store bought.  I figure that I should start out as easy and possible, and we can work our way up from there! Homemade Foaming Hand Soap I have some free time tonight so I am going to try this out, and I will report back next week, along with a new Pin!

I have always known, and frequently re-learn the fact that if I make goals and lists for myself, then I get so much more accomplished.  I have a plan for the day, and I do not spend as much time as I would just reading and watching TV. I have been making it a priority to make myself a to-do list for the next day before I fall asleep at night.  This allows me to wake up knowing what I need to accomplish throughout the day.  I have found that without this guidance I waste so much time in the morning getting my day started, and deciding what I need to do first, or even what I need to do at all. I have been slacking off the last couple of weeks making my list of goals for the days, weeks, and months that have passed by.  Therefore, I put together a list of goals for August.  I hope that I am able to complete all of them before month's end! *Read 2 Books (Hopefully the Library has 50 Shades Freed available soon!) *Work Out 3x per Week *Finalize Room Arrangements for 2013 Haw

I just realized that I fell off the face of the blog world 8 weeks ago!   I was finally starting to get back on track with organizing, cleaning, and work when I just forgot how to manage my time! Over the last weeks I have made so many memories, enjoyed so much time with family and friends, and traveled to Denver, Cub Lake, Cedar Point, and back home again!  I have celebrated my 4th Wedding Anniversary to the man of my dreams as well as my grandma's 80th Birthday!  I have welcomed a great nephew (Jerry) , an amazing 2nd cousin (Brock), and a beautiful little friend (Sirena) into the world!  And last, but not least, I have decided that I am perfectly at peace with my life, no matter what comes my way. Now that July is finally behind us and August is starting anew, so are my new hopes, dreams, and goals!  I will share them as they become closer to reality, and I have a plan of action on how to handle everything. For this month I am hoping to stop in at least once a day to upda