A Chocolate Bouquet

What Happens When You're Sick and Overloaded

2011-10-27T02:03:00.000-04:00

It's Fall in beautiful Pennsylvania, but unfortunately, something usually goes along with it for LOTS of us. Getting sick.

It's incredible how the common cold with a touch of sore throat can make you SOOOOOOO miserable!!! Not to mention, I am a horrible baby when I get sick! But I am proud of myself this time. Why? Because I didn't tell everyone on my Facebook page! =)

So!

What has transpired since I've been trying to un-clutter my online commitments? As I'm working on updating my website, posting on my other blog, and helping my daughter decorate her apartment by making some homemade decorations, I still haven't gotten any new bouquets made to show all of you! I have a tote full of the things I need to make some cute bouquets, including lots of chocolate. I'm good at keeping out of it. If I buy it for my bouquets, it gets used for my bouquets.

Being sick and dieting actually caused me to cave! I got out my little fun size candy bars and ate them! Some of them were eaten to just help my throat feel coated, instead of scratchy!

So anyway! That being said, I will share a chocolate website with you that has a TON of chocolates, and if you are on overload like me, and are looking for a gift for a friend, you will enjoy the selection they have to offer!

http://www.serenatachocolates.com/christmas-chocolate-gifts

Christmas will be here soon!

http://www.serenatachocolates.com/Chocolate-hampers

These are high quality!

Want to check out some info on chocolate too?

http://www.chocolate.org/

Don't forget! Most women agree that her best friend's name is Chocolate. She LOVES to see her best friend during the holidays, and pretty much any other day of the year!

Pinterest And 5QF!

2011-10-13T22:31:00.000-04:00

If you follow my other blog at all, you'll know I have a new addiction-Pinterest!

Have you checked it out yet?

If not, let me just show you a little of what you'll find!

Bascially, it's a group of all your own little bulletin boards, where you post whatever "pins" are out there, which are pictures you find all over the web-some of just beautiful things, some of recipes, some of tutorials, and SO MUCH MORE!

What's great is that you can "pin" things to your boards, and go back to them later. The pin has the link to where your picture came from, so that you can go to it to get the recipes, tutorials, craft ideas, wedding ideas, organizing tips, and more. You choose what you want to save, and you follow others who have interests similar to yours, so that you can see their pins (they come to your page in a feed), and repin things to your own boards.

I'm horrible at explaining, but if you check it out, you'll see what I mean! And if you don't like facebook, you will LOVE Pinterest because it's drama free, and not a place to carry on conversations.

Here are a few finds I've enjoyed:

Perfect Cuteness!!!

More Perfect Cuteness!!!

And Perfect Adorableness!!!

Amazing Wonders of The World!

Lots of Hairstyles!

And some of my favorites, even though I'm already married---wedding pictures!!!

A Crying Groom!

And Another! Can it get any sweeter than that???

If you haven't already, head on over to Pinterest, and be sure to follow me!!!

Okay! Now onto the 5QF!

1. Do you prefer your ice cream in a bowl or in a cone?

For real? You're gonna make me choose? Well, if I have to choose, I will say in a bowl because the truth be known, I cannot eat an ice cream cone any better than a 2 year old. Probably because I always get a soft serve vanilla cone dipped in chocolate. That right there is enough reason-they've given it a head start in the melting department! Plus, when I eat them, I'm usually driving. It's a bad combination, really.

2. What three things do you love the smell of?

Bounce fabric softener sheets, Creme Brule scented oil for the home, and...I think I'll say my next door neighbor's wood burning stove, once they start lighting it in the Fall. The warm smell works its way to my home, without all the work! And I would know about all the work--we heated with one-our main source of heat-for 10 years! I'm SO grateful for a home with a furnace now!

3. Giftcards or no? (In regards to gift giving...)

I think gift cards are fine, and gifts are fine. Gift cards are nice if you aren't sure what to get, but as someone pointed out to me, an actual gift brings you to mind whenever the receiver used the item you gave them, unlike a gift card.

4. What sports did you play in high school if any and do you still play them?

I only played sports in gym class, and I really liked playing volleyball!

5. Were you in band in high school? What instrument did you play?

I wasn't in band, but in junior high, I was in Orchestra!!! I played the violin! I wish I hadn't given it up. Did anyone else play in Orchestra?

Well that's it for my answers this week! Here's hoping everyone has a nice weekend! And don't forget to join me on Pinterest!

Need A Good Chuckle?

2011-09-27T08:58:00.000-04:00

Need a good chuckle for your day?

Well, have I got the thing for you....

Enjoy!

Tips for new parents:

And then.....

And this one is probably my favorite! Can anyone relate???

Have a great day!!!

Randomness and 5QF!

2011-09-22T23:14:00.000-04:00

Something is going on.

In my life.

Or my mind....

You see, either I am losing my memory altogether....

Or actually, not much of anything is going on!

In my life.

I feel like I've hit SUCH a dry spell in posting my mishaps, my lighthearted stuff, my comical life events! It's not because I'm so heavy hearted! Maybe I'm just....

Boring!

I mean, I don't think you care all that much that I apparently have a bees' nest in my fireplace, and that Chloe is the best flyswatter I've ever had.

Thankfully Erlich is coming tomorrow to take care of the problem! Until then, Chloe is great for keeping us updated, and she's on the case when one escapes!

You might not want to know about the Steelers wreaths I've been making, along with a few others...

Or do you???

Trying to sell these babies, to no avail! How exciting is THAT?

If you want one, let me know!

You're probably not real interested that I've wasted several hours lately playing Majong, or that my website still needs updated, along with my bouquets. Like, real bad!

Well, maybe I'll just have some good answers to the Five Question Friday to share, and you will all be impressed!

Or maybe not.

But thanks for coming by! I do appreciate your visit, and hope to have more to offer real soon!

On to the 5QF!

