oh... by the way...

i have decided to make an concerted effort to not buy individual bottles of water anymore... however it makes me really sad... because i absolutely love DASANI water!!! I mean in a bad way.... well unfortunately there is too much waste that is caused by individuals who do not recycle them.... including me.... i do it at home ...... but when i do not have access to a recycle bin... i end up throwing them away... i know... very bad.... so i'm making one small step... and i'm sure..... like they say.... all the little steps add up and will make a difference.... think about trying it... it will give you a great excuse to buy a cute water bottle... here's a picture of mine... i bought this weekend at Bath and Body Works (50% off)... for a steal....at only five BUCKS!!!! but i've seen several at Target and at nalgene.com ... that are super cute!!! Have a wonderful week... sorry for the lack of blogging... i will get back on track... and give you an update on my 29 day challenge....

FINALLY.....

well this is it... Susan... I did it... I actually have a project finished!!! well last time i blogged i stated that i am very OCD when it comes to pictures... and well ... putting them in frames... first it's the initial spot for the frame that inspires me... then the space to which it will occupy... and then presto.... nothing... well that's usually how they sit and wait... with their pre-generated family pictures... they remain... well... last weekend.. i did it... i picked out the pictures...had then printed and viola... framed them....here's a little of the accomplishments.... i'm happy!!

this ones is a frame that i made myself... well not completely...lets just say that i finished it.... and i really like it.... will be making them for gifts soon.... :)

this frame hangs on the immediate entrance below a big clock in our living room..... well this was another frame that had no pictures that were personalized to the McCabe's.... but now it does.... sorry for the lighting... took the picture tonight... would of been better if i had natural lighting.... oh well... it's done...

Bittersweet!

Brennen... he's my five year old... well he lost his first tooth!! About a month ago he began to complain that his tooth was loose and was wondering what was going on (he's sweet). Well, we explained to him about whole tooth process ... and how aaron and i both experienced it (including the tooth fairy) and he began to get more and more excited. In the meantime I did some research on the supposed etiquette on the givings of the tooth fairy ..... well I sat and wondered asking different people what they received or have given their own children... i didn't remember what i got.... some websites said 20.00... of course i gasped and said that's a little excessive....

we finally decided to give him dollars in the amount of his age (including two dollar bills)...it seemed pretty reasonable... i think??? so... one morning while i was helping him get ready for school.... he said mom... "my tooth wont bend back up"... so i asked him if i could pull it out... he said yes... i grabbed a washcloth and went tooth fishing... and behold... I had in my possession my son's first missing tooth!!! the excitement overwhelmed me... then the sadness.... knowing he's growing up made me sad :( .......but i pulled myself together to celebrate his courage and milestone!!

he carried his money for about four days until it burned a tiny little hole in his pocket and a big one in mine... he pitched in his 5 dollars for a twenty dollar toy....LOL!!! pretty funny i still ended up spending the twenty.... :0)

where did the weekend go??....

LITERALLY!!! well this weekend was a blast, but blew by soooo fast that i am still tired and just one more
Sunday!.... here's a replay of the weekend...

on friday...aaron brought me 4 dozen red roses.... he has always been the flower-giving kind of guy... but has always kept me on my toes and surprises me; everytime... he literally pretends in the morning before i leave that he's going back to bed... he's very quiet... that i actually buy it and leave to work thinking... this sucks he doesn't even want to go do anything for lunch.... then bam!!! I found my surprise strategically placed in my office with a red "love" caterpillar sitting in my chair!! he's cute!!! .... :0)

i had a difficult time deciding what to get him... he's the kind of guy that lives pretty minimally and is satisfied with the smallest things... however i decided to buy him and brennen two rounds of golf (not sure if the lingo is right), well anyway they went golfing and were pretty stoked and happy with their present.... they were able to partake in some father-son bonding time... which they love and i respect.... aaron really enjoyed that and this friday i have purchased him a round alone... so he can do it without brennen... to have some "him" time.... hope he likes it....

