It's a Back to School Giveaway

It's another great giveaway from Monogram Chick. What a great set to have for your kiddies for back to school. Just click here to enter http://www.monogramchick.blogspot.com/ and please tell them that I sent you so if you win, I win too!!!! Good luck!!!

I've Been Tagged

Boo And Hooties Mom tagged me so here it goes, "All About Me From A to Z".

Attached or Single? Attached
Best friend - Hubby
Cake or Pie - Definitely pie, Banana Cream Pie
Day of Choice - Saturday
Essential item - foundation, mascara and lip gloss
Favorite color - green
Gummy bears or worms - gummy bears
Home Town - Omaha, Nebraska - Go Huskers!!!!!!
Favorite Indulgence - designer handbags and shoes and of course paper goods
January or July - hands down July, I hate the cold!!!!
Kids - three, one girl and two boys
Life isn't complete without ? - my family
Marriage Date - Are you ready for this? March 31, 1990, 18 years. We got married right out of college when we were 23. (And if you did the math on that... yes, I am 41. OUCH!!!! I'm feeling old.)
Number of brothers and sisters - one sister and a brother who died at birth
Oranges or Apples - definitely oranges. I love how juicy they are.
Phobias - Mice and rats are my worst ever, then snakes. Which really interferes with my daughter having a pony because rats and mice are all over the barn. When I have to be there, I go straight to the viewing room or I stay outside. I can't handle walking down the aisles of the barn and if I have to (which I avoid at all costs), I look straight ahead and never, ever look in any of the stalls where they are scampering around.
Quote - "Be kind to people" and "Don't sweat the small stuff".
Reasons to Smile - My children. My oldest son has many struggles that he has to try to control on a daily basis. When I know he has conquered one, that makes me smile enormously because that's a huge accomplishment for him. He has medical issues and behavior problems that he has to deal with daily. It is one big learning process for my husband and I and for our son and the doctors. My heart breaks because for a little guy, he has had a lot to deal with his whole life. Some day I will share more on him.
Season of Choice - That's a hard one. It's between summer and fall. Spring doesn't happen around here in Chicago. It seems like we go from cold to hot, skipping the spring season. I love the warm weather of summer and walking along the beach. But I have to say, fall is a gorgeous time of year and my favorite season to buy clothes. My favorite and most comfortable outfit to wear is a turtleneck with jeans and driving loafers.
Tag five people- I'm tagging all those bloggers out there who haven't gotten this yet. Let me know if you do it, so I can read your list.
Unknown fact about me - Some people think I'm snobby, but really I'm just shy. I'm horrible at small talk with someone I just met and that is a goal of mine that I'm working on. I'm much more comfortable at small parties than I am at big ones.
Vegetable- Grilled asparagus YUM!!!
Worst habit - Being messy (My house is clean as in the "cleanliness" aspect, but messy as to stuff lying around and it drives my husband crazy. My kitchen island is a dumping ground for me. Whenever I walk in the door, the pile goes there. I am working on it though. My husband can't figure out why I am such a "clean freak" but not a "neat freak". He thinks those should go together.)
X-Ray or Ultrasound- Definitely ultrasounds. Ultrasounds of my children were just so amazing to me.
Your favorite food- Pasta
Zodiac sign - Pisces
Favorite zoo animals - We were just at Lincoln Park Zoo yesterday. The gorillas were so fascinating to watch.

Two Great Preppy Giveaways

Preppy Monogrammed Gifts is having a giveaway. The prize is a monogrammed apron. All you have to do is leave a comment on their website http://preppymonogrammedgifts.blogspot.com/. Please tell them that I sent you so I can win an apron too. Good luck everyone!!!!

If you love Boatman Gellar products, their having an awesome giveaway for their new product, Carrie and Tuck Note Tote. Just leave a comment on their website, http://liveyourstylebybg.blogspot.com/ for a chance to win. They're giving away three of these great totes.

Little "Mr. GQ's" 8th Birthday Party

The invitations.

The goody bags.

The "Tiki Huts".

The slide is up and running. We're ready for the party. Bring in the kids.

After much running up the slide and sliding down, hubby brought out a game to give the kids a little rest. This was so fun to watch all the kids figure out ways to melt their big "ice balls" to get to the prize hidden inside. But as soon as they retrieved their prize, back to the slide they went.

Birthday boy showing his prize.

Yeah, the party's over. All the kiddies had lots of fun. (Except Mr. GQ got bored half way through it. That's what happens when you've been on the slide since 11:00 a.m .and the party didn't start until 2:00 p.m.) I got so busy during the party that I didn't get a chance to snap many photos.

Am Loving the New Addition Blogger Added

I am totally loving the new "Blogroll" that Blogger added to it's layout format. It is so simple to add to your personal blog. You just add your favorite blogs to the 'Blog List" and than it lists when a new post has been added and the title of it. It shows up on the sidebar of your blog. So now I don't have to manually check every blog I love reading to see if they have posted a new post. It saves me so much time and anything that saves time I'm a big fan of.

July 4th, 2008

I just loved seeing this sight in the parade... so Americana. The flags, the boy scouts, the stilt walker in his 4th of July outfit all made it so picture perfect.

The kiddies enjoyed the parade with their cousins.

...and now it's off to the festivities.