Weekend roundup: Friends, Work, Happy Birthday Mary, Destiny Mall, CTMH and MORE WORK!!!

Pretty SLOW with regards to TRAVEL this weekend. Friday,  I made it to my medical appointment and followed up with my sleep study. The final results are borderline. I apparently stopped breathing 4xs over the course of the night, enough to be concerned, but possibly NOT enough for the insurance company to be concerned. The Dr. is submitting a request to the insurance company and we will see if it warrants a machine. So sad that we live in a time when insurances make the decisions about if one should or should not get the appropriate health care.
I guess I am relieved to some degree that continuing to work on my eating and health could be enough to keep me free of complications in this area, now on to the next medical issue....I suppose.
After my appointment I took the boys to Mindy's house for a play date.....We all hung out at Mindy's. I brought pizza and a small chocolate cake for Mary's B-day!!!


The boys and Maddy played and played and played while the mom's; Me Mindy and Mary caught up with one another's lives.

I had originally intended on meeting up with Sandy for some scrapbooking plans for Sunday, but knew that Mary would not be able to attend on Sunday, and possibly not Mindy too,  I opted out to see the girls instead.

We sang Happy Birthday to Mary and ate JUNK!!! Before we knew it it was time we wrapped it up and headed home just about time to make dinner plans. Mindy made some plans to take an over night trip to PA in March when the kids have a day off on a Friday. It will be fun just to get a mini-vacation and away from the house. I'm excited about it.
Friday evening I went and picked up some Wegman's subs for dinner. (They are the BEST) and had a visit from Carol and her boys. She and I did some catching up and discussed life..The boys played x-box and Mark went off to bed. (I didnt even think to grab my camera)
Saturday I was up and off to work at the inpatient. Easy 8 hours. I got home, and the boys were off to Destiny mall to catch the new LEGO movie.

There they go...this time they didn't even slow down and wait for us, I had to chase them with my camera....by boys..

This going to the movies by themselves thing has really caught on. Mark and I decided on a nice couples dinner at Ruby Tuesdays..(I had a coupon and they have a salad bar).

Mark will no longer let me take pictures of him and his food and he gets mad if I take pictures of my own, so unless we are at some obscure non-national chain type restaurant (or our first time at) or some odd food like octopus is on our plate, I am going to work hard at respecting his wishes as we sit down for a nice meal.
I had the salad bar and broccoli soup. I was FULL and it was YUMMY!
The mall was packed and all of the eateries with bars were full to the top with patrons watching the SU game. They lost for the first time the other night and they lost to DUKE on Saturday as well. Bummer!! Mark and I took our time strolling the mall halls making note of prices, people and commenting on things that strike us as interesting, funny and even downright HUMOROUS. Last weekend apparently there was a stabbing at the mall, so the security was bummed up x 12.We joked about the mall police who seemed to be everywhere HOLDING up the walls. We laughed at the red suited individuals with their walkie talkies and ear plugs as they tried to look 'threatening" They looked more like the ushers at the movie theater to me. Three "Paul Blarts" as Mark put it, all bald were in one area near the food court. I nearly fell over laughing as he discussed the scene, "apparently they all went to the same barber". Sadly this is how we humor ourselves. Both in need of caffine, and ANTI starbucks, the ONLY coffee spot in the food court , we headed to Dunk and Doughnuts, a ways down in the mall. As we walk we run into a confrontation occurring..... Not a single mall cop....no red suited walkie talkie to be seen, but two women with at least five young children surrounding them are yelling, cursing and screaming at one another...we didn't stay to see things unfold...it just proves how crazy things are. We further observe the craizness of today.  Two young women together in line with us, cell phone in hand and fingers on text proceed to have a conversation that goes something like this. "Did you know today is National Margarita Day?"  "No really....we should so be in Mexico right now." Silence...texting continues.....laughter "Hey guess what.....today was the day Marty Mcfly went to in the back to the future movies."  "WOW...really". Not once did either girl life their head from their phone to engage in eye contact with each other and only looked up to retrieve their drinks. What a different world. On our return trip the conflict had ceased, but there were no security in the area. My guess is it had ended on it's own.
Just another interesting day at the mall.

 Sunday was my CTMH gathering. I am working on my quota and presented Studio J.

Some of my dear friends made it to the party. This was the make and take we did. Cute isn't it.