So saturday we had our traditional pink pancake breakfast... which is a family favorite... and i do agree with melissa (a BFF who lives in vegas) that if i had a list of things that i desired of a future boyfriend/hubby;has to be able to make great pancakes....and not burn them... well aaron is quite the pancake connoisseur... and i'm the french toast mistress....anyway we had a wonderful breakfast and headed to brennen's soccer practice... had fun... and then on our way home i picked up a lamp at a yard sale..... that i hope to refinish and find a place in my home that's "just the right place."...from there we headed home to wait for my parents to come-back from Tucson...

aaron and i were blessed that this was a weekend my parents were here and we were able to have valentine's day out....alone.... brennen was pretty upset that he wasn't going with us... but we explained to him that there is a lot of kids that were going to be staying home that very night.. so all the moms and dads can have a special night out... well our night started at Ah So... a teppanyaki restaurant.. that was tons of fun and PACKED!!! we met some friends there and had dinner (one of my friends was celebrating her birthday).... we even were able to get the other table half to participate in the "wave.." good times...

Once dinner wrapped-up aaron and i went with the rest of the crew to a bar... realizing they were being very diligent in checking ID's and a friend forgot her's and had to run home and pick it
up... they did try though... they stuck their heads together and tried to get in as siamese twins... which was pretty hilarious... they sure made the bouncer a happy-camper...he said that was the first he heard that one....

so in the mean time we waited and got our drink on... sans alcohol... so sugar-free redbull and cranberry came to the rescue... which i have to admit was pretty tasty... the bar was pretty slow... so we headed over to another just down the street... which was starting to liven up... they had a tribute band playing... and believe me I AM A HUGE FAN OF LIVE MUSIC ESP.... tribute bands... after they played a couple of songs it was time to meet my friends back over at the other bar... so we headed back... which was showcasing some local comedians... i think we were funnier than them... but oh well... great dj and music choices... i then began to get my dance on....then on... then on.... then on... then was soo pumped up on adrenaline and going on my second red bull and cranberry... i agreed to head to an actual club to get my dance on again!!!

we all followed each other over to the club and danced .... danced..... danced...... and danced.... and danced...... i haven't been out in a while ... so i was a little rusty... but with the assistance of great music... friends.... and the ambiance of crowded venue... i was hooked.... so hooked i was sore the next day!!! LOL... we got home around three am sunday morning... and crashed out!!!

Sunday: due to the lack of my planning... my parents woke-up all bright-eyed and bushy tailed (they spent the evening having a valentine's cook-out for brennen) and wanted to visit with us before they left.... my dad wanted aaron to go with him to do some manly things (get their SUV serviced and detailed and help my dad find a place to get a hair cut)...so aaron pulled himself out of bed and went happily... i woke up and chatted with my mom... made her coffee... and yes a big cup for myself..... and not too long later it was time for me to get ready to head to my scrapbooking class with the girls... it was fun... i was stumped for a little while...they gave me a choice!! thats my kryptonite.... usually i am buzzing through class... then they give shannon choice... that means OCD kicks in full swing... i bob and weave between options... changing my mind at the last minute... but it turned out well... we made customized frames to match our home decor... and it sure is pretty... i just need to get a picture in it.... another weakness of mine... i usually hang frames without pictures... A.. because i don't want them to get nicked... B. i buy all frames for spaces and not for pictures... so i laugh every time i have someone visiting and i have to say the "Burbs" line... "it came with the frame"... but i am planning on picking the pictures for the frames and get them printed and have them in place by this weekend....

afterwards.... went home and took a nap!!!! off to the pm session of church... and back home to relax... but i still don't feel rested... but had a blast... truly.... good times...

