ALOHA FRIDAY

Its Aloha Friday!!! This fun game was started by Kailani over at An Island Life. Friday is a day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. In line with taking it easy, I ask a question and you post answer!!!

This week's question is:

WHAT IS THE ONE BEAUTY PRODUCT YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT?

I am somewhat of a makeup fanatic. It's kinda like a sickness, I see something new, I gotta have it! However, I have been committed to Mary Kay skin care products for many years! I don't necessarily use their colors, but every single day I HAVE to use the Timewise 3 in 1 cleanser for normal to dry skin, the Timewise Age-Fighting eye cream, the Timewise Age-Fighting moisturizer, and this is my NEW, CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT PRODUCT:

Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel.

OMG this stuff is fantabulous! You put it on over your moisturizer and your skin will feel soft as a baby's bum! The biggie though is that it is just not heavy at all. I LOVE IT!

So what is your can't live without product?

Also if you are interested in trying any of the Mary Kay products, I have a great Mary Kay lady who will ship anywhere in the US. She also offers a 50% discount on anything for your birthday! Her website address is www.marykay.com/beffiewilliams She has been great to work with!

Have a great weekend everyone!

PARTY POOPERS, AND MY FIRST BIRTHDAY PRESSIE OF 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEE. No not today, on Thursday! You know, I realized today that I have not shamelessly promoted my birthday here on my blog, like I do used to do on my online beading group. My good friend Angel Yoga Diva, (whose name has been changed to protect the innocent) has a birthday the day before mine. We are twins separated at birth and 7 years apart. We are soul sistas, and kindred spirits. She is always my roomie at the retreat or any overnight gatherings we have with the beaders. She is also an Angel Therapy Practitioner and tells me all about my angels, which is always sooo interesting, I just love to pick her brain about it! Anywhooo, (got off track there for a few) we would start sending occasional birthday reminders out to our beading group, ohhhhh mid-July, at about the half year point. Crazy I know, but we just didn't want anyone forgetting what should really be declared 2 National Holidays (February 25 and 26). Can we help it that we love to celebrate, and what better occasion? I love birthdays! Anyone's birthday! Sadly, we have been forced to stop this. Evidently someone does not have a good sense of humor, or they had a a stick up their bum and they decided they didn't wanna hear it! Ohhhh Whateva! I was bitter, but I'm OK.....don't worry!!! Angel Yoga Diva and I were really bummed because the shameless promoting birthday celebrating came to a quick halt. I mean we weren't obnoxious or anything. We would just say little things like, the beaders gathering is July 26th. Hey isn't that just 6 months from my birthday? Subtle reminders like that.

So at any rate, BIRTHDAY WEEK HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!!!!! Its PRESSIE TIME!! OHHHHH THE EXCITEMENT OF IT ALL!! I had to run to the post office to mail a few packages, and when I came home there was a large flat box sitting on the chair, evidently delivered by Fedex or UPS. I look at the return address label and what do I see? Vera Bradley! AND, I die! I ripped that bad boy open and OMG I'm so excited! My sister sent me the Weekender Bag in Riviera Blue (Picture below). This matches our luggage (which is royal blue) perfectly!!







THANKS TERRI! I LOVE IT!!

I also got a card from the mamma with a check which I need to buy myself something to wear to Travis' play that is coming up in 2 weeks. THANKS MOM!! Speaking of the play, I was at the school selling tickets last night and got to pop in and watch for a bit. Too funny!! They are doing a spoof of Some Like it Hot and he is basically dressed as a woman the whole time. Is it weird that my 18 year-old, manly-man, athletic son walks around in high heels better than I do? The girls were telling us they had to show him and the other kid how to put a bra on, which they have to wear for the play. Michael had his on outside his undershirt because "it cuts in my skin." Yeah, welcome to my world dude!

Not much else going on here. Work has been crazy busy. But I suppose that could be considered job security, so I'm not complaining!

I do have a wish to get more organized. I realized this week when I was looking for something that I am terribly unorganized. My office is a pig sty from digging around looking for this piece of paper. Clutter and crap everywhere! I can't stand it. If anyone knows of any good books or has any ideas on organization , etc., I would love to know about them. I'M BEGGING, I NEED HELP!

