Friday Confessions

It's Friday.  Time to link up with High-Heeled Love and confess!

I confess...
Halloween isn't my favorite holiday, and this has nothing to do with the martini party.  I don't like ghoulish and scary things.  I am not one who likes to be scared on purpose.  I only like the "fall" part of Halloween, but it doesn't even feel like fall here yet.

I confess...
I might have been a little rude to my friend.  She is getting married in less than 5 months.  She's spent thousands of dollars on her wedding... and this is her second marriage and his third.  What finally got to me is not the white dress, the fancy venue, the 150 guest wedding, the flowers, food, cake, and 4 bridesmaids... no.  What finally got to me is that they registered for gifts.  They are over 40 and have everything you could need and most of what you could want.  When she told me they registered for gifts, I was like, "Really?  Why?"  It just rubbed me the wrong way.  If she would spend a little less on her wedding - it's not the first time around - she could pay for two years of college for her daughter AND buy everything on her wedding registry!  Just doesn't make sense to me.  Each to his or her own, I guess.

I confess...
We are having Red Ribbon week at school right now, and I think it is a farce.  It's an excuse to have crazy sock day, crazy hat day, crazy hair day.  The students are "forced" to sign pledge cards so their names will go in a drawing for prizes.   I don't think it does one thing to increase awareness or prevent drug abuse, which is its actual purpose.  I wish they did a true drug-prevention program.  Red Ribbon week just gives the students an extra reason to act crazy, especially since it's the same week as Halloween.  Oh, well.  I can't change it.

Thanks for reading.  I really needed to vent!

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Graduation Ideas?

We're back from our vacation (pix and update soon), but now, reality is setting in.  I will have two graduates in less than a month!  We have 18 school days left.  I need ideas!  I want to have some kind of celebration, but nothing fancy or expensive.  We did a surprise party for their 16th birthday two years ago (yes, two kids, one birthday, aka-twins).  I don't want to do anything like that, but I want to celebrate with them.  I think I might need to have it the weekend before graduation, but I digress.  Please, if anyone has any ideas for something simple that all ages (family and friends) would enjoy, let me know!

After the Party

Wow! 5 Minutes for Mom sure knows how to throw THE ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY! I had fun visiting new blogs and "meeting" other bloggers. I actually won a prize, too, but more about that later. Right now, I want to introduce you to three new blogs I found.

First up is Get Along Home. Cindy, a Christian home-schooling mom, writes this very friendly blog. One thing I really like about her blog is she sometimes posts a list of blog contests. She does the "running around" so her readers can enter for great prizes. She hosts her own giveaways, too, but she also writes about her life.

Another new blog for me is Sugar and Spice and Frugal Advice. Barbie and Joelle are moms who love a good deal and share their finds with their readers as well as fun crafts, recipes, and a slice of life.

Third, I want to mention SandwichINK. This blog is for anyone, but especially the "sandwich" generation, those who are "sandwiched" between elderly parents, children, and sometimes grandchildren. You'll find articles, research, praise, and encouragement. I hope you check it out.

Thanks, Susan and Janice, for once again hosting a fabulous party! I didn't get to visit near as many blogs as I wish I had time for (there are only so many hours in a day), but I'm certainly happy I found a few new friends.

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BlogHop 08 Giveaway Winner

The BlogHop 08 Party was such fun! I hosted a candle giveaway, and I was able to visit so many new blogs. Thanks for hosting the party, Pensieve. Random.org has chosen a winner for me and my little giveaway.

The winner is Scrapping Servant! Congratulations!

More Scrapping Servant Bloggers

I've visited them all!

I also did a little online browsing to address my issue of paper storage. A very frugal solution is to get a legal size, plastic container and Penda-flex folders to separate colors and/or patterns. It would look something like this.

What I think I really want are these clear stacking trays. One site had them 10 trays for $60, but I found the same thing at a different site (here's the link) for $49.95. I suppose I should check shipping charges to see which one will really save me money.

And many of you may know of several online stores from which to purchase supplies, but I want to mention Scrapbook Super Center, which seems to have it all for reasonable prices.

I am off to find my Cozumel pictures and plan my next pages! Before I go, these are the creative scrapbookers I have visited and commented on since earlier this week. I think I've hit them all!

ChrissyM at Chrissy’s Creative Spot

Jan at Making Scrapbooks

Charlene at Haute Artist

Shell – Scrapgrlz

Tiffany at A Mom’s Heart

Normal to Natalie

Cindy Gray at Out of the Gray-Portraits of Heart and Soul

Evelyn at Simple Scrappin

Mrs. D at Delightful Designs

Wani at Wani’s World

Baileysgranny at My Life as a Grandma

Katrina at Krafts by Katie

Jenny at The So-Called Me

Hope at 4theMemories

Flip Flop Mom at Just a Flip Flop Mom

Happy Momma ( Frog Princess ) at Happy Home

The final name on Mr. Linky didn't link to a valid blog address :-(

The End is Near

The end of The Ultimate Bog Party, that is. Thank you for coming to visit. Click here if you haven't seen my party post yet. I hope you had a laugh or two while you were here. Did you get to party-hop to plenty of blogs?



5 Minutes for Mom really outdid themselves with over 1300 participants and over 150 different prizes. I sure would love to win one! Who wouldn't? But even if I don't, I met a lot of new bloggers, and that was the point, wasn't it?

Before you go, I would like to give you a great big Texas thank you, and don't forget to grab a party bag on your way out! I hope you will be back to visit my blog.

Let's Party!

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here at The Ultimate Blogging Party sponsored by 5 Minutes for Mom! I'm Diana, aka Forgetfulone. I'm 42, re-married for almost three years, and living near Houston. Let me introduce my children, 11 year old twins, Angela and David. They are ready to party, too! I also have a dear husband, two step-daughters (ages 15 and 19) and a step-son (age 27) who has 5 month old twin boys (which makes me a grandma by default - ha!).

I'm a teacher, but that doesn't define me. Who am I? (My kids would respond, "I don't know; I'm not your brain." Standard response around here when I can't remember what I'm looking for or where I put something! I think I am a fun person, even when there isn't something specifically fun to do.

I like to visit with friends, read, scrapbook, blog, watch movies, and I enjoy dining out, going to a show of some kind every now and then or a sporting event, and I am very active in my children's lives (piano, band, sports, etc.) I'm attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo next Tuesday to see Rascall Flats, my 11 year old daughter's favorite, and we are leaving for a six day trip to Disneyworld (the 11 year olds first time) on March 16th. So I AM VERY EXCITED!

Let me get you some refreshments. I can offer you a glass of water or a cold coca-cola (it's the real thing), my favorite drink. I don't drink many adult beverages, only socially, so I can offer you a choice of three things. You can have a screwdriver (orange juice and vodka) with a spash of grenadine, a Hpnotiq Martini (equal parts Hpnotiq liqueur and vodka with a splash of pineapple juice, shaken in ice), or a glass of red wine.

Come on in and take a look around my place. To the left, you'll see a poll I recently added, and you'll see a slideshow of my family. Read as many of my posts as you have time for. I love comments like everyone else! I enjoy writing, and I enjoy participating in memes. I've made some great blogging buddies, and I really want to make some new friends! Leave me a comment so I can visit your blog! Let's Get it Started in Here!

Then you can party-hop over to 5 Minutes for Mom for some more celebrations! Don't forget to post your Mr. Linky there, and check out the fabulous prizes they're offering! My top picks, although I wouldn't turn down ANY prize, are as follows:

1. $25 cash donated by Lori. (prize #59)

2. $25 Target gift certificate provided by Mommy Bytes. (prize #117)

3. $10 Gift certificate donated by Making Scrapbooks. (prize # 56)

4. $60 Gift certificate to Mikarose (pretty dresses) donated by Liza. (prize #54)

5. $10 Gift certificate to Christian Book Distributors provided by Christelle. (prize # 49)

6. $20 Gift certificate donated by FeeFiFoto for personalized photo gifts. (prize #9)

And they are still busy posting prize choices (including a pillar candle I am offering as a prize)! I'm glad you stopped by, and I hope you'll visit again. Now, I'm off to party with some other moms!

UPDATE - There are now 148 prizes up for grabs (up from 121 yesterday)! I like prize #129, a $15 Amazon gift card offered by Mommy Cracked. My prize, #138, is now posted. Thanks for stopping by!

I'm Here for the Party!

Are you ready for The Ultimate Blogging Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom? The fun starts March 7th (that's tomorrow)! Consider yourself invited. Sorry guys, but this one's only for the gals! There were over 1,000 participating bloggers last year, and this year looks to be even bigger and better. So, blow up the balloons, hang the decorations, put your dancing shoes on, turn up the music, and get ready for a P-A-R-T-Y!