Wednesday Wishes & Weekly Photo Challenge

I'm slacking!  Okay, not really.  I've just been really busy is all.  No, really, I have!!! 

Last Thursday night was the NEA Christmas party, which was L-A-M-E.  Maybe the new manager will make it fun next year!  :)  Friday I woke up at 8:00 am with the stomach flu ( I swear it was not the bottle flu)!  It was AWFUL!  Okay, well duh Brooke.  When is the flu ever amazing?  Anyway, I was super sick - both ends sick - until around 3:30 when one of my co-workers brought me some Ginger Ale.  Here's a tip for all of you:  Next time you have the puking flu pour a glass of Ginger Ale and nuke it in the microwave for 45 seconds.  Then stir the bubbles out of it and SIP it.  Don't chug it or take normal gulps...sip it.  It is my life saver when I have an upset tummy.

Saturday I should've stayed home, but I was feeling better.  I was weak and sore from being in bed so much, but I felt fine.  I seriously thought about staying home and I even got on the Internet to Google how long the flu is contagious, but in the end I was too restless so I went to the High School to watch my friend's kid wrestle.  Well, my friends are now sick.  Oops!  I must defend myself though.  When I got there she told me she wasn't worried about getting sick cause she figured she'd get it anyway cause all the wrestlers have been sick.  Okay.  Whew!  Then she told me a kid came up to her at the tournament the day before (yeah, it was a 2 day tourney...LONG) and asked her where the nurse was cause his belly hurt and the smell of the food was making him sick and he didn't know what was wrong.  She had to tell him he had the flu.  Apparently this kid has never been sick before.  Haha!  Sooooooo, maybe that kid or one of the other hundreds of kids passed it on to my friends instead!  Yes, that sounds good to me!  :)

Sunday I worked on Christmas gifts.  I'm doing some homemade things.  After working on stuff for a while I became extremely exhausted, so I sat on the couch and worked on some stuff for a class I had to take at work.  Next thing I know it's bed time.

Monday night was clogging/tap dancing and more working on gifts.  Last night I had a wrestling meeting and I worked, yet again, on gifts.

So, see?  I have been very busy!  This is what the whole next 2 weeks is going to look like!  Tonight a friend is coming to visit and I am going to try to work on gifts.  Tomorrow night is wrestling registration, which will take an hour or so and then I will work on gifts.  I don't think I have anything going on this weekend, except working on gifts.  Next week I start my Christmas vacation on Wednesday, which is also the day of Pacen's school musical.  Thursday is his class Christmas party and sledding and Friday my family and I head to Missouri until the 30th!  Good grief!  I seriously do not like December!  It is way too hectic and just creates a an overwhelmed, stressed-to-the-max Brooke.  I hope I survive!  :)

You know, it's times like these that a tiny little bitty party of me wishes I was married so I had help accomplishing everything.  I imagine things would be simpler if there were two of us to help with Pacen's stuff, two of us to clean the house, two of us to cook, etc.  Maybe not.  Who knows?

So, anyway.  Enough about how busy I feel I am.  Let's get on with this week's Wednesday Wishes...and I'm going to try to sneak in a picture for last week's Photo Challenge theme at A Step in the Journey, which was "from a distance".

Wednesday Wishes!

                                                   Source: marthastewart.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I love this newspaper tree!  First of all it is an awesome way to recycle the paper, and secondly it is just awesome!  I want to fill my mantle with all sizes of these, alas I do not have the time to make a bunch of newspaper trees (this year).  Also, I don't read the newspaper, so I guess when I do find the time to make them I'll have to steal the old papers from work!  :)

                                                Source: coolcraftsites.com via Brooke on Pinterest

This box is made from an old Christmas card!  Another awesome way to recycle!  These would be perfect for little gifts such as jewelry, chap stick, a car key, or even gift cards!  Ooooooo, I'm hoping to make my mom and sisters some wrap bracelets for Christmas and now I totally know how I will package them!  Can't wait to try it!

