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.

800 miles down

Only 1300 more to go.

We have stopped in Cheyenne WY to spend time with friends.

We had to make a change to our plans of taking 10 days to travel because the movers said its only going to take 5 days to get our stuff to CA.

Daisy is doing REALLY well! We are so happy, she LOVES the car and she seems to be herself so we are going to stop worring..

So once our stuff gets there we are going to leave and finish our trip!

I can not wait to get there!!

I found a place!!

I made it to San Francisco with only a few delays....

In Kansas 10 minutes before we were able to board a HUGE thunder and lightning storm passed through. You could not even see the airplanes out of the windows the rain was that hard.

My flight connected in Salt Lake City and I had 15 minutes to spare to make it to my connecting flight. Well I BOUNCED off the plane and ran to the agent meeting the plane

We landed at B4

Yeah my connecting flights was at E76

I ran like crazy, people were grabbing their children and gasping at what I site I was running like a mad man through the airport..

I did not make it.

And this is what I looked like after the mad dash, I am one of those people who works out and goes BEAT red.



Yeah so it was 3 hours till my next flight but the airport had these wonderful little stations

They were little cubicles so you had this little private area with a plug in to do whatever you wanted...It sure made the time go fast..

Saturday I was up super early to start my apt hunt. I promised myself I would not fall in love with the first place I saw and I would be objective, and have an open mind...

Well after 18 apartments (yes it was a VERY busy, exhausting day) I kept going back to the first one I saw. I am SHOCKED at some of the prices and the garbage that people rent out here...

But in my defense did anything else really stand a chance??

(view from the bedroom)
Our front yard
The BEAUTIFUL kitchen....
Off the patio....
So who's coming to visit?

Living out of suitcases

And I am not even upset!! Super excited to head out on this new adventure.

Its so funny how things happen some times.

As of yesterday everything is a go (we were anxiously awaiting approval to have the move paid for) because there is no way we could afford to pay for it on our own.

Its approved, movers are booked and tomorrow

I AM FLYING TO SAN FRANCISCO to find a place to live!! I am so excited! I am a little nervous about being there alone. Hubby needs to stay behind to help hire the 2 people that will be doing his job (figures huh?)

But its exciting. And we bought a GPS so it will be easier for me to find things. The peninsula is not that big so other than wrong turns its like an island so hard to get lost.

I have 5 appointments on Saturday with people looking to rent. I am also meeting with a Realtor to look AT NEW HOMES!! (well not new, new because we are not millionaires )

I have 4 days to find somewhere to live!! Akkk Wish me luck!

Hello VACATION!!!

Sooo it may have come a few days early...

My last day was supposed to be Thursday however I went in for my shift this morning and I had to leave.

When I talked about hanging up my apron strings I was DEAD SERIOUS, this idiot this morning (keeping in mind its my first table of the day) I go over to greet the table this is how it goes.

Me "Good morn....."

Jackass "Coffee, and water and I need a large glass for my water" (there are already water glasses on the table"

So I get back to the table with coffee and water

Jackass "uuhhh geezz can we get some "fresh" coffee..mubble mubble"

Me "Oh the coffee that was poured 2 minutes ago with a pot that has a hold time of 6 hours is not fresh enough for you?"


Annnnddd I hand my apron to my manager and walk out.... Yep.

Done.

3 more days was not worth my sanity. And I do not even feel bad. I mean I was not even supposed to work the last week because I had given my notice 2 months ahead of time but they were so short staffed that I agreed to stay longer...

And Done.

Making complete strangers cry

So being that we are moving and all, I had a HUGE box of stuff that was left over from couponing, stuff that I would not be using in the near future.

Anyways I went back to My new love Craigslist and posted the whole box for $20 there is probably about $150 worth of stuff in there.

So I had a lady call wondering the different prices of everything and I explain its for everything and they had to come get it that night.

She said her husband would be by in about an hour.

Then about 10 minutes later she called me back, and went on to explain to me that she lost her job when she was diagnosed with cancer and they went to apply for assistance but because her husband has a good job with the post office they would not give her assistance and they have twin 12 year olds.

Times are tough and she asked if I was doing any more couponing before we leave if I could keep her and her family in my thoughts and anything would help.

So hubby and I got to talking and I asked him if I should just give her all the food in our fridge and freezer (it has to be cleaned out anyways) and the 3 boxes of dry goods (pastas, sauces, soups ect) that had already been packed. We were worried about offending her so I called her back.

