Forty Before 40

District 6 FBLA Conference: February 19, 2010

2010-03-01T07:36:00.003-06:00

I am so proud of my son Connor, he took 1st place in THREE FBLA events on February 19, he advances to state!

Thirteen Hickman students and advisers Jeaniene Thompson and Colleen Goss attended the conference. There are 22 schools in the district. Seven students will represent Hickman High School at state competition competing in 6 different events. In addition, Hickman won 5th place in total points.

Hickman had the following winners:

Event/Rank/Student
Accounting II/1st/Connor Hollrah*
Banking and Financial Systems(team performance event)/1st/Gavin Hart*, Jorie Neech*, Ashlie Anderson-Rice*
Business Calculations/1st/Connor Hollrah*
Business Calculations/3rd/Noble Carpenter
Business Calculations/4th/Gavin Hart
Entrepreneurship (team performance event)/1st/Connor Hollrah*, Charles Chau*, Skye Ramseyer*
Impromptu Speaking/4th/Skye Ramseyer
Job Interview/4th/Ashlie Anderson-Rice
Management Decision Making (team performance event)/3rd/Tori Griggs, Noble Carpenter, Andrea Thames
Marketing/1st/Gavin Hart*
Marketing/2nd/Katie King*
Marketing/5th/Jorie Neech
Personal Finance/1st/Gavin Hart*
Sports Management/5th/Andrea Thames
Total Points/5th/Hickman FBLA

* Students who will advance to state competition

Tackle It Tuesday 1.5.10 Edition

2010-01-05T06:44:00.005-06:00

Happy New Year! New Year's Resolutions and Tackle it Tuesday's go hand in hand! LOVE IT! I love Tackle it Tuesday....when I first started blogging, I looked forward to Tackle it Tuesday's because each week I tackled a project from start to finish and loved posting my before & after pictures! The great thing about life, a household with 6 people 4 of them being kids...there is always a project that needs tackling! One of my major goals for 2010 is to focus on family and friends and having a house that is organized and well ran is a must for this goal! I am also focusing on my daily routines (which I posted yesterday) so during my work time on Tuesday's, I will be posting a project/task that needs tackling!

For the first TIT of the New Year....I have lots to choose from....however, a good portion of my day needs to be focused on CMSL and the Futsal schedule, however, I have a bunch of little fires that need putting out today so those will be what I am focusing on:

1. Hallway: We refinished (painted) the dressers drawers in both Gracie & Sydney's room this weekend. Everything got put back in it's place in Sydney's room but Gracie's drawers weren't dry yet so everything is still in the hallway in boxes. I need to either move the boxes back into her room so they are out of the way or get them emptied today!

2. Living Room: For some reason, Collin thinks he can drop his dirty clothes any where he wishes and the cleaning fairy will pick them up! Well, in front of the chair are his dirty clothes and some other piles of stuff that no one ever picks up...today the "trash fairy" may pick everything up!

3. Kitchen: it's a mess!Dishes need to be done, trash needs to be taken out and dining room table needs to be cleaned off...end of story!

4. Making Beds in all Bedrooms

5. Entry Way (this will be cleaned up once the girls head off to school!)

A Prayer for The New Year: I Hold Up My Life to You Now

2010-01-04T16:09:00.003-06:00

Rev. Ted Loder

Patient God,
the clock struck midnight
and I partied with a strange sadness in my heart,
confusion in my mind.

Now, I ask you
to gather me,
for I realize
the storms of time have scattered me,
the furies of the year past have driven me,
many sorrows have scarred me,
many accomplishments have disappointed me,
much activity has wearied me,
and fear has spooked me
into a hundred hiding places,
one of which is pretended gaiety.

I'm sick of a string of "nice days."
What I want is passionate days,
wondrous days,
dangerous days,
blessed days,
surprising days.
What I want is you!

Patient God, I hold up my life to you now,
as much as I can,
as high as I can,
in this mysterious reach called prayer.

Help me not to let my life slip away from me.
Come close, lest I wobble and fall short.
It is not days or years I seek from you,
not infinity and enormity,
but small things and moments of awareness,
awareness that you are in what I am
and in what I have been indifferent to.

It is not new time I seek,
but new eyes,
a new heart,
and you, always you.

O Patient God,
make something new in me,
in this year,
for you, for others,
for the abundance of this life lived in your presence.

Amen.

Menu Monday (1.5.10)

2010-01-04T07:37:00.002-06:00

Monday: (Dance)-Grilled Ham & Cheese Sammies with Tomato Soup

Tuesday: (St Louis)-Roast, Carrots, Potatoes in Crockpot

Wednesday: (Basketball)-Gyros

Thursday: (Dance-Work)-Pasta Shells with Sauce

Friday: Steak with Blue Cheese Butter

Saturday: (Church)-Buffalo Chicken Soup

Sunday: Lemon Chicken

New Year...Better Routine

2010-01-04T07:06:00.003-06:00

Each new start to a new beginning-whether it be a new year, new school year, new season, etc.-I always vow that I am getting to get into a better routine & stick to it! Let's see is 2010 has some magic power & I will stick with my routine! My routine is still the same one that I established several years ago, when I stick to it-it works! Life takes over & I fall out of routine...maybe I have too many routines? I have a daily routine and a weekly routine-I try to be flexible when things need to be done that fall out of my routine, so what goes wrong? Laziness or life? Well here goes to a new year and a new routine!

Daily Routine:

6:30/7:00 am: Wake-Shower-Dress-Take Meds

7:00 am: Breakfast-Wake Girls

7:30 am: Quiet Time

8:15 am: Check emails

8:30 am: Workout (M, T, W & F)

10:00 am: WORK-CMSL, Friendly Freezer, etc

11:30/12:00 pm: Lunch

12:30 pm: Housework

1:45 pm: Rest

2:15 pm: Start Planning evening routines: snacks for dance, dance, soccer, basketball, etc.

Monday:

Menu Plan for Week

Week in View-Email schedule/calendar to Sean

Laundry-Towels & Sheets

Referee Schedule (during soccer season)

Unpack/Organize Bedrooms from weekend activities

Tuesday:

Budget/Bills

Laundry-Darks/Scrubs

Run Sweeper

Dust

Sweep kitchen/bathroom

Mop Floors

Wednesday:

Cooking Day-for either Friendly Freezer/Take 2/Faith Connections, etc

MasterMoms

Thursday:

Take 2 Day

Lunch with Girlfriends

Laundry-Whites/Lights

Clean Bathrooms

Friday:

Grocery Store

Run Sweeper

Sweep Kitchen Floors

Laundry-whatever needs washing

Get packed & ready for the weekend

1.2.10: Organizing Bedrooms

2010-01-03T16:55:00.004-06:00

What started out being a simple, let's rearrange Sydney's bedroom turned into a project of painting dresser drawers and a desk!

Sydney's bed was position in a spot where it wouldn't butt right up to the wall because of the electic heater in her room and when she sleeps, she would fall in the crack of the bed. We decided that we could rearrange her room so this didn't happen any more.

I think that the change created more floor space in her room...check out the before (not a current picture but what the arrange was) and after pictures:

Tackle It Tuesday (9.1.2009)

2009-09-01T08:09:00.005-05:00

I love to tackle a project...but today....I have a list of things that I need to get done instead of a project where I get to show you a before and after picture...maybe next week!

1. HS Girls CMSL Schedule
2. Scan and shred MYSA paperwork.
3. Laundry...need to do a load of darks and lights.
4. Take girls laundry to their room.
5. Clear off kitchen table today.
6. Put weekly routine on calendar.
7. Update big family calendar.

The list doesn't look to intimidating but #1 and #2 will take a majority of my day.

Menu Monday (Aug 31, 2009)

2009-08-31T16:35:00.003-05:00

I am slowing working on getting back to my regular routine and one thing that really helps me stay on track with meal planning and my budget is to sit down every Monday morning and look over my freezer inventory, pantry and calendar and plan my meals for the week. Here is my menu for the week of August 31st:

Monday (soccer practice-CWH, GLH and SJH):Tangy Curry Pork Chops, Twiced Baked Potatoes, and Green Beans.

Tuesday: Grilled Spicy Peach Chicken

Wednesday (Soccer Game-CSH): Southwest Pasta Bake

Thursday (Dance-GLH & SJH, Soccer practice-CWH, & Booster Meeting): Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Apples and Onions

Friday: Out of Town

Saturday: Out of Town

Sunday: Out of Town

Monday: Out of Town

Tackle It Tuesday-8.25.2009

2009-08-25T11:27:00.003-05:00

I haven't done a Tackle it Tuesday in quite sometime now...so here goes...figure this would be a good route to get started on my new school year routines and goals...to start with a TIT blog posting (since one of my goals is to blog daily!).

Today, I have a couple of items that need tackling today....

1. Freezer Chicks Cooking for Meal Exchange - we exchange this evening and I haven't started cooking yet! I have 3 meals to make times 6! Why do I wait until the last minute to do these things???? Why!!!!

2. Set goals and routines for the next month. I am going to tackle one month at a time because my life seems to change by the week!

3. Three loads of laundry...my laundry is so far behind!

Another School Year Started....

2009-08-24T07:15:00.004-05:00

School years come quicker and quicker each year...it feels like yesterday that I was sending my first born off to Kindergarten and he is starting his junior year! Wow...where has the last 12 years gone!

With the start of the new school year, for me comes a time to reflect on last school year, make changes to routines and schedules. This year, I am going to do a "New Year's Resolution" and make some new goals for the school year for me, the kids, and my family in general.

I also want to reflect on my 40-before-40 list and see if there are some things that I can cross off before I turn 41 in July 2010.

One thing that I am going to do is to post regularly to my blog...I feel like my blog friends give me support and some accountability that I need! So check back tomorrow to see my goal for the remainder of August!

It's Official....I am 40 years old!

2009-07-08T06:59:00.004-05:00

I have reached a milestone! This year has been full of milestones for my family...Connor turned 16 in January, Collin turned 13 and both Sean and I turned 40!

I woke up early on my birthday...yuck! But I have had some time to think and ponder on the next 10 years! They are going to be great! God has given me a wonderful husband and four beautiful children!

"I'm not 40...I'm 18 with 22 years of experience!" Author unknown.

Happy 40th Birthday to me!!!

2009-07-07T22:18:00.003-05:00

Well....my fortieth birthday is tomorrow! I started this blog almost 3 years ago to track my progress of things I wanted to accomplish before I turned 40 years old. I plan on taking this year to work a little harder on my list and figure out what I am going to rename my blog right before I turn 41! I accomplished some but still have a lot of things that I would still like to do...here is my list:

1. Clean/Organize Garage (cleaned last summer...need to clean it out again!)
2. Clean/Organize Attic
3. Lose 50 pounds---75 would be better but 50 would be great! (need to get serious about losing some weight. This Easter I had a heart scare & cardiologist recommends losing 75 pounds!)
4. Read the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. (reading on my own first-finished the first book)
5. Bake through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook.
6. Knit a blanket for each of my kids.
7. Renew my wedding vows. (will look at doing when we have our 20th wedding anniversary in 2011)
8. Read the Bible completely.
9. ~~Purchase "1001 Books to Read Before I Die"~~ and read one book a month.
10. Catch up on my scrapbooks. Started working on our Disney trip photo album a couple of weeks ago. (plan to finish Disney trip album, work on New York next and then work on catching up the kids.)
11. Give up Diet Dr Pepper (this will be a really hard one, I have been drinking Dr Pepper since I can remember!Maybe just for a day...like the day I turn 40!) Better yet, add more water to diet! (Cardiologist recommends this for my heart condition...made some progress but started drinking dt dr pepper again.)
12. Make a quilt.
13. ~~Take Networking at church..discover my God given talents.~~
14. Burn all my home VHS onto DVDs.
15. Rip CDs I don't listen to often and sell them.
16. ~~Go to a spa for a massage.~~
17. ~~Get a pedicure.~~
18. Take a cooking class.
19. Read everything I haven't read yet on my bookshelf.
20. Watch all five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars.
21. Get a will (mostly for if something happens to both S & I-details for Mom & Dad re: the kids) Have mine done...need to get Sean's completed & have SIL file.
22. Learn cake decorating.
23. Plant a herb garden to be used all year long.
24. Try yoga.
25. Try pilates.
26. Incorporate a regular date night with hubby. (I thinking every other Friday or Saturday evening.)
27. ~~Visit NY and go to a Broadway musical or play. (would like to see Wicked)~~
28. Make a household inventory notebook including pictures, serial numbers, etc for insurance purposes. Purchased notebook 6/29/07. Started working on inventory with kitchen.
29. Get finances in order and everything paid off. (just about there!!!)
30. ~~Take family to Disney World.~~
31. ~~Send out Christmas Cards (last time was 1997)~~
32. Clean out car-keep it clean for an entire month-figure this would help me set a habit.
33. Take a second honeymoon with hubby.
34. Take family on a ski trip to Steamboat.
35. Go ice skating with my family.
36. Drink Milk. Plain, Chocolate or Strawberry flavored. (at least one for that day-this one is for my son-I do not like milk &; don't drink milk & he thought that it would be a good one to add to my list!)
37. See "Gone with the Wind."
38. Take Tennis Lessons.
39.
40

Hickman High School FBLA Winners

2009-02-25T16:44:00.004-06:00

District 6 Future Business Leaders of America Conference
February 23, 2009
Jamestown, Missouri

Twenty Hickman students and advisers Jeaniene Thompson and Colleen Goss attended the conference. There are 22 schools in the district. Ten students will represent Hickman High School at the state competition competing in 11 different events; these students' names are indicated by an asterisk. In addition, Hickman won second place in total points. Hickman had the following winners:

Accounting I -1st Place, Kristen Bailey*
Business Calculations - 5th Place, Melissa Green
Business Communications- 1st Place, Ben Hoffman*
Business Ethics (team event)- 3rd Place, Ashlie Anderson-Rice, Connor Hollrah, Brock Loesing
Business Math - 4th Place, Connor Hollrah
Business Procedures - 5th Place, Charlie Chau
Computer Problem Solving - 1st Place, Alan Gatica*
Computer Problem Solving - 3rd Place, Skye Ramseyer
Economics - 2nd Place, Joe Langworthy*
Economics - 5th Place, Josh Jacobi
Electronic Career Portfolio - 1st Place, Erin Chambers*
Entrepreneurship (team event) - 2nd Place, Yohana Ghirmazion, Connor Hollrah, Avy Kea
Global Business (team event) - 1st Place, Kristen Bailey*, Joe Langworthy*, Trey Nelson*
Help Desk (individual event) - 2nd Place, Kyle Bogden
Management Decision Making (team event) - 2nd Place, Grace Cripps, Alan Gatica, Josh Jacobi
Marketing - 4th Place, Trey Nelson
Network Design (team event) - 1st Place, Kyle Bogden*, Josh Boyer*
Networking Concepts - 1st Place, Kyle Bogden*
Personal Finance - 1st Place, Grace Cripps*
Personal Finance - 3rd Place, Gavin Hart
Sports Management - 1st Place, Gavin Hart*
Technology Concepts - 2nd Place, Alan Gatica*
Hickman FBLA Total Points - 2nd Place

One More Down.....34 More To Go! Disney Vacation

2009-02-20T06:50:00.005-06:00

We just returned home from a family vacation to Disney World on February 17th. We had 8 awesome days of Florida sun and Disney fun! The girls' dance competition team decided to attend the TwirlMaina competition that is held every February at Disney World and when it was presented at a Booster meeting in August, we decided that it was the right time to take the family to their FIRST Disney trip! Not to mention that it allowed me to cross off another item off of my 40-before-40 list...yeah!!

