Ground Turkey... I think I am in love! LOL

We have been cooking our meals at home lately. Rarely going out to eat. I had to find ways to cut our budget and our over-spending! Well... in doing so, I found ground turkey meat for $6. Noticing that Ground Beef (hamburger) is $10+ for the same weight of meat. We have been using turkey for about 2 months now.
The best part is how much we LOVE the flavor of everything. Even throwing it into a box of hamburger helper makes such a difference in flavor.

I just made burritos/fajitas... and they are AWESOME. I cut up green peppers and onion and tossed them into browned turkey meat. I cut up tomatoes, shredded cheese, and heated canned beans. Throw it all in a tortilla... and you have dinner. Jarod (10) helped cut and cook it too.

BTW... I went to Ikea last week for their 1st anniversary event. I bought a cheese grader thingy. It was $6.99 I think. It came with two size graders, and each have a rubbermaid like tub with a lid. Best thing since sliced bread!! LOL

Interview for a new job...

So this morning was my interview for the bank. I went in feeling like it was mine! I went through the interview feeling like he likes where I come from and what I had to say. NOW... I am awaiting a phone call... but the interviews at the job fair don't end until 1pm. UGH!! Waiting sucks! Please say a prayer or cross your fingers... I really do feel like this job change is right for me. Now I just have to see what the man upstairs thinks. :)

Our "Lucy Lu", as she has come to be known... is now 5 months old. How time flies. She has grown so much. I am really enjoying this Lab. She is training fairly well and is fitting into our family so perfectly.

Her face is just the prettiest Lab face I have seen.
Dashy only let me take this picture, because Lucy was sitting for hers. I swear if I can get Lucy to do something, Dash will too. However, Dash also has the longer hair of the two... and today it allowed him to gather burrs from the neighbors weedy yard. He had "Dashed" off our porch and through the fence when he noticed Sean had left without him (in his truck to the store). Jordan was letting him out and had not gotten his leash on yet. He came in the house whining and had his head tilted oddly. I really think he got a burr down his ear canal. We cleaned it out and for the most part... he stopped whining. We are watching him, to see if his issue continues. UGH!
These are the newest members of the kids pet collections. We went to the Sandy river today and while we were there... I let the kids catch fish in the edge of the river. Yep... they will probally not make it through the next week, but maybe they will. They are fun to watch!

Summertime...thoughts...

You know... it's summertime. The kids are out of school. Our days are more relaxed with less "have to do" on the calendar. Yet I find myself longing for the school year. I want so time to myself. I know it is a little selfish, but I know it is my sanity talking too. Ok, maybe it has more to do with the extra kid we had last night, when my niece spent the night. It amazes me how two siblings can raise their kids SO differently. I know I am pretty strict, and I can be quite snappy with the kids. I work on it from time to time. I also know that I respect the way my dad raised me. Well... now I do.
Wow, what an odd rambling of things this blog entry has turned into. LOL

I guess I better be off to work, can you hear my excitement?? (UGH)

Wait... I better guzzle my cup of coffee first. I bought Folgers "caramel drizzle" flavored ground coffee last night. I also did some school clothes shopping! It is THAT time of year again and I am trying to spread it out over a few months, this year. :)

Cupcake house photo

My demo is complete... I had a blast!

I made the frosting a bit more stiff than I normally would, because I feared the heat of my hand and in the store would thin it. Well... it didn't thin. It remained quite stiff. It made my hand shake to pipe it from the bag. Several people stopped to ask "Is it edible?" and "Are you decorating a cake?". Two people stopped to inquire about our classes. All in all, I think a pretty good demo was done. :)

Tomorrow I go back to really "Working" in the store. :)

demo today...

In less than two hours... I will be at my first demo as a Wilton Method Instructor. (that a wilton cake decorating instructor for those who don't know the WMI term.)

So... here is what I came up with... (from the wilton website... not my design)

I am excited!!! If you live near Michaels in clackamas, Oregon... stop on by and see me! (1pm-2pm) I'll share pics when I get back. :)

Kids room makeover???

My kids are all at the age of "grown out of the toy age" and need a more updated "tween" look to their rooms. I am on an extremely tight budget, and am beginning to look for ideas to change over the kids rooms. Here are two pretty neat ideas for storage solutions in your kids room(s).