She cried on the phone and said she "knew" God would provide and its in his hands. After her family came to pick everything up (her husband looked stunned as I refused his money) she sent me this text

"I just wanted you to know that even though its not Christmas it felt like Christmas to us. Even my husband broke down and cried as we prayed and thanked you and God for the blessing that was bestowed on us this evening. GOD BLESS you on your trip and if there is anything we could ever do for you please let us know"

We are so blessed in our lives it makes my heart sing to be able to help someone else who is in need.

Craiglist Love Part 2

So I told you about my love for Craiglist

Well it continues

I have been able to pawn off (tee hee) all the stuff we are no longer using with almost no pain.

And the BIGGEST score ever?

Well I was perusing (cause I love it) I found MY DREAM BED!

Really we have been wanting a Sealy Posterpedic King size Memory foam mattress FOREVER, but really the $3000 price tag was a little out of our league.

Well LOVELY craiglist had a posting for $600!!

But I thought eww someone elses mattress...

So I called anyways, turns out this lady works for Dillards and they bought the bed AND IT DID NOT FIT! STILL HAS TAGS ON IT!!

I may have squealed in glee and I offered $300 (gotta try right?) although it was a GREAT deal and I went to check it out and its BRAND friggin new and he countered with $400!!!

Oh and the best part? 20 YEAR WARRANTY!! AND THE RECEIPT TO SEND IN THE WARRANTY!!

Really who's a lucky girl?

AND he is delivering it. For free!

I love you Craiglist **sigh**

Highlights of the 10 day ROAD TRIP!!

Well we wait for our stuff to get to San Francisco we are going to embark on a little road trip!! I am so excited! They told us to ship one of the cars it would take about 17- 20 days so we have opted to drive them ourselves and enjoy the sites!

Daisy LOVES the car we even have to spell C. A. R in the house or she freaks out so there will be lots of this!



First stop is Wyoming.. Where we moved to Kansas from to spend some time with friends


And then a day on the road till we get here




Yes we are FINALLY going to the Grand Canyon!! How cool is that! And they just opened that new glass thing to walk out! So cool!

And then we may stop here for a bit



Or we will drive through it anyways...

And then on to sunny California, the hubbys family is there so we are going to spend a few days..


Hubby and his mom.. there will be lots of hugs for sure!


I am SO EXCITED!! 2 weeks from today and we will be on the road!

Hanging up my apron strings

I think I may give up being a waitress

For good.

I have done it for almost 20 plus years off and on but I think I am done. I LOVE the job, the people (most of the time) but its time.

So fingers crossed I find something great in San Francisco!

I think I want to be a nanny. Seeing how we are not having kids I think it would be so much fun to help raise someone elses?

Does that sound weird?

It would be the best of both worlds, I LOVE kids, LOVE them and I could take care of them all day and then go home to the hubby and Daisy (truly our baby).

Well I am looking at a few options and I just hope I can find something I LOVE!

23 days till the big move!!! I am so excited!!

Don't say I did not warn you..

So I have the DIY bug. Bad. I have a TONNE of projects on the go that I am dying to share but have yet to finish ....

While perusing design blogs I can across this one called Catalog Living they make fun of pictures from design magazines. Some of them are so funny!


Here is a little taste:


Sit on it.....


Gary, I just can’t believe that after months of research that’s the chair you chose.




Out of the closet...



While Gary and Elaine were in the kitchen getting popcorn, the brave yellow sweater attempted its escape.




A twist of something...



Elaine was not amused by Gary’s passive-aggressive response to her request to “garnish the cocktails.”




Go check them out.. But do not say I did not warn you...

Something that I have missed

Y'all know how I am a photographer at heart.

But its so weird, I go through phases, where I LOVE to take a million pictures and I try to find photo opps in everything.

And then I go weeks or a month without "really" taking any pictures?

Does this happen to anyone else?

Where you go crazy for a bit, then take a step back?

I was thinking today and I started perusing photography sites again and I spent about 2 hours just marveling at the beauty in the world.

I also went back to one of my FAV photographers sites.

Herb Ritts

It was his print that made me LOVE photography, I am not sure what it is about this print but I LOVE it. Its so beautiful.

A little emergency surgery to get the blood flowing..

So Tuesday the hubby texts me he is going home sick.

Ok just a little back filler THE MAN NEVER GETS SICK! Serious in 12 years he has barfed 1 time. He does not take anything for a cold, does not even like to take advil for a headache.

