Messes and old times

How can I go from a clean scrapbook room to a messy one so quickly?? I need the cleaning fairy to visit my house! I haven't felt like cleaning and that is SOOO not like me. I did find out that my thyroid function is low so possibly that is why I feel so darn BLAH. I am having it rechecked next month and if it is still low I will be placed on thyroid medication. I really hope it isn't low as I don't want to take medication for the rest of my life.

I was cleaning out the guest closet last week sometime and came across some old school photos and thought I would share them here. The santa one is my friend Cherry and I before a football game. Alot of people always thought we were sisters because we looked so much alike. I didn't see it, but now I do. Even Cameron said something when he saw some pictures of us together.

This homecoming dress was something else. Oh, I can't believe I wore something like that. Michael and his friend Tim sort of picked it out. It must have been half-way decent as Cherry borrowed it the next year I think for her prom.

Breads

On Friday I decided I wanted to try my hand at bread making. I wanted to make some wheat bread so I set out to do it around 10:00. I made two YUMMY loaves! I was thinking I could make Friday's bread making days. It sure made the house smell good.

Here is the YUMMY recipe!
Whole Wheat Bread
2 pkgs active dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water
2 c. warm water
1/4 c. honey
2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. oil
5 1/2 - 6 c. whole wheat flour, divided
1 Tbsp. butter, melted

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 c. warm water. In another bowl, combine 2 c. warm water, honey, salt and oil. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour; mixing well. Stir in yeast mixture. Add more flour 1/2 c. at a time, to make dough fairly stiff. Sprinkle a little flour on a board; knead dough 10 minutes. Shape dough into a ball, put into a greased bowl and grease top of dough. Let rise 45 minutes or until double in bulk. Punch down, divide in half and knead a little; let rest 10 minutes. Shape dough into 2 loaves and place in two 8x4 greased loaf pans. Split top; drizzle with melted butter. Let rise until double in bulk, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes.

For tonights dinner I was planning on making roast chicken, green beans (from neighbors garden) and homemade rolls. Well, we ended up having roast turkey breast (much yummier), green beans, mashed potatoes and homemade rolls. These rolls were DELISH! They will be a keeper at our house!

Feather Rolls
1 pkg active dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water
4 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 Tbsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
3/4 c. warm milk
2 c. all-purpose flour (or more)

Dissolve yeast in water; let stand 5 minutes. Blend together butter, sugar, salt, egg and milk; add to yeast mixture. Beat until smooth; add flour and beat until well blended. (I added more flour as it was way to sticky) Cover and set in a warm place for one hour or until double in bulk. Punch down dough and divide into 12 portions; roll each into a ball. Place in greased muffin tins, cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Today I spent some time trying to understand story problems...why do they scare me so? I have been afraid of them for as long as I remember. I picked up a book at the library called Word Problems Demystified. I'm trying to work my way through it and taking the little quizzes along the way. There are TONS of story problems in my math book and gosh darn it, I want to master them!

Well, I'm heading downstairs to watch RV with Michael. Have a great week everyone!

I survived!

I had my second day of class this morning. I started last night. I thought it was going to be terrible, but I am NOT the only one that doesn't understand. Actually, I shouldn't say I don't understand. I have all my homework done for the entire week already too! I should probably read the sections to understand how I came up with my answers, but I checked my answers and most all of them are correct. At least all the ones I can check.

I was very afrraid that I was not going to understand my teacher because his name is Ping Yu. For the most part I can understand what he is saying. I think I will do okay in his class. There are many people that aren't understanding what we are talking about and I feel great that for the most part I understand everything. I'm sure it is just going to get harder though.

I have been such a couch potato today. I watched movie after movie today. I watched Pride & Prejudice while doing homework, then I caught up on some shows that I had TIVO'd. It actually felt good to just sit and do nothing. Michael is busy working on his computer so I haven't felt guilty at all. I am going to end the night by reading and watching even more movies. Doesn't that just sound divine? Ok, probably not, but I need it.

Well, off to figure out what to feed everyone before I plop myself down on the couch once again.

Clean grout, sore shoulders/neck, official card

Well, I finally took a shower around 1:30 today. I woke up and decided today was the day to clean the tile and grout in the house. I ran to Lowe's after dropping Cameron off at school and bought the supplies. $50 later and I was set! I came home and mowed the front lawn first. Then I went inside and starting moving the stuff out of the dining room so I could work. I started the kitchen scrubbing at 9:20 and was finished with the sealing at 3:15! I decided that I would work on the other rooms some other day. I mean, I have 3 bathrooms, the front entrance, the garage door entrance and the laundry room! Talk about a pain!

I went to pick up Cameron at 3:15 and then we were off to my school! I start on Friday and needed to get my Student ID and find out where I am supposed to show up Friday night. Here is my Oh So Lovely card:I actually am pretty pleased with how the picture turned out. Why can't driver's licenses ever look good? Cameron was pretty cute at the school. While we were waiting in line (which was not long at all) he kept asking who the principal was and if I was good did I get to have a principal visit?! Then we walked to find my building. He kept mentioning how big my school was. When we first arrived I stopped to let someone cross in front of my car. The guy waved and Cameron asked if that was one of my friends. I told him I didn't have any friends at school yet. So, I am all official now!

When we got home I put another layer of sealer on the kitchen/dining area. Then Michael called to tell me that he would be home a little late so I decided to do yet another room in the house. My knees are so bruised! It hurts to kneel on them. I now have a bathmat rolled up. I finished my bathroom and now I am almost done with Cameron's. I will be done for the night and might work on the other areas on Friday or Saturday.

