Organized Chaos

It's been over a year.......

2011-03-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Since I have posted here. And I'm sure no one is surprised......what am I talking about? I'm sure no one has even looked at this blog in more than a year. I'm still couponing & snatching up as many bargains as possible. I will try & post my recent trip to Kroger later.

Speaking of which......there is something about that trip bothering me. I had several transactions (as usual) and I used the self checkout for my first 2transactions. Took those items to the car and came back in to do a few more transactions. When I was ready to check out the self checkout lady sent me to lane 7 which was closed and called the manager & a woman that was in the office to check me out & bag my items. There was also a regular checkout lane open but apparently the manager wanted to check out my purchases himself. I had 4 transactions this time. The manager looked over all my coupons and "inspected" them and double checked on his screen that I bought what was on the coupon. It just made me feel really uncomfortable, like I was doing something wrong. When in fact I was following all the rules & just trying to save my family money. My Kroger is normally very coupon friendly so I'm not sure what was going on today but it bothers me just a tad. But in the end I know that I was following all the rules so I guess all is good.

Back in the saddle again.....

2010-02-13T07:56:00.000-08:00

I hit Walgreens again last night and here is what I got:

And for any family members out there that might be reading....... NO!!!!! There is nothing that you need to know....I am stocking up on diapers for my babysitter!!!! Anyway, I started with a $3 RR plus a $1.50 RR that the nice lady in front of me gave me (she earned it on the candy bars & said she wouldn't use it). I ended up spending $21.21 out of pocket for everything in the picture (plus a soda & a candy bar that somehow disappeared, hmmmm, wonder where that thing went??? LOL) Plus, I have $12 in new RR for my next trip. Not bad for 5 packages of Huggies, 4 Theraflu, 3 Dove Body Wash, 18 Ramen Noodles, 12 candy bars & a soda!!!!

Couponing.....oh, how I missed you

2010-02-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

After taking off from couponing during the holidays and trying to use up some of my stash during the month of January I took a quick trip to Walgreens & Kroger this week and walked away with some great deals. It made me realize how much I have missed snagging my good bargains over the last couple of months.

First stop.....Walgreens. I did have 2 of the $10 Register Rewards left over from the Pepsi deal a couple of weeks ago so I had to get those used. I got the following by using those 2 - $10 RR plus $45.16 OOP and I have $48 in new RR to work with next week.

Then a quick trip over to Kroger only to be half way done shopping when the power went out. But I waited it out and glad that I did because I scored all of this for just $10.88!!!!

I am planning another Kroger trip for tomorrow so I can take advantage of some more of $5 "instant rebate" items as I am thinking is might be the last week of it for a while. I will post that trip later in the week.

Well, it's been a few months since my last post...

2010-01-08T16:19:00.000-08:00

Seems that is becoming a regular habit of mine huh? Well, since my last post I have gotten a part time job with a local craft store. It's nice to have a little extra cash but it seems that most of my earnings seems to go right back to them!!! Oh, well, at least I am getting some cute stuff for decorating my house!!!!

Well, my mom was here visiting for a few days and she thinks we have too much stuff in our freezers and pantry sooooo......I decided to start participating in a freezer challenge for the month of January that one of my favorite bloggers is hosting. I hope to start participation this weekend...in the meantime I need to inventory my stuff and come up with a menu. I will keep you all posted!!!

2009-09-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here is my trip to Wal-Mart last Saturday evening...upon coming home I discovered that my cashier did not scan $7 worth of my coupons. I went back today to see if we could get this resolved, sure that there was nothing that they could about it today, 5 days later. Well, to my surprise, it was actually better that I waited because they do not count out the registers until the following day and based on that info my cashiers register was in fact over by $7 worth of coupons. Easy as that....I got my $7 back!!!! So, here is what I purchased on Saturday and after getting the coupon thing fixed to today I ended up paying a grand total of $24.36 OOP for everything in this picture:

And since I was in Hannibal anyway I decided to swing by Walgreens and try & snag a few more bargains. They were out of 1 of the RR items that I wanted and I have to go to Quincy tomorrow anyway so I will probably try the WAGS there for the item that I am wanting. Anyway, I spent a grand total today of $13.55 (doing 3 seperate transactions) not my best totals but I am happy with that, plus a have a $10 RR to use tomorrow or start next with. Here are my purchases:

I'm baaaccck.......

2009-09-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

I have been busy couponing and hope to be able to share many of my routine saving adventures here with you on a regular basis. With that said lets get started....here is my latest shopping trip to WAGS:

Any guess on how much I paid for all of the above? Awww, come on, just take a guess........if you guessed $1.11 OOP then you would be right!!!! Plus I earned $9 in RR for my next visit to Walgreens. I was pretty impressed if I do say so myself!!!!! If I had paid full price (no sales & no coupons) for all of that stuff I would have spent $77.52. Not sure what the % of saving that is but looks pretty good to me!!!! Until next time......

