~ Sew Sweet 16 ~I’m packing your angry eyes just in case~Aug 2014~ BFF' bag 8/20!!!!

[Chicago Mo]

Cute car!
Wonder how many groceries she can get into that one?!?!



13 days!!!!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

So excited that your Epic DisMeet is getting so close! I know you ladies are going to have a blast!

My dad should be home in a couple of hours, I am leaving for the airport in about 30 minutes. It will be a relief for all of us to have him home. When I texted my mom yesterday to see what she needed me to bring today, she said "Just your dad" So sweet. Makes me happy that they still love each other so much after almost 35 years of marriage.

Nice car for BFF! I love new cars! I love new houses more, though, although I hate moving!

Pinterest can be such a time suck! I have boards for everything - my latest is finding stuff for Charlotte's new big girl Little Mermaid bedroom. I found some DIY decorations and some stuff I need from Etsy.

Hope you have another great sewing day. I am with mom this morning, picking dad up at the airport shortly and then probably heading home to work from home for the rest of the day. I think I'm going to sneak a pedicure in on the clock, I am desperately past due. Tomorrow my life should get back to normal - fingers crossed! I am so grateful that my mom is doing as well as she is but it has been a bit of a strain this week.

 

[Hardheadedwoman]

Love BFF's new car! I think my mom in law has the same one!

My DH is finishing up his last chemo treatment this week so it's been a little hectic! (LOL a "little"...) We still haven't booked our fall trip but I'm hoping we will still be able to go then. He has a scan in a month and then we'll know what his "maintenance" regimen will be. Ugh, so stressful.

On an entirely different note, what machine would you recommend for an ENTIRELY inexperienced seamstress? I've been thinking of trying my hand at quilting and your bags have inspired me!

Lissette

 

[Terkina]

Nice car. I'm glad you had a nice day in the sewingroom yesterday.

My friend and I are now planning on going to the USA in August/September 2015. We will start and end our trip in Seattle, WA and drive for 4 weeks in all the 28 states in the north that we didn't visit last year. I really hope you are near somewhere D~ so we can meet.

 

[DMGeurts]

Cute car!
Wonder how many groceries she can get into that one?!?!

13 days!!!!

Hahaha... You would be surprised - she is the "master packer"... I am sure I've showed you pictures of some of her amazing packing feats? Some day, I will take more - LOL It's pretty amazing.

Make that 12 days!!!!!!!

So excited that your Epic DisMeet is getting so close! I know you ladies are going to have a blast!

Me too! I am so super excited! I cannot wait to see Mo and Suzi and finally meet Tess!

My dad should be home in a couple of hours, I am leaving for the airport in about 30 minutes. It will be a relief for all of us to have him home. When I texted my mom yesterday to see what she needed me to bring today, she said "Just your dad" So sweet. Makes me happy that they still love each other so much after almost 35 years of marriage.

Aww... That is so sweet. So happy & relieved for you that he is home.

Nice car for BFF! I love new cars! I love new houses more, though, although I hate moving!

Hahahaha....

Pinterest can be such a time suck! I have boards for everything - my latest is finding stuff for Charlotte's new big girl Little Mermaid bedroom. I found some DIY decorations and some stuff I need from Etsy.

So far, I've managed to stay away from it, but lately - I've been sucked in more and more. If I wasn't needing/wanting to buy new clothes for summer, it would be easier to stay away.

Hope you have another great sewing day. I am with mom this morning, picking dad up at the airport shortly and then probably heading home to work from home for the rest of the day. I think I'm going to sneak a pedicure in on the clock, I am desperately past due. Tomorrow my life should get back to normal - fingers crossed! I am so grateful that my mom is doing as well as she is but it has been a bit of a strain this week.

I hope your life is back to a little more normal soon. But you are a great daughter for helping out... I know when people said that to me about my dad - I didn't think anything of it, because it's just "what we do"... but all the same.

Love BFF's new car! I think my mom in law has the same one!

I am pretty excited for her. It sounds like we will have our first adventures in it tomorrow. Annnnd the most exciting part... Since it's new, she won't smoke in it.

