Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Bridal Set

MBB took me to pick out my ring.
He said there was no way in the world he was going to pick it out for me (good call!).

To be honest, I am not a fan of engagement rings.
I do not like how they look with wedding rings.
But MBB said that I deserved an engagement ring.

When I was at the jewelers and mentioned that I didn't like the look of two rings together (along with preferring marque cut), they immediate pulled out a set and handed it to me. It was the look of the set together that I liked and caused me to chose that set.

I already shared a picture of my engagement ring.
Here is my bridal set. . .
It is perfect for me.
Just the right size (though I am still figuring out how to put my left hand in my pocket) once I remember to take it off before working on the house.

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Cookbook Give-away

I have heard some great things about the new $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook.
The author is giving away some copies - click
HERE to enter.

I have entered as I am always looking for great recipes that won't break our bank. :)

Namaste.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

My Christmas Gift

Yep - I got an engagement ring for Christmas. :)
No, we haven't set a date.

Namaste.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone from my family to yours.

Namaste.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Been Busy. . .

We've been a bit busy lately, hence my absence from the blog world lately.
Want to see what we've been working on?


Isn't it pretty?
We now have new baseboards installed and furniture moved arranged.
We're pretty happy.

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Goodbyes

I truly do not like goodbyes and there seem to be a lot of them now.
First, I posted about Chris Henry.
Then, MBB's step-grandmother said goodbye to her dad.
Then, we said goodbye to MBB's uncle.

Then, Egypt said goodbye to her step-mom.

I think we have had enough goodbyes and I am ready to honor all of these people and move on.

Namaste.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

R.I.P.

Today is a sad day.
Today, the Bengals lost one of their own.
Today, a family is saying goodbye to a loved one.
Today, I feel for everyone involved.

Over the years, I had not a big fan of Chris Henry.
For a few years, he was "he who shall not be named" because of the negative influence he was portraying for our youth. I'm sure if you go back through my Bengals posts, you'll find at least one on him in the midst of his trouble.
When the Bengals resigned him, I was in the group that thought they were crazy.

Over the last year (specifically the football year), I started using his name again.
I started giving credit where credit is due - he was getting his life back on track.
He was focusing on what was important. . .His family.

At 26, he is way to young to go.
At 26, his kids are loosing their dad way too early.
At 26, he was finally on the right track.


RIP Chris Henry

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

No Christmas Letter. . .

December 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

This is to inform you that there will be no Christmas Letter this year.
I just don’t have time with working at Big T, running "Sassy's Taxi" for the household and continue to finangal the household improvement plan. While my life suits me quite well, I would have to give up sleep or reading or exercising if I were to devote any time at all to writing a Christmas letter. My apologies, but I just can’t do it. I have no time. None. (Besides that, my family expects dinner every night—and clean socks! They are so demanding!)


And don’t expect MBB to write the Christmas Letter. For one thing, he hates to write. For another, he would have to give up his evening Halo match with OB. He decided to make a career move this year. He likes his new job, but hates the hour drive to get there. The good news is that he is able to work from home a few days a week which is why the entire family is feeling some sore muscles - remodeling the den has become our lives recently.

You might think that MaBell would be capable of writing the Christmas Letter since she is 15. Banish the thought! She would sooner go a week without her cell phone than willingly write a paragraph that is for "public viewing". She would rather eat, watch “Super Natural”, watch any of the Twilight Saga movies, play with the animals, chat with her friends via cell (thankfully most of them have AT&T) and eat than write the letter. This year, she’s a sophomore, completed school volleyball and has begun a season of club volleyball. She’s developed a love for selling volleyball ads (Not!). We still boss her around, even though she is taller than me now (She has to listen to me: I am still the source of food).

OB, at 12, could surely write the letter – if you could feed the letter through a spell check function in order to read it. He has improved his reading and verbal spelling this year, I just need to continue my hunt to find books that he likes. He continued to play football this year, but had to cut the season short a few games with a fractured ankle - the Quarterback Keeper turned into a Quarterback Pile-up. He started learning a form of Karate this year and loves that he may be able to pick on his sister more successfully before his growth spurt occurs.

Rockstar and Sweetster would love to write a letter smothered in hugs and muddy paw shakes, but I don't know if I could fit all of their love and mud into the envelop. I also fear that I'd be unfairly represented (they think I should give them table scraps every time I come out the door, not just when the refrigerator is on the verge of needing to be cleaned out).

Yeager-bomb won't write the letter - it would interfere with his favorite hobbies: Waking the house up at 3am, sleeping all day (to successfully complete hobby #1) and attacking Daddy's hand when he is putting on his work shoes.