I guess that's all that's new here at the Beach Bum wannabe household. I suppose if you want to give me a 'lil old birthday pressie, you could leave a comment or better yet, become a follower!!! Just a thought!!! :o)

Have a great day everyone!!

ALOHA FRIDAY

Its that time again. Aloha Friday. Started by Kalani over at An Island Life since Friday is a day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. I ask a question and you post answer!!! Hows that for easy schmeasy?

Today's Question:

What is your favorite TV Show?

Ughhhh I have so many! Thank God for TIVO.

My regular can't miss shows are:

Grey's Anatomy

Lost

House

Bones

I also love reality TV, so here is a list of reality shows I love.

Top Chef

Survivor

Big Brother (OMG LOVE THIS)

The Biggest Loser

The Real Housewives of Orange County

I also record the Young and the Restless every day. I have been watching that since I was in about 8th grade.

How about you???

Wanna See Something Gross???

OK if the thought of finding a mouse in your food makes you want to wretch and vomit, you may want to think twice about watching the video below. I would die if this happened to me.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/02/04/balderrama.mouse.in.food.kfox?iref=videosearch

I love to eat out. I honestly do. In fact, one day when I was examining my bank account online, I made the mistake of telling my husband that we eat out too much and should cut back. It was a knee-jerk reaction to my balance that was showing online. I curse the day I mentioned it, because he is making me stick with it! I didn't mean it that much!!

**shakes head**

That said, I have always kinda wondered how clean the kitchens are at the restaurants we eat in. My husband spent years in the commercial roofing business and there are several places in the Columbus Ohio area that he will not go near. I suppose there are times when "What you don't know won't hurt you."

Your thoughts?

VALENTINES EXCHANGE

Andrea over at My Chihuahua Bites (Check her blog out, she too funny!!) hosted a Valentines Day swap. I had seen a few bloggy Christmas swaps and they looked like a lot of fun, so I took the plunge.




Last Friday I received this in the mail:





This was from Erin at Everyday Erin She included some fun little things in there!

We had chatted a bit and she told me she is an avid scrapper and I told her I'm a beader but was looking to make a scrap book for my son who will be graduating in May. She sent me a few things to get started. It was so exciting to see what she sent. Now I need to tax her brain for ideas for the scrap book. Actually we have a scrapbook store here in town and I'm going to go this weekend and check it out. Thanks Erin.

Other News here.....

1. Work - Crazy
2. Bathroom Renovations - Not Done
3. House - Mess
4. Hubby - Cooked steak on the grill for dinner.
5. Son - Crabitha.

That's about it for me! Have a great night!

I've Been Tagged ~ and I'm So Excited

I was tagged by my new bloggy friend over at The Sweet Spot in a "bag tag." I have wanted to be "tagged" for forever, LOL. Well I guess not forever, but for awhile now for sure. I have been blogging for a long time and Ohhhh how I have longed to be tagged, or given an award, or something cool like that. Well my dream has FINALLY come true. Thanks TL! LOL, could I be anymore mellodramatic? I told her I was excited and I haven't heard from her since. Think I scared her off??? Yikes, hope not, LMBO!

Anyway, this tag is all about purses, and as I said above it is called a "Bag Tag."

1) Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you cannot go up to your closet and pull out that cute little purse you used back before you had kids. I want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house. No cheating!

2) You need to put how much it cost:) (This is one of the rules but if you don't feel comfortable with this, I don't care) And this is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only, and if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I’d love to hear it.

3) Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you’re showing everyone your bag.

OK so purses, of all things, LOL! I actually love purses! I love them "almost" as much as I love shoes. However, since I work at home, I don't have a need to buy many purses, or shoes for that matter.

Here is the one I'm carrying right now:

This is a Liz Claiborne bag and the neat thing about it is the front and both side pockets, as well as the back have magnets. They are very strong and it clicks shut and doesn't come open. Dang it sure looks abused though, doesn't it?

This bag as 2 neat little side pockets that are the perfect size for my cell phone.

