Ladies Spa ... Ahhhh... Day

Are you overworked? Do you wish little Johnny would quit saying, "Mommmmm, I'm hungry." or "Mommmmm, Where's my.... ?" Ever take a break just for you?

Yesterday, I attended a Ladies Spa Day sponsored by the local hospital and YMCA. Well-deserving ladies could choose from several sessions to soothe the body, mind, and spirit. Sessions included such things as: Yoga, Cycling, Toning with Toys, Women on Weights, Pilates, Yarns of Today, Habits of Highly Effective Weight Loss, Cardmaking, Container Gardening, Massage, Manicure, and Facial. This is the second year I've gone and let me tell you... It's the best $35 you could ever spend if you want a day of relaxation, pampering, and creativity. We started out our day with a nice breakfast that included bagels, fruit, danish, coffee and/or juice. Then we all went on to our different sessions. I started out with a "For Your Body" session called Toning with Toys -- For 45 minutes, we were taught how to tighten and tone our muscles using hand-held weights, resistance tubing, and stability balls. Then I went on to a 45 minute Pilates session. I don't really care for Pilates -- It was hard on my joints and the mats are not thick enough. But hey, you never know til you try it! (Btw, I am sore today! LOL) Now that I had my body in order, I moved on to my "For Your Mind" session: Container Gardening. It was taught by an Illinois Extension Office Master Gardner. I didn't really learn too much, but I did get to share some tidbits that I knew with the class. Wouldn't you know that several others in the session has had problems with the cute furry critters I wrote about a couple weeks ago! My last two sessions were "Simply To Pamper". The fun part! Ahhhh.... First, I had a 20 minute facial. These were given by the Cosmetology students at the college. The girl I had was VERY good. Then I went and had a 15 minute seated massage. There were 4 massage therapists from the area there. The lady I had is actually a massage therapist at the salon I get my hair done at. She was very good, too! Now that I had my body, mind, and spirit in order -- It was lunch time! We were given a simple lunch and afterwards they gave out doorprizes. I actually won a card that offered $ off of various products at a pizza joint in town. Not something I will probably use, though. Last year, they had a motivational speaker which I really liked. They didn't have a speaker this year, so I was a little disappointed in that. It was well worth the $35! In talking with one of the other ladies, she said that she talked to several women who drove over 40 miles just to attend the Ladies Spa Day! Women everywhere should have something like this! We all deserve a partial day to ourselves!

The Icy Fingers Of Old Man Winter

Old man Winter isn’t quite ready to let go of his grip just yet! Yesterday morning, not only did northern Illinois get rain... But, we also got sleet and snow! The temps last night also got down to freezing. Here it is the end of April and I had to scrape ice off my windshield!

Finally finished reading “The Grapes of Wrath” for Lit class. I actually read the ending twice because it was one of those where you think: Did she really do what I think she did?!? A bit of trivia – When John Steinbeck wrote the novel in 1939, a lot of it was based on his experiences and observations of how the 300,000+ emigrants from the southern plains states were treated when they arrived in CA on the premise of a better life and jobs. You can equate it to the Mexican/Hispanic problems of today, only these were people who actually were FROM the US. In the original manuscript, Steinbeck used a lot of F-words. Both the F-bomb and the ending were very controversial at the time. The publishers wanted him to take out the F-bomb and change the ending. Steinbeck struck a deal in that he’d take out all the F-words if the ending was left as is. Did you also know that the word “Okie” in CA back then was offensive like the N-word is? Or, that one of the characters in the book was intentionally made to be a Christ-figure in the novel? Or, that the movie ending had nothing to do with anything in the book (since the ending is pretty controversial)? Things that make you go “Hmmmm......” I have a 4-question essay quiz due for next week. Last night I started reading “The Color Purple”. It’s really easy and fast to read. I’m about 2/3 through it already. It’s the last book of the semester. Tonight, I’ll rent both the movies for Wrath and Purple.

I think I did an insane thing last week. I talked to my college advisor and he suggested I take Music of the USA during the pre-summer session. It’s for one of my Gen Ed requirements. Well... Pre-summer classes last 3 weeks. This class is for 3+ hours Mon-Thur nights. I’m hoping the instructor doesn’t keep us the entire 3 hours, otherwise I’ll be up until midnight studying! The good news is: After next fall I’ll have only one class left before I obtain my AS in Business Administration. After that, I’ll probably transfer to a 4-yr institution to work on the BS degree. It’s still a year away, but I’m excited!

Boys and their toys!! I’ve been putting stuff on Ebay for my brother. He’s got this lawn tractor he restored, and each day he gets *at* least 100 hits. 36 people have it on their watch list! It’s insane. LOL, I’d like to take some credit since I photograph all his items and I DO know how to make them look as good as they are. He’s very adamant about being very, very honest about the quality of the things he sells. Isn’t that admirable?

I’m almost finished with “To the Moon” bookmark for one of my nieces. I’ve changed some of the colors and added metallic threads, as well as her name. Really haven’t had much time to stitch this past week.

I almost forgot... I completed my 2nd certification in QuickBooks software. I’m considered a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. What is THAT, you ask? Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors help you get the most out of QuickBooks, so you can spend more time on your business and less time on your books. ProAdvisors are experts in helping small businesses learn, use, and customize QuickBooks. Many, like myself, are accounting and tax experts. After working with a ProAdvisor, many business owners are more satisfied and comfortable with QuickBooks, and feel hiring a ProAdvisor is a valuable investment. LOL, Do I sound like a walking, talking billboard??

How Does Your Garden Grow?

If I only had a dollar every time someone has said to me: Meari, Meari, Quite contrary, How does your garden grow? Oh, how I SO despised that as a kid! LOL, and here I am stitching it up. It took about 4 hours (give or take) to stitch it up. My sister has already claimed it for herself! This is my version of the Lizzie Kate freebie. I've changed the varigated colors and added the buttons. Isn't the little ladybug cute??

I'm thinking about double matting it and using a rustic frame with twine as a hanger? Does anyone else have a unique "finishing" idea?

Bookmarks Finished!

I finished stitching the last two bookmarks for the RR I coodinated for ILCS. Here they are:

Here are the bookmarks I received stitched for me:

OK, You cute furry rodent! This means WAR!

I was proud of the fact that I planted all my flower bulbs over the weekend. I live in a rental unit so 95% of my gardening is done in containers. I lined my nice pretty containers on along the edges of the steps. Watered them, just waiting for them to sprout up. I come home today on my lunch hour and GUESS WHAT?!!!

My friendly neighborhood squirrels dug up EVERY SINGLE pot! I hope they had fun. I hope they had a good laugh at my expense! I can just hear them now, rubbing their little paws together: "Dig in boys! Look at all this nice soil... and Look... Treasures!"

Anyone have humane ways to save my container gardens? I read somewhere and my Dad suggested sprinkling with Cayenne Pepper. So I did that. I am welcoming any and all suggestions as I will be planting vegetables out there, too.

Update: Since sprinkling cayenne pepper and garlic powder on top of the dirt, I have seen no evidence of the cute lil PITAs. Let's hope it stays that way! Here's a couple of websites with tips on deterring the the little critters:

Ask A Master Gardner
Squirrel Control
iVillage Garden Web
Thrifty Fun #1
Thrifty Fun #2

... and for all you Sciurophobiacs out there (and you know who you are!), click HERE.