1. Dream job...realistic and completely unrealistic.

Hmm....I think my dream job fits both spots!

I want to be a popular, even famous-amongst-bloggers blogger, where my blog is all the rage, and I get a magazine spot, and possibly mentioned on Yahoo news!

I've been working more at my serious blog, www.justjosanne.com lately, and have narrowed it down to a niche!

So!

Realistic? Sure! If I put in many, many, many (and did I say many?) hours of hard work!

Unrealistic? Yeah, that too, since I'll need to put in many, many, many (and did I say many?) hours of hard work!

It's not that I'm not willing, but with my family, and along with my low energy level on a regular basis, it's a bit more challenging. Those who are successful and have fabulous blogs, I am envious (in a non-sinful sort of way, of course!)! I want to learn all the secrets!

Question #2 has been deleted from my list of questions because I think that is a downright, tacky question, and is very unladylike to talk about!

That being said, I will just say respect and manners are important no matter how many years you have been married. Just because you are married doesn't mean you have to be a hog.

3. What's the furthest you've ever traveled from home? How far and where was it? The furthest I've traveled from home was to San Antonio, Texas, which is nearly 1,600 miles from home. Hubby and I visited a church there, and hubby preached the services.

4. How do you celebrate birthday for your kids? Family only or friends? ... Alternate for those without kiddos: How did you celebrate birthdays as a kid?

It's different each year, but we try to do something special. No chores for the kiddos that day, a cake, and a relaxing day. I did have a surprise 16th birthday for Amber last year. Lots of friends came! As a kid, my mom was always generous in giving to us children, but we didn't have birthday parties.

5. Fave thing about fall?

The smell! It's just something in the air! The fireplaces and woodstoves being started! The small of hot chocolate and candles! It's just all so inviting!

Well, that is all for this week's 5QF! I hope you all have a great weekend, and hope to see you all again!

Please Join My Thrifty Blog Hop!

2011-09-17T00:18:00.001-04:00

Hi Peeps!

If you are like me, you love a good deal. You're addicted to thrift stores, yard sales, freebies from friends, and coupons paired up with sales.

Sound like you? If so, I would love for you to hook up with my new blog hop!

This blog hop will actually be at my other blog, www.justjosanne.com, on Thursdays. It is more fitting for the other blog, but mentioned here to introduce my other blog.

For quite some time, I neglected my other blog, and truthfully, just had too much going on with all my blog stuff.

So!

I considered what would be best, and I decided to end a few blogs I started, un-clutter my commitments online, and begin really focusing on what really matters to me-my website, this blog, and my more serious blog that talks about homemaking and life as a Christian. And that is plenty to keep me busy!

I hope you'll join me at my other website, and join in the blog hop. Or just come check out what great deals we're finding! The blog hop will start around 8 a.m.

The BGC Is BRUTAL!

2011-09-16T15:06:00.000-04:00

Folks, let me tell you-don't EVER join the BGC! It's BRUTAL, and will hold you hostage against your will for YEARS, if you don't fight for your freedom!

I guess there's an upside to being a hostage of the BGC, and then escaping-you get a new wardrobe! You feel the relief! You smile every time you get a step further from it, and a step closer to the GWC!

Can you be tricked, bribed, wooed, or tempted into the BGC? Of course! Or like me, you can even be kidnapped against your will, just by making a few wrong turns!

My story is this:

My house burned down, so I lost everything, including my kitchen, and pots and pans. Staying with my in-laws, but trying to keep our family care to a minimum, especially since my mom-in-law just got out of the hospital, we ate out. Often. And then because we had to replace everything we owned, after finding a beautiful rental home, and then moving into our permanent place, we were on the run. A lot. Almost constantly, in fact. Which means, the drive thru is quick. And convenient.

So you see, the BGC was hiding behind the order screen, just waiting for me! And one day, they got me!

But two years later, I can re-affirm that I am leaving the Big Girl's Club, and heading for the Goal Weight Club!

I'm down about 10 pounds! And it feels so good!

Ahem. We won't mention just yet how much further I have to go.

Let's just say that I'm on my way!

Me Throughout The Decades--Oh, And Dan Too!

2011-09-13T01:53:00.001-04:00

With keeping so busy over the past few months, I've felt like I've hit a major writer's block for this blog.

But, my faithful readers, fear not! I just laughed until I cried, and I hope you may do the same.

Have you ever wondered what you would have looked like years ago, what styles you would have chosen for fashion, or how you would have fixed your hair? Maybe you just wonder what you would look like with a new 'do!

Thanks to www.yearbookyourself.com, you can find the answers to some of these ponderings! Let me give you an example of Dan and me!

I can see that I would NOT look good with a 1952 short, wavy hair style.

And DEFINITELY NOT a 1954, super short bob! Adding the fashionable eyewear of the day does NOT make this any better!

Bangs. Umm...no. Not for me. The hair is getting a little better...

Okay, 1964 has the right idea for heigth, but the wrong idea for length...we'll keep trying....

Me, as a blonde? How do you like my monstrous jaw? The hair length is getting better....

and bigger and better.....

going the wrong direction again....

Oh mercy....

Can someone say, I'm an 80's girl ALL THE WAY???? Big hair, lots of curl-that's what I'm talking about! Do any ladies from the 80's actually ever get past loving BIG hair?

Okay, so mine's not quite as poofy now, but I'm still a big hair, 80's girl at heart! ♥

Next!!!

Winners of......

The title-so fitting! My man looks slightly confused, and a little like George W., don't you think?

Okay, okay, I purposely picked a photo of Dan looking confused. Either it looks like he's not sure who I am, and how we ended up king and queen, or he's not sure if he's actually standing there with my mother. (For those of you who know my mother, I'm sure you'll agree this looks a lot like her-which means I look a lot like her!)

And last but not least....