FamilyFun: Rain Gutter Bookshelves - and More Family Fun

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10756&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section1Link1

FamilyFun: Skateboard Shelving - and More Family Fun

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11647&campaign=NLC-NL_Crafts&link=Section1Link5

Our garden progress...

Our garden is producing fruits and veggies in viewable amounts now. The kids are trailing at my heels to taste everything. Tonight we enjoyed the first yellow beans to grow. We can now recognize the beginning tomatoes, onions, carrots, sweet peppers, and squash. We now seen flowers on the pumpkin and cucumbers. This really is exciting.
I am once again feeling like I can control a little bit of this crazy life we are living in. :)

Camping again

I love to go hiking... on nature trails... nothing too outragous. My favorite part of the hike is walking behind one of my kids. I tend to realize just how big they have grown during one of these moments. I always try to capture moments in photo.
Sean's friend from work brought his wife and their 3 month old daughter to the campground for the day. It was great to spend time with friends and to get a snuggle with an infant that I could send home. The guys played "disc golf" (glorified frisbee throwing with targets) and ended up over the river bank to retrieve one of the discs. LOL The women enjoy the day too... chatting as we strolled, just clear of flying discs. :)
Meghan took a photo of Sean and I, with Jarod jumping in. My poor camera is showing its age... and beginning to blur photos. :(
The kids took a dip in the river... not having life preservers with us, we only let them in to their knees to learn to skip rocks. I think they still had a good time, even though they didn't get to fully go swimming.
We of course roasted marshmellows... but notice the amount of "gameboy" action happening at the same time. LOL
Jarod (my 10 year old) took this photo. I hope his talent for photography continues to grow. Sean and I were discussing the fact that he could grow up to tour the world and be a nature photographer. :) It is always interesting to me to think about what my kids will do in their lifetime. How they differ in interests from each other... and day to day, year to year.
All the kiddos... my nephew, Jarod, Jordan, Meghan, and my nieces.
Our dogs and the kids enjoyed this open "off leash" dog run area. I am not sure who slept in the latest this morning... the dogs or the kids.
Always the center of attention... Jarod is! I cut off a bunch of his hole kneed pants and he got the idea to wear the cutoffs. LOL
Always the center of attention... Jarod is! We cut off a bunch of his
While camping this weekend, we went hiking. He began to say "going into high gear"... and would hike up his shorts... and walk in the funniest movements. Funny kid!
I found this butterfly last week, in one of my flower beds. It barely could fly and allowed me to take the most beautiful photos. I left it in the backyard and it was gone in the morning. I wonder if it could fly or if it met more ill life moments. It was a neat experience while it lasted!
I sewed a bit of catnip into a pillow for our cats. Tiger thought it was wonderful to roll around with. :)
I love taking nature photos. This dragonfly took a few rocks hops and flutters before landing long enough for a zoom-in photo. It took way better then I thought! :)

Hate these feelings...

I hate being stressed out. I hate not really being able to put my finger on "what's wrong?" The one person I should be able to talk to, isn't there for me. I understand his reason for not being there, but he isn't thinking about how it effects me to not be able to talk. I can't find words to explain it either... the emotions just turn to tears.
I should be excited... we are going camping tomorrow. But no, not really exciting to know there will be more drama than aynthing. We are camping with Sean's parents, my nieces and nephew. While I know the kids will be excited, I just can't wrap myself around the idea.
Part of me just wants to stay home and run my garage sale. Part of me wants to go camping with my kids. UGH!
Anyhoo...

anniversary

Sean and I have been married for 14 years today. Wow! Another year of up and down hill rollercoasters of emotion. We went out to eat at Chang's tonight. Just the two of us. We even managed to have a conversation that did not include the kids. :)
He bought me a necklace that is engraved with "Always, Sean 7/16/2008". We have normally written or said "Forever and For Always" ever since we were dating in high school. I still have some of the letters we wrote each other, and signed this way. Ahhh!
I got him a new belt buckle that he has been wanting. I just couldn't wrap my brain around anything more creative this year, and the budget didn't allow much anyways. Of course, he always uses credit cards to get me more than he needs to. But he is sweet, even though he tries to make everyone think he isn't.

Oh yeah... Jordan got 4 adult teeth pulled today. He has yet to accept any pain meds too. I told him I am making him take 1/2 a pill to sleep well though.
Anyhoo... the dogs need a walk, I better get going.

Busy days...

Wow, what a busy week this has turned out to be. We fixed the basement drain, using miracle putty... some day we will fix it for real. LOL
I spent Sunday cleaning the garage, and getting items together for a garage sale. I plan to do one the weekend after this coming. We will be camping from Sunday to Tuesday. We changed plans and cancelled going to the coast again. We decided we can save gas and camp closer to home. We are going to McIver instead. (Diana wanna come up for the day LOL)
I worked on our pool more this week too. The whole repair seems to be holding, and now I am working on getting the chemicals right. I prefer the kids swim in clear & clean water... not foggy and EWWW green. LOL
I also bought rubber tubing to make a gasket for the filter. I had tossed the gasket awhile back, not realizing what it was. Hind sight!!! UGH!
I worked enough this week to take Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off. I work all day on Saturday, but have a Teacher's event going... so that should be fun and not so much work. :)
I hope to get some more boxes sorted from the basement mess, and put more into the garage sale boxes too. I then need to price everything and get tables together, etc. Oh the fun stuff. The kids are excited to be getting a chance to make money from their things.
Oh... Jordan and Sean are going to sign up for the "Portland Bridge Petal" in August. They will ride their bikes over several bridges in the Portland metro area. I think the kids and I are going to volunteer for the event too... most likely doing setup, cleanup, water handouts, etc.
Tonight was a party event at Build-a-bear. Meghan and I went to celebrate my two nieces birthdays. Fun stuff!
Anyhoo...
Off to check the pool filter. :)

The joy of owning a house!

Oh the joy of owning a house... has got to be the repairs. UGH!

I went down to get craft supplies today, only to find my craft bag wet and the bathroom drain pipe leak being the cause. Woohoo, what a way to spend a Sunday... crawling under the house with DH, repairing the pipes. Ok, think of the up side, atleast we can do the work ourselves.

My neighbor is having a garage sale this weekend. My benefit with that is NOT the cars parking everywhere; but it sure is the BOX of wilton cake supplies that I was given for free.

Hugs to all... hope ya'll are enjoying the weekend. :)

Oh I forgot...

Cricut has redone the "baby bug"!!!

It will soon hit Michaels stores! They also made a box that will hold multiple cartidges and allow easier use with the Design Studio computer program. :)

New Dress Code & Job Changes??

I work for Michaels. Most people know that. Lately, over the past 6 months or so, the corporate office has brought big changes to the stores. Most of the things include cleaning (above and beyond). Sadly it didn't include the bathrooms LOL

This also meant our classroom programs shutdown almost completely. I have become a Wilton Method Instructor. This means that I will be teaching cake decorating classes for adults and kids, by the end of August. I love that I found a way to do something I enjoy again. I enjoy teaching others the crafts I enjoy.

The changes from corporate will now include a dresscode change, not paid for by corporate of course. It doesn't surprise us, it is just one more way that we feel used and abused as employees. The test stores for the idea, were given shirts. The new roll-out to the whole company will mean about $50 to $100 out-of-pocket to people working only 15-30 hours a week, at nearly min. wage for most.

Yeah, it's tax deductible, but most employees at this pay level do not itemize, so that is a mute point.

Anyhoo... we shall see how this pans out, by sept. 1st.

As for me, I keep putting off the idea that I need to figure out some more income. Whether that be teaching classes at Joanns, teaching wilton classes and remaining at michaels as an Event Coordinator, or possibly doing both; I just don't know. I am a horrible procrastinator (sp).

I always feel like things will work out, and will be what was meant to be. It works for me, but it sure is a stressful way to live sometimes.

Wow... I sure am rambling.

Oh, and I could discuss my thoughts about writing to my SIL (the inmate, meth addict, person God says I should forgive... )
UGH!
Not today!

I hate paying the bills...

I really dislike paying bills. Of course I hate that I have to work, dh has to work. But I am actually talking about the action of bill paying. It is just so annoying and such a waste of time/energy.
I came home today to find a disconnect notice from the water company. I have always paid my water bill every other month. For years, the company billed this way. They changed computer systems and billed every month. I just didn't change my budget. Sewer one month, water the next. Two different companies. Well...

NOW the water company has changed computer systems again and is charging a ton of little fees from not paying each month, 5 days late, 10 days late... 10 days later. Etc. They "sent notice 23 months ago and you should have known" WTF!!!!!

Ok. I know I owe the bill, we used the water, but is it legal to charge so many fees? UGH!

Whatever!!!
Guess I better get one of those calendars and bill check off sheets, instead of paying bills with each weekly check. UGH!!

scale

So, we were at BigLots last night. Buying NOTHING we needed, of course. LOL

We found a scale, which we haven't had in the house in about 18 months now. I toyed with the idea of not getting one for long enough. I want one.

A trip to Silverfalls and I Scrapbooked some too!

I finished some layouts... I started at my last crop night. I also got another 2 page layout completed, using some of the freebie supplies that we were generously given at the crop. :)






Isn't this a great show of nature's true beauty. This is one of ten falls at Silverfalls State Campground... between Silverton and Salem, Oregon. We went for a day trip and hiked a few of the shorter trails. We plan to go camping there as soon as we can get a reservation in the campground.


There is also a beautiful area with picnic tables, a swimming area, and a playground for the kiddos too. One of the trails is a 5 hour trek, one way. I am excited to go on that one!! The dogs can even go too. :)

Who is stopping by?

I would like to hear if you are stopping by. I thought I would do a few small Rak's for my friends that are stopping by. Don't know what a Rak is... well... it's a Random Act of Kindness. It might be a small bit of scrapbooking embellishments or a cake decorating tool of some kind. It might be a great scented candle or some lotion type item. Who knows... but it's always fun to send something just for fun, and of course on your end; getting something just for fun is FUN. :)
So, will you leave me a comment, and let me know you have been by? Just click on the comments link under each blog post... and it will take you to leave a message to my blog. Don't forget they are public messages. :)

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th. Hope you all remembered to say a prayer for our current soldiers and their families too. If not, it's always a great time!!

My kids and I decided at 8:15pm to go to the fireworks show on the Willamette River, near Downtown Portland. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! Sparks flew high, and sparks flew low... some even hung in the air and dropped on our heads. LOL

I also had found these great sand and glitter crafts at Michaels this past week. They are little dollar kits in our kids sand section. The board have stickers that peel off, and you pour sand/glitter on each part. Peel another sticker, pour more sand/glitter. Turned our to be really addicting to me and the kids. We plan to get more soon.
The pens just get filled with sand/glitter and we used a skewer stick to slide down the inside edge... to mix a bit. We learned that the inside have to be really packed before gluing on the cap... or it all mixes. Still a fun look. The kids thought that the pen would somehow write the color that was put inside. A cool idea, but no... they write the color of the caps. :)

Thanking my lucky stars!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RssIN3ustUw



This is one of the beautiful old buildings located on Officers Row in Fort Vancouver, Washington. I spent July 4th, on the lawn across the street from these homes... nearly every year as a child. Craft and food booths, a concert stage down yonder, and blankets with families and friends all around. You spend the day just relaxing, tossing a frisbee or football, playing cards, touring the booths. Then of course most people enjoy elephant ears in the evening. Once darkness takes over, generally around 8:45pm... the fireworks show begins. Claiming to be "the largest display west of the mississippi" it is something to not be missed.
Every year, I think... oh the crowds, the kids think it is the same ol' thing, but yet we nearly every year... find ourselves there. It really is such a display that it makes the wait and stress and ... SO WORTH IT!!
(Here I sit, thinking... I want to go, but dh has to work tomorrow... it would be nice to stay home and BBQ and have set off our small fireworks. But... oh the Fort is SO WORTH IT!) UGH... decisions. :)

Here is a short bit that I found on the net... HAPPY 4th! Everyone!!

