What is it about Target?

I am such a Woodman's and Meijer girl for groceries. 

Meijer (& Choices) for produce.
Woodman's for everything else.

I don't shop a lot at Target anymore...which has probably saved me LOADS of money.  Why?

Tonight I went to Target for lettuce to make taco salad. 

Just lettuce.

I picked-up lettuce and some medium-tipped pens and some kiwi and a squirrel Easter card for Nancy (because she had a stalker squirrel last year and her brother shot it with his bb gun and probably only blew its eye out so we joke about an eye-patch wearing squirrel). 

I needed lettuce.

Just lettuce.

$19.74 later

I am not...

...a night owl.
...a scary movie watcher.
...able to NOT cry when I say, "Goodbye."
...able to keep a straight face when we (the church choir) mess up on the platform.
...a fan of moths and tonight at Target when my crazy friend fanned her shirt and said she was a moth, I questioned our friendship.  I mean, is she really a moth? The one creature of the night I loathe.

Sooooo I walked in to Target....

....and against my better judgement, I was hungry.  However, in my defense,  I did need a red pepper and an onion....and Target was right there.  As in - right across the road.  So I did it. I stopped at Target knowing full-well that I was hungry and that it wasn't a good idea.  Speaking of ideas....why don't they make a drive-thru veggie stand.  Had Target had a drive-thru windows, I would've sweetly requested one red pepper and a small onion.  Please and thank you.  But nooooooooooooooo.....no such drive-thru/drive-up window exists.

When I tell what I impulsively bought, you are probably going to question my sanity. Feel free.  My co-workers do daily. 

I impulsively bought a Honey Noosa Yogurt and a container of fresh raspberries.  Oh and broccoli.  Yep.  I did it.  I bought extra stuff...food...because I was hungry and I heart food.  I almost bought pineapple to out on my pizza but that was crossing the line.  ("What line?" you inquire.  "No idea," I sheepishly reply.)

I saw this at Target today...

14 gazillion random things...

Ok, ok.  So the title might be a bit of an exaggeration.  It's just that I haven't blogged much lately and I am not sure why...so I thought I would prepare you for the worst (i.e. fourteen gazillion).  I think the best I have are maybe 10 things.  You're welcome.

Oh - and these are in no particular order.

1. Last night - girls' night out.  Pedicures at 7.  Red Mango after pedis and then back to the patio which turned into the kitchen table because of the mosquitoes.

2. I survived house- / dog-sitting.  The dogs survived.  The fish survived.  The humans returned.  All is well.  The only casualties:  20 or so mosquitoes.  I know I'm sweet but SERIOUSLY - don't bite me!

3.  Wednesday's word of the day:  Snarky.  As in - there was a whole lotta snarkiness going around. 

4.  Company picnic tomorrow ------>  I found out today that I am NOT on the clean-up committee!!!  Wahooooo!  My job is to help plan and do the shopping.  I like this committee.  The pre-picnic committee.  Tomorrow I get to go and help with registration and play some Bingo and maybe win some Target gift cards.  [Happy dance!!!]

5. I found a really cute purple Merona [Target] dress. It's short sleeved and plain.  I'm picturing it with a fabulous scarf and some sassy flats.  Also, during the same thrift-before-I-got-my-haircut-off shopping extravaganza, I snagged another Merona sundress.  It's patterned with coral, purple, brown, and white.  It was at Target last summer.  Oh - and when I found it at the Goodwill - it still had the tags on it.  Yep!  Be jealous.  Be very jealous.

6.  Why is it that I don't ever remember that I forgot to add laundry soap until the water is half-spun-out of the washer???  Of course, by then, it's too late.  (Sigh.)

7.  My favorite co-worker and his family might be relocating and I am not handling this very well. 

8.  Tonight I swept and mopped my kitchen & bathroom.  It's been awhile since I did that.  Not "a while" as in months and months....but "it's been awhile" as in a couple weeks.  I know it's been 2 weeks since I mopped.  I think it's only been a few days since I swept.  I like it that the kitchen is clean.  I wiped down the countertops, cleaned the ceiling fan, and changed-out the under-the-burner silver trays.  When I change out those silver liners for new ones, I feel like my kitchen just sparkles...until I spill something on them.  It's a vicious circle.

