Friday Finds: A Link Round-up

Dog--It's What's For Dinner, Ask a Korean.  I've always wondered about Korea and eating dog.  I knew it wasn't all that common.  People don't buy it from the grocery store, and I only remember one restaurant that served dog soup.  But other than that we didn't learn much about it.   This post is pretty enlightening!

Powdered Eggs, Everyday Food Storage.  I've been wanting to find out more about powdered eggs!  This post even includes a video tutorial!

Thankful Thursday - Unexpected Connections

A couple weeks ago as my husband was walking into a store, he ran into our next door neighbor.  They talked a bit and then our neighbor said that Derek seemed like a reliable guy and that the company he works for was looking for a delivery truck driver and suggested that Derek apply.  The company, IBC (not the root beer, something else), hadn't publicly posted the position so I guess they were either going to hire within the company or by referral only.

How great is that that our neighbor--who we aren't all that close with, friendly but not very close--would think of Derek for this part-time job?!  I was surprised and very grateful!  What a blessing in our lives!

There is only one hiccup with this job.  It's early morning... early, EARLY morning.  His shift will be from 3am-7am.  He and I thought long and hard about whether or not to take the job and in the end, he decided that it's the best option he has at the moment to have a part-time job while still running his own business.  Plus, since it's a job with a W-2, it will be easier to get a home loan in the future.

So for the last week while Derek waits for the results from his drug test to come back (We're pretty sure we know what the results are, but most people don't take a person's word for it.  Even if they are LDS! :D), Derek has been gradually changing his sleeping schedule.  And he's been doing great going to bed by 10pm and getting up at 6am!  I'm so proud of him for preparing himself.  Hopefully his preparation will help him ease into his new job!

I want to send our next door neighbor a big THANK YOU for recommending Derek for the job.  We really needed it!  Maybe I'll bake him and his family a cake! :)

Fun with Games

I'm participating in a contest over at Three Paper Peonies.  Her new kit is called "Whimsy" and it is SO CUTE!  I'm really hoping I win the entire kit.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!

If I were to pick one thing that my entire family loves to do, it would be to play games.  Any kind.  Card games, board games, or Wii games.  You name it and we love to play!  In fact, when we get together for family reunions, we usually play "Sets and Runs," a family favorite.

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In case you want to participate as well, here are the rules...


-Please create a layout that sums up your family. What makes you, you? What are things that you enjoy together? Any special traditions? What keeps you together through the good and the bad? It can be about any group of people that you consider to be your "family".

Guidelines:
-You must use at least 75% Three Paper Peonies products.

-You must create a new layout for this challenge.

-Each participant may only post 1 layout for this challenge.

-A link to your layout must be posted in the comments section no later than midnight on September 12, 2009 (PST).

-You must use at least 75% Three Paper Peonies products.

-You must create a new layout for this challenge.

-Each participant may only post 1 layout for this challenge.

-A link to your layout must be posted in the comments section at Three Paper Peonies no later than midnight on September 12, 2009 (PST).

Top Ten Tuesday - Things That Make My Life Easier

So I'm totally copying Amanda's list idea.  I've got different things on my list.  I don't have all the cool things Amanda does!  Two alarm clocks would be great!

 

Top 10 Things That Make My Life Easier

1. The amazing computer network my dad set up.  I help take care of my mom, so during the days I need to be available to her which means that I'm often in her room away from my computer in mine (did I mention that Derek and I live at my parents house?).  My dad's awesome network allows me to access all my files on any other computer in the house (if they're both on), most often my parents iBook.  That means I can do all my fun digi-scrapping and digi-scrap supply downloading from anywhere!  Yay!
   
   
2. My library's inter-library loan system.  My city library stinks.  Really, it does!  I rarely go in there and find what I'm looking for.  So usually I find new books on other blogs and Amazon.com and then request them through the inter-library loan system.  It only takes anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks to get the book to me!  And speaking of Amazon...
   
   
3. Amazon.com.  I love Amazon.com!  I can find just about any book by any author, and then find other books by that same author or other books of the same genre.  And best of all, when I find one that I really like, I put it in my wishlist so I don't forget about it!  It's my main book finding place. 
   