                                        Source: delightsbydaisy.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

These little guys are called Christmas Meltaways.  Apparently they are suppose to melt right in your mouth.  They are also suppose to be to die for!  I plan on finding out this weekend!  :)

                                             Source: camillaathome.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I'm head-over-heels in love with this mantle!  It's so romantic and awesome!  I wish I could find candles like those in all sizes (that don't cost an arm and a leg).  I'm also totally diggin' the two decorated trees!  With my mantle I'd have to put the trees on the ground due to the stuff hanging on the wall.

                                                         Source: littlebitfunky.com via Brooke on Pinterest

These are the ornaments that Pacen and I are making for my parents and sisters.  I bought some big green and red ball ornaments at Wal-Mart and plan on using them.  I hope they turn out just as cute.

Weekly Photo Challenge!

Okay, so to be honest I didn't get time to take a "from a distance" picture this past week.  Read the first few paragraphs and you will understand why.  :)  So, here is the only picture I took the past week.  I think it's pretty funny and instead of it being "from a distance" it is of my sisters trying to distance themselves from my flu germs.  They insisted on driving the 32 miles from Harrison to Lusk to nurse me somewhat back to health after Raine got off work on Friday.  They stayed long enough to make sure I drank some nasty TheraFlu in 10 minutes or less and some chicken soup.  Haha!

Here's an actual "from a distance" picture that I took this August when I was in Colorado.  If you look real close there is an awesome little lake at the base of the mountains in the background.  I want to hike there.  I want to hike there and do something crazy, like jump in the freezing cold mountain lake!  Not in the winter, mind you, but in the middle of the summer.  :)  Okay, it just hit me that it probably wouldn't really be much warmer in the summer, cause this picture was taken in August and look at all the snow!  Haha!

Well, sorry for such a long post and sorry that I killed two birds with one stone today and sorry for complaining about how busy I am and how I don't like it.  I know I'm not the only one running around like a chicken with my head cut off this month.  Let's all take a nice deep relaxing breath, look at the beautiful lights on the Christmas tree, ignore the mess of wrapping paper and/or not finished gifts, and have a shot of tequila!  Cheers everyone!!!

Oh, and don't forget to head over to A Step in the Journey to check out last week's pictures!  As always, everyone did a great job!



If you can't read this week's quote (due to over-fancy font) it says:  "Christmas waves a magic wand over this world and behold everything is softer and more beautiful."

Source: Uploaded by user via Susan on Pinterest

Wednesday Wishes!

What a Wednesday.  If I didn't know any better I would think it was Monday.  Ugh.  Well, it is now December so I guess it's time to start posting my Christmas/Holiday wishes/likes/loves/etc. that I have pinned on Pinterest.  I have an obsession and my friends and family might have to have an intervention.  Haha!  Actually, Pinterest did help me a lot on deciding what to get my sisters for Christmas.  I shouldn't say "get" cause I'm actually making their gifts.  :)  I hope they turn out awesome!

Here are some of my Christmas pins.  Maybe you'll get some grand ideas too!

                                                       Source: elsiemarley.com via Brooke on Pinterest

How adorable and funny is this ornament?!  I make an ornament for my sisters and parents every year.  I didn't find this little guy until I'd already bought the supplies to make another ornament!  :(  I'm not going shopping again for a while so he might have to wait until next year!  I don't know if I can wait that long!

                                                             Source: obxtradingroup.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I love this stocking!  If I have time this month I am going to make one...for ME!  :)  Pacen has a stocking, but I don't.  Okay, I have one at my parent's, but I want one at my house and this would be perfect!  Am I being selfish?  It's not like I'm going to stuff it with lots of gifts for myself. :)

                                                Source: goodhousekeeping.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I love these wreaths!  They are so pretty!  I really want to make one, but I just haven't had the time.  When I do get time, which will probably be next year I want to add some star ornaments like the one above has!

                                              Source: make-it-do.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Christmas Potpourri!!  My mom makes some stuff similar to this and I love the way it smells!  I will definitely have to whip up a batch!

