Annster's Domain: August 2015

Monday, August 31, 2015

Random pics from the iPhone

This happened friday night! My sponsee Carson got 1 year sober!!!! Yea Carson!!! So completely proud of you!

I spent a few hours on Saturday melting crayons into molds to give out as favors for the Halloween Party at work! They turned out amazing!

My adorable kittens have mastered all the levels of the cat tree in remarkable speed! It is hilarious how fast they speed up and down this thing!!! My older cat just stared in awe and amazement!

This is soooo me!!! It sums me up perfectly!!! Ha Ha - I sent it to my boyfriend! He agreed ;-)

I harvested the concord grapes at my boyfriends house...I wanted to make grape jelly but I do not thing enough survived to do that :-( I need to read about grape growing and find out why so many are dying in the beginning of the year before they ripen....

This Saturday is my boyfriends birthday...he will be 60 and we are having a bowling party with his family. I ordered a cake and had this little gem put on a picture cake....so stinkin' cute!

Hope you all have an amazing week!!!!!!!

Anyone ever make jelly?!??! Recipes would be appreciated! Even just to make one jar?

Posted with Blogsy

The Home Team - Baseball

I spent Saturday night at a Pirates game with my boyfriend! It was so much fun! We decided late in the day to head down to the game and ended up getting pretty awesome seats!! This is the actual view...

And this is the zoomed in version! We seriously were really close though and right behind home plate!

Random shot of the game...

7th inning stretch...cleaning the field...

I love my city so much! What a great weekend it was cheering on the local teams! I really look forward to many more game with my wonderful boyfriend!!! He is the best and always plans the most incredible dates!

Posted with Blogsy

The Home Team - Steelers Football

I am happy to say that I live in the City of Champions!! Yea me! Pittsburgh is my home! I love my beautiful city and all the entertainment options it offers...not the least of which is it's sports teams....Steelers, Pirates and Penguins!! This past weekend I attended the first pre-season game and it was so much fun!! My Mom and Dad came back home to Pittsburgh from Ohio to go with me and it was awesome!!! Here is our selfie at the trolley station.

And here is our selfie with the Steelers mascot Steely McBeam!

This is a view of the fountain at the point from Heinz Field...this is the point in Pittsburgh where the three rivers converge!!! Soooo pretty!!

A little shot of the pregame stretches and warmup!

A few more.....

A little picture in the stands!!!!

Spending the day with my parents was awesome!!! I am so excited to get to games this year as my amazing boyfriend has season tickets!!! Yippee!!!! Thanks Mark for a great day and GO Steelers!!!!!!!!!

Posted with Blogsy

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Let's Be Friends!

Welcome to the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop!

A blog hop is a set time frame for current or aspiring bloggers to find new blogs and quality content. It is a great way to make new friends and find inspiration! It is also a fabulous way to promote your own blog and posts.

Dear Friends,
What a day to celebrate! This is the 132nd week of the Let's Be Friends blog hop! Thanks for joining us on this special day. Chelsee and Tiffany are extremely delighted to see the way this hop has grown and love to see your faces each week!

**IMPORTANT HOUSEKEEPING NOTE! We are looking for co-hosts for our blog hop for September/ October! This is a great way to gain new followers and network with other bloggers! If you are interested please email thedwellingtree@gmail.com! Thank you!

Join us every Tuesday at 7am (MST). This blog hop focuses on content. LINK UP YOUR FAVORITE POST from last week in this fun content-sharing blog hop! I love the idea of blog hopping, but I love the idea of reading posts and quality content on new blogs I've never been to even more. Instead of simply linking up your blog button, you are now able to link up your favorite post you recently wrote. Have a delicious recipe to share, DIY tutorial, or heartfelt post? Share it with us! All hosts and co-hosts put up some unique and fun content from the past week. Make sure to check them out. P.S.- you may still link up your blog button and blog name, but it is encouraged to link up your favorite post instead. You will get more page views and interest if you do so! Some of the most successful blog hops I have participate in focus on content rather than just exchanging follows. You never know who will become a loyal follower or pin that delicious new recipe you posted!

The BEST part of this blog hop? Each week there will be a WINNER! That's right, each week we will choose one lucky blog to feature from the previous week's hop. This hop receives thousands of page views every week, so your blog will have the chance to be center stage for free. You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win. Only those who link up a specific post are eligible to be featured! *You must follow all the hosts and co-hosts in order to win.

