November 6, 2012

Vegas Bound Baby!

Las Vegas Sign 1

Tomorrow, I will be heading to Vegas to try my luck.  Honestly I won’t be doing a whole lot of gambling, but I plan on finding some delicious food!  That’s how I plan on passing me time, eating food.  I’m sure I’ll indulge in some tasty drinks too! 

Since I haven’t been to Vegas in over 12 years, I need some recommendations on where to go to eat, where to drink, and of course, where  I should gamble.   Faith has already given me some recommendations, and I can’t wait to try some of these places out!  We are there for 5 days – so I need a lot of places to visit or things to do!!! So help this girly out.

November 2, 2012

[Gurlee]Girrl Friday

This week I have two “must-have” fall colors:

Germanicure 1Germanicure 2

YDKJ 1YDKJ 2

Both of these colors are amazing.  The pictures just don’t do them justice.  I love them both and will be using them often this season.  I think I prefer Germanicure slightly more – due to the reddish tint.   Which one do you like better?

Now on to some Friday randomness:

  • Can it really be November already? It sure feels like November temperature-wise, but this year has just flown by! Besides Thanksgiving, I’m totally looking forward to seeing The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2!!!! Early reviews are in and they say it’s great! I CAN NOT WAIT!
  • I hate saying this – but I have not even started my Christmas shopping.  Normally I am ahead of the game, but for some reason this year I just can’t seem to keep my head above water.  I did as the kids for their lists, and of course Miss Ash will be a disappointed girl again this year when Santa fails to bring her a cellphone.  He iPod Touch will have to suffice a little longer.
  • Both kids have games tomorrow.  Ash has volleyball and Cole has basketball.  I don’t think it will work out that I can go to both, so I will be with Ash at volleyball.  From the two practices she’s had, the team looks pretty good this year. 
  • It’s totally pathetic how far behind in TV I am right now.  Parenthood, Sons of Anarchy, Nashville, Revolution, Homeland, the list goes on and on.  I feel like I’m drowning.  I’m going to try catching up this weekend.
  • I’m not feeling 100% right now either.  I understand the flu is going around and pray that’s not what I’m getting.  My poor tummy isn’t happy right now.  Hopefully I feel better by 5pm! LOL
  • I've been working with Tiffany on the new blog re-design and am getting so excited about seeing it.  I know it may be awhile still, but just picking out colors, fonts, etc., is exciting.  Plus, she’s been a real sweetheart to work with.  I really drag out each decision, but I just want it to be perfect.  Good news is, I’m sure it will be.

I hope everyone has a safe & awesome weekend!  Anybody have any big plans?  Do share…..

The Nail Files Button

November 1, 2012

Halloween 2012

Well we had another awesome Halloween this year.  Luckily I am the “room parent” for Colton’s class, which means I get to host and plan all of the parties for this school year.

After talking to his teacher, we decided on Cider Mill Donuts and Apple Juice Boxes for their snack.  With a budget of $64 to finance 5 parties this year, I couldn’t justify buying cider for the kids at $10.75 a gallon!  For some reason, the cider prices here in Michigan are sky high!  I put together some “treat sacks” which included a pencil, ghost eraser, tattoos, (2) Air Heads, (3) Tootsie Pops, (1) Hershey Bar, (1) Lifesaver Gummies and vampire teeth. 

treat sacks

The party was set to begin at 10:00am, so I ran to Parmenter’s Cider Mill to pick up the donuts and rushed over to the school to start setting up.  I had just enough time to throw on some tablecloths and set out our snack before the kids returned and where ready to party.

Class Hall

table

The kids has so much fun eating their “treats” and the vampire teeth were a HUGE hit!  I’m sure Mrs. L is not too happy with me for including them!  Every kid had them on and were slobbering and dripping spit all over the place.  It was hysterical. 

After the fun festivities at school, I had to race to Wal-Mart to pick up some fake blood and eyelash glue to use for Ashley’s costume. 

When the kids got home, we ran up to Jimmy Johns to grab some subs and they ate very quickly.  I started Ashley’s transformation around 5pm and it turned out quite good, if I say so myself.

Ash Hal

For my first time, I think I pulled off at least “something gross” on her face.  LOL 

She was beyond thrilled and continued to get into character by telling her brother she was going to eat his brains.  He kept telling her she looked really freaky, which thrilled her to no end. 

Here is my Harry Potter and Zombie Prom Queen ready to hit the streets:

Hal1

Hal2

We picked up Colton’s friend and were actually running from house to house.  Those 2nd grade boys are just FULL of energy.  Ash hung back with me and hit every other house.  She just couldn’t keep up with them.

I was disappointed with the number of houses with their lights off.  I’m not sure if it was the weather or if we have older neighbors, but I’d have to say over 30% of the houses were black.  The kids didn’t seem to care – their bags were overflowing when we got home.  They stuck it out the full 2 hours.

The kids were so excited and loved the comments they’d get about their costumes.  Ashley thought this was the best costume for her to date.  She wants to be another zombie-something next year.

The weather semi-held up.  It was cold – windy – and started to drizzle towards the end, but the kids didn’t mind. 

I’m pretty sure it will be weeks before Ashley has all of the colored hairspray out of her hair and all that makeup off of her face.  This morning I could still see remnants on her face.  I might have to give her a good scrubbing.

Both kids carved their own Jack-O-Lanterns this year.  It was Colton’s first time carving (his is top one).  He loved it.  He had requested a Captain Jack Sparrow pumpkin (he just watched Pirates of the Caribbean, so he got that too.  I think they all turned out great.

Pump1

How was your Halloween?  Did you have a large turnout?  What did your kids dress up as?  Did you have a favorite trick-or-treater?

October 30, 2012

The Time I Won A Pumpkin Carving Contest

I’ve mentioned before that I am on my company’s activity committee.  We hold various company functions throughout the year.  Annually we host a Pumpkin Carving Contest.  You have one hour to complete your masterpiece.  You can use a template, your own tools, etc. 

This year we had 4 people volunteer to carve.  In the past we’ve always had around 10.  To make it a competition, I enlisted a few other last-minute carvers and set forth to win me a prize.

First Place – Wins $30  and   Second & Third Place – Wins $20

The entries:

Entry 1

Entry 2

Entry 3

Entry 4

Entry 5

Entry 6

Entry 7

Entry 8

After our 1-hour deadline, the entire company (about 400 people) are invited to judge the carvings while enjoying complimentary cider and donuts. 

We tallied up the votes – and they were all REALLY close – but the winners were:

winners

See that 1st Place Frankenstein? That’s mine! I was so shocked, and now I’m $30 richer! Wooo Hoooo!

Do you agree with the winners?  Would you have voted differently?

October 29, 2012

All I Have Left

Winnings

The casino trip was not a financial success.  I’m lucky I  still have those (2) $5 chips left! I don’t know if it was bad luck or just no luck, but it was bad.  Real bad. 

On the upside, I got to eat a pretty fantastic prime rib dinner, with crab corn chowder and got to drink $0.50 wine all night! 

chowder and rib

I apparently I was starving and didn’t take a photo before devouring it.  Ooops

All in all I had a fantastic time spending some time with good friends, eating good food and drinking cheap wine!

October 26, 2012

[Gurlee]Girrl Friday

Dear Halloween Inspired Nails:  Let me say that although it looks like a 1st Grader painted my you, they didn’t.  I spent about 3 hours painting and repainting and repainting!  I finally just had to accept:  1)  I’m not an artist, 2) I did not have the right tools to create my desired designs, and 3)  This is as good as it will get!

Hallow RightHallow Left

Individual Hallow

Dear Ashley: As soon as my nails were complete, you requested I do yours the EXACT same.  So I did – and they came out better and took me less than 20 minutes.  I’m a little jealous!

Ash leftAsh Right

Dear Casinos:  I’m headed your way this weekend.  PLEASE be good to me and let me go home with MORE money than I come with!

let it ride

Dear Jessica Biel (Timberlake):  Pink? Who knew?  Perfection.. 

Jessica-Biel-s-Giambattista-Valli-pink-wedding-dress

Dear Medical Bills:  I hate you.  Quit coming to my house.  I can’t afford you. 

Bill

Dear Red Robin:  Please make the Oktoberfest burger a part of your everyday menu.  It feels like it was made just for me.

RedRobin

Dear Detroit Tigers:  Pull it together boys.  We still are behind you and know you can pull this off!  Go Tigers!

World Series

Dear Blog Friends:  I hope you all have a great weekend!

The Nail Files ButtonFridays Letters 2

October 23, 2012

Eff, Marry, Kill

EffMarryKill-1

It’s been awhile by my favorite link up is back – thanks to our hosts Heather and Michelle!

After much thought and consideration, I chose the men of Parenthood. 

parenthood 2

It was extremely hard picking, because I have a strong pull to each one for different reasons BUT my choice goes like this:

EFF    Crosby Braverman

I might end up with a case of herpes, but there is no doubt he’d be fun.  Crosby definitely has commitment issues, so no reason to tie myself down to him.

MARRY    Adam Braverman 

He’s the true iconic work-hard-for-his-family Husband/Dad.  We recently learned he likes to go to “funkytown” and just seeing that man interact with his family brings tears to my eye.  He’s a keeper.

KILL        Joel Graham

Joel really loses by default here.  He doesn’t touch Adam in the husband/father department and maybe under all that flannel he could be rocking in the bedroom, but its’ just too much of a risk to pick him, so I must kill him.

Did I get it right? Let me know what YOU think!