                                         Source: bigredkitchen.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I am definitely going to make some of these to put in Pacen's stocking!  I can't wait to see the look on his face!!  It's so cool how they look just like lump coal!

Quote of the week:

Source: etsy.com via It's Written on the Wall on Pinterest

Weekly Photo Challenge: Childhood Memory

Once again I am behind.  Imagine that.  :)  As usual I have been super busy, with Pacen activities, Rawhide Wrestling things, holiday stuff, etc.  When will things slow down?  Probably when I'm 6 feet under, which I'm in no hurry to be, so bring on the hectic-ness.  (As I'm sure I've mentioned before, I like to make up my own words.  Deal with it.)  :)

Okay, so on with the show.  The theme for last week's photo challenge at A Step in the Journey was "a childhood memory".  It just so happens that when I was at my parent's over Thanksgiving break I was standing by the back door and I noticed something in the backyard.  Of course, this was before I remembered that we would be doing a childhood memory themed challenge in the coming weeks, and I am so glad that something told me to grab my camera and take a shot.  This picture definitely fits the "childhood memory" theme.

It's mine and my sister's old yellow wagon!  So many memories with this thing!  My Grandpa used to pull us around in it and when we got older we pulled each other and random toys around.  Obviously it is now used to pull around Pacen's trucks.  Haha!  I'm so glad it's still being used though.  It sure is a tough wagon!  :)

 I like this black and white version too.  There is just something serene about this picture.

Well, what are you waiting for.  Head on over to last week's photo challenge and show people some love!  :)

"What we remember from childhood we remember forever - permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen."  ~Cynthia Ozick

Wednesday Wishes!

One more day until December begins!  Wowzers!  I don't even want to think about December.  Ugh.  I am pretty sure I have the shopping for Pacen done, and that is it.  I do not like December.  I do not like the Holidays.  I am broke and this just makes it worse.  Plus, it's hard to find time to make gifts cause I'm so busy!

So, even though tomorrow is the1st of December, I REFUSE to start showing Christmas/Holiday related pins/loves/wishes.  REFUSE, I tell you!  So, here are some random things that I really like/love or wish I had/want to make.

                                                        Source: housingaforest.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Cornstarch and water mixture that moves to sounds (via a sub woofer).  This would be a totally fun experiment to try with Pacen...if I had a sub woofer.  I don't even own a stereo.  Maybe we can figure something else out to make the mixture move and groove.

                                           Source: tandriantastytidbits.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Creamy white chicken and artichoke lasagna!  This sounds so delicious!  I don't know how Pacen will feel about artichokes, but I think I will try to find out one of these days!

                                                            Source: 9gag.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Bahahahahahahahahaha!!!!  Oh! My! God!  This is hilarious!  I effin' love Will Ferrell!  Okay, I will admit that Justin Bieber is a very talented young man and he is cute as hell, but I think he is a cocky, spoiled, arrogant little shit and if I was anywhere with him I'd have a hard time not roundhouse kicking him in his midget face too.  Also, I'm sure Will was just being silly, but I still want to say, "You go Will!"

                                                   Source: ericasweettooth.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Cupcake Jello shots with Cake Batter Vodka!  Holy shit!  My friends, sisters, and I love Jello shots!  I am thinking I should make these for birthdays!  Screw cake and ice cream!  Bring on these cute little alcohol filled goodies!

                                                        Source: knockoffdecor.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I must make one of these awesome easels to display random pictures and Pacen's art!  It would also be perfect to display holiday art.  You could change it up every month to match whatever holiday/event/etc fits the month!

Source: gardenofsimple.tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Wednesday Wishes!

This week's Wednesday Wishes are Thanksgiving themed!  I am sad to say that I don't have very many Thanksgiving pins.  Why does Thanksgiving always get skipped over?  I mean, I know most people enjoy a nice big meal with their families/friends, but I don't think anybody really recognizes it like they should.  Are they not thankful for what they have?  Are they really in such a big hurry to drag out all the lights, trees, and decor that go with Christmas?  What is the deal?