Our trip started early Tuesday morning. Our plan departed at 7:30 am and we arrived in Florida around 11:00 am (Eastern Time). We caught the Magical Express Shuttle to our resort-All-Star Music. We arrived around noon, got checked into our room, which was a family suite, through on our swimsuits and headed to the pool. I stayed in the room and unpacked our suitcases. I had also pre-ordered groceries prior to leaving Columbia, they arrived around 2:00 pm. The girls participated in the hula-hoop contest, a dance party and a hot potato contest (which both Gracie and Sydney were the winners-they tied). We had reservations at Chef Mickey's so we left around 4:15 to catch the shuttle and to make our 5:05 pm reservations. We were greeted at our table by Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto. The food was okay...for the price, I wouldn't recommend Chef Mickey's and if we get the opportunity to go to Disney again, we won't go there again. After dinner, we caught the Monorail and rode it through Magic Kingdom...watch the castle change colors, it was quite a sight!

The next day we were up early and off to Magic Kingdom for breakfast at the castle with Cinderella and the other princesses! We were greeted at the castle gate and were treated like royalty! We were "My Lady," and " Princess" and "Young Prince", etc. The breakfast was fabulous! I would recommend the Royal Table to anyone going to Disney for breakfast, lunch or dinner! It was a pricey but the food and service was fabulous! We also got our picture taken with Cinderella before our dinner and those pictures came with the meal! Belle, Jasmine and Snow White greeted us during our breakfast. The girls (and boys) had a great breakfast and dining experience!

The boys took after to ride rides and the girls and I stayed close to the castle because they had an appointment at the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique to get their hair, make-up and nails done for the day. They were absolutely gorgeous after their appointment!

After being transformed into a princess, we were off to enjoy Magic Kingdom. We rode lots of rides, including Splash Mountain and Space Mountain and ended the day at Magic Kingdom enjoying the fireworks! It was a magical first day at Disney.

Our second day at Disney we did a lot of park hopping...started at Animal Kingdom, hopped over to Hollywood Studios (MGM) and ended at Epcot. We were at Hollywood Studios when they had the American Idol Parade and got to see a bunch of American Idol Past Winners, Contestants, Ryan Seacrest and Paula Abdul! It was quite the experience!

The next day we went to Universal Studios and Island Adventure. The boys really enjoyed this park! Lots of daring rides some that Sydney could ride and some that she couldn't ride. She was a little upset when she discovered that she couldn't ride all of the rides! She is a dare devil and riding the roller coaster was exciting for her. Her and Gracie did ride the water raft ride two times and was soaking wet! They enjoyed this ride immensely! We closed the park down and headed back to our resort. We ordered pizza and relaxed in our room that evening.

The weekend was rather busy for Gracie and Sydney, the TwirlMaina competition took place on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday we started the day at Epcot and then headed to Magic Kingdom for the parade that Gracie marched in...which was exciting that she was able to march in a parade at Disney. After the parade they had two performances at the Milk House at Wide World of Sports. We then headed back to Magic Kingdom to rides a few rides and eat dinner with the Patty's and Mary Jo & Cassie. We turned in early that evening because we had to be up and ready for competition to catch our bus at 7:00 am the next morning! Sunday was competition, performance at Downtown Disney, off to Epcot for Showcase and back to Milk House for more competition. The girls, Collin and I headed to Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom for some Disney fun after the competition...we were planning on staying at Magic Kingdom until they closed that evening, which was 3 am but we pooped out and headed back to our resort around 11:30!

The next day we went to Sea World...it was great! The girls loved the aquatic animals, the shows were fantastic! Collin was sick that day so he didn't get to ride the rides, he toured Sea World in a wheel chair and slept off and on all day. I felt really bad for him. We stayed at Sea World until the park closed, headed back to our hotel to start packing for our return home.

Our last day, we spent the morning at Epcot walking through the different countries...we stopped and had pastries in Paris. They were yummy! Collin shopped at the Sportsman's Shoppe in London and got a rugby ball and a Chelsea jacket. We were sad to leave but headed back to our resort to catch the Magical Express Bus at 1:00 pm.

We had a great vacation!

Not Long: Disney Schedule

2009-02-06T08:25:00.004-06:00

Last night I laid out what days we were going to the different parks. I have to fit in Dance Competition/Performances, Sea World and Universal Studios into our schedule. I feel like we need to at least have a schedule before we go or we won't get to do everything that we would like if I don't do all of this planning. I know some of the other parents that are going are teasing me because I am planning on laminating my schedule....this doesn't mean that we will stick to that schedule but I just want a "master plan!" I am all about spontaneity!

So far this is what my "plan" for the week is:

Day One: Arrive, Swim at Pool at Hotel, Dinner at Chef Mickey's, and Explore Disney via the Monorail after Dinner, Bed at a descent time.

Day Two: Breakfast at Castle in Magic Kingdom, Girls have appointment at the Bippity Boppity Boutique-Hair and Nails, and spend the day at Magic Kingdom.

Day Three: Sleep in (everyone will be awake & ready by 8 am-I'm sure), Spend most of the day in Magic Kingdom. Eat lunch at one of the restaurants in Magic Kingdom (one with no reservations!). Spend late afternoon/evening at Hollywood Studio's.

Day Four: Animal Kingdom in the morning (so we can see the animals) and Sea World that afternoon/evening. Dinner at Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. Extra Magic Hours at Epcot from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Day Five: Morning at Epcot, Gracie has parade from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Girls Perform at the Milk House (Wide World of Sports) from 4:30 to 5:00 pm, Evening at Epcot until closing. Bed by 10:00 pm (girls are up early for a day of dance-meeting bus at 7:15 am in make-up, hair done, in first costume!) Sean and I have reservations at the California Grill for Valentine's Day at 9:00 pm.

Day Six: No Park fun-Performing all Day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Day Seven: Universal Studios. Pack that evening, make arrangements to get luggage picked up. Print boarding passes.

Day Eight: Hollywood Studios until we need to leave for airport. :-(

Countdown to Disney-6 days!!!

2009-02-04T22:33:00.005-06:00

I am counting down to the day we leave and I feel like I have so much to do! I have 5 days to finish planning our trip, clean my house and pack!

We just watched the DVD that Disney sends to get us excited (not that we already aren't excited) but to see what the rides look like, the shows, etc. and to get an idea of where we want to go! Sydney was a little worried that she wasn't going to be tall enough to ride the roller coasters! She looked up at me and asked (with big tears in her eyes!), "Are you just going to leave me, if I'm not tall enough?!" I got the tape measure out and she is 51" without shoes on, all of the ride requirements are 40-48" except for the race car ride, which she has to be 52" to drive by herself. She is a happy camper!

The kids then asked about where we are sleeping, I said that each of you will have a "bed" and no one will have to sleep on the floor, etc. I said that they have pictures of our rooms online and I showed them. They were very ungrateful! None of them want to "share" a bed! Collin doesn't want to share, but wants the bigger bed that folds out! Talk about ungrateful! I am spending all of the money to go to Disney and they are more concerned about what they are sleeping in....be thankful that you are getting to go!

Oh well....I am sure that once we get there, get settled in and start our vacation that they will be happy with where they get to rest at...after all we are going to Disney! We are going for the rides, the shows, the food and the fun!

The other cool part of this trip is that I get to cross off one of my items on the 40-before-40 list! Taking my family to Disney!

40-Before-40 List

2009-02-03T12:33:00.005-06:00

Oh my! I haven't posted on my blog in quite some time. It use to be that blogging was one of my daily activities, something that I really enjoyed now I spend my time on facebook. I still enjoying reading my friends blogs and I am going to do a much better job of posting!

I am about 5 months away from turning 40 so I thought I would revisit my list and start working on a plan to complete some of these items!

1. Clean/Organize Garage UPDATE: Need to organize the area in front of car and then garage is clean....will do when it's not so cold outside!

2. Clean/Organize Attic

3. Lose 50 pounds---75 would be better but 50 would be great!

4. Read the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. (reading on my own first-finished the first book)

5. Bake through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook.

6. Knit a blanket for each of my kids.

7. Renew my wedding vows. UPDATE: Would like to renew vows on our 20th Anniv in July 2011.

8. Read the Bible completely. (started reading each day)

9. ~~Purchase "1001 Books to Read Before I Die"~~ and read one book a month.

10. Catch up on my scrapbooks.

11. Give up Diet Dr Pepper (this will be a really hard one, I have been drinking Dr Pepper since I can remember!Maybe just for a day...like the day I turn 40!) Better yet, add more water to diet!

12. Make a quilt.

13. ~~Take Networking at church..discover my God given talents. (Registered for Networking-class starts Jan 21-23. 2007~~

14. Burn all my home VHS onto DVDs. Purchased a program for my computer & will start working on this next week!

15. Rip CDs I don't listen to often and sell them.

16. Go to a spa for a massage.

17. ~~Get a pedicure.~~

18. Take a cooking class.

19. Read everything I haven't read yet on my bookshelf.

20. Watch all five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars.

21. Get a will (mostly for if something happens to both S & I-details for Mom & Dad re: the kids) Have mine done...need to get Sean's completed & have SIL file.

22. Learn cake decorating. Looked into classes but need to wait until Fall.

23. Plant a herb garden to be used all year long.

24. Try yoga.

25. Try pilates.

26. Incorporate a regular date night with hubby. (I thinking every other Friday or Saturday evening.)

27. ~~Visit NY and go to a Broadway musical or play. (would like to see Wicked)~~ UPDATE: Wend to NYC in June-July 2009. Saw Wicked the first night there!

28. Make a household inventory notebook including pictures, serial numbers, etc for insurance purposes. Purchased notebook 6/29/07. Started working on inventory with kitchen.

29. Get finances in order and everything paid off. UPDATE: All but house will be paid of in Dec 2009!!!

30. Take family to Disney World. UPDATE: We are leaving for our Disney Trip on Feb 10, 2009!!

31. ~~Send out Christmas Cards (I haven't sent out cards since I was pregnant with my 3rd child!)~~ Mailed out cards for 2007 and 2008!!!

32. Clean out car-keep it clean for an entire month-figure this would help me set a habit.

33. Take a second honeymoon with hubby.

34. Take family on a ski trip to Steamboat.

35. Go ice skating with my family.

36. Drink Milk. Plain, Chocolate or Strawberry flavored. (at least one for that day-this one is for my son-I do not like milk &; don't drink milk & he thought that it would be a good one to add to my list!)

37. See "Gone with the Wind."

38. Take Tennis Lessons.

39.

40.

Menu Monday (Week of 1.26.08)

2009-01-26T11:15:00.003-06:00

I haven't posted since September and I don't think I have done a menu plan Monday it quite some time. I want to get back to my routines and after two busy weeks (one with dance/soccer and the other sick with the flu)- I am finally getting back to my routine this week.
Here is this week's menu for the Hollrah family:
Monday: (Dance)
Steak Soup and Sandwiches
Tuesday: (Dance, Soccer, Piano)
Bourbon Chicken w/ Veggies, Rice and Salad
Wednesday: (Soccer, Basketball)
Parsley Parmesan Chicken, Veggies, Baked Potato, Salad
Thursday: (Dance, Soccer)
Pork Roast with Apricots and Cranberries (Crockpot), Rice and Salad
Friday: (Basketball and Dance)
Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread Sticks
Saturday: (Basketball, Soccer)
Beef Barley Soup (Crockpot), Sandwiches
Sunday: (Soccer)
Eat out

God's Pharmacy

2008-09-22T06:50:00.004-05:00

A friend sent this to me. It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... all before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

God's Pharmacy! Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine
and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are
also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These
foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23%sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the
womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs.Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of
these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well
to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the
glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and
the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce
tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

Tips For An Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life

2008-09-22T06:41:00.005-05:00

Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4.) When you wake up in the morning ask yourself, "What do I really, really, really want today?"

5.) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of Six.

9.) Dream more while you are awake.

10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your
energy in the positive present moment.

15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the
lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out chargecard.

17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.

25.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27.) Forgive everyone for everything.

28.) What other people think of you is none of your business.

29.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

30.) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31.) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.

32.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. God provides remember?!

34.) The best is yet to come.

35.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36.) Do the right thing!

37.) Call your friends/family often.

38.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statement: 'I am thankful for __________.'

39.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it
and enjoy the ride.

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A GIFT ... UNWRAP IT! Have a Blessed day. Please share with friends!
(Received list in an email from a friend-source unknow.)

New York: Day 2

2008-06-27T23:39:00.000-05:00

Day two started out with leaving the hotel at 6:30 am to head to Bryant Park to see Maroon 5 in the concert in the park series with Good Morning America. Gracie befriended one of the stage guys and he gave her the script of the days show.

