Wacky Web Wednesday # 20

And if that wasn't enough to tickle your innards (strange how that just emerged. Totally something my grandma would say!) head on over to Give you a Daisy a Day. Daisy participates in Wacky Web Wednesdays now and then and found this little gem last week! I bet you can't help but tap your toes! And for fun, try following along! It is priceless!

Where has the summer gone?

I have been so busy with weddings, showers, conference planning and job hunting I have nearly forgotten to enjoy my summer 'off'. Huh. Summer off, yeah right. It seems like regardless of my employment status, I have put in at least 40 hours a week all summer (maybe even overtime)!

This last weekend I was at a cousin's wedding.




Monday I spent the day with my bff K for her birthday! We had lunch at Dave and Buster's and then drove to Stillwater to walk through the cute shops and go on the trolley tour. The tour was full, so instead of basking in the sun on a trolley full of hot sweaty people, we hunted out some ice cream. We had ice cream and french fries... It turned out to be perfect!




Monday night I applied for another job! This one required me to create a username and password and entire application on their site. I had to retype all my resume into their forms. Plus they asked for way more information than I was prepared for! I was so nervous about hitting "submit".

Today I spent the day organizing conference materials and then going to a prep meeting. Honestly, I am so ready for this conference to be over. However I do enjoy meeting at Caribou Coffee. It gives the the excuse I need to have one of these! Yes, even when it is 90 degrees outside...

On my way home from the meeting, I stopped at Costco to pick up a pizza for our monthly anniversary! :-) A 16 inch pizza, already cooked pizza for $9.95. Yummy! However they only take cash or checks at the food counter and of course neither of which was in my bag, SO I went to the food section and just grabbed one to cook at home. Same pizza, uncooked, but cost $9.99. What... back up. Strange. Plus, they take debit at the regular check outs, just not the food court. Whatever!

So Husband and I celebrated our July 08 anniversary with costco pizza and tv. We are getting a little not so creative with these monthly deals. Hmm. (Honey,we need to work on that!). It is getting somewhat repetitive of eating out and tv watching.

Tomorrow, I have another conference meeting (as I do all day on Friday as well!). Ugh.

Plus! There is the Bloggy giveaways going on. These are always so much fun however I'm saddened by the fact that I have been only able to visit a couple other participant blogs with all the craziness going on! Hopefully I'll have a few down moments between now and Friday!

Then next week, I'm hoping to get back on a regular posting schedule! I had been doing so well...

Bloggy Giveaway - Gift Card!

WELCOME!

I'm so excited to be hosting a giveaway for the Quarterly Bloggy Giveaways Carnival!

I am so happy you all stopped by! Please feel free to browse around! I have a variety of post topics. Check out the Floating Thoughts Cloud on the right!


I wanted to give away something fun and different, however with job hunting, conference planning, and all the family stuff going on, I have decided to go easy on myself and give away a

$10 Target Gift Card!

To enter the drawing to win your very own Target gift card, please leave a comment below. To be eligible, include in the comment your favorite post on Forever Daisies, favorite topic at Forever Daisies or something you would like to see at Forever Daisies (topics, photos, or other suggestions!)!


I will choose a winner on August 2nd, at approximately 8 pm.

Good Luck!

**Edit: Be sure to leave a way to contact you in case you win!

**Comments are closed! Thank you to everyone that participated and visited!**

Each journey begins with a single step

I have been pondering life. Why am I here? What am I supposed to do? I can I achieve my goals? Am I on the right path? Career wise? Spiritually? With Friends and Family? Who am I? Who do I want to be...


Maybe this is my sign...

A sign of what exactly, I'm not sure. However while using wordle today, I entered my blog address and hit "random" and it gave me a random shape, colors and font for this image. I instantly thought "footprint".

Thoughts?

Image made at Wordle.

Something weird

If you use Twitter you may already know, but it went all crazy on us. Thus, if you were following me, you most likely are not now. It dropped all people that I was following and those following me (well, not dropped completely, but no one is following anyone now... does that make sense?).

It is a mess. Guess I'm happy I hadn't worked to hard too build a huge group of foreverdaisies tweet followers.

However, whether or not you were previously following me, you can start following me at http://twitter.com/foreverdaisies . I update it more often than my blog (usually) as I can update from my cell :) It can be addictive (you have been warned).


Happy Thursday!

Wednesday already!?

It is hard to believe it is already Wednesday, and quickly nearing the end of July already! Where has the summer gone? I have spent the last couple days trying to catch up with laundry, emails, applications, and dishes, non of which are 100% yet. Yesterday morning, instead of doing any of the above, I made these that I found on Daisys blog (yes, yummy apple dumplings - which I now have renamed "(Good Enough to go to Confession) Apple Dumplings"). They are amazing, especially with vanilla ice cream!

