Menu Plan Monday #5

With the new year upon us, I have decided to get back into the habit of planning and posting my menu plan each Monday. I haven't been very good about planning since I posted my last Menu Plan Monday menu. Planning means fewer sandwiches and last minute runs to the store for some sort of meat that isn't frozen rock solid. It also means less eating out & healthier meals. It's time to PLAN again!!

January 7 - January 13, 2007

Monday: Oven "Fried" Chicken Breasts, Sautéed Asparagus, Steamed Cauliflower

Tuesday: Chili Rubbed Flank Steak, Long Grain Rice, Corn

Wednesday: Chicken Orecchiette, Salad, Crusty Bread with Olive Oil and Parmesan Cheese for Dipping

Thursday: Crock Pot Beef Casserole, WW Egg Noodles, Seasoned Green Beans

Friday: Quesdillas

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

Breast Cancer: Dorothy Hamill

The 1976 Olympic ice skating champion has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing treatment. Her rep says her prognosis is favorable, but she will have to take some time off from skating.

source: people.com

The Other Boleyn Girl

I just found out today that The Other Boleyn Girl starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Eric Bana is coming to the big screen in February 2008! I read the book by Philippa Gregory about 3 years ago, and fell in love with this author immediately. I have since read read many of her books. This will definitely be on my list of movies to see.

New Flickr Photos

I have uploaded a few new pictures to my flickr account & hope to be adding more in the next few days. I still need to edit & organize, but they are ready for viewing.

taken during the snow storm on Friday, December 28

Happy New Year

May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions. -- Joey Adams

This made me chuckle & I just couldn't resist posting it!

Simple Things

While on my blog travels this morning a quote Shelbi has on her blog, Keeper of the Chocolates, caught my eye. I thought I would share it with you all.

Teach us to delight in simple things. -- Rudyard Kipling

I am constantly working to simplify my life & enjoy the simple things. I have made progress, but still need to work on making that a permanent change.

Mr. Boomer

enjoying today's snow

Chevy doesn't enjoy the snow so much. Boomer is outside watching Chevy while he sticks only his head out the doggy door to check out the weather conditions. I wish I could get a picture of him doing that, but when I move to get the camera Chevy follows.

Another Snow Storm

We have been hit by a major snow storm every weekend in the month of December, and this weekend is no exception. Snow is falling pretty heavily right now. We are supposed to get 6-8 inches of the wet, heavy stuff again. The trees are coated in a fresh coat of white, I don't have to leave the house, and I am loving it!

The first storm back in early December the City of Milwaukee did a horrible job of clearing the streets. Now with every major storm we have had since the news stations air a news conference with either the head of the DPW or a spokesman who tells the plan to clear the streets. Something tells me they didn't have these conferences before and they just went without airing.

The city where I live just stinks when it comes to clearing the streets. There have been times there probably wasn't even a plow down our streets. I bet the streets in front of the Mayor's house are clear. Remind me again why we pay sky high property taxes. I thought part of our tax dollars went to garbage pick up & snow plowing.

Droopy Tree

Here's that dry, droopy tree I was telling you about yesterday. Nothing like ornaments & lights resting on the floor. Not to mention the bare area between the drooping branches and the part that was still OK.





And it's the first tree on our street to sit curbside and wait to be mulched! :(

2007's Trees

I realized this morning that I hadn't posted pictures of our Christmas trees this year. Well, here they are...


The one on the left is the artificial we put in the family room. The tree on the right is in the living room and can you believe that is a real tree? (Sorry about the picture quality!) I have never seen a real tree shaped so "perfectly" and so full. It doesn't look so good today and will be coming down tomorrow. The branches just kept dropping further & further. There are ornaments & lights touching the floor. I'll take a picture before I start taking it down tomorrow so you all can get a laugh out of it as I have.

Merry Christmas...

from our house to yours! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Day surrounded by those you love.

Frenchy Bag: Pic & Grade

I'm so proud of Olivia! She got her graded purse back today! Her teacher wrote "very impressive work" on her project evaluation sheet. Olivia scored 98 out of 100 possible points. She lost a point each on cut edges lined up & notches, seams and other markings lined up. I suspect that is because of the one tiny spot on the side seam where the red contrasting band & the main panel don't line up perfectly, but heck I have seen worse in ready made items.

Here's a crop of the fabric so you can see the cute little buttons & dots. The lining is the opposite of the button fabric.

Not bad for a first timer, hey?

Another Sewer in the Family

When Olivia signed up for her classes last winter, she signed up for a clothing class. She has that class this term and just finished her first project. She made Amy Butler's Frenchy bag, and it turned out fabulous. In true Olivia fashion, she chose red, black & white fabrics!

She hasn't gotten it back from grading yet. As soon as she does, I will share a picture.

NFL Game or Jessica Simpson Show?

Was anyone else as sick of seeing shots of Tony Romo's new girl, Jessica Simpson, during the Eagles vs. Cowboys game? It drives me crazy when I am watching a sporting event, and we get bombarded by shots of the celebrities who are in the crowd.

News alert to networks: Fans tune in to see the event not the celebs in the stands!!

About My Christmas

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both -- I prefer wrapping paper, but when a gift is an odd shape there is nothing better than wrapping it with a bit of tissue paper & putting it into a bag.

2. Real tree or artificial?
Both -- real in the living room & artificial in the family room.

3. When do you put your tree up?
The artificial goes up the Monday after Thanksgiving & the real usually goes up the first weekend in December.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Real one comes down sometime shortly after New Year's Day. The artificial is taken down by January 10.

5. Do you like egg nog?
NO!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I was a teen, but the best gift would have to be the HUGE box of quilt pieces cut out of vintage fabrics & the quilt book my mom found with a book that had a quilt pattern that could use those pieces.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, it's the Jim Shore set & I love it!

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Definitely my mother-in-law.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My Mom, Bob & Olivia

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail, but I do send a few e-cards.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I'm going to invoke my Fifth Amendment Right on this one! ;)

12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Nester, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Unless sending it to Goodwill counts as recycling, I have never recycled a gift.

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cookies!!

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear lights on both trees.

16. Favorite Christmas song?
O, Holy Night

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We go to my parents on Christmas Day. Mom's for an early lunch & Dad's for dinner/dessert. When Bob's parents lived in town we spent Christmas Eve with them.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yes -- Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and the most famous reindeer of all Rudolph. (My least favorite Christmas song, by the way)

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We open on Christmas morning, but will be starting a new tradition this year. I discovered it while reading traditions of many bloggers last year. We each will open one gift on Christmas Eve -- it will be new jammies to wear so we can be pretty in our new jammies for Christmas Morning pictures. :)

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Political Incorrectness Alert: That the word Christmas is being replaced by Holiday for nearly every Christmas tradition there is ie trees, lights, decorations, parties, etc.

21. Favorite ornament on the tree?
I would say right now it is the one I bought at the Holiday Folk Fair the day I ran in the 5K last month.

22. Favorite thing to eat for Christmas dinner?
Cookies -- oh wait, that says dinner...LOL! It depends if the menu has ham or turkey. If the menu calls for ham, then it is the cheesy potatoes. If the menu calls for turkey, it's the stuffing! YUM-O!

23. Do you decorate the outside of your house?
We usually do, but the cold and snow hit us much earlier and harder this year than usual so we never got them up.

24. Does Santa wrap his gifts or leave them upwrapped?
Santa wraps, but in different paper than I do! :)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
To spend quality time with my family & friends. My dad's heart attack this year hit me really hard. Harder than I thought, I guess. I have had a hard time being excited about the preparations for Christmas Day. The gifts, the decorations, etc all go away, but relationships with those we love are what's really important. (I don't mean for that to sound preachy, sappy, cliche. That is honestly how I have felt about Christmas this year.)

Now tell me about your Christmas! If you are so inclined, copy & paste this and replace my answers with yours! If you do play along, let me know so I can stop by and read about your Christmas traditions, likes, dislikes, hopes, etc.

Breast Cancer Research Stamp

Since its introduction, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has raised more than $55 million for breast cancer research putting it among the most successful commemorative stamps of all time.

Congress has passed legislation extending the Breast Cancer Research Stamp four more years, through 2011. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Tuesday, and the Senate followed the next night. The bill now awaits signature by President Bush.

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Representative William Lacy Clay (D-MO) spearheaded the effort extend the life of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. Take a moment to say thank you to these CHAMPIONS!

Joss Stone

Have you heard Joss Stone's cover the the Nat King Cole classic L-O-V-E in the Channel commercials? It is AMAZING!