I call him to check in and he tells me his belly hurts.

We both chalk it up to gas, or maybe he just has to poop.

I get home from work and he says

"I think we have to go to the hospital"

So the panic starts, but I try to stay calm, so does he. He says he may just try to sleep it off but the pain in his belly is REALLY bad. (I try to think of how strong I was LAST time)

We error on the side of caution (because we are both worried about another ER bill) but we go anyways.

We shimmy into the hospital and are seen RIGHT AWAY, we did not even have a chance to sit in the waiting room.

We get shown into the room and there are 3 nurses there. All doing different things. We wait a little bit (maybe 20 minutes) for the Dr.

He comes in, does his tests and then says its 1 of 3 things.

Kidney Stones
Gall Bladder
Appendix

And off to a ct scan he goes.

Yep appendicitis. They use words like life threatening and emergency surgery.

We wait a couple of hours for the surgery team to get there, 2 anesthesiologist, 4 nurses and one trauma surgeon everyone was on call.

It was VIP service all the way. The hospital WAS AMAZING! Hands down I have NEVER seen service like this.

He is doing great! They insert CO2 gas into the belly and the gas has moved into his shoulder (completely normal) which has caused him lots of pain but each day is getting better...

But I have had this pit/nausea/panic thing that will not go away? Its so weird, its all done, he's ok but I can not shake this anxiety?

Just before they wheeled him away and I cried like a baby...

And in true blogging fashion we took a picture but he will not let me post it.... Well because I promised not to show the world. He looks so cute!

Fabulous Giveaway

Army Wife Post is having a FABULOUS giveway of a HUGE lot of Seventh Generation products go over here to enter


Or Click this




And then come back soon for my own giveaway!

DAMN YOU HGTV! My first DIY project

I am addicted. So is the hubby.

Its GOOD.

ALL OF IT!

Design on a dime, Income Property, House Virgins, and Bang for your buck and Homes on Homes?.

Yeah its like crack. The hubby and I watch it almost EVERY night.

Well I have been bitten by the bug. The design/DIY bug.

BAD I have about 6 projects on the go.


This was the first "small" thing I decided to try and I was super excited! I found this REALLY beautiful frame however ugly it was... It was brown but the shape was good so I popped out the glass



Used primer! (so important I have learned I will have to show you my HOW NOT to project I had started)

Then while its drying I headed off to the craft store to find fabric. Yes fabric. I saw it on Design on a dime and I thought "I can do that" So I did. I tapped the fabric to the filler thing that was in the frame.


Then I looked at the frame when it was dry and did not like it. Did a little research that took me FOREVER because I fell in love with no less than 90 Design blogs and then I


Sealed it because thats what the design blogs said to do and its beautiful!!


Voila!


What do you think?

(please try to ignore that I did not iron the fabric first I was too excited!)

Craigs List love!

So now we know we are moving. We have quotes from the movers (AKKK so expensive but less than what we both thought) so now we purge.

We had decided to get rid of our couch and love seat because we would BOTH love a new one, We have had it for almost 7 years, its been good to us. And we have been fairly gentle to it too.

Soooo Just testing the waters I posted them to Craigslist (which I heart btw) and within MINUTES I had about 4 emails about it. Within the hour someone committed to buying them (but it fell through but I am not worried)

And we also posted tires that came off the hubbys car last year when he bought fancy smancy rims and new tires.

Those were gone in 1 hour too!

We also have side stands and a coffee table just cheap from Target maybe we spent $60 on them and I posted those as well and I got this email

Hi, my name's Lauren and I'm a student at Emporia State. I'm moving into my first apartment this year and since I'm a pretty poor college student, I'm looking for some inexpensive furniture. I would LOVE your three tables. Are you still asking just $25 for them?
-Lauren

So when her and her dad came to get them SHE LOVED THEM, and went on excited about her first place and college and everything...

So I told her she could have them but she had to do good in school!

Her dad gave me the biggest bear hug and said "You have no idea the lesson you are teaching our daughter right now"

The 2 loves of my life!

My FAV picture to date of Daisy! She loves her daddy!

A million and one things to do!

Serious.

The move looks like its going to happen about Sept, we have officially given notice to the building we currently live in.

I am so excited!!

But there is SO MUCH to do!! Some huge thing on my list

* PURGE!! (get rid of TONNES of stuff!)
* Clean
* Clean

YAY!!! And the icing on the cake is a good friend of mine is going to fly out to San Fran with me at the end of August to scope it out and find a place to live!!

San Francisco here we come!

So remember how the hubby was going to decline the job in San Francisco?

WE ARE MOVING TO SAN FRANCISCO!!!


We are both over the moon excited!! Oh and so is Daisy because she does not have to deal with the snow anymore. She is happy to be going home because shes a California dog at heart!

The hubby is a little anxious as am I. Its a big change and lots of things have to fall into place for this all to happen.

But we weighed our options and finances and we have been blessed to always land on our feet so WE ARE TAKING THE LEAP!!

Look out San Francisco!

I WON!

So way back I entered a blog makeover contest over and Bloggy Blog Designs!

And I won a $30 voucher towards a makeover!


So now I have to figure out what I want and the FABULOUS ladies over at Bloggy Blog Designs are going to make my blog all pretty and stuff!!

I am SO EXCITED!

The hubby killed it!

The hubby killed my favorite cup.

I almost cried.
If you have one of these you would understand.


I was upset and he explained that he has put it in the dishwasher a million times and no problems...

I explain it needs to be on the top shelf only... and the hubby was all like "Why are you so upset? You can just get another one"

Me "Babe I have had that for a years they sell on Ebay for $80!"

Hubby "What, no way... googles it... Ummm its only $60 on line"

Too funny.

I was upset and bid goodbye in hopes that Starbucks would release more...

AND I GOT A NEW ONE!! I walked into a Starbucks (which is so strange because I can not warrant spending $8 on a drink and VOILA there they were... It was meant to be..

And only $15. So I hope this one last me another few years!

Do you have anything you love and use everyday?

Breast Screening Results

WAS NORMAL!!

Yay! Now I can really focus on worrying about all the other stuff...

And I am so glad I did not freak out this time!

What would you do?

Ok so I am asking y'all to weigh in...

I think we have made the decision but its "still in the air" a little.

The hubby flew out to interview in San Fransisco a couple of weeks ago (its a lateral transfer with his company).

Can we say "HELLS YES"

He has not liked it here since we got her. Neither have I to be honest but I can just about move anywhere and be fine.

Well after careful consideration he is thinking of declining the job.

Yep, saying no. Just like that.

It sucks because it would be AMAZING to be living near his family again, and although its a HUGE raise the cost of living in San Fran would just be insane.

See we would like to buy a house before we are 90.

So playing devils advocate while we wait to see if he gets the offer, we went out house hunting, and found OUR DREAM HOME! For $154,000.00.

Yeah the same square footage and lot in California $750,000. Not to mention if we did find a house we could afford he would be commuting only about 60 miles TO AND FROM work.

120 miles a day. IN CALIFORNIA traffic.

And then we would be living almost paycheck to paycheck. Rent alone is $2000 a month to be near his job. That's nuts. And everything else is WAY MORE expensive in California.

What would you do?

Move or set down roots?

I am excited for whatever the future holds for us!! Lets get this show on the road!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!

I am supposed to be home in Canada right now... But I am not because we are waiting to see if we are moving!! Big news but I am not going to "spill the beans" till we know for sure!!

But its Canada so in true fashion some pictures from past trips...


Nov 2004

August 2006

May 2007
Its amazing how some things change so much but many stay the same!

(For those wondering these are our Parliament Buildings they were build in 1867 and you can read more about it here)

People are so weird!

So I am a frequent shopper of Goodwill. I LOVE thrift stores! The one by my house has AMAZING books the people that work there are super cool.

Today I saw something that made me laugh so hard! I promise to get a video I was too "Amazed" to what was I was seeing that I could not think to even pull it out.

Everyday they put out new stuff all day.

Well this lady we will call her "Crazy lady" stands by the door and CHASES the people with the carts putting stuff out to try to get all the "good stuff"

The first time I saw it I thought "Well that's weird"

And then another cart comes out and she chases that guy, and another and she chases them scanning the cart and trying to grab stuff out of it while they are trying to get it to the spot they are putting it.

I have never seen anything like it.

So when I am done I tell the lady at the register what I saw and she starts laughing....

SHE DOES IT EVERYDAY! ALL DAY!! She spends 5-8 hours a day chasing people around the store...

So I will bring you videos! I know you are excited...

I promise not to "freak" out!

So this morning I had a mental break down.

