All Signs Point to VEGAS

Every year, AB takes me to Las Vegas for my birthday.  Our trip is here, and I can't wait!  I am frantically trying to pack, clean, finish work, and finish some Etsy projects all in like 24 hours.  AB is so excited, too-- which makes me happy.  He's been practicing his blackjack (oh yeah, I need to do that!) and picking out restaurants for us to eat at.  I'm happy as long as I get to go to the Paris buffet for breakfast one morning and make it out to Bill's for a 4 am steak and eggs breakfast.

What's your favorite must do in Vegas?  (Ah yes, and I need batteries for my camera, too)  

Last month, when I went there with the sisters for the bachelorette party, I played and fell in love with Sex & the City slot machines!  To play, it costs $2/pull, but its worth it when its hot.  I had so much fun, I got the Miranda progressive (like $35!) twice.  I can't wait to go and play the S&TC game again!  I also love Keno, and I will be getting a few games set up as soon as we get there.  I like to play at least 20 games off the bat, so the next morning I can check to see if I've won anything.

Alright, back to the grind.  I will take and post lots of pictures when I get back!!  

Jillian Michaels kicks my butt!!

I woke up this morning and did my 30 day Shred workout by Jillian Michaels. Its roughly 30 minutes and kicks my butt. I am so sweaty afterwards!! I am awake the rest of the day, though, when I do the workout.

AB is making a seafood dish for dinner tonight. Last night, I had salad for dinner and 4 cinnamon graham crackers for a snack later. Not the healthiest.

Getting in shape isn't easy. I love to eat, and its a lot of work and pretty hard to stop a habit like eating for fun. But, I have determined the best way to curb my eating habits is to keep myself busy all weekend long!

I have to make 5 wristlet purses for the first vegas trip of the season for my sisters me and my mom. I also started a new etsy shop, and I need to make a few items for that. My Avon order comes in today, so I will be busy in a few hours sorting and invoicing all my deliveries to make this weekend. Lastly-- K and I need to find some great red shoes to wear with our bridesmaids dresses for Ts wedding. Plus, I like sleep-- lots of sleep if I can.

What are you doing this weekend? Do you have any good tips to share to help me eat healthier and less often??

My sluggish Cures

Well, today was a long day-- I worked, showed some homes, delivered some avon, saw my sister, talked to my brother (he has my car again....but I don't have the energy to talk about its new problems), and now I will see AB and relax. Tacos tonight!!

Whenever I am feeling sluggish or not 100%, I have a few cure alls:

• The fruit and yogurt parfait at McDonalds. Its delicious and I really think it helps me feel better.
• Fresh squeezed orange juice. I mean, F R E S H. I go to the store, buy 2-3 oranges, and squeeze them myself and drink asap. Delicious and really fixes me.
• Water or Vitamin water. I only drink the Revive or Essential. When Vitamin water first started selling in the health food stores (1999-ish), it was very pale in color and had more natural flavor. Essential, the orange one, looked like watered down orange juice with sediment at the bottom. My sis and I drank it like it was going out of style...or going into...whatever you prefer.
• tylenol. I take 2 tylenol when I have a headache. doesn't always work, but helps.
• Smelling AB. He smells good. I think he wears Armani Code, but I'm not sure. Mix that with a bit of his sweat and a hint of garlic (he eats lots of garlic), and I feel better real quick!
• Over Easy Eggs. They must be fresh and served with buttered toast...not toasted light, toasted well done.

SOLD!

This morning, I came to work ready to face the day. I usually check my emails before I leave for work, but each morning I do, I am upset before the day starts. I hope for a sale in my etsy shop, an online order in my avon online store, an email with a new order, or some fun note from a sibling or parent. Usually-- its more like this: notes of things to do from bossman, bills now available for review and payment, spam, spam, sales at sears and jcpenneys (when I have no fun money to spend), and invites for broker open houses on days I am already working in the office.
I said today, "Don't get mad before the day begins. I'll check my mail when I get to work." My main problem is that my work emails get forwarded to my personal email address....so I can check them when ever...where ever.
Guess what! My all pinks beaded hair barrette sold this morning on Etsy. I had a sale on my Avon online store. Its a wonderful day. I'm battling taxes and I am working for bossman, but I am happy!!
look at the item I sold: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=25870075
Tonight, I get to see AB. He worked a super long day yesterday, so we didn't get a chance to see each other. I know he will be happy about my sales, both on Avon and Etsy. Right now, I need to get working on a bpo for bossman and then do some more tax prep for myself. I am going to keep a nice excel sheet this year for next year. Going through bill by bill and receipt by receipt is awful!! Its sooo time consuming and not worth it. I'm scared I will have to break down and get an accountant to help me. I've never done taxes for Avon before...the other schedule Cs I have down pat, but this one will be a bit different, because there is inventory, give aways, etc.

the nightmare (of getting married)

How embarassing! I woke up from a vampire nightmare around 5:15 am. Got up, walked around (to make sure there were none hiding!), grabbed some water and went back to bed. Woke up again around 7 from another nightmare--- AB was going to propose!
Now, that shouldn't be a nightmare...that should be a reason to celebrate. Its something I hope for everyday....and something I hope to one day experience. In my dream, we were in some kind of mall, and he had gotten a flyer of some sort from a jeweler. He said we needed to talk, and I saw a glimpse of the flyer---which was full of pictures of different engagement rings...and I ran!
I ran to find my mom and tell her. I was scared he wanted me to pick out my own ring (I don't want to, thats his job and he has great taste!). I was scared I wasn't ready. After I found my mom, we got lost. Then, I went to a small kiosk looking for a girly product, but I had no money, so I stole it! It didn't make any sense, but I woke up just as scared as the vampire nightmare. The only good thing about the vampire nightmare -- I know I stabbed one of them and they turned to dust. I also had a sword in my hand and waved it around violently and expertly, in my opionion.

Am I scared AB might be ready? Am I not?? He already told me one day we could have a dog...I know he is coming around to that, but....whats wrong with me???

Maybe taping some lipstick samples to some catalogs will help me ease my mind. Yes, the catalogs I put out at the grocery stores have samples. I think samples are the best way to get new customers.

Is love measurable?

I was listening to the radio this morning, on my way to work. Humming along to "I love you so much." Is that possible? If you say,'I love you so much' can you say 'I love you a little'?
How about a plain...I love you.
I love AB, really, I do. And, I always catch myself telling him, "AB, I love you soooo much."
How much?? I'm such a dork. I don't think its really measurable. You love someone or you don't. Now, you can like...something...in a measurable amount. You can like things just alright, plenty good, tons, a little, some, or not at all. You can't like someone sooo much or just a bit.
I love my sisters. I love my brother and my family. I love them...simple as that. Now, I can get mad and be upset and grumpy at them, but it will never change how I feel about them...or how much love I have for them.
Let's stop saying all together how much do we love thee?? Sure, you can count the ways, but not the measurement of true love.
Just a little food for thought.

Snow Snow and More Snow

Our totals were about 8 inches of snow here in Indiana. I know many more of you are dealing with more....and some of you less...but 8 inches can be a lot if you don't like driving or commuting in this weather!! I really want a frozen pizza for dinner but don't want to go out and get it.
Please say a prayer for my sis, Kiki. She is under the weather. Thank goodness she has the day off work tomorrow, but I worry so much about her---she works in a grocery store (and does she have the stories to boot!!) and deals with mass amounts of public---can you say, "Germs?"
So, I hope she feels better soon, she won't have another day off until Tuesday.
Its a full craft night here in lisas home. A very messy, unorganized craft night.
I have a showing first thing in the morning, and AB will be previewing the Chicago Auto Show (yes, he is privledged and gets to go before anyone else) tomorrow, so I will have two great craft days in a row. Yes, I need to go to work, too, but that's only 8 hours of my day.
I need to organize (my thoughts included).