Before I show you my Thanksgiving wishes/likes/loves/etc. I am going to list some of the things/people I am thankful for.  This doesn't nearly cover my list, but I don't think you have all day to read about everything I'm thankful for!  :)

Pacen!  Okay, well duh.  :)  I am so thankful to have this high-spirited, strange, dirty, boy in my life!  Without him I wouldn't have accomplished near as much as I have.  I feel my life would be dull and meaningless if he weren't here.  He keeps me on my toes, he drives me insane, he blows my mind, he makes me laugh, he makes me cry, he makes me shake my head in wonderment.  He is an amazing individual and I cannot wait to see what the rest of his life brings...to him and me! 

My Job!  So it is pretty well known that I am not a big fan of my job.  I have shed way too many tears over my job and it has caused my blood pressure to skyrocket on numerous occasions, but without this job I wouldn't have been able to buy my house and I wouldn't be able to live the comfortable life I do.  I am lucky that they were willing to give a 20-year-old, somewhat uneducated, single mom a chance. 

My Parents!  My parents have been so helpful.  Not just with Pacen, but with everything.  They have been very supportive of me and most of my decisions over the years.  Anytime I need anything I know I can call them.  They have held me up through some hard times and helped create some great times! 


Sisters!  We yell at each other.  We know exactly what to say to get under each other's skin.  We laugh together.  We make fun of each other.  We have secret jokes.  We protect each other.  There is nothing like that sisterly bond.  It is made with so many emotions and can be very overwhelming at times.  

FWB!  He makes me laugh.  He makes me mad.  He has a way of calming me down when I am upset, be it at Pacen, him, or anything.  He likes my cooking.  He is willing to do almost anything I ask of him, whether it's washing dishes or babysitting Pacen for a couple of hours.  He has stuck around through some questionable and hard times and he doesn't judge me based on some of the things he has learned about me.  He and Pacen get along great.  He is much more mature than you would imagine based on his age.

Friends!  I have many friends and I am very lucky to be able to say that.  My friends are amazing and although I don't see them as often as I'd like or talk to them as much as I should, they know that I am there for them if they need anything and vice versa.  I am so glad to have had so many great times with all my friends.  We've danced our asses off into the wee hours of the night.  We've laughed so hard we fell off chairs. We've had to hold each other's hair :)  We've cried on each other's shoulders.  Although some of us may grow apart we will always have great memories to look back on.

Well, I guess now I'll get on with this week's pins.  Here you go!

                                                    Source: my.yahoo.com via Brooke on Pinterest

How adorable is this relish tray?!  I wanted so bad to have Pacen make this for Thanksgiving this year, but my aunt is bringing the relish tray.  :(  Boooo.

                                         Source: chocolatecoveredkatie.com via Brooke on Pinterest

No-Bake Chocolate Pumpkin Pie!  This sounds absolutely amazing!  I might have to try to make it!

                                                       Source: picky-palate.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Cinnamon Toasted Pumpkin Pie Tarts!  These look so good.  They would be fun to make for Thanksgiving day breakfast!

 

                                                 Source: bhg.com via Brooke on Pinterest

           
I love this wreath!  It's perfect for Fall/Thanksgiving and I imagine it would be pretty easy to make.  Next year I'll have to send extra money with Pacen to the pumpkin patch so he can buy me some colored corn. 

                                               Source: eatdrinkbewell.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

So true!!!  Everyone needs to see this cartoon!! 

Well, I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving!  Enjoy the time with your family and friends!  I know I will.

