Just another busy week

Sometimes life just seems to spin out of control and there is nothing that I can do about it. I feel like I am in more control of life than I have been but it still feels overwhelming sometimes. Ah well, that's what makes life interesting. I am so excited to actually have a day off tomorrow so that I can get my house cleaned. I feel like I'm living in a barn at the moment! I plan on tackling a menu for the week so we don't have to go out very often. The problem with this plan is that I never want to cook!!! LOL!!! By the time I get a day off, I am so freaking tired that all I want to do is sleep. That's it..just crash and burn. Since I have this stupid cold thing, all I really want to do is sleep...but it's getting better and that's just fine with me.





So I got a new toy this last week. For the longest time I have wanted an iPod. I just have never had the money to get one. Well, since my awesome boss let's me have as much overtime as I can possibly stand, I was able to get one! So excited! I got an iPod touch with 32 gigs of memory! So freakin awesome!!!!!

That's my new toy!!! Isn't it pretty!!!??? LOL! Yes, I know i can be such a dork sometimes!!! I am such a music buff and having this makes work so much more interesting and fun! I love being able to look things up on the internet and listening to my kind of music instead of listening to other people's kind of music! I think I have downloaded over 150 songs to it already. And they are all legit downloads thank you very much! LOL!!!

So that's my exciting news for the week!

Oh, I forgot to mention my awesome job at Scentsy. I am having such a blast!!! I am almost to a certified consultant which means I will make more commission off of it. I only need $400 more. So exciting!!! So, if you are in the market for some Scentsy candles, let me know!! I will be happy to place an order for you!

Talk to you soon!

What a last few weeks!

Oh my goodness. It has been a crazy last few weeks. I am working non stop it seems like. I think in the last 4 weeks, I have only had like 3 days off. I am so busy but I'm loving it! I love my job so that makes things sooo much easier. I work with some awesome people and a great boss! I never realized how much that really does matter!

Anyway, I have been working crazy amounts of overtime. They either call me in or I volunteer to work. It just depends on how desperate they are! I was trying to have a week where I didn't have any overtime, but then I got a phone call and they were desperate for someone to work...that person was me! It's not that big of a deal. I was supposed to be off work on Thanksgiving too but then I found out that there was a bonus being offered...so naturally I snatched it up! I probably don't need to be working this much but the money is sooo nice. I haven't had to cook much which is nice but I am getting tired of eating out. I can only handle so many hamburgers from McDonalds you know!

My health hasn't been the best either. Not only have I been put on like 6 new medications, I am now facing the possibility of kidney failure. I'm in the beginning stages. Talk about a wake up call. I knew something was going on with my kidneys but everyone said that it was because my blood sugars were so high for so long...I knew that wasn't the case but they were doctors...they are supposed to know what's wrong right??? Whatever. Next time I'll just stick with my instincts and follow the Spirit. My doctor really wants me to go on this medication that has got me so freaked out. I am so lucky to have a bunch of residents in my ward so I went to my Elder's Quorum president, who is a 5th year resident, and between him and his brother, they came up with a couple of other medications that do the same things as the med that really has me freaked out. I think I'm going to talk to my doctor about trying those instead.

My kidneys aren't the only ones that are having problems. I can't seem to keep anything down and I have diarrhea so bad some days that it's just scary and I don't want to go anywhere. I'm wondering if my body is finally revolting against all the fried crap that we've been eating. I wanna try and take a few days off work and cook a ton of stuff that's healthy and yummy. Even if it's not like really really healthy, it's gotta be better than the fast food crap that we have been eating! So that's my goal for this next little while...trying to eat a little healthier!

So my husband is my hero! The man is almost done with his first semester of school. I am soo proud of him. He's averaging A's!!! He may have a few B's but I think that's completely ok!!!! I'm so proud. He finished his first aid class and got an A!!!! Go Sweehe! He is very proud of himself and I think that is totally awesome!

Well, hopefully life will start slowing down...although, I'm thinking that's not going to be very likely. I hope to be able to blog more often. I seem to be slacking at it again!!! I promise to be better!

Totally Overwhelmed

I am feeling totally overwhelmed this week. I have so much going on...So much overtime at work and just life seems to be spinning out of control. There is soo much that I want to do and get done. I have accomplished a few things this week that I really wanted to get done. I was able to get my bathroom and 3/4ths of my living room painted. I am so excited. The color in my living room is perfect. I love it!! It's like a light slate blue. It's perfect! Now the color in my bathroom is a little more yellow than I wanted. I was going for an orangish yellow and it's not the color I was hoping for....so I think i'm going to have to sponge some orange on top. I think that's what I am going to have to do to make it look like I want. But that's for another week...I'm just trying to make it through this month. After Christmas, when things are more calm, I will be able to get on with life much better.

So what has been going on lately...nothing much really. I have been working like crazy. I had about 40hrs of overtime in the last two weeks. I am exhausted...the paycheck before, I had 36 hrs of overtime. I have 20 next week. I am turning into a workaholic. I need the money in order for us to have enough money to pay bills and to get some of the things that we want for ourselves and the house. It's getting frustrating though because I am sooo tired lately. I went to the dr to see what is going on. I keep playing phone tag with the nurse practitioner....wonder what she wants to tell me....we shall hopefully find out this next monday.

So that's pretty much all I have gotten done this week. No new recipes or anything like that. I have just been coasting along trying to make things better for us!

I'll write more later when I have something interesting to say!

Another Day, Another Dollar

OMG....so I worked 118 hours in the last two weeks....with 38 hrs of overtime in one week. Yes, I think I have officially lost my mind! I am so blasted tired....I knew I shouldn't have said that I will work an additional 16 hour shift. I have NO idea what I was thinking!!! All I know is that I needed the money and this is the only way that I know how to get it, without doing something illegal!

I also started to sell SCENTSY!!!

Now, what the heck is Scentsy you might be asking!?! It is a company that sells wickless candles. Yep, you read that right! You can check out my website here. Please feel free to order whatever you like!! LOL!!! It's actually a really neat company. It has some interesting products. You see, I have a crapload of animals at my house and I have a really big problem with flames. To me, cats and fire don't seem to mix! So with Scentsy, you have the awesome fragrance of the candle and the light of the candle, but you don't have the soot or the flame! What it is is basically a warmer, that uses special light bulbs, that melts the wax. Which in turn makes your house smell yummy!!! I love it!

So, if you so desire, please take a look. If you have any questions, you are more than welcome to e-mail me or just leave a comment!

Oh, one thing that I forgot to add. If you order before Nov 1, you will be entered into a drawing for a Cranberry Muffin (which is the scent of the month) Scentsy Bar! How's that for some incentive!

Hope you all are doing well! I know as soon as my shift is over, I will be at home completely asleep!

Have a blessed day!

Just a few random thoughts!

So I figure I need to blog since I haven't done so in a while! I really don't have a lot to say tonight but i'm sure I can think of something!!! LOL!!

So I'm sitting here at work and I'm loving the music videos on Yahoo tonight. Right now i'm listening to George Michael's "Faith." I love listening to the most random of songs. I just pick an artist and I try and play as many of their songs as I can handle! It doesn't always work cause sometimes I'm just done after one or two songs...but sometimes, I go crazy! I have listened to everything from Def Leppard to George Michaels...in a few minutes I think I will listen to some Josh Groban. I love being able to listen to whatever I feel like at that moment! I like having a variety of music to listen to!

It's interesting that certain songs bring back a lot of memories. When I hear a certain song, it helps me remember things from my past. I don't have a lot of memories from my past...some of that has to do with the things that I've gone through in my life...kinda like a memory that I don't want to remember. Sometimes it seems like all i remember is the bad things in my childhood. Songs have a way of bringing things to life for me...does that make any sense? Let's see if I can come up with an example....when I listen to a certain song, it helps me remember what I was doing while I was listening to a song. I love to read with music on in the background so sometimes if I hear a song, it helps me remember the book that I read. There's a song, and I can't remember the name of it at the moment, but when I hear it, it makes me think of when I read "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." I remember that laying on my bed and listening to the radio and that specific song came on. I remember that it was sunny and gorgeous and my dad telling me that I should be outside instead of reading. You see, I loved (and still do) to read. I would lay on my bed and read for hours and hours. I still love to do that. I read a ton and always loved it. For me, it's a way of escaping reality. Sometimes, reality just sucks and I would rather be taken away from it all.

Oh, before I forget...something exciting happened in my life...speaking of reality right?? So I signed up to be a Scentsy rep. I am soo excited about this product. I LOVE it!!! Here's my website if you want to take a look: tiffanyfarhne.scentsy.us Please feel free to take a look. It's a product that I can truely stand behind. I like it because, while i LOVE candles, the fire worries with me because of the animals. I have cats so I worry about flames and cats...doesn't seem to be a good combination. So this company solves my issue! It's a product that uses light bulbs instead of wicks to melt scented wax. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! Please take a look and if you so desire...please order. I promise you...you won't be disappointed.

Okay, so those are my random thoughts...really, I don't have much going on at the moment! Maybe next time, I will have more profound thoughts!

