He's Been Busy....

lately too....by HE, I mean CDR! It's been a while since I've put an update about the 7 Lakes Property. A few other bloggers have been doing 'Home Tours" so I figured I'd do one of my own..Welcome to our Home in Cato Wisconsin!
We are still at least a couple of months from being able to move in. As you can see the Wallboard is up and plastering will be starting soon. The heating has just been installed so now CDR and his Lil'Bro can work more comfortably.( The heat was also needed before plastering could start)We plan to hire someone to do the plastering. We've gotten a few estimates and should be making our choice sometime this week....So .....come on in.. here we are at the garage entrance.....you are looking into the dining area with the living room just beyond. Immediately to your left will be our Laundry Room...Once you walk all the way in...to the far left is the Kitchen...The opening to the left is my pantry closet. Around the corner to the left will be my fridge and a built in wall oven and microwave..a desk in the corner...on the far wall will be our stove and in the alcove to the right will be the sink. There will also be an island right about where that scaffolding is standing. You can see some plumbing tubes sticking up for the island prep sink...there will also be another 'bar' coming off that wall on the far right. here we have a better of view of the pantry. That space to the right is where the fridge will go...Now we are standing in the kitchen and looking into the Dining Area...and the small hallway where we came in from the garage...that little doorway in the hall is a coat closet...now you are looking directly into the Dining Area and on into the Living Room. There is an updated pic of the Living Room below this one.. The french doors on the left will go out to a deck...

Looking into the Living Room from the Dining Area...Fireplace insert ..with alcoves for built in shelving....Looking around the corner into the Entry...around the corner to the right is the guest bath and then a Library Area( It was supposed to be a Formal Dining...but I'd rather use it as a Library /Sitting area)....then to the left of the Entry Door ..you see the entry to another small room...that is CDR's Office...Guest Bath...Library/Sitting Area....I plan to have built in shelves along most of that long wall...and it's hard to see but to the right ..perpendicular to the back wall will be another small wall...I plan to have shelving on that one too...Entry to the Master Bedroom Suite.....

Master Bedroom....Looking into the Master Bath....Whirlpool tub? I think...or Jacuzzi...can't remember...LOL

Counter and Sinks will go along that wall to the left of the tub...

CDR wanted the toilet in it's own seperate area.....Looking into the shower...linen closet to the right...Master Bedroom Closet...Stairs going down to the Walkout Basement....
Spare Bedroom #1

Looking into the guest bath downstairs...it is shared by the two bedrooms downstairs....there is also access to it from the back yard ...we have a pond we plan to use for swimming in the summer and this way people can swim and have access to the bathroom without traipsing thru the rest of the house dripping wet.....

Bedroom #2 ..looking into it from the shared
Bathroom...

This is the main area downstairs....the Family/ Party/ Game Room...CDR wants to have a pool table and ping pong and such here....Entry to the Workshop/ Garden Tool storage area....this area will be left relative unfinished... Another guest bath for the Basement area....


Looking at the Stairwell area again..

And finally this will the our Theatre/Bar area....It's hard to tell but directly in from there is a space for a Huge Big Screen TV or for a Projector Screen....we haven't decided which route to go yet....and then around the corner to the right will be a full bar...for parties...This area is open to the Game Room behind me..

So there you go.....Our 7 Lakes House so far....like I said we are probably at least a couple months away from moving in.....plastering comes next.....then we'll be able to get the flooring in and cabinetry....etc. I'll be glad once it's fininshed and we can get into it...

I've Been Busy...

..lately. The last few weeks I've been Crocheting up a storm. I've been in a Crocheted Potholder Craze for a bit. They are fun and quick to make. Not sure WHAT I'm going to DO with them all! A few will get used in my own kitchen... a few will be given away to family and friends...and I think I will put some up for sale in an Etsy Shop. Most are made with Woolblend Sockyarn...a few are made with Cotton..

I've also been able to add a few more squares to my long forgotten "Deployment Blanket"...that blanket I was working on WAY back when....when CDR was deployed to the Med.? There's still not a WHOLE lot of progress on it as I want each square to be a different yarn from a different project.Origionally the idea was to hopefully get some sockyarn scraps from other knitters and crocheters out in blogland but that never panned out. I got a few scraps from one or two people way back when but that was it.

the "new' squares are each one all the way to the left of each row.....

Loving the Pink and Red lately...

I don't know what is is, but lately I've really been feelin' the Red and Pink! Maybe it's because Valentine's is just around the corner and so Red and Pink are the colors of choice in most of the stores and I'm 'feeling the love" ? or maybe it's just that they are so bright and cheery and and in these grey and cold days they are refreshing? I don't know , but right now it's my favorite color combination! Felt a little 'domestic' today so I decided to bake some cupcakes!

