I'M BACK - TEEN PARTY IDEAS!!

Our Daughter's Birthday Party (she's the sweetie on the right). . . and . . . All I can say is "thank God for antibiotics!!"

My sinuses have returned to normal and I'm back rolling again. . . :)

I wanted to share with you the idea I had for our youngest daughter's 15th birthday party. So many of you e-mailed and asked me the "details" of how we pulled this off so I just thought I'd post it for everyone.

I'm telling you. . . it was a huge, huge HIT!!!! I even had mothers telling me the following week what a great time their daughters had and what a neat idea it was. So my daughter thinks her mom is pretty cool right now. Neat huh?

We had an updated Scavenger Hunt party for the technical savvy kids of this generation. Long gone are the envelopes with the clues and the next hints, neighborhood door knocking or road rallies with this generation.

Oh no, this generation is a cell phone, texting generation. So that's what we used. We had two teams with 4 girls on each team. Each team used one cell phone, per team. Not a problem, all the girls had one. We just picked one to use.

This is what we did. My daughter picked her (and her friend's) favorite outdoor mall (you could pick an indoor one too, same difference). I obtained in advance a directory of the stores so I would know all the store names.

I then came up with clues to help the girls determine which store we were referring to. I'll give you a few examples later in this post.

The morning of the party, I texted these clues to my husband's and my phones. Hint: I'm not a fast texter so I got on-line with AT&T, our cell phone provider, got into our account and texted (typed) the clues this way. (Did you all know that you could do this? I just found it out by chance myself.) Since I'm a way faster typer than a texter, this was a breeze. This was our daughter's only concern. . . "Mom, Dad, you're soooo slow texting we'll be waiting forever for our next clues!" She's right. So I solved that little problem by doing it in advanced and on-line. Then all we did was hit forward on our already typed in clue to the team's cell phone.

Next issue, how could we be sure one group of girls would not just find a seat, figure out the clues, without running around the mall???? We needed proof. So, I purchased two disposal cameras. One for each team. A clue would be sent out and they would text back an answer. Either "No" would be texted back with an little cheat added help clue so they would have to brainstorm again, or the next clue if they had guessed correctly. But, they had to take a picture of the correct store on the camera, with 3 out of 4 girls in it. The 4th one would be taking the picture so 3 would have to be in the picture . . . with the store sign in the background. They rotated who took the pictures each time so we have photos of everyone.

My husband started at the bottom of the list of clues. I started at the top so they would not be running to the same stores at the same time. We had 15 clues in total.

The girls arrived at our house, we had pizza, pop, etc. Then I explained the rules. I had each girl write her name on a piece of paper, fold it and place it in a bowl. I didn't want any of "I want so and so on my team," "Can I be with. . .?" to make anyone feel slighted, ya know??? I had my husband draw one name at a time and divide them into two piles.

Two groups formed; passed out cameras; secured their cell numbers; assigned one group to me, one to hubs; gave them our cell numbers. My husband drove his group, I drove mine and away we went to the mall. We parked next to each other, got our groups to the entrance and sent them their first text at the exact same time. Fair is fair.

And away they went.

Hubs and I found a Starbucks and sent out clues.

This went seamlessly, effortlessly. It was so much fun for the girls. The first team done, of course won. We came back to our house for waffle bowl ice cream sundaes and cupcakes. Gift bags were passed out and our daughter opened her presents from her friends. I had gone to Bath & Body Works and got items for two sets of gift bags. The winner's bags had a little nicer items. I also dipped 5 pretzel rods each in white chocolate and sprinkles for their bags. I think these were gone before anyone left our house!!

I stopped at Walgreen's on the way home from the mall to drop off the cameras. I had the 1-hour photos developed and ordered a CD of each group of pictures. I have Roxio software (legal and available at Walmart) and copied a CD for each of the girls to take home in their gift bags.

