Out of commission for awhile

As some of you may know for the past few years I have been having problems with my eyes. I have dry eyes which is the stem of all the problems. It affects my contacts, but my eyes are so bad that glasses at this point would not work, they would be to thick and look like coke bottles. Plus I can see better with my contacts when I don't have any problems. On Tuesday of last week somehow I scratched my left contact, wore it all day and messed up my eye. When I took it out it ripped, I really did a number on it. Tried using my old left contact which was just as bad. Since my eyes are so bad they have to special order my contacts which takes 2 weeks I called on Wednesday. I have a long time to go. I am reduced to wearing an eye patch because I can not see out of the left eye. Wish me luck, it will be a challenge at work. I have compromised depth perception now. It's amazing how this can change your whole life, even if it is just for 2 weeks. I don't think I will ever take my eyes for granted again. Will be back when I can navagate pictures and blogging better.
Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

Silent Day

Yesterday October 20, 2009 was the 6th annual Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity ~ Where you ready? My daughters Victoria (almost 15) and Aleksandra 12 were. They took part in this day and remained silent all day, even while being persecuted by there peers. I am proud of them. They were well prepared this year. Allie had asked the Principal of her school if it was ok to participate days in advance and got the ok. Some how on the actual day, it seemed everyone in her school wanted to participate. They say it only takes one person to make a difference in the world. I am not sure how many felt the conviction Allie did but at least if nothing else she made people, including teachers aware. Victoria was armed with a red marker and red notebook to answer questions. She had a hard time in her school. She is in 9th grade and the kids in her school were acting like they were in 2nd grade. But she remained Strong and made it thru the day. Last year she was not so lucky, they broke her and it really hurt her.

59 babies were saved last year, that they know of. There were important reminders and rules to speak of that needed to be followed:

~Not everyone will be nice to you ~ you need to remain peaceful and loving no matter how nasty they get. This is hard to do.
~This is a day of prayer, remain focused on why we are doing this.


This is Victoria wearing her red duck tape sign: PRO LIFE. She choose as did Allie not to wear it across her mouth.

Allie wore hers on her chest and it said LIFE.

Allie ready to go to school and remain SILENT.

If you are interested in finding out more information and maybe doing this next year, go to standtrue.com. I am really proud of both my kids, they believed in something and made a stand, and they were true and real and loving in their stand. Allie's principal even said I knew you believed in this with all your heart!!!♥♥♥

What do you believe in, it's time to make a stand!

I found out tonight after youth group, when the girls came home that 21 babies were saved this year. God is Good!!!

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

Well, it's now Sunday....

It's now Sunday evening and I have to say I did not do much at all this weekend. I had wanted to have Allie go outside and pose for me so I could put all my wristwarmers on Esty. But that did not happen. I really need to do that soon. I have to get some sales, I need to get Christmas gifts. Maybe I will see if anyone wants to trade, I did that last year and got some cool stuff. Maybe with the economy the way it is more people will be willing to trade. I guess I will have to look into it. My kids seem to be lazy to, Vic the Chef slept quite a bit today. Jeff had to work at his p/t job at Wal-mart today 12-9pm. He still has not found a full time job. Still praying about that. I also would like it if people would leave a comment for me. I'd like to know what others think of my humble little blog. It would make me feel like someone was actually reading it. LOL. Not much else going on, trying to crochet a bit. I am making lip gloss holders for my friend Maryann, still have alot to go. We are making a trade, hey maybe I will use what she trades with me as gifts. She make the best soaps ever. Don't you just love handmade soap. I do. It's a wonderful little luxury. Gotta run am making meatloaf and I need to put the bacon on. Yummy, I can taste it now. Jeff actually made it so you know it will be fab. Have a great rest of you Sunday and if you have off tomorrow, enjoy it..................
Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

Just tired

This past week was really stressful. There is this thing going on at work that is just dragging me down. I was so tired on Thursday that I actually fell asleep for a minute in gym class. I had to take Friday off and slept most of the day. I made an apt. for the Dr. to get a physical and a flu shot but she is so booked up it's not until Nov. 18th. And to top this all off Monday we have an in-service day while everyone else has off. UGH is all I have to say. Sorry for the down post but it's how I feel. Just stressed, busy and tired. Tomorrow will be a better day. At least we got rid of all the junk on the side of our garage. It's junk month in Dunellen , we are allowed 2 car loads of junk which Jeff with the help of his brother took advantage of this morning. So the back of our house looks nice again. TTFN~

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

To much? Not enough? What?