10 things I'm thankful for

Okay so today has been a very rough day so I think I need to work on thinking of some things that I am particularly thankful for. Here it goes:

1. I am thankful for a husband who can calm me down after something very frustrating happens.

2. I am thankful for a good friend who let's me cry on his shoulder...mainly through instant messaging!

3. I am thankful for the Church and all that it has done to help me and my family.

4. I am thankful for people who listen to my complaining and then tell me to buck up and get on with life because someone else may have things harder than I do.

5. I am thankful for the challenges that I face. I know that they make me stronger in the end...it just sucks while it's going on!

6. I am thankful for the roof over my head. I love my place and I hope that I get to keep it.

7. I am thankful for my education. Now if only I can finish it!

8. I am thankful for my paycheck and the tons of hours that I put in on overtime. It was nice but it could have been nicer!

9. I am thankful to all my blog readers. It seems like some of you actually like to read it!

10. I am thankful for a creative outlet that I have in scrapbooking. I love to be able to take out some of my frustrations out on paper. Scrapbooking makes me happy! Let's hope it always does!

I know some of these things are probably repeats...and that may happen a lot because these are the things that I am truely thankful for. I have some things that I need to get over and I'm working on it but it's hard sometimes to look at the whole picture. It's hard to remember that the Lord doesn't give us more than we can handle...and i even question how much He thinks that I can handle. I think sometimes I'm at my breaking point and more and more stuff just happens. It's hard....life really is hard. And sometimes I just can't keep doing what I'm doing. I'm trying to figure out how to make life a little easier but I have no idea how. I just keep plugging away and trying different things. Oi! It's tough sometimes!

Inspiration

Ok...so I have this friend that is absolutely the most creative person I know. She is amazing and such an inspiration to me. I have come to realize that I haven't ever told her how much she inspires me. It's interesting to me because I knew her growing up. She's younger than I am. She's the sister of a high school friend of mine. Anyway, it doesn't really matter who she is or what her name is...the thing that matters is the total inspiration that she is to me.

She has two blogs that I read constantly for different ideas for crafts and recipes. I just love her recipes. They are usually pretty good!! And they aren't expensive either! She has inspired me to start a new blog...it's one that probably won't be updated all the time but it's one that I'm going to start so that I can keep a running log of what we like to eat! We also try new recipes all the time so this will be a record of what we've tried! So...here's the new blog address if you feel so inclined to check it out!

http://farhnerfoodies.blogspot.com/

There hasn't been much posted there yet because i just started it. So, make sure if you read this blog, that you check out the other one!!! I promise to only post yummy recipes!

Have a great day!

Christmas lists

Wow...it's that time already?? I can't even believe that there are only 3 months left of this year. It completely shocks me! Where has the time gone? I think back on how this year started and where I am now, and it just amazes me. I love where I'm at now. I love our apartment. I love my new job. I love that Tony is trying to better himself through education. I'm so proud of him. I can't believe how much he really likes going to school. The first week was difficult but things are so much better and wow....we really are happy. I love our new ward. Everyone is absolutely awesome and sweet. Holy Cow...I'm watching the result show for Dancing with the Stars from last night. Chris Daughtry is totally awesome!! For those who don't know me that well, I am a HUGE Def Leppard fan. I am absolutely one of their biggest fans. I just saw Daughtry and Santana's version of "Photograph." It was so amazing! Good job Guys!!! It was great!

Okay, so anyway...it's time to come up with our Christmas lists. So here's what I want:

Tiffany's List:

Cricut cartridges
House seasons 1-5
Law and Order: SVU - all the seasons
Clothes
Shoes

Tony's List:

Guitar books
Acoustic Guitar
Clothes
Shoes
PS3 games

I have no idea what to give Tony for Christmas this year. Things have been really different for us this year. They are starting to look up for next year too. We are so happy being on our own. We are learning more and more about each other and we are just having so much fun. We love being foster parents to kittens for a local rescue. It's just been a blast! So anyway, that's all I have for now. I'm so tired today. 32 hours of overtime this week....i think i'm allowed to be tired!

My new and improved blog!

I love the new look for my blog! I think it's so nice and soothing...nothing like what it used to be! I'm really happy with it! So I have decided to do things a little different with my blog. It seems to me that I have been kind of negative in my blogs. While occasionally it's okay to be negative and have a bad day, I seem to have them more often than not...or maybe I just complain more. So I have decided that today I am going to come up with 10 things that I am thankful for. I have also decided that I am going to try and do that once a week. So here's the list for this week!!

1. I am thankful for sleep. I may not get enough, but I am totally grateful for what I get!

2. I am thankful for vanilla creme wafers! They are my favorite cookie...is that wierd?

3. I am thankful for awesome fellow employees who are willing to go and buy me plums while I am sitting behind this desk waiting for the phone to ring.

4. I am thankful for my creativity that allows me to express myself through my "art" of scrapbooking.

5. I am thankful for my animals even though they drive me crazy sometimes.

6. I am thankful for my friends that I have met throughout my life!

7. I am thankful for my cricut. How goofy is that?? I love my bug...it makes me happy!

8. I am thankful for my husband and the love and support that he shows me!

9. I am thankful for the soldiers who fight for my freedoms.

10. I am thankful for my Mom for everything that she has done for me.

You know, writing this blog today makes me realize that there are a ton of other things that I am thankful for. I can't wait to get them all out there!!

My Biggest Fear

So I was watching reruns of "Grey's Anatomy" today and it got me thinking about my life and my biggest fears. I never really knew that I had a really big fear. Most people are afraid of dying but I'm not. I know where I'm going...maybe not which level of the celesitial kingdom...but I know that at least I will be able to see my family again. I'm not scared of that...my biggest fear is cancer. That's my biggest fear. I don't know why I have the unrational fear of the disease. Maybe it's the pain that is associated with it. I saw what my neice went through. I work in a hospital so I see and hear things about the disease that just scare the crap out of me. I have a ton of health problems now that can easily take over and debilitate me...I don't want it to happen but if it does, I know it's my own fault for not taking care of myself the way I should...but cancer...to me that's different. You can only do so much. It's like a monster that has it's own mind and thought pattern. Maybe I'm just being retarded and thinking about my mortality because today is my birthday but I really am worried about it. I don't want to die a painful death with a monster inside me that won't go away. That slowly takes over and consumes me.

I don't mean to be dramatic or stupid...but it's something that I think about occasionally....something that I occasionally worry about...and it's been on my mind today. So I will now leave you with something else to think about. IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!! I had a great day today...granted....I did sleep most of the day but it was uninterupted sleep and it was beautiful. I only woke up because my lil kitten, Amelia, was trying to fluff me. Aren't I fluffy enough??? LOL!! But anyway, I may have some interesting stories after this weekend! Stay tuned!!!

Getting older

So it is officially my birthday now. I thought that I would be so freakin excited but you know, i am actually kind of depressed. I'm not even 30 yet and I'm already not wanting to age! LOL!!! I know it can't be helped but i'm just not in the celebrating mood i guess. It could stem from lack of funds too. That definitely has something to do with it! What's the point of having a day to celebrate you getting older when you have nothing to celebrate with?? I am getting a cake from a woman that I work with even though I'm paying $20 for it...but still!!!! I have to work that day...but it's overtime and that's fine with me. I think what I'm going to do is celebrate my birthday on my next paycheck. Yep...I think that's what I'm gonna do. I took Tony to Queeny Tower Restaurant for his birthday. I think we may do that for mine! Maybe I can get a couple of new scrub tops on Friday. But you see, all of that is on a badge. It's like a credit card only the payments come out of my paycheck. It's actually pretty freakin cool! Except it tends to get me into some trouble sometimes!

So anyway, back to my lack of birthday money. I really want to go see my grandma but I don't want to have anything to do with my aunts that are taking care of her this week. I really just want to take her out and just have some fun with her. Actually, what I really would like to do is have her over to my house with my mom and George. Maybe fix some awesome Italian food and just spend some time together. I think that's what I am going to plan. Maybe I can get my cousin to come over too! That would just be so much fun! I think I would totally enjoy that. A lil family get-together!!! So that's totally what i am going to plan!!! I am brilliant!!! Wonder if my Aunts are going to be gone by then!?! Oh, you know what, I don't think one of them is...crap. Ok...so maybe a different weekend! You know what, why do I have to change my weekends because of her. Why do I have to change my life because of her. I'm already putting her before me and that makes her win...nope....not doing it. I WILL HAVE MY PARTY THIS WEEKEND...if I can get my house cleaned fast enough! Ok, so that's decided!! I'm kinda excited!!

Okay, so I ramble a lot...you don't have to be reading this far down! LOL!!! I'm outta here...I'm tired and I'm at work.

TTFN!

Frustrations

I am so blasted frustrated right now...so if you don't want to read about how horrible and frustrated that I feel...well, then you can just move on to your next blog because I'm about to vent!

