Pampered Chef/House Warming Party!!

You're Invited!

Pampered Chef/House Warming Party at the Samperts!

Sampert New House

Where: 2719 Skyview Cove Ct.
Houston, TX 77047

When: Nov. 10th, 2009 at 6:30pm

Phone: 208.640.0934

We have moved! Please join me in celebrating our first home! ................... Have you ever seen all that a pampered chef gadget can do and wondered how you could get your hands on them?! Now is your chance! My dear friend Amanda Stark will be hosting this special event in honor of our move and will be here to demonstrate for us! Come mingle and enjoy some delicious appetizers and dessert while she demonstrates! Invite any and all friends you have who might be interested also! There will be a special P.C. gift for those who bring friends who purchase! 6:30-8:30pm November 10, 2009 At the Sampert NEW home {address above} (head West on the 8. get off on Hwy 288 South. Exit Almeda Genoa Rd. and turn Left into the KB community) Please RSVP If you cannot make it, don't feel left out! You can still order by going straight to {Pampered Chef.com} and be sure to contact Amanda Stark for tips when ordering! {krats1976@hotmail.com} COME!!

Pumpkin Carving Festival! Oct 24 2009

We were invited to our first Pumpkin Carving gathering!

It was fun! Ronny did most...or ALL of the carving--and Kai ran around like a crazy kid with his new friend-officially the only two kids in his new "nursery" class at church. I just chased both Kai and Jaiden around the house/garage and wore myself out, but it was really fun to get together with new friends! We think we will like it here! Thanks, Talbots!

Japan

Since many of you are wondering why I am going to Japan in about a week:

I'm going to fulfill two of my life time dreams:

1. Meet my biological grandparents and relatives in "Aichi-ken"

(long story short, I haven't seen them since I was four years old-and neither one of us knew that it would be our "last" time to see each other--since the day I have "found" them again, they have sworn to "live until we see you again")

&

2. Hopefully be of some help and comfort to my "step"grandmother (I never called her that) who has been alone for a year now, since the loss of her husband, my "step" grandfather. They treated me with nothing less than love that any grandparents would have for their grandchild...although I wasn't able to make it to my grandfather's funeral or be by his side while he was spending his last moments here on earth, I am grateful for this opportunity that has been given to me to go there and be by my grandmother's side.

I am SO very grateful for this opportunity to be able to go and do these things. I want to tell them how much I love them (more so, show them that I love them) and how much I appreciate each and every one of them. Hear stories of my childhood, and just be spoiled with their love...I am again, SO grateful for Ronny who has always listened to my quiet yearnings to go back and do these things "someday," and who shelled out a ton of money to make this a reality. Not only that, as most of you know, he didn't even hesitate to take off two weeks from work to watch the boys and insists that "this must be done" (that I go).

Yes, I am going by myself this time...I am very sad about it, but for many reasons, this will have to be for this time.

Thank you for all your wishes for me to have a good and memorable trip. I hope to make it as special for my grandparents too.

And if you are so blessed to have grandparents, tell them that you love them!

See you when I get back!

Crush Expectations!

A Dear Friend Once Told Me Something That Changed My Life:

CRUSH EXPECTATIONS!! he said:

This Changed My Life

What Does This Phrase Mean To You??

Goodbye, Ashleigh

October 7th, 2009 (Wednesday)

I just found out that a dear friend (Ashleigh Tracy) had passed away on the 28th of September. What a blow to the face. I can’t say that I knew her as well as some people, but was ecstatic when I had found her on Facebook just about three months ago. We quickly picked up where we had left off being friends and we exchanged countless messages. Although she had a very busy life with four children, she always seemed to find or make time for me. Quickly, I realized that she was a very laid back, happy and busy mother of four, who did everything for her children and loved life.

I sit here, mourning her life and the loss in my life, along with the mourning I’m sure that her family is feeling. Tears keep streaming down my face, because I loved her and will miss our cheerful conversations about how it’s a mystery that we can’t keep our homes clean or how the laundry is never ending. Although I mourn her loss, a thought keeps popping into my head. “Asheigh would have wanted me to be happy and learn something from this.” So in honor of her, I wanted to quickly write down a few things that have come into my mind as I remember her and honor her.