Just added a bunch of new stuff to my blog, inspirational quotes, pictures of starfish etc. etc. Is it to much? Not enough? What. I like looking at all the stuff on blogs do you? Tell me what you think. I got it all off Blogger I wish I could add music and other cool stuff but I don't know how to do it. Oh well I am happy right now. It's cold here in NJ. Last week my husband and Victoria went to a U2 concert at the Meadowlands and had a great time. Jeff's good friend Lumbo who is an Oral Surgeon gave him the tickets and to Bruce Springsteen this Friday. I told Jeff to take Vic it would be her first real concert and she loves U2. They took the train in and had a really great father-daughter time. Victoria was going to go to Springsteen on Friday to but her friend Andrew invited her and Jillian to go tonight. I hope they don't freeze. Wow wow wow. He is suppose to play the whole Born To Run Album Holy Cow did she hit the jackpot. He has never done this before. And Allie gets to go with daddy on Friday her first real concert. Jeff and I saw Bruce last year and man can he put on a concert, he really plays to the NJ fans. We are lucky to have such great friends who treat us so well. We are truly blessed♥

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

I seem to be having a slight problem.............

Hello everyone, I seem to be having a slight computer problem. I hope to have it resolved in a few days. I have alot to blog about. Our past weekend fun, Vic's baking and much more. I am writing this post from my computer at work.

Wish me luck and hopefully will see you in a few days.

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

Thank goodness it's Friday!!!!! And I really mean it!!!!!

Hello good people!!! This is what our pediatrician always says to us and I love it.
This has been one heck of a week for me, my first full week of school and it was loooong. Anyway I survived and it is now the weekend. I was sitting on my deck enjoying coffee and a delicious apple pie that Chef Vic made in baking shop today at school. So yummy and the weather was fab to boot. A really nice way to start the weekend. Tomorrow is Art on the Green a craft event
in town that has been going on for over 30 yrs. More on that tomorrow as Chef Vic and I are going.

This is my pie, so don't even think about it. It was so very tasty. And I had coffee in my totally cool life is good mug I got when we were in Maryland over the summer. Can life get any better? I am really taking the time to enjoy the simple things we all take for granted and it's enriching my life in ways I don't even know yet.

Here she is Chef Vic with her apple pie... She is totally loving Vo-tech and baking. I think she has found her calling in life and we love sampling all her creations. They get to bring what ever they make home, how awesome is that? And today she told me there is a Shop-Rite food store in back of the shops right on the property. Wow.................

Two days ago Chef Vic brought home her first creation, huge and I mean huge chocolate chip and M & M cookies. She had 20 in the bag and in a blink of an eye they were gone. We had to go to my mom and dad's and have coffee and what else big cookies. And three teachers in my school were very supportive of Victoria's decision to go to Vo-tech last year so they each got one and sent home little notes, like the one above. I tell you I have never seen her so happy. Just look at her face in the pictures, kinda like mine when I buy yarn...LOL

Here is the pie in all it's yummy glory............. Thanks Vic it was great.

Chef Vic and her pie, I think I need to make her an apron.

The family enjoying yesterday's creation, Sesame Street cupcakes, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and some other friends. I have to tell you they were great, the icing was so good, not like the crummy cupcakes we make. She was able to bring home 6 cupcakes.

Jeff (Oscar the Grouch) and Vic. These guys both like to cook and are really great at it too.

All 6 cupcakes, they ran out of certain sprinkle colors hence "the friends". Who cares they tasted good.

One Happy baker............................... Look out Duff!!!

These are the bookmarks I am sending in to The Little Black Box for December..

A really terrible picture of my heart face scrubbies on The Little Black Box website for the September box. I don't know how to get it from their website to my computer. Maybe I will ask Bella from Bella Mcbride to help me. It's nice to have a copy of these things to show people what you are doing and have participated in.

Good night for now. The girls have gone with a friend to Pioneer Girls tonight and Jeff is busy making hamburgers for us for dinner, can't wait. Have a great weekend.

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

WE went to a Somerset Patriot's game tonight!!!!

Anne our school nurse gave us 4 tickets to the Patriot's game tonight. We sat right behind the dugout had free parking and and a b1g1 french fries coupon. We had so much fun!!! this was a sticker on the dugout.....

This is the game, at the top of the ninth inning Patriots 9 Lancaster 2...
Jeff, Allie and Vic having fun, we could put our feet on the dugout, that's how close to the field we were....awesome...........

Vic and Jeff watching the game...

Allie, getting ready to catch a foul ball...

Oh my gosh, she got a ball.... it pays to sit close to the field!!!!

It really was 10:00 at night, getting ready to leave at the bottom of the ninth inning, we wanted to beat the crowd.

