Honey, I need your help....

Hello Bloggy Friends,
Thank Goodness I have all of you in my life. I have a huge confession to make, and this was the first place I could think to share. I have a problem, a huge problem...I have severe depression, and when I get into "funks" I spend WAY too much money. I am recently married, and just learning to live in WE-ville, the first step was learning about money. I have no respect for it, never have... and I am pretty sure it will be a long time before I ever will.
Since we lost the baby, I have spent over $500 on books, knitting supplies, scrapping supplies... and lots of other crap... Since we lost the baby I have spent almost every dime I have made, not to mention a little extra of his income... which becomes a problem since we are behind on utillities since I "forgot" to pay them in November and December.
Last night I finally admitted to my husband what I have been doing, and let him know that I needed help. I make pretty good money, but you would never know it since by the time I get paid again, I have already spent it all on books, yarn, scrappy supplies, and in general crap! His income was being stretched to cover all of our house expenses, and then yesterday I realized that WE need to work together, if this (US) is going to work.
We had a long talk last night.. he was loving, and understanding, and I feel very reasonable. I will still be taking my knitting class, but when I buy the supplies he will go with, to make sure their are not too many impulse extras. We discussed the reasons I spend, and the ways to help limit it
and my new spending rules are as follows.
I get $100/week to save/spend/or build oragami with (no questions asked).
The balance of my paycheck is to go to family bills, and to make sure this happens we are having it Direct Depositied into an account I can not get into. After Six months we will re-evaluate.
This is a big step for me, not to mention how hard it is going to be... I am going to need all teh support i can get. Please pray for us, as I learn to control this dangerous addiction, and repair my brandnew marriage.

*my other blog*

hey friends, just got home from the family stuff...
quick posted on my other blog and so decided to leave a note here.

hope you all had a very merry christmas!

It takes a village....

Now, I am not sure how this is going to come out, but I am going to try and explain this without it coming out wrong. I grew up alone, I have three siblings, and two parents that always seemed to love each other...but just the same I grew up alone.
I never had friends over, and there were not many aunts and uncles in my life... sure I have aunts and uncles but they lived far away, and I am sure that if I was not always the one to call then I would never hear from any of them. In other words No Village!!!

I hate being alone, I have never enjoyed it... I do not have a lot of friends but the ones that I do have I treasure immensely, and would do anything for.
The reason that I am writing this blog is because I realized something the other day. I live with my husband, and I live with my husbands best friend (Joe).... lately their has been a lot of conversation about us living without him, but honestly more often then not I like him there. (sorta) I always joke that we need a granny unit for him, because he is my brother and friend, and I can not imagine my life without him.

I love the saying "it takes a village..." Imagine a property of multiple houses and then everyone shares common areas in a separate house, with a huge kitchen, and dining area.... Then maybe one house would have us and our future children... and the other houses would have the families of my friends and their children... My children would grow up with real Aunts and Uncles, and cousins as a part of their everyday lives....standing in place when I was not there.. in doing so we would create our own village. My children would NOT grow up alone.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas bloggy friends, this is our first Christmas Card as Mr&Mrs B.
Hope the holidays find you safe, warm, healthy and surrounded by those you love.
Please do not forget the real reason for this holiday season.
Happy Birthday Jesus!

Christmas Spirit, and a cameo by Dreamy Tim!

Hello friends, finally I found my Christmas Spirit it was hiding in my icing box... j/k but it did seem to come out when I started planning to decorate Gingerbread Houses with my niece Lexis.
This morning I woke up really early, cracked up the Christmas Carols, lit the Christmas Tree, and started a fire...then pulled out my glue gun..last year the construction process required multiple hands, extra icing and a blow dryer. This year I pre-assembled the house before Lexi arrived. All the decorations were staged, and the icing mixed and bagged with icing tips.

(I learned from last year which you can read about here).
When Lexi was 3/4 Tim decided to explain to her the importance of the incandescent light bulb... and due to his infinite patience, and understanding he has a life long friend, Lexi has informed me that Tim is more dreamy then Troy!
Last year we had a cameo from my husbands friend "Dreamy Tim". So this year he was invited by special request. We had a great time, decorating the house, constructing the chimneys, and in general just getting into the Christmas Spirit. Thank you Tim for joining us for today in our project. Not many of Babe's friends would have been willing. The pictures below are lacking Babe as he was on Camera duty... not to mention he was busy laughing at Tim's continuing questions to Lexi as to how the house was heated, and her perplexed looks...Hey Secret Santa, I even wore my awesome holiday shirt you sent me, we love how it lights up.
OK everyone, enjoy the pictures!