I love my job. I love the people that I worked with...mainly the techs. There are a ton of people that drive me up the wall at my new job. I am just really not feeling the new people...except for maybe a couple. See, here's what I think...i think that there will be cliques in this new department and I'm just not down with that. I am frustrated because everyone here had someone that they met in orientation. They came into this job with a "friend." I didn't. I transferred in so I didn't know anyone in my training class. I am just not the type of person that assimilates herself into other "cliques" well. That's just not how I am. I take a while to warm up to new people. I'm not the "go getter" type I guess. I had visions of being a lead quickly...i don't see that happening anymore. I see myself transfering out of this department in a year. I don't know...maybe I'm just being retarded but I really hate it when I set goals for myself that seem achievable but then quickly turn out to not be that way.

Anyway, I'm not nearly done venting...but I'm tired of being whiney at the moment. Everyone is at lunch right now and I'm just sitting here typing away and not really paying attention to anyone else...maybe i'm being...i can't even think of the word...but whatever. I'm just wishing right now that some moron hadn't stolen my stupid pita chips! I'm hungry and now I don't get to eat until after i get out of the frickin office...i'm pissed!

It's been a while!

wow...so it's been a while since I have had a chance to blog. Things have been kind of busy these days. I have started my new job...and am totally loving it! The people in this office are so nice and wonderful! I feel like I belong here...not like what it did in the old office. It's a nice change!! I enjoy coming to work..even though it's at the crack of dawn. I am definitely not a morning person...that's for sure!!!

Anyway, not much has been going on since I last wrote. The only BIG new is my new job...but I really don't know what my job is going to be like...i'm just doing temp stuff until we move the office on the 31st of August. So I will definitely have more to tell you later!

This one is going to be short...cause I just don't have anything to say!

A constant state of confusion

Holy cow....i had no idea that transferring positions was going to be so freakin difficult! Don't get me wrong...I am so freakin excited about this new position and the new possiblities and new work environment...I just hope all this drama is worth it!!! Okay, so confused yet?? Let me tell you what's going on! Here's the latest scoop!

So a last week, my boss brings me into her office and asks me if I think that she's blocking my transfer or whatever. I'm obviously going to say no!!! Duh!!! Anyway, I'm not really sure if she even can...who knows!! So, the a few days after that, I get an interview with the Telemetry department for a brand new position...so new that they don't even have a job description of what I'm supposed to be doing! I'm all excited. I am so thrilled with this opportunity! My interview went great...I could just feel the acceptance after this interview...I knew that I nailed it! So, a transfer to a new department is what I have wanted since day 2!! I was stoked! A new office, a new software program, a new position, and a new boss, and new people to get to know! Rock on! Easy Peasy right?? Uh, since when has my life ever been easy??

So, I get offered the position after Michelle, my new manager, spoke with Christi. The day after that I accepted the position with HR, I went in to speak with Christi to let her know that I accepted the job and that I was hoping for a release to a different position. She told me that she was going to grant my release but she didn't have a start date for me and I couldn't leave until she found a replacement for me...or two weeks, whichever came first. The way it sounded to me was like I was never going to get out of here...so Tiffany completely panics! Holy Crap!! She really is going to try and block this transfer...that was my first thought. Fast forward a few days...Christi calls me in to give me my review...which was perfect by the way!...and then she tells me that my last day is Sunday....uh...what?? Like 2 days ago, it sounds like I'm going to be stuck here forever and then all the sudden I'm out in less than 2 weeks!!! So here I am, a transferred person with an awesome job waiting for me...the problem...my job wasn't going to start until Aug. 16th. Yeah, 2 weeks of nothing to do for money! So, that's not the end of the world...I can handle a couple of weeks of vacation!! Uh yeah, so now it's changed again...yep...this is the confusing part...I'm supposed to report to my new manager on Monday. The poor woman has no idea what to do with me for a MONTH...yep, you read that right. They changed the stupid date again...our move in date to our new office is now Aug 31st. Anyway, my training date isn't supposed to be until Aug 23rd now....oh boy! What am I supposed to do for a freakin month??? Well, let's hope something comes out right with this transfer!!! Wish me luck! Sheesh!

Fabulous News!

Many of you know that I have been trying to transfer out of my office to a different department at Barnes. Well....it finally happened!!!! I am so excited to announce that I am transferring to the telemetry department. I'm not sure of my exact transfer date, but it's coming soon...i can feel it! I'm excited! It's going to be a new experience with an opportunity to learn a new skill and a new department. I totally like my new manager. She seems so sweet and caring...I just don't think that I would ever want to cross her!! I'm looking forward to my 12 hour days and only having to work like 3 days a week! LOVE IT!!! And i get to wear scrubs...now to some that doesn't seem like an exciting thing but I love them! Not only are they completely comfortable, I don't really have to stress about what to wear to work. All I need is like 6 scrub outfits and I'm good to go. I won't have to do laundry for two weeks!!! Rock on!! Anyway, as I know more about the position and things I will definitely keep you all informed! I'm so excited it's ridiculous!

Okay, so now on to some other stuff. I'm getting ready to start my canning for the year. I decided this year that I only wanted to can some jams and jellies this year. It's going to be kind of a stressful time of year with Tony starting school and all so I thought I would keep it simple. I'm excited to see where the rest of this year is going to take us and what we can do to try and keep our heads above water. I'm going to try and get my student loans out of default and then I'm going to go back to school to finish my degree...should only take me a couple of years, and by the time I'm done, Tony should only have another year. Hopefully by then, we will have figured out where we want to stay for a while. I think we may move one more time after school is over for us. Who knows, we might even move out of state.

So back to the jams and jellies. I have figured out which ones I want to make this year. I'm gonna be busy as there are quite a few of them. One of the ladies I work with now is going to get me some of her apples from her tree so I'm pretty stoked about that. I will be able to make some apple butter and maybe a couple of jars of applesauce, but that's as far as I'm going to go with that this year. I made a ton of applesauce last year and some of them went bad so I'm not sure I want to do that this year.

So here's my list of jams and jellies:

pomegranate jelly
rosy apple cider jelly
strawberry kiwi jam
candy apple jelly
peach jam
pineapple kiwi jam
strawberry pineapple jam

There may be a few more added to this list but I'm pretty happy with the ones that have been selected for this year. I'll definitely post some pics and recipes as they are completed. It will take some time because I have to go and get the jars and find my canner...i still haven't unpacked it yet.

So much to do still. I can't wait to get my scrap room organized and get that all situated. With Tony's pell grant money, we have talked about getting a new futon for the living room and getting some other things that are necessaties for us. We are happy that we are going to be able to pay for some things that we need. I can't wait to go back to school so we can have enough money for more things that we want and need to do.

Well, I think I'm going to say goodnight for now. I'm not feeling good and I want to lay my head down! Hope you all have a blessed day tomorrow!

A new opportunity

Hi all!! So we had a wonderful weekend and it's been a pretty good start to this week. My cousin Emma got married this last Saturday at a vineyard in Ste. Genevieve, MO. It's called the Cave vineyard. Yep...only my cousin would get married in a cave!!! LOL!! It was absolutely gorgeous. Candles everywhere made it a romantic and just a lovely reception. I have never seen such a wonderfully happy couple. Evan is just such an awesome guy for her! I think it's a match made in heaven! As soon as I can get some pics up, I will be sure to post them. I wanna make her a lil scrapbook album of her wedding photos that Tony's dad took. He is quite the photographer when he takes the time! I'm actually very impressed with some of the pics that I have already seen. Emma just glowed with happiness. The ceremony was lovely. The pastor said some wonderful things about marriage and i even loved how he added that they can be married for eternity. I thought that was a beautiful sentiment. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in eternal marriage as long as a person is sealed in the temple. Emma isn't a member of the Church and neither is Evan. I like knowing that they still have a chance at eternity even though they aren't sealed together in the temple. I'm not sure how the Church would feel about a pastor from another church saying that married couples will be together for eternity, but when this one said it, it felt completely right to me. Now, I'm not saying that what my church says is wrong, but one of the things that always bugged me is that why are we the only ones that can be with our spouses for eternity. Why can't other couples who aren't member be together for eternity? Why does it just have to be us? These are just one of the things that bugs me and some of the questions that I have. I don't really know why I am questioning things that I have grown up knowing to be true...or maybe I just thought they were because my parents told me they were...and as a child, a parent knows all! I don't know. It's just something that I need to work out for my self i guess!

So anyway, back to why this is titled "A new Opportunity." I had a job interview today for a position that I really hope that I get. It's a new position in the Telemetry department. Basically it's a receptionist position but there is more opportunities to grow in this position. I will start out at the bottom but since this is a brand new position, there won't be many people starting with me. So as the department grows, I may be able to be a trainer or a lead. Maybe even so far as a supervisor eventually. I really like the manager of the department. I think it would be a great fit for me. It's a 12 hour shift, 3 days a week but I would be paid for 40 hours. I am really hoping that I get this job. I did the best I could with the interview, now it's up to Christi...my supervisor now. I really hope she doesn't block me in this new opportunity. I really want it!

