Back To School Tag!

My great bloggy friend Amy from Keeping Up With The Schultz Family, started a new tag game & I wanted to play along!

Amy says, "I thought it would be fun to do a new tag.  I wanted to do a back to school tag.  I know some of us may have children who are attending school.  Or remember our back to school days.  I hope you enjoy this tag and join in.

Answer these 5 questions below.  Then tag 5 blogging friends to play along. Be sure to let everyone know who tagged you."

Here goes!

1. What was your favorite back to school item to buy? There's no way I could pick just one!  I loved having new notebooks & pens.  I still lurve me some office supplies!
2. What was your favorite subject in school?  Theater classes, also english.
3. Did you ride the bus or get a ride from Mom/Carpool?  I walked to elementary school, got bus for Jr. high & the beginning of high school and then drove or rode with friends for the rest of high school.
4. Do you have a sack lunch or cafeteria food?  In elementary school sometimes I walked home for lunch, sometimes I took my lunch (bologna & ketchup on white bread was a favorite!) & sometimes I bought it.  Jr. high I almost always bought cafeteria food and high school either I bought at school or drove to a fast food place.  I still remember loving pizza burgers & turkey slop from my school cafeterias!
5. What is your favorite memory from your school days?  All the new friends and people I got to be friends with.

Now I get to tag 5 friends to play along!

1.  Emily from Marvelous Recipes. 
2. Jeanny from Jeannie's Happy World.
3. Sweet Tea.
4. SueAnn from SueAnne's Journey.
5. Carolina from Brinkbeest In English.

Obviously if you want to play along, just go for it!  Have fun & tell us about your school memories.

How Do Grown Women Make A Friend?

Since I suffer from bi-polar and social anxiety, I don't have too many real-life friends that I do things with. Now I'm in the position of wanting to make new friends and unsure how to go about it without coming off as a stalker!

When I worked outside of the house, I could make friends organically at work. You get to know someone, have lunch, share stories and it can move on easily from there. Since that's not an option I have to just approach people who I am only acquaintances with, to try and pursue a friendship.

There's a cashier at my local Kroger who I really like. We've talked for years while I'm checking out about family, life, our boys. She's seen the boys grow over the past few years and I really like talking to her. Also, the receptionist at my boys orthodontic office is really great to talk to. We have kids the same ages and face a lot of the same challenges and questioning when it comes to raising teenagers who may not follow the path we want for them.

The awkward part is taking these to the next level. Do I just ask if they'd like to go out for coffee sometime? What if I'm just rejected & then have to face these people on a regular basis afterwards, that could be weird.

Any advice Mimi-readers? I would love to hear from you.

I wish I lived closer to some of my dear bloggie friends!

Super-Terrific Goodies!

This post is delayed, but I'm still trying to get caught up! My super-wonderful friend Jeannie from Jeannie's Happy World sent me this super yummy box of goodies in January. She is an amazing card maker & sent me a box of scrips & scraps to use for my ATC's & projects.

Jeannie's an amazing Army wife, mom & cook. Come to think of it I can't think of anything that she's not good at. That would probably be annoying if I didn't love her so much!

Look at all of this goodness!





Of course it all came with one of her beautiful handmade cards.



Pop over to Jeannie's blog and say hi & tell her Mimi sent ya!

A Really Nice Award

I have to admit that I'm very bad at remembering to post the awards that I am lucky enough to receive. This award was actually awarded to me on June 1st, so you can see what I mean. I really wanted to post this one once I found it, because it has such a nice sentiment.

This is from Michelle at Lollypops and Lizards. It's one of those blogs that I was following, but then Blogger lost my follow list & I missed getting back to following her. I will be following her again, because I love her blog. She's got a great mix of fun and real life.

This award states:

Neno's Award - Rules & Regulations:

1.As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

2.To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.

3.Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.

4.Don't forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

5.Answer the award's question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

6.Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.

7.Don't forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

Obviously I did a terrible job with rule #3, but I will carry on anyway.

