What a way to start

I havent blogged in almost a year. Many things have changed and we are now living in a new place and have new jobs. Actually, we are managing a motel/lodge on Lake Gogebic, the Walleye Lodge. My hubby started in October and I started in November, after I gave my two weeks notice at Wal-Mart. What a new world this is and we started in at the beginning of peak season. You see, the Upper Peninsula is a winter wonderland and we are busy with snowmobilers as well as ice fishermen and hunters. What a world!!! But we are having a blast!

Lets see...OH I KNOW!!!

I got a WONDERFUL Email today, telling me I am the winner of a BEAUTIFUL Vintage Apron. I about died because I wanted to win this SO BAD!!!

Check out http://www.polkadotbarn.blogspot.com/

Isnt it TO DIE FOR?!?!?! As soon as it arrives, I will make SURE to post pics of me in it. GORGEOUS!!! Ok enough of my bragging...hehe

What else is new in the world of the Yooper Diva? Oh yes, well the name is new. LOL. Its what my husband calls me. You see, life here in the U.P. is...unusual. A very woodsy, rural, backwoods, behind the times sort of place. So I try to glam it up a bit.

This is me "modeling" my new hair clip. Its just beautiful! Hubby bought it for me and it is so glam. To this was my pin-up look. I also got a new tattoo...well a couple of them, but this is my newest...

big star in the middle is for me, and the smaller red and green ones are for each of my boys. Well, I suppose that is all my exciting news for today! My youngest has to have two teeth pulled tomorrow so it will be an icky day for him. Otherwise, we await spring weather. AKA mud season. Talk at ya all soon!!!

Some exciting stuff

Well, I have not been doing much lately but work work work...
When im not working, im reading blogs. There are so many wonderful and giving people out there who are having giveaways on their blogs, i just thought i'd share.
Livin With Me is giving away an amazing mom agenda. CHeck her blog out, there are some wonderful things.
http://www.livinwithme.com/2008/06/i-love-to-organize-giveaway/
Pioneer Woman is giving a Zune package away every week for the month of june.
http://thepioneerwoman.com.confessions
Thats about it for now, but I will be posting more VERY soon!

So much for every day..

Well, ok so posting every day is not a realistic thing for me. But I will try to post more, for sure. Things have been quiet here in the north woods. 32 inches of snow in 3 days sucks, let me tell you. Especially when you dont own a snowblower. Not fun at all. Christmas shopping is almost done. First time for me, but since most gifts need to be mailed out, i dont have a choice but to get done early. My house was decorated Thanksgiving day, only because i knew it would eventually snow and there is nothing fun about being outside in 32 inches of snow trying to put up decorations. Here is the final results, night and day. Of course, this is after some snow and my tree is burried LOL.

Mom sent me a new blog today. Simply adorable!!! Check her out. http://misseskwitty.blogspot.com/

She is in Duluth, which isnt too far from where I live. Well, were off to Wal-Mart to get the last gift we need for hubbys brother. We have tried to be creative with our gift giving this year. Oh, one last thing before I forget. I got an early christmas gift from my mom & gramma. It is my most favorite book to date. It is called Doodle Stitching. If your into hand embroidery and doodling, it is something worth checking out, for sure. Hope you enjoy! Till later.

Quick ramblings

I find one of the hardest things to do is title my blogs. Sometimes I dont really have anything exciting to say. This seems to be one of those times. Today sucked. I dont know why, but I have been napping all day. My phone isnt working properly. It is in the low 30's outside and for me, that is just too cold. Its a pain to get all bundled up when you have one functioning arm to do things with. We have been trying to get some shopping done online since we live in such a small town and our local shopping choices are Kmart and Fashion Bug. Early next year we are getting a huge new Walmart which I will be happy for. At least it is some change. So today I sit nibbling some BBQ chips and drinking hot cocoa. Odd combo. ANd watch bad movies on TV LOL.