______________________________________________________

Here's a sampling of our clues for you: bold font is the answer/store

If you're taking a test and you don't know an answer to a question you would: GUESS

A resident of Paris would be called a: Parisian

A space between some one's two front teeth is called a: GAP

You must be this age to legally have an alcoholic drink: Forever 21

This is where you would go to see your favorite Hollywood stars: MJR Movies

If you want to fly in an airplane, but don't fly first class . . . you fly: Coach

"Make that a double shot of espresso with extra whipped cream - grande size!" : Starbucks

You wouldn't eat using normal silverware here: P.F. Changs

Shhh!! You can't tell anyone: Victoria's Secret

This is so much fun for a teen birthday party. Our daughter and her friends are all 15 and thought this party rocked. It is soooo much better than a dreaded sleepover moms. Yes, they all went home at 11:00 pm. Heaven. I slept well ;)

If you have any questions, just e-mail me.

Blessings. . . until next time,

TOO BUSY TO POST MUCH THIS WEEK!!

Too much going on around here this week. . . .

Today I pick up our youngest from school for her hair appointment. A fresh cut and freshening up those highlights are on the agenda. Girls are EXPENSIVE!!

Thursday and Friday I am having a garage sale.

Thursday is also our youngest daughter's 15th birthday. I can't believe my baby is turning 15!!! My husband will be in New York on Thursday so our oldest daughter and I will be taking Janelle out for her birthday dinner (after cheer practice, of course!).

Friday is Janelle's birthday party. Eight girls total will be coming over, pizza, pop and then we will be going to the mall to do a "texting type" scavenger hunt. The girls will be broken into two different groups and we will give them "text" messages for clues. After they figure out the clue they will have to go to that store and take a picture with the disposable camera I will supply. After they text my hubby, or I, the correct answer, we will text the next clue to them. It's an update of the envelope for the clue I guess. The winner group will get a little nicer gift bag and the non-winner group will also get a gift bag. (We are still making up the game/rules/details). Then back to our home for cupcakes and ice cream sundaes in waffle bowls.

Saturday my parents will be driving down 2 1/2 hours from their home up north and my hub's parents will be coming over for dinner and celebrating Janelle's birthday AGAIN!!

Also, this will be the last time the grandparents will see our oldest daughter, Lindsay until Thanksgiving. Lindsay will be moving to Texas on the 23rd of this month to finish her degree!!

So, I'm probably not going to be on-line much this month. . . at. . . all!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBS!!

My hubs turned 52 on Thursday! I made his favorite cake for him and suffered through dinner at PF Changs. I don't like Chinese food and it doesn't like me. It's a testament of how much I love this man. He was in heaven! I, not so much. The good thing was that I'm still sick and couldn't taste anything, so I didn't each much.

I love this picture of my husband. We were singing, or I should say attempting to sing, Happy Birthday To You. . . Happy Birthday To You. . . . He was actually laughing at us, I think!

I hope this year brings you some time to relax dear. You deserve it. I hope to see more of the following picture of you enjoying your hard work. I took this at our cottage during our last visit. My husband relaxing and doing nothing. I don't see this too much!

Blessings. . . until next time,

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!

I have always wished to have a two-tier pie crust table. Always!!

Look at this little gem I found on Craigslist. I had a birthday a few weeks ago, so I was given a little bit of cash from the parents. I used $60 of it and purchased this little antique pie crust table. Isn't it lovely? I still have to find just the right items to display on this beauty.

See sometimes dreams do come true :)

Blessings. . . until next time,

Thank you Jan & Tom's Place!!!

Thank you Jan & Tom!!!!!

While recuperating from my back injury ~ resting in bed! ~ I came across a most delightful blog. It's Jan & Tom's Place. We both live in Michigan too. I found it very coincidental that on the day I was reading Jan's blog she was having a birthday celebration! Jan and I share a very special day ~ our birthdays!! Jan was having a birthday party/tea and invited people to share in her fun. I was all too happy to send her birthday blessings. All people born on October 8th are very special people :) ~ I'm just saying. . . .

