Happy Halloween

Don't eat too much trick-or-treat candy!

A Little Autumn Color

Taken in our front yard on October 20, 2007...

You can see the rest of the photos I took that early evening here.

Menu Plan Monday #4

October 29 - November 4, 2007

Monday: Quesdillas

Tuesday: Roasted Chicken, WW pasta, asparagus

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Thursday: Sweet & Sour Pork Chops, brown/wild rice, & sugar snap peas

Friday: Penny's Pizza

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers

Thursday Thirteen #35

Thirteen Homes for Sale I Have Fallen For

We are considering a move to a nearby county -- not super seriously, but we have been looking online at homes for sale in a couple cities in that county. I am sure most of you know by now that I have a special place in my heart for older homes. Here are pictures of a few I could love.

~1~
~2~
~3~
a little different than my usual style, but I see potential
~4~
my favorite interior
~5~
Bob's favorite interior & exterior
~6~
not old, but a great newer house that has that old look
~7~
~8~
~9~
~10~

~11~

~12~
my favorite exterior

~13~
another newer home that has a little older home character

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Relief

Man, I am thanking the good Lord for gauze soaked in pain medication even if it tastes like cloves! :) My oral surgeon's assistant packed my dry socket with the previously mentioned gauze & the unbearable pain was gone in less than ten minutes. I have to go back to have it repacked tomorrow morning. That one will remain in until Monday when I visit the dental assistant again for a new one. Monday's packing should be the last, but I am not sure how long it will remain in at this point.

Answered Prayers

Thank you all for your prayers for Carolynn!

All four of Carolynn's biopsies and the unknown tissue were benign! In three months, she will have another FISH test. If it is negative, that means she does not have bladder cancer. If positive, the cancer would be found early and treatment would be minimal.

Thank the Lord for answered prayers!

Dry Socket Sucks!

As you know, I had my wisdom tooth extracted on Thursday afternoon. All the healing was going really well. I had very little pain. The vicodin was a bit strong for me so I stopped taking it, but I was able to manage that pain with Aleve every 4-6 hours. Sunday evening the pain suddenly became unbearable. I did take the vicodin since I was just going to bed. (I cannot tolerate the stuff.) When I woke up yesterday, it seemed slightly better so I did not call the oral surgeon. Well, late last night I woke up with that pain again. It is still here this morning and is shooting up my face, down my jawline, and into my neck. I called the clinic where I had my surgery. Unfortunatly, there is not a dentist in until tomorrow morning. I took a bright & early 8AM appointment.

A warm salt water rinse brings relief for a short time, the Aleve does nothing, and I won't take the vicodin unless it's bed time because I can't function. I need to be able to pick Olivia up from school. Then I may take one and head to bed. So much for working on quilts and the bathroom today! Grrrr!

Time for Your Mammogram?

Today is National Mammography Day! Is it time for you to schedule your mammogram? I made my appointment today for my November mammogram. Don't put it off...

Early detection saves lives!

Ouch!

I had a wisdom tooth pulled this afternoon! Boy, am I hurting right now. The vicodin the oral surgeon prescribed doesn't seem to be helping the pain, but it sure is making me lightheaded/dizzy! I'm not liking the dental profession at the moment.

On the other hand, I am very excited about my next dental appointment. I know that sounds silly, but I will be getting a new crown on one of my front teeth. Yes, one of the ones made famous in the All I Want for Christmas song...lol! I think the dentist would call it #9!

When I was 8, I feel off my bike I didn't get my hands down quick enough to break my fall and ended up hitting my mouth on the road. I broke off part of my tooth. From that summer until I was 18 I had this horrible looking temporary cap. This cap broke a few years later, was discolored; and I was always so self conscious of it. The spring of my senior year it was time for it to be replaced. While I was thrilled with it at the time because it was such an improvement over the broken, yellowed temporary one it replaced, it just never looked "good". Some of that is the products that were available at the time, but some of it was the skill of the dentist making the molds & doing the color matching. This one never made me as uncomfortable as the temporary, but it wasn't anything to brag about either.

On November 5, I go in for the prep work for that new crown. On November 19, it will be installed. I know it won't be "my" tooth, but I know it will be a big improvement on what I have now! So bring on Dr. Grant! :)

Thursday Thirteen #34

Thirteen Things in My "Beauty Arsenal"

I thought I would have a little fun with this week's Thursday Thirteen by listing 13 of my favorite things that are part of my daily take-care-of-me routine.

1. Bath & Body Works Midnight Pomegranate body wash

2. Bath & Body Works Midnight Pomegranate body creme

3. Venus razor (admittedly not daily once the weather turns cold! *snicker*)

4. Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser

5. Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer (SPF 15)

6. Neutrogena Visibly Even Night Concentrate (I recently switched to this Neutrogena line, and I totally love it.)

7. Everyday Minerals Fairly Light Foundation (I don't know what I did before I discovered mineral make-up. I love this stuff!!)