We then got on the Hop-on Hop-off bus and went Downtown to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

We returned to the hotel to dress and head to see Xanadu. Xanadu was great! Lots of great music and funny!

While at Xanadu, my Mom returned to our seat and said she saw a movie star but couldn't remember his name. I asked what he looked like and she said she thought he was in Boston Legal. She said that she recognized him and almost went up to him and asked if he was from Sedalia!!!! We have teased her about it! After the musical was over, we waited outside for him to come out.....can you guess who it is????

It's the guy in the black suit...he was in the Titanic and Legally Blonde.....Victor Garber. He walked within a foot of me and smiled!

Wicked!!!

2008-06-27T01:21:00.000-05:00

Oh my! I LOVED Wicked! We saw it the first night we were in New York City! I completed one of my 40 before 40 things! I got teary eyed at the end of the show! It was fabulous!!!! I would recommend it!

New York: Pictures with the Stars

2008-06-26T23:56:00.003-05:00

On day one, we had our pictures taken with the stars....wax stars that is ....at Madame Toussad's. It was quite interesting seeing how tall or short some of the stars are!

Jessica Simpson and the girls.

I will post more pictures. (my battery went dead and I used my Aunt's camera and she will get the CD of pictures to me when we get home!)

New York City: Day One

2008-06-26T22:17:00.002-05:00

We are in New York City! We took off at 7:00 am from Kansas City and arrived in New York City around 11:00 am. We had a great flight...it was Sydney's first time on a big airplane!

After a horrible experience with our shuttle (we were placed on a shuttle and the driver turned around and took us back to the airport because he picked up the wrong group-we changed shuttles, moved our luggage around, etc.) But we finally made it on the road to our hotel. I took lots of pictures on the bus. After checking into our hotel, we headed down time square to get our tickets for the NY Pass to see the sites. We picked our tickets up at Madame Toussad's Wax Museum. That was a treat! I will up load those pictures later (my camera's battery went dead, we used my Aunt's camera and her batteries went dead too!) After touring the museum, we changed for Wicked! It was fabulous! One of the best musical's I have ever seen! We loved, loved, loved it! The girls enjoyed it! Enjoy the slide show of our first day! I completed one of my 40 before 40 things today....seeing Wicked in New York City!

My Summer Resolutions

2008-06-03T18:29:00.003-05:00

Yes, you read that correctly....summer resolutions! I am one year and almost a month away from turning 40 years old and I have not even put a dent on my 40 before 4o list! Also, with each new transition, I always set goals and try to achieve them....start of summer, start of the school year, start of a new year. It's an opportunity for me to look at what's working in my life and what isn't....and work on improving and making changes that will not only benefit me but my family as well. So what are my summer goals?

We will be having our family meeting on Monday, June 9th....figure I will let my kids relax and enjoy the first three days out of school and I am planning on sleeping in and enjoying the first couple of days.

1. Developing and establishing new routines with the kids. Bed made each day. Showered and dressed each morning by 10:00 am.

2. Chores. This summer the boys will get the opportunity to learn how to sort, wash and fold their laundry. Each week they will rotate who's job it is!

3. Each week, two will help with the grocery shopping. This means, cutting coupons, looking at ads, planning what we will eat week, help with the shopping, cooking and cleaning up.

4. Setting and enforcing house rules. We just had new carpet installed downstairs from our sewer back up in January and had the upstairs carpet cleaned so no time like the present to enforce the shoes off at the door and no eating/drinking in the living room & family room.

5. TV/Video Games/Computer Time will be limited each day this summer. I want to spend each afternoon at the pool soaking up the sun and working on my tan to hide my cellulite-tan fat looks better than white fat!

6. Workout each day. Connor has a 1 mile run that he must meet under 6 minutes 4 out of 5 times during HS Soccer tryouts so we will be spending some time training on the track and trail. I would like to achieve my goal of losing 20 pounds over the summer.

7. Putting in a garden. We are planning on planting tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and a herb garden.

8. Finish deck.

9. Finish painting house.

10. A Garage Sale, start working on cleaning out the attic.

11. Sort Christmas decorations that have been piled on the saw horse table in the garage and placed on the shelves in garage.

12. Plus have fun this summer reading, spending time with my family and soaking up the sun at the pool.

What's your plans for this summer????

Mother's Day 2008

2008-05-11T10:41:00.004-05:00

What I Would Like for Mother's Day 2008

I made a list last night before I went to bed. Sean came down this morning and said that he thought that they would be able to meet my Mother's Day demands :-)

1. Breakfast-kids clean kitchen afterwards.

2. Sydney-pick up bedroom, take sheets off bed to wash, take things to bedroom from other rooms (living room, etc)

3. Gracie-pick up bedroom (I have asked her several times this week to pick it up from her sleepover & it's still not picked up), take sheets off bed to wash, take things to bedroom from other rooms (living room, etc)

4. Collin-take sheet off bed to wash, clean shelf by bed, all trash in bedroom thrown away, clothes put away, clean/organize desk

5. Connor-take sheets off bed, all trash in bedroom thrown away, clothes put away, clean/organize desk

6. All-be respectful to everyone, no yelling, no ugly words to any other family member, help keep living room/kitchen picked up, shoes in basket if wearing the next day or put away, back packs hung up, trash thrown away, dishes put in dishwasher-not in sink, blankets folder after using, pillows neatly replaced on sofa

I would like to see my children take responsibility for their belongings and the imitative to help keep the house picked up and in order.

Wishes for EVERYDAY....not just Mother's Day:

1. Less time in front of TV, computer or video games. More time with family, reading, playing outside, etc.

2. Help with dishes each day-put dirty dishes in dishwasher.

3. Take out trash when full.

4. Make beds everyday.

5. Keep bedroom clean-clothes put away each day-after being washed and placed in bedroom.

6. Empty soccer bag after game day so uniform, socks can be laundered and bag aired out each week.

7. Dance bags cleaned out each week-dirty clothes put in laundry-trash emptied.

8. Car cleaned each day-take in trash, jackets, clothes, etc everyday.

9. When asked to help-not put job on someone else because you didn't get it out, etc. We are a family and we are here to help each other make our home and family run smooth.

How was your Mother's Day celebrated?

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends!

Setting Routines

2008-04-09T08:35:00.002-05:00

Hi all....it's been a while since I have posted! Life has been crazy with soccer, dance-competition and recital preparations, and my business!

I am settling into the spring season and wanted to share with you my new daily routines:

Monday: (Soccer Day)

Quiet Time
Work Out
Pick up from the weekend-wash uniforms, resort dance bags, etc.
Plan weekly menu
Assign Referees for CMSL
Every other Monday, conference call with the MasterMoms group on parenting.
Shop if cooking on Tuesday for the Friendly Freezer
Collin-soccer practice

Tuesday: (Cook Day or Catch Up Day)

Quiet Time
Work Out if not cooking (every other Tuesday Tina and I cook for our business)
Catch up on laundry, errands, Bible Study, or soccer responsibilities if not a cooking day.
Laundry, if not a cooking day-wash a load of whites and/or darks
Pick up girls for Dance after school
Connor-soccer practice

Wednesday: (Soccer Day)

Quiet Time
Work out
Laundry: Wash towels & change sheets
I work every other Wednesday until recital at the studio.
Collin-soccer practice
Connor-soccer practice

Thursday:

Take 2
Lunch with the ladies (Mindi, Kim, Margie and other T2 Ladies)
After lunch-check emails, do a load of laundry, set out dinner, get dance bag ready
Pick up girls for Dance after school
Work at the Academy (I work every Thursday)
Connor-soccer practice

Friday: (Soccer Day)

Quiet Time
Work out
Get everything ready for the weekend-soccer games, tournaments, dance competition, etc.

Easter Facts: Early Easter

2008-02-26T09:56:00.002-06:00

Just received this in an email today and thought it was very interesting about the dating of Easter etc.

Easter this year is: Sunday March 23, 2008

As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20).

This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

I found out a couple of things you might be interested in. Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier than it occurs this year (March 22) but that is pretty rare.

This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives, and only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old and above).

None of us have ever, or will ever, see Easter come as early as March 22.

Here are the facts:

The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so, if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones who were around for that!).

The next time Easter will fall on March 22 will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818, so no one alive today has, or ever will, see it any earlier than this year!

Wedding: First Dance

2008-02-22T20:16:00.003-06:00

I received a link to this video some time ago from a friend and wanted to share it with my blogging friends. Click on the video & it will take you to another site. Enjoy!

glumbert - Best wedding first dance ever

A Boy with a Driving Permit

2008-02-01T23:13:00.000-06:00

On January 17th, my oldest son turned 15 years old. Well, here in Missouri, that means driver permit time! On January 18th, we went to the Missouri Motor Vehicle Driver's testing office and Connor took the written exam and passed! He now has a Missouri Driver's Permit License in his wallet! Oh boy! I feel so old! I have a son who will be driving on his own in 11 short months.....YIKES!

On the 18th, he asked me if he could drive home after he got his permit. The answer was a firm, NO. I needed to have a drink and relax before getting in the car with him behind the wheel. No really, I wouldn't think about drinking and letting my son drive! My dad was at my house when we got home & Connor talked his poppy into taking him to Cosmo Park and letting him drive through the park. They came home and Dad told me, while trying not to laugh, that he did very well.

I got the nerve up to let him drive that afternoon and evening around town, trying to avoid any roads that had traffic or vehicles on them. In Columbia, that's not possible! Maybe at 2:00 am in the morning but not during day light hours! He drove down Stadium, while I braced myself in the passengers seat with my foot on the pretend break! He did pretty well. We need to work on the stopping and starting. I am sure that a couple of times I was close to having whiplash! The most exciting part of our driving experience that day was driving into our garage! As we pulled into our driveway, I told Connor to make sure that he clears both sides of the van and make sure that he doesn't hit the mirrors. He got a little close and I told him to back up a little and straighten out the vehicle some, well, instead of backing out a little, he backed out all the way to the road! While we were driving back up the drive into the garage door, I proceed to tell him to take it slow and when he reaches the ball hanging down to STOP!!!! He reached it before I could finish telling him what to do! He comes to a screeching stop and I am relieved to be stopped and getting out of the vehicle at that time!

The next day we were going to KC to a soccer tournament. He asked me several times if he could drive some more. Well, it will be a very long time before he is allowed to drive on I70 but I would consider letting him drive on Highway 50 when we head to Sedalia on Sunday evening from KC. I do let him drive from Warrensburg to Sedalia. We had 2 very exciting moments on that little trip! One a car was turning right off of the highway onto a side road, Connor is driving full speed and I'm trying to tell him that he can get in the passing lane and pass him but make sure their are no cars in that lane....well he had to put on the breaks before he could look and get over! Second, we have a little trouble when we come up on a big curve. He is driving with the cruise control on and as we approach this curve, I start to tell him that he will want to put his foot of the pedal so he has control over the vehicle and the speed of the car because sometimes it picks up speed around curves. We picked up speed until he put his foot on the break to slow down.

The really awesome thing about the drive from Warrensburg to Sedalia is that each time he was tested in his driving skills, we smelled a skunk! You may ask-soo? What's so great about that? My grandfather, who was killed in a car wreck when I was in 8th grade, loved the smell of a skunk-he said it clear his nostiles! Everytime I am on the highway driving and I smell a skunk, I think of my grandfather and smile and know that my guardian angel is with me on the road. My grandpa was with Connor and I and I felt a little more secure after smelling the skunk. When we got to my Mom & Dad's, I asked them if the smelled the skunks coming home and they didn't! Just a little more proof that I have a guardian angel :-)

I am sure that I will have some more stories about riding in the vehicle with my son! Just keep us in your prayers! I am so nervous and scared about letting him drive on his own when he turns 16 and get's his license! I am thankful that he has a whole year to become comfortable with a vehicle.

What Have I Been Up Too Lately?

2008-02-01T08:02:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I have blogged and you my be asking yourself....what has that woman been up to? Life has been very busy lately! I don't think I have caught a breath since the first of December! Many of you know that my good friend, Tina, and I have started a new business....check it out! Since we launched our business, I have been running on fumes! Here's a small list of what I have been up too.....

1. Cooking (3 sessions)

2. Delivering (3 sessions)

3. Stoning dance costumes

4. Sick kids-CWH, GLH and SJH (and me) have all had some sort of a strep throat strain...no fever just a really sore throat that last for 2 weeks with aching muscles in your neck and back.

5. Trying to keep up with the laundry-that's been a little dificult since the motor went out in our washing machine last week (Wed). We are pretty sure that the water damange from the sewer back up got the motor wet & that's why it's broke.

6. Futsal-scheduling and supervising games with hubby.

7. Indoor Soccer tournament in KC. Drove back and forth on Sat and Sun because CSH had cotillion Saturday evening.

8. Stayed in Sedalia for a jewerly party, which many of you will be invited to mine & Tina's party on March 15th---check out the jewerly! I attended the party and provided 2 dinners from The Friendly Freezer to help launch our business in Sedalia.

9. Working on recital packets.

10. Heading a committe for Futsal for MYSA.

11. Riding in the car with my son who recently got his driver's permit! That has been an experience. Really not too bad! Just a little nerve wrecking but we have been having fun!

12. Starting to work on Spring soccer for CMSL.

When it Rains.....It Pours

2008-01-08T01:11:00.000-06:00

What started off to be a beautiful warm day in January in Missouri turned out to be a rotten, stinky day. Tina and I did our shopping for our second cooking session for the Friendly Freeze. Dropped everything off at the church and was feeling really great. Around 3:15 pm, the Tornado sirens went off! I went into panic mode because my boys were due home from school within 5 to 10 minutes and that meant they were on the school bus! I pick up the phone to call my oldest to see where they were when he called me! They were headed back to the closet school. He wanted me to come and pick up & Collin up! I was a little shocked that he wanted me to get out during a tornado warning to pick him up. He was fine with my firm answer. Needless to say, I got a little freaked out about being home alone during a tornado, most of the time I had one of my kids with me to snuggle up to but not this time. I had to wait out the storm all alone.