Jan was also having a birthday give-a-way for three lucky guest attending her party. What a shock to have received an e-mail from Jan that I was one of the three winning guest!!! Happy Birthday. . . all. . . over. . . again!!


The most wonderful package arrived and I asked our oldest daughter to "capture" each and every moment for me with the camera.

My surprise began with an adorable storage box and matching card. . .

My first and favorite present is a book, "The Secret Place of the Most High" by Clift & Kathleen Richard. I can't wait to start reading this book tonight. What Christian doesn't wish to have a deep intimacy and the closest relationship possible with our Lord and Savior? Teach me all you can Lord and fill me up with your ever present Holy Spirit!!

The presents that Jan sent just kept coming and coming. One delight after another!

Bath salts, a sewing repair kit, tea, candles and a vintage looking picture frame. Perfect for my bedroom redo! I think I'll put Jan's picture in this frame :)

Wow, here's an overall shot of all the lovely, delightful surprises sent by Jan. Go check out her blog. It's wonderful. You'll be glad you did.

Thank you Jan & Tom!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

Bedroom Project Started ~ Interrupted for Hospital Stay!!!

Well, my weekend started out with the very best of intentions!!

I had planned on knocking out the painting of our master bedroom. I finished the master bathroom's painting last week. . . so the next step was our attached bedroom. . . naturally!

Things were going along wonderfully. My hubby helped by taking down the recessed lights and the ceiling fan for me. I cleared off all the dressers, took down all the pictures and patched the holes in the walls.

So far, so good. I was on a roll applying that white ceiling paint, Then I had a "bright" (tongue-in-cheek) idea. If I had to paint the tallest part of this pan ceiling, and I couldn't reach it with the bed in the way (and it was too heavy to move), why not stand on the bed, which was covered with a plastic drop cloth and paint the ceiling with the roller on the extension pole? I stepped from the ladder to the bed and SLIPPED, and almost FELL and CAUGHT myself from falling into the headboard. I jerked and felt a little something snap in my back :)

Oh, I can just work it out I thought. I've done stupid things like this before. So I normally take some Naproxen or Motrin and just keep going. I did.

We finished the ceiling, and had plans for painting the walls on Sunday after church. We stopped, showered, got ready and my husband took me out for my birthday dinner, which is Wednesday the 8th. Hubby travels during the week so we celebrate occasions on the weekends. We traveled about an hour away to the St. Clair River to a very quaint little restaurant called the "St. Clair Inn." The view along the water with the Michigan fall/autumn colors was spectacular and the dinner was wonderful.

We came home, showered and went to bed. I got up (tried to get up I should say) got ready for church and went with my family. I could hardly get into the car my back was hurting so bad. Oh, I'll just work it out as I always do. Sit, stand, sing, greet, sit some more, stand some more. I thought I was going to D I E!!!

I came home from church and got out the heating pad, the ice and tried to lay down. Come on, I always work this out. I decided I needed to take a walk. I went around the block. Pain was shooting down my legs to my knees and I thought I was going to pass-out. Home I came and told hubby to take me to the hospital.

So, that's where I've been for two days. I had a MRI, which shows inflammation in the sacrolites(sp?), the last disc injured and perhaps some infection in this area too was told. So, the physical therapy doctor called for the spine doctor. The physical therapy doctor said I would need to stay for a few more days and take antibiotics intravenously to rid this infection. Oh man tomorrow is our oldest daughter's 21st birthday and Wednesday is mine. GREAT. I didn't want to stay. Thankfully, the spine doctor told me he would take more blood and run more tests and call me tomorrow if I needed to come back. GREAT, GET ME OUT OF HERE!!