8. Everyday Minerals Blush in Waffle Cone (I just got this color & I absolutely love the bit of sparkle in this shade.)

9. Chi Flat Iron

10. any brand flat iron spray

11. L'Oreal Telescopic mascara in blackest black

12. L'Oreal Telescopic liquid eyeliner

13. Any brand glossy lip color

NOTE: The new TT banner is courtesy of Missy at Observations at Missy's Window. Thank you Missy!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Prayers for Carolynn

My dear friend, Carolynn, is facing a bladder cancer diagnosis. A few weeks ago she tested positive on a FISH test. FISH is very accurate (95%) and highly sensitive, but is not a definite diagnosis of bladder cancer. A positive FISH indicates abnormal growth/a possible tumor. As follow-up to the FISH, Carolynn had had a CT IVP. The CT IVP came back negative which means any cancer has not left her bladder.

As I write this, she is in surgery -- having a cystoscopy/TURB. At least four areas will be biopsied and any growth or abnormalities will be removed.

Next she will have to wait for pathology results. If the cancer diagnosis is confirmed, a treatment plan will be put in place. If the biopsies come back negative, she will have to wait three months and repeat the procedures. Bladder cancer is a recurring disease, and it could take a more time before it shows itself beyond the FISH.

Please keep her in your thoughts & prayers.

I love you, Carolynn, my dear friend!

Menu Plan Monday #3

October 15 - October 21, 2007

Monday: Beef Burgundy, WW Egg Noodles, and Broccoli

Tuesday: Taco Casserole, Corn

Wednesday: Crockpot Lemon Pepper Chicken, Green Beans, and Spinach Salad

Thursday: Split Pea with Ham soup and rye bread

Friday: Quesdillas

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

Ford's Warriors In Pink

For 2007 Ford has added a little more excitement to their Warriors in Pink campaign. They have enlisted celebrities to join them in the fight against breast cancer by decorating and signing 1/18^th scale models of the 2008 Mustang with Warriors in Pink package. These Warriors in Pink models will be listed on eBay.com beginning October 15, 2007. The auctions will run through October 25, 2007. All all proceeds raised benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Celebrities include:

David Arquette & Courteney Cox

Kelly Clarkson
Toby Keith
Richard Simmons
Cast of General Hospital
Cast of Young & The Restless

Cast of Grey's Anatomy

Cast of Desperate Housewives
Cast of Brothers and Sisters
Laurie Force (wife of Legendary NHRA John Force, mother of Ashley, Brittany and Courtney)
Ashley Force (driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car)
Brittany Force (driver of the Brand Source Super Comp dragster)
Courtney Force (driver of the Brand Source Super Comp dragster)

This is Ford's 13^th year of support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To date, Ford has dedicated more than $90 million to fighting breast cancer and saving lives.

The 2007 Warriors in Pink apparel & gear along with the limited edition 2008 Mustang with Warriors in Pink package show Ford's dedication to making a difference.

For more information on the Warriors in Pink campaign, visit fordcares.com.

A Big Hit

Sunday afternoon was my cousin's wife's (guess that makes her my cousin-in-law...lol) baby shower. They are having a girl & are registered a couple places. I just HATE buying gifts off registries. I use them as a guideline for colors, styles, and other preferences like that, but I almost never buy something directly off the registry. I wanted to do something different for Angie's baby girl's gift and decided on a diaper cake. I think it turned out great...


There was oohing & aahing the whole time it was passed around the room. I am very pleased with the way the "cake" turned out! It's amazing what you can do with a bunch of diapers, a receiving blanket, baby socks, and ribbon.

Thursday Thirteen #33

Thirteen Quotes

My Thursday Thirteen is back after an inadvertent two week hiatus. Today I bring you thirteen quotes I have seen recently that I loved!

1. A love affair with knowledge will never end in heartbreak. ~ Michael Garrett Marino

3. The real problem of leisure time is how to keep others from using yours. ~ Arthur Lacey

4. Map out your future – but do it in pencil. The road ahead is as long as you make it. Make it worth the trip. ~ Jon Bon Jovi

5. A kiss is just a pleasant reminder that two heads are better than one. ~ Author Unknown

6. Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. ~ John Wooden

8. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. ~ Carl G. Jung

9. Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume. ~ Jean de Boufflers

10. He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything. ~ Arabian proverb

11. The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination. ~ Marian Zimmer Bradley

12. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. ~ Winston Churchill

13. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. ~ Anonymous

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Finally!

