2 weeks left!

You have two weeks to take advantage of the great November deals offered on quality, stylish 31 Products!



What a cute gift for your children's teachers, your hair dresser, sisters, nieces and neighbors! Fill these little carry-all caddies with all kind of goodies of your choosing.  They're only $1 after you treat yourself to something nice for $31.

View the online catalog here:  http://www.thirtyonegifts.com/catalog

Why I love 31

For starters, I have hosted ONE 31 party, and THIS  is what I got....

Yes, that is over $300 in merchandise that you are looking at... for FREEEEEEEE! My favorite price ever!

I know you can't see it all from this picture, so read on:

 The Cindy Tote (great for a work bag)  $69, I paid $0.

The Pop Crossbody $49. I paid $0

The City Weekender Tote (LOoooOOvveeE!)  $98... I paid $0

The Zip-Around Portfolio. Great for work meetings, very professional!  Love the pockets!  $35.. I paid $0

I won't put more pictures, but in addition to these FREE items, I received a flat iron travel case (GREAT for me, Jimmy and I love to take off for the weekend to visit his parents, etc.)  I also got a wristlette wallet, three travel zip pouches, and a pretty nail file in addition to a couple of Christmas gifts and a wedding gift.

How did I get these things for free you are asking?  By hosting a "31" party.  The best part was, some of my family came and purchased items, but the majority of the sales came from catalog sales.  You can "host" a party without actually hosting a party!  Through the sales from my party and catalog party, I earned free items.   It was a lot of fun and some of my family started (or finished) their Christmas shopping through my 31 party!

If you would like to earn great free items, let me know when you want to host a 31 party. It's as easy as putting a catalog in your work office and setting a due date!  

In addition, I will always have a catalog party open.  Every party will close on the 27th of the month.  Any time you need 31 products (baby showers, wedding showers, birthdays and Christmas) let me know and we can order it even if you don't know anyone having a party at that time.  Be sure to check out www.thirtyonegifts.com  for the online catalog and to see the monthly deals :)  

Revenge

Totally forgot I even had a blog there for a while!

But I'm back :)

This picture was too good not to share!  Last Saturday Jimmy and I were SOOOO excited that we finally had a Saturday with nothing (nothing) NO-THING planned.  After I got back from my ZUMBA class I began to clean around the house and Jimmy headed out to mow the neighbor's lawn.  Next thing I know Jimmy is yelling for me and running through the house stripping his clothes off.

I realize that there are a variety of paths this story could take, but long story short, we ended up at Urgent Care around lunchtime due to MULTIPLE bee stings all over his body. His mowing apparently upset a swarm of bees and he quickly found himself under attack.

After our trip to Perrysburg Urgent Care we promptly went to the hardware to find some bee killer.  Little did we know there were 12 different kinds. After re-examining the situation at our place we returned to the hardware and purchased the correct poison.  The hardware owner notified us that we would need to wait until evening when the bees were all back in the hive.  (so much for our "free" and productive Saturday)

So......  we waited 'til dark.

We felt that this needed to be a sneak attack. 

I am happy to report that the mission was a success.

This is how you know you're old and married:
1. For starters, you are home at 8pm on a Saturday night
2. Your entire day is based around collecting data to find the perfect bee killer for your specific needs
3. Your idea of fun is putting on "eye black" to perform a "secret mission" (....against bees)
4. You both promptly fall asleep after your 8pm sneak attack on the bee hive (Jimmy's grogginess may have been due to Benadril. I have no excuse).

Nevertheless, it's obvious that we know how to have a good time.  We have next Saturday open as well, so let's pray it's a little less eventful for us :)

Hope everyone is ready for this school year to begin!!!  Praying for a safe and fun year!

How excited are you?!

It's been a while!  I think Jimmy and I are finally getting used to the idea of being married and living together!  It's been a busy 7 weeks but we're looking forward to the rest of our summer and have a couple of trips planned :)  That is not why I am writing today, however.

I recently started my summer job. I found a family in Perrysburg that was looking for a summer-sitter and I scooped up the job.  Last week was their VBS and I needed to pick up the kids every day at 11:30.  Naturally growing stronger connections to the two kiddies while spending a lot of time together, Jack and Lily asked if I could come to their "closing ceremony" for their Vacation Bible School.  I said "SURE!"  Now I've been apart of the VBS at my church for years and always enjoy seeing children singing, so I thought it would be great! 