My DH is finishing up his last chemo treatment this week so it's been a little hectic! (LOL a "little"...) We still haven't booked our fall trip but I'm hoping we will still be able to go then. He has a scan in a month and then we'll know what his "maintenance" regimen will be. Ugh, so stressful.

I am happy to hear that your DH is almost finished, hopefully you can get his maintenance schedule ironed out so you can book your trip and have some much needed FUN to look forward to.

On an entirely different note, what machine would you recommend for an ENTIRELY inexperienced seamstress? I've been thinking of trying my hand at quilting and your bags have inspired me!

Lissette

Well, if you are going to be quilting, I highly recommend a vintage machine (pre-1970)... The motors and plastic parts on machines sold after that just don't have the "oomph" to go through the layers and layers of fabric/quilt batting necessary. So... If your aunt or grandmother has a machine that they aren't using - that's always the best. However, garage sales and Goodwill are always an option too... If you do decide to go this route, it does require some basic machine knowledge, because it will likely need to have a thorough cleaning/oiling before you use it.

If you were thinking of a machine you could purchase new - I really don't have any experience in that department, since all of my machines are pre-1960. But maybe someone (Chiara... Nini...) here has some more recent advice for you?

Nice car. I'm glad you had a nice day in the sewingroom yesterday.

My friend and I are now planning on going to the USA in August/September 2015. We will start and end our trip in Seattle, WA and drive for 4 weeks in all the 28 states in the north that we didn't visit last year. I really hope you are near somewhere D~ so we can meet.

Thanks Lillian.

Oooooooh... Now THIS excites me!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOO-HOO!!!! So, how far north are you planning to come? Are you thinking of visiting the Mall of America or Minnesota? Please keep me updated with your plans - I would LOVE to finally meet you Lillian!

**********************************************************

I had a nice day in my sewing room yesterday. I was able to get a lot of this week's custom order done. Then I finished the applique from Auction Bag #7 and began assembly. However, my neighbor stopped over to visit and I was distracted, so I never went back up to finish. Shame on me.

We had a nice night at home. Nothing exciting happened - which is good.

I will be working all day today again. I might have to run to town later? I have not decided yet.

The girls and I are meeting up with BFF and her dd tomorrow... We have plans. However, I cannot talk about them yet - as it's a surprise for the girls... We are trying to keep it as "non-suprise" as possible. But I am excited (super excited ) about it.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! Sending out prayers to everyone!

12 days!!!!!!! ​

D~

 

[Chicago Mo]

12 days!!!!!!! ​

D~

I am SOOOOOOOO Excited!!! i better get the house in company order!!!!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

I feel like I've lived way more than a week in the last 6 days. I am ready for some normalcy to return. I hate when I start to feel like I need a break from my life, because I know how blessed I am, and things could be much worse, but that's how I'm feeling today. Hopefully I'll have some time to recharge this weekend.

I agree with you - I don't feel like I've been a great daughter - just did what I had to do. But I appreciate you saying so. And reminding me how fortunate I am - that my dad can take care of my mom, that they are relatively close by. I know your situation with your dad isn't as easy as mine is with my mom, so I hope you'll forgive all of my complaining.

Can't wait for a report on the surprise. And I am so ready for your auction. I can't wait to see what you've created!

 

[Iamthequeen]

Hahaha... You would be surprised - she is the "master packer"... I am sure I've showed you pictures of some of her amazing packing feats? Some day, I will take more - LOL It's pretty amazing.

Make that 12 days!!!!!!!

Me too! I am so super excited! I cannot wait to see Mo and Suzi and finally meet Tess!

12 days!!!!!!! ​

D~

I'm a super packer too - I took a quilting trip with a friend a few years ago to Memphis, TN. We had my little Escort pretty well packed with sewing machines and boxes and bags of fabric and half-done quilts and luggage and were happily going down the highway when we got a call from another friend who had decided at the last minute to join us. Luckily, we were close to her house (she timed that just right!) so we went to pick her and her stuff up. Think about it - I had a little 4-door Ford Escort with 3 adults, 3 sewing machines, luggage and boxes/bags of fabric. We made it there and back with no problems. We stopped at some quilt shops on the way back across TN and warned each other that the only thing we could buy was a fat quarter or a spool of thread! We had so much fun on that trip!