~Christine

I bet you guys thought I forgot about this place.....

2009-05-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Well, you are right!!! Not sure what happened last summer to cause me to neglect my blog so severely. Well, David Cook *might* have had something to do with it. Yes, I am still obsessed with that man (much to my mom & husbands dismay).

So....what have I been up to? Well, I have been to several David Cook concerts this year (imagine that), I am a substitute teacher at our local school (not too difficult & $70 a day), Lance is in 2nd grade (for another 16 days anyway), Ty is graduating from high school on the 22nd (hopefully), Rylee's first year of pre-school graduation is May 15th and she has a dance recital the 23rd & 24th. Plus, we have 2 birthdays coming up in June...Lance will be 8 & Rylee will be 4. WHERE does the time go?

I haven't gotten much scrapbooking done lately but I am hoping that will change real soon. My scrapbooking room is in the middle of a "makeover" and I will be sooo much more organized when it is completed that hopefully I will be able to crank out lots of pages. A girl can dream right? (LOL)

Well, I know that I no longer have any blog followers but I am going to keep it up this time (I promise) because I really enjoyed finding this place again and reading all my old posts (giggle).

Well, off to help Lance with his math homework & then head out to ball practice.

Lean, Mean, Mystery Shopping Machine

2008-06-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Yep, that title describes ME!!!! I am officailly a mystery shopper!!! What is a mystery shopper you ask? Well, companies and businesses hire outside indivduals to perform surprise evaluations of their facilities to be sure they are operating to the proper standards. Last year my mom told me about a company on-line that was "hiring" people in my area. I signed up but never accepted any jobs. Well, last week they called me & needed two Hardee's evaluated ASAP. So, I agreed. I completed both of my assignments yesterday. Unfortuately, both had unsuccessful results ~ one being MUCH worse than the other (but honestly I was not surprised. Anyway, I will get paid $28 plus re-imbursed for my food. Not bad for less than 2 hours work!!!

On to other news....since the finale of American Idol a week and a 1/2 ago I have searched for evey available video, message board & web-site pertaining to Mr. David Cook. Plus, atempting to watch every TV interview that he has done. And I proud to say that I think I have found nearly every single one of them!!! I just cannot get enough of this man!!!

Well, Ty left this week for South Carolina for Basic Training. Without so much as a phone call or a quick visit to say good bye. Hopefully, the military will teach him a thing or two about respect for his parents and those that are supporting him financially. And if not, well then maybe he will get the point when he returns at the end of summer and is at our house weekly wanting $$ and we tell him "no".

Well, I think we have successfully captured all of the mice ~ 1 by drowning, 1 in a traditional trap, 4 by way of sticky trap and 1 by our head mouser ~ Q-Tip!!! Yep, you heard right ~ in her old age Q-Tip has officially become a mouser!!! Not only did she catch and kill it BUT she ATE it too!!!! Ewwww, gross is all that I have to say about that!!! I spoke to her vet about it and she said that a mouse is the best nutrition for a cat!!! OK ~ maybe so but ewww, gross!!!

OMG ~ HE WON!!!!!!!

2008-05-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

David Cook is the 2008 American Idol winner!!! I am so happy & excited for him. He sooooo deserves it!!!! Like I said previously I have never really gotten "into" AI but this season something was different ~ DAVID COOK!!! And for the first time EVER I actually voted Tuesday night ~ and managed to log in 175 votes on my land line during the 4 hour voting period. 175 votes is NOTHING compared to the 97.5 million total votes ~ BUT I voted!!!! Now I am just trying to figure out how to score some good tickets to the St. Louis concert ~ E-Bay here I come!!!!! And I will leave you today with this pictures from last night:

Death by Drowning

2008-05-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

So, early this morning (4:15 am to be exact) I am awakened by what sounds like the cat hitting around an empty plastic bottle in the kitchen. I get up to investigate and find the cat sawing logs in the computer room chair ~ hmmmmmm. I go to the kitchen and hear a funny scratching noise over by the sink and realize that it is a mouse in the cabinets. I bang a couple cabinet doors to hopefully scare him out so I can back to sleep in peace. Then, as I look into the sink I see this:

Do you see what I see? Well, I thought he was faking me out and just waiting for me to leave him alone but then I realized he had drown. So, I snapped these pics to show Bradley and then threw him out the back door. So, I guess if we can't catch the mice with traps then we will just drown them (LOL)!!! Seriously, we have a couple of more mice around here and they are so small they are not setting off our mouse traps so I think I am going to get some of those sticky traps over the weekend and try & get them all caught once and for all!!! All winter long we did not have a mouse problem but for some reason this spring we have been taken over by them not sure what the deal is but I just want them GONE!!!!

