Yesterday we welcomed a new addition to the family. Her name is Lanie.
Lanie is Ciel’s birthday gift from her Grandma & Grandpa McEwan and me, and though Ciel’s birthday isn’t until Friday, Lanie arrived today and she bugged me and bugged me and bugged me until I let her open the box.
Lanie is American Girl’s “Girl of the Year”, and she’s a nature lover. She comes with a laptop computer, a few outfits, jewelry, a sparkly hair pick and a couple of books. Oh! And a pet rabbit. It seems that this may be an emerging tradition … the Girl of the Year for Ciel’s birthday. Well, that put Paris’s nose out of joint. Her birthday isn’t until October, and the Girl of the Year is announced in January. That means that Ciel will always get it first, and if Paris were to get one then Ciel would be mad because Paris would be “copying”. So, we thought long and hard, and decided that Paris would get the American Girl historical dolls. And, of course, Ciel has to have her say in the plan … she will be the one deciding which doll Paris gets.
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Mom, are you ready?
If your daughter is around the same age as my two youngest, you may be thankful for the Kotex First Period Kit.
I just ordered mine. Be prepared to pay 2.99 shipping!
What is in the kit? Product samples, a booklet with ideas to help you answer questions, a booklet for your daughter to ready, information on Toxic Shock Awareness, a guide to help you and your daughter choose the best product for your needs, and coupons!
Apparently the girls thought they could get away with using the “PhotoBooth” app on the computer. I’m sure they know that they aren’t supposed to be jumping on the back of the couch! You can bet it won’t happen again.
There are lots of things I have to be grateful for right now, and to save you the task of reading my whole gratitude journal, let’s just say that having a job and a roof over my head are right at the top of the list. Food in the cupboards and fridge and the ability to prepare meals are right up there too.
When I think of all the places in the world I could be, I always have to give thanks that I’m right here, right now. I know with some degree of certainty that tomorrow will be pretty much like today. I know that, barring any extreme act of the universe, I’ll be waking up, making breakfast for myself and the girls, and heading to work to help make a difference in the lives of our clients. Not directly – I’m not involved in direct client service, but through my marketing efforts – I can help make someone’s life better. And for myself, I will make every attempt I can to better my own life.
How will I better my own life? I believe that what you concentrate on you get more of, so I’m NOT concentrating on the pain in my back right now, though having said that, that’s where my thoughts just went. So, enough of that. I’m in love with Sundays. I have no reason to wake up until my eyes open. The girls are now old enough to entertain themselves when they get up, until I get up, when that responsibility defers to me. They could, if they wanted to, make their own breakfast. However, they prefer to wait for me to wake up and make breakfast. That’s fine with me. I really to prefer to have control over my kitchen and experience something bordering on an anxiety attack when I’m faced with a kid-destroyed kitchen!
I spend the day poking around online. Reading blogs (see blogroll), researching ideas, maybe looking up recipes, and thinking about what we’re going to eat for dinner. That really can take up the whole day! Sometimes, I may play Wizard 101 for a couple of hours. I enjoy battling my way through quests and helping Paris, Ciel and others to do the same. Sometimes I might just stare at my bead stash and either think of a design I’d like to make, or just enjoy staring at the beads!
Right now, we’re watching Ace of Cakes, which I’ve never seen before, and we are all engrossed in watching the process of the team making a “squig” cake for a convention. What talent these people have!
And now … a request from Ciel to play on her Club Penguin account. How can I deny that one … later, everyone!
Freezing. I think that was the term on everyone’s lips this morning as they streamed into work. It wasn’t actually as cold as it has been in the past few weeks, but icy sharp snow just made it seem a few degrees below what the temperature really was. Freezing.
Today was the first time I actually looked out the window and thought that it would be REALLY nice if it was spring already! I’m looking forward to planning my garden, and adding some beds along the back fence. This area is typically just overrun with creeping charlie -ugh – just the thought makes me shudder. It’s the bane of my existence in the “growing months”, for no matter how many times I pull it up, cut it up, chop it up, dig it up … it just comes back. Now, if we could get a neighborly effort going with the people surrounding my yard, where they would ALL pull up their creeping charlie, then we may stand a chance.