Allie and Sparky Lyle and and the ball she caught in the gift shop.

Sparky Lyle and Vic in the gift shop.

This sign just cracked me up on the way in to the field from the parking lot.

A fun family time was had by all. It was such an incredible night to be at a ball game. There were not to many people in the stands. Jeff even took off work to come...

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

A beautiful Saturday!

This is the table on my deck, As you can see I love the beach and candles. I just love looking over there at the table while I am sitting and reading on the other side of the deck. It make me happy!
This is the other new thing I am into ~ recycled bookmarks. I have made 10 so far and am having the hardest time parting with even one... Theya re so much fun to make, and the more recycled stuff you use the cooler it looks. I think so anyway>>>>

This is how it looks on a book. Not the best focused picture but I was to lazy to snap another one. LOL

A close up of four of them, I don't know I like them all. thay are all so different, depending on what I have laying around that I can use.

This is how they look in the back. I think I may sign and date them before I give them away.

This is the front of all ten of them, oh I just love them!!!♥♥♥

These are my new business cards that Michele from Sweetire designed for me. They are the best! I got them last week and am dying to hand them out.

So now you can see why I love these sponges so much. Besides being totally fabulous, cotton is very absorbent so they are practical to.

Today is so beautiful. Not to hot or cold, just about the perfect day ever. I started the day by doing two loads of wash and hung them out to dry on the clothesline, I love how clothes smell when they are dried outside. I read a bit and of course crocheted. My new obsession are kitchen sponges. I got the pattern from Etsy. I just love them. I am trying to cut down and reuse as much as possible and these are perfect. Big and juicy machine washable and I can make any color I want!! WOO HOO!!!

Peace, love♥, and crochet... Have a great Labor Day!!!!

Debbie

First day of school.........

Happy First Day of School!!!!!!!!!!

Allie♥ Vic♥

The 1st day Sept 2nd. The teachers and staff had a nice day, bagels in the am and a beautiful lunch supplied by the PTO. Even though there were no kids till the next day I cam e home from school and had to take a 2 hr nap. Gosh I am totally not use to working having the summer off. I love the teacher I'm with this year, still in second grade across the hall with Mrs. Vanraes. She was on maternity leave last year and is trying to get back into the swing of things too. She was Allie's 2nd grade teacher, so Allie was excited. We had three days of school and then off for Labor day. Trust me I think we all need that day off. At the end of the year getting out early will be great. Allie is in 6th grade this year and in the middle school. She looked great in her new plaid shirt and was so excited to start school. Victoria started her 1st day of HS I can hardly believe she is in 9th grade. She is going to Middlesex County Vo-Tech in Piscataway for baking and is totally excited. She has to catch a bus in the morning which is something new for her. She is doing well so far. We are all enjoying a beautiful lazy Saturday.

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

Fingers crossed................

I am keeping my fingers crossed, I went on the computer today and it seems fine... really strange but I am glad it seems to be working. I finished a post I started in August about Disney today and hopefully if all is still working ok I will have a new post tomorrow. Thanks for being patient with me, have a great day!!!!!


Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

Bad day!!!!!

Hello everyone, had a real bad day yesterday. My old car broke down and with the help of my friend Mary and my parents we were able to get home and borrow their car. I think Jeff has fixed it and believe me I prayed about this. Now my computer is messed up. When it rains it pours. I am borrowing this computer, the same friend who saved me with my car. Mary. Thanks Mar. I don't know when I will be posting, going on etsy or checking e-mail again and it's very frustrating. So wish us luck that we can find someone who can help fix it. Till whenever..........................................

Peace, love, and crochet...

Debbie

This time last year..................................oh to dream!!!

This was our Christmas picture last year. I got these great tie-dyed t-shirts from a wonderful women on Etsy. I ordered them to late to get them at my house but she was able to send them directly to our hotel. I was obsessed about getting a shot for our Christmas card. I just wish my eyes were open more! I loved these shirts and got so many comments and compliments when we were at Disney, plus they wash like a dream. I ended up getting tie-dyed peace sign t-shirts and socks from her......

This time last year (it was the last week in August) we were in Florida... yes Disney Land. We had so much fun. It was the 1st real family vacation we went on in many years. It was so hot, not like this summer. The girls and Jeff really dug all the fast rides, they will tell you about my experience on Tower of Terror, it was not good! I made them all go on It's a Small World with me and we had alot of fun. We made alot of really great memories and can't wait to go back again sometime.....

I started this post a few weeks ago and then my computer went crazy. I am going to finish it today.

