I Nearly Fell Out of My Chair - 50 Gold Stars for Zen!

Zen gave me the BEST present EVER for my birthday this year!!!!!! Check out these cards, but I think you know which one I liked best:

Yep, that's funny!



Is that not the funniest Halloween joke ever?!! Love these guys!!
That's some CRUSTY chili-cheese-trucker-butt!

Oh, my unholy monkeys!! That is the funniest thing ever!!! I just about fell out of my chair.

The laughter went on, and on, and on...

Why I'm So Uncultured

I woke Connor up this morning, the slug-a-bed monkey, and as he's scratching his rear end, he says, "My butt's all cracky." Oh. My. Word. I'm surrounded by heathens! It's no wonder I have no aspirations to the country club.

Mini Yearbook - Girls' Getaway Weekend

Happy Circles patterned paper
8x8 album pages
Botanico Blue Oak patterned paper
8x8 album pages

Here are a few sample ideas using Chatterbox patterned paper and Bazzill cardstock. I can order wholesale from Chatterbox and Bazzill Basics, but these wholesalers often have long delivery times, so I'm not sure what we can get at this point. Another option is just for everyone to bring their white cardstock and a pen, and we'll just pass around paper to write cute notes on. Regardless, nobody has to haul their scrapbooking gear, just bring a pen.

Ooooh! I just had another great idea! Everyone bring 2" pics of yourself, all identical, and we'll exchange them. I can diecut little tag books, where each fat tag (maybe 4"x7") has a little frame at the top (1-3/4" opening), and we can sign the "tags", then tie the tag book together with a ribbon. Quick, easy, but totally cute, si? Here are a few sample pics:

I could also include an extra tag for each pic, so there would be two "autograph" tag pages for each picture. Fall colors could be tied with raffia, neutral tones with silver ribbon, or bright colors with white or black ribbon. But everyone get back to me quick, so I can order paper in the next few days!!!!

Multiplying like Tribbles

Do you keep lists? I do, and my "To Do" list feels like it's totally out of control. Here is an impromptu list of things I want to get done, from the mundane to the important, in no particular order:
1. Fix Zen's Palm Pilot, so it will play MP3's
2. Organize all my scrapbooking supplies into sale items for eBay
3. Photograph said scrapbooking items
4. Package and calculate the shipping for said scrapbooking items
5. Write the auction descriptions for said items
6. Organize garage for garage sale on Oct. 4th
7. Order Gil and Connor's new bunk bed
8. Clean kitchen floor
9. Clean bathrooms
10. Vacuum stairs & tv room
11. Clean off computer shelf & take items to my craftroom
12. More, and more, and more, and more ...

I'm So Close!!!

No, I haven't broken the 200 pound barrier, but I am so close. I weighed myself at the rec center yesterday, and I was only 208 pounds!!! I am so psyched. I haven't weighed this little since before I started having kids, and that was 14 years ago! Instead of gaining weight after having a kid, I have managed to lose weight this time. Yes!!!! I wear a size 18 now, and I am just about out of the "fat girls" clothing department. I can't wait until I'm a 16, and I am so positive I can do it before Christmas. I'm hoping Santa brings me a new wardrobe makeover!!!

What has made the difference? I think I have finally conquered my food issues, in the sense that I just don't pig out anymore. I don't use food to manage my emotional issues, from simple things like boredom to more intense emotions like high stress. When it comes to feeding myself, I rarely have more than one serving, and I try to serve myself on a salad-sized plate, instead of a dinner plate. I really think that over time, I've managed to shrink my stomach. You may not notice my new eating skills at family events, because I still have a weakness for celebrating with food, but my day-to-day eating habits have really altered for the better. And seriously, I enjoy exercising. It's not that every second is a joy, quite the opposite in fact. I have to push myself very hard, but it's the emotional high I get from rockin' my workout, and striving for my personal best that keeps me doing it.

Who Says Boys Don't Like Babies?

Gil is so cute with Emma. He loves her so much! Although, being a dork with her seems to be his form of affection, but that's okay, I still know he loves her.

The Beast Within

This was me, minus the nasty slobber.

Are my meds really necessary? This is a question I have secretly asked myself the last couple months, because I have felt great since I left the doctor's office two months ago, before I even took the first pill. You know, was it a placebo effect? Just knowing that I was on medication made it all better? I think I got my question answered this last Tuesday. I ran out of pills a little over a week ago, and couldn't get anymore because Zen has switched jobs (I should blog that, shouldn't I?), and we don't get the new health insurance benefits until Oct 1st. I went in to fill my prescription, and without pharmacy benefits, it would cost me $144.00! No way! I'll go without my medicine, I concluded. Well, I couldn't see any difference until last Tuesday, when the Crazy Beast showed up in my head, and I felt like ripping everyone a new one, you know what I mean? The little stuff, which I handle pretty fabulously these days, just totally bugged the crud out of me, for no good reason, and I felt like I had to try ten times as hard not to be a beast. I just had to vent with my sister Sue, who suggested that I get some free samples from my doctor. Eureka! That's what I did, and the man graciously gave me a month's supply, even though I only needed a week to tide me over. Hallelujah!!!!