BzzCampaign: Stouffer's® Corner Bistro® Stuffed Melts and Soups

Hey all,
I just recently got this bzzcampaign for Stouffer's Corner Bistro.. check it out here facebook.com/stouffers . I got a bunch of coupons (so locals let me know and I can give you some) and cannot wait to try it out. Anything to make lunch quick and easy on the days my kids are pulling me in multiple directions (that doesn't include PB&J)!! Also, for anyone.. you can like them on facebook and try to win a free coupon as well. I think the combination of soup and sandwich will be yummy on a cold winter's day. Cannot wait to try it!

Thanks!

C-Ya!

CoverGirl Bzz Campaign

This is the newest bzzcampaign I signed up for ... the new COVERGIRL 50th anniversary campaing... If you like CG come check it out!!

C-Ya,
Melissa

T. Y. Caribou

Thank You Caribou... for putting out a $2 any cold drink, any size, just for today, coupon. I didn't realize I needed a sugary (decaf) coffee this evening... but since I was out, I guess I did.

Ehh.. guess it is ok to treat myself once in awhile!!

C-Ya!

My fellow MOMS

Last night was MOMS night out... we went on someone's boat. It was the first MNO since Ella was born that I didn't take her with. And it was awesome!!
I will be honest, when I joined MOMS club just over 4 years ago I was very worried. I thought it would be filled with a bunch of rich Moms who got to be SAHMs because of that and had the attitude to go along with it. Instead I found many others like me who are SAHMs because they wouldn't take home much money after paying for day care and Mothers who scrape by because they want to raise their kids (disclaimer: I had the 2 oldest in day care and don't have anything against it). Oh sure... there are some whose husbands make a lot and live in nice houses, but you wouldn't be able to tell because they are the nicest ladies. I am on the board for the third time because I really believe in the group. And they have been there for me, from celebrating the births of my third and fourth child, to being a shoulder when I lost my father, and even have helped watch my kids.
It is no secret (on here) that I have been down in the dumps... but for 3 hours last night I didn't think about my problems and enjoyed my time!!! Thanks gals!

C-Ya!

This is where I left my blog....

Hey... I knew I left my blog somewhere... I guess life has gotten even crazier. Since the last time I wrote I became the mom of a fourth child! Elizabeth was born on January 19, 2010! Of course I haven't posted it because I want to do a formal post with pictures and info... but that is for another day.
Life hasn't been easy lately. It is amazing how lonely one can feel in a house full of people (and pets) but is has. Maybe I need to write stuff out and get back to blogging. Maybe that can be my therapy.
:(

C-Ya!

Samantha is 6!

Happy Birthday to my 2nd child, my daughter Samantha. Today she turned 6!! :D

Cub Scout Wreath's for sale... ORDER DUE TODAY!

Ok... I am quite the procrastinator... Jeffrey has to turn in his Cub Scout wreath order tonight and I haven't had him selling... so if you want one please reply to me by 6pm and I will either pick up your money today or spot you.
26 in wreath $18
36 in wreath $29
48 in wreath $41
25' garland $31
swag $18
spruce tips $19

We will be picking them up on November 21 and I will deliver them to you

Hey - crazy!

Hey all,
Just posting to say I am still out there. Life has certainly been beyond crazy. Unfortunately I don't have the time for even a quick update but lets just say we certainly are on one roller coaster ride. I do post on facebook so that is a great place to find me, otherwise I hope you are doing well out there.

C-Ya!

Now I am using ping.fm's mobile feature

Ok... just trying the ping.fm status feature!

Holiday Card 2008

Yes, it is over a month since Christmas, we did send these out a couple weeks before Christmas. But since traditionally I also post it to my blog, here you go....



I wish to say that 2008 was even better then 2007, but unfortunately that was not the case in the Pickert Household.
We started out the year with a huge loss. Melissa’s father, Ken, died from Multiple Myeloma (cancer). Losing another parent has been devastating and we really miss him. For those that never had a chance to meet Ken, he was such a wonderful man whose favorite things were his Grandchildren and good conversation.
Unfortunately, a couple months later we also loss our little dog Maggie when she was hit by a car. She was an awesome dog and Nick and Melissa miss her sleeping between their heads at night.
And in the “death comes in three” categories, Melissa’s Grandma also died in September from Dementia.
We did bring a new life into the house. In March we did get a new Shih Poo, Lucy. And while she will never live up to her older sister, Maggie, she is a pretty good dog, especially around Carter.
Nick was busy with work again. Pepperberry Gardens even was part of a booth with Stonepocket at the Midwest Fall Home & Garden Show and even won “best landscape booth”. You may have even seen him on WCCO-TV talking about it. At church, Nick started his term as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and safely installed a 48,000 pound boulder outside in the front of Our Lady of the Lake Church.
Melissa has been enjoying staying at home but recently did take a temporary job. She is still active in MOMS club and her quest to visit every site on the internet!
Jeffrey is an active first grader who loves math and music and is not such a fan of writing in school. He recently joined Cub Scouts. He still loves to do anything outside, and even is our household’s snow shoveler.
Samantha is enjoying her last year of preschool and loves to color and write words. She started dance this year and is our little social butterfly.
Carter turned one on Halloween and is really giving us a run for the money. He walked and got his first teeth before he turned one (before his brother and sister did) and gets into everything. He loves being with his family and getting all the attention. He is starting to make sounds and we swear he can say mama, dada and up!
Ole Scooter the Chihuahua is still trying to be our guard dog. And Max got to enjoy a hunting trip to South Dakota (with Nick and Jeffrey).
We are hoping 2009 is filled with adventure and good fortune.
Merry Christmas Love,
Happy Hannukah Nick, Melissa, Jeffrey, Samantha & Carter,
Happy New Year Max, Lucy & Scooter