Source: pinterest.com via Kathryn on Pinterest

Weekly Photo Challenge: Someone You Love

I had no problem deciding what I would photograph for last week's photo challenge at A Step in the Journey.  The challenge was to shoot someone you love.  Okay, I just re-read that sentence and it sounds so morbid!  Haha!  Anyway,  you all know what I'm talking about.  :)

If you haven't yet guessed who I photographed then you are obviously new here...and you haven't read the title of my blog.  :)  Yup, I decided to snap Pacen!  Well, I had a hard time getting this done.  I wanted to get a shot of Pacen doing something he loves.  He loves to hunt and this past weekend was the last couple days of deer season (in Nebraska) and he was busy hunting.  So I drove on over to Harrison and spent the weekend with my family.  Well, Pacen and Gimpy were always gone by 5:30 in the morning so I had to wait til they came back for church to get a picture.  Pacen was in a silly mood so here is what I got.  Not great photos, but definitely Pacen.  :)

 

He looks pretty good in hunter orange, doesn't he?  Okay, okay, maybe I'm slightly biased.  :)  Here is a shot of Pacen and my dad aka Gimpy just before they headed back out after church:

It's amazing how quiet the house is when Pacen isn't around.  :)  Mom and I watched a movie and visited with my sisters and next thing we knew it was dark and almost 5:30.  Pacen had a science project due on Monday and hadn't even started it yet so we were beginning to get antsy.  About 6:00 some headlights started coming up the drive.  It was Pacen and Gimpy and that is when chaos broke loose!

Pacen had shot a doe literally three minutes before his time was up.  We had to hustle around to get pictures and call the check in point that was located 30 minutes away to make sure the guys had time to drive down and check the doe in that evening.

Meanwhile, Pacen somehow managed to get blood ALL OVER himself (except his face).  It almost looked like he had rolled in the darn thing!  He came in the house and Gammy aka my mom, about freaked.  Being a boy he always had to touch everything and she absolutely did not want blood all over her house.  I totally don't blame her.

Well, we finally got Pacen and Gimpy sent to Crawford to check in the deer and we sat down to experiment with Pacen's science project...NOT do it, just make sure his idea would work.  Then it happened.  Raine noticed that Jackson, mom and dad's Jack Russel Terrier, had blood on his head.  Well, Pacen had tossed a piece of gut onto the driveway and Jackson got into it and then he smeared blood all over the carpet!  What a mess!  So, needless to say, this could be Pacen's first AND last deer.  Haha!

Head over to A Step in the Journey and check out some of the other entries.  I highly doubt you see as much blood in other posts as you saw in this one, so go look at all the nice pictures and get this nasty bloody sight out of your minds!  :)

"This is a part of the country and a state where it's unusual if a child doesn't grow up going out with dad and granddad to hunt deer, using a very powerful weapon. It's unusual sometimes not to see kids out in a group that might be wearing camouflage." ~ Bill Sadler

Wednesday Wishes

Well, I'm still in St. Louis and I know this post is happening rather late in the day, but it's the only time I could get it done.  Hey, at least I'm doing it.  :)  I'm going to make it quick though cause I'm beat.  So here it goes...

                                               Source: peaceinlove.tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I really like the crayon pourings that are so popular right now, but this is the best one I've seen.  I love it!  I love the creativeness that went into it.  Maybe it's because I have a thing for the rain.  One of my dreams has always been to dance in the rain.  I have danced in the rain before, but it was to a fast country song so my old classmate, Ralph, and I were sliding all over the place while swing dancing, which was a BLAST, but I want to slow dance in the rain...and kiss.  :)

                                           Source: sew4home.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I adore these pajama pants!  There is nothing like getting cozy on the couch in the dead of winter on a blistering cold day in a nice, comfy pair of pajama pants.  I want to make a bunch of these for Christmas presents!

                                          Source: vam.ac.uk via Brooke on Pinterest

At this source you can upload any picture...ANY picture...and a quilt design will be created!  What a fabulous idea!  I can't wait to try this after I get Pacen's quilt done.  IF I EVER get Pacen's quilt done.

                                                Source: myspawaterbook.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Sweet Strawberry Pineapple Spa Water!  This looks and sounds so delicious!  It would be perfect to make for baby and bridal showers!

                                                      Source: flickr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

I have to do this someday!!!  HAVE TO!  It is so beautiful and romantic.  To make it look like this I will have to talk MANY people into joining me.  :)

Source: pooflikemagic.tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest