Got Chai?

Kisses from Katie

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:13:00 +0000

I'm really, really really loving this blog called "Kisses from Katie". This young woman's story is so touching - so inspiring - I can't stay away from it. I find myself thinking about it throughout the day and searching for even more blogs - more missionaries - like her.

Not sure what it is exactly that has me so transfixed. All I know for sure is that I feel something being stirred very deep within me as I read and look at her beautiful photos.

PNB’s Don Quixote

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:29:00 +0000

For those of you who are not “friends” with me on Facebook, here is the commercial for PNB’s Don Quixote. At roughly 16 seconds in to the clip is the “dream scene” where Abby and her friends will be performing as Cupid Children. Enjoy!

Week in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:38:00 +0000

It’s been snowing off ‘n on all day. (Yes, my fellow Washingtonians – I went there! I’m now talking about the dreaded snow, just like everyone else.) It’s supposed to continue like this all week, which really doesn’t make me happy. Why? Because I’m not a fan of being cold, and the commute to Seattle will be even more unpleasant than normal. Oh well. Such is life!

{And honestly, it’s not a ton of snow. I just can’t stand it in any amount. *Wink*}

In other news, Abby goes back in on Wednesday to get her foot x-rayed. Hopefully the break has healed enough (and the pain has subsided completely) to get the “all clear” to begin dancing full-out again. Prayers are appreciated for this. Her foot’s still hurting and it’s been 5 weeks!

Guess what! Dean and I celebrated 14 years of togetherness back on the 11th. {Isn’t that somethin’?!} And to mark this momentous occasion, he surprised me with a dozen bright pink roses when I got home. Everyone say it with me: “Awwww…!”

Guess what again? I’ll begin training on a new position at work (hospital) on the 23rd. I’m really looking forward to it! The additional hours will be such a huge relief, even though I have to be there at 5am for a week. (YUCK!) There’s not enough caffeine in the world, folks…sigh. But like I said, I’m looking forward to it, and I hope to pick up more (consistent) hours once I’m trained. We.shall.see!

And now for a bit of a sad story…I was without a washer for a full 24 hrs this week. Longest 24 hours of my life! (Ha!) Thankfully, it was fixed quickly and I’m now back to my regular daily laundry routine. (Dean made it a point to tell our beloved maintenance guy/pal that, “Denise is really going to freak out! No – you don’t understand. I mean, she’s going to fuh-reeek out without a washer!” (I’m laughing now, but at the time I did “humph!” like a pouty 2 year old.)

I’m looking forward to reviewing Seattle Dance Project’s “Project 5” next Saturday! It’ll be so great to see Miss Rebecca, my boss and friend from Class Act Tutu. It’s been far too long! Just wish her beautiful daughter Rachel could join us. But sadly, she isn’t feeling well. (Poo!)

Sierra’s at her boyfriend’s house making homemade fettuccine alfredo. I hope she plans on sharing when she gets home! (Hee hee) Not sure how to take the whole boyfriend-thing still. It bugs me, I gotta say. Guess that just goes along with growing up to some degree. Thankfully Ethan still thinks girls are gross and Abby thinks boys are weird. That makes me super-happy!

Man, this post is BORING…I need to get out more or something.

Book Review: Savvy Shopper–Couponing Secrets from the Stockpiling Moms

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:10:00 +0000

Let’s face it – buying groceries is by far one of the biggest expenses for a family on a budget. While many of us look for ways to reduce our spending by using coupons or buying generic, we often become frustrated by the whole idea when we either don’t see a significant drop in our spending, or else find the practice of coupon clipping to be a major hassle. (*Blushing* Been there, done that! Ahem…)

If that describes you, chin up! In their new book, Savvy Savings – Couponing Secrets from the Stockpiling Moms, authors Melissa Jennings and Shelley King (www.stockpilingmoms.com) teach “coupon newbies” how to save BIG money at the grocery store, create a stockpile to last our families anywhere from 3-6 months, and NOT get all frazzled ‘n uptight right from the get-go.

Savvy Savings is more than a glorified tutorial. It takes you through the entire stockpiling process from start to finish in a clear, organized way. Information on everything from:

planning your shopping strategy
collecting and organizing your coupons
menu planning
coupon rules and the benefits of knowing your store’s coupon policy
deciphering coupon lingo
understanding sale cycles (and planning your shopping around them)
shopping with children
storage
frugal living ideas
donating your surplus to food banks or animal shelters
to coping strategies for those snarky comments and jabs of criticism (“So, exactly HOW many boxes of cereal do you need, anyway?”) is all here.

The crux of the book is about building that stockpile!

According to the author’s, a successful stockpile will save you thousands of dollars per year on everything from food, to toiletries, to pet food – even holiday gifts! This will enable you to:

pay off debts
take that family “dream vacation”
pay for your child’s college tuition
save for retirement or a down payment on a new home
and bless others in your community

And that, my friends, is what makes “savvy savings” so worthwhile!

My Thoughts: I was pleased with both the flow and the content of this book. The authors took a great deal of care in explaining all the ins and outs of couponing/stockpiling, and making it feel extremely “do-able”. Their personalities and genuine interest in helping others really shined through. It felt as though you were sitting down for a good chat with your best friend, not sitting in another coupon class!

By the end of the book, I was grabbing my sales ads, coupon inserts and scissors in earnest! (Hee hee) Even though I’ve been couponing off ‘n on for a few years, I have yet to really build a stockpile and see savings like those mentioned in the book. But I want to! I really, really want to.

If this is something you’ve considered trying but felt it was either “too hard” or “just didn’t work”, you should definitely get a copy of Savvy Savings. It will walk you through the crazy world of couponing step-by-step and teach you how to maximize your savings at every turn.

This book is great for both “newbies” and those who’ve recently fallen off the coupon wagon!

Savvy Saving: Couponing Secrets from Stockpiling Moms is available for only $9.59 on Amazon. (Which is a rather small investment, considering the HUGE returns you’ll receive after implementing all the frugal tips and strategies in this book!)

Two thumbs up!

A Little Late (but those of you who happen to be my FB pals already know this) but...

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:44:00 +0000

Okay, so remember how I said Abby didn't break her foot during December 10th's Nutcracker performance?

Well, I was wrong. Or at least, the doctor was wrong.

Yep, turns out she has a hairline fracture - something terribly difficult to see immediately following an injury.

Abby had gone back to class after a whopping 5 days off (hail, winter break!) and she apparently had to sit out during pointe work as her foot was hurting. So the next day, I managed to get her in to see one of the area's most sought-after podiatrists (I'm totally not making that up) later that afternoon.

She explained what happens with a contusion (or "bone bruise") - how the blood pools in the bone, making it impossible to see a slight fracture. She then ordered another x-ray of her feeties and - sure enough - there it was. The now visible hairline fracture. Awesome. (NOT)

So what does this mean for my little Pookie?

She won't have to wear a boot as she's already 4 weeks into the healing process and her foot's healing remarkably well. {Hooray!!!}
She can't dance full-out (ie: no jumping, nothing "high impact") and no pointe work for 2 weeks.
She had to miss the SAB (School of American Ballet) audition this past Sunday.
She can still perform in Don Quixote, provided she continues to heal well.

So there you have it. My youngest has her first broken bone. {Boo!} :-(

Ballet...it's not for wimps.

Nutcracker's Over, Happy New Year, Blah, Blah...

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:54:00 +0000

Abby's first Nutcracker run ended on December 27th at approximately 3pm PST {insert singing angel choir here}. She made it through 19 out of her 20 scheduled performances (see two posts down about injury) and enjoyed every stinkin' minute of it. (Except the whole injury part...)

Just before the final show, she received ~~one of~~ THE most treasured gift possible...an personally autographed pointe shoe from her favorite ballerina, Lindsi Dec (soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet).

She was so excited, she was literally bouncing up 'n down like Tigger when the sweet lady handing the pointe shoes out said, "Abby...Abby Opper?" Abby's eyes lit up like a million-watt bulb. "Abby Opper? That's me! That's me!" (Soo funny :) )

In other news - Happy New Year to one and all! I have a feeling there will be several interesting things happening in my family in 2012. (And no, I'm not speaking of that lame-o "The world's going to end" theory.) I just really have a feeling that there will be a LOT of interesting developments this year. I just hope I'm able to keep up with them all! ;-)

To start 2012 off right, Dean and the kids (read: Sierra & Ethan) cleaned out the garage yesterday. Yippee! I LOVE seeing things all neat, tidy and organized once again. I even did some de-cluttering around the inside of the house myself (closets, magazines, books). Honestly, I get a major kick out grabbing a pile of crap and just tossing it. Ahhhh...! It's such a freeing, refreshing, all around awesome feeling. (Ha ha!) Yes, I'm that psychotic.

Hey, guess what? I'm considering buying a crockpot!

Yep, you read that right; me and a crockpot. (I'll wait for you to grab the smelling salts...it's *that* shocking, I know.)

Funny how things - and people - change as they get older. (Eegads! Did I just put that in print?!) But seriously, it's totally true. I'm on this baking kick as I mentioned in the previous post. I've also taken to trying my hand at actual recipes like, from a book, as opposed to memory (Example: fry up ground turkey, add seasoning, roll into tortillas, add cheese, salsa. Enjoy.). I'm also considering delving into the world of menu planning so as to make my life easier once ballet starts up again tomorrow (and with it, rehearsals for Don Quixote).

If I keep this up, my dear friend Tina just might keel over from a serious heart-attack. Ha ha ha! :) (*Ahem* Let's hope not...)

Just a Bakin' Fool...

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Pretzel Turtle Candies. Photo Credit: Deniseinbloom.com

I've been on a baking kick the past few days.{I know - crazy, right?}

So far, I've made 3 batches of these homemade pretzel turtle candies, a batch of this peanut butter fudge, and about 4 dozen snickerdoodle cookies.

Abby asked why I was in a baking mood (answer: "I don't know."); Sierra said she preferred "a baking kick" versus a "cleaning kick" any day. Ethan was excited when I handed him a cookie to try - then he flipped it over (to check for a burnt bottom) and finding that all was well, heartily ate every last crumb.

My kids love me sooo much. *Ahem*

As with most of my "moods" or "kicks", there's no telling how long this one will last. In the meantime, the kids - and Dean - are enjoying every minute of it.

Going Nuts

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:12:00 +0000

We're down the last 11 (10?) Nutcracker performances! Whew!!!

On a delightful note, Abby was recently featured in two of our local papers: The Weekly Herald and the Daily Herald (in which she was on the FRONT page!) Here is the link to the Daily Herald's article, in case you're interested:

http://heraldnet.com/article/20111206/NEWS01/712069938

Sadly, things got a little side-tracked following Saturday's performance. During the fight scene, both Abby and another toy soldier are captured and carried off-stage by a villainous "fighting mouse". Unfortunately, the "fighting mouse" accidentally tripped over the hem of his costume, and both Abby and the other child were dropped.

The other child is fine (thank goodness!), but the mouse landed on Abby's right foot. Hard. (I'm telling you, watching that happen while you're sitting and watching from the audience is the worst.feeling.ever!)

We're not supposed to pick up the kids until intermission, so once the final "snowflake" made her exit and the curtain came down on Act 1, Dean and I were both up and running! After what felt like an eternity (maybe 10 minutes?), the children's backstage coordinator came down to get us.

In the meantime, we'd heard conflicting stories from the various children in her cast who'd repeatedly asked, "Did you see Abby? She got DROPPED!" Some would say that she'd hurt her nose. One said she'd BROKEN her nose! (*Gasp*) Another said "they called the doctor to come!"...oh my!

Turns out, none of that was exactly true. Her nose was fine and there is no "doctor" but rather the company's physical therapist who is backstage to deal with dancer's injuries as they happen. They'd thought it was her nose because apparently Abby had been holding her face in an effort to not cry, or hide her face so others wouldn't see her cry.

Her foot was swollen, bruised and painful to walk on. The physical therapist suggested she get x-rays the following day. (Yikes)

Thankfully, those x-rays revealed no sign of a fracture. Just a lot of swelling, bruising. She's been icing it like crazy and not taking class (which just about kills her, let me tell ya!). And while it's getting better, it still hurts to do things like point or go up on releve`.

However, she's been cleared to perform as she's only "marching", but she'll be icing before/after the show plus getting her foot lightly wrapped prior to going out on stage. Tonight will be her first night "back" (she'd missed Sunday's performance, obviously), which will serve as sort of a "test" to see whether or not she needs more time off. (She's really hoping and praying that that won't be the case.)

On a more humorous note, while we were waiting inside the doctor's office, Dean was taken aback by the condition of Abby's feet since starting pointe. (He obviously hasn't seen her barefoot in awhile.) Even more funny - the doctor had to ask, "So which foot did you hurt again?" ;-)

{Honestly, they're really not that bad...yet.}

I Have Nothin' To Say Today

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Have you ever had a moment where you wanted to write a blog post because you think you have a ton of things to catch everyone up on (like they're all just waiting with bated breath for that next bit of prose to flow from your fingertips, right?), only to realize that you have absolutely NOTHING to say?

You see, I was going to tell you how I had yet to order my turkey dinner from the grocery store. I know, I know, it's not very "traditional" but believe me - it's sooo much easier! Mostly because I can't stand the idea of gutting and cleaning a gigantic dead turkey with my bare hands. (*Shudder*) I've done it - once. And it wasn't fun. Or pretty. Let's just say, I totally owe my mom BIG TIME. That with our constant back/forth for Nutcracker...? Umm, yeah.

Speaking of those 20 Nutcracker performances that are fast approaching: Opening Night is the day after Thanksgiving - you know, when everyone and their brother is out shopping on Black Friday. (Awesome...) But all sarcasm aside, I'm really looking forward to it. This is such a huge honor for Abby and I know she's going to LOVE every stinkin' minute of it. :) Now if I can just remember to pick up a couple of packages of those super long bobby pins and makeup remover wipes, I'll have it made.

Then there's the idea I'm tossing around about actually blogging more often, but that clearly exceeds the scope of my talents. (Hmm. I'm not too thrilled with how that last sentence flows...Oh well.)

Hey, guess what?! Ethan turned 13 earlier this month! (Insert horror music here) He had a total blast with his "shoot 'em up, bang-bang" video game party with all his trusty cohorts. At one point I thought I could literally smell the testosterone wafting about the house. Turns out it was just teenage boy feet. (And all the mommies of teenage boys say, "Amen!") I still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that he's a teenager already. I miss my chubby baby boy with the head full of luscious curls! (See? Wasn't he adorable?!)

Sierra's Sweet 16 party is this weekend and so far, NOT ONE of her friends has given me a definitive yes/no RSVP. Not one! I mean, hello folks?! Okay, I realize all her guests are young too, but c'mon! A little planning - and common courtesy (it's simple really: Yes you're coming, no you're not) makes this Mama happy. Just sayin'. (Twitch, twitch)

I was also going to tell you how Sierra's now taking taekwondo 5 days a week in an effort to show her teacher that she's worthy of testing for her 2nd and 3rd degree black belts before she's 18. From what I've been told, this is a highly unusual thing and reserved only for the rare, highly motivated, talented few. (Have I told you how much my kids freaking ROCK?!) Oh and here's something else. I find it amazing/interesting how both my girls are extremely ambitious whereas my son (see above) is NOT. In fact, if it weren't for video games and food, I think he just might keel over and expire. No joke. Sure hope THAT changes soon!

See there? I have absolutely nothing to write about! What did I tell ya??

New Blogger on the Block

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:49:00 +0000

What kind of Momma would I be if I didn't broadcast the fact that Abby - at long last - finally has her own blog? :)

Check it out; it's called "Aweshum" (that's "awesome" with a heavy "SH" sound and "um" because...well...it's Abby's blog. 'Nuff said.) and she plans to post to it on a frequent basis.

We'll see how long that lasts!

If she's anything like her mother, brother or sister...ahem. Yeah. Aweshum!

Little Soldier Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:26:00 +0000

As a very sweet young lady pointed out to me earlier today (*cough* Atira), I haven't posted to my blog in ages.

I shall now remedy this situation by posting a little update along with a fun video clip.

In case I've failed to mention it (and the fact that I've been neglecting my blog should supply enough evidence to the fact), my youngest daughter, Abby will be performing in this year's Nutcracker with PNB. (Woot woot!)

She's been handed the role of "infantry soldier" and will be dressed in a lovely tan uniform, complete with rosy red "circles" on her cheeks. :) (She's soooo excited!)

The scene itself is quite chaotic with oodles of soldiers and mice, but thankfully we've discovered a few visual aids to help us pinpoint her exact location:

She's the 3rd soldier "out of the box",
She's one of the first two soldiers captured in battle and carried off stage by a fearsome "fighting mouse".
Total stage time - approximately 1 min, 30 seconds. (Hee hee)

We've been busy trekking back 'n forth to Seattle for both rehearsals and classes, which she of course, absolutely LOVES to no end. (Seriously, no one can ever accuse me of pushing my own love of dance onto my child and forcing her to do what she doesn't want to do. The girl loves it so much that she insists on getting there at least 1 hr. early so she has time to just "enjoy being there". Crazy, right?)

Anyhoo...! We're all gearing up for what promises to be an extremely busy 6 weeks. Performances begin on Black Friday (kill.me.now.) and run through December 27th. She's scheduled for 20 shows and hopefully that will be it. (Unless her cast alternate gets sick...ahem.)

Also due to the insanity that is Nutcracker, we'll be holding both Ethan's 13th and Sierra's Sweet 16th birthday parties in November. (Sierra's birthday technically isn't until December 7th but we literally will not have a single free weekend until New Year's if we wait. Yikes!)

Now as promised...a video clip! This is the "fight scene" from PNB's Nutcracker. This scene is from their Nutcracker: The Movie which PNB released around 1986. Obviously the scene will look slightly different from the stage but it does give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.

(Can you spot Soldier #3?? Me either...)

Follow the New Homeschooling with Heart Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:12:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to pop in real quick and ask you all to pretty please (with sugar, marshmallow fluff, chocolate sauce and a cherry on top!) check out the new Homeschooling with Heart blog from The Old Schoolhouse magazine.

It's packed with all sorts of tips, advice and encouragement to help you along your homeschooling journey, every step of the way! And don't forget - the Big Birthday Bash giveaways end tonight! Get your entries in now while there's still time.

Last but not least - be sure to "follow" the TOS Blog on Google Friend Connect. ;-) {Trust me, it makes life in blogville a whole lot easier.}

Happy Friday!!!!

xoxo,
me

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Turning Double-Digits - and YOU Get the Goodies!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:39:00 +0000

Grab your party hats and break out the noise makers! It's time to help The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (TOS) celebrate a decade of awesomeness with it's 10th Birthday Bash!

Visit TOS's new Homeschooling with Heart blog to learn about all 3 exciting Birthday Bash events featuring freebies, daily door prizes, a meet-and greet with TOS's new columnists, and loads of fun for everyone!
Allow me to break things down for you:

1. First up - the Birthday Bash Blog Hop from September 20-30th. Get to know the TOS "Family of Columnists" including notable homeschool veterans like, Karen Andreola, Ruth Beechick, Mike Haplan, Amelia Harper, Jessica Hulcy, Zan Tyler, Diana Waring and many more.

2. Then on Thursday, September 22nd from 6-9pm (EST), the fun continues with a Birthday Bash Facebook Party! Stop by the TOS Facebook page to meet the friendly TOS staff, receive homeschooling success tips and snag some freebies. You can RSVP for this event here.

3. Last but not least, you won't want to miss the Meet-and-Greet Webinar with the TOS Family of Columnists, September 29 from 6-9 pm (EST). This exclusive event is only open to the first 1,000 registrants only, so don't wait! RSVP for this exciting event here.

But wait! There's more...!

Freebie #1 - Check out TOS's new interactive digital magazine with more than double the content! Discover the amazing features the magazine will have in January as TOS moves from a quarterly to a monthly publication. You can read a free digital copy of the Summer issue here.

{Note: The really cool thing about a digital magazine as opposed to the paper version is that it's completely interactive! See an ad for a super cool spelling product you want to check out? Just click it! Want to read more from your favorite homeschooling author? Click again! Easy peasy! :) Plus with digital, you won't have to worry about stacks and stacks of magazines cluttering your bookshelves, or accidentally spilling your coffee on it and basically ruining it before you get to finish reading it. [Not that I've *ever* done that before...ahem.])

Professor Ana Lyze—Expert in Outlandish Oddities

Freebie #2 - Get 9 The Curiosity Files™ 9 Pack E-Book Bundle. These fascinating science units help children discover some unusually interesting subjects . . . you know, the unfamiliar, zany, and strange things of nature that kids are so attracted to. Everyone who goes to this link will receive the complete set absolutely FREE!

Enjoy all the exciting TOS Birthday Bash events! I'll see you at the party, hat and confetti in hand! :)

...and the winner is

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:59:00 +0000

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! The winner of the Pillsbury Sweet Moments Prize Pack is...Marie of Our Best Daze!

Here is Marie's favorite way to capture some "me time": I love a fat oatmeal cookie from our local pastry shop, with a tall glass of milk, a nice book or movie is the finishing touch.

Hmm...that sounds good to me!

Thank you for participating in my little contest and I hope you all have the opportunity to bask in a little "me time" today!

Fernando’s New Bling

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:09:00 +0000

A few days ago, Fernando received the most stunning handmade, “bling’d out” leash imaginable from my friend, Tiffany of BC Braidz.

The only problem – ? Sir Fernando, the finicky young master that he is, does not – in any way, shape or form – walk on a leash like a “good little doggy”. Yet he dearly loved his new leash!

So instead of being treated like a (whispers) “d-o-g”, I decided to follow his lead and allow him to wear his new bling as he saw fit.

Presenting…the Story of the New Bling (narrated by Sir Fernando Knightley Esq.)

“Mama, if you seriously think for one moment that I will “walk” on this leash, you have another “think” coming!”

“Listen, I have an idea. Why don’t you wrap me in my new bling instead? That would suit me quite nicely…”

“Ahem! A little more to the right, peasant. *Sigh* It is so hard to find decent help these days…”

“See? That wasn’t so hard, now was it? Oh and umm, you can step back now. You’re standing in my light – ! (stupid human)…”

“NOW I shall go for a walk…with my leash on!”

Fin…

Pillsbury Sweet Moments Giveaway! (We’re talkin’ chocolate, folks!)

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:40:00 +0000

As everyone in the known universe knows, there are 2 things that I cherish most during my “alone” time: a piping hot cup of vanilla chai and *chocolate*! In fact, I consider chai and chocolate to be two of life’s greatest necessities. {No, I’m not kidding.}

When the opportunity presented itself to review the new Pillsbury Sweet Moments bite size desserts courtesy of My BlogSpark…Well. I don’t have to tell you I bounced up ‘n down like Tigger: “Ooo! Ooo! Pick me! Pick me! Please, please, please, pleeeeeaaase pick meeeeeeee!”

{They picked me. Ha!}

Those bite sized bursts of chocolatey goodness totally made my day. So much so in fact, that I had to take special measures to ensure my kids didn’t eat them, too! (We are a houseful of chocoholics, what can I say?) They couldn’t figure out why I was in such a great mood and smiling like a Cheshire cat, but hey – I wanted to keep them all to myself.

Along with my coupons for 2 free packages of Sweet Moments, I also received a chocolate brown leather journal, a super-soft fleece throw and a Sweet Moments mug – perfect for chai! (Or coffee if you’re so inclined…)

Look at fabulous loot! It’s a thing of beauty, isn’t it? Don’t you wish YOU could indulge in a few Sweet Moments yourself?

Well…YOU CAN!

All you have to do is enter my giveaway to receive your very own Sweet Moments Prize Pack with everything shown above.

Here are the rules:

1. You must leave a comment telling me your favorite way to relax/indulge in some “me” time. (1 entry)

2. You have to share this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. (+1 entry for each)

3. You must leave an additional comment when you do that.

4. You may choose to mention this contest on your personal blog for an additional 3 entries. (Please leave 1 additional comment if you decide to blog about this. It will still count as 3 entries, I promise.)

5. One winner will be chosen at random to receive their very own Pillsbury Sweet Moments prize pack from My BlogSpark. {Prize fulfillment will be provided through My BlogSpark.}

6. Contest ends September 5th at 6am PST.

Last but not least… To learn more about Pillsbury Sweet Moments, click here. Be sure to connect with them on both Facebook and Twitter for product information, coupons and more.

Good luck, my pretties!!!!!

*Disclosure* – Pillsbury^® Sweet Moments^®, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Don’t Be Lazy…Just Do It!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 01:16:00 +0000

One of the perks about being back at home (less 1-2 days/week) is the fact that I can now get back to my regular workout routines. Woohoo!

Before Dean lost his job, I’d purchased 3 new dvd’s from Tracie Long Fitness – only one of which ever made it out of the shrink wrap. The other two remained untouched until last week. (And my oh my, what a blessed reunion that was for me…. *Selah*)

But all too quickly, life had a way of catching up to me. I found myself swamped with work (Note: The “from home” variety of work is still work and it takes a boatload of time to accomplish; don’t ever think otherwise) and I missed a few workouts.

And that really bugged me. That is until I started rationalizing my laziness away with lame thoughts like:

“I haven’t lost that much muscle tone over the last few months.”

“I still look okay for having had 3 kids…”

“Dean hasn’t complained about my thighs – yet.”

And my personal favorite: “I’ll think about that…tomorrow.” (a’la Scarlet O’Hara)

But then… light bulb!

I didn’t want to get sucked back into that, “I don’t have time to exercise!” trap. (And you know as well as I do, it’s a trap!) Because whether we/I want to admit it or not, we/I can always make time to do whatever it is we/I want to do…

I always find the time to feed my face.
I always find the time to dink around on Facebook.
I always have time to email my friends
I always have time to do the laundry
I always find the time to complain about how I don’t have the time...

Point being – ? I had no excuse. So with that, I got off my fanny and did what I knew I had to do.

And I’ve felt pretty stinkin’ awesome ever since!

How do you keep yourself motivated? Or have you fallen into the “trap”?

The Truth is Better Than Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:01:00 +0000

For years, as far back as 5th grade, I always said that when I grew up I wanted to be a writer (and a ballerina but obviously that fizzled). Now here I am 20+ years later (*gag*), and though I’m not a New York Times bestselling author, I do get paid to write for others, which I guess makes me a professional writer.

Not bad for a high school drop-out, eh?

Crap…my kids might read this!

Dearest children o’ mine - DISREGARD that last statement, okay? I was an exemplary student who graduated with top honors!

{There, that should do the trick…}

I’ve had several friends suggest I write a book one day, which I’ve tried to do on a few occasions. However I’ve quickly discovered that inspiration – for me at least – comes in fits and starts. I get to a point where I’m really cookin’ along and suddenly – WHAMO! I develop writer’s block, lose momentum and subsequently, the dream of being the next Top Model – err, writer! – falls by the wayside. {Insert heavy sigh of defeat here}

Dean has also suggested I write a book, only he thinks I should pen his life story because it’s just so darn interesting. *Ahem*

Personally, I think a *combined tale* of our lives would be far more entertaining and perhaps – easier to write.

I can just picture the book jacket description now…

A carefree Jewish/American atheist kid from Malibu, California born with a silver spoon in his mouth becomes a drug addicted hippie Dead Head.

A lower middle class Christian ballerina girl from Washington state becomes a rebellious teenager who leaves home at 18 and becomes a single mother at age 19…

His father buys him a one-way plane ticket to a family friend’s home in Washington state in an effort to sober him up and save his life. His father’s efforts pay off.

She struggles to afford things like groceries, diapers and daycare. As she slowly returns to her faith, she begins to pray for a husband and father to come into their lives…

The two end up working together at the same computer store. Both are dating their former “ex’s”. One day, his ex breaks up with him and she later breaks up with hers. One week later, he asks her out. She says “yes”…

Sounds like a bestseller to me!

Hello, World!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:09:00 +0000

Has it seriously been two months since I’ve posted to my own blog?! {Ack!!} It’s amazing how much can be happening all around you with no time to actually share it with your friends.

Well, here I am once again with a ton of updates for anyone who may happen to see this.

First and foremost, I’m no longer working full time outside the house. {Insert Snoopy dance here} I quit working for the downtown Seattle job, and I’m now only working for:

the hospital cafeteria (30 +/- hrs per week for awhile but it will be 16-25/hrs here soon)
Living Your Moment
Class Act Tutu & Dancewear
Happy Money Saver.com. (You can read my official introductory post about my position here.)
I’ve also picked up some additional freelance blogging work as well.

In other astounding news – Dean got a job! {Insert showers of confetti here}

He hasn’t received his official start date yet, but we’re tentatively expecting it to be sometime during the first week of August. {Hooray!!!}

This is a HUGE answer to prayer, as you all know. In fact, if it hadn’t been for everyone’s prayers during these crazy 4 1/2 months, I don’t know how I would’ve survived. There were so many times I thought I’d literally lose my freaking mind working anywhere from 90 – 100+ hrs each week.