Is it EVER going to warm up? I am sooo ready for warm weather EVERYDAY!!!! Next week Lance has Field Day and a Field Trip so I am hoping (praying) for good weather on Monday & Wednesday so he can have a few good days for his school activities.

Speaking of school....the countdown is ON!!! Only 6 1/2 more days including today. And of those days one is Field Day, one is a Field Trip and the last day is a 1/2 day. We will then have 1 week off and summer school starts at the beginning of June for 1 month!!! Homework has already slowed WAY down (which is a good thing for me) and today is his last spelling test (thank goodness). And lots of things/supplies were sent home yesterday already. Gosh, this school year went by so fast!!! Where does the time go?

Object of my obession

2008-05-15T07:39:00.001-07:00

Confessions of a 33 yo wife & SAHM of 2. I have totally and completely become OBESSED with this man:

Just look at him ~ how could you not fall in love with him? This is David Cook from American Idol (duh!!!). Anyway, this is the first year that I have ever really gotten INTO any of the contestants on AI. But I was intially drawn to him because he is from Missouri. Then I thought he was a good singer/performer. But recently I noticed the SEX appeal!!!! He has transformed over the last couple months and I believe he has truely become confortable with who he is and what he is doing. And he is such a humble and honest person. He has made it to the top 2 and in my opinion he should be the American Idol but if he does become the runner up he still has a fabulous career ahead of him!!! Love you David Cook!!!!

PS ~ That is him you hear singing!!!!

Watson House of Sickness

2008-05-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

Pretty much everyone in the Watson household has been sick for about a week now. The only one not effected (YET) is Lance!!! Last Wednesday I started getting a cold/sinus/throat thing happening. Went to the Dr on Friday and got a shot and started a Z-Pack on Monday. I still have the snot thing going on!!! In the meantime Rylee & I both developed a stomach bug Saturday night/Sunday and we spent most of our time sleeeping and in the bathroom!!! Then Bradley got the stomach bug on Tuesday & Wednesday!!!!

We had a laid back Mother's Day ~ since I was sick I spent most of it sleeping. I didn't get out of bed until 12:30 PM!!!! Then I only relocated to the couch for a nap (LOL)!!! Both of the kids gave me a card and a picture frame. And Lance was super helpful all day ~ halping around the house and with laundry ~ such a little sweet heart when he wants to be!!!

Saturday we went to Lisa's house for a BBQ/Mother's Day/birthday (John & Robbie)/graduation (John)/going away party(Ty). We took some pics of all the families. I will get a few edited over the weekend and get them posted.

I win the bad mother of the year award!!!!

2008-05-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday as I was peacefully snoozing on the couch and Bradley napping in the chair when our front door popped open and in walked Lance!!!! I thought ~ how long have I been asleep? I looked at the clock and it said 11:53 am Hmmmmmm, then it dawned on me that it was a half day of school!!! Fortunately, we were home and not out running errands. When I asked Lance how long he had been outside ~ he said that he sat on the step waiting for us to open the door and started eating his lunch (the one that I packed this morning thinking that he had a full day of school). Well, it is good to know that he will not wander off if we are not home for some reason.

This evening the boys came home with a DOG!!!! So, it looks like we will be dog owners again. It is a young Beagle. His named is Copper. I hope this works out. Tomorrow we will need to buy a bag of dog food. Tonight he ate 2 whole hot dogs and would have probably eaten 2 more if I had let him!!! Hungry little fellow!!!!

I have 1/2 of my SnS design team projects done for the month already. We received our Upsy Daisy supplies last month so I was able to get started on those ~ and I am extremely happy with the results!!! I will try & post some pics next week. Now I just need to wait on my ribbon kit for this month to finish up the rest!!! Which went postal last week.

Tomorrow we clean house!!!! I was going to do that today but didn't ~ so tomorrow it is!!!! And maybe I will be able to get Bradley to BBQ. I just hope that it isn't has cool and windy tomorrow as it was today.

Well, I am working on cleaning the SB/computer room so I am going to log off for now ~ nighty-night!!!!

I have created a MONSTER!!!!!