9.  About my haircut.  It's not drastic.  Think Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail.  It might be a smidge bit longer than Meg's haircut in that movie.  It flips-up nicely.  And I love it curly with big curls. 

10.  TEN!  I MADE IT TO TEN ITEMS!!!!  Yeah me.  I made it to the gym tonight.  I believe I have about 15 more hours to go in order to make my summer goal for 40 hours of cardio.  Why in the world did I select 40 hours when 30 hours was perfectly normal?  (Sigh.)  I guess I had better get crackin'.  I have 8 weeks left. 

A weekend with my brother...

I love that my brother was willing to make the 280 mile journey to spend the weekend in Rockford, Illinois with me.  First of all - I love my brother.  Second - whenever we get together, there is gobs and gobs of laughter.  Not just normal laughter but the kind of laughter that hurts your sides and stomach. 

My place of employment provides me with a holiday day on Good Friday.  I began my Easter weekend with coffee at Meg's with Trudy and her dear mother.  It was 2.5 precious hours with two Godly ladies who were such an encouragement and quasi-therapists.  We parted ways with a promise to get together again SOON. 

The spring weather was another wonderful blessing on Friday.  The sun was shining and the temperature was delightful. (By delightful, I do mean around 50-ish.)

A denim skirt, purple top, brown flats, and a floral scarf made up my scampering-about outfit.

After departing Meg's, I phoned my crafty friend Nancy and informed her that her chariot was on its way.

From Nancy's, we made our way to Randall Road.  First stop - JoAnn Fabrics, where I purchased brown (with a faint background pattern) fabric to make skirt "F" on my pattern and I, also, purchased fabric to make a skirt for my friend Leah. 

The trouble with JoAnn's on Randall Road is it's twice the size of our JoAnn's in Rockford...therefore, there are a gazillion more bolts of fabric...AND they have Starbella Yarn at Randall Road.  I was telling Nancy that I have emailed JoAnn's about carrying Starbella in their store...apparently I need to be a more specific, "Please carry Starbella in your East State Street store in Rockford, Illinois!"  All my emails must've been interpreted as "carry Starbella in all the other stores!" 

After finding Leah-ish fabric and my 5 for $5 Simplicity patterns, I made my way to the check-out where I found my friend perusing craft books.  She was comfortably perched on a step ladder.  Had I not been finished shopping, I believe she would've spent the better part of the day reading about different crafting techniques.  This is one of my favorite things about Nancy -- she loves crafts and not just one particular type of craft.  She paints silk, stamps cards, alters art, etc.  Her brain is over-flowing with creative juices. Whenever my juices are squelched, I call her and we discuss the subject and she always has some craft epiphany to help me out of the depths of my crafting dilemma.

Fabric and patterns purchased.  We, then, made our way to Caribou Coffee.  Funny story -- you know that I love coffee, right?  If not -- HELLO!!!  DON'T YOU KNOW ME AT ALL????  Anyway...I heart coffee.  Well, on our way to JoAnn's because I was sooooooo (or could it be "SEW"!!!!!) excited about getting more fabric to make a skirt for my friend, I, Angela Good, drove past Caribou Coffee without so much as a tap-tap-tap of the brake pedal.  (GASP!)  Tragical, I know.  I mean - for realzies - can you even believe that you are reading this on MY blog????  I will give you a minute to recover.

(Humming the Double Jeopardy theme.)

Ok.  Time's up.

We went back the 2.5 or 3 miles to Caribou Coffee where I purchased a gluten-free (said "gluten-free" kind-of SING-SONGY...because I was delighted!!!) iced dark chocolate mocha, hold the whip cream.  Now -----> before you remember that I had already been to Meg's that morning and now here I was at Caribou getting cracked-out on coffee again...at Meg's, I had a decaf white green tea.  I have limits.  And as far as coffee goes, I pretty much know my limits.  Soooo the Caribou gals made my iced coffee with half the caff.  Nancy wanted me to go full-caff because she was on a sugar high from a scone.  :)

Iced mocha in hand, I steered Rosie back down Randall Road (from whence we came) and pulled in to find 2 things......front row parking at Archiver's and (drumroll please...) A BRAND NEW HALF PRICE BOOKSTORE TWO STOREFRONTS DOWN FROM ARCHIVER'S!!!!!!!!  The sign on the new bookstore said, "Opening April 25th" too which I told my passenger, "Awwwww...LOOK!  THEY ARE GOING TO BE OPEN FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!" 