If you haven't heard it and would like to, you can listen to it on her myspace page. It can also be purchased from iTunes!!

I see a music theme developing this week!

Alicia Keys

from people.com: "I'm dating myself ... No, I'm serious. She's this beautiful woman ... her name is Alicia, I'm getting to know her better and taking her out. I'm taking her where she wants to go and she's learning new things. She's having a good time."

Now, Alicia has the right idea...LOL!! Can you "date" yourself when you're married? *snicker*

Answered Prayers

Our family is extremely thankful for your prayers. The SSA approved my dad's disibility! It's still going to be tight for a little while, but at least they will have some income.

Physically, my dad is doing well and continues to improve. Today was his last cardiac rehab session. He received a diploma that he now wants to frame and hang on the wall in his rec room. What a goof ball! :)

NFC North Champions

I sure didn't see this coming in the pre-season. I picked the Green Bay Packers to be 5-11 this season! I know that wasn't very optimistic, but we're the youngest team in the NFL even with a 38-year-old quarterback! ;) Good thing I am not the gambling type who would have put money on that pick...LOL!

Olivia's Words

Olivia called from her best friend's house this morning to say, "Thank you for letting me go to the concert. It was AMAZING!"

I could hear her BFF giggling in the background. They both had a good time and they were still giddy from the whole experience. My girlie & her friend were a bunch of giggle gooses! :)

Friendship

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. -- Elisabeth Foley

When Little Girls Grow Up...

they get chunky blonde hi-lites...

they may add a "funky" color...

and they go to their first concert! Olivia & her best friend are going to see the Jonas Brothers tomorrow night! The show they are going to is without Hannah Montana. I don't think the girls would have wanted to go it she was going to be part of the show.

Technological Upgrades

The weekend after Thanksgiving we upgraded from a 27 inch TV we bought in 1999 to a 42 inch LCD TV! Since the box on that TV was only standard definition not the wonderful HD, that meant a satellite upgrade was required too! Today was the day!The wonderful tech had to go through all that fresh snow we got last night & this morning. He did it without complaints or grumbles about the weather.

It's nice to have HD & DVR on one receiver in one room. The box in the living room will need to be upgraded at some point to get all the available HD channels, but we don't watch that one much so that can wait until the price of the HD & DVR combo boxes come down in price a bit more.

Back to the wonderful tech, would you believe he took off his snowy boots and slipped on a pair of Crocs to walk on our carpeting? How do I get Bob & Olivia to keep their wet and/or shoes off the carpeting...lol!

Round Two

We finished with round one overnight Saturday! Some areas of Milwaukee are still a mess, but Ole Mother Nature doesn't care. The snow has begun to fall again -- should be 2-4 inches by the time it is done tomorrow morning. Us lucky folks near Lake Michigan could get another 1-2 inches of lake effect accumulations!

I know someone who would like this forecast as long as she can stay in the house!

Thank You

Shelbi over at Keeper of the Chocolates have awarded me with the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award! She says I always have sweet things to say, but we all know she is the sweet one! :)

There are so many Rockin' Girl Bloggers out there that I don't even know who to name. Is it a cop out to name everyone listed in my sidebar? LOL! It probably is so I will name a few...

Carolynn (Your journal counts as a blog, right? LOL!) is the most amazing, inspirational woman I know. I am honored to call her friend!

Martha tells hilarious stories and loves to give "tours" of homes for sale in her area. She's tempting me to move to Minnesota. (Don't think you will turn me into a Vikings fan though...LOL!)

Mrs. Jones has wonderful decorating & organizing ideas! Need an idea and decorating plan for a party theme? She's your lady!

Frightful

Yep, we can use that word to describe the weather outside! Around noon today the snow began to fall! By about 4:30 about four inches had fallen, and sleet began to fall. The freezing rain began a little bit ago.

By about midnight the temps will rise enough that we will just have rain, and maybe even a thunderstorm.

Pretty strange weather day, wouldn't you say? That storm system is pretty huge so I am sure many of you are getting hit with it as well. Hope you are all safe and snuggled up at home!

UGH!

Cowboys 37
Packers 27
Favre injured (I think I heard the entire state gasp!)

As soon as it was announced that Woodson, Rouse, and KGB wouldn't play, I knew it was going to be an up hill battle. That Bigby stinks!