Now the family I'm working for belongs to a Catholic church. I haven't been involved in a Catholic church hardly at all in my entire life so I was sitting in the back pew watching people bow/kneel and bless themselves with holy water before walking into the sanctuary.  Taking it all in, I was preparing for what might be a mini-mass service before the children sang.  As I watched and listened I was trying to figure out everything that was going on.  Catholic churches (from what I'm told and from my limited experience worshiping in one) tend to be somewhat religious.  By that, I mean there tends to be a lot of rituals and formalities, the masses don't seem to vary greatly from one to the next.

So after the Father shares his message with everyone, one child from each group stood up to say a prayer for the congregation. Each group of children came up with one specific thing they felt should be brought up to the church and should be prayed for.  Somewhat subdued from the service I was so surprised to hear the pure joy and enthusiasm that came from the mouths of these children.  "Praise be to our great God!" each would say after their plea for God to have mercy on people.  Their prayers were heartfelt and personal, they talked as if they knew God was there listening and prayed with confidence.  They were focused on what they were doing and truly honored to be praying in front of other believers.

I really got to thinking.  Am I EVER that excited to be talking to God?  More times than not, no.  I somehow forget every day that I am actually talking to and having a conversation with the being that took a breath and stars came out.  A God that spoke and the sun and moon were set in motion. A God that blew up some dirt/dust and created a man.  And how awesome is it that He gave us His son so that we can openly talk to Him each and every day!!  The magnitude of this fact seems to escape me day in and day out with the everyday hustle and bustle.  Somehow I let it leave my mind that I am a creation and child of God. All it took was a 5 year old with an enthusiasm and an innocent joyful prayer to put my entire relationship with the great I Am to shame.  It has been my prayer since that day that I would be able to see God in all His glory and be willing to set aside my petty wants to focus on being joyful in the day He has created.  I pray that at some point in your life you feel a little of that peace and joy that only has one source!

Garage Sale (ooorrr, Driveway Sale)

I know, I know. You're thinking "what?! You just got married, how could you possibly have enough things to have a garage sale?!"  Well, Jimmy and I both lived in apartments before we began living together. That means we had 2 of just about everything. On top of that, we have a lot of loving family and friends that gave us even NICER things as wedding and shower gifts.  It's not a huge garage sale, I just wanted to post the things we have. If any of my LC friends see something they want (which, you probably don't...this is "college kid" stuff) then they can call dibs. :)


Here is what happens when I have a day off from subbing:

Here is the pile of things in our "office."  This garage sale is an effort to make just a little extra cash (not expecting much) but an even bigger effort to not let things pile up. "Horders" is a favorite TV show of mine. I mostly watch in fear.... because of watching that show I tend to go in the other direction and get rid of EVERYTHING!

Coffee table for sale. $5. Could use some refinishing!

We had 3 microwaves between the two of us. We don't need 3.

This coffee maker actually does stand upright. I just don't know how to turn the picture. It works great and served Jimmy well for a year and a half. However, the two of us together drink a combined 7 gallons of coffee daily so we opted for the commercial size coffee pot. (This is four-cup)


Anyway, there are lots of things like this. Not shown:  A lot of jewely of mine, UGG boots (brown, size 8), a little clothing (not much), a lot of picture frames, a lot of Christian CDs and other random things. A food processor, a stand mixer, a crock pot (all work great, we just have too many) and a lamp. 


Waterville's community garage sales will be Friday June 10th and Saturday June 11th.


I am also trying to get rid of white 3x3 cupcake boxes. I have 500.  I have people who just want a few, so I'll be selling them in bundles of 25 for $9 or bundles of 100 for $30.