I am so looking forward to the EPIC DIS MEET in 12 DAYS!!!!!

 

[lovedonaldduck]

Wanted to come back and add - please try to get BFF to quit smoking! It's taken this stroke to get my mom to do it after 35+ years of smoking. It would be so great if BFF could quit without a medical emergency. I'm sure you've tried to get her to in the past, but share my mom's story - 53 with 3 minor strokes out of nowhere. Smoking increases your risk of stroke 50%. The fact that she is a smoker is the number one thing the doctor's focused on as a cause when we were at the hospital.

Please excuse the public service announcement - I know you know it's coming from a good place.

 

[Terkina]

Sounds like you had a great day yesterday. I can't wait to hear what you have planned for the girls with your BFF.

We are visiting the 28 states in the USA that we didn't visit last year. And yes one of them is Minnesota.
And when I asked my friend if we are going to Minneapolis and then he asks me: Was it somethings special there?. Then when I told him that I have a friend on the internet and we would like to meet. He smiled and said we are driving by so of course we can stop there

We haven't decided yet what exactly we are going to see or do in Minnesota. The only thing we know for sure is that we have to find at least one geocache there I had to google the Mall of America I would love to visit the Mall of America. I almost didn't shop any thing last time and I was disappointed. So this time I really want to do some shopping.

 

[KatMark]

D, I've been trying to read when I can, but work is killing me (and trying to pack for my trip).

I just wanted to pop in and say have a nice weekend.

 

[BabyRapunzel]

Thank you for the prayers. I will update you Tuesday evening on the appt. and hope it's good news. I heard a rumor and was hoping you could clear it up. Someone posted that the 5% discount on gift cards is ending. I know the pharmacy discount did. But I hope not this discount as well. I still have gift cards to purchase.

 

[npierce25]

Love the frozen and pooh bags! Sorry I haven posted even thoug I read almost every day. Bad news on my trip..... Had to postpone the birthday trip in June..... Dh had another seizure..... And will have to take off a few weeks of work...... Stupid epilepsy....... Good news is that dd will now be able to dance with the pittsburgh opera with her dance school since we won't be out of town. She will also do a production of Cinderella kids this summer too. (She's the only kid that dosent want to be Cinderella..... She wants to be drizella). . We are also going to try to go to Washington, D.C. To see the pandas or even NYC to see a show for her birthday instead. That's a lot more affordable then disney. Hopefully we can go in November or for the 9th bday next year at the latest,

I love the hedgehog too. I always wanted one. They are now illegal here in pa.

I can't wait to see the auction bags! I've told my husband like 100 times!

Dd has a dance competition in the morning.... It's her first time competing her duo! It will be a long and stressful day for mom!

Have a great day with BFF and the surprise!

 

[DMGeurts]

I am SOOOOOOOO Excited!!! i better get the house in company order!!!!

I know! I am so excited too!

I feel like I've lived way more than a week in the last 6 days. I am ready for some normalcy to return. I hate when I start to feel like I need a break from my life, because I know how blessed I am, and things could be much worse, but that's how I'm feeling today. Hopefully I'll have some time to recharge this weekend.

I agree with you - I don't feel like I've been a great daughter - just did what I had to do. But I appreciate you saying so. And reminding me how fortunate I am - that my dad can take care of my mom, that they are relatively close by. I know your situation with your dad isn't as easy as mine is with my mom, so I hope you'll forgive all of my complaining.

Can't wait for a report on the surprise. And I am so ready for your auction. I can't wait to see what you've created!

I understand completely... believe me. I was so happy and relieved that I could be there with my dad, but it was a VERY stressful time for my family - it was such a relief when we were finally able to get the time critical things finished, so we could return to "normal". No worries about "complaining" here... We are all friends and we understand.