I love blogging for the ability to write and share my life, but also as someone who suffers from some mental illness that prevents me from having a lot of friends in my life, this is really a great way for me to connect with people and make great friends. I have received more support and laughs from my blog friends than I can ever repay.

Now some friends who encourage friendships through blogging:

Diane at Good Mourning Glory

Mimi at He & Me + 3

Denise at Sunflower, Chocolate and Little Boys

Jeannie at Jeannie's Happy World

Emily at Marvelous Recipes

Joy at Joy To The Blog

Blue Violet at A Nut In A Nutshell

JD & Max's mom at Schnauzer & Schnauzer

Jenn at {delightfully. cliche.}

And because I'm having a bad hair day, Carolina at Brinkbeest In English

I have had a met a ton of great friends through my blogging, I could make the list even longer, but these are the folks who have really been there when I was struggling in one way or the other, always give good advice and regularly make me laugh with their comments and posts.

What To Write When You Have Nothing To Say...

As some of you who read my blog may know, I suffer from bi-polar type II and social anxiety disorders. It brings a lot of ups and downs. Well, that's not really true. In my case it's mostly downs & then even more downs.

That's where I'm at right now. Way down. Bi-polar has a way of taking many things away from you, the ability to work, the ability to feel useful & worst of all the ability to hope. I am just going through a long, dark period of hopeless right now.

And my brain says "don't post, nobody wants to hear you being Debbie Downer", but I want people to understand how debilitating things like bi-polar can be.

My second reason to post is my selfishness. I know that by writing this post, many of my bloggy friends will leave words of encouragement and love & I could use some extra encouragement right now.

Pay It Forward

I recently got a Pay It Forward from my awesome friend Diane at Good Mourning Glory.

So now it's my turn to Pay It Forward. In my Etsy shop I have put up 17 different Pay It Forward download sheets. You can pick any one you want for .20 cents, one per e-mail address. This offer will be in effect until around 9 PM Friday night, so get them while you can. There's some really cute stuff in there, so go nuts!

When you order one of my PIF's, please remember to Pay It Forward yourself in some way.

Good Mail!

Since bills are what's usually filling up the mail box, I was thrilled to find this waiting for me!

My friend Jeannie know how I love sunflowers, so she made this and sent it to me. It holds a pad of sticky notes!



I ordered this card & another one from her card store. You can see that the details are awesome!



This is the sticky note holder I ordered from her. I don't really want to use it cause then it will get messed up!





So stop by Jeannie's blog or her card shop and tell her Mimi sent ya! (You've got to see today's post of her adorable daughter Bella saying The Pledge of Allegience)

Some of My ATC's

An ATC is an artist trading card. They're fun little pieces of art that anyone can do. After my friend Joy from Joy To The Blog introduced me to Swap-bot, I got addicted. I've had a couple of people ask, so I will post a few of my ATC's here for public consumption.

I've scanned in a copy of every ATC I've made (except for the one I sent to Joy!). Some of them I'm proud of, some I'm embarassed by, but it's fun to see how I've progressed.

My very first was about me & my bi-polar/depression/anxiety disorders.



This I made for my friend Lynnette while she was going thru a tough divorce.



My first Swap-bot trade was muppet themed.



Here's a few others.















The last one I think is the prettiest one so far. My ATC's are still very simplistic, but it's fun to learn as I go. Hopefully I'll be able to get together with Joy & Diane once soon starts so they can teach me some of their mad skillz!

BTW, you should check out Diane & Joy's blogs, they both have awesome Etsy shops, tell 'em Mimi sent ya!

Trancendental Interlude Volume II

Okay I have this super awesome blog friend that has become my friend in real life. She is a great artist & loves to to cemetary shots. I knew she was good, but this montage just totally blew me away.

Click here to see this specific post & then look around and check out more from Diane at Good Mourning Glory.

I've Got Rockin' Friends!!!

Hey guys it's me, Mimi! Back safe & sound from the wilds of North Carolina.


After what my lovely friends did, I'm sure that I wasn't terribly missed, but I'm glad to be back! I hope you found out what great blogs my guest bloggers have & stop in to see them often.


