Words to live by that REALLY make sense

Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
and some days you're the statue.

Always keep your words soft and sweet,
just in case you have to eat them.

Always read stuff that will make you
look good if you die in the middle of it.

Drive carefully.
It's not only cars that can be
recalled by their maker.

Eat a live toad in the morning and
nothing worse will happen to you
for the rest of the day.

If you can't be kind,
at least have the decency to be vague.

If you lend someone $20,
and never see that person again,
it was probably worth it.

It may be that your sole purpose in life
is simply to serve as a warning to others.

Never buy a car you can't push.

Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
because then you don't have a leg to stand on.

Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.

The early worm gets eaten by the bird,
so sleep late.

When everything's coming your way,
you're in the wrong lane.

Birthdays are good for you;
the more you have, the longer you live.

Ever notice that the people who are late
are often much jollier than the people
who have to wait for them?

If ignorance is bliss,
why aren't more people happy?

You may be only one person in the world,
but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

Don't cry because it's over;
smile ! because it happened.

We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some have weird names,
and all are different colors;
but they all have to learn to live in the same box.

A truly happy person is one
who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Happiness comes through doors
you didn't even know you left open.

7 & 8 Meme!

Silly Sevens!

I was tagged by Krystyn for this 7 things meme!

Here is 7 weird things about me....

1. I can fold my tongue completely in half.
   
2. I love chocolate covered anything! (especially peanut butter)
   
3. I will watch cartons even if my kiddo isn't around.
   
4. I use to collect frogs.
   
5. I hate character clothes.
   
6. I get food aversions really easily. Right now I have one to chicken, who knows why? No I am not pregnant!
   
7. I am addicted to Bath and Body Works Velvet Tubrose Oil... Thanks Michelle!
   

CRAZY EIGHTS!

I was tagged by Lindsey to play along, so here I go!

8 Things I'm Passionate About:
1. Of Course my little man, Travis
2. and my big man, Gavin
3. My animals... even the BAD one!
4. My home
5. Family & Friends
6. Strollerfit
7. Team in Training-- My 1/2 Marathon!
8. Bloggin' Duh!

8 Things I Want to do Before I die:
1. Watch Travis grow up and be a successful man!
2. Run a Marathon- a FULL ONE!
3. Go on a girls trip with just my mom
4. Travel around the world
5. Learn to cook... hahahahaaaaa
6. Learn to Belly Dance
7. Make a difference doing something!
8. Enjoy every day!

8 Things I Say Often:
1. NO! (to the kiddo and animals!)
2. Howdy- of course I do live in Texas!
3. Hush- to the cat that wont stop meowing to go outside
4. Hello/ Bye- since I am on the phone a lot!
5. Gotcha- when something finally clicks
6. huh- such a bad habit!
7. I love you to my boys!
8. Travie- since I am talking to him 99% of my day!

8 Books/Magazines I've Read Recently:
1. Toddler 411- LOVE IT!
2. Shape
3. Fitness
4. People- gotta get my celeb gossip in at least once a week!
5. Goodnight Moon- one of my favorite kid books
6. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie- Travis wants to read it every night before bed!
7. If You Give a Pig a Party- #2 every night before bed!
8. Dr. Seuss collection! We read at least 3 a day!

8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over:
(well right now at least!)
1. Home by Daughtry
2. Anything by Gwen Stefani
3. Anything by Fergie
4. Hips don't Lie- Shakira
5. Anything by Jewel
6. Bubbly- Colbie Caillat
7. Anything by Bon Jovi!!!!!!!!!!
8. Anything by Dave Mathews Band- of course!

8 Things That Attract Me to My Best Friends:
1. Honesty
2. Can just hang out at home with the kiddos and still have fun doing it!
3. Make time for me
4. Love the same things
5. Gone through struggles and came out smiling
6. Both have kiddos!
7. Phone calls seem to be a must!
8. believe in each other

I think everyone I know has done these Meme's so I am going to open it to anyone!
Comment if you do it so we can all read your fun answers!
xoxo

All about Style... Baby!