2008-05-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

My husband is OBSESSED with http://www.youtube.com/ What have I done? I'll tell ya what I have done.....I have severely cut into my evening computer time. That's what I have done!!!! He will log on shortly after supper and stay on there for hours watching videos clips. One night he didn't come to bed until midnight ~ last night it was 11 pm. He likes watching clips by Rodney Carrington, Roy D. Mercer, Bob & Tom, etc ~ all the comedy type ones. Last night he tried to suck me into his obsession ~ he ran back to the bedroom to get me to come watch one of the videos. It was kinda funny but I was going back to bed. But he insisted that I stay and watch one more ~ OK fine. Then after that ~ just one more!!!! After about 6 or 7 I had plenty of comedy for the evening and I was going to bed ~ Goodnight!!!!! His idea of comedy and my idea of comedy are 2 totally and completely different things!!! Oh, well at least he is having fun and actually learning how to operate a computer!!! I was fast asleep when he finally came to bed. My mom said that if we get a laptop we can probably "hook into" our existing internet from anywhere in the house. Sounds interesting ~ I will have to check into that with my internet provider and if that is the case maybe next year with our income tax $$ we will buy a laptop!!!

I have lots to get done today and Bradley probably got rained out at work so he will be home soon (I better get busy to look like I have been doing something around here LOL)!!!! Later!!!

Spring has Sprung.....

2008-05-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

The birds are singing, the squirels and rabbits are playing, the grass is green, the trees are budding and the flowers are blooming. The kids and I went through their spring/summer clothes last week ~ they are both ecxited to have some "new" clothes to wear. I am just excited that it is FINALLY warming up outside ~ It has been a LONG winter!!!!

Last night Lance had his first ball practice of the season. I must say that it appears that his team is actually going to be pretty good this year for 6-9 year olds. They were all nailing the ball last night!!!! Practice will be each Wednesday during the month of May and then we have 12 games from May 28-July 8. Can you say BUSY? Because that is what we are going to be!!!! Between games, summer school and 2 birthdays during the month of June I am going to be swamped. Not to mention that June will be my busiest month in regard to my design team duties at Savvy-n-Sassy!!!!

And maybe just MAYBE I will be helping my mom move!!! I hope so anyway!!! She has had a few lookers at her house but nothing too serious yet. But they are serious about selling. They are currently having siding installed, a new front door put on and replacing most of the lights/light fixtures inside the house. Mom's brother from Seattle will be in town visiting starting tonight for 12 days. So, some of their projects will be put slightly on hold until their visit is over.

Here are a couple of pics of Rylee from Saturday (while we were taking pics of Ty and his date).

Rylee's "flower" bouquet:

Kelsey's bouquet:

Well, that is all for today. Oh, BTW, still no mouse in our trap (LOL)!!!!

Lots of interesting stuff happening since my last post....

2008-04-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm, where to begin? Well, Ty went to the Monroe City High School Prom on Saturday!!! WOW!!! Hard to believe that he is 18 years old!!!! Where does the time go? Here are a couple of pics of him and his date Kelsey ~ she is a Sophomore in Shelbina. I don't think that they are dating but not real sure of the situation ~ this is the first time that we met her. She was a really sweet girl and cute too ~ hard to believe that she is only a Sophomore!!!!

Ty leaves on May 29th for South Carolina where he will complete his Basic Training. Then he will come back to complete his Senior year in high school. Then back to South Carolina next summer to complete his Advanced Individual Training.

The boys who are being accused of robbing our house had their preliminary hearing yesterday. I haven't heard yet how that went. Hopefully, later today the Missouri Court web-site will be updated with that info!!!

Oh, we had some action in the bedroom last night!!! Now, get your mind out of the gutter ~ it's nothing like that!!! I was peacefully sleeping when I am suddenly awakened by my husband screaming and flailing his arms about. He then jump up on his feet in the bed and hopped down switching on the bedroom light!!!! I was laying there dazed and confused ~ like WTH? He "claims" that he felt/saw a mouse crawling on his arm!!! Huh? I finally rolled out of bed and stood there as my husband frantically looked under sheets, pillows and blankets. He went into the kitchen and got a mouse trap and brought it back in the bedroom with a flashlight as he looked under the bed ~ claiming to see mouse poop!!!! Whatever ~ I think he was just dreaming. WHY would a mouse be in our bed when he could be in the kitchen feasting on whatever he might find in there? Oh, and the mouse trap? Was there a mouse in there this morning? NOPE!!!!

Rylee and I took a little road trip to Quincy on Monday. We went to Hobby Lobby and stocked up on some of their sale items ~ paper, adhesive & bling!!!! We then went to The Dollar Tree and found some really cool flower stems that I was able to take apart and have these HUGE flower blooms for my scrapbook pages ~ I wish I had picked up a few more of those but I wasn't real sure if it would work out or not!!! I also picked up a few items with plans to "alter" them. I have been working on cleaning up my SB room this week but I am kind of on hold until this months ribbon kits get posted to see what I will be working with this month!!!

