Pictures and Laptops...

Okay, first things first...I LOVE TJ MAXX (the home store, that is!). I think it's my new favorite store! They have SO many cute things for the home. So much so that I could just stand in there for hours and not decide on what to get. We have been looking for something to go above the tv. There were some Marilyn Monroe pics up there, which I still love, but I was looking to put something more artsy up there. The other picture that is in our living room is a black and white panoramic view of the Chicago skyline. So I kind of wanted to stay with the black theme at least. And here's what I found...

Cute, huh?! I thought so! I saw a lady carrying it around in her cart and, being the chicken that I am, made Jordan (sister) go ask her where she got it from! There was only one left!

I love them! They fit perfectly and it's like we have flowers in our living room every day!

And guess what else?! We got a laptop!!!! Woo hoo! I have been wanting one SO badly!!! I got a great deal on a Compaq at Best Buy!!! Now I just have to find the pesky start up disc from Comcast! You'd think that would be an easy tase, oh contraire! I have NO CLUE where it is!

So for now, I'm still on our regular computer... Oh well, it'll turn up, and if it doesn't...I'm off to pick one up! More to come... I have plenty of pics from the zoo yesterday (fun but tiring day!).

A bittersweet kind of weekend

Doesn't she, I mean he (ha!) look so darn cute?! I doubled up my necklace and put it on Mason. He doesn't really care, don't worry! Doesn't he look so adorable?! :-)

I'm all by my lonesome this weekend. Ryan is gone, I took him to the airport last night. I was fine until I got home and realized that I'd be alone, all by myself, quiet, no one making any mess or noise (this isn't a knock, babe!...but it's true, without mess it's just so lonely and empty). The second time I realized I was all alone was when I woke up this morning all by myself. I'll be missing him! I'm sure I'll be pretty occupied this weekend though, I have Ava to keep me company after all!

The tie the binds

***Edit...so, the picture and title were supposed to have something to do with my post and I realized this morning, thinking about it that I never put anything in here on it! Ha! I mean to ask if you all know of the best place to get ties in bulk (well not necesarily bulk, but like 7 or 8) for decent prices? Oh and I want red and/or black in it! The reason I ask...for the wedding! I think we are going to get each guy in the wedding party matching ties, pretty cool, huh?!
Well it doesn't really bind...

I was just trying to come up with something clever to use as a title! :-)

I don't have much for you all except for the fact that the hours are starting to count down to when my Mister leaves for his jaunt out to LA. Yep, him and his band are heading out there to play a show...he's says he's going to make it big so I don't have to work anymore...I can't wait!

Hopefully I'll be jobless on Tuesday.

Don't hold your breath though. I mean they are good, but it's just not going to happen that fast.

So I'll be a lonely 'ole girl all weekend long, only I won't be lonely. Ava is going to be gracing me with her presence all weekend long. We are heading off to the zoo on Saturday, along with my (sweet 16...omg) step sister.

Sunday, well Sunday will be a bit more relaxed.

And then Monday, I get to go pick up the love of my life from the airport! Hallelujah!!! Praise the Lord!

Hopefully I'll have more to share tomorrow? Perhaps not though, as far as I know, there is nothing all too exciting going on in my neck of the woods (no, I don't live in or near woods!)!

Check out my new layout! Don't you just love it?!

Fabulous K did it! You can check her out HERE!

Sometimes she does random giveaways if you're looking for a new design for your blog. Most of the time I just bask in all of the things wonderful that she creates around her home.

As a matter of fact, I got the idea (in a post below) for my wall art in my hallway with the rub ons and scrap paper!

Thank you SO much Fabulous K! For your wonderful wonderful blog design that you made me and for all your decorational inspiration! You are simply FABULOUS!

Can't hardly wait!

Guess where we will be in, oh roughly 161 days from today?!

Ahhhhhh.......

So relaxing and sunny and nice, isn't it?!

Yep, we booked our honeymoon last night at the Riu in Negril. I simply can't wait for the five nights and six days of fun in the sun, all alone, with my husband. :-)

Dancing With The Stars announces line up!

I have to say, I am a big fan of Dancing With The Stars. I haven't watched much the past season or two, but I am kind of excited for the upcoming one!

They announced the line up and I got the scoop from here.

Susan Lucci, Toni Braxton and Lance Bass will hit the floor on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."
They are among 13 celebrities slated to compete on the new season of the top-rated dance contest, premiering Sept. 22.

The other contestants are Cloris Leachman, Kim Kardashian, Ted McGinley, Brooke Burke, NFL champ Warren Sapp and two Olympic athletes: Misty May-Treanor, who won her second gold medal for beach volleyball at this year's summer games in Beijing, and Maurice Greene, who won two gold medals in track at the 2000 games in Sydney.

Rounding out the cast are chef Rocco DiSpirito, Cody Linley of "Hannah Montana" and comedian Jeffrey Ross.

Who would you like to see on DWTS and why?!

I am kind of interested in seeing Kim Kardashian. Don't know why, I did watch her reality show...

Decorating frenzy!

I don't know why, but as of late I have been in a decorating frenzy! It's nuts, I feel like I'm nesting or something?!

I made a cute set of pictures to hang up in our room today. I am so addicted to scrapbooking supplies and using them for other things.

This is a 'starry night' poster, framed right about our bed. That was put up last week. See that headboard there? I am thinking about upholstering it. It would add something more to the room and give us padding to lean up against. I'm just not sure what kind of fabric I'd want to use. Do I use a solid but textured fabric? Do I use a cool paisley or damask design? I just don't know, and there are so many options it's just so hard! Do you all have any suggestions?

Here is my project from today...

I used 3 different patterns of scrapbooking paper and tied them together by using a strip of the other on eachothers page. I think they turned out cute!

I used some of the rub off design on this and cut out our initials...see what I mean by I wish I could just use our monogram?!

We wanted to pick out pictures of us that showed our personalities with eachother.

The finished product! I realize it looks crooked in the picture, but it was just angle I was taking it from (sitting on the bed!). So, what do you think?!

Bananas, Chocolate and Mason

We've had fruit in the house more often lately, which I love. Bananas have been showing their faces around here quite often as well...which is weird because usually the texture of them makes me gag a little bit, but I've been doing good.

That being said, they seem to go bad so easily! Does that happen to any of you and if so, can you prolong their vibrant yellowness in any particular way?

I had about 4 of them that were a little aged and I wasn't going to try to eat. So placed them in a brown paper bag and set them aside to make banana bread (note...we did not have any vanilla in the house).

I decided that I was in the baking mood last night at about 11:00pm. I opted to make banana muffins rather than bread. They are SO GOOD!

I think I need to get one of those glass cake holders to put stuff in. They make it all look so much better and you can leave it sitting our for decoration.

And then, I MUST tell you about this awesome discovery I found. T. Marzetti's Chocolate Fruit Dip (they make that caramel apple dip)! It is to die for! I bought some yummy ripe strawberries and dipped them right on in. Uh, it is amazing! And even better than making your own chocolate covered strawberries because you don't have to wait for them to dry! You should really try it!

And then Mason just wanted to say hello to you all! :-)

We're off...to do absolutely NOTHING today! I can't wait! I only have 4 days left with my honey. He'll be traveling to California with his band! I hope he does well out there and makes it big so that I don't have to work anymore! ha! It'll be kinda quiet and lonely around here, but I'll find things to make do... Keep him in your prayers next weekend.

Oh what a wonderful weekend...

Last night after work, Ryan and I met Jenny and Mike at the movies. We went to see the new Batman movie. It was our little birthday celebration for Jenny! The movie was pretty good. I can't stand to sit in movie theater chairs for so long though. My butt hurt SO badly! It's too bad Heath Ledger is no longer with us, he was brilliant in that movie and I wish he could continue to play the role of the Joker, as I'm sure they will be coming out with yet another. That was a fun time spent with friends. I'm a little sick of popcorn though...

Afterwards, mind you it was about 10:45pm, I had to run to my Dad's to pick up my niece. She was spending the night tonight, unless I wanted to pick her up at 6:30am this morning...nothankyou.

I awoke pretty early this morning, much in part to Ava. We had a full day though. We colored, made fortune tellers (remember those?!), watched a movie, took showers and went to the mall where she got a new outfit, got to play in the arcade, had some icecream and I went to Archivers to get some stuff for a little craft I had in mind (below).

And then guess what happened after we got home...

AVA DECIDED TO CHOP OFF HER HAIR!!!

Doesn't she just look adorable?! She wanted me to straighten it, and I did, but I thought it looked even cuter when it was curly. All her beautiful curls become much more curly.

Ava had a birthday party to go to at Pump It Up (a bouncy/blow up place) and Zizi was ready for some peace and quiet :-)

Now, on to my craft. I had put two pictures up in the hallway, but didn't really like them. I didn't hate them (they were pictures of random streets in Italy...which was cool), but they weren't my favorite. I don't feel like they were me? So I got this idea from just reading around on the internet. I went to the scrapbooking store and got some cool paper (hello discount bins...perfect for this, but cheap either way) and then some rub offs. I wasn't sure what kind of rub offs I wanted, but I think the ones I got were cute. What do you think? Aren't they pretty neat? I love the print on the outside frames!

I hung them in our hallway, leading down to the bedrooms, in a set.

I can't wait until we are married. I have so many monogram ideas, it's killing me! But I really want to wait to even make anything until after that is officially my last name :-)

I am beat after today. My Mister had a show tonight and I was too tired to do anything, but I did manage to clean (since there was glitter everywhere in the livingroom) and do some grocery shopping. Now I'm about to settle in for a good Lifetime movie (I think I have a problem...)!

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Klabon Family Reunion 2008

I realize these are a little bit late coming in, but they are here...

This past Saturday we had a family reunion on my Dad's mom's side (get it...got it...good!). It was nice. I didn't really know all that many people. Our reunions on that side of the family were at a half for awhile due to stupid family fights (that we had nothing to do with...it was the older folks...I think!).

They decided to start the tradition again this year at a local park. It turned out pretty well and the weather was beautiful!

Ryan had to work for part of it but came afterwards. It was so funny when he got there, my Grandma paraded him around the place and introduced him to EVERYONE as her 'future grandson'. It was really funny the way she was showing him off!

The Hitzke Family

Random photo...my sil (she will kill me when she figures out this pic of her is on her! hi morgan...if you're reading! :-)), a cousin, me, my uncle, my brother, Grandma and my dad.

Grandma, Dad and Adam (my brother)

Me with Grandma and DadThis was so funny! Ava was in her glory on this day! There was a park and games and all that good stuff. She was rarely around, except for when she wanted a drink. At one point we were like, where is she. Low and behold, she was over on the volleyball court playing volleyball! I had to capture the moment. The adults would let the little chitlins hit the ball so they felt included but most of the time Ava stood there like this (above) with her hands up in the typical volleyball stance! It was too cute!

She is such a doll..isn't she?! She is spending the night tonight and all day tomorrow! She's also getting a haircut! She wants it short, but I won't let her do that! I'll post some pics tomorrow!

The local sheriff in JAIL?!

As I was getting ready for work this morning, I had my regular radio talk show on and they were talking about the local county sheriff being in jail. They said he hadn't released a statement yet and were unsure as to why.

I had to do some research and found out the following...

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) - Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran was locked up today.
He's spending a week in jail voluntarily.

He says his goal is to talk to inmates so he can see the jail from their perspective. He says he wants some introspection, but says he's also being realistic and knows he can't fully recreate the inmate experience.

Curran says he's also trying to draw attention to the fact that jails are overpopulated with the mentally ill, the uneducated and repeat offenders. He says rehabilitation needs to be a focus.

Unlike the other inmates, however, Curran gets to leave on a date he chooses. He'll leave next Wednesday.

I think it's kind of neat, however, I'm sure it'll be totally different for him. Nice try though!

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Summer Olympics

Have you been watching the 2008 Summer Olympics?



Well, we have been...sporadically, but we have been.

I've really been diggin' the girls gymnastics. I think that and watching the swimming are my favorites. Other than that, I will watch, but not totally get into it.

I was so happy when Shawn Johnson won the Gold Medal yesterday.

I don't know what it is, but I just love her!

She is so cute and so little and her smile. She is just adorable!

Who is your favorite Olympic Athlete or your favorite sport?

Happy Birthday Jenny!

I feel like I haven't posted in forever and I do have pictures from the weekend, but that'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Today I wanted to give a (day late) shoutout on my blog to one of my best friends. J.E.N.N.Y! It was her birthday yesterday.

She is one of the best friends that I have, and someone I can pretty much tell anything to. We have very similar minds and I'm very blessed to have her as my friend and someone who I can plan my wedding along side.

Happy Birthday Jenny! I hope your birthday was all that you wanted it to be!

By the way, you can check her out here.


Her present all ready and waiting to be opened! Oh the suspense is killing ME!

Mmm...fresh goodness

Homemade Fruit Rollups

Go HERE

I think I may try this...

Neat

The paomnnehel pweor of the hmuan mnid

Aoccdrnig to rseearch, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Now go here and turn any webpage you'd like into this!

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Check it out

While browsing the internet I came across THIS site. You have to go look! Not to mention there are funny stories/captions under each. Here are a few...I tell you, hysterical!

This was cute, it is from a bf to his gf or something like that. Smart guy...who wouldn't love a little sugar filled cake?!

Okay, this is hysterical but raunchy...who asked for a cake like this?!
Can you say creepy?!

The title for this picture was 'divorce cake'!

I want it

I found this over on Etsy at Nestlings. You should check it out, there are some really cute things. I particularly like this frame and the words that it has. I think I may have to invest in it to put up after (or even before now that I think about it) our wedding. I truly adore it.

Family Reunion

We have the pleasure of going to my family reunion on my Dad's side tomorrow. It should be fun, I'm just not super close with extended family on that side. Hopefully it'll be a gorgeous day though, it's an outside bash!

What are you all doing this weekend? Anything fun and exciting?!

All I can say is that I can't wait for our honeymoon...I need a vacation!

Music is my hot hot...

Remember that iTunes commercial with this song? I got it in my head today and thought I'd get it in yours too! I kinda like it...it's catchy.

Mmm mmm good!

I was thinking about old dinners we used to have when I was younger and one that comes to mind is Stuffed Green Peppers. Oh, I cannot tell you how much I love these! They are SO good! We'll have to make these sometime soon...I think we have had this conversation and R doesn't like the pepper part, but he'll eat the middle...I think I have a dinner idea for next week!

Another one is stuffed shells...oh those are so easy and so good!

That's all for this post...can you tell I'm bored at work parusing the internet for some tasty food?! I'm on an 'eating better kick'...well trying to be. So far so good. I just eat way too many sweets and too much junk food...I'm just trying to kick the habit! Wish me luck...

The faces behind the voices

Nicole Jaffe as Velma Dinkley

Seth MacFarlane as Peter, Brian and Stewie Griffin

Tom Kenny as Spongebob Squarepants
Alan Reed as Fred Flintstone
Mike Judge as Beavis, Butthead and Anderson(Beavis & Butthead), and Hank Hill and Boomhauer(King Of The Hill)

Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson

Christy Carlson Romano as Kim Possible

Frank Oz as Yoda (Star Wars) andMiss Piggy (The Muppet Show)

Pamela Segall Adlon as Bobby Hill

Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson

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