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It's Monday...

Well it is Monday and it is COLD! So just wanted to share a few quick pictures from the weekend. This is a quote book that my best friend Shonna and I worked on last weekend. I finally finished mine. You can see the rest of the pages here:
http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1302817


Of course I thought with Keith's new job that we MIGHT be able to actually do Valentine's on Valentine's. But no, so Saturday was our Valentine's Day. We had lunch at PF Chang's and just hung out together. He took me to Best Buy to get a wireless modem for my new laptop and he even took me to Michael's and JoAnn's. Gotta love him!!! Oh and the big horse is outside of PF Chang's and we just decided our little Valentine froggie needed to be in the picture. The froggie was for me, but Missie Moo has decided it is hers - so cute!!!




























And finally a picture of my Door Decor for Valentine's Day. Wood hearts from Hobby Lobby, Paint, Zebra Paper, pipe cleaner, some heart buttons and some ribbon!

























Keith has his final exam for his MIT training either today or tomorrow, so wish him luck!!! I am off to an appointment!
Love & Blessings...

You must check out this ruler!!!

Click on my title to check the link out. I bought this ruler from the seller on ebay. And although it says for quilting, it is AWESOME! It will not slip on paper either and I LOVE IT! I can see through it, it isn't huge, and it's great. I have long been on the search for a PERFECT paper trimmer and that was never found. So I have started using snap knives and a cutting mat. And my mom got me a great metal ruler with cork on the back, but it slipped on me once and you who know me, know that I DO NOT do knives or sharp things anyway - so once that ruler slipped I was terrified. So back i went to my old trimmer. But then I found this on ebay, bought it and it ROCKS!!! So if you are in need of paper trimming awesome-ness - check out this ruler!

Love & Blessings...

I am blogging from my new PINK Dell Laptop!

Well, I finally did it - I ordered a new computer. I waited and waited for Keith to participate, I mean he has to use it too - but he just kept putting me off. So last week I went online and ordered a laptop. I have always wanted one, not to mention that it takes up WAAAYYYYY less room in my scrapbook room. And then Keith can use it anywhere in the house as soon as we get our wireless router. It is PINK and oh so pretty! No come the return of posting pictures. I just uploaded the two pictures below - I am SOOO excited! I'll refer to them later in my post, as I have LOTS to catch you up on.

First of all, it is still Valentine's day here at the West household. We never get to do V-day on THE day because Keith is always working. We thought with his new job he MIGHT be off, but since he is still a "lowly" MIT (manager in training) he follows the schedule he's given. So Valentine's day is ACTUALLY going to be tomorrow for us. I am so excited. I got Keith a really cool razor & of course made him a card, and there are 2 cute little monkeys to attach to his package. I'll post the card after I give it to him. :o)

Next, last weekend my BFF, Shonna, came down for a visit. She got here Saturday morning at 7am and we scrapbooked, we talked, we shopped, we had an awesome time and we were DETERMINED to stay up until Keith got home from his close, well at 10:30pm we woke up and realized we slept through Mean Girls and we were pooped. The two margaritas we had at dinner didn't help I am sure! LOL! We even stopped by the liquor store to get some more provisions and we didn't even open them - goodness I am old!!! But we had so much fun. I love her so much and I am so glad to have her in my life. She is way more than a best friend, she is the sister I never had. We also made these awesome quote books while she was here. I will post when mine is COMPLETELY done! And the picture at the top left - is part of my Valentine from her. She knows me so well - and doesn't mind my PUNK/REBEL side at all! I love my little journal and it is sitting here right beside me now while I ponder what to do with it.

Also I finished up a Valentine postcard swap I was in and mailed those off last week. I posted a picture on twopeasinabucket.com if you go there and look up eeyorestayl you'll see them. And when I got home from mailing them I had a RAK from Silver on my stamping group. The above left picture is the ATC Silver made and sent me - SO PRETTY! I love those stamps - think they are Tim Holtz. :o)

Remember how I posted that I was addicted to my new DS Lite Keith got me for CHristmas. We I bought him one off of Ebay and it is really good for him - it allows him some down time when he needs to decompress. Well, my MIL - Pam - saw them and so I bid on one for her on ebay. It has taken me nearly TWO WEEKS, but I finally won one for her - WHEW! She is a game junkie like me so she will have so much fun with it. Now who else can I bring over to the "GAMER" side with me, anyone???

And finally I am going to ask? Do you think it is ok for people walking their dog, to let them STOP, PEE IN YOUR YARD, and then KEEP ON GOING. Now mind you these are your neighbors who are in their yard constantly. And they have a lovely yard, but they WILL NOT let their dog pee in their yard!!! So they bring him right across the street to mine! We have been pulling into the drive when he was allowing this, and he hurried off down the street and I made sure to say "That is VERY RUDE!" loud enough for him to hear. I have opened and shut the front door LOUDLY when he was RIGHT THERE at the mailbox allowing his dog to pee all over! I even opened the blinds and let Marlie bark at him, he doesn't care. Now not only do I not it and think it is rude. I have flowers down by the road at the mailbox most of the year - and he pees all over them, and kills them! I mean - come on - that is stinkin' rude! So yesterday I was all upset over my doctor up and moving to another state, then seeing this neighbor man letting his dog pee all over my yard, and Keith says "Put a note down there." So that is just what I did. I posted the following (yes in red) "PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR DOG PEE ON OUR MAILBOX OR IN OUR YARD!!!" Yes I over-react to a lot of things, but respect my property, ya know? Oh well it is just something else to talk about in therapy on Monday! LOL!

Love & Blessings...

We have two new additions to our family!!!

Keith'[s step-brother Keith (yes they are both named Keith) and his wife Lydia have just adopted to beautiful little girls. They are preemie twins - you can see pictures at the blog below:
http://www.tennesseepartyof5.blogspot.com/

I am so excited for them. They have a little boy Will, who is going to be the BEST big brother on earth, and I am so happy for Lydia because now she has two little dolls to love!!!

Love & Blessings...

The things you find on TV late at night.....ramblings from an insomniac

Well here it is January 21st and I haven't posted since the 9th. Main reason? I cannot sleep. I have tried EVERYTHING, and so I sleep when I sleep, and I am awake when I am awake. So a lot of laundry is getting done in the West house in the "wee" hours of the morning. Nothing like drying sheets at 3:30AM. :o)

Now if you are an insomniac like me you find yourself watching the STRANGEST things on TV. I mean there is some really weird stuff on late at night/early morning. But I am just noticing tonight that the strangest things are on TV on Sunday nights. As I am flipping thinking ok HGTV, History Channel, Discovery, WE, Oxygyn? I mean come on there has to be some good, stupid girly movie on, right? NOT! I have found Snapped - which is stories of how women "SNAP" and try to or do kill their husbands/lovers; Shop Erotic Infomercial - I am not even going to tell you what was on there - just use your imagination and think of seedy shops in big cities or those naughty home parties we've all been invited to for some bachelorette party; The History of Sex - this was on the History Channel - History yes, but of Sex? I mean do we really need to know any more than we already do; Taboo - this is a show on National Geographic that talks about weird culture things - like piercing of odd places on the body by African Tribes. Now mind you I am glad I found these things LATE at night, and on CABLE channels, but I mean couldn't we have some Ron Popeil infomercials or something? I mean a juicer, tweezer that have lights, ANYTHING but pornographic infomercials and sex with the Romans and private part piercing. Oh and of course those who kill the ones they love. I know I am on a little rant here, but it is really amazing the things you "learn" (and I am using that term VERY FREELY HERE) when you cannot sleep...

Keith is in his second week with Panera Bread. I think he likes it a lot. He is having to study all kinds of things like how to "build" the sandwiches, salads, etc. Last week he worked overnight three nights to learn all the baking. Let me tell ya - those bagels are YUMMO! And I got a Panini (sp?) Friday night - so good! But even with all the reading he has to do - and you know my hubby - he hates to read; he seems to be having a lot of fun. And so this is a really exciting time for us.

My Mother-in-law came over and installed new curtains in my living room. yes I already had curtains, but they needed to be re-done we decided, and the others were very pretty, but these new ones are just AWWWWEEEEESSSSSOOOOOMMMMEEEEE! (that was awesome - LOL!)
They have these HUGE tassels on them and look so cute inside and from the porch. I love them! So now if I can just bring myself to put more holes in the walls. I have only allowed like 4 things to be hung in 1 year - how crazy is that. I am just so scared of holes. Don't ask me why.