I am excited about the surprise for the girls too... I hope they like it.

And LOL about the auction bags... I am always so excited to see them DONE too- it's such a huge relief for me, because it's so much work. When I am done, I always go into "sloth-mode". ::Yes::

I'm a super packer too - I took a quilting trip with a friend a few years ago to Memphis, TN. We had my little Escort pretty well packed with sewing machines and boxes and bags of fabric and half-done quilts and luggage and were happily going down the highway when we got a call from another friend who had decided at the last minute to join us. Luckily, we were close to her house (she timed that just right!) so we went to pick her and her stuff up. Think about it - I had a little 4-door Ford Escort with 3 adults, 3 sewing machines, luggage and boxes/bags of fabric. We made it there and back with no problems. We stopped at some quilt shops on the way back across TN and warned each other that the only thing we could buy was a fat quarter or a spool of thread! We had so much fun on that trip!

I am so looking forward to the EPIC DIS MEET in 12 DAYS!!!!!

Oooooh - sounds like you would give BFF a run for her money. LOL That is pretty awesome. I thought it was so funny about only being able to buy a fat quarter or thread... I can totally imagine.

Me too! I cannot wait to finally meet you Tess!

Wanted to come back and add - please try to get BFF to quit smoking! It's taken this stroke to get my mom to do it after 35+ years of smoking. It would be so great if BFF could quit without a medical emergency. I'm sure you've tried to get her to in the past, but share my mom's story - 53 with 3 minor strokes out of nowhere. Smoking increases your risk of stroke 50%. The fact that she is a smoker is the number one thing the doctor's focused on as a cause when we were at the hospital.

Please excuse the public service announcement - I know you know it's coming from a good place.

Thank you Jennifer... Sadly, I know. I try so hard with both her and Josh... It makes me so sad - and I try as hard as I can to make BOTH of them understand how horrid this habit is. I tell each of them frequently that I am the one who will suffer, after all - it is me who will have to watch them suffer and be forced to live my life with out both my BFF and my DH someday, and it scares me to death. I nag them constantly, and I guilt trip as often as I can - I am really horrible about it, actually. It kills me to watch them destroy their lives and their health - especially when I am on a journey towards better health...

When Josh bought his new truck a few months ago, one of his "conditions" (which he offered) was to quit smoking... He begged me to nag him and urge him to quit however I wanted to, he has been "trying" since then. After a month or so, he pretty much gave up trying and started to hide it from me... Which turned into me "busting" him frequently... Which THEN turned ME into the "bad guy"... Finally last week - after catching him for the bazillionth time - I told him I was done. I was really tired of being the bad guy and the one he was hiding from all the time, because HE couldn't quit HIS habit... but somehow, I was the one at fault, because I was the one he was hiding from (if that makes any sense? Not sure I am explaining it right?) I told him... "If you would have put half the effort into quitting, as you put into hiding it from me, you would have been quit a long time ago." And it's true.

So, I am just done with it all. It is the most horrid habit anyone could have, and it makes me sick (not to mention loss of respect, admiration...) that neither of them can stop, or will even try. I've resigned myself to the fact that some day, I will live my life with out my BFF and my DH because of this horrid and wreched habit. I have also reserved the right to tell them "I told you so" when it does happen... and I've also told Josh that I will NOT feel sorry for him when it does happen, after all, he chose this over his family and his life.... Most of all, he chose it over spending the best part of his life with me. I am very angry and hurt about it, and it's such a sensitive subject to me right now. Sorry to vent - but I am right there with you Jennifer and I understand.

Sounds like you had a great day yesterday. I can't wait to hear what you have planned for the girls with your BFF.

We are visiting the 28 states in the USA that we didn't visit last year. And yes one of them is Minnesota.
And when I asked my friend if we are going to Minneapolis and then he asks me: Was it somethings special there?. Then when I told him that I have a friend on the internet and we would like to meet. He smiled and said we are driving by so of course we can stop there

We haven't decided yet what exactly we are going to see or do in Minnesota. The only thing we know for sure is that we have to find at least one geocache there I had to google the Mall of America I would love to visit the Mall of America. I almost didn't shop any thing last time and I was disappointed. So this time I really want to do some shopping.

