A Weekend Behind

I'm behind in my blogging. I'm not quite sure what happened to last week. But last weekend started with Jeremy coming into town for Valentine's Day. But we did not do anything for Valentine's Day until Sunday (I think). The boys & I had Valentine's dinner with cousin Ashley. I have to refer to her as "cousin" because I have "friend" Ashley too.

Anyway, Jeremy and I exchanged cards and candy Valentine's Day. And Saturday we played several games on the Wii. Cody beat us both on bowling. Then the challenge was on & Jeremy was determined to beat him, but I don't think that he ever did.

Sat we went to the chili cookoff in Springfield. It was fun. I just remembered looking at this picture about the biohazard stickers. You can see the sticker on this lady's bum to the right of Jeremy. Some of the behinds that the stickers were stuck to were somewhat hazardous. Men at a booth were sticking these on the women's behinds. A guy walked up to the booth & the guy said "NO DUDES!"

Thank goodness for these little trays because I had a handful!

Monday Jeremy & I fixed my water heater again - I think. It still does not work quite right and we had several problems fixing it. So who knows - besides a plumber which we are not. Then Jeremy's flight got canceled Monday night and he stayed until Tuesday. Then I went to Chicago on Thursday. So it was very nice to see him so much.

The boys had to go to school on Mon & Tues to make up for 3 snow days last week - then they were out on Thur & Friday for more ice!

Weekend Recap

Here is a picture of snowy Chicago from my plane. This is just a weekend recap. The boys have been home all week due to ice here. They will be home tomorrow, Wednesday too. We have ventured out & I had to work today & have to work tomorrow but they have had some time off.

1. Did not get delayed going to Chicago this past weekend.
2. Supposed to leave Chicago Sun on a flight but decided I better try to get home earlier due to weather & thank goodness that I did because my original flight did not get into Springfield until 1:30 AM Monday.
3. Saw Fools Gold – funny but more of a serious plot than I expected. It was longer than I expected too.
4. Spent A LOT of “family” time with Jeremy’s family. Like every day! Not that that is bad just a lot of togetherness.
5. Our goal was not to eat out this weekend & we did not. I ate out for lunch with Jeremy’s sister, but I did not have that rule with her. Jeremy & I agree that we eat out WAY too much.

5 Things

Well I said that I wasn't going to do this but I felt bad so I'm going to give my 5 things that I was tagged for but I am not going tag anyone else.

5 things you don’t know about me:
1. I flunked my driving test the first time
2. I sleep like 8-10 hours a night
3. My dream job would be a buyer of a major department store or activities director for a cruise line.
4. I can do the Soulja Boy but not the Electric Slide
5. I won a hula hoop contest in high school – I hula hooped for like 30 minutes or something like that.

5 places I want to go or go back to – there are a lot more than 5:
1. Disney World – been to Disneyland
2. Hawaii
3. Any where in Europe
4. New York
5. Any where warm, sunny & beachy

And as an added bonus here are 5 things I can’t live without (things not people):
1. My iPhone & Bluetooth headset
2. My digital camera
3. My magic bullet & Lite Muscle Milk
4. Water (literally and that’s my main drink of choice)
5. My yoga mat

Random

First, I must say sorry to my cousin Laura because I'm not going to do her little blogging thing that she tagged me for. I have no one to tag if I did do it. I have been making Amish Friendship Bread for the last month and I realized some people don't want you to "share". But so far I've been able to give away all of my bread starters. I don't know how long I will be able to though. But my bff & I have this thing worked out where I give all of my starters away & one to her & then she gives all away & one to me. So we only have to bake every other time.