Valentine's socks on my feet make me Happy!!

Happy New Year!

Wow! I can't believe another year has passed us by...it went sooo quickly. 2009 was a Pretty good year for our family. I finally got to move to Wisconsin to be with the Commander...we bought a house ...we sold a house....we bought some land and started building a house....I got to go to Florida with the Co-ed....and visit my family in Biloxi...I got to attend my best friend's daughter's Wedding in Virginia( which means I also got to see my best friend!!) ...and I we all got to visit with the Co-ed and her boyfriend and the Recruit in Oklahoma this past week!

I'm not really one for 'resolutions"...I never follow thru with them....after about a week I break them and forget about them so I've given up making them. Last year did come across the idea of have a goal or theme for the year to live by. Last year it was "Enjoy Life" and I think I did a pretty good job of of that last year. I have to say 2009 was one of my best years.

It's taken me a while to come up with this years theme...there are so many things I'd like to accomplish and work on this year. I finally decided on "Love'...yeah...kinda basic and something you would think is already a goal or theme in a person's life....but like many I tend to put 'love' on the back burner and let other things get in the way. I like that 'love' can encompass many things as well. Loving our families and friends...showing love...loving ourselves...taking care of ourselves....being kinder to those we love and strangers as well. It can even be incorporated into decorating and fasion! Granted the year hasn't started out all that "Lovely'.....for some reason Commander and I have been 'at' each other all day....and NOT in a 'good' way.

Another reason that maybe I need to focus on "Love' and not let one bad day ruin the whole year?

Merry Christmas Eve!

It's Christmas Eve! The Presents are all wrapped!Dinner is in the Oven....for the last few years I've been make this Turkey Pastry Wrap type dish on Christmas Eve..It's really easy and has a 'festive' feel to it.And.....it's delicious!
And I thought I'd leave you all with a View of Today's Lake!!
Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Gone Skiing

Haven't been on much....too much to do ..getting ready for Christmas. Drama Teen and Genius Boy are in for Christmas and we are all heading out to Oklahoma the day after Christmas to visit with the Co-ed and the Boyfriend....the Recruit will be there too. So we'll all be together as a family!

Today we all(Me, CDR, Drama Teen, and Genius Boy) went skiing!! CDR little Brother also came, although he's really not so 'little'...he IS 30.....It was the first time for all of us except CDR and his lil Bro'. CDR's been a few times in the last few years....he took Co-ed a few times.

I lasted all of about 10 minutes!LOL. I just couldn't handle it. I have weak ankles and legs and I just didn't have the strength to maneuver the ski's. I'm also totally out of shape...I proud of myself for at least trying though, and I had fun watching the others.

Drama Teen had a Blast and even tried snowboarding! Genius Boy did pretty well..I think he had fun but didn't enjoy it as much as Drama Teen and CDR.

Considering the fact that I HATE snow and cold, today really wasn't too bad.....I don't think 'skiing" is MY thing....but I could see myself enjoying Snowmobiling..or even sledding...maybe...

I stayed pretty warm with all my gear......the snow pants, snow boots, ski socks, long underwear, ski gloves and hats...etc.

Off to Milwaukee..

...to pick up Drama Teen!! Yay!!

mark. Christmas Deals

Just wanted to share that mark. has some awesome Deals going on right now for Christmas. If you've ever wanted to try the products, now is a good time to do so. You can shop at my mark. store.

First we have mark. Juice Gems Squeeze On Lip Gloss Sale:
Buy 1, Get 1 FREE! Mix & Match. Save $6.00!

And/Or you can get some Free Earrings!

If You're looking for some great gifts for yourself of the other women in your life...how about this cute mark. On the Case Holiday Blockbuster
Value: More than $50!
Price: $26.00


She'll love this case full of faves and exclusives.

Set includes:
• metallic faux snakeskin train case, 7" L x 4" H x 5" W (1.5" handle drop).
• EXCLUSIVE multi-mix color cream* in roxette and solara (0.05 oz. net wt.), plus snap to it mini to hold both shades.
• on the edge hook up liquid eyeliner in cleo (0.08 fl. oz.) plus hook up connector.
• scanda-lash hook up mascara in blacklash (0.12 oz. net wt.).
• just pinched instant blush tint in cheeky (0.14 oz. net wt.).
• shimmer glossblossom ripening lip tint, (0.33 fl. oz.).
• insert card featuring complete how-to's and face charts for looks created by Mai Quynh, celebrity makeup artist and mark beauty expert.