I am super excited about this Lillian!!! If there is somewhere else you want to meet up while you are here, I am open to that... The MOA is just the easiest, usually. Keep me updated on your plans and your dates - I wouldn't miss meeting you!

D, I've been trying to read when I can, but work is killing me (and trying to pack for my trip).

I just wanted to pop in and say have a nice weekend.

I totally understand Kathy. Thanks so much for stopping by. I know your trip is approaching quickly. I hope you have a nice weekend too!

Thank you for the prayers. I will update you Tuesday evening on the appt. and hope it's good news. I heard a rumor and was hoping you could clear it up. Someone posted that the 5% discount on gift cards is ending. I know the pharmacy discount did. But I hope not this discount as well. I still have gift cards to purchase.

Yes, please update if you can. You've been in my prayers.

I wish I could tell you... I have not heard anything. Your post is the first I've heard of it... Sadly - it wouldn't surprise me. I am still really upset that we don't get our Team Member discount on them any longer - and I am beginning to wonder if it's even worth the hassle of typing them all out and buying them in the first place for the =/- $100 it will save me.

Love the frozen and pooh bags! Sorry I haven posted even thoug I read almost every day. Bad news on my trip..... Had to postpone the birthday trip in June..... Dh had another seizure..... And will have to take off a few weeks of work...... Stupid epilepsy....... Good news is that dd will now be able to dance with the pittsburgh opera with her dance school since we won't be out of town. She will also do a production of Cinderella kids this summer too. (She's the only kid that dosent want to be Cinderella..... She wants to be drizella). . We are also going to try to go to Washington, D.C. To see the pandas or even NYC to see a show for her birthday instead. That's a lot more affordable then disney. Hopefully we can go in November or for the 9th bday next year at the latest,

I love the hedgehog too. I always wanted one. They are now illegal here in pa.

I can't wait to see the auction bags! I've told my husband like 100 times!

Dd has a dance competition in the morning.... It's her first time competing her duo! It will be a long and stressful day for mom!

Have a great day with BFF and the surprise!

Thank you! So sorry you had to cancel your trip, but it does sound like you will all be able to do some other fun things because of it. LOL that your dd wants to be Drizella... I hope she is able to. Hopefully you will be able to plan another trip soon.

Really - I didn't know hedgehogs were illegal anywhere. Hmmm... I wonder why?

Good luck to your dd in her dance competition!

Thank you - I hope we have fun!

**********************************************************

I worked in my sewing room yesterday morning.

Then I took the remainder of the afternoon off and met up with bff... We did a little (non-food) shopping and went out for a late lunch. It was a lot of fun!

I purhased a few things for myself... The one I was most excited about was a pair of size 12 Levis shorts... For our trip last August, I was barely squeezing into a size 16... So, I was really happy about this. The 12s are just a hair tight in the waist, but I think they will be fine in a week or two. I also found a few fun shirts.

Last night, Gus came for dinner and stayed for several hours afterwards. We all chatted out on the back deck for quite a while... Then we bowled on the wii for quite a while... Then we were back on the deck... Then we played scrabble and Apples to Apples before Gus went home. It was a great night and all of us had a great time! Lots and lots of laughter!

(Forgive my messy kitchen)

Today is our fun day with the girls. None of them know what is going on, and I must be honest, it's driving them crazy. I will be sure to tell you all about it tomorrow and post a few pictures too.

I received some sad news yesterday, so I am asking for prayers. My mom's youngest brother had a massive stroke on Thursday night, he was airlifted to the hospital and is in critical condition. My mom died 23 years ago, and this is the first of her siblings to be in poor heath - she has 10 siblings - and she was close to all of them. Good, good people, all of them. So, I am asking for prayers for my uncle Harold and his family... He has two sons, both in college. It's just so very sad... I know how hard it is to lose a parent at a young age and to watch them suffer. We know his outcome is probably not a good one, so I am asking for prayers of peace for him & his family, and for my Grandmother - who, surprisingly is doing quite well, considering.