We had a nice dinner. Got everything laid out that I needed for tomorrow & headed to bed. Early for a change. I watched the new Challenge with Bruno & Carrie Anne and was getting ready to snuggle down and close my eyes when my husband and boys started yelling at me to come down stairs.....I was worried! Something had happened and I wasn't going to like it!

Well....it's 1:21 AM and since 9:30 PM we have been soaking up water with the wet vac, pulled up carpet because the sewer has backed up into our house. Water was pouring in the the sink in the boys room and we have not been able to stop the water (or sewer) from coming in! We called the sewer company and they are working on the problem. Because of all of the rain the manhole has flooded and our house got to be the lucky one that got the overflow!

I am going to get some new carpet out of this! What a way to start the new year!

Olive Leaves: A Sign of Hope

2008-01-06T10:28:00.000-06:00

"After seven days Noah again sent out the dove from the boat, and that evening it came back to him with a fresh olive leaf in its mouth." Genesis 8:10-11.

That verse was the focus of my devotion a couple of days ago. The devotion stuck with me so much that I wanted to share it with my you.

An olive leaf. A simple olive leaf was a symbol of hope to Noah and his family after the flood. It was hope that they were going to get off the boat soon! Hope to them was the olive leaf-evidence of dry land after the flood....

Don't we love the olive leaves of life? "We'll get through this together?" "It appears that the cancer may be in remission?"

What's more, don't we love the "doves" that bring those olive leaves?

I wrote in my journal that day:

"Olive leaves-thank you Lord for the olive leaves you present to me each day. Each day is a new beginning, an olive leaf. Help me to recognize the olive leaves that are presented to me each day. Thank you for new beginnings. Amen."

I thought is was so timely that I had blogged about the New Year, reading Beth Moore's blog about each day is a new beginning and that evening when I had my quiet time, was presented with the olive leaf. A symbol of hope! A symbol of new beginnings!

Thank you Lord for the olive leaf! I love olive leaves. And I love those who give them to me!

Resolutions?

2008-01-04T07:31:00.000-06:00

Last year, I was so focused at the beginning of the year to blog about all of the resolutions and changes that I wanted to fulfill for the New Year. I started off pretty good, got several closets organized, started working out at least 3 times a week and then I was in a minor car accident which got me off track. I don't think I ever got back on the New Year's Resolution track after that accident. School started and I thought, this would be an excellent time to start working on the changes that I had set out to make at the beginning of the year. I started reorganizing the areas of the house that need touching up and did well the first month but once again, life took over and I am no where farther than I was on Dec 31, 2006!

As the New Year approached, I was thinking, once again, about what resolutions I would make for 2008 and decided that I was not going to make any resolutions for the year but take each month, one month at a time and try to incorporate one new habit. I would also spend time each day reflecting on 2007, the previous day, the previous week, or month and look for little changes that would have a greater impact on my life. For January 2008, my new habit is to have quiet time each day with God, to reflect and mediate. So far I have had some sort of quiet time for 4 days running! It always isn't the same time of the day but I am a least getting my quiet time in. Yesterday was right before I went to bed. Ideally, I would like to start each day with my quiet time but right now, I am happy to get some time with God each day.

I started reading Beth Moore's blog and I am going to quote what she said about new starts and resolutions:

"I told God this morning how thankful I was for His penchant for new beginnings. Just think about it. He's the one who came up with New Years so we could have an annual new start. But we don't have to wait that long. He also came up with 12 different months, 4 seasons, and 7-day increments we call weeks. But we don't even have to wait that long. Every single evening the sun goes down and calls it a day then greets us the very next morning with a whole new start. Let's face it. Sometimes a day's so tanked, it just needs to end. Aren't you glad a bad day always does? But, then again, we don't even have to wait till morning. Because of Christ, we can have a new beginning any old time."

I just loved that! I know that with God, anytime is a new beginning. I don't need a New Year, a new month or even a new day to start a beginning!

Here's to new beginnings! Happy New Year!

What American City Are You???

2008-01-03T19:14:00.000-06:00

I am NEW YORK....which is quite exciting! My girls and I (and possibly my Mom and sister) will be visiting New York this summer because the girls will be going to a dance competition and clinic in New York. I am so excited about the trip. New York was always a place that I thought that I would live! Funny I have never visited New York until now! When I heard that AFA was planning on their National Competition in New York....nothing was going to stop me from going!

I will also get to accomplish one of my 40 before 40 goals with this trip as well! Visiting NY and seeing a Broadway Show! We are planning on seeing Grease and Wicked! The girls and I watched "Grease: Your the One that I Want" this past fall and casted the parts of Danny & Sandy it will be neat to see them on Broadway!

What makes me New York? I do love trying to new foods! I am very competitive and driven! Very little does shock me! I am instead convicted about right and wrong and would God be pleased!

You Are New York

Cosmopolitan and sophisticated, you enjoy the newest in food, art, and culture.

You also appreciate a good amount of grit - and very little shocks you.

You're competitive, driven, and very likely to succeed.

Famous people from New York: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Tupac Shakur, Woody Allen

What American City Are You?

What does your month say about you?

2008-01-02T09:12:00.000-06:00

My friend, Notes from the Queen, recently posted about her birthday month & what it says about her. To find out about your month check out the link.
Here is mine:

JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-28T18:44:00.000-06:00

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! We sure did! The kids got just about everything they asked for and more! My hubby and kids got me a present that I have been wanting for quite some time.....a Kitchen Aid! plus I got a cold too....see the last picture in my video! My Grandma gave all of the family a very special gift, which I helped her with, 4 CDs of my Grandpa playing the fiddle, her singing gospel music and the grandkids annual Christmas program on Christmas day! It was really touching and special. My sister read the letter out load that we put on the back of the CD cover. It brought tears to everyone's eyes!

Disney Desperate Housewives

2007-12-17T21:08:00.000-06:00

Can you relate? Let's see, I think I can identify with at least 3 of them :-)

Blog Anniversary!

2007-12-17T20:12:00.000-06:00

Oh my goodness! I have been soooo busy with life and a new business that I forgot my blog anniversary!

One year ago yesterday was the date of my first post! I was planning on blogging about the last year! As well as giving an update on my progress of my 40 before 40 list! I will do that later this week.....

Tackle It Tuesday (Sydney's Bedroom)

2007-12-04T08:13:00.000-06:00

I'm embarrassed to upload a before picture of my daughter's room .....so I won't and upload the after when I get it finished. For some reason, Sydney's room becomes a drop off/hide it room for Gracie & Sydney's folded clothes, etc. There is no reason for this because I have plenty of room in their closets and drawers to put away their clothes. I am just a little lazy, I guess!

My tackle for today is to put all of the clothes away properly, clean out her sock drawer and her dance drawer. I will post the after pictures when I have it completed!

Okay....I didn't get this project quite done. I have about half of it done. Something came up & I didn't get it completed before I had to leave for dance.

I did get my Christmas decorations put on the tree however...I will upload those pictures with the Tackle It Tuesday final project!

Accountability (Week of 12-3-07)

2007-12-02T13:24:00.000-06:00

I managed to stay on task last week with the help of my accountability to-do list. I had a few things that I wasn't able to get accomplished that I will work on this week. Here's my to-do list for the week:

~~Rearrange bedroom.~~
Put laundry away in Sydney & Gracie's room. This is my tackle-it Tuesday project! Okay-I am not quite done with this project, I will continue working on it for Wednesday.
Put garage sale items up in attic.
Stone Bushel & Peck costume.
Paint kitchen.
~~Put up Christmas decorations.~~-I have pulled out the Christmas trees & decorations. The tree is up but isn't decorated yet.
Work on Mindi's keepsake album.
Take recycle items to recycle bins.
Put up recycled cartridges/~~check~~ from the Ink Factory.
Hang up coats.
Mop kitchen floor.
Dust.
Inventory freezer.
Finish mailing out Christmas cards.
Work out three times this week.
~~Clean out refrigerator.~~
Charge camcorder. Need to find the charger-it's not in the bag or in the drawer where it's stored away.
Finish mailing out referee checks.

What's in Your Freezer?

2007-12-01T07:51:00.000-06:00

I know what's in mine! A freezer full of quick and simple meals for my family! I'm in a freezer co-op called The Freezer Chicks and we prepare 3 meal (5 times) for each family in the co-op & we meet once a month to exchange our frozen goodies and plan the next months meal. It works great for our family-I have 15 meals each month to serve my family! It saves me a lot of time & money each month on food. My typical grocery bill was running me close to $200.00 a week, plus $200.00 a month buying food from Schwans, PLUS the times we ate out because that was quicker than running home and trying to prepare a meal that I had bought on the ingredients for etc! Most of the meals that I have in my freezer can be defrosted really quickly in the microwave (if I forgot to set it out to thaw that morning!) and on the table in less than 30 minutes! My grocery bill, including eating out, is now down to about $600.00-I have saved closed to $400 to 600 a month using wants in my freezer to feed my family!

So why I am blogging about my freezer...well my friend Tina (Notes from the Queen) and I have started a new business based on this concept! We are preparing freezer meal for your family. Our website (blog) is up & running-it's still needs a little work-the header is too big, etc. etc but the main concept, meal choices, price list etc is up on the website for you to order from. We already have clients-we delivered meals to 2 families this week! Come check it out & see if we can help you get dinner on the table to your family each evening. We have lots of ideas that we will be implementing and adding each month:
1. A monthly newsletter.
2. Cash & carry meals-just in case you need something quick for the evening and your freezer is empty.
3. Meal cards-ideas of what to serve with the entrees.
4. Tasting events-where a client hosts and evening or afternoon at their home and we bring in same sample entrees for your friends to try & take orders.
5. Customer appreciation card.
6. We are currently working on getting the nutritional value of the meals that we prepare.

Etc. Etc. We do prepare the meals in a commerical kitchen to meet the Health and Safety Guidelines. Each month we have will have a list of meals that we prepare for your family. The monthly menu features the following groups of foods:
1. Monthly entrees-in season meals.
2. Fast meals-quick simple, on the table in less than 30 minutes.
3. Family favorites-tested by our families and the most requested!
4. Figure friendly-meals that are low in fat.
5. Crowd pleasers-enough to serve 12 people.
6. Soups, stews, stoups & chili.
7. Desserts

We are working on a "catalog." We would also love the challenge of preparing dinners that are your family's favorite by submitting a recipe to us & letting us prepare it for your freezer!

All of your meals will come to you frozen & ready for your freezer.

If you are interested in ordering from us or would like to check it out. Come visit us at The Friendly Freezer!

If you want to place an order give us a call (the phone numbers are on the website) or email us your order at thefriendlyfreezer@gmail.com. We are currently taking orders. Order by Dec 14th for delivery on Dec 19th-21st. Just in time for the holidays!

So....what's in YOUR freezer? Hopefully, you will do yourself a flavor & order some magnificent meals from the Friendly Freezer!

Accountability (Week of 11-26-2007)

2007-11-26T08:22:00.000-06:00

Okay blogger buddies! You all have just become my accountability partners! I have an list of things that I need to get accomplished over the next couple of weeks before I have to start working on soccer items again and I get more accomplished when I blog about it! Cheer me on, congratulate me for getting so much accomplished in a short amount of time, etc etc! Here goes....

1. ~~Tapes converted to CDs for my grandma.~~ -Called Troy to set up appointment for this week.
2. ~~Call hotel in St Charles for Starpower.~~ Emailed phone number to competion dancers.
3. ~~Send in gym request to Columbia Public Schools.~~
4. ~~Call Stephen's College-re: gym.~~
5. ~~Finish menu for business.~~
6. ~~Take back item's to Home Depot-exchange them.~~ Need to go again b/c the facuet still doesn't fit!
7. Clothes put away in Sydney's room.
8. Go through Sydney's sock drawer.
9. ~~Email Board of Director's about bonuses and purchase of new fax machine.~~
10. Get out Christmas decorations.
11. ~~Mail out Christmas cards. Addressed cards to my family.~~ Need to address them for friends and mail them out. ****This was one of my 40 Before 40 items that I wanted to complete before I turned 40! Yeah! I get t cross another one off that list! I hadn't sent out Christmas Cards since I was pregnant with Gracie-she is now 8 years old! Everyone will be rather surprised!
12. Paint kitchen.
13. Put garage sales items away in garage on my side-so I can park in the garage again.
14. Clean out car.
15. Pick up recycled cartridges and check.
16. Get to the gym at least 3 times this week.
17. Mail out referee checks that I still have on my desk.
18. ??

I think that is it for know....I'm sure as the week goes on I will add to the list!

Enjoy the Holidays....

2007-11-23T18:44:00.000-06:00

My friend, Mindi, posted this fun dancing elf clip & thought we would join in on the fun with my family....check it out!

www.elfyourself.com/?id=9586397235

Tackle it Tuesday (12 Things to Do Before Thanksgiving Break)

2007-11-20T08:06:00.000-06:00

I haven't done a TT in a couple of months and would really like to tackle a big project but I have a lot of little items that I need to get done before the kids get home for their Thanksgiving break from school....today is the only day to get them done! So here is my list of 12 things I need to get done!

1. ~~Pick up kitchen.~~

2. Run the sweeper.

3. ~~Clean off desk.~~

4. Clean out CMSL basket.

5. Change sheets on beds-all beds.

6. ~~Sweep~~/mop kitchen floor.

7. Clean bathrooms.

8. ~~Set out dinner.~~

9. ~~Send out Futsal reminder to teams.~~

10. ~~Put dance costumes away-dance bag too.~~

11. ~~Place popcorn order for dance.~~

12. ~~Hotel for Starpower-email out phone number to Fairfield.~~

Plus...I need to get all of this done before 2:30!!

What are you tackling today? Check out more tackles at http://www.5minutesformom.com/

When God Paints

2007-11-13T13:15:00.000-06:00

A friend sent me an email with the most beautiful pictures of nature...thought I would share them with you in a slide show....enjoy....

Words to Live By

2007-11-06T18:57:00.000-06:00

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile....

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance....

Life on the Road

2007-11-04T11:04:00.000-06:00

by Connor Hollrah

(For English, Connor has free writing assignments-his last assignment he wrote about his trip with his Poppy during the summer of 2006. My dad is an over-the-road truck driver and he took each of the boys on a trip that summer. They both had a ball and they got to see lots of wonderful country and got to spend some quality time with my dad. Here is what Connor wrote about....)