It has been so long since I have presented my CTMH business, that I actually enjoyed myself. It really makes me yearn to get back on top of it. Of course these ladies; Tammy, Mindy and Cricket, make it all so much easier.. they are already hooked on the product. I simply have to recharge their juices and mine too. I think it worked. We all enjoyed the craft fun and both Mindy and Tammy really liked playing with Studio J.  Jenny also came over later in the day. I showed her some studio J and helped her play with the computer program. She has some ideas that I can help her with.
I had to rush everyone out at 4pm to get myself to work. Got some more time in at the Rehab. I covered evening visitations. It's an easy few hours, and I was able to engage in some counseling with a parent struggling with some co-dependency issues. It's days like that bring me back to my element and remind me why I did/do what I did/do.
Sunday night I got home just in time to catch The Walking Dead before the bed was calling to end the long day.
Today has produced some hours at Vera House, some grocery shopping, some banking and now I am about to submit the orders I got from yesterdays gathering. TTFN

Not much happening here....

Wednesday the males in my house slept til at least 1pm. I did some salvation army drop off's and easily found some items to replace what I just rid in the store attached. They were all gifts however and only one thing will be remaining in this house. I found a desk fan for my son and he in turn sold it to his sister for $5- whose kid is this, what a scam artist. I didn't get a penny back of the $2- I spent on the item in the first place. I guess Lex will survive, she payed her older brother $50- for a $550- flat screen tv. Must be my scammen genetics...yikes. Wait a minute...that must also mean I am a sucker to buy or sell at those prices....I guess it all evens out. I spent the rest of Wednesday completing the painting of my youngest's bed room and cleaning up. Wish I had taken pictures of it with the bunk beds, the single bed and a before picture, but this is what I got. This used to be Nick and Ben's room long before it became Ben and Gavin's room. Now it is really just Gavin's room, with Ben's stuff in it. Ben agreed he really doesn't need a specific bed room since the boys camp out in the living room most of the time he's here anyways.

 Dinner was a quick crock pot meal I left just for Mark as I had to work in the evening. It smelled yummy all day, yet he never ate it and it sat in it's bubble of juices and gravies all day and night. He and Gavin went to the mall, Gavin had to spend his scamed $5- and his allowance money (which somehow I think I got scammed out of as well) and we had a $25- gift card to Chili's so they had a late lunch/dinner.
Work was an easy 4 hours. I do like coming in and covering it keeps me in touch with my counseling which I love, while it continues to solidify why I am no longer working at it full time. Nearly everyone I spoke to in not so many words made mention of just how OVERWORKED they are, even two new people I had not previously met and of course I had to introduced myself too. I scheduled myself for several days in the next week. Really working towards staying on the CTMH team and need to make some extra money. I'm working Sat, Sun Wed, and Thursday. This should keep me busy and put some cash in my pocket. $300.00 in sales looks like it could be a reality and I am placing a planned project order in today which totals out to be about $70- . Now I only have to sell $230- by March 31st. It can happen and more. Just gotta get my butt moving.
This whole vacation has been pretty dull and today is the ONLY day I have nothing scheduled...I am hoping that my family (my hubby and youngest anyways) wants to go and do something outdoors. It has been the warmest we have had in months and the sun is out...we NEED to get out!!!
Written later in the day...

Well, Mark and I made it out to the dog park and took a stroll along Onondaga Lake Park.
I took some outdoor pictures and had some fun with photo shop.

What did you think of my photos?
I had plans to go to Beaver Lake or go to the Winter festival in Down Town Syracuse with my neighbors, but this never happened. I ended up going through some old stuff and cleaning house of old items in the basement. We never even made it to the Y, but it's still early.  Sorry not much to enjoy today, but til next time.

Stewards of Children.

Today I went to a training on prevention of children's sexual abuse.