**********************************************************

So, as to not end this post on a sad note... I do have some Disney fun to share...

I received a package from Erin (NannyE) of Pixietwist Designs the other day, which I forgot to post here. She made me 3 sets of chunky necklaces for our trip... Mickey/Minnie, Donald and Goofy... She was GREAT to work with and she nailed these perfectly! Thanks so much Erin!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and a wonderful weekend. Sending up prayers and good thoughts to all.

D~

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Joining in....I have a lot of catching up to do on your report, but it sounds like a great trip. We are going in August, too. Can't wait

 

[Terkina]

Sounds like you had a fun evening yesterday.

I will keep you posted about our plans for our USA trip. It's all still on the drawing board.

I'll keep your uncle and family in my thoughts.

What a great package you got with all the Disney accessories.

In Norway everyone says Happy Birthday to each other on Norway's National Constitution day.

I started today off at 06.00am got up and in to my national costume. I went downtown to look at a parade that started at 07.00 and goes to many monuments in our city and on each monument someone holds a speech about the monument and the person or people it's a memory of. When it was almost done I went home. I didn't go to the last monument because it was raining and cold wind so I decided to go home a little early.

Back home I had some warm cocoa to get the warm in me again and I had breakfast. I stayed home watching TV where they show the National celebration all over the country and the world. At 1pm I went to town to see what was happening there before I went to my grandma to have some food and cake. After that it was back down town to look at the last parade of the day. In this parade all the different clubs and associations in our town are walking. It's a fun parade to watch. Now I'm back home. I have changed back to comfortable clothes. And are watching TV again of all the celebration around the world today.

 

[BabyRapunzel]

Sending prayers for your uncle and his family, life is unfair sometimes. Nice job on the weight loss, you should be very proud of yourself!!! Thanks for your input on the gift cards. For me, if there's a way to save $100, I 'll do it. Let's hope it continues. It really is a shame you lost your extra discount, that was a big perk of your job I would imagine. And those accessories are just adorable!!!!!

 

[Hardheadedwoman]

Sending good thoughts to you and your family - I am so sorry to hear about your uncle.

Thank you for your kind words and for the advice on the sewing machine! My great grandmother had a sewing machine from the 60s and I'm pretty sure my grandma still has it! It's in Miami though and to get that all the way to NYC would be quite the headache! I'll ask my sister if she knows of any good sources, she's pretty handy with her machine!

Prayers and happy thoughts to everyone here going through a rough patch!

Lissette

 

[ladylyons]

So, I am just done with it all. It is the most horrid habit anyone could have, and it makes me sick (not to mention loss of respect, admiration...) that neither of them can stop, or will even try. I've resigned myself to the fact that some day, I will live my life with out my BFF and my DH because of this horrid and wreched habit. I have also reserved the right to tell them "I told you so" when it does happen... and I've also told Josh that I will NOT feel sorry for him when it does happen, after all, he chose this over his family and his life.... Most of all, he chose it over spending the best part of his life with me. I am very angry and hurt about it, and it's such a sensitive subject to me right now. Sorry to vent - but I am right there with you Jennifer and I understand.

I'm so sorry your having to deal with this. I unfortunately had to watch my grandma pass away due to lung cancer. She refused to quit smoking even when she found out she had cancer. It was a very hard thing for all of us to have to go through. Thankfully I worked for a terrific company at the time and they let me take off any time I needed to go see her and spend any time I could with her the last few weeks of her life. Some days I really feel she would have still been with us had she stopped smoking when my grandpa quit. She said she was going to but unfortunately she never did. I do miss her on a daily basis and know she would have loved her great grandkids had she ever had the opportunity to meet them.

Love the items from nannyv!! She is making me some shirts for our trip and I can't wait to see how they turned out!!

I think I know what the surprise was!!! If it's the pictures I saw on FB!!! Glad you guys had a fun day!!