Have you ever been to Half Price Books?  Truly, their prices are half-price if not 3/4 of the price...but I think the sign would be weird and lengthy if it read, "1/2 and 3/4 priced books."  Their marketing department might not like my fabulous idea...thus another reason why I am not designing store logos.  Plus you read my blog, you know what I am potentially capable of.

Do you know that I've missed you?  Seriously.  I've missed blogging in this random-Angie-ish sort of way.  I don't know what has been "off" about me for the past couple of months, but sitting here tonight, I'm thoroughly loving pounding out the keys and putting down my random favorite weekend moments. 

Where was I?  Archiver's.  We perused the crafting supplies.  I went and meandered through their journal stuff...gathering ideas...hoping my journaling creative juices would surface.  The trouble is -- now that I am officially sewing (like a crazy person!), I want to take time and work on my sewing journal.  I'm leaning toward the title:  "My Sew-Called Life."  It's not my own title.  I Googled sewing journals and found that title.

Not wanting to buy a bunch of crafting supplies, I picked up a small pad of sewing related things to add to my soon-to-be-made sewing journal. 

It should be noted - for the first time ever (EVER!) - Nancy left Archiver's without a single purchase.  I was amazed and rendered speechless.  When I say "speechless" - I mean, I was speechless from the time it took me to walk from the store to Rosie.  Remember - we had front row parking.  :)

Trader Joe's grocery store was our third and final stop.  (I kinda feel like a flight attendant.  "Please buckle your seatbelts and return your tray to the upright position.  We are quickly approaching Trader Joe's.")

Trader Joe's was the main reason for our trip to Algonquin.  Hahahahahahaha!  Who am I kidding?  The main reason was to visit the HUGE JoAnn's store.  Silly me.  :)

My purchases at T.J.'s included various gf snacks and my brother's favorite snacks -- cashews, dark chocolate-covered almonds, TJ's honey Greek yogurt, and some gf oatmeal. 

With groceries and sewing supplies, we headed home, arriving back in town at 7 p.m.  The sun was still shining - although it was beginning to set.  The air was still warm with a hint o'spring.  We were still chatting and laughing.

After dropping Nancy off at her house, I arrived at the cottage and threw the newly purchased fabric in the washer.  I made some dinner and enjoyed some light reading.  I received word from Bryan that he had left later than he originally intended, so I decided to work on Leah's skirt.  This reminds me -- Nancy wins the Quote of the Day.  "You are making skirts that are going to be seen across the ocean!!! You are going to be famous!!!"  :)  Leah later told me, "You are going to be an international sensation!" 

Not having Leah here to try on the skirt made me more cautious.  I read and re-read the pattern sizes.  Upon determining what size I would need to cut, I ironed the fabric and then re-read the pattern.  I must've read the back of the pattern atleast 6 times.  I compared the numbers and everytime, I came up with the one particular size.  I pinned the pattern and then did my 7th check of the back.  And then I cut the fabric.  I held up each piece and attempted to picture in my head how the skirt would look once stitched together.  Of course, it was going to look fabulous...but would it be the right size? 

After threading my machine and popping in chick flick DVD which I have watched a gazillion times, I began sewing.  I read and re-read each sections directions to make sure I would not need to take a stitch ripper to this lovely skirt. 

A couple hours later, I held up the finished skirt.  I took the tape measure and re-measured the circumference of the waist and then I measured the length. The waist was a smidge smaller than the number Leah sent me.  I decided not to freak out and I threw the skirt in the washer.  Worst case scenario:  I would need to make another skirt for Leah and post on Facebook that I have a skirt with such-and-such measurements.  Who wants it? 

