Goodbye....

well I haven't been around here in some time. Much of life has changed and I choosing not to continue this blog.

Check out www.cassandracooper.com if you would like to stay up to date. A work in progress coming in 2011!

She's HERE!

My little sis Tanya had her baby tonight. I have only been back from the hospital about 20 minutes but everyone is asleep and it is quiet and I am still a bit awake from all the excitement!

Rachel Miranda

Born 1.8.09 at 11:10pm. Out in the hall we were betting on an 11:11 delivery time since she has 2 siblings with birthdays on 10.10 and 11.11.

She was 7 lbs 15 oz and 21" long. She is adorable!

A proud Mommy & Daddy! Well I am off to bed now!

A shout out....

HAPPY NEW YEAR
to all of our friends and family!

I am so excited for the year 2009! Feeling newly rejuvenated in so many areas of my life!

I know many of my friends have adopted Ali Edwards concept of a word for the new year.

"A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."

I think it is a great time to reflect and instead of crazy resolutions that no one every keeps it lets you reflect about everyday life & a whole new outlook for the new year.

So here is my word....

FOCUS-

FOCUS on just one thing until it is done. I need to FOCUS on what I am doing at the time and not be thinking about the 20 other things I need to do. By doing so will help me actually complete tasks on time!

FOCUS...on budget. We are feeling good financially for the year 2009. We are getting closer to being out of debt except for the house and will continue to focus one day at a time with what we buy, spend and use that costs money. My tip for the new year for my friends.... Get energy savings light bulbs we have dropped our electric bill 25% this last year and aren't changing light bulbs so often! Hoping the new front loading washer and dryer help soon too! I really want to be able to afford a new vehicle for Jason... the 1991 Astro Van just is not going to last too much longer for him! One of the many sacrafices he has made for our family this past 3 years!

FOCUS... one day at a time on living a healthier life. I have to lose this weight and it isn't going to happen quickly... one day at a time with focusing on exercise and what I eat. A total physical on the 13th and hopefully eliminating some health concerns that I have been on my mind for a few weeks since I made the appointment. I have already started on the exercise and my family won't be happy when I don't have sugary foods or baking supplies in the house!

FOCUS... on developing time for play and having fun with friends and family. I think work got in the way for so long that I quit doing anything and I am now redeveloping and focusing on friends and family.

FOCUSING on quality living and a new year of life!

Happy NEW YEAR!

a NEW look at our House!

The Entryway Before & After

I love how this turned out. Notice the lamp on the table and it's transformation coming up...

This is the best picture with my night time lighting to see the darkest paint color. Most of the other pictures seem a bit washed out. So just imagine the pretty color on the walls!

Living Room Before & After

I am trying to decide if I am going to hang the long pictures on the sides next to the piano. I plan to leave the large one leaned on the piano and add some accessories around it.

My favorite little spot. I love the lamps now.... weren't always my fav before, but a little cream spray paint and a little bird perched on top... so cute.

Family Room Before & After

I have always wanted to do 2 trees and this year I did. This tree was dubbed the Charlie Brown Tree. I thought it was cute. It has all the ornaments that were colored and the kids ornaments. All the others went on the fancy tree in the living room. And I got and ANGEL & a STAR this year, and I am always torn which to put up since I like both.

The big CHANGE was in the kitchen. I have LOVED the red kitchen

but was ready for a fresh new look.

and here it is with black painted cabinets. Still need a few touches like curtains. I love how the dishwasher disappears and now I want a black stove and a little bit of molding along the top of the cabinets. I am also hoping to get a white sink instead of the stainless steel.

A new shimmery saying in my window frame. A new hook to hang it that I picked up at the Boston Trip a few months ago.

I have had this shelf for years and it was brown and worn and now with a fresh coat of black paint it looks great and gives me some more space for all my white dishes & glasses.

Well there it is a bit of touch up here and there but I am loving it!

Our 15 year old Kenzi!

I really do love seeing all the crazy pictures that appear on my camera card when Kenzi borrows it. They have so much fun! Popular shoes... converse on her feet and her 2 bestest friends.... can you guess which ones are hers! For her birthday this year we ended up having 3 parties and I have to say it was the easiest year we have had celebrating her birthday. They were all casual and less people at one time in the house. 1st party was our Family Party including Grandma & Grandpa, Aunts & Uncles and her cousins. We had a yummy pasta bar with all sorts of pasta's, toppings and sauces. Here is her birthday dessert. We don't often have cake here, just a favorite dessert. I also had forgot to buy candles again so tealights it was. Only 5 instead of 15. I love her face of concentration trying to figure out the perfect wish....