I will definitely keep you posted and hopefully there will be some awesome news down the road. Right now, I am just trying to make it through my shifts and hoping that each day, I still have a job to come to. Christi seems to be going through a firing and hiring phase!! All I can do is come in and do my job to the best of my ability and hope and pray that's enough!

Oh well, have a great night. I'm gonna take a nap!!! LOL!!! Not likely!

It's been a while!

Wow! It's been a long time since I last made a post. It seems like life is just kinda flying by. So much has happened...and so much has fallen apart. Sometimes it seems like life is just blah...but sometimes life is exciting and adventurous. I'll give you some examples of things that have happened lately.

So, let's start off with my work environment. My former lead is no longer on my shift and things seem to be going easier now. The girl that replaced her isn't too bad and we get along for the most part. I seem to be leaving work in a lot better mood and have been getting along with others better! I still think people think of me as the office "bitch" but that's okay with me. It's a nice reputation to have! People tend to leave you alone when you have that reputation! The gossip doesn't seem to bother me anymore. As long as I'm not part of it, I don't really care! They finally got my computer fixed so I am able to sit at my own desk and enjoy staring at the wall and not really having to talk to anyone! I still talk to Ms. Evelyn and things between us are better. I don't mind Jessica, the new nightshift girl. She's a little know-it-all like sometimes, but whatever....people are how they are! So things aren't as bad as they have been and I like this new change. It's something that seems to make life a little easier!

Tony has entered into his 4th month of employment. He is no longer on probation! They seem to really like him and his work ethic. He's only been late twice and called in once. Not to shabby considering how sometimes life works with/for us. He hopes he's going to make lead soon which i think is a distinct possibility! He is also trying to make it so that he and I can have the same weekends off. It's hard for the two of us to have opposite weekends. It's hard when one of us really needs to sleep and the other wants or needs to get stuff done. I like to get as much done as possible on my weekends off...and that keeps him awake so he's miserable because he can't get any sleep...and it's the same with me...only Tony just sleeps way to freakin much in my opinion!

What else has been going on??? We joined the YMCA and are taking some water aerobics classes, which I love! We are also spending some time in the lap lane...swimming a 1/4 mile which makes me feel awesome! I haven't been able to do the laps the last few classes because I have to get a tooth pulled and the pain is just draining all my energy right now. I'm taking some major painkillers which seems to drain me as well. I think once things calm down with my mouth, then we will start back on laps and also start working out in the gym part of the Y!

My cousin had her bridal shower a couple of sunday's ago...it's so lovely to see people that care for her and love her. My family isn't like that anymore. It seems that since Grandpa died, my family is falling apart. Nobody really knows what it's like to live with someone with alzheimer's unless you do it. My family has made my mom's life a living hell. They have required so many different explanations for things that are really none of their business. My Grandpa would be ashamed of my family and how they act and how they treat their siblings. I just don't understand them. I don't even want anything to do with a lot of them....and that's just a shame. But you know what. I need to protect myself and look out for myself. I need to start surrounding myself with good, righteous, and courteous people...something many of my family members are NOT.

So Tony and I have started going to church again. The Bishop is such a wonderful guy. He's just been the sweetest person to us. The Missionaries came over for dinner and poor things, I didn't serve the best stuff to them. I feel really bad...hopefully they will give us another shot! I think next time, I'll make enchiladas and something fun for desert...like cherry dump cake or something like that. I made my awesome chicken, broccoli, rice casserole...but I ended up using low sodium soups and it just wasn't worth squat! And my banana pudding, yeah...we won't even talk about that! Oh, and the poor elders had to sit on my floor because we don't have a couch or any chairs yet...poor things. It just wasn't a good night for me. I promise it will be better next time guys! I swear it!

So, since the Elders knew we didn't have a couch...they found one for us...actually, it just kinda fell into their lap! Their neighbor was moving and asked them if they needed a couch and a recliner. Since they knew that we didn't have one, they called us and we are now the proud owners of a couch and a recliner. I haven't even seen them yet, so hopefully they are in decent shape!

So I have to go now...people are going to start arriving and I don't want to get into trouble! I'll have more later...i'm sure of that!

is it even worth it?

Oh my goodness...sometimes i ask myself that question a lot!! Like right now, sometimes it just doesn't seem like life it worth all of the drama that's been handed to us. I don't know how we are going to be able to get passed this drama at the moment. It's something that I have to sit and ponder and figure out. I know that the scriptures say that the Lord doesn't give us more than we can handle...but sometimes, I don't think that I'm as strong as He thinks I am.

So here's the situation: Tony has two kids from his previous marriage that I have met like once in the 5 1/2 years that we have been married. We pay $625 a month for two children that we NEVER see. It's soo frustrating. We would love to be able to spend time with them and to enjoy them. We would love to foster a relationship. I strongly believe that a child needs to have both parents in their lives. I know what it's like to be a child of divorced parents...it completely sucks. I hated it as a child, and I can only imagine that they don't necessarily like it either. Here's the sad thing...Tony's youngest, Zachary, doesn't even know his dad. See...Tony has to have monitored visitation...i can't think of the right word at the moment. That makes it difficult when you have a nasty divorce situation. So, if he wants to see his kids, either his ex-wife or her parents have to be there. It would be so nice to be able to spend some quality time with these kids...anyway, here's what's going on now...In the divorce decree, Tony is responsible to pay for their health insurance...well, they are on their mother's insurance so we haven't been paying for it...mainly because Tony hasn't had it because he has the VA...anyway, Tony got to see his paycheck today and it was like a hundred dollars short....Barnes received a letter from the Court system saying that it's mandated that they take the insurance out of his check...so the good thing here, is that Tony has health insurance now...the bad thing, we can't afford to survive now. Oh, we can pay rent and the car payment out of my check but that's pretty much my entire check right there. The measly $200 from Tony's check is going to have to cover everything else. So there goes any fun money out the door. We were going to join the YMCA so that we can get back into shape but that seems to now go out the door. We were going to do a lot of things to the apartment to make it how we want it...but that is no longer going to happen. I don't understand how this is happening to us...I don't understand WHY it's happening to us. We are trying to get our lives back in order and everything is falling apart again. Just when things were looking up, something slaps us back down. I'm trying not to be all depressed about it and trying to make something cheerful happen...but it just seems like everything comes crashing at once.

I know this isn't a cheerful happy entry...and i can't seem to always make them that way, but it's something that I needed to get off my chest...so if you are still reading, bless you! Thanks for reading about my horrible day. Right now, all I want to do is go home and sleep and not deal with the world right now...but instead I am stuck here at work, wishing i could just be asleep. Ok, so I'm going to go look at cookbooks now...maybe find some awesome recipes to try! Have a great week everyone!

A moment to pause and think

My heart is so full of gratitude to our soldiers today. With it being Memorial Day, I always take a moment and pause and think of the soldiers that have fought for my freedom. There's a song that I love to listen to by Billy Ray Cyrus from long ago called "Some Gave All." I don't know if you have ever heard it but it's something that will make you stop and think about all the loved ones that have been lost in conflicts. There are so many songs out there that are dedicated to our soldiers and our country. But "Some Gave All" is the one that always stands out to me. Here's the lyrics to this song that just says exactly how I feel today:

I knew a man called him Sandy Kane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don't understand
About the reasons we are free

I can't forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cries
As he said these words to me

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

Now Sandy Kane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo through out our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood the ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man

Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died
America can't you see

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall, yes recall
Some gave all

Some gave all

I am absolutly honored to be married to someone who has served our country and has faced things that I will never even imagine. Some say that those who serve never quit serving. I agree. Not only because my loving husband suffers from Bipolar Disorder because of what he saw while in Desert Storm, but because he has to live with the memories of what he saw. I am really grateful for all that the soldiers have done for my freedom and their help to maintain it.

I follow this blog of a lady whom I consider a friend. I have never met her nor actually spoken to her but she seems to be this amazing person who has such an amazing family. Her husband is in the military and is coming home from his sixth deployment in a couple of weeks. Today she posted a beautiful blog post that I would love to share. The pics are just beautiful and the sentiment is just fantastic. So I will end with a link to send you to her blog. Check it out...it really will make you grateful for the soldiers...and it brought a tear to my eye! All you have to do is click here!

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day! I did!

It's been a while!

Wow!!! I can't believe it's been almost an entire month since I last blogged...Life has just been totally chaotic! And I'm loving every minute of it! We finally moved to our own place. We are in heaven...now if only we can just get everything organized and unpacked...we would be in a fabulous spot! We love our apartment. It's so fabulous and just perfect for us. The girls can be out more and the cats have more room to play...especially when the dogs are in their kennel for the night! We have our own kitchen!!! We don't have to eat out as much...that's soo nice! It's just a cute little place on the Hill in St. Louis! It's so nice and peaceful...you wouldn't even know we were in the City. That's how fabulous it is! So close to awesome restaurants and neat stores. We went to Vivano's today to get some spices that we didn't have anymore. It's such a neat lil Italian market. We picked up some noodles and our spices and went on home! We stopped at Volpi too to pick up some Salsiccia links to have for memorial day. It was so funny today. We were parking the car to go to Volpi and there was these random things attached to someone's fence...I said to tony "is this a shop or a garage sale?" It was a garage sale!!! It was so funny!! I wish i thought to take a picture! Totally awesome!! Oh, that reminds me...when we were going through some boxes we moved from OK we found the camera. I'm almost sure if it had been packed in our stuff that was at our friend's apartment, it would have been gone. Such a shame...to think we trusted him...but I digress! So excited to finally have a camera..now if only we can find the memory cards, we will be in great shape!