I will always remember the time when I went on a road trip with my grandpa in his truck. He had been driving semi-trucks for his entire life, but had just started driving all over the country. He would go away for long periods of time and sometimes got lonely. So, my grandpa and I decided we would go for a week on the road.

In the summer of ’06 I went on a road trip with my grandpa. It started at 5 O’clock in the morning when we left his house in Sedalia. I didn’t know that this would be one of the greatest vacations of my lifetime. I will never forget the time I went on the road with my grandpa because of the places we went, the living accommodations, and the fact I got to spend time with him.

My trip started when we went Joplin. It started in disappointment. While we waited for our truck to load up we were bored because we had nothing to do. It took an hour just to load the stuff onto the truck. I had thought the next week would be really boring and I had a mistake in coming. Little did I know it would be excessively exciting.

The second day of the trip I became sick and felt like I wanted to go home. I spent the entire day sleeping and throwing up because whenever I would not be sleeping I felt sick. I thought about going home, but I I thought better of it because I knew something good was bound to happen.

Our first stop was in South Carolina, right off the ocean, near Myrtle Beach. We arrived in the morning with the sight of a pink and orange sunset that covered the sky. We ate breakfast at a truck stop and enjoyed each other’s company over a plate of sizzling bacon, hearty scrambled eggs, and jelly-spread toast, a breakfast I would be thrilled to have any day. The third day of the trip was very enjoyable.

Late that night, we received the news that we would be going to Wisconsin for out next stop, but would first have to stop in North Carolina. I was excited we would be going through North Carolina because at the time the Tar Heels were my favorite college team. When we arrived in North Carolina we missed the exit to the stop. It was then very hard to find out way back. After about an hour of wandering around lost we found the stop and were still two hours early! We were surprised to find out that. The fourth day was very crazy.

On our way to Wisconsin we were held up by traffic in Indiana. It was amazing to just be sitting there over a rock quarry that was a long way down. I felt adventurous because I thought the bridge could fall at any time.

Wisconsin welcomed us with lots of clouds and plenty of rain. Our time In Wisconsin was long because we did not receive any instructions for the next delivery. By the time we got our load to Texas, I had to go home for soccer. I was disappointed that the trip had been so short and couldn't wait to do it again.

I will also remember the living conditions while on the trip. The biggest thing I wild remember was bed. My grandpa and I had to share a bed in the back of the truck which squeezed us together close. I was mesmerized by the fact we slept well each night. Also, we only took a shower twice because the showers could only be found at truck stops. Finally, whenever there was not a restaurant nearby we would have to eat soup or sandwiches. The soup took an average of one hour to make and the sandwiches were always the same. However, both were very delicious.

My time with my grandpa brought us close together and I now appreciate him more. Whenever I see him we always have something to talk about. I love him a lot and am glad we are so close.

Seven Wonders of the World

2007-10-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

This is awesome....before you click play, scroll down & pause the music playlist in red. You will what to listen to this as the video plays.....enjoy.....

Tackle it Tuesday (To-Do List)

2007-10-23T08:12:00.000-05:00

I don't have a major project to tackle today except getting a lot of things that need catching up-caught up! So I am posting my to-do list today and hopefully at the end of the day, I will have everything crossed off! Wish me luck!

~~Bible Study~~
~~Workout~~
~~Set out dinner~~-we are having Pork Chops with Apples and Herbed Dressing
~~Hotels finalized for Dance~~
Schedule set for Nov 3/4 soccer weekend
Referee Spreadsheet
Hallway picked up
~~Kitchen~~/~~Dining Room picked up~~
~~Living Room picked up~~
Laundry
Quiet time
~~Futsal~~ ~~registration forms emailed out & sent to webmaster~~
MYSA registration payment form emailed to Mick
Teacher Appreciation Committee emailed re: Luncheon and Monthly Birthdays
Update Hickman Blog
Try either yoga (5:30 pm) or Pilate's (6:30 pm) today
Drop off or Pick up at Dance this evening

As you can see, I have a lot to get accomplished today. I plan to take 15 minutes at a time to work on the little tasks, ie Hickman blog, registration forms, spreadsheet, schedule, etc. Then taking longer times to work on the bigger projects. Hopefully, I will get everything completed if I stay focused!

Check out more Tackle it Tuesday projects at http://www.5minutesformoms.com/!

Monday Menu Plan (10.22.07)

2007-10-22T12:59:00.000-05:00

Monday: Orange Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry with steamed rice

Tuesday: Pork Chops with Apple and Herbed Dressing, Peas and Salad

Wednesday: Italian Sub Stoup and Sandwiches

Thursday: Mustard-Maple Chicken (in crockpot), Rice or Noodles, Green Beans and Salad

Friday: Order Pizza

What are you having this week. Check out more menu plans at www.orgjunkie.blogspot.com!

Taking it to the streets....

2007-10-21T08:33:00.000-05:00

My daughter made the front page of the newspaper! Read below:

Published Sunday, October 21, 2007

(Julia Robinson photo)

Above, 6-year-old Sydney Hollrah cheers as she marches yesterday along Broadway in the University of Missouri-Columbia Homecoming Parade with other dancers from the Academy of Fine Arts. Below, Marching Mizzou steps in unison along Broadway. A few hours later, an announced crowd of 63,396 watched Missouri defeat Texas Tech 41-10 at Faurot Field.

(Nick King photo)

Goals for Week of 10/22/07 (#1)

2007-10-21T08:01:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I posted about life and what I have been up to. Soccer is winding down, we have a tournament next weekend and our last weekend of league games (make-up games) so I can start focusing on life....my life. So I decided that I would post my weekly goals on Sunday of each week and revisit those goals at the end of the week to see if I accomplished them!

Here are my goals for 10.22.07:

1. Start workout program (I would really like to work up to 2 hours per day in the gym on M, T, W and F each week). I really need to get serious about losing the extra weight that I have put on over the last three years.

2. Quiet time each day at 6:45 am-before I need to wake up the girls and get them ready for school.

3. Focus on one zone a week (Flylady) and get my house back in order! This week, I will be working in the Master Bedroom! Good! I think that I am going to do some summer/winter switching of my closet since Fall is in the air!

4. Start my weekly scrapbooking routine. I just purchased a photo album this week for Connor-the outside cover is a leather soccer ball. I have newspaper clippings and pictures from this season which I will get in his album and that will be caught up! I wanted to archive his High School Soccer Career and since that is currently taking place, no time like the present to get that done!

Well, I think 4 goals for this week should do me! It's going to be a struggle to get these accomplished I'm sure!

Wish me luck! Encourage me! I am going to need it :-)

Have a good week! See you on Monday with my weekly Menu Planning!

I hate chocolate...

2007-10-20T14:03:00.000-05:00

thought that would get someones attention! No, I really don't hate chocolate BUT one day I did hate chocolate....first take a look at this picture and I will tell you the story behind it!

This picture was taken the summer of 2002. We moved the end of June that year and while I was unpacking, I came downstairs to find my girls or shall I say the youngest, Sydney, finger painting and licking chocolate syrup off of the coffee table. Gracie isn't innocent, even though she is trying to be an innocent bystander in this! You can tell that she has this look on her face & it's saying, I had nothing to do with this!

Instead of getting really mad, I grabbed my camera and emailed this picture to their grandma (my mom) with the subject.....I HATE CHOCOLATE!

Are You A Slacker Mom?

2007-10-10T09:09:00.000-05:00

I took this little quiz today that was linked on my Gmail called "Are you a slacker mom?" Well, I just had to check because I don't think I am! The link is http://www.areyouaslackermom.com Check it out & see what type of mom you are.

Here are my results:

"Your quiz score makes you: Zen Mom

How do you do it? Even when explosions are all around, you are able to take a deep cleansing breath and chant your mantra "this too shall pass." You are a calming influence on your kids in a hectic world."

I wonder that myself, how do I do it some days?

40-before-40 Revisited

2007-09-18T08:22:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I need to revisit my list & make a plan to accomplish the list! Better get to work....I only have a few crossed off!

1. ~~Clean/Organize Garage Starting this weekend (June 30/July 1)~~
2. Clean/Organize Attic
3. Lose 50 pounds---75 would be better but 50 would be great! (I have lost 8 pounds so far!) Will lose 25 pounds by September 1st. DID NOT DO :-(
4. Read the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. (reading on my own first-finished the first book)5. Bake through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Need to purchase a KitchenAid first for all that mixing...I've been hinting... working on..
6. Knit a blanket for each of my kids.
7. Renew my wedding vows.
8. Read the Bible completely. (started reading each day)
9. Purchase "1001 Books to Read Before I Die" and read one book a month.
10. Catch up on my scrapbooks. Starting on Friday!
11. Give up Diet Dr Pepper (this will be a really hard one, I have been drinking Dr Pepper since I can remember!Maybe just for a day...like the day I turn 40!) Better yet, add more water to diet!
12. Make a quilt.
13. ~~Take Networking at church..discover my God given talents. (Registered for Networking-class starts Jan 21-23)~~
14. Burn all my home VHS onto DVDs. Purchased a program for my computer & will start working on this next week!
15. Rip CDs I don't listen to often and sell them.
16. Go to a spa for a massage.
17. ~~Get a pedicure. Update-have one scheduled for July 17th!~~
18. Take a cooking class.
19. Read everything I haven't read yet on my bookshelf.
20. Watch all five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars.
21. Get a will (mostly for if something happens to both S & I-details for Mom & Dad re: the kids) Have mine done...need to get Sean's completed & have SIL file.
22. Learn cake decorating. Looked into classes but need to wait until Fall.
23. Plant a herb garden to be used all year long.
24. Try yoga.
25. Try pilates.
26. Incorporate a regular date night with hubby. (I thinking every other Friday or Saturday evening.)
27. Visit NY and go to a Broadway musical or play. (would like to see Wicked)
28. Make a household inventory notebook including pictures, serial numbers, etc for insurance purposes. Purchased notebook 6/29/07. Started working on inventory with kitchen.
29. Get finances in order and everything paid off.
30. Take family to Disney World.
31. Send out Christmas Cards (I haven't sent out cards since I was pregnant with my 3rd child!)32. Clean out car-keep it clean for an entire month-figure this would help me set a habit.
33. Take a second honeymoon with hubby.
34. Take family on a ski trip to Steamboat.
35. Go ice skating with my family.
36. Drink Milk. Plain, Chocolate or Strawberry flavored. (at least one for that day-this one is for my son-I do not like milk &; don't drink milk & he thought that it would be a good one to add to my list!)
37. See "Gone with the Wind."
38. Take Tennis Lessons.
39.
40

Tackle It Tuesday (Things I Need to Do Today)

2007-09-18T07:39:00.000-05:00

I am doing a boring TIT...I'm posting my to-do list:

1. ~~Hair appointment~~
2. ~~Referee payroll~~
3. Box up Recycle Fundraiser items
4. Take to UPS
5. ~~Email Secretary @ school with Teacher's Appreciation Committee for blurb in newsletter~~
6. ~~Bible Study~~
7. ~~Pick up girls-take to dance~~
8. Pick up ALL laundry & put away
9. Start working on referee schedule for this weekend

It doesn't look like much & most of it our things that will be easy to cross off my list BUT they need to get done! AND I need to see some progress today!

What are you tackling today? Check out more great tackles.

Monday Plan Menu (Week of 9-17)

2007-09-17T08:03:00.001-05:00

I'm back in my grove and routine! We are busier than ever and would be lost without...or shall I say puttering around without my Menu plans or the Freezer Chicks! We had freezer exchange last Wednesday & I got 2 months worth of food! My freezer is full therefore, my families' belly will be full :-)

What are we having this week?

Monday (Soccer): Stromboli

Tuesday (Dance): BBQ Fillets, Baked Potatoes, Peas, & Salad

Wednesday (Soccer): Sesame Chicken w/ Garlicky Broccoli, Salad & Bread

Thursday (Dance & Soccer Game): Grandma's Secret, Salad & Bread

Friday (Football game-cousin is playing): White Castle Burgers, Chips & Salad

Saturday (Soccer): Eat out-games are at 5:15 & & 7:00 pm

Sunday: Party in Sedalia for my Dad's 60th Birthday....it's a surprise. His birthday was in June & we are surprising him on Sunday.

Check out other menu plans @ Organized Junkie.

Tackle It Tuesday (Clean Up the Mess!)

2007-09-11T07:29:00.000-05:00

Today I am doing a typical clean up! My kitchen table, front door area & living room have become the drop off point for everything! Everything must go to it's proper place today:

What a mess! What are you tackling today? Check out more Tackle it Tuesday Projects.

Thursday Thirteen #18 (Thoughts about Today)

2007-09-06T07:49:00.000-05:00

Where has the week gone? I can't believe it's already Thursday! Today's TT is random thoughts about today:

1. It was a short week BUT too many things on the calendar & to-do list! I still can't believe it's Thursday already.

2. Kick off today at Woodcrest for Take 2. I am excited about seeing friends and reconnecting with God today. I have NO clue what classes are being offered this semester so I am going in with an open mind and heart to where God will lead me today.

3. Lunch with friends! Yeah! Wonder where will we eat today?

4. Run some quick errands after lunch.

5. Make some phone calls regarding indoor soccer.

6. Get Connor's soccer gear, pick him up after school. Take him to meet the bus for his game this evening in Smithton.

7. Print MYSA cards.

8. Get video camera ready for Sean so he can video tape the game this evening. I am working and will not be able to go.

9. Pack girls dance bags, snacks for dance this evening.

10. Get fundraiser box & car wash $.

11. Pick up Rebekah.

12. Pick up girls from school.

13. Work at dance this evening. Take Collin (plus soccer gear)- a teammate is taking him to soccer this evening.

That's what I need to get done today. I still have a few more things that I need to do when we get home from dance this evening....type Connor's English assignment (he won't be home until late from his soccer game) and enter a couple of team's registrations for their MYSA cards/roster.

Whew...I'm tired already!

Tackle It Tuesday (Sitting Routines & a Few Other Loose Ends)

2007-09-04T10:58:00.001-05:00

Today officially starts the beginning of my school routine. I realize that school started a couple of weeks ago BUT it took me that long to get the house back in order! Yesterday while driving to Sedalia, I thought about what I wanted to get accomplished this school year and I realized that I wasn't going to get these goals accomplished without sitting a daily routine for the school year! This morning during my quiet time, I developed my daily routine:

Monday/Wednesday/Friday:

5:45-6:00 am-Wake, shower & dress

6:30 am-Quiet Time

7:15-7:30 am-Wake the girls (Boys get up around 6:15 & are on the bus by 6:40 am)

7:30-8:30 am-While the girls are getting ready for school, empty dishwasher, put a load of laundry in, make beds, check email.

8:30 am -10:00 am-Head to gym-work out.

10:15 am-10:30 am-Take quick shower & dress for the day.

10:30 am to 12:00 pm-Work (CMSL)

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm-Eat lunch/Take break.

1:00 pm-4:00 pm-Housework, CMSL (if need), start dinner plans, etc.

4:00 pm-Start evening routine (recheck calendar) Every other Wednesday, work at the Academy from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

5:00 pm-Start Dinner

7:00 pm-TV off/Homework time with kids. Every other Wednesday, attend Community Live @ Church.

Tuesday and Thursday: On Tuesday morning, the morning routine will be the same as M/W/F. At 12:30, I will be attending the Tuesday Bible study group. We will be studying a book by Joyce Meyer call "Battlefield of the Mind." The study will continue until November 13.

On Tuesday after the study, I will be picking up the girls and taking them to dance. They have dance from 4:30 to 8:15 pm. The evening routine will be the same as my M/W/F unless Connor has a soccer game.

On Thursday mornings, I will be attending, Take 2. A bible study at my church. Not sure what I'm taking yet. Our first meeting is this Thursday. Bible study is from 9:15 am to 11:15 am. After Bible study, a group of us usually go out for lunch. I really cherish this time, it's a great time for me to reconnect with a group of women & talk!

Thursday afternoon: We usually are done by 1:00 pm. I'm planning on using this afternoon to run errands-grocery store, etc.

On Thursday's, the girls have dance from 4:30 until 7:30 pm and I work the front desk on Thursday's as well.

With my daily routines in mind, here are my evening dinner plans:

Monday-Cook.

Tuesday-Cook.

Wednesday-Quick & easy meal for Community Live night & crockpot meal for work night.

Thursday-Crockpot dinner.

Friday-Family fun night-eat out, pizza, etc.

What are we having this week?

Monday-done

Tuesday-We will be eating dinner early (around 4 pm). Connor has a game in Smithton at 7:30 pm & we will be leaving town around 5:00 pm. We are having Garlicky Spaghetti & Chicken Tenders. I'm sure that Connor will eat again after his game. The rest of the family can eat when they get home.

Wednesday-Chili Pork Chops, Steamed Veggies & Salad.

Thursday-Something in the crockpot-not sure yet.

Friday-We will be eating out, if Connor plays on Friday evening in Smithton.

Last tackle it project....tying up loose ends or things that I need to do today (or this week will work too!) still!

1. Finish entering MYSA registrations. Mail them out this evening.

2. Get dance bags ready for girls.

3. Finish cleaning girls room.

4. Finish packing up garage sale items in garage.

5. Call library to make donation of garage sale books.

6. Set up meeting to get tapes transferred to CDs.

7. Freezer Chick meals done.

8. AFA blog.

Okay...I think I'm done! What are you tackling?

Thursday Thirteen #17 (Favorite Pictures)

2007-08-30T13:46:00.000-05:00

Many of you will remember my Wordless Wednesday post of all of the film that I needed to have process. Well, I sent in 18 rolls of film to Kodak Gallery & have enjoyed looking through the pictures that I had taken. I am posting my 13 favorite pictures from the rolls of film:

1. Brotherly Love-my close friends and family know that CWH & GLH has a love/hate relationship. This picture is a one of a kind picture. It is priceless. I ordered 4 copies of this picture and also cropped it & ordered it in a 5x7 size to display in my home. This is the second day of school (GLHs Kindergarten year & CWHs 3rd grade year). They are in standing in our driveway waiting for the school bus.

2. SJH the Fashion Queen- you just got to love this child's fashion sense. She had just taken a bag of trash to the corner for trash day. She had these purple snow boots that she loved. She would always pick them out when I would ask her to get her shoes on!

3. I want to go to school, too! GLH is pouting a little. I had taken CSH & CWH to their first day of school & she kept telling me that she was big enough to go to school too! She is sitting on the steps in the gym here ignoring the fact that I'm telling her it's time to go home!

4. I got a couple of photos of SJH sleeping in very strange spots & positions. Here she feel asleep in front of the kitchen sink.

5. Here she is sleeping on both the couch & loveseat.

5. Easter morning picture of the four kiddos. The girls were sporting their new pink shades! Dress to the nines!

6. As I was going through the pictures-just about every picture of GLH she is posing! This is her first day of preschool. Don't you just love how she has her foot up! Her foot popped! (from Princess Diaries!)

7. First Day of School playground pictures. This was SJHs first year of school. Big sister showing her the ropes!

8. My 2 Boys-here they are waiting around for us. This picture was taken at the girls recital.

9. Not sure what GLH was up to...but she was stripping off her clothes at a CWHs soccer game. Don't you just love the head of curls!

10. SJHs Luau Birthday Party!

11. CSH and Greatmaw! These pictures are really special!

12. Another great pose!

13. CWHs first soccer game!

Honors English Writing Assignment-CSH

2007-08-30T07:58:00.000-05:00

My oldest had a writing assignment this week. They were assigned a time frame & they needed to write a poem about that time. Connor was assigned 8:00 pm. Here is his poem:

8 P.M.
by Connor Hollrah

8 P.M.
The wind dies down to a light, serene breeze and the wolf howls at the moon.
8 P.M.
The sunset clashes orange and pink with the transforming blue to black sky.
8 P.M.
The young child is ready for bed, while the old child is finishing put off homework.
8 P.M.
The athletes celebrate with friends after their last minute win.
8 P.M.
The old man returns from work and collapses on the sofa to watch late night television.
8 P.M.
The quiet hour with crickets chirping speeds by like a racecar.
8 P.M.
The wind dies down to a light, serene breeze and the wolf howls at the moon.

Tackle It Tuesday (Playing Catch Up!)

2007-08-28T08:43:00.000-05:00

I have been rather busy the last couple of weeks & I have let a lot of things pile up around the house & on my desk. Since the end of July, I have been busy scheduling soccer games & getting the CMSL league up & running. We just completed 2 weekends & I have a couple of weekends where we don't have any league games being played because of local tournaments. So no assigning referees or scheduling issues. This week, I have a lot of items that I need to catch up on so my Tackle it Tuesday will be a list of things that I need to get done this week....it would be really great if I could get them done today BUT I do need to leave the house & do a few errands. Here is what needs to be tackled:

1. Put laundry away.

2. ~~Re-organize the boys room.~~

3. Wash sheets & freshen all linens.

4. ~~Put school paper boxes away~~-right now they are sitting in my LR in front of the front door...what a welcoming site :-(

5. ~~Return trash can.~~

6. ~~Go through shoes in basket by door & put in proper bedroom.~~

7. ~~Clean upstairs bathroom~~ (wow! I can now differentiate between upstairs & downstairs!)

8. Go through cookbooks on sideboard table in kitchen.

9. Prepare my 3 freezer meals for the Freezer Chicks.

10. Enter remaining MYSA registrations.

11. Update referee information on new program.

12. ~~Clean Master Bedroom.~~

13. Clean GLHs Bedroom.

14. Clean SJHs Bedroom.

15. ~~Take camera to Columbia Photo.~~

16. Email regarding audio tapes-transfering them to CDs for Christmas.

17. ~~Update calendar for Mom-add soccer games etc.~~

18. Mop floors.

19. ~~Dust.~~

20. Start packing up items from garage sale.

21. Clean out car.

Well, this is a start...I have a lot more things that need to be done. I don't want to overwhelm myself even though I have already been there and back!

Check out more projects at 5 Minutes for Moms.

Two New Toys!

2007-08-21T15:46:00.000-05:00

I had a post about 13 Things I Wanted for My Birthday, well, this week I got 2 off that list! My digital camera all of a sudden decided it didn't want to work anymore (I think it might be that I need a new battery-I did some research & the batteries are only good for a couple of years!) so last Thursday I bought a new camera. I wanted a camera that would fit easily in my purse for snap shots. My other digital camera is too bulky & won't fit in my purse. I bought a Nikon Coolpix L12, it a 7.1 mega pixel camera. So far it takes beautiful snap shots. Used it for the first day of school
pictures.

My second toy is a photo printer. I was standing in line at Office Depot last night & in the clearance section they had a printer marked down for $29.00. The original price was $99.99. It is really cool, I don't need to hook it up to the computer to print pictures. What's also great is that today I actually printed pictures that I took today! Over the last couple of years, they stay on my digital camera and I don't share them with family & friends. This might jump start me to start working on my scrapbooking goal!

My next purchase is going to be a Nikon Digital SLR. I really need something for action shots. This camera has a slight delay & it's good for taking sports or dance pictures. I have one picked out & my next paycheck will go to that purchase!

First Day of School Pictures

2007-08-21T14:39:00.001-05:00

Back-to-School

2007-08-21T11:52:00.000-05:00

My four kids started back-to-school today.

It's a bitter sweet feeling. I am excited that they will be in school each day so I can reclaim & reorganize my space after they have been home for the last 3 months. But we did have a great summer & I will miss hanging out with them each day.

CSH (orange)-started 9th grade this year. He isn't at the High School yet but has spent the last 2 weeks with the high schoolers at soccer practice.

CWH (white)-started Middle School today. He is a 6th grader and was rather excited about his new school and making friends.

GLH (green)-She is in 3rd grade this year. I noticed this morning that she is quite the "Queen Bee" around her school. Everyone was rather excited about seeing her this morning. She loves being with her friends and was excited about school this morning.

SJH (brown)- This is her second year of school. Her last year of Unit A and our last year with Mrs. Steitz. Mrs. Steitz has been our teacher in Unit A with all four kiddos. We will really miss having her as a teacher! Syd didn't want to go to school last year. This year, she was saying the same thing. But this morning, she whispered to me while she was playing on the play ground that she was glad to be back at school!

Monday Menu Planning (Week of 8/20)

2007-08-20T09:42:00.000-05:00

I'm back! The last couple of weeks have been really crazy around my house. I have had work (scheduling soccer for Fall season for 90 teams), a bathroom installation, HS soccer practice (2 practice sessions a day), dance camp & sick kids! So any plans that I would have had over the last couple of weeks were thrown out the window! School is starting tomorrow & I hope to get back into my routine again!

What are we having this week? First, I need to plan a major cooking session because the Freezer Chicks meet last Friday to exchange their food for August-I haven't cooked anything! So one day this week, I need to cook my 3 meals.

Monday (soccer-both boys & back-to-school night): Sloppy Joes, Sweet Potatoe Fries & Salad

Tuesday (soccer-Collin): BBQ Jerk Chicken, Rice & Salad

Wednedsay (soccer-Collin): Meatloaf -one of my freezer meals I need to make, mashed potatoes, green beans & salad

Thursday (dance, Purple/Gold Soccer game & soccer-Collin): Farmer's Casserole, Fresh Fruit & Salad

Friday (leave for tournament in St Louis):

Saturday & Sunday-tournament in St Louis

Check out Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas!

Coming soon....a 25 cent sale!

2007-08-12T08:35:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that I have been cleaning out the garage & attic and having several garage sales to get rid of the accumulated clothes & items that we have been packing from house to house & storing in the attic. I have had 4 garage sales over the past four weekends. Next Saturday will be my last garage sales with the items that I have in the garage. I want to get the garage reorganized so I can start parking the vehicles in there again & also create another spot where I can start going through the remaining items up in the attic. I still have a pretty full attic even after I pulled down all of the Rubbermaid boxes (35 to be exact!) with clothes in them a couple of weeks ago. I have decorating items that I'm no longer using, Christmas decorations (I have 3 or 4 different color schemes!), more books and lots of other things. They were packed away so many years ago, I'm not sure what's up there!

Anyway, I will be boxing the items up (kids clothes) and taking them to my grandma's in Sedalia. She lives on a main street (we live out just past the city limits & we don't get the traffic that houses do in a subdivision or in town) & will be having a garage sale before winter arrives. I was planing on sending the leftover clothes to my sister's place of employment in Sedalia any way. She works at a women's abuse shelter & I plan on taking the kids clothes to her to give to the women & their children who arrive with no clothes or very little. BUT before I take everything to Sedalia I will have ONE more sale here in Columbia on Saturday, August 18th. If you know anyone here....let them know. I have girls & boys clothes, lots of boys clothes! The girls have been really picked over...there are lots of nice outfits still but not quite the amount compared to the boys. I plan on having a 25 cent sale on everything this weekend except for some items will remain at a different price. I really would like to get rid of a lot next Saturday. In fact, I will be listing it in the newspaper as a 25 cent sale!

Check my blog tomorrow...I plan on posting pictures of the tables of clothes & the progress of my bathroom!

A New Bathroom!!!!

2007-08-10T09:05:00.000-05:00

Most of you know that our four bedroom house only has ONE bathroom, since we moved in 5 years ago, we have been wanting to put a bathroom in downstairs. My brother-in-law (hubby's brother) is a plumber and we thought...no problem, we will get Jayson up here one weekend & get that bathroom installed. He has been so busy that he hadn't been able to help put it in! Tuesday night at 9:00 pm, he calls Sean & says, "Empty out the space where you want that bathroom & I will be there tomorrow morning to start installing it."

Okay....the room is full of storage. It's not cleared out. I have 3 more soccer schedules to complete. It's 9:00 pm. Oh, I should also mention that we were at the hospital at the time-Sean was on call that evening & we took one car to a soccer meeting & he got called in. He had another 1 1/2 hours worth of work to do! I loaded the kids in the vehicle & took them home. I worked until he called me to come & pick him up. At 11:00 pm that evening, he was moving everything out of the closet/storage area....or shall our new bathroom.

