Wallpaper or paint

I am redoing the guest bedroom and I am thinking of wallpapering. I want a chair rail and wallpaper above the chair rail and a contrasting paint on the bottom half. What are your views on wallpapering? Keep in mind we will try to sell the house when the housing market turns around. It would be a simple neutral wallpaper. Let me know. I would love to wall paper. Or should I just paint the room instead?

Christmas madness

Well I have to say Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. It was very hectic to say the least. But wonderful to spend time with the family. Tuesday spent the night with my brother Jason and his wife Eva and my mom and dad were there also. Christmas eve opened presents with him and the whole family Christmas eve. Then went home late Christmas eve to go home and go right to bed to get up the next day to open presents with each other. I didn't feel good from the night before and I was still feeling not so good. So I didn't feel like opening presents at all. But I did of course. My husband surprised me and had diamond earrings made for me. What a nice husband. But since I wasn't up and around as quick as I usually am we didn't have enough time to stop by John and Laura's to see them. So we went straight to Cory's sister Chris's house for the big family Christmas party. I started to feel better a hour after I got there so I was happy for that. Had a very nice time and got home from there around 11pm that night. Next day Had to go to Ikea to pick up the bed Cory got me for Christmas. It was horrible weather that morning. Luckily it warmed up to melt all the ice later that day. But had to shop that whole day to get things we needed. Then we went to pick up nephew Justin to spend the night so he can play our wii. So we got home around 7pm and got a pizza and took down the Christmas tree and put up the new bed. Got to bed around 2am. Had to get up the next morning to make a sausage/cheese french bread loaf for our Cousino Christmas party later that day. So Had to make some food and wrap the presents and get ready and went over to Cory's parents for the party. Had a very nice time over there. Left there around 10:30pm and went over to John and Laura's to see them and exchange gifts with them. Stayed there until 1:30am and went home. Now I am getting ready for bed. Going to Ikea Sunday with all the girls. Very excited. I am very tired and I am looking forward to enjoying my week off coming up to catch up on my sleep. posted some Christmas pictures for you to enjoy.

Oh and very cute pictures of Sara and her family.

Christmas shopping

Well Kaitlin arrived Friday afternoon safe and sound. Cory, Kaitlin and I went on our annual Christmas shopping trip on Saturday. Wow was it busy! It was horrible. We met Eva and Brady at the mall too. We ended up splitting up and Kaitlin went with Eva and Brady and we continued shopping. Had lunch at a Ralphie's with Cory's mom and dad. Was not planned at all. They happened to come in 10 mins after we got there. How funny is that. So we had a nice lunch and went back to shopping. We didn't get as much done as we would have liked. So we ended up going back to Jason and Eva's later that night to visit and pick up Kaitlin. Sunday we got up and went to breakfast at Cory's mom and dads house. We wrote out a list of all the stores we had to go to and what we had to get. Well I am happy to say all our Christmas shopping is done. I hated waiting so long but with all the layoff's at work I have been so busy. We are both so tired. Taking Kaitlin to Costco tomorrow to meet Eva and my mom. Then off to work I go! Only 2 days of work this week.

Update

Kaitlin's plane took off and it lands at 1230pm. I have to go to work now but Cory is picking her up. Can't wait to see her!!!!

Happy Birthday Farley

Today is Farley's one year birthday!!! I cant believe its been a year. I am so glad I saved him from his terrible little life. Whatever happened to him before I got him, I hope heals in time. He still shakes uncontrollably and hides for hours if you raise your voice or stand with your arms crossed. But we spoil him rotten! We got up early this morning so we could both give him his birthday gift. We gave him a new webkinz. He loved it! He has been carrying it around everywhere this morning. Then I have him some ham slices and turkey slices. This picture was taken this morning while he was on my bed.

Happy Birthday Farley

Kaitlin

Kaitlin is coming home today! I was up at 7am watching the weather hoping nothing will prevent her not coming home today. Well she was bumped off her flight and put on another one so she will be in at 1230pm today. So she got on the new flight, on first class! She was excited about that. But they still have not taken off yet. They are 15 mins late taking off. UGH There is so much snow and freezing rain here. I am watching the northwest website constantly for minute to minute updates. I trust that if it is unsafe to leave then I will be ok with that. Disappointed..but ok. Will keep you updated.