Sorry about the bread tangent I just went on, but I have not been really in the blogging mood so I will just update you one what's been going on:

1. I'm back taking classes. I am taking two online through MSSU - history & marketing. I am still working toward my marketing degree. I am also taking one through The American College that does mostly financial classes. This one is for work. So I am basically taking 3 classes. It has really been stressing me out.
2. I turned 30 a couple of weeks ago. We had a party at the bowling alley. It was really fun. Everyone really enjoyed it. This new bowling alley is smoke free so it was good clean family fun.
Jeremy bought me a robe (I requested) and a really cool Coach bracelet. I wanted it but had no idea that he was going to get it for me. Holly & Danton got me a really super cool watch. Lisa got me a Starbuck gift card - LOVE Starbucks. Both sets of parents got me a bracelet - this must have been a bracelet year. My friend Margo got me a gift certificate for Mary Kay. I told everyone not to buy me anything since we were going out & they had to spend money to spend time with me BUT they didn't listen. How dare they!!!
3. I have a “classic” case of Pityriasis Rosea - which is some kind of funky viral rash. It is REALLY ugly & the first dr that I went to freaked my out. She is just a family dr & she treated it first with a steroid for an allergic reaction. It did not go away so she said I needed a biopsy & that it was something more serious like a blood disorder or CANCER!!! Luckily it was neither - "classic" Pityriasis Rosea. The dermatologist said that it usually occurs in the spring & fall but this was the 3rd case in a week that he had seen. Now I am on this medication that is for shingles & maybe it will help & maybe it won't. And this nasty rash all over my upper half will be there for 4 more weeks (I've already had it 4). I am on a SUPER high dosage of steroid. 800 milligrams 5 times a week!
4. I voted yesterday & bonded more with a family member due to our political views.
5. Going to Chicago tomorrow.
6. Had another tornado warning yesterday.
7. Had 2 snow days last week.
8. Spent one snow day with my cousin Ashley & Neviah - it was relaxing & fun.
9. Turned my stuff in for my taxes.
10.Hoping not to get too delayed tomorrow as Chicago seems to be getting non stop snow this winter.

New Car

I got a new car a couple of weeks ago. Not NEW new, but new to me. It is a 2004 Honda CR-V. It only had 34,000 miles on it. I think that I got a pretty good deal on it. I traded in my Toyota that had 92,000 miles on it.

Well, the new car did not bring me any new luck. I got pulled over AGAIN last night. 2nd time in 1 MONTH!!! NOT good. I was not very happy about it. They pulled me over for going 69 in a 60. But I think the main problem was when they ran my plates, the plates came up as a Toyota Highlander. So he asked if I just bought the car. So he let me off with a warning!!! THANK GOODNESS!!!! I definitely said a prayer of thanksgiving, since I have not gone to court yet on my first speeding ticket. A 2nd ticket would have totally killed my driving record. But honestly 9 over is not too bad is it???

Budget 101

"Do today what others won't so tomorrow you'll have what others don't." - Marshfield basketball team.

That can apply to all aspects of life, whether it be athletics, spiritual, or financial. As it relates to your finances, do your part today so you can try to have a secure financial future. Some times that means sacrifices. Like eating out less, less coffee, less movies, less clothes shopping, etc... But where do you cut? Where do you start on a budget. In my opinion, you cannot budget unless you know where your money is going. So start by averaging your last 3 months spending.

House payment
Utilities (break them out if you want)
Insurance
Car payment
Credit card payments
other loans
groceries
gas
food
contributions
cash - spending money
lunch money

You can be as specific or as general as you want. So look at the areas that you spend money and those "extras" - look at spending $25 or more less per month on the "extras". Then put together a future budget.

Once you have a budget put to place we will look at where you put the extra money that you save because if you don't do something else with it, you'll probably spend it.

Cody's Got A Brand New Do

One of those golden picture opportunities for mom.

Finished product and with his longer look, I think the highlights look awesome.

Thank you for coming to Hindoi

Yesterday Aunt Teri & I went to my favorite Japanese steakhouse Hinode. I was sitting on a bench in the entry area waiting for a seat when these ladies passed by to leave and they thanked me on their way out?

Enough said.

Sleep Over!

Apparently Spring temperatures in January also brings Spring storms in January. We had been having 60 degree days and Tuesday night we had severe weather. It seems as though 4 tornadoes hit the Springfield area but technically it was only 3 - 2 were the same tornado. But we had something in the range of 66 warnings in the surrounding area. At my house we had more sirens going off in one day than in a whole week.





