Friday Randoms...

~ So I haven't been to Curves all week... which is horrible I know.  I wanted need to go this morning.  I am hoping I still have time to go before work.

~ Instead I am sitting here waiting for the oil company to deliver the oil to heat our house.  Does anyone else have oil heat? This is our first time with it and it is a ridiculous chunk of money all at one time... I miss my monthly gas payment from back in Virginia.

~ While I sit and wait I have folded laundry, made a list of bills I am going to pay off next week, and of course... wrote this blog post all while watching last night's Grey's Anatomy episode.

~ Last night I didn't feel like making dinner. So Madison and I picked up Subway...which we ate on the couch... while watching this week's episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter.

~ I have over 5000 emails in my AOL email account... I really need to go through it and clean them out.

~ Madison waited until last minute to finish her science fair project... but ended up happy with the results.

~ I am working on a new handpainted sign...

Friday Thoughts...

* Yesterday we had an appointment with a financial advisor at our credit union.  I came home and went through our bank account and divided up all of our October purchases into the following categories in list form - groceries, dining out, cars, bills, and other.  It was eye opening to say the least... Here I was thinking we were doing "better" and I definitely see some more areas for improvement...which was the purpose of doing the list.  Now I am working on tweaking for this month.

* Today is my last shift training for my new work at home job as a help desk analyst.  Next week I start working on my own.  Yikes!  There is a lot to learn about the company...so I am hoping I can handle it next week.  I work tonight from 2-5, so we are having tacos for dinner (quick and easy).

* Last night I attempted to make pizza dough from scratch and it was a BIG fail.  I tried twice.  Then Maddie and I headed to the store for the refrigerated bags of pizza dough the bakery makes for $1.99 each.  I came home, rolled that out, added our sauce, cheese, and pepperoni and it was fabulous... but I am still kind of bummed my dough making attempt failed.  Anyone have any fool proof pizza dough recipes they could share?

* This morning I cleaned my kitchen and mopped my kitchen floor.  My mop is terrible... I need a better one.  Any recommendations?

* I need a blog makeover.  I know what I want.  I already bought the kit with the designs...but I have no idea how to put it all together so it looks okay in Blogger.  Any advice?  I've entered a few recent contests for a free blog design so I am hoping I win of those.

* I need to make an appointment for Madison's holiday photos.  I need them to design my Christmas cards.  I got a great deal from Living Social for $10 for The Picture People.  I need to make her an appointment sooner rather than later. 

Wednesday Night Randoms...

~I got a work assignment for my new job on Monday.  I received an Excel file that I had to go over and verify some things.  I worked on it Monday night and Tuesday morning.  Tonight I finished one more thing on it and went to send it via email to my boss. It was missing. I looked everywhere for it.  I posted on Facebook for help.  I googled about it.  Nothing worked.  I had to re-do the entire thing.  The light at the end of the tunnel as far as this goes is that it didn't take me as long the 2nd time, I really feel like I "get" this process for my next assignment, and I will be 110% sure to save save save my files the next time.

~Madison wanted Eiffel Tower cupcakes for her 12th birthday.  I ordered the candy molds and melted purple chocolates to make little Eiffel Tower candies to use as toppers.  It wasn't until they were finished and I shared them on Facebook when someone mentioned and I kind of realized.... they also kind of look like something else stuck on top.  Thankfully nobody mentioned that to Madison when she brought them in to school today... they did however mention it when Chris brought in a dozen to work today.

~Tomorrow I am working at the book fair for four hours at Madison's school.  It will be good to get out of the house and to be social for a little bit.  I wasn't very productive today.  I wasn't feeling well. I pretty much just caught up on my shows from my DVR while Chris and Maddie were at work and school.



Weekly Randoms

Here are some weekly randoms...

* Madison and I went this week to see The Help and we both loved it.  We laughed.  We cried.  It was fabulous mother-daughter bonding time before she goes back to school.  We also consumed a lunch of nachos, popcorn, and Reeses Pieces that day.  Usually she doesn't want to see the movies I am interested in... so I was thankful for a movie we both wanted to see together.

* I cannot believe my baby will be in 7th grade.  I love that she is still a little girl.  Having spent 9 years working in a middle school... I know all soon to be 7th graders are not like her.  I am thankful she asked me last weekend to make her pancakes into the shape of Mickey Mouse...and likes wearing graphic tees with funny sayings on them...and the Disney channel... as I realize this won't last forever...

* Top top off our week of healthy eating we had dinner this past week at a gas station.  Yep... we are keeping it high class here in Rhode Island.  It was actually pretty tasty... a placed called Boss Man Burgers that a guy Chris went to school with owns.  It was sort of like a 5 Guys.  It was inexpensive and tasty...and we will probably go back.

*My Erin Condren planner finally came.  I love it... I do... but I am glad I didn't pay the retail price of $50 for it.

* I am so happy to not be returning as a teacher this year.  I am so happy that for the first time EVER I can actually bring Madison to school on the first day {although she keeps saying she wants to take the bus...}.  I am not so happy though... that in a very short time I will have NO income... after working since I was 14... this is new to me... I need to get cracking on my baking via etsy.  I am going to be baking and shipping some items and offering baking mixes.  I ordered sample packaging for the baking mixes and am continuing to work on the labels.

* I am working on a wedding wall in our foyer...this is what I have so far -

* I made this and had it printed through Persnickety Prints.  They are mainly for digital scrapbook pages and since I needed a 12x12 print, they were very affordable and offered great customer service.  They also have other print sizes.

Tuesday Randoms

Here are some things going on in our lives...

I painted this monogrammed canvas this weekend to match with the new fabric I bought for our new living room. I love how it turned out -

I also painted these blocks and stamped letters on them to spell out words.  These will also end up in the new living room -

 

I have my first real baking job this weekend.  I am going the wedding cake and cupcakes for my former college roommate's wedding.  I am so thankful for the opportunity she has given me and feel honored to be baking for her wedding.  They chose to go with a chocolate buttermilk cake with cream cheese icing for their cake to cut.  Guests will be served a choice of three cupcake flavors - chocolate buttermilk with cream cheese frosting, coconut cake with butter cream frosting, or pineapple carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.  I have a lot of grocery shopping and baking ahead of me in the upcoming days.

 



I am trying to get as much time in as possible at our neighborhood pool before we move.  It is never crowded and we are usually the only guests there...like today.  Madison and I went for a few hours yesterday with her friend Nikayla.

 

Can I once again proclaim my un-affiliated love for Groupon.  I had a not so hot experience with a recent Groupon I purchased from a place that turns photos into canvas (Picture it on Canvas).  It was my second time ordering from them.  The first time I had a great experience...this time not so much.  Think unanswered emails, false promises, and a super long time to receive my canvas...  I emailed Groupon and within a few hours I had a full refund for the price of the Groupon.  They have fabulous customer service at Groupon and therefore I will continue my obsession with buying Groupons.  All I wanted was to get this photo put on canvas in a timely manner --

 

I cannot even count how many times Madison and I have dined at Moe's since my husband has been working out of town...probably way more times than we ate there when he was here.  Back when I was a single mom...we ate there all of the time.  It is one of her favorite places.  It is affordable and we like the food...plus I don't have to cook.  I am trying to get my fridge cleaned out so I can store cupcakes for this wedding.  Tonight the burritos were only $5...so I had mine in a bowl.  They had a sign up today that said on July 20th...you get a free cup of queso with your purchase.  I texted my husband to share and he said "I guess I know where you all will be on the 20th".  Ummm...yep.