Oh yeah, I had my lady wellness exam this morning. Everything is going well (or so I think because I am TALKING like crazy) because I HATE THE DR!.

No I love my Dr I just hate going to the Dr.

Anyways after the yucky girly tests are over my Dr calmly tells me she needs me to get a mammogram..... today......within the hour?

Umm what? Is there something wrong?

A mammogram.. in an hour?

Who has that kind of pull?

I start talking instantly about the history, about my other lump that was NOTHING, was there something wrong?

She says no (Dr are such horrible liars) and I go on about how I do my checks, I feel my boobies regularly, nothing has changed.

She insisted.

So I tried to do what I did last time and just stay calm. so I called my mom, and my dad and my husband.

Trying to stay just positive and I "KNOW" there are no new lumps or bumps just the existing ones!





And I think it would have worked too if at this exam they did not do so many films, I asked why she was doing so many and I was told..

"ummm, you just have really dense breasts"

Really? Could you lie a little better please.

And when I asked how long it would be for results I was told they have to wait to get my films from the other mammograms I have had so they could compare them.

But I am not supposed to freak out.

Yeah ok.

Really?

I loved this and had to share...

What Not to Wear Wednesdays!

I so WISH this picture would have come out better this lady PAINTED lips up under her nose.. I can zoom in on my phone but not on line...
This lady had her ass LITERALLY hanging out.. You could see her panties. THANK GOODNESS she was even wearing them
And A little ray of sunshine for your day

Have a great Wednesday!

Giveaway!

So y'all know I have been wanting a new blog design FOREVER!! So fingers crossed!!



Bloggy Blog Designz is having a Giveaway!!! They are giving away blog designs and all kinds of goodies. Plus ALL entrants will receive 20%off their 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 June 19th, so be sure to have your posts done and comments left by midnight! Good Luck to everyone!

(Our Design List is open after July 1. Discounts from this giveaway do not apply to designz in progress)

Sure you were not texting while driving...

So on my day off last week I was walking into CVS (one of my fav places) and I hear this DOZY of an accident, the lady that caused it all I could see in her car SMOKING BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM HER TIRES because she was STILL pushing the accelerator so black smoke and all the cars in front of her are staking up...

I run over to make sure everyone is ok.
And ask her "Was your text that important?"

To which she responds.. "Oh no I was not texting I was just changing the radio station, and then I thought I was pushing the brakes and it was the accelerator"
3 cars all underneath each other because of this idiot. With her real estate sticker on the side of her car.

Sure you were not texting and I did not see that.. My bad!
PS. Everyone was ok.

And I stuck around to fill out the police report and while I was giving my statement about watching her "change the radio station for over 40 seconds while black smoke is spitting from her tires" she comes running over and tries to explain herself to the officer

Who held up his hand total diva styles and told the lady "Back off lady"

So I guess he was pissed too that his day was interrupted by this IDIOT as well....

Oh and 3 cars all stacked under each other.. Not a scratch on her SUV...

FINALLY!! I am so excited!

So after 6 long years of waiting on a list.. and 3 years of carrying around a pager HOPING it will go off.

It did.

At 3am the other night.

One of my dearest friends in the world is finally getting his new liver!! I am SO EXCITED FOR HIM!

I was able to talk to him before surgery and he is in good spirits. He has a generic liver disorder that his own antibodies reject his own liver. He has known since birth that it may become an issue and the last 6 years it has... This picture of us was taken 6 years ago... (and no he was not a big drinker due to the issues)

This one 2 years ago. Its amazing what a failing liver will do to you. In this picture he was REALLY sick. Losing almost 80 pounds (looks like I gained it..lol) and at this point because his liver is not functioning well all his other organs were failing as well...


Because the last 6 months he has been in really good health the Dr are VERY excited for this procedure and said it could not have been a better time for it.

And ITS A MATCH!!!

If y'all can keep him in your thoughts and prayers for me I would really appreciate it!!!

A NEW LIVER YAY!!!

And also my public service announcement PLEASE fill out your donor cards and carry them with you. If you need more information or have questions click here! Also please discuss your wishes with your family! Its so important!!

I am so thankful for the person, or the family that made the decision to donate. It is such an amazing gift to donate. I ask that you keep them in your prayers as well.

For what it is worth.

I am a donor. I put a lot of thought into it and thought "Well I can not take it with me, if my last "act" is to save another life (or a couple of lives) I am happy with that"

Please think and consider it.