HOLY Roots Batman!!

New year and a refresh of my hair do!  This is the first time since my 20's that I have repeated a hair color / style 3 times in a row. I had so many comments on this style I had to do it one last time. You know you're hair is a hit when you're at dinner and a stranger comes up to you and ask if they can take photos of your hair to show their stylist ... lol made me giggle but it was very flattering. 

I know I say this every time but man getting older sucks. When I was young I was always a natural platinum blonde. Now days I have to dye my hair to get that look again .. lol life.

One last time with the platinum and black color!

Have a great day!!

Happenings around here! Remodeling, Hair and Taking a Leadership Role

It's been a little wild around our house the last few weeks.  Between the family and all the cakes I've taken on for the charity I work for I'm hanging on by a string!  BUT it's been a lot of GREAT Moments!

First we start with Cole.  As many of you know we have had a long hard ride getting him in the right place with school and his ADHD.  After many years of trying everything we went to medication that he says "helps his head stop spinning".  This year his teacher and the YMCA staff have come up to me to tell me what a total change he has made and the leadership role he stepped up to.  NOW we hired a tutor who was a retired teacher who I thought was the answer to our prayers.  Which turned out to be a nightmare, filling me and my kids with nonsense that Cole will not make it through school.  GRRR there was more and LONG emails about this but I'm moving on and not letting her bring us down!

For the kids bikes, Rick and Cole built a shed.  

Then on to the house remodel!  Rick got a killer deal on carpet so we prepped the front room. Rick was working two jobs so I ripped up the carpet all on my own (and paid for it for two days .. lol).  Rick and Cole painted the room a nice shiny brown with white on the chair railing Rick installed.  We even found a great deal on a flat screen we put up.  The front room really came all together!

Then we moved on to the dinning and kitchen area.  The old flooring is the light colored we put in when we first moved in 11 years ago.  The darker warmer is the new floor I picked out.  I just love the feel of it.  We found a $180 chandelier on clearance for $40 plus an extra 10% off for being a floor model!  Then we found a fridge on clearance for $300 off!  Oh yes it's been a blessing of deals for the house!  THEN we found out the floor was discontinued and we weren't able to finish the boys rooms with it.  But on a whim we hit up a discount tile and flooring store and there was a stack of the flooring we needed!  Oh yes and on SALE lower then what we had already paid.  

And my 20 YEAR high school reunion is the weekend so I had to get a new do.  I went with one I have never done before.  Blonde on top and black on the bottom.  Oh yes black never thought I'd do it, but I love it!!!!

More reveal's to come.  The kitchen is getting new cabinets and a new stove.  The boys room with get the flooring and our room will get new carpet.  NOW prayers that the house will appraise for what I owe so I can re-fi.  

Groupon helped me meet a Bloggy Friend

About 7 years ago I meet Stacey from Kingston Girl. My grandfather had passed and I was going to Bainbridge Island to clean his estate that is next to Kingston.  We always said we would meet, but since I was always riding with my parents I could never meet up with her. Then she moved to my town! Yes you would think we could meet right up, but with kids and schedules we never have been able to meet up.  She is an amazing lady if you have not read her blog you must. She is a cancer survivor who had twin boys through a surrogate.  Her twins had a rough start and spent a lot of time in Children's hospital.  It is such a touching story.  They boys are now 2, one still has many health challenges. She is always so positive and just keeps going, such an amazing person!  Her new blog is The Twinpeaks Mama.

SOOO on to my story ... She posted on FB a while back she is doing her spray tan business Totally Faking It at HM Salon.  Then a week or so later I saw a Groupon for a hair color service at the HM Salon!  I sent her a message and found it was the same place!  So I schedule a time to go get my hair done and to get my spray tan done before I left on my trip.

Post Tan and Spray tan!

It was so exciting to meet up with Stacey, we had a great time talking and catching up.  And to get my spray tan on I had to strip down to my bra and undies .. oh yes that is the way we roll on our first meeting ... lol

So I got my hair colored and a spray tan on!

Hope you have a GREAT weekend.

