Yes!! Vacation!!!

After a 12 hour day (work from 8 till 2 and a marathon meeting until after 6, then traffic!!) and sleeping late ( why on earth did my alarm not go off today)...I am on vacation. Yay! Looking foward to sleeping late, getting a manicure/pedicure and hanging out with my family for a few days...then it's off to Wisconsin!
Today I also discovered my friend Kelly and her husband Ryan in San Antonio have taken on 2 foster children. They have been having infertility problems and have decided to help children that need help. Her foster kids are cute and they look happy. Click on "Kelly's blog" to check it out. These 2 are wonderful people and I look foward to reading about their journey!

Must see TV!

It's here! Fall premier week on TV! As many of you know, I love TV, especially Bruckheimer shows!! I really love the mystery shows. And the best thing... I don't work any nights this week!!! Tonight I watched Cold Case. That show makes me cry every time!!! Tomorrow is the big Heros premier as well as CSI: Miami.....Horatio has a son??? I think I will watch Chuck and Journeyman as well. Tues is NCIS and BONES!! ( LOOOOVVVVVEEEEE David Boreanaz!!!) And of course, SVU!! Wednesday has Criminal Minds and CSI: NY. I am going to give Bionic Woman a try. I may watch Kid nation, I taped the first week. Lots of controversy!! Thurs includes Earl, CSI (I hope Sara survives!!!!), ER and Without a trace. This day has a conflict....Criminal Intent moved to USA and is on at 9pm!! (I guess I will have to find the encore presentation on NBC that the website promises). Then Friday includes Vegas (no more James Caan or Niki Cox...or her boobs....I guess I won't miss those but Randy might!!), and Numbers. I may try the Womens murder club on ABC. Thank goodness I have 2 DVR's!!! I know, I have no life. But I love it!!!

Vacation, all I ever wanted....

4 more days of work and then....12 days of vacation!! But who's counting? My first 5 days are here at home, chilling out and maybe getting some pampering (mani, pedi and maybe a massage or facial). Then on 10/2 I am off to Wisconsin for the Club Scrap retreat. The retreat starts on Thusday, so Karen, Jane and I are going to wander wround Door county for 2 days. I see some cool nights in the future!! This week it is in the high 40's and low 50's at night and mid- 60'2 during the day. I will need to blow the dust off my sweaters and coats!! I am looking foward to spending time with my friends. Working full time and being a mom, I don't have much free time to hang out with friends. I am also going to enjoy having a hotel room all to myself for 3 nights!! Un-interrupted sleep!!!

I couldn't believe my eyes.....

I was at my workstation today, on the phone, when Kristal came up next to me and plunked down this black American Express Card. When I say plunk I mean 'plunk'. I picked up the card and could not believe how heavy it was! We asked the customer about it and was told it was a 'titanium' card, the highest card available from American Express. It was way cool!!! So I starting thinking, what is this card and why, after 16 years in retail, I had never seen it before?
So I found out the annual fee is $2500, and a startup fee of $5000. Minimum yearly purchases are $250,000 or more. It used to be available only to celebrities by invitation only, but now it is offered to anyone American Express thinks is worthy. The average CC weighs in at about 0.17 oz, while this one weighs about 0.53 oz. It is rumored that only about 17,000 people are card holders, and that is world wide.
The card has high spending limits but they vary per person. The most expensive purchase known to date on a black card, is that of a $30M private jet. It includes 24hr personal concierge. (They can make reservations, plan weddings, or score tickets), Private shopping services at the finest retailers. (Tiffany’s offers up private shopping for Black Card customers), Invitations for special events, (such as a round of golf with Tiger Woods), Complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights, Access to Airport Clubs, Free hotel stays, International emergency health care .
Some carriers include Jessica Simpson, Lindsey Lohan, Simon Cowell, Denzel Washington and Jerry Seinfeld.
After reading all this I was shocked to realized I have a (quiet) millionaire hiding in the area around my store in the middle to upper class neighborhood. Never a dull moment in my store!!!

Most saved ever!!

It's been 19 months since Jordana was born and my body seems to keep changing!! Although I have lost almost all of the weight, some of my body fat has redistributed itself, causing half of my wardrobe to be too small. Some pants won't go over my hips anymore, I have a bit of a belly roll so many pants and skirts lay differently on me than they used to, and my boobs can't seem to make up their mind what size they want to be, causing many tops to stretch and pull in places they shouldn't!! I have decided not to work too hard on getting my pre-baby body back until I am totally done having kids. So I needed some new fall clothes.

In early August, I went to NY & Co and bought some new pants and some summer clearance with some coupons I had. Between the 2 trips I spent about $300. My first receipt said I saved $173.18 (between sale items and a $60 coupon). The second trip was split into 2 transactions and said I saved $253.67. When I added my actual savings I really saved a total of $254.06. (Where do the get the rest of that from?). Anyway, I received 9 citi cash coupons for $15 off my $30 purchase. That meant I had to spend $270!!! I knew I couldn't spend all that, so I brought my sister and my mom along. Barbara bought some stuff and I bought some stuff. We hit the $270 mark (and then some) and we were amazed to see at the bottom of the receipt that we saved $232.44! And we really saved that much!!! Everyone always makes fun of me and my coupons but this proves that it is (usually) worth the effort!!! Over 3 trips to the store We saved a total of $486....and I have a great wardrobe to show it!!! No one should have to send in a tape of me to What Not To Wear!!!

When no one is watching...