The last exciting change is that the co-host spots will now be available to all sponsors of The Dwelling Tree or Southern Beauty Guide. If you are interested in co-hosting the blog hop, email Tiffany or Chelsee about sponsorship opportunities and how to co-host the weekly hop!

Let's Be Friend's Blog Hop Guidelines

1. Link up your favorite post from your week.

2. Follow your hosts and co-hosts.

3. Grab the button and post it on your blog so we can share the love.

4. Visit 3 other blogs, comment, and follow them along!

5. Tweet about this blog hop, using #letsbefriends

6. Pin the button on pinterest so we can spread the news!

***Once a week, one blog will be chosen to be the featured blogger from the previous blog hop.

Meet your hosts:

The Dwelling Tree: Blog, Bloglovin'

Southern Beauty Guide: Blog, Bloglovin'

Meet this week's co-host:

Jess @ Finding Sunshine

Rachel @ Life as Rachel

Ann @ Annster's Domain

Aleshea @ Glitz & Grits

Amanda @ Uniquely Unfolded

Thank you all once again for continually linking up at our blog hop. It is such a fun time and I am so impressed each week with all the amazing posts. Please continue to link up an actual post instead of your blog. We want to keep reading your content and it makes it more fun to pick a winner!

Is there anything we can do differently or better? Please share in the comments!

...on to the Winner!

***This weeks featured post from last week's hop:

Breakfast-Sushi

Breakfast Sushi | It's me Deb!

Hello everyone! It's Chelsee this week! This week's winner had something so yummy and unique that I had to share it with all of you. I personally have never thought of having sushi for breakfast, but I do enjoy some for dinner. When I saw Deb had made this yummy sushi that used Johnsonville sausage I immediately printed it so that I can try making it. I am not big on breakfast, but this intrigued me enough to want to try it some time. I think this is a great spin on sushi and a easy way to get kids and adults to eat breakfast.

Go check out Deb's blog and post! :)

Keep posting awesome content! You make it so fun for us to read all your posts! If you can, please link up a specific post. It makes it easier for us to come and visit!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to Wednesday Hodgepodge! I'm joining in with Joyce and others for the weekly hodgepodge. Can't wait to read everyone's responses!

1.The first question today was submitted to Joyce by Marla from Marla's Musings. She asks, "At what age did you feel like a grown-up? What keeps you young now?
I truly STILL do not feel grown up and I am mid-40s now! I feel better and younger than I did in high school. I think that is due to the fact that I actually workout and try to eat right now that my age is quickly accelerating and back then, I just did not care! I ate fast food and junk everyday and NEVER worked out really. I am acting responsible but I still love acting like a kid too!!! I hope that never changes!
2. When did you last buy a vehicle? Was this by design or because you had no other option? Was the car/truck purchase for your own personal use or was it bought for someone else to drive? On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being delightful and 1 being "pass the Excedrin") how would you rate the experience?
I last bought a vehicle ..... last week!!! Yea me! I am so excited! I had to as my air conditioner compressor died and it would have cost way too much for as old as my car was. So I got a new Civic Si and I love it!!!

3. Corn bread, corn chips, corn pudding, corn on the cob, cornflakes, corn chowder-your favorite of the corn-y foods listed? What needs to be served alongside your selection?
I love corn on the cob and cornbread but for the cornbread there must be chili! For the corn on the cob....there needs to be nothing but salt!!! YUMMO!
4. What's something in your life that regularly requires you to 'put your thinking cap on'?
My job requires my "thinking cap" everyday which is why when I come home I am out! No more thinking about anything!!!!
5. Share a favorite movie set in a school or classroom, or whose theme relates to school days in some way.
I love the movie Finding Nemo! My favorite part is when the sharks are all in the therapy (class kind of right?) and they say "Fish are our friends, not food"....LOL!
6. Reading, writing, and 'rithmetic' are commonly referred to as the three R's. What are the three R's in your life right now?
Re-evaluating my current relationships and what is important and which are working and which are not
Riding around in my new car
Road-rage is very prevalent in my life when I am having a bad day - I soooo need to work on this!!!
7. What's something you've learned or tried recently you can say was 'easy as ABC'?
I recently learned to stand up on (and stay on) a Standup paddle board! I was really proud of myself!
8. Random Thought- Life is hard and confusing...just when you think you have it all figured out, you get a curve ball!! Ughhhh..

