I'm heading back to school...

Well, I just wanted to let you all know I'm starting school today. I've decided to go back and get my bachelors degree. I've thought about it for years now and decided to just DO IT.

I'm a little nervous. It's been awhile since I've been to school. I won't tell you how long.

I was talking with my husband and kids over dinner and casually asked what I should bring on my first day. My youngest said "scissors". Then I proceeded to ask if I could borrow his crayon box. I also thought it would be fun to find a Holly Hobbie backpack. My kids just looked at me confused and asked "who is that?"

Well, wish me luck. Do you think the other kids will like me?

New Blog Layout...

I've been thinking of changing my blog layout. I'm wondering if you could help me pick the design...

Design #1

Design #2

Design #3

Design #4

Design #5

Design #6

Design #7

Design #8

Design #9

Although I took these pictures off the internet, don't even think about it. He's mine, all mine!

Help, I need some Edward therapy?

Happy Thanksgiving...

While you're getting ready for the big day...

I thought I would show you an easy recipe I found recently on Thinkin' of Home.

It just two striped cookies, a chocolate covered cherry and a piece of candy corn. Then you use chocolate frosting for the glue.

I almost hate to eat these cuties.

I hope you all have a relaxing Thanksgiving. I'll be pulling my hair out as usual. Let the fun begin!

Did you miss me?

I'm so sorry I haven't posted in over a week. I've been cleaning my shower.

Yep, is was that bad.

Actually, my hubby and I took a little trip to Palm Springs. We needed some alone time. It rarely occurs at home with three kids, three dogs & a cat.

We stayed at the gorgeous Bermuda Dunes.

We must have "animal lover" tattooed on our foreheads. This was at our hotel door all night.

It was a relaxing getaway. Except for worrying about the darn cat outside the door all night. I tried to let him in, which would have been awkward to say the least.

Anyhoo, glad to be back. Missed you all.

I also want to thank Carrie of Carrie's Little World for giving me this award.

Thank you girlfriend. You are awesome!

(BTW, I did clean my shower but it only took one day. Scrubbing Bubbles did an awesome job) :-)

Oh My....

I'm totally blown away by the friendships that I've made through blogging. What a great network/support group to have in our everyday lives.

Yesterday I received a gift from Cheri of Gamma's Gab. In the box was peppermint cocoa and a mug. You probably remember in my last post I said peppermint cocoa makes me happy. Thank you Cheri for such a sweet gift!


I've never told Cheri how I found her in blog land. I was checking my google analytics and found her blog as a referral site. I didn't recognize her blog name so I looked it up. I was so excited that she had listed my blog under her favorite blogs. So I commented on one of her posts (I'm sure she was wondering how I found her) and then she commented back. And so, the friendship begins.

Some of you have asked what the heck have I been up to since I haven't posted in awhile. Remember that babyshower I promised to host? Well, I'm officially running around like a headless chicken. I promise I'll be back after it's over. I can't wait to show you the diaper cake that I made. I turned out adorable.

Brandee :-)

It's never too late and awards...

It's never to late to learn new things. I was having lunch with some friends yesterday and mentioned that I've never canned food. Well, they decided to teach me. So today we all went to Millie's house for the canning experience.

I started with a hostess gift...

And some jars...

Meet Millie a/k/a hostess and canning expert.

Meet Millie's mom a/k/a Millie's canning mentor...

Meet Cyndi & Rosalyn a/k/a the helpers...

We peeled...

And we sliced...

And we talked, joked and had fun...

We even licked the bowl clean....

And viola! Don't they look beautiful?

Okay, let's get real. I don't really need to can food living in Arizona. But, I LOVE peaches and what a good excuse to get together with girlfriends. Not that you need an excuse.

Peach Cobbler Recipe:

1 stick of butter
2/3 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
dash salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup milk

Melt one stick of butter in 9x9 baking dish. Mix together flour, sugar, salt, baking power, vanilla. Gradually add milk

Pour over butter, don't mix

Spoon on peaches

Sprinkle on Cinnamon

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes

You must include vanilla ice cream

Yum!

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I would like to thank Carrie from Carrie's Little World for passing along this award...



And Bella from Bella Casa for giving me this award...



Thanks Carrie & Bella. You know I love your blogs too!

I'm would like to pass on these award to everyone on my blog list. I just can't leave anyone out. :-)

Unbalancing act & award...

I'm not one for video games. Let's face it, I'm 35 years old and have a million and one things to do. The "one" being blogging.

So, my husband thought that by purchasing the Wii Fit, he could seduce me into this lazy, no good sport of video games.

Well I tried it. What harm could come from playing a game that's supposed to help you get fit. Right?

Wrong! Let's just say I'm ready to throw it out the window. My Wii age is 53. Can you believe it? It's not my weight or BMI, in fact both of those were normal, it's the balancing part that throws me into the 53 range.