So, you see, you are not going to get a Christmas Letter from us this year. Sorry, but you won’t hear about our vacation to see Egypt (and the llama that decorated the backseat of our car) or MBB's senior year trials. You won’t know about the mud pit we had outside in a successful attempt to stop the basement flooding or the paw prints that are forever (hopefully not) a part of our new patio. You won’t know that almost every block on our calendar is full, but I can’t tell you much of what we did. I’m sure it involved multiple trips to the grocery store and time at the washing machine.

I apologize for the lack of a Christmas Letter, but I’m sure you’ll understand since so many of you (not you or you, but you) have given up Christmas Letters, too. Who has the time? Who has the energy? Who has the postage stamps (and what is the current rate anyway?)

If I did write a Christmas Letter, I’d want you to know how often we think of you and I’d wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Alas, as I mentioned, there will be no Christmas Letter this year. Sorry.

Love,
SassyMarie (on behalf of MBB, MaBell, OB, Rockstar, Sweetser and Yeager-bomb)

Namaste.
PS. Once again, I stole this idea from Carmen!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Letter To A Friend. . .

Hey Stranger!

It feels like forever since we got together and I must say that I MISS YOU DEEPLY!
I know that the family misses you as well - MBB mentioned you this morning and MaBell last night.
I'm not sure if it will be tonight or tomorrow night, but I know that OB will be talking about you too.

It may be awhile before we can get on each other's schedules, but I really think that we should make it a priority. I will admit that we will be counting down the hours once we pen in the time (no penciling allowed for this one!).
I just hope that the kids don't try to meet up with you instead of being in class.

It is such a shame that "life" has pushed us apart! One of my resolutions for 2010 is to get together with you on a daily basis and not loose touch again.

Please don't give up on us. . .I know, I know - I've said it before, but we are serious this time!
Sleep - please remember that you are a dear friend and a valuable part of our lives!


Namaste.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Scrapping Lyrics

WOW - Two posts in one day!!!

I am still trying to figure out how to use these. . .
I want to use them with a picture of a father holding his daughter for the first time.
In other words, I am not using it for a Wedding Layout of the Father / Daughter dance.

I may have to delete out a few words to make it work. . .

"I Loved Her First"
by Heartland

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it still hard to give her away
I loved her first

Namaste.

My Wish

I usually try to note lyrics that I may want to use in my scrapbooking.
I went out today to find two songs and realized, even though I have planned on using them for awhile now, I had never noted them on the blog.

I, in no way, take credit for these words.
Maybe, by sharing (in addition to keeping myself organized), someone else will enjoy the song as well.

"My Wish"
by Rascall Flatts (definitely not by ME!)

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.

And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
But more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.
But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.This is my wish

I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big.

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

25 Things You Had No Desire To Know. . .

Stole, of course, from Carmen. . .
This is becoming a habit of mine.

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. My nephew Anthony (miss you!). Jennifer Lopez.

2. Where was your first kiss? I have no idea. I guess that's bad.
3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else’s property? Nope. Toilet paper is not serious vandalism!
4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? Do you count my trainer?
5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? One time as a part of a group - karaoke, yes, there was alcohol involved.
6. What’s the first thing you notice about your preferred sex? Probably eyes.
7. What really turns you off? Bad sportsmanlike attitude - bad winners and bad losers.
8. What do you order at Starbucks? Whatever they have with white chocolate, skim milk.
9. What is your biggest mistake? There is not enough space in the Interweb for me to list those. I can't pick just one.
10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? No, unless you count the pressure point to get rid of my headaches.
11. Say something totally random about yourself. I am addicted to coupons.
12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? Yep - Julia Louise Dreyfus (years and years ago).
13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? Nope.
14. Did you have braces? Yes. Not so very long ago.
15. Are you comfortable with your height? Yes, but I am, soon to be, the shorter person in my house.
16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? Let me think. . .
17. When do you know it’s love? When you can screw up royally, and there is still hugs and kisses and forgiveness. (Not my answer, but I like Carmen's who stole it from Headless Mom's!)
18. Do you speak any other languages? Very small amounts of Russian and Japanese.
19. Have you ever been to tanning salon? Yes, in my young, unknowledgable years!
20. Have you ever ridden in a limo? Nope. . .Don't know that I want to either.
21. What’s something that really annoys you? Teeth scrapping on silverware and smacking.
22. What’s something you really like? Sleep.
23. Can you dance? Nope, but that doesn't stop me.
24. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? Yep - twice. Once from a car wreck and once from an anxiety attack that work thought was a heart attack.
25. Tag 5 people! Everyone who wants it!

Namaste.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Interesting Twist. . .

I have been very upset about not being able to find my Christmas Tree Pole.
Our Living Room is decorated, but the big containers with the Tree Branches are just sitting there, unopened.