*Let me just state for the record that I don’t mind working. It was working 7 days a week that bothered me! *

However, these past few months have taught me a few things:

With God’s help, I *can* support my family. Back when it was just Sierra and I (14-15 yrs ago), supporting the two of us was one thing. {There were far less bills to pay living in our tiny one bedroom apartment! } But supporting a family five? Let’s just say I have a whole new respect for my husband and every other one-income family out there.
God really is in the big things, as well as the small things. Even the puniest prayers (“Lord please give me energy…”) would always yield positive results. My commute to work each morning (at 5:15am) was spent listening to all sorts of sermons via my iPod and just praying, relaxing and basking in His presence. Stepping off the bus and seeing homeless men and women sleeping on the sidewalks hurt my heart something awful. I was glad for the few times I was able to interact with some of them, even if those moments were brief.

Again, if it wasn’t for the prayers going out for me and my family, we wouldn’t have made it. So thank you!!!!! (((HUGS)))

Moving on to the kids….

Sierra recently visited the Klaus side of the family for 2 weeks out in the blazing hot CA desert. {A separate post along with photos is coming soon. } She’ll be heading out here soon to visit the Oppers on the other side of CA, again for 2 weeks.

And (are you ready for this?) she took her black belt test and PASSED!! {Woot woot!} Photos of this shining moment will posted as soon as she receives her new belt (which should be this Friday).

Abby’s been busy with her summer dance intensive at Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Eastside school. We’re a part of a 4 (or is it 5?) family carpool which makes the crazy trek so much easier! She’s taking 9 classes per week in ballet, pre-pointe, modern, character and jazz, and she’s lovin’ every minute of it!

Ethan has been spending far too much time playing video games this summer. {Ahem} But he’s also been able to spend some great “quality” time with Dean since he’s been off work. Can’t replace those moments, right? He’ll also be going to CA to visit the Oppers but his trip isn’t until September.

That’s it for this entry. Thanks again for all of your prayers and support!! ((Hugs))

Happy Sunday, Ya’ll!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Sun, 22 May 2011 17:43:00 +0000

Oh, how I’ve missed you, my sweet readers/friends! I just wanted to pop in to let you all know that I’m still very much alive, despite what the mirror’s been telling me lately. {Ahem}

Things are getting a bit easier for me at the Seattle job. I’ve had my first mock-review which went better than I thought. Now to dazzle everyone during my first “real” performance review later this week! {Or maybe it’s next week. I can’t remember…}

Life at the Hospital job is going okay, although I’ve recently had to change my availability due to the Seattle Job’s hours. This was kind of a bummer but…c’est la vie. What can you do?

Oh, I have to tell you…last week was just crazy! Tuesday through Friday, I went straight to the Hospital job following my shift at the Seattle job. (Which made for 13-14 hr. days) Then worked the Hospital job from 6:30am – 3pm on Saturday, then 3-8 on Sunday. Whew!

Let me tell you, I was exhausted by Sunday night! However, all those extra hours really helped us out, which I’d gladly do every single day if the Hospital Job would allow it. {And yes, I’ve asked.}

The real trick now is keeping up with everything for my Virtual Assistant job, Living Your Moment (formerly Living MY Moment), and Class Act Tutu & Dancewear (which is by far, the most neglected of the three. Sigh).

On a completely different note, here’s a little something I learned last week:

Never shop for clothes when you’re bloated. The pants you buy will only fit 2-3 days out of every month! I could’ve sworn the nice black slacks I bought for work fit me so well. Then as I was getting dressed the next day, the suckers felt HUGE. I asked Dean, “Do these LOOK all that huge to you?” He replied they didn’t look horribly too big, but yes they were clearly one size too big.

Drat!

And of course I had thrown away the receipt.

Double drat!

In other more entertaining news – the kids are excited for the school year to be done. Or at least they were, until I informed them they’d be working through the summer. Sierra’s got the green-light to access her online school program through August 1st in order to complete the entire school year in one semester. {So far, so good! If it’s one thing Sierra’s got in spades is drive and ambition. If she wants something, she gets it. No question!} Ethan and Abby on the other hand, are not happy with me. But it’s either have them work through the summer or start the new school year in December. Which they still may have to do, given their current production speed (read: highly unmotivated).

Back to Sierra; she’s going for her black belt in tae kwon do in a few weeks! Woohoo! And because the black belt test is a whopping “are you freaking kidding me?” $500 (yeah, I choked on that too), we’re holding a yard sale both this weekend and hopefully next to raise funds. We’ve got about $350 left to go. {I’m going to be putting some curriculum out today. Hopefully that’ll help boost our earnings a bit.}

Abby’s ballet recital is coming up on June 18th! She’s very excited, as you can imagine. Her level is performing 4 different pieces, of which I know nothing about. But I’m sure they’re all lovely! All Abby knows is that her costume will be purple and she’s not wearing stage make-up this time. (Shrugs) That’s my girl! All about the details…!

Speaking of Abby, I don’t know what happened but that girl took on another growth spurt recently. She’s now up to my eyeballs and a-l-l legs! YIKES!

Ethan’s – well – Ethan. Still loves playing his video games and hates being dragged away from the computer to go to tae kwon do. Although his teacher is very impressed with his progress, he admits that Ethan, “isn’t as driven and highly motivated as Sierra”. {Thanks for the newsflash.} However, he’s making some really great progress with his school work. The boy’s got brains, whether he wants to admit it or not. He’s written some really fun (very) short stories lately (short as in 2 paragraphs), and is quite quick-on-the-draw when it comes to math.

Dean’s working toward getting his computer repair business up ‘n running. If any locals need some computer help, give him a call!

Time for me to sign off. I have to take Sierra up to her black belt preparation class in a few minutes. Happy Sunday, ya’ll!

Review: Institute for Excellence in Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:29:00 +0000

I love writing. Not that you could tell by looking at my blog lately, but it's true. I've loved writing ever since I was a kid. Thankfully, I had great teachers who really encouraged me and sent me off to numerous creative writing workshops and intensives during the school year which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Like most parents who have a natural inclination in a particular area, I somehow assumed that my children would naturally follow the same path. (Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!) Boy, was I ever wrong! Granted, Sierra (15) enjoys writing to a degree, and Ethan (12) has no interest whatsoever. Abby (11) however - she may be the one to pick up where I left off. However, she has yet to really develop a love for it like I do. Until now!