And since I was taking pics, I thought I would add a "True Confessions component to this post. I had to take a picture of the inside, because it is disgraceful!! I need to go clean that badboy out!

This purse actually cost me nothing. Big, Fat $0!! My mom has a true love of purses, and she buys some good ones. Her faves right now are Dooney and Bourke and Coach. She gives me them when she is done, if they are not worn out. Hey, I am not above hand-me-downs in any way, shape, or form!

I also want to share that I'm a HUGE fan of Vera Bradley and I usually buy a new one every spring. That is normally the one purse I buy per year.

I have this one from last year and I would like to get this one this spring.

So now I have to tag some other people. Hmmmm, who should I tag......

Lets do.....

Nancy from Meaningless Chatter

Mary from 2 Kai's

Andrea from My Chihuahua Bites

Melissa from Hope Floats

And I guess that's it for now. Thanks for playing along!!

HAPPY BELATED VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE

So what do a couple of beachbum wannabe's do to celebrate Valentine's Day? Well since we live a gazillion miles from any beach and it was freezing cold here in Central Ohio, we had dinner and movie! It was actually a very nice evening. We went to the El Vaquero for dinner where I had a tamale and a taco and a couple of raspberry margaritas, and John had some chimichangas and a couple of very big margaritas. Those margarita's knocked us on our butts. We sat there for a bit and then I had to drive over to the movie, LOL. We went to see "He's Not That Into You." Personally I thought it stunk. It was very slow and I had to wake John up several times, LMBO. So embarrassing when he starts snoring in a full theater. We laughed about it a lot later.

He brought my surprise home on Friday night. The absolutely most beautiful bouquet of roses and lillies.

I kept trying to get a good picture of him with my flowers and this is what I kept getting.

I know, he looks like he is 3. So after awhile he was getting annoyed with me and this is what I got:

Bad, I know!!!! Anyway, we had a great and relaxing Valentines Day. Unfortunately I am working today and then I have to fill in the FAFSA for my son's college. Ick! And of course it is due today. Dangggg, I have to keep a better eye on this stuff!

Have a great day!

It's time for Aloha Friday....Kailani at An Island Life started this fun weekly blog post called Aloha Friday. Based on the Hawaiian tradition of taking it easy on Friday and looking forward to the weekend, she asks a question of her readers. She invites others to participate by asking a question of their own.

Here is this week's question, in honor of Valentines Day:

What is your favorite candy bar?

My absolute all-time favorite candy bar is a Payday.

Wonderfully delicious and soooooo good for you....NOT!! It's just packed full of salty/sweet, crunchy/chewy goodness. I savor each and every bite!! Now you see why I have a weight problem, LOL. Unfortunately I can't enjoy them as much as I like being on WW, thats for sure!

Would love to hear from you today!!

ThanksGiving and Think Thin Thursday

I found this neat little meme over at http://www.odelltrips.blogspot.com/ called Thanksgiving Thursday, where on Thursday you take the time to celebrate all the things you are thankful for this week. I think this is a fantastic idea since I have a tendency to focus on the things that didn't go so well rather than the things that did. Sooooo things I am thankful for.....



1. I'm thankful that my dad is out of the hospital and doing well.


2. I'm thankful that Travis got straight A's on his report card once again. He is so consistent when it comes to his grades. His driving leaves something to be desired, but grades....he rocks!! Wait, that was a little bit negative wasn't it? Oops, sorry!!


3. I'm thankful that my bathroom is getting painted. I know this sounds kinda superficial, but my bathroom has been in some state of renovation for over a year now, so when I saw him, with paint brush in hand, phew was I happy!


4. I'm thankful that I get to take my husband out for Valentines day this weekend.


5. I'm thankful that the wind has died down. Now I have to go out and pick up the pieces of my neighbors roof that are strewn about our yard.


6. I'm thankful for a job that I love! It gets stressful but I do love it!


7. I was thankful that I work at home this morning when it was so windy outside.


8. I'm thankful for may Aunt Kathryn and Uncle Web who my parents flew to Florida to visit. They love to spend time together.