What else is going on?? Oh yeah...I have been able to get in on some overtime this month...thank goodness, we really need it!!! It's going to be interesting to see if we can really survive out here on our own. We have been sheltered so much living with our parents that it's kinda scary to be on our own. We need so many things to make this place livable and we need to fix some of the things that are in the place...our ceiling fan went out today...that doesn't make me happy!

It's nice being able to reconnect with Tony as a couple on our own...not as a couple in our parents basement! We can make our own decisions and suffer the consequences ourselves without having anyone say "See...i told you so!" We get to say that to ourselves...LOL!

So I am reading this new book series and I actually kind of like them. I have a hard time finding books that interest me that I haven't already read. But these are pretty good. I still think I like the Twilight series better, but what can you say...it seems like once your read one vampire series, you've read them all! But this one is interesting..It's called Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead! It's a series of 5 different books. I'm on book number 3 at the moment and just started them on Monday! They are actually not to bad. I recommend them for some light reading if you can't find anything else to read!

The first book is called "Vampire Academy":

The second book is called "Frostbite":

The third one is called "Shadow Kissed":

When I get to the other books, I'll post their pics! These aren't bad...you should give them a shot if you like vampire books. Again, I really am a Twilight fan and like those better but these are not to shabby!!

I guess that's all for now...not much else going on. More to come i'm sure! Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

What a dramatic week!

Sometimes it seems like life is just so darn hard and difficult. It can get crazy and chaotic and sometimes just seems like too much. This was one of those weeks. Everything that could go wrong did and everything that needed to go right didn't. Ugh...but next week is a new week and hopefully things will be better. They almost have to get better because I don't think that it can get much worse!

So what's been going on?? Let's see...my checking account got screwed up again...not my fault! We are working with the loan company that we have our car note through...they took out the automatic payment when we told them not to...uumm...what else has happened...oh, remember in my last post HR called me to fill out an application. Well I did that and never heard back until the other day when I checked my e-mail and got my rejection letter...You know, I wouldn't have even filled out the application unless they told me to. So frustrating because I really want a change in job positions. I almost lost my wedding ring...it's loose and it fell off my finger. I was heartbroken and devastated but I did finally find it and it's back on my finger where it belongs. I'm trying to remember all that happened this week but it's not coming back to me.

I did have an opportunity for some overtime at work this week. That makes me happy. I really needed the money so I was glad to pick up some OT....but working 7 nights straight is not easy at all! I am so freakin tired! But I will make it through! I'm sure of it! I'm on night 6 tonight...one more day and I get a day off!!! I can't wait! Anyway, we shall see what the next week brings...yikes!

Another blog entry

So I don't usually get to blog two days in a row...especially when I have to work but my parents have saved the day! They have the internet now!!! That could be either bad or good...we shall see!

So today has been a pretty awesome day. My husband and I went to breakfast this morning at Uncle Bill's pancake house and was treated like crap...but whatever. Our waitress was horrible....she was hardly ever there. I didn't get a refill and i asked for the non-smoking section and got stuck right next to the smokers...made no sense to me either! We decided after that that we won't be going back there on the weekends anymore. Fabulous during the week but horrible! on the weekend.

We had a great rest of the morning...checking out some things at Slackers CDs and Games. We then came home and Tony has crashed!! He's so tired...not that I blame him...I am too! But I am off tonight and plan on sleeping all night long and not waking up until I have to! I do think that we are going to go to church this week. I found a skillet at walmart for $6!!! Love it! And my life is pretty boring today. No fabulous drama or anything of entertainment values...but hey, what can I say. It's nice to have a break!

Hope you are having a great day too!

What a week!

Wow....this week has been interesting....I can't believe some of the crap that we have been through...let me take you through our week!

Monday:

So this day wasn't bad at all...I worked over the weekend so I was ready for a day off. I went to get my hair cut and colored. I was so excited to finally get my hair done!!! So I went to Current Trends...where I normally go...and had asked for the same girl that I had before. Well, they apparently had a massive brain fart and gave me to someone else. I was NOT a happy girl but really...she couldn't screw up my hair that bad right...WRONG!!! My hair was down to my shoulders...it is now almost to my scalp. It is soo freakin short! And not only that...they dyed my hair the wrong shade of red....it's almost pink. I am not a happy girl...I will NEVER go back to that girl again....they will give my Amanda next time!

Tuesday:

Was this the day that I got my ticket?? I think it was...yes...so I was on my way to get my mom from work when I passed a St. Peters police officer and just knew that I was going to get a ticket...okay...why a ticket you ask...let me tell you...Tony and I bought a car in June of last year...we love our car but have been unable to save money for the taxes and plates...it's just over $1200. We thought that they put the taxes in with the sale of the car but they didn't...so here we are almost a year later and still no plates on the car. So anyway, every time we get ready to get the plates, a ticket comes due and there goes some of the money for the plates...so frustrating. So this cop pulls me over. Before he even gets to the car, I have my license and insurance card available. He's all "I guess you know why I pulled you over?" I'm thinking "Uh..DUH!!!" So he asks about the lack of plates...I explain to him what is going on and he proceeds to give me a ticket...blah blah blah...whatever! I'm so freakin used to this by now, I don't even hesitate to pull over. I just do it with my license and insurance card in hand!

Wednesday: I don't remember this day much so it must not have been so bad!

Thurday: Oh boy...this day sucks! So I went to QT in the morning to get milk and donuts because we got a pretty awesome paycheck a couple of weeks ago and we should still have money in the account! Totally excited...we made it another 2 weeks...lets celebrate! So i go to pay for my stuff and my card is declined....WTH???? So I wrote a check and then went home to check the account...my stupid dumb bank has been screwing with my account and now my account is like $-400....WHAT?? We still haven't gotten it all fixed....so anyway, my hubby and I go to the library and pull up the account...there are 10 overdraft fees...fees that we shouldn't have had to pay!!!!! There was still money in the account when they were pulling out overdraft fees....so freakin mad my this point...it seemed like all our hopes and dreams were going to be dashed! But I think we can make it through this latest storm. Anyway, we got pulled over twice this day only to warnings, not tickets because we still had the ticket from the previous pullover! Ugh!

Friday: I spent the morning at the VA hospital while Tony's kidney decided to produce a stone...poor guy...i came out of my office thinking my husband and I were going to go and have a great breakfast and go home and just enjoy each other's company and sleep all day...NOT!!! That would be to fabulous....anyway, so he looks like death when i come outside to the car...he's pale as a white sheet and just looks horrible...his skin was clammy and it just wasn't good. I didn't hesitate to go to the VA...and I HATE the VA. So while we were there, I was being hit on by this big big big massive guy...I was like totally freaking out...there was a VA cop that finally told the guy to leave me alone. I then proceeded to find my husband and I didn't leave his side the rest of the visit. I was freakin out! They do a CT scan and everything...the kidney stone had passed and we were good to go...pick up his script and to bed we could go...they were going to seriously take 45 minutes to fill his script...I don't think so. By the time we got home, we had been up for almost 24 hours. We were completely exhausted. I think i fell asleep so heavily that I didn't move from one position! I woke up and my arm was stiff.

Anyway, so glad this week is behind us. I am ready to start my weekend and just veg. We were going to move this weekend...but we are going to postpone it for a week so Tony can get better. I'm sure this next week will bring more drama...it always seems like when it rains it pours. Oh, but before I go...I did have 1 good thing happen this week! I got a phone call from HR saying that I needed to go and fill out an application for a lab tech position. They had spoken with another person that I had interviewed with, and she recommended me for this other position. I am totally excited. We shall see what happens! Please keep us in your prayers!!

Just another day in Paradise

You know, I actually really like that song...but that's not how I look at things here at the hospital! Thanks to stupid moronic people calling and the people that I work for...this is more along the lines of a nightmare than paradise. I mean, seriously. So, I get this guy calling, "Transfer me to St. Louis University Hospital"....not that big of a deal. I have no problem with that at all. Easy call. Until he calls 5 times looking for SLU hospital. So I offer to give him the number so that he can dial directly. He says the number before I can even look it up....what the crap? Call it yourself instead of Barnes. Oh and here's another one that I go yesterday..."I'm 9 months pregnant and I am going to the bathroom like every 2 minutes...is my water broken?" Wow...first of all, I've never been pregnant and I have no idea....but really...if you are that worried...get your butt to the ER. DUH peeps....use that thing in between your ears!!!

Okay, so enough venting for the moment.

