Trick or Treat!

So this morning my Mom calls me to ask if we are all right. Uh - yeah, why? There were a couple earthquakes last night early this morning! What? Sure enough some of the surrounding cities felt tremors associated with two small earthquakes. Now that is tricky on Halloween!

For the treat - I give you this. It is not everyday I get to wake up and put eyeliner on my husband. Yes - every year my husbands work goes all out with a costume contest (that is mandatory for them) and they spend the day doing a scavenger hunt, trivia, and bowling. Yes - every year. Every year I plead with Roon to be Richard Simmons as his costume. Sadly - I am denied....but guess what - great minds think alike - cause the boss (owner of husbands company) came as..........Richard Simmons! Here is the hubs this year...do you know who he is? Happy Halloween!

Static Electricty and Wedgie-Free Wednesday!

Yes - got your attention huh. No these two things are not related whatsoever!

With the chilly weather comes something that I find very daunting and troubling. It is static electricity. I think I got shocked enough times yesterday at Kroger to have enough power to charge my cell phone via skin contact. It is ridiculous! No matter how I try - opening doors with my foot, touching things with quarters or my keys, staring the item down, pleading...I am still getting shocked. I hate it and need help! You see where I grew up we had humidity - lots and lots of humidity. I dare say I don't miss it much - unless it is this time of year. Sometimes I find myself waiting for someone to come out a door - so I don't have to open it. The madness has got to stop! The first time I saw Office Space (the movie) with Peter staring down the door - I nearly fell out of my seat! I KNOW how Peter feels that is me! BTW- If you have not scene this movie and you don't mind some foul language - you will totally think it is funny if you have ever worked in a cubicle environment!

So - in my attempt to allude static electricity I have thrown away perfectly good shoes....I figured that they were surely the culprit...but alas my efforts were for not. I just wanted to share with you my saga and hopefully I can conquer it this season. I think I must drag my feet or something...so maybe I will go back to the days of marching band and just march everywhere - don't make fun if you see me - I am desperate here. On a side note: the Bean thinks that "stinging people" with static is quite entertaining....hmm.

So back to Wedgie Free Wednesday - go win yourself some free panties courtesy of Hanes. Here is the linky: http://www.wedgiefree.com/

I already have won one pair! Very exciting treat to receive in the mail...

Gotcha Day!

Every year we celebrate the day we were united together as a family through adoption! We call it "Gotcha Day" cause that is the day we welcomed Bean into the family. But to be totally honest - we were smitten from the moment we first met Bean. Her personality is big and she has a "spark" that can just draw people in. I can't explain what a blessing she is to us. Being her Mommy - makes me a better person. God knows the plans he has for us....and thank you God for bringing her into our lives.

We try to do things that are fun and exciting for Bean. Since she is the all American girl now - we figured why not go to American Girl! The excitement of this day has been building and Bean was about ready to bust before we could even get to the store. She immediately declared she was going to get Kit Kittredge - cause we saw the movie. We looked at every doll in stock and all she could say was "Can we go buy Kit now?" She is a girl who knows what she wants. So Kit - welcome to the family - I have a feeling you will be going everywhere with us.

We ate at the Bistro, with Kit of course, and just really enjoyed our day together! It was a busy day as we started off with donuts at Shipley's and a soccer game. Then we went to American Girl, breaked to watch the 2nd half of the Texas game (hook-em horns), and then were off to a party at our friends house. It was action packed and a lot of fun!

Happy girl and her Kit

Matching Hats

Sharing a shake with Mommy

Look at that smile

Hanging out with Daddy - and special shout out to Daddy for hanging out at American girl, eating at the Bistro and really helping out with all the accessory decisions!

Arboretum

Wow - we had a fun visit to the arboretum last week. Roon had the day off although and although we got off to a rough start (my car battery conking out) we had a wonderful outing. For those who are wondering - the giant acorns - from the "Crafty Me" post were found in the parking lot of the arboretum. There is beauty everywhere! Enjoy the pictures.

Crafty Me

Glittered Acorns. I got this idea from a blog called There is No Place Like Home! She has saw awesome ideas on home decor, crafts and recipes. We had a lot of fun and it was a cheap and easy project.

Super Saving Sunday at CVS

After a brief hiatus from CVS - I am back to the red and white again. Yeah for CVS! I missed you! I did take a couple of CVS surveys last week and should make $10 in ECB at the end of the month. I did three transactions today.

Transaction #1

I paid$3.58 after coupons and ECB I had already earned. I earned $7.98 in ECB for the Gum toothbrushes, $2.58 for the Candy Pumpkins (my absolute favorite and I can have six for 3 WW points!), and $.99 for the glow stick. I used the $7.98 ECB towards my next transaction.

Transaction #2

I paid $.26 out of pocket after the $7.98 ECB and $.75 cent off coupon of GUM toothbrushes and earned another $7.98 ECB and $.99 ECB.

Transaction #3

I paid $11.72 after coupons ($2 off each pull-up and $3.00 of the Johnson's no More Tangles) and used the ECB earned above (except for one $.99 cent one). I earned $10 in ECB and I still have a $.99 cent one left. I will roll those over later for more great deals.

I tried to break this down in chunks for those of you who are really trying to understand the coupon thing. Check out your CVS ad - some of the stuff above is a two day special only! Happy Couponing!

My latest creation/addiction

So I am trying to drink more orange juice to get all my vitamin C. Problem is - I don't always enjoy orange juice - as I find it kind of acidic so I prefer the watered down version. But in a flash of brilliance - I have resurrected the magic bullet and concocted my version of a low fat Orange Julius. Did you ever have those at the mall when you were growing up - so fabulous.

Anyhoo- I got it down to a big ole cup for just 2 WW points. Combine 1/2 cup 1% milk, 1 cup Tropicana Light N Healthy, 1 packet of Equal (I am sure Splenda will be great too) and crushed ice! Blend the refreshing treat in the magic bullet and WALLA! I need to be on the magic bullet infomercial - don't ya think?

Little Ole Baker Me...

Made this amazing spiced pumpkin bread I got from Amy's blog at MomAdvice blog. Here is a linky to the recipe here. Oh how I wish there was smello-vision! It makes four mini-loaves so you have enough to share or freeze!

I generally do not like pumpkin - in fact though I adore the way pumpkin pie smells I do not like the taste at all! Same goes for sweet potato anything and sadly pecan pie. I don't know why - but I think it is a texture thing with these things. But - I was fully prepared to not like this bread - and woa nelly - it ROCKED! I loved the goodness that is within! Make some yourself and let me know if you love it too!

I love Fall and cooler weather

We have been busy with soccer and fun fall stuff. Above are a couple pics of the hot air balloon festival and sky diver's. It was perfect fall weather and a beautiful launch.

I am loving drinking hot chocolate right now....I know it is still not exactly cool here - but hey close enough right? Oh and the return of cooler weather means I get to wear my jeans again! I mean I still wear them during Spring and Summer (just not very often) cause you get hot legs ya know.? I bought a new pair of jeans today and I think I had a light bulb moment. I love the look of wide leg jeans - but come on - they are like 5 inches too long and unless my Crocs grow heals - that is not happening. So - I decided hey what about the petite jeans. Bingo - ding ding ding. Jeans that fit and are not too long! Technically I am not a petite - but I am "making it work" as Tim Gunn would say and improvised to get the style I wanted. My style really needs help as most days I throw on work-out clothes. I am always optimistic that I will work out sometime during the day! Yes - most days it does not happen - but it takes time to make a habit right? So I am in the habit of dressing to work out...now comes the working out. LOL! Hope you are enjoying your Fall too!

It is a pink world in the land of girls soccer....

In the under age 5 division that is! Girls who are 4 and 5 years old playing soccer are spirited and entertaining to say the least. The first couple of games they really struggled with what goal to kick to and what to do with the ball. I can't believe in just 4 weeks how much all of them have improved. Bean loves playing and socializing at the same time. The girls are learning that they can't tickle each other on the field otherwise the ball passes them by....They are also learning that running while looking at the sky is not a good idea as you may collide with your own players. Generally every game girls come off the field "done with soccer." About 2 minutes later - they are back playing - only to come off with the biggest smiles ever. The art of drama is not lost on these girls.

Bean came off the field confessing that the ball hit her in the mouth on purpose and she does not want to play soccer any more. Trying not to laugh....we encouraged her to keep trying and that the ball does not hit her on purpose. Needless to say the very last play of our most recent game (and yes we did not bring the camera for once) the Bean got the ball, took it all the way down the field and scored. She immediately looked back to make sure that Mommy and Daddy were on their feet recognizing her soccer triumphant. It is her first goal thus far and we could not have been prouder.

Back to the pink component....We have had 4 soccer games thus far and each team has been some various shade of pink. You better believe that this was not lost on Bean and she loves her some pink. At first we longed to be one of the pink ladies if you will...but now we appreciate the cone orange that we are! At least we never get lost in a crowd!

Brave little trooper!

Well, after a week of a lingering cough I decided it was time to see the Doctor. Bean had no other symptoms other than this wet cough. The doctor checked her lungs and hear a little rasp - but her pulse ox numbers were only at 97 and they should be at 99-100. So we started up breathing treatments for the next two weeks. She is a real trooper - but I tell you she gives the Doctor like a full on interrogation. What are you doing? Where is that going? What is that for? Are we done yet? I am ready to go?....She really does love her pediatrician, but she hates having her temperature taken and a throat check!! I think she may hate that worst than shots - but the jury is still out on that.

Please pray that this is being caused by allergies and not asthma. We started allergy medicine today.

Some Random Things...

Long time no blog - sorry about that - sometimes I think about it but forget it before I remember to blog.

Bean said the funniest thing the other day. Roon had been in the bathroom and sprayed air freshener (thank you!) before coming out. Bean walks in - does a big sniff - and says "Daddy your poop smells great." LOL - that was too funny.

I am watching Biggest Loser again. I ate a giant cookie while watching it. I vow to do better from now on. My goal is to lose 10 pounds in October. Roon's sister is getting married and I do not want to be fat in those pictures.

I did a body test on the Wii fit tonight. I may never be able to test again as it says I am 29 tonight!! Generally I am in the 40's on the Wii - so I will take that number any day.

Are you watching Fringe on Fox? It is like Lost meets the X-Files. That JJ Abrams has one vivid imagination.