Ok...Ok..

Did so well in November and then sucked it with writing since then... so this is my obligtory January post... will post more "tomorrow"

C-Ya!

Its New Year's Eve..

.. and Nick and I are sitting here on each of our laptops watching Dick Clark's special. As you can see I never did the choose joy challenge. It has been hard to choose joy this holiday season. Though some special and some anon people did help Christmas be better for the kids and us.
Even so, I am in a funk. Thirteen days from now it will be one year since my father left this world and it is really effecting me. In one way I am so upset to be getting close to that "anniversary" but in another way I am happy to be 20 min away from being out of 2008 and all the misery it has brought to my life. We need a good 2009.
I do still need to post my Christmas letter and card... will do that sometime... I have been rather tired with working and all.
For those of you out there, Happy New Year.

C-Ya!

Choose Joy: December's Blog Challenge

Midnight Scrapper has another great challenge... this one for December called "Choose Joy". Here is the challenge for those of you stopping by:

Okay, so you've heard the saying: "Choose Joy". I love the saying, but I must admit, it is not as easy as this two word sentence makes it sound. For the month of November, I challenged you all to find something to be thankful for and blog about it. I know it was hard, but I also know that it was not impossible. I had good news, bad news, a friend pass away, reunions with old friends and even some birthdays and holidays. I took the bad with the good and found something each day that I could be grateful for. We are certainly blessed!
So, if you are up for another challenge - here we go!
1. This will officially start on December 3rd and will end on December 31.
2. The challenge of this blog will be similar to our Gratitude Blog idea. Look for JOY each day and blog about it. It might be something as big as attending a wedding or as small as how cozy your slippers feel...it's up to you. CHOOSE to find joy.each.day.
3. There are a few extra challenges for this one too...don't worry - don't
stress....have fun! Those that complete the journaling AND the photos will be
able to be have their name in the drawing for the prize TWICE. Each week, you
must post at least 3 photos based on the themes I have chosen.
Week 1 (Dec. 1 - 6) - LOVE
Week 2 (Dec. 7 - 13) - RED
Week 3 (Dec. 14 - 20) -GLITTER/SHINE
Week 4 (Dec. 21 - 27) - FAMILY
Week 5 (Dec. 28 - 31) - PEACE
Now, I know some of you are about to throw in the towel on this one because you either don't like or know how to post photos on your blog or you are worried about finding pictures suitable for the theme.Well, you don't need to worry! I will help you! You can take pictures yourself (preferably), but if you have to - you can use stock
photos that are available free on line! If you don't know how to post a photo,
contact me and I will walk you through it! As far as finding pictures for the
themes...go with your own interpretation! You can have your regular photos of
course, but please include at least 3 each week that follow that week's theme.
4. If you are going to participate in this challenge - please comment in this post
(on my blog - not here) so I will know. I will check on your blogs as often as I
can. At the end of the month, you will need to come back here and follow the
directions for being entered into the drawing for the GIFT AWAY.
5. If you have any questions - please let me know. I tried to type this up as clearly as I could, but I do have two toddlers running around me at the moment (my JOYS). =]

So wish me luck... again I could really use to find the joy in my life.

C-Ya!

The Wii... talk us into it...

Ok... talk me into a Wii...
I am leaning 75% towards getting it and have seen it a couple times but haven't bought it. The console and a couple extra items is more then we usually spend for the family on the holidays but I do have some garage sale money that I want to put towards it. As you can see the oldest kids are 6 and 5, which I have heard is a good age for it. And they do play and enjoy Uncle Aaron's DS. In a way I am being a little selfish because I want it. I have tried it too and had fun and was a little sore afterwards.
And once I am convinced I need to convince Nick... he is even less inclined to get it.. though I did say if we did he can get me the wii fit and I can have a smokin hot body!!!
Thanks!

C-Ya!

Last Month of 2008!