I hope you all have an amazing week!

Dilemma - End it?

I have been really letting my life ride on coast lately and I am not sure why but recently I realized that I need to get back to making me a priority.
I realized that I let others dictate my time and activities instead of it being me deciding what to do and where to go and with whom.
Not that I am forced, mind you, just that I put my own needs way after others in my life.

So, lately, I have slacked off my meetings (my total sanity), slacked off my workouts (from three hours a night to three hours a week) and slacked off my housecleaning and kitten snuggling time (spending most of my time away from home).

The slacking was okay as I thought I was working toward building a future with someone.

Well, I found out last night that we have VERY different goals for this relationship.

His plans are for things to stay as is and date forever (or live together ... that's his big goal). He seems very serious and steadfast about this like he has his mind made up. He said he will never get married again, it will never be an option in his life.

And me...well, I do not want to live with someone if I am not married. Call me old-fashioned but I am too old for playing house and I am looking for a life partner....someone to grow old with, have stability with and share my life with...not a roommate. Is this stubborn and unfair of me? With 9 months already invested, I am not sure what to do. I love him but I am not willing to settle for his vision for my life and I am afraid that I will waste more time on a relationship that will never come to fruition in the end...

I am sad, frustrated and just generally irritated at this point but I have realized that I have to take action and, at the very least, get my life back! I am starting the AdvoCare 24 day challenge to get this stupid weight off again (my "I am happy so I can eat" weight) and hitting the gym daily again. I will not be spending my nights sitting on the porch of some house that will never be a part of my life. Back to dating I suppose...I am SOOOOOO confused!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!! Any comments or suggestions would be welcome. Have any of you ever experienced this? It is painful to think of ending the relationship but I am unsure of I should waste more time? Again, HELP!!! Your opinions and comments are sooooooo appreciated!

Happy hump day!!!

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee...Let's Be Friends Blog Hop

Welcome to the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop!

Dear Friends,
I am excited to announce that this is the 131st week of the Let's Be Friends blog hop! I am also very excited to announce that I am co-hosting the hop this week!!!!So let's get to it!!!

**IMPORTANT HOUSEKEEPING NOTE! We are looking for co-hosts for our blog hop for September/ October! This is a great way to gain new followers and network with other bloggers! If you are interested please email thedwellingtree@gmail.com! Thank you!

Let's Be Friend's Blog Hop Guidelines

1. Link up your favorite post from your week.

2. Follow your hosts and co-hosts.

3. Grab the button and post it on your blog so we can share the love.

4. Visit 3 other blogs, comment, and follow them along!

5. Tweet about this blog hop, using #letsbefriends

6. Pin the button on pinterest so we can spread the news!

***Once a week, one blog will be chosen to be the featured blogger from the previous blog hop.

Meet your hosts:

The Dwelling Tree: Blog, Bloglovin'

Southern Beauty Guide: Blog, Bloglovin'

Meet this week's co-host:

Jess @ Finding Sunshine

Rachel @ Life as Rachel

Ann @ Annster's Domain

Bekah @ Resolve

Aleshea @ Glitz & Grits

Amanda @ Uniquely Unfolded

***This weeks featured post from last week's hop:

Is there anything we can do differently or better? Please share in the comments!

...on to the Winner!

Collecting Moments

Why Parents should take a break from Technology

I needed to read this post by Maria from Collecting Moments. I am often guilty of having my phone out too much... taking too many pictures, or simply being distracted by social media. I absolutely love her perspective on using technology wisely and in moderation. I LOVE her blog, and am super happy I had the opportunity to read it this week. Please make sure to go check her out and follow her blog! I do not have her photo to share, so please go check out her post and read it- it is well worth 5-10 minutes to read!

Go check out Maria's blog and post! :)

Keep posting awesome content! You make it so fun for us to read all your posts! If you can, please link up a specific post. It makes it easier for us to come and visit!

An InLinkz Link-up

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Wednesday Hodgepodge

I am going to try something new and join in with Joyce and her Hodgepodge questions today.

Happy Halfway Through Wednesday!

1. When was the last time you relocated? Did you move yourself or leave it to the professionals? Are you happy staying put or is there a move in your future?

