I am horrible at keeping up with this blog! I can't believe it's been since April since the last time that I typed anything up!
Now let's see what's happened in the past few months...
Through Swagbucks, I have been able to get a whole load of (little) things that have helped. I think I have gotten about 30+ cards for various functions - baby showers, weddings, get well etc. This helps me tremendously. I am one that always waits until the last minute for cards, so these are great to have on hand in case I forget, don't have time to pick up a card or don't have the money. Also, I had ordered some baby things - pacifiers, socks, and a temperature sensing bath toy for a baby shower. Completely great ideas and probably would have cost me a small fortune to buy. I've ordered reusable grocery bags, a LED lantern, several music CD's, and deodorant.
I also did get a $25 e-gift card for Brinker International which is the company that owns On The Boarder, Maggiano's, the Macaroni Grill. We went to the Macaroni Grill because that's the only one that is with in a 8 hour drive for us - right in South Portland which is 45 minutes away. Their food is FANTASTIC!!! The food is a bit more expensive than what we usually go for, but more than well worth it. It won't break the bank going there a little bit, and we are planning on going again - once we save up the money (or have a gift card).
Right now, I have a $50 Home Depot waiting to be authorized from the Swagstore. I can't wait to get it! I am planning on getting some bushes and/or apple trees for my house. I am thrilled because I had a $25 gift certificate to a local nursery - Roosevelt Trail Landscape & Gardens. The employees there were fantastic in helping me pick out the bushes I wanted for my new house and helping with information on fruit trees and bushes. I bought 2 nice bushes there and one from Lowes with another gift card I had. The Home Depot gift card will help with filling in the flower beds on the other end of my house now that I have one side done.
I went up to camp (Spring Lake here or here) for Memorial Day weekend and 4th of July week - or at least the second half of that week. For Memorial Day weekend, my mom and I left Friday night after work and headed home Monday morning. We met my dad up there because he could actually get Friday off! Lucky duck! 4th of July, I headed up after I got out of work on Tuesday, July 3rd. I got up to camp about 10 and opened up most everything that night. My cousin and her husband (who owns the Post Office in the 1st link above) had just finished unpacking when I arrived. The thrill of that week was being able to turn the hot water tank on all by my self! I am short, and even standing on a chair can not see what I am doing with that thing. But in in the morning, I grabbed a sawhorse from the shed, was actually tall enough to see what I was doing and had hot water.
In June, I had my cousin from Arizona up for one of our cousin's weddings. She was beautiful, of course. During the reception, "someone" (not me I swear - maybe...) decided it would be a great idea to go swimming at the lake the reception was next to. The lovely bride laughed, and said no or else we might get yelled at by the staff at the camp. Needless to say, 3 cousins (not including the bride) went for a dip up to our knees, had a small water fight and went back to the reception to hug the bride. The beautiful bride thought that was the best thing ever.
The next weekend, I was in by best friend's wedding. It was fun, but nothing crazy happened at the reception. After the reception, a pile of the wedding party and a few guests went to the Old Port (in Portland) to go to the bars - all in their wedding gear and formal-wear. Apparently, the Food Network was filming the finale to the Food Truck Race right there! So the newlyweds went over, ordered food and they were interviewed! I can't wait to hear if they will actually make it to the final show:)
At the end of July, I did my usual volunteering in running the Beano Tent for Casco Days. Lots of hard work, running around, and stress for a good cause. The Casco Fireman's Association that sponsors the event and owns all of the equipment, based on a successful year, can buy new equipment for the fire department, put money towards scholarships, and help out local towns and groups with their monetary needs. I can never wait for the next Casco Days!
Well, I think this is it for now. Hopefully it won't take me 4 months to update again :)