So, now I'm home ~ resting in my lovely 1/2 painted bedroom. The ceiling looks great. The walls, not so good yet. After I heal, we'll tackle them. Hubby isn't traveling this week after all. I'm so dopey from all this medication sent home with me; i.e., muscle relaxers, pain medication that I'm rather loopy.

Note to self. . . don't stand on sliding plastic and expect a sure footing with arms extended overhead holding an extension painting pole and roller :)

I may be getting older, but not smarter. . . that's for sure!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

Don'tcha Just Love Your Dog???

The older I get. . . the more I love my dog. Know what I mean????

This is my baby, Sr. Winston Churchill. *sigh* He'll be four years old on Saturday. . . so that actually makes him. . . like 28!! Happy Birthday Winston. We're so happy you're in our family!

Have a blessed day people!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

Home Again and Back to Work!!

Oh, Wherever You May Roam. . . There is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!





Oh, so wonderful to be back home. It was high 70' s yesterday and high 50's today. But. . . I'm not complaining at all!! Actually, I'm loving it after last week!


My little embroidery machine workhorse is going as I type. I'm embroidering the items for the basket I'm donating for Relay for Life's Silent Auction. I'm donating this basket on behalf of our 9th grade Cheer Team. I'll share pictures when my embroidery projects are completed for the basket.


In the meantime, here are some towels that I embroidered for part of our 14 year old's birthday gift. She asked for them for her bathroom. Now, if we could just keep them hanging up and not on the floor!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

Second Post - I've Been Tagged 2 Times!!

Lib, from Lib's Private Paradise has tagged me to play this game. I've played this game before so I'll try to think of different things to list about me. Here are the rules: Link to the person who tagged you. Post rules. Share 7 random or weird things about you.

Here goes:

1. I'm the baby of the family (but have always, and still do, act like the oldest!)

2. I married a first born. (almost 27 years ago.)

3. My husband and I met at church. (. . . and we still attend together, but a different church now).

4. My oldest daughter was my birthday gift 20 years ago. She was born one day before my birthday (best "gift" a mom could ever receive).

5. I LOVE to get pedicures!! (*sigh - don't get them as much as I would like to - budget ya know?)

6. I love old jazz. (I play it when no one is home so I don't get made fun of).

7. I'm scared to death of gerbils, hamsters, Guinea pigs, mice and the likes. (Don't understand how people could actually keep these rodents for pets! Yuck!)


Then Rhoda, from Southern Hospitality tagged me for this - 4 Things About Me Post. Honestly people, I tell ya, I'm not all that exciting. I am a very non-exciting, basically boring person. But. . . here goes anyways. . .

4 jobs I've had:
Newspaper Library - Morgue they called it (my first job at 15)
Administrative Assistant
Buyer for an automotive manufacturer
Decorator for a Fabric Manufacturer

4 movies I watch over and over:
Funny Farm
White Christmas
That's about it people.

4 places I've lived:
Michigan
Texas
Michigan
Michigan (gee I think I should move!)

4 TV shows I watch:
I don't really watch much TV, I think it's a thief of my "time." If I do happen to turn it on it is ALWAYS HGTV or DIY, but I NEVER turn it on to catch a certain program, NEVER!

Places I've been:
St. Thomas/St. Johns
Aruba
Hawaii/Maui
Venezuela

4 people who email me regularly:
Husband (he travels. . . remember?)
Kathy
Teri
Father-in-law

4 favorite things to eat:
Reuben sandwich
Shrimp
Cold Stone Creamery
Peach Pie

4 places I'd rather be:
Traveling with my husband
Florida
Arizona
Hawaii

4 things I look forward to this year:
Being successful at Weight Watchers/Eating Healthier
Going to Barbados with my husband in April
Taking a "family" get-a-way weekend next month - not the cottage but a hotel with maids, pool and restaurants! So mom here gets a break!
Organizing my basement work room.