We might need another computer in the house!!! Bradley has discovered youtube.com This could be a problem. He wants me to log him on the computer each evening so he can watch youtube ~ this might start cutting into my computer time!!!

Well, that is all for now ~ off to check my mouse trap (LOL)!!!!

Where does the time go?

2008-04-23T05:53:00.001-07:00

TWO WHOLE months since I have blogged? I am such a bad, bad blogger!!!! I promise to try & start being better about updating my blog. Hmmmm, so what is new in my neck of the woods? Well, it has been 2 months since I have blogged so I'm sure lots of new stuff going on.....

Some of the best news recently is that the local police department has arrested 2 individuals in the local burglaries and have arrests pending on at least 2 other people. So that is exciting news for me!!!! That and the fact that my Dr. has prescribed Zoloft have helped me sleep a little easier on the nights when Bradley is gone ~ ahhh drugs. What will actaully happen to them I do not know but they are both being charged with a Class C Felony so I guess that is a good thing. The sad part is they are so young ~ only 19 and 21!!!! The 19 year old is still in high school!!!! So sad to get mixed up and in trouble at such a young age!!!!

In other news, Ty joined the National Guard!!! He is currently doing weekend drills. He leaves on May 29 for South Carolina to complete Basic Training for 9 weeks. Then he will continue weekend drills his Senior year of high school. After graduation he will return to South Carolina for his Advanced Individual Training.

This weekend is Prom and Ty will be going ~ he said that he is wearing an all white tux and his date will be wearing a midnight blue dress. I will post pics next week sometime.

Saturday we will also be visiting Rylee's pre-school for next year. Of course, I have seen it before since this is where Lance attended 1 year of pre-school. But Rylee is sooo excited!!! She cannot stop talking about going to school and her teacher, Mrs. Walker. I have been preparing her for being dropped off and staying at school with the other kids and playing then I will pick her up later. She acts like she understands this concept and is OK with it BUT we will have to wait & see. Her classes will be Mon & Wed 8:30 am - 11 am and there will be 5 boys and 5 girls in her class!!! I think I am almost as excited as she is ~ for a little bit of mommy time each week!!!!

In other news ~ I attempted golfing for the very first time in my life!!! My mom was in town and had her golf clubs in the car and she wanted to play the golf course where their new house is. So, we hit some balls on the driving range and mom played 9 holes of golf. Rylee had fun playing in the sand traps and driving the golf cart!!! We had a really fun girls day out!!! Hopefully, once mom gets moved here we can have more fun girl days together!!!

Well, that is all for now. I promise to post more often and post some recent pics of the kids soon!!!

Wanna win some yummy ribbon?

2008-02-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Head on over to http://www.savvynsassy.com/ and check out my February Challenge to see how you can get yourself in the drawing for some Valentine themed Savvy 'N' Sassy ribbon PLUS a package of I Kan' Dee Market Tabs. See them here:

I have been busy creating with this months yummy Savvy kit and have gotten lots of projects done this week!!! I will post pics tomorrow. Until then be sure and head over to Savvy 'N' Sassy and check out all of the contets/challenges that are going on!!!!!! There is lots of fun stuff going on over there.

Close but no cigar....

2008-02-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

Last night was the Lucky Hearts dance and the chance to win $10K!!!! We made it into the top ten!!!! Which means that we got to go stand in front of the entire crowd as they drew the last ten #'s!!! I was sooooo nervous. Ours was #292 drawn out of 300...we won $200. Better than nothing but winning the $10K or spliting the $10K with the 2nd runner up would have been good too. Oh, well we had a good time for FREE!!!! Our ticket into the dance was paid for by my dad as our Christmas present....so a free night out with a prime rib dinner, wine, a dance and $200 bucks ~ pretty darn good if you ask me!!!!

Speaking of wine ~ I think I drank a couple of BOTTLES too many (yep, you read that right ~ 2 1/2 BOTTLES of wine consumed by moi LOL). And beleive me when I say that I was feeling it today!!! Although, I am now starting to feel better (thank goodness)!!!!

I will try & post a couple of pics tomorrow!!! Good night for now.

Misc Ramblings

2008-02-02T05:04:00.000-08:00

Well, last nights purse party went well despite the snow and cold weather. I even got 2 bookings!!! I am ready to get the Zag Bag business up and running again. For 2 reasons really....1.) I need an occassional break from this house/kids and 2.) The extra $$ is nice to help pay bills/vacations/etc.