The first siren went off at 9:00 PM, after that another went off, I think around 10 PM. So I decided to keep the boys close to the laundry room - our storm shelter.

Holly HATES storms. So she & the boys joined us. She stayed in the playroom with Carter between siren warnings, but close enough to shelter.

I'm really not sleeping or pretending to be sleeping. I happened to look down when Holly took the picture. I think our last siren went off at 3 AM.

Tornadoes don't typically freak me out too bad. But I am realistic about the fact that they move fast and can happen in an instant and can be extremely damaging. But I would never risk the safety of my kids like that. So, I made them stay in the basement close to shelter - JUST IN CASE. We didn't have any damage thank the Good Lord and neither did anyone that I know. But there were 2 fatalities in Springfield.

To resolve or not to resolve...

Although making a New Year’s Resolution seems to be par for the course when bringing in the New Year, there are many that do not believe in making resolutions. Mostly because resolutions are seldom seen to fruition. Unless you are like my cousin Ashley who made a resolution that she was able to fulfill in one day. Anyway, most of the time I make a resolution and I too am unable to keep it up. But I believe in resolutions. I have many theories as to why people don’t stick to them, but I will keep those thoughts to myself. Here is why I believe in resolutions. I think that everyone should constantly be trying to improve themselves in one way or another. The New Year is a good time where people are looking for a fresh start and to be rejuvenated. I believe that unless you set a specific goal for yourself, improving yourself is hard. I think that any amount of effort and success that you make toward your resolution is better than where when you started. If you aren’t at least striving for something than you won’t reach it.

So I have decided on my resolution. It will be to focus more on my business and career. To grow my business in excess of10% from 2007. And to make the Million Dollar Round Table.

Many people resolve to have a better handle on their finances. I have decided that based on my career, I might help educate people on finances through this blog. So I will try at least twice a month to post some financial educational pieces. So I will give my disclaimer now. This is just for educational purposes, the ideas and thoughts are just opinion and meant for educational purposes only. Consult a doctor or professional. Side effects may occur, etc…

Now here are some pictures for your enjoyment.


The boys with my nephew Theoden. He is sooooooooooo SUPER cute with the best personality.
Jeremiah & I at a wedding on New Year's Eve.
Us with Jeremy's parents on New Year's. John & Noreen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Pictures of our New Year's Eve fun will follow. But this is how I started my new year.

New Year's Eve was so pretty because it snowed, snowing these really big fluffy flakes. It snowed all night and into the next day. I was supposed to leave Chicago on 1/1 at 3:56 pm. I was on the phone with my bff Holly at 3:45pm when she asked me when I was supposed to be leaving. I told her the time and that I should have boarded already, when the lady announces that my flight has been canceled. Well the next flight was canceled too. My next flight is to leave at 8:30 am 1/2. So I ask for my luggage back. They won't give it back because it is in some kind of caged lock down & they cannot get it. They inform me that it will be waiting for me in Springfield. Well I explained to them that there is not flight to Springfield - THEY WERE CANCELED. But they told me that they would get there - "maybe on another airline". Yeah right, so I go back to Jeremy's house with no luggage.

1/2 - 8:30 AM - flight delayed - take off finally at 9:15 AM. Get to SGF - no luggage. My luggage shows that it is STILL in CHICAGO!!! Apparently it did NOT make it to SGF before me or WITH me.

11:30 am finally make it to car that is parked at the airport - and car DOES NOT start! Dead battery. And they can't jump it because my car is facing a fence with cars parked to either side of it. So, they have to call a mechanic's shop. The mechanic brings some kind of "jumper box". And it does not work - so he informs me that my battery is REALLY dead & he needs to attach 2 boxes & he'll be back. So at 12:30 pm I finally drive away from the airport!

GOOD TIMES!!

I did not make a resolution this year - but I made one for Jeremiah. His resolution is to read a motivational book this year. And I have the one for him to read, but I have to read it first. What is your resolution?

Gingerbread Houses

The boys and I did Gingerbread houses today. Below are the pics of the final projects.

