Giving Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and while times are tough right now, I have so much to be thankful for.

1. My amazing husband and best friend
2. My beautiful daughter
3. My family
4. My friends
5. My wonderful home
6. My health and the health of my loved ones
7. Food on our table and clothes on our backs
8. LOVE

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

I Have Been Bitten As Well

By the craze that is the Twilight Series! My wonderful sister in law got me the first 2 books for my birthday and I have just begun reading Twilight. So far, so good.

Shoes to Die For

I LOVE these Aerosoles...just beautiful. I would get the red with black ribbon. Something fun and a little sassy!

Tis The Season

I cannot wait to decorate for Christmas this weekend and to get a jump on things....I needed a Christmas wreath and decided to make my own. I found a neat idea on the internet using a foam wreath and felt. 3-4 hours and about $10 later...

33 and Counting

So yesterday I turned 33. It was just like an other day in my mind. I have never been one to stress about getting older...I still feel 25 to be honest. My family was very wonderful as usual in celebrating. We had a late lunch at my in laws and I was showered with some wonderful gifts:

* Sex And The City Movie
* Twilight Series Books
* Gas Gift Card
* Lotions
* Photo Albums
* Cash

I am so overwhelmed with the love and generousity of my family. I am so very lucky and thankful to have them in my life.

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

Click here for your chance to win!
Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

I was lucky enough to find the CUTEST little outfit handmade by a very talented woman. This is the kind of thing I would love to be able to make one day. I am in awe of the talent and creativity.

Crafty Chick

My attempt at being crafty. I made notecards for my sister in law and mother in law. I love doing this stuff.

Reason to Smile

Yummy!!

This is a new fav treat of mine and Lauren's....yogart covered raisins! If you have never tried...I highly recommend.

And Many More...

Happy 3rd Anniversary to my baby brother, Brent, and his beautiful bride, Jill. I wish you both many more years of wedded bliss!

The Mood Has Hit

Well, the Christmas mood has hit me....a little early. I can usually make it to Thanksgiving anyway. I cannot wait to decorate for the holidays and play Christmas music. I think I am extra excited this year because Lauren is at the age where she is starting to get it.

I have decided my Christmas color theme will be red, lime green and silver. I also want to have a little 3 ft tree for Lauren to have in her room. I got lime green and fuchsia ornaments already.

Fa la la la la!

Snow! Snow! Snow!

Looking out the window of my office I can barely make out the tree about 50 ft away....why you ask? SNOW! It is coming down fast and furious. Our first official snowfall of the season I would say...since this appears to be accummulating on the ground somewhat.

I AM NOT READY FOR WINTER!

Budget Building

With this looming economy not expected to improve until 2010, I realized that having a tight budget may be the best bet for us for a while. Now we are always smart with our money, but we have never really crunched numbers either to see how much is spent in a month's time. With Jason still unemployed and having an awful time finding ANY work at all, my wages possibly getting cut in half until business improves and numerous other factors, I have decided that we need to spend as little as possible and save as much as we can in case things get worse.

A few things I plan to do during this tough time:

1. My mother, sister in law and I are all planning on "sharing" meals so to speak. Every other day we will cook up one big crock pot of chicken, beef, pork, etc and then each family will take 1/3 of it home for meals. We will all chip in for the cost of groceries and figure it will save us all money and time.

2. Instead of buying all Christmas gifts this year, I decided to make some (notecards, wreath, etc.) which will save some money as well.

3. Buying clothes from ebay or garage sales instead of brand new from the stores. I have found a number of things that are like brand new or in some cases new for a fraction of the cost.

4. Buying generic brands instead of the name brand labels. They basically taste the same anyway.

5. Clipping coupons...they do help!

6. We hardly ever eat out, so that saves money as well.

7. We only make one trip to Madison a week at most...this saves on gas.

8. Keeping a strict record of all purchases...no matter how big or small.

9. Putting a chunk of weekly paycheck in savings for emergency funds.

10. Last resort option for saving....taking Lauren out of daycare if Jas doesn't find a job. That would save us nearly $800 a month. Although I love having her at this center for the social interaction and the learning she is doing...financially it may be neccessary.