Picture this.....It's Saturday, 5:30 am, the kids are with grandma, Brad is at work. So, what am *I* doing? I should be all snuggled up and snoozing in my toasty warm bed but I'm not. After Brad left I just couldn't fall back to sleep so here I am tinkering on the computer.

Speaking of which...I ordered a new cell phone Thursday directly from Virgin Mobile. It was about the cheapest phone they had (only $15 ~ good enough for what I need it for). Fed Ex ground shipping was free ~ OK anything free is great!! So, with tax my new little phone was only $16.15!! Here I am expecting my new phone to arrive sometime mid-next week. So imagine my surprise when the Fed Ex truck comes wheeling up in front of my house FRIDAY afternoon (this was just 1 day after ordering it). All of my invoices indicated Fed Ex GROUND but the box said Fed Ex EXPRESS!!!! WOO!!! HOO!!! I'm sure that was probably a mistake but it worked to my advantage huh? Well, now I am trying to get everything transferred over from the old phone to the new phone on-line and well....Virgin Mobiles system is not working with me here!!! So, now I have to wait until 7 am Mountain time (I *think* that is 9 am MY time ~ scratching head here). But hopefully we can get this fixed today and I will have a phone again. Not that I use it that much really but I do like having one when going to purse parties and on the road with the kids, etc. Just that sense of security I guess.

I will need to get a nice long nap in this afternoon as tonight is the Lucky Hearts Dance and I plan on being out late and drinking a little bit of wine!!!! But for now I guess I will clean up this scrapbook room. How DOES this room get messed up so quickly?

My poor neglected BLOG

2008-02-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a few weeks since I last posted and LOTS has beening happening. The biggest news being that we got robbed. It was the evening of Jan 17/morning of Jan 18. I woke up and discovered my purse missing and our back door unlocked. Bradley wasn't home ~ just me & the kids. They took my purse from the living where Lance was sleeping and I had a lamp on in that room too (brave people I tell ya). We found my purse out in the garage with all the contents dumped out on the hood of the car and the ground. They took my cell phone, a credit card and a few dollars ($3 or $4) that I just happen to have (they hit me on a good day LOL). A trip to Home Depot and $400 later I am feeling a little bit more secure. No one has been caught yet but there have been lots of similiar break-ins in surrounding towns so hopefully the police will get a break in the case real soon.

On to other news. We had a pretty big snow storm last night/this morning but based on the news reports it sounds like we just missed the MAJOR part of the storm. I think we got about 4-5" of snow. Not enough to call off school. I am sure there are lots of disappointed little kids out there today (LOL). Bradley had to take a load of de-icer to Kansas City this morning and he called and said just outside of our area the roads are fine in that direction. But south of here (closer to St. Louis is supposed to be a BIG mess) and Bradley may have to take a load of de-icer to the St. Louis airport later today.

Thank goodness we didn't get hit too hard as I have a purse party tonight in Quincy. I have taken it easy on the parties lately and haven't had any for a few months now. But I think that I am ready to get back into the swing of things!!! Hopefully, we will have a good turn out and I will be able to get a couple of bookings too.

I have been busy scrapbooking and creating layouts/etc for my design team obligations at www.savvynsassy.com I am waiting for my Feb shipment of ribbon and can't wait to get started on my creations. Also, this month I will be hosting a challenge on their site ~ I will be posting it sometime over the weekend. I will be giving away a RAK to those participating as well. So, be sure and check it out. I will post the details here too!!!

Well, off to sort my fabric swatches for my party tonight and make sure that I have everything that I need for tonight. Like I said it has been a few months who knows what might be missing and where it might be (LOL).

Look what was in my mailbox yesterday....

2008-01-11T07:02:00.000-08:00

My Jan Kit for the Savvy 'n' Sassy Design Team. Isn't it purdy? I got busy last night making some projects with it. I hope to have some things uploaded to the SNS gallery over the weekend. Stop by & check it out...http://www.savvynsassy.com/gallery/

Wow, where does the time go?

2008-01-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Lots has been happening since my last post. The most exciting I have already posted about...I MADE MY VERY FIRST DESIGN TEAM!!!! I am so excited about this and anxious to get started. It is for an on-line store/message board, http://www.savvynsassy.com/, stop and and check it out. All these women are very nice and lots of fun. There is a TON of stuff to see on the web-site that I linked (message boards, contests, shopping, gallerys and lots more) plus there is BLOG as well as a sketch blog that one of the co-owners maintains. Lots of fun stuff so be sure to stop by & check us out. I will also be posting the monthly challenges right here on my blog!!!