Well here we are in December... as you see the "thankful" challenge is over but rumor has it midnight scrapper has a new one coming out. Till then I have some general thoughts...
*Congratulations Vikings on an awesome game yesterday! You really made football fun to watch and I am proud that you were one of just two home teams to win yesterday. We spent the first half watching the game at our friends up the block and then at halftime the kids and I went home so we could all get to bed and it was a lot of fun.
*Beware of Carter's teeth!! He seems to have gotten over the horrible teething (at least for right now) but now we have to watch out because he wants to bite EVERYTHING and EVERYONE! I think Jeffrey and Samantha have each been bitten and he has nipped at me more then once. And it HURTS!
*This week is another busy one at night with something planned at least 3 out of 5 nights for one of us. With working now I am not always as excited to go out at night to various meetings.
*It was nice to have a LONG weekend. We spent much of the time doing some major house cleaning. Our recycling and trash guy are going to 'love' us as well as the Salvation Army!!! Nick was the most gung ho and has gotten rid of a bunch of stuff (though in my defense he really hadn't gone through a lot of it in years - whereas I had).
*I knew Thanksgiving was going to be hard this year with my Dad gone and I was right. Ever since the beginning of last week I have been in a funk. Unfortunately I doubt it is going to let up for awhile because Christmas is going to be hard and then we are going to come to the anniversary of his death. I still don't think it is fair that he is gone and I truly wonder if we did everything we could.

C-Ya!

Today I am thankful for.... friends

Today is the last day of the challenge and I am grateful for midnight scrapper for starting it for us.
Today I am thankful for friends. Whether you are my IRL (in real life friends) who I have spent a ton of time with or my internet friends who I just know by a nickname and a series of posts. You all have touched my life and made quite an impact (personally and on my wallet!!!)
I think we truly realize the importance of friends as we become older... and as my family shrinks I am grateful to have these friends to stand by me. I have friends that drove quite a ways (across town) to attend my Dad's funeral and are willing to watch my children whenever I need help. I have friends that have been a shoulder to cry on and are there to laugh with. I have friends that have known me for years and friends that I have just met. I am grateful for each and every one of you.

C-Ya!

Today I am thankful for.... music

Today I am thankful for music. I have always been a music lover... I have played a couple different instruments and have sang in various choirs... I love various types of music.. I think music can have a profound effect on mood... whether it is upbeat and makes you happy or it is sad and makes you cry.
I cannot imagine life without music. And I think whoever invented the car radio and ipod are genuises.

C-Ya!

Today I am thankful for.... books

Today I am thankful for books. I am a fast reader. And I am a big reader. This means I can devourer books. I have actually had a few times where I have read a book in a night, and other times in 24 hours. Nick jokes with me about how I can read a book in two hours (an exaggeration unless it is a kids book). I don't know how come I can read so fast probably just a lot of reading when I was younger. And yet I have a ton of books at home to read, and even more on my list at the library. Ever since Carter was born I haven't had as much time, and now that I am working even less. But I still enjoy books and am grateful that we have so many to choose from. And as an adult I can choose to read whatever I want (with some nudges from the book club I am in). I do have to say, my favorite books are chick lit... they are usually light enough to take me away without depressing me... though I have read some real tough stuff. And now if I start a book and don't like it I don't waste my time and read it. Life is too short.
So to anyone that has written a book, thanks! Maybe I will return the favor some day and write my own book.

C-Ya!

Today I am thankful for.... my father

(taken on Thanksgiving 2006)
Today I am thankful for the one person I missed the most today. Today I am thankful and missing my Dad.
With this challenge I find it really appropriate to write this post on Thanksgiving. See, Thanksgiving was probably one of or the favorite holiday of my father. I don't know if it was because he loved to grill the perfect turkey or if he loved always having it at their house or if it was because with Jewish and Christian relatives, this was the one holiday we all "agreed" on... probably a mix of all three. And that made this holiday really hard, especially for Mom and me... of course adding on the death of my Mom's Mom this year didn't make things any easier.
My father was the best person I have ever known. He would do anything for anyone and along with that he would talk to anyone. The conversations my Dad had were legendary. When he died I posted the eulogy on here so I wont re-tell everything but I do want to say a couple things.
Last year at this exact moment my Dad got to fulfill a dream, he got to take his whole family to Mexico. That says a lot about him, he was all about his family, especially his grandchildren. He always made me feel special.. whether it was him always calling me his favorite younger daughter or him always being there for me when I needed him.
But he isn't here now when I need him and for that I feel it is so unfair. I talked to someone yesterday who had also lost her first parent this year and we decided there is no way to sugar coat today when you are missing them so much.
Even so, I do want to thank God for the 28 years I had with my father. In many ways I am a lot like him, and I feel that is a good thing. Dad, I know you know how much we love you but I want to say it again, I love you so much.

C-Ya!