The Stewards of Children program is a nation Wide program working towards prevention of child sexual abuse.
Here is a little promo to the Stewards of Children's website. Darkness to Light
www.D2L.org
Please visit and make a donation or become more aware to help prevent Children's sexual abuse.

t was a highly structured course, but done quite well. Many of the things I was aware of, but it offered clips from surviving adults which made the topic more real.
Earlier in the day I got my blood drawn, now my Dr. can hopefully find out if there is something else wrong with me....maybe I should be saying HOPEFULLY there is nothing else wrong with me. Anyways, it is done. The rest of  Tuesday I watched a movie I would not recommend to anyone. "The Counselor" neatened up my coupons, made some assessment of Gavin's room before the mattress comes. I made a nice dinner and prepped for tonight and Thursdays meals. I watched a little Olympic's before bed. Rather uneventful, but the morning hours were interesting. Its been strange and I have been less motivated to get out and about with my Husband and Son home. I tried to arrange a day trip for Thursday, but there is just to many things getting in the way. I have work tonight so we couldn't travel today, I have a medical appointment on Friday so we could only go on Thursday and have the full day. I had suggested taking the boys to The Crayola Factory in PA. It's about a 31/2 hour drive. Lots of driving for one day, and with the previous and later days filled with appointments going and sleeping over somewhere seemed impossible. Need to plan better next time I suppose. Signed up to work Sat. this week and Sunday evening. Hoping this will not cause a conflict in my CTMH party Sunday. I only have one guest signed up to come at this point anyways.  Today looks like it will be about as uninteresting as earlier in the week,  plan to finish the painting today before I go to work.  Making sure the kids next break is full!!! Plan is DC!!!

China Towne....the furniture store in Solvay, NY

Today was of limited adventure....I got myself up and out the door before 9am to attend the (only offered two times a month) Aquatic Zumba class at the YMCA, then went on a Presidents Day Mattress SALE trip to get my youngest a new bed. Mark and I started at the local Big Lots, made our way down to Destiny USA Mall (That was a MADHOUSE) and finally found ourselves at China Towne in Solvay, NY.

This store has a few funny stories behind it that I can quickly tell, and that I shared with my husband on our way to the store itself. My memory (in the 1970-1780's) of China Towne was this was the place where furniture that was never sold went to die. It may actually have been pretty close to what this place was. You could find nearly anything and everything at this place and you could bargain all kinds of prices. In my own adulthood, my early 20's and BC (before children), I had Nick at 23, so it may have actually been in my late teens I went searching for a dresser at China Towne and landed myself a new boyfriend. My saleman Ed and I dated, and he ended up being absolutely CRAZY, COO-COO for Coco Puffs, BATTY, Nutzs. It ended as quick as it started, but I did get a decent dresser from China Towne; come to think about it he lost his job there shortly after we met there. My final story about China Towne goes back to the days when I worked for ARC in the day treatment program just a short walk from the store (1990's). Often a day outing took us to China Towne where, they had the LARGEST stash of WALL PAPER I had ever seen...and for cheep too, quite possibly so much and so cheep....because it wasn't long after that everyone stopped using wall paper in their decor. Despite this, I practiced wall papering my home in multiple colored flowers, several designs and plain old UGLY at dirt cheep for several years before I finally learned to paint with a roller. (There is NO wall paper whats so ever in my current home). For the record...I am an expert wall paper applier, but HATE removing the shit. With these funny stories to tell, there we were Mark and I looking for a mattress for our son.
 

Not sure if we got the best price, but my son will be getting himself a brand new bed pretty soon. Of course this means I really need to get a jump on finishing up painting his room. No wall paper. The rest of the day was spent doing additional running around. I rented a movie called The Counselor for Mark and me to watch later and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball's 2 for Gavin and the family this afternoon. It has FINALLY Stopped snowing and the sun shown just a little today...spring may be on it's way. I am hopeful. ttfn

Great Day at Sandy's Scrapin'

No trip today...but I did spend a magical fun filled day with my Close to My Heart friends and team "Hearts a Flutter". We have a unit meeting about every three months, and if I make it....that's usually when I start wishin that I was more on top of my CTMH business. I have been a consultant (although currently I am a jr.) for several years now and  I spark for a month or two,  loose my MOJO and fall behind, spark again at my next meeting and here I AM AGAIN...SEE THE SPARKS???? I want to make my business happen, but am not good at follow through. Like most things in my life I lack serious COMMITMENT! What has typically been the routine...I get psyched and go full force, have one set back or disappointment and KABAM it's all over (kind of like most of my things in my life). Now I am under the gun. If I want to stay with CTMH, then I must get my quota in by the end of March or I am out, done....no longer a part of the Hearts a Flutter team. This happened once before...It SUCKED and I was quickly back on track. So here I am again and I have to PUSH it!! If you know of anyone interested in crafts...check out this out...my recent personal favorite is the Studio J digital layout fun...www.closetomyheart.com Wonder why the website didn't pop up. Another problem I have...Lack of technological awareness.
I love my team and we always have SO MUCH fun!!! So I want to continue to be a part of the team. I just am terrible about working the business. I ended up coming home last night and scheduling a party for next Sunday. I sent out 43 invites...I already have 5 possibilities. We shall see....but here was the meeting and all the fun we had.