New Hair for my Birthday

I've been so busy with the party I didn't get to show off my new hair do!  I usually go really light in the summer but this time I went in a different direction.  I hit my 38th Birthday 2 weeks back and had my hair apt on that day so I went for it!  I have gotten a TON of compliments on it.  I may just do it again!

Happy a Happy 4th of July!

Here it is when I styled it

Here I am when I left after she styled (more sleek version)

Re-Make for Business Trip

I'm going to Boston again at the end of the month, yup I leave on Black Friday.  Those who know me are shocked.  BUT since I can do most my shopping Thursday night and early Friday AM and then hop on a plane for Boston.  I'll arrive late night Friday and then I will be there for the event early Saturday am. 

SOOOO that leaves me with roots ... yup you read that correct!  I was scheduled for a hair appointment last month.  BUT I knew I would be leaving at the end of this month and wanted fresh hair.  SOOO ... I went around looking like a hot mess for a month so I could get my hair done closer to me leaving.

It's amazing how I was a toe head for birth until my twenties.  Then the older I get the darker my hair has gotten ... man does aging suck or what.  We are all sick here at the house so a quick post about a refreshed me.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

I'm growing my hair out.

It's getting cold and my ears need to stay warm ... lol

Got my Fall Colors on

Spring hasn't Sprung ... So we add color to me

Spring just isn't feeling like it right now and I just needed a pick me up!  My amazing cousin is a hairdresser on on her day off she let's me come over so she can do my hair.  With Rick gone the boys were able to play while she did my hair.  Of course 4 kids always lead to no peace but we made it through it.  So I gave myself a new blonde do and for fun we added some peek a boo pink on the side!  I thought it would be fun, heck I work at home so I don't have to worry about a dress code why not?

Here are some shots of my new do.  Ok so this is late at night and most of my make up was washed off from rinsing my head in her kitchen sink.

Side with just a pop of pink

Front mostly blonde

Side view with more pop of pink.

the back

(yikes my bathroom mirror needs to be cleaned)

Look I'm popping my collar ... lol

What the heck ... hehe

This is how I wear my hair most days so 

I can walk with out hair in my face

you can really see the pink.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

A New Do for Another Year Older

Well I’m back to blonde look!  Sorry about the crappy picture for some reason my iPhone doesn’t take the best close up pictures (yes I’m sure it’s the operator but let’s go with it).  I did have a nice time talking with my cousin.  It’s always nice to talk to someone who knows you and the members who play the roles in your world.

Thank you for my amazing friends who took the time to send me birthday cards.  You all are too sweet, I’m horrible with cards so forgive me that it takes everything I got to make sure to get Christmas Cards out.  Tonight my Tuesday dinner friend is so sweet and is having dinner for me.  It meant so much to me that she wanted to make sure I had a special day.  You got to love friends who do the little things that mean the world!

Yes it is true I will be 36 years old tomorrow!  This has been a crazy year for me personally.  I have thankfully been very blessed with a job that keeps me very busy and takes very good care of me!  Rick sadly lost his job but has been helping with the kids. I have been on a weight loss journey and of last week’s weight in down 23.8 lbs.  It has been a slow go but I can feel the difference in my clothes.  I try to go walking at least 4 or 5 times a week.  I wish I could say I’m dropping like 5 lbs a week but it’s a slow go of usually 1 to 2 lbs.  I may not be skinny girl by the end of summer but maybe next year … lol.  I have to keep it in my mind I’m doing this right and not to let the green little monster in me get jealous if I hear a story on FB of someone loosing 20 lbs a month … ugh.  Ok back down green monster … lol.  So there you have it a year of craziness but some clarity and needing to better me.  Here’s to another year ups and downs I’ll take them all as long as my weight is the down one … hehe!

Bring the Summer Color on!

