Glad Feeds My Family During BlogHer

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I'm headed out to BlogHer in New York, and I have to admit, my expectations for what happens at home while I'm gone always sinks. And not by just a little.  The math pages the wee ones are supposed to do I know won't be looked at.  There will be clothes strewn about the house, both dirty and clean somehow.  And who knows what my husband will be feeding them, but I always come home to plenty of restaurant charges on my credit card.
This time around, I am doing my best to counteract this just a little bit.  I got sneaky and prepared food for everyone.  I stocked up on the lunchmeat.  I made more zucchini bread than any family should have in the house at one time.  And Glad sent me the fixings for some chicken enchiladas.
I'm not going to say that my husband is lazy, but if the food isn't prepped for him, the likelihood that it gets used isn't that great.  In fact, I can almost guarantee that the two mangos that were just about ripe when I leave will be still sitting in the fruit bowl, just more ripe.  Rather than rely on my husband to put everything together for the enchiladas, I did it for him.  I didn't just buy the rotisserie chicken; I removed the meat from the carcass and cut it up for him.  I put all the ingredients he'll need into a pile on the kitchen counter with the recipe stacked nearby - the corn tortillas, peppers, and enchilada sauce provided by MomSelect and Glad, as well as the onion and spices I'm providing.  The cut up chicken went into a Glad Ware container that will keep the meat fresh until he is ready to use it, with the cheese and salsa sitting right next to it in the fridge, so my husband can't possibly miss it, right?

Ok, this is my husband.  He may miss it, and there might be a phone call coming my way.  That said, I feel a whole lot better that I've got some meals prepped for him.  Even if they don't do their homework or keep the house clean, there's a chance that they're eating the way I would want them to.  
And once he's cooked the meal and there are leftovers - and in our house, it seems like there are always leftovers - he'll have the storage containers to put them in, as Glad included 2 large containers for us that go from fridge to freezer.  My personal favorite part is that the containers now resist cracking when you have them in the freezer and they - oh, I don't know - fall out.  I have more than one storage container I've lost that way.

But the Glad Ware containers have gotten better. Know what's really cool now? They're BPA free. I can feel more confident storing my leftovers in these containers without worrying that BPA will be leaching into their foods. I'm still not going to microwave anything in plastic, but the storage issue goes away.




Oh. And did I mention that Glad is a Labels for Education partner? Yep, that code gets cut out and returned to school, and that's another five points towards something on a teacher wish list!

So what do you do to try to keep your family healthy when you aren't around?

In the interest of full disclosure, I was sent a 2 pack of large Glad Freezer Ware containers, along with some of the ingredients to make chicken enchiladas while I was attending BlogHer.  I was not compensated, but I have been entered to win a gift card.  As always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Rivet and Sway Review

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I've worn glasses off and on since I was in the fifth grade.  Thanks to Rivet and Sway, I'm wearing them all the time now.  But before now?  Yep, off and on.  I had glasses for awhile because I thought they were cool - nifty cotton candy pink ones, if I recall correctly.  Then I didn't wear them for awhile, and eventually I got contacts around high school.

I'd wear them sometimes but not all the time because I'm that odd person who has one near sighted eye and one far sighted eye.  It sort of balances out, so I can get away with not wearing them.  Periodically, I'll get a new prescription and glasses, but I think the last time I did was almost three years ago.  Remember when I wrote about losing my sunglasses not too long after getting them and miraculously finding them a year and a half later?  Yeah.

When I was offered the chance to be a Rivet and Sway Original at BlogHer and get some new, fashionable glasses, I was all over it.  Rivet and Sway is different from my local optometrist in that the glasses are mail order.  Yikes, right?  How do you know if you're even going to like them?  And at $199, you'd better like the glasses you're getting.  Rivet and Sway has figured out the answers to all this.

First, you can order try on kits with blank lenses so you can try on up to three different eyeglasses at a time at home for free.  With the oh so awesome tool on the website that helps you select the right lenses for your face - including both your face shape and whether you need narrow or wide frames for your head - you've got a pretty good shot at success right there.

I ordered my three frames, and they arrived two days later via FedEx.  I loved not having to wait a long time.  Rivet and Sway estimates that the whole process takes 13 days from start to finish if you order your glasses the third day you have your try on pairs, and that's not bad!  I loved the packaging the frames arrived in, and I appreciated knowing that any glasses I ordered would arrive safe and sound.


I have to admit the glasses were a lot nicer than the ones I had to choose from the last time I bought glasses.  The Je Ne Sais Quoi lenses were unfortunately not a good fit for my head, but I took the other two pairs on the rounds with my friends to get their opinions.  What do you think?


I will be honest that I liked the middle pair's shape the best.  The little flair up from the middle was great, but the color wasn't quite right.  While most glasses - including the Tusk- offer multiple frame colors, the black and white or galapagos green weren't really a good fit for me personally.  The blue and grey of the "ripcurl" colored The Little Voice glasses - the photo on the right - ultimately won out.

Once I had my glasses chosen, I simply peeled off the preprinted postage paid return sticker and resealed the box the glasses arrived in - a matter of merely pulling off the top of a sticky - and stuck them in my mailbox.  I typed in the information from my new prescription, something this review opportunity inspired me to do, and waited for my glasses to arrive.  I was lucky that my optometrist gave me a very clearly written prescription that had everything I needed.  If I needed help, I could have either scanned my prescription for Rivet and Sway or had them contact my optometrist directly.  Can you say convenient?

The only downside is that some frames only accept prescriptions up to a certain level.  If you have a stronger prescription, make sure the glasses you order will work with your prescription - fortunately not an issue for me.  At this point, Rivet and Sway doesn't offer progressive or bifocal lenses, either, which is somewhat limiting.  The other thing I'd love to see offered that they don't currently provide is prescription sunglasses.  I have very sensitive eyes and cannot go outside even on a cloudy day without them.

As for my specific experience, the glasses arrived in the same style of very cute cardboard box used for the try on pairs.  Inside was also a little bag to keep my glasses safe and unscratched, which I appreciate.  When I tried on my glasses, even just the little change in my prescription was apparent.  I loved the glasses.  And so has everyone else.  I've gotten more compliments on my new glasses than I ever dreamed I would, from the friends who knew they were new to the owner of the tae kwon do dojo where Mister Man goes.


The glasses are a high quality, which I would expect for $199 (including shipping and lenses).  They are polycarbonate lenses, with scratch resistant and glare free 100% UV protection coatings.  That results in thin and lightweight lenses, making them easier to wear.

I have had my glasses adjusted slightly, which is something my local optometrist can easily do (you can see them sliding down my nose a bit in the picture above).  They fit beautifully, and I love them.  Even if that weren't the case, all is not lost.  Rivet and Sway will allow you to return your glasses or any reason in the first 60 days and either credit your card or send you a new pair.  How can you possibly lose?

I can make it a little more tempting for you, actually.  I have a code that will give you 20% off a pair of Rivet and Sway glasses.  Note that the code expires on August 26, 2012, so get your act in gear.  You can order your try on pairs now and get your prescription together at a later date, as you need that only to order your final pair.

Discount code for 20% off Rivet and Sway: CWHOUB017D894C

C'mon, you know you need new glasses right?  Did you know your prescription expires after two years?  And that it's recommended that you get your eyes tested every year?  Which pair(s) would you choose?

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a pair of Rivet and Sway glasses for review purposes.  I was not compensated as part of this campaign.  As always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Gutzy Gear Giveaway - The New Cool In School

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August is Little Miss's birthday party, and we're still in the midst of the big birthday party part of life.  I love those parties - seeing all the happy smiling faces and hearing the giggles - but the goody bags kill me.  I sort of hate them.  They're generally filled with candy we can't (don't) eat and little cheap toys that we throw away.  This year?  We used Gutzy Gear as our goody bags.

So wait, you haven't heard of Gutzy Gear yet?  Oh, you're missing out.  Gutzy Gear are straps that wrap around the straps on your backpacks or bags or anything along those lines.  They then have patches in hundreds of patterns that Velcro onto the Gutzy straps.

The patches have all sorts of different personality with awesome names (as the wee ones pointed out to me) from Chip and Quench (a walking cookie and glass of milk) to Bones and Head Honcho (fun looking "dude" and pirate-y skull and crossbones patches) to Little Miss's favorite Kernel and Cheesy (a popcorn box and animated slice of pizza).  There are two series releases of Gutzy patches so far, plus character patches of Marvel super heroes, SpongeBob Square Pants, and more.

The patches are sold in packages of 2 for $4.99 apiece at stores ranging from WalMart to Target and specialty toy stores, as well as online at the Gutzy Gear site.  The backpack straps are $9.99 and come with two strap covers and two Gutzy patches.

There are so many patches to choose from that it's hard to decide what you like best.  Fortunately, part of the fun of Gutzy Gear is that they are designed to be traded with friends.  Remember growing up and how sticker album and trading stickers?  I spent more recesses and play dates doing that, and so did all my friends.

When the kids walked into the party, it was obvious that they'd never seen Gutzy Gear before.  The looks on their faces as they walked into the party and saw the table piled with the Gutzy Gear was priceless.


Knowing that these are primarily second graders, I didn't want the free for all I knew was bound to happen.  Instead of having the children rush the table (save me) or handing children a patch and having them ask for a different one, we played Gutzy games for them.  The favorite was a version of bingo.

The kids each had a GUTZY card with images of the various Gutzy characters in the boxes.  As I called out the Gutzies, the kids used the snacks to cover their cards.


As each child "won" at GUTZY (I had two kids tell me that the game was GUTZY and not bingo - smart cookies!), they were allowed to head to the table to choose a strap and patch pack.  Watching them agonize over the decisions was adorable.  Fortunately, everyone ended up with something they enjoyed - and a delicious snack to eat after they finished the game.


I loved how the kids were so excited to receive their Gutzy Gear as a goodie bag.  Some who had siblings who weren't there begged to take one home for them.  Given their covetous looks, I was doubtful that they were actually going to make it to the siblings, but I agreed.  And to my surprise, not only did I see one of the siblings in school on Tuesday wearing the Gutzy straps, but he stopped to talk about the straps with Mister Man and point out that they had the same ones and how perfect that he had a smiley face with braces since he was about to get braces, too.


Now this?  This is a goody bag I can deal with.  The wee ones were so excited to put them on their backpacks, and Gutzy Gear is flooding our school.  The only "problem" is that the wee ones want more Gutzy patches.  I know what to tell people when they ask what Mister Man wants to his birthday.  And both the wee ones will get some in their stockings, I'm sure.  It's such a fun way to express personality.

Best of all, right now you can get a free rare Gutzy patch when you buy any Gutzy product in stores from now until September 30, 2012.  You simply send the receipt and the completed free Gutzy Gear redemption form.  Best of all, you can do it once per week per person.  I can't wait to see what Gutzies we get after the wee ones choose their next patches and I go buy them!

There is also a Gutzy Gear contest right now with over 100 gift cards to Toys 'r Us being given away.  Between now and September 7, your kids just need to show how they "go gutzy" in a photo.  Upload the photo to the Gutzy Gear Facebook page.  It isn't just the backpack you can personalize with the Gutzy Gear straps.  Get creative.  Is it your soccer goal?  Maybe Gutzy goes on your desk at school.  Figure it out, and best of luck to you!

Excited to start the year off with something fun?  I have three prize packs to give away that include a starter Gutzy Gear set and three patch packs of your choice.  So what do you have to do to win? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Monday September 10 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me - what's your favorite collectible from childhood?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):
1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter, then tweeting this contest with the following tweet: "Win the coolest new school trend from @GutzyGear and @honestandtruly - starter pack and 3 patch packs. 3 winners! http://bit.ly/NrUiUE" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.
4) Earn one additional entry by liking Honest & Truly! on Facebook. (Yay, it's legal again, so long as you know you have to leave a comment here to enter and that simply liking me isn't the entry, along with acknowledging the fact that Facebook has nothing to do with this giveaway whatsoever.
5) Earn an additional entry by putting me in your Google Plus circle. Am I already in your G+ circle? No problem - just leave a comment letting me know that you've added me or already have me there.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a Mommy Party box of Gutzy Gear to share with my friends.  I was not compensated as part of this campaign.  As always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

We Recycle (More) At School. Do You?

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There are definitely things in my life that I'm passionate about.  Doing the right thing for the wee ones is paramount, and in my mind that includes things from eating as healthfully as we can to teaching them to give back to being mindful of the waste we create.  Today, I'm working on a #BagItForward project with Elmer's that combines two of those three passions, and I'm thrilled.

Elmer's has the first glue stick and bottle recycling program in conjunction with WalMart.  The special plastics used in creating glue bottles and glue sticks can't be recycled at just any location, so this partnership ensures that they are appropriately turned into new products.  I love that as part of this project, schools will receive $0.02 per for every glue bottle and glue stick from Terracycle so long as the donation is of at least 250 bottles or glue sticks.  I love "fundraisers" that don't cost parents anything!

Before I can start counting the pennies from the donation, I need to create my donation box.  My first step was to go shopping for my #BagItForward Glue Crew project at WalMart.  I love going through the craft and school supply aisle on a regular basis, but I'm still always surprised by the fun new products I find.  Did you know that Elmer's now makes glitter glue in easy to dispense bottles.  I found it in red, blue, yellow, and green.  I can only imagine what I would have done with this as a child!


I'm sort of sad that with the school year now underway, the giant back to school section has been replaced by fall products because I love back to school shopping, but I'm happy to report that the products are still there.  Well, they were.  Once I bought out the entire stock of glue sticks to donate to our art classroom, the section looked a little more empty.


Once I arrived back home, I started to put together my Glue Crew donation box for the Bag It Forward project.  I had decided to put the collection bin into the art room at the wee ones' school because the specials are so often ignored, and I know our art teacher goes through glue!  Plus, since this project includes making a donation to the classroom, how perfect to get something extra for her when she rarely gets anything from parents?  She was thrilled when I told her about the opportunity.

As I sat sitting with an empty box and some art supplies in front of me, I began to regret my decision a little.  I'm not an artist.  On the Glue Crew website, they provide a ton of information on how to set up a donation project from templates to help you to examples of other schools' donation boxes.  That's when I was officially intimidated because there is truly some awesomeness out there.  I can only imagine what other awesomeness is already out there on the Bag It Forward Pinterest board, too.  After sitting in fear for a little while, I remembered that this is about doing good and not about making sure that this is the best looking box ever created.  I gathered my materials and got started.


I decided to go a classic route, since I am someone who loves things that are simple and still beautiful.  The box I created has the relevant information so the students know what it is, and it incorporates the recycling color of green.  I love that I left the top of the donation box open so that kids can see how much glue they've recycled so far.


The students at our school haven't heard of the Elmer's Glue Crew project before, so it was important that I also include some educational information for them, as well.  Why should they recycle?  And how does this project work?  They need to know that this is for Elmer's glue sticks and glue bottles only, although there are plenty of other things that can and should be recycled elsewhere.  I also made sure they understand that the glue sticks and bottles that go into the donation box need to be clean.  As easy as I discovered this is to do with just a little warm water, I don't want to be the one responsible for cleaning out all of them come April when I bring them into WalMart to be recycled!

I decided that the Elmer's tri fold display board I purchased was the perfect vehicle to communicate this.  Instead of just putting the instructions, I included some recycling information that I hope will encourage them to recycle at home and school.  So what do you think of the fun board?  And yes, that is one of my empties that I glued as an example.  I'll be sure to include it in the bin when I take it for recycling though!



Now that I completed my donation box, it was time to bring it into the school and show the art teacher and students.  One additional benefit to having the open top of the box is that I can put my trifold inside it, along with the items I purchased to donate to her classroom.  Between crayons, colored pencils, markers, and tons of Elmer's glue, she has quality school supplies for her art room to last for at least a few weeks, right?


When I showed up in the classroom, the art teacher beamed.  She knew the box was coming and that I was going to bring her "something," but she had no idea it was going to be a box full of fun stuff for her.  As we chatted, she shared how grateful she was for the Elmer's donation bin.  She hates not being able to recycle them so never throws them away.  She showed me in her classroom where she has a cache of empty glue bottles just waiting for her to discover a way to reuse them.  This is just the glue bottles she has sitting awaiting storage until she can find a use for them.  There is a whole cabinet in her room filled with them.  You can only imagine how thrilled she is that we'll now recycle them.


She placed the bin prominently on a shelf where the students enter her classroom with the display above it so that students know exactly what to do.  As for me, I'm excited to check on it every once in awhile and determine how full our box is getting.  I have a feeling I'm going to have to stock up on more empty boxes to store all the recyclable empty Elmer's glue sticks and bottles I receive before I can start bringing them to WalMart in April!  This is how I love to make a teacher's day, and Elmer's is a huge part of that with the Bag It Forward campaign.


Elmer's is doing more than just the Glue Crew project to recycle glue sticks and bottles.  They have also launched the Elmer's 1st Day app for smart phones and tablets.  It's easy to download and sign up, and once you do, you can use it to capture the school year from both the teacher and the parent perspective.  You can easily take photos and share them securely with just who you choose via the app, rather than having photos of your children more easily accessible online.

It's easy to tag children so you can organize the photos by child.  Each photo is easily captioned so you remember exactly what was happening in the moment.  That's always my failing.  You don't want to know how many years it's been since I've printed photos.  At least with captions I have a chance - you know this is why I blog, right?  I love that the app also sorts photos by date so you can find them, as long as you remember around when you took the photo.



Oh, and did I almost forget to mention?  Elmer's donates one product to the Kids In Need Foundation for every photo that is uploaded using the 1st Day app up to 200,000 products.  Kids In Need distributes free school supplies to students whose parents can't afford them.  So far, Elmer's has donated well over 26,000 products.  How awesome is that?


You know, it's easy to get involved in giving back with this #BagItForward opportunity.  You can download the 1st Day app and upload photos to help Elmer's get to the 200,000 donation level.  And does your school participate in the Glue Crew?  I love that this was so easy to do - and wow was the school receptive!  The more we can get kids involved in helping out, the better off we'll all be.  What can you do to get involved?

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a member of the Collective Bias(tm) Social Fabric(r) Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias(tm) and Elmer's, and all opinions remain my own.  #CBias #SocialFabric #BagItForward

Fun With HERSHEY'S CAMP BONDFIRE - Summer Never Ends

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The wee ones asked me this morning if summer was over.  It's the first time it's been under 70 degrees since the start of school, and it's a grey, dreary morning.  We carefully checked the calendar and decided that no, summer wasn't quite over yet - even though it felt like it this morning.  And, I promised them, there are some things about summer that we'll keep alive so there's a part of summer always in our hearts.

Their eyes brightened at this notion, and they immediately asked what we'd do.  Put on the spot, there were only a few things I could come up with in the heat of the moment.  We'll still do lots of playdates, I promised.  That's something we frequently do in the summer, but once school hits, we get too busy to think about it.  And, I smiled broadly, we will still make S'mores every once in awhile.

At that, the mood brightened and lifted, and I was off the hook.  It will never cease to amaze me how simply mentioning s'mores or setting a few ingredients on the kitchen table induces such excitement not just in the wee ones but in everyone who sees or hears about them.


We've been having "HERSHEY'S CAMP BONDFIRES" this summer, and it's been a blast.  The lure of making s'mores is a draw for just about anyone I know.  And they come running.  Even at BlogHer this year, the Hershey's S'mores Suite was one of the places to be.  I know I enjoyed my visit(s) - and my s'mores.


Back home, we've had just as much fun.  We invited friends over to chill with us in the evenings after we've left the pool so exhausted we can hardly move.  There's just that last bit of energy we need to expel before we all head to our own homes, and Camp Bondfire was born.  It rotates from house to house sometimes, depending on whose house is clean enough to host others.  The first words out of the mouths of every one of my friends is "Oh please excuse the mess.  My house is a disaster right now" - regardless of how spotless it is.  It's become a running joke.




I remember the days as a Girl Scout sitting around a fire roasting marshmallows for our s'mores and telling stories, bonding with the others there.  It's the same idea today.  Sitting around and chatting - you can't do much else when eating a s'more - is a great bonding experience for the kids and adults.  I'm so proud of the wee ones that they're starting to learn to toast their own marshmallows.  We've lost a few soldiers to the fire along the way, but there always seems to be just one more in the marshmallow bag when we need one.

And once the marshmallow is done to the perfect level - perfectly evenly golden brown on all sides and gooey for me, burned to a crisp for my husband and Mister Man - we sit back and enjoy with family and friends.  When the wee ones were on their RV trip with my husband and parents, the nightly s'mores were a favorite treat, too.

While the kids are usually the ones who ask for seconds, the adults rarely turn down the offer of a freshly toasted s'more.  The gooey marshmallow melting the creamy milk chocolate with a crunchy graham cracker to hold it all together is something that appeals to everyone.  Even when Mister Man had his sensory issues and couldn't eat many foods because of the textures, s'mores was always a winner in his book.  It was our little therapy to give him something with so many different and gooey textures.  At least that was our justification, because who just makes one s'more?  We always had to make enough for ourselves, too, because... yum.

Because no one can resist HERSHEY'S CAMP BONDFIRE.  And really, who wants to?  Especially when you have the opportunity to enjoy a "double s'more."  Lucky boy, right?


How do you celebrate your own Camp Bondfire?

In the interest of full disclosure, I received supplies to host my HERSHEY'S CAMP BONDFIRE gathering to share with my friends.  I was also compensated as part of this campaign.  As always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

fun in the sun.....post 4

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After we saw all the animals at the zoo, we headed back to the park.
     I had one more thing in mind before we had to head home........paddle boats!!!    They loved this!!! Nathan was probably around age 5 the last time he rode in the paddle boats {when his feet didn't even hit the pedals!} :O) Kayla wasn't sure when or if she had ever done this before. They both had a blast- our park/zoo day was a great way to end our short getaway!! :O)   

The Simple Woman's Day Book - September Edtion

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Outside my window...it has been another gorgeous, fall-like day! The temps are finally in the 70's, this is my kind of weather!!!!

I am thinking...about putting some auctions on ebay. I haven't listed anything in ages, but I have one last container in the attic with some things I think might sell. I should do this soon! :O)

I am thankful...for so many things....big & small.

In the kitchen...I just put away the left-overs from the delish meal MOM made for us today! {Thanks Mom!!!} I had a SUPER busy day at work, so not having to worry about cooking today was very much appreciated! :O)

I am wearing...jean capris & my Reese's Road t-shirt. If you need encouragement today, just read her story- a truly amazing young lady!

I am creating...or should I say, I'm working on, decorating for FALL! :O) Love this time of year!! I hung my wreath on the front door, put out my fall flag, changed my chalkboard in the kitchen, and started on the mantel...it's a work in progress.

I am going...to officially book the resort/tickets/dinner adrs for the senior trip tomorrow!!! :O)

I am hoping...to go kayaking again....soon!

I am looking forward to...our little mini-vacation after the b&b closes! Peter and I have decided to go to Annapolis for a few nights and possibly driving to D.C. for a day trip while we are there. We hope to take a detour to Baltimore on the way back home to see his aunt & uncle. We haven't seen them in awhile and his aunt has been in the hospital over the summer and recently fell and broke her hip. We really want to see them. I haven't made any reservations yet, but I've been doing some research on things to do, places to eat, and possibilities for where to stay. There are some really beautiful inns to choose from. Can't wait to go!

Around the house...the dust bunnies are trying their hardest to stay hidden for a little longer. I finish up at the b&b in about 3 weeks, then I am going to give our house a thorough cleaning! I'm keeping up with the day to day stuff, but I'm so ready to do some deep cleaning and get organized!

A favorite quote for today...


One of my favorite things...watching football, particularly, the Chicago Bears. Last night's game against the Packers was pretty tough to watch though, to say the least! Their standings, after losing 23-10, the Bears are 1-1 {tied with the Packers}. This picture of QB Cutler pretty much summed up my feelings last night as well.......



A few plans for the rest of the week: work, work, work..............

A peek into my day...
I haven't taken any pictures the past few days. I've been very busy at the b&b. Today, we had a full house check out and fill back up with new guests. We've had some really nice guests this year, and this week especially, which makes my job even better. Last night, we had 4 couples who were repeat guests {always love when guests come back!!}, and today when I checked in one couple, I commented on her Disney tote. She told me she was a travel agent-Disney trips are her specialty! :O) We chatted a little about that {I've mentioned before that my dream job is to be a travel agent}. :O) My day was full of phone calls/housekeeping/laundry/picking up & dropping off guests......just another day in the life of ME!

an amazing journey.....

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As I was leaving work today, one of my guests {an avid bird watcher} asked me to come back for a minute so that he could show me something. He pointed at the trees in the lot next door. At first glance, I really didn't see anything other than what looked like leaves, until a few moments later when hundreds of monarch butterflies came to life!! It was one of the most amazing sights I've ever seen. I ran home to get my camera and tried to get some pictures. I had to zoom, and these were the best shots I could get.
        The picture below is a bit fuzzy, but it will give you an idea of how many butterflies were clustered on one branch.....they were like this on several branches of the trees. It looked to be hundreds of them.  I did some research online and found a site where you can report sightings of the butterflies as they make their journey south to Mexico. I am going to do this! :O) http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/ I'm so glad that my guest spotted the butterflies while bird watching today, otherwise, I would have just walked right on by, missing a truly amazing sight!! :O)