   
4. My mattress.  I have one of those memory foam mattresses.  Best thing we've ever gotten!  It's so good that vacations are almost a let-down after sleeping one night... almost.
   
   
5. Hulu.  There are a million--well, maybe not a million--TV shows that Derek and I enjoy, but we don't always get around to watching them all.  Hulu lets me subscribe to the shows I like AND sends me e-mails when a new show I've subscribed to is up on their site!  Perfect and simple for me.  I don't have to try and catch the newest episodes on TV whenever it is they come on, and Hulu's got all my subscriptions together so I don't have to find them all over the internet!
   
   
6. Netflix.  We use Netflix to get TV seasons.  Most recently was Medium.  Over the last few months we've watched seasons 1-4.  My dad even got into them a bit!  Up next?  I think Alias.
   
   
7. IMDB.com.  Ever watched a movie, recognized an actor, but couldn't remember who he/she was or what else you've seen them in?  In comes The Internet Movie Database or IMDB.com.  Derek is addicted to that site.  He's always got his laptop set up at the beginning of movies so he's able to quickly find any mystery actor! :)
   
   
8. My dirty, old, ugly, off-brand crocs.  I've had them for over a year now, and anyone who's owned a pair of these shoes know the soles wear out long before that time.  But I love them because they're easy to slip on and off for when I'm going to check the mail, move the car, go to the doctors office, etc.
   
   
9. My faith.  I have an excellent religion that makes life's hard times just a little bit easier.  It gives me a sense of purpose: who I am, where I came from, and where I'm going.  Basically, it gives me a plan to live by.  I am proud to say I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
   
   
10. My wonderful husband.  I don't know what I'd do without him.  He's always so helpful, and he is now even more since I've become somewhat helpless!  He's not afraid to do housework, and he always works so hard!  Thanks Derek!
    
    

Monday Morning Musings - Exhaustion among other things

I have been so dang tired lately!  I know it's normal and will only get worse after the baby is born with the complete lack of sleep.  It seems like every time I sit down, I end up snoozing within five minutes!  I've even been assigning errands I usually love to do to Derek so I don't have to get up and get "real" clothes on.  Oh well, I guess it could be worse.

Can you believe that August is pretty much gone?!  Seems like I felt this way about July just a couple days ago!  The thing that's freaking me out the most is my due date range is in September (4th-24th).  That's, like... now!  Not in the distant future anymore!!  Aaahh!

And that's all I really think about anymore these days.  Sleeping, napping, and having a baby soon.  Oh, and the occasional digi-scrapping/bookmaking projects.

Friday Finds: A Link Round-up

ColorInc Gallery Wrap Contest, Texas Chicks Blogs and Pics. Awesome giveaway!  When I was in 7th grade, my parents ordered a family picture on a canvas-like something.  It looked so cool, but they still needed a frame.  With a gallery wrap, the picture is printed on canvas and then wrapped around a wooden frame.  Picture frame needed!  I want this so bad!!!



PS: I've got a couple fun baby polls on the sidebar. Check 'em out! :)

Thankful Thursday - Plant Pullin' Husband

I walked by my front room this morning, and what did I see right outside the window?  My husband pulling out the nasty prickly plants we have/had growing in the planter box.  Hooray!  I tried pulling out all the plants we had out there a week or so ago.  They were so ugly!  But the combination of being 8.5 months pregnant and weird, invisible-until-they-stick-in-your-hands-and-arms stickers made me quit halfway through.  Those stickers are the most irritating things I've ever experienced!  Not only do they sting when they're stuck in you, they leave minuscule cuts in their wake that burn for hours after!

I really wished I had my camera out and ready because Derek was so cute.  At the time I happened to walk by, he was taking a break to pull the mini-stickers out of his hands.  He is a pretty tough guy with nice callouses all over his hands so he doesn't usually use gloves for working, but I guess the mini-stickers were too much for him, too! :)  I got him the same dish-gloves I used before I pooped out before.  They worked surprisingly well. 

Thanks Derek for braving the nasty plants for me!  I love you!