Here's a shot of my fam & me at Whaleback waterfall. I had 3 layers of shirts on, so I look even wider than I actually am, but I think all of my boys men look great.



I can't wait to get caught up on all of my blog reading. I'll post more pics of my trip once I get caught up with life!

Just Some Smiles Today

Okay, I found this over at The Fun House, run by Jennifer. Her life seems crazy, but in the really good way! I have copied her verbatim, because I'm short on time & heck, why re-invent a already perfectly worded wheel, ya know?

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2. What I create will be just for you.

3. It'll be done this year. {might be a little while}

4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or maybe even some creation I haven't even invented yet. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch?
**Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!

* * *Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!* * *

**I am amending this a little to say that you don't have to repost this on your blog if you don't want to! If you're in the Top 5 I will still make you something!

*Also remember to include an e-mail address if I can't get an e-mail to you through a blog

Secondly this kid made me laugh so hard I almost peed my pants. I think the second half is even better than the first. His expressions & his level of earnestness just kill me. If he can't make you smile today... Well if he can't make you smile today let me know & I'll see what else I can come up with!

One World One Heart!

OK, so I decided that I have to be a part of this amazing blog event. In just it's 3rd year, Lisa "oceandreamer" Swifka's event has over 600 bloggers worldwide participating in her gypsy caravan. The point of this, to meet new bloggers & give stuff away! Fun, huh?

Click here for Lisa's thoughts about this awesome event.

As a last minute participant, I just threw together a few things.

A magnetic family phone list, this is dry erase & awesome for all the info you always need & can never find.

A cute dishtowel with the little removable star.

A rose covered notepad that also has a magnet on the back to stick to your fridge.




I have an idea twitching around in my brain for a couple other things that I may throw into the prize pot, so keep your eyes peeled!

While you're here relax & take a look around. I'd also like to invite you to check out my other blogs.

Devotional Daze is my journey through this life on a Christian path.

The Daily Oskar is the adventures of Oskar our miniature schnauzer.


Back to the main event, here's how to enter.

Leave a comment on this post. Any comments on other posts are appreciated, but not eligible for the contest.

I must be able to contact you. If your post doesn't link back to a blog, please leave me an e-mail address where I can contact you.

Entries for this giveaway will close on Wednesday 2/11 at midnight. Winner will be announced Thursday 2/12.

Don't forget to stop by One World One Heart to check out all of the other fantastic giveaways!

8's

One of the blogs I read is Delightfully Cliche. I know Jen is cool, cause she shares my love of God, NCIS & Matthew Gray Gubler! Still a little suspicious of her fondness for David Caruso, but hey we can't all be perfect!

Jen just posted her 800th post! She shared some things about herself in quantities of 8 & invited all of her readers to do the same, so here goes.

8 THINGS I LOVE

God

My Boys (Chris, John, Jack & Oskar the schnauzer)

Camping

Reading

Laughing

Being in the Water

Office Supplies

8 THINGS THAT GIVE ME THE HEEBIE-JEEBIES

Maggots

Spiders

Open Wounds

Overly Hairy People

Wet Cat Food

Oatmeal (it's allowed in cookies)

Seaweed

Tofu

PLACES I'VE BEEN

Savannah

Kentucky

Michigan's U.P.

Washington D.C.

Toronto

Missouri

Chicago

Baaaa Haaaba, Maine

8 RANDOM FACTS

I'm an only child.

I make up my own words & people around me actually start using them.

Every surgery or serious injury I've had has been on my right side.

I think my stuffed animals have feelings.

I have huge feet (10)!

I have no idea why my husband actually loves me, but I'm so glad he does.

I really like the berry SoyJoy bars.

I wear my Grandmas wedding & my Dads baby ring on a chain around my neck. Always.

8 FAVORITE TV SHOWS

NCIS

Mad Men

Criminal Minds

Survivor

Bones

Psych

Monk

Swingtown (I think it got cancelled)

There ya go. Happy 800th Jen!

(PS - I don't know why everything is double spaced. If anyone knows how to fix it, let me know!)