In Memory of a True Hero

Being a Military Spouse bonds are formed & friendships are made. Even with people who we really do not know from adam. It comes with the brotherhood of our spouses. However, sometimes these bonds are formed in the response of the ultimate tragedy. The ultimate sacrifice. This would be how I came to know Patricia Sherman. Widow of Sgt. Benjamin Sherman & mother of 6 month old Skye (whom never got to meet her daddy). You can imagine how rough life gets, but Patricia & Skye keep on trucking. Inspiring all who know their story. Be it on a personal level or just from hearing about them. And believe it or not, Ben Sherman still continues to inspire & help others even in his passing. In Memory of Sgt. Benjamin Sherman on Facebook.

That is what has happened to Kathy Flynn. She is currently training for the Maine Coast Half Marathon & raising money that will go directly towards the Fisher House of Boston. She is doing so In Memory of Sgt. Benjamin Sherman. For more information about the Fisher House of Boston simply click HERE. Basically, Fisher Houses provide homes away from home for the military and their families in time of stress. When their loved ones are seriously injuried, ill, or while making plans for funeral arrangements after the passing of a loved one.



For more information about Kathy's efforts to raise money for the Fisher House of Boston, and/or to make a donation, simply go HERE. Even if you are not able to donate at the time, please pass this link on.

Thank you!
& remember: Always Keep Our Military Families in your thoughts & prayers

♥,
Jessica

Freebie Friday

I'm not going to lie, I have those annoying white flakes known as Dandruff. It is something that I have battled since I was in high school. Constantly trying to find a shampoo that actually works. A shampoo that will mesh perfectly with my oily hair type. Yes, I have the absurd oily dandruff.

Well, I'm hoping that my search may be over. Thanks to Deal Wise Mommy I was able to request a free sample of the new Garnier Fructis Anti-Dandruff Shampoo HERE.





Being the mother of an independent 1 year old, I know one thing is true: you can never have too many wipes. Disinfectant wipes, Diaper wipes, wipes, wipes, wipes. That is one reason that when I saw the offer for a FREE Tub Of Kandoo Wipes (1st 10,000) posted by Deal Wise Mommy , I rushed on over. & the tube is really cute too.



Hope these two freebies were a good start to my new series "Freebie Fridays" that I will be posting every Friday. Have any suggestions of where to find more freebies to share, let me know. Most freebies take 4-8weeks to ship so please be patient.

Enjoy!
♥,
Jessica

Custom Business Card design

I am so Excited! I just created my first Custom Business Card design for someone else!! I had made one for my photography business but never for anyone else. Now I can say I have... Let me know what you think! & then after you're done with that- be sure to swing over to Facebook & check out my friend Brandy & everything she has to offer: Semper Fi Love Designs


Go Me!! lol
♥,
Jessica

Similac Formula Recalls

Bubbie just recently got switched to Soy Milk but we still have a back up container of "Go & Grow" formula here at the house. My mom let me know about the recent recall of some Similac products & I headed over to check out the status of the container we have here... RECALLED! So please stop using your Similac formula immediately & head on over to Similac.com to see if your little one's formula is on their list.

Once their simply follow the directions. And get this- it's being recalled for the Possible Presence of Beetles and/or Larvae!!!! Ewe... sorry, but the thought just freaks me out.

Needless to say, we're taking ours up to Wal-Mart tomorrow to get it refunded.

♥,
Jessica

Etsy Find

I am pretty new to Etsy.com but love what all I see so far. Tonight I was surfing around & look what I found:


Daisy Metal Creations specializes in hand stamped jewelry (my fave I must add). I just happened upon her shop & found this cute necklace. Definitely placing her shop on my Favorites list & the necklace as well. Who knows, maybe I can get one with my little man's name on it someday soon.

So, Everyone head on over to check everything out. This wasn't the only treasure there to find....
♥,
Jessica

Custom Layout Giveaway

I have one more thing to post before bedtime... I HIGHLY recommend that everyone head on over to Ritzy Designs on Facebook & show them some love. Give them a press of the 'Like' button. After that, head on over to their blog to read more about the Custom Layout giveaway. (They're giving away a FREE CUSTOM BLOG DESIGN at 100 likes)While at Ritzy Designs, you might as well complete a few more tasks & throw in a few chances to win the layout yourself.

G'nite now,
♥Jessica

My Apologies

I wanted to take a short minute to apologize to my readers. I have been a terrible blogger today. It's like I have so many plans running loose in my mind but for some reason lack the "umph" to get up & make things happen. I don't know, I guess it's to be expected since I did just have a major organ removed but still... I disappoint myself.

But rest assured that there is a "To-Do" list on my Desktop. And a few new connection ideas brewing in my mind. I have a couple mentors & hoping to make some deals for some giveaways & such sometime in this century.

For tonight though, I must go get some sleep. I have not taken my pain meds at all today. Thought I'd play Super Mommie and pick Seth up while bathing him much to the Hubbie's dismay & protest. Needless to say, I should've listened (but what can I say?! I'm a hard headed momma). Now I must go take the medication, skip along the path to Dreamland, & hopefully sleep peacefully.