I have been hoping Olivia would get interested in some sort of activity at school, but I didn't want to push her into anything she didn't really enjoy -- like sports. A couple of her friends joined the stage crew for the school & community plays, and she decided she wanted to join as well.

Last night was her first night & she already had paint on one of the pockets of her jeans. Luckily, I was able to get most of the paint out. What didn't come out isn't noticeable so the jeans weren't a complete loss. Today she brought a change of clothes -- without being told.

I know I have mentioned in the past that she would struggle with getting assignments in on time and being prepared for tests. I am happy to say so far this year she is doing really well. She hasn't missed an assignment and most of her test grades are really good. There were a couple pop quizzes that should have been better, but her overall her grades are WAY above where they would have been in that past at this point in the year. We are so proud of her.

I guess she has finally learned from all the years of mom & dad nagging talking with her!

Happy 38th

To my favorite QB! ;)

Menu Plan Monday #2

A couple of the meals planned for last week got moved to this week. I just didn't feel like baking a ham when our temps were in the mid to high 80s. The high temps are breaking right now. Tomorrow should bring perfect weather for using an oven.

October 8 - October 14, 2007

Monday: Leftovers from dining out over the weekend

Tuesday: Baked Ham, Buttered WW Egg Noodles, and Asparagus

Wednesday: Turkey Tenderloins, Green Beans, Salad

Thursday: Scalloped Potatoes & Ham, Peas, WW Rolls

Friday: Quesadillas

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

Around the World in 5K

I am going to do a 5k in a little over a month. Erin will be joining me once again. On November 18, 2007, we will be doing the Around the World in 5k. This year's Around the World in 5K is the 7th annual 5K run/walk through Wisconsin's State Fair Park. Portions of it will even be on the Milwaukee Mile. After the race we are invited to stay for the Holiday Folk Fair International -- FREE. There is a World Café at the fair with many foods made with cherished recipes that have been passed down through generations. I haven't been to the Folk Fair in years so I am really looking forward to this.

Running Right Along

Have you ever "accidentally" ran/walked 6.19 miles instead of 3.1? Well, I have...LOL!

My friend Erin & I decided we would go running down by the lake front for a change of scenery. Neither of us remembered to map a route along the trails to figure out how far we really needed to go. So we just thought of a spot and ran to it. Well, it turned out to be a LONG way. Needless to say, we weren't able to run much of the way back to the car, but we did run most of the way there.

ACK!

This is the second week in a row that I forgot to do a Thursday Thirteen! I will bring it back next week -- provided I remember...lol!

At Risk of Sounding Like Al Gore...

LOL!

I hate plastic bags! I mean I hate them with a passion not just because of how long they take to breakdown when the end up in landfills, but also for the way the multiply in my house. I read the the average family brings home 500 - 1,000 of these bags every year. I know most of mine end up in the trash which ends up in a landfill. Did you know those plastic bags do not biodegrade? They photodegrade which means they break down into tiny toxic pieces that can contaminate water & soil.

Given those reasons a couple weeks ago I decided I needed to find a new option. I ordered Envirosax. They are available to order individually or in a pouch. Ordering the pouch saves you a bit per bag plus gives you all the designs in the series you choose. The Envirosax roll up into an easy to keep with you size. When they are rolled up, they remind of me cute, little sleeping bags...lol!

They arrived yesterday, I used them today, and I LOVE them. Bye bye plastic bags!

Those compact fluorescent light bulbs are another story. I hate 'em, but I am giving one a chance! Just one though!

Fog, Fog, Fog and More Fog

It's that time of year in Southeastern Wisconsin -- Fog season! We have had pretty bad fog the last few days. This morning the visibility was down near zero. More is rolling in now, but the rain coming overnight will clear it out. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a sunny, beautiful autumn day.

Menu Plan Monday #1

Each day around lunch time I begin to think what in the world am I going to make for dinner. I have decided I NEED to plan my menu out at the beginning of each week. The plan is, of course, not set in stone, but it will allow me to have a plan to follow. It also allows me to make sure I have all the ingredients I need to prepare each meal in the house. Yes, even with my stockpile from playing the Grocery Game, I run out of things occasionally. Usually, it is a produce, dairy, or meat product, but I do run out.

In my travels around the blog world, I ran across Menu Plan Monday. If I make menu planning a little fun, maybe I will keep it up. I know I will find new recipes in the process, and that is always fun.

Here it goes...

October 1 - October 8, 2007

Monday: Quesadillas

Tuesday: Chicken Stir-Fry, WW Fettucini

Wednesday: Saucy Italian Pork Chops, Brown Rice

Thursday: Turkey Tenderloins, Green Beans, Salad

Friday: Baked Ham, Buttered WW Egg Noodles, and Asparagus

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers