Friday Randoms...

1. I mentioned earlier this week that my boss approached me about working more hours in 2012.  Well this afternoon she called me to offer me more hours starting next Monday.  So of course I said yes.  I will be working 28-32 hours a week beginning Monday.  This couldn't have come at a better time.  I really do enjoy my job.

2. Last night I made "homemade" pizza.  I used a technique my blogger friend, Brandy discussed on her blog and the pizza turned out amazing.  I preheated the oven, then I put the pizza stone in until it was hot.  Then I placed my rolled out dough on the hot stone, added sauce, cheese, and toppings, and then baked it for about 16 minutes at 450 degrees.  It was so good.  The bottom was crispy (unlike when I usually make it).  I will be definitely making my pizzas this way from now on.  Thanks Brandy.  Next week I need to try her bbq chicken pizza.

3. I feel better physically.  My energy is back.  Those crazy painful pains have ceased.  I go to the doctor today for a follow-up apppointment.  Since I have to go... I will be taking a trip to Target and treating myself to lunch at Panera beforehand. I did have a little meltdown yesterday... but I think that is to be expected.

4. I am working on a fun hand painted sign.  It will say "Today I Will Choose Joy".  I definitely think it is a good reminder for every day.   I used a technique I pinned on Pinterest to transfer the letters to the painted wood.  Here is a little sneak peak. 

5. I really need to get a move on with my Christmas shopping.  I have purchased 3 items for Madison.  That is it.  I am going to place an Amazon order soon which will knock out most of my list.

6. I downloaded a free app for my phone the other day.  Now I can not only read my blogs in Google Reader from my phone, but I downloaded a Blogger app where I can blog from my phone.  This is what it looks like if you are interested -

Fabulous Fridays

This is going to be quick.  We ordered Bridesmaids on pay per view and it starts in 11 minutes.

This morning I got up and did my usual morning routine - making a hot breakfast and packing lunches for Chris and Maddie.

After she went to school I got sucked into the original 16 & Pregnant on MTV while folding laundry.  This morning was Macy & Ryan.  I didn't really want to get ready to go volunteer at Madison's school... but I went anyways.

I got there and her teacher looked at me like I was nuts.  I swear I was supposed to be there today from 9-12, but she didn't need me until 11:30.  So I left.

I ended up at Target.

Since I had skipped breakfast I went to the Starbucks inside for a cup of heaven or otherwise known as a salted caramel hot chocolate.

While in the dollar section looking at the Halloween stuff a lady  starts randomly talking to me.  I hate when people do this.  She went on and on how her complex makes you only have a sign on your door to say you want trick or treaters and she just isn't doing this.  She goes on and on about how she is decorating.  I nodded and muttered a few "umm hmms" and then went to the next row of dollar stuff... and then I heard her start up with someone else.  I wanted to say "Listen lady... I get it... I have no friends either... I am all alone at Target too... but unlike you I am not friend searching at Target".  I may sound like a total B*TCH... but I wasn't in the mood for Halloween decorate conversations with strangers.

I did pick these up which I read about on some blog.  YUMM-O.  I said they were for Maddie when I threw them in my cart... but I really wanted them too.

I ended up with about $95 of randomness... some sodas, some jeans for Maddie, three bags of Halloween candy, some pumpkin pie yogurt I cannot wait to try, paper plates, organic vanilla milk, etc....

Gosh... I love Target.

We went to dinner tonight.  We haven't been out to dinner at a restaurant (Subway doesn't count) in two weeks.  I think we definitely enjoyed it more than usual.  Madison told me this week she missed going to restaurants.  It was nice to relax and have someone else serve me and clean up the dishes.

Now we are about to watch a movie.  Next week I can't wait to share more about this neat DIY project I did for Madison's room.  Here is a sneak peek -

Happy Weekend!!

My First Trip to Hobby Lobby... I am in LOVE!

I had never heard of Hobby Lobby until I started reading blogs...then it seemed like everyone was getting this fabulous stuff at a place called Hobby Lobby.  I had to go.  The bad thing one...there wasn't one anywhere close to my house.