Soldiers considered Vancouver one of the best places to be stationed, clear from the beginning. The setting is unsurpassed: Mt. Hood is clearly visible from the fort; Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams are also visible from nearby. The river plus the excellent farm land made food plentiful. The people of Vancouver welcomed the soldiers and provided hospitality and a good social life.
A few years ago the city of Vancouver took over a series of buildings which date back as far as Civil War times and remodeled them into offices and townhouses; the street is now called Officers Row.
Vancouver Barracks was the main US Army base in the northwest during the Indian wars, Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and World War I. During World War II its functions were gradually moved to Fort Lewis, about a hundred miles north.


A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes.
Fireworks were originally invented by the Chinese, for entertainment purposes, as a natural extension of the Chinese invention of gunpowder. In China, they were first made by firework masters who were well respected for their knowledge of the many complex techniques used to create firework displays. Such important events and festivities as New Year's and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival were and still are times when fireworks are guaranteed sights.
Improper use of fireworks may be dangerous, both to the person operating them (risks of burns and wounds) and to bystanders; in addition, they may start a fire if landing on flammable material. For this reason, the use of fireworks is generally legally restricted. In the United States, fireworks are classified as either consumer or display fireworks based upon the amount of pyrotechnic composition an item contains. Display fireworks are restricted by law for use by professionals. Consumer items are available to the public and are smaller versions containing limited amounts of material to reduce potential dangers.

In the USA
America's earliest settlers brought their enthusiasm for fireworks to the United States. Fireworks and black ash were used to celebrate important events long before the American Revolutionary War. The very first celebration of Independence Day was in 1777, six years before Americans knew whether the new nation would survive the war; fireworks were a part of all festivities. In 1789, George Washington's inauguration was also accompanied by a fireworks display. This early fascination with their noise and color continues today.

In 2004, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, started using aerial fireworks launched with compressed air rather than gunpowder, the first time that such a launch system was used commercially. The display shell explodes in the air using an electronic timer. The advantages of compressed air launch are a reduction in fumes, and much greater accuracy in height and timing.

PAYPAL SUCKS!!!!!!!!!

I have spent the last TWO HOURS figuring out how to fix the fraudulant transactions from SPOOF on Paypal. UGH! What a frickin' hassle. Just because some idiots want my money. Now I am told, it is up to me to go after these people too... paypal just stops the transactions, after pulling the money from my bank account. Then they don't even return the money to the bank... they will put it back in my paypal account and I have to transfer it back to my bank account. WTF!!!
Put it back where you got it, dammit. :(

UGH!!! I need a drink!! :(

Our camping trip photos & more...

Meghan and my nieces, Lillian and Emma

Emma getting Jarod with the bubble gun.

Lilli and Meghan, dancing in the sand... Seaside, Oregon.

My nephews... chatting with Lucy in her kennel. The boys LOVED our dogs.

Sean & the kids in one of the ships at the Maritime Museum in Astoria, Or.

Jordan & Jarod showing the seashells collected in the ocean at Seaside, Or. It's so rare to find not only 85 degree weather, but low tide and nearly warm ocean waves... at Seaside. Jordan and I were to our knees and more, collecting shells. Meghan found a completely whole sand-dollar and gave it to Jordan for his collection. My kids really do share sweet moments of caring. :)

Aunt Becky is known for crafting. Of course, the kids would find supplies for painting in our trailer. Even out camping! The adults remained outside, chatting the afternoon away.

A deer wondered through camp, a few times. This time I caught a photo as it ate a snack. Beavers were quite an issue, but as long as we didn't leave dog food or human food... they mostly went to other sites.

This is the Astoria Column. It sits at the top of a steep hill with a windy road to it. It is under maintenace for almost a year, and normally would allow visitors to climb steps inside the column to get a better view. However, the view was well worth the trip even without the extra steps.

Our family & behind us the view from the column parking area.


We spent the weekend in Astoria, Oregon. We camped at Fort Stevens State Park with my parents, my two sisters and their family, and our family. We went site seeing, toured several historic forts and batteries, went to the Astoria Maritime Museum, and went to the Astoria Column too. We made smores, road bikes, played horseshoes, and got to relax alot too. All in all, a pretty great way to spend 5 days of life!
The funniest thing was when my camera battery died... I then grabbed the video camera and not long after, that battery died too. The next day, my dad gave me his camera and commented "I just put brand new batteries in, take it since you made yours die." I handed his camera back about an hour later, with about 5 photos taken before that battery died too. LOL
Here's a few more pics...