Let's see what else.....well, we had a wonderful Christmas and the kids got WAY too many toys (as usual) but at least they have some things to keep them occupied for the next few weeks. My dad took everyone out to eat to the local Mexican Restaraunt the day after Christmas. Myself, Brad, Rylee, Lance, Shirley, Tara, Jaymee, Donnie, Travis, Brock, my sister Samantha and her boyfriend Josh and dad of course. We had a nice meal and a few margaritas. I got a couple of pics that I will try & post later.

The day after the Mexican feast the kids and I went to my mom & Pete's house for a couple of days. I stayed for 2 days and left the kids there for a couple of more days with them. On my way home I got a speeding ticket ~ my first ticket EVER. Brad thinks it funny ~ I don't. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to me!!!! I took down most of the Christmas decorations while the kids where still at moms. Mom & Pete brought the kids home on Jan 1.

Lance went back to school yesterday ~ it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I think I was more tired than he was. So, I am glad that our routine is getting back to normal again and I'm really looking forward to warmer weather but unfortunately it looks like that is a LONG way off!!!

I guess that is all for now.....off to play Chutes & Ladders with Rylee so she will stop hollering for me from Lance's room!!!

OMG ~ I made my very first design team......

2007-12-30T06:51:00.000-08:00

I am so excited!!! I am a member of the Savvy 'n' Sassy design team. The announcement was just made a few days ago. My 6 month term will run Jan 1 - June 30, 2008!!! I have lots more to post but will need to do that later. Because right now I have lots of stuff to get done while the kids are gone!!!!

Well, it is official.......

2007-12-23T20:16:00.000-08:00

I am DONE shopping!!!!! I have about 4 more presents to be wrapped and 2 more presents that need to be stuffed into gift bags and then I am done with the wrapping portion of this holiday season as well!!! I went to the grocery store tonight and bought all the ingredience for our Lasagna on Christmas day. I am going to get that all ready to go tomorrow (so I don't have to stay in the kitchen long on Christmas Day). All I will have to deal with on Christmas Day will be the garlic bread and the salad. It feels so good to be so organized this year. Although, I did not get all of our Christmas decorations out this year and we did not put any lights up outside I still feel good with our progress and do not feel as stressed as I normally do.

My new camera finally arrived on Tuesday ~ just as I was leaving to run errands. I used it on Wednesday when Rylee & I went to Lance's school to help his class make the reindeer ornaments that my mom had bought for the class and we had treats. I actually snapped a really good class picure. I think I am going to get a 5x7 made for the teacher and 4x6's made for each student to have a record of their 1st grade class. Rylee had so much fun ~ she thought she was BIG stuff hanging out at Lance's school.

Yesterday was Brad's Christmas meeting/party at work. All the employees had to be there at 8 am for a meeeting then at noon the wives are invited to attend for a prime rib lunch!!! YUMMY!!! We rarely ever have steak so this was a real treat. After the meeeting I had to brave Wal-Mart for a few last minute gifts (that place was a mad house). Brad stayed in the car since he refuses to step foot into WM (don't ask). Then last night we went to Brad's friends house for a Christmas get together and had meat cheese tray, veggie tray and shrimp tray!!! My MIL kept the kids over night so we were able to enjoy an evening without kids. We played cards and then came home around 11 pm in what looked like a blizzard. Big 'ole snowflakes were flying around. We got a couple of inches of snow plus a little bt of ice underneath. And today it has been freezing cold...BRRRR!!!

Well, it is off to bed for me. Night all!!!

Patiently waiting for the UPS man and freezing my buns off.....

2007-12-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here waiting for the UPS man as my brand camera should be arriving today. He is already 30 minutes later than he was yesterday when he went zooming past my house without any packages for me!!! Isn't that how it always goes?

As I sit here waiting I am FREEZING cold!!! I just cannot get warm today. My toes, my fingers, erverything is so cold. Not real sure why, after all it is a balmy 34 degrees outside today. Snow/ice is even melting off our driveway.

Well, Bradley just called and he is on his way home from work already. They got his truck fixed but now there is nothing to do. I'm sure he will get called late tonight and have to go someplace and not make it home for a day or two. That's how it always goes. Well, if he is coming home so much for goofing around on the computer all day. I will have to clean the house and wash the dishes that have piled up on the counter (you know, make it LOOK like I work hard around here everyday while he is gone ~ wink). But on the plus side, he can stay home with Rylee while I run errands.....gas up the car, go by the bank, the grocery store and Dollar General. So much easier to do without dragging a toddler along.

Oh, I forgot to mention yesterday. I am so disappointed that my jury duty was cancelled!!!! I got the call on Friday that they wouldn't need me the following Monday afterall. I found out from my "informant" they there was actually 2 cases and both pleaded guilty. But she also told me that there is at least 1 more trial scheduled for January.

