Thursday, April 29, 2010

A winner and a new giveaway

I'd like to congratulate Marsha for winning the Hot Locks doll.  She has two little girls who I think will love playing with this cool new toy.

I'm also going to start doing regular giveaways in the blog.  at least once a month.  This month's prize is:

Avon's Skin So Soft, Bug Guard Plus.  A must have for summer if you are going to be out doors at all.
Repels mosquitoes for 8 hours. Provides effective protection against gnats, no-seeums, sand flies and biting midges. DEET-free, dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic. 2-in-1 protection.* Aerosol spray, 4 oz. net wt

*All you have to do to enter is:  leave a comment telling me what your favorite outdoor activity is.  Please be sure to include an email address so I can get back to you if you win.
*For an extra entry:  post this giveaway on your blog and comment here with the link.  ( I will be checking)
*For another extra entry:  go to my website:  www.youravon.com/akrueger8895 and comment here with your favorite item.(it might just show up as a giveaway!)

(No pressure to order but if you see something you must have while you are surfing around my website, you can order and have it shipped right to you.  enter code "FSANY" to get free shipping.)

This giveaway runs from today, April 29 until Thursday, May 6.  I will draw for a winner on May 7th, before I head out to the Rick show.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Where's My Diginity?

I wrote this last fall.  I think that it could turn into a really good story.  Let me know what you all think.

     "Hey, it's jsut me.  I left something at your house last night.  Could you let me know if you find it?  It's my diginity."
     I couldn't believe how I had behaved.  I had been at a cook out at my friends' house.  Luke and Sarah.  Sarah and I have been best friends since high school and Luke is her prince.  Dotes on her.  Pampers her.  But let's her be herself.  Luke's best friend is Matt.  Matt is my ex.  And he was at the party.  With his new girlfriend.
     My name is Theresa and I'm a complete mess.
     Matt and I dated about five years ago.  Right after I got out of college, Sarah and Luke fixed us up.  It was great at first.  We hit it off and it seemed like we had a lot in common.  But after about six months, he gave me the "it's not you, it's me" speech and broke my heart.
     He's had a few girlfriends since then.  I know this because Sarah feels the need to keep me in the loop.  He's repeatedly dated Debbie, his high school sweetheart.  Let me tell you, she's no sweetheart.  But she has some sort of power over him that I just don't understand.
     So, back to last night.  I knew that he was going to be there so I dressed my best.  Low V neck, slinky top, tight jeans, sexy sandals.  Hair up, because that was how he had always liked it.  i looked great, felt good, was nervous.
    I got there at six and nobody else was there.  Sarah and I did a shot and then I cracked a beer.  I needed to take the edge off my nerves.
    Other people started showing up.  Mike and Julie, Steve and Shelly, Terry and Megan, Matt and Kris, Jason, Tony, Bill.  Yup, it was mostly couples but there were three bachelors there and I intended to show Matt what he was missing.
    While Luke was cooking, I focused my attention on Tony.  Tony worked as an engineer at a local hospital.  At work he was all business.  Outside of work, he was the most laid back, down to earth person I know.  He was a great guy.  We talked about sports, his neices and nephews, and how Luke and Sarah should just get married already.  i had often wondered why he had never asked me out.  He always seemed so interested.  A few months ago, Luke let it slip that Tony was gay.  That would be why he didn't ask me out.  But he was still nice to look at and hang out with.
    I barely acknowledged when Matt and Kris showed up.  She didn't care, but he gave me a glare.  Good.
     After we ate, the party moved to the pool deck.  And I moved to Jason.
     Jason had alwyas been like a brother to me.  Great to hand out with but not to date.  He'd do anyting for a friend and was alwyas there to porect or stand up for a friend.  Jason was a bartender at my favorite bar.  We started talking about who we could throw in the pool first.  I wanted it to be Matt, he wanted it to be Sarah.  We laughed about it and decided not to throw anybody in.
    I stole a few glances at Matt and was not happy to see that he still looked good.  i tried not to obsess over whateve had gone wrong between us,  but I never really could understand it.
    His girlfriend was cute and nice and that made me mad.  I wanted her to be mean and bitchy so I could as why he was with her.  But they actually seemed well suited for each other.  I hated it.
     Bill and I had known each other as long as Luke and Sarah.  He was going through a divorce and just needed a fun night with friends.  He was also a great guy and I couldn't figure out his wife.  Why would she leave him.  I guess you never know what goes on behind closed doors.
    Bill and I started dancing.  Probably not a great idea when you are on the pool deck and you've had a few drinks, but I had poor judgement.  One wrong step back and I was in the pool, fully clothed.
     Everybody got a good laugh out of it, including me.  It was a good thing that Sarah and I wore the same size.  She gave me some clothes to change into and I returned to the party.
    I had drunk just enough at that point that my snarky side was coming out.  I was throwing little jabs at Matt.  Things that nobody else really understood.  He made one comment and it was all over.
    "Really?  really, do you want to go there, Matt?"  I was standing toe to toe with him.
    "Go where?" He wasn't smart enough to say no.
    "You said that I was the best thing that happened to you.  You said you saw a future for us.  You said you loved me!  It sucks that you either lied or could only see your future in weeks, because a month after that we were done.  When you lamely broke up with me, I was crushed.  Crushed!  I loved you,too.  And I saw our future more clearly than you.  And it was wonderful.  But you lost out.  You screwed up!  You left me."
    "I didn't leave you," he tried to reach for me, but I pulled away.  "I didn't leave you, Tessa.  I was just so afraid of how intense things were.  It seemed like we were moving so fast.  I had to get out."
    "You are an asshole!  I could have used that information five years ago."
    "I didn't know how to tell you."
    "Screw you!  You broke my heart.  It killed me.  I spent the last five years trying to figure out what's wrong with me. You ruined me."
    Everybody had been silent during the exchange.  His poor girlfriend had a deer in the headlights look and I wanted to punch her.
    "luke, can you take me home? I need to get out of here."
    Matt tried to reach for me again and I flinched.  "Do. Not. Touch. Me.  You lost that right a long time ago.  everybody, I'm so sorry that you had to witness this craziness."
    Luke and Sarah walked into the house with me.  Sarah gave me a hug and said,"  I'm sorry."
    "It's okay.  I knew that he would be here and I can anyway.  I'm sorry for causing such a scene."