Sewing Goal

I have decided I really want to learn how to sew. I am so into crafts and making things and decorating, that I have this urge to make my own things: clothes, pillows, curtains, purses, etc.

And one day down the road...have my own craft room for creating things. Ahhhh....dreams!

Saying Goodbye

My Grandma Crowley passed away on Saturday. This was my last living grandparent. I was very close with my grandpa and grandma Crowley. My grandpa passed away in 2005 and ever since...my grandma has just wanted to be with him again. While I am very sad and will miss her, I know she is happy to be reunited with grandpa. And it sounds like she went peacefully. She was up Saturday morning and seemed fine, told the nursing staff she wanted to rest a little while before breakfast. They came back 20 minutes later and she had passed away.

Gram's Obituary:

Crowley, Marcella
STEUBEN
Marcella Crowley, age 91, resided at 535 11th Street, Fennimore, formerly Steuben. She passed peacefully away Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at Fennimore Community Good Samaritan Center. She was born on June 24, 1917, to Blanche and William Johnston in Rising Sun. She married Kenneth Crowley on June 22, 1939. She taught school before she started raising her family of eight children. Then while raising her family she was a farmer. She is survived by five children, Frank (Eileen) Crowley, Prairie du Chien, William (Dolores) Crowley, Madison, Mary Bass, Fennimore, Ken (Linda) Crowley, Oregon, and Jim (Carolyn) Crowley, McFarland. She is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Evelyn Crowley, Steuben; 22 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; a sister, Rita Clark, Viroqua; and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Johnston, Richland Center. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Kenneth; three sons, Patrick, Michael, and Gerald; a grandson, Scott Crowley; a son-in-law, Tom Bass. Also preceding her death were brothers, Donald, Philip, and Eulogius; and sisters, Margaret Harter and Evelyn Hess. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, at 11 a.m. at ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, in Seneca, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call on Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the GARRITY FUNERAL HOME, in Prairie du Chien, where there will be a parish rosary at 7:30 p.m. www.garrityfuneralhome.com

Big Day...Big Girl

Today is the day....Jason is converting Lauren's crib to a toddler bed. The time has come for our little baby (nearly 27 months old) to get her big girl bed. I pray it is a smooth transistion like her bottle and nuk were. Guess we will find out tonight. Wish us luck!

Another Comical Lauren Moment

Seems like every day when I go pick Lauren up at daycare, her teachers have another funny story to tell me. They say Lauren is quite the comedian and makes everyone laugh daily. Her latest:

Her teacher, Amanda, was changing her diaper and Lauren said, "Amanda I went poopy." Amanda told Lauren that she had not gone poopy. She looked very serious and said, "Oh...I just tooted in my bottom."

Where does a two year old come up with this stuff??

To Do List Addiction

I love To Do Lists!! I think they are one of my favorite things in the world. Crazy, I know. I consider myself a very organized person and lists help me visually see my accomplishments. I use lists for chores, goals, groceries, xmas shopping, you name it!

There is just something about crossing off an item!

President Elect

Congrats to President Elect Barak Obama....I really hope you can live up to all the hype. I pray you can turn this country around, but I am cautious of some of your tactics (spread the wealth, all the spending, etc.)

I do not envy your position at all. Anyone who would wish to tackle this job is either nuts or very brave and confident.

God Bless America!

Proud To Be An American

So today is November 4, 2008...big election day! I am proud and honored to be a part of the biggest election ever. It is a gorgeous fall day out....sunny and 72 (in November)

And now the world waits......

Clownin' Around

Halloween was so much fun this year. Lauren really "got it" and enjoyed the whole ritual. And she was the cutest clown ever...if I do say so myself. Wink, wink!