I haven't done Post-It Note Tuesday in so long that it is no longer even hosted by the same blogger!

I forgot how much I like it...

Here goes...

Now it's your turn click the link below to go play along or just read everyone else's...

Thanks for listening,

And The Winners Are...

I had not one but two prize drawings today...

I am so excited...

I just love to give stuff away!

The first one is easy... the $15 Dunkin Donuts gift card for playing along in the return of Five Favorites Friday goes to my one player and good bloggy friend Jackie form My Perfect Little World... Thank you Jackie for coming to my very little party!

As the big winner of my "I Love Maine Giveaway" I had 27 of you lovely readers tell me if you had or wish to visit Maine... Since I had more then one though I trotted over to random.org to use their "random number generator."

And the winner is... #20 Janna
Who said:
"Wow, what a great gift. I have always wanted one of those tote bags. I have never been to Maine but I did go to summer camp in New Hampshire as a kid, so I was close. I have always wanted to see the fall leaves.

Thanks, Janna"

Unfortunately Janna the email address you left me keeps bouncing back, so please contact me at highmaintenanceaspirations@yahoo.com ... I'll need a mailing address to ship your prize to...

(Jackie... I have your email... so I'll contact you!)

Now for the really good news... Since y'all are such sweet, loyal readers and since not one, not two but three of you followed the link in my giveaway to the Maine Gold website and made a purchase I was contacted by them... (How did they know?... This Internet is an amazing thing!) Anyhow one of you must really love you some Maine maple syrup... 'cause ya bought $400.00 worth... That's a whole lotta sticky goodness! It turns out Maine Gold is pretty happy with the publicity and offered to sponsor this weeks Five Favorite Friday... You heard that right... another giveaway! I'm on a roll here y'all! This week's theme will be my five favorite places in the world to eat out for breakfast... (My favorite meal to eat out, so this one will be fun!) Come back Friday and play along...

Until then...


Thanks for listening,

Happy New School Year...

And we're off...

Today is Sparky's first day of school... It's a half day for new "upperclassmen" and a full day for new freshman... She doesn't need to be there until noon... We have had quite a morning already... Here is a brief look at our day so far...

Sparky: "I don't know what I should wear."

Me: "What about the outfit you told me about three days ago?"

S: "I need a white tank top for it."

M: "Don't you have a new one?"

S: "I got paint on it this weekend painting my bedroom."

M: (not losing it...yet) "Why did you wear your new tank top to paint in?"

S: "I didn't know the paint would bleed through my t-shirt. Will you run to Wal-Mart and get me a clean one?"

M: "No."

S: "I'll pay for it."

M: "You'll have to work something out... You have six other new tank tops, choose one of those."

S: "They are all in colors I need white..."

M: (doing my best Tim Gunn) "Make it work..."

S: "You just want me to look like a  fool don't you?"

M: "Yep, you got me... Yes, Sparky* that was my evil plan..." (*I call her by her real name.. radical... I know..)

S: (rolls eyes... walks away)

VOICE OVER: (in my head) "Ladies and gentleman... start your engines..."


Thanks for listening,

Five Favorites Friday... Back To School Edition...

Here it is my much anticipated (by me) return of my Five Favorites Friday... As most of you know by now, this year I won't be homeschooling for the first time in years... Sparky is headed back to school... Public school... Of course this gives me the perfect excuse to shop for fun things for her transition...

1. A Backpack...

We looked all over for a messinger bag/backpack that she would fall in love with... We looked at LL Bean and they had a good selection... We shopped around the local stores, but nothing that made her heart go "pitter pat"... Then we got the new PB Teen and she saw this...

She announced this one says "Sparky" so we went online and placed our order right away... Now I must admit that we haven't actually received it yet so I'll have to get back to you on the quality, but she is very excited about it!

(Update: We just got the backpack today and it is even cuter in person and it does seem really sturdy... It has a generous laptop compartment and since all the students in Maine grades 7-12 get a laptop this is an especially nice feature.)

2. Locker Organizers...

I have to admit that as a homeschooler I was a little sad I didn't have a reason to buy any of the cute locker organizers I've seen out the last few years... I found these super cute organizers at The Container Store...

They are the "Twilight Bloom" series and only cost between $4.99-$7.99! They do seem really sturdy and the picture doesn't do their cuteness justice.