Now finally for today/tonight - I want to announce our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of living in our house - WOOHOO! And also want to say congratulations to my sis - Shonna on her first divorce-sary - yes I coined the term. She is a role model for every woman - she has gone through so much and come out shining brighter than ever - I love ya girl!

Ok - I am off to find something decent, and I mean that seriously, to watch, and maybe just maybe I'll get some sleep later.

Love & Blessings.....

2008 here we come...

The new year started off with a bang! We went to our dinner dance at the Elk's Lodge and won a prize, we saw old friends there that we didn't know we would see, and then my father-in-law's date cussed me out - oh yes - she cussed me out. I won't repeat what she said, but it was enough to make me blush and that is hard considering I have a mouth like a sailor when I want to - LOL! But seriously - how can grown people be so rude? This was the first time we ever met this woman and she cussed me out, not to mention hugging my husband at every opportunity and other than the "incident" she didn't speak to me all night. In fact I made an off color comment to someone at our table (I KNOW HER - SHE WAS NOT OFFENDED!) and the "date" apologized for me. Oh my my my! This just shows me I need to stay locked in my little house and be by myself most of the time. I was in a good mood, having fun, and then DOWNER.

It just seems that several people in my life lately have really ticked me off. And I think it is not because I am being extra sensitive or they are being rude, but that they might act like this all the time, but I have made a new year's resolution to speak up/stand up for myself. So they tick me off - and I am actually admitting to myself I am pissed off. Why are people mean? I mean the old "MEAN PEOPLE SUCK" sticker - I swear I want to have that tattoo'd on my forehead - but seriously - do people think before they speak - NO is the answer I guess - because many people in my life have OPEN FOOT INSERT MOUTH lately. I mean yes - I have OCD and yes I am hard to deal with at times - I know I am. But if people ONLY KNEW on a daily basis what I hold back or cover up or just plain old bury inside myself because I don't have the courage or strength to say it outloud (even if just to myself) so I can deal with it. I read a quote once that said "People with OCD should all receive academy awards for their daily performances in life." We are such awesome actors. We just plaster on a smile and go, and inside we are miserable. Or like me - we are awake at 2:31am in the morning because we are thinking of all the crap we should have said but were too afraid or tired to say. My broken records are playing over and over again tonight - it is gonna be a long one.

Keith starts his new job tomorrow at Panera Bread. I am SOOOOOO excited for him! And so proud. He has to do "classroom" stuff tomorrow (well today i guess.) Then Saturday he goes to "orientation" and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday he will be doing the bakery shifts. SO FUN! He gets to learn it all. And if you know my husband he will ask a million questions and we will know all about Panera bread by next week - I love him so much - he is just a doll!!!

We had dinner at Bonefish Saturday night with my best friend Shonna. Dinner was EXCELLENT, and we shopped a little before dinner and exchanged gifts. It was a great day! I love her so much and it was nice to spend the day with her.

Monday we dropped by my mom's house to pick up some old junk of mine: beanie babies, Mary Moo's, Winnie the Pooh figures. CRAZY the stuff you collect when you are younger, or that old boyfriend's give you. Anyway - off to ebay they will go. Keith is setting up a painting/present wrapping/package shipping/ebay picture taking area for me in the garage. I want to get some black fabric and make a backdrop so my pics are easier to take. This is going to be a busy couple of weeks with ebay. I haven't ebayed for my MIL since September and she has a ROOM FULL of stuff for me to list - WOOHOO! I love it though - it really is fun to me!!!

Now I have an FYI for any of my friends/family: My name is Lori and I am a Nintendo DS Lite addict. My husband got me that thing for Christmas and I am ADDICTED! Seriously - it is better than any anti-anxiety drug I have ever taken - it just zones me right out and I play for hours. I played the thing so much in the last 24 hours I drained the battery (what does that tell you about my anxiety level in the past 24 hours???) But seriously - this is the most awesome present I have gotten in ages and i love it and love my hubby for allowing me to be a "GAMER!"

Well, I am not posting pictures for now. We are hunting for a new computer, and probably until we get one well - I won't post many. Because my computer does not LIKE it when I do. So I will try and share the rest of my Christmas pics ASAP, our New Year's Eve pics, etc.

OH - and Kobe the siberian husky went back home this past Sunday - THANK YOU JESUS for giving me the patience to make it through that week and 3 days and not kill Kobe!

Love & Blessings...