Well...it turns out that the size I made will work.  A couple of texts back and forth with Leah confirmed this and made my heart soo happy.  I do intend to get some more fabric and make her a skirt with an extra inch in the waistband so she can wear it, as the pattern states:  "One inch below waist."  I'm dreaming of a day when A-line skirt patterns will read, "Sits at waist."  Although -- as I type this and think about my monstrous pile o'spring and summer skirts, many of my skirts sit an inch below my waist.  Hmmmmm...

By the time I finished Leah's skirt and got the other brown material pressed & the pattern cut-out, Bryan arrived.  Due to the fact that the clock read circa 1 a.m. (and well, I'm not -- nor is my brother -- a night owl, we went to bed!!!) 

Saturday morning, Magsters woke-us-up bright and early.  No worries, she got over her feline-self and went back to sleep when she heard her name spoken in an angry tone. 

9ish, we arose from our slumber and prepared for a fun Saturday!!!

First stop -- JoAnn's.  I know, I know...AGAIN!!!  Actually -- what happened is -- Bry asked me to make him some flannel jammie pants.  He wants me to sew him something delightful.   Soo far, I'm really good at skirts...however this won't work for my brother.  I made him sit down and thumb through the Simplicity catalog to find a pattern he liked.  He did.  We bought it.  We didn't have a coupon for the material so we decided to wait to purchase it.  Our time in JoAnn's reminded us of our childhood...except instead of mom holding a tape measure to get our measurements, I was holding a pink tape measure trying to get Bry's jotted down.

After JoAnn's, we went to Barnes and Nobles to spend my VD gift card.  Bry perused the "boy" books and magazines and I found the Sew What? Bags I saw on line. 

Since we were already at B&N and I had a free cup of tea from Teavana, we made our way up the escalator to the top level...all the while, reminding each other why we don't appreciate the mall on the weekends. The place was swarming with teenagers.  Now -- before you think I am anti-people, I'm not.  It's just that now that I am older, I appreciate not going to the mall on the weekends.  Plus it was Easter weekend and people were trying to bring their fru-fru dressed children to see the white bunny.

Teavana tea is fabulous!!!  We had strawberry mixed with something else.  The price is a little steep for a cup of hot tea...but we did get one of the cups for free AND I got to see a former student's big sister. 

From hot tea to RED MANGO!!!!!!  Bryan loves Red Mango...and what kind of sister would I be if I did not treat him to one of his favorite Rockford treats.  We put our hot tea in Rosie in the cup holders and hiked over to Red Mango where we filled our small bowls with peanut butter (in mine I added dark chocolate;  Bry added the original plain).  We enjoyed our chilly snack and Bryan said, "Sis, we are going to freeze outside!!!"  I reminded him our hot tea reward if we made it to Rosie.  The tea was enough of an encouragement for our outdoor-kind-of-chilly hike to the car.

With hot tea in hand and sugar in our bloodstream, we headed to the Rescue Mission thrift store on Harrison.  I hope you are sitting down -- after perusing the thrift store for about 45 minutes, we left without a single purchase.  For real!!!!  I don't joke around about 3 things:  coffee, the thrift, and good books. 

At this point in our day - it was approximately circa 2 p.m.  We were on a sugar-high and hungry for real food.  (Confession:  Bry and I are kind of foodies...as in, we function best, like the animals at the zoo, when you feed us on schedule. LOL!)  We headed to the cottage for my faux Chipotle recipe.

After a filling lunch, Bry worked on my printer.  It was his neighbor's printer and she had issues with the blank ink not working.  After several attempts to fix it and after reading message boards, Bry declared the printer deceased.  I've not had a printer since my college days so this doesn't really break my heart.  It was a nice thought, having a printer...but it's ok.  I will recycle this printer when Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful has their electronics drive in May or maybe it's June.  I can't remember.

While he worked on the printer, I got permission (from him) to work on sewing skirt "F" from my New Look pattern.  After getting the whole thing put together, I realized that I don't like skirt "F."  It's too full.  It reminds me of something you would see on Little House on the Prairie and I don't mean that in a good way...I mean that in a oh-dear-Angie-Good-is-wearing-THAT (add a slow shaking of the head!).  Not wanting to give up on my LHOTP skirt, I decided to chop off about an inch at the hem.  I re-ironed the hem under and then re-stitched it.  Once hemmed, I left it draped over the kitchen chair while Bryan and I ran to Target to get Easter Skittles for my Sunday School kiddos.