Update... on 29 days of giving...

i have to admit... i was a person who definately would say that i give of myself and things freely... well... when you put yourself and hold yourself to a quota.... you realize otherwise.... so here's and update... and believe me it has been a little challenging....

so... where was i at?? oh yeah..... day #4.... this day was easy on the charts... i bought a special person at work lunch.....she didn't expect it and was very thankful that i thought of her... it was nice.. i once again felt great... you would think that with the spending i would start to budget myself... i guess it's a little different... when you begin to own and exercise different feelings and mind processes.... i don't know... anyway when i figure it out... i will tell you....

day #5, was a day that was not planned and i actually forgot about my challenge (bad, i know)... i have a work out buddy who comes over and well on tues. she came over with her plethora of exercise dvds... and spread them out like a deck of cards with excitement...her array definately favored Billie Blanks Tae Bo....and wanted to know which video we should do... well we did two actually and about an hour and a half in we were burnt and ready to be done... so before she left i gave her one of my tae bo videos... she was happy.. once again i felt happy.... and starting to already feel sore... loved it!!

day #6, this was a day that also came down to the wire... with a hectic work life (and yes... i thank god everyday for allowing me to continue to provide for myself and my family) at times im so busy... and barely have enough time for myself... well when i got home... the house needed some tidying up...and aaron works most nights and comes home sooo late that he spends the majority of the morning resting and preparing the house for us in the evening.... so in an attempt to let him have a wonderful and stree free following morning... i maticulously cleaned... and he loves it when i am cleaning and i do it in my favorite OCD fashion... he was able to sleep in until the last minute before brennen needed to be picked up from school... he went to work rested and FULL of energy... he was full of happiness!!! he loved it and i felt wonderful!!!!

day #7, i gave two little gift packs (lotion and hand sanitizer) away to two wonderful women... i had them delivered by a friend and wasn't able to see their response... but it made me feel great.. and later was told they loved them.... i also helped brennen with his valentine cards and helped him make his two teachers bracelets... he really wanted to get them a rose... and i know i should be fostering those casanova skills... because one day he needs to make someone special feel important... well anyway... he had fun making the bracelets and even had a dream/nightmare... i was able to relate... after we all completed everything and he went to bed he was walking around in the house kind of wining... and had his hands up in a pinching motion... you know when you try something new that you were completely satisfied... and you have an OCD dream about it being perfect... and get overwhelmed... maybe that's just me....and i'm the crazy one.... anyways this was a great day... i felt great...

day #8, today was business valentine's day.. you know the last business day and people in the office celebrate it on a friday when it's actually on a saturday? ... well last night i cooked my "ancient chinese" secret cookies... and gave them out today with cards to co-workers... in an attempt to make everyone feel extra special... i actually ran out of cookies and didn't bring enough for everyone... so i need to make it up to her and bring her a plate full of cookies... so far prepping for days #9 and #10....some ideas I have had are 1. taking family out for a valentine surprise and 2. giving breakfast sandwiches and coffee to those less fortunate in phoenix, az.....

so far... that's it in a nutshell... i will continue to update you on my attempt to make a changes in my surroundings for the better... this is a great experience.... i've been starting to get creative!!!

So far this weekend we have planned... ice-skating tonight... visit with my mom and step-dad (they are coming into town tonight) and tomorrow have our infamous heart-shaped pink pancakes... a family favorite... and later that day have aaron's specialty... SUSHI... yup hand rolled for perfection with a lovely concoction of wasabi...ginger... and soy sauce!!! yummy.... Sunday.... will be church in the am ( if your interested go to calvaryphx.com; they go live on sunday via webcast at 9 and 11 am).... and off to scrapbooking class... a monthly favorite... i will post pictures of my project...... have a lovely valentine's day and weekend!!!

XOXOXOX, Shannon

29 Day Challenge!!! Here I go....

well... lets back-up real quick... I saw this idea on operationnice.com... and pondered on the idea for a while... then decided hey... what the heck ... what do i have lose... but rather ..... gain the exponential amounts of self-gratification!!! so... in a nut shell... i am going to use my creative skills and wise notion to beat this an maybe get to day 29 and keep on going... anyway... enough of the chit-chat... this challenge is basically 29 days of GIVING...
i started last friday.... Day #1.... started with a a thank-you note to a co-worker who is part of my team and has just been kicking butt and taking names!!! i had a cute polka-dot thank you note and took it and wrote a message thanking her for all her hardwork... because i sure appreciate it... when she works hard... it makes my life and job manageable... and along with this note i gave her a vintage-style necklace and matching earrings... she was quite thrilled .... i had to give it to her on the fly... she came in as i was sealing the envelope... so i wasn't able to leave it as a surprise on her desk... we hugged and i felt great... i'm sure she did too... i love my team!

