Sorry that I haven't updated in a while!!!

Since I have not updated in a while I decided to do a middle of the year update sort of thing to mark off the things I have done and show what I still need to do!! :)  26/100

1. Take a family vacation- somewhere we haven't been yet  this still has to be figured out, but we are trying to plan a camping trip.  We've just been so busy this summer with other things and planning has been near impossible. But we still have a month to hopefully do something!!
2.  Spend less time on Facebook  I totally fail at this, but I did stop playing all facebook games with the exception of SongPop & Words with Friends (both I can play on my Kindle Fire)
3. Read more books-  at least 10 (I know this number isn't very high, but I don't read as often as I would like to, so I'm going to make this happen)  Still working on this. So far, I have read nothing since the winter time!!
4.  get a new tattoo not yet
5. make a new zine I have lots of ideas and some stuff written up, so hopefully this will get done. At I have started something!! :)
6. cook more- homemade meals!!!  We have started to eat out less, which is nice.  And saves money!! But as for me doing the cooking, that doesn't happen often!!
7. have a bigger "garden" this Summer  YES!! This has been done!! So happy!! We are growing: tomatoes (at home) and then the rest of the veggies are in my parents' garden (they made a bigger one this year and gave us 1/3 of the space):  cucumbers, leeks, green beans, mild banana peppers and mild jalapenos!!
8. go swimming with the kids DONE!! :)
9. take the kids fishing DONE!! :)
10. go camping again with the family not yet
11. go on a "getaway" with Chris for a night or two! We did camp out in his parents' backyard for night, so if that counts?!
12. pay down my debt working on it
13. budget my finances (again) so I can save some money working on this too
14. finally plan my wedding LOL, nope!! We've been together 4 years, engaged for 3!!
15. go bowling not yet
16. go to karaoke.  It has been way to long!! trying to plan a time and place for this!!
17. take kids to the zoo not yet
18. go to a museum not yet
19. not worry so much about the little things I think I have worried more this year than before.  But all is fine and I need to start DOING THIS!!
20. eat better eh
21. go to doctor and have a yearly check up (I haven't done that in a long time) I have gone to the doctor a couple times this year for the same thing and it the process I was sent for an EKG on my heart (all is fine) and a CT scan on my neck (all is fine there too).  I'd like to stay away from the doctor for the rest of the year now!! ;)
22. update my Etsy shop (finally!!) I am almost done with this.  For some reason I am too scared to hit the submit button. Not sure why.  I need some words of encouragement here!
23. learn a new craft how to be lazy. Not a fun craft. I'd like to un-learn this please
24. make art with the kids YES!! We made stepping stones for myself & my mom for mother's day! We also make decos together!!  My kids rule!!
25. get my hair cut DONE!! I cut off a lot too.  I love it!!
26. dye my hair DONE. But the dye has since faded.
27. volunteer more at my kids' school  not yet, but once school starts up again, I will, for sure!
28. get a new bike
29. go on family bike rides
30. get another tattoo (I have lots of ideas!!!)
31. clean out/ organize the closet   This is half done. We have removed everything from the closet and (due to fear of leaking from rain) and now I need to go through all of my clothes and hang them back up)
32. organize the laundry room This half done as well.  I still need to organize the linens but everything else is done! We have lots of storage in our laundry room!! I love it!!
33. buy kids new dressers We ended up getting them for free from our neighbor (Chris' sister & brother-in-law)  I am so glad!! After a couple years of looking, this is finally done!!
34. spend more time outdoors Not as much as I would have liked to since we have had a rainy first half of the summer, but we have been doing a lot more lately.
35. write 30 letters in 30 days nope. I have totally slacked on my mail and it makes me mad. I am slowly catching up though and I still have time to complete this!
36. organize my zine bins I am so excited to do this! Crazy I know!! But really I am so looking forward to the free time to be able to get this done! :)
37. go through my old letters box (letters received over the years) same as above
38.  do a blog obviously that is what this is, even though I don't blog very often!!
    