My Bloggin' Bud, Tasha posted a coupon and link for some of the funniest and most unique kiddo shirts I have seen in a while!

I ordered Travis this shirt in a "T" for his b-day! Hopefully it will get here in time, if not it can be an Easter gift.... But how darn cute is this shirt!

The coupon is NOT too shabby either, 40% off!

Site: PollyTod
Coupon Code: blogagogo

*** OMG- my hubby found this shirt on there site... look here!
I think we HAVE to have it!***

Fun Facts....

FYI!!!.....DID YOU KNOW?
(you know when you meet someone who seems like they know all the cool little tricks about everything... here are a few you can flatter your friends with... heeheehee)

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little "stringy things" off of it. That's how the primates do it.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.

For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simple chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.


1. Reheat Pizza Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove. Set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Newspaper weeds away. Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

6. Broken Glass Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

7. No More Mosquitoes Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

8. Squirrel Away To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

9. Flexible vacuum To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

10. Reducing Static Cling Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.

11. Measuring Cups Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

12. Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

13. Reopening envelope If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside , just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

14. Conditioner Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...

15. Goodbye Fruit Flies To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

16. Get Rid of Ants Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works.

17. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well,...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free -- that nice fragrance too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! The best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every 6 months. It makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!

A Lil' quicky @ the garage sale day 1-

What I learned today on the first day of our 2 day garage sale event....

1. Get up early and get ready early.. people wait outside the door for you to open.
2. Don't waste your time pricing anything, make it up and make it high... a professional garage sale shopper knows how to negotiate!
3. Watch your stuff... we has a 3 year old thief today. I offered her a free toy and she took of with 3 free toys. Not that I care, but dang... they taught her young!
4. It can be so entertaining... we had 2 people a man and woman walk up at the same time. They were like power shopping, what she picked up he wanted and visa versa. The man immediately went and picked up a curling iron, a hair straightener, and a massager and started his stack on the couch we are selling... this lady saw him and in the midst of creating a stack of her own grabbed the hair straightener and paid for her stuff. I never thought twice, for all I knew they were together. She took off and he looked everywhere for that straightener, and even drove down our alley and turned back to look again. Sheesh, he wanted straight hair :)
5. Make sure you have music playing, it makes it all seem a little brighter!

We did sale a ton today which was GREAT! I am sure we will have some more great stories tomorrow, I will keep yah posted!

Team In Training!

Along with my some girlfriends I have decided to take on a new venture!
With the help of Teamin Training we are all going to run a 1/2 marathon and on top of that save money to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.

I am so excited about this process! I have always wanted to be someone that can run in marathons. It really has been a dream of mine and now one of my dreams will come true. I start training on Feb.8th and my race is on May 18th here in Dallas! I will be posting updates and my progress throughout my training... and hopefully some pictures as well!

Raising money for blood cancers is something different entirely. I am thankful that I have never been closely impacted by blood cancers. I have known a few people who have been affected and done sites for families that have children who have cancer or have beat it! This is where I want to step in, there is not one mother, father, wife, husband, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, friend, that should have to feel the pain of seeing a loved one suffer... or suffer themselves!
We can make a difference!

Please help me raise some money for a cure!
Here is a link to my site for Team in Training.

Every little bit helps!

xoxoxo

Talkin' Trash...

Cans, that is!
All of Travis' toys are now upstairs in the game room turned play room and all the kiddo wants to play with is a trash can... SHEESH!

This last Picture CRACKS me up! What a little dude!

~Some Updates~

Today was the first day I taught a full Strollerfit class by myself! I have to teach a few more before I am certified. (and take a test) I am pumped. I loved teaching class today, I felt confident and totally prepared. I went over my work out last night and had some note cards with me just in case. It was a blast!

I am getting my hair chopped today, thank goodness! I swear I have hair that grows super fast, I just got it cut and it is already back to my bra line. Whats up with that? I will post some pictures of the new do!