Sometimes it is so hard to get some peace and quiet. Anyone else ever have this problem? Last night I tried to sneek in a long, hot shower. Well, Rylee heard the water running and convinced Brad that she had to go potty. So, he set her up in the bathroom and left her in there. Of course, her REAL plan was to take a shower with me. She tricked Brad into getting her into the bathroom. Well, I wouldn't let her get in with me as this is the only peace and quiet time I had for myself all day since she did not take a nap yesterday. He plan was squashed and she was mad. So, mad she cried herself to sleep.

Well, Bradley is home so I better sign off now and see what his plan is. And for the record, I have justed wasted an additional 30 minutes and still no UPS man!!!!

Lots has been happening since my last post.......

2007-12-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

Gosh, where do I start? Well, while Rylee was gone I got LOTS done around the house and most of the Christmas shopping done (some of it even wrapped). I got the main tree up plus 3 more (each of the kids have one and one on the kitchen). I got lots of other misc Christmas decorations up as well!!! A VERY productive week.

While I was busy decorating the house and preparing for Christmas my mom was busy potty training Rylee!!! WOO!!! HOO!!! No more diapers in the Watson household!!!! How exciting is that? She did excellent while with mom and since she has been home. She has been home for 1 week today and has only had 2 accidents. I'm not even putting a diaper on her at night or nap time and she is doing perfect!!!! And I have an almost brand new package of diapers (go figure!!!).

I still have a few other small things around the house to get done before Christmas but I am feeling more prepared than I usually do thanks to my mom helping me out by taking Rylee for a few days. Well, it was supposed to a few days but due to bad weather it turned into nearly a week!!! I was missing her so much and glad to have her back home.

Other exciting news, my mom & step-dad are looking at a house right in here in Monroe City!!!! I am so excited about the possibility of them living so close and being able to see them more often. The house is beautiful and brand new. Only lived in for a couple of months by the builder and it is currently empty. Mom & I looked at it when she returned Rylee. She took lots of pics home to Pete and he wants to look at it when he is in town in a couple of weeks. Of course, they would still need to sell their own house so we shall wait and see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

The past 2 Saturdays we have gotten together with another couple that has kids the same age as ours. And we ate and played cards while the kids had a good time together as well. We used to get together with this couple over the summer and BBQ/build a fire so I am glad that we are still getting together during the winter too!!! Although, it is a little crazy with 5 kids 6 years old and under running around scraming. But fun none the less!!!!

Oh, other big news......the basement people FINALLY came back and fixed what should have originally been fixed with the basement. They were here 2 days and installed 3 more piers on the southeast corner of the house. I certainly home this is the end of that nightmare.

Well, that is all for now. Lance just got off the bus so....LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!!!

Misc Ramblings....

2007-12-04T18:22:00.000-08:00

Rylee is gone for a few days. My mom and step-dad picked her up this morning and are going to keep her until the weekend. I am supposed to be decroating for Christmas, putting up the tree and Christmas shopping while she is away!!! The plan for tomorrow consists of rearranging the living room and putting up the tree. Thursday's plan is all the other misc Christmas decorations. Then Friday I will shop, shop, shop, till I drop or until the money runs out (and I have a feeling the latter will probably happen first LOL)!!! We don't have any bushes out front to put lights on this year and it looks like Bradley has waiting too long for the lights on the house since it is now FREEZING cold!!! So, inside decorations only this year.

My husband.....he's worse than a woman when it comes to talking on the telephone. He is CONTANTLY on that thing "gossiping" and carrying on with his trucker buddies. Supper was almost finished and he picks up the phone and starts dialing. I was like, "Who are you calling and what is so important that you have to do it right now?" His response? "Oh, is supper almost ready?" And your clue was what? The boiling potatoes? The browning meat? The microwave oven on? Or maybe it was your son setting the table? DUH!!!

Oh, other big news!!! I have JURY DUTY on Monday!!!! YIKES!!!! I had always thought I would enjoy Jury Duty. Well, now I am nervous. So, when my mom brings Rylee home this weekend she will stay until the first of next week so I can attend Jury Duty. Fun stuff I tell ya.

Well, I'm going to sign off for now. I still have dishes from supper that need to be washed since it appears that no one else in this house if is going to wash them for me.

Starting a NEW blog

2007-11-28T06:51:00.000-08:00

Hello all. Welcome to my new blog. I had been using Typepad but hadn't posted there for a couple of months and it was costing me $5 a month so I switched to here. FREE is good. I PROMISE to try & do better about regular blogging. So, here we go. Right now I am off to try & customize this blog. Then I have to shower and get to the store to get Rylee some milk as we are totally & completly out (GASP!!!). So, until my next post.....