Hello???

Anyone there?? Buehler?????

I'm not quite back, but soon. Or soonish. Maybe. The Emilys sadly left yesterday afternoon, but have made it back to Merry Olde England safe & sound. It's a big change going from a quiet house, to a full house, back to a quiet house, all in the space of a week! We had a very busy week, and even though things didn't always go according to plan, (do they ever???), we had a terrific time!

I do have pictures to share, but I'm not going to kill myself uploading them all, all at once. So I'm going to pace myself and enjoy the process, lol! Hopefully YouTube and Blogger will cooperate, because I have some new stamps and paper and other glorious crafting goodies that Emily brought me that I'm simply itching to use!! I got very, very spoiled!!!!!! And no, I didn't take photos. Crazy, I know, but I was sooooo thrilled to "stroke" and then put away, that it didn't even occur to me until the day after. And much too late then. Bummer. Trust me though, it was a mega-ton of awesomeness!!!!

It may take me a bit to make all the bloggy rounds too. Please be patient, OK? I love you guys...even if my visits and commenting are sporadic for a bit.

Be back soon!!!

TODAY'S THE DAY!! BRITISH INVASION!!!!!

The Emilys are coming TODAY!!!!

I still have things on my "to do" list, but compared to Mon-Wed, it's a cinch!!! The house is in tip-top shape (or as tip-top as it's gonna get, lol!), and ready for company! After we pick Bella up from school, we'll be heading to the airport. In the meantime, I have to bake a cake, prep for dinner, and make my famous popcorn for the return trip. (Traveling is a hungry business, you know!!!) I also have to pick up my craft room...which hasn't really been used in over a week! Yikes!! But I have a feeling Emily & I will be making some fun things in there, in short order! I'm sure I will be taking tons and tons of photos, so be patient Bloggy Readers...good stuff is comin'! Hugs to all!!

The Menu!

This is what I'll be preparing for The Emilys! I had to make a menu around our excursions, so that I could then make a grocery shopping list. And whew! I'm finally finished with it!!!

Thurs - 9th
Dinner: Twice baked spagetti, mozzerella garlic bread, green beans
Dessert: Chocolate castle cake

Fri - 10th - Verona Day Trip
Breakfast: French toast & bacon
Lunch: eat in Verona
Dinner: Montreal steak kabobs, ranch & bacon pasta salad, corn
Dessert: Chocolate castle cake

Sat - 11th - "Thanksgiving"
Breakfast: Monkey bread
Lunch: cold cut sandwiches & chips
Dinner: Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, olives & pickles, deviled eggs, corn, rolls
Dessert: Pumpkin pie w/ cool whip

Sun - 12th - Camisano Market Trip
Breakfast: Grand iced cinnamon rolls
Lunch: Chicken wings & deluxe nachos
Dinner: White turkey chili, cheddar garlic biscuits
Dessert: Brownies

Mon - 13th - Venice Day Trip
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs & bacon
Lunch: Eat in Venice
Dinner: Beef roast with potatoes & carrots in the crockpot, gravy, baked mac & cheese
Dessert: Bundt cake

Tue - 14th - Valentine's Day - Out to local markets
Breakfast: Cereal, toast/bagels
Lunch: Turkey & shrimp gumbo, biscuits
Dinner: Italian meatballs, fettecine alfredo, green beans
Dessert: Italian Tarts

Wed - 15th - Out to local mall
Breakfast: Cereal, toast/bagels
Lunch: Italian soup and breadsticks, Italian pizza
Dinner: Brazilian restaurant (AKA MEAT FEST!!!)
Dessert: Crescent roll smores

Thurs - 16th - The Emilys leave *sad face*
Breakfast: Belgian waffles topped with strawberries & cool whip
Lunch: Dirty rice

Post-It Note Tuesday

Want to play along?? Go HERE to make your own! The original hostess of these has made her blog private now, and had stopped doing them for a couple months before that. But I'm still doin' 'em!!!

Monday's Monet Moment

Happy Monday!

I know this is very late! I have been twirling around the house like a total madwoman today!!! My "to do" list is about five miles long in preparation of The Emilys imminent arrival, and although I worked nearly non-stop, I didn't get many things crossed off the list. I spent most of the day cleaning and organizing Bella's room and playroom. The two smallest rooms of the house took me nearly ALL DAY!! Tons and tons of stuff thrown away, and also given away. That kid is a total pack rat!!! Magazines, catalogs, scraps of paper, fast food toys, on and on and on!!! I also was able to "sneak" out some toys that were way too young for her, but that she had weird attachments to. She doesn't like to let anything go!!! I was expecting drama and tears when she came home from school, but surprisingly, she was totally OK with it! Now she has tons of room to actually play in her playroom! I did organize my desk too, cleaned out the kitchen cupboards, cleaned the fridge and freezer, did four loads of laundry, made bread and the usual daily chores. Tomorrow? Right back at it, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, dusting and the oh-so-fun Commissary run. I'm finishing up my meal menu (I'll post it tomorrow!), so I'll make sure I have everything on hand! It's going to be YUMMY!!!! For now? An early bedtime!!!