Tonight is a Strollerfit Moms Night Out party...80's movie extravaganza!
I am so excited to watch Girls Just Wanna Have fun, wear PJ's and hang out with my favorite mommas! These get togethers are one reason why I love Strollerfit so much. It is great to be able to hang out with a ton of women that just understand exactly what it is like to be a mom!

I have added some pre-made templates on Splat if anyone is interested in a quick change!
If anyone wants to host a contest on their site I will give one of these templates away for free... just let me know and we can get the contest up and running and I will make you a banner to post on other blogs!

Oh and we are having a HUGE garage sale next weekend! THANK GOODNESS!
Anyone have pointers?

xoxox

I am elated!

Gavin and I were sitting on the couch about to watch a movie and he tapped me on the leg and said look at the back door. I was FLOORED to see a little white and creamy face with a bright pink nose starring at me! I jumped up and ran outside, it is freezing by the way! He was meowing but a little scared to get close to me. Gavin got some food and water and that was pretty enticing to him and he got closer! Finally after about 5 minutes I got to hold my long lost baby boy! He was cold and skinny... but not as thin as I thought he would be. He still has his collar on but no tags. I will be getting him one tomorrow morning! I brought him in and he was not interested in staying in, so he headed back out. Gav and I made him a bed in a long box to shield him from the cold air if he wont stay in tonight! I cannot tell you guys how excited I am to know he is ok. I had been feeling so guilty for having moments I wasn't thinking of him. Then he pops up! I can NOT believe this at all. It has been about 5 weeks I would say! I don't know if he will ever want to be an inside cat again, and that is ok with me. As long as I can see him occasionally to make sure he is ok, I will be fine with that! I wonder where he has been, what he has done, his adventures, where he has been sleeping, what he has been eating, if anyone has loved him, petted him, kissed his pink nose. I have been tearing up with happy tears. Sasha is so excited that he is back, she has been running around, looking outside at him and just going nutty, Stella on the other hand is pissed. When he came back in she growled and hissed at him and was just not to happy he was back.He walked around inside for a second and went back to the door so, we put him back out just in case he picked up any ikkiness on his 5 week vacation. He is meowing at the back door and it is breaking my heart, but we don't know what to do... I think I am going to put him in the garage. Tomorrow I will be calling to vet to get him checked out! Yay! Stanley is back!!!

Ice,boys and airplanes ... OH MY!

Today we drop the little guy off at Gigi and Paps' house and gathered some friends and went to the Stars game (hockey). It was great! We won!!!! WOOOHOOO! It was so fun and we had amazing seats and our own waiter! We were spoiled at the American Airlines Center. I had forgotten how much I love Hockey!!!!

Now I am hanging out for the rest of the evening with all boys! AHHHH!
They are already having Mike Tyson Punch out competitions on the old Nintendo and I am hearing that we are about to Bowl on the Wii! Sheesh! That is why I am upstairs posting something on my blog! One last girly moment before I hang with the guys!

A little update:

Gavin and I have been working really hard to finish up the house rearranging and get it all set up to move the little guy upstairs. Travis is going to have his own floor in our house!!! The playroom being upstairs is awesome! My office is up too so I can return emails and finish up some work while he is playing or napping! Not much though, he is at the age where he will come up to me and say "mommy play" I love it! Now that we have Travis' toys all laid out I have noticed that we have a ton of stuff that needs to be put up or donated to a younger kiddo!!! He still LOVES all of his old toys, but they really are not 2 year old survivable! I have picked out the bedding for his room and I am so pumped! Wanna see? Click Here! He loves airplanes so I really wanted to do them in his new room! Of course I will always be in love with the Western since it was his first bedding but I cant wait to decorate a room for him again! I ordered some planes to go on the wall (wallies) and want to paint clouds and stuff around the top of the walls. I still cant decide if I want to immediately move Travis upstairs in his new room into a big boy bed or give him some time to get use to his room and then switch him over? Any opinions? I had picked out some airplane bedding at Pottery barn kids but it has a ton of light brown in it and his furniture is black and dark brown, so this works better! Plus I love the primary colors . I cant wait to show you all pictures of the process of fixing up his new room!