    So, I left the message for Sarah and headed to the shower.  I was a little hung over but doing okay.  When the phone rang, I assumed it was Sarah and quickly answered it.
    "hello?"
    "Hey."  It wasn't Sarah.  it was Matt.
    "Hey,"  I answered softly.
    "How are you doing today?"
    "You care because?"
    "Because I do.  I've always cared about you."
    I laughed out loud.
    "Okay,  I can see how you might not believe that, but it's true."

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Time for a Tattoo

Amy at Escape to Thought posed a very good question.  If you were to get a tattoo right now what would it be? I've actually considered getting a tatttoo off and on over the years, but I wanted it to be something special and meaningful.  If I was to go today, I would get a tattoo of a dotted eighth note with a pair of dance shoes hanging from the flag.  It would be on my inner left arm, up near the elbow.

I know you are thinking that's kind of weird and unusual.  Let me tell you a little bit about why this would (and probably will be) my tattoo.

About a year ago, a situation occured within my family that shook it to the core.  Without going into the gory details (and to protect those involved) one of the outcomes was that Lyric started cutting herself.  At first the story was that she fell, and I almost bought it, but then I opened my eyes a bit more and realized what it really was.  So, for the past 11 1/2 months we have been dealing with that.  She gets angry/frustrated/hurt and she has the urge.  She hasn't cut herself for almost a month now.  This is great news.  But I worry all the time that she will have a bad day and cut herself, or worse.

Lyric's favorite music note is a dotted eighth note.

Jazz is a dancer, hence the nickname.  Since dance is a big part of her life, I would incorporate the dance shoes. 

It was either this or have a tattoo for each girl and I'm not quite ready for that yet.

The placement on the arm is because that's where Lyric has done most of her cutting.  There is also a to write love on her arm movement. 

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Binders

Binders, binders, binder.  You know:  1 inch, 2 inch and 3 inch plastic covered cardboard with three rings and comes in diferent colors!?!?  I love binders.  i use them for everything.  I have one for information about my new apartment.  One for my Avon business stuff and one for my Avon customer information.  I have one for my friend's wedding plans and one for all my school information. 

I have binders at work for notes about my job, payroll, department charges, and more

I use binders to keep all kinds of things organzied.  I prefer the ones with the plastic sleeve on the front so you can give it a pretty cover.  But even the plain ones you can slap a sticker on so you know what's in it.

I have a nice little stash of extras and i add to it at school supply time when they are on sale for like 50 cents.  some binders get reused and others will hold their information for years.

What's your favorite organizing tool??

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date

Bet you thought this was going to be an Alice In Wonderland post, didn't you?!?  Well, it's not.  This post is all about how getting up in the morning sucks!  My alarm goes off and I hit the snooze a whole bunch of times.   I don't count because 1) I'm not a morning person, 2) I barely function without my coffee, 3) I barely function before 9am, 4) there's nothing I hate more than that annoying sound (which does not explain why I continue to hit the snooze- I get to hear it over and over and over.

Unfortunately, this must be genetic as Jazz and Lyric are most definitely not morning people.  Jazz used to be: early to bed, early to rise, just like her dad.  Not so much anymore.  Lyric has never, ever, ever been a morning person.

In the morning, I try to be nice when I wake them up, but really the only way to get them to move is to be loud...repeatedly.  This makes mornings at our house one big fat pain in the hind end.

So, let me ask, does anybody have any ideas on how to help this part of our morning run a little smoother (or quieter)?  I'm open to suggestions.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Avon Open House

I am finally all moved into my new apartment.  Not all unpacked, but all moved.  This weekend I am having an Open House to help support my Avon business.  For all my bloggy friends, you can help too.  Go here and click on "eParties".  You will be able to browse through a virtual catalog and order any Avon products you like.  When you are done shopping, check out and enter "FSANY" as the promo/special code.  This will get your items shipped directly to you, for free!

If you would like to earn some free Avon products, you can schedule your own eparty.  just leave a comment here with an email address and i will get back to you.

Party on!

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

My Insightful Daughter...

Here's what Lyric has to say about herself:

I am 14.
I'm insane.
I love liek crazy and don't hate too often.
Once I love you, I'll probably never stop.
Unless you REALLY screw with me...
I won't forget you if you were ever once in my heart.
I believe that everyone should have a chance to prove what they're worth...
The last year of my life has really kicked my ass.
But it's taugh me a lot about life too.
I'm trying my best to fix what I don't like.
That's extremely hard, but I won't give up...
I love my closest friends to no end.
I have godparents.
My godfather ditched me a while back...
so I disowned him...
my step godfather is kick ass.
you can call him Christopher Minnick...
I call him loser :-)
My godmother is Kelley Minnick
I love these two people with my whole heart.
My mother is my number one hero.
I have a little sister.
She's great.  I couldn't live without her. :)
Chris and Rhea are the best cousins EVA! :)
Yes, I believe in God.
Don't mess with the power of prayer...
I've seen miracles and done stupid things...
I've experienced so many emotions at one time...
I don't regret what I've done.
I just learn.
I'm learning everyday what it means to live and love.
I love my life...
No matter how shitty my day was.

I am me. Plain. Simple.