I ended up making 2 pans and taking some in to my husband and his co-workers. When I got there, over their noon break, there was a seminar going on, titled "Healthy Eating"! HAHA! OOPS!

Today, I'm back to catching up on the previously mentioned items. I really want to be caught up, but really, is one ever to that point?

Happy Wacky Web Wednesday

Finally home!

What a week! I had NO intention on being away so long. I guess things work in strange ways. My mind is still a bit scrambled. It feels like a bullets kind of day.

• Found out my husband's grandmother was in the hospital.
• We went to NE for a wedding.
• My grandpa is also sick.
• My grandma is having trouble with her good eye.
• Car broke down.
• I didn't get the job.
• Plus a couple other things... I guess I'm not ready to share everything here.

With everything going on, my husband and I ended up staying with our family for almost a week. It was nice to be able stay with them for longer than just a weekend.

We are back. My husband has went back to work. I'm trying to catch up. I feel blessed to be able to spend time with our families, however am feeling like I'm so far behind. Almost so far I just don't want to try to catch up. Then finding out that I didn't get the job didn't help any.

I'm slowly getting there... Thanks for understanding!

Menu Plan Monday 7-21-08

Thank you to everyone that left recipe suggestions a couple weeks ago! I ended up being sick and not cooking. Thus this week, I would like to give the linky love to everyone that left an idea!

THANK YOU to Barbara, angie, Brenda, Amy, Stacy & Brian


Monday - - Crock pot steaks and fruit smoothies

Tuesday - - Crock pot meatloaf, potatoes and gravy from Angie

"Dice those potatoes and place in the bottom of your crock pot. Mix together a can of cream of mushroom condensed soup and lipton onion soup mix. Make meatloaf whatever you like. Layer the meatloaf over the potatoes and then pour the "gravy" over the top"

Wednesday - - Whatever kind of fish we have in the freezer!

Thursday - - Reader's choice. This week I'm looking for a rice recipe. Something simple and yummy! Any ideas?

Friday - - Left overs or Pasta Salad/Cold Sandwiches

Saturday and Sunday - - yet another wedding to attend


Be sure to visit I'm an Organizing Junkie for other Meal Planning Ideas!

We were supposed to be home

We should be home, in MN right now.

We actually left ON TIME, which if you know us, is no minor miracle.

Instead...

About 1/2 way back we stopped for gas. Filled up. Paid at pump. Pulled forward, parked. Went inside for drinks. Paid. Returned to car. Put in reverse. Car quit and would not start. Tried for 10 minutes. We got towed to the Ford dealer. The tow truck driver (while driving) dug under his seat. Found a nearly empty bag of chips. Dumped a few in his hand. Put back under seat. 5 minutes later, Drove with his knees. Dug for the bag again. Dumps rest of chips in his mouth. Ford cannot even look at car until tomorrow. We are #5100. They were on #2000 when we left.

Geez. Just our Luck.

Quick Update

Hello! This week ended up starting off too busy, and it doesn't look like it is going to slow down. We ended up in South Dakota visiting family. Most likely will be for the remainder of the week. I guess everything happens for a reason! If I can figure it out more tomorrow, I"ll try to most more regular updates on Twitter! You can subscribe to my Twitter feed by going here!

I should also hear about the job this week! I'm keeping my fingers crossed! :-)

I'll try to post at least photos soon! I always end up with some fun beautiful landscape photos when spending time out here!

What are your plans for the week?

Pay It Forward Friday #3 and Friday fill in #80!

Happy Friday!
I'm combining my Pay It Forward Friday and Friday Fill In Posts!

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Welcome to Pay It Forward Friday, hosted by An Iowa Mom!

Pay it forward Friday gives everyone a little extra reason to give a shout out and some linky love to one of their favorite bloggy reads!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

• Title Of Blog I Would Like To Feature Is: Play More, Laugh More, Live More
  
• I Like This Blog Because: Playful Professional writes about food, real life, and stuff that is really meaningful, and makes you think. She also recently got a new apartment and a new job! Click on over and congratulate her!
  
• Posts I really Enjoyed: . . . well, I linked to several above! Check 'um out!

FOR MORE PAY IT FORWARD FRIDAY'S, VISIT AN IOWA MOM


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Friday Fill In #80

1. Oh, I can't wait until I have a house of my own.

2. The water filter is the first thing I see when I open my refrigerator.

3. I never leave home without my cell phone.

4. If I were a condiment, I would be sugar because ... why not.

5. Smoking is really high up on my list of pet peeves.

6. The last thing I thought of before I went to bed was geez, I'm tired and just want to sleep.

Thursday Thirteen #9

My {current} 13 Favorite Craft Supplies/Tools
... in no particular order!