I am being yelled at to box on the Wii with the guys!
You know since they want to get their butts beat by this gal!

Where have you been?

Who me?

Yes, you!

Oh right, well let me tell yah!

Hi there!
Its been a while since I have really been into blogging... I have been so busy with a ton of wonderful new customers and then training for Strollerfit... I have just not had time to write for real!
I went through a funk after the holidays when I really did not want to have anything to do with blogging anymore, but i quickly changed my mind because I started really missing some of my blogging buds! I am the worst at leaving comments but trust me girls, I read about ya every day or at least check in and see if there is anything new to read :)
Gavin and I have been renovating our house... not destructively but moving rooms around, furniture ect... Sheesh we are busy!
So, in the beginning the dining room was going to be made into Gavin's office , we were going to build a wall and everything. Then we decided to move the playroom upstairs on the game room, and Travis' room up also and then make Gavin's office in the playroom, Travis' room into the guest... WOW, confusing? So, our house looks like a cluster of junk... ARGH!
We have most of it finished, but are waiting to move Trav's room because we want to paint and are getting new carpet (THANK THE LORD!) That will be FUN!
The best part is I get to decorate Travis' new room! We are doing the vintage airplanes from Pottery Barn. It is all on clearance (PERFECT TIMING!) I am going to paint a mural on the wall and just make it all fun and boyish! I am still unsure about moving him into a big bed, I think he will prob. be all over the house if we do that! NOT GOOD!
I am going to have to post on Mamavice about a good age to switch the kiddos to a big bed!
Stay tuned for that one!
Other then that, my new header illustration is almost finished then I will be making myself a new blog design! SO FUN! It is weird having someone else make an illustration for you, but she is excellent so I am pumped! YAY! I have to get rid of this Christmas stuff!
Ok, off to real life!
Many hugs!

Pontons....

Linzapedia describes as:

The most perfect way to cure a nose bleed... Well not so much cure, but block, absorb and save tissues and paper towels from being wasted!
The other night my niece, Alana (13) and nephew, Jackson (9) spent the night with us.
It is always fun when they are here... Alana and I just chill and do girl stuff and Gavin and Jackson play video games and hang out.

Jackson gets these awful bloody noses pretty often... he got one while he was here the other night and it was just an awful one. He used almost an entire roll of paper towels and it did not look like it was stopping at all. So, I went and got some JR. size tampons I had in my bathroom and told him that sports guys use these to absorb bloody noses. Also, that Gavin did too... that seemed to make this all seem ok.
We put the tampons in his nose and immediately he seemed less stressed, his blood pressure went down and what was left got absorbed and it was all perfect!

Alana and I were laughing so hard we were about to explode.
He looked like a walrus!

The next day when I took the kiddos back to my parents house he was trying to explain these things to Paps... He explained that Pontons were used for bloody noses and that he was going to HAVE to tell his school about these. OMG, my brother is going to shoot me in the head!
Paps and Gigi were just as hysterical about the Pontons as Alana and I were, in fact Paps has been referring to them as pon-pons and Jackson was getting a bit defensive over his new nose bleed plugs!
I had given Jackson a little baggies with some in there... the little jr. tampons in light purple wrapping with flowers. He still didn't question it.
He was pumped!Isn't he a cutie!

HAHAHAAAAAA
I cant help but crack up about this!
I know I am going to get it back 10 fold when Travis gets older!

2008 resolutions & more!