Ikea

Went to Ikea last Saturday. We were in there for 4 hours. My husband couldn't believe it. He was ready to go home. We bought a buffet/table for underneath the flat screen TV we have hanging on our wall. It looks so good. I love it. We got alot of stuff that day. I love Ikea. I told everyone I wanted a Ikea gift card for x-mas now. lol
We went over to John and Laura's Sunday for the Steeler's game. They were having a big turkey and some friends over. It was nice to see Laura again. I haven't had much time in the last few months to spend time with her. My job is taking a lot of my time up right now.
Kaitlin comes home Friday!!!! At 10am. I cant wait.

Cookie day

Had a great time on cookie day. Unfortunately most people were sick. Its that crude that is going around. But everyone hung in there and we made cookies all day. Many different kinds of cookies. All very tasty. And the best part is being with everyone and spending time together. Very long day. Left very tired with many memories and cookies to munch on.

Sad day

Yesterday they laid off more people in our company. I was heartsick as one of my friends was one of them. They laid off some good people. The also announced that the rest of the employee's take a 15% pay cut also. I am very grateful to have made it through all the layoffs and still have a job.

Kaitlin

Well I just purchased My daughters airline ticket to come home for Christmas. I am so excited as she lives in Orlando Fl. Worst day of my life is the day she moved. I remember it like it was yesterday. I still hold out hope she will come back here to live. But she comes home Dec. 20th and leaves Dec 30th. I cant wait. She is such a good kid.

Icing recipe

Well cookie day is fast approaching. It is this Saturday. I am going to make my Grandma Hermann's refrigerator cookies. They are my favorite cookie! I picked up some cut out cookies also and was checking around for icing recipe's for decorating the cookies. If anyone has a good icing recipe please send it to me.

Thanksgiving

Well Brady made his 1st appearance at grandma and grandpa's for Thanksgiving. He was so good all day long. What a good baby! Jason and Eva sure are lucky. He is adorable. We ate turkey and Jason, Eva and Brady had to leave as it was snowing and there was a snow storm watch out.

I stayed to make a wreath with my mom to hang on my outside door. It was the first one I ever made. I just bought wreath lights to put on it tonight and will be putting some pine cones and I think some holly berry's on it also. So the pictures of it is only half done. Will be putting the rest of it on this week some time. I was pretty pleased with the results so far.

Black Friday

Well I got up today at 4am in the morning, after being at Aunt Linda's all day for Thanksgiving. I went to Elder-beerman, Sears, Target and Walgreen's. Then heading to Toledo to meet my mom at Hobby Lobby. After Hobby lobby went to the Toledo mall then to Elder-beerman (again), Michael's and last but not least Kohl's. Boy it was really busy out there today. Elder-beerman was packed. My mom headed off to Eva and Jason to see Brady and I went home. Boy was I tired. I did end up going to TJ Maxx and Meijers with cory but then we went home and made a pizza and just settling down to watch my favorite show Monk. I just found out Monk is cancelled. Boy was I bummed. They come out with a good show and you get hooked on it and then they cancel it. But tonight is a new Holiday episode. So excited. Tomorrow Cory and I are going to put up our Christmas tree. Got a whole bunch of tarts for my candle butner so I cant wait to burn them tomorrow so the house smells good while we decorate. I have some cinnamon stuff you are supposed to boil and it makes the house smell good too.
We are going to my mom's for Thanksgiving on Sunday. If we get the tree done in time we might go down tomorrow and spend the night. So I am lucky enough to have turkey twice. I cant wait.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. And a very good black Friday.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!!

Flu

I have not been able to blog due to the fact that I had the flu. I started feeling bad on Sunday and it was full blown by Monday evening. It was the worst flu I can remember having in a very long time. I am starting to feel better now. I still don't want to eat but hopefully will be by tomorrow for turkey day.

