TGIF

Another week under our belts and only 40 minutes until quiting time.  Yabba Dabba Do.....I'd love to hear that whistle blow and slid down the dinosaur about right now.  Mark just called to ask if I wanted to go out dinner tonight and I tried really hard pleading that I'm just too tired but he's just craving sushi and since that's not something I can whip up at home, guess we're going out to eat.

I had such grand plans for yesterday but as usual the best laid plans always go awry.  Nothing big just everything takes twice as much time as I think it should.  I got my haircut yesterday and I love it!  I did a modified Diane Keaton's hairstyle in the latest movie that she's in with Harrison Ford....just too cute.  I have bangs which are something I don't think I've had since 5th grade and let's not even discuss how long ago that was.  I've got a new hairdresser and I think I'm gonna really like her.  If nothing else, she cut my hair then I picked Mark up for lunch and we ended up at the same chinese food place. 

The carpet guy came and it looks wonderful.  He couldn't believe that we'd never had the carpets cleaned and we've lived there over 5 years.  I asked how often you should have them cleaned and he told me every 6 to 8 months but he figured I could go at least 24 months between cleaning.   He said that I was a fantastic housekeeper and I just had to chuckle...nope Dulbia is  ;) 

I never got to pulling out the christmas stuff yesterday because I got a wild hair that I should clean the laundry room and kitchen cabinets.  Hello, where does this crazy idea come from?   Anyhoo, I cleaned, reorganized and staged it so we can get it sold...oh wait  that's a line from one of my fave shows, Sell This House.  No, we're not selling the house, I just wanted to get my cabinets straightened out so I can find things.  I even cleaned the dreaded kitchen junk drawer.  I decided to buy these little stairstep shelves to use for my spices so in order to do that then the shelves must be higher so I might as well move those, clean the inside of the cabinets....well you know how projects get derailed.  I was up on the countertop trying to wrestle the shelf out of those stupid little plastic clips that keep in stable and I had a little bit of an issue.  I thought I was going to knock it upward with the heel of my hand but instead managed to hit it with my wrist.  OMG!  I broke the blood vessels and it immediately started swelling up and bruising.  I started crying and the carpet cleaner guy about fell trying to get downstairs to find out what I had done.  It's actually laughable now but at the time I felt so stupid!  So the moral of this story is Never Clean Your Cabinets Out On Your Day Off! 

Hump day

Well another week is half over and I just took my Halloween stuff down last night!  That class last week really threw me for a loop and I really need some recovery time with a good smutty book, martini and a bath.  Oh wait, I forgot chocolate!  Dulbia was coming to clean the house today so I took down all my stuff and left the house a blank slate for her to clean.  The smell of lemon pledge, clean counters and freshly cleaned mirrors just make me smile like an idiot.  I love Dulbia and do a happy dance on the days that she's coming to the house.  I know that I fought Mark really hard on getting some help with the housework because frankly, I felt there are only 2 of us and it's kinda partly my duty as the woman to get the house cleaned but I'm so happy that he went behind my back and hired her.  This working 6 days a week thing is for the birds and I just couldn't keep everything up so now I get the fun part of playing  house and it gets really clean every other week.  I don't say this often but he was right and I was wrong.....don't you dare tell him I said that.  For his birthday one year he's only request was that for an entire day I say "Yes dear" and "You're right and I'm wrong" all day long.  Needless to say that wish didn't come true and has about as much of a chance of me wearing a cheerleader uniform for him.  Bet that's a mental picture that you didn't need, huh! 

I'm off work tomorrow and I should be studying for my exam but instead I'm getting my hair done, meeting the carpet cleaners and decorating for Christmas.  I know it's too early but we don't have any family coming for Thanksgiving so I'm gonna just skip fall stuff this year.  Hey, next year when I pull it all out it'll all be new to me.  My memory suxs and I suffer from CRS!  This is how bad it is....I bought the exact same book 3 times before I realized I had already read it.  Mark will never let me forget it either.

