This week was a good week. Rick and I have placed ourselves on a diet and I've managed to lose 5 lbs this week. It makes me feel better to know that I'm on the right track and keeping a positive mental attitude. I made out a menu plan and we've been good about sticking to it. Having less carbohydrates really makes a difference in my energy. I don't notice the fluctuation that I usually do (highs and lows are a bummer) and I don't feel so bogged down. Since I love vegetables and meat it's not such a big deal to me. Tonight I decided to treat myself to a glass of wine (or 2 - hee hee!) so I was good with the diet all day and got on the bike for 25 minutes to sweat it out before sitting down and relaxing. I just have to think about balance. I don't miss anything so far! And I feel great. Wish me luck for the next 4 weeks! I'm gonna go another week with little or no carbs and hopefully get my sluggish body into gear with my new fitness regimine (X-treme Fitness classes-Zumba, Butts-Guts-& More, Yoga, Pilates) and bust out a new ME!! I've been attending classes since the first of October and can already see and feel the difference! Anyone interested can come join me. WE get people coming from Rochester for these classes too! The instructors are from the Rochester Athletic Club!! it's amazing!!!

My business shows will start ramping up in March. It's exciting to think about the direction of it all. I may look for some help this summer to hit more shows and a broader market in the Minneapolis area. Anyone interested in a good part time summer job that pays really well- gimme a call. Only requirement is to have good salesmanship and the ability to communicate with people to understand and tap into their needs for optimum sales!

I am doing a market show this Sunday in LaCrosse. This allows me the opportunity to sell some of my commercial items I can't retail at craft shows. The weather looks pretty crappy for Sat. & Sunday so I'm hoping I can make it over there and that attendance will be good. Send out those positive thoughts ok?

Have a great weekend everyone!

January Beauty

What else do you do on a dreary MN day!....

I did my best for the first time out cross country skiing. My feet, shins,& calves were screaming most of the first half but settled into a rhythm after that. I only did it for the cardio workout...not because I was excited about getting out in this crappy weather! I'm feeling like this is the last long winter I want to spend in MN!! Mark my words!!

My Beautiful Family....

Good Morning Surprises!

This just flew through my back yard! Amazingly big and beautiful! Good morning to you too!!

2009 Christmas Memories...

Mary, Chris (mas)...hee hee!

New Toys to play with...Rick's Video camera

Grandkids & Great Grandkids (Audrey)-someone's missing...Jamey & Kate!

Auntie Megan and Audrey (Brianna & Chris' little one- 8 mo. old)

Kids Table!

Gettin' Ready to Eat!

Busy Kitchen!

Auntie Cindy and Audrey

2 of my kitties enjoying Christmas! Thanks for the new toys Santa!

An Empty Space Jamey and Kate usually occupy- Sad :(
Christmas Morning

Excitement of Christmas Morning...Go Megan!

Presents Await! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Snowstorm- Megan's snowman looking into the warm house.

I think he liked the snowstorm!

Megan makes a Cute Christmas Snowman with the new fallen snow!

Christmas in Minneapolis with Aunt Bev and Uncle Danny!

It's nice to have them here to celebrate Christmas!

Megan's Perfect Snowman!

So fun to see my 26 year old daughter still enjoying the snow!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/preview/flash/bws8Shell_fps24.swf?ihost=http://ak.imgag.com/imgag&brandldrPath=/product/full/el/&cardNum=/product/full/ap/3166187/graphic1

Nearly Done....

So I went out today to get a couple more gifts and I'm nearly done with my Christmas shopping. A couple small things for someone and I'll be done! Yay! Now for the wrapping. Rick usually does this but I might help out this year cause I'm home for a change (instead of at the mall) and it will be fun. It's either that or I will bake Cookies and we don't NEED the cookie!. So I think I'll wrap presents. After all...that'll burn calories instead of putting them all on my hips. Uuugh! Wish it would warm up about 20 degrees so I can stop complaining. You know it's cold when Rick actually says he's cold! Stay warm everyone!

Merry Christmas...

http://www.flixxy.com/best-christmas-lights-display.htm

Old Man Winter's Surprise Visit...

Is this Old Man Winter? Ha!

The kitties are amazed and confused! Biddy-what's out the window?

Poor Lil Christmas Tree! That's one way to get flocked!

Peacefully serene...

Ok...so maybe we won't be grilling our dinner tonight?

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Meeting Someone Special...

Megan brought her special guy home for a good ol' fashioned meal complete with smoked BBQ Pork (thank you Rick-Yum!) and cheesy potatoes! We were happy to meet Josh. A nice small town boy from Plymouth, MN. This is the only picture I took the whole day! I was busy cooking and preparing. Rick has always been the photographer in our house but has totally slacked in his duties since the kids graduated from high school. I don't get it but, whatever. We're just lucky to have gotten this one shot (taken by me). I'll do better next time (or should I say Rick will).

