Sweetness from Costa Rica

I don't know if I have ever bought a fresh pineapple, and I'm really not sure what posessed me to buy one a couple days ago. Maybe the thoughts of Disney's Polynesian Resort and the drinks they are made and served directly in the bottom of the pineapple. I've seen pictures of this tropical drink online and I hope to have one during our trip.

Tonight as I was cooking supper, I decided to slice up this fruity goodness to serve with the meal. As most cooks do, I had to have a taste. OH MY GOODNESS...that is the best pineapple I have ever tasted. So sweet, so juicy, and oh so good. The next thing I know, I have eaten about a quarter of that pineapple right by myself. It was just that delicious. I cut some up to share with the girls and they both agree that it was wonderful. I will definitely have to put it on my list for my next shopping trip.

What makes me grateful....

Tonight Alyssa was having a down moment and she said that she felt that everything was 'wrong'. Apparently the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree because I knew exactly what she was talking about. So I looked at her and asked, "Do you know what makes me grateful?" She did not know where I was going with this so she said, "No."

"What makes me grateful is when I am sitting in the Staples parking lot eating my lunch, and I see a Dad drive up in his mini van. He gets out and 2 kids jump out. Then he walks to the back of the van and pulls out a wheelchair. Then he goes to the side of the van and physically picks up his child and places her in the wheelchair. A child that is around 8 years old and will probably spend her life in that wheelchair. That's what makes me grateful."

Sometimes the plight of a stranger seems to make what is wrong in our world look a little less wrong. A teary moment and a couple of hugs and the world looked a little brighter. It's all a matter of perspective.

The kids are home until Thursday for teacher workdays. Jenna was busy entertaining herself with this castle.


Life is good when you can make a castle out of plastic cups! Don't let that sunshine fool you...we've been freezing over here! The past couple nights we've been in the teens. It seems like my hands just can't get warm. I'll have to remember these frosty moments when it's 100 degrees outside and I just can't get cool!

This really sucks!

I'm not usually a fan of the phrase "This sucks", but in this particular case, I have to admit that I am. I finally sucked (there's that word again) it up and bought a brand new vacuum. Ain't she a beauty?



I've been noticing that my old vacuum just hasn't been doing quite as good a job as it should. I've actually noticed it for a while, but just haven't wanted to spend the money on a new one. The mood finally struck me and off we went to Target last night (Saturday) and I picked this one out. K put it together this morning and I gave the whole house a good vacuum. I was amazed at how much 'yuck' this vacuum picked up! The whole house had just been vacuumed on Thursday and I know that we didn't make that much dirt in such a short time. It's got all the neat attachments and even this mini roller thing that works great on the stairway.

As most of you know, Mr. Murphy hangs around this house quite often, and as luck would have it, that same exact vacuum was in the Target sale paper this morning with a bonus $20 gift card for buying the vacuum. Target is known to price match for 2 weeks after you've bought the item, but I wasn't sure if they'd let me get a gift card after the fact. I couldn't let that $20 slip by without giving it a try. Here I go back to Target, less than 24 hours after my initial vacuum purchase. Mr. Murphy cried 'Shotgun' and followed me right to the customer service desk where the girl affirmed my thoughts of not getting the $20 gift card. They weren't getting away with it so fast...it was less than 24 hours since my purchase and I really wanted and felt I deserved the $20 gift card. So off I go, to buy yet another vacuum cleaner and claim the $20 gift card. I walk directly to the vacuums, put the same type in my cart, pay for it at the register, getting my $20 gift card, and then walked directly to the customer service desk to return the vacuum with YESTERDAY's receipt! Aha! Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky, but I got the $20 gift card as advertised in the current circular! Why couldn't they have honored the $20 gift card offer and saved us all the trouble? I guess I can't complain as I'm a happy homemaker with a new vacuum and a $20 gift card to boot!

A Great Thought

I saw this on another blog...what an inspiring way to think and to live.

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing

I worked a bit on decluttering again today. I cleared out a whole organizer bin (yay!) and gave everything a new home whether it be a more appropriate spot or the trash bin. I used the left over organizer bin in the linen closet to organize sheets and things. I have a half empty shelf in there. It's a great feeling to get rid of 'stuff'. Dh is getting worried that I may go after his things next...hmmm.

I need to work on getting some more pics up on here. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow :)

I feel good!

I am having one of those days where I feel like I accomplished so much!!

There has been a lot of 'stuff' around lately and I think it has been weighing me down. I had a large box in the garage from a delivery we had a couple days ago. I spent about an hour and a half purging...old movies we never watch, old toys, rubbermaid containers, drinking glasses and coffee mugs. Really...how many glasses does a family of 4 need? It feels good to have less 'stuff'. I think I may make a goal to have even less stuff tomorrow!

And a funny from Jenna....she was playing a Diego game on the computer. He was on a boogie board or something, going down a mudslide. Every few seconds, he would have to jump a rock. She was very excited about it and called me over. My response was "Cool Beans!" and she responded matter of factly, "No Mom, they're rocks". Priceless!