In big RED letters it says "you are unbalanced". NICE!

So after I leave the dumb game machine behind I go and check my email. Low and behold there is an email from Debbie at Ribbonwood Cottage. She has given me an award. Yeah Debbie!

Would she have given me the award knowing I'm unbalanced? I'm sure she would. She is such a sweet lady. I truly enjoy her blog!


Thank you Debbie!

P.S. The beautiful person doing the perfect yoga pose at the beginning of this post is NOT me. She is much prettier and much more balanced. I tried taking a picture of me balancing.... my entire family was laughing including the dogs.

P.S.S. Please leave me a comment telling me how wrong the Wii Fit is...or telling me how unbalanced people are super pretty with lots of great ideas... or just leave me a comment so I feel better. :-)

Thank you in advance.

Brandee

Awards and Twilight...

My first awards, Yea! Rae at My Life on the East Coast has given me the Arte Y Pico award. Thank you Rae! When you get a chance, go over and say hi to Rae. She is such an awesome lady with a beautiful family and a pet rabbit that thinks he's a dog.

I've also received another award from Sheila at Life at Number 17. I was reading Sheila's blog long before I started my own blog. She is such a sweet lady with lots of funny stories. She also loves animals as much as I do.



Now, I'm supposed to pass on these awards to fellow bloggers.

1)Sheila at Life at Number 17-Sheila, I was passing on the Arte Y Pico award to you when I realized you were passing another on to me. You brighten my day each and every time I read your blog. Thank you for being you.

2)Connie at Laughter by Lakeside-Connie probably knows I stalk her blog regularly. I've posted several times about her blog. She has great decorating ideas and two beautiful little girls. I'm sure we would be best friends beyond blog land.

3)Darlene at Darlene's Days-Darlene is such a loyal friend. If we lived closer we would spend hours talking on her porch, drinking peach tea and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

There are many other blogs out there that I love to read. Too many to list. I'm also thankful for everyone that visits my blog and comments. I get so excited when I hear that computer jingle that says "You've got mail".

Now on to Twilight.

Everybody who's anybody knows what Saturday is. Right? Hello? It's the release of Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyers. The last book in the Twilight series. I'm a super big fan. I've not only named my car after the insanely gorgeous Edward, I've also had my husband change his name to Edward. Only for pretend, of course. ;-)

So, in honor of this momentous occasion, I would like to show you my Twilight collection. Please don't be jealous.


(The shirt and coffee mug says "Edward Lover")

And if you are one of those (that have been in a cave)that haven't read the series. I would recommend that you DON'T read it. Nothing else compares to this series. It's almost depressing that it's the last book in the series. No more Harry Potter and now no more Edward. :-(

Kids and Cups...

Kelli at There is No Place Like Home is hosting Show and Tell Friday. I thought I would share with you these cups we have been using this summer. I was tired of washing cups all day long so I purchased these from Walmart.com. The kids are NOT allowed to use any other cups. It's help cut down my dish washing time and also having cups all over the counters.



I also wanted to share this card I found on my desk from my youngest, Zachary. ZM for short. It says "frum Zachary".



"I Luv You Mom"


Isn't it darling with the rainbow and stick people holding hands. It just melts my heart and makes all the stress of raising kids worth it.

This is Zachary.


He's such a character. The most lovable little guy. He always has a smile on his face.



He has this obsession with taking silly pictures of himself.












Okay, this one is not so silly!


Have a great weekend!

Brandee

Holy Cow, I've been tagged...

Diane at A pictures worth 1,000 words has tagged me. This is the first time I've ever been tagged. This comes at a perfect time. I think it's time to give a little info about me (and not my house). For all anybody knows, I could be some weirdo that likes to decorate. Well, I still could be I guess.

So here are 6 unimportant things about me:

1) I take karate - My husband and I started about a year ago. Most of my friends fell over when I told them. It's really OUTSIDE MY BOX.

2) I love animals - This is no surprise since I have 4 of them. I seriously have a soft spot for all animals.

3) I wash my car weekly - The neighbors think I'm weird. They all stare.

4) I mow my lawn - Another reason the neighbors think I'm weird. My husband misses spots. So like most chores I've taken over.

5) My house is always tidy. My motto "a place for everything and everything in it's place". I can't even cook dinner if anything it out of place. Please don't have me locked up over this. I promise to get therapy.

6) I work out of my house. Although it seems as though I blog mostly, I do work to pay bills (or tassels). I'm a paralegal and have worked for my husband since we married 10 1/2 years ago.

One more thing I want to add. I have 3 kids. I don't talk much about them on this blog because I have a whole other blog for them. But here they are:

Kyler, 16 and Zachary 5


Kevin, 9




Thanks Diane for tagging me! Now I want to tag:

Laura at Making a house a home
Connie at Laughter by lakeside
Darlene at Darlene's Days
Rae at My life on the East Coast