I'm excited about getting my christmas stuff out and sorting thru more junk.  I did a pretty good job with halloween and weeding out things that just didn't suit my style.  I even sold most of it on ebay and made $100 so now on to christmas stuff.  I have a hard time separating the memories from the things so I can sell them but I'm kinda on a roll now so hopefully it'll be easy.  I cleaned my craft area on Sunday and found 3 sets of silver that Mark's mom gave me when we got married.  Now we've never used it just moved it from house to house so I thought I'd do a little research to see if it's worth anything or not.  I found one set is quite good so I'm gonna clean it up and sell it.  The teaspoons are selling for $30 each and I have a place settings for 12!  Wahoo more cash in my Bon Jovi fund.

Speaking of Bon Jovi, the newest cd came out yesterday and it's great.  It's got all the hits and 4 new songs which I love already.  They did a 1 night movie that was played on Monday so of course I went.  Maria and I just planned a girls night of laughing, catching up, eating and best of all singing along to our fave band.  The movie was really a concert that they did in Giants stadium last year and Maria and I wanted to go but couldn't so this was almost the next best thing.  I'm sure the dvd will be released in time for christmas since Jon is such a marketing guru and I'm sure his kids need new shoes so he won't miss the chance to sell it. 

I made the banner on the fireplace with scrapbook paper, newspaper and a pre-printed Happy Halloween scrapbook set.

Kitchen China Cabinet

Luv,Luv the peel and stick Haunted words and bats. I also got hooked this year on making little ruffled skirts for all my candle lights by sewing on crepe paper

My newest display and runner

Games!

Entry Hall

Well that's about all the news so have a great week and I'll see if I can't attach a couple of halloween shots to this post.

Insurance License Hellweek

OMG!  I'm gonna lose my freakin' mind before this is all done.  I swear I didn't know there were so many types of policies and I think I could have blissfully lived my life without knowing it too!  I think my head my explode before I finish this class not to mention actually taking the test.  When did bankers become insurance "producers"?  To quote Cher... If I Could Turn Back Time...I'd find a way to strangle the first banker that thought this was a good idea.  Or let's be really honest, If I Could Turn Back Time, I'd have the body of a 20 year old  :)  Seriously, 45 years old women don't comprehend all this stuff in 4 days of sitting in class from 8-6 with only 2 ten minute breaks and a hour for lunch!  Doesn't this guy know that after 1 1/2 hours all I can think about is my full bladder and I shouldn't have drank that bottle of water?  Hello????  See all of us 'just older"women fidgeting in our chairs and announce a potty break.  I'm really dreading taking this test and I swear the more practice tests I take online the worse my scores get.  Trust me if I'd had really any choice in pursuing this I wouldn't be sitting there trying to learn about insurance.  I guess I should consider myself lucky because they started the next round of layoffs yesterday and I haven't gotten a phone call to report to headquarters yet.  My heart really goes out to all these people because they have truly given blood, sweat and tears but we're part of a larger business now and it's streamlined.  We lost couriers, proof operators, bookkeeping, human resources, accts payable, loan processors, collections, ect....you get the idea...if you weren't frontline employees then it's all handled in Mississippi so we don't need GA folks.  We all knew it had to happen but thought most everyone would be spared until after conversion which is set for Mid January as of this moment.  I just got a text from corporate telling us that 41 people were let go today and that would have been just a little under half of the entire staff.  Wow!

Ok enough negative, I started ebaying again and happy to report that I made $109 last week.  I even managed to pick up a few items at goodwill for re-sale and they are already sold.  I scored Hallmark ornaments still in original boxes from late 90's and only paid $1.50 for them which I promptly turned into $25...i love it!  I got a few items that I'm primming up and then they'll be off to new homes unless I decide that I just can't part with them.  Mark keeps reminding me that I'm doing this to clear stash not drag more into the house.