I have been in my same condo for the past 8 years! That is so surprising to me. I honestly cannot believe it has been that long. Every move I have ever done was with the help of my poor family. They lug dressers and beds and TV's like champs! Actually, we always help move each other...it;s a family thing I guess. I am staying put now I think...who knows what the future will bring but right now my plans are to stay put and follow Gods will - LOL.

2. When were you last moved to tears? Explain.

I cried about a month ago when I had to put my adorable cat Angelica to sleep. Here is the post - It was so horrible and I can not even begin to explain the grief I felt for days (weeks)!

3. Do you have rules about eating in the car...any forbidden foods? What's the last thing you consumed in your car?

This question is great! Up until last night, nope! Eating anything was fair game...green smoothies, stinky fast food, coffee... The last think I ate in my car was a Egg White Delight. But now, NO!!! I just went and picked up my new car!!! It is a Civic Si and there is definitely no eating or drinking (or breathing LOL) allowed in that car!

4. Share a favorite song relating to cars and/or driving.
I love the song by the Cars "Who's Gonna Drive You Home Tonight". It reminds me of when I was young and we used to drive up and down the strip at South Park, PA hanging out with kids from school and meeting kids from other schools! Great memories of being a teenager and fearless!

5. What's your most frequently visited drive-thru...Starbucks? the bank? the pharmacy? some other window?
Absolutely Starbucks!!! I live there! I get cashback at the grocery store for my cash so no need for an ATM any more (I call it the MAC machine by the way - which shows how old I am).

6. "He who hesitates is lost"...would you agree? When it comes to making decisions do you generally act quickly or do you more often than not fall into the 'lost' category?
I actually make decisions wayyyyy to quick and never think things through - I am working on that though! I am using Retreat - Rethink - React. I think it is working??? HA

7. When was the last time you got lost? Was it stressful or an unexpected happy adventure?
I get lost all the time. I love traveling anywhere anytime and I just use my iPhone's GPS so getting lost is often in my life.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Within the past month...I have gotten new windows and doors, a new cars and two new kittens - I need to stop spending money for a while!!! WOWSA!!

I cant wait to read everyone's answers!!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Vacation Accomplished

Happy happy Monday everyone! I am officially back from vacation! It is completely amazing how fast a week can go when you are not at work!!!

You can tell that I had an amazing time since I have not posted since day two and it is over! LOL

I am now going to hit you with a bunch of photos from the rest of my beach vacation to Stone Harbor, NJ in no particular order...

I spent many days (all day) on the beach playing with these adorable kids (my nieces and nephews). We build dribble castles, boogey-boarded, and turned into bronze Gods and Goddesses (at least I did - LOL!)

We went to National Night Out on Tuesday which is a National holiday where people go out in their towns and celebrate Law Enforcement. Stone Harbor had a great one!!! We even got to sit in the back of the cop car!!!!

This little girl was at National Night Out...what a little entrepreneur...she used her allowance to buy a balloon making kit and was making them for the kids for donations. What a great idea and she was so stinkin' cute!!! Another interesting fact...she had one blue eye and one hazel eye...she was adorable times ten!

Here is a view of the crowd that came out to support Law Enforcement!

This little one may have gotten her face painted like a butterfly that night also!

We all went out to dinner one night. We had so many people with my sisters and their kids and spouses that we had to take two large vans. This is the backseat of our car...

Everyone just chilling out front waiting to be called for dinner when our table was ready at the Lobster House in Cape May, NJ

Just one of the many beautiful sunset pictures from the week...

And another...

My older niece and I went paddle-boarding while my younger nieces and nephew played on a big water set in the bay at Harbor Outfitters.

That's me - not stable at all! Getting the feel of the board...

This is us getting stable and used to the boards! Funny story...I felt more stable and started heading down the bay when I saw a shadow swim in front of me. It was a two feet little nurse shark. I started shacking like a maniac and could not stabilize the board. I knew it would not and could not hurt me but I was TERRIFIED!!! I immediately headed back for shore and did not tell my niece what I saw. I told her I had a cramp and needed to quit. Once she heard what really happened, when she was on dry land, she was yelling at me for not telling her. LOL - I just did not want her to be a chicken like me and quit. Only paddle-boarding in the lake for me from now on - no more ocean boarding!!!