We hit 2008 with a bang... all 3 falling asleep together sick in bed at 9pm, Travis waking up starving... so at midnight we were sharing a nutra-grain bar and watered down grape juice. A far comparison to how we would spend New Years Eves a few years ago.. drinking all night, crashing at a friends house and picking up Wataburger taquitos on our long, hung over trek home the next morning. Parenthood sure changes things!
Right now I am listening to the shear death cry of my almost 2 year old that has been super spoiled by sleeping with his Mommy and Daddy numerous times this Holiday break, from traveling to being sick with a fever... I am a sucker for a "Mommy, Bed, Please" with the big brown eyes and crocodile tears. Not tonight my dear child, Mommy needs to sleep without you... and SLEEP is the big word. When he is in bed with us I am like a one eyed monster (Thank you Stinky Face) I keep one eye on him and one eye closed thinking that is will help add up top at least half a nights worth of sleep. I am paranoid he will find a way to plop off the bed or be completely tangled in the 800 blankets we have on our big ole bed.

What do I hear now? Where are the screams?
Nothing.....

(cue the shushhhhh's)

Maybe he is finished with the torture cries to attempt to get mommy back in his room.
Fingers crossed.... and silence fills the air!
WOOOHOOOO!

I am currently hating this new year.
I didn't sleep last night, woke up still sick, stubbed my toe, missed the cotton bowl because of this crap cold, the Hogs lost, I dropped about EVERYTHING I touched today, aunt flow stopped by (tmi-sorry!) just not a good 1st of anything...
Can we rewind PLEASE??!!??!!
Who do I write for the extra large day rewinder?
Any Ideas?
I will share I promise!

I have about 1,000 resolutions Like I do every year...
I am only going to share the ones I have a feeling I can accomplish...

(and the cries are back.. DAMN-it)

My top 5-2008 resolutions are:
In random order!

1. Run... like in miles! With or without the kiddo or jogging stroller.
I love to run, I need to do it!
2. Eat Healthy, Cook Healthy, Snack Healthy
I started this before the Holidays when I say the nutritionist, even though I never totally fell off the wagon, I need to start again!
3. Think of myself a bit more...
This is a must, after being sick since Christmas Eve and still feeling like poop...
I think I should have started this one earlier!
4. Cook more.
I hate to cook... any suggestions?
5. Loose more weight
I am over half way to my goal!
I can do it!

***
Wow Travis is making me feel about an inch tall.
This is really more torturous for me then him.
I never believed in letting my kid cry it out, but I also never thought he would get addicted to sleeping with us!
Don't you hate how kids can make you feel like that?
Mommy, Momma, Mommy, Momma
Cry, Scream, Cry, Scream
AHHHHHH!

Really, this sucks!

Stella is looking at me like I am the worst woman in the world.
I guess cats have those mommy instincts too.

Speaking of cats, I thought Stanley would come back for Christmas, New Years...
Nope, not even a glimpse of him.
We were driving home the other night and thought we saw him.
I pulled over, Gavin started screaming out of the window, and it wasn't him... I knew from the second I saw that other cat. He was more orange and not my Stan.
Still made my heart jump for a second!

Travis just took a half a second break.
I let Sasha in from peeing... tripped over a toy, turned on the tv since we have his video monitor through the tube I can watch this fit being thrown and now I am back, using this post as therapy from torturing my child.

How can a kid that has been sick for over a week, hasn't slept well at all jump in his bed screaming for this long. I mean it seems way longer then it has been, but this is awful.
All I can hear now is
Momma, Momma, cough, cough, cry, sob and bed springs...

And he collapsed, still sobbing Mommy but he isn't jumping...

I love this video monitor!

So, back to the 2008 stuff...
Plans so far this year.

~Becoming a certified Strollerfit instructor (SOON!!!!)
~ Travis 2nd Birthday
~ Tons of friends babies being born.
~ Going to Colorado to visit one of my best girl friends :)
~Wedding in March (my bro-in-law)
~Going to San Antonio for our Anniversary
Thats about all I can think about right now!

...and a HUSHHHH falls back over the air..
I am going to take this opportunity to bow out for the evening!

Good Night, Sleep Tight!



Please tell me the first day of the new year is not a look in to the future of the entire year.
If so, maybe I should start praying for a miracle!