If I come to you looking like this-bad hair, big gaudy earrings, outdated bow, you may want to do your own matchmaking.

This isn't a paid advertisement-just something to have fun with! If you decide to go to www.yearbookyourself.com and play around, please leave me a comment with your link so I can see how you look over the decades too!

Or just leave me a comment, and tell me which era looks best on me! =)

Vacation, School, and 5QF!

2011-09-08T22:21:00.000-04:00

Another Summer come and gone, but ours ended with a vacation to Florida, and we had a real nice time. I'm not real thrilled to come home without a TAN--I mean, you'll just have to take my word for it, since I have no EVIDENCE!

In other family news, my oldest daughter turned 22 today! Just a few short weeks ago, she was a hospital guest for three days, being diagnosed with diabetes. I am thrilled to be able to say that she is taking good care of herself, following her diet and meds carefully, and her numbers are getting under control! I can't express how proud I am of her!

A new chapter has begun in our household--this year, my two kiddos that still live at home started public school for the very first time. So far, so good!

Okay, so now onto the 5QF!

1. What ringtone do you have on your cell phone?

I'm not sure what it's called, but it reminds me of jazz or something.

2. What is your favorite memory from this summer?

My favorite memory would probably be of the woman I met in Florida. My hubby preached at a church in Miami, and as I was talking to the pastor's wife, we learned that we are both from the same city in Ohio. The more we talked, we realized we knew some of the same people from the church she used to attend before moving away. I asked her if she knew a woman who was a very special to me. The lady I asked of was a few years older than me, a role model that helped me in my first several months walking as a new Christian, and the lady that prayed with me, and helped me to pray thru to receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It turns out, the pastor's wife in Miami was the sister of the dear lady many years ago. Such a small world! What a blessing it was that added so much to my vacation in Florida! I want to add that this beautiful Christian lady is an absolutely beautiful person. I am honored to have gotten to meet her and spend some time with her.

3. Paper books or ebooks?

Paper! I'm a book junkie! I have a hard time passing up books that are a great price-even tho they usually collect dust forEVER before I actually read them!

4. If you could have one home upgrade what would it be and why?

Hmm....I think I would like siding. Until we have a large chunk of money, we are going to at least work at getting it painted! Why? Because it needs it!

5. When was your first serious boyfriend/girlfriend?

Hmmm......is my hubby reading this?

I'm not sure! The first time I fell in love was in 10th grade, but the feeling wasn't mutual. So does that count?

Other than that, I'd probably have to say when I was 18.

Well friends, have a wonderful weekend, and hope to see you again just around the corner! Thanks for stopping by!

Dan and 5QF!

2011-08-04T22:30:00.002-04:00

It's almost the weekend again, friends! Anyone with special plans?

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say something about my hubby.

Nope! My computer isn't being hacked!

Nope! He didn't promise me a shopping spree if I say this!

Nope! He didn't bribe me with chocolate to blog about him!

I just want to say that I'm blessed.

He's a great man, and I don't ever want to forget to be thankful for having a husband that is so good to me.

That being said, on to the 5QF!

1. Do you have siblings and are you close with them?

Yes, I have a brother I grew up with , and 4 half brothers. My brother I grew up with is 120 miles away, and even tho we don't see each other very often, we pick up where we left off, and I would consider us close. I can share things with him, and he's been a good friend to me.

I also consider myself close to one of my half brothers. We hardly ever see each other, he also living 2 hours away, but when we see each other, it's very, very good!

2. Would you rather be slightly UNDER weight or slightly OVER weight?

Probably slightly overweight, because I could work on it! Tone up and all that!

Yes!

An extra two pounds wouldn't bother me a bit!

3. What's your favorite State Fair food to splurge on?

Okay, I don't think I know the answer to this because I'm not sure if State Fair is a brand, or if it's an event. If it's an event, and if this is a fair food, I would probably say funnel cake. It's a yummy treat, and I've got a sweet tooth!

4. What are your thoughts on your kid(s) going to school in a few weeks?

For me, this is going to be an adventure!!! Why, you may ask? Because this is the first year my children will be going to public school!!!

Well, my 21 year old went to public school for a few years when she was little, but then my church opened a school, and my children went there for many, many years!

Some changes came along, and the school closed, with the possibility of opening again in the future. Last year my two that are still in school cyber schooled from home.

As much as I LOVED the cyber school-the curriculum, the books, the teachers, the set-up, we decided to have our children go to the public school this year. My kiddos just needed a bit more structure with their school time.

So! This year, it will just be me and Dan at home during the day!

And how do I feel about that?

I think I'm gonna like it! I've got SO much I want to do, and since a good portion of that consists of spending time with my writing on my computer, the quiet during the day will help tremendously. I'm scatterbrained, and easily distracted!

5. Pool or Ocean?

Pool! KIDDIE POOL!!! With floaters!!! And a life guard! And only 12 inches of water!

In case you haven't guessed, water makes me nervous! Pictures of the ocean are beautiful, but I'm okay living inland, and not seeing the actual thing. Water I can't see thru makes me nervous!

And those are my answers this week! Thanks for stopping by, and you all have a great weekend!

Sydney Thinks It's SUSPICIOUS! and 5QF!

2011-07-29T01:27:00.008-04:00

Hello friends!

Do you all remember me telling you about Michelle and Sydney moving our way? Well, the fun has begun!

Michelle was working, so Amber, Sydney and I went shopping in a far away city. Okay, it was 50 minutes away, but an area I'm only semi-familiar with.

After we found some great deals, we were hungry! And! We wanted to celebrate our successful Goodwill shopping trip. We decided Chinese sounded great. We stopped at one, found out the price, and decided to drive down to the next one, thanks to my GPS letting us know all the local Chinese restaurants.

The second restaurant was in a strip of buildings, with a pet store next door.

SYDNEY says, "Isn't it kinda SUSPICIOUS that the PET STORE is right next to the Chinese restaurant???"

Needless to say, Sydney is one funny gal! We love having her and her mama here with us! I used to have to drive two hours to be with them, but now it's less than 15 minutes from home!

Speaking of Sydney, her mother Michelle just started a blog! So far she has one post up, and I'd love to encourage you to visit again while she shares with us an incredible story. The lovely Sydney was a little girl with leukemia. Yes, I said was! =)

Please stop by and see her first post!

Now onto the 5QF!

1. Vow renewal ceremonies-yay or nay?

Hmm....I don't think it matters to me either way. There was a time when I thought it would be so romantic and so sweet. Now, my marriage feels stronger than ever, and renewing our vows doesn't really even cross my mind. Umm....I think that particular idea left me when I realized I'd never fit into my wedding dress again. Yeah, that was all part of my renewal dream. =)

2. What sound/s annoy you the most?

Oh goodness-I'm in trouble now! NOISE just annoys me!!! I like things quiet. BUT! Since that isn't possible with two of my kiddos still in the home, I deal with it. The one noise that really, really, REALLY can't stand is thumping. Thumping happens when Dan plays invisible drums, or I'm in bed and someone slams a door. I HATE thumping! Drives me crazy!

3. If you had to pick, would you have only all boys, or only all girls for kids?

Oh, now THIS is an unfair question! I mean, who else can I have as a wonderful little boyfriend? And what's more enjoyable than spending a day with my son?

But when you are asking if I had to have ALL of one or the other, that means there is more than one child involved. And since I have three children, I'll assume the question for me is three boys or three girls.

Along with my son being a wonderful companion for a day, he is also a REAL Mr. Fix-it! If there is anything wrong with it ("it" being ANYTHING), my boy is ON it-like, YESTERDAY!!!
If there is anything not wrong with it, my boy may try to make it better anyway! Folks, it's scary!

So, that being said (and I'm not one to try to embarrass my kids in my writing-sorry, Kota, but I had to say it this time!), I don't think I could handle three little boyfriends that are all Mr. Fix-its!
Not to mention that three boys brainstorming together can be a dangerous thing! Do you all remember when Kota's friend spent the night, and they changed all my clocks in the middle of the night?

So give me girls! I can handle the drama, the sleepovers, the traumatic experience of having 200 articles of clothing in the closet with nothing to wear, probably ANYTHING other than three little Mr. Fix-its!

4. Do you believe in alternative medicine?

Yes, I do. I don't actually practice it, which makes it sound a bit hypocritical on my part, but let me just explain my feelings.

I believe in doctors, and am not against medicine-I am SO grateful for Claritan D!

But I am also in favor of trying things that steer away from prescription drugs. I believe the chiropractor can help a person's overall health, and accupuncture, accupressure, and possibly homemade remedies-after all, before medicine was so readily available, people often had to use homemade remedies, I would think-just not sure of all of them being helpful. Pumping meds into the body all the time isn't good for the liver, from what I hear, so I am all for other solutions.

I'm basically a healthy person for the most part, so that is probably why I don't practice alternative medicine. But if I gain health issues as I age, I wouldn't not refuse the possibility of being helped by a less popular method.

5. Would you take a family members children and raise them if they needed it?

Hmm....it would depend if they were girls or.....BOYS! =)

Actually, it would depend on the whole situation. There are many factors to take into consideration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay peeps! I need to turn in for the night. Thanks for stopping by, and have a nice weekend!

When MY Book Comes Out, We'll Have To Hold 'Em Back!!!

2011-07-25T12:57:00.001-04:00

Well folks, this is my latest chocolate bouquet! What do you think? I really would appreciate your input!

And secondly, maybe you can tell me how you feel about this as well~I'm going to get on the ball and make a book! A chocolate bouquet book!

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

My hubby has been encouraging me to do so for some time now, and to be honest, the biggest obstacles I face are:

1. I'm only HALF computer literate! That means, I have no idea how to go about uploading my book to the internet!

2. The ideas I come up with are straight from....MY BRAIN! Since you all know that I have Blon roots, you TOTALLY understand what the problem is there! Us Blons have to work twice as hard to make sense of things, which means it is going to be A LOT OF WORK!!!!!

But I guess that ALSO means that everyone already knows what a challenge this will be for me, so they'll be lining up at the library computers, office computers and their friends' home computers to get my book!

And that brings me to the third obstacle, which won't really be a problem for me at all! It will be a problem for everyone else!!!!!

How are y'all gonna keep everyone is a straight, single file line, with no cutting?

Here's an idea!

Put up barricades!

Or stanchions!

Or, if you want to keep them in line in a first class manner, how about velvet ropes?

Any will work, I'm sure!

So anyway! Please leave me a comment-what would you think of how-to book on chocolate bouquets?

And one last question, which I'd appreciate your input on:

Thanks everyone! And don't forget to leave a comment! =)

A True Story About Little Loves

2011-07-22T17:06:00.001-04:00

This is a story about two precious babies!

Since we moved from our old property, there was an outdoor cat living at our old land, and she had these precious babies. I'm happy with my own two babies, Chloe and Diamond, and am not looking for any new kitties.

BUT!

I was feeding the mama cat regularly, and she never revealed her babies to us, but we could tell she was a mama. And she was a WONDERFUL little cat! So sweet and friendly!

Usually when I would go out to the land to feed her, she would greet me. But one day, she didn't come.

Dan was at the land another day, a few days later, and again, she didn't come.

About a week and a half later, we still did not see her at all.

A friend of mine was moving to our land, and while we were there preparing the place for her, Dan spotted a fluffly baby kitty! The kitty ran upon the sight of him, but shortly after, she and her brother were both in the front yard.

We caught them, and because we were most likely the first humans they had ever seen, they were terrified, hissing and spitting. The black kitty was calmer, but she was still afraid of any sudden movements.

Since Dakota was with his dad, and I had to leave, Kota took them in the trailer on the land and made friends with them, along with feeding them.

These precious babies had a wonderful mother, but she completely disappeared, and they were too young to fend for themselves, for safety, or for food.

So naturally, I brought them into the safety and care of my own home! They were malnourished, with us being able to feel their bones so easily because they most likely were starving, which would have resulted in their soon coming death.

My little story has a happy ending. These babies filled out nicely, and they are happy and rambunxious, the way kitties should be. They didn't have that much life in them when I brought them home due to being malnourished, I'm sure. But now, they play, have become tolerable to our own cats (Diamond likes the striped boy pretty well, and he loves on her as if she is his new mommy-she even cleans him with her tongue.) =) The black kitty is happy as well, but just doesn't show the need to be mothered like the striped baby.

If you know me personally, and know of anyone who would like these precious babies, please let me know! We won't be able to keep them, but will continue to love them and care for them until they find a new residence, which I would like to be indoors (going outside is fine, but I don't want them to go to someone who doesn't want them inside at all).

Have a great weekend all! Hope this story warmed your heart a little bit!

A Dedication From My Hubby!

2011-07-18T11:24:00.003-04:00

Ahh...another beautiful day in Pennsylvania! Off to the craft store with my friend, and then on to the thrift store!

Just thought I'd share with you a video my husband DEDICATED to me on Facebook a few months back. My response:
Umm...thanks??? =D

Here I Am!!!

2011-07-15T23:11:00.002-04:00

Ahh....I have been living life! Hopefully my fellow bloggers and readers either understand, or take the time to do the same on occasion. =)

Do y'all remember me telling you that I may have some really big news to share? I mentioned this around
Christmas time, so most of you probably don't remember at all, and that's ok. But my big news has happened, and I'm happy to share it with you now!

My dear friend Michelle, and her daughter Sydney, moved up her to my area! I moved 120 miles from home after I got married, and that was nearly 18 years ago. About 2 years ago, I reconnected with Michelle after I ran into her at a store while visiting my old home area. After much prayer and some planning, and some opportunities making it possible, Michelle relocated near me! Needless to say, it was a dream come true.

These days, I've been helping her get settled in to the area, along with other things that have been keeping me busy.

Complaining? Absolutely NOT!!! Just keeping busy!

I am, however, getting bit by my blogging desire, and now that summer is here, and school is out for my son, I will be able to dedicate more time to my blog. Looking forward to sharing with you all once again!

Photoman, Stuntman, Or Undercover Sniper/SWAT Guy?

2011-05-31T00:58:00.001-04:00

Wow! This has been such a busy and fun week, with more fun and busy-ness to come!

My brother Bryan came up to shoot a wedding with my daughter, and they did a FABULOUS job! What a team! We had intended on getting our family done as well, but I was so whooped! It just never really came together and happened. So! Before the Memorial Day picnic today, we did at least get to have a fun photo shoot for Dan and me! My brother was very willing-it was this old girl that ran out of steam. When today rolled around, I barely saw my kiddos, so it was just Dan and me. But it was a LOT of fun!

Bryan had us do several poses, and let me tell you, that man has MORE energy than I've had in YEARS!!! He posed us on the ground, walking thru the yard, around a tree, on a rock, etc.

Oops! Dan got a little confused on the pose with the next shot.....

Bryan said he won't be putting his name on this one....

So anyway! Since Bryan lives over 100 miles away, I think he may be keeping secrets from me!

You should have seen how he balanced himself up on a piece of yardquipment (one of those roll bars that flattens the yard)---not to mention how he grabbed it and moved it.

The leaps and the rolls on the ground, as if he was dodging bullets and enemies got me to thinking....

Is he REALLY some kind of stuntman or sniper? I mean really, how can my OLDER brother MOVE so much more agile-y than me, so quickly, and use his trigger finger the whole time too?

He's gotta be keeping some important infomation from me...

Maybe that was him I saw on the White House roof last year when I was in D.C....

He'll probably never confess.

(with my daughter Amber)

5QF!

2011-05-26T23:51:00.001-04:00

Hello out there!

Just a quick stop by to my blog to do a quick 5QF! Busy, busy, busy this week! A wedding on Saturday(dear friends of ours are getting married), my brother is coming in from out of state to shoot the wedding with my daughter (woo hoo!) and is staying for a few days, my daughter is learning to fly (getting a beautiful place of her own), and we'll be finishing up school in the next couple of weeks!

But onto the 5QF!

1. Do you apologize to your kids? I sure do! Parents aren't perfect, and I don't think it's a good example to act as if we are. I hope that if I take responsibility of my actions when I am wrong, my children will learn to do the same. If I am wrong or if I am harsh for no good reason, I apologize to my children. I do not, however, apologize if I have to discipline them and they just don't like it. I do not ground them and then apologize as if I have done something wrong.

2. What color are your nails right now? My nail color right now is "au naturale". I like this color, and have been wearing it for over 20 years!!! =)

3. When you were growing up, how difficult was it for you to stay home from school sick? (As in, did you have to vomit or just say "I don't feel good".) I think my mother had balance with the whole sick thing, so it probably just depended on how sick I was. I am one of those fortunate (or unfortunate when I just want to get it over with!) people that has only vomited about 10 times in my entire life. So! It's a good thing I didn't have to prove it with actually puking! (Gross-I know-excuse me!)

4. When is the last time you bought a new comforter for your bed? I think about a year and a half ago. It's satiny brown. =)

5. Favorite website(s)? I never thought I'd say this, but I only hang out in about two places: Facebook, and playing the game Literati. I didn't like Facebook at first, but like it quite a bit now. I don't air my dirty laundry on it-don't complain about how bad my life is (which would be a lie anyway!), and don't play Farmville, Mafia Wars, Cityville or that type of game. Occasionally I will play a couple of their word games. I'm all into word games! This may come as a shock to you, but I'm actually a bit of a recluse! I love my friends dearly, and I'm thankful that they understand how I am with my reclusive-ness. That being said, as much as I like to be by myself, I also care much about my friends, and like to read their updates on Facebook. I actually got in touch with a cousin I've only seen once in the past 17 plus years thru Facebook! We are going to lunch, maybe next week! He lives about two hours south of me, so I'm going to drive south, he's going to drive north, and we're going to meet for lunch! =) I usually tend to come out of my reclusive life when I have friends that are in need. Then I try to be helpful. But I just love being home. Facebook is my cheat way of visiting.

And of course, I think my website, http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/ is pretty good too! At least, I'd like to think it is-I've spent many, many, many hours building it!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and let's visit again! =)

Nope!!!

2011-05-22T07:16:00.000-04:00

Nope! I haven't dropped off the face of the earth!

Nope! I haven't stopped blogging!

Nope! I haven't stopped being thankful for my blog readers who still check in on me, even tho I haven't added any new posts for a while.

I will be back! It shouldn't be too long!

Until then, this is the day that the Lord has made-let us remember to count our blessings, and to have a thankful heart!

The Clown and His Own Carnival

2011-04-11T19:08:00.001-04:00

So! Last night, Dan and I went to bed, and I couldn't sleep, so I got back up, and came to bed in the wee hours of the morning.....

Dan was sleeping on his back, and let me tell ya, his snoring was like him having his own private carnival! There was so much going on between his throat, nose and mouth, I thought he woke himself a little bit.

But apparently not enough.

The sweet wife that I am, I ever so gently rubbed his arm and shoulder to wake him, without startling him.

"Hon..." (rubbing his arm and shoulder)

"Mp h, snorkel, pork chops, htpth, mmm.....What happened?"

"You're snoring really bad. You are really going to town!"

So ya know what the Clown says to me????

Do you???

He says.....

"It's ok. It's not bothering me."

(I laughed quite a bit-and yes, he rolled over for me, and laughed too.) =)

I Accidentally Left The Country and 5QF

2011-04-01T00:30:00.003-04:00

It was a lovely spring day! Amber's friend from Mississippi was visiting us for a week in our beautiful state of Pennyslvania-the furthest north she has ever been.

Since we live just a few hours from Niagara Falls, we wanted to take Erin to see them. It's quite an attraction, and being up close to the Falls shows just a tiny bit of the magnificence of our great God. I'd never been to the American Falls, only to the Canada side on my honeymoon.

The ride up was so calm, with little traffic and no problems. I'm grateful for having a GPS!

Nearing the end of our journey, all of the signs, along with the GPS instructions, were getting confusing! I couldn't quite figure out where to go, so I went where I thought I should go.

I pulled up to a little building/booth with a very high window, and a man poked his head out. I told him I was lost, and he asked for my license. I didn't know it, but I was now in Canada.

CANADA!

Oh-and did I mention we didn't have any passports?

The man asked if my GPS had brought me there, and of course, the answer was yes! He told me to go to that building over there, and inside I would get a paper to take with me to head back to the States.

I go inside, and tell the lady I got lost, and she too, asked if it was my GPS. THANKFULLY I am not the only person who has ever gone to Canada on accident! I could tell since both Canadian folks I had to speak to guessed right on the money what brought me to their country on the first guess!

The lady gave me my Canadian rejection paper, and told me how to head back home.

Our visitor Erin was now able to go home and tell everyone that she not only visited this far north for the first time, but she also got to step on Canadian concrete!

Heading out of the parking lot, believe it or not, I got confused, and wasn't sure which was to go. I SURELY wasn't going to ask my GPS for help again!

I asked a truck driver who had pulled over which way to go, and he showed me, along with showing me a map, and warning me that I was going to be given a hard time trying to get back into the United States.

Great.

We got back to the bridge that brings us home, and of course, I was in the wrong lane when I was trying to come back to the States. I was in the truck lane. But the nice trucker behind me beeped and pointed me in the right direction.

After taking our picture upon entering the States, I gave Homeland Security my rejection paper.

Let me interject here---coming into the United States is one time that you absolutely do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, want to crack stupid jokes. It's probably a real good thing Dan wasn't with us.

The very serious, very stern man asked for our passports, which of course, we didn't have, because we didn't know we were leaving the country. He asked for our licenses, which we only had two. Security pointed out that we only had two licenses, but there were five of us, and wanted to know why.

Um....because Dakota is 12??? And Amber doesn't have hers yet either???? And one was at home, which just left two of us with a license.

Amber, being the teenager she is, immediately picks up the cell phone and starts texting about our adventure.

Security got a bit radical about it and asked what she was doing! We answered that she was texting, and he said she couldn't do that here! Amber practically threw the phone down.

Then Security tells us one moment, and calls someone. Three other Security men come to our car-one goes in the booth with the other officer, and the other two ESCORT my passangers out of the car and into the Homeland Security building!

Sigh.....

After going thru more questions and feeling like criminals, along with not having passports, we get ready to leave.

I know the guy in the building told me how to get out of there, but I was already confused when I got out in the parking lot and saw more than one way I could possibly go.

So, I asked the parking lot officer to tell me where to go. He asked if I had a certain paper, which I didn't because one wasn't given to me, and then told me to wait while he checked to make sure we were cleared, since we weren't in the building for very long.

He gave us directions, and we were finally on our way AWAY from CANADA!!!

So! Boys and Girls, the lesson for today is:

Do not leave the country without a passport!!!

I actually don't think I ever want to leave the country again, even WITH a passport!

Well, it DID make for a more memorable trip for a Southern Belle! =)

Now onto the 5QF!

1. Have you ever had surgery?
Yep! On both of my big toes. Back in the day of big, permed hair, was also the day of pointy-toes shoes. Fashion is a cruel taskmaster! I ended up with problems from my toes being scruched together in those pointy shoes, which required surgery. My one toe got infected, so he had to do it all over again!

Speaking of toes, did you ever notice when you hurt your toe, for a few weeks after that, it seems to have a built-in magnet that attracts everything you walk by, that could possibly hurt if you bump into it?

2. Ever ride in an ambulance?
I don't believe so, but when Dan fell from a tree 2 years ago, and due to nerve damage, was taken by helicopter to a bigger hospital an hour away, Dakota, Elissa and I drove to the airport to watch him go. He was taken by ambulance to the airport.

3. How are you in a medical emergency? Panicked? Calm?
When it's my children, and it's something that requires stitches, and there is bleeding involved, I try to stay calm so that I can keep my children calm. I've been blessed that I haven't had to face too many medical emergencies.
I did, however, feel like crying, and was scared when I met Dan and Dakota at the hospital after they got carbon monoxide poisoning. The bloodshot eyes, the bad headaches, and the reality of what had happened while Amber and I were away that day, sinking in, really scared me. I could have come home to both of my men dead.

4. Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies?
We will have a garden this year! Fresh veggies! I do have some flowers and plants in my landscape as well.

5. When did you move out of your parents house?
When I was 23. I lived with a lady from my church for 6 months, and then got married and moved out of state. =)

I hope everyone has a nice weekend! And thanks for stopping by!

Stay Tuned!

2011-03-21T09:32:00.000-04:00

I thought this was cute. =)

Come back soon-I'll be telling you about my recent international travels! Oh don't worry-it won't be boring-as the trip was accidental, and I didn't have any passports! =)

Our House Fire 3/4/09 and 5QF-Did We Really Lose Everything?

2011-03-03T22:19:00.007-05:00

I'm so glad you have stopped by to visit today! Some of you have been here before, and some for the first time, but today will be one of my most important blog posts-FOREVER!

First, our lives two years ago today (I am actually writing this the night before), and then on to the blog hop!

March 3, 2009

I watched my children get on the school bus, and when I got down to pray, I asked God to keep my children safe.

Sometimes we don't know the weight of our prayers, do we?

March 4, 2009

My oldest working, my other two children in school, Dan was studying to preach at church that evening, and I was off to town to do laundry.
Dan called me on my cell phone, although with no signal, I got the message shortly later. The house was on fire, and burning to the ground. When I got home, the fire was almost out. Approximately one short hour after the fire, this is what I came home to:

Taken from the back yard, looking at the tree in the front yard thru the living room. Dakota's room is to the left, with a little bit of wall still standing.

The standing partial wall and the wall that fell was my bedroom and Dakota's bedroom.

Front view of the livingroom.

The room that is still standing is the kitchen.

The kitchen and bathroom.

Fifteen years of marriage.

A fire that was completely out of control in 10 minutes time.

A house "completely" gone in one hour-except the garage they were able to save.

Did we really lose everything?

What did we still have?

We still have our friends, family and neighbors, and even total strangers, who showed us generosity on a very humbling level. Strangers offered to open up their homes for us to have a place to stay, neighbors we knew and didn't know gave us generous gifts of money and clothing, among the other ways they helped, and offered to help us.

We still have each other!

April 5, 2009

Amber and I called home to tell Dan we were on our way home, only to find out he and Dakota were on their way to the emergency room because they had been poisoned by carbon monoxide.

I still have the two most important men in my life!

April 9, 2009

I received the phone call from my brother in law that my hubby was in the hospital after taking a fall from a tree. After the first surgery and 9 days in the hospital, he came home.

A second surgery took place in August, 2009.

This is the chair my hubby has spent most of his last two years in. The chair was brand new-but is now worn out. But that just means that I am not a widow today. ♥

Today we live in a home that we're very happy in, and in a nice little community. We are very blessed.

Did we really lose everything?

No, we still have the most important things in life-our family, friends, and the Lord.

I just wanted this post to be a reminder that stuff is just STUFF, and can be replaced. I hope that each person that reads this today will tuck this little reminder in their hearts, in case you need it for a rainy day.

If you'd like to read the entire story, this is my long, detailed post on it-click here.

NOW! On to the Five Question Friday!!!

1. Have you ever forgotten your child in a store or at school? Um, I don't think I have! I guess that's where my obsessiveness comes in handy-I'm the type to check and re-check to make sure things aren't left turned on when we leave the house. That spills over to other areas of my life.

2. Where did you go on your very first date? (Like...first first, not first with your spouse or current significant other!) I believe it was to a movie, but you know, I'm getting really old and can't remember much else about it!

3. What's your "silly" fear? (We're not talking water and heights.) Okay, don't laugh! I live in Pennsylvania, and since I grew up a city girl, I have a 17 year long fear of.....

Bears. Black bears.

I cannot tell you how many people have told me, "Oh, they won't bother you if you don't bother them." But YOU grow up in the city where the biggest thing you've ever seen in a raccoon, and tell me that! If my car ever breaks down at night, I'm not worried about some bad guy coming and robbing me-I'm worried that a bear is gonna come out of the woods and MAUL me!

4. Confrontation: do you cause it, deal with is as it comes, or run far far away? I RUN!!! I HATE confrontation! I try to live by the wise words of Solomon, a soft answer turns away wrath.

5. Wood floors or carpet? Carpet, although I am taking a liking to wood floors more than before. After our house burned, we rented a home that I absolutely adored! And the bedrooms had wood floors. We've become good friends with the man who rented the home to us, and he was a fantastic help to my family when Dan was recovering from his injuries-always willing to help Dan and I, and our children if we needed anything. This is my shout out to Harry! Thanks, friend!

Anyway, I've already informed him that when I'm rich, I'm going to buy his house. It wasn't quite what we needed for our family of 5, but by the time I'm rich, my kids will all be married and moved out. Then I'll have a house with carpet, AND a house with wood floors! =D

Thanks for stopping by! I hope my blog has been worth your time today, and as always, I welcome your comments!

A Secret Admirer And My 5QF

2011-02-25T00:28:00.001-05:00

The weekend is almost here, and I've been a good girl, and stuck to my diet all week! Go me! And please, someone, CHEER ME ON!!! I need it!

Well guess what special little something happened to ME today!

Dakota had a dental appointment today, and because of the insurance, we have to drive over an hour to his dentist.

After the appointment, I came out to my car to find a piece of paper stuffed into the door. Uh-oh. Did I park in a no-parking spot?

I opened up the paper to find this:

An ADMIRER??? Of little ol' me???

As my memory began to work, I recognized the writing. It went along with a phone call I got just shortly ago, telling me that "he" needed to go to the same little city I was in, over an hour away from home. The writing looked familiar because it's the same writing that's been on many cards over the past 18 years.

My baby made my afternoon! ♥

NOW! On to the Five Question Friday!

1. Can you drive a stick shift? I sure can! My first car was a stick shift! I have some great memories of that little car, and I do mean LITTLE! It was about as big a refrigerator box-it was a 1979 Ford Fiesta.

Have you read about the first time I drove it to church after learning to drive a stick shift?

2. What are two foods you just can't eat? Squid and octopus. Yes, I'm serious-they serve them sometimes at the Chinese restaurants. Once, Elissa, Dan and I were at the Chinese restaurant, and Dan got one of each, along with some shrimp (I eat shrimp-LOVE the stuff!). I don't remember the whole scenario, but while eating, Dan decided to play with his food, and the next thing we knew, the squid and octopus were having a fight. And one of them says to shrimp on the plate, "You stay out of this, you little shrimp!".

Yeah, if my walls could talk.....

3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind? I love Girl Scout cookies. I'd like it to go on record that this is a very unfair question for a woman who is working hard at sticking to her diet! I nearly began salivating just THINKING about them! But anyway, I think I like them all! But the butter ones are probably my favorite. (Sorry, it's been a while.)

4. How do you pamper yourself? Hmm....to be truthful, probably by taking naps regularly! My kiddos are old enough that I can just go on upstairs and climb into my wonderful bed with my soft, micro-fiber heating blanket, along with my memory foam pillow. I feel spoiled just talking about it!

5. What is your nickname and how did you get it? My dad gave me a nickname, and I don't know when it wore off-maybe when I got to be nearly as tall as him. It was Midget. He is the only one who called me that. My other nickname that was used by everyone else was Josie. My name isn't Josephine, it's Josanne (I've been asked). Growing up, I was called Josie regularly. I decided I no longer wanted to be called Josie, but Josanne, and today, very few people still call me by my nickname. I don't mind those who do-I know it's not done out of spite or anything.

I hope you all have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

The Big Girl Club Hates Me

2011-02-23T14:47:00.000-05:00

Well, it's day three since I announced and began my departure from the Big Girl's club, and guess what? They HATE me for it! All along, treating me like their friend until I wanted to leave!

How do I know this?

Because of the daily 15 minutes in the TORTURE CHAMBER that I've been going thru!

Oh, cutting out the junk food hasn't been so hard as of yet, but that piece of machinery in the basement called an eliptical is the real clencher! I HATE it!

I hate it as much as I did when I joined the Y-which, to my shame, I only went like, twice....I think....

Fifteen llloooooonnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg minutes of torture, and if that wasn't bad enough, my legs feel like jello when I'm done.

I am TOTALLY telling on myself! I don't believe in humiliating your kids in your blogs, but if you want to humiliate yourself, I guess that's ok, and actually, send me a link if you do so that my misery can enjoy the company, and I won't feel so bad! =D

Well, off I go to finish cleaning out my cupboards for my 7 X 3 Jump Start Challenge, and another grueling torture chamber session before heading to church this evening.

Ugh....

I'm Leaving the Big Girl's Club

2011-02-21T03:16:00.001-05:00

When I was little, I wanted to be big-didn't we all?

Well, now I'm a big girl, and with a WHOLE different meaning, I want to be little again!

I had Elissa take some pics earlier, and some of the ones I like real well need cut OFF from the shoulder UP!

So! Farewell, Big Girl club! It's time to get serious about this! Unfortunately, you can't just leave this club-you have to do the opposite of what you do to join other clubs. You have to work your way out of it, instead of working your way up the ladder like you would somewhere else.

Fortunately tho, if I take a picture from up above, I don't look too "big girl" ish! Picture in point:

Unfortunately, I can't walk around with my chin up everywhere I go, lest people think I'm snooty! So the only alternative is.....sigh.....to get rid of the excess.

Speaking of the major task in front of me, did you all know I have a blog for doing fun (so to speak) challenges? If you stop by, you can join in if you like! The new challenges start today, and they are for 21 days-7 challenges for 3 days each, in 5 different categories. I'd be thrilled if you would stop by!

http://www.jointhechallenge.blogspot.com/

As for my newest task, stay tuned for updates.....

A Valentine's Bouquet I Made-My Very Best!

2011-02-17T21:43:00.000-05:00

I didn't feel that a 5QF post would be appropriate for today, after posting the loss of my dear friend yesterday.

I did, however, want to just share my most recent creation. This was a chocolate bouquet that my brother in law ordered for his beautiful wife. Because I was making this "at the last minute", I did not take pictures as I went, nor did I write out the directions.

I must say that I was pleased, and even more pleased that my brother in law was happy with it, as was his wife. =)

Do you all like it?

What do you think of my newest bouquet?
	Love it!
	Hate it!
	I could do better with one arm tied behind my back!
	It's ok...

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How many chocolate bouquets should be in my how-to book?
	3 to 5
	6 to 9
	10 to 12
	13 to 20

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