Key West . . .

The second stop on our trip was Key West. Lordy, how I wish I could live there! My idea was to stay and just let the ship pick me up on the way back, but I was the only one who thought that was a good idea . . .

Two minutes off the ship and G-ma picks up a sailor! A captain even!!! Looks like he really has eyes for her! I guess what goes on in Key West stays in Key West. . . oops -- sorry Ma!

We took a conch train tour of the houses and high spots on the island. This little sign caught my eye. . .

B.O.'s -- definately a reason to go back -- we missed this one and I hear it's great!

Of course we had to stop at Sloppy Joe's!

Inside at Sloppy's . . .

Drinkin' Sloppy 'Rita's at Sloppy Joe's!! Cheers!



Next up -- inside the ship and Cozumel!

AT LONG LAST . . .

. . . some time to update my blog. I can't believe it's been since February that I've taken time to post something. I am still alive, I've just been BUSY!!

Anyway, here I am and I'm all ready to bore you to tears with photos from my vacation! My Mom and I went on a cruise that included stops in Miami, Key West and Cozumel, Mexico. It was a short trip, but my first vacation in 5 years!

Here are some pics from our stay in Miami . . .

This was taken from the balcony of our hotel. We stayed right smack dab in the middle of beautiful, although heavily under construction, downtown Miami. Traffic was unreal but the hotel had a really tasty restaurant and a pool on the roof, so we pretty much just hung out there. In the photo you can see my Mom's favorite thing -- the MetroMover!! We rode it around to see the City and it was actually quite fun!

While we were riding on the MetroMover, we discovered a beautiful park and beach area right along the shoreline. We stopped to check it out . . .

It turned out that our hotel was not far from a beach! It was about lunchtime when we were there, and people were wandering over from their offices and were stretched out in lounge chairs enjoying the sunny day.

I'm telling you this place was gorgeous!! This was when I finally realized I was ON VACATION!! If you look really hard, you can just make out the front point of our ship in between the two big buildings straight ahead. Um, well, maybe you just have to imagine it . . .

Heavenly!! If it wasn't for the terrible traffic (and the kooky cab drivers!!) I would consider moving there! Well, not really . . . I'd miss my fam too much!!

More shoreline pics. The bridge in the background took us from the mainland to our cruise ship and the sidewalk on the left lead to some shops, restaurants and a little marina.

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. I can still smell the salty water! Isn't this the shot they used on the old Jackie Gleason show?!? OMG I am so OLD!

Anyway . . . enough of Miami! Next up --- our cabin and my favorite stop, Key West!

Ta Da . . .

An actual finished project!!! This is the cake stand I made from two Goodwill finds -- the bottom is a white ceramic candle holder and the top is a regular dinner plate. I simply used Gorilla Glue and attached them together. Never fear -- this is not my own idea. I bogarted this from someone else's blog. But isn't it cute!!! I LOVE IT!

!Here it is displaying my favorite pretzel buns from Trader Joe's! Doesn't this look like a picture from a magazine!!!!! A little blurry maybe . . .

Now I'm really jazzed to finish up some other projects I have started. Stay tuned!!!

Introducing . . .

my new granddaugher, Katelyn Elizabeth Steuer!! Baby Katelyn was born February 8th at 5:53 p.m. to my daughter Karen and her husband Matt. She weighs 8lbs. 7ozs. and is 21" long. She is absolutely adorable!!!Proud Nana!

Even prouder Uncle Chris!!

My little family is truly blessed beyond measure!! Children and grandchildren are gifts from God! My children are the joys of my life and my five grandchildren -- Jackson, Amelia, Grant, Liam and Katelyn -- are the icing on the cake!

Welcome to the world, Baby Katelyn!!

Hi, my name is Sandy . . .

and I'm a "Goodwill-aholic". Oh my great goodness!! I simply cannot drive by a Goodwill and not stop in. My PT automatically turns at the sight of the Goodwill sign. I truly take to heart the old saying "One woman's trash is another woman's treasure." The only problem is, my closets are beginning to burst with other women's trash that I need to "git to gittin'" and turn them into my treasures.

Here's a photo of my latest haul! The quilt piece was in a frame, but I took it out. I think it will make a great pillow! It makes me sad when I find afghans at Goodwill. I mean, these are someone's family pieces that are now being sold for pennies ($3.99)!!! I cannot pass them up! This one is in beautiful shape and is just the right size to use as a throw when I'm working on my computer. In fact, I'm wrapped in it as we speak!! The Santa is a painted canvas piece that was 99 cents. Actually, nothing here cost more than $4.00! I have already used Gorilla Glue and made the plate and candleholder into the cutest cake plate! I will post a pic as soon as it dries! The jars are for buttons, thread, etc. storage.