Big Game Tonight

Dallas vs. Green Bay
Cowboys vs. Packers
10-1 vs. 10-1

I'm all set to cheer on my team and favorite Packer, NFL sack leader, Aaron Kampman!!



(I still can't believe we're 10-1!)

24: The Unaired 1994 Pilot

A local talk radio host posted this on his blog. I was SO hilarious that I knew I had to share it with you guys!

1994 24 Pilot from CollegeHumor.com.

Think HUGE phones, pagers, AOL, perferated printer paper, etc.

Pregnancy & Cancer

A familiar story & the story of another.

It is amazing how far cancer treatments have come, but we cannot stop fighting until we beat this horrible disease!

2008 Danskin Triathlon Race Schedule

Yesterday while browsing the Danksin Triathlon website, I ran across the schedule for next year. Registration will open around Februaray 7, 2008! Anyone care to join me? :)

F5, Springsteen, the E Street Band

It has been a LONG time since I sat at my computer hitting F5 waiting for something to go on sale.

Bob is a HUGE Bruce Springsteen fan! Springsteen & the E Street Band are coming to town on March 17, tickets go on sale in less than 8 minutes, and here I sit hitting that F5! Remember those GoCollect ordering days? Hopefully, this will go a little more smoothly and I won't end up with a headache...LOL!!

ETA: The ordering went just fine and took less than four minutes. A far cry from those GoCollect Just the Right Shoe exclusive ordering days...lol! I guess ticketmaster.com has experience with web traffic from crazed fans!

The Snow Is Falling

Our first snowfall of the season began a few minutes ago. We had a few flurries last weekend, but there was nothing to measure. Most of our area will get 2-4, but closer to Lake Michigan (where our house is) will most likely be 1-3. The temps near The Lake, as we call it, are slightly warmer this time of year so we will have more rain than the rest of the area.

She's Home

Aubrie is home now! She will wear a monitor for at least the next week when she will be seen by her doctor again. It is still unclear what caused her to stop breathing, but Aaron & Angie are thankful to have their little darling home in time for Thanksgiving.

Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers!

Prayers for Aubrie

Please say a little prayer for my cousin, his wife and their newborn daughter.

Aubrie was born Thursday afternoon and went home Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning when my cousin's wife went in for Aubrie's 3AM feeding, she found her blue & not breathing. My cousin's wife did CPR until the paramedics arrived, and they were able to get her breathing again. Aubrie is now at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. The doctors have done many tests, but are still uncertain of the cause. She is doing OK last I heard late this morning, but will remain in the hospital for at least the next 48 hours.

Around the World in 5K (Part 2)

I am just home from the 5K & the Folk Fair I mentioned back in October. It was a great run! Cold temps, rain/sleet/flurries had been forecasted for the day, but it turned out to be a nice day for a run. Temps were right around 40 when the 5K got under way, the sun was out, and the winds were light.

I only slowed to a quick walk pace twice. I estimate I walked a total of 35-35 steps to bring my heart rate down and catch my breath a bit. My time was 32:48 (Erin beat me by one second!). That is an HUGE improvement from the 43:40 in the Danskin.

My goal is to be able to run a 5k in under 30 by the 2008 Danskin! I'm taking a little time off to let my weary body rest, but I will be running again soon.

Reminder

Don't forget Project Runway Season 4 starts tonight! Is your TiVo/DVR all set?

It's Fragrant Lilac

The walls in our bathroom are finally painted. It's only been torn apart since July! The plans made so many months ago are coming to be and should be done over the weekend.

Oh speaking of the bathroom plans, now that the walls are painted I don't hate the vanity top in there. I think the problem was all those stinkin' different greens going on. What an improvement!!

I'll post before & after pictures once the makeover is complete!

I Heart This Music

Colbie Caillat's Bubbly is favorite song at the moment!

What's your favorite song right now?

Psst...Carolynn, If you haven't already, you may want to download it! ;)

The Alternative Pumpkin Pie

Doesn't this look divine?

It's Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust. The recipe is at cleanhomejournal.com. Anyone else tempted to try this? I know I am extremely tempted!!

Thursday Thirteen #37

I don't feel the creative list making vibe today so for this week's Thursday Thirteen I am "borrowing" an an idea from Kelle!