Not too much stitching going on because of the long days, nites of studying and then collapsing into bed because I have to get up at 5:00 to start my day all over again.  Atlanta traffic suxs!  I'm leaving the house at 6:00 because class starts at 8:00 and if you are late, he sends you home and you'll have to take that morning's session at a another time.  Now, I'm not headed back down another negative rant so I'll tell you that I finished Trix or Trick from Blackbird Designs over the weekend.  It looks great if I do say so myself.  I started The Primitive Needles halloween design in the Just Cross Stitch mag from a couple of years back.  I know, I know...I'm obsessed with halloween but I just can't help it.

Speaking of Halloween, we had over 300 Trick or Treaters Sunday night!  I made treat bags as did Donna next door and they were all gone by 8:30.  The guys set up a firepit, I put out homemade goodies and guys put out a mini keg of beer which attracted the adults to the house in droves.  Yes, we checked ids.....as I roll my eyes at all you grownups thinking that I'd give beer to minors.  I found the greatest napkins that had a woman drinking a martini saying "Yes, you are so scary now get off my property so I can enjoy my drink"  too perfect for me to resist.  I want to know what is with kids ringing the doorbell after you turned off all the outside lights!  Were they raised by wolves and don't know any better?  We finally turned off all the inside lights as well and snuck around the house until after 10:00.  Ever try to sort laundry in the dark?  It ain't easy. My granny is rolling over in her grave thinking I've been married way to long if all I'm doing is laundry with the lights out.  She was quite a gal.

On that note, I'm off to cuddle my kitty, kiss my hubby and take my sleeping pills.  Hope everyone has a great week and remember only 2 more working days this week!

Midweek Update

We went to the Country living Fair on Saturday and I must say it was GREAT!  I just walked around touching everything, drooling and trying really hard to not go just ape crazy!  It was a good thing Mark was along or I'd have maxed out the credit cards.  I got to see vendors that I had only seen in magazines and was just in awe.  Of course being the bargain shopper that I am I had to see all the booths before I'd buy anything and Mark was so patient.  It was quite pricey to get in the gate $15 each, $10 parking then lunch was another $30 but oh so good.  It was picnic type food including fried chicken but I had the most delish sammie ever!  Think grilled chicken, thin sliced pear and balsamic...yummy!  I'm making my own version tonight for dinner with swiss cheese.  Anyhoo, I bought a vintage frame to put my newest finish in and Halloween tree, decorations, ect for half off already.  I think the guy just couldn't bear to pack it all back up again so he was willing to deal.  I got a orange and black "feather" tree that's about 3 feet tall for $12.  Now I'm thinking I might have to start stitching the Blackbird Designs stockings now that I'll have a tree large enough to display them.  And the best news, Clarice hasn't toppled it yet.

I'm busy studying for a insurance class and exam for work next week.  I'm really worried about getting my broker license or more importantly passing the exams to get my license.  Damn, banking has changed a lot in the past 25 years and I'd sure like to go back in time now to rethink my career choice.  We'll be converting to the new bank's operating systems, policies, ect the first of January so more changes headed my way and I just love change!  The dr has written me an sedative for panic attacks but I'm trying really hard to not get the script filled...I just think it'd be too easy for me to drug myself then deal with my life right now.

My dirty martini queens took our annual trip last weekend without me.  I've just missed 2 trips since we started this tradition 15 years ago but just couldn't make my schedule work this year.  I suggested they go to Branson, Mo this year since it's driving distance for them and I'm sure they had fun.  I bet they set that little country town on fire!

Well that's all the news from my little corner of the world so I'm off now to make choco chip cookies.  It's storming like crazy here so I want to just snug in for the nite and nest.

Fall XStitch and some Jovi thrown in for fun!

It takes me a week to decorate the house for Halloween but I love every minute of it.  I have so much stuff that Mark made me promise that anything new Halloween coming into the house requires at least one thing going out.  Now you'd think he'd know by now that he'll never even notice something new unless I point it out to him so I'm safe in saying not too much will be going out.  These are a few of the Halloween theme cross stitch and I need to make some of the every day, year round stitching.