Target was kind of busy as many people were grabbing those last minute basket stuffers.  We found a couple bags of Skittles and some cute chick baggies and vacated the store.  We paid for the Easter candy.  We didnt' just vacated without paying.

Arriving back at the cottage, Bryan said he would like to watch You've Got Mail. I do not need to be told twice when it comes to this delightfully charming movie.  I popped in the DVD and opened a Noosa Honey yogurt - which I split with Bry - and we watched about 45 minutes of the movie.  I noticed Bryan sound asleep on the loveseat.  Since we didn't sleep our normal pattern the night before, we opted to go to bed early Saturday night.

Sunday morning - poached eggs on toast and half a Greek yogurt.  We were up with plenty o'time to lollygag around before having to be at church early for a quick choir-run-thru.  The choir special had several "Hoe-zahhhh-ha-na"'s which Bry was blessed with hearing while getting ready for church.  :)  I'm the kind of sister that shares.

Resurrection Sunday -- I love sharing the Easter story with my Sunday school kids.  My favorite part (and I do love the WHOLE story) is when the women come to the tomb and the angel tells them (Angie-paraphrase), "He is not here!!!  He is risen!!!" 

After church, we ate Chipotle leftovers and Bry got on the road.  He did take his fabulous sister's advice and stop at Red Mango for a berry smoothie sans sweetener on his way out of town.  He said it was the bestest!!!  Add smoothies to my list of things that I don't joke about.  :)

5 hours later, he was home in Hudson.  After church, I received a text that he was cleaning his apartment and doing laundry.  What a guy!!!  Drove home from Rockford and then began tidying up the mancave.

I love my brother.  I love that we can look at one another and pretty-much know what the other person is thinking.  I love that we can laugh about memories.  We were laughing about the amount of Little Debbie Nutty Bars we consumed as children.  Good times.

What a wonderful weekend...began with friends and crafting...and then my brother's visit...and Pastor's amazing Resurrection Sunday message.  I'm blessed.  My cup runneth over...

No sewing class

Up until 4:25 tonight, my delusional-self thought I still had sewing class even though the frozen precipitation had been falling since circa 1 p.m.  It may have started before 1 p.m. however, 1 p.m. is the time I noticed it snowing...and trust me, I was checking the window often.

At the previously mentioned time (4:25 p.m.), my co-worker peeked her cute head around my cubicle wall and said the radio announced Rock Valley College was closed due to inclement weather.  I, then, checked the WTVO website and sure enough...Rock Valley was closed...also closed - the dance studio.  My friend Nancy and I joke around about the closings.  "Oh, we can't go to jazz class tonight - the dance studio is closed."  Tonight on the closings, a small theaterical presentation of Gone with The Wind was cancelled to-be-rescheduled, the website said.  I should call Nancy and let her know we won't be going.  :) 

Sooo here I am...inside my cozy, little cottage...with a bowl of warmed-up chicken tortilla soup & a few blue corn tortilla chips...my fluffy-wuffy cat...and a Tuesday night all to myself. 

Today, before class was cancelled, I kept thinking, You may perish in the snowstorm tonight...but no worries - you would perish for a crafting cause.  People will ask, "How did Angie Good die?" and Pastor B can tell them, "She perished in pursuit of learning a new craft. 

Another way I figure I might die - getting shot at the thrift.  There was for realzies ("realzies" is my fun new word...I taught the Gear kids because it's that FUN...for realzies!!!) a shooting at the Goodwill on E. State.  It was a drive-by...but it still counts as a shooting. 

One night I was with Rhonda at Target and we saw some wholagins and I told her, "We are going to get shot in the red bull's eye's parking lot."  We determined that would be ok. 

Oh - also ok, choking to death on peanut butter.  Did you know people do choke-to-death on peanut butter?  I never knew.  One day I was eating peanut butter - straight out of the jar with a spoon - and my co-worker informed me that I should be careful because choke-to-death.  Talk about a way to go -- one minute you are enjoying creamy peanut butter (because everyone knows creamy peanut butter is a gazillion-and-five times better than chunky -- can I get an "AMEN"???)...anyway, one minute you are enjoying peanut butter and the next -- talking face-to-face with Jesus.  FAB-U-LOUS!!!!!