We are getting ready to move. It's so hard to work this shift and not be completely exhausted by the time you get home....so here I am...working midnights, working on packing up the place, and trying to get some craft projects done...all on my day off! Not working well. I am so tired on my days off because of working this shift that some of them..all I want to do is sleep! And then nothing gets done because I'm either too tired or asleep or not feeling good. Oh, I think I may have found a new doctor...one that might actually work with me...I certainly hope so! I will see him for the first time on May 4th. We shall see what happens with that! I really want to get back on my insulin but I'm really tired of poking myself 30 times a day. My stomach got so sensitive that I could barely put clothes on....that's not good! So hopefully he believes in an insulin pump right off the bat! I think that will be my best bet for getting my health under control. I really want to feel better. I'm tired of feeling sick all the time!

Anyway, I have nothing really exciting to report. My life is pretty dull right now except for the moving to my own apartment!!! I can't wait to be on our own. It's going to be so nice not having to rely on others for things...although, it's been nice to have mom cook every once in a while...and I really like sharing ideas and things with her as well. Wonder how this is going to work when we move. I can't call her all the time, but it's nice to have my mom to bounce ideas off of. Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to rely more on Tony than before!!! I think this will be good for our marriage....which I kinda feel is in a rut. I don't know...maybe it's just the blues or something but I feel like there isn't enough excitement. Maybe when we move things will be better...at least that's what I'm hoping!

Oh, before I forget. You know how I wanted to get all my scrapbooking stuff organized in March. Well, it didn't quite happen then...but I got a good start on it now. See, I had this huge gold colored tote and it was completely full of scrap crap...well, it's organized now and is just waiting to be moved. I'm so excited that I was able to get that organized...I feel so much better about it. My mom and I went through it and got rid of a bunch of stuff...like scraps of paper and things like that. things that won't ever get used again! It's such a relief! Now if only I could get everything else organized!

Time to take a nap. I'm so flippin tired. It's going to be a long night here at Barnes. I'm sure I'll have other stupid phone calls to tell you about later!

Night for now!

Me and my Big Mouth

Have you ever had a problem with just shutting up when it's appropriate? I have that problem all the time. Sometimes it gets me out of trouble but most of the time it just makes things worse. I have that problem when I get especially nervous and it's starting to get worse. Drives me up the freakin wall!!! Why is it that when I am in the middle of something that I want so bad, like a different job, that I just can't shut up?? Ugh!!! That's all I have to say!!! It's obnoxious. So, I never really had that problem until I started working here at Barnes. I think that I actually talked myself out of the last job by talking too much. AND, my mouth seems to be getting me into trouble in the office so I'm going to start something new. I am just going to to say hi to the people in my office and be friendly and then I'm going to shut up and not say another word the rest of my shift unless I'm spoken too. You know how most people give up something for Lent...well, I'm giving up social talking at work for the rest of my career here...unless I'm asked specific questions!!! Yep...it's going to be quite the challenge but I think I'm up to it. So, I decided that there has to be a reward for all my silence right!!! Here's what I want:

Yep...a cuttlebug!!! And then the longer that I'm good, the more cuttlebug folders that I will have! Until I have all the folders that I want so I guess that this is a good thing...Now, what should I do if I screw up...hhhmmm...I need to think of a good punishment for myself. Dang, I have no idea what to do if I make a mistake....it can't be too horrible because it's not that horrible of a thing. I know what i can do...i will have to eat a salad if I mess up....now, I know that that might not seem so horrible to any of you but I truly hate salads. I hate them with everything that they are. They are the worst food in the planet as far as I'm concerned...so this would be an appropriate punishment. They won't be anything fancy and maybe I will lose a bunch of weight on this new project of mine...but that's what I'm gonna do! So excited by this new challenge! Wish me luck!

Okay, so I think I'm gonna go and pay attention to my job for now. I put in two new applications yesterday so maybe something will come out of those!! Wish me luck please!!! Talk to you all later and I will definitely keep you updated...Who knows, this may just be the challenge that I need!

A few thoughts that I've had!

I am looking around my office and wonder seriously how i ever took this job! I know that I was desperate for a job...and I am very grateful for my job...but geez, if you could see what I'm looking at, you would wonder the same thing. The walls are painted horrible colors...like a horrible peach color and a lite mint green color...seriously peeps!! It looks like I am sitting in a patient room...only it's not soothing like you would expect. The pictures are nice...they are some of the successories pictures...nice sayings and nice pics...but the bulletin board looks horrible..something you would see in like an elementary school room....only worse. I actually couldn't see that board in a classroom...there has to be some type of creativity gene that was lost somewhere...My poor scrapbooking heart looks at this board and just dies. Sheesh...I need to get over it but i'm stuck looking at it for the moment...and it's driving me CRAZY!!! You know, i have never had such stupid phone calls in my life...i seriously can't believe that there are such stupid people out there...here's an example..."I'm 26 weeks pregnant and I just went to the bathroom....and I'm bleeding everywhere...should I come in?" Seriously??? R u for real??? Some of these calls have to be made up...people couldn't be seriously that stupid. It's just not possible! Wow!!! Oh, and here's my favorite! "Can you dial 911 for me?" WHAT??? Seriously?!?!?! You just dialed a 7 digit number when you could have dialed 3. And it's an emergency right?? So why are you calling me??? But whatever....job security right?? What's that phrase...when life throws you lemons...you should make lemonade...or something like that...what happens if lemonade gives me indigestion??

Anyway, moving on!!! I have to give a shout out to my husband. He is the most fabulous person ever!!! I absolutely adore him and am so glad and grateful for him. I want him to know that I will never to anything to hurt what we have. It's to wonderful! And we will just leave it at that!

So we went to make the downpayment...or deposit on our apartment today and the landlady wasn't available but she took the sign down and she still says that it's ours!!! So excited. We went to the Hill today and I just can't wait! I see the future for us there. We love that part of town and it's like the safest area in St. Louis City. They take care of their own. I hope that one day we are accepted and are protected as well. I hate the idea of us being outsiders. But we are so excited to be on our own in our favorite part of town. So who cares!!! Let's just be friends peeps!!! Tony's part Italian so there ya go!!! So excited!

Okay, so this post is really just a bunch of crap and I can't believe any of you are still reading this so I'm going to let you go so good night all...this has been your weekly installment of Tiffany's Rambling thoughts...yep...Crazy!!

Pear Bread

Yep!! You read that right!! Oh my goodness, I have never tasted anything more fabulous!! Such a nice sweet...but not too sweet...bread that is just so tasty! We got a ton of pears a couple of weeks ago that were about to go bad and needed to be eaten. Well, as much as I love pears, I can't eat like 10 in one day....so i got online and was looking for a way to use what I had on hand. You know, before I go any further I just have to say, the Lord really does provide. I love the juiciness of pears and the flavor. Pear is such a delightful flavor. Very nice...anyway, before I go off on a tangent!! I will continue with my recipe! Okay, so here's the awesome Pear Bread recipe. Careful...it's so easy you will want to make it over and over again!

Pear Bread

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups white sugar
2 cups peeled shredded pears
1 cup chopped pecans
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Make a well in the center of the bowl.
2. In a separate bowl combine the oil, eggs, sugar, grated pears, pecans, and vanilla. Blend well. Add to well of dry ingredients. Stir until just moistened. Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 8x5x3 inch loaf pans.
3. Bake in a preheated 325 degree F (165 degrees C) oven for one hour and 15 minutes. Cool on wire rack before removing from the loaf pans.

This makes two loaves. It is soo yummy!! Try it...i think you will just love it!

Have a great night!!!

Just another week in paradise...or something like that!

So this week has been interesting. I never really know where I stand in my office. They constantly keep me guessing. Do they like me or do they hate me today is usually the question that gets asked. Maybe hate is a strong word, but sometimes it seems to fit. I don't know why it's this way and i haven't quite figured out a way to change it but I have learned to live with it and just let life take it's course. I strongly believe that what people do and say tends to come back to them. So with that in mind...I will continue to be the person that I am and everyone will just have to live with it because I happen to like who I am and I'm not going to change just because some people don't like it...but I do have one thing that I must get off my chest and then we can move on....I work with a bunch of women in my office and they all love to gossip and throw temper tantrums. They are grown women...keep that in mind. So, why is it that if someone has a question regarding work, why can't they just ask it to the person sitting next to them?? I have only been here for a little over a year. I see this position as my foot in the door. I never intended to stay longer than a year...and i'm looking for a different position here in the hospital. I just hope i transfer soon!





Anyway...on to something much more fabulous!!! I am in the mood to scrapbook. I am tired of not doing anything creative and right now beads are just too expensive so I am on my scrapping kick again!! I have a bunch of projects that I can do. I now have a new cousin and it's a girl...so i thought that I'd make her a picture frame...and then I have another one that I want to make for Dale and Julie for a family pic they took in Hawaii. Oh, and can't forget my boys need theirs done too....two kitty frames coming right up!!! I thought that I'd try and get them done before we moved. Oh I am in the mood to scrap!!! Now I just need the time to do it!