4 people I will tag for both games:
PattiJ from Crafty Obsessions
Cherry from Tales From Pixie Wood
Linda from Reminisce. . . and this and that
Karla/Grace from Rose Cottage Lane

OK, girls....you're it!

Taaaaa-Daaaaaa - It's DONE!!

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, my present to myself . . . It's done!! My secretary has been lovingly repainted to fit my decor. I painted my piece in Satin Black. It's perfect for my room and for this corner of my room. I finally have it finished and couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I've taken pictures for you to see it both open and closed. I will be leaving it open, since I think the inside cubbies, drawers and little cupboard are a "work of art." . . . And also a pain in the neck to paint so I'll want to see the fruits of my labor!

I do have one additional item to add to my secretary. . . a small lamp for on the shelf. I have the "perfect" lamp (garage sale find), I just need to rewire it. I don't want to drill a hole large enough to accommodate the electrical plug. I'm thinking I'll either take it apart, or see if The Home Depot or Lowes have a new snap on plug (that would work well too). . . then I'll just need to drill a small hole to accommodate the cord, reattach the plug and we're in business.

Do you like it? I hope so. I love it! . . . or as my 13 would say, "I heart it!"


Blessings. . . until next time,

Edited to show the secretary before I painted it.

Happy Birthday and a Temporary Change to Blog

Friday night we had a "small" birthday gathering for our oldest daughter. She's turning 20 today, Sunday, the 7th. Both sets of grandparents came over as well as my daughter's boyfriend and his parents. I'm so glad everyone was able to come help us celebrate! Both my daughter and I love the fall, so we were so looking forward to an indoor tailgate party. We planned to serve "hot" mulled cider, chili, grilled sausage and hot dogs and watching the game on hub's big screen TV in the basement "man-cave." However, it was 87 degrees here in Michigan!! It was more like a summer heat-wave than a fall tailgate party. I had the A/C on and we went ahead with the gathering, minus the hot cider. We drank the cider it ice cold instead.

This has been a year of big birthdays in our house. My hubby turned 50, our oldest turned 20 and our youngest turned 13. One daughter went into the teen years while the other left them and my hubs is now eligible for the AARP!!

. . . then speaking of birthdays, I have one myself on Monday. Aaaaauuuuuugggggggghhhhhh!! Since my husband travels, we celebrated Saturday night. He took me to a great restaurant that I have been wanting to go to. Afterwards, we walked around downtown and had the best time. Just together. No kids. Wonderful. Aaaaaahhhhhhh.

I also want to mention that I have deleted, temporarily, the Bible Snippets of the day. I'm looking for one in the NIV, not the KJV. Just a preference of mine. I find it easier to understand.

By the way, I am younger than my hubby. I'm not turning 50 (and won't be for a few years.) . . . just wanted to get that straight : )

Blessings. . . until next time!

My "Grown-Up" Daughter with the "Love of Her Life"

Yup, just got to thinking (and taking a trip down memory lane) this morning as I tore another page off the calendar. . . our oldest will be 20 years old one month from today. 20 years old!!!???!!! How'd that happen? Oh where, oh where, has ALL that time gone? THEN "I" look into the mirror and see it has certainly passed!!! "Time flies by once children come along," that's what my mom always said. But I wouldn't trade it for the world!! . . . Middle age really isn't that bad. It's kind of a comfortable place to be. . . like sliding your foot into a pair of old slippers. . . warm. . . cozy. . . broken in "just right" a little beat up and frayed maybe, but that's ok too .

Here's a picture of our beautiful oldest with her "honey." Aren't they just an adorable couple? We think so. This picture was taken at our friend's house during a party the day of the "Woodward Dream Cruise." Yes, we from the Detroit area love our cars . . . and any excuse to throw a party. (Thanks Teresa for throwing one!)

Our oldest is a sweet, sweet girl who has made us very proud. "Happy almost birthday sweetie" our little "Blessing from God." You truly are very special and we love you very, very much!! :>)