perfect backpacking bag

I am starting to look for the perfect bag for a backpacking adventure, with heidi...

(1) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HLFCB5Y/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00HLFCB5Y&link_code=as3&tag=ibelieveinuni-20

(2) http://www.rei.com/product/863334/?cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-product-_-8633340001&rei-grand-tour-80-travel-pack-womens,-eucalyptus&preferredSku=8633340001&mr:trackingCode=77E8ACC2-927F-E311-90E9-BC305BF82162&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=44272131040&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=61471672600&msid=l7Di618n_dc%7Cpcrid%7C44272131040%7C&%7Bcopy:s_kwcid%7D

gram

Well i stopped in to see the ole bird today and she did nothing but sleep in her chair. So it gave me a chance to clean out her closet. I took home a large garbage bag of clothes that didn't fit her.

You woke up long enough to eat two chocolates out of the bag i brought you. Oh well, it's the little things right ?

travel tips

i HAVE to remember some of these

Boots !

I need new boots but i am too cheap to spend this much on myself. I will be watching for these at the end of the season. I need some to slip on to go to work but then i "want" some as i am going through my day

 http://www.amazon.com/Sorel-Slimpack-Riding-Glow-Heel/dp/B00AZL6XXW/ref=sr_1_8?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1381855909&sr=1-8&keywords=sorel+rain+boots+women

OR

http://www.amazon.com/Sorel-Conquest-Carly-Glow-Boot/dp/B00EJO558K/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_3

OR

http://www.amazon.com/Sorel-Womens-Slimpack-Riding-Shale/dp/B00ALGNZ78/ref=sr_1_2?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1394890356&sr=1-2&keywords=tall+sorel+boots 

my husband

I want to be happy but i won't be happy till i make you happy, too -Ella Fitzgerald This reminds me of my hubby and the way he feels about me. He is a great man even if i do call him Darth Breather

couponing

I saved $46.76 with coupons today! I tease my kids that i am going to become an extreme couponer. Aubri graduates in May, i won't have anyone to follow around to watch sporting events. Both boys are working and going to school and aren't home much. Sheena is getting married in September and will be moving downstate. I will have time on my hands to think about meals for the week and clips coupons. i am going to start picking up the sunday paper too for coupons.

fashion trashin'

this is the dress i made for aubri from a black sheet, it has a red zipper on the side. There are two layers of tulle on the bottom to make it stick out a little bit. i also had to make a dress for her friend. Her and her friend are embellishing them with different objects, i can't say anymore. They are in advanced art and have talked their teacher into doing a "fashion trashin" fashion show in April. I can't wait this type of up cycling is right up my alley!

nerves

I officially have two weeks until i start my new job. I am very excited but can't show that excitement at work. I will miss my co workers but the pros outweigh the cons on sooooooo many levels. It has caused me a little stress, thinking about learning a new position, working with new people but it will be good for me which in turn will be good for my family.

Here are a few things i am looking forward to:

• My new boss, i have heard nothing but great things about working for him
• My new co-workers, change is good
• I may be able to start my day in a positive mood and actually end that way
• I am hoping i can talk about vacations, weight loss/exercise, my husbands job and happy moments in my life instead of whispering about them

I am looking forward to this new opportunity and it came at such a perfect time! #thankful

very true

Gram

Well my visit with my gram wasn't the best today. This was the first time i couldn't direct her or remind her of who i was, i don't push very hard i just ask questions to see where she is. I think she was somewhere in 1990 today. 

She asked me 3 times where i lived and i told her KI Sawyer, hoping that would draw her out but no chance. She told me "I should lay down for a little bit before i go home to Negaunee". "I have my husbands truck today, that was nice that he took the car so i could have the truck. I would rather drive my car though". 

Then she started asking questions about me. Okay i am 44 but I am still HER granddaughter and it makes  me so sad/nervous (not sure on the feeling) when she is like this. I know she is not in pain or suffering but maybe i am the one suffering? this was her next statement "Your spoiled, you have a mom, dad and husband. How many kids do you have ?" I said four. "FOUR !!! How old are you ? 44 oh ok I guess you can have 4 kids". I did laugh at that, out of the mouth of babes.

I hope she is better next time i visit

Thank you

I have received some very nice text messages over the last few days that i want to keep. My children are the most important "things" in the world to me. I have tried to raise good humans, not good basketball players or runners but good people. Sometimes when i hear "your son is so nice" or "your daughter is so kind" i let it go in one ear and out the other. But when i get those compliments from people I CARE about or i like, those are the compliments that really stick.

First a random text from my daughter, i am not sure what brought this on but it brought me to tears at my desk…

3;09pm, 2-28-14

I just want to tell you that you're a good mom and I appreciate everything you do for me even though sometimes it might not seem like it 😘❤️👭🎀
Sent from my iPhone

Then this thank you from Ryan Mayer who does the sports for 970 espn. I have been giving him the updates to the games all this season

8:23pm, 2-28-14

Thank you for the updates. I'm sorry about the loss but thank you so much for the updates this season!

Next one is from Aubri's basketball coach…

8:41am, 3-1-14

Cindi, thank you for all of your help and support the last two years. I have truly enjoyed the opportunity of being around your daughter. Her wit, charm and leadership are irreplaceable in our program. There is never a dull moment when she is around. Be a very proud mother, you have done well molding her into a great person. Take care. 

Finally after the boys basketball game (3-2-14) my young neighbor who is now a freshmen in college

He said "your last one is all done you should be proud you raised four good kids". 

I remember when my son Tyler was little and my neighbors mother Robin told me what a good mom i was. She passed away when my neighbor was very young. When he said that to me I immediately thought of his mother. I know she is very proud and has been by his side the whole time.

fragile

Well my daughters basketball career ended on Friday with a loss to Ishpeming. There were tears from the seniors and me, too. I woke up Saturday to a very nice text message which sent me into tears before i even got out of bed. I went to the boys basketball game on Saturday and that was the last time those seniors will play for Negaunee. I have been on the verge of tears or in tears all weekend. I feel like i have been more emotional with this child than the other 3 combined. Maybe it's because she is the baby, not sure but i just can't pull it together. Maybe I am in denial but these last 4 years have just flown by.

I have had such a great time being her coach, assistant coach and team mom through all these basketball years. She is a great leader and team player. I have so many people tell me what a great player she is but more importantly what a good person she is. The radio announcers love her and get fired up when they talk about "Romback". She didn't have as much playing time as she did last year but she still kept her head high. I will miss following her all over the U.P. to watch her play.

I guess i just miss this little girl altogether, when she needed me...

Mystery dinner theater

Kathy and I went to eh mystery dinner theater. The food was good and the company was good but the show was a little odd. The actors were good but story line was missing something.

My great aunt Carrie & great uncle Melvin were also there (they are so darn cute!). One of the actors went around through the audience asking if they say anything that would help him locate the criminal, etc. He got to my uncle and asked him his name, he said "Dick Tracy!". I'm sorry but that made me laugh so hard and to me THAT was the best part of the show