LTD

Now I have heard about LTD over the years. Maybe glanced at a few of their magazines. But it wasn't until last night when Norma gave me a Christmas edition of the LTD that I truly understood the wonder in it. I don't know if it was because Christmas was coming up or maybe I was just in a really good shopping mood or it was just a really good LTD issue or what but I loved it!!! I found so much stuff I wanted to buy. Good Grief! After I was done I owed LTD 350.00. So I went thru my stuff that I had picked out to try to scale it down and I just couldn't figure out what I just couldn't live without. So I am on day 2 of trying to pick only the things I really must have. I even had a dream about it. I know the minute I don't get one of the items I wanted ....... that a time in the very near future I will wish I had it. I think LTD does this on purpose. UGH

Pot Luck

Well the pot luck was wonderful. Lots of good food. Cake was not as bad as I first thought. Thanks Aunt Diane, you were right....cool whip covered it very well I must say. This cake is one of my favorite cakes. Up above is a picture of Norma, the birthday girl.

Up above this is Jessica. She is posing for me while getting stuff to eat. She's so funny!

Now that I look back on it....it was pretty funny. Just not at the time. I was a huge stress ball all day.

Cake disaster

Ok in the earlier post I let everyone know that I was making a cake today for a pot luck we are having for work. Well...it has been a trial making this cake. First off I got up to make it and noticed my husband bought yellow cake instead of white. So off he went to the store to buy white cake mix. As I was mixing it all together my husband started looking for the pan to make it in and it was gone. I don't know what happened to it. We had a muffin pan that is missing too. So just like socks they are coming up missing left and right. So I made the best of it and found a pan that even though is not ideal it will still do the job.
I continue mixing the batter and for some reason I lift up the beaters as I am beating it. We all know that we were taught in cooking 101 do not lift up the beaters unless they are off. So needless to say batter went everywhere.
I was getting discouraged, like maybe someone is telling me not to make this cake. But I continued. Well I put it all together and I thought "man that looks like too much jello liquid and strawberry stuff". Well I put it in the fridge and went off to get ready for work. I went back to see if any of this liquid soaked in and low and behold my milk that was on the other self fell onto half the cake. I quickly yanked it off and cleaned off the milk jug (was a brand new milk) and took out the cake to survey the damage. one side of the cake is smashed in. ugh! I am thinking should I just put a bunch on cool whip on that side so no one notices it. Do I have enough time to go to the grocery store and get the necessary stuff to make another one? Oh no...I feel sick to my stomach. I guess the only option I have is to bring it to work and hopefully everyone will understand. I hope nothing else goes wrong.....but no one has eaten it yet.......

Pot luck

We are having a pot luck today at work for Norma's birthday. So I am in charge of making the cake. I am making a strawberry jello cake. I got the recipe from Julie. She made it for work one day and everyone loved it. It is so light and good. A great summer cake but its so good I am making it today. Here is the recipe:

It's very easy.
Ingredients: 1 - moist white cake mix (and what ever it takes to make the cake)
2 - containers of frozen sweetened strawberries (I get the Meijer brand)
1 - large tub of cool whip 1 - large box of strawberry Jell-O
Make sure you take the strawberries and cool whip out of the freezer the night before so they are thawed.

Directions:
1) Make the cake as directed on the box
2) When the cake is done, pull it out of the oven and poke lots of fork holes all over it (so the Jell-O will drain through)
3) In a small/med saucepan, boil water (I use 3 Cups water). As soon as it's to a full boil, pour the Jell-O mix in there. Stir until the mix is dissolved (30 secs or so).
4) Poor liquid Jell-O all over the STILL WARM cake 5) spread the strawberries over the STILL WARM cake 6) Refrigerate (over night if possible) 6) Before serving, spread cool whip on top.
Don't put the cool whip on cake until its been chilled over night b/c it will brown (especially if it's warm).

Thank you Julie

Brady Alexander Carpenter

How cute! This picture was taken from my Iphone!