And a couple of Jovi pics from the Atlanta show in April of this year.  Of course there is the one everyone swoons over...Jon but more importantly is there is a great pic of my man David.  I get weak in the knees just looking at the pics.  Remind me sometime to tell you all about my out of body experience where David sang Bed of Roses to me!  I thought I'd died and went to heaven at that moment.

We're headed to the Country Living antique show this weekend at Stone Mountain and I just can't wait.  I hate that it's this weekend since it is Mark's birthday and all but what better way for him to celebrate than doing something I love.  What a guy!  And by the way, he showed up at the bank today with gorgeous flowers for me just because.  Now you know why I'm still crazy about him after all these years.  He treats me like the queen that I am!  Have a good weekend!

Weekend plans?

All my include "Honey Do" projects all of which Mark is dreading.  So sorry but it's a gorgeous fall day and what better way to celebrate with pressure washing the decks, cleaning  the basement, cutting all the shrubs & trees, cleaning out the storage area with all my seasonal goodies and anything else that pops into my little old head while we are puttering around.  Then we're off to dinner with friends and maybe the fair if I can talk them all into going with me.  I say eat dinner at the fair....yummy corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cake, roasted corn, ect...it'll probably cost more to eat there than any 5 star restaurant. 

I love Christopher Columbus and sure enjoyed Monday being off work.  I slept in until 7:30, ate my poptart while catching up on everyone blog and then took a quick trip up into the north Georgia mountains for some primitive retail therapy.  I just love, love Hearts and Flowers in Cleveland and would love to have at least one of everything in her store but sadly my budget doesn't allow for that much retail therapy.  I did some awesome stuff.....a pillow that's a Halloween black cat, brown coverlet table runner, brown homespun chair pad that I want to make into a pillow, small irvin's tartwarmer, black crow, snowman, 3 bags tarts, the newest Early American Home and Simple Things magazines and finally  prim candle ring for Christmas with little sprigs of pin and tiny pinecones.  Wow, it does sound like a lot when I type it all out but it all fit into 1 shopping bag.  I also stopped at Bessie Mae's where I got a cute little prim snowman, treat or treat post its and a little wooden thingy which I think is part of an old clamp or maybe a rope bed turning device.  Don't you love the techinal talk of thingy but it's hard to explain.  I'll post a picture this afternoon and maybe someone can tell me what it is.

I'm making great progress on my Trix or Treat pattern from Blackbird Designs.  I started while at the camp but set it aside when we got home so I could finish Be Kind and True also by the uber talented Alma and Barb.  I crawled into bed last night with some of my older patterns to decide what I want to start next and I'm thinking....hmmm....Beware of Cat by Birds of a Feather....I hate that they aren't designing cross stitch patterns anymore because the Halloween ones are to die for!  I've got all of them plus several of the every day patterns and hope to finish all of them.  Also want to start The Primitive Needle's Halloween Revelry which was featured in the 2009 Just Crossstitch Halloween magazine.  Oh and her Oujia Board pattern which I won on ebay a few months back.  Why is there never enough time to stitch?  I'm going to join the ladies on the yahoo Blackbird Designs group for a SAL starting Christmas day so I'll have to pick that pattern soon and get whatever I don't have on hand.  Why is that you think I have everything I need for this pattern then you start sorting thru thread and realize that you're short a couple...ugh!

Ok, it's now 10 minutes until I get off work so I guess I should post this and actually do some work before we close.  Nah, I'll just go make copies of the patterns that I want to start next week and then lock the doors.  Have a great weekend!

Maine Vacation Photos

Lighthouse in Portland.  It was just what I imagined

Tate House which is Mark's fave photo-Old House/Sports Car

Apple Bench that looks like I set this photo up but it was already like that when we walked up

My future home

Camp

Camp

Fireplace at camp

Cozy Nights

Coastline view