My Dad..... Going under for God. An answer to prayer.

My mom and dad were both raised in the church. They met in church. There were circumstances that drew them away from church, but not necessarily away from God. My brother and I were not raised going to church on a regular basis but were raised to understand and believe in God.

For a long time, due to a lot of life circumstances, my dad discounted his worth to God. My mom prayed. Many prayed.

Recently, there were answers. My dad accepted the Lord as his Savior. And.....

I love you dad....

Harveys Hump Day Purse Dump Day

Have you ever bought a Harveys bag for a friend or family member? I have given my mom at least two, my sister in law one, and my three year old son has a back pack. We use as his go bag since we are potty training and I will not buy any more diapers.

He even picked out the ribbon to decorate the bag with and make it his own.

I find it a lot of fun to give Harveys bags, sometimes almost as fun as getting a bag. But kids with their bags are the best. They are so cute. I hope to get my niece one for her birthday later this year.

But I have another "little diva" to share with you today.

Melodie from Arizona!!

D.I.V.A.

"Hi!! My name is Melodie or you can call me Moo since everyone else does! I will be 12 in July but Mommy says I'm going to be 3. I get to show you my purses, aren't they pretty?

"Mommy has lots and lots!!! She's a little bit crazy about them, and decided that my diaper bag wasn't enough. I AM a Princess..didn't you know (and Princesses need purses)? So she searched ebay, and found me my very first pink  purse when I was about 20 months!! It has gone everywhere with me ever since. To the doctors, the zoob (yes its called the zoob according to me), shopping with Auntie Erin, EVERYWHERE.

And I get lots of compliments, especially when I make Daddy carry it for me.

Since then Mommy and Daddy got me two more purses for Christmas last year from a pretty lady named Sandie (I cant wait to paint your nails again Sandie). I love those too! And now I have purses to match almost every outfit!

I have lots of important vital things in my purse that I cant live without. Because you absolutely never know when you might need 4 pairs of sunglasses. A girls gotta have options right?!?! I also have my perfume, brothers Towmater truck that I "borrowed" from him. (DON'T TELL MOMMY). Three necklaces, a brush, a monkey block for my VTech train, a green heart bracelet, a Kero Kero Kerropi watch, a tiara hair clip. And my special minnie.

I went to my first Harveys event in March, so Mommy could get a Blackberry bag. I met Dana and Melanie. They were very nice, but I liked the cheesecake bites more. Melanie carried my brother, because he was being a pest and she was being helpful. Aren't all brothers like that? Daddy promised me that if I was good he would buy me something. I don't think he thought I would remember but when I saw the pretty purses I reminded him! So he let me pick out my pretty orange minnie!! I love my Daddy! Not sure where Mommy was, I think she was going crazy with all the other crazy purse ladies.

Well I better go, Tangled is on and I need to watch it again! Thanks Mrs. Mindy for letting me do show and tell! Oh and did I tell you my Birthday is in July? I can't wait for my birthday party!"

Such a cutie, excuse me, diva/princess!! Thanks Moo and mom for sharing with us. I hope I can get my hands on a cute bag so, too. Or maybe we can convince Harveys to make them again (HINT).

Check back next week for another bag and another dump. Don't forget this Friday is also FIRST FRIDAY!!! That's right, new bags!!! Be sure to check out Harveys on their website or their facebook page.

Missing.....

A few things this week are missing. My laptop has gone off to Dell to be repaired and I feel lost without it. I was able to take a short leave of absence from school whit it is gone. My Sanity has been on an extended vacation. I am not sure when it left or if it will come back for the next...um Payton is 3..... 15 years. What was not missing today was TJ. It was his day off and we had a lot to get done. His was mostly outside and with the tractor. Here are a few pictures from this afternoon, my family at its best.

This week holds more challenges in Potty Training. It has been "ok" but could be better.

We saw Cars 2. Way too much for the little ones to understand and follow, but cute.