3. Fun School Supplies...

I went a little nuts at See Jane Work....

But everything was just so cute!

A mini planner

Hot pink stapler...

A couple Orla Kiely notebooks...

Johnathan Adler highlighters...

 Some super cute Johnathon Adler pens...

(these were $19 so they were definitely a splurge, but the photo doesn't do them justice... I want a set for me now!)

Pencils in fun colors...

4. A Unique Flash Drive...

Sparky saw these guys in a magazine and it was love at first sight...

These little fellows are from Fred Flare...

 Her grandmother wanted to surprise her so these (slightly over priced at $34 for 2GB if you ask me..) little guys will be going to school with her this fall... But they made my favorites list due to their sheer adorableness... (Is that a word?)

5. A New Phone...

We got her the LG Sentio...

 

From T-Mobile

But of course we had to cute it up some for Sparky, so we got her this cute pink skin...

She is so happy she is literally floating... 

Well folks, there is is... My Five Favorite Back-to-School Finds...

Now it's your turn...

What is your "Favorite" right now... I did school supplies, but you are free to do what ever you are loving right now... Just post them on your blog and link up back here...

Oh yeah... I promised refreshments... If you post FIVE favorite items you will be automatically entered to win a $15 gift card for Dunkin Donuts!

That is enough to take a friend out for coffee and doughnuts and possibly enough to take a few home for your family! I will close the McLinky on Monday and announce the winner Tuesday... So come on guys... Play along!

Thanks for listening,

And The Randomness Goes On And On...

So, it's been one of those weeks... There is a lot of little stuff going on... That equals lots of "random thoughts" posts...

We have a few projects underway and look forward to posting on these... I have a feeling that a lot of them will get completed in the next few days as Paul will be working starting Monday... Most of them are almost done so it will be nice to have them finished... I will post on all of them even if he didn't wait for me to grab my camera for a before photo...

It rained today... I mean it rained today... The humor in this is... Paul just got the pool drained, but didn't take it down yet... I told him it was the Lord's way of telling him summer isn't over... He rolled his eyes and said, "If the Lord wants you to swim he will have to fill this pool tonight, otherwise it's going down tomorrow." I muttered something about testing the Lord, and briefly considered running the hose to it... But alas, I'm a big chicken...

Sparky is very excited for school to start... She has tried on numerous outfits to find the "right one  that doesn't look like she is trying too hard"... I told her I've never seen some one try so hard to look like they aren't trying hard... I have to admit I do have pangs of sadness that I am not homeschooling her this year, but she is so excited it's infectious...

For those of you who asked, yes, we decided to get her a new cell phone... Most of you thought it was an OK idea and I remember how hard it is to be the new girl, so we went for it...

Also a lot of you asked if we had any trouble registering her for school after years of homeschool... Nope, they were great, no testing, and even though I had a full portfolio of her work they never asked to see it. (I offered.) The guidance counselor told us they have overall had good experiences with incoming homeschoolers and deal with it on a case by case basis. He said after five minutes talking to Sparky he felt comfortable with where she is... What a blessing, I hear horror stories all the time!

Also as for the "Bible" credits, she is already waived from philosophy so calling it that in her transcripts won't effect what courses she will take in high school... (There seemed to be some confusion over this.) It is just what prospective colleges will see... If she/we chooses a secular college then they may dismiss the credits, but I can't help but think they may help her if she/we choose a Christian college... I'm leaving it up to Paul, he seems more emotionally detached since he didn't actually teach her those Bible courses so he is probably better equipped to deal with the splitting of this particular hair...

One more thing about Sparky... She is a bit of a budding photographer... She takes beautiful pictures and I want to encourage her the thing is, she kills cameras... Like, mass murderer... Seriously, she is a serial camera murderer... I have twice now given her my "old" camera and up graded... both died within six months... For Christmas we gave her a new camera (in case the problem was the second-hand nature of the first two...) It died last week... She doesn't mistreat them, she just takes tons of photos (thousands a month) and keeps it with her at all times... I want to encourage her, she is getting really good and has signed up for a photography course at school and for yearbook. She needs a camera... any recommendations for a good one that won't break the bank? I hate to run over to Wal-Mart again and just buy whatever is on sale, but it may come down to that...

Remember that this Friday I will be doing my "Five Favorites Friday"... It will be a McLinky party... Come join the fun there may be refreshments!

