R is for Ronnebeck!

Sharing a little Gracie Face with you! This is her "Excuse me Mom, My food dish is empty." face. Then again... that's what every face she gives me means.

Eric worked with our neighbor Jason most of the day, so when I got home my little Aquaman was so wound up he didn't know what to do with himself. I stayed bundled up from the walk home and took him out to the park to run off some of that pent up puppy energy! He wasn't really interested in snowy pictures with Mom, and he only appeased me a few times. After all, there were far too many birds in the park to go barreling after to make them fly. Oh to be a puppy. He's such a handsome guy, and I'm glad I got to spend some time with him in the park tonight. Such a photogenic little boy... He was blessed to the right family :)

I'll post the same plea here, as I did over at my Mom's blog. It's time to start Fundraising for Relay! Mom has had a great year, and continues to fight her Cancer; hard. Her Two year mark is on June 11th and with summer just around the corner and it’s almost time for the American Cancer Society’s Highline Relay for Life. You may remember hearing from me the past couple summers, as I became passionately involved in this event to honor my Mom by raising money and awareness to help make a difference in the fight against cancer. Thanks to all of your generous support our team The Hope Corps was able to raise $4,500 in 2010!!! This year I am volunteering on the committee that plans the relay as well as participating as a team captian for the Hope Corps Team to participate in the 18 hour relay on June 11th. My fundraising goal of $1,000 for this year’s Relay is even greater than my goal last year, and I really need your help to meet this challenge. Being 1,500 miles away from my...

I've had better pictures of Snow, but be kind - It was Oh Dark DEAR GOD early when I took these! We got Snow last night - I waited for the bus... for a LOOOONG time, but now I'm at work - Taking a break, and there's hardly a flake to be found on the ground outside. Funny how 26 miles can change the weather so drastically .

I kind of failed ( all ready ) at posting 10 on Tuesday. There's a number of bloggers I follow that post 10 random thoughts on Tuesdays to keep themselves on the blogging track. ( E.Cobb & Cina ). Since I've been struggling at making myself blog weekly, I've decided (after much thought) to devote myself to a 10 on Tuesday. So, since yesterday was crazy busy you're getting 10 on Wednesday to start it out. But I hope to be better. My friend (& Co-worker) Mindy is 46% of the way to her Hope on the Slopes Goal! Click on the 46% above to go to her donation page if you feel like helping her out! Mom and I have been having quite a giggle over the "snow" that's been hitting Seattle considering they got 12 inches this weekend ontop of the 12 they allready had. SD has reached 56 or 58 inches all ready this winter I have been crafting like crazy. I've also been collecting buttons and old hair accessories to make into new and inventive things - Help me ...

Remember when I issued a "Calling all friends" type announcements that I am "recycling" hair accessories? This also goes for Buttons ... :) Let me know if you've got any I can take off your hands, I travel to obtain (within reason) and will pay for shipping if need be! Thanks!

Reasons why this weekend was exactly what the Doctor ordered. I scrapbooked for 5 hours on Saturday - 5 hours!!! that being said, I completed my 2010 scrapbook and am caught up for 2011. Friday night was full of Spyros food - yum. It was good to see Reiner, even though I didn't really spend time with him. Katherine and I were back in our element by excursion-ing all over Tukwila and Renton. Yes, I said Renton - Viking Sew & Vac! Randomly I ran into someone I knew in Renton - I didn't even really know WHERE Renton was, or if I had been there before Saturday. Dawn & Ivan met us for breakfast Sunday morning at Calamity Janes - food was good, company was better! I didn't even dress in "real clothes" today, Pj's all day... bliss. Eric & I got the quality time we needed. Aquaman got a bath. Life is good...

If not for President's day I wouldn't have wasted my entire day watching this... Tabitha's Salon Take over Dog the Bounty Hunter Cops. Wow. What a waste, but I loved every single second of it! And I'm only a little ashamed.

I crafted a little last night and made this. It looks great on my Pea coat. I'm pretty proud of it! Eric's having a friend over on Saturday - so that means Crafty happiness ... all ... day... LONG! YAY! Happy weekend everyone!

Does ANYONE OF YOU out there have a drawer at home that looks like this? Do you wear these things? If not, I WANT THEM! Please ? I'm working on "Re purposing" some unused & unloved hair accessories. It's going to be a crafty kind of weekend!