Sorry everyone I was absent yesterday, I have been not feeling the best this week!  I think I may be a little on the stressed side of life these days.  I need to kick up my heels and feel perky again. I think I need a refresh and I have the BEST idea!  I’m going to see my cousin to get my hair done!  NOW there is no salon for this girl, BUT I do get to go to her house where my kids can play with hers!  She’s so sweet and worries about putting my head in the sink but it’s like memories of when my mom would give me home perms.  ONLY this time I don’t come out looking like fuzzy pumpkin!  So tonight I’m going to get my summer highlights on!  Yes I’m that person who changes their highlights for the season!  This time it is to go back to my roots (ok the roots I had when I was young these days they aren’t so light).  Thanks to Pinterest who is NOT only my food go to it is now my style guide.  Not as fashionable as some the ladies that pin cute clothes but I do pin cute cuts and colors!  Drum roll please …

The Inspiration …

So today after work I head up to get refreshed and lighted up!  Hopefully that will help kick me back into my old self! Wish me luck!

Glasses are the new black dress right?

Since I don’t think I’ll be getting an eye surgery anytime soon I’ve become obsessed with glasses.  And being the crazy sale person that I am found one site that I could buy glasses with a coupon for a $1 + shipping.  THEN I found anther site that your first pair is free + shipping.  Being the thrifty person I am under each site I logged in as one me and then two Rick so I could get two glasses from each site.  I know but I can’t pass up a deal like that!  So for around $25 I bought 4 new glasses worth around $88 a piece!  Yes for you math wizzes that is $352 glasses for $25!

Let the fashion show begin!

My studious reminds me of a man’s business look.  I’m funny but when I’m home working on web things I like to wear these. YES I know I’m nutty!

My pink blush pair, that are not my fav since they have the plastic noise piece and I think they blend too much with my skin tone right now.  These will be for when I’m tan.

My Pink animal print (inside it’s a peek a boo), which I thought would be my favorites but the next pair actually has turned out to be.

These Blue animal print (on the outside) have become my favorite.  They are super comfy and I love the splash of color I never would have thought I’d like blue but something told me to get them.

On an amazing ending note, Rick had the weekend off for his birthday.  He was SO kind Friday came home told me to go get a pedicure!  I didn’t even say a word about wanting one.  Then Saturday he hung out with the boys while I went grocery shopping ALONE!  Sunday he took the boys WITHOUT me asking to Chuck E Cheese to play for FOUR hours so I could go get my hair done!  It was the MOST (yes a lot of caps because that is how excited I am) relaxing and BEST weekend I have had in a very very long time! 

So there you have it a fashion show !  Hope you’re all having fab week! Much LOVE!

Weekend to be Thankful …

What a fun weekend it was like a 4 day break, but I had to work a short time on Saturday like usual but 3 hours was nothing.

As most of you know I spent most of Wednesday after working prepping and cooking and then cooking before my guest arrived for Dinner.  Sadly my dad was sick so he stayed home and my cousin and family didn’t stop by so it was very small with lot’s of food … lol.

If you’re needing some yummy weight watcher friendly holiday foods here are my two post of what I made.

First off I noticed that wow my roots are looking crazy long … then I counted and I was a few weeks overdo for a color.  I gave our cousin a call and she was so sweet and squeezed me in after hours.

Thanksgiving was a great day, my mom and grandmother stopped over for dinner.  The boys even got to stay the night with my parents! Yeah!!

Now the stores went and moved Black Friday up to Thursday PM which wasn’t bad it was kind of nice to do it early.  So I put my teenies on and my hat (Well at first the wrong one … lol).  Rick decided to work for his security job they took on security for Walmart shoppers.  That left me shopping by myself.  I was a little nervous to go by myself.  Then by God’s hand I ran into a old friends mom, I hadn’t seen either of them in almost a year.  We said hi and then I went on.  I looped around and again and ran into both of them got to talking and I had instant shopping buddies which was really cool.  So we finished up Walmart & went on to Target.  NOW the only bad thing was Fred Meyers stuck to their 5am so after we tried two restaurants to come to the conclusion who is going to be open Thanksgiving pm, we headed to my friends house for a snack and coffee.  We killed 3 hours watching Son’s on Anarchy, my first time watching.  By 6am I was done with my Christmas shopping.  I finished the boys, the boy at church Cole picked to buy for, Rick and even for me.  Plus I had a pile of things to go back, I have the grab and return later if I don’t need theory .

