Cory Boy!

I asked Cory what I should blog about and he said, "how cute your husband is." So, for your enjoyment, or amusement, whichever. Be entertained!

Giving Thanks!

It should go without saying that I dearly love my family and hope I do not take them for granted. But what about the little things in life? Those little luxuries that make life more enjoyable, and make the day to day routine a lot more pleasant? In 15 days we'll be sitting around a table with family and friends sharing what we're thankful for, so I wanted to get a head start with a list of 15 THINGS (not people) I'm thankful for:

1) The internet! I'm a research hog and I use it for everything. Just tonight I needed a one minute timer and was too lazy to go upstairs, so I just googled 'online timer' and voila, before I knew it I was counting down a minute.

2) Sharpies! No permanent marker writes as deep, dark and flawlessly as a Sharpie.

3) Automatic ice makers! I drink a lot of water, and I like it icy cold. So after many years of filling (and spilling on my way to the freezer) those stupid little plastic trays, I am oh so grateful for my automatic ice maker.....p.s. I think mine's on steroids because it makes a ton of ice!

4) Multi-ply toilet paper! If you think this sounds ridiculous, visit a restroom with single-ply paper. It's the scourge.

5) Fleece! It's wintery around these parts, so it made the list. But seriously, is there anything more delicious than the feel of a soft, fluffy, fleece, pick one....sweatshirt, jacket, vest, robe, etc.?

6) Silicone bakeware! From spatulas to muffin pans, it comes in a wide array of colors, can handle temperatures over 500 degrees and allows baked goods to pop out like they were self propelled.

7) Post-It Notes! No matter how much electronic capability I have within my reach, nothing reminds me of a priority better than a brightly colored 3 x 3 piece of paper stuck to my....again, pick one......mirror, microwave, refrigerator, computer, etc. :)

8) Facebook! Sure, this could probably fall under 'internet' but it's my list and I wanted it to be it's own category. Could I live without it? Sure! Should I live without it? Probably. Do I plan to live without it? No. I love having a super quick glance into the daily lives of my friends and family. From seeing the latest pictures of their twinkly-eyed offspring, to learning what they're doing at that precise moment, to realizing how frustrated they are with the salesperson who won't take no for an answer, it's a phenomenal way to stay instantly connected.

9) Target! It’s my happy place. I’m always in the mood to go there and I rarely leave empty-handed.

10) Fur-trimmed apparel! I’ll admit it, I pet the cuffs on my coat and the collars on my vests.

11) Notecards! I have a pretty nice collection of them. It’s a quick, thoughtful way to convey my feelings. And who doesn’t love getting mail?

12) Gum! I’ve considerably slowed down my chewing, but I still love a good piece of gum, especially bubble gum.

13) Blueberries! They’re a powerhouse! A super food. They’re especially good when they’re dipped in caramel; even if it does take away from the nutritional value.

14) Magnets! I love them. Whether they’re the glassy little gems you stick on your metal bulletin board, or the rare earth magnets that can secure a small child to the refrigerator door, they’re fun.

15) Hairspray! I’m guessing this one doesn’t need any explanation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gothic Gala!

Wow! Two posts in one day. What is this blog coming to?! You know I love Halloween, and I've always hosted some type of party. When the girls were smaller, it was pretty kid focused, but as they've gotten older, it's transformed into more of a dinner party with friends. This year's theme was Gothic, and let me tell you, I knew precious little about Goth, so I did some research. Lots of black and white, and I threw sheets over my furniture to give the room a look of ruin. No matter the decor, we ate all evening, played cards for hours, and we all had a great time! Happy Halloween!

Bathroom Renovation

As promised, I finally have before and after pictures of our main bathroom. So far Cory has re-done the master bath, the main bath and added a 1/2 bath in the basement (it's functional, but not complete). He's done an awesome job, seeing as how he's taken both baths down to the studs and the sub floors, and even had to re-do the door and frame on the main bath. In between these two, he re-did his parents master bath as well. I personally love the medicine cabinet. He custom made it so I could have a huge mirror and cabinet that worked with the bathroom's style. The first picture is the before pic, then the working phase, followed by a few of the completed pictures. I think we're done remodeling.....for a few minutes :)

What about Halloween?

I've added a new poll to the right, so I hope you'll add your vote over there and put in your comments here. Do you celebrate Halloween, or do you avoid it like the plague? What about Fall Festival or Harvest? Do your kids dress up? Trick or Treat? Hand out candy? What about other traditions specifically acknowledged on October 31st?

I'm pretty old-school and traditional. While I don't like scary or evil costumes, I do let my girls dress up and go trick or treating in my in-laws neighborhood with my husband and father in law. I stay at the in-laws' home handing out candy (because my mother in law doesn't like doing it) and commenting to all the trick or treaters about their cute, scary, or inventive costumes. When the girls come home we indulge in home made pizza and sort through their loot.

So that's our Halloween, and I look forward to it every year!

Scaredy Cat!

Because Halloween is right around the corner, I thought I'd make a few true confessions....with a list of things I'm afraid of. And I don't mean things I hate. I mean things that scare me to death, make my heart race and my palms sweat.

1) Heights - I have a sincere fear of heights, real or perceived. Scenes from movies or television where someone is mountain climbing, skydiving, or working on top of a building...ewww! Even though I know the scenes are fake, I still can't handle them. The photo below is a vintage photo entitled, "Lunch Atop a Skyscraper" and I've always hated it.

2) Confined Spaces - Whether it's being trapped under water, in a cave or simply in a small, tight space, I have extreme claustrophobia.

3) Spiders - I can handle them if they're small and not on me. But heaven help the spider that makes the mistake of crawling on, or too near me. I'll never forget the time I was working at my computer and a spider dropped down on its web, right in front of me. I almost had a coronary.

4) Parasites - Particularly the kind that are difficult to rid, like lice, or bed bugs. Eeeek!

5) Plants - Not all plants, but any kind with a thick, fleshy stem or long, dangly leaves make my skin crawl. Think varieties like aloe, or the spider plant.

Happy Birthday Mom & Mark!