They're Fine!!

I just called home to get an update on the kids. It's never easy feeling like you can leave your child overnight with someone. I never want to be an imposition--but I have FOUR kids!! And the thought of leaving all four with someone is a scary thought. Especially when you consider I'm leaving them with my sister who has 4 kids of her own. The next 10 days-she has 8 kids! That is just craziness!

I will be making it up to her in the future, I hope. She and her husband don't travel too much, although they are going to Vegas in a couple of weeks. Sadly--I'm going with them, so I can't return the favor then.

The kids are all doing well, and getting along pretty good. Mind you-it's still the honeymoon stage. I'm expecting major trouble in 4 or 5 days!

ORIKI Cosmeceuticals

I was not born with good skin. I think it must run in the family because, honestly--mine isn't even the worst. I have combination skin, with a somewhat ruddy complexion--and as bad as that is, it's pretty easily managed and hidden.

There are some skin types like my husbands family. They have olive toned skin, and when their skin gets inflamed or when breakouts occur, they actually get darker patches of skin on their face. Many ethnicities also face this problem, and although they are can have problematic skin--their coloring is really enviable.

ORIKI Cosmeceuticals has worked to develop the right skin care formulation, with the proper ingredients to properly nourish and care for this sensitive skin. There are over 8,000 skin care products released annually--and many of these contain the very ingredients that cause problems for the Olive skin toned people. The ORIKI line was developed by American Board Certified Dermatologist and Biochemist, and it incorporates the pigmentation factor into the formulation of its skincare line.

Because my daughter has a bit of her fathers coloring, I will be starting early to train her how to properly care for her skin. I found this great skin whitening kit that comes with a Whitening Serum, a Rejuvenating Cream, a Facial Cleanser and a Toner. Mind you--my daughter is only 5, so I will need to wait a few years to introduce this type of wonderful product. I'm just happy it's out there!

Atlanta Layover

Well, we made it to Atlanta! We are here for a total of two hours before catching our connecting flight out. The flight from Chicago wasn't too bad-- turbulent wise, but it's always nice to be back on solid ground.

I was happy to find that I can sit here for the layover and blog--This laptop borrowing thing may need to come to an end--I want one of these!

I Need To Pack!

I don't know why I'm sitting here on the computer! I should be packing--actually, that would require me to go home--and I'm having too much fun chillin' at Rob's house! The kids are upstairs getting settled in for the week, and I'm just finding it to be too hard to leave them! I figure I'll stay up most of the night, and sleep all 15 hours on the airplane! I hate airplanes--not really the flying aspect, but the whole pressure on the head, and cooped up feeling. So a nice LONG nap will be very nice! Sleeping pills will be packed first!

Are You Serious

I was watching tv last night, and streaming through the channels on the satelite. I have to say I was mortified when there was a 30 minute show--prime time--called Deconstructing Britney. There was a panel--more than one person--lawyers, family law attorneys, counselors you name it--these people literally took their 15 minutes of fame to sit in a panel and discuss what was going wrong in Britney's life. THEN...not only that, but they literally talked about what she could possibly be doing that was more important than her first missed court appearance.

WHAT???? WHO CARES?? Honestly--a half an hour? Prime Time news show?? It was simply unreal! I thought they were joking!

Maybe A Cabin

We own quite a lot of mountainous land in Utah. It's on the western mountains in the Salt Lake Valley, and all of the ski resorts are in the eastern mountains. The one thing that is in the Western range, Kennecott Copper Mine. Pretty bit, pretty cool tourist spot-but it was just announced in the Salt Lake City newspaper that Kennecott is planning to build ski resorts in the western range. That is right where our property is.

Now, I don't know if they are going to want to purchase our land for millions of dollars (how nice would that be??) or if we are just close enough to be able to use the land. My husband has dreams of his own with the property. They include this:

Currently there are no "services" near our land. We would need to dig wells and roads in order to get to the land, but with house plans like this, who isn't going to want to try!

These plans are from The House Plan Shop, and they have set up a collection of the "Best of the Best" in designs created by the top architects in the country. We would be lucky to own such a beautiful cabin, located in a serene and beautiful area in the summer-and right off the slopes in the winter!

Don't You Just Love?

Antibiotics! It's amazing how you can feel so terrible one day, and just a mere 24 hours later you feel so much better. No I'm not doing cartwheels through the corn fields, but I no longer feel as though death is approaching!

They put me on the Zithro pak-mainly because it's strong and I have four kids, and I'm leaving town at the end of the week! I may not be 100% by dooms day--but I will be at least feeling better enough to get the things done that have to be done. House cleaning can wait, but laundry and packing kinda have a rush on them!

