Cook'n It up with Collins'

Update...Enjoy

2009-06-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

So what the heck have I been doing? Well its small town and I think most of you know so lets check out the fun stuff I have been up to!

First - Claire...her hair is getting so long and she loves to have it braided. It is long enough now to braid down both sides. She is so darn cute!

Evansville - So what the heck do I do in Evansville? I love to go down there and stay with Brita and boat or go to the river all weekend long. It is so much fun and we are definatley making up for the past 3 years of our lives we have missed! I love you Brita!

This was the view out the boat on the way to Kentucky lake. Yes we boated 10 hrs both ways from MT. Vernon, IN to KY LAKE! It was awesome! We were way burnt.

Then Casey came for a couple days! That was fun. Went fishing and spent a lot of time together. Casey is my brother by the way...he lives in Dallas.

Brother Casey holding up fish I caught. He came in from Texas to watch my lil brother Bill graduate H.S. IN effingham, it was sad to see the last one go!

My big blue gill fish I caught with my brother Casey, he was jealous!

Claire loves pudding cups now! Too bad she looks like she has billy bob teeth.

Claire going down the big girl slide at the strawberry fest. She is geting so big...

This is really all I have for now but stay tunned. I am sure I will think of more stuff to cue you in on....by the way, head over to Stephanie Roots blog if you haven't scoped it out yet. She is coming home!!!! AH YEAH~

GARAGE SALE

2009-05-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

I will be having a garage sale at my new house on Van Buren St. 504! Right across from the old Garden Restaurant...we will have

LONGABERGER - Lots

MATERNITY CLOTHES - I bought all mine new and I am selling all of them!

Dress clothes...suites, jackets, etc

Claire's clothes

Tons of house nick nacks!

Stroller Set - NICE!

All kinds of stuff so stop by and look around!

Finally

2009-05-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Claire finally slept through the night in her new big girl bed all night...had to take a pic to remind me that she really can!

2009-05-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

I did a real bad job putting Claire in dresses last year so I am trying to do better this year...here is the first start

Mother's day

2009-05-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

My team at work is the greatest most thoughtful team ever! They suprised me with a pot of flowers and a signed note from all of them!!! They are great~!
It says...Happy Friday, Happy Mother's Day, Happy your on our team...how thoughtful

Trailer

2009-05-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Check out this trailer! Holy cow...I would so live here!

Courtesy of MSN.com
The basic I-House is 992 square feet, though the design's blend of indoor and outdoor space makes it seem bigger. Though final prices haven't been set, Clayton hopes to deliver it for about $100,000. But the "core" unit can be expanded by adding additional rooms in different configurations to suit the buyer's needs and the character of the lot — placing rooms above one another to accommodate, for example, a hillside. Clayton Vice President Chris Nicely says the goal is to allow as much customization — both in configuration and interiors — as possible. It can be set on a traditional foundation, for example, or it can sit on piers driven into the ground.

They hope to sell to the general public in the next couple months...I am going to put one in my parents front yard.

What a weekend

2009-05-04T12:19:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun Saturday night with Nagem, Brita, Samee Jo and Josh...not so much fun sunday :)

Anywho... here is a pic of the start of the night...

PCLUB WINNER

2009-05-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Here is my long awaited trophy for winning Presiden't Club which is being one of the top 2 reps in my region/division

HELLO NASHVILLE

2009-05-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

So we went to Nashville last weekend to have a get away and watch Brita, Blairla, and Papa Bruce run a marathon. It was a great weekend and Claire and I had a ball at OPRY land! Anywho...keep the family in your thoughts that one member of a family (not anyone from Jasper County) didn't survive the race due to a medical condition...no details have been released on this yet.

Claire at the fish tank...too cute!Sting Ray's...wonder if they are related to my brother ray?
Build a bear Nashville style!

Here we go round the ...carousel, notice the fish jumping in the background

Get me outta hear!

MORE!

Spring Cleaning

2009-04-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

I have a bunch of Longaberger for sale...send me your email address and I can send you the list. It is pretty cheap!!!

Let me know...pass this along!

Claire First Hair Cut

2009-04-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

Claire had her first haircut yesterday...don't freak out because it was just a trim!!!! Here are the pics...it was fun and hilarious!

What a beautiful day

2009-04-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I picked up Claire and decided to take her to the park! She loved it. We got up to the top and I made her ride on my lap on the big slide...I was scared S*%$less. I told her no more so she went without me! HAH! She was sliding around like no ones business!

Just noticed as I was typing this...her hair is in her face in all of these...I ponytailed her up today though! Sorry Claire Bear
I didn't like this one...Claire didn't need me though!

She kept getting this crap in her shoes.

Look at me!

Kitchen update

2009-04-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

You can't see the plaster effect until you look closely but it is a huge change and I LOVE IT...you have to pretend that the tape is off and the trim is up....blah blah blah...but here ya go!

Kitchen update

2009-04-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

SO we decided to try out the "old world plaster" witch if you have ever been in Joe's in Newton, it is kindda like their walls. It didn't go so well...the directions never said don't try this when it is humid and the paint might not be completely dry...oops. It looks terrible so we are going to wait until the section that we did (2x2) drys all the way and start over with the plaster. If anyone has any suggestions on how to make the process easier, by all means let me know. Here are a few pics of the wall before painting...I wouldn't dare show you it now though until it gets fixed.

Claire napping!

2009-04-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Mom said to put her head in a pillow so she doesn't have bobble head! She looked more uncomfortable I think!

this weekend

2009-04-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

Went fishing with my mom and Claire...didn't catch nothing...mom caught a big ole bass though.

Claire had to show off what she found!

This morning

2009-04-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

I received a picture message first thing this morning and I though who the heck is texting me already!!! It was baby Drake! This is what it showed.

Have a good day aunt cook! Love Drake!

I love this little guy!!!! thanks Drake for making my day!!!!

Dominoes Anyone?

2009-04-15T08:07:00.001-07:00

Jill, I think you wanted to try one of their sanwiches...watch this video and let me know when you want me to pick you up one?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30225758#30225758

Guess what today is?

2009-04-15T08:00:00.001-07:00

These cartoons appeared on MSNBC today!!! FUNNY

Wierd News...

2009-04-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

I love this section of MSN...this is hilarious....well not funny he was hurt...but seriously?
Man with flatulence problem gets stabbed
He was eating with a friend in a motel room when he was injured

WACO, Texas - A man was stabbed after causing a stink — literally — in a motel room while eating with a friend, police said.
Five men from the Houston area were sharing a Waco motel room Tuesday night, and two were inside the room eating when one had a flatulence problem, Waco police Officer Steve Anderson said. One man was so upset about the gas that he threw a large knife at him, cutting his leg, and then stabbed him in the chest, Anderson said.
The 35-year-old man was transported to a Waco hospital, where he was treated for what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries, Anderson said.Jose Braule Ramirez, 33, of Houston, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police said. He was arraigned Wednesday and was being held in the McLennan County Jail on $15,000 bond and placed on an immigration hold, according to jail records. He cannot be released, even if he posts bond, until authorities verify he is in the country legally.
A jail spokeswoman who declined to give her name said she was not allowed to release information on whether Ramirez had an attorney

Kitchen

2009-04-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

I have decided to do some remodeling in our house and the first project was to get that yucky wall paper off the accent wall. If you have seen my kitchen table, it is a special handcrafted table and benched made by Chris's gpa. It is beatiful and it deserves to have the rest of the kitchen to match it. THis is the start of the wall...if you have any ideas on what to do with the rest of the walls, let me know...I need all the ideas and suggestions I can get!

Have you heard?

2009-04-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

A few issues that amaze me....

1.) Sexting...the big hype right now...whatever. You control what you send...here are the 7 rules according to fox news....these are hilarious!!!!

1. Timing is everything. While it can be tempting to respond right away, being overly eager can be a turn off. This is especially true for those just getting to know each other. Rein in your enthusiasm from time to time, using time as a tease in responding to certain TMs. This makes you appear laid back and easy-going. This increases the perception that you’re fun to hang out with, and more...
2. Texting has a curfew. Unless you’ve got a 24-7 passion policy for booty calls, most people are not going to be keen on TMs after a certain hour. Know that if you TM somebody after 10 p.m., it’s considered a late-night booty call.
3. Don’t beat around the bush. TMs can be easily misunderstood. People like them for the fact they’re succinct and direct. You want to flirt, and with that hint. Just don’t be cryptic. These are supposed to be time-saving titillations.
4. Don't drink and text. Getting drunk equals getting stupid. And while it can be funny, it’s not so sexy. So stick with sober messages.
5. Avoid breaking major news via text. Texting should not involve first professions of love, marriage proposals or the breaking of bad news. For example, would you want to receive the message “Have herpes. Sux. U should get checked 2” on your cell phone?
And while new love interests may handle rejection better via text, do not dump somebody you’ve been involved with for weeks, months, or years via SMS. That’s just cold.
6. Discretion is the best option. If you’re sexting more than one person, do not leave your phone out while on a date. Do not check your phone in front of a date. Turn off your phone if you find yourself having a “sleepover.”
7. Proofread. Any TMs involving sexual encounters, especially those complemented by racy pictures, need to be double-checked. Is it being sent to the intended receiver?

How about this one....Taxing Prostitition!!!! WTH....how can you tax something that is not legal...so do we tax the sales of marijuana? HAH

Thats all for now.

New Do

2009-04-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't seen me lately...went to Jackie Judy at my mom's and told her to spice me up a bit...here is how it turned out.

Movie Review

2009-04-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

Pretty boring weekend. Took claire and my niece Kaitly to an Easter Egg hunt on Saturday! It was beautiful outside. Claire won a ton of candy and Kaitlyn won a 50.00 savings bond so it was definately worth going! Watched a few movies this weekend...here is my review.

Changeling - Angeline Jolie
Great movie, the picture quality was amazing! great acting...I gave it a 2 thumbs up!!!!
The book was wayyyyy better! The movie had bad acting, terrible graphics, and left out so many good parts that the book picked up on. I hope New Moon is better!

This movie has to be the most emotional movie I have ever watched. The aching in my stomach at the end of this movie almost made me vomit. Holy Cow. I have never had the same emotions before that I construed throughout this movie.

Adam Sandler - Bedtime stories -

Cute...very unrealistic though. Could have put more into the stories but overall I gave it a 2 thimbs up. I enjoyed it!

So much to catch up on

2009-03-31T06:36:00.001-07:00

I have been out of it for a while so much to catch up on so here we go...

Newest obsession (thanks Steph) TWILIGHT...

Never thought I would get into this but I won the book and dvd here at work and started the first book Sunday. Holy cow is it addicting. Jill and Steph, I completely understand now. I love it...I am to the part where she figures out he is a Vampire! I can't wait to see what happens next. I have a ways to go though!

This weekend - went to STL to Lumiere place (newest casino there) and tore it up! Made 550 off 40 bucks! YAHOO!!! This place was amazing. Reminded me of VEGAS...it was the same style and everything. Went to the ADMIRAL...yuck. What a run down hole in the wall! I couldn't believe the amount of people in there! Sunday went to the AMERISTAR~! Loved it too. Stayed at the HYATT and paid 40bucks for the most beautiful room ever! It was great. The weather sucked but the money we won made up for it.

Claire - Is doing so good going to the potty. She has gone #2 several times! Right now she is dealing with "night terrors"? Never heard of these but she wakes up in the middle of the night and screams bloody murder but is not awake. She will sit up in bed and scream until we wake her up, then she goes right back to sleep.

BTW...her pics are online @ Melissa's sight... http://www.grinsandgiggles.smugmug.com/ they are adorable!

Diet - I am down 8 lbs...I started a contest here at work that I have to loose 2lbs a week for 4 weeks or I don't get my money back that I paid in - YIKES - better buckle down. I have spin class twice this week so that will help!

Landscaping is going great!!! I planted all our stuff inside first in those little "in home" greenhouses. For all of you who kill plants like I do...this is the bomb!!! You start your seed in this little tray and you let them grow for a couple weeks then plant outside. We have so many sprouts already...Even watermelons (these are for JILL M)...and I planted some cucumber lemons (these are for Zoey) I will try to get a pick of them online soon