Camping Trip was a Blast

We are back from another quick camping trip. Gary is such a fighter. He works very very hard at living each day to its' fullest....(sometimes he wears me out!!!). We took a short camping trip that included fishing, eating too much, two awesome games of Yahtzee, talking and hugging. Just wonderful. I love this man. He is a warrior. New Mantra: Cancer is a parasite, not a partner, I will not allow it to direct my thoughts. I love this man.

Yippeee Skipeeee ETSY is working

Thanks to the smart folks at ETSY that resolved our unable to find that page issue....sheesh....no etsy for 7 days.....I was sooooooo bored. But, I am back up and running.....off to design.

What is wrong with ETSY?

Is anyone out there have a problem signing on to ETSY? I have been trying for two days to no avail and I was wondering what is going on. Anyone?????

UPDATE ON ETSY YART SALE

The Yart Sale at Etsy is going strong....sales are up, finally. What a great idea, do some shopping, have your item just come to the door, no starting the car, groaning about gas prices, traffic....nope, just a cup of coffee and poof.....we deliver to you. Why wait until Christmas? If your Christmas list is like mine, it will be considerably smaller this year, so, save some gas, start early, buy from an artisan.....keep the money here!!!!

YART SALE AT ETSY 11 JUNE - 20 JUNE

Hi world,
Just a note to tell everyone we are having (etsians) a yart sale. Come on in and browse and check out all the good buys and you do not even have to pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas, let us do the driving for you.

How to Make Money

I have heard a gazillion ways to make money, mostly give some to someone else and they will take advantage of you....right!!! How about tips on saving money. Like (1) Not eating out, buying the items that are buy one get one free (of course be cautious that the price has not been increased to accomodate the free item, for instance, I fell for one of those buy one get one free and the next day, the item was not on sale but the price was less than half of what is was on sale for, so, strawberries; $4.99 buy one get one free (lb.), next day, lb. container is $1.99, do the math, they made $1.00 profit off of my stupidity. Do the math and weigh the need. (2) Walk or bike as often as possible. (3) Eat less (4) Turn off cable
(5) Turn off land line (6) Never buy anything that is not on the list (7) Always have a list (7) Plan your meals, no quick foods that are precooked
(8) Grill outside and turn off the electricity (when you cook inside, it heats up the house and the electricity bill goes up, up,up.) (9) Cut your own hair (10) Wash hair every third day (11) NO BATHS and time your shower
(12) Shower every other day (13) Never buy bottled water. (Never buy food that comes in a styrofoam container). (14) NO MORE STARBUCKS , MAKE YOUR OWN COFFEE OR SKIP IT AND DRINK WATER. Try trading for something.

Hi Honey I'm Home

"Hi honey, I'm home, what's for dinner.....ummmmm, that smells good".
So when does that happen in your household? At the end of the day of course, and who is it that gets to say it? YOU? ME? Nope.....not in this house, not for the 34 years since I have been gone out of my home of my youth....oh, well. off to dinner....chicken, rice and salad....yep, it will smell good....I am sure of it. Take care.

Great Ideas for Birthdays that will not break the Bank

I have come up with a great idea for birthday parties. I remember spending so much money on the favors for guests, that I would have to pre plan before beginning the purchases. (I had twins.) So, why not cute little bracelets for each little girl as a favor, all wrapped up in clear paper and decorated with curls of ribbon to compliment the colors of your child's birthday party. If you click on the picture you will go to my etsy site and we can talk.

Also, if you still want to doll up your doll and not spend a fortune, you can click on my pony streamer picture and go to see the other options on etsy.

I am all about adornments that are not mass produced and are not expensive.

Opportunity to chat, bring your coffee

Hi there,
Thought I might leave an upbeat little message to invite you over for a cup of coffee, or tea. So how is your week going? How is your family? How are you? Did you want to leave a message for someone?

Obama or Clinton

Ok, I must admit I am a woman, and I would never vote for Clinton...or a republican...so where does that leave me? I have a question, actually, my daughter who is a single mom of a 6 year old has a question after I asked her my question, who are you going to vote for? She asked" Who will help me feed my child, pay my utilities, lower my gas prices?" Who is right? which liar will fill the gap? Good question....which one? Certainly not the woman who finds her husband still an upstanding citizen? Remember the bj under the desk? OK....guess that answers the question.

Who said Dallas is America's Team?