Welcome baby boy Carpenter

Jason & Eva's baby was born tonight. He was born 11/14/08 at 8:08pm 6lbs 10oz 19 inches long by c-section. He is so beautiful!!!

No name as of yet for the baby...will update soon.

Baby update again

Well no baby today. They will try again tomorrow. He is apparently warm and cozy where he is at and doesn't want to come out. went to work half a day. Hopefully baby will be here tomorrow. So I will make the trek to the hospital again in the early morning in the hopes of meeting my nephew.

Baby update

Eva was admitted into the hospital tonight. Tomorrow I will be meeting my nephew and welcome him into the world. I am taking tomorrow off to be at the hospital with them. Next post will be the baby announcement. (hopefully have a picture of him too)

IPHONE

I got the Apple IPhone in Feb. I love it. It is really cool. I use it for everything. My email, phone, games, Ipod and Internet. I have still not grown bored with it. But I keep having issues with it. All of them have been minor...just a little irritating. I go to the Apple store and they give me a new phone. Well the phone I got last time had some big problems. I would not be able to hang up a call. It would sit there for a minute before it hung up. When I called some phone numbers it would just be a busy signal even though I knew it would ring calling from another phone. The biggest issue was that if I turned it off to reboot it would not come back on...unless I hooked it up to my laptop. So I have been waiting till I had a free day to take it back to Apple so they can replace my phone and yesterday it happened......I turned it off and it would not come back on. No matter what I did. I went to Ann Arbor and he got it to turn on. He seemed like he was not going to give me a new phone as he said he didn't see anything wrong with it. So I had to be a little firm as the last time I came to Ann Arbor, because I was having problems with the same phone the guy wouldn't give me a new phone. He told me to wait till the new apple update to see if that fixed the problem. Well I have been trying to live with this phone for 2 mths doing all sorts of weird stuff all this time and all it did was get worse. So he did give me a new phone...reluctantly. I feel better now. But if I paid 499.00 on this phone...why cant I get one that works? What kind of customer satisfaction is that? I could only makes calls sporadically and they sent me out the door for me to wait to see if the new update helped. I drove 45 mins to the store for them to tell me that. ugh. So I was glad that this guy gave me the new phone last night.

BABY UPDATE!!

My mom just told me that if Eva doesn't have the baby by Wednesday they are admitting her into the hospital! Its not going to be long now before my little nephew is born.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

Today is my moms birthday! Have a very happy birthday today!!

Mom's b-day

Yesterday we went to Smokey Bones. Its a bbq rib place. It is very good. We went to celebrate mom's birthday. Cory, Jason, Eva, dad, mom and Eva's mother were there. Had a very nice time talking with Eva's mom and just getting the family together.

Avenue Q

Went to a musical called Avenue Q Saturday night with Cory's mom, aunt and cousin. We went to eat at a Italian restaurant first. Boy, the restaurant was wonderful. Great food. Avenue Q was cute. Had a great time!

Jason & Eva

This is my brother Jason and his wife Eva. Currently they are expecting a baby any day now. A boy. The Doctor said she can go into labor anytime. They will be first time parents. I cant wait to see my nephew and welcome him into the world.

My husband

This is my husband. We were at my work Christmas party. He is one of the best things that happened to me in my life. I cant say how lucky I am. He had me at Hello. He is so patient with me and funny and would do anything for me.

(and Cory if you are reading this...yes I really did write this and no I don't want anything)

VOTE

Dont forget to vote today!!

Obsession with webkinz

We have bought Farley every dog toy under the sun. Well my nephew Kyle or Justin gave me a webkinz a year ago. (he thought I might want one.) Well I cant remember how it happened to be out for Farley to see but he found it one day and he loved it. Now he plays with all his toys but he loves this leopard webkinz. He carries it around constantly in his mouth and will lay it down and sleep with his head on it. He hides it if he wants to eat or play or something as he thinks me and Cory want it too.

