GAAAAHHHH!!!!

After 34 years living in this skin, you'd think I'd know better. I can't be outside for more than 15 minutes without SPF 50. Which is what I had on my face, and no burns there!

Event Location

I've had a few questions today about the event details, including the location.

It's today, March 27, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Location: the front lawn at 336 N. Frasier Dr. West, Mesa, 85204

Quick directions: East on University, go through the light at Horne and make the next right, Frasier Drive. Make another quick right to Frasier Dr. West. The event is on the front lawn at 336, so it'll be hard to miss!

The number of participants has grown, so there is going to be lots of fun stuff to look at. It's a garden party style event, so you can dress up in your spring best :) There will also be yummy food for sale, and chocolaty snacks at every table.


The more the merrier, I hope to see everyone there!

Practice Makes Perfect

I put together my display table today for the craft bazaar I'm participating in on Saturday. I wanted to practice and make sure I had enough room for everything.

I over prepared... I don't have enough room, because I have so much stuff. I've been crocheting a lot lately as a way to reduce my stress, and looking at it all in one place makes me realize how stressed I've been. (There's four boxes under the table with even more stuff that you can't even see!)


I still have to make room on that table for my bowl of chocolates, to entice people to come visit me! (or to eat shamelessly if I'm unsuccessful).


According to my receipts and my remaining inventory, I've made at least 120 of those flower clips. They're on the hats and headbands, and they're sold separately. I'm never going to sell 120 flowers, what was I thinking?


I'm pretty nervous, but I feel a lot better now that I've done a practice setup. All I need is a comfy chair, a beach umbrella, and a never-ending supply of lemonade and clonazepam.

Ben + Basketball = Awesomeness

Ben is in the Youth Hoops Basketball League this spring, and here's a short video of his warm up. His first game was 26 - 4... his team was the 4. The next week it was 26 - 18, and his team was the 18. They did much better the second week, and Ben even scored two points! I'm so glad Ben has finally found an outlet for all his energy, he's very good at basketball, and more importantly, he's having fun.

Way to go Hoosiers!

Here's one of my FAVORITE pictures of my ball playing boy:

My kids are motivated? Huh?

This is the new currency in our house. Instead of allowance, the kids are given three of these Wii Bucks at the beginning of each week. They earn additional Wii Bucks for doing their daily chores, and then completing their assigned weekly chores. I've never seen my kids be more motivated to clean stuff up.




During this process, we have discovered that Ben is a saver. Previously he was the kid who played for hours after his homework was done each day, often taking time away from the girls. Now he hasn't played in over a week, saving up all the Wii Bucks he can because he'd rather have those than spend them on video game time. He likes to watch them accumulate. His bank account will be in better shape than mine when he's just a little older!

So he's learned to do what I say, not what I do. Good boy.

Raising Grace will literally pay off

I started writing my children's book series about Grace today. This was an idea Emily had, that I needed to capitalize on her "adventures". Here are some possible titles:

Grace and the green marker
Grace: the queen of owies
Grace is a copycat
Grace: the musical
Grace and her rainbows (and I mean rainbow colored body parts or furniture)
Grace and her siblings
Grace the picky eater
Grace puts things in her nose
Gracie at bedtime

I have pictures to accompany each story, which I'll use for reference when I'm searching for an illustrator. Who knows, maybe this will turn into the next Curious George and become a PBS Kids cartoon series and I can retire by the time I'm 36.

Or maybe I'll just have documented proof for her husband that she can really drive a person crazy, and to keep a close eye on her... she does her worst damage when no one is looking.

And despite all the "adventures", one can't help but love that little girl to pieces.

My best coupon day EVER!

Using the Grocery Game dot com today, I saved..... $165.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saved 42% off my total grocery bill.

I'm super awesome.

Elphie is VERY interested in the food, she must smell the dog treats I got using coupons.

Did you know that food tastes better when you don't pay as much for it?

Seriously, this is a scientific fact.

Plus, did you know that food is more fun to eat when it's the same color as the bowl it's in? Who knew?

Strawberries, pineapple, and carrots... oh my!