Look at the detail work, I know I told him to NOT take pictures of me.... he never listens!
There are some great pictures of Lexi and Tim though... They both seemed to have a really great time... too bad Tim bailed as soon as it was time for Clean UP!

I should be sleeping....

Confession: I pushed Mark All Read on the Reader, since I did not want to try and read through 97 new blogs (sorry)

I am super tired, but I have yet to make it upstairs... Babe is crashed, and so I wanted to blog a little, and then crawl under the covers. First though, let me catch you up on my life this week.

MM-Christmas Party... and I have to share my exciting White Elephant Gift that Babe and I received.... Thank you to the other H&M in this world... the justice though is that the year we graduated college, is the same year they got married... that means they are old (j/k)
I am so looking forward to getting to know then both, especially H, who is a book lover just like me :)

SS-Swap...today I got a box, a pretty white and red and blue box. Inside were wonderful gifts, and best of all a bag of yummy goldfish...MMMM Goldfish, I actually opened them, and I am munching while I type. I am not even going to begin to guess, as I am so new to the blog world...and so I am just getting to know each of you, but Secret Santa, thank you for the yummy scents, and the cozy socks... I am wearing the light up shirt to church on Sunday, you hear that Lisa P. my shirt lights up....pretty kewl huh?

I am so excited that I have found
someone to ship me books over the pond.
Yay for new bloggy friends.

84 Charing Cross Road...you know that book you read as a kid, and that you have to re-read as an adult? When I was young I use to pilfer my mothers books. This was always one of my favorites, so on my last Amazon spree I purchased both the book and the movie, and so when I got home tonight I read the book cover to cover, while simultaneously watching the movie....


Knitting an Afghan...I am making progress, slow progress but progress just the same.
I will try and take pictures tomorrow of the blanket, of course after I spend all night watching Potter movies and knitting, then I will post my progress, because tomorrow night is Potter-ific night with Carter :0)

OK that was a lot of jumbled ramblings... so I wish you dear friends Good Night!

The Giving Tree/ and our Tree

So this year I decided to take on a BIG project, and I only have until December 19th.
At work we have a giving tree, that features red hearts with names of people and what they want for Christmas. I picked my heart based on the first letter of the persons name.
The Heart that I got was for Hildelisa, Age74-F. I have decided to modify the pictured afghan for her. I really hope she ends up liking it.
Of course I just learned to knit, so hopefully she will also be forgiving of my efforts.

Today Max and I spent the day running around to different craft stores to find the required colors in required quantities, for this pattern.
I will try to keep you all updated on my efforts, of course worse case senario their is a backup plan... Bed Bath and Beyond, have beautiful lap blankets on sale...but I really do want to make this one from my heart. Merry Christmas Hildelisa, I am going to try to make you something very special.

If you want the pattern: Click Here

My Heart from the tree:



















The yarn I purchased today, all spread out:



















A picture of what my blanket should look like when finished:













__________________

In other news:

The Christmas tree is all decorated, we picked it up on 11/28 but because of my surgery it had to wait a few extra days to get beautified, then last Thursday when Max was working late, Joe and I decided to make it all Christmasy around the house.. in search of our Christmas Spirit.
Below are pictures of our efforts...Oh and a cute candid of Edison, one of my feline roommates.




























So does anyone else have their tree up yet???

Random Facts... that you may not want to know....

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you (SASKIA)

2. Post the rules on your blog

3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself

4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs

5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

*The Written Word, oatmeal packets, books, magazines, newspapers....any subject, any genre it does not matter, I just Love to read! (TMI) I will even read the instructions to tampons when sitting on the toilet, just because it has words... and after 10years of this fun, trust me I know how they work.

*My IPod features over 50 Christmas Albums: I love Christmas Carols- anytime of year I can listen to Christmas Carols.... I love nothing more then Christmas in July.

*Alphabets: There is just something about the seeing things in alphabetical order, every movie in our house is alphabetized, my book shelves are alphabetized by Genre and author, my music is alphabetized. When things are in alphabetical order, I find peace.

*I lay out my clothes: Ever since I was a little girl I have had to lay my clothes out the night before, as an adult I plan my outfit and set it on my dresser before I go to bed at night.

*I can not write X-mas (this blog is the exception, only as an explanation) no matter how much time it saves, someone once said to me that X-mas was crossing out Christ, and ever since then I have written out Christmas... even when its a small space, like on a calendar I write Christmas out in full.

