New Years Resolutions:
1.  Lose 10-20 Pounds.  Blood work still not coming out good, so Doctor thinks if I lost weight, it might help.  Not sure how much I want to lose.  If my bra size changes, I will not lose another pound.
2.  Save $5000.00  by December 31, 2013.  Not counting any money we have right now.
3.  Pay off our boat.  Balance is $ 8014.00. Wish me luck....I will keep you updated!

A Great Gift for Yourself

Here is something that I love!!  If you want to buy yourself something, this is it.  Large assortment of coffee at home, anytime.

Keurig B145 OfficePRO Brewing System (Google Affiliate Ad)

Help Needed - Please Share

I know the tragedies that struck our nation are taking over the blogging world. I also know that I have been whining over my petty problems the past few weeks.
However, Bob and I learned of another tragedy, that has befallen onto one of our close friends.
So, bloggy friends, I would like to introduce you to Sarah...aka Molly, as we like to call her at work. Sarah is a registered nurse that works with me in the emergency department. When she first started, everyone thought she looked like a Molly, rather than a Sarah. Plus, we already had six Sarah's working there. So, we nicknamed her Molly and it has stuck ever since.

Don't you think she looks like a Molly? Anyways, Sarah is a single mom to 3 beautiful kids. Sarah recently started having abdominal pains. She was seen by the doctor and told she might have colitis or IBS. The pain continued so further testing was done. She was told she had benign teratoma's scattered throughout her abdomen. She went in for surgery this past week to have the teratoma's removed.

When the surgeons opened her up, they found that she had dermoid tumors. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer that has spread to her sigmoid colon. She has to go back in for surgery in a few weeks to have a full hysterectomy and part of her colon removed. She meets with an oncologist this week, and will know more once the pathology report is completed. She will start chemotherapy in two weeks. 

She is only 30 years old. 

People at work are rallying together to donate PTO and to buy her kids Christmas presents. Bob and I are planning a benefit to help raise money to support her through this tough time ahead. We have also started an online collection, attempting to raise money to give to Sarah to help her take care of bills and her children. Any amount will help. Please take a moment and consider helping this wonderful woman and her family.

Donate Here - The Sarah McCurdy Project

Please, feel free to share this information around the blogosphere. Thank-you.

Aveeno Moisturizing Lotion

My sister is in town from Florida and she introduced me to an awesome lotion. It's called Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing lotion. 

I know, I know. It's probably been around a long time. But I don't get out much, okay?

Anyways, it is fragrance free and makes your skin soft and smooth, without leaving an oily film. I highly recommend it!

They even offer a smaller size (2.5 oz) to carry in your purse.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, 12-oz. Pump Bottle (Google Affiliate Ad)

Scarf from Paris

When my sister was in Paris, I asked her to buy me a scarf.......the one she got me is hand painted.....completely amazing!! Thanks sis!!

Count Your Blessings

Life is too short to sweat the small stuff..... 

Count all your blessings...... 

Enjoy every family member....... 

Realize that it is not where you are going....it is who you are with. 

Every little thing you do everyday will shape your life.... 

Your home life is like a business, run it that way.... 

When you love someone, tell them often..... 

Remember to take the time to enjoy your spouse

That season is upon us......Just remember every day to take the time to remember that special person, whoever they are....or your family....friends.....enjoy them.
Remember to take the time each day to tell your spouse how much you care for them.  Take the time to spend even just a bit of time with them.  Even if you have to shut yourselves in a closet for a few minutes.
Remember.....if you don't get time to bake those cookies, that's ok...... Remember.....if you don't get the time to completely clean the house...so what.... Remember....you don't have to send out Christmas Cards.......who will know (maybe you missed them)
Enjoy your life...no matter what....and count all your blessings.... The important thing is your wonderful family and friends...
I will take the time each and every day to tell Jack that I love him!

 Life As An Egg.....   I have been dealt my cards.   So far so good with my blood clot.  I am still on blood thinners.  Still going to get my blood taken.  I feel for people that go through health issues more than ever.  This does get to you after time.    The leg pain is still very real.  There are days that I would just like to get up and have no pain.  A day a work without pain would be wonderful.   But I am here....The most amazing change in my life is the man that I have loved for 30 years is so much more important to me today, and I have always cherished this man. I love being his egg. (he started the 'egg' thing)  He has made me feel special, loved, and the reason that I am still here.   He has made everyday a special one and I thank him.

I am working with my daughter to make some changes to this blog.  Stay tuned.
I will also try to make daily entries.
Stand by......

New look!

Blog is under construction.

Young Journalist of the Year.  

By Elizabeth Benson, Central Michigan Life

Brian Manzullo is the only Central Michigan Life Editor in Chief to win two national Pacemaker Awards in the same year.

The twin wins from the Associated Collegiate Press for pint and online excellence occurred in 2009-10.  

Three years later Manzullo, Sports Web Editor at the Detroit Free Press, is being accorded another honor:  the 2012 "Young Journalist of the Year" award by the CMU Journalism Hall of Fame organizing committee.

"When I got the call from Neil (Hopp, CM Life adviser), I was pleasantly surprised," Manzullo said.  "I've been going to (Journalism Hall of Fame) banquets at CMU for about four years now, and have always seen the recipients of the Hall of Fame, but also the Young Journalists, and to me they're the most intriguing for what they're going to accomplish in their fields.  To be in the same line as people like Mark W. Smith, who is the former colleague of mine, is a real honor, it's humbling."

Manzullo, a 2010 CMU graduate, worked for CM Life as a reporter, senior football writer and Online Editor before being named Editor in Chief for the 2009-10 academic year.

He began writing during his sophomore and junior years of high school and quickly found out if was something he was good at, he said.

"I looked at my options and decided journalism was a good career.  I think it combines the writing with the curiosity, because reporting is all about asking questions and learning more about something, and that was a good way for me to express that," he said.

Manzullo got involved with CM Life during his freshman year at CMU, though he originally had other plans.

"I wanted to take my freshman year to get acquainted with everything, and doing well in my classes and such," he said.  "But then I attended a journalism seminar at the Bovee University Center, and I talked to a couple of people from CM Life and told them my plan, and tey basically said 'you should apply now and start working there this year.' So I went and filled out an application and expressed interest and started (at the paper)."

Manzullo had internships with the Saginaw News and the Grand Rapids Press during his college years, and was immediately hired at the Arizona Republic as an online sports content producer after graduation.

In his recommendation letter, Hopp said "that success led him to be wooed away by the Detroit Free Press in April 2012 for their sports web editor post."

"Not only has he excelled in the work place, he deeps coming back to CMU to talk to journalism classes and spend time mentoring the current journalists on the CM Life staff,"  Hopp said.

Maria B. Marron, professor and chairperson of CMU's Department of Journalism, said this about Manzullo:

"Brian is a hard-working and dedicated journalist.  He takes responsibility seriously, and his success in his college coursework, combined with his stellar career at CM Life, testifies to that."

During his years at CM Life, Manzullo spent countless hours redesigning the newspaper's website, cm-life.com.  He was editor during the multi-media project "24 hours in Mount Pleasant," which placed 16th in the Hearst National Collegiate Competition.

Today he authors BrianManzullo.com, which is, in his own words, "A multimedia journalist's blog and online portfolio on journalism, new media, sports and more."

Mini Chicken Pot Pies and Dessert!!

Very simple, fun, and great tasting.


1 package pie crust
1 can cream of chicken soup
Mixed vegetables of your choice (frozen, canned, or fresh)
Potatoes or thawed frozen hash browns
Cooked pieces of chicken.
Salt and fresh cracked pepper

1 beaten egg

Use Pam on a muffin tin.  Roll out pie crust, cut into squares to fit into muffin slots.

Mix next 4 ingredients and put into tin.  Cover each with a piece of crust.  You can make it fancy if you want.  Its just Jack and I, so I don't this day because of time.  Brush with beaten egg.  Use a knife to slit the top.

Bake 375 for 30 minutes.

I had 4 empty slots and enough pie crust left, so I used some apples I had to make mini apple pies.  They only bake for 20 minutes.  Very Yummy.

Every time I have left over chicken, corn, or any vegetables- I throw them in the freezer so I have my ingredients for the next chicken pot pie.

EASY DINNER!!!  GOOD AND CHEAP!!

I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A PICTURE OF IT.

1 PORK TENDERLOIN

1 CAN OF APPLE PIE FILLING

RED POTATOES

PUT ALL IN CROCK POT.  COOK ON LOW ALL DAY AND SERVE.

I JUST ADDED A VEGETABLE

THE COMPLETED DIY PROJECT

 And here is what the kitchen looks like today.  It is truly the kitchen of my dreams.  The best days of the week are the ones that Jack and I cook at home!

 The cabinets being installed.

 Lower cabinets installed.

 This is the only thing that Jack and I could not do ourselves.  The ceiling where we removed the wall, we could not get it smooth.  So while we were in Florida, we had the ceiling filled in and the entire ceiling painted.  This was the only work that was hired out on the entire project.

 We added a tile backsplash.

 We loved the backsplash, so we decided to add tile above the cupboards as well.

 This side of the kitchen was done the year before, so we just added the glass cabinet on the left, the microwave shelf and installed a flip-down TV.  Also changed the counter top.

 Next we had an island build.  We wanted a 2 tone wood look, so we had the island made from a dark wood instead to white to set the room off a bit.

Kitchen Remodel

And putting in the new floor was excited.   We had a friend of ours guide us, since we had never done it ourselves..... The brick look that is behind the sink was all around the kitchen.  It had to be cracked out bit by bit.

Now, this remodel took place in 2008.  Wanted to share our journey showing that you can make your dreams come true.  Doing it yourself can save you a bundle and you can have fun doing it!

Taking the floor out was the hardest part of the remodel in my opinion.  But when we were able to move the refrigerator over to the wall and open up all that space.....it seemed worth it all.  We also moved the dishwasher to the other side of the sink next to the fridge.

This is the next 3 days.  Cracking out the old tile by hand!!

So this is day 7, 8, and 9 of the remodel.  We were determined to do this on our own.  So each night after work we would spend a couple of hours getting a little bit more done each day.  The left side of the kitchen we had added cupboards to the previous year.  So we ordered the same cupboards for the other side of the kitchen.  We also ordered a glass cabinet and a microwave holder for the original side to give it an updated look.  So those cupboards and the oven (which was also new the previous year) would be the only 2 things that would stay in the new kitchen.

This was the next 3 days....off to a good start...to the kitchen of my dreams..

Kitchen remodel - DIY

So these are pictures of our kitchen before our remodel.  It all started on Jack's brothers 50th Birthday Party.  Jack's family all flew out to Salt Lake City for a surprise birthday party.  His brother and his wife had just completed their kitchen remodel and I just fell in love with it.  I spent an entire night thinking of how I wanted our kitchen.  And it had to be done while trying to keep our budget in mind.

After getting Jack on board with my thoughts, our kitchen journey began.

As any new project comes to mind, I was afraid that after we got home and back to normal life the thought would be put off or forgotten.  

So after we flew home, I started the project so there was no turning back.  This is the wall separating the dining room and the living room.   Keep checking for updates to see how it turns out and watch our journey.