Thirteen Things that Happened on November 8

1. In 1793, the Louvre opened as a public museum in Paris by the French revolutionary government. Prior to being a public museum, it was a royal palace for more than two centuries.

2. In 1864, President Lincoln was elected to his second term.

3. In 1866, the founder of the Austin Motor Company, Herbert Austin, was born in England.

4. In 1887, Doc Holliday, Old West gunslinger, gambler, and "part-time" dentist, died from tuberculosis.

5. In 1895, physicist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen discovered x-rays.

6. In 1900, Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind was born in Atlanta, GA.

7. In 1923, Adolf Hitler launched the Beer Hall Putsch. This was his first attempt at seizing control of the German government.

8. In 1939, the 16th anniversary of Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch, a bomb exploded just after Hitler finished giving a speech. Hitler was not harmed by the explosion.

9. In 1945, the passage of the Revenue Act of 1945 started an extensive post-war revision of the nation's tax system and cut taxes by $6 billion.

10. In 1958, the Ford Motor Company decided on the name "Edsel" for a new model in development for that market year. This model was a new addition to the Ford family of automobiles and was a tribute to Edsel Bryant Ford. Edsel served as company president from 1919 until his death in 1943.

11. In 1960, John F Kennedy was elected President.

12. In 1974, a Salt Lake City, UT resident narrowly escaped an abduction by serial killer Ted Bundy.

13. In 1992, Jacky Vranken, daredevil from Belgium, set the record for the highest speed attained while performing a wheelie on a motorcycle.

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!

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Real Simple's Daily Thought

About a year ago I had a free trial subscription to Real Simple magazine. While I love an organized & simplified life, it just wasn't the type of magazine I like read so I canceled that subscription. I did, however, continue to subscribe to their Daily Thought emails. Each day they send an email with a quote and a few links to articles on their website. Most of the time I read the daily thought & immediately delete the email. Other days one of the article titles will catch my attention and I will read it. Today is simply read the quote and delete day, but I couldn't delete the email without sharing the quote!

To talk without thinking is to shoot without aiming. — Greg Clarke

Not a Shocker...lol!

You Are Not Messy

You're so clean, people have accused you of being a clean freak! You like things tidy, organized, and smelling fresh. Messes drive you crazy, especially when you didn't make them. It's hard for you to live with a slob - or someone who leaves their dishes in the sink.

Are You Messy?

Oh Boy!

Things here have been crazy since I was last here on Thursday! I ended up stay-in-bed-or-on-the-couch sick ALL day Friday & most of Saturday!

Of course, Sunday is football & race day! Woohoo; Packers baby! We're 7-1! I can't believe it and keep waiting for the bottom to fall out because aside from Brett (and my man Aaron Kampmann) we aren't that great. The next three weeks are kind of scary -- Minnesota, Detroit, and Dallas! I will be holding my breath all through those games...LOL!! The race didn't go so well!

Yesterday was another visit to the dentist. This time it is for that new crown I told you about a while back. The old crown is off, a temporary is in it's place, and the new crown order has been sent to the dental lab. I have to stop in there tomorrow for color match. Even the temporary is a HUGE improvement from the old crown.

Today was my day with grandma. She has been having some trouble with her right knee lately. She wasn't walking to well today so she wanted to cut the day short a bit. We went to her toe nail clipping apointment and the grocery stores. We had lunch at Culver's, and YES; I had frozen custard. ;) I needed, maybe even deserved, something soft & cold with all the dental work I have had done recently.

I have had a little time with all that going on to work a little on a quilt project and finally get all the wallpaper off the bathroom walls. WOOHOO! I will post some pics (and send some to you, C) once I have a sec after my camera batteries finish charging.

Thursday Thirteen #36

Every month has it's share of observances and awareness campaigns. I thought today I would list some of them.

Thirteen Observances & Awareness Campaigns During November

1. National Adoption Month

2. National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

3. American Diabetes Month

4. National Epilepsy Awareness Month

5. Great American Smokeout

6. National Healthy Skin Month

7. National Hospice Month

8. Lung Cancer Awareness Month

9. National Marrow Awareness Month

10. Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

11. Prematurity Awareness Month

12. PH (Pulmonary Hypertension) Awareness Month

13. Tie One On for Safety Campaign (Red Ribbon)

I found this information at polhy.com! There are quite a few more.

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!

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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