Preston finished up Cub Scouts summer camp.

TJ is waiting to get the final ok for his new job.

I jouned Weight Watchers and am walking 3 miles in the mornings.

Whew, that is just another day in my Country Fairy Tale....

Harveys Hump Day Dump Day

Last week I told you I have a special treat for you all. This week is super exciting for me and I am sure you will recognize our featured dumper.

If you have ever visited or even called the Harveys Santa Ana store you could have encountered this person. Do you follow the Harveys Blog? I have seen HIS face there too!! That's right. You asked and I delivered. We are going to see a Black Label Wallet (maybe more), but from WHO??

Ladies and Gentleman, I introduce you to Christopher Montes.

"Hello! I'm Christopher Montes, Customer Service Manager at Harveys. I started my career at Harveys back in 2006, but my first introduction to the company was in 2004 by a former coworker from Allstate that carried a Harveys Classic Red Large Tote. The first day she brought her Seatbeltbag to work changed my life forever!  It’s as if by magic the steps that followed to get me exactly where I am today. I am thankful each day I work because I love the Harveys, I love everyone on Team Harveys and I enjoy working in the exciting environment Harveys Industries provides. At Harveys, I’m celebrated for my strengths as well as my quirks, and personally, what I find most important is I get to be myself, every single day!

 I was stoked when Mindy asked me to participate and be a featured “Dumper” on her blog, and I’m more than willing to celebrate hump day with you by giving a sneak peek inside some of my very own personal Harveys pieces.

First up is my Black Label Wallet in Black. Each piece I own represents a Harveys career moment in time for me.  This reminds me of being promoted to Store Manager in 2009 and being gifted a wallet. When it comes to what goes in my pocket, I try and keep it simple! In the wallet you’ll find my Driver License, debit card, AAA card, Target card, Disneyland Annual Passport, personal Harveys business card, cash and Harveys Website cards for the impromptu moments in life when someone asks me, “Where did you get your Seatbeltbag?!?”

Sometimes, a guy’s got to stash away his phone! When I go to an event like a concert, I use a Minnie Wristlet to carry all the same items I’d normally house in my Black Label Wallet in addition to my iPhone! Before my bike was stolen last summer, I’d throw a Minnie Wristlet around the handle bars and I’d be set for an adventure!

My Executive Laptop bag in Army reminds me of my first week at Harveys. I was allowed to pick out any bag of my choice and I knew right away the silhouette for me and I’ve used that bag almost every day since December of 2006. It’s never been sent to our Bag Spa and it’s never needed a repair. Oh the stories my bag could tell if it could talk…

Inside I carry my 15” Gateway Laptop, laptop charger, iPhone charger, iPhone, Lady GaGa Heartbeats headphones, Hot Pink Dr. Grip Pen that a sweet customer gave me (hey Jane, hey!), Harveys Classic Clutch in Violet (same size as convertible clutch where I store all my unmentionables), “I Am A Seatbeltbag” SeatbeltStrap Tote (Dana gave me this for helping with a project and I use it for spontaneous shopping trips I justify to myself by being “green”), the keys to my life, Harveys folder for my current work projects, upcoming look books and a Sharpie.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a lil’ bit of my collection! Thanks for thinking of me for this opportunity, Mindy! I wish to all of you Harveys Original Seatbeltbag “toters” that your collections bring many years of friendly compliments to come. Keep on bloggin’, Mindy!

XOXO,

Christopher at Harveys"

WOW!! This blog was SO much fun for me, and Christopher is the one who did all the work. My deepest thanks to Christopher for sharing with us and making it so much fun!! Next time I am in So Cal I will be making a special trip to the store. For those of you have never been, like myself, there is a Harveys Museum on the third floor of the Santa Ana store that is well worth the trip. That's right, thre are THREE floors of Harveys goodness. But let's be real, the bags and employees are more than worth the trip as well.