I'm always on the lookout for toys for my g-kids too.

This all cost less than $5.oo each! The little boys will love the flip toy in the middle. You push on each piece and the tab pops up and tells what color, number, toy, etc. matches. It's really cute!

This one is obviously for Mia. The pink castle has a little drawer in the front to store all the little characters. They are adorable. Belle, the Beast, Tink, Wendy, Peter Pan, Jasmine, Aladdin, etc. are all there and she loves playing with them. There are, of course, some little people that were just thrown in for good measure -- we can't figure out why Timon and Donald and Daisy Duck are there, but we have lots of fun with them. PLUS -- IT PLAYS MUSIC!!!

This little cabinet with all the Strawberry Shortcake characters inside was just $2.99!! Mia hasn't seen it yet, but I'm sure she will adore it! The dolls even smell like strawberries, lemons, blueberries, etc.!! Cute, cute, cute!!! I just need to figure out the characters names so I can tell her. Her Mom used to have all the dolls when she was growing up. Isn't is amazing how things just seem to keep coming back around?

My greatest find lately was a wheelbarrow! I have wanted one ever since I bought my house, but they are soooooo expensive and I didn't really want one of the new resin ones. I wanted an old, broken-in model. I found one at a new Goodwill store that just opened! My new wheelbarrow is orange and scratched up and ready for me to use this spring. It has wooden handles and everything!!! WooHoo!!

Anyway, I have to drive by Goodwill again today on my way to work, and I'm sure I'll stop.

Do you think there is a twelve-step program for me?!!?

Ten in 2010

2010. Holy Cow! A new year -- time to wipe the slate clean and start fresh! Time to make resolutions on January 1st that we all usually break by January 5th (if we last that long).

This year, I decided to think of 10 things I would like to set as goals for the new year and mark them off as the year goes along to see how well I do.

Here I go . . .

1. Get Organized -- I hate this one, but it's gotta be done. I have sooooo much crap just oozing out of drawers and closets, out of my garage and my storage shed. It's time to let some of this "wonderful junk" out to spread joy and happiness to the masses!! Time for it to be packed up to Goodwill or listed on Craigslist or just plain set out for the trashman. I feel the urge to purge!

2. Work Less -- Due to the Marion County Real Estate Tax Assessor's need to enjoy the profits of my labors a little more than I can afford, I work one full time and two part time jobs. I love, love, love my full time job and really don't mind the other two, it just doesn't leave much time for family or a social life. I think it's time to tighten the belt and do the best I can with one full time and one part time job. Enough said.

3. Craft More -- I have so many ideas floating around in my head, stashes of fabrics, drawers full of patterns, etc., it's time to let my creative juices flow! I'm going to set up my craft table and go!

4. Get Back in Shape! -- Oh, I was so lovely a few months ago when I could fit into size 8 pants and tuck my shirts in. I've been eating for Christmas since after Halloween. Time to diet and step up my exercise routine...

5. Finish Half-Finished Projects -- Too many of these to count! Gotta get a move on.

6. Take Some Classes -- I've always wanted to take a cake decorating class, learn to make jewelry, speak better Spanish, cook like a French chef and sew like a dream. Time's awastin'. There are plenty of classes out there waiting for me. Again, gotta get a move on.

7. Take More Time for Family and Friends -- I am so blessed to live near my son, my daughter, and my wonderful grandchildren. I want to spend more time with all of them. I have friends, old and new, that I would love to be with. I will do better in 2010!

8. Read More -- I love books! I usually have 2-3 going at a time. I carry one in my purse, one in my car, I keep one on my bedside table. When I was a young girl, I always won the library's summer prize for reading the most books. Books are precious and I will read more in 2010.

9. Spend Less -- I have found, as I get older (eek!), that I just don't need all the stuff I thought I needed. Too much junk floating around (see #1). Gonna budget and keep better track of where my money goes. Getting older, retirement is coming . . . don't want to eat out of a dumpster. . .

10. Worry Less About Things I Cannot Control -- well . . . . you'll have that . . .

Anyway, that's my "bucket list" for 2010, in no particular order. Just some things I want to do to make my life better. Do you have a bucket list? Can we work together to be happy in 2010? I hope to blog more, smile more, laugh more, complain less and appreciate all that I have in the new year.

I wish everyone who reads this a Happy New Year 2010! I hope you add to your blessings and keep your troubles at bay in the new year.