Angels Everywhere!

I received a comment on a previous post from a girl I had no idea read my blog, who I have never met, seen or read about. But the comment and link she left will very much never be forgotten!

Sometimes we forget there are Angels in this world!

Here is the story that went along with the link she left....

AN ANGEL IN THE POST OFFICE
Date: 2007-11-23, 10:55PM MST

This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service. Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

Here is the link if you want to pass it on... Click HERE

It just proves that you can never give up ion Angels being in this world!
It has been 2 weeks since Stanley (PC) has been gone, I still pace by the windows, look outside all the time... I am just praying someone has taken him in or that he is in heaven. The hardest part is not knowing! I know some people prob. think I am insane for still hurting about this cat, but he was a baby to me... I took care of him like he was a child of mine.
All I want for Christmas is to know he is ok!

Thank you Noe!
Merry Christmas!

A little of this and a little of that!

Woooosh, it is so close to Christmas I feel like my head is going to spin off! I have almost all of my shopping finished but a few more things... toys, and they are super fun to shop for :)
I guess thats the big kid in me coming out! I don't know what it is when it gets close to the end of the year but things seem to go all wacky in all sorts of ways. My poor hubby has not had a break from work in who knows how long, he worked until like midnight last night and I still heard his phone beeping with emails in the middle of the night.
I am in training still to be a Strollerfit instructor and LOVE LOVE LOVE it, It is a big rush when i get to teach little segments of the class. All the girls have been so supportive and complimentary to me after I teach something. Makes it all worth while! I thought it would be hard teaching the classes that I usually go to just because I am friends with so many of the moms there... and you know when you have friends around and you have to be serious, you look at them and get the giggles! Victoria the head instructor has made it so fun and easy for me (and I know you are reading this... hahahahaaa! you deserve props!) She is supportive and easy going even when I have to miss a bit of training because of family junk! Gotta LOVE that about your new boss.. HAHAH!Love ya girly!
During the holidays it is sooo much fun to hear and see all the different ways people celebrate. Be is birthdays... (Holly- Hope your day is amazing!) You guys have to go check out her blog and see what her BFF left in her front yard this morning . Click HERE to check it out. I love looking at different decorations, Christmas trees ect... I guess it my inner designer coming out. Last year one of the blogs I read did a home show of sort where you take a video or pictures of your holiday decor and submit your post... anyone doing that this year?
On a side note of my ramblings, Stanley the PC is still MIA. I have had the hardest time with him being gone. I finally let myself cry about it the other night. I tried to hard to be optimistic and believe that he would show up one night, but now that it has been a week and a half, my heart is starting to really break. I have called and searched on all the pet finder sites and shelters constantly every day since. I even posted an add on Pet Finder and all I got in return was a bunch of DUMB companies emailing me saying they are pet detectives and will find my cat for a small fee... WHAT? I responded to one of these crazy emails telling them that this type of service may be useful but the way they had their email worded was sarcastic and hurtful to someone that is grieving. Yeah, I am just a bit sensitive about the subject. Sasha and Stella have been grieving also. On my nightly excursion outside to see if he is somewhere.. they both sit by the door and wait to see if I have him. Stella has been sleeping at the back window and Sasha at the back door. That kills me even more. Thankfully Travis doesn't realize what has happened and I try not to be upset or make comments about Stan around him, he seems to pick up on so much these days that I am afraid he may start to understand.
On the other hand, I have been so excited about getting the mail every day, we have gotten so may Holiday cards its unreal! My card wreath is so full its being tripled up! Makes me feel so bad that I have been a procrastinator about cards. Speaking of... I was making Cards for some Splat customers and having them sent to Snapfish. Before this season I have made so many cards for friends and family and never had one turn out bad... this year I have had 4 sets come out ikky. Thankfully these people were all friends, but it makes me nervous about the other customers. What the HECK happened to Snapfish and their printing??? I did not one thing different then before and there quality just is not good anymore. So, I will be dumping Snapfish and heading to Kodak or Shutterfly... anyone have an opinion?
I will end my blabbling on this... I have 13 family members coming in on Friday to celebrate Christmas this weekend... that makes a total of 18 of us. WOW! My parents house is gonna be nutty! I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday season.. traveling or not, BE SAFE and don't stress!
Stress.... HAHAHAHAAAA!