39. have a picnic I did have a picnic with Ryder on his last day of school!! That was nice!
40. go to the park
41. write more letters
42. make more (starter) decos & slams (at least 20 each)
43. drink less soda
44. drink more water yep, I've been doing this!!
45. watch more movies on Netflix
46. do a "30 'something' in 30 days" thing
47. figure out what that 'something' is
48. make a zine with Chris
49. work a little harder at my mark. sales This is not going to happen since they just forced all of us mark. reps to become Avon reps, but I am excited to be starting my new business as an independent Avon rep!! I think this is going to be so much better for me than mark ever was!!  If you're looking for some Avon, let me know!! ;)
50. look into taking an online class
51. make a mixtape!!
52. use more coupons
53. learn new words and use them!!
54. make more iced tea I just made some sun tea and I'm going to make some more!!
55. buy a new pair of pants
56. and new underwear
57. and new socks!!
58. get a massage!
59. play Bingo done
60. go to the Eagles for chicken wings!
61. go to the movies done- took the kids to see Turbo 3-D!! We still need to hit up the drive in though!!
62. go out for sushi
63. go to at least one concert Fleetwood Mac in June!!
64. do the 24 hour zine thing again!
65. participate in at least one zine event or activity (like contribute to a zine if I can't actually make it to an event)
66. clean out the storage unit
67. donate old clothes and toys done.  We donated a lot of stuff to Goodwill and I know we'll be having more soon too!!
68. go rollerskating
69. build a snowman done
70. go to the beach
71. hang out more with people in real life
72. fly a kite
73. clean out the van done
74. go to a craft store
75. go to a record store
76. listen to my records
77. find better storage for my cassettes & vinyl- no more cardboard boxes!!
78. clean out medicine cabinet
79. buy new pair of sunglasses
80. take family walks around the reservoir 
81. sign Hanna up for gymnastics This has not been done yet, because Hanna said she didn't want to do it anymore.  But the other day she told me now she does. So she should be back in gymnastics in September!
82. sign Ryder up for some activity too Ryder signed up for track. He loved it!!
83. organize photos
84. hang new photos/ artwork on walls
85. keep a notebook handy- so I *will* write more!
86. update address book
87. keep track of my mail (write down when I receive a letter & when I mail out a letter!)
88. learn how to change a car tire
89. write an introduction letter (first) to a potential new pal done
90. ride the Gatekeeper (new roller coaster at Cedar Point)
91. learn how to play a song on the guitar
92. get ice cream machine I have not bought one yet, but I did look at some at the store! ;)
93. make homemade ice cream
94. use rock tumbler!!
95. take more pictures always.  I take pictures of EVERYTHING!! And then I post them all to facebook!
96. go to hockey game done, TWICE!!
97. take my measurements and find out exactly what size clothes I really am!
98. work out- not to lose weight, but to get in shape
99. learn how to hula hoop with out feeling like I look stupid doing it
100. watch "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" when they make their (online) comebacks this year!!   Done!!!!!! :)

Thank you for the snow day!!!!

All weekend long they were saying we would be getting some snow Sunday night into Monday.  However the snow amounts changed with each report/ and depending on what station you listened to/ where you got your weather statements from!! So from what I gathered, we were to get somewhere between NONE and 6 inches!!   We woke up this morning to school being cancelled and I called work to say I would not be in!! So the kids and I can enjoy our snow day!!! 

This brings me to the latest item I can cross off my list:  BUILD A SNOWMAN!!! 

I actually didn't think I'd be able to cross this one of the list!! So I was very excited to have the chance today!!! 

3 more things to cross off my list...

I haven't updated the blog in a while.  I guess that means I am not doing very well with that item on my "100 Things to do in 2013" list.  But I will keep on trying and soon enough I will get the hang of this blog thing!!   But...I do have 3 more things to cross off the list!!

1) dye my hair.  I got a coupon in the mail for a free box of hair dye, so I went and used that (and also bought a box since my hair is kinda long and I need to use two boxes).  I kinda just settled on a color that was available at the store I went to.  I was really hoping to go red or a nice reddish brown, but I went for a different shade of brown (my hair was already a light brown so I just went a little darker). 

2)  Go bowling.  Last weekend we took my kids bowling for a PTO organized event.  We had a lot of fun and my daughter won a door prize for a free game next time we go!! 

3) Play bingo.  Last night we went out with my parents to the local VFW and played some bingo.  Our table was extremely unlucky and no one won.  Well until the last game of the night and I decided to play 3 tickets at once.  I ended up winning $24 (that was after splitting the winnings with 3 other people who also won!)!!   Good times!!