I thought this was classic. Just now, Randy and I were upstairs working on our computers. We had just left the living room after watching Ghost Rider (do not recommend). We left the TV on and a warm couch just waiting to be re-occupied. I came downstairs and found this...Tank in blissful sleep. Pillows underneath and feet propped in the air. Our pets are so spoiled! He opened his eyes when I took the picture. He re-positioned himself but did not get up.

What a charmed life!!!

Flu shots and Clinic Opening

I manage the busiest non-24 hour store in the district, averaging 380 to 400 a day. I only have 3 pharmacists on Monday and Tuesday. Luckily, I only work every third weekend, allowing me more 'bankers hours' at my store. Isn't that enough? Nope. The Take Care clinic is set to open on October 24th and our flu clinic has been scheduled for October 2nd, the first flu clinic for the district, and it is 6 hours long!! Oh, and I will be on vacation that week....so I can't even get a flu shot in my own store!!! (Or be there to help out). My partner, Chanel, will have no problem with the clinic, or the increase in customer count that day, and I feel confident that my staff will shine.
There is a meeting on Monday for the 9 stores in Houston that will have clinics. I will learn more about the day to day operations and what to expect in one measly hour. The customers in my area have a lot of private insurance or Medicaid. I think the clinic in my store is going to be BUSY!!! My boss disagrees. My store manager agrees with me. We'll see.......

Daddy's girl

Jordana is definately a Daddy's girl. When it comes to goofing off, she goes to Randy first. The higher she flys, the louder she laughs. At 19 months, she has discovered that she is ticklish (neck, belly sides and the sole of her feet get her every time)!

Journaling reads:

August 2006

Randy is such a great dad. He loves to goof off with Jordana. Once he realized she was strong enough to be thrown around, he took full advantage of the situation. Most of the games include a count of 1, 2, Threeeeeee!!! Jordana eagerly awaits the exciting number 3. As she got older she yells 3!! 3!! while Randy counted 1 and 2. If is great to watch them interact.

Jeff's accident

Friday afternoon, my brother Jeff was in a car accident. Gratefully, he is ok. He was t-boned by a small car that blew thru a red light. Luckily, the insurance is blaming the other guy and the repair cost should be minimal. I don't know what would have happened if he was hit by a truck or SUV. Sometimes Randy and I get ridiculed for driving 2 gas guzzlers, but it's times like this when I feel so much safer in a larger vehicle (especially after my Mustang accident). Texas drivers love their big trucks (which is weird because Houston in flat!) and there are so many of them on the road. Be careful out there!!

Ivory Elegance ALSB

These pix are from our photo shoot for holiday portraits last year. We had a good time taking the pictures.

Journaling for the first double layout reads:

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.

Journaling for the second layout set reads:

Thanks to my mom and dad, we had a gift certificate to take some nice holiday pictures. We took family poses, some naked baby pictures and some holiday photos of Jordana. We were very pleased with the end result.

November 2006

Sad News

I received a phone call from one of my pharmacy school buddies last night. After hearing the message on my machine, I couldn't tell what tone it was, but I was hoping for good news. Carrie had gotten married last September and I thought maybe she had family news. I never expected the words that came out of her mouth; her father had passed away after battling the return of his cancer. After we talked and I sent out some emails to contact some other friends, I called my parents to let them know. They took a real liking to my Purdue roomates and friends, and Carrie is no exception. I cried when talking to my dad. I remember Mr. Galloway's fight against his cancer while we were in school. I admired Carrie's strength, dealing with the stress of school and her fathers illness.
It's times like this when I hate being so far away from my friends. I missed Carrie's wedding because Jordana was too small and now I can't physically be there for her again in her time of need. Carrie has been an amazing friend (as all my closest Purdue buddies have become) and I really miss her. After graduation we got together once to go to the Purdue-Wisconsin game in Wisconsin, and the following year we went to Arizona to vacation together. We had an amazing time. Then there was a string of weddings, with Adria's being the last. I really miss her and all of my Purdue buddies. There is an old adage that your college friends end up being your lifelong friends (not your high school ones), and with the exception of Lisa (my only BF from high school) it is so true for me.
So hug your family tonight and call your parents. Life is to short for pettyness and fighting. Leave the drama to the primetime tv shows.

ALSB..the cure for scrappers block!!!

Assembly Line scrapbooking is fun, fast and easy!!! I finally made use of many of the ALSB layouts I had finished but had not used. These layouts include many pictures of Jordana's first year.

The left is time and space. Jordana hanging out with her Grandaddy. April 06. The one on the right is Workshop. Jordana holding her toes 5/06.

These are from Science and a design classic. March 2006

The next batch is from Autumn Splendor. Of course they are Halloween pix. Jordana dressed as a cow. She kept playing with her tail. She had some pictures taken with grandaddy and GiGi.

These are from the club scrap retreat in Wisconsin in 2005. I hadn't seen the leaves change since I left Purdue!!

First posting of layouts

These pix were taken this summer at Jordana's school. She loves the camera!!! All paper and embelishments are Club Scrap, Fizz.

Journaling reads:

June 2007 - Taken at 18 months old, we can see how Jordana loves the camera. We love to watch her grow!! Talking, Running and learning anything she can, she is a force to be reckoned with. Each new word, task or feat amazes us. Each day is an adventure and we love experiencing it every day.

Here is a quick layout of Jordana from February. It is titled Bon appetit and I used my opposites attract cricut cartridge. The paper is from club scrap of course, from the special kit for the March Rolling retreat in Houston.

Journaling reads:

2.20.2007

Sometimes half the fun of eating dinner is playing with it. Jordana decided she was finished. In true toddler fashion, her dinner ended up all over her, the tray and the floor. Good thing we have dogs!!!