Meet Farley's new companion.....another webkinz, a koala this time. Unfortunately the leopard webkinz had an unfortunate accident and had to be put down. So this is Farley's new best friend. I wondered if it was just the leopard he liked so this was a experiment to see if he liked all webkinz or just partial to the leopard. But lo and behold he fell madly in love with this one too. He carries it everywhere. Its definitely his favorite. So thankfully it helped him over the grieving process over leopard. I wonder if I should let the makers of Webkinz now that they can make millions selling to pet owners everywhere. Webkinz is really ...dogs best friend.

My friend Debie and her munchkins

This is one of my oldest and dearest friends. I have known her since 9th grade. We were joined at the hip. I have so many stories I could tell and so much I could say about her. She was always there for me and I value her friendship. Even though we live far apart she is never far from my thoughts. She is one of the best people I know.









These are Debie's kids..... Zoe and Reed. All dressed up for Halloween. Aren't they cute!!

Ikea

I bought this during the summer when I went to Ikea with Lana, Aunt Linda, Melissa (Cory's cousin) and Chris. It turned out so cute. It was only 10.00 to 14.00. Not quite sure on the cost but no more than 14.00. All I had to do was assemble it and stain it. I put it on the wall beside our flat screen TV. I was thinking to get another one for the other side of it too. Very good buy.

Making meatloaf

I am getting ready for work right now and I made a meatloaf yesterday and I popped it in the oven a while ago. I smell it right now and boy does it make my mouth water. I love meatloaf. It is not a fancy recipe. Just very simple. But here is the recipe.

2lbs hamburger

crackers or Quaker oats

1pkg Lipton onion soup mix

onion

2 eggs

mustard

ketchup

salt & pepper

I mix the meat up with all the above ingredients. Ketchup and mustard I just throw it in I don't have measurements I go by. I add the oats or crackers until it sticks together and I throw it in a meatloaf pan and spread ketchup on the top and cook on 350 for about an hour. I cut in the middle to make sure its done. Then enjoy. It is so good. I am taking it to work today.

Cookie day ideas

Well I decided last year that I really wanted to start a cookie day tradition. So I got Cory's mom and asked if we could have it there. She willingly agreed. (thank you Lana) So I sent out some e-invites and invited some family and it went so well. We all had so much fun....so the 1st annual Cousino cookie day was born. So its time to start planning cookie day this year. It will be Dec 6th. I am so excited. I have to send out invitations again, wondering if I should do the e-invites again or paper invites? I always make my grandma Hermann's refrigerator cookies. They are my favorite. I will come back to this blog and post her recipe soon. I still have her letter she sent me where she wrote the recipe for me and sent it to me. Then I usually make pecan balls. Anyone have any suggestions for my cookie day please feel free to send them. I love ideas.

Julie

This is Julie. I have known Julie for a very long time. She worked with me at Con-way now. She is so sweet and a very good friend. Her friendship is more than just work friends. I will be talking about Julie a lot due to the fact that she is getting married Feb 14 2009 (her b-day too). ahhh. This is a picture that was taken at her bridal shower recently. She is marrying David who works with us too. They are perfect for each other. So you will hear me talk about her and her upcoming wedding a lot.

Hard times

Recently my Job laid off some more people in my department. Its the second lay off this year. I was so saddened by the layoffs. Its always terrible to hear that the people you knew and worked with are without a job due to the terrible economy. I am so grateful I still have my job but I have been praying for the people that were laid off.

Farley J Cousino

Farley is a new member of our family. I lost my precious dog Jake (I will be writing about him later) earlier this year. When I got Farley it didn't take me long to fall in love with him. He is such a good dog. He is supposed to be a poodle...but I think he has some bichon mixed in too. But I love him all the same. He sure has helped me with the healing process of losing Jake. Of course wouldn't you know that his favorite person is my husband Cory. But he still has room in his heart to give me some love too. I thank God every day for bringing Farley into my life when I needed him most.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I have always wrote in journals for years. I decided it was time to share my thoughts with the world. In this blog you will get to know me and all about the things I like to do and all the wonderful people in my life. I absolutely love to do all sorts of stuff. Try different things. And so it begins..........this is a blog about my life......