Need a Pet-Sitter?

Then call me! I work for Bonnie Best, the BEST pet-sitter in the East Valley (and owner of THE BEST Pet-sitting), and we’d be happy to take care of your little one when you go out of town or for any other odd reason you’d need a sitter for your pet (if they’re sick and you want someone to check on them during the day while you’re at work).



Pet-sitting encompasses house-sitting, too. We visit your home, play with your pet, feed/take him or her out and whatever else you prefer! After we lock up, check on everything and keep lights on and newspapers in, it looks as though someone is home!

Easy, right? Stress less when you go on vacation because we'll take care of your home and your pets. Bonnie was a licensed veterinarian, and me, well… I’m not but I love animals and am anal about keeping your house safe and your pet happy while you’re away!

Click here for more information.

See Bonnie in the Gilbert Lifestyles Magazine here.

Any Shopaholics Out There?

I haven't read the book, but I LOVE Isla Fisher! Only 3 more weeks... I can't wait!

The official movie website has a GREAT virtual experience for you. Click here to go there now:


I'll be picking up my own copy of Allure this month, too:

2 Speeding Tickets

...in 2 weeks. You'd think my Corolla was Britney Spears with all the cameras flashin'!

Think that says something about me? Well, it does. I drive WAY too fast! Why? Because I'm always in a hurry, and rushing! AGH... I need to slow down.

Please pray for me. I'm going to wait to get served, and maybe ignore the knocking on my front door...

Driving fast is expensive!

Cheese Plate

I received an early Valentine's Day gift from Rob, a cheese plate made from one of my favorite wines, Little Black Dress!!! He's such a hunk for being so thoughtful!



Considering his last day at AmTrust was Friday, he had to act quick with his customer who specializes in stained glass and kilns.

Her name is Lyn Koepke! Let me know if you want her information.

Here are some more pictures:



Thank you my love!

New Cookie Lee Catalog!

Let me know if you’d like to see the new Spring/Summer catalog. You'll love the new jewelry! I'm obsessed with teal, so you can only imagine.



Earn free jewelry by hosting a show, or having a catalog show!

Have a wonderful weekend.

The COKE COW recipe

I used my new crock pot (thanks, Grandma Margie!), invited my parents over for my experiment, and tried a recipe from my friend Bridgette at work. She’s brilliant! And expecting… I’m so exited for her!

After a trip to Fry’s for all the spices I didn’t have, and 5 hours of slow cooking, the result was amazing! One of the most delicious meats I’ve ever tasted!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt so accomplished after, and my parents thought I was a chuck roast expert! Rob loved it, too!

Here is the recipe for you to try in your homes ASAP!

Coke Cow

3/4 cup coca-cola
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 1/2 pounds chuck roast
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 onions, chopped
1 teaspoon OR 1 cube beef bouillon
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons butter

In a bowl, combine cola, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, garlic, bouillon, mustard, chili powder, red pepper, ketchup and butter. Place meat and onions in crock pot and pour liquid. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high for 5-6 hours.
It’s GREAT with mashed potatoes, or shredded up as a sandwich.

Enjoy!

Slowing down

Something awful happened last weekend. Friday before my night out with my work girls, I lost Lucy. I absent mindedly left the garage doors open and she slipped out while Rob and I were visiting. After realizing she wasn’t hanging around like she normally is, Rob and I went searching for her in our neighborhood. Thinking she couldn’t have gotten farther than our coldesacke considering the group of kids at the house outside our street (Lucy loves people), our minds and eyes were racing to where she could be. Driving in my car, with my sweet friend Kelly, we screamed for her and flashed my mini-flashlight everywhere. God must have forgiven my foolishness, because after 30 minutes, I got a call from an unknown number. That’s when the tears came! A lady had Lucy at her house! Here’s how the conversation went:

“Do you have my dog!!!!???” (me, instead of saying ‘hello’)
“Yes, I do!” (lady)
“Oh, my God! Thank you so much! (sobbing) Where do you live??” (me)
“I live in a coldesack, on Rawhide Avenue.” lady)
“I LIVE in a coldasack on Rawhide Avenue!” (me)
“Really?” lady)
“Yes! I’m at 720 W. Rawhide!” (me)
“Well, I live right across the street from you then” lady)
“Oh my god!” (me)

Lucy had wandered only 20 yards to our neighbor’s house across the street, where this lady found her scratching at her door to get in to see her dog, Lily.

