Trick or Treat?

This year for Halloween I decided to dress up at work. I didn't dress up last year but felt like it this year. I did not want to spend any money on an outfit and was pretty proud that I came up with an 80's girl. I don't think it is bad for not planning until the night before. I could have spent money on makeup, the cheap kind but I just worked with what I had.
It was fun and I really didn't have much interaction with any children but a few. However, it was fun being a big kid.


I ended up going to lunch with a friend/co-worker to Panera. I received a lot of funny looks, I think to much of my dismay people thought that I actually dress like that (talk about funny)! Oh, well.


I had to run to the store today and I found a "Pet Halloween Accessory" and I just had to purchase this for my cats. I have two cats and have had them for 8 years, but try to not be boisterous about my love for my pets. I have the fear of being known for being the single crazy cat lady. I had a fun with Jeremiah and his new pet gear. He was extremely annoyed with me. Frankie would not keep it on long enough for me to take a picture. I guess for $2.49 it was worth the few minutes of a photo shoot with Jeremiah.
Happy Halloween and enjoy the pictures!











The like totally 80's girl.....













The Diva Jeremiah.....
I don't know about you, but I am pretty sure that he thinks this was a TRICK!

Kids are funny!

I was back in Iowa a few months ago. Ellexa (I call her Lexie Lou) is an adorable little 3 year old foster sister and her along with her sisters...captured my heart. I think that this little girl did not just capture my heart but..stole it!Don't get me wrong I love my boys but girls are very different. Plus I love the toddler age...and hello, she wears PINK! :) Anyway, we were sitting in the living room and she walks up to the computer and says "I need to check my Facebook"....I looked at my mom and the boys and we all started laughing. I think she picks up just a little on what the boys say....what do you think?

Introducing Sweet Pea Designs

I started this spring making cards for people. I have used some pictures that I have taken to incorporate with my cards. I have sold three cards at work and finally came up with a name, Sweet Pea Designs.


I love spending time being inspired. I have so many projects that I want to work on. I am always looking for great new ideas and love to find bargains for scrapbooking. I need to make more time for being creative..this is what fills me up. Enjoy and thanks for looking!

Along the road.....

Chuck was my goal!

I have always been a fan of converse shoes. It started in Jr. High I had two pairs and wore them to death. I had another pair in High School and as an adult I had a pair but they were not the classic "Chucks". I had a goal that when I lost 35lbs I would get a new pair......and so ladies and gentlemen...the goal has been met and the shoes have been on my feet for a week now! I will continuing to loose weight and my goal is 20lbs by the end of the year and 30 by May 2009. I am finding that I am embracing these new life style changes and every day is a new day......it is one step at a time!

Apple Farm

I took this picture in Iowa during a little family photo shoot. I love taking pictures and keep wanting to explore this area more and more. It really is one thing that fills me up. I found this quote and loved it so much that I had to include it on the pic.  

Internet Fraud

I didn't really think it could happen....but this week it happened to me. I am a victim of Internet fraud.


Monday: I had a Dr. appointment and went home sick after I was done. When I woke up I went to see if my professor emailed me back. I noticed that I received an email from Pay Pal stating that $100 had been deducted and transferred to another company. I thought at first it was a "spoof" email...but as I was on the phone with Pay Pal...I checked my bank. It was pending as a charge, I knew that I did not make the charge. [I had not been on Paypal since Friday, I opened my Pay Pal at work on Friday, but did not transfer any funds. I ran out of time and thought I would wait until over the weekend.] I was told to call the company, Penny Talk who deducted the money to work it out on my own. Of course they were closed! I called my bank and cancelled my debit card and changed all of my passwords. The bank told me that I had to wait until I posted to my account.


Tuesday: I called Pennytalk they were so helpful {enter sarcasm here}. They told me to call Pay Pal. I called Paypal, they told me to file a dispute (thanks, I could have done that the day before). i filed the dispute and while I was on the phone with PennyTalk I noticed that the charges were suppose to come out every month for $100. I was on the phone for 1 hour with both companies. I called my bank to see if it had posted...it had not.


Wednesday: The debt posted to my checking. I called Paypal and they were still waiting to here from Penny Talk. I had other charges deducted (that I made) and my account was starting to go in the RED, they were tacking on $35 over draft charges. I filed a dispute with Visa with my bank. I was given the advice to contact the local police department. I printed off all documentation and was at the station for an hour.


Thursday: My account is big time messed up!! I was waiting and waiting but I never heard any thing...so I called my bank again and asked for a letter stating what happened. I wanted to have that for my records. I was also told to contact the Attorney General. I have every intention to do that tomorrow. I have to contact the bank and police. I am glad that tomorrow is pay day!

Moving Foward

In my so called "romance life" if you can even call it that, I often find myself in the end with a broken heart and trying to move forward. It is painful getting attached to people as I normally do. I can tell you in the past moving forward isn't as easy as people think it should have been for me. Until the last year, I think it is because for the first time in my life I see what God has in store for me. I have often felt that God may have heard my prayers but I need to attach my Social Security Number at the end of every prayer (uh, I am kidding). I finally made the decision to stop all communication with a former ex. It was extremely hard the first couple of months but he had moved on and was dating someone else. 


I was just grateful he was not in the same town or state. I made the decision for my sanity to tell him that I was done and no more communication. He sort of respected my wishes, and finally left me alone. Weeks turned into months and I was starting to finally find freedom in the pain he caused. The lies he told me and the toxic web he left me in. Now, my part in it is that I knew he was a toxic man, but I wanted to be wanted. It was just like any other abusive relationship where you hear the women stay...because they love him. That was me, except now I know that I didn't love him....I loved the thought of him. I loved the idea of him.....as a different man. The man I knew he had potential to become is what I loved. He contacted me a few months ago and I decided to do something that the old me would have never done. I did not read his email in fact I deleted it before I read it.


I was so proud...and I felt that I for the first time was moving truly forward. I did email him a response to let him know that from the title that all of his belongings were donated to charity. I thought it had been over a year and I needed to use my space. It was kind of ironic that I got rid of his stuff and now he was looking for it all of the sudden. He responded to my email and I once again deleted it, the boy doesn't get boundaries. I am so grateful that I am moving forward. I pray that God continues to heal my past. I am reassured that He knows my future.