1... Paper. You can see how I organize it here and here!

2... Paper trimmer. Don't craft without one!

3... Crop-a-dile and accessories. I use eyelets, and snaps all the time! The crop a dile was the only way to go (before having the crop a dile, I used the hammer tool. After annjoying to many apartment neighbors in the middle of the night with my loud crafting, husband got me this amazing creation!).




4... Dotto. This adhesive is perfect for nearly everything. Even photo safe!

5... Cricut. Since using this machine I have never looked back. No more tracing letters, buying endless alphabet stickers, or wishing I could fit just the right embellishment. It is amazing! You can see some of the projects I have created with it here!

6... Xyron sticker makers, 2 sizes. This makes it SO much easier to tack down those smaller items instead of getting glue everywhere!



7... My stamp and ink collection. I especially appreciate the acrylic stamps. They allow one to see through the stamp for perfect placement. However I do still use my wood mounted stamps a lot!

8... Heating tool and embossing powders. Never did I think I would enjoy such a thing. I made the mistake of using one. Then I had to have one. I use it nearly every time I craft.

9... Buttons. Simple however can add the perfect touch.

10... Metal tags and tag maker. Simple amazing and versatile.



11... My printer. I have an HP all in one printer/scanner/copier/fax. It prints amazing photos. I don't print all my photos at home, however it is a life saver when I'm in the middle of a project and need a 1x1 inch photo printed!

12... My camera, Canon digital. Many of my projects are inspired by my photos.

13... My computer, a Mac of course. I edit many photos on my computer, using iPhoto, and Photoshop. I enjoy taking a color photo and making it all black and white except the featured subject.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

A Change

Everything happens for a reason. Last night (well really early this morning) I was playing with my blog. I thought I had it all backed up and ready to go. I did not. Thus, is why what used to look like this:


Now does not.

However, my new look is growing on me. Sure it needs some work, but I think I like it.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

PS. Back up your blogger template before doing anything, even if you think you backed it up just a week ago!

Works for Me - Laundry

I honestly don't mind laundry. Sure, it isn't that much fun, but it beats washing dishes or scrubbing toilets any day!

I do try to keep our laundry organized. Yeah, for the entire TWO of us :-)

Here is what works for us...

I keep a laundry basket in our bathroom/closet (it is nearly one in the same). We put our dirty stuff, and clothes hangers here.

When it is full, one of us takes the basket to the laundry room. We have one of those 3 bin sorters. We go with darks, whites/lights and reds. The hangers get placed on the small clothing rack in the laundry room.

When one of the laundry bins are or nearing full, I wash out of that one. We only wash reds about once, or less, each week, but darks and whites typically more.

I try to immediately fold, or hang the clothes. For things other than clothes (towels etc) I put away pronto. For clothes, we have the small clothes rack for the hanging stuff.

For the folded stuff, we have this:

One for my things and one for my husbands. We have a very small laundry room that doubles as our storage room, so the baskets are fairly small, however they work perfect for the 2 of us.

If the basket or hanging rack are full, I don't wash more until it is put away. This encourages my husband, and myself to keep on top of it. Otherwise, Monday comes around and we don't have socks! Or underclothes! Or a dress shirt for the 8 am meeting!

It seems to work for us!


Be sure to visit Rocks In My Dryer for other WFMW participants!

Menu Plan Monday 7-7-08

Monday - - (No meat Monday) - - Potato-Veggie Frittata - One of my recently new favorites... yes, I know. I list this a lot on my menu plans! However, it works with so many different veggie combos, with/without meat... I just LOVE it!

Potato-Veggie Frittata

2 T vegetable oil
1 small onion, peeled and chopped fine
1 pound small new potatoes, cut into quarters and parboiled
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
8 large eggs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1 cup mixed veggies (broccoli, carrots, mushrooms...)
1/4 pound sliced ham, chopped
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet with oven-proof handle heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; saute 2 minutes. Add potatoes, salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.

In medium bowl, with whisk, lightly beat eggs, Parmesan cheese, and rosemary. Stir egg mixture and chopped ham into vegetables; cook 3 minutes. Place in heated oven; bake 10 minutes. (I find it needs a bit more time.) Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese. Bake 5 minutes more until egg is set and cheese is melted.

Tuesday - - Pork roast and potatoes

Wednesday - - Stir Fry

Thursday - - Readers choice! Here's the deal. I have a lot of white potatoes that need using up, and can't think of what to make! Post a recipe in the comments, or link to a recipe using potatoes, and I'll pick one to try on Thursday! I'll give some linky love to the person that posts the winning recipe!

