National Scrapbook Day

National Scrapbook Day is coming - May 5th.  It's a great time to start making those photos come alive.  My Memories Digital Scrapbooking is an easy way to make digital scrapbooks, albums, and photo books.  Click here to see all the creative things you can do with it.  If you decide to purchase the software, copy and paste this coupon code when you order - STMMMS85884 - and receive $10 off My Memories Suite v.2 AND a $10 coupon for the My Memories Store.  Here is my sample album.  I'm still working on it, but I love the way it is turning out.

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Aloha Friday

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. On Fridays, I'll post a simple question for you to answer, nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don't forget to visit the other participants to make it more fun.

I have been teaching a looong time.  It's the only thing my degree qualifies me to do.  I have a Bachelor's Degree in English, a Texas Teaching certificate (several, actually, for various subjects and grade levels), and a Master's Degree in Educational Administration.  I love to read, scrapbook, play on my computer, blog, socialize, and organize.

I'm burning out on teaching, but I don't know what else I could do. 

What are your suggestions?

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Favorite Color Swap

I'm excited to be participating in Mamarazzi's Favorite Color Swap! Can't wait to find out who my partner is so I can go shopping. If you've never visited Dandelion Wishes, you should. It's a great blog, and she hosts the best swaps!

Friday Fill-ins

I'm changing things up a bit today.  I haven't participated in Friday Fill-ins in a long time, and I feel like doing this today.  You can play along, too!  Click here!
1. Vegetables are best when they are grilled.
2. At Hobby Lobby, you can buy mason jars; Decorated, they make cute containers.
3. How wonderful it is to finally be sitting down!  Busy day.
4. The Kite Runner is a book I'd love to recommend.
5. Using leftovers: I like to add ketchup to the spaghetti when it's reheated (at least I did when I was a kid).
6. The weekend makes me incredily happy!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to maybe going to a baseball game or just hanging out with my family, tomorrow my plans include scrapbooking with my sister and a friend, and Sunday, I want to rest!

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Thursday Thirteen

Today is brought to you by the letter “F” and the number “13.”

1. Forgetfulone – my online persona, and who I tend to be in real life. I have a t-shirt that says, “I do know it all. I just don’t remember it all at the same time!”
2. Frogs – Cartoon frogs are cute, but real frogs are not. I left my shoes in the garage when I was working in the yard one time, and I went out a day or two later to put them on (with no socks), and there was a frog in the toe of my shoe! Gross!
3. Friends – I only have a few close friends. My other “friends” are really acquaintances. I like them, but I don’t associate with them much outside of work or church.
4. French Fries – I’m not crazy about French fries. They have to be cooked a certain way or seasoned. I prefer potato salad, pasta salad, or mashed potatoes.
5. Fast Food – My favorite fast food restaurant is Whataburger. Every now and then, I crave a Big Mac or Fish sandwich from McDonald’s, but mostly I just like Whataburger. I used to like Sonic, but they’re just not as good as they used to be, except for half price happy hour drinks or Blasts.
6. Fox – When I was intermediate school, a cute boy was known as a fox. Bet you can guess my age!
7. Fan – I’m a Houston Rockets basketball fan.
8. Fish – I like grilled Mahi Mahi and grilled snapper, but I don’t like raw fish, aka sushi.
9. Facebook – I spend far too much time on Facebook! But I love it!
10. Fat. I feel fat. I would like to lose about 15 pounds. I participated in a “biggest loser” contest at work this fall, and I lost about 13 pounds, but it was so stressful with the weigh-ins. But it was good for me, too. I need to get back into my healthy eating groove.
11. Family – Family is probably the most important thing to me. My father died in October, 2004, and I still miss him, probably always will. My mom and sister live about an hour from me, but in opposite directions. My husband, step-kids, and biological kids are extremely special to me.
12. Fraternal – I have boy/girl (fraternal) twins who will be 16 in two months.
13. Fracture – I fractured my wrist in 8th grade during my birthday sleepover doing a back handspring when I was too tired and had little energy. I didn’t get to the emergency room for almost 24 hours because I didn’t tell my dad. I ended up having to wear a cast for about 8 weeks.

Link up with Thursday Thirteen and share the fun!

Don’t forget to visit my Ultimate Blog Party Post and my Happy List!

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I am Blessed

I'm linking up with Mamarazzi today.

I'm so happy and proud of my daughter.  Not only does she perform with marching band (flags) and winterguard... not only is she in her second year of learning ASL and planning to take at least one more year of it... not only is she in pre-advanced placement classes... and not only does she attend church regularly, but she is also being inducted into the National Honor Society tonight.

And I'm proud of my son, too.  Pre-advanced placement class, participated in FFA, and now he's playing baseball.  Did you read about his awesome game over the weekend?

Last, my husband bought me some shrubs to plant this weekend, and he re-sodded our entire front yard today.  It looks great!

Are you participating in the Ultimate Blog Party 2012?  Come check out my post!
What's makin' you feel blessed today?

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Wow! What a weekend!

Well, not necessarily the whole weekend, but enough of it that I gotta say, "Wow!"  Saturday's best action was my son's baseball game.  On his first at-bat, he whacked that ball and got a double and an rbi.  Woot!  The second at-bat, he got hit by the ball and took first base.  He's a lefty, so getting hit by the ball happens more than usual to him.  The third at-bat, he got another hit.  I think it was a single, but he stole second, then his teammate batted him in.  I was so excited!

