So it begins...

Well, the summer is officially over as of tomorrow. Finally finished everything I needed to do this weekend, so now it's just a matter of waiting for dawn. Hopefully the semester will go well and then I can enjoy it. I wish that one class would move so that it's easier to get to. Oh well, I guess that's where I'll get my exercise. :D

Award time!

Chic new award!



Ooh! They love my blog :)
My two bloggy friends Kat of Candles, Crafts and Whatnot and Jackie of The Painted Veil gave me this wonderful new award (it's French). In this case, let me give you a big...

MERCI BEAUCOUP!!!


The 'rules' for this award is much the same as always: grab the award and post it on your blog, linking to the person that passed it along to you. You may pass it on to as many bloggers as you wish. Do let them know in a comment on their respective blogs. Have fun!

Now I'd like to pass this chic new award on to the following bloggers. I adore your blogs too!

in no particular order:

Duni at Lovely Purses
Clotilde Dusoulier at Chocolate & Zucchini
Elisabeth at How to Beat a Guy in 10 Plays
Rachel Whetzel at Memories of Mine to Thine

Weekend weather...

Doesn't it figure the one day I won't be outside this weekend is when it doesn't rain? Never fails, I swear. Don't get me wrong, because rain is my favorite weather. Especially thunderstorms. However, it isn't my favorite when I have to carry (well, when my family has to carry, lol) totes and everything to move me in.

On the news it said that Michael Jackson's death had been ruled homicide from the mix of lorazepam and propofol. Now the question remains: was it intentional or simply negligence? I don't have an opinion on the alleged child molestation issues, but nobody deserves to die of a drug overdose...especially when at least one of your doctors could have prevented it.

Beanie Tuesday

Blackie the Bear is currently valued at $7.99. On http://thebeaniezone.goods.officelive.com she is listed at this value because she is considered to be in mint condition. She's the first of the bears in my collection, and I'm sure you'll enjoy her as much as I have.

Time flies!

Wow, I can't believe my last post was 11 days ago. What happened?

Getting ready for school. I'll be happy to be on campus this year since last year I was condemned to doing online courses. It was annoying not to be able to raise your hand to ask questions, but other than that it wasn't hard to adjust to. I can count my blessings, and that's really what matters.

I think I'm bothering my Mom since I don't need new clothes/purse/supplies. She probably loves that I don't want to spend money, but I think she's a little disappointed not being able to drag me to the store and try things out. It makes me laugh when I think of her shaking her head at my "I'm ok I don't need anything" comments. Good to have a smile on your face as you think of thoughts like that.

Say what?

I can't believe people are sending rumours out that Michael Vick was supposed to join the Buffalo Bills. He's the loser (for lack of a better term) that was arrested for dog fighting? The news crews announced that it is an untrue rumour and that the Bills aren't considering taking him on yet.....yet? What happened to the idea that these players are role models for children? The fact that Vick can still play is insulting. I remember football players used to be looked down upon for actions such as that (Lynch, Stalworth, etc.). Children growing up with this "new attitude" are thinking, hey, I can get away with that...I can do whatever I want and not lose my job! What about how these decisions translate to every day life? These are the people that go out and shoot cops, rape, murder, etc., just because they think they won't get punished! It's got to stop and if it needs to start somewhere, let it start with the celebrities...they're the ones our children are watching.

Love Stinks...

I'll have to give this post to some personal reflection. Today I'm skipping the beanie talk, and I'm not jotting down a quick note about my day. Today, it's a quick complaint about my "love life".

If my boyfriend and I were still together, we would have celebrated 2 years today. I ended things 2 months ago, but I still feel a pang every now and then about what we had. For the final three months of our relationship, he didn't spend a single day with me - in fact he claimed not to take any days off except for the three he spent in Boston with his best friend. Plus he forgot my birthday...and then became upset when I pointed that out to him, claiming that he didn't forget and couldn't believe I'd think that about him.

On one hand, I feel relieved because for most of our relationship I felt like I treated him more as a son than as a boyfriend. I tried not to, but it became increasingly difficult when he couldn't find a job and always complained about his landlord. I'll admit, she was a psycho - but that didn't excuse him for being so passive about his unemployment.

On the other hand, I miss what we had. When our relationship began we could talk for hours, whether we were on the phone or not. After about 6 months, we couldn't hold a conversation to save our lives. I pointed this out to him multiple times and repeatedly ask that he at least try (I always felt like I was trying to carry on one with myself). Aside from the conversation, we used to see each other nearly every day. I realize now that wasn't smart, especially once I got sick and had to live 40 minutes away without being allowed to drive. He always took the trip, and always complained. Well, enough complaining. I just needed to get this burden off my chest...

Bernie the St. Bernard

Ty Beanie Babies® that are considered to be "very good", they are in great condition but they are missing their tag(s). Only 45% to 60% of the value can be demanded by the seller. Bernie is currently valued at $9.99, but he's listed on my website for $6 (that's 40% off!). He is considered to be in the "very good" category, but his tags are available. His original "tush tag" is still attached, and his hang tag is creased as well as detached. However, his detached hang tag is still available and will be sent with the beanie when he has been purchased.

Afterwards...

Party went [mostly] as planned. There were a few problems, but everyone expects a hitch now and then. There were three people missing from dinner and two returned after the food had been stored...but it's easy to accomodate afterward if you pack/plan properly. Then there was the food. It was really good (if too much), except that both types of chicken were really dry. Very disappointing...but we're glad we decided on the package versus buying all three proteins separately...it made it easier to deal with dry chicken when it's less expensive overall. :)

Not going to get to see my brother until Friday, and then he leaves on Saturday. I remember when we were younger we were always fighting. But hey, if siblings don't fight they're abnormal in my opinion, lol. Now I realize how important he is to me and how much I'll miss him when he's gone. I guess I should've believed my family when they told me as we get older we'll get along better.

Full steam ahead!

It's almost 7am and I'm drinking coffee, preparing for the day ahead. We're throwing a party for my brother since he came home from a 20 week training only a week ago and he leaves next Saturday. The party doesn't start until 1pm but there are still things that need to be done. Spent all of yesterday cleaning the house and getting the fresh fruit washed and plated.

This morning we need to put together two salads - one fruit and one green - as well as dish up the mac and potato salads. The lunch/dinner is going to be catered, but we still need to cook the salt potatoes. Hey, I suggested that's too much starch but who listens, right? :)

My aunt, uncle, and cousins came in from NH and she made a beautiful flag cake with an eagle and flag painted onto a plate of fondant to decorate the top. Absolutely gorgeous. My brother is still asleep in the other room so I have to keep my typing as quiet as possible...but he'll be woken eventually when the kiddies come downstairs. :)

Calorie surprise!

So, I read in an article today that the Cold Stone Creamery peanut butter & chocolate shake has 2,010 calories. Say what?! It actually shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did, but hey I never figured something like that would be more than 400 calories. I guess that if I really want to get back to my normal size I should stick to water. Counting food calories won't matter if you drink something like this.

Beak the Bird

This is Beak the Ty-Dye Kiwi Bird. He is currently at a value of $5.99 but is on sale for $4.50 on my website. He is considered to be in excellent condition, like Ants and Batty, and will always make you smile.

Weekday oddity

I tried posting this last night and had difficulty. So, it's gonna be considered a two for one special. :)

I must say I found the lack of emails last week to be both a disappointment and a relief. The website where I sell my Ty Beanie Babies® has one email for questions and another for orders, but I was unable to access the latter through the computer available to me this past week. I was concerned that if I didn't get the information and an order was requested that I wouldn't be able to follow my own rules. If I recieve an order I have given 4 to 5 days as a maximum delay. If I didn't get them, I'd be disappointing my customers and that is not what I want to do.

Batty the Brown Bat was the first bat offered in the Ty Beanie Babies® collection. Go to http://thebeaniezone.goods.officelive.com he is for sale at $8.99 from $11.99 (25% off). Batty is considered to be in "excellent" condition according to beanie baby standards. My brother has the same one in his collection, and it was one of his favorites when these beanies first became "part of the family".