Day #2 - this day fell on a saturday and was really not planned as day #1 ... however...aaron, brennen and i were eating lunch out ....when we sat next to this very cute elderly couple... i was amazed on how they rarely spoke a word.. but when they did it was caring and sweet... with obvious health care issues.. i felt my heart reach out to them.. and with no notion at all ....i gave two complete strangers $15.00 and said get a treat on me... they were completely thrilled and said that they rarely get out and this was their day.... she said they hit the dollar store and bought some treats (as she pulled out a giant-sized green calculator)... they thanked me... i left....i felt great!!

Day #4 - It was down to the deadline... and was asking aaron for some in-put... i love him... he has been reminding me and speaking out when he thinks that i have an opportunity or a chance to give... well last night when we got home i had the chance to get to the bookstore and buy 2 books for Brennen... they author was able to sign them and i presented them to him both personalized with his name and a very cute "God Bless" message... my son is becoming more aware of his own spiritual walk with christ and felt that these two books (children's verson) would help him grasp and wrap his mind around it... we are going to read them tonight after his bath... he was really thankful and last night was his first time ever.ever...ever.. he prayed before he went to sleep... and even made the prayer up on his own!!!

today is day #4... i will keep you posted... it's been fun and challenging in the same light... it's been insightful and gratifying...

What a week...

Well i sit here on a Friday... awaiting all things necessary and planned...


1. (planned)tonight is "family ice skating nite" sponsored by my son's school (as a fundraiser)... we are all about supporting the school... so we prepare for the much needed balancing act we need to succeed at... wish us luck... aaron called me this week and asked me should brennen wear his bicycle helmet...then i wondered... maybe...maybe not... i told him i don't want to embarrass him... however... what if is wasn't made for the physiological aspects/angles of a fall??... ... we are bringing it anyway!! hidden in a bag... then Brennen says... "but dad...aren't we going to hold hands?? i don't need a helmet..." aaron and i laughed... sure can't hold his hand when we go falling (we thought)....anyways... pray for the mccabe family....


2. (planned)Brennen has soccer practice tomorrow.... we just finished his last season in December and he was a little hesitant about joining again... you know i'm new to this whole sports mommy thing... for starters sports came fairly easy to me as a kid.. i sure wasn't great... however i was determined... well my son is a little shy... at first i encouraged him lightly... then a little more...then attempted to teach him to think 2-3 steps ahead... that didn't work... then i tried stern encouragement... that made him cry... so i am out of suggestions... so tomorrow i will watch... encourage.... again... hopefully i can figure this out....


3. (planned) Watch the Superbowl: Go Cardinals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they win... although i believe the odds are 40:1 (per Vegas) i think they have a great chance to prove everyone wrong... i don't plan on hitting up any parties to watch it... since it takes place on a Sunday evening... i'd rather watch it with pizza and wings and in my jammies... that Kurt Warner sure takes my breath away... lol....

4. (domestic duties - necessary) well for starters ... I seriously purged and kick my house's trash to the curb last weekend!!! I started Saturday morning at 7am and continued until 2pm. I accomplished SOOOOOOO much!!! which is rare... I was pleasantly surprised with myself... and my family was also in the spirit of cleaning.. (another rarity)..usually we have the spirit of cleaning at all different times and tend to annoy each other rather than help... so this weekend all i really need to do is put laundry away... finish up a couple of loads....give nevaeh a bath.....and do a little organizing.... otherwise pretty painless...

5. oil change(necessary)......

6. ride the new light rail.... aaron and i wanted to take brennen on the new and improved light rail...for the heck of it... and well to say that we rode it...

7. go to church... and pray...

I think that's it!!! wish me luck getting things all done... good luck to you.... and your planned and necessary agenda!!