There is also a Harveys store in Chino Hills. This is the only store I have ever had the opportunity to visit and the service I have always encountered has been extremly plesent and helpful. After all, they understand my crazy love.

Don't forget to stop buy the Harveys website and find your own love.

I HEART John Deere

My husband has always been a man's man. His PawPaw passed on an old John Deere to him and TJ used it and worked on it all the time. Unfortunately, we had to leave it with friends in California (to hopefully return and get it sooner rather than later). This week we sold a trailer we had. With the money we got from that sale, TJ got another one. I guess we need one, right?

There she is. John Deere 50. Like I know what that means, lol. After a few HOURS of working in it TJ finally got it right and ready to run.

So home we headed. 10 miles per hour!! It took us an hour to get home. I followed TJ in the truck to be sure everything was ok and just in case I needed to pull him home.

When we got home TJ went right to work bedding part of our field next to the house so we could plant more this coming week. Hopefully we will get some rain.

I <3 John Deere.

Simple Friday

This week is the first week Preston is out of school. And if this week is any indication of what the summer holds, it is going to be a long one. Preston does go to cub scout camp this week though.

This week we went to a local dive to get some ice cream.

Best in town.

Payton with his Strawberry Ice Cream

Preston said no pictures but he got Strawberry with sprinkles.

We went to the park this morning. Payton likes the big slide.

Preston was working out an attitude problem and again said no pictures.

HA!! Mom got one anyways!! We put a movie in and they both fell asleep.

Payton with the thumb and blanket.

Few points:

I am trying to get rid of a migraine.

TJ is getting a tractor tomorrow.

Never watch Man vs. Food when trying to diet.

Buy American when possible.

I have not cleaned poop out of Payton's pants in three days. A few pee accidents but we are doing good.

I will try to catch up on the potty training this weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone!!



Harveys Hump Day Purse Dump Day

This is my dear friend Erin Lane from Tucson, AZ (and her mom) with Melanie at the Mother's Day Event in Chino Hills, Ca.

When I asked her to do this week's Harveys bag dump I knew it would be hard for her to pick which bag she would use. I have watched her collection grow leaps and bounds this past 6 months. She recently acquired one of her "dream bags."

"My first bag was left by the infamous jolly guy himself, Santa Claus, on December 25, 2005. Her name is Big Red. A red large tote. One word sums her up…Gorgeous. Yes, she is still mine, the bag that turned my best friend Michelle on to Harveys, and the bag that will never leave me. Since 2005, my collection has grown from one bag to a wonderful twenty-five with numerous accessories. I highly doubt that number will get any smaller. With all of the surprises Harveys have up their sleeves, I will be building a hut out of my bags, just to have a roof over my head."

 Alas, she was able to decide on a bag, her Paint By Numbers 1 AND 2!! Yep, she thought it was so nice she bought it twice!! Ok, my sad attempt at humor.

"P.B.N. is an abbreviation that is music to my ears. Paint By Numbers Large Satchel, the answer to my dreams. This is a bag that I have waited years and years to have in my collection. Love at first sight is the only way to describe it. To me, this bag is perfection. It is a little piece of multiple Harveys all wrapped up in one. What makes it better, she has a sister. Paint By Numbers II. Taking those colors that pop most, adding a little pattern and you have that beauty. These two bags are to me what Rene Zellweger was to Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry McGuire. Completion, they complete me."

PBN Enjoying a ride!!

"If we take a look inside one of my bags on a daily basis, this is what you will find:

My keys, complete with a Harveys Click-n-go Wristlet, in the amazing red color

 Harveys Lucky Minnie Wristlet, (which holds anything from Jolly Ranchers, to my camera and iPod, to other needed things)

 Harveys Red Full Wallet

Endless supply of Chapstick

Inhaler

Body spray and hand lotion

Writing pens galore

 Harveys handout cards

Nail file

Cell phone

and….. a Sharpie. My purse will usually have a Sharpie (you never know when you will run into a celebrity or need to draw a mustache on a poster of a gorgeous man or woman…kidding).

 Depending on what day it is and what I am doing, this bag can sneak snacks into a movie theater, carry a bottle of water or three and all the other randoms that I get handed throughout the day."

"Harveys Seatbelt Bags are leaving their mark in my family and with my friends. Within the last year, I have turned my sister in law, my mother, co-workers, fellow students, and friends into lovers.

 My five year old niece is the most recent to receive a bag from me. Yes, I said five. She begged, even snagged one of my minnie wristlets, to be like her Auntie Erin. Her birthday just passed, and the smile on her face when she saw her bag, priceless. It was almost as wonderful as the smile she had walking down Main Street in Disneyland for the first time. Almost. My father is going to be the next lucky person to be wowed by Harveys. He’s lucky enough to have a present on his way for Father’s Day. They don’t understand my love completely yet, but they are trying.

It doesn’t matter how you look at it, I am in love. I am a Harveys fan, I am a seatbelt bag."

Thanks Erin for sharing with us. I am a fellow PBN lover. And your niece is SO STINKIN" CUTE!!

Don't worry, I understand your love. So do many others.

As always you can find your own Harveys Bag on their website. There is sure to be one that fits you best. Have a great week everyone and check back next week for our next featured dumper.

This one is going to be good!! I have some treats up my sleeve!!

Potty Training Boot Camp

I have two of the most SPIRITED children in the world. I use the word spitired because the word stubborn might offend, lol. My oldest, Preston, was not too hard to potty train. He was in daycare at the time and his teacher was amazing. Now we have Payton who just turned three. He was doing so well. Then it is like he woke up one morning and decided "Na, I don't want to go on the potty. I want my mommy to clean out my pants." He is in regular underwear now. No diapers and pull ups.

Well this mommy has had enough. After many attempts and searching for "what works" I have setteled (and even PAID MONEY) for what I hope will be the means to the end of my poop and pee pants days.

I purchased the "3 Day Potty Training Method" ebook by Lora Jensen. I have read the book and it even describes what to do with older and stubborn, oops SPIRITED children. I basically have to be in the house chained to Payton for three whole days. Yep, I am going to lose it. But if by the end of the three days we are any closer than we are now, I will be happy.

We are going to start Wensday this week. There is actually some preperation tho this method. I have to be totally focused on this task. So I have more underpants, need to preplan means, and have the house in order. It is a good thing I am out of class for the next week. So I will be blogging my regular bag dump this week, but I am going to be blogging ALL about our adventures. Stay tuned and hope for success.

Saturday Morning Snapshot

This Saturday morning Preston is off to Busch Gardens with a friend and Payton is already trying my potty training skills. So I decided to venture into town. I had to go to the post office anyways. I decided to head downtown to the local farmer's market. And it was a good thing I did not stop at the bank first. I wanted one of everything.

There were such beautiful flowers.

Fresh and locally grown fruit and vegetables. I came home with blueberries.

And I fell in LOVE with this dish.

Then I went over the my favorite place in all of Downtown Elizabeth City, The Cupcakery!!!

They are located at 200 S. Poindexter St.

My children love going here for a special treat. But this morning it was all me.

They have THE BEST CUPCAKES in a huge variety. But this morning I resisted temptation and got a Pretzel Bagel, YUM!!

 They even offer workshops, parties, and play dates. Payton has his third birthday here and they made Mickey Mouse Cupcakes!! Ms. Sharon Hundley was so great with the kids. 

This is Ms. Heather Fletcher, a wonderful, gorgeous and amazingly talented woman. She and her mother Sharon run this family bakery of yummy goodness.

I highly recommend that if you are ever in town, you stop by to satisfy your sweet tooth. You can check out their website or their facebook where they post regular specials.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!