I have officially pre-ordered my 2006-2007 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog...two boxes of them to be exact! That's definitely one of the demonstrator perks...being able to order things early. I have also viewed a few of the new stamp sets and hostess sets...I know that this is so we'll be able to pre-order and have samples made up and stuff...but it seems like torture. It's like Stampin' Up! is telling us, "We know you're excited to see the new catalog, so we're going to let you order them a month in advance...oh yeah, and we'll show you seven or eight of the new sets...and that's all you get for another month." I'm sure with all of the craziness that the summer brings it'll fly by!

Speaking of summer...our pool is open...we swam yesterday...and I guess the chemicals must be right because neither one of us has a rash or anything! It's so fun and by far my favorite part of our house! Now we're in the market for a reel for the solar cover. I had no idea how heavy those damn things are...and how uneasy to fold up they are. I think the pool store people just love to see us coming...we're probably the most clueless pool owners they've ever met!

Posted by Courtney at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Boy oh boy do I feel like I won the lottery! I went grocery shopping last night to pick up a few things before my aunt arrived...she lives in San Francisco, so I had to buy all kinds of water and fruit...stuff Californians eat. Anyhow, I also had to get a few things for Larry and I for our regular weekly groceries. One thing I needed was lunchmeat for sandwiches. This is where the deal part comes in. For some reason, the baby is hungry for bologna...I don't usually eat bologna, but I'm not going to question it. So I find out that the store has bologna buy one get two free. Two. For free. When you buy one. That's the best kind of deal in the world! I was already going to buy one, and suddenly I get two for free. Well hold on tight, because it gets better. The one package of bologna was only 99 cents. I'm looking at getting bologna for 33 cents a package...and it's not expired...must be my lucky day! This is where the best part comes in...the cashier rang up my stuff...and she said it didn't ring up the bologna right...so she'll override and subtract the two dollars for the two packages that were supposed to be free. Well happy day for me. The grocery store actually paid me...one dollar...to take that bologna.

Posted by Courtney at 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I apologize for my lack of postings the last week. My aunt has been battling breast cancer for two years now, and things took a drastic turn this past week. I am sorry to say that she lost her battle early this morning. We have been visiting with her the past few days. I have had an extreme lack of motivation to post because of this situation. I hope things are on the way back up. In other news, Larry is working on a re-design (yes, again) that will knock your socks off. That's about all for now. I hope to get back to this regularly real soon.

Posted by Courtney at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

People I don't take seriously? Adult men with car seats in their backseat...and Insane Clown Posse stickers covering the back window. Yeah, there's someone who's children I don't want my kids hanging out with.

Posted by Courtney at 4:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Courtney: You're full of shit.

Larry: I'd rather be full of shit than full of stupid. Like you.

Uh. Um. Thanks honey. Just the thing to say to your hormonal, pregnant wife. Way to follow it up with "Well your Indian name would be 'she who bitches all the time'."

I keep telling myself that he doesn't intentionally set out to tick me off...but on days like today, I've got to wonder.

Signed,
She Who Bitches All The Time and Is Full of Stupid

Posted by Courtney at 6:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Note to the guy at the bank: Charging $7 to cash a check when you aren't a bank customer is their policy. It's their rule. No amount of arguing and bitching will change their policy of charging to cash said check. All you accomplished is belittling a very nice lady, and making yourself look like an asshole. If you wanted to cash the check without having the charge, perhaps you should have gone to your own bank. Would that not have been easier than holding up the entire lobby for ten minutes so you could tell her all the reasons why she should cash it without charging you? Didn't you notice that she didn't care that it was drawn at that bank? You aren't a bank customer...the check writer is....therefore you are subject to a $7 charge. My favorite part was when, after ten minutes of complaining, you demanded to speak to the bank manager...boy oh boy were you surprised when she told you that she is, in fact, the bank manager. Found out real quick that she has the final say in charging or not charging you, huh?! Don'tcha just hate when you make a scene about talking to the boss and turns out that you've been bitchin' your head off at her for the last ten minutes? I probably would have just left and went to my own bank...but not you...you stuck around to get your check cashed...minus the $7 check cashing charge, of course.

Posted by Courtney at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A customer was calling her daughter to come pick her up and give her a ride home...she ended up getting her husband on the phone...she told him, "Please explain to her where I am and how to get here...and tell her to leave right now...tell her to just leave and don't be dickin' around." Don't hold back lady....say how you really feel.

Posted by Courtney at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've been told that I'm pretty anal retentive, and been called a control freak...and that's by the people that love me! I deny it...although deep down I agree...I am calmed when I am in control of things. There are times that I'm really forced to accept that I'm a control freak. Take yesterday, for instance...we had a cookout for Mother's Day...it actually turned into a cookout and eat in the garage because it was raining. My desire to be in control of things reared its ugly head when I said, in all seriousness, "Things would be so much easier if everyone would just do what I say." Wow. No denying that one.