Yeager-Bomb is enjoying the tree skirt that I laid out when I thought I was putting up the tree.
He's not going to be real happy when it gets put away the begining of January.

I guess things happen for a reason. . .
If I had found the pole and put up the tree. . .
I'd be taking it back down. . .

MBB and I have decided to begin another big project.
We are going to have our floors redone in the den and the living room before Christmas.


Yes, you read that right BEFORE Christmas.

We had/have to clear out both rooms, rip up carpets, fix the den's walls, paint the den and find somewhere to put all of the furniture. We made a huge dent this weekend - still lots to do!
It should take a week to do the floors, but the best part - we won't be able to walk on it for two days.

Did I mention we are doing the living room. . .
The room where the stairs to our bedrooms / shower is?
Yep, we've lost our minds.

Namaste.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Searching. . .

. . .For a good deodorant.

Yes, you read that correctly.
Yes, I understand that everyone in blog world who has stumbled across my little area will read this.
Yes, I am getting desperate.

In the past, I was a devoted Degree groupie. . .
Specifically for the kind that was a white powdery-type gel that twisted up through little holes.
THAT STUFF ROCKED!
Seriously!
I would put it on in the morning and still felt / smelled good before going to bed (minus the gym workout times, of course). In fact, there was one Saturday that I hung around the house by myself (Translation: no shower, no deodorant refresh - yes, I did brush my teeth!) and the stuff still worked!

For some reason, Degree no longer makes the white powdery-type gel that twisted up through little holes (I do not know how to better describe it). When I realized this, I searched every Walgreens and CVS that I could find and bought it up (they seemed to have it in stock way after the grocery stores). Even past its shelf life date - the STUFF ROCKED! Seriously!

Unfortunately, my stash has been gone for a few years now.
I have been using different types, different brands, different everything.
I AM FAILING!

I tried the clear gel that twists up through little holes. That stuff is COLD! I also couldn't figure out if the wet feeling was the deodorant or if the deodorant wasn't working (And I haven't seen it in awhile either - did everyone get rid of that too?)
I tried the invisible and regular Degree for Women. Nope.
I tried Secret. Nada.
I tried Ban. It is currently sitting in my bathroom partially used.
I tried Mitchum's - Women's and Men's. Not a repeat, though I did use it up. . .Or did MBB finish it?
I am currently using a Degree for Men (no, I don't smell like a man). It's about to join the Ban.

I'm sure these products are good ones. I am in by no means trying to bash them.
They simply don't work, or don't work for more than three to six hours, for me.

I will continue to hunt for something to replace my white powdery-type gel that twisted up through little holes. In the mean time, I may just have to reapply every three to six hours. SIGH.

Namaste.

Friday, December 04, 2009

Thinking. . .

It will be next summer (if I'm lucky) before we will be able to remodel my craft room.
But I am already looking for furniture / supplies that I will use in my new space.
I figure that will make my life easier when the remodeling time starts and I can keep an eye out for those items to go on sale to make the room more affordable.

Some things I may go ahead and pick up now. . .

I am trying to scrap in my current space and my stickers are OUT OF CONTROL! I need something that I can see what I have without having to do long searches. Hmmm. . .If I find something quick, it may go on that Christmas list MBB has been asking for (though he never seems to use it when I do make one).

I have these great racks for my 12x12 paper. Keeps everything flat and pretty. . .Well, everything but the bottom sheet of paper! I have my paper organized by color, so I do have to pull everything out to find the right shade or the right design. When I put the paper back in, it tends to get caught on the wires and messes up the bottom sheet. I am looking for something to fix that as I like my racks and don't want to buy new ones.

The lighting in my little hole is HORRIBLE! During the remodel, we will significantly improve the overhead lighting, but I'm thinking that a good desk light would be a great investment as well (and help me out NOW).

Anyone have stuff that works well?

Namaste.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Today. . .

. . .Was a rough day.

I tried to balance the frustration of the day with productivity of the evening.
I don't blog about work, so I'll just say that I bit my tongue until I almost bit it off.

After getting supper done, I decided to spend some time in my craft room.
My pre-work of organizing layouts helped big time.
I was able to kick about 20 pages in two hours.
I'm feeling a bit better now.

If I can be that productive a few more times, my To Do list will look much better!

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Made it. . .Kinda!

Well, I made blogging for an entire month with only one hick-up.
Glad to cross one thing off of my "To Do" list. . .Now, if I can just find that Christmas Tree Pole!

The next month will be a big one of saving, creating, baking and enjoying the holidays!
I'll try to upload pictures as I go, but I don't think that I'll be able to blog every day in December.

In the mean time, I found a few links to share:
Seal Funeral
Bus Ride


Namaste.