 

[DMGeurts]

Joining in....I have a lot of catching up to do on your report, but it sounds like a great trip. We are going in August, too. Can't wait

Welcome! I am very happy to have you here and following along. Oooh - where are you staying? Do you have a PTR going?

Please don't feel like you have to catch up - there are a lot of pages here... If you read the first few posts in this PTR (I keep all the links up to date), you should be right on track... and it will save you a lot of time.

Sounds like you had a fun evening yesterday.

I will keep you posted about our plans for our USA trip. It's all still on the drawing board.

I'll keep your uncle and family in my thoughts.

What a great package you got with all the Disney accessories.

Thanks Lillian.

In Norway everyone says Happy Birthday to each other on Norway's National Constitution day.

I started today off at 06.00am got up and in to my national costume. I went downtown to look at a parade that started at 07.00 and goes to many monuments in our city and on each monument someone holds a speech about the monument and the person or people it's a memory of. When it was almost done I went home. I didn't go to the last monument because it was raining and cold wind so I decided to go home a little early.

Back home I had some warm cocoa to get the warm in me again and I had breakfast. I stayed home watching TV where they show the National celebration all over the country and the world. At 1pm I went to town to see what was happening there before I went to my grandma to have some food and cake. After that it was back down town to look at the last parade of the day. In this parade all the different clubs and associations in our town are walking. It's a fun parade to watch. Now I'm back home. I have changed back to comfortable clothes. And are watching TV again of all the celebration around the world today.

This sounds like a wonderful and exausting day... I loved seeing your National Costume when you showed pictures of it in your TR last year, it was so fascinating!

Sending prayers for your uncle and his family, life is unfair sometimes. Nice job on the weight loss, you should be very proud of yourself!!! Thanks for your input on the gift cards. For me, if there's a way to save $100, I 'll do it. Let's hope it continues. It really is a shame you lost your extra discount, that was a big perk of your job I would imagine. And those accessories are just adorable!!!!!

Thank you.

I know... I will end up saving the $100, it's just annoying that it's only that much and hardly worth the hassle. Having that discount was a BIG perk to why I still worked there, and I am finding it harder and harder to stay... If it wasn't for my coworkers - whom I love so much - I am pretty sure I could work from home full-time and make it up in my bag business.

Sending good thoughts to you and your family - I am so sorry to hear about your uncle.

Thank you for your kind words and for the advice on the sewing machine! My great grandmother had a sewing machine from the 60s and I'm pretty sure my grandma still has it! It's in Miami though and to get that all the way to NYC would be quite the headache! I'll ask my sister if she knows of any good sources, she's pretty handy with her machine!

Prayers and happy thoughts to everyone here going through a rough patch!

Lissette

Thank you Lissette.

I hope you are able to find a machine... Your Great-Grandmother's machine sounds perfect... It is possible to ship a machine, many people do it. It just has to be packaged SUPER well. Otherwise... Goodwill is always a good place to look - I purchased my Mr. Rocket at Goodwill for $9.99 - he is my full-time applique machine - he has earned his keep and then some.

I'm so sorry your having to deal with this. I unfortunately had to watch my grandma pass away due to lung cancer. She refused to quit smoking even when she found out she had cancer. It was a very hard thing for all of us to have to go through. Thankfully I worked for a terrific company at the time and they let me take off any time I needed to go see her and spend any time I could with her the last few weeks of her life. Some days I really feel she would have still been with us had she stopped smoking when my grandpa quit. She said she was going to but unfortunately she never did. I do miss her on a daily basis and know she would have loved her great grandkids had she ever had the opportunity to meet them.

This is so sad. I feel like, if he would just TRY, really TRY, he could do it. BUt I feel like, he isn't trying because he really doesn't WANT to quit - and it makes me feel like he is killing himself over wanting to spend time with me. I am really bitter about it right now, and really hurt. I hope I didn't say anything to offend anyone - that was not my intention. Clearly, I never want to see him or anyone else suffer from this habit, but it's so hard to not be angry with him, for this choice, at the moment.