*Kicks: I get on kicks.... I love cupcakes, so I collect random cupcake paraphernalia... Davinci Code caused me to read every book written on the Holy Grail (my current goal is to own a copy of DC in every language it was translated into), The Left Behind Books caused me to read multiple translations of the bible, Pink, when my mother was diagnosed with cancer last year, I saturated my wardrobe and accessories with the color pink. I get obsessive... I have to read and research every book ever written on the subject, own every item even similar, and discuss it with everyone I come into contact with... case in point.

Blogs Taggs:
It says to tag six people, and so the people that I chose for this challenge were my IRL bloggy friends, three of which are new to blogging because of my new obsession.
Without further ado, my taggs go to. Please visit their blogs and give them a little love, so they learn to love this as much as all of us.

the newbies:
VIVALY
GI JOE
PEACHYKATH
ANGELA

the veterans:
LISA P
TASRA

Happy blogging friends.

Bad day turns good, thanks to a little TLC

Well friends my bad day has certainly taken a turn for the better.

All thanks to my friend APRIL, she designed this awesome new layout for me.

Whatcha think?

Your Elf Name Is: Trixie Candy Cane Lips

Hey friends, I

have not been feeling very Chirstmasy this year.

Not sure why, we have the tree, but its as bare as it was when hubby brought it home.

Wish I could find my Christmas spirit soon, maybe at the Tea Party this weekend.

Please tell me if you see my Christmas Spirit, I am starting to miss it.

PS: even my elf name feels off...

Black Friday

Part I

OK so I take my Christmas shopping the day after thanksgiving pretty seriously. Below is a picture of my notebook, I have clipped the items I want, listing them with the name of the store, and the time the store opens.

From this page we have the following items:

Target 6am (new camera $89)

Circuit City 5am (Microsoft office $70)

Cost Plus 7am (puppet theatre $35)

Gottschalks 4am (bedding $30)

Part II

The Next step is to figure out who we are shopping

for and set a budget for each of these people.

This year things are pretty tight, so we have only

listed families with children...and our siblings.

For each couple we know, I will be creating some sort

of datenight, Oh and the camera was for me,

thats how I am able to once again post pictures.

Part III

At less than $10 each, we decided to buy a few movies for our library this year, so in no particular order the movies we got yesterday.

• Devil wears Prada
• The Christmas Shoes
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (love this one)
• The Golden Compass
• Sleeping Beauty
• August Rush
• 21
• Made of Honor
• 27 Dresses
• Juno
• Hairspray
• the Holiday
• the List
• Saving Sarah Cain

So tell me, how did you spend your Black Friday???

to all our friends, near and far

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving

no matter where you are.

love, H&M (aka Mr and Mrs Cupcake)

...these are a few of my favorite things...

Thank you 6 (reminds me of blossom)
I love your blog it always makes me smile.
Especially on a day I feel sad!

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mitten

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad"

#5 I love to read, especially the new Twilight Series.
Thank you Stephenie...the movie was great too.

#4 Cupcakes
What is there not to love, especially when they come from my favorite Cupcakery here in Sonoma County. Thank you Andrea for the awesome cupcakes for our wedding.














#3 Starbucks,
I love it all, Grande Single Non Fat Vanilla Latte's, Iced Green Teas with 4splendas, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Ginger Spice Latte's oh and lets not forget the perfectly chocolate dipped madelines. Starbucks is my Mother Ship...well that and Michaels.














#2 Snow White: she is my all time favorite Disney Princess... and as an added bonus I get to list Thomas Kincade, by far one of the most talented artists of all time.










#1 I love growing up and now living in a small town. The Butter and Eggs Day Parade is my favorite, plus all of the awesome history and stunnung buildings downtown. My number one favorite thing is my hometown of Petaluma.



















Now who to tag??? lets go for Lisa, and April
Have fun girls!

Things that Annoy me

thank you to AprilShowers for tagging me.
I am in an icky space today, so I will keep the list to five, otherwise...

• DVR Skipping: it drives me nuts when the DVR skips during fast forward. I absolutely hate when I have to start my program over because the DVR jumped to the end. This is especially frustrating when things were just getting good.
• Commercials before Major Motion Pictures: Previews before a movie are the only appropriate advertisements if I have paid $10 to sit in that seat. That or invent a theatre that runs on DVR so we can Fastforward the commercials.
• Corner Folders:I am a total book Nazi (sorry if I offend), but if I loan you one of my books, please do NOT fold the corner. I do not want a permanent indicator of when the kids got home from school.
• the sentence "please don't take this wrong...":if you felt the need to qualify your statement, please keep it to yourself. All I heard was "I know this is going to piss you off, but I really don't care, because I want to see you cry".

and the main thing that makes me more annoyed then anything else....

