Season Of Change

Good Morning, Ladies!! I know I haven't been posting lately. But trust me, I have been around. We have just had more "drama" going on in our lives, and I rather not all my posts be negative so I decided to not post for awhile. Or at least, until I felt I could post about something positive.

Oh heck, I will just say it because quite honestly this blog is really supposed to be a journal so to speak. My therapy, if you will. A way for me to vent and get things off of my chest, right!?!?

Well, since I last posted "Big Daddy" lost his job. Which was a big shock. As some of you may know our story, "Big Daddy" has only been back to work now for about 11 months after being off for almost 6 years due to a injury (and 16 surgeries) he received at work. So, this is something we really didn't need to happen right now. But then again, who really needs to be laid off!?!?! Anyway, I guess the real kicker is that fact that he works for my parents. So, there was so many mixed emotions that came with this lay off.

We have known for awhile now that my parents company had taken a HUGE hit because of them not getting paid for a multi-million dollar job they did. They are in the middle of a law suit to get their money, but we all know that can take a very long time.

Long story short, my parents own a construction company and the whole family is employed by them. My brother, brother-in-law, uncle, husband, etc. But at this time, my husband was the only family member laid off. Which, was an extra kick in the gut. You see, because of my husband being off for all that time due to his injury , I suppose he lost seniority...which I think is BS!!!!

Anyway, after talking to my Mom this past week, I feel a little better. My Mom (who BTW, NEVER cries) was crying. So, I know them laying Ed off wasn't something they wanted to do. But at the time, I couldn't help feeling hurt that he was the only family member laid off (at this time). Especially, since my brother-in-law started working for my my parents YEARS after Ed. But in all technicality he has more seniority at their particular trade. You see, whenever Ed went back to work, he was no longer able to be a Laborer. So, he joined the Operators Union, which Ben has been a member of longer. Make sense?

Not to mention, I also felt hurt because you see my sister does not work outside of the home, where I do. And sometimes, I feel that my Mom and Dad keep Ben working because of that. I feel that they think Ed and I are better off financially than them. So, they continue to work Ben because of that and that bothers me. I LOVE my sister with ALL of my heart but I work because I HAVE to. Always, have. With Ed being injured all of those years, I had to work for medical benefits, etc. So, I have never had the choice. And she could do the same!!

Luckily, my husband is Union. So, we are hoping that he will be able to find work very shortly. But, as we all know how the economy is and with his injury we are both praying that will be sooner than later. But in the meantime, we are putting on our "big girl" (and big boy) pants and trying to remain positive.

So, with all of this....needless to say, I am ready for some changes. I am ready for a "clean slate", if you will. I am ready for positive things to start heading our way. I ready for a new season...

I am ready for the beautiful colors of the leaves that Fall brings.....
I can't wait to go buy my mums, I LOVE mums. How about you? What color is your favorite?....
I can't wait to see everybody's Fall displays. Full of pumpkins and gourds....

I can't wait to sit back on a nice cool, crisp Fall day and watch this....

While eating a nice hot bowl of this....

So, what are some of YOUR favorite things about Fall!?!?!?!?

LaZy DaYs Of SuMmEr!!

Heys ladies!! Well, we made it back from our family camping / float trip. And I have my first week back to work after my vacation under my belt. We had a wonderful, relaxing family trip. Lazy days of summer!! Exactly what the doctor ordered!!

We camped, floated down the Meramec River and even visited the Meramec Caverns (which I haven't been to in YEARS!!) And let me just say they are absolutely gorgeous!! BTW, I will post vacation pics soon but first I had to share a sight that I got to see first thing this morning ...

(Don't adjust your computer screen, ladies. YES,those are toliet paper rolls you are seeing....)

Talking about lazy days of summer...while the hubby and I were both at work during the day this week, working hard, earning $$$. "Muscles" and "Miss Priss" have been enjoying the last few days left of their lazy summmer. So much, they haven't even changed the toliet paper roll in their bathroom. Talk about LaZy!! ♥

Saturday Morning Ramblings!

Happy Saturday!! Don't you all just LOVE Saturdays?!?!? I know I do. It feels so good to wake up and know that I don't have anywhere that I HAVE to be...like work!! LOL!!

But today is still going to be busy...we have a benefit for a guy that my husband and I went to High School with. He was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Malignant Brain Tumor. And he is only 37....so, PLEASE keep in in your prayers!!

Then we have some errands to run, we are on vacation next week and we are taking the camper out. We are going to go to Meramec State Park and float down the river one day. And then we are going to vist the Meramec Caverns another. Which, I am looking forward to...hopefully it should be relaxing!! Even though, I am not the strongest swimmer, so I hoping the water to VERY calm!!

But thanks to my husbands truck, our daughter's car and the camper all getting broke into this past Thursday night (all while we were sleeeping) we have some extra errands that we need to run today. Like getting my husbands cell phone replaced, etc.

I will tell you what....I think it had to have been somebody that knows us. Because they knew EXACTLY what they were looking fo. They stole my husbands cell phone, our GPS, our good camera (the boys had just gone capming last week and since we were leaving again this weekend hubby decided just to leave it in the camper), my daughter's Ipod and dock, some tools out of the back of the truck and a 20 in flat screen TV we had in the camper.