We did our Christmas yesterday morning. That way the boys could have all weekend to play with their toys. They really enjoyed them. Dad sent them both race car tracks. Bray's is a demolition track & Cody's is a NASCAR racing track. Both love them & have been spending a lot of time racing them.

We also went to mom's and started our sugar cookies. We will decorate them tomorrow but I will probably not post about those. I will be heading to Chicago for next week so the posts will be light. But I'm sure Jeremy & I will do some post worthy things.

I will be posting a Christmas greeting tomorrow & that replaces my Christmas cards that I did not send out this year!

Go Speed Racer Part 2

If you'll remember, back on October 1 I posted about some issues that I was having with driving around here.

Well it finally caught up to me. I received my first speeding ticket on Thursday. I have been pulled over several other times, but never actually received a "citation". So, I was not too bothered by the fact that I got pulled over but when the officer stated that he was issuing me a "citation for speeding" I almost cried. I was so distraught. I ALMOST made it to 30 w/out a ticket.

I remember when I got stung by a bee sometime when I was a teenager. I hated it because I had NEVER been stung by a bee and now I could not say that. That one time really screwed things up. And I have not been stung again. Well it's the same feeling with this speeding ticket. Really ticks me off that it ruined my record. But I guess it makes up for all the other times that I SHOULD have gotten a ticket.

Waitress Exits via Front Window

Another video I saw on Ellen. Hopefully this girl is ok. But I have to admit, I laughed outloud on this one!!

Snowplow News

This was a video I saw on Ellen today - funny

Snow?

This was our first "snow". Less than 1/2" more like a dusting of snow really. They boys and I were both disappointed. We were hoping for more. We have not had any bad weather so far this year, unlike many of my family in Oklahoma. And Jeremy in Chicago. Some of my family in OK still do not have power. Jeremy has not had any issues because of the snow but he has had plenty of snow.

It does not look good for us to have a white Christmas either.









This is our Christmas tree this year. We always do a real tree. I try to do a "small" tree every year, but it ends up being bigger than I anticipated. But it is fun and nice. A perfect size.

The boys are getting excited. We will do our Christmas on Christmas Eve. I told the boys that we could get up early and do gifts first thing in the morning just like on Christmas.

Tomorrow I will be purchasing my last gift and then I will be done. I know many people still are not done, but there is less than one week left. This is late for me.

Are you finished with your Christmas shopping?

Best Gift of All

These were posted in Brayden's classroom as some of their writing papers.



That is the best gift that I could ever receive!!! Reading this was the highlight of my day!

This paper is supposed to be an ad to sell Santa a sleigh. The teacher was very impressed with Brayden's papers. I am too.

Moments of Inspiration

I FINALLY finished a scrapbook that I have been working on all year. Next month will be 2 years that Jeremy & I have been dating. And I spent this whole past year working on a scrapbook of our first year together. I have not worked on any pages since this summer. But for some reason tonight, I was inspired. I sat down & did 14 pages and now the book is done!

Another great accomplishment for me this year is that I read 5 books strictly for pleasure. I have never done that. I probably have not read more than 2 books in a year for my own enjoyment. I just finished my 5th one & probably will not start another one for awhile, as I will be starting school again in January!

5 Seconds of Fame

I had my 5 seconds of fame on Good Morning America Saturday. They were at Silver Dollar City & you can see my head bob up for about 5 seconds.

In the episode I am toward the beginning of the hour long show but in reality that was shot at the very end of their hour long filming.

I've saved it so the next time you are at my house I'm sure I'll show you.

Thanksgiving

We had a pretty good Thanksgiving. Matt & Jeremy were the only ones that traveled into town. Ted & Emily came in for the weekend after.

Grandpa was in the hospital again this year as was the case 2 years ago for Thanksgiving. Which reminds me, this is the 2 year anniversary of my blog. Grandpa is doing fine & home now. We tried to go to SDC Thanksgiving evening. It was too cold for the rides to go so we just walked around & looked at the lights. We raced back to the car, boys walked/ran & girls took the trolley - WE WON, of course.

All pictures are on my myspace - www.myspace.com/queenkira - I believe that the pics are public.