Also... Don't forget to enter my giveaway... It ends Monday!


Thanks for listening,

Where Did My Summer Go?...

Last year the girlies got tired of asking us for a pool during those hot Tennessee summers and saved up and bought their own... One of the $300 Sam's Club pools, but it does the trick... The pool is kinda like a puppy in that they swore they would take care of it and clean it and buy all the chemicals and filters...  We are zero for three in those areas, but I enjoy it too, so I don't mind much. Plus on those rare occasions all four of us go swimming, memories are always made... You know, the kind that get re-told dozens of times, so I have adjusted to my role of "pool boy"... or in my case "pool mom"... I love our little slightly white-trash pool... When we moved to Maine this summer the first thing the girlies and I begged for was to have their dad set up the pool...

So you can imagine my shock when I awoke to find water running down our driveway... I dashed out side and Paul was draining the pool!!! I was speechless...( for about two seconds...) then I demanded to know what he thought he was doing...

This is the conversation that ensued:

Me: "Just what do you think you are doing?"

Paul: "What does it look like?"

Me: "It looks like you are draining my pool!"

Paul: "Nope, I'm draining the girl's pool. I woke up this morning and it was green,  plus nobody has swam in it for over a week now. Summer's over."

Me: "What??? Summer is not over... It's August for goodness sake... Besides, I was going to swim today."

Paul: "Did you hear the green water part? It would have taken you days to fix it with chemicals. Besides the the temperature of the water was 63 degrees, you have a sweater on right now... You were not going to swim today... Summer in Maine is o.v.e.r."

(I hate it when he fights all reasonably like... In fact, I don't even know if he knew we were fighting...)

Me: "You can't just declare summer over!"
... Right then a V formation of Canadian geese flew over head heading south... the traitorous fowl... All I had left to do was storm into the house... Besides I was cold.... It was 55 degrees out...

Goodbye pool... Goodbye summer... See you again for five minutes in July next year... I'll be the one waiting by my frigid little pool awaiting your arrival...


Thanks for listening,

Randomness...

This one is gonna be all over the place and full of nothingness... feel free to stop reading anytime...

First of all, tonight I made a dinner almost entirely made up of things my husband dislikes...(he enjoyed the meat he grilled... that was about it...)  You'd think after nearly 20 years of marriage I'd know he doesn't like deviled eggs. I thought they would be a treat... I have made them tons of times for pot-lucks and cook outs and he never said a thing... Also, it turns out he only like green peppers cooked into things... As I was setting the table I realised I didn't have anything green or even close to a vegetable out so I quick cut some up to serve with ranch dressing... I also served my hash brown casserole which he normally loves... I must confess I actually made it the night before but I made a double batch that took so long to cook I ended up not serving it... I reheated it in the microwave but it was still cold in the middle... I didn't have any so I didn't realize this... He choked down quite a bit of it anyways, but later confessed it was hard to eat cold... Poor guy... I told him to think of all the poor husbands with "liberated" wives who don't cook for their husbands... He's not buying it...

Randomness #2... There is this German Sweet Mustard I really want to tell you about... I tried it first several years ago in a German Cafe in Tennessee and loved it... Why is this a big deal you ask? Because I don't like mustard... Never have... Oh sure, I like honey mustard, but that doesn't count... Or so Paul tells me... Anyhow, here is what the jar looks like...

It is called "Black Forest Hengstenberg Sweet Mustard"... Down in TN occasionally my step mom would find it in the commissary (on Ft. Campbell) but it was hard to find other wise... Until I moved here... They sell it in the grocery store here and I eat the stuff at least 2-3 times a week... Try some...

Oh yeah... Nobody asked me to endorse this product (or any product... ever... for that matter.) I just really, really love it...

Randomness #3... Sparky, Paul and I met with her guidance counselor this morning to finalize her class schedule... She is excited to start and has a lot of fun sounding classes... (Creative writing, & intro to photography, to name a couple.) But while we were there he also told us the principal decided which classes (credits) of hers he would accept and not accept from homeschooling... They took most of them thankfully, and even said they would take her credits for "Bible" but they would change the name to "philosophy"... This irritated me, but I can't put my finger on why... He did say since she would have a credit in that she would not have to take Philosophy... This isn't a course I was gung-ho on her taking, but still something doesn't sit well... The guidance counselor called the principal and asked if they would accept it as "Bible" and he said he would if we want him to, but most colleges would probably dismiss the credits... What to do? We decided to get back to him... I'd love to hear your thoughts... Mountain out of molehill or soap box to stand on?

Randomness #4... I yelled at my step dad tonight... He was particularly cranky today and I know he can't help it most of the time but he is really demanding on a good day... Today he was pushing every button all day... It was raining so when he said he wanted to go for a walk, nobody wanted to go with him... He waited until I was fixing dinner so I was busy. (Though, seeing how bad that turned out... I maybe should have gone.) He can't go alone (he has Alzheimer's) and usually someone will go with him, but it was nasty out and I couldn't blame anybody for not wanting to go with him... He kept pushing it until he was yelling at my mother and I... telling us he plans to call a social worker because our denying him his "right" to go for a walk is abusive... It was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back... I spun around from the kitchen counter and demanded to know if this was the same social worker who forced us to move here or else they would put him in a substandard nursing home? I was livid... not my proudest moment... I haven't lost my cool with him like that before... Pray for me that I can keep my cool longer next time... He frustrates me a lot but this is the first time I was really angry...

Randomness #1000... (I lost count) Please pray for me...  I need some more time to do things just for me... I know that sounds selfish, but I never get any down time... My mother is great and we have a lot of fun together but she gets up before I do in the morning and stays up way later then me. I hardly ever get any time alone with my husband and girlies... If we do steal away for a little bit either at home or going out I can tell she feels left out. As for time just to myself.. this is non-existent. I rarely have a quiet time these days and other then staying up super late to type my blog I don't do anything just for me... I am doing ok, but can tell this can't keep up long term... The thing is, I do really, really enjoy the time I spend with her... I'm just feeling a little spent these days and I think it may be starting to effect my health... Please pray...

Randomness # 1097... I've had four followers drop me in the past two weeks... I don't know why, but this bums me... It's like people showing up at your party then leaving early...

Randomness #2956... At least I have jellybeans...

Thanks for listening,

I've Got The Blues...

...or...

I've got the trying to reason with my teenage daughter so she will pick a color to paint her bedroom already before I give up and just paint it white blues...

Sparky... Dear, sweet Sparky... Light to all who meet her... This girl...

Owner of this sweet smile...

Simply can not pick a paint color and stick with it... She changes her mind quicker then a wink... The other night we had a long conversation about this and afterwards her father and I couldn't remember how many colors she named... I know 15 is a hard age, but come on... In the past I've always decorated her rooms and for the past few years she didn't have any say, but now she can have whatever she wants... If we could just figure out what that is...

I think we have it narrowed to these two options...

This green...

or this blue...

(both photos Crate & Barrel)

Of course she has batted around a bunch of other choices, but I think we have it down to these two... (and no, she doesn't want both...)

Currently Cate is bunking in with her,but her father has promised to build her a bedroom in the (partially finished) basement by Christmas, so her opinion is only a source of argument... not at all helpful...

Alas, she has until Friday, because that is the day her dad is painting the room... He wants that part of it done before she goes to school the following Monday...

It may be a long week...

I know how you feel Cate...

Thanks for listening,


PS... The pressure of a blog posting has forced her hand.... and the winning color... is green...

The New Job Reveal...

I've been dying all week to tell you about the Axeman's new job... He made me wait until everything was set... You see this new job required background checks... Not that he had anything in his background to worry about, but he wanted me to wait, so I did... Now everything is all set...

But before I reveal the new job, I have another reveal to make... The thing is, he hates being called the Axeman... He think it makes him sound like a serial killer... Why did I go with this name... Oh I don't know... lets take a little look at his work bench...

I took this picture this morning while he was out trimming trees with his new pole saw... He has dozens of axes, tomahawks and knives and usually has at least two knives on him at all times, and carries an axe with him in our vehicle... I just don't know where I got this name... I'll have to ponder this one... It's a mystery I tells ya...

Alas, he has asked me to stop calling him this... When I asked him what he wanted to be called he said "Fred"... When I gave him a look he said..."Just use my name." Ok... So from now on the Axeman will be referred to as Paul... Yep... No more "silly" blog nicknames... He asked me why I used one in the first place, and I told him for "safety" you know, stalkers and such and he laughed out loud... So all you weird stalkers out there... please re-read the last paragraph... He would be a bad choice...