Friday - - Left overs

Saturday and Sunday we will be at a wedding!

Be sure to visit I'm an Organizing Junkie for other Meal Planning Ideas!

No longer in denial, or am I?

Last August, I quit drinking Mt. Dew. A little background...

Graduate school was too busy, and life was catching up with me. Mt. Dew seemed to be one of the staples holding me together. Little did I know, it was also hurting me. I was forgetting to drink water, sometimes forgetting to eat and was nearly living on caffeine (not to mention what it was doing to my teeth, or our budget!). It was BAD.

Then a few things started to happen in my life that made me re-evaluate how I was, or wasn't taking care of myself. I quit caffeine cold turkey. I had done this before. In high school I quit drinking soda. It lasted for about 5-6 years, until I started college. I didn't remember it being a big deal, however I'm assuming I wasn't drinking the same amount then as I had been this time.

This time, within 24 hours of stopping Mt. Dew, well all soda, I was SICK. I had the chills, and then hot sweats. My stomach was upset. I could not eat anything without feeling nauseous. I ached all over. I had a constant headache. To say the least, it was terrible. However I didn't give in. I stuck to it. No Mt. Dew. No pop.

I started drinking water. And once my stomach was better (about a week), eating. After a good month of this, I even felt better, healthier. I couldn't believe how much different my body felt, just because I wasn't drinking living on Mt. Dew. It was amazing! I had really made a huge change in my health, my life.

However, I started slipping. Around February maybe. Now I really don't remember. I would have a soda. Not Mt. Dew, but soda. One orange soda turned into 2, and then, eventually Mt. Dew slipped back in. It wasn't a lot. It wasn't all the time. I guess that is why I was in denial. I was making the excuse that it was okay, that it really wasn't a big deal.

Recently I have came to realize that I have been purchasing a Mt. Dew nearly every day from the machine in our apartment garage. Mid day, I would start to feel antsy, and like I needed to walk to the pop machine. I needed the Mt. Dew. It would become my goal to gather up enough change and make my way to the pop machine.

Today, my husband and I went to Costco, and for the first time, in almost a year, we purchased a 36 pack of Mt. Dew. I'm sad. I'm almost embarrassed. Why does my body think it needs this? Why, after all I went through before, with being so sick after quitting last time, am I putting myself in that situation again? Sure, I'm having a couple each day, not... well, not the amount I was at a year ago. However, does it matter?

All of these feelings. It is just soda.

Yet, I'm disappointed in myself.

Giveaway notice!

Have you checked out The Secret is in the Sauce? If not, NOW is the perfect time as they are giving away a $100 Target giftcard. So click on over, comment for your entry, and be sure to let them know crazy daisy sent you!

Happy 4th of July

We watched a couple movies, went swimming, I took a nap, went to Culvers and watched fireworks!



What did you do to celebrate the 4th of July?

Friday Fill In #79

Friday Fill-Ins #79

1. Holidays in the summer are the best. I love the warm weather and sitting outside in the fresh air.

2. Steaks, corn on the cob, hotdogs, and veggies are my favorite things to grill.

3. My thoughts are scrambled and confused.

4. Resting and relaxing is what I'm most looking forward to this weekend!

5. My favorite book so far this summer is "Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons". I needed some fun and easy reading after being in grad school for two years!

6. Refreshed, relaxed and awake is the best way to begin a day.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to grilling hot dogs and corn on the cob, tomorrow my plans include cleaning and Sunday, I want to relax (I'm seeing a theme here)!

For more Friday Fill In Participants, or to join in, visit here!

Wacky Web Wednesday # 18

The stupid kind of funny...

Am I really doing this?

Seriously... is this really a good idea?

Thoughts?

What makes you happy?

After reading here that the United States is the 16th most happy county in the world I started to think about what really makes people happy. The article points out that in previous research, it was found that money doesn't buy happiness, however people in richer countries are generally happier than those in poor countries. Is it about the money, or is there something else, some underlying factor?

Could happiness be growing out of factors that are not directly from money, but are money and economically related? Things such as government practices, being able to provide basic care items to one's family, the ability to stop and smell the flowers, go to the park, or send your child to school without fear. Unfortunately, in some part money is behind many of these things.

Anyhow, I digress.

Things that make me happy...
My husband, family, friends, flowers, color, nature, memories, photos, stories, learning, ice cream, animals, helping others, ability to vote, being a part of a democratic society, travel, learning about other cultures, technology, the rain drops on a cool summer afternoon, and the sun greeting me each morning, music, laughter...

I'm sure there is more, but for now I'll leave it at that.

What makes you happy?