Thanks for coming to visit Megan and Josh! It was fun!

December Excitement

I love the excitement of December! This is the first year in several that I haven't been in Apache Mall. I really miss the hustle and bustle but it was the right decision. Traffic and spending is down so much in our little corner of the world that it isn't worth the time and effort. I'm really just happy to have a normal Christmas season for a change. I'm enjoying the planning, shopping, and preparation for the big day. I finally went to the chiropractor for my back because it wasn't getting any better (hurt it last week). Amazing what one treatment will do! I can sit without much pain and even went to exercise class today! I feel fantastic!! Thank you Dr. Krause!! Just one more treatment tomorrow and I'll be good to go. He found some sublexations in my mid back and it's starting to show arthritis so I will probably go a few times a year to keep things in check. That will help for a number of things. Including my attitude. Now if he could only fix my attitude about this white crap on the ground and the cold temps I'd give him a trophy! I don't think he can do that though. Maybe I should do more talking to the man upstairs. It'll be alright through Christmas Day but then it needs to go away and start warming up. In the off chance it isn't going to do that (this is Minnesooooota after all) I'll anxiously await my Mexico vacation. It'll be a good one this year because we're going with our friends Deb and Paul Gjere. It's good I have that to look forward to or I think I'd go insane from the cold!! Stay warm and cozy everyone!

You Never Know....

My parents were given the gift of a plane ticket to come back to Minnesota (they've been in Arizona for the past several years) so they could see family and friends. It's been nearly 3 years since I've seen them in person and the day before we were to get together my Mom started having eyesight problems. She mentioned that she had seen a large flash and that now her vision seemed impaired in her right eye. After a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, she was told she had a tear in her retina that needed to be surgically repaired. Since surgery and recovery would take up to 8 weeks (my parents can't stand the cold any longer) they decided to leave early and go back home to have the emergency surgery done in Scottsdale at the Mayo Clinic. Thank God for referrals from Rochester or she wouldn't have gotten in since they don't take Medi Care patients at the Scottsdale Mayo Clinic any longer. Ridiculous. I have been so busy with shows that I didn't have a chance to see them and was going to get together with them on Tuesday. It ended up that they had to fly home so I didn't get to see them. I'm frustrated and disappointed. It was not meant to be I guess. Maybe there's a reason...one just never knows.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I will be setting up to retail in Minneapolis tomorrow night to run through Sunday. If anyone needs to reach me you'll have to call my cell phone. I will have limited access to emails so calling is the best way to get in contact with me. For those of you I won't see on Thanksgiving day have a very good one and I send my blessings to you all!

Moon Palace-Cancun, Mexico

It's just nice to have something to look forward to. It helps me make it through our hellish winters! Can't wait for February 19th!!

Go Get Em' KoMets!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCze_O1VU3A

Christmas Shopping with Major Briggs!

This year Major is planning to do a majority of his Christmas shopping online.

He has a great teacher- his momma-Kate.

Remember your budget Major. Thatsa good boy!

Busy, Busy...

Just an update on what's going on in my life as I'm sure you're all SO interested. I'm busy getting ready for my Christmas season of selling. I kick it off on Saturday at the Mayo Clinic Craft Fair from 8-4:00. Then next week I'm over at LaCrosse for the big Holiday Craft Fair from Thur-Sunday. The following Tuesday I go up to the cities to work the busy retail Thanksgiving weekend at a mall in Coon Rapids. 4 days of long hours but hopefully really good sales. Fingers crossed (XX). I'll come home for a week and then return to the cities to a mall in St.Louis Park for the 2 weeks before Christmas. I already have several things booked for next year too so I'm gearing up my business and having a blast. There is nothing so gratifying then owning your own successful business. Just ask my hubby who also has his own side business (http://www.homepro-inspection.com/). We're having the Best time of our lives but working hard is our middle name. The nice thing for me is that it's not stressful and I can make it as busy as I want to so it's flexible for me. That's the beauty of my business too. http://stores.ebay.com/Crystal-Notion
I've started going to exercise classes in Kasson. Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, Strengthing & Toning, etc. Nearly any kind of class you could want or need. It feels good. I've been hitting it hard the last 3 weeks going 4 times a week and throwing in some extra biking and walking too. We're on a mission folks. Gotta get this old lady back into shape if it kills me! Any donations to the "Healthy In Perfect Shape (HIPS)" fund would be appreciated to fulfill my goal (JK!). Wish me luck!