Enter the Institute for Excellence in Writing! This program is nothing short of incredible, folks. I received their Teaching Writing / Student Writing Intensive combo pack Level A which I used with Abby.

This beefy program contains absolutely everything you'll need to teach the fundamentals of effective writing in a clear and easy to use way:

Student Writing Intensive Binder - Contains all necessary worksheets, teacher's notes, check lists (I love check lists...) and more. Tabbed dividers keep everything organized (I love dividers...and tabs...)
Student Intensive 4-DVD set - Contains actual classroom footage taught by program author, Andrew Pudewa. Designed to give students the full teaching experience, these DVD's are nothing short of awesome. Abby and I really enjoyed watching them, and we both enjoyed Mr. Pudewa's engaging style. He makes learning what could easily be a "snoozer of a topic" a joy!
Teacher's Binder - Contains program syllabus plus all necessary notes and information to get the most out of the course. If you have a question about what to say or how to present a topic, the answer can be found here!
Teaching Writing - Structure & Style 6-DVD set - This is where I began with this program. Mr. Pudewa does a phenomenal job of explaining all the ins and outs of effective writing. Granted, I know *how* to write, but teaching it is a whole other animal! :) The Tips & Tricks DVD was especially helpful (think: CliffNotes). Once I had a solid understanding about what to expect from both the program and from Abby, we were off 'n running! *Note: I must stress the fact that you do NOT have to watch these DVD's in order to begin teaching the program to your child. In fact, most of this program can be learned together as you go along. I'm just the type of person who likes to have all her ducks in a row before starting anything. (read: control freak).
Portable Walls - These folders provide tons of helpful information such as word list to aid in student retention. (Remember how those old Peechee folders had things like multiplication tables inside them? That's what the Portable Walls reminded me of just a bit.)

How We Used It: I used this program with Abby every day for about 3 weeks, then we took it down a notch and used it once/week thereafter. The reason for this was because I started out feeling very gung-ho about the whole thing and totally loved it. But I quickly realized that Abby couldn't keep up. (Ahem) She was getting too overwhelmed and the last thing I wanted to do was squash her budding talent!

We would sit down together and watch the DVD lesson, then take our time with each corresponding assignment. This worked really well for us and provided a lot of extra "one on one time", too. :-)Granted, there were times when Abby would whine, "Can't we just skip this part? It's too long!" But that's just her. I didn't feel that the lessons were too lengthy, but apparently she did. (She's only 11 after all....with zero patience.)

Our Opinion: I really enjoyed the fact that Mr. Pudewa not only teaches the student all the various how-to's of proper writing, but he goes one step further by showing the parent exactly why this program works. And believe me - it does work! Abby's skills have started to soar as a result of using this program (1x/week since November), and I loved the fact that all my memories of Creative Writing workshops came flooding back to me! :o) It really is a fun, unique program that every student would benefit from.

The Teaching Writing/Student Writing Intensive Combo Pack Level A is available for $239. Do not succumb to sticker shock! This price may seem a bit much for one subject - HOWEVER - it is such an incredibly thorough, very engaging, awesome-results-producing program that it is easily worth double the price or more. Take it from someone who's been through several workshops and intensives over the years - the Institute for Excellence in Writing is fantastic!!

*Disclosure: As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I received the above program for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. No additional compensation was provided and the thoughts/views expressed in this post are my own.*

Review: GoTrybe.com

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 12 May 2011 03:58:00 +0000

Even though I’m not keeping up on my workouts lately, I’m still a huge advocate for getting kids up and off the couch and moving! That’s why I volunteered to review this next product, courtesy of the TOS Homeschool Crew.

GoTrybe.com is “an online, interactive social community dedicated to the health and wellness of our youth. We get young people on the move by developing Active Screen Time™. “Trybers” can interact with fitness, nutrition, motivation and wellness content that supports their journey toward living healthfully. GoTrybe wants to be an inspiring force in the fight to get children and teens active while combating childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. As a result, GoTrybe’s mission is to change some of the normal sedentary screen time into activity and health education.”

GoTrybe offers three “trybes” in the following age ranges:

Zoodoos: K-5th

Trybe 180: 6th-8th

nextTrybe: 9th-12th

For the purpose of this review, I was given access to Zoodoos which I used with Ethan and Abby.

To begin, each child creates their own unique avatar, complete with hair, clothing, etc. Once this is completed, it’s time to get a move on with your daily workouts. {Woohoo! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!}

Each member selects that day’s fitness routine by selecting a series of videos from GoTrybe’s extensive workout library. The workouts include a warm-up routine, followed by cardio, strength and flexibility components. Each segment lasts between 3-5 minutes each, which creates a workout that runs between 20-30 minutes, depending how adventurous you are at the moment. {Or if you’re like Abby, you just repeat everything when you’re done for good measure. She’s her mother’s daughter, what can I say?}

Like I said, there are numerous videos to choose from including 60+ cardio and 40+ strength training segments alone. {Talk about your boredom and plateau busters!}

Okay, I have to stop for a moment to say just one thing – I am seriously impressed! Take if from someone who has tried numerous workouts over the past {ahem!} years. These videos are great – not only for children, but for adults too! They’re very thorough and spot-on as far as updated training and fitness info is concerned. Awesome!

Okay, moving on.

Once you’ve completed your daily workout, you can then answer a series of wellness questions for points. These points can then be used to ‘doll up’ your avatar. {Which is just what every little girlie likes to do, right? Shop!}

GoTrybe also offers a unique interactive community for users (geared toward each age group) featuring messaging, interactive forums and more.

Details:

A subscription to GoTrybe costs just $19.95 a year. Or you can get a FREE one-day pass by entering coupon code: GETFIT.