Posted by Courtney at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For those of you that found it unfair that I have not had morning sickness...I wanted to let you know that there is justice for all of you. I have been queasy the past few mornings. No actual throwing up yet...but I've spent a few minutes hanging out in the bathroom at work just in case. As best I can tell I'm on the verge of being sick...and at any minute, any smell could make a bad situation worse. Smells I have learned to avoid? Citrus flavored Aquafina, men's cologne, and dirty dishes. Thoughts I've learned to avoid? Any thought about food. No reading the grocery list, no looking at store ads, no "hmm...what should we have for dinner?". The uneasy feeling usually passes by 10AM or so. Peanut butter crackers seem to help settle my stomach. Other than that, things are going super! I'm still sleepy a lot...but nothing too terrible!

Pixel starts obedience training on the 5th of June...this is directly related to the fact that she's started jumping and nipping at people. Larry's ready to find her a new home, but I think the responsible thing to do is try to teach her the right way to behave. She's just being a puppy, and is in fact, only 6 months old...but when the baby gets here will be too late to try and teach her. With any luck she'll be as quick of a learner as she was with potty training! Now if we could just get her to the puppy school without barfing in the car every ten minutes...

The construction in the basement is scheduled to begin in the middle of July. We're moving the stamp room downstairs so the baby can have the bedroom that my stamps are currently occupying. How fitting that I'm the one that is giving up my space, huh?! It's okay, though...Larry and my uncle are going to drywall and finish a section of the basement into an actual room. It'll actually be like I'm getting a brand new room! I think I'm going to paint it orange...I picked out an orange color and then discovered that the carpet in the current stamp room was pink...suddenly orange didn't look so hot!

Okay, that's the complete baby, house, and puppy update. Now I'm off to take a nap. Surprise Surprise!

Posted by Courtney at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Larry: If we have a boy...when we get him circumsized...I'm going to let the Doctor keep it...

Courtney: What for?!

Larry: You know...for a tip...

[insert incessant laughing here]

I'm fearful of the sense of humor this child will have...

Posted by Courtney at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

How fabulous is that dress?! This is a picture of my friend Maggie from 9th grade homecoming...I had to do some Photoshopping to remove the uber-jerk that she went with. Maggie is in college to be a clothing designer...her sense of fashion and style was often made fun of in high school, but I guess she's gonna get the last laugh when her designs are modeled on runways in Paris. One time, we were sewing, and I was so proud that I had made a purse...it wasn't fancy...it was just material with a fabric strap. So what does Maggie do? She totally one-ups me and makes a bookbag...with a flippin' pocket on it. Anyhow, check out the hair, too. The front was colored several different colors over several different months. One of the best things about Maggie is that no matter what she wears or how she does her hair, she always looks awesomely cool and confident...even if I never admitted that to her in high school!

Posted by Courtney at 2:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I heard something on the television that made me think of a jelly donut...once that thought was in my head, there was no turning back. Larry and I headed over to our local Krispy Kreme retailer, the gas station, in search of jelly donuts...for the baby of course! While Larry was picking out our donuts, he had this conversation with a fellow donut seeker:

Weirdo: Cold out, huh?

Larry: Yep.

W: Cedar Point's opening this weekend.

L: Oh yeah?

W: Did you see that new ride?

L: No.

W: Someone's going to die on that thing.

That was it...the whole conversation. I hope this guy isn't a psychic or anything...it's safe to say he's strange...at the very least.

Posted by Courtney at 6:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the summer, on Friday and/or Saturday nights, our family frequents the local sprint car racetracks. When I say our family I mean Mom, Dad, Kyle, and me. Larry doesn't 'do' the sprint car racing thing. For something fun to do, Kyle and I take a particular interest in the redneck behavior...and occasionally the bad parenting behavior...exhibited while we're there. I've decided to share these observations with you here. This may be a recurring thing, because there is no shortage of rednecks or bad parenting examples at the sprint car races. Please understand that this is in jest (mostly) and I have nothing against sprint car racers, the fans that go to the races, or rednecks. Last night we saw:

1) Official mullet count: 4. Mullet spottings are frequent at the races, and last night was no different. One mullet was hidden under a hat, however we are astute mullet seekers so we totally spotted him!

2) Bad parenting behavior #1: I saw two people smoking, heavily all night long, completely within the airspace of their two babies. Not only was it cold (and neither baby had on a hat), but they were also forcing them to inhale smoke all night. Nice.

3) Bad parenting behavior #2: I witnessed a man knock his approximately six year old daughter down...all to try and catch a stupid water bottle that was being thrown in the stands as a promo thing. She hit her head on the bleacher in front of her. Doesn't that jerk know that he can buy a Pepsi water bottle for a few dollars at WalMart? It certainly would've saved his daughter a few tears and a lump on her head.