The end.

Misc.

I figure with a title like "Misc." you are fairly warned that this blog post is going to be that...MISC. 


Today I had the wonderful pleasure of a leisurely-spent Saturday.  It didn't start off so hot...a headache.  A bad headache.  You know the kind of headache that you get from crying yourself to sleep the night prior?  Yep -- it was that kind of headache.  It took two rounds of medicine (and no, Mom, they weren't spaced four hours apart...I figure the natural stuff can be taken closer together, right?).  I'm not a fan of these particular headaches....although, I was thankful that it wasn't a full-blown migraine.  


I'm thankful for an understanding brother.  We had considered meeting in the middle and spending a day at Lake Michigan...but with a sore throat earlier in the week and then this dreadful headache, all plans were postponed and the covers pulled over the girl with curly hair's head.  


Sometime later in the morning, coffee sounded divine and caused me to arise from my slumber (the second slumber).  Combine whatever beautiful ingredients were in the headache medicine plus the caffeine from the freshly brewed pot o'coffee, I felt more like myself and less like the headache-crazed girl from 7 a.m.  


I managed to run to the red bull's eye and procure fresh strawberries, frozen lemonade concentrate, and a container of almonds.  A mad dash to the cottage put all those items away and then I headed out the door to the gym for a much (MUCH!!!) needed work-out.  I do believe that part of my stress from Thursday and Friday was due to the fact that I had not been to the fine gym establishment since Tuesday.  Too quote my brother, "Wow Sis.  Since Tuesday?  That's like forever."  Gotta love brothers!!!  They keep it real!!!


The gym afforded me time on my beloved machine, the elliptical.  I managed to work-out for 45 minutes and finish reading Gluten-Free Girl.  What a fabulous read!  There are several  recipes from that book that I want to try including salmon with blackberry sauce and lemon shortbread cookies.  


Speaking of lemon shortbread cookies, I totally cheated and bought store-bought gluten-free lemon shortbread cookies since Sara was going to stop by for a visit.  -- Thus the reason for my quick gallivant to the red bull's eye this morning.


We ate fresh strawberries and lemon shortbread cookies.  Our beverage of choice was raspberry lemonade.  I'm thinking about substituting mixed berry tea for the raspberry zinger!  I will let you know how it turns out.


After Sara left, I dove back in to reading Little Women.  I'm near the end and quite outraged that after all this time, Laurie finally declares his love for Jo and she says she doesn't love him.  I suppose it's a good thing that she was honest....but SERIOUSLY!!!!!  This whole kerfuffle only added to my morose-ness...


When I am done with Little Women, I am going to read something fabulous and funny...because this girl needs some cheering-up.  Also, I should note -- I'm reading the book of Job.  It makes me sad that his friends were not encouraging.  It's made me re-evaluate if I am an encouragement to my friends.  I know I'm not all the time and that has been very convicting.

:) Saw these on Pinterest...

...and found them at the Red Bull's Eye on clearance for $1.16!!!

During the Presidential race, we are going to hear candidates say how they can change the economy.  Ummmm...maybe Pinterest can turn the economy around...just sayin'...

:o)

I changed my playlist music today.  No more cold/winter-ish songs.  That's right -- they've been removed.  Sorry, "Waltz of the Snowflake" -- you were delightful, but it's February now...which means that were approximately six weeks away from spring.  CONFESSION:  It was soo nice and sunny today that I turned the furnace off and opened two windows and aired-out the cottage.  It was divine!  Maggie seemed to enjoy the fresh air wafting in.  I know I sure did. 

My weekend plans got all changed-around...thrifting and coffee last night got cancelled due to illness.  And today's thrifting/coffee in Freeport with Sara cancelled too.  Worked out in the end as I woke - up with another dreadful headache.  It was my second headache of the week.  First one happened Wednesday morning which got me out of a day at work and allowed me to remain in my jammies most of the day.  Today's headache was much worse...bordered on a migraine.  Not fun, not fun at all. 

I suppose I should address the fact that the groundhog saw his shadow so we will be seeing another six weeks of winter.  Fine by me.  Honest.  SIX WEEKS 'TIL SPRING!!!!  WAHOOOO!!!  That means that most of winter is over.  Correction:  OVA!  Most of winter is OVA!  Bring on these next six weeks.  Let it snow.  Let it be a blinding snowstorm.  It doesn't matter...spring is next!!!!

My wishing-for-spring-to-get-her-attitude caused me to purchase a really cute, springy skirt today at the thrift.  I stopped to peruse the books in hopes of finding one of the books on my "in-case-you-happen-to-be-out-and-see-these-books" list...friends know about this list and they have given me specific titles to look for...  :)  After perusing the books and coming up empty-handed, I meandered to the skirts...I know, I know.  I need another springy/summer skirt like I need a perm!  (I didn't want to say "hole in the head" because that sounds painful.)  What I did decide to do is - when I bring in my spring/summer clothes to switch out, I solemnly promise to go through each item and make sure...  A) they still fit properly;  B) I still love them.  If they fit weird or I am just not loving the look, I will make a donation back to the thrift!  It's give and take.  :)

After my quick stop at the thrift, I went to Target to purchase the necessary baking supplies to make my dessert of the potluck tomorrow.  (See post below!)  While at the red bull's eye, I found the perfect V.D. (Valentine's Day...lest you are aware of something else "V.D." might mean!) basket fillers...I would blog about these items but my potential V.D. gals are blog-stalkers and I don't want to give away the surprise.  I am looking forward to spending V.D. with the girls.  I've been contemplating what I want to make for supper that night...I'm thinking chicken Caesar salads with something scrumptious for dessert.  I saw gluten-free dark chocolate brownie mix....maybe brownies with raspberries and homemade whipped cream.  Hmmmm...decisions, decisions!!!

I managed to e-file my income taxes this weekend and clean my bathroom!  Wahoooooo!  Talk about being overly-motivated.  Oh - and let's not forget, I blogged. 

The End. :)

Dish Gloves, Scraping, and A Trip to Target...

Wow -- what an action-packed end to my week. 

Thursday evening, I had the opportunity to be a blessing and break out the cleaning supplies!  It was such an enjoyable evening.  It gave me a chance to get to know two fabulous little guys...and their delightful parents.  And let me just say...who does not love lavender cleaning supplies?  And green apple dishsoap?  All I can say, thank you for concocting girly-smelling cleaning products!!!!! 

Friday evening was 5 hours of wallpaper-scraping, laughs, and secrets shared among close friends. Another memory made...so that in a few months, I can look at the goofy pictures and remember...and smile.  There's something about scrape-scrape-scraping that brings out the craziness in us.  Ummm and can I just share -- if you are looking for a great arm work-out, scrape wallpaper.  It works alot of muscles!!!!  Add laughter and you can smooch 500 calories goodbye!  :) 

Saturday...blessed Saturday.  After purchasing groceries, I meandered through Target.  My purpose for the Target trip was to procure a package of cashews.  (Have I ever told you that I could probably consume my body weight in cashews?  It wouldn't be pretty...but it would tasty!!!)   While meandering about, I ended up seeing some crazy polka-dotted and heart socks that screamed two college students' names...what goes better with fun socks that Dove Milk Chocolates?  I mean, HELLO!  CHOCOLATE + SOCKS = Fun Package from Miss Angie... 

And now I have the entire evening to enjoy at my leisure.  Pitter-patter...

I hope you have had a delightful end to your week.

One of those weeks...

It's Friday evening...and I can honestly say that I am truly thrilled that the week is over.  Not that it's been a bad week...it's just been A week!!!  First things first - I am thankful that I had Monday off.  What a huge blessing. However...by having Monday off that removed 8 precious hours from my work week that I really did need.  You see, someone (and I am not going to mention names) thought it would be great to advertise three projects on one day.  Usually one project...maybe two...but never ever ever ever three.  I had a moment of turret-like conversation last Friday when my favorite co-worker asked, "Why are you edgy?" Too which I replied, "I have three...three....THREE projects going out for bid."  The smarty pants that he is replied, "How many did you say?  THREE?"  Oh, he thinks he's sooo cute.  Looking back now - it was kind of funny.  At the time, I was wondering if they would really fire me if I slugged him.  (Laughing!)

