Archive for February, 2011

She’s My Girl

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Who knew that MY girl was the feature article in last week’s newspaper? Well, lots of people…just not me!

We don’t usually buy the local paper. The teacher I work with (Mrs. Mackey) receives a stack of them at school and every once in a while I’ll bring one home. It’s totally hit or miss!

This happened to be the time….she sent one home with me. Yay! Then hubby walks in with a newspaper too. He just happened to see it at the checkout and picked one up. At dinner, Ally remembered that she was “probably” in this week’s paper! Cool!

Not only was she the featured senior article but she also had her picture in with Touch of Class. So, having two issues was meant to be!

Here’s the link.

Benadryl does a body good

Friday, February 25th, 2011

All week long, I’ve battled with the NO SLEEP MONSTER! Even though I was exhausted beyond imagination. I would fall into bed and then begin the toss-n-turn game. For hours, I would switch to my left then back again to my right. I was so tired that I felt like I’d pass out as soon as I made it to bed. But, nope! Didn’t happen!

Yesterday, right after work I drove straight to Walmart and purchased some children’s Benadryl. At my last doctor’s appointment, he suggested that I take a dose before bed to help me sleep. {I haven’t used it in several weeks} I had hopes that this would put me into la-la land.

It did! I slept like a baby. Thank goodness for a good night’s rest.

Note to me:
Drink from the nectar of the sleep gods (Benadryl) from now on or else!

Oh So Pretty

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

I have this hankerin right now for a cover for my nook. The problem? I’ve searched high and low trying to find one that will not only protect my precious nook but that I will love too! Everything I’ve found looks cheap or mass produced. I don’t like any of them. But, I think I’ve found the one for me….finally. The only problem is that it’s way out of my spending range (I was thinking around $20-25) and this is $49 from Barnes & Noble.

Look how purty it is…. I want what I want but I don’t want to spend more than I have to. I’m cheap cheap! πŸ˜‰

I’ve also been wishing for some rain boots. I’ve searched ebay, Amazon and all the many online shoe hotspots but I haven’t found a pair that A) I love and B) that I’m willing to pay that much for. But I think……I’m almost sure that I want some like these.
\

Testify

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

You’ve probably heard the song Rainy Days and Monday’s (always get me down), right? Well, that’s a great description of my yesterday! It was storming cats-n-dogs and it was Monday. My hubby and I took on a “little” task that proved to be a bit stressful.

We testified before “the committee” at Indiana’s Statehouse in Indianapolis. Yea, I say that like we do that sort of thing all the time. Not! It was scary and intimidating too! My nerves were a shakin!

But, it was for a great cause. The 21st Century Scholars program is very near and dear to my heart. Yesterday was extremely pivotal in keeping this program intact as it is known around our great state. Right now, any 6th-7th-8th grade student that has financial need can apply for this scholarship program for college. The program is amazing! If you agree to follow the covenant rules and have good citizenship then 21st Century guarantees tuition paid for up to four years at any participating Indiana public, private or proprietary college/university.

Hello? Can you say……awesome opportunity?

Well, not so fast! Because the folks at SSACI (State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana) have come up with a “new plan”. It seems the state of Indiana is running low on money (uhh, who isn’t?) and now want to change the rules in the middle of the game. Sound fair to you? It doesn’t seem fair to the many families it will affect (oh wait, most of them aren’t aware this is even happening).

The “new plan” is to take effect beginning with this year’s junior class students. Which for my family, means my [college junior son] Gavin will continue to receive college funds and my [high school senior daughter] Ally will receive them when she begins college in the fall but my [youngest HS sophomore] Gates will not receive her scholarship at all. Why? Because they didn’t plan ahead, obviously.

When we originally signed up for 21st Century Scholars, our family met all the financial requirements needed. Over the course of 8 years our income has increased (and at times horribly decreased…thank you unemployment). At current status, my family would not qualify for the scholarship. But that’s not how the program is designed. Each family has to meet the requirements during the 6-7-8th grade sign-up time. Also, each student has to do his part in keeping the covenant too.