Life is fragile. She left behind four young children of her own. I look at my two boys, ages three and almost two and I think now; why am I always so concerned with having everything perfect around the house? I yell too much, and I am frazzled too often. I yell at them non-stop and am very impatient. I always have things to do and look for ways to fill up my time, rather than being with my two little people who mean everything to me, next to my husband. Why am I always on the go and the rush and never sit down to watch Kai’s favorite bug movie with him? Why do I hate taking walks with them and worry so much about the heat or the mosquitos when they want to look at every God made creation? I ought to change, I need to change. It’s time for me to open my eyes and realize what life is all about. Ashleigh probably knew the secrets of life, and seemed to laugh more than me. She always had some new project she was doing for her kids-the birthday cakes, the made-up parties, the pictures filled with laughter and crazy-ness with her children. I want to be more like her. These aren’t things that she directly taught me, these are things I felt from her and saw in her countenance. It’s too bad that it takes something so tragic as this to give me a good slap-wakening moment. I want to enjoy my family more. Think less of me, how I could fill up my time and be a better person, just like Ashleigh. I think...no, I somehow feel that this is what she would have wanted me to realize.

Thank you, Ashleigh. I will miss you, but until we meet again, thank you.

Thoughts by Mojo

So I've been thinking...

Isn't it sad how people fight? Argue, battle, kill, hurt, abuse, people can be so cruel to each other...

But it is the saddest to me, when families fight and hate each other. How precious is each of us to one another, and yet, we choose to waste our time fighting, bickering and hating each other for such ridiculous things...

I don't mean to belittle anyone's hurt feelings, they are legit for what they are. But why do we stop talking to each other and waste our lives not getting to know each other? There is so much to learn and gain together in this life!

Some don't even have mothers, fathers, sisters or brothers to fight with...count yourself blessed if you have these people around you...and tell them how much you love them. And for whatever reasons the other party doesn't want anything to do with you, well, go on with your life, but pray for them. Don't sit around hating them or being bitter about them!

Just been thinking...

Strawberry Bread Recipe

Have you ever had Strawberry Bread?! I know, shocking that strawberries could be made into bread?! My friend Jen B. taught me this recipe and I made it the other day...it was SO moist, so strawberry-ey delicious and mmm...yes, GOOD. Try it! Oh, but if you're on a diet? ...well, just remember to eat it in MODERATION! ;)

Strawberry Bread:

2-10oz boxes of strawberries thawed

3C. Flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

1tsp. salt

4 eggs

1 1/4 C. oil

2 C. sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 C. chopped nuts (optional)

350 degrees. Grease and flower 2 loaf tins. In medium bowl, stir strawberries, eggs, and oil. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, soda salt and nuts. Add strawberry mixture to dry ingredients. Stir until just blended. Pour into pans. Bake 1 hr. or until toothpick comes out clean.

Sorry I don't have a picture!

Make up Fun By Kandee Johnson

I've always loved make up: but not like now:

Watch Kandee Johnson on Youtube.

She has great and funny tutorials on just about everything hair and makeup

I LOVE BEING A GIRL!

Another Dream to be fulfilled?

I have decided.

I am going to fulfill yet another dream of mine.

Rebecca, who's been so great to be helping me edit my book I'm currently writing had an idea.

"Let's set a 'finish' goal and not do anything else until we finish this project!"

So I thought....

what is something that I have always wanted to do that I haven't yet??

What is something that would motivate me to finish writing this book?!

GO TO BEAUTY SCHOOL!!

I also want to go to Culinary arts school, but that will just have to wait.

So I've made up my mind.

and Rebecca and I've set the date.

We will have sent in our first copy of the book to a publisher/agent by the 14th of Feb. 2010.

Then, I will go to Beauty School.

I can't wait.