Sooo Tuesday rolls around and I am copying and making edits like a crazy girl!  Pages are being thrown in the recycle bin.  I'm singing "Another one bites the dust"...there's LOTS of nervous laughter coming from the first cubicle.  Sometime in the morning, I get a text from Ike saying that he has an extra ticket to Starlight's performance of Phantom of the Opera...a silver lining moment.  PHANTOM OF THE OPERA...DO I WANT TO GO?  UMMMMM...IS MY HAIR CURLY?  DO I TEND TO NERVOUS LAUGH?  AM I NOT RIGHT?  The answer to ALL of the above is YES! YES! YES!

Wednesday...the big day.  Everything has to be sent to the paper for the press.  I make the deadline...barely.  More nervous laughter.  My eight hours fly by...

Thursday...all ads are in the paper.  Not all the books and the huge drawings are ready for pick-up.  Mr. Smarty Pants has a novel idea -- why not get the summer college kid to run the copies for me while I fiddle-fart-around with Microsoft Excel (which included some spitting and sputtering and idle threats to my program, "We used to be friends!  I don't know if I can keep up this technological-based relationship, Excel.") getting everything formatted.  Seven and a half (YES - 7.5) hours later...the college gal is done making my gazillion & three copies.  She even went so far as to staple them.  I want to dedicate June 2nd as National C_________ Day!!!!!!  It took me every bit of the 7.5 hours to mess around with Excel and get everything else ready to go.  Great teamwork!!!!  As I walk past the counter which has the books & drawings, I smile and utter a prayer of thankfulness and then I skip to my car.

Friday...back to my normal-cheerful-self.  I tell Mr. Smarty Pants, "I cannot remember what you wanted me to do with this document!  Isn't it great that I am back to my usual self?"  He smiles and says, "Yes.  Welcome back!"  I felt like I could skip about the engineering department.  I didn't.  No worries.  I did consume two full cups of coffee...sweet Friday, how I have waited all week for you.  Thank you for returning my sanity on Friday, Lord. 

Tonight I met Lauren, Ruthie, and Rhonda for supper at Panera.  What a wonderful time dining together and discussing the perils for our days/weeks.  It was great to be with this group of girls and laugh and share heart-aches.  I love my friends.

After supper, Rhonda and I had this crazy notion to work-out.  After completely changing out of my skirt and sandals, I discovered I did not have my tennis shoes.  I only had brown sandals with a wedge heel or teal flip-flops which are both inappropriate for working-out...sooo I went back to the lockroom and changed back into my skirt & sandals...and then I informed Rhonda that I was going to go purchase a coffeemaker at Target. 

Target.  The red bullseye...oh, I like that store.  Did you know that from now on -- all new Targets will have a grocery section?  I overheard a Target employee telling a customer that people want a one-stop shop and people who shop at Target tend to avoid Wal-Mart altogether.  Ain't that the truth?  :)  Amen!

Soooo I meandered through Target and decided on a 4-cup coffeemaker.  You see...I'm not a massive quantity guzzling coffee machine.  I like 1 cup...maybe 2 in the morning.  That's it.  Nothing extreme.  I put the coffeemaker in my cart and continued sauntering through the store...  I found cotton balls and some peanut butter Cliff bars.  That was enough...  Paid for my purchases and headed home.  And if the Lord sends me a nice guy who loves Jesus and drinking coffee...well, I can get a 12-cup coffeemaker to replace the 4 cupper. 

Once I got home tonight, I removed my new coffeemaker from the box and washed the carafe and lid.  I then went to put my reusable coffee filter in the basket only to discover that my old filter was too big...which means I don't have any coffee filters for this new brewing device.  Soooo I scribbled "small coffee filter" on the bottom of my Woodman's list.  I suppose that will have to wait until morning as I am already in my pajamas with my hair pulled up into a circa 1987 clear clippy-thing.  Yeah - I am not going out in public looking like THIS!  I have standards!

Here it is a quarter to 11 on Friday night...I think I might call it a day and head to bed.  What a crazy, crazy week!!!

Happy Weekend!