And the award goes to...

This NEW award is to anyone who has brought the wintery season into the blogosphere in a wonderful way!

I have seen a ton of fun Holiday doodads on peoples blogs these days and I LOVE them!
Pick your favorite or favorites and let them know by handing over this award!


I am awarding two of my bestest bloggin' buds !!!

The Anglophile Football Fanatic Herself!

and

Mrs. Spicy who swears she can be a lil' Sweet too!

Have a Great Turkey Day!

Hope you all travel safe and eat well!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I still can NOT believe it is that time of year!

We will be back on Saturday!
Much Love
The 3 of us!

OMG, Its almost Thanksgiving!

This year seems to be speeding up the closer it gets to the end of it!

I can NOT believe it is November let alone the week before Thanksgiving.
From now until the end of the year I think we have something to do almost every single weekend... Oh Sheesh!
This weekend we have plans with friends, that is pretty normal.
Next weekend we will be in Austin for Turkey Day.
Then December 1st is one of my FAVORITE little girls birthdays & our cities tree lighting ceremony for Christmas.
The weekend of the 8th is Gavin's work Christmas party, yay we get to DRESS UP!
The next weekend is my birthday weekend, and we are having a bash on the 15th... It is going to be a BLAST! We are having a White Trash Costume Party... I will let you know all about it in another post!
The following weekend is the weekend before Christmas, my entire family will be here celebrating early. The same 16 people that I shared the stomach virus with last year... remember that?
Here is the Pukerson Family post.
Then the big day... CHRISTMAS, then we leave the 26th to go back to Austin for a belated Christmas with G's family.


Then New Years...
and
WELCOME 2008

Should I be flipping that I have not purchased 1 Christmas gift?
AHHHHHH!

Check this stuff out!

I just started a custom template give away yesterday and have already had a ton sign up... Thats good news! If you want to sign up head over to Splat Creative Designs and sign the linky or if you want to just advertise for me... I would LOVE that! There are links there for the banners!


I also have added a new item to Splat Designs. Holiday Cards! I need some for my portfolio, so check it out and email me to get one of your own!

I also just got measured after my big weight loss.... SO AWESOME! I added my inches lost on Inner Health Nutt. Head over and check them out!I finished my 2nd review and it was CHOCOLATE! Holy Cow was it GOOD STUFF!
click HERE to check it out!

Mamavice has been a big hit! You should check it out!!! There are a ton of new questions up and I would love to hear from you if you want a question posted!

Need A Giggle?

So, My girlfriend told me about this site...
Makeover Solutions
Where you upload a picture of yourself and can add different hairstyles and makeup to see how you would look..
I thought it would be fun since I have been contemplating a new style for a while now. I used my computer to take a picture so it looks a little dark and blah and of course I wanted it to be a neutral look without my big goofy smile so instead I am pulling off the "Stayed up to late" look!
So, here are a few that I copied so ya'll could have a little laugh!

If I did decide to get a new look I think I like the first one, but they are all pretty silly!
I may try again with a better picture!

...and just for MAJOR giggles!
My Hair for next Halloween!

If you do it and post some of you let me know... I totally wanna see!

Right Brained or Left

This is so bizarr to me!

Are you more left or right brained?

Go to this link and watch the dancing girl..
How do you see her dancing?
Clockwise or counter-clockwise?

I see her going both ways right off the bat.
The second I opened the site she was going clockwise then she switched after I read all the info.
What the Heck does that mean?
I was a little floored and I kept watching and I swore she changed directions after a few seconds...
Who knows...
What do you see?

If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.

Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.