My kids….have all done that. They are committed to the no drugs or alcohol, they have exemplary attendance and they’re all high achievers in class. They would have stuck to that without signing a college covenant just the same. Now, SSACI wants to yank that opportunity right from underneath us and many other’s across Indiana. Boo SSACI!! πŸ™

How do you tell your child that her college choices are now up in the air? We’re sorry, your brother and sister can go but you can’t. See why I testified?

Was SHE worth it?

Saturday, February 19th, 2011

I’m going to tell the saga in a sort of snapshot (and no, not a good photo spread like PW) order of memorable moments!

Do not think for one minute….we are not professional author stalkers! We’ve got that down pat! But dang, this chick is a book SUPERSTAR!!!


As soon as the last bell rang at school, we raced to Cincinnati, OH. to meet The Pioneer Woman author Ree Drummond. Almost a 2 hour drive ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON!


We arrived at our destination; fed the hungry baby, jumped in line for the ladies room, grabbed a drink and “mingled” with around 200 other women. Oh, and picked up our lucky ticket. The letter P is forever etched in my brain as a bad thing.


Every girl knows Vera Bradley can make a long day feel sweet. Just look! I’m sure I heard the brush of angels wings when I discovered this area of Joseph-Beth Bookstore.


There she is, Miss Ameri….Oh I mean P-Dub! Isn’t she so pretty? What? What do you mean you can’t see her!!? She’s right there. Ok, way up there. My camera stinks!


Hey, let’s walk back to Indiana! When you’re hungry and with a crazy lady that’s trying to get skinny for a special dress…YOU WALK!

Note to self: Next time you’re at a book signing event and you draw the letter “P”….GO EAT even if they say it’s an hour wait! Stay and eat! It could be a long time before you see real food again. Just sayin!


This is what you do when you have teenagers along on a fun adventure and there are no seats to park it and rest your dogs!


Look! There she is! We’re on the stairs! Happy dance, happy dance!
I can see her. Almost there.


You know when you wait forever (5 hours) to see someone and some dude tells you, “Oh, you have a baby? We tried to get the babies through AT THE BEGINNING!!!” Whaaaaaaa? No way, sir! Shud it! {See him? Yes, the one leaning out of the picture? He is so lucky PW was sitting on the other side of him….I wanted to do a sweet karate move on his body!}


Look at us. We seem to have made a connection, don’t ya think? See the love between us? Ok, I freaked. I didn’t know how to behave at that point. I was totally regretting wearing that dang fake alpalca vest AND NOT EATING DINNER 5 hours earlier!! Regrets, they’ll get you everytime.


Here’s what we waited all night to do. Can you tell how excited we were? I didn’t think so. It was a little bit late and we were deliriously tired and hungry! Ahh, but it was worth it.


Thank goodness we finally rode our horses over to PF Changs for a delicious dinner at 11pm. But hey, who’s keeping time? πŸ˜‰

Ok, so I’ll just say it. I had the most fun! Not only is Ree an amazing writer, she’s also beautiful inside and out. I was sort of bummed out that Marlboro Man wasn’t there…. but oh well, I’ll just meet him when I get my invitation to the ranch/lodge. Surely, we’ll have some cinnamon rolls and plenty of time for visiting then. And I won’t be dressed like a weirdo either!

P-Dub, you were so worth the wait! πŸ™‚

Joy Bound

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

I say bound…but honestly, I’m already high on happy! I’ve got big FRIDAY plans! My school BFF, Betsy and her sweet sisters are teaming up with my girls and I for a trip to Cincinnati to SEE THE PIONEER WOMAN!! Did you hear me? We’re going to stand in a crazy long line and act all giddy when we finally get up to see her. Then when we try to speak, we’ll inevidibly say something totally awkward or weird and look like freaks. Yea, that’s what we’re going to do and I can’t wait!

I finished reading her Black Heels to Tractor Wheels book this week and loved it! I also have her amazing cookbook! Girlfriend is my hero! You can’t help but love her and her sweet ranching family!

The cherry on top of my happy Friday is that my boss has issued a JEANS DAY!!! I think that opens the door for some serious yeehaw-ing!! Oh, the stuff that makes me feel excited! I love it!

Here’s to hoping your weekend is going to be just as awesome! πŸ˜‰

See ya tomorrow P-Dub! I’ll be the goofy weird one with stars in her eyes.