Love the items from nannyv!! She is making me some shirts for our trip and I can't wait to see how they turned out!!

I think I know what the surprise was!!! If it's the pictures I saw on FB!!! Glad you guys had a fun day!!

I am sure you will love your items from Erin! She is so wonderful!

Yup... That was the surprise!

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The girls and I had a wonderful day yesterday. Those of you who have been reading my PTRs/TRs for a while now, know that we used to be season passholders at our local amusement park for several years. Last year was the exception, because I had to pay for our Disney trip with only the military discount - so it was much more expensive than our previous or current Disney trips.

Well, this year, BFF and I decided to splurge again... Since she is off of work for the summer, and once I get these auction bags finished, I will have a bit more free time - we decided we'd do season passes again. We all missed not having them last year. The thing with season passes at this park, is after 2 trips, they "pay for themselves"... So, the tightwad that I am, we try to get there once a week, so they really pay for themselves.

Anyways... We had a great time yesterday. It was opening weekend - it wasn't too crowded when we first arrived, but it was a glorious day, so it did start to get busy later. It was a good opportunity for us to practice our "rope drop" skills, since we tour this park much like we tour Disney.

Anyways... A few pictures for you all...

All three girls in the back of BFF's new car... At this point, they didn't know where we were going...

Our annual "Gold Season Passholder" photo...

My girls on Steel Venom

Olivia on Steel Venom

Victoria and I on the Tilt-A-Whirl... And when I came home last night (and I could actually SEE the pictures I was posting on FB) - I noticed that I am FINALLY getting collar bones!!! This really excites me! You can barely see them, but they are there... And my chin/neck area is really starting to thin out too... Now if my cheeks would follow suit...

While we were walking around, I saw this stupid sign on a soda machine... Seriously?? A sign that implies by choosing the low calorie option that you are "choosing the healthy option..." And the healthy option is the one full of HORRIBLE chemicals... This is the perfect example of why it's NOT just "calories in, calories out". Sigh.

I was so excited to see the Peanut characters doing a M&G! Charles Schultz is a MN native, and a few years ago, this park purchased the rights to have the Peanuts characters as their "Mascot" - which I love! It used to just be a regular park, but now there is a bunch of Peanuts theming. When the MOA park first opened - and for the following approx. 15 years - that park was called "Camp Snoopy" (It's now Nickelodeon Universe - which has NOTHING to do with MN) - but the MOA lost the rights to Peanuts and it was a very sad thing for us Minnesotans to see them go... So, it's really great to see them back in a park, and seeing them represented again. <--- I bet you all really enjoyed that lesson...

After we finished at the park, BFF brought us to our car parked at her house... Then I brought Alli to the High School so she could play football with some of her friends.

After she came home... Gus came over again. Victoria and I watched Pirates of the Carribbean 1, while Alli and Gus sat outside on the back deck swing. She told me later that it was a very good thing for them to have that time. I had kind of hoped that when I noticed our movie was almost over and they were still out there talking.

Today, I am taking Allison up to St. Paul to go to church with Gus. Afterwards they are going out for lunch, and then he is bringing her home. This is a big step for me (and Josh), as this will be the very first time he has been allowed to drive alone with her. I have given him the "Precious Cargo" speech twice now, and I am confident he will act responsibly.

While they are at church, V and I are going "Hedgehog shopping"... She has some birthday/babysitting $$ she has been saving up to buy supplies for Lottie.

It should be a fun and relaxing day for all of us.

I don't have any updates on my uncle. His Caringbridge site was updated yesterday afternoon, but his condition/prognosis is much the same. The entire family and my home community continues to pray for him. His immediate family has asked that the cousins (which is me) do not visit him in the hospital. Some of you may think this is weird/uncaring... but he has well over 150 neices and nephews when you include our spouses - and that is just too much for visitors if we were all to go. Personally, I am fine with this, and I understand his family's wishes.

I hope all of you have a wonderful and beautiful Sunday. My prayers go out to all of you who need them.

D~