And the winner is........

Thursday evening, Justin, my parents and I went to the annual end of year awards ceremony for North Kitsap schools.  Justin was presented with Student of the year for North Kitsap High School in Business Education. Normally this award goes to a Senior, Justin is a Junior!  We are so proud of him!!


23 days until we leave for anaheim :)

Checked bags

Reasons I love Southwest Airlines

1.  They