And now to pay the bills! (that means, the following link is an affiliate link. If you buy, I get compensated – just in case you were wondering!)
I’ve been waiting for Kenneth Cole Reaction to come back on sale. Paris had a pair of KCR shoes that she wore out, and she loves them. Hopefully I can pick up a new pair for her here this weekend: 2/6-2/7offer! Kenneth Cole Reaction Footwear- Final Clearance Select Styles $50 and under This Weekend!
And while you’re there, check out what else is on sale – you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Ciel wants to watch “Lost”. What are we in now? Season 6? The final season – and she wants to start watching it.
I will confess, we watched the pre-show show that went through the previous five seasons incredibly quickly and I know why they call it Lost, because I’m completely lost! I admit that I didn’t watch the five-season wrap up from the start, but hey – did they really expect a Lost novice to follow that?
Now I’m watching The Biggest Loser – it’s much more my speed.
We decided that for a treat tonight we would get takeout. Ciel goes to College Mentors on Tuesday nights and doesn’t get home until about 6:45pm. Of course there’s still homework to be done and showers to be taken. I didn’t have anything out to cook and didn’t have anything “quick” to cook, so we did a quick budget check and decided to splurge on Arby’s (Paris’s choice).
Now, I always forget to take into consideration that my girls are no longer satisfied with “Kids Meals” (unless there’s a toy they really want that comes with it!), and Arby’s is not cheap in the first place, so – to for three of us – I just shelled out THIRTY dollars for fast food! All I can add is that it’s the last time we’ll be doing that for a while!
I almost didn’t even look at these, see, Dr. Scholl was the brand name of the weapon of choice when it came to discipline in my childhood. They were wood. They were heavy. They had metal clips, and they hurt when they landed on your butt. BUT, these are not your mothers Dr. Scholl’s! Take a look … Dr. Scholl’s Footwear- All Styles 75% off Today Only!
You’ve heard me rave about 6pm.com and their great deals – in fact, most of the shoes I buy come from 6pm. They have a “deal a day” type arrangement where they choose certain brands that go on sale for just one day.
I received an email this morning from alderman and friend, Karen Schmidt, which I hope she doesn’t mind me sharing. This is my part in trying to help a local business, and – more importantly – a local family, cope with life after the passing of a loved one. If you are in McLean County and in the market for office furniture, or know someone who is, please help support the Cruses.
And as they say in the classics … pass it on
Good morning – many of you will remember Tom Cruse, owner of Recycled Furniture in our warehouse district, who died very suddenly some weeks ago. The family has decided to close the business and has asked for help in getting to word out about the inventory sale. Please pass this along – I know Tom’s passing has been a very difficult loss for his family and his many friends, this is one way to help support them.
Thanks – Karen
Hello Friends and Neighbors!
First of all, thank you all for your support during this difficult time for our family. We are so blessed by your love, meals, prayers and kind words!
Secondly, as you may know the kids and I have been running our business since Tom’s death. After much prayer, we have decided to close Recycled Office Furniture. I am attaching the ad we are running. We have a low advertising budget so if it’s not too much of an imposition would you help us spread the word? Feel free to print the ad and post or forward on to other people. Thanks so much!
Starting February 1st we will be open every day from 9 to 5 (except Sunday, February 7th) until February 13th. Currently everything is 20% off. On February 5th – 25% off, February 6th thru 11th – 30% off, Feb 12th – 40% off, and Feb 13th – 50% off. If you know anyone who needs pallet racking, desks, chairs, files, tables, etc. please send them our way!
You are a blessing to us!
Nancy, Alex, Brandon, Kendra, Michaela, and Charles
Nancy L. Cruse
Recycled Office Furniture
309-821-0600
407 S. Main Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
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