So I have this fabulous machine called a cricut expression.

I love my cricut...it's such a neat little machine. I am a very proud owner of 9 different cartridges. I am so excited. Here's a little thing behind my excitment.

So I wanted a cricut since they came out. I love 'em. The only thing is they were and still are so expensive. With Tony and I not working much in OK, there was no way we were going to be able to get one. So this last year, Walmart had one on sale for Black Friday...the day after Thanksgiving. Well, I couldn't pass it up at all. There was NO way that I was going to find it any cheaper and I was dying for one....so Tony and I sacrificed a lot of things, and I got my bug!!! I was so excited. It took me a while to get comfortable buying the cartridges because they are so expensive at the store...but then I discovered cheap cartridges on Ebay!!! I am the proud owner of 9 like i said earlier!! 2 came with the machine and the rest have been purchased off of Ebay!! Oh thank heavens for the internet!! You know, there are over a hundred cartridges for this machine!!! Holy Crap was my first thought!

So anyway, I went on and on about a machine and now I am going to be able to create beautiful things!!! I am so excited!! I can't wait to get into my new apartment and begin the decorating!!! Fun Fun Fun!!!

The Pressure is ON!

Okay so we have a ton to do in such a little amount of time. We really want to be out and on our own by May. That's our goal! We would love to be able to have time to settle in and enjoy life before the heat of the summer hits, although, with temps the way they are right now, summer is already here!! With a mix of the Spring storms!!! We are really hoping to have house set up and an open house get-together by end of June, early July!! I hope we get to have things together by then! There is so much we want to do and buy for the apartment, I'm not sure how we are going to be able to do it all by then but we are sure going to try!! The big thing that we need right now is a couch and pots and pans. I think I know which pot and pan set that we are going to get. My mom is going to get them for us at Walmart. I wonder if I can find a pic of them!!! HHMMM...let me find it! Here it is:

I'm really kinda excited about them!! We are probably going to get those this next check. We also may be able to find a couch that we like and get it then too! At least, that's what we are hoping for! If we don't get the couch, then we will probably get the bookcases instead. They are really neat! Here they are:

I really like these...and i hope to be able to get a few of them. We have tons of reading material and really need a place to store it! Now all we have to do is find a tv stand and get a tv and things will be great...oh and not to mention a couch!!!

Oh I can't wait until I have my own space!!!

I guess that's all for today. Don't really have a lot to say or share! Have a great day peeps! Talk to you when I can!

It's April already??

Wow!! How this year is just flying by and I feel like I haven't grabbed on yet. I can't believe how fast time is just slipping away from me. It's April and I haven't even accomplished anything...at least that's how it feels.

Anyway, this has been such a busy week for us. Tony started his new job on Monday and the week just flew. It has been a rough week though with our hours being really different. Here's how this week went down...know remember, a round trip to Barnes for us is at least 66 miles...it can take anywhere from 45 min to an hour to get there. So anyway, Tony went to his orientation on Monday on his own because it was my day off...he also went Tues because I didn't have to work until 1130 that night. So he took me to work on Tues night so that he could make it here by 8am on Wed morning. I went home and took a 4 hour nap and then went back to Barnes to pick him up from work at 430pm. We then went home; took a 3 hour nap and then took me to work. We did this for three days....we are soo freakin tired it's just ridiculous! We are very grateful for his job though and he seems to enjoy working at Barnes. He really like working with people just not in a retail setting. I think that's what makes him so happy about this job...no more retail!!! He is also totally stoked about the benefits of working in a hospital. He really like to help and make a difference in someone's life. What he doesn't realize is that he makes a big difference in my life every day. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful guy in my life! Can you believe that we have been married for 5 years???

Oh, on top of all of this time stuff...i fell down the steps at my parents house and hurt my wrist. We aren't sure if I just broke one of the little bones in my wrist or if I just sprained or strained it. So here I am dealing with a hurt wrist and wearing a stupid brace until I can get to the doctor. Lucky for me, I have an appointment on Monday...we shall see what happens!

Let's see...what else is happening right now...OH...the BIG news!!! I am so excited...we have told a few people so some already know but here it is for everyone else....WE ARE MOVING TO THE HILL!!! That's right...the apartment that we wanted is still available and it's ours!!! We are so excited!! We are ready to be out on our own and enjoying life and each other's company BY OURSELVES!!! We look forward to being on our own.

So I'm trying to figure out what else has happened...life has been so busy lately and I'm sooo tired that sometimes my brain just doesn't work! It takes a vacation occasionally without me!!! LOL!!! Oh well, I have no fabulous recipes to share today because we haven't made anything lately...my loving mother has been making dinner lately because our lives and schedules have been so hectic! She loves to spoil us I think!!! At least, she does it often enough! In fact, I think she's making dinner on Easter!!! Should be yummy! I will definitely post more later!!! Have a good night!

Back to the Real World

After a fabulous week off work, it's time to get back to reality!! What a great week I had off. A surprise party for Dale...one of Tony's friends from high school. Another for my mom on Sunday...Dale's was on Saturday. And just a week of hanging out with my mom and my husband. All was great until I fell down the deck steps last night and probably either sprained or broke my wrist so typing is kinda hard right now. But still, life has been pretty fabulous anyway. No work and all play...love it!! I really can't type well, so I'm gonna go for now, but I will have HUGE news on Friday so come back and check it out!

Life is good...for the moment!

Have you ever felt like wow...life is finally all it's cracked up to be. Things are looking up for Tony and I. With Tony's new job, it looks like we will be able to move out of the "dungeon" and move into a wonderfully small apartment that is just perfect for the two of us and the animals! We went to the gourmet grocery store, DiGreggorio's, today to see if the apartment was still available...the lady we needed to talk to is on vacation so we will find out on Monday if it's still available and if so, we hope we can talk her into saving it for us for another couple of weeks until we can get her some money!! Oh, I hope we can get this place. It's perfect for us. It's on the second story, not crazy bout the steps but i need the exercise. There are a couple of drawbacks for us...like no laundry hookups and no yard, but it's in a location that we love and we can walk the dogs to the park that is really close by. We just have to be dilligent on picking up after them. We don't want angry neighbors because of our sweet girls! All we still have to do with Galahad is get him used to the dogs. Oh how he growls and hisses at them. It's actually quite funny. Today we had all of the animals in the living space of the basement so that the girls could get a drink of water and oh boy, did hilarium preside. Galahad apparently doesn't like them much! The hissing and the growling and Lulu being rambuctious self...it was great! Lulu didn't know how to react...everyone loves her, right?? Apparently not!! She has never come across this hostility before in her short little life! I can't believe she's 3 going on 4!!! But alas, he will have to get used to her excuberance eventually!

Tonight is the last night that I have to work before my vacation!! I'm so excited. I know I was just off work because I was sick but still....this is a vacation. Completely planned!!! I am going to start packing and going through my stuff. I know I promised to go through all of my scrapbooking stuff before the end of March but well, let's face it, I'm just not motivated enough to get that done! I think when we pack to move, that's when things will be purged. Some of my family members are doing this 40 bag purge....well, I obviously don't have that much stuff to throw away but i think I'm going to go with a goal of 10-15 bags...I wonder how many bags an old bed will take!!! I will definitely have to figure out what we need to buy. There were some things that we didn't take from Tulsa because we thought that we didn't need them anymore but apparently that's not the case. I know we needs some new pots and pans so I'm going to start looking for those and see what kinds of deals that I can find. I have an idea of what kind I want but I just need to find them on sale...why is it that everything seems to be so expensive these days??? I also know that we need to get a new couch and a new tv. But those are some things that can wait until we get down there and figure out how we want to decorate our new place. Oh my, so much to do and so little time. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

So tomorrow we are going to spend some time with friends...let the vacation begin! I get to spend some time with my cousin on Wednesday and help her with her wedding plans. I also get to spend some time with my husband before he starts his new position at Barnes. It's so awesome that he and I have pretty much the same shift. There's like an hour difference so that's not that big of a deal. He will start at 1030 and i start at 1130. But other than that difference, we pretty much have it good! I'm sure that I will have plenty of fun stories to tell about his working in housekeeping. We aren't sure but we think that he actually has the lead position. Let's hope so!! Anyway, that's all for now! I'm tired and my fingers hurt!!! Talk to you soon!

A great day for some fabulous news

It seems like it's been forever since I last posted. I was soooo sick for a while there that I did nothing but sleep and watch movies and eat chicken noodle soup...for like a week. But I am back and in business. It's actually nice to be at work, wish my hours were different but that's partly my fault...although, that's actually kinda changed now as well. I am actually glad to be on this shift. I'm sure you are all curious to know why...well, wait no longer...here we go...TONY GOT A JOB AT BARNES!!! Well, he got the offer today. We haven't seen what it all entails and what position he actually has. But he's really excited. I know that it's not a fabulous job and he will have to deal with a lot of crap...sometimes literally...so we shall see how long he can handle it. I told him that if I could do my job for a year or more, that he can handle housekeeping for that long until he can transfer to something else. I also think that he is getting the lead position, so he may be able to move pretty quickly up the ladder. He may just stay with it. I'm not sure what's going to happen in the future but right now, it's looking brighter than it was before...and get this...we are going to move!!! As soon as we get a couple of paychecks under Tony's belt, we are out of the basement. That apartment we want is still available, so we are going to have to go and check it out. Very stoked about that! I can't wait to have some place that I can call my own and love and keep clean and just enjoy myself in! The dogs will be out of their kennel more and the cats will have more opportunities to drive the dogs crazy!!! HAHA!! Can't wait for life to finally look up again.