Go to a Hockey Game

The first thing I can cross of my list of 100 things to do this year is- go to a hockey game.  On January  26th,  Chris and I went to Cleveland with my BFF and her hubby.   First stop was to tour "A Christmas Story" house & museum.  You know, I used to love that movie when I was a kid and then I just got sick of it and didn't care to ever see it again!! I haven't actually watched it in a long time, but I'm starting to wonder, if I did watch it again, I would probably enjoy it! Especially after the tour.  It was really neat to be able to see the house and interact with everything.  I had a lot of fun!! And of course, I bought some souvenirs as well!!  I can't go anywhere without buying some kind of reminder of my trip!! 
After the tour, we went out to eat.  We went to Noodlecat.  It was my first time there and I can't wait to go again!!   Just thinking about it, is making me hungry for more noodles!!!  (If anyone knows anything about me, then they know I am a soup junkie.  I love soup, I love noodles!! I could eat it all day, every day!!)
Next up, the hockey game!! This was not my first hockey game.  I actually went to my first game in 1992!  I saw the Cleveland Lumberjacks play.  They were an IHL (international hockey league) team.   Every time I hear that "Lumberjack" song by Jackyl I think of that hockey game!! 
The second hockey game I ever went to was The Lake Erie Monsters in April 2010.  Chris and I had a such a fun time at that game.  The whole day was a blast.   
On our way home from the game, I remember having visions of sheriff cars and ambulances at my parents' house.  I don't know why.  I just had this fear that something bad had happened.  Oddly enough, every time I go somewhere (out of town) I fear something will  happen.  Like because I am not there.  I don't know why I have those feelings.  Thankfully I don't worry so much anymore, because I do KNOW that bad things don't happen just because I am not around!  Maybe it was after that night, that I stopped worrying so much.
The next day my mom stopped by on her way home from church.  She asked if we had heard the news?  My brother was in a car accident.  He and his 3 passengers were all injured and they didn't know the status of one of his friends.  Not something we expected to wake up to.   We felt guilty.  While we were out having a great time, 4 people we knew were involved in a car accident.  My brother was driving and he had the smallest injuries. One of his passengers was in serious condition and another in critical.  It was a scary time.  Thankfully everyone has since fully recovered. 
I wanted to go to a hockey game again, but I had this thought in the back of my mind "the last time we went people we knew were hurt."  Like if I go to another game, something bad will happen again. Silly thought, I know but that's the way my mind works. 
We get to the game and had such a great time!!  Two fights within the first two minutes of game time!!  It was a lot of fun!!  Our team lost, but that's OK!!  After the game, we went home.  We survived our night and we didn't wake up to any more disturbing news!! 
We're planning on another game for later this month!!  I can't wait. You know, I am not a big sports fan, but I have always enjoyed hockey.  I remember when I was little my mom would watch hockey.  So I guess I get it from her!! She's still a huge hockey fan.  I don't watch it like I used to (on TV) or follow the NHL like I used to, but going out to a game (whether minor league or whatever) is really a lot of fun!!

100 Things To Do in 2013

1. Take a family vacation- somewhere we haven't been yet
2. Spend less time on Facebook
3. Read more books-  at least 10 (I know this number isn't very high, but I don't read as often as I would like to, so I'm going to make this happen)
4. get a new tattoo
5. make a new zine
6. cook more- homemade meals!!!
7. have a bigger "garden" this Summer
8. go swimming with the kids
9. take the kids fishing
10. go camping again with the family
11. go on a "getaway" with Chris for a night or two!
12. pay down my debt
13. budget my finances (again) so I can save some money
14. finally plan my wedding
15. go bowling
16. go to karaoke.  It has been way to long!!
17. take kids to the zoo
18. go to a museum
19. not worry so much about the little things
20. eat better
21. go to doctor and have a yearly check up (I haven't done that in a long time)
22. update my Etsy shop (finally!!)
23. learn a new craft
24. make art with the kids
25. get my hair cut
26. dye my hair
27. volunteer more at my kids' school
28. get a new bike
29. go on family bike rides
30. get another tattoo (I have lots of ideas!!!)
31. clean out/ organize the closet
32. organize the laundry room
33. buy kids new dressers
34. spend more time outdoors
35. write 30 letters in 30 days
36. organize my zine bins
37. go through my old letters box (letters received over the years)
38. do a blog
39. have a picnic
40. go to the park
41. write more letters
42. make more (starter) decos & slams (at least 20 each)
43. drink less soda
44. drink more water
45. watch more movies on Netflix
46. do a "30 'something' in 30 days" thing
47. figure out what that 'something' is
48. make a zine with Chris
49. work a little harder at my mark. sales
50. look into taking an online class
51. make a mixtape!!
52. use more coupons
53. learn new words and use them!!
54. make more iced tea
55. buy a new pair of pants
56. and new underwear
57. and new socks!!
58. get a massage!
59. play Bingo
60. go to the Eagles for chicken wings!
61. go to the movies
62. go out for sushi
63. go to at least one concert
64. do the 24 hour zine thing again!
65. participate in at least one zine event or activity (like contribute to a zine if I can't actually make it to an event)
66. clean out the storage unit
67. donate old clothes and toys
68. go rollerskating
69. build a snowman
70. go to the beach
71. hang out more with people in real life
72. fly a kite
73. clean out the van
74. go to a craft store
75. go to a record store
76. listen to my records
77. find better storage for my cassettes & vinyl- no more cardboard boxes!!
78. clean out medicine cabinet
79. buy new pair of sunglasses
80. take family walks around the reservoir 
81. sign Hanna up for gymnastics
82. sign Ryder up for some activity too
83. organize photos
84. hang new photos/ artwork on walls
85. keep a notebook handy- so I *will* write more!
86. update address book
87. keep track of my mail (write down when I receive a letter & when I mail out a letter!)
88. learn how to change a car tire
89. write an introduction letter (first) to a potential new pal
90. ride the Gatekeeper (new roller coaster at Cedar Point)
91. learn how to play a song on the guitar
92. get ice cream machine
93. make homemade ice cream
94. use rock tumbler!!
95. take more pictures
96. go to hockey game
97. take my measurements and find out exactly what size clothes I really am!
98. work out- not to lose weight, but to get in shape
99. learn how to hula hoop with out feeling like I look stupid doing it
100. watch "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" when they make their (online) comebacks this year!!

Trying out the blog thing!!

So I've been thinking for a while that it might be fun to do a blog.  So here it is.  Not quite sure what I'm going to be blogging about, but it's worth a try!!