The next party was a spa party with Shelby & Lycia. Fancy foods & treats! And pampering from my AWESOME friend Laura who came and gave all 3 girls full pedicures. What a treat for them!

Lycia patiently waiting her turn and Kenzi totally relaxed for her pampering!

All their feet without the converse shoes. Again can you guess who's feet they are?

(not sure why blogger keeps turning this photo sideways... oh well)

And a final shot of all 3 girls. Happy 15th Birthday Kenzi! Her final party was just a hangout of a few friends having fun with Rock Band and the epic movie Titanic... a few hadn't seen it so it was the choice for the night. Can't believe they got the boys to watch it. At least it wasn't a scarey movie as they all seem to love and her Mom is a whimp and would be a bad chaperone because I would be hiding up in my room so I wouldn't here the screams or see the horror!

So which of my friends likes scarey movies?

Updates on the newly painted downstairs and decorating coming soon....We are putting the fancy tree up today since we have been working on painting. Chat soon!

Have you missed me....

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth....just haven't been posting. No excuses, have had stuff to post, have had more time in my life and .... well just haven't.

I do admit though I haven't quite felt myself lately...and haven't really been able to figure out what it is exactly that is leaving me feeling so unsettled alot of the time. I know this last few weeks has brought on so many changes. I am sure that many of those are contributing to my emotions. health concerns, my dad again, Mikey gone, and work still. But I am working on it even though I am still wondering if more changes are in store for our family. A huge thanks to my patient husband with lots of hugs and "I love yous", listening to me think out loud and sometimes just a shoulder to cry on.

I am missing Michael like crazy... I know that he is having a blast and I am so proud of him. He is doing amazing. Continuing to excel in his new life at college, working hard and playing hard. He has been home a couple of times. Once for our family photo shoot with Shannon and then for Thanksgiving. I am so looking forward to 3 weeks home with him for Christmas. Even if we will put him to work!

A HUGE thank you to Shannon (defining details photography) for capturing our family in photos again. I can't tell you enough what an incredble treasure they are and wish I had more from years past. Here is a sampling of our last photo session.

I love how she captures these 2 and their fun and quirky friendship as brother and sister.

Just over 6 years ago we moved into our house... our first house we have owned. It was perfect our dream home and I loved it. I delved into decorating and we did alot of projects. But 4 years ago we started the Bucket and that all took a back burner. There were a few unfinished projects and a few changes I wanted to make that never got done. But now that we have sold the store I have been finding a bit more time to focus again on my house and I want to brighten it up. I have selected a new color scheme and here are some of my inspiration photos, I was really hoping to have this done by Christmas Eve as my Christmas present... but we haven't started yet, so I don't know if that will happen. We will see, Jason and I can't seem to get 2 full days together without other commitments.

This is my inspiration for the color... robins egg blue, some tans& greens, lots of creams and whites and a bit of black and brown mixed in. I am super excited to complete this look!

I love this bell jar with the stand. Found it on a blog, now just to find one for me.

And yes I am going to be brave and paint my cabinets black... I have wanted to for at least 3 years! Iwas lucky enough to find this inspiration photo that is almost the exact cabinets and layout of my kitchen except I have an extra counter.

Well I guess that is enough for now. I will try to get back sooner next time. I have some more pictures to share... Kenzi turned 15, Kristi's amazing tree at the festival of trees and more.

Spread your Wings and FLY!

I really thought I would post this sooner, started a couple of times but didn't quite get there.

Wondered what you were thinking as you sat there with all of your stuff that you were taking with you to college 17 1/2 years at home and you left with 4 boxes, a laptop & bag, 2 clear totes and your bike in the back of a pick up. A last big hug for your sister. We are starting to miss you and relealize little things that remind us your not here (besides you doing such a great job helping clean the kitchen!!!) We put groceries away tonight and Kenzi missed her brother, you always had fun and laughed putting things away tossing the pantry items to each other to put them away! Wanted to save a TIVO show the other night because you hadn't watched it with us... then realized you wouldn't be watching it here. Even canceled one of your shows because it deleted one of mine early.....
Walking away, but you did turn around for a last hug from us all before you got in the car.
Driving away and just like that a child moves on to a new journey and new experiences and we are left with an empty room that still sits just like you left it... Aunt Holli will be coming to visit in a few weeks and I am sure we will make it a guest room before then.... but for now it is still your room... just empty of you!
We Love you and MISS you! But are so very PROUD of you. I know you are having the time of your life!!!
Congrats OSU on the big win at Football tonight. Quite the sea of orange in the middle of the football field after the game!