So, I didn't get much of a chance to cook this last week because I was so sick. It seems to me that between my mom and my husband, I didn't have to cook much. Tony is such an awesome helper in the kitchen. He's so handy to have around. I never realized how lucky i was until this week...like, I always knew that he was fabulous, but I was really horribly sick and he was just so concerned and loving and caring and just all around fabulous, that it made me love him more and realize how lucky I was to have him!!! So awesome to be in love with someone that loves you back!

So I am not going to stay on this computer very long....I'm going to say goodbye and then update you more on Friday as to what is going on!! I will have lots more to tell you I'm sure! Stay tuned...there's always excitment in the Farhner household!

I am learning so much!!

It's pretty interesting. I feel like I'm relearning things that I already know. Like, I know that cooking at home is better for you as is cooking from scratch but sometimes, it's just so much easier to use a mix or eat out. For those of you who don't know, Tony and I have been eating out a ton...like for every meal. It's expensive. With Tony being out of work and I not having much overtime and doctors appointments and prescription costs...things are just not working out financially so I have turned into a recipe-aholic. I love reading Rachael Ray's magazine. I'm addicted to allrecipes.com. Food network is my go to tv station when I have a chance to watch tv. I am your typical foodie I guess. Well, I have decided that I am done eating out. I'm sick and tired of all the fat filled, cholesterol laiden, artery clogging crap out there. I am sick of McDonalds. No more Burger King for this girly. The occasional El Maguey's will be nice but really, who needs it! I am going to find out how to make the foods that I love to eat at home! I'm going to learn to make them a little healthier and just as tasty! That's my goal for this year. I am going to try and make it 1 month without eating out. It's going to be a challenge because we are on the go alot and I sleep most of the day and am home at night but that's what a microwave is for! Now, I just need my mom to stay home more often so that I can use the kitchen!



I absolutely love having my mother live above us. She is such a wonderful person and I get see her almost everyday. I love having her around. She and I are incrediably close. I can honestly say that between her and my husband, I really don't need many other friends. I have everything that I need with those two! It is nice to be able to hang with others and to enjoy other people's company but if I didn't have other friends and only had those two, I would be just fine! And to me, that's nice to know. I love being able to talk cooking with my mom and get her opinion on stuff. I love to figure out what I did wrong with a recipe and have her help me figure out how to make it better. I love having a husband who will pick up a new recipe, knowing that I really want to try it but sometimes I'm just soo tired and just can't seem to find the energy to make it, so he makes it himself!! We then go over the recipe and figure out what we would do differently, if anything, the next time we make it. It seems we always give a recipe a shot and then we change it. Or if I'm making something and I know that I would add more spice to it, I do!



I love being able to play in the kitchen with my mom and my husband. It's such a delight. The other day, my mom wanted to make pancakes but realized that she didn't have the pancake mix so she found a recipe and turned it into corn fritters...omg..they were absolutly amazing! I have never tasted anything so fabulous in my life!!! So I wanted to see what they would taste like using the pancake mix...yep...I will be sticking with a homemade pancake mix....so much better than the prepackaged stuff! So it will be interesting to see what other stuff I can make from scratch that's sooo much better! It's a new adventure in cooking for me! I'm kinda excited. Now, what I really want to do is find an awesome new mexican cookbook and cook my way through mexico! I think that would be fun. And then I want to cook my way through an Italian cookbook, making homemade pastas and everything. Although, I'm not sure how cute my bowtie pasta is going to be!



I was thinking the other day about how "domesticated" I have become. Like I want to learn how to make my own candles and my own soap. Not necessarily the old fashioned way, and I definitely don't want to learn to make my own butter, but I think there are some things that are ridiculously expensive that can be made at home possibly cheaper but definitely better for you. One of the ladies that I work with thinks it crazy ridiculous to try and make things at home. Now, I'm not talking about sewing and things like that...because there is no way that that holds my attention. But I think that soap making and candlemaking could be interesting. So one of the things that I want to do this year is learn how to do those things. I mean, how tough can it really be! Well, we shall find out. You know, it's already March...I need to get started on these things but I really need to have my own kitchen to do these things and get out of my mama's kitchen. I know she can't wait to have her kitchen back but she doesn't have to cook much right now...no complaining Ma!



Talking about being "domesticated." I look back at some of the things that I like to do and never thought that I would be any good at any of it. I love to scrapbook and I love to bead. Who would have thought that I was creative in that way. Apparently I am loving being creative in the kitchen too. I love to cook. I remember when I was younger and my dad made me cook and I hated it. I think it was because it was something that he made me do. My mom told me that my dad was worried that I would be a failure in the kitchen and I almost was until I discovered my love for cooking. I had to be the one to change my mindset and realize that I really did like to do it and I could be creative in what I do. I used to tell people that I was never creative and sometimes I still feel that way. I "scraplift" a lot as well as lift other people's jewelry ideas but you know, there's nothing wrong with that. I still have to match up different papers to go with my pictures or i still have to find beads that will work with a particular design...so in that sense, I am still being creative. I may not be the one coming up with the actual design but I still have to make it my own in some way! That's the part that I like. Oh well, maybe I am more creative than I thought!



I don't have any recipes today to share but I am off this weekend so hopefully some cooking will get done! I do plan on sleeping some on Saturday though! Working this overtime is hard stuff when you work overnights! Bye for now!

A need to be crafty

So I have this desire to be crafty and start selling some of the things that I do. I love making different things and having other people enjoy them...not just me and my immediate family. I used to sell different things when I lived in Tulsa. Not a lot of things, but I did sell a couple of completed scrapbooks (all they had to do was add pictures), and a few picture frames. I wonder if there is any type of craft store that has booths that I can sell things at...kinda like a "Coomer's Craft Mall" type place if you know what I'm talking aboutl. Does anyone know if there is anything like that around here?? I may have to look around and see what I can find. I want to be able to be creative and make some money off it. I'm just not bringing in enough myself. It's so frustrating to not have enough money to enjoy things. UGH!! Anyway, I think I may have to look into a craft mall type place....hhhmm..wonder what I can find! I'll let you all know what I decide to do!

Olive Garden Favorite

I seem to be bombarding this blog with lots of recipes today. I found another one that I am dying to try and make! I love Olive Garden's Chicken and Gnocchi soup. It is my all-time favorite soup. I love going there with Tony and enjoying their all you can eat soup and salad and breadsticks....yummy!!! All I get is the Chicken and Gnocchi soup. Well folks! I may have found a duplicate recipe. Now keep in mind that I haven't made it yet, but here it is. I found it on recipezaar.com! I'm gonna try it and hope for the best!

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Ingredients
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups half-and-half
1 stalk celery, diced
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 carrot, shredded
1/2 onion, diced
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper
16 ounces potato gnocchi
1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional)

Directions
1 Saute the onion, celery, garlic, carrot in oil over medium heat until onion is translucent.
2 Add chicken, chicken stock, half and half, salt and pepper, thyme. Heat to boiling, then add gnocchi. Gently boil for 4 minutes, then turn down to a simmer for 10 minutes.
3 Add spinach and cook for another 1-2 minutes until spinach is wilted.
4 (Heat to boiling and add cornstarch dissolved in 1-2 Tbsp water at this point if you want a thicker soup.).
5 Ladle into bowls and serve!

I hope you enjoy it! I will try it and let you know what I think! Give it my stamp of approval or disapproval...let's hope it's good!

Gonna try and make these on Monday

Oh Paula Deen...what you make me want to make and eat!!! For those of you who don't know, I am totally in love with Paula Deen. The woman can do know wrong. You know a stick of butter runs in the opposite directions when they see her coming...although, if I were a stick of butter, I would be honored to be used in a Paula Deen recipe! So, while that's a creepy thought, I am going to make these corn and cheese fritters and then take my dogs and maybe my cat Archie, for a walk to try and walk off all this buttermilk! Thanks Paula for making a wonderful, delicious (even though I haven't tried them yet!) recipe that I can't resist! My dr's gonna kill me when she finds out I ate all of these! Pictures will definitely follow!

Corn and Cheese Fritters
From Cooking with Paula Deen, Web Exclusive

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese with peppers
1/4 cup chopped green onion
Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions
In a large bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, and salt.
In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and eggs; add to cornmeal mixture, stirring to combine. Stir in corn, cheese, and onion.
In a large Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 3 inches; heat oil over medium-high heat to 350˚. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls into hot oil. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately