Texans have thier Boots ON!

This last weekend College Girl could not make it to the Grandbabes birthday parties. Why? Well her best friend was walking across the stage to get two degrees from his college career. We are all so proud of him. College Girl will be making that walk soon enough herself. But in the mean time she was able to head over and congratulate several of her friends instead.

She took a book (of course from the amount of books we always go through) as a present to her friend. It was Bootstrap Leadership by Steve Arneson. We felt this was a great gift to help with the new changes that will be facing this young man as he moves into the workforce. He has a desire to help create a community theater in his town and that will take quite a bit of leadership there. Steve Arneson gives us 50 ways to take charge and move up in Bootstrap Leadership. What I liked was that each chapter was fully contained. So you can flip from one to another in any order you would like to read. The other great thing was that the ideas cost next to nothing to get started. Just right for a broke college student to be able to go from. Personally I feel we all can learn from the line of leadership books. There are always ways we can grow stronger in our own lives. And also implement the ideas with our families, church lives and community organizations. I do wish to thank Katie and Zoe for sending me this one. It was great to read and even a better gift.

Text Books or Life Books

Today I am going to go and pick up College Girl. I am so happy. I love having her here at home. And this is a 3 day weekend so I have an extra day there! Yipee! We are also getting CG's 86 Ford Mustang back up and running after minor repairs. She will be glad for that.
Now as much as I am loving her here, CG wants to be on her own. But she does not have the financial backing to do that yet. There is so much she still has to learn about jobs, money, balance, life and getting out there and just doing it. She needs guidance. And being the reader that she is I have found her some study guides.




Click Ditching Mr. Wrong to go to No More RAMEN and get your own copy.

"No More RAMEN" is a 20-somethings real world survival guide. Here is a a book that tells it the way it is. How we all ate Ramen Noodles and wanted to eat better. That is just the tip of the iceberg. You remember...just starting out? You don't? Well Nicholas Aretakis traveled from coast to coast talking to the 20-somethings (somebodies) and finding out what changes are out there. And then helping to bring all that information together so it is easy to understand. Yes these young adults are trying to learn how to be good in finding jobs, keeping them, having financial guidance (school loans abound) and the balance of life and responsibility. I have to say one of the things I like the best is the way the book is put together. Not long chapters that one slogs through. But quick short and almost in a note form. I can read it on the short times I have in my day like a college student between classes and still glean the information from the book. I am sure this will be in College Girl's backpack for sometime to come.


I also have "Climbing the Money Mountain" in which Randy Loren helps young adults learn how to reach their financial peak. This is the guide for all young adults. HONEST! Giving out information on what an educations worth, checking accounts, credit cards, that your vote counts, budgeting, identity theft, renting a home and so on and so on. 20 chapters of no b.s. and all information we so desire. It is hard to be changing, learning and looking around feeling confused. How wonderful that Randy has helped make a great guide for the 20-somebodies that are looking for that help.

I have to say these are 2 books that I feel will help College Girl more than the two text books that we ordered this month. So she has one set of books for her college education and another set of books for her real life education. I would say that these will become my newest gifts for graduation, new couples getting married or the ever famous 'no day' gift for all my nieces and nephews.

CG is moving things OUT early

Today College Girl and I are going to help her new room mate move into the dorm. This way we

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are able to help with the room set up. Well, CG is also sneaking in some of her things too! She is so eager to get back on campus.

And we have aready loaded the Ram with her things. (she did that last night) Now all we have left is to finish sorting her clothes from last year and a few things of the sort in her bedroom. Yesterday I did a purge of my and Dear Hubby's closets and came away with some things we do not or can not wear. More from my side than his but easier to do my own. I also wish I could get these floors swept and stay that way. Alas, no can do with all the doors and windows open. I am tired of having gritty feet.

This week Nessa is going to help me get back on track with my Curves diet BIG TIME. I have

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fallen off the band wagon too much and need the boost. I am repaying with help around her place. It seems a fair trade. I like to clean and organize and she likes to cook and plan meals. So it seems like a win win situation.

Well I just have an hour to get my chores done, cleaned up and dressed then drive CG to college so must dash. Hey, I can do it. I have the energy of a bunny rabbit and CG would kill me if we were late anyway. Ta Ta for now blog world.

First Day of College

Well the first day of college is coming up soon. And it does not matter if you 6 or 22 you still want to look your best when you show up that day. So of course we are shopping for "school" clothes. Now it is a lil different than when College Girl was young. First we are not in the metroplex anymore. And it is harder to find that just right look here in small town Texas. So you know us....off to the web we go. (What did we do before the www?)

First we found a hot hot hot pair of heels to trip around on. Yes, walk not fall!

They only have a 4" heel but with CG being 5'7" that will make here 5'11" and a sight to see. She has killer gams (legs to you young folk) with all the walking she does. And this summer whe actually wore shorts all summer so her legs are a beautiful golden color. This is the shoes she fell in love with on first sight. Look for free shipping here!

I Like:

Diva
by MIA

Next we have to have a dress. CG loves to wear black so we looked at those dresses exclusively. She has a great shape so A-line dresses always look really good on her. And all the curves that can be hugged will be. I do not know how she does it but CG has the flatest stomach I have ever seen. Lucky I guess! Well what do you think of this dress? Oh and we found free overnight shipping with the dresses here!

I Like:

Nikki's Lounge Dress
by Type Z

Now last but never least is the fun funky purse to pull the outfit together. CG found this one to her liking. Especially loved the great retro print on it. I am sure there will be plenty of space in this bag for all of the things CG carries around in her purse. I won't even go there myself....scary place. But honest, I think this purse will be a great conversation starter!
And again, that free shipping is an option!

I Like:

Calendar Girl North/South Tote
by Betseyville Handbags

So what do you think of her first day of "school" outfit? I think she will be killer. Of course she is CG, so that always makes her killer to me!

CG Moved to the Dorms

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Oh we have taken my CG away!

Yesterday was an all day event of getting her moved in.
Had hot cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
Loading the vehicle with all of her things she must have.
(Not nearly as much as the first time we did this)

She even had her teddy bear seat belted in the front seat.
So off we drive.
Getting all of 16 miles down the highway, when CG pulls to the side of the road.
She forgot to bring her PURSE! LOL



Up a bit to a lil local grocery store where we can have a cup of coffee.
And Grandma to the rescue.
Yes, we called my Mom to bring CG's purse to her.
I am sitting there thinking how together CG has her life and can not pick up her purse.



Well off we get back on the road with our lil two car caravan.
Arriving at the school around 1 pm.
CG has to check in with the dorm.
We get the key and check in list.
And find the room is FILTHY.





We did not think to bring cleaning supplies.
Up and down the hall looking for someone with brooms, mops and more.
Have to sweep, mop and scrub the floors and they still make a crunchy sound under foot.
But do what we can.

DH does all the toting and unloading for us.
Bringing in her clothes and boxes of possessions.
I start unpacking to put things away, organizing as I go.
CG running back and forth saying yes to everything.

We get it all set up.
Looking Good!

Then off to visit with her best friend in his new apartment.
Dinner since we have not eaten since breakfast.
And back to the dorm for hugs and good byes.
CG hugging me tight and me hugging her even tighter.



Time to drive away.
DH says we will stop and visit his folks for awhile.
And before we get there CG has called me Twice
and I called her Once.

Oh let's see how all this goes.
My lil CG is off to college and I am home without her.

College Girls Last Night with Mom

1st I would like to ask you to visit my
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and these other give aways too!
Thank you.

College Girl was talking to me today about set design for a play. And we got off looking for modern furniture. While we were surfing the web the site GO CONTEMPO popped up. And we fell in love with all the cool looking things there.

Especially the Heller-Bocca Lips sofa. I could just die to have that in my bedroom to lounge on. Fire engine red lips where I would lie back with a book in one hand and a cool tall drink in the other. That would be the life. What do you think?

Any way as we were swooning over these lips the name Frank Gehry caught College Girl's eye. She is always looking into who is new or doing what in the decorating scene. He is a celebrated architect that is in many museums. He has won the Pritzker Prize, the National Medal of Arts Award and the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal. And he now has a line of contempo furniture. The Frank Gehry Furniture Collection is modern and futuristic. Like beautiful silver orbs that decorate a "James Bond" set. College Girl would just love being able to do a play or movie like that.

There is a cool resin "marble column" that can be the wildest lounge ever. College Girl said she would use in in a Greek tragedy as if the columns of a Colosseum had toppled. And now the heroin was reclining on this while she looked at all city that had came to rest at her feet. Isn't this a great way to use such interesting furniture. College Girl thinks that set design in the theater is one of her favorite subjects. Now she just wishes she could get all of the cool furniture over here at GO CONTEMPO to use too!

Well it is great that she is a theater major. We will be moving her into the dorms tomorrow. Oh how I am going to miss her being around. I love having her here with me to day dream with.

The Saga Continues

1st I would like to ask you to visit my
100 item give away blog
and these other give aways too!
Thank you.

The Twins and I

Well things with the TF is not getting any better. The mom has been arrested and released on a charge of "her friend attacking her husband before any of this stuff happened". I don't know. It does not make a lot of sense. But the out come is that CPS (child protective services) has now been called in.

CPS contacted me last night to see if the kids could all stay here. They did emergency background checks on my mom, DH, CG and myself. And all was approved. Today a worker is to come do a home visit and bring some paperwork. I am not sure when. I am also not sure as to the length of the stay the children will have here. Also the dad's family has placed a protective order against the mom from seeing or being around her children. So currently my family is all that is to be around the children. This is getting more and more messed up for these kids.

Last night we did dinner and baths. Just explaining to the older ones that they were spending the night here. Placed the twins in our room on a spare bed and the older two in the living room right next to it. Today we did morning routine since we have been getting them ready for school here before anyway. Also they spent the Christmas break here too. So life was pretty calm.

Also today I helped CG start packing for her move to the dorms this weekend. We will be converting her bedroom into a sewing room for my mom. This will make a "suite" for my mom at the back of the house. She will have her sewing room, bathroom and bedroom all alone where no one else uses those rooms. Nice huh? I am glad as she needs the space too. We should have the sewing room up and in action by Monday of next week. This is something my mom has wanted for some time. CG is leaving most of her things here but just putting them up. Also she is only taking 2 weeks of clothes with her. She can come home every other weekend and change out clothes. (Letting me do her laundry is a plus for her.)

DH was in a tail spin last night with the turn of events. But he has evened out today and we are working on what we need to prepare for. Also planning on all we need to accomplish this weekend end. He will finally have two days off after working for 26 days straight. Maybe we can get enough done that he can sleep most of Sunday.

In the meantime I am gathering clothes for the children. All I had last night was the clothes they had on. I was able to get 2 to 3 outfits each by going to the mom's house for a little while. I still need to purchase some socks and underwear for them all this evening. And hopefully come up with more warm clothes for the babies. I should be able to get them from the mom's house tonight. Our dear neighbor Nessa has also pitched in with outfits. And she is taking in the TF pets so they will be cared for during this time. We do not know what will happen to the mom or dad now.

Please continue to pray for all these people. I am afraid it will get worse before it gets any better.

Life has changed

Well I have not been here for some time. Why? Well life is for the better and as most I got caught up in it. Things went from bad to worse to get out of my life to..........hey, I am so glad you changed for us. My husband has not had a drink in almost a year now. Life is so much smoother. He is back to the man I met, fell in love with and dazzled by. Nice to be dazzled again. He also has a new job that he loves so much more. No more upset from work, long drives to and from nor working for a demanding person that does not know what she wants to demand. Also my daughter has been home from college for the spring too. So I have had her company and immense help here at home. We have taken in several children for mom's to help them out and increase our income. So we are finally meeting our bills and breathing a little easier. So as you know from your own life when things are going good you tend to flow with it instead of examining life.

This is just a short to apologize for the long absence. I will try to get back to writing.