Free Makeover

Why? Oh Why, do I insist on never having my picture taken!! Today would have been the best chance to do something for myself--and sadly--I don't have a picture of myself to play with! I'm speaking, of course, to the new virtual makeover site I found. I've always wanted to do this. You know, take your picture and change your hairstyle, or hair color. Change your eyeshadow, lipstick. Really just a fun way to make some changes without spending the money on cosmetics that end up looking trashy or spending a fortune and a lot of time at the hairdressers with tragic results!

So instead of getting to play on myself-I chose a model, and played with her instead. It was still fun, and so interesting to see the change that just a little "style" can make. Especially using eye make up correctly. She goes from a beautiful girl, to a more defined beautiful girl. Here's what I mean:
She's such a cute girl anyway--but all dolled up she's very cute! This is why I wanted to do it to my own photo. I mean--it's FREE, you aren't out any money to play with how you look.

I may just have to bite the bullet and take a snapshot, I want to look good!

Summer Shipp

I was reading over at Venomous Kate's blog about a woman she knew 19 years ago. She went missing in December of 2004. Her daughter has been searching for her, and even made an appearance on the Montel Williams show. Her mom was working as a door to door market researcher when she disappeared.

Sadly, this week they found remains that have been positively identified as hers. What a tragic end. I never knew this woman, and here in Chicago, I had never even heard she was missing--but this story was captivating to me, and I felt so bad for everyone involved.

May Summer Shipp Rest In Peace!

It's Strep

I've been sick! How bad does that stink! I brought Daniel home from school thinking it was nothing--sadly...it was strep! Luckily, we should all run through it before I have to fly out of town for 10 days! It's just a really bad time to get it now for me, because I have bags to pack, not only for me but for every child, and I'm sure as the time draws closer--I'll be packing for the man as well!

We fly out on Sunday morning--so I'm hoping that I will have the strength before then to get everything done--then I can just relax and sleep the entire flight into London! One can pray anyway!!

BP Solar Decathlon

There is a wonderful event going on this weekend on the National Mall in Washington DC. It's the BP Solar Decathlon and honestly--of all of the events that go on in this country--this is one most of us can get behind.

In this event that there are 20 university teams from around the world competing to design, build and operate livable, every-efficient, and completely solar-powered houses. BP has been involved in the Solar Decathlon since it's first competition back in 2002, and this year they are one of the main corporate sponsors--and only sponsor representing an Energy company. They are sponsoring this event as part of their commitment to discovering cost effective, clean energy solutions for our everyday living. This is remarkable because it's unheard of among other energy companies--who look to the dwindling future of our natural resources as an inevitable windfall to their bottom line!

Imagine, a big energy company working to save us money in the future! Like I said--unheard of!

There is a fun side to this wonderful event! BP has created a blog in which all of the teams can write posts throughout the competition. There is even an on site reporter giving us the behind the scenes 4-1-1! You can find this fun blog over at www.BPSolarDecathlon.com. You can also read up on the teams. Quite impressive--there are teams from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell and even international teams representing Madrid, Puerto Rico and Montreal--just to name a few!

I do have to give a shout out to our own team from here---Knock their socks off University of Illinois!!

A Day At The Park

What a fabulous chilly day it was here in Chicago! The kids were in school, but the two little ones and I decided to take a break from the packing and head to the park. It was a PERFECT day for that one.

The park near us has baby swings right next to the big kid swings. Which makes it nice to stand between both Kate and Brett and swing them both at the same time. At other parks I can only push one at a time--and try telling a 2 and 3 year old that they have to take turns!

The 'sippy side' as my kids call it is normally pretty hot during the summer months--and I was happy today that it wasn't. Really--just a perfect day to be at the park--or at least outside! I'll pack tomorrow!

High School Friends

I got a phone call the other day from a friend of mine from High School. I was surprised to hear from her on so many levels--we graduated from high school over 16 years ago--and I only kept up with her sporadically over the coming few years--and nothing recently. Plus, we live out of state--across the country actually. But she found me--and it was really nice talking to her.

She still lives in the old neighborhood. I love saying that--it makes us sound like we are from somewhere more exotic...like Brooklyn or the Bronx. But no, small town heaven in Utah! She is married with three kids--and doing the mom thing. I asked about her family--and really, not much has changed. Her dad is sick-but at 70 years old--that wasn't too surprising. He has maliganant mesothelioma which is something I haven't heard much about. I've heard advertisements on the radio, Lawyers looking for clients suffering from this, but nothing about what exactly it is--or what causes it. So we talked a lot about that. Turns out--there is even a website for it--I will definitely want to look at it as well.

It was fun to hear from her, and as always we left with promises to keep in touch--and not let ten years go by without talking. It was a good call!

Columbus Day

Our neighbors spent the day yesterday getting their "Fall" started. They raked leaves most of the day--trimmed up their flowerbeds and mowed the lawn. Then brought out all of their Halloween decorations-and let me tell you-they spared NOTHING! There are lights--and hay bales--and ghosts and tombstones and people hanging from the trees--all rather ghoulish in my book!

After their hard day of decorating they were up until all hours of the night drinking around their backyard fire table and getting really loud and ruckus! It happens every year--so I shouldn't be too surprised--they just usually do it on the Sunday before Columbus Day--and it isn't a school night. Last night was--and I was ready to call the Police to come shut them up. But I didn't want to think of the possible retaliation that could come from it--especially when the house will be empty for 10 days! Yikes!

The Mobile Web--The Next Frontier

I was reading a couple of different articles earlier discussing the "mobile web". Both of these articles were very interesting--for one--I never really realized that the normal web was different than the mobile one. I've been on the mobile web only once before--I hit the wrong button on my husbands cell phone--and when I saw where it was taking me--I panicked and turned the phone off to disconnect from the web. It wouldn't have been a big deal I'm sure--I just know we would have been charged an arm, a leg and a spleen to be on the mobile web!

So I know you can get to the web via your mobile devices--I just never knew a mobile website would be different! According to one of the articles, US mobile device users are second only to the UK when it comes to browsing the mobile web. Imagine the tremendous open market for mobile advertising--businesses need to get a wap site up and looking good! I'm sure this is one of those times when "If you build it...they will come!" is really true!!

The Countdown Begins

We leave one week from today! I'm still amazed over it! I've started planning what I'm going to pack--very careful not to say I'm packing--because that would give all the impression of organization--which I have none of at this moment!

The kids all need to be packed too--they are spending the week at my sisters house. She does have it a little easier--if I forget something that the kids need--she can always just bring them home to pick it up. Mind you--there isn't a car big enough to fit 8 kids in it--so I really better make sure they have everything they need!

I have located the passports--so for that, we should be just fine! So I'm off to start some laundry!!

Finding A GOOD Vacuum

I've been online the last few days looking at, of all things, vacuum cleaners. I don't know what I want as far as bag or bagless--I just really want something that works longer than the 6 or 7 months we've gotten out of all of our vacuums over the past 5 years! Honestly, I don't know anyone who goes through vacuum cleaners as often as we do. But with two long haired dogs and 4 kids-I guess it really is put through a workout.

My husband would like a bagless vac-you know, cut down on some of the maintenance costs. I would like something like this Miele vacuum. It has a real "retro" look to it. I especially like the yellow one!

At this rate I should actually possess a new vacuum in 2 or 3 months!

Family Heirlooms

When my husbands grandfather died, each grandson was given an item of jewelry that the grandfather had owned. The eldest grandson got a gold and diamond watch. The middle son received his gold and diamond cufflinks and my husband was given a beautiful emerald and diamond ring. I don't know what the other brothers have done with their treasure--but I was surprised that my husband put the ring away. I figured it was handsome enough for him to wear-but he chose not to. I finally got around to asking him about it a few days ago--and it was nice to hear that since it was a gift passed on from a loving grandfather--he would like to have it to pass on to his sons and grandsons when they are older. He really wants to make it into a family heirloom, and I thought that was really sweet!

Becoming A Realtor

Our nephew just finished up his classes to become a real estate agent. He did really good and took it very seriously. He doesn't quite know where he wants to go from here--but being the good salesman that he is, I'm sure he'll do just fine.

I marvel at how much work goes into being a Realtor. Not only the knowledge of all things real estate, but they were with us for every appointment we had at the house before we closed. The appraisal, home inspection, final walk through--all of them. And none of these appointments were quick--the home inspection took nearly 4 hours--and he was there the entire time. I was just amazed! Here in Illinois everything at closing is handled by a Real Estate Attorney--but even at closing--our Realtor was right by our sides!

The Pumpkin Farm!!

What a fun day! We headed to the pumpkin farm nearby--and it was a blast! The kids rode a couple of the rides--one that looked really scary. It did create some "scared little girl" screams from the 10 year old--but so fun to watch! Kate loved the slide. It wasn't a hard rolling slide like you see at so many carnivals. This was a blow up one that literally bounced you from the top to the bottom. She couldn't get enough of that one. There were bumper cars and tilt a'whirls--so fun! The kids each chose a pumpkin. Daniel's was the biggest weighing in at 27 lbs, with Brett's being the smallest--about the size of a softball. They wanted cotton candy--but we decided that we would come home and make our own. Still--it was relatively inexpensive--and we had such fun!