How You Know Your Teenager Has Been Gone

You know that your teenage son has been away from home for a few days...

If his room looks clean...well, picked up anyway.

And his bathroom is spotless....

The kitchen cup cabinet is FULL...
(man, I need to get me some
matching coffee mugs!)

And I don't have to wait in line to use the computer!!!

{Perhaps that's why I've been able to get so much blogging done lately!}

It's been too quiet and too clean around here...
{I'm so glad he's coming home tonight!}

Happiness is a "Lovely" Award

Marci at All Things Wonderful
gave me this award!

Thanks Marci!
I think you deserve to have it given right back to you!
But I'm supposed to pass it on to other
"lovely" blogs that I've discovered.

So here's the rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I don't get out much blog-wise due to my minimal computer time...

But there are a few blog peeps who I like to check up on from time to time just to see what they're up to...I apologize that I don't comment much, but I

vow to get better about that!

I would like to pass this award along to these 3 blogs that I enjoy visiting:

1. Jackie at Empty Nest Full Life because her blog has just the right mix of crafts, family, recipes and real life! Thanks for sharing Jackie!

2. Tina at Lemondrops Good Stuff because Tina does not only possess a true crafter's heart, but also writes from her heart! Thanks Tina!

3. Jill at A Pocket Full of Posies because I enjoy all her posts about her lovely home and decorating ideas. Thanks Jill!

Extremely Easy Teacher Gifts

Between 2 kids, I have been doing teacher-end-of-the-year
gifts for 12 years now!
Now that my 2nd child is in middle school,
I've decided to go easy, quick, sweet, simplified and LOW BUDGET!

Just a little token to let my daughter's teachers know how
much I appreciate their efforts!

So I had these little boxes that I ordered from Stampin' Up
years ago. You fold them and glue them together.
They're only 3 in. X 3 in. but cute as can be.

I decided to stuff the boxes with designer M&M's
that come in my daughter's school colors: burgundy and gray.
Watch out, those designer M&M's are pricey- $5.99 for a 7 oz. bag. Ouch!

Thankfully, I only had to buy one bag of each color to fill 6 of these li'l boxes!

Short, sweet and to the point! Best of all, it only took me
a few minutes to put these together! (Shorter than
it took me to write this post!)

Gone to the Dogs

Our little Biggles had a semi-traumatic day...
No, that's not a camera around his next- it's a shock collar.
I know, I know. I'm a bad dog owner, but we had to get him one because the
neighbors complained that he barks incessantly after we leave for work in the morning.

So this weekend we tried it out on him. Poor li'l guy.

I felt so guilty about putting that thing on him.
When Roxanne called and said she was taking her dog to the dog park,
I decided to take Biggles too to lift his spirits

This was only his 2nd time at the dog park. The first time
he went he was a little scared and didn't
interact with the other dogs much.

This time, however, he jumped right in the mix and had fun.

Maybe a little too much fun. This big dog scared Biggles when he
charged up behind him, unaware Biggles took a tumble.
After that, Biggles would not leave that poor St.Bernard alone!
Biggles barked and chased him...and I was about ready for that shock collar again!

Here he is running free...Biggles the Rogue Doggie!

A Rare Moment in Time...

AGAIN, life has been too busy...too busy to post...to busy to read blogs
but I am EXCITED 'cause it's 2 weeks until summer vacation!
I will be OFF for 2 months- YEAH!

That means I will then have LOADS of time to waste-oops, I mean spend on the
computer. Lately, any free computer time I get
is spent in mindless time-sucking on FACEBOOK...(but you have to
admit it's fun to reconnect with old friends!)

Here is a picture of a rare moment in time when my precious
boy and girl were getting along nicely.
Of course they were playing Playstation...but they weren't arguing
and I just had to grab my camera to record this moment in time!

I had to delete about 5 photos 'cause Zach would turn his
head everytime I snapped the photo- STINKER!

Finally I got them...See them trying NOT to smile!

I'm Trendy!

A few years ago I found this trunk in my grandmother's
basement. It belonged to my Uncle Robert, who
died before I could meet him. His son, who is my dear
cousin Dennis, told me I could have the trunk. It must be over 50 years old.

It's dented, scratched and not in perfect condition...
but that's what makes it interesting.

I was excited when I opened up this season's
Pottery Barn catalog.

It looks like old (faux) looking trunks are in!

For once, something in my home is "trendy"!

Busy, but Blessed!

Hello! I'm back.
It's so hard to for me to find time to post these days!
It kinda bums me out...'cause I barely have time to catch up on
other people's blogs as well.

I guess I should look at it as a Blessing. It's a blessing that
my life is so full.

Full of:
a secure job,
kids,
a husband,
church,
friends,
small group,
music lessons,
tutors,
birthday celebrations,
bridal shower,
youth group benefit dinner
quiet times,
running a household,
etc. etc. etc...

Yes, thank you God for my full life!

Here's something else I'm thanking God for these days.
I finally got to say good-bye to my old friend
Mr. 17-Year-Old-G.E.-Super Noisy-I-Was-Waiting-4-U-2-Die-Dishwasher.
He served us well, and is now resting in peace somewhere...perhaps
hanging out with the Brave Little Toaster.

Now say Hello to Mr. Shiny-Energy Efficient-Super-Quiet-Whirlpool-Dishwasher!

Can I sing to you? "You are soo beautiful...to me!"