The pink is back!

After finding a gray hair last week (my first real one!), I decided it was time to dye my hair. So if I'm going to go to the trouble of doing it myself then why not add some hot pink?

Gathering 'round the fire

Saturday we had what will likely be our last fire of the season. It was the perfect night for it: just chilly enough and not windy. We made s'mores and had fun talking to our friends. I love sitting around the fire and just relaxing. And nothing beats that campfire smell. Mmm..

My Review of 4-pocket stretch flare women's plus size jeans by Mainstreet Blues®

My Review of 4-pocket stretch flare women's plus size jeans by Mainstreet Blues®

Originally submitted at WomanWithin

Our 4-pocket stretch plus size flare jeans beautifully balance the silhouette. We provide the finest plus size jeans and plus size denim for the price.

• Fabulous modern fit, sit slightly above waist
• Button/zip front
• Belt loops
• 2 front scoop...

4-pocket stretch flare women's plus size jeans by Mainstreet Blues®

Love them!

By M from IL on 9/28/2009

 

4out of 5

Waist: Feels true to size

Length: Feels true to length

Pros: Flattering, Stylish, Comfortable, Great Color

Cons: A little tight in knee

Best Uses: Casual Wear

Describe Yourself: Casual Dresser

I love these jeans. With a coupon, I got them for $9.99. They are very flattering and fit really well. I did notice when I first put them on that they were a bit tight in the knees but after a few hours they stretched out and were more comfortable. If not for the tightness in the knees I would probably have gone with one size down from my normal size with how stretchy they are. Overall, I really like them and would buy them again.

(legalese)

Darling, do the dishes!

Save Illinois Map Grant

PLEASE consider signing this petition or contacting your IL lawmaker to save the MAP Grant. This is really important to students like myself who count on this to fund their education

Save Illinois Map Grant

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A visit

Josh's uncle visited us last night from South Carolina. Since we live so far away from each other we don't get to see his side of the family very often. It was really nice to see Uncle Stanley.

Sorry for the grainy camera phone picture quality.





In other news, it's really beginning to look like fall around here. The corn is really high and things are turning from green to golden and red.

My Review of Zip-free™ wide-leg women's plus size trousers by Chelsea Studio®

Originally submitted at WomanWithin

Zip-free™ wide-leg plus size trousers give you the comfort of your favorite knit pants with the polish of a twill.

• roomy legs
• modern fit, they sit at waist
• wide pull-on contoured waistband with elastic at top edge
• back shaping darts
<...

Zip-free™ wide-leg women's plus size trousers by Chelsea Studio®

Great Pants

By M from IL on 9/23/2009

 

4out of 5

Waist: Feels true to size

Inseam: Feels true to length

Pros: Great Color, Attractive Design, Flattering, Quality Material, Comfortable

Best Uses: Business Casual, Going Out

Describe Yourself: Bargain Shopper

Love these pants. The only reason that I didn't give them a perfect rating is because the wide legs weren't as wide as I expected. Some reviewers said to order a size down, but I ordered the size I typically do from WW and it fit just great.

(legalese)

Keepin' Busy

The way that I cope is to work on the things that I can control. I can't control so many of life's stresses, but I can fix up my home. So Josh and I have started to paint the main area of our house. We are trying to take it slowly, do it right and have fun with it rather than having a stressful marathon painting session. We have one big wall and some touch ups left to do in this color.

Some snippets of our living room. This first picture is the most accurate of the color which is by KILZ. The color is called Carmelized.

One of "those families"...

You know those families that you see on tv who have all these big problems happening to them at once? I'm starting to feel like my family is "one of those families". Just when I feel that I couldn't possibly take one more thing, that one more thing happens. Last night I learned that my Dad has lung cancer. I do not know the prognosis yet but hopefully we'll hear that soon and it will be positive and hopeful news.

I truly believe that there is something to having people pray for you or put their positive thoughts about you into the universe. So that's why I'm sharing this with you who are reading this. Please send a positive thought our way or say a prayer to whatever god you believe in.

Berry picking

Saturday we took the kids to Honey Hill Orchards in Waterman to pick raspberries. Although Josh has been fruit picking as a child, the kids and I had never gone so it was a cool first experience for us. We had a great time and I hope to go again soon.


Berries!






For some reason my children want to make goofy faces whenever I take their photo lately...






My handsome husband



Josh made friends with the bloodhound who lives at the farm.



More berries, yum!

One of many...

One of the many reasons I love my husband is that he's an excellent cook. Yesterday's lunch: falafel pita sandwich.

I'm on the interwebs

Dear Thyroidpublished my letter to my thyroid. Check it out!

Abby's room

I'd mentioned awhile back that for her 7th birthday, Abby wanted us to re-do her room. It was really more of a decorating her room in the first place because we'd never painted in there. Since she's a 7 year old girl, her room is often full of Barbie dolls and Polly Pockets and not so often is it clean.

Keep in mind that while this is Abby and Daddy's version of clean, it is Mommy's version of "looks-like-your-toy-box-exploded-in-here".

We let Abby help us paint a bit. We also wanted to let her leave her own special mark on the room, so she made these hand prints on one wall.

View from her hallway door:




View from the bathroom door



Her pink iMac



Pictures I painted for her.:

What's new in the room: paint, curtains, desk, chair, bookshelf, iMac.
Still to come: hopefully the cleaning fairy will visit, new lamp and wall decor. I like these from IKEA for near her bed.

New shoes

I love to get a bargain. To me, shopping for a deal is like a sport. So I have to share my latest good deal. Friday Abby and I went out for a mommy/daughter "date". We got ice cream, had her hair cut and went shoe shopping. Abby has always loved new shoes. We went to Payless where we got these 2 pairs. One for me and one for her. (I think you can assume the iCarly pair was not the ones I chose.) Originally our shoes were $44. After the BOGO sale and a coupon I had from Office Max (weird huh?), we spent $25. Yay! Hard for the husband to complain when it's that good of a deal.

Abby's new 'do

Just wanted to share Abby's cute new look. It's a big change and the shortest she's ever had her hair.