• JUNIOR Psychologist: Just because you watch Dr.Phil everyday, this does not give you "carte blanche" to offer an opinion on my family, childhood, education, career, faith, and especially keep you trap shut about my marriage. If you have that much of an opinion start a Blog, and make sure you change my name to protect the innocent.

honorable mentions: I can't list them as I am guilty of all offenses.

-people that interrupt with their own story

-talking on the cellphone at the checkstand

-picture in picture, with the main screen on mute, and the little one with sound.

-people who blast music at the stoplight.

OK time for taggs, how about.... Peachykath, SoxyDeb, Joe and Bee.

Day 3

Still not feeling great, needed to get plenty of REST!

Well not allot happened today,
I slept most of the morning, then had lunch and hit the bookstore, where I bought the first in a new YA Vampire Series.

I also made it to two movies today (yes we paid for both)- Both were pretty good, both needed to be seen on the big screen, so no regrets for the $10/ticket.

I saw HSM3 with my BFF from HighSchool.

Later I saw 007 with my Sweetie. Now I am tired, off to bed!

Day 2 of Daily Posting

Well not a lot to say today, I went home sick from work, same as yesterday.
I took a nap for about three hours, and my fever finally broke.
Oh and I finished two new Vampire books.

I know I have a little obsession with Vampires, and these books are HILARIOUS.
Ok well, thats about it for today... but hey at least I actually posted something

I love polka dots

tell the preppyprincess people
who you are thankful for, and
maybe this fabulous polkadotted apron
could be yours.

to blog, or not to blog?

To blog, or not to blog? That really is the question.
How often do I sit at my desk mentally drafting blogs?
They are always witty, and insightful, humerous, and endearing. (If I do say so myself.)
Too bad, they never actually get written?
My life is just not that exciting, but hey lets see if I can do this....
My goal for the rest of the year is to post daily.
I have one follower, lets see if by the end of November I can have two followers,
besides my mother of course.

this one is kind of intense...sorry readers (Mom)

Lately I have been expending a lot of mental energy trying to define who I am. My thoughts have been saturated by memories of my father, and my role as a daughter (since we never really got along).

My first role in life was that of a daughter, and as the first born, you could say I was the guinea pig and while the majority of the time my parents were intense/strict/unfair, I can honestly say that I never did question their love.

With the anniversary of my fathers death looming on the horizon, memories of the past have been flooding. The last time I say my father alive was Novenber 23, 2006 Thanksgiving Day, we sat across from each other sharing a bottle of Martinelli's. Our last conversation was an argument on the night of November 26, I was invited to family dinner, but I was too busy preparing for a job interview the next morning. I never knew that would be the last time I would speak to him. Aita died on the morning of November 27, 2006, the same day that I interviewed for and accepted the job at my dream company.

The family was planning to meet at my Ttantta's house, I was late leaving my house, and called my youngest brother to check in and see if I was going to be in trouble. Turns out he and Aita
has gotten into an argument and he had refused to attend family dinner. With much bribery on m,y part, and the promise that only his music would play for the entire two hour drive, I had my brother dressed nice, and in the car on his way to Thanksgiving. At the time I just remember thinking how greatful I was that my family would all be together.

This particular drive has become one of my favorites, in that Drew (who was 14 at the time) and I were given the opportunity to really talk. We had by far the best BIG/little chat about girls, school, and our parents who never seemed to understand.
Never did anyone see that this would be our last opportunity to spend time with my fathers, hearing his outrageous stories, or hearing his roaring laughter.

So much of that day is forever ingrained in my heart, I remember my fathers excitement as he told me about the book(The Prayer of Jabez) that I had given him. We shared memories, and laughter, and smiles, sober, lighthearted, and unforgettable!

Had I know it was my last opportunity to sit and talk with my father, things would have been different. I would have told him I loved him, and that I was sorry for all the strife I had caused him and my mother over the years. Aita Je t'aime

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."
1 Chronicles 4:10

...first month of marriage...

To say the last week was crazy is an understatement....I have been away on a business trip, so back to the basics of life...

• Fresh off the Married train, and Month One (not pregnant), yes mom we are trying... trust me we are trying.
  

• Yipee I finished it, my second reading of Twilight, OK Edward DAZZLE me.... how many more days until November 21st?

• Secret Santa: I got my girl...just blog stalking, and learning what I can to create a fun little package...

• Halloween...its when, OH NO I still don't have a costume, do you think if I wear regular clothes, I can say I am suppose to be Bella?