Two Weeks In

So we're two weeks into marriage and Jimmy and I got to watch two of our good friends get married yesterday! They were kind enough to ask JB to read at the wedding and give the blessing for the food at the reception. There were many different emotions yesterday. I met a lot of new people from his hometown (with a lot of stories that would have been helpful BEFORE I said "yes") Oh what joy when I heard that beautiful man of mine say "this is my wife!"  (I added the exclamation point, he wasn't THAT excited really). How surreal! As we watched the couple exchange their vows I felt a light squeeze on my hand :)  It seems like forever ago that we were promising before God to love and care for each other and it was neat to watch friends experience that same intense moment.  As much as I want to wear my white gown again and have my hair done and professional make-up on, I felt so incredibly lucky to be feeling that squeeze.  The only moment of sadness was when we watched the happy couple cut the cake. It dawned on me that there was never going to be a day that is completely about us again. I realize how selfish that sounds, but after all the planning, last night was the first thought of "it's over." We have been so busy on the honeymoon and then trying to get back into "real life" mode, that we haven't stopped to think about the fact that our wedding was over. As we analyzed their reception (don't lie, you do it too) we had a list of things that we would differently about ours. And we realized that our day was over.  We planned, we tied bows, we hot-glued ribbons, we put endless lite brite pegs into tiny black holes, we smiled for pictures, we danced, and we left.  I had to remind myself of some of the best advice we were given, "It's not the biggest day of your life, it's the first day of your new life."


So here we are, living our new life. Somewhere between applying for full time teaching jobs and Jimmy's FAST, SPRC, AD and FCA (and any other religious acronym there might be) meetings, we've managed to squeeze in a little time to watch our wedding video (can you believe it's done already?! Kudos Jill Proudfoot ... AND with two little guys at home!)  Sitting on our living room floor (we have two chairs and a couch, not sure why we were on the floor), there we were with tears running down our faces hearing our vows to each other. It didn't matter that "thee day" was over. It didn't matter that my dress will be boxed up, probably never to see day light again. All that mattered (and still does matter) is that the person I was crying with is the person I will always cry with.....and laugh with and rejoice with and talk with. Not only are we living our new life, but we are (working on) living our fairytale

My cutie patootie husband and I

April 30, 2011



Happy Mother's Day (Silveus Style)

Well my very first blog is already two days late!  I thought it was fitting however, and here's why: It's the long standing joke in my mom's family that all of the females run on "Silveus Time."  Silveus Time is a valid excuse for anyone from the Silveus lineage at (almost) any time to be running anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours late. (Obviously, my mother and her sisters married incredibly patient men!)  Very rarely is there a family gathering, event or holiday that the phrase "she's running on Silveus Time" is not used.

As my first blog, I wanted this to be simple since I'm just getting the hang of this. I was just once again reminded on Mother's Day of how truly blessed I am.  Not only did our family get together for our Mother's Day celebration on Sunday after church, but it was an extra special day since this was the first event that Jimmy and I were able to attend as husband and wife.  I think I was maybe a little over-emotional as it was difficult for me to go home with him and not my parents.  They always say "you never know what you have until it's gone."  I know that my mom is not "gone" but it was a big step to be getting married and officially moving out of my parents' home.  Anyone could tell you that my mom and I did not have the easiest relationship (let's just say the nut doesn't fall far from the tree, we tend to "butt heads").  Even though there were days when we lived together that we would barely speak, I found myself longing just to be in her presence. There is nothing like "mom."  I'm sure you all know what I mean.

Aside from having my own mother who would do anything for me (this is not just a saying, she would, and she has!)  but I looked at my family and saw how many mothers I really have.  My aunts are my second and third mothers that I would (and have) gone to for anything from fashion advice to relationship advice to "what kind of sunlight do these lilies need?!" advice.  I look around at so many who have lost their mothers too early in life and I almost feel guilty for the many aunts, grandmothers and of course my mother that I have surrounding me all the time. They are always one text or call away and I too often take it for granted.

This "simple" first blog has turned into tears and thanksgiving, but it was much needed on my part.   I hope that each one of you has felt this grateful for SOMEONE in your life!  Someone that has loved you even through all of your uglies.  I certainly did nothing to deserve all of these wonderful women in my life.

I look forward to blogging more...I'm really not even sure that there is anyone out there who gives two hoots about what I have to say, but this seems like an exciting opportunity to meet others and share my ideas and thoughts on my new life as a wife (that sounds craaazzzyy)!