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

Another yard sale ~ this time at my parents house

This past weekend we had another yard sale ~ at my parents house this time. We hauled a few pieces of furniture and other stuff over on Thursday and set up so we would be ready for Friday morning. The girls slept over and were up early with my parents to greet customers. My sister and her family also came, however the adults did most of the work while the kids were inside "hanging out". We closed at 3pm on Friday just in the nick of time. We had tarped everything up nice and secure for Saturday and prayed there would be no rain. It rained just minutes after everything was tarped and we woke to rain most of Saturday. My parents still had the sale as most of their stuff was inside the garage. We did not untarp and participate on Saturday. We did make about $165.00 and the weekend before she had a pop-up sale for 1 day unadvertised and we only made $35. Not to bad for the whole 3 times we made about $1,000. But it was an incredible amount of work.

Sorting, packing, unpacking, hauling, selling. Be sure we are not going to this again to soon.
Here she is in her driveway my mom the yard sale "Queen"!!!!

AS you can see my dad is feeling better, he could only stay outside for a bit but he loves talking to people and enjoying Allie his youngest grandchild.

My parents have yard sales 3-4 times a year. They have alot of fun and are really good at it. Their garage is set up like a store. People come looking for stuff all year long. They are known far and wide for their great "stuff".

This is some of the stuff we were selling, we decided to get rid of our dining room buffet and china cabinet. We already donated the table to lupus. We want to make the dining room into a office/study/reading room. And we are on the way to making that happen. My mom's neighbor gave us a really nice computer desk he did not want anymore. And with some of the money we made from the sale I went to Target on Saturday and bought 2 bookshelves. I will show you pictures when we are done with the room. Don't hold your breath though. I want to rip up the carpet and pull down the wall paper. Maybe Jeff will do this when I start work on September 1st. BOO HOO for me.

Some more of our stuff................................................... it never seems to end.............................................

Jeff ignoring me pretending he is working and my brother-in-law Paul smiling nice for me......

My sister Donna sorting clothes she is selling.

A view of the driveway. Alot of stuff ~ 3 family's worth and more stuff was in the garage and under the deck. Do we know how to throw a yard sale or what~~~~~

We just went over today and packed it all up...UGH is all I have to say about that. We decided that we are going to donate most of it to Lupus again. We left 4 pieces of furniture and 7 tubs at my parents for their next sale in late October. Who knows we will see. If not there is always Lupus. I think they love us!!!!

It's nice and cool here tonight, I actually sat on the deck a bit before, had a cup of coffee and read. It was sooooooooooooo nice.

TTFN~

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie

Lupus donation

Update, our neighbor across the road came and took the little blue desk with 4 drawers for her room... YEAH! Thanks Karen.

Today we donated alot of our stuff to a good cause ~ Lupus. I called the 800# and they came and got it all. Below are pictures of what happened. They were very quick and polite. They do this everyday all day I was told. Can you even imagine? Wow, there are alot of generous people in NJ.

As most of you may know, my husband lost his job in March. We were forced to look at how we live. I had actually had started to do that already. I feel we have to much , our house was cluttered with stuff and I wanted to live a more simple but fuller life. We had our yard sale and got rid of alot. Now Lupus came and we got rid of quite a bit. We are still working to get rid of things. One more sale at my moms this weekend and what is not sold will be held until Sept 27th when Lupus will be back.

This summer had been really hard on me, trying to have some fun with the kids and being able to eat, and pay our bills. It was a challenge. It's almost over I am sad to say. School starts Sept 1st for me the 2nd for the kids. It will be nice to have steady paycheck again. Now all we need is for Jeff to find a fabulous job.



Ariel view from upstairs of all the stuff we donated. Furniture, clothes, toys, stuffed animals, computers, sheets, Christmas trees. You name it we donated it.


The number to call for pick-up. Please call if you have stuff you no longer want or need. It will make you feel great!!

The truck in the driveway, getting loaded with all our stuff.

The stuff they did not take, not to much. They took almost everything. We still have 5 tubs of books, that needed to be in boxes. Next time. they will be back in the area in Sept. I am almost 100% sure we will have more stuff to give them.

The last of it being loaded, a clean driveway once more...........................

Our stuff inside the truck. When they first came in the morning there was not enough room in the truck they had. They had to dump the contents and come back for all our stuff. We made Lupus very happy.

Half full Lupus truck leaving our driveway............

It feels good to be rid of stuff no longer needed and recycled to help others. If you have alot of stuff or even a little you don't want anymore call Lupus. They will come and pick it up and leave you a form for your taxes. The drivers were courteous and it's for a great cause!!!!

Peace, love♥, and crochet...

Debbie