I hope everyone is having a great week so far!

I had a DATE!!

Michael and I FINALLY went out last night. We have not been out on our own for MONTHS! I decided on Thursday to call a sitter and do something. We finalized our plans yesterday morning and off we were last night. It was so nice to just get out and be alone.

We went to Rodizio Grill in Trolley Square for dinner. The meat was DELISH! It was pretty pricey for the amount that I ate, but it was worth just being there with Michael. After dinner we had some time to kill before heading to our next place so we just walked around the stores. Our next location was Wiseguys Comedy club. We had such a good time there. What cheap entertainment too. It only cost us $10 to get in! Cheaper than a movie and much more funny!! I think we will go there more often.

After that we just came home. We were home by 10. It was tons of fun and I can't wait to do it again!

Today we aren't doing much of anything. I really need to pull some weeds that are taking over the back flower gardens. I did some of it the other day, but my yardwaste container got too full. The yard also needs mowing, but I think I will wait until Thursday to tackle that.

I know, I am slacking!

I haven't updated in a few days...I know you are looking only to find the same old boring stuff! I have NOTHING to say!

I have just been keeping busy around the house and running errands. Today I went to the school and got the rest of my book stuff, my parking pass and then it hit me...I'm starting school in 1.5 weeks! WHY did I decide to do this?!?!

Cameron brought home his first fundraiser of the year. I really hope it makes enough that they won't have to do many more. He is selling those Entertainment books. If anyone needs one just let me know. You can order one for your area. I'm actually excited about it because I have always wanted to buy one, but never knew anyone selling them. Now I do!

Cameron has his last soccer game of the season Wednesday night. We've decided to take a break for fall and winter from soccer and do swimming. Then we might possibly do some ice skating. I have NO idea why he wants to do it, but I should at least let him try. Heck, the kid can't even roller skate!

I wish I had a picture to share with you, but the only picture that is new on my camera is one of me that Cameron took this morning. Yeah, not pretty!

I leave you with a good night and hopefully some new updates soon.

Tuesday Ramblings

I am loving Cameron being in 1st grade! I still have almost 2 hours by myself until he gets home!

I finally went back to the gym today. I hadn't been in 2 months! I was going 5 days a week for a good 12 weeks and then I stopped because things kept coming up. However, I have made a vow to myself to go back so I did. My arms will be hurting me tomorrow!

Now that Cameron is in school longer I will have more time to do what I want to do on my days off. I plan on going to the gym right after I drop him off, come home to clean house and then READ. I am embarrassed to show this, but these are my bookshelves that are overflowing. There are few on my shelves that I have actually read. My bedside table has 2 scrapping books and 2 books that I am reading...Well, I am actually only reading one at the moment. I need another bookshelf since I have books in front of books here. I have this sick obsessionI have a large list of books that I wanted to read this year and so far I have strayed from it quite a bit.
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh READ
Bakers Tower by Jennifer Haigh
Widow of the South by Robert Hicks
The Virgin's Lover by Phillipa Gregory
No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark
The Known World by Edward P. Jones
The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty
The Davinci Code by Dan Brown READ
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik READ
The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant READ
Jewel by Bret Lott READ
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross
Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie READ
Hour Game by David Baldacci
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
Child of Darkness by V.C. Andrews READ
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown READ
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
'Til Death Do Us Part by Kate White
A Body to Die For by Kate White READ
The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell READ
1st to Die by James Patterson
2nd Chance by James Patterson
3rd Degree by James Patterson
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich READ
April Shadows by V.C. Andrews
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich READ
The Broker by John Grisham
Red Lily by Nora Roberts READ
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich READ
Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich READ
Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
Mary Mary by James Patterson
Marley & Me by John Grogan READ
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
The Ha-Ha by Dave King
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Don’t look Down by Jennifer Crusie
Cell by Stephen King READ
Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline
The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Skyes
Heart’s Desire by Laura Pedersen
Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes by Cathy Holton
Carolina Isle by Jude Deveraux
The Brambles by Eliza Minot
The Widower by Liesel Litzenburger
Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston
The Slow Moon by Elizabeth Cox

This is the list I have actually read this year:
January
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
Red Lily by Nora Roberts
February
To The Nines by Janet Evanovich
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
Child of Darkness by VC Andrews
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes by Julie Powell
The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason
Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
March
Jack and Jill by James Patterson
Jewel by Bret Lott
Cat and Mouse by James Patterson
A Body to Die For by Kate White
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
April
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik
May
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Full House by Janet Evanovich
June
Full Tilt by Janet Evanovich
Cell by Stephen King
Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie
July
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
Swapping Lives by Jane Green
12 Sharp by Janet Evanovich

There are always new books that I want to read so I will add it to my list of books I plan on reading this year.

Cards Galore!

For Christmas this past year my parents bought me the QVC card making kit item #F10915 if you are interested. I finally took everything out of the box yesterday and made a bunch of cards. I have almost completed the kit. I took pictures of the different cards. They are a bit blurry as I didn't use my flash and I had to breathe when I snapped them. They aren't terrible though.

They were fun to make and really got my juices flowing again. I made this card using a kit from One Page At a Time.
On another note, I just purchased my math textbook from eBay. I can't wait to get it. I really want to look through it to see just what I have gotten myself into. I did stop at a school bookstore yesterday to make sure I get the correct book and to see what it was like. At first glance it looks like what I was studying for to take my placement exam. I'm sure there will be things in there that I am not sure of and will need some help. I am nervous and excited at the same time to start school. My first day is August 25th!