The pump system is installed, the shower is installed, all the plumbing is installed, the vanity counter top is installed. All that's left to do it, install the toilet, the sink & sheet rock the walls!

We are so excited to have a second bathroom....I will post pictures after it's completed!

Thursday Thirteen #16 (Things I NeedTo Get Done B4 School Starts)

2007-08-09T00:28:00.000-05:00

Thirteen Things I Need (Want) To Get Done Before School Starts:

My four kiddos go back to school on August 21st...wow, where has the summer gone? I have gotten some things accomplished this summer that have been on my to-do list since LAST May! The biggest thing is...

Cleaned out the garage-now it needs to be cleaned again but that's because I have 6 tables set up with my garage sale goodies!

I have had 3 garage sales....will probably have a few more before I pack it all up & take to some areas places for donations.

What do I need to get done before school starts?

Clean out the kids sock & underwear drawers.
Finish school supply shopping...first I need to check what we have "in-stock" from last year.
Get soccer schedule for scheduling referees on a spreadsheet.
~~Find a stand-up shower for our bathroom downstairs.~~
~~Find a vanity for the sink.~~
Have ice-maker fixed.
Clean out car.
Organize the girls dance shoes.
Cook & prepare quick & easy after-school snack foods for the kids (Connor will have soccer everyday after school & the girls will have dance 2 nights a week & they need something that will get them through until dinner time.)
~~Put Fall activities on calendars.~~
~~Cancel hotel reservations for my annual Ohio trip.~~
Clean off items on computer hit by lightning & take to have checked for insurance claim.
Clean my bedroom....

Check out other 13 Thursdays here.

Monday Menu Planning (Week of 7-30-07)

2007-07-30T13:20:00.000-05:00

I'm really going to be depending on my Freezer Chicks this week because I am working on soccer schedules & need to have them all completed by Friday. I am the League Commissioner for the Central Missouri Soccer League and one of my jobs is to provide a game schedule for all of the teams that register within the league. This season I have 75 plus team, they each play 10 games per season. That means I have over 300 games to schedule at 4 different venues! So, no cooking for this chick....just heat & serve!

Monday: Corn Dogs, Mac & Cheese & Green Beans

Tuesday: Chicken Night-clean out the frig of Chicken meals-Cranberry Chicken, Margarita Chicken & Sticky Chicken

Wednesday: Tuna Tortellini Gratin & Peas

Thursday: T-Bone Steaks on the Grill, Potatoes, Carrots & Salad

Friday: Out to Eat...will need it!

For more great recipes, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie's Blog.

Sending It in....

2007-07-30T13:17:00.000-05:00

Remember this picture?

Well, I just sent in 15 rolls of film to Kodak Gallery. I can't wait to see what pictures on on these rolls of film!

I'm wanting to get all of the film developed by the end of September so I can start working on my scrapbooks. (which is one of my 40-before-40 goals!)

My Life Plan...

2007-07-28T21:55:00.000-05:00

Your Life Path Number is 4

Your purpose in life is to build your vision.

You are practical and responsible. You work hard, knowing that there are no shortcuts in life.
You work for a better life for yourself and those you love, but you are not an idealist.
Trustworthy and honest, you also demonstrate great courage. People can count on you.

In love, you are a loyal and committed partner. You are the ideal spouse.

You don't give up easily, and sometimes you can be too stubborn and unwilling to change.
You also can be too conservative at times. You sometime miss out on good opportunities.
Also remember that not everyone can work as hard as you, as disappointing as that is!

What Is Your Life Path Number?

Congratulations to Dolly of "Just in Case"...

2007-07-27T07:22:00.000-05:00

Dolly of Just in Case, is the lucky winner of my Dog Days of Summer Giveaway. She will receive a years subscription to "Real Simple" magazine.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment & visited my blog. I do hope you will stop back by and check out my progress as I journey to 40 years old! I hope to complete most of the items on my 40 before 40 list!

Again-congratulations Dolly!

Real Simple Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway

2007-07-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

~~This is a sticky post & will remain at the top of my blog. Scroll down for new post. If you haven't enter my giveaway, do so by leaving me a comment. Only one entry.~~

I'm joining in on Shannon's Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway. It's Real Simple-To be entered in the drawing, leave a single comment (duplicates will be deleted) below. You must provide a valid e-mail address, but you do not have to have a blog. US & Canada participants only, sorry! I'll close comments at 12:01 a.m. this coming Friday morning, July 27, and I'll draw a random winner from the list. I'll announce the winner sometime on Friday.

What am I giving away you ask? It a years subscription to one of my favorite magazines....Real Simple. Here is an overview of the magazine:

"Founded in 2000, Real Simple magazine continues to be a leader in the category of women’s lifestyle publications. Its concise, useful strategies, coupled with a clean, inspiring design, focus on making busy women’s lives easier, from preparing a fast, healthy breakfast to getting a good night’s sleep. In essence, Real Simple helps its readers do what they need to do, so they have more time to enjoy what they want to do."

If you would like ways to help simplify your life...now is your chance to win a one year's subscription to "Real Simple" magazine. How simple could that be? Real Simple!

Check out more more giveaways at Rocks in My Dryer.

Thursday Thirteen #16 (Favorite Songs-New & Old)

2007-07-26T11:23:00.000-05:00

Today's TT had to be something quick & easy for me to post because I have a ton of things that I need to get done before tomorrow! I thought about posting what things I needed to get done-but I didn't want to do that!

Make sure that you have your sound on because you will be able to listen to some of my favorite songs while you check out my blog!

Cool by Gwen Stefani
4 in the Morning by Gwen Stefani
Back in Black by ACDC
How to Save a Life by The Fray
Have a Nice Day by Bon Jovi
Baby Girl by Sugarland
Something More by Sugarland
Lithium by Nirvana
I Was Made for Lovin' You by Kiss
Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani
White Flag by Dido
Who Says You Can't Go Home
It's Your Love by Time McGraw & Faith Hill

There are a lot more songs in my playlist...a little bit of pop, hard rock & country!

Check out more TTs participants.

Tackle It Tuesday (Getting it All Done!)

2007-07-23T19:37:00.000-05:00

After cleaning out the garage & working up in the attic, I discovered items that I was saving & those items got dumped into my downstairs family room. In addition to cleaning up this room I have several other things that need to be accomplished before I get up in the attic for my garage sale (yes-another garage sale) to get down items for Fridays sale. I don't have one major project to complete, instead, I have a bunch of projects that need to get done today (or by the end of the week). So my tackle my extend to the end of the week.

Here is my tackle-it-Tuesday's to-do list:

Housework:

Finish laundry (2 loads)

~~Pick up LR.~~

Pick up FR.

Pick up kitchen.

~~Clean/make salsa, etc with tomatoes.~~

~~Clean carrots.~~

Clean bathroom.

Put laundry away in bedroom.

~~Clean off desk.~~

Put away storage boxes-kids school projects, ~~pictures~~, etc.

Clean out refrigerator.

Projects:

Sort teams for U8-Rec soccer.

Work on venues/brackets for CMSL.

~~Pull down clothes from attic~~-go through & get ready for garage sale on Friday.

Fundraising letter ready for Dance.

I think this is all that I need to accomplish before the end of the week. Wish me luck in getting it all done!

Check out what other bloggers are tackling at 5M4Ms.

Monday Menu Planning 7-23-06

2007-07-23T07:52:00.001-05:00

We have a lot of tomatoes, cucumbers & zucchini to eat this week. My Mom & MIL brought a lot of items from the garden to us this weekend.

Monday: (soccer practice) Tuna Tortellini Gratin from last week. We had so many leftovers that we ate on from Thursday to Sunday.

Tuesday: Sweet & Sour Chicken and Rice

Wednesday: (soccer meeting/practice) Roast in the crockpot with veggies.

Thursday: (dance meeting-boys home-hubby will cook) T-Bone Steaks on the grill, potatoes & salad.

Friday: Sloppy Joe's (using Where's the Beef? Beef from Freezer Chicks.

Not sure about Saturday and Sunday-CWH has Show-Me State soccer games.

Check out more Menu Plans at I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Going for the Gold....

2007-07-23T07:14:00.001-05:00

This weekend my oldest, CSH, played in the Show-Me State Games. SMSGs is a state "tournament" where teams from all over Missouri come & play their chosen sport, everything from soccer to basketball to track to gymnastics-well you get the idea-you name it & SMSG has it!

CSH has been playing in the SMSG for the past 6 years, we started the first year that we were switching from recreational soccer to competitive soccer. We have been matched up with the St. Louis Eagles, which is a team comprised of players from some of the best St. Louis teams & we have always placed 2nd or 3rd place each year. This year, it was my husband's personal goal (& my son's as well) to obtained the Gold medal because this is the last year that my husband will be coaching a team in the SMSGs at this age level. In the past, CSH has played for his club team but last year he put together a Mid-Mo Select team which comprised of buddies that he has developed a friendship with over the past years within the soccer community of central Missouri. The team comprised of some of the best players from Columbia, Moberly, Sedalia, Jeff City & Camdenton-truly a Mid-Missouri Select team.

Games started Friday evening, the Mid-Mo Select team played 2 games, winning 7-0 and 2-0. They didn't have to play any games on Saturday because they were seeded in the 1st place position & received a bye. We played the semi-final game Sunday morning winning 6-0. The final game was up against the St. Louis Eagles.

The game stated, my son, scored within the first 3-5 minutes. We were up 1-0. A couple of minutes before half time, we received a penalty in the box, the Eagles tied it up. 1-1 and half time. Second half, Nick scored on a direct kick resulting from a foul-it was a beautiful shot that went over the Eagles wall & straight into the upper near post. Mid Mo Select 2 Eagles 1. Eagles tied the game up again. The game was a very heated and physical game. Each team determined to win the game. Understand that if the game ended in a tie, we would have to go into overtime. BUT since there was a shortage of referees, no overtime would be played. Instead, we would go straight into penalty kicks. I was not wanting to go into penalty kicks. I would not have any nails or hair left!

With about 5 minutes of the game left, my son, scored the winning goal!

After 6 years of perseverance....we went out on top with the Gold medal....way to go Mid-Mo Select!!!

Happy Anniversary!

2007-07-20T21:39:00.001-05:00

Today is my wedding anniversary, I married my high school sweetheart, Sean 16 years ago-we started dating on Valentine's Day in 1986! I have been cleaning out my garage & had a garage sale today and I came across a box of letters that I had written to Sean when he was at Navy boot camp. I pulled some of them out & found some poems that Sean had written to me & thought I would share what a wonderful writer he is....

"Thinking of You"

Days have passed

And the time closes near
Until that special moment.

When you are right here.

With me at last

We'll have a ball

Getting back together

and doing it all.

Touching & embracing

A never ending bond
A Special type of love to which

I have grown so fond.

A brand new day

As bright as can be

Nothing but true love

Will we both see.

You know-It's special
When nothing stand in the way

Of two young people

With loving words to say.

The strongest link

In miles and miles of chain

Has kept us together

To meet once again.

Until that moment

When that time finally arrives
I'll be here-thinking of you
Heart beating & still alive.

The love in living is being with you.

Sean

"To Misti With Love"

Years ago I met a beautiful girl

With hair of blonde & eyes so blue.

I knew as days did pass it was certain

Our love would soon grow true.

She was uniquely special

In her own little way

Loving & caring

Kind words she did say.

In her heart and

In her soul

Nothing impure

Could ever flow.

A gift from God

Given all to me

So that each new day

I would have beauty to see.

Never again will I find another

With these qualities-Oh so fine

This is why I'm so lucky

That this girl is still all mine.

I'm the lucky one....

Sign My Guestbook

2007-07-20T21:00:00.000-05:00

Our 1st "Official" Garage Sale....

2007-07-20T07:01:00.000-05:00

Okay-today is my first official garage sale in 16 years-I'm not counting the one garage sale that I had when we moved & sold mostly furniture-I don't think that counts. After a long weekend of cleaning out the garage & four days of sorting -I still have some boxes that I need to sort but I can do that tomorrow morning after we move some of the items out into the drive & I have some more floor space...

Check it out:

Everything on the four tables plus under the tables are on the sale as well. The big white thing is a sink & there is a vanity etc! Lots of stuff!

The stuff under the table is empty boxes and 2 buckets of balls-which aren't for sale!

I peeked up in the attic to see if there were things that I could easily get to & pulled down a couple of bigger items. Man, there is a gold mine up there! Can't wait to blog about what I find & show you the before & after pics.

After the sale on Saturday morning-whatever has not sold will be going to good will or to the library (donating books to them). Unless, I think it will sale on the next sale! I don't want to pack up & store anything that I have on the sale this weekend!

Wish me luck on my first sale!

Thursday Thirteen #15 (13 Things on my Desk)

2007-07-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

Thirteen Things That Shouldn't Be on My Desk

2 Empty Diet Dr Pepper Cans.
A Christmas Coffee Mug.
A Paint brush.
Athletic Wrap.
A necklace.
An tennis ball container filled with marbles.
A flower vase with no flowers-empty.
A doll shoe & bottle.
Fabric swatches.
A container of bobby pins.
A ponytail holder.
A Christmas platter.
A cross-stitch project.

Looks like I need to clear my desk off & place these items in their proper place!

Check out more TT participants!

$300 Free Dairy Products

2007-07-18T21:01:00.000-05:00

5 Minutes for Moms is hosting a giveaway for $300 worth of organic dairy products from Horizon Organics. They have got all the dairy products we could want, like cheese, yogurt, butter and cottage cheese - and for the fun stuff they even have products like cheese strings, yogurt tubes tubes and ice cream. And of course all the Horizon Organic dairy products are certified organic and meet the strictest USDA organic standards. That means they’re produced with no antibiotics, no added growth hormones and no dangerous pesticides.

Horizon Organics contain DHA. What is DHA? DHA is found primarily in fatty fish and organ meats, and most Americans, especially kids, don’t eat enough of these foods to get the recommended amount of DHA in their diets. But it is a tricky problem to solve - the FDA and EPA recommend that young children limit their fish intake to 3 servings/week due to potential mercury contamination. According to expert Dr. Greene, “Most American kids are not getting the DHA they need. The typical three-year-old needs about 150 mg of DHA a day. On average, they are only getting about 19 mg, a tiny fraction of what they need for optimal brain growth.”