Anyhow, back to the Job... Let me first tell you, he has a background in engineering... His jobs have ranged from materials testing to project manager... He mostly worked on commercial building sites... highways, air ports, bridges... His last job was a departure from that, after being unemployed for nine months he took a job with the city gas and water division... It was a job, but he hated it... It was manual labor... Like down in the ditch, ankle deep in raw sewerage style manual labor... He took that job to support his family, but he felt like a pack mule... He a really smart guy (really, really smart...) but at 6'3" and stocky his bosses never saw his potential outside the ditch... He felt like he was stuck, so moving to Maine although a sacrifice it also offered him a chance to get a fresh start.

And a fresh start he got... Paul's new job (drum roll...) high school math teacher! He will be teaching algebra 1 & 2, geometry and calculus at a private christian high school. He is so excited and it has been really weird to do back-to-school clothes shopping for my husband...

Thanks for listening,

Taa Daa...

I know that's a lame title... it's all I've got today folks...

Because Chelle over at The Winey Mommy wanted to see our before and after photo pictures... since she is a great bloggy friend, her wish is my command...

I don't have a fancy camera so I use editing (when I take the time) to make up for my lack of photography skills and equipment. I usually use Photoshop Elements, but don't feel the need for fancy software... The girlies love picnik and use it all the time. It's a free and I have taken to using it from time to time since it has such fun features...

Without further ado, here is my before and after...

(Maybe you'll remember these pictures of the girlies from this past April..)

Before:

(Kinda dull)

After:

(Now that's better... her sweatshirt really pops..)

Before:

(Is Sparky trying out for the "Blue Man Group"?)

After:

(Ahhh... flesh tone...)

See how fun it is? Just play around a little... It's not scary at all, if you don't like it, don't save it...

Thanks for listening,


PS... Please join me one week from today for my "Five Favorites Friday" re-launch.. It will be a little McLinky party so start thinking about what you are loving right now...

My "I Love Maine" Giveaway...

I know I promised to post a giveaway yesterday, but too much went on for me to get on here... I'll tell you more about that later, but for now I'd like to share a little Maine love...

Why, you ask? That's easy, because I am loving being back here... It is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but it is where I am from. I always felt like an odd ball everywhere else we lived (especially in the south)... I was always explaining myself, I never quite fit in and I felt like people kept me at arms length... Even the ones who consider me a friend... It turns out I am not all that odd... I am just a "Mainer"... And I love being home, where I speak the same "language" as everyone else...

Several of you have asked if you can come to visit since I've moved here... And I have usually told you of course you may. I am not opposed to "bloggy" company for the most part, but I know that dropping everything to visit Maine is not always possible, so I decided to put together a little "I love Maine" gift set for you guys... Because you guys have been with me through some tough times this spring, I have felt your prayers and encouragement and this is my little way of saying "Thank you dear bloggy friends."

So with out further ado... Here is what I'm giving away...

 One Medium LL Bean "Boat and Tote"

In your choice of colors... go here to look at your choices...

But that's not all...

You will also receive a jar of locally made Maine Maple Syrup...

 from Maine Gold...

(The 250ml size pictured on the left)

"Pat, tell them what else they will receive..."

(sorry.. I loved game shows as a kid...)

A  bag of coffee from our locally roasted coffee...

A one pound bag of "Jet" (the Axman's favorite kind) from Rock City Roasters...

And...

Some Blueberry Jam...

My all time favorite "Wild Maine Blueberry Jam" from the Stonewall Kitchen.

PLUS..

A Maine T-shirt and various other "Maine" souvenirs...

(I'm keeping these a surprise...)

Over all this gift is worth nearly $75.00!!!

How can I do all this you ask?

Drum Roll...

The Axeman got a job!!

I'll tell you all about it later on... but suffice it to say, it is something very different for him and we are all thrilled!

So here is how you enter:

Answer the following Question...

Have you ever been to Maine?

 If yes, when and where and if no, do you have any desire to visit and why?

(If you live here just say.. "I'm lucky enough to live here"...)

 Just reply by noon (EST)  August 30th

I will do a random drawing and announce the winner on September 1st...

One entry per person... US only please.

(APO addresses are fine)

Please include an email if you don't have a blog so I can contact you!

That's it folks...

Thanks for listening,


PS. All the photos on this post are from the various businesses' web sites...