Just hang in there with me. I'm determined & convinced that I can do this. As long as I want it bad enough. & let me tell you... I WANT THIS!!

Goodnight Friends,
♥Jessica

Free Cinnabon Cream of Wheat Sample

When I was growing up I Loved Cream of Wheat. I remember eating it before catching the bus in the mornings. & well, who doesn't love Cinnabon?!?! Just two reasons that I was super excited when I heard about the new Cream of Wheat Cinnabon.

Go HERE to get a free sample by mail (allow 6-8 wks for delivery) and a $2.00 off coupon towards your next purchase of Cream of Wheat Cinnabon .

Paperback Swap

Hello fellow bloggers!

I was playing around online & rekindled an old love with a website that I was once very active on... Paperback Swap



I have been a member of this site for over 2 years, received 33 books, & sent 31 books. Saving approximately $148.50 because of the awesome way the website works.

Here's how the magic happens:

If you sign up under me, we both receive credits. I believe you still receive 2 free credits just for uploading 10 books that you are willing to trade. With those 2 credits you can go ahead and request 2 books from other members or an audio book which usually runs 2 credits.

With the 10 books that you post, when someone requests a book & you mail it to them, once it is received they mark it so & you get a credit for it. So with you mailing the book to them, you are practically getting a book for the small price of postage (usually $2.38 or so). Can't beat that in my opinion.

Some of the books that I've received & read from the site are:



Let me know if you, yourself, are a member of Paperback Swap so that I can 'Buddy' you. Also, if you sign up under me (just by clicking the banner near the beginning of this post) I'd love to know so I can thank you & see how you like it so far.

Hope to see you all there!!
♥,
Jessica

Gall Bladder Be Gone

Good Sunday everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know what has been going on since I last posted...
It seems that every time I get plans in my head, something comes up. There was a list of things in my head that I had going to help expand my place in the blogosphere and to hopefully connect with new people. More people leading to more opportunities to get into PR & giveaways. Those ideas are still in my head but I have been set back some.

Friday morning I woke up in the worse pain EVER! (& that's even with giving birth to my son in mind) Here is how my day went.

3:30a- woke up with pain that I thought was just bad gas

5:00a- started throwing up, still thought it was really bad gas

5:30a until 9:00a- soaked in a warm bath 3x's, took a hot shower, laid with a heated towel on my belly... definitely not looking like gas anymore.

9:15a- got in touch with the DH at work (where he had apparently passed out during the morning run) & told him that he needed to come get me to take me to the ER.

9:45a- walked into the ER on post. freezing, shaking, hurting EXTREMELY bad, still getting sick every hour or so.

1:30p- FINALLY get back to the actual ER & get laid down

4:00p- Ultrasound done & large stone seen in my gallbladder.

7:30p- Yeap- I'm definitely going to have surgery done... in a couple hours.

9:30p- Go into surgery to have the pain taken out.

1:30a- Get back to my room from recovery & though I feel like crap from being put under, Ahhh...R.E.L.I.E.F... from no more Gall Bladder.

From that time on I pretty much just laid around in my room and started working on healing. They let me come home yesterday afternoon after dinner time. Now the DH is my stand in nurse. hehe. I have an incision in my bellybutton, 2 in my belly, & one where a drain tube was because my gallbladder was apparently pretty horrible. Other than that, I'm doing okay. Still sore. I'm convinced however, that most of the pain is from when I was put under and from laying around so much. Looks like I'll be doing this for at least another week or so.

Keep me in your thoughts please. & hey- at least it'll give me plenty of time to get back to that list to improve my blogging as I mentioned before.

♥
Jessica

Pshhhewwww....

Alarm clock goes off at 8 o'clock this morning & the green flag dropped. I managed to feed, clean up, & bathe Bubbie. As well as brush my hair & teeth, get dressed, & chow down on some Pop tarts. Oh wait! Don't forget walking both dogs, one at a time while the other stayed in the apartment barking their head off bc they wanted to go as well. All of this & Bubbie and I still made it to the Dollar Tree by 9:30am.

After browsing around Dollar Tree and finding some awesome accent gems, that I can use for my 'Baking Sheet' calendar project, we were headed over to Wal-Mart to meet a lady who purchased something I had listed on BraggYardsales.com. Since we were already there- we went ahead & did the mid-month grocery shopping.

Poor little guy was falling asleep through out the store. Hence, the reason he passed out as soon as the truck was cranked & headed towards home. Ahh, home sweet home. However, only long enough to drop off the cold items before heading back to the Wal-Mart parking lot to meet another lady who purchased 3 shirts that I had listed on BraggYardsales.com. Afterwards, it's back to the house I go.

& well, to make a long story short- it's 2:30pm and I am just now getting to sit down. Not for long though because I still have to:
-start on my Cookie Sheet Calendar
-hang up all the clothes on the new hangers I just got
-take the trash to the dumpster
-walk to check the mail
-cook yummy Manwich for dinner
-check out some stuff from Woman's Day on working from home
-Feed the Bubbie & the Hubbie
-Bathe the Bubbie (Hubbie can bathe himself. lol)
-Watch 'The Killers' that I rented from Redbox

All while finding time to rest, feed, & bathe myself.
Oh yeah--- & still find time to sleep before my day starts early in the am.
Get this though: I AM ALREADY EXHAUSTED. lol. Especially after reading all of the things I still have to get up from here to do.

Oh how I wish Energy Drinks worked for me.


I'm going to go now but be sure to check back to make sure I survived my day.
♥
Jessica

S'more Please

Taking time out of my cleaning & moving things around in the heat, I decided to check out one of my favorite blogs: Be Different... Act Normal. Boy am I glad I did!

I have to admit, I love my food. I love watching the Food Network when I'm sitting around the house (it's actually on right now) & looking at various recipes online. However, rarely do I make it to the store to get whatever ingredients that I need to make whatever it was that made me drool. After seeing the post that Lorie posted at Be Different... Act Normal though, this time is going to be different. I mean, look at them:



Lorie found these at Pick Something Creative & now I'm posting them here. The recipe can be HERE

Hope you enjoy & let me know if you give them a try. I'll definitely be baking them for my Soldier when he gets home!

Past Projects

Some months back I decided that I wanted to create some photo mattes & possibly sale them. A trip to the craft store & only 3 mattes later I decided that I couldn't make the ones I wanted without different frames (the stickers didn't work right with regular style frames). I quickly lost interest. I mean, taking care of an infant with my husband deployed. So here I am today sharing my 3 mattes with you guys. Who knows, maybe someone can suggest a frame what will work or something that will allow me to pick up & continue to use my "somewhat-okay talent".


This one cracked the side of the plastic frame when I tried placing the back on.


I thought this one was super cute.


I think this one is my favorite.

♥,
Jessica

New Friend Fridays

The other day (friday), while browsing through some of my favorite blogs I stopped by The Trendy Treehouse. Low & behold I discovered something that flashed "New & Exciting" to me. That something is the Link Party known as "New Friend Fridays"!! I'm on my way back over there to join but thought that I'd share this with you guys first. So why not swing by & join us:


ENJOY!
♥,
Jessica

Creative Chick Parade

Just wanted to take the time out to share this exciting news with everyone! I am new to 'Link Parties' but I will tell you- I ♥ them!! While browsing around last night I caught wind of something awesome that is about to take place. Starting September 13th (monday) the 'Creative Chick Parade' will be kicking off and running until September 17th.

During the Parade there will be a variety of Link Parties hosted with various themes. Multiple sites will be having giveaways & it going to be an exciting week all together!! So be sure to join in & not be left out :)

♥
Jessica

Bubbie's Frame

Being as though I didn't work while I was pregnant, nor do I now, I was always looking for something to do. Something to keep me busy. To make it worse, my husband was out in the field for about 30 days during my pregnancy also. I was super bored to say the least.

One day just sitting around I decided to make a picture frame for my little one. Hopping in the truck, I headed to the nearest craft store for some supplies.

A picture frame and some REALLY cute scrapbooking stickers later, here is what I came up with:



After making it, the glass got broken during the move to Texas. It sat off to the side forever because I just never got around to getting a new frame. Well, today I found a new frame for 50% and couldn't pass it up.

So, I re framed it and finally hung it in my son's room:



One Project completed, 1000 more to go. lol.

♥
Jessica

Random Bubbie

the Bubbie & the Mommy

Daddy's Back to Work

My, oh my, this weekend went by extremely too fast & we are sad that it's already over. Our time together has been p.e.r.f.e.c.t but this morning Daddy had to return to work. But hey! At least he's remaining on American soil and coming home every day after his work is done. This is WAY better than him being deployed.

Oh, you want to know how the trip to Wilmington,NC went?! Well, there are a couple pictures that'll hopefully fill you in alittle:

Horses at the beginning of a horse drawn carriage Downtown Wilmington.


Bubbie & Daddy sitting on a bullet at the Battleship North Carolina.


Bubbie pulling out the big guns at the Battleship North Carolina.


Battleship North Carolina at Wilmington,NC.


Bubbie & Daddy together again.


There were quite a few more pictures but this Mommy has to go fix some dinner. Spaghetti is on the menu tonight. One of Bubbie's favs... Sure there will be some yummy looking photos to post tomorrow.

♥,
Mommy

Labor Day weekend

Guess what everyone... Daddy is home!! His feet touched the Pope AF Base soil at 6:11am September 2nd♥ We are all very much excited but let me tell you- Bubbie has become a complete 'Daddy's Boy'. But it's alright. Daddy deserves it after missing so much throughout this past year.

This being Labor Day weekend we were going to just hang out at the house. Just the 3 of us but then we decided on a small road trip. Wilmington, N. Carolina HERE WE COME!!

Hope everyone has a Happy & Safe Labor Day weekend. & I'll let everyone know how the trip goes. It'll probably be Bubbie's 1st trip to the beach :o)

♥,
Mommy of the Lil' Man