What's In a Doll? (lots of character, that's what!)

Okay, so I am pretty thankful that my 9 yr. daughter is still into playing with dolls. It's something that goes away eventually, and I am not ready for it to, for her...not yet. There's a set of newer dolls out there now that have a story to them, much like the American Girl dolls,...only cheaper but made just as nice. And so, I have been planning to get one of these for Fancy Pants for Christmas (can you believe that Christmas is just a month and five days away!?) and lo! and behold, one of the blogs I follow is giving one away!? I HAVE to enter this one, no question. So, my friends, here's a chance for you to enter for one of these dolls for your daughter(s)! :) Can't pass it up, right!?
The BFC Ink dolls (Best Friends Club, Ink.)are full of personality and are all different (well, except the twins, and hey, those with twin girls, it's a win-win situation!) and you can match them closely with your daughter, with similar complexions, hair, and 'personalities.' For instance, looking at their website, I can see that Aliesha (one of the twins, it happens to be) fits Fancy Pants the closest because "she's really into acting and rock music and she loves being the center of attention. Aliesha is confident, but sometimes she has to be reminded that it's not all about her. She is a great friend, though, and always lots of fun. " This is soooo Fancy Pants!
Oh, and it's been judged as being the winner of one the best 100 toys for Dr. Toys' as well as Disney's Family Fun toy of the year! :) Even better!

Sooooo.....I encourage you, my blog readers, to check out Jenne's blog(where she includes more info about them, too) and enter this contest. First check out, though, BFC Ink's website and chose what doll(s) would best fit your daughter(s) and then let Jenne know in a post as an entry. (There are also several other ways of putting in entries, by the way)! What is there to lose but a minute or two? Especially if you win! While there,check out the rest of her website (J. Leigh Designz) and have a look around! She always has a wide arrange of neat things going on there!

Get Silly and Win $1,000!

Hey Bloggy friends! Long time, no see, eh? A lot going on right now (as usual) but wanted to come in real quick a post a little.
5 Minutes For Mom is hosting a cute little contest that I thought I'd try out. To get into the spirit of Fall myself, I thought I'd join in so I could get to the point of blogging regularly as well.
Anyway, so....here's the picture I am entering in for the contest. If you'd like to try for it too, the deadline is this Monday, Oct. 19th, so hurry! :) In the meantime, wish us luck!:)

This is my son, Wesley, when he was about 2- 2 1/2. Being goofy playing hockey in daddy's shoes.

Back to School? Cool! (A Crayola Products Giveaway!)

[Just for the sake of knowing(you know, copyright issues and whatnot), the above title is taken from one of my favorite childrens' authors' books by Suzi Spafford. :) ].

Anyways, it's back-to-school time for most and for others, almost. For me and the girls specifically, officially, it's Sept. 8th. I've got what we NEED all ready to go, that I know of. But who can resist more Crayola products, especially when they can be FREE!? Yeah, that's what I am talking about! Bring it on!
A fellow blogger friend of mine is hosting a Crayola giveaway right now. It ends on September 2nd, so you have to hurry over to her blog and check it out. And then follow her directions that explain how to enter and you could have many chances of winning what *I* want! ;) It's simple. Check out Crayola's site and find out what kind of products they offer these days (in my experience, it changes (and gets better) every season). Then go to J. leigh designz blog and post about your favorite one. That's one entry. There are several other ways of getting more entries...just read carefully what she asks and then do it! Then voila! You just might win a great package of FREE Crayola products! Awesome products! I am excited to see who wins it!

:)

A Promise Met

For my birthday waaay back in June, Mind Cleaner got me a GC to get a pedicure with my friend Corrie, and the promise to get pictures taken as a family this month. You don't know Mind Cleaner very well, but know this: this is an exceptional promise! Something that made my jaw drop. Something that made me a very happy woman! :) :D
He met his promise this month. It all included outfits for matching, the consultation with the (private, independent) photographer and the photo session itself(on Sunday), at a nearby regional park.
The photographer previews a couple of the pictures from the session within the session week before we arrange to meet with her for the viewing and ordering of the rest of the pictures, on her blog. So, Tuesday I got to see those "sneak peaks."And, I am VERY, VERY happy with what I see so far. The sneak peaks tend to be not the best of the lot pics (not bad, just not the best), but I was very happy with these....they certainly are NOT BAD...very good, in fact. This makes me all the more eager to see the rest in store...can't wait to meet up with her for the viewing!
In the meantime, here are the two that she put on her blog. And, if you're in my area and are interested in such a session, you can find her at http://www.nancarrowphotography.com/
You can find her blog via this above site, btw.
Anyway, here ya go!

Another Thoughtless Thursday

Because his 29th birthday would have been this past Tues., I am posting a pic of my brother showing his great personality, with Cousin Athena (Claire Danes look-a-like).
He was such a wonderful brother, uncle, son, cousin! We miss you, Chip!

Hafta Do SOMEthing....

Yes, I "hafta" do SOMEthing about my weight. I realize there are many girls and women(and maybe some boys/men) who say this and really don't need to do much, if anything, about their weight, so many people reading my blog would think the same, especially if they don't know me or see me often.
I am at a critical weight. It's life and death. And with my family history, I can't avoid the fact that I could kill over at a very young age..or die a very painful death even when old. And put my husband and kids through that. No way.
I have been thinking about how when I started this blog whoknowswhen (cause I can't remember now and I am too lazy to go look) that my initial reasoning was to journal my weight loss. And who the heck knows where that initiative went? Down the toilet. Out the window. Through a trap door. My weight loss journey has been a trap door. I get trapped in this world of living to eat instead of eating to live, and it takes ions for me to find my way out, only to end up trapped again days, months, weeks later. Again and again.
So it's time to do something drastic. I am tired of:
1. Letting my hubby and kids down
2. Letting me down
3.Feeling ill/gross all the time
4. Being depressed
5.Being idle
I have to make goals so that I:
1. Am healthy again (I don't know when that time existed...high school perhaps?)
2. Make my family (and friends) proud to be around me
3. Make me proud to be around me (like I can LOOK in a mirror and SMILE at what I see)
4.Be HAPPY
5. Be MOVING

So I talked to Conservative MindCleaner (hubby) today after a good online chat(there's a pattern there, I know it!) with a close friend. He agrees we have to do something, and SOON. He is supportive of my need to get the wagon moving and me researching my options.Our life together, happily, depends on it.

I am considering, with the need of the support of others and our finances:

1. A Medically assisted weight loss center or weight spa facility
2. the Lap Band.

Like I said, pretty drastic, but IMO, very needed at this point. I don't feel like I can do it by myself anymore.

So....expect (I HOPE I can get good at blogging/journaling again) :

1. Weekly or daily entries on my progress, whether in research or/and the journey of my weight loss.
2. For this blog to become private for those close to me to read (I will need your emails for permissions), as I will and plan to, get very personal about this....picture progresses included. Revelations about my weight, BMI, etc.
3.A MUCH HEALTHIER AND HAPPY Amy!!!!!

Because, afterall, life is too short, and my family doesn't deserve to lose me early. And because though God loves me no matter what, He has so much more planned for me than this. He has a beautiful butterfly to release in here, somewhere. Because I know He wants me to be what He created me to be, and it's not this.

More to Come...wish me well!

Thanks for reading! :)

Only One Of You

Perusing YouTube for Old Animaniacs videos (loved that show!), I found this. It's neat, and I think it says a whole lot. Enjoy!