Overall, I have to say that I am impressed by GoTrybe. While the idea of using “video games” to get kids more active feels a bit misguided at times, it obviously works! {Think: Nintendo Wii.}

GoTrybe is great for the whole family and I highly recommend it. Two thumbs up!

*As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I received free access to GoTrybe for the purpose of this review. No additional compensation was provided and the thoughts expressed within this post are my own.*

Fit Mommy Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:23:00 +0000

Unfortunately, no it's not about the Challenge. Sorry about that! :-)

Instead, this announcement is all about changes; changes that I've been going through recently now that I'm working full time outside the home (in addition to full time within the home) and the changes that have transpired as a result.

Long story short, I have decided to turn Fit Mommy Friday over to the meme's co-creator and my dearest "partner in crime" Mrs. Sharon White. Sharon has graciously stepped in to cover the meme each week, and has a fantastic idea to turn it into something even bigger and better than it was before! :-)

Check out her post detailing the changes here.

While I realize this may be a surprise to some, I cannot in good faith keep this meme going. Not only am I not living up to my own fitness goals anymore due to my crazy schedule, but said schedule makes it very difficult to write the meme each week. This simply isn't fair to all of you, so I decided it was time to pass the torch along, so to speak.

I have LOVED reading all of your posts over these past two years and will miss "seeing" you all each week. You have no idea how encouraging you all have been to me and I cannot possibly thank you enough.

I hope you will all join Mrs. White each week for the Vintage Healthy Home; from my understanding there will be an option to participate as a family or as individuals so you can still keep up with your Fit Mommy goals. There will also be challenges, contests and prizes including a $10 Amazon gift card giveaway to kick off the new meme this week!

Again, I want to thank you all for being a part of the Fit Mommy team. I've said it before and I'll say it one last time...you ladies are the GREATEST!!!!

Fit Mommy Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:40:00 +0000

*The purpose behind Fit Mommy Friday is to encourage mothers in their quest toward healthy living. Whether your goal is to lose weight or simply eat healthier, Fit Mommy Friday is about sharing our weekly successes, struggles, and goals for improvement.*

I might as well cut 'n paste last week's check in. It'd be easier than re-typing it all out. :)

No workouts. Just walking to get to/from this bus to that bus. This week however, I plan to change that up a little bit and walk around during my lunch break. It's better than nothing, right? Even though the weather has been less than hospitable, I can't go another week just sitting, sitting, sitting at my desk at work, the break room, my kitchen table (aka office) at home, or on the bus. I just cannot let that continue.

I can already feel myself getting "soft" in areas that were rock hard before. (Sigh) That's such a bummer! :( I'm hoping to get in a workout each day on Saturday and Sunday as those are my two days off from zulily. (Of course, if I get called in to the hospital I won't be able to workout, either.)

In regard to nutritional goals, I've been taking protein bars with me to work to eat at lunch, and have been taking a multivitamin in the mornings. It's interesting to note how slightly more energetic I feel when I remember to take my vitamin vs. those days when I don't. :)

I've also made a commitment to get 5 hrs of sleep a night. Yes, I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but I was down to 4 hrs last week and it about did me in. I was staying up until 11:30pm working on my home based job assignments, going to bed, then waking up at 3:30am to get ready for work. Insanity. I kept falling asleep on my way to/from work! (LOL) That and I was just absolutely miserable. So now I work until 10pm and wake up at 3:30am, giving me 5 - 5.5 hrs. (Depending when I finally nod off.)

How was your week?

Fit Mommy Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:33:00 +0000

*The purpose behind Fit Mommy Friday is to encourage mothers in their quest toward healthy living. Whether your goal is to lose weight or simply eat healthier, Fit Mommy Friday is about sharing our weekly successes, struggles, and goals for improvement.*

Well...(sheepish grins) here's to yet another week of me...failing. Big time!

Exercise this week--outside of walking? None.
Healthy eating? Uhh...do the 2 PowerBars a day for snack and lunch count?

This is me working full-time outside the house. It's not pretty.

I thought I was crazy-busy before?! Ha! That was a cake walk compared to the way things are now. Total cake walk.

Now I wake up at 5am (soon to be 3:45am once my new schedule goes into effect next week) and race to get a few work-related tasks done via computer (work related in this case refers to those jobs which I do from home), then race out the door to catch the bus downtown. After work I either head home OR I head back up to PNB to meet Abby after ballet and take her home--OR--as will be the case tonight--I'll head over to PNB to review a performance. (BTW I'm really looking forward to this evening's opening of "A Midsummer Night's Dream"!)

Once I get home, it's back to work on the computer until it's time to go to bed. Such an exciting life, wouldn't you say? (Hee hee)

I must say, I totally commend all the working mommies out there who do this every.single.day. Hats off to you, ladies! You're amazing...

Well, since my check-in pretty much stinks, I shall now turn the floor over to the rest of you. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's progress--perhaps it'll motivate me to get my rear in gear! ;-)

Got Chai?

Kisses from Katie

PNB’s Don Quixote

Week in Review

Book Review: Savvy Shopper–Couponing Secrets from the Stockpiling Moms

A Little Late (but those of you who happen to be my FB pals already know this) but...

Nutcracker's Over, Happy New Year, Blah, Blah...

Just a Bakin' Fool...

Going Nuts

I Have Nothin' To Say Today

New Blogger on the Block

Little Soldier Girl

Follow the New Homeschooling with Heart Blog!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Turning Double-Digits - and YOU Get the Goodies!

...and the winner is

Fernando’s New Bling

Pillsbury Sweet Moments *Giveaway*! (We’re talkin’ chocolate, folks!)

Don’t Be Lazy…Just Do It!

The Truth is Better Than Fiction

Hello, World!

Happy Sunday, Ya’ll!

Review: Institute for Excellence in Writing

Review: GoTrybe.com

Fit Mommy Announcement

Fit Mommy Friday

Fit Mommy Friday

Pillsbury Sweet Moments Giveaway! (We’re talkin’ chocolate, folks!)