It's getting cold out there

Well, we havge had our first official snowfall and today was opening day for deer hunting with guns here in the UP. Im always a little sad to see the fall go. I love the changing of colors and the cool air, the smell of fireplaces and wood burning heaters. The fall festivles, and the oncomming of the holiday season. The past couple years I have felt a little scroogish. This year though I have committed myself to celebrate each Holiday with gusto. Since it is just my husband and myself this year, im planning our Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, we wont be eating till the day after, as he has to work Thanksgiving Day. We are both CNA's and you know, nursing homes dont close. But my family has always worked around work schedules. Its not the day itself that is special, it is how you celebrate it. So the day after Thanksgiving we will be putting up our tree. I would do it now, but I still have much cleaning to do before I can so I will spend the next week prepping the house. Putting things away and such. Usually I just decorate around what I already have up. This year though Im going to go nuts. Everything is comming down, getting cleaned and put away. Then everything going up will be Christmas themed.





Last year I got an AWESOME deal on a huge plastic storage tote FILLED with shiny brites! I know that without the boxes they are worth less, but they are gorgeous. I paid $10 for all of them plus the plastic storage tote.

Then at a rummage sale, i got the coolest bag full of old ornaments. for $1 See?!?

Most of them are vintage and glass. Some are plastic and a couple are old covered in german glass. It doesnt matter much what they are worth. I love them. So as my Christmas decorating progresses, I will make sure to post updated pics.

A new start

Rose Benner 1908-2007

First before I get into my new life of blogging, I want to say a little something about the wonderful lady in the picture above. That is my 99 year old Great Grandmother Rose.
We lost her just over a week ago. The end came kinds fast. Pneumonia put her in a nursing home where she was less than a month. Before that, my wonderfully dedicated family took care of her. Everyone put off their own needs for this wonderful little lady. She did the same for all of us though when we were growing up. She was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother and a great great grandmother. WE were lucky to have her for 5 generations of family members. Not enough can ever be said about this great wonderful little gal. And then again, all I can bring myself to say is Thank You. For being. For loving. For giving. For putting up with us. For accepting us. For being our Great Gramma Rose.

Now...on to the next thing.
Blogging has been a challange for me. Perhaps I just think what I have to say wont interest anyone, I dont know.
I have decided to let all that aside. I am beginning my New Years Resolutions early this year. One is this...blogging. It seems sort of silly, but it is a step. I have spent the last few years finding the real me. Finding my strengths. Working on my weaknesses. Making a life. Getting Married. Having a career (though at this juncture, I am not happy with my choice of careers). Like I said, it is just one thing im working on. Finishing what I start.
Of course I pick the hardest time to try to maintain my blog LOL. As I can barely type. A week ago today I had surgery on my shoulder. Originally it was rotator cuff repair but there was little repair that needed to be done to it. There was more muscular repair and cleaning up that was done. Today I took my first actual shower after the surgery. I feel 100 times better. Recovery is going well, but it will be a long process to get all the strength back.
On to my second New Years Resolution...
I have been struggling with my weight for some time now. I have tried diets like south beach, which worked well...for a time. I actually lost 60 lbs. and put it back on...plus more. So this years resolution is 2 lbs a week.
I think that is doable.
Exercise and eating right. Portion control. blah blah blah. LOL yeah, i know it all. It is just a matter of doing it. And I am. So as soon as I have medical clearance, i will be starting a daily regimine.

Now...cool stuff I do.
I am currently participating in
Swap-Bot and
Paperback-Swap

I missed February...

Well, it seems I have missed the month of February in my blogging. So much for those daily blogs I guess. I have had a bit of a creative block lately. Im finally breaking out of it and starting on some small projects. I guess that is because I feel like things in my life are progressing some.

I am finally having some much needed dental work done. By work, i mean having my entire top teeth (or what is left of them) pulled and being replaced with upper dentures. My wonderful dentist has assured me we can save most of the bottoms. Unfortunatly I was born with very weak, very brittle teeth. Since I was two years old, I have constantly been in the dentists chair for some procedure or another. Unfortunatly the past couple years I have not had a dentist I could rely on to do the extensive work I need in a timely manner. They always insist to do a cleaning, x-rays, small fillings, etc...before beginning on the major work. By the time these things are done, my teeth are in worse shape. Not the case any longer. What kind of nut would be excited that tomorrow they are having teeth pulled. ME! I will have the smile I have always been meant to have.

Lets see, what else is going on. My mind has been boggled with new projects. Im working on a new business idea also. Something I can do full time at home. Im also thinking about opening up an animal rescue in the future. My passion is animals. Mostly dogs. There are so many out there that just need the love of a human. I also have other ideas where this is concerned. As I work through my projects, I will update on what I come up with.