New digs!

So remember FOREVER ago I was talking about getting a new blog design?

And I entered a monthly contest and won?

VOILA!!!

What do you think?

I am so excited it was a long time coming and the Jenna over at Bloggy Blog Designz made this FABULOUS new blog for me!!!




I LOVE IT!!


And to make it EVEN better they are having a giveaway!!

Bloggy Blog Designz is having a Giveaway!!! They are giving away all kinds of goodies. Plus ALL entrants will receive 20% off any purchase through the end of the month! Be sure to check out their website for more information, or to enter yourself. Take a look at their portfolio and packages to see what's right for you.
The first 5 entrants will receive a $15 giftcard. The giveaway will close on September 30th, so be sure to have your posts done and comments left by midnight! Good Luck to everyone!
(Our Design List is open after Oct 15. Discounts from this giveaway do not apply to designz in progress)

Its a funny story really..

So on Friday Kelly hosted the web jump Show us where you live Master Bedrooms and I LOVE looking into peoples homes and seeing how they decorate And I LOVE our master... Well after looking at about 50+ master bedrooms with fabulous beds with fluffy pillows I decided our bed was a little blah.... I LOVE the bed but it needed a little something...



So I had some free money from Bed Bath and Beyond from a "few" (I know its bad I am addicted to sheets, and blankets and duvets oh my) purchases that I have not used and they were so kind as to let me return them for store credit and the husband actually had the nerve to say to me "Babe, I think you buy things just so you can return them?"

Now where he got that idea I have no clue, I just love to buy things that I love and I get all these decorating ideas from and I "just know" they are going to look fabulous.. and then I stick them in a tote in the back bedroom and forget about them... And then a year later (I know its bad) when they still have not been used in the bedroom and I have LONG forgot about them (the duvet on the bed I have had for over a year.. ok lets be honest maybe 2 years) still in its package waiting for the perfect opportunity to make an appearance and voila this was PERFECT for this master suite and did not fit our old master I had another one on the bed....


Well anyways I went out and bought some delicious pillows...

And now I think the bed is FABULOUS!
Sorry it would have looked way better if I ironed but I do not *gasp* and even if I did, I do not think I would ever iron my sheets.....

What are your thoughts of the new fabulous bed?

I have a confession to make

I am finding a new love for my crockpot. To be honest the only thing I have ever been brave enough to make is my moms chilli (which is FABULOUS by the way)

I started with a really easy Cheesy Chicken from this AMAZING blog Crockpot 365 she has a recipe for every day of the year. She has since been published but I spent HOURS on her site the other day perusing and picky some recipes I wanted to try.

The Cheesy Chicken was AMAZING so I went back to find my next creation


Apple Crisp! One of my FAV desserts get recipe here


It was pretty easy to make

Opps don't forget to take the stickers off the apples when you wash them (my bad lol)
Voila!
The finished product *(with vanilla ice cream of coarse)
And it looks so good and the recipe boast that it is super YUMMY and delicious and I made it to the "t" with what is says on the recipe and I let it cook for the exact time and I am SO READY to bit into this ewey gooey goodness...


It looks SO delicious..

But it was not. Now I am not sure how its even POSSIBLE to make a bad apple crisp? But this was not good.

And then I thought.. Ok lets let it sit overnight and stew in its juices?

Yep still not good. Its SO BAD the hubby cringed and would not even try any more.. (and that my friends speaks VOLUMES because the man will eat anything!)

Soo if anyone has a FABULOUS crock pot recipe for Apple crisp I would LOVE to hear it.. Or any other fabulous recipes for the crock pot because I am NOT giving up! I will master this thing!

PS Even Daisy will not touch it. She sniffs it then sneezes? I wonder what went wrong?

PPS I am not looking to bash anyone's site, I LOVE the site and I will be returning 100 times over for other recipes to try and I am EVEN GOING TO BUY HER BOOK! And it may not even be the recipe it may just be me. And that I am ruined because my mothers apple crisp is SO darn good!

Show us where you live! Ocean View Master Bedroom

Kelly over at Kellys Corner is hosting a blog hop show us where you live link and its MASTER BEDROOMS TODAY!

For starters this is a work in progress we moved in about a month ago so bits and pieces are coming together...

Can I tell you home much I LOVE THE MASTER BEDROOM?

This is the view standing in the door way, because of all the light from the windows I could not get a shot that was not dark..

Our gigantor bed WHICH WE LOVE!! You can read the story about the bed here, lets just say if we knew we were going to love this bed so much we would have spent the $3000 years ago for it. Daisy is such a good little model (and I apologize for not ironing.. ha ha.. like that would ever happen in this home...) I am still on the hunt for some more fabulous pillows and accents.
The view from on the bed...
The corner by the window
And last but not least the best thing about this room!!!

Oh yeah falling asleep to the crash of the ocean is amazing.. we are so blessed!!

What not to wear Wednesdays!

Its back!! And I am so excited! So without further adieu....

I wish I would have gotten this lady a little better she was also carrying a BRIGHT orange purse..

And I was happy I got this ladies WHOLE out fit. I mean she was over 50 in fishnets and lace covered boots?
The rest of the tablecloth she turn into a dress...
Like mother like daughter with bums eating your shorts? How can you now know this is happening?

See you next week!