Check it out!

Wordless Wednesday Update

2007-07-18T18:22:00.000-05:00

Last week, I posted a picture of all of the film that I needed to process! Getting my scrapbooks caught up is on my 40 things to do before I turn 40 list. Well, I have been doing a little research about processing the Advantix Film, it's costly and discovered that Kodak Gallery, does this with film sent in:

Processing film at the Gallery:
Film users can enjoy all the benefits of digital photography - the Gallery can put your film online for just $5.99 per roll.

Here's how it works:

1. If this is your first roll, you'll need to request free film mailers. We'll send you three postage-paid mailers for your film.

2. Put up to five rolls of exposed 35mm color print film in a mailer, seal it, and drop it in the mail. We'll process your film, put your photos online at the highest possible resolution, and mail your negatives back to you at no charge.

3. When the film processing is complete, we will notify you with an email message that includes a link to your photos and the payment page.

4. Once you've paid the $5.99 processing fee, your photos will be stored in a secure online album in your account. You have 60 days after notification to pay for the processing. All major credit cards are accepted.

This looks like a great way to reduce printing photos that are blurry, have the head cut off, etc. I get the opportunity to view the pictures online & order only the ones that I want to print! What a great concept! I'm going to sent in 5 rolls of film & see what happens! Hopefully, I will discover a great way to get these rolls of film processed!

Works for Me Wednesday (Cooking Bacon)

2007-07-18T09:42:00.000-05:00

I love the pre-cooked bacon that you can get at Sam's-especially this time of year because we eat a lot of BLTs. Everyone wants hot bacon & cooking BLTs for a family of six is very time consuming if you fry it up on the stove. I started buying the pre-cooked bacon BUT it is more expensive that route. Now, I cook my bacon in the oven (my good friend, Mindi said one day in conversation that she cooks her bacon in the oven & I thought "Wow, what a time saver!" Thanks Mindi!) ...

Bacon can also be easily baked in the oven, resulting in amazingly flat slices. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a rack inside a baking sheet. Lay out slices and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on desired doneness level. Voila! Crispy bacon with no curls.

Just like the bacon that you buy at the store already pre-cooked. I usually buy 3 packages of bacon & cook it all up, layer it between paper towels to absorb some of the fat & store it in a ziploc bag for quick and easy BLTs, bacon for breakfast or on sandwiches!

Check out more Works for Me Wednesdays ideas, @ Rocks in My Dryer!

Tackle-it-Tuesday Updated-Complete (Cleaning/Defrosting Freezers)

2007-07-17T08:14:00.000-05:00

My tackle for today is to empty out my freezers, defrost the deep freezer, wipe them down & re-inventory what I have in the freezer.

The Freezer Chicks, meet last Wednesday for our monthly food exchange and I know what I put in the freezer....I just don't have a good record of what's still in there!

I have posted a before and will post the after pictures after the tackle is completed! Check back later this evening for the completed tackle.

Check out more Tackle-it-Tuesday Projects, hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.

Project is completed:

1. Emptied out the freezer into coolers.

2.Power washed all out & defrosted it.

3.Returned to the freezer and organized everything back into the freezer by categories.

4. Inventoried what I had.

5. Put inventory on a spreadsheet.

6. Placed in Meal Planning Section of Family Notebook.

Still looks like a lot of items in the freezer but it's organized into sections & I now know what is in there and can plan my meals around what is in the freezer!

Crossing it off...40-before-40

2007-07-16T17:42:00.000-05:00

Update: I have been able to cross off some items...

1. ~~Clean/Organize Garage Starting this weekend (June 30/July 1)~~
2. Clean/Organize Attic
3. Lose 50 pounds---75 would be better but 50 would be great! (I have lost 8 pounds so far!) Will lose 25 pounds by September 1st.
4. Read the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. (reading on my own first-finished the first book)
5. Bake through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Need to purchase a KitchenAid first for all that mixing...I've been hinting... working on..
6. Knit a blanket for each of my kids.
7. Renew my wedding vows.
8. Read the Bible completely. (started reading each day)
9. Purchase "1001 Books to Read Before I Die" and read one book a month.
10. Catch up on my scrapbooks.
11. Give up Diet Dr Pepper (this will be a really hard one, I have been drinking Dr Pepper since I can remember!Maybe just for a day...like the day I turn 40!) Better yet, add more water to diet!
12. Make a quilt.
13. ~~Take Networking at church..discover my God given talents. (Registered for Networking-class starts Jan 21-23)~~
14. Burn all my home VHS onto DVDs.
15. Rip CDs I don't listen to often and sell them.
16. Go to a spa for a massage.
17. ~~Get a pedicure. Update-have one scheduled for July 17th!~~
18. Take a cooking class.
19. Read everything I haven't read yet on my bookshelf.
20. Watch all five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars.
21. Get a will (mostly for if something happens to both S & I-details for Mom & Dad re: the kids) Have mine done...need to get Sean's completed & have SIL file.
22. Learn cake decorating. Looked into classes but need to wait until Fall.
23. Plant a herb garden to be used all year long.
24. Try yoga.
25. Try pilates.
26. Incorporate a regular date night with hubby. (I thinking every other Friday or Saturday evening.)
27. Visit NY and go to a Broadway musical or play. (would like to see Wicked)
28. Make a household inventory notebook including pictures, serial numbers, etc for insurance purposes. Purchased notebook 6/29/07. Started working on inventory with kitchen.
29. Get finances in order and everything paid off.
30. Take family to Disney World.
31. Send out Christmas Cards (I haven't sent out cards since I was pregnant with my 3rd child!)
32. Clean out car-keep it clean for an entire month-figure this would help me set a habit.
33. Take a second honeymoon with hubby.
34. Take family on a ski trip to Steamboat.
35. Go ice skating with my family.
36. Drink Milk. Plain, Chocolate or Strawberry flavored. (at least one for that day-this one is for my son-I do not like milk &; don't drink milk & he thought that it would be a good one to add to my list!)
37. See "Gone with the Wind."
38. Take Tennis Lessons.
39.
40

Monday Menu Planning Week of 7.16.06

2007-07-16T08:33:00.000-05:00

Our freezer co-op, the Freezer Chicks, just started our own blog This week I am sharing how I utilize my freezer meals into my menu planning, all main entrees are freezer meals from my co-op:

Monday- Ziploc Chicken in the crockpot, zucchini & salad

Tuesday- Italian Mac n cheese, salad & bread

Wednesday- Honey-Pecan Chicken, Rice, Peas & Salad.

Thursday- Creamy Burritos, Mexican styled-rice & salad.

Friday- Sausage Calzones, Corn on the Cob & Salad

Saturday- leftovers

Sunday- Tuna Tortellini Gratin, Green Beans & Salad.

What are you having for dinner this week? Check out more plans with I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Marriage Monday-Honor Post 7.16.07

2007-07-16T07:18:00.000-05:00

My hubby and I had a very long weekend cleaning out our garage. And we actually got through the weekend without screaming and yelling at each other the entire time-I think maybe we had a few words early on but we managed to get a lot accomplished! We still have a ways to go but we managed to get a great start on the project. We will be celebrating our 16 year anniversary on July 20th and we have accumulated so much stuff over the years and we have never had a garage sale to get rid of things that we no longer use. We had a garage sale 9 years ago when we moved from a bigger home back into our first home & sold furniture that wouldn't fit back into the house. But that's all! Each time we moved, we just stuffed everything into the shed, attic and garage! So I'm thankful that we managed to get through most of this project without screaming and yelling at each other this weekend!

Goals that I'm working on to honor my husband:

Not thinking negative thoughts or saying negative things about him in front of my children-doing good. Every once in a way I catch myself getting ready to say something but instead, I pray or think about something else.

Last week started out really well & I got my quiet time in but by Tuesday after having a house full of kids (8) and staying up until 3:30 am, I didn't get my quiet time in. This week, I still have some big projects but I should be able to get my quiet time in sometime!

Hope everyone had a great week last week, I'm looking forward to getting a lot of things accomplished and goals meet! Check for my updated on July 20th-our anniversary-I will have some pictures of the last 16 years posted!

Check out Fruit in Season, for more information about this challenge.

CWH is a....

2007-07-15T22:51:00.000-05:00

You Are an Emo Rocker!

Expressive and deep, lyrics are really your thing.
That doesn't mean you don't rock out...
You just rock out with meaning.
For you, rock is more about connecting than grandstanding.

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Garage Update plus my Hubby's New Toy!

2007-07-15T17:30:00.000-05:00

Here are some more updates of my garage......everything is basically out, we power washed the floor & are waiting for it to dry.

Here he is on the deck..........power washing...

My hubby has enjoyed power washing. He power washed the workbench, the deck, the garage, the house, the climber, you name it, it has been power washed. He even commented on how much he liked it! We are using my Mom & Dad's power washer...I know what I'm getting him for Christmas!

We need to power wash it before we stain it. Which is another project that I would like to get down before the end of summer....repainting the house & staining the deck.

Here are some more updates of the garage...it's really exhausting work! But will be worth it in the end..

Making Progress-My Weekend Tackle Update

2007-07-14T22:37:00.000-05:00

Wanted to give you an update on the progress of my tackle...

We have cleared almost everything that was in this area. As you can see on the back shelf and the white cabinets...there is some organization but it got lost as I cleaned out closets. I needed somewhere to go with the items that were too good to throw away. The pile in the middle is a lot of trash.

After we get the garage empty...we are going to power wash the inside of the garage...

This will get the yuck off of the garage floor.

Then my hubby is going to install shelves like these:

Then, I'm going to go through the boxes and stuff that was removed from the garage on Monday, my friend-Tina, is coming over on Monday & Tuesday to help me! It will feel so good to the stuff out of my garage! I will vow to have a couple of garage sales each year so I don't have this big of a tackle 16 years from now!

Next will be the attic...if you thought my garage was bad...wait until you see the attic!! I have 4 sets of baby clothes, a couple of toddler beds, a cradle, 6 or more car seats...everything from the last 16 years of marriage stored up there. I hope to find some of the Christmas decorations I have been missing up there! Should be fun! Will be an adventure!

What Kind of Rocker Are You??

2007-07-14T22:32:00.000-05:00

Thought this was fun!

You Are a Chick Rocker!

You're living proof that chicks can rock

You're inspired by Joan Jett and the Donnas

And when you rock, you rock hard

(Plus, you get all the cute guy groupies you want!)

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

S.M.A.R.T. Saturday Habits

2007-07-14T08:51:00.000-05:00

How did I do this week on my S.M.A.R.T Habits Saturday goals?

Let's see...

1. Made bed-everyday, did great!
2. Swish toilet & wipe down vanity-good, missed a couple of days.
3. Workout-one day, it was hard to squeeze it in with family & the other obligations that I had this week. Plus I had late nights 3 nights in a row & I just didn't wake up early enough to get going in the morning.
4. Quiet Time-one day-same as working out.
5. Quality Time with hubby-okay, same as working out. We were so busy each evening it was hard to squeeze time together. Next week should be a little better.

New goals for this week? You bet,
6. One load of laundry each day-at least!
7. Load dishes in dishwasher everyday-will go to bed each evening with a clean kitchen.
8. Bubble bath in the evening before bed-at least every other day!

Check out other goals at The Lazy Organizer's blog for other S.M.A.R.T. Saturday participants.

My Big Weekend Tackle It Project

2007-07-13T17:25:00.000-05:00

This one is going to take more than a weekend but we have the weekend free with no activities so no time like the present to get started!

MY GARAGE....SCARY!

First, let me explain....we have been married for almost 16 years (on the 20th of July!) and I have never had a garage sale so this is 16 years worth of stuff (I have a full attic too!)

Scary, huh?

The Freezer Chicks

2007-07-13T12:03:00.000-05:00

It's official....our freezer co-op has gone live to the internet! We now have a blog!

At our July Freezer exchange we (or shall I say Janet!) did a little reconfiguring-Janet needed to step down as leader of our group. She was responsible for all of the details of our group...emails, budget, hostessing, etc. So we now have a "board."

Tina-Leader

Misti-Secretary

Janet-Accountant

Jen-Price Chopper

We set a regular date for our planning meetings & food exchange. We are rotating the meetings between the members and will try a new recipe out each meeting. Many times we are trying new recipes without every tasting them...some flop, some don't. This will eliminate trying it out on our families and getting the thumb's down!

Check out our site...it's really awesome! If you are interested in starting your own food co-op, email the Freezer Chicks @ freezerchicks@gmail.com.

Doesn't the header graphic rock? Tina designed it. She also designed my header & Mindi's too!

Thursday Thirteen #14 (Places My Van Went Today)

2007-07-12T21:55:00.000-05:00

13 Places My Van Went Today...

1. Household Executive's house.
2. Upper Crust for Breakfast & to discuss Sister Chicks Do the Hula (Book Club)
3. Household Executive's house. Getting ready to organize her office, coat closet & area under bathroom sink. Meet to get game plan.
4. Home to pick up kids.
5. Back home to get cell phone.
6. MC Sports-shorts for ODP.
7. Target-snacks for ODP.
8. SoccerPro-socks & shorts for ODP.
9. Home to get PSP game.
10. Movies-saw Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix. Wonderful!
11. Home to get swim suits.
12. Household Executive's- her daughter went swimming with us this evening.
13. Pool.
14. Dropped of Household Executive's daughter.
15. Gas station to get gas-empty after all that driving around.
16. Home

Oh, wait, that's more than 13 places!! Oh, well, busy day!

Check out The Freezer Chicks New Blog. We started a blog to share our Once-a-Month Cooking Recipes and Plans!

Check out more TTs.

Wordless Wednesday

2007-07-11T16:36:00.000-05:00

I think I need to get some film developed! What do you think? I have mentioned in previous entries about my desire to start scrapbooking again & one of the things that keeps holding me back is the fact that I have all of this film to get developed! I think there are 37 rolls that need to be developed! Yikes!