OK, I am a Seattle Fan, love Hasselback, loved Shaun, really miss Joe...and looking forward to the new guy, what is his name? Broke 11 helmets from hitting so hard???? Kewl. Yep, I am a girl...and Love, love love football season...Preseason, post season, the season....so my question to America is, who said Dallas is America's Team....I dare to differ....and neither are the Patriots for that matter. LOL

NFL Bracelets in Team Colors

Sold the Seahawk green and blue bracelet. If you want one for your little girl, you can find me on etsy and contact me there or email me via this blog. They are cute and you would be the hero. www.anngardesigns.etsy.com

Seahawks Rock

Yep, Seahawk fan here....love the green and blue. If you are a Dad and are taking a little girl to the game this year, check out the bracelet pictured in green and blue.....Man, you would be the kewlest Dad.

Another awesome Montana Day

We had such an awesome day, snow, rain, sun and now elk....yep, a huge herd (+100 strong) coming down the hillside....I love Montana. It truly is "big sky" country, they don't do much here small.....certainly not elk herds. Have an awesome eveing world....love to be alive.

Another Awesome Woman Day

Here we are, another day, another opportunity to be an awesome woman. I am trying today to sell some things to help my daughter raise enough money to pay her car registration and her car check engine light is on....more money, something she does not have. Ok, so she is eating stuff that comes in a box loaded with sodium and preservatives, so are a million other people. When is this going to change? Are we ever going to see the end of the raising prices? She is not even able to pay for a gallon of milk for her son, it is either a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas to get to work to pay for mortgage, utilities, etc.....So off to trying to make money. Have an awesome woman day world.

Ok, I am whooped

I know, there are a gazillion gabillion women out there who are in a place much worse than I am, but, today I am whooped. My bf is battling cancer all over his body and is not quite up to the day to day "honey do list", so I was outside all day today, moving things, cleaning things and so on, the usual spring day thing in middle America......and I am plumb tired. I need to go and get changed so I can cook him dinner, (too dirty to cook in the clothes I have on). I wish we had friends/neighbors that were aware and could/would help. Instead I live next to a midget former wanna be clerical person for a fire department and his over opinionated wife (and believe me, when you heard the first opinion you would wonder if she should not just shut up). Anyway.....today I am the rock woman. In the flesh....for a few more hours and then I will sleep, I think.

Women With Small Businesses

In today's economy, the option for single income families are limited. If you make one penny over the "allowed income" you are not eligible for a multitude of supplements such as medical, food stamps, etc. Therefore, there is a small army of women who have become creative artists and have opened small businesses offering their creations to the masses. I am going to start linking to these darling shops, please take a peek when you have a chance, for these women too are rocks, seeking to obtain that additional stability for themselves and/or family in these tight times.

Kids say the darndest things

I heard that so many times from my children. Mothers day is every day, which translated into, you are our mother every day. Funny story.....for the millionth? time I was explaining to my now teenage daughter that I expected her to come home from school and somehow in the course of 7 days wash her own stinky field hockey uniform (they played cames once a week) and maybe, just maybe, since we had an industrial size washer she could throw some of her other clothes in there and wash them.....you know "DO YOUR OWN LAUNDRY" , so she looks at me and with a sincere, deadpan face said, "if I do my own laundry, what will you have to do?" In other words, wasn't I there to do everything? I mean would I self implode if I had 10 minutes to myself. Kids, they are the soul of the mother and they are so darn funny. It is true, and I cannot remember who said it, but, "Kids do say the darndest things".

Let's hear it for the women!!!!

I have had quite a few personal emails about this blog. This blog has a purpose, to leave a footprint on behalf of those women we love, we admire, who have persevered in spite of obstacles. So write on and RIGHT ON!!!!!

So much to Share

Ok, so I have already posted once today and I am supposed to be doing something to get my business organzied, but, I would rather talk. I would like to introduce one of my daughters, Cassie. Single Mom of a 6 year old, the most positive person I know in the world. No matter how hard it gets for her, she just finds something positive about the situation. I really admire her. She works two jobs, keeps up, ok maybe not like Mom would, her own house and her little boy is adorable (a little biased I know). She barely makes ends meet, sometimes she doesn't, but, she rarely panics. She also sells on etsy: funkyjunkjewls.etsy.com and loves to see the beauty in something someone else threw away. She would recycle the world if she could. Say hi to Cassie. Hi Cassie, Love Mom