Pictures of the disaster ~ not for the faint at heart

For the beginning click here

Last week I spent a day down at ground zero with water and treats for the rescue crews and it really humbles you.

To see ALL this loss in such a short time on day 2 we took the ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle)
Me and my team getting the ERV ready to head out...

The blast on TV the night before

The blast zone where all the fire was coming from And what makes me sick about all of this now is that PG&E KNEW that the pipes were OVER PRESSURIZED before the explosion. That people CALLED them to tell them they smelled gas....
Getting the truck set up with a picture of me when we arrived.. Look at the contrast to us and then EVERYTHING is gone behind the truck?

This was the 2 homes immediately in front of the blast. The big hole is right behind these homes in the middle of the street
I took this picture because it was so ironic the green car is from a "Disaster emergency company" and the logo on the back of the car says "Like it never happened" and contrast to the homes on the street with NOTHING LEFT but the chimneys? I doubt they could live up to that motto in this situation.
I took this picture then asked permission to use it.. This fire fighter was crying while he surveyed the damage... Seeing firemen, and police cry really makes it hard to keep ones composure. I never want to see someone cry because it makes me cry, I have learned that when I see a grown man cry... I sob..

Melted cars
The whole block was gone...
It was so hot the glass melted...
A childs playground
This was the home where a family perished. There were 3 people home at the time, Jacqueline Greig, 44, her 13-year-old daughter Janessa, , and 81-year-old Elizabeth Torres..... The coroner said they did not even know what happened it was so fast.
As a sign of solidarity the fire and police hung this flag across the street from where the family perished where the worst damage was done at Claremont and Glenview..

The news states 7 bodies have been recovered and 53 homes lost. Please pray for these families in the days to come as the recovery process starts...

I love me some Sephora!

Especially when its free!

I received this email in my inbox today and I may have squealed with joy!

Dear Random Musings,

We know your birthday is still 2 weeks away, but we'll give you your FREE Beauty Insider gift now.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Beautiful Eyes Kit featuring:
- Lash Plumper Volumizing Mascara in Black
- Nano Eyeliner in Silver Green
- Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Aspen Summit

Get your gift at a Sephora store. See details below.*

Yay! free Stuff I LOVE IT!!

So if you are not already signed up as a Beauty Insider I would highly recommend it!

The frustrations of moving..

So I got a text from the hubby at about 2pm that he needed a Hawaiian shirt for work tomorrow...

So I head out to the mall and I found one that just happened to be so ugly, well I went to use my Macy's card and it said "Not accepted" the guy explained to me that it was not declined it was just "Not Accepted"

So this morning I call to check it out and spent 40 minutes on the phone verifying EVERY address I have had in the US since we have been here.

And they did it with multiple choices was it A), B), C), D) I have never been so frustrated ever!

Now I am not sure if you are keeping track but we have moved a few times.

Colton, CA
Riverside, CA
Cheyenne, WY
Overland Park, KS
Pacifica, CA

Anyways its all sorted out so I called the electrical people to get our final balance so we can pay it AND THEY NEVER CANCELED IT! SO for the last month we have not been at the address we are still responsible to pay the electric there.

Wonder how that works? Well they contacted the building management to have it put in the buildings name so it would not turn off.. And well seeing how we still had to pay rent for Sept we are "technically" still the tenants.

Its a bunch of bull if you ask me.

Thats life though....

We made it down to the beach (1/2 block away) for the sunset the other day...

Called to action

So I am sure y'all have heard about the huge explosion in San Bruno, CA?

Anyways last night after watching the news till about 12am about all the destroyed homes I hunted down and dusted off my old Red Cross vest.


And headed down to ground zero for the relief efforts to see if they needed me.... And I was put to work gathering all the information from the people that were evacuated the night before...


And I made the news... Yeah I am on the right rubbing shoulders with California's lieutenant governor. (Arnold Schwarzenegger was in China) He was really nice and even posed for pictures after the press conference. I was asked to "Represent the American Red Cross" for the conference.












Hard at work.. That's me on the right...


And Monday I will be with the Red Cross again all day doing whatever they need me to...

Its amazing at the out pouring of help that has come from the community, people have such good hearts.

GET OUT THERE AND VOLUNTEER WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

There is nothing like the feeling of being part of something bigger than you are...

Get everything together

We are getting the house together and its all coming along....

We drove into the hubbys job today so he could sign in and get his blackberry and stuff and this is his drive to work.

Yeah its going to be tough he lives 10 miles from our new place and 7 miles are right along the ocean. Its so beautiful I can not even explain. I find myself at random just stopping and staring out into the ocean. There is something so calming about it...


And my new favorite picture for the minute..

WE ARE HOME!

So we have arrived.. And we are slowing getting our place together…
I tell you what, I will NEVER get sick of the sound of the ocean. It’s amazing how beautiful it is here. Not to brag or rub it in your face buts its AMAZING!
I will start taking pictures soon I promise. The beauty makes me want to capture it all.
The good news is all my clothes fit in the closet….per the husband who has been banished to the guest room closet so I get the BIG one all to myself!
Daisy is adjusting well. She is taking to looking at herself in the mirrors all day.. She did so well on the trip I am so proud of her. She is not liking the sand too much but I am sure she will get used to it.

Now just a few items to take care of.

1. Get a job.

2. Get a job.