By Friday I had the presents wrapped and the boys home.  Rick brought down the tree and put it all up for me and even put the presents underneath.  The rest of the weekend was kind of lazy, except Sunday for church and then the boys and I helped decorate the church.  Now to finish up the stocking stuffers and we’re done!

So how was your Thanksgiving?  Did you Black Friday shop?  Is your shopping done?

Summer’s UP and So are the Shaggy Do’s ….

We had a fun filled day Thursday night with hair do’s for the whole family (Well Rick had to post pone his to next week due to we ran over and the barber was about to close).  I scheduled a cut and color for me with Rick’s cousin’s wife.  Usually we do it at her house but today I got a treat and met her at the salon she manager of.  I was able to sit in a chair and read my iPad while Rick took care of the kids.

He decided that he would take the kids to get their haircut (yes the angel’s were singing).  He then called me half way threw my hair apt to ask when I’ll be done .. hehe.  Now hold on you’re going to laugh at this one.  He was frustrated and said to me “Do you know how hard it is to get two kids haircut at the same time” … hehe I think he may have forgotten who usually does this duty and he was talking to her.  Sorry didn’t feel sorry for him … lol.  But all went well he did take them to his gal who was over booked and they had to wait like an hour, mind you I told him to take them down the street to a place that is always slow but hey it worked.  They got cuts I got a cut and color and we’re ready with our fall do’s!

There you go we are ready for the Fall!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, I think we may try the zoo again hopefully we’ll leave with all our shoes this time!

I think I may keep the SPAM comments …

Each day I believe my blog is getting around 55 to 75 spam comments in  the last few weeks. I have it set up so any comment on a post over a week old needs to be approved and thankfully the spam button in blogger catches them and I can easily delete them!  But I’m think I may just keep them to make my #’s look good … hehe.  I know it’s summer but darn it I thought I meant a lot to everyone and I’m getting no comments (just playing I know you’ll all busy). What does a girl have to do streak across the screen to get some comments … lol.  Just playing … UNLESS that is the case then I may just do it!  So brace yourselves you may see ad’s for Viagra, Enlargements and software in my comments soon … hehe!  Plus according to my email I have WON the British Lotto, so you may not see me at all because I’ll be with my winnings on some private island!

No really I know it’s summer and people are busy.  I guess the same thing is true for my b-day party this weekend.  It’s sad to say when we getting older I guess we have less and less friends.  Heck my 7 year may have a better turn out for his party then me!  I don’t ask for gifts just their presence but it’s looking like sadly my friends are too busy .  I just can’t compete with the town over and the log show … lol. 

As you all know I’m the person if it’s a kid friendly party I will be there in a heartbeat.  Rick always tells me Alexis you always bend over backward to attend everyone’s party would they do it for you?  I guess having rose color glasses makes my life blissful that is until it’s my turn .. ok enough pitty me!

I did get my haircut & colored for the event … oh yes so I’m stepping out into my summer do!  I’ll take the small silver lining where I can. My makeup got washed off while rinsing the color out so it’s a sephia pic until I can get one up on next week with make-up .

I also sent all the flip flop partners there partner’s info.  If you don’t hear from your partner let me know I don’t want anyone getting left out!

Partners are (Ok I screwed up and forgot to change out the names in one of the emails so one girl sorry Dawn got two partners, I’m putting how it should be but if you already have it switched let me know):

1. Tammy  & LynnMarie 
2. Kat  & Our Crazy Bunch 
3. Robyn  & petrii 
4. Shell  & JessieLeigh 
5. Cool Gal  & Life With Baby Donut 
6. The Blue Zoo  & Kristy 
7. Sara  & Ma What's 4 dinner 
8. Andrea (ace1028)  & Cassie
9. Amy  & Alexis

I hope I didn’t screw anyone up with the swap I feel so bad I was a bone head and didn’t update my email.  My own fault for being lazy and copy & pasting … ugh.  Happy Friday everyone.

