Flashback Friday!

I had an idea for this weeks post, but unfortunately didn't get around to prepping it for this week. it is in the plans for next week, but I am going to start where I left off last week... The very best day of my life. I have shown pictures of Dustin and I with Samantha on the day she was born, and now I am going to let you see how very blessed we really are. Our families are the greatest, and so supportive and loving.

Here are the 2 grandmas enjoying time with their granddaughter


And even though my dad was away on business working, as soon as he got home, (3 days later) it was the perfect homecoming gift for him.


And then we have our siblings... Samantha is very blessed to have 2 Aunties and 2 Uncles. And then you can tack on Auntie Megans husband and Uncle Adams girlfriend. That equals out to 3 Aunties and 3 Uncles! Lucky girl!

Here is Auntie Cassie:


and Auntie Megan:


and Uncle Matt:


and Uncle Adam:


And last, but certainly not least, her older cousin, Mariah.


Can you feel the love? I sure can!

Blog Award!

Yeah, I made this 2 posts, because it just seemed easier!

Note to Winners - I have right click disabled, so in order to copy the award, please visit the blog I was awarded it from! Thanks, and sorry about the inconvenience!

I was also chosen to be given this award from Danielle over at We don't have it all together, but together we have it all! So a big thanks to Danielle for choosing me!!!


Rules for accepting this award:
-Thank the blogger who awarded it to you.
-Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using five words.
-Pass it on to 10 other blogs which you feel have real substance.

Well, I already said thank you to Danielle, but again, THANK YOU!

Wow... 5 words? umm... okay, here goes.
Family, Love, Samantha, Random, Hectic
Those 5 words totally sum up my life, and not just my blog.

Now to pass this award on to 10 other blogs...
Let's see...
Christopher and Tia
Jumping Jack
Mrs. Muffins
SAHMommy Blog
Sgt. Bowleys One and Only
That 22 Year Old Housewife
Twice Blessed
White House, Black Shutters
Melissa's Little Miracles
Growing Up Mommies

My first blog award[s]!

The guidelines for accepting this award require the recipient to
(1) thank the person who gave it to you
(2) tell 7 things about yourself
(3) pass the award on to some marvelous bloggers, whom you have recently discovered and think are fantastic.

Note to Winners - I have right click disabled, so in order to copy the award, please visit the blog I was awarded it from! Thanks, and sorry about the inconvenience!
A big THANKS to Marvelous Mommy for giving me the award!!!

7 things about myself? Well, now that IS a challenge!
1. I have a love/hate relationship with my job!
2. I am a very random person.
3. I'm one of those people that will burst into laughter out of no where about something that happened a week ago!
4. I absolutely, positively, LOVE my family and I wouldn't change anything about that for anything!
5. I love drinking soda
6. I LOVE reading... I am currently re-reading the Twilight Saga for the 4th time.
7. I am completely giddy that I was chosen for a blog award!

I am passing this award on to:
A Beautiful Mess
AlyGatr's Everywhere
Letters Arranged into Words
The Fuselier Family

Blog Hop!

it's a Blog Hop! Hope I can find some interesting blogs today and that other people find MY blog interesting! yippeee for new blogging friends!


and

A little "get to know me"

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:00am

2. How do you like your steak? medium

3. What was the last film you saw at the movies? oh wow. I don't even remember, but it wasn't THAT long ago!

4. What is your favorite TV show? I could never pick just 1. I love watching my shows.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Another tough one. I love where I live now, because thats where my family is. But my dream spot is more of a dream weather... I would love for it to be in the mid 70's all year round.

6. What did you have for breakfast? some coffee and a honey bun. yeah, yeah... not healthy!

7. What is your favorite cuisine? o0o0o. Pizza OR Chinese. It's a close tie.

8. What foods do you dislike? hmm... mushrooms mostly.

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Chilis!

10. Favorite dressing? ranch

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Hyundai Elantra

12. What are your favorite clothes? jeans and a tshirt

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Bahamas, Europe, Mexico, Florida, there are just sooo many places!

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? ½ full

15. Where would you want to retire? Not 100% sure.

16. Favorite time of day? evenings during the week and mid day on the weekends!

17. Where were you born? IL

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? I don't watch sports!

19. Took this question out since it was irrelevant for blogging.

20. Took this question out since it was irrelevant to blogging.

21. Took this question out since it was irrelevant to blogging.

22. Bird watcher? Not really

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? depends on the day

24. Do you have any pets? Sure do. We have a dog and way too many cats.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? not really

26. What did you want to be when you were little? a teacher

27. What is your best childhood memory? There are so many, but I would say that my vacation to Wisconsin Dells and tubing down the Wisconsin River is a close first.

28. Are you a cat or dog person? I like both. I am allergic to both.

29. Are you married? Not yet.

30. Always wear your seat belt? Always.

31. Been in a car accident? Nope

32. Any pet peeves? Many

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Pepperoni and Pineapple

34. Favorite Flower? Roses

35. Favorite ice cream? peppermint

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? McDonalds

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Zero times.

38. From whom did you get your last email? some type of spam.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Walmart. Or Carters.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? not really. haha. I'm a pretty lame person.

41. Like your job? I do and I don't. I actually love my work, but the people I work with can be very childish.

42. Broccoli? My favorite veggie!

43. What was your favorite vacation? As of now, I would say South Carolina.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Dustin and Samantha

45. What are you listening to right now? nothing. im in the office and hearing myself type.

46. What is your favorite color? pink

47. How many tattoos do you have? one.

48. Took this question out since it was irrelevant to blogging.

49. Took this question out since it was irrelevant to blogging.

50. Coffee Drinker? oh yes.

Wordless Wednesday!

Swimming with my daughter, Samantha, and niece, Mariah

My very FIRST giveaway!!!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
I am doing my very first giveaway! Not because some cool company asked me to, and not because I asked them, but because I really just WANT to. So I was completely undecided in what I wanted to give away. I will be purchasing something and giving it away, to a lucky (or I hope you would think you would be lucky) winner!

And this is the decision.

My giveaway will be...

a TEN dollar gift card. To YOUR choice of place (so long as it can be purchased in the Chicago area).

I know, I know... it's not much. BUT that is $10.00 that is FREE! Just for entering my giveaway. I am making this a long one though, because I want to leave plenty of time for entries.

I'm not gonna lie. My reasoning behind doing a giveaway is not only because I want to, but because I want more followers! So these are the ways you can enter:


Leave a SEPARATE comment and have your email address set up for email replies for EACH entry on THIS post

Mandatory Entries
You must be a follower of my blog. - 1 entry
Leave me a comment telling me where you want the gift card to be for, and what you plan to use it for! - 1 entry

Extra Entries
Extra entries are only to be done after the mandatory entries are completed.

Post my button on your site and leave me the link to your blog - 2 entries
Blog about my giveaway and leave me the link to the post (this one can be done WEEKLY! But be sure to leave me a link to EACH post!!!) - 2 entries
Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link to the tweet! - 1 entry
Write about the giveaway on facebook (Either a note or status), and leave me the link! - 1 entry


This giveaway closes on July 23rd at 9pm CST. The winner will be posted on July 26th.
*This giveaway is only valid in the US and Canada at this time.*