• Hubby, you really are a treat, wow...daises when I got home... someone is gonna get a little...kiss, when my cold goes away
  

• Thank You Cards: you say we have a year? Good, I started on the Honeymoon, but really only finished a few, not sure when I will get back to them

• Have I really grownup? I went out to breakfast with my highschool GF last week, and we have nothing in common anymore :O(
  

• Pub Trivia Thursday night was a blast, not sure how many drinks I had... What is the name of the Three Wise Men? Umm Dude that is so not in the Bible... trust me I Googled that Sh*t as soon as I got back to my hotel room... Tommy the Bartender you ROCK!
  

• Wedding pictures are suppose to be available today... Hey Mr. Photographer, wake up and release them Pretty PLEASE!!

• Time to get Skinny (again), yeah I know I have said it... Twives (Tuesday Wives) is suppose to Start Weight Watchers, (theJonese) swear by Cross Fit, has anyone invented the magic book that you read and you get skinny? I can read and get Skinny, I just cant exercise, eat right, and loose weight, is there something wrong with me?
  

• Monday (drove 4 hours) to the Sales Meeting, had a blast seeing all my Rep's. TUES/WED/Thur meetings, and schmoozing. Friday (5 hour drive) YIPEE I am HOME!!!
  

• the 10year is this weekend, I am so not going, I am heavier, still not finished with College, and honestly just feel like crap, can I stay home pretty please

• Not sure I should even say anything but HSM 3 here I come!!! Troy is just so DREAMY! even is he is a little young for me....
  

OK so that was a whole lot of nothing... but hey that usually how conversations go with me... with the attention span of a goldfish, you might get more then two bullet points that go together...

Catch ya on the flip side.

Fall into Reading 2008 Update

Update for Fall 2008 Fall into reading!!!

Check out Callapidder Days, and her annual Fall into reading challange!

1. The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, by Diane Chamberlain
• finished on the Honeymoon
2. The Negotiator, by Dee Henderson
• finished 10/7
3. The Garduan, by Dee Henderson
• finished 10/25
  
4. Bitter is the New Black, by Jen Lancaster
• finished on the Honeymoon
5. Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead by Saralee Rosenberg
• finished 10/8
6. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
• finished 10/5
7. Sunset, Karen Kingsbury
• finished on the honeymoon
  

...back to my book!

Fall Into Reading 2008

Welcome to Fall 2008... all the way from Bass Lake, relaxing in our Condo! I am on my honeymoon, curled up next to my dear husband (I love saying that), blogging (yes i really just said that....) good thing he understands my obsession... looks like my favorite challenge is back YIPEE!

Check out Callapidder Days, and her annual Fall into reading challange!

Not sure yet what will make my list, but just to start are the books I brought on my honeymoon:

1. The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, by Diane Chamberlain
2. The Negotiator, by Dee Henderson
3. The Garduan, by Dee Henderson
4. Bitter is the New Black, by Jen Lancaster
5. Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead by Saralee Rosenberg
6. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
7. Sunset, Karen Kingsbury

Happy Reading Everyone!

Yipee!!!!

Well its official, we are hitched.
Currently we are on our honeymoon, so details and pix to follow! H&M

Checking In

Well things have certainly changed...

Here is a sample of the decisions that we have been making as of late:

~irish car bomb, 50/50 or pink champagne.... what flavor of cupcakes do we want

~"father daughter dance" or NOT

~favors or just photo' strips...

~Pink or Green.

Yes you guessed it we are getting married... the count down has begun, we tie the knot on 9/20/08.

I realized...

Rainy Day Surprises

So I received my Heidi Swapp Dec/Jan kits, I love getting mail that is not BILLS..and I only spent $20. at http://www.krazykreations.com/ today, check out what I bought!(4) Bazzill Card Stock(8) Basic Grey Pattern Paper(1) Acryllic Blockand I ordered (2) Circle Bling Packs.

I have been talking about how much I miss scrapbooking, and so DB has been helping me to manage my habit and get things back in gear.

My new scrappy rules are as follows:
1. I will only buy $100 of scrap supplies per month, and must produce at least four pages, either four singels or two doubles 12x12.
2. I will only buy one brand of embellishments. I recently have fallen in love with the Heidi Swapp Club, so that is where my embellishments have been coming from.
3. I will only go to the scrap store with DB, and I will stick to the pre-determined list.
4. I will only subscribe to one magazine, Creating Keepsakes is the one I kept.
5. I will take pictures and get them onto CD ASAP, and actually get them printed.

Scrapbooking needs to be fun again, maybe I will take a class or two. Jana at Krazy Kreations is teaching a "Progressive Scrapbooking" class that will teach using a different medium every month. Sounds like just what I need to get my monthly fix of new stuff ! :o)