9. I'm thankful for my Brother in Law Chuck who surprised me with a very special card for my birthday that was signed with my late father-in-law's name. My FIL passed away a year ago on 3/7 and he was such a good friend. We had a very special relationship and to see the card with his name brought tears as well as a smile to my face and my husbands.


10. I'm thankful that I got to see Jr. Beach Bum practice for his musical this week. I was absolutely amazed at how well the boy can sing!



Well those are the things I am thankful for. Stop by http://www.odelltrips.blogspot.com/ to see what others are thankful for!! Thank you to Nicole for the reminder that we should focus on what we are thankful for!!


And Now.....for Think Thin Thursday.......


I stunk this week. Plain and simple, hands down, I blew it. I hope to get back with the program tomorrow! I got nervous when my father was sick last week and when I get nervous, being the emotional eater that I am, I started picking, and still haven't quit! I hate when I lose control like that so my goal for this week is to get back to it. Follow the program to the T. I have a goal of losing a certain amount of weight by my son's graduation and there is no way I'll get it if I continue eating the way I am right now. Back to the WW program for me!!



I hope you all have a moment to think about the things you are thankful for today!!

Random Thoughts and Sadness

You know, I love to neb around the blogosphere. I have my list of blogs I check daily, and while I'm there, sometimes I'll click on a random follower, and from there click on another, then another. Generally I have a great time doing this. It is so interesting reading about people's lives, their likes, dislikes, their children, their jobs, their opinions. Yesterday, however, during my daily blog neb, I came across such sadness. It seemed like every time I clicked deeper into the blogosphere I would find a sadder story. If there is one thing that sends me over the edge, it is a sick child. They are so innocent and helpless, and just don't understand what is going on. My heart litterally breaks for so many, but these 2 in particular. I hope I never know the pain that these 2 families are enduring right now. I have included their links below. Click at your own risk....tissues required. If you pray, I know these families could use your prayers today. I haven't been able to get them out of my mind.

http://half12.blogspot.com/

http://www.themcclenahans.blogspot.com/

On another note, my parents were humbled and appreciative when I showed them the well wishes from everyone who visited my blog! They couldn't believe it! They wanted me to thank everyone that stopped by with get well wishes for my dad and Happy Birthday wishes for my mom. He is doing well!! So well, in fact, that they left for Florida this morning on a trip that has been planned for a few months.

I hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Kim

Welcome to Aloha Friday....And Other Stuff.....

Its time for Aloha Friday.....Kailani at An Island Life started this fun weekly blog post called Aloha Friday. Based on the Hawaiian tradition of taking it easy on Fridays and looking forward to the weekend she asks a question of her readers. She invites others to participate by asking a question of their own.

Here is this week's question:


Who was the last person you hugged?



Answer:


My husband John when he left to go out of town for work yesterday. I live for his big cuddly teddy-bear hugs!!


So on to other things.....

It has been awhile since I posted. On Monday my dad was put in the hospital for atrial fibrillation. His ankles and calves were swollen to the point where they were bigger than his thighs, a sign the heart is not working correctly. Unfortunately, he is still in there. They put him on Coumadin and are trying to get his levels up to where they need to be. They would like his Coumadin levels between a 2 and a 5 and right now he is at 1.4. It's been hard being away. I live about 3 hours away, but I am heading up there tomorrow and I'm anxious to see him! And my mom who has been so strong through all of this. She is his rock. When I talked to the nurse on Tuesday morning she said he was very anxious through the night but when my mom got back there in the morning, it was like a sigh of relief for him and he calmed right down. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. He is very afraid and HATES being in the hospital.



Speaking of mom, she turned 70 yesterday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I hope you had a wonderful day!!

People that know me know that my mom is probably my very best friend. She is a constant source of strength for me. I feel so blessed to have her in my life and to have the type of relationship that we have.


Thought I would share a pic of my parents (the couple on the right) with my mom's sister and her hubby, Aunt Kathryn and Uncle Web.






And for the heck of it, I thought I would put my favorite pic of all time of my son and my father from my neice's graduation party. Travis and papa are total buds!

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

P.S. Think Thin Thursday will continue next week. With all that was going on, not only did I not do so great, but I missed posting on Thursday!

Kim