This little incident, (mind you, the 3rd time she’s slipped out on my watch), just goes to SHOW, that I shouldn’t have children for awhile. If I can’t keep an eye on a 3 year old, 28 lb curious dog, how can I monitor the whereabouts of a small human!? I PRAY that I’m a better mother than I am a dog owner. I’m pretty anal when it comes to Lucy (she’s the best gift I’ve ever received other than life), but when it comes to all the things I juggle in a day or weekend, it’s OBVIOUS I need to slow down. If I had more time to enjoy the day, I might have been more aware of the back door I left open (or the unread books I have stacking up on my bed stand).

This is why I haven’t bought a planner this year. Instead I bought a journal (to write down all my crazy dreams and random thoughts/feelings), and will only use my work Outlook calendar to plan my days. I’m also trying to say “NO” more. I don’t have enough time in the week to do all the things I want to do, plus accommodate everyone around me, plus have time to just sit around and read a book! SLOWING DOWN is my big initiative for 2009. By slowing down, I’m also going to NOT spend money. To not go places because I think I need to be doing something. I’m going to try my absolute hardest to NOT spend money, or buy things I don’t absolutely NEED. Like shoes or pedicures. I’m content and by slowing down, I can spend more time doing NOTHING, and saving for the future! Like Greece in 2 summers, or a trip to see Sarah in NY w/Rob in June. Save now, play later!

If you have any other tips on how I can SLOW DOWN, please share with a comment! I’ve done the research (even gave a speech at Toastmasters about prioritizing your time for the most important things), but would appreciate any other helpful insight!

New Job for Rob (hey, that rhymes!)

We’ve got some great news! Rob was offered a transporter position (not like the movie, but transporting patients within the hospital) at Banner Baywood in Mesa (by my parent’s house)! He started today with shadowing another transporter, and will officially start next Monday. We’re so excited! This “foot in the door” will be absolutely great for when he’s done with school and can apply for an RN position at Banner. We’re hoping with the wait, he’ll be an RN in a year and a half. In the meantime, he can float around and get to understand everything there is about hospital life.

Congratulations my love!

Christmas, Washington Style

Now that we’re back and in the swing of things again, I thought to share a post on our time in Washington with the Deharts.

First of all, we had such an amazing time! I can’t even begin to tell you how great his family was to me, and to us. The food, laughs, conversation and company were so memorable. Although the daily dose of rain, fog and snow-packed roads caused us to be more strategic in our plans going from house to house to celebrate the holiday, we somehow got around and spent quality time catching up on everyone’s lives. Was great hearing about Boompa’s history through pictures and seeing so much of everyone. I think we got the most we could out of our days spent there. Grandma Dana, we had so much fun with you, and thanks for being so sweet! Christmas Washington style was a blast, and we’ll never forget it. Hope to have many more like it!

I especially enjoyed hanging with my new cousins and Aunts & Uncles, fish-tailing down the unplowed streets, and eating Bruno’s pizza with Rob. Was awesome seeing his Washington friends, and reuniting with hugs!

Other things I appreciated about my trip:

Hanging with our fun cousins. Sadly, it made me wish I was in high school or college again: to play harder in basketball, to have been nicer to my parents, to not of been friends with some people, and to have gotten more out of those experiences all together! It’s so depressing how fast time flies. Now I’m 25 and being pressured to have babies! AGH. How can I think about having a kid when I still want to be one!

Some pictures to remember:











Our busty snow-woman, Shaniqua. Riley and Rob, the minds behind it:



Tayler… I just LOVE my sister (in-law). We're getting to be even more inseparable!



Lots of Robby time, without the stress of our busy schedules!



Zappos’ strategic placement of their ads, in airport bins:




Here are some snow shots:





Was the whitest, greenest landscape one could see, LOL!

I came home with a bit of a cold, which even to this day I’m still trying to fight off with a cough here and there. Guess that’s what a lay-over in LA gets you!

Fortunately next time we visit it will be in May for Troy and Kaylyn’s wedding. I can’t wait! The weather should be beautiful!

Now it’s back to work and Toastmasters, and work and school for Rob. I had leadership training in Phoenix this past weekend with a woman I really appreciate. Her name is Liz, our club VP of Education, and previously our President. She is so knowledgeable about Toastmasters, and motivated to make our club the best it can be. I came away from the training with a bundle of ideas to bring in new members, and retain. I’m so excited to be our VP of PR for the next 6 months. Let me know if you’d like to come to a meeting one night! It’s absolutely FREE to visit as a guest, and you can be a guest for as many times as you want. We meet every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in downtown Gilbert.

Have a great week!