*Limited-edition Multi-Mix Color Cream is only available in this case!
- 3-in-1 formula - adds a shimmery, radiant glow to eyes, lips or cheeks
- Blends easily, builds for extra impact
- Lasts for hours and won't smudge
- Wear shades individually or mix them together

Get all of your Holidays looks together with this really awesome mark Super Flip Color Kit 9 Shades for Lips and Eyes Price: $20.00

I've had this since fall and it has been my go to kit for most of my looks this past fall. I don't think it will be available much longer. This may the last Magalog that you can order it. It's pretty cool. It comes with 9 eye-shadows on one side and 6 lip glosses and 3 lipsticks on the flip side. You can creat a TON of looks with this one!




Or pamper yourself or friends with these yummy holiday bath products. First up mark Self Sanctuary All That Fizz Scented Bath BallsAn Effervescent Treat! Price: $10.00

or these mark Self Sanctuary All The Trimmings Body Treats in Lemon Sugar and Berry Cranberry One Delish Gift! Price: $12.00

And best of all:

You can get these and even more great items(there were just tooo many to post about here!) at my mark. store. The link is up above or you can click on my store in the sidebar.

Disclaimer:

In compliance with the new FTC regulations, yes, I am a mark. Rep, so I do have something to gain from these endorsements. I sell these products at my mark. website and I stand behind the products I endorse. I will always give thruthful opinions on these products even though I sell them.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas....

Finally started unpacking some boxes and getting some of the Decorations out. Put up the tree the other day and finally found the box with the ornaments. I don't have too much out this year as we wont be in this house too much longer and it's still a mess. Especially now that we got all the rest of our stuff that's been in storage for the last few months....oh my....my house is floor to ceiling boxes...and we are STILL renovating! I really don't want to unpack all the boxes as 1) I have NO WHERE to put half this stuff here and 2) we'll just be moving AGAIN in a few months when the NEW house is finished. So here's what I've got to share so far in the line of Christmas Decor......
As I said the Tree is up.....you can see a few boxes off to the right there....and if you look carefully under the Tree you'll see my cat Ambie Hiding under there...LOL ..I had no idea she was there until I looked at the pics later...
This Little Angel is one of my Favorites....The Co-ed made her WAY back in the day...kindergarden, I think? She's graced my Tree every year since.

Update:I've just been informed that she made it in Girl Scouts...the ONE year she was in it. She was sooo deprived as a child.....LOL

Of course EVERY Tree in Wisconsin needs a PACKER ornament!!! And it doesn't hurt to also have a WI Badgers Ornmament as well!



And this cute little Bird House is my NEW one for 2009....I went to the Osthoff Craft Fair last weekend in Elkhart Lake, WI. I also got a couple of cute figurines from the same vender..The two German Characters on the left are from the same vender as the Bird House Ornament...The Tall Russian Doll in the Middle is an ornament I got at another Vender...I chose to stand her here with my other Russian and German decorations instead of hanging her on the Tree. And then I have the 3 Matryoshkas. The smaller one on the left I also got at the Osthoff Fair from yet another Vender. The other tw were both given to me by a couple of adortable Russian Girls who had come over in a Student Work Exchange program....the larger one in the Middle was from Olga....she stayed with us for about a month a few years ago. She was friends with The Recruit and when he told us she had nowhere to stay(long story) we allowed her to stay with us. I really enjoyed having her stay with us and wish we could have had her longer. The smaller one on the right was from Camille. She was the Recuit's girlfriend for a while. He had met her at work and they started dating. They continued their relationship for a good year or two after she went back home . He had planned to move to Russia, and marry her. But ...it never worked out.


Here are a few pics of my Nieces and their children at the Osthoff Craft Fair....

My Very First Packer Game Ever!!

On Monday I got to attend my VERY FIRST PACKER GAME! That is a BIG deal here in the Frozen Tundra also known as PackerLand!!! I almost didn't get to to go. CDR had planned to take his 'sister"????!! WHA??? He didn't think I'd 'want' to go....Are you kidding me?? an actual Packer's Game? Heck Yah , I WANT to go. So he took me, and WOW what an experience! It was all very exciting! Coming into Green Bay on 'Game Day" ...Seeing the Throngs of people all headed towards the Stadium.....Everyone Partying and Tailgating! And then getting into the Stadium. all the Pre-Game festivities!

We had pretty awesome seats too. We were on the Packer Side....40 yard line....only 18 rows up, so we ahd a GREAT view of the game. And best of all, it wasn't anywhere near as COLD as I expected(pre-snowstorm...).

Oh...and YES They WON!!!!!!