Weekend Wrap Wednesday ~ Fun Hats, Hair & Clothing, Kids Build & Fun Things

Yet another fun weekend here some silly moments along the way!

My MIL made me some hats :)

One is a flower & one with a flower.

Saturday my dear coworker father passed away (please say a prayer for her family) so I filled in her job and which was good for my voice was going away! I signed the boys up two weeks ago for the class at Lowes so we had to rush to get there. Can you believe I got all 3 of us dressed and out the door in 13 minutes!!! The boys had a TON of fun making the flying bats! Mom had to do much of the work. I think I may have sad a bad word, sorry parents around me :(.

Lowes had the fire truck also they sent us home with. Rick and Cole built it! They had a ton of fun and no bad words, way to go dad! We did also hit the Seven Level of H**L (McD's) to run off some energy!

Sunday Cole's Class sung in their church. I've never been to a Lutheran Church before they sure do sing a lot and I loved they had the kids in the sermon. It went really fast, I think we actually may try going again soon! My parents came, my dad not much of a church person sat for Cole singing and then he took the boys and waiting in the car. I wish he would have stayed but I'm glad he do at least go. So since we were meeting up with my parents I had to make sure I looked nice! YES that meant lot's of trying on clothes and some mild frustration!

Oh yes that is Cole after signing sound asleep on my couch with one shoe on! A rare moment of all the boys nicely on the couch. And my sink and dish washer wasn't draining correct so Rick to the rescue! NOTE to self don't put that many potato skins down the garbage disposal.

Oh yes a crazy fun packed weekend we had a few crazy things that happened but I'm still not feeling up to par so it's sleep time for this girl! Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

WWW ~ Cleaning, Baking and a Wet Fair Day

What a fun weekend, NOT really love that Rick had the weekend off from his day time job. But let's just say it was nice when he went to his night job. Rain + 2 kids + 2 Adults + 1100 sq foot house = small space yikes (just think of Chris Farley dancing around in David Spades jacket in Tommy Boy). Yup not pretty and seams will bust!

Rick get's on a Clean FREAK mode

So I spent 5 hours taking pics & posting on craigslist boys clothes

Did some baking (yup that is flour all over me)

And some caramels mailed out to bloggy friends.

Boys decided that their room needed to become

a WAR ZONE! Yup that made Rick pleased ... NOT

Home Improvements again

Changing knobs from tacky gold to a polished silver

Yup we're trying to move out of the 70's

Monday my parents took the boys to the fair.

I of course got off late ended up getting there a little before 5pm

Parked, walked in and already spent $20!!

Found them walked around for 1 1/2 hours, got poured on and then to the car

Yup that equals to $13 an hour to look like a wet dog!

The boys got some serious loot.

And the wavy hair I was left with after the fact.

Not a lot of going out this weekend but sure had a lot going on. And no hits on my craigslist items ... you got to be kidding me. Talk about a waste of time ... don't let Rick know he was right! CRAP

Weekend Wrap Wednesday ~ A bitter sweet good-bye

Well what a weekend we had, our exchange student's dad showed up from Korea to take him home. A bitter sweet good-bye that was, for those who have been with me for a while know all about the troubles that I had with respect and just obeying. Of course the boys just loved him so I know they are a little sad. While cleaning up his room and you know folding all his clothing since he did none of this. I found some fun things .. like a wall full of boogers! Yes on the side of his bed was a wall of boogers (yes I've enclosed a picture). Then while emptying out the dressers I found on my antique (passed down amazing dresser) he had carved his NAME! Yes not only had he carved his name but the numbers 123! Who knows why he felt the need to deface my super expensive and irreplaceable dresser! Thankfully he was staying with his dad when I found this, because it would not have been a pretty site!

Saturday my exchange student and his father came over to pick up his things and go to a BBQ we had planned at my friends waterfront. We were going to have it at my parents waterfront but they are now re-landscaping the whole thing! So yup that means no party there! A big thanks to my girlfriend she was so sweet and invited more friends and kids our exchange students age. Even with the rain we had a great time the kids went in the boat and even jumped in a few times. The adults had some beers and sat by the bon fire, all and all it was a great time had by all. Caden even had a good time with one of the gals boyfriends, I thought Caden would want nothing to do with him. He's a ex-marine and covered in Tattoos head to toe (even the neck) super nice couple I really enjoyed them but you know how Caden is around anybody but me. I've put some cute pictures of the two of them, see kids know who's good and bad. Now the car ride home was oh so fun, see Rick took them there I took them home. Rick said our ES dad talked the whole time, but with me driving I got maybe 10 words! Guess I now know why our ES rarely spoke to me. Oh well they ran out of here like their pants were on fire, I guess that is farewell. Now crack me open a bottle of wine, I think I deserve it after the longest 10 months of my life. I think I rather be pregnant again then have that child live with me again, those of you who know me know how bad my pregnancy was and why we stopped at 2!

Sunday I even got to sleep in until 9am! I know I was shocked too, I guess when you work until 2am getting 7 hours of sleep is a good thing right? LOL So of course my dear hubs wanted to sleep in and couldn't help out with the kids. Some days he kills me, he did turn over and tell me that he thinks we should have an ES the next because it's too much work! Really what work did you have to do? I'm the one that took him to school and picked him up every day, made his breakfast and dinners etc and oh yeah did his laundry. Oh wait you helped do his school project that took you 2 days of your time. Yup too much work! Some days you kill me, then he says oh I mean too much work for you, yeah right that's what you meant!

After that lovely discussion I got the kids ready and headed out, if I'm not going to get any help I'm going out so I don't pull out the rest of my hair! What short styles are in right? I can cover up that bald spot easily? So we venture over to my girlfriend Rachael's house for craft day! I'm bound and determined to finish up Caden's pillow! While I finished up my 2nd pillow, Racheal and Cole made a snake for him. I'm telling you this girl is too smart, she just drew it out and then it was ready to cut out! She has the patience of a saint and even showed Cole how to work the sewing machine (I know he's my own child and I would have killed him ... LOL). She of course whipped out 2 snakes to my one pillow. Oh yeah my pillow I sewed the fabric on onside inside out ... UGH, she had to take the seam ripper to it and then since I was spent sewed it back together for me the right way. I saved the stuffing for Monday night, what a girl only has so much steam in here!

Monday I worked and oh yeah went to my annual appointment, get this I was 5 minutes early! What I took proof for those who didn't believe me!!! Oh joy a lovely apt where a foreign bodies are put in you that oh so comfortable and joy a breast examination also! Yes I know these things are good, that is why I go each year! Nothing says I'm going to love it! Or having my weight taken again, really I was just here a week ago can't you just use that? Oh thanks, I love stepping onto that huge scale and feeling like a contestant on The Biggest Loser! And just to make my life oh so much better so told me that she's had this cold for 6 weeks and it can run for about 8 weeks! Oh joy you really know how to give a girl a good time! Back to work I went, love me some data entry. Now only if I could find a job that I did data entry every day from home! That would rock! Especially since today was a secret squirrel meeting that made me super uneasy! I miss having one of my bosses daughters working there, she always had the inside track and would tell me what was going on. I tried asking the person that was in the meeting with my boss, but got nothing. UGH .... Just give me a heads up if I'm going to get laid off please, I hate surprises and I really would like to know if I have to look for a new job! Yup on the edge of my seat. I'll keep you all updated!

Well I'm out of here, oh yeah I forgot to mention I got my hair done too! Yup back to blond ambition tour, here I come! I've added a few fun shots, one of my crazy updo wantabe ... LOL. Loving the new hair, so I guess I'll hang onto that for now :)

Oh wait Caden has some new words, before it was just mommy or daddy:

Pepe - and points to the area (Oh yeah Rick's favorite)

No (Oh I thought we would wait on this one)

I don't know (oh yeah our ES favorite saying to say to me)

Mine (oh yeah everything is his ... UGH)

Moo (for Milk)

Ok now I'm out of here :)