As you can see, there is plenty of opportunity to witness stupid acts and there are a few hair blunders to be seen as well. If any of you have a mullet, I apologize...seriously...for your lack of judgment...just beware that if you go to the sprint car races you could be counted in my official mullet total!

Posted by Courtney at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Yesterday I had my first prenatal appointment. It didn't start off all that great because the doctor was delayed an hour. I mean, I understand that he had a delivery and all...but I was late back to work...another good reason to work for your grandpa! It was a bit of a bummer because Larry ended up having to leave before I even saw the doctor, to get back to work on time. We were both excited about it being our first appointment, and he had to miss it...although I know there will be more opportunities for him to witness my pelvic exams...for that I'm sure he is thankful.

Before he had to leave, Larry did have an opportunity to embarrass the hell out of me...of which he takes entirely too much enjoyment. The nurse was setting things up for the doctor, and she told Larry that when the doctor does my 'actual exam' (read: Pap test), he'd need to go to the head of the exam table instead of sitting in the chair at the foot of the bed. Without missing a beat Larry said, "Oh...you mean he won't need my help with that part?!?" UnBeLeeVAble. What is wrong with him? The nurse laughed (nervously because she wasn't sure if he was serious or not), and jokingly said, "Well, you can ask...but probably not." I assured her that he would NOT be asking if the doctor needed any help or not. My mom told me by the time I'm through with pregnancy and delivery I'd have no modesty left...I'm just hoping I don't die of embarrassment...inflicted by my husband.

In all seriousness...the information you've all been waiting for...the offical due date is...Christmas Eve! Please, no one suggest that we name the baby Noelle if it's a girl...it's been suggested once...I think it's hokey and we will not be naming our daughter (if it's a girl) something to constantly remind her that she shares her birthday with a holiday. In fact, we've already decided that we'll do birthday parties in June (on the half of thier birthday) so that the baby always gets to have his or her own party for their birthday specifically.

Still no morning sickness...just tired all the time. The doctor said I appear to be six weeks along...which is in step with the time frame he was looking at. Everything looks good, tests came back fine, and I go back in a month. He said there's a possibility that we'll be able to hear the heartbeat next time. I am totally psyched for that appointment...it can't get here quick enough! He also gave me a book that's like the pregnancy Bible. He told me that lots of people would be giving me lots of advice...Mom, Grandma, Mother-in-law...but he said to check the book, and if it "ain't in the book, it ain't true". Apparently it's the most up-to-date book and it's written by all kinds of leading baby doctors. I guess what I'm saying is, they know their stuff! The office buys the book to give to all newly pregnant moms with two stipulations, 1) that I actually read it (I'm already 1/4th of the way through), and 2) that we give them a picture of the baby when it's born. How cool is that?

I asked about pool chemicals...like if chlorine is better than bromine, etc. He said, "Either one is better than swimming in a pond full of E Coli, so you'll be fine". Woo Hoo! The pregnant lady is cleared for swimming! Now if Memorial Day would hurry up and get here so we can get that damn pool open!

Posted by Courtney at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ah, here we are...May 1st...the big day. Every May 1st Stampin' Up! announces the retirement list. Items on this list will no longer be available after June 30th. I, for one, am glad they do this...now I can be sure and order any sets that I just have to have. Without further delay, here's the list in .pdf form:

Click Here to get 'the list'!

Last year I only 'lost' six stamp sets. This year, however, I am losing 24 sets. As a demo I tend to only have 'demonstratable' sets...so once things retire I get rid of them...to make room for new stuff, of course! There are a few exceptions, Quirky Alphabet for example, that I keep even after they're retired. I have the retired shelf in my stamp room that contains all retired sets that I want to hang on to. Of the ones I'm losing this year, I think there was only one that I plan on keeping. The rest will be auctioned off at a hostess appreciation party...giving past hostesses the first chance at getting them at a discounted rate.

To all of this year's hostesses, you can expect to see the following sets in the auction part of the hostess appreciation party: Very Merry, Sweet Seasons, Stipple Celebrations, The Fine Print, Mini Messages, Quick & Cute, Good Times, Something to Celebrate, Sketch An Event, Framed Greetings, Perfect Party, Birthday Banter, I Like Your Style, Oh So Sweet, Paris in the Spring, Sweet of You, Crayon Kids, Perfect Petals, Stipple Rose, Smorgasborders, Bitty Blossoms, Soft Swirls, and Just Journaling I.

I am happy to report that none of my alphabet sets are on the retired list, although Tidy Alphabet was on my wish list. I think I still may get that one so I can have it for scrapbooking. I'm also considering Travel Time and Time for Fun to have for future scrapbooking pages, too. I keep telling myself that since they're getting rid of all these great sets the new catalog ought to be fantastic! I can't wait to see the new catty...only 61 more days to go! Heaven help my UPS guy if my catalog shipment is delayed an extra day like last year...I know it's not his fault, but I just don't think he understood the gravity of the situation!

Posted by Courtney at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)