{top left - bottom : I loved this framed cupcake print, tons of knobs...wish I knew how many I needed for the new house, fabric, and tons of signs}

So on Thursday on my way to my parent's house I stopped at one.  I don't think I will ever love another store the same...it certainly is giving my Target a run for its money!  If you have never been to one, google it, find one, and go.  I got some great buys including new fabric for our new living room!!! Woohoo!!

This is what I picked up -

{I got these pink and green bins for my new office...on SALE for $5.00}

{This cool memo board for my office}

{Green, pink and yellow fillers for my glass jar on my bookshelf jar, little nut cups to bake mini cupcakes in, and some round cookie cutters to attempt to make iced sugar cookies}

{Mini cake boards for a wedding I am doing and stamps for a fun project I saw on a blog...can't wait to get home and use them}

{new fabric for my living room.  I love the fun bright colors and it was only $8.99 a yard... I've been looking for months and just bit the bullet today.  I cannot wait to put it all together}

Do you ever go to Hobby Lobby? If so, what do you love most about it?

Target "I Love You" Print Knock - Off w/ free printable

We recently saw this at Target and all I could think was I can make something like that for less than $19.99. 

So I did.  If you are interested in these downloads I have them so you can upload them to your favorite printing site and get 12x12 prints.  I will be ordering a 12x12 of the pink and green one for my new office.  The actual files do not have the black border around them.  If you are interested in one of these FREE prints for your own personal use, leave me a comment below letting me know which one you would like.

What a GREAT/Productive Weekend!!

We are moving in 3 months.

Our garage has looked like this for quite some time...with only a small bath to get from the garage to the house -

After a lot of hard work (mainly by my husband) and some Freecyle giveaways.  We still have some flattened boxes to set out for the trash.  Now itt looks like this -

I had the most fun finding a bunch of old photos and Madison's baby book.  Look at these cute photos-

Maddie went to a sleepover last night.  She had a blast...even though I got a text from her at 4am this morning saying she was having "funn".

Chris and I were able to go on a date night...which included dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse and our 2nd trip to Target this weekend.

Today I baked these Peanut Butter Blondies that were to die for.  I will share the recipe this week.  I also made labels and worked on packaging for my baking business.

I went grocery shopping and spent way too much money...as usual.  I have dreams of becoming an Extreme Couponer and only spending $9.27 for $1,000.00 worth of groceries...but I have come to the realization it will probably never happen.  Instead I have the following yummy meals planned for the week - burgers on the grill, chicken gyros, balsamic onion London broil, and brown sugar balsamic pork roast...all done on the grill.

I LOVE TARGET

Target is one of my favorite places to go.  I could seriously so there multiple times a week and find things to buy every single night.  Did you know you can print out coupons from the Target website to use there?  You can also use one Target coupon and one manufacturers coupon on the same item to save more money. I have been really good lately with only buying things we need at Target like household things.  Tonight we headed there and I just couldn't help myself...I filled my cart with these fabulous goodies...  I am pretty sure when we move into our new house that I am going to make the third bedroom my office and of course I want to do it in pink and lime green.  I found some goodies to stash away for it.

 The latest issue of US Weekly magazine

 These were from the $ section.  On the left are bakery boxes that hold 4 cupcakes each...how cute are they??  I picked up 4 packs of them.  Then these fun colored magnetic clips.

 The note cards are round and green...and they were on clearance for like $4.50.  The note cards on the right were from the $ section.

These little bins were from the $ section and I thought they would be cute to fill with paperclips and other little desktop items.  The big clips will be used to hold important papers.

Who else loves Target?

I LOVE the Weekends

I love the weekends.

I love being able to sleep in.

I love having time to bake (like I did Friday night when I made a pumpkin bundt cake with butter cream frosting).

I love being able to make a hot breakfast for my family (today is was scrambled cheesey eggs, biscuits, and bacon).

I love being able to meet up with old friends for lunch (as I did yesterday at one of my favorite restaurants).

I love being able to run errands and go shopping (yesterday I went to Michaels, a gift shop, a scrap book store, and Target).

I love being able to pick up a Sonic Diet Cherry Coke (like I did yesterday with my friend Kara).

I love being able to paint and make things (like I did yesterday with stuff I purchased at Michaels).

This has been a great weekend...as are most of our weekends...being together...being at home...enjoying not having to deal with school and work.

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?