 As it so happened we celebrated Sandy's birthday as well. Here is the cake Lara made for her. Isn't it amazing.

Here is Lara and Sandy. Happy Birthday girlie. She is doing much better medically. Hooray! I think I have blogged about these wonderful women before so I wont say much except that I continue to LOVE spending time being creative and having fun with these gals. Yet another reason why I cannot loose my status. 

 Judy.

 Chris.

 Lynne

 Lara.

 Terri.

Kate.

 Kim. I met her at the Holiday party this past December and she is really kicking butt at her CTMH business, she had some great/fun cards to share. Enjoyed her talents.

 Sherry, I have not seen her in years...it was so wonderful to connect and catch up. She appears to be doing well and reports she has a new home.

Phyllis is Sherry's mother and like Sherry I haven't seen her in years. She is a minister and has been very busy with doing the lords work. This keeps her away from all our CTMH fun. She and Sherry are such warm hearted ladies. Wish I spent more time catching up, but this was a BUSINESS meeting after all and we had work to do. 

We had a little card making time, before we got to the business part. The business part is when the guilt starts in... I haven't made one sale YET this year... I haven't even bought myself anything. WOW!!! Every time we look at the numbers I get a big feeling of "you suck" I think I have only been on the monthly achievement mentions once in the entire 6-7 years I have been a consultant. Another thing in my life to make a decision about. ON or OFF...

Behind Sandy is Ryan, she couldn't stay but came to visit before she headed off to work herself. 

We make it through the business aspect of things and look...it's time for LUNCH. Saved by the stomach.  

It was so good and there was a ton of deserts and Sandy's birthday cake too. (diet totally BLOWN).

(these were some of the cup cakes I made for V-day, Jenny my neighbor made some too)

Several of the team members brought some of their art work to show, these are amazing. It helps me get inspired to get crafty myself. 

 Lara made these CTMH jewelry pieces.

Chris made this memory note book. All I can say is WOW!

AMAZING TALENT WAS IN THAT ROOM ON SATURDAY!!!

Several of the ladies (not just those in the meeting) went on a retreat a few weeks ago to White Eagle (it is amazing, I haven't been in years...I will have to again soon) and they did a card swatch here are some of the cards they made.

(this one was another one made by Chris I am not sure who made the other two cards)
Beautiful!!!!

Kim made some great cards too, and I had to get some pictures they were so cute.

I am thinking that I never do cards for my girls which really limits my potential buyers...I might have to step out of my box. Speaking of box isn't that little tissue box just way to precious!!!! I must learn how to do that.

Decided that I might do a project for my girls from girls night and see if they are interested in making either a shadowbox or a flip album. This is Sandy's flip album and one of the cards I made at the meeting.
I was also thinking of presenting a project for all of us who went on the wine tour as a keepsake. Think that would be nice.
I am meeting with Sandy on Friday to explore some ideas. It should be fun.
After projects,  lunch, and  the business meeting we had some teaching classes. Both Kim and Judy taught cards with a trick. Kim's was the one above as well as a hidden secret card. Judy did the ray cards and fun flowers.

Its always a GREAT time, and I even purchased myself a Hearts a Flutter T-shirt, so I have to get my butt in gear if I want to stay on the team and wear my shirt.

 
Isn't my shirt to cool????
What a fun day!!! Sandy even got her stash on!!!

 The day has inspired me to at least get myself back on consultant status and keep my business going. Friday I'm off to Sandy's to do some last minute gathering projects and brain storm some ideas for two workshops for my girlfriends to do. Sunday is my CTMH party and I have been busy seeking out business with the idea book, and FB friends.

I spent today by first attending church. (Our minister was not there, I missed him.) reading the newspaper and gathering up coupons as well as making a menu plan for the week. Everyone is home this week so I will have to stretch the food budget to accommodate the school break. I worked on painting Gavin's room and not believing HOW MUCH SNOW we have been getting.

 Just about to find a nice soft spot to curl up and watch a little Walking Dead, before I hit the pillow. Nite Nite!