But you know what, I am just happy that it wasn't worse. Like I said in my last post, I am trying to have a better attitude. Just trying to see the postitive and good and not the negative and bad. So, that was why I decided to "brighten" up my blog. A new look and a new attitude!!

Anyway, better run....lots to do. But if I don't talk to all of you before we leave....have an WONDERFUL weekend!! Hugs!! Carrie♥

Yard Work, Yard Work and MORE Yard Work!!

OMGoodness, Ladies!! Sorry for the absence, but I feel like all we have been doing lately is yard work, yard work and MoRe yard work!!

For the past two weekends we have been coming home on Friday night after work and working in the yard pretty much non-stop. Well, except for last Sunday afternoon when we treated ourselves to a trip to the pool that we belong to.

We have weeded, planted flowers, laid mulch, re-did Koi pond and even re-did our re-do of the Koi pond. And that was just last weekend. So far, this weekend we have painted, cut the grass, went and picked up and loaded FOUR huge truckloads of flagstone and now we are getting ready (after "Big Daddy" takes a little "baby nap") to go back out and start laying flagstones in our fire pit area.

Hopefully we will be finished soon....because the inside of my house has been neglected the past few weekends. Even though, "Miss Priss" has been helping me out and trying to keep things "picked up" during the day. Which I TOTALLY ApPrEcIaTe!! Not to mention the fact that my back is killing me and I am tired of spending my weekends doing this kind of stuff. I am telling you it is times like this that I either wish there was more time in the day or that I didn't have to work outside of the home full-time so I had more time during the week. Too much to do and not enough time to do it!!

You maybe wondering why we are killing ourselves trying to finish all of these projects now...well, we are trying to get ready for "Miss Priss'" Graduation party on the 27th. Nothing like some added pressure. It's the ultimate motivator. LOL!!

Anyway, just thought I would take a little "blog break" while "Big Daddy" was napping but I promise to be back soon with not only some pics of my Prim projects but some of our yard. Hey, maybe that is what I will start our "Tour My Home Thursdays" with...the yard. Like Heather's Stitches suggested we could start with the entry way. And what is the first thing you see before the entry way? The outside. Makes sense to me!! LOL!!

Saturday Morning (more like evening) Ramblings

Gosh, I have been one BuSy BeE between last night and today. "Big Daddy" and I have pulled weeds, planted flowers, laid mulch, re-built our Koi pond and I even stuck to my word and started painting some of my Prim projects around here. I hope to have some "after" pictures by tomorrow evening. If I am still able to move my arms. LOL!!Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!!

A Big Thank You, Bunco and A Giveaway!!

Good Morning!! Today is going to be a busy day for me....I think I had mentioned a few posts back how my friend Melissa and I were starting up a Bunco Night. Well, tonight is THE night!! But before my day got to hectic, I wanted to drop by and THANK all of you warm and caring ladies for all of the sweet comments on my 'Feeling Blue' post. It made me feel SO much better just knowing that I wasn't alone and that you all cared enough to comment. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!

Secondly, tonight is kinda a 'big' night for me. It is our very first Bunco Night, and I am super excited!! My friend Melissa suggested that we go in together and split the responsibilty. (I think she knew I was having a BAD week...and she is recently divorced so $$$ is tight for her...so it was a win, win!!). So, she offered to host it at her house. And I went ahead a bought everything and went over there last night and we did all of our cooking.

We are having a 'Mexican' theme. We will be serving both beef and chicken enchiladas, a taco bar, salsa, guacamole, Melissa's famous bean and cheese dip, Spanish Rice, and sausage enchilada dip and of course chips. I think that is it....

I have to admit, I am a little nervous. I just hope all goes smoothly. We are having 16 ladies there, so not only will there be some good food, but good laughs as well!! I think just what the doctored ordered. A girls night out with some good friends!! I can't wait...

Ok, well I guess I better get going. I still have a few things to cross off my list for tonight. But I promise to come back later and update with PICS!!!!!

Oh yeah, and all of you still waiting for me to show some re-do pics, I promise to do that as well as soon as this Bunco thing is over!! PROMISE!!

****REMINDER - THIS IS MY 98TH POST - SO ONLY 2 MORE UNTIL MY 100TH POST GIVEAWAY - SO IF YOU ARE NOT YET A FOLLOWER OF MINE PLEASE REMEMBER TO DO SO BEFORE THE GIVEAWAY SO YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN!!****

Saturday Mornings Ramblings...

Just wanted to stop by this morning before things get too hectic around here (today is Prom day) and thank Wendy and Tammy for the advice on painting my shelf. I kinda had a good idea how to acheive the look, just needed to get some reassurance. But you girls will be glad to know that I decided I will just go for it. Like the hubby said...it is ONLY paint and I can always start over if I don't like it. Right!?!?!?

Secondly, I wanted to let everybody know that I am only 7 (I think) posts away from my 100th post. And that I will be having a giveaway, just like I did for my 50th post. Maybe a little bit more prim. LOL!! However, this time along with leaving me a comment at the time of the giveaway to be entered, I am also going to ask that you become a follower of mine. PRETTY PLEASE!?!?! I only have 4 and I am starting to feel like a blogging loser. LOL!!

Lastly, I just wanted to let everybody know that today is Prom for "Miss Priss" and that I promise to post later with pictures!!