Moving…

I have moved to iammommyoftheyear.blogspot.com

 

Sad Day

Today is a sad, sad day in my house.  One of my dogs passed during the night.  Anni was absolutely the sweetest dog you could ever imagine.  She was a rescue that we adopted about four and half years ago.  We had been researching Spinones, and a friend at the shelter called to let us know they had one,and that she was in bad shape.  I was shocked, since there were so few breeders in the US.  I couldn’t bare to go see her, but my husband did, and came home practically in tears – he said she was in such bad shape, and she reminded him of his childhood dog.  Anyway, the shelter called a couple days later to let us know that this dog had heartworm – we were newly married, had just bought a new (80-year-old) house, and just weren’t up for the care that would be involved.  A rescue group took her in, and treated her heartworm.  I tracked her down, and long story short, we adopted her from that rescue group.  She was so terrified when we got her home, she had to be walked by leash from room to room.  When we took her for a walk outside, anytime a car drove by, she’d lay flat on the ground until it passed.  Her teeth were all worn down – we were told that she must have chewed out of wherever she had been.  And she wouldn’t have anything to do with my husband, or any other man, for a while.  But after our persistence and love, Anni became a really wonderful, sweet, funny, awesome dog.  Less than a year after we adopted her though, she fell ill – our vet, after several visits, was stumped, and referred us to the university vet school.  Anni went through so many tests, procedures, etc – she had liver failure, megasophogus, among many other ailments.  But we persisted, and did whatever we needed to do to make her better.    She slid downhill pretty drastically over the past couple of months, and terribly the past couple of days, and finally lost her battle during the wee hours of this morning.  She will be sorely missed – our other dogs seem so depressed already.  My poor, poor husband, I hate seeing him this upset.  And my daughter, wow, how do you tell a two-year-old about this?  I feel so weird being this torn up over a dog, but at thirty-five years old, I have never really been through the horrible loss of a pet, not like this.  It really just plain sucks.

Ahhhh……

This is how I have felt most of the day.  It started with my daughter getting into bed with hubby and me about 6:00 am – this usually does not make me happy, but this morning was different.  She just went right back to sleep, no tossing and turning, no feet in my ribs.  She slept until about 7:15, then laid and played with my hair gently for about 15 minutes – such a great way to wake up.  Then after a super yummy breakfast (Cinnamon Sopapilla from Homemade Gourmet – yum!), a good friend came to pick me up, my favorite Starbucks drink in hand, and we went for a six-hour spa day – amazing facial, salt scrub body wrap in the Vibrosauna (kind of strange, kind of cool), lunch, pedicure, manicure, awesome massage, and makeup.  Then, after I got home, hubby, baby girl, and I went to look at the new Crosstours, then out to dinner.  Then home for a little snuggle time with baby girl before she went to bed.  Does it get any better than that?  Such a nice end to a truly craptastic week.  Tomorrow, back to reality.  But that’s okay, today’s escape was truly magnificent.

And, if you haven’t had a facial before, like a really, really good one, call and make an appointment for one NOW!

HG Starter Kit!

My Homemade Gourmet starter kit came today, SO exciting!  Anyone who follows this blog will learn that I am addicted to direct sales.  :)  Homemade Gourmet is my newest endeavor, and I couldn’t be happier with it – my husband and daughter are pretty happy about it too!  It’s so nice to be able to work all day, run whatever errands need to be done after work, and still be able to come home and put an excellent dinner on the table before my family starves to death.  And my first big order is due to arrive tomorrow, I am so excited to get everything!

You have to check this stuff out!  See the links and button to the right – I am still just SO tickled with my button too (thank you again Shannon).  ;)  If you go to my HG site, be sure to check out the Key to the Kitchen link – over 1000 recipes to make with the mixes!  And if you think you might be interested, keep an eye out for specials – I am planning to run a special next month for anyone who wants to sign up as an HG Preferred customer.  :)

Usborne Mystery Host(ess) Show

I am currently holding a Holiday Open House for Usborne Books and More.  This show is being held as a Mystery Host(ess) show. 

Simply go to www.MyChildsLibrary.com, click on Holiday Open House under Active eShows, and shop away!  The show will be open through 11:55 pm eastern time on Sunday, November 22.

For every $10 retail spent, you will earn one entry.  You will also earn one entry for each Christmas title purchased.  Earn five entries for each friend you refer that makes a purchase (the referred friend will need to email me letting me know that you referred them).

One name will be drawn from all entries to receive standard Hostess benefits.  Note that total show sales must exceed $85 for hostess benefits to be awarded.  The winning host(ess) will be responsible for $5 direct ship fee if (s)he does not live in the Knoxville, TN area.

Usborne Books are “the books kids love to read,” and they make wonderful gifts!

My first button!

Thank you SO much to Shannon for making my Homemade Gourmet button!  I love it!  And Shannon, you rock!

Check her out at http://peek-a-boodesigns.com

So excited!

I have been contacted by the American Lung Association about being on the organization committee for this year’s Asthma Walk!  Last year was the first annual walk in my city, and I was so excited to find out about and participate in it – it was shortly after my daughter was diagnosed, and I was feeling so helpless.  So this just felt like a way to get involved and DO something.  Anyway, I have to call them back, but was just too excited and wanted to share – you WILL be reading more about this opportunity!