Sunday was just a non-stop day!  Church first (good message - made me think).  Grocery shopping (the worse chore on the planet!).  Then sweeping the entire downstairs, ironing a shirt, vacuuming the upstairs, sweeping the garage, cleaning the kitchen, taking my daughter shoe and dress shopping, then dinner.  After dinner, I went out to plant three new shrubs my husband bought.  I also pulled weeds.  Then I mopped the downstairs.  I made four lunches for tomorrow and helped my daughter with her homework.  I also planned lessons and graded papers. Whew!

Considering THIS picture is how I usually spend my weekend, this one was a doozy!  Now how I am gooing to wind down?  I've been too busy.  I should be in bed right now!  Maybe a glass of wine will help.  It's worth a shot, right?

Are you part of the Ultimate Blog Party?  Come visit my post and learn more.

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The Ultimate Blog Party 2012

One of my favorite websites, 5 Minutes for Mom, is hosting the Ultimate Blog Party 2012, and it's going on right now!  If that's how you found me, thanks for visiting!

I'm Forgetfulone, a 40-something mother of teenage twins and step-mom to 2 daughters and a son.  I'm a full time teacher on top of being a busy mom.  I live near Houston, Texas, and it is already hot here!  You can see a picture of the kids here.

I love meeting new friends through my blog, and I have actually had the good fortune to meet several fellow bloggers in person, a few whom I see on a regular basis now, and others that I play games on my smartphone with!  LOL  My facebook page is here, and my twitter handle is @Forgetfulone.

I do enjoy games on facebook and my phone, but I truly enjoy reading.  My favorite genre is crime mystery.  I'm currently catching up on Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series and Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series.  I'm also a big Harry Potter fan, but I don't like the Twilight series.  I just finished reading Catching Fire (sequel to the Hunger Games).

I also love scrapbooking.  One of my favorite sites is Pagemaps.  I enjoy working with a sketch when I am laying out my scrapbook pages.  Otherwise, I have a hard time deciding what to do.  I have a craft room, but one day, I want to have my dream craft room.  Maybe after the kids are in college!

Well, that's a little about me.  Welcome to my blog, and I hope you'll come back soon.  Please leave me a comment so I can visit your blog.

And don't forget to check out the prize I am offering... $25 cash sent to the winner via PayPal.  If you aren't yet participating in the Ultimate Blog Party 2012, go visit their prize page.

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Aloha Friday

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. On Fridays, I'll post a simple question for you to answer, nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don't forget to visit the other participants to make it more fun!

Ice cream is one of my favorite treats.  Right now, I am loving Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup.  It is peanut butter ice cream with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups mixed in.  It's a little bit of Heaven!

My question for you...

What is your favorite brand and flavor of ice cream?

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Thursday Thirteen

I'm linking up with Thursday Thirteen today.
Yummy dishes that my family likes.
Some are my own recipes, but others, I’ve borrowed. I will link where I can.

1.. Beef and cheese enchiladas. I don’t follow a recipe. It’s all in my head. Basically, it’s beef, a blend of four cheeses, and sauce.
2. Stuffed chicken Valentino. Roasted red bell peppers and mozzarella make this one a winner. I didn’t create this recipe, but follow the link for the recipe.
3. Spinach and cheese lasagna. Again, this recipe is all in my head. Garlic, basil, oregano, sauce, spinach, mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan blend together well.
4. Fried chicken strips, southern style. My own double-dipped recipe.
5. Vegetable beef soup. I created this. Follow the link for the recipe.
6. Ground beef Wellington. Another dish I found on the Internet that my husband and I love, mostly because of the mushrooms and sauce.
7. Rosemary pasta. We love pasta. Follow the link for the recipe.
8. Vegetable Ranch Pizza. I adapted this from a recipe someone gave me and posted it to a food blog. Follow the link for the recipe.
9. Charro beans. Love the cilantro in this. Follow the link for the recipe which I created myself.
10. Crock pot chicken and potatoes. No recipe for this. Just chicken, potatoes, and two types of cream soups – mushroom, French onion, chicken, celery, any type will do.
11. Taco casserole. All in my head. Tortillas, taco meat, sauce, cheese, pinto beans, and sometimes black olives.
12. Low-fat chicken marsala. Love the mushrooms. Follow the link for the recipe.
13. Beef and asparagus pasta toss. Bowtie pasta and a light sauce. Follow the link for the recipe.

I hope you find something you like!

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My Happy List

I'm linking up with Mamarazzi today.

Sometimes it's the little things that bring happiness...
1.  Sleeping on clearn sheets.
2.  Having the whole family at church on Easter.

3.  Finishing a good book and starting a new one.
4.  Alone time with the husband over the weekend.
5.  Watching my son play baseball since the previous three games were rained out.
6.  An organized pantry.

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Happy Easter!

easter graphics

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
Matthew 28: 5-7

Have a blessed Easter!

Thursday Thirteen

I'm linking up with Thursday Thirteen today.

My post is about divorce.  Some of it is based on my experiences, and some of it on my husband's.

Divorce really stinks...
1. When your kids’ teachers look down on kids with divorced parents.
2. When your ex gets remarried.
3. When your kids can’t do things (games, parties, etc.) because they have to go visit your ex.
4. When your ex and his wife talk about you in front of the kids.
5. When your kids’ friends don’t have divorced parents.
6. When you have a different last name than your child.
7. When your ex doesn’t pay child support.
8. When your ex ignores your children.
9. When your child has to construct a “family tree.”
10. When you argue over visitation.
11. When you have to go back to court to solve a problem that you should be able to solve without help.
12. When your friends/acquaintances treat you differently because you are divorced.
13. When your kids use their divorced parents to get their way.

Don't get me wrong... there are good and valid reasons for divorce, but that doesn't mean it's easy.

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