Since i've been kind of useless at blogging latley, I thought I'd share some blogs that I frequent to help fuel the inspiration for you. If you click on the pictures they will (should) take you straight to their blogland. They're pretty fantastic. Thanks for hanging in there and being patient with me, I'll be back soon... to normal... hopefully!

As anti-valentine as I am... I got this in my e-mail... It made me smile. I would be more cheery - except I am a clutz and cracked my knee (kinda) I wish I had more of an epic story to tell so the bruises would be cooler, but I don't. Eric's been keeping me in check, and making me take care of myself, I'm stubborn, I hate that about myself. Anti-Valentines Day with the Oleson's was a success! 5th year & Running! Hooters is gross - but delicious all at the same time, do yourself a favor next time you go there to eat... DON'T look at the nutrition menu - because there is none. More later ♥ Abby

My Birthday Rocked. It started out by Eric waking me (gently) at 2:20 am to sing me happy birthday and ask me if I could smell my cake baking. What a chef! I went to work early, so I could stop and get some Starbucks! I got to work, and a card from the entire office greeted me. I stopped by Meg's desk and she gave me a Happy Birthday Balloon, Red Velvet cookies and a card. Then, my co-worker Diane presented me with a Tulip plant, some chocolate and a card. Then, Mindy showed up with two boxes of Wheat cookies (my favorites) and a card. Then, Julie (my boss) with Brownies, and a paper making kit! Then, Tacy with some Yellow Daffodils and a 12 pack of Diet Coke (my favorite) and a card. They Spoiled me! I got to eat lunch with all 6 (1 former) of my teammates! Julie, Mindy, Alex, Diane, Tacy & Megan. They Took me to Farestart! It was delicious! I ordered a meatball sandwich - the meatballs had greyer cheese in the middle of them - Delish! After work, my husband met me downtown an...

More on Birthday later... but yesterday when we were down playing at the market I found that Rachel the Pig had been hit by a car on Saturday ! Poor piggy! She's such a Market Icon that people put up a "Get well soon Rachel" card up for her honor... it made me smile.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! And a Big Congratulations to me for being the most vain blogger in the universe and wishing myself a happy birthday!

I was REALLY worried that this bad boy would be taken by the time Eric got back down to St. Vincent De Paul today, but the Sewing Gods were on my side and it's now sitting in my living room! I'll spare you the details of Eric's SVDP adventures I'll let the pictures do the talking! This is the light... and the kicker? It works! Lightbulb is good and all! I plugged it in... and the whole machine works. I could possibly even make something with it! So SO excited! That little silver thing? That's the foot pedal which also works like a charm! Also, a shot of the machine all folded down into the table. It's Gracie's new favorite place to hang out!

I have been doing a lot of soul searching. I go through a little bit of a midlife crisis about once a year (normally in February) and it always culminates at my birthday and snaps me out of this need to be who I am. I find myself waking up in the morning saying "Good Lord It's Morning" not "Good Morning Lord" which is my normal disposition. It's depressing. This year my "Snap" came earlier than my birthday (only a day or two, but hey, I'll take it). I know who I am. I know what I like. I just need to block the outside world out of my brain and do what I like. Just be... Me! I know this all seems so simple, but really, mainly I struggle when I shop for myself. I buy things that I think look a certain way, and I like them, but I don't LOVE them, and I find myself disappointed with them later on. It took me a couple trips to St. Vincent De Paul (SVDP) to realize what I had been searching for. I don't want the newest fashion and I don't...

We had a pretty great weekend. Pretty low-key, but highly social all at the same time! On Friday night we hung out with the Franks! Ate KFC, and this little one helped me prepare the dessert. Dirt & Worms! Which happens to be her Daddy's favorite. It was awesome to hang out with Meg, Keaka, Leilani & Ikaika and we've vowed to do it again ... soon! Last time we said that, it took us two years ... I digress. On Saturday we slept in. Late. I won't even share the hour of which we finally made it out the door because, frankly, it's kind of embarassing. When we finally did make it out and about we headed to St. Vincent DePaul in Burien. I was after a scarf that I had my eye on - which was GONE! When I got there... G-O-N-E!!!! But, I walked out with three new books for under $3! And I walked out drooling over a Singer Sewing machine that was there, but that's for another post - because I'm in Love! LOVE! We then, walked into the 5 corners antique store because...

Thinking of my Mom today as she heads into Chemo. She feels crappy... and that makes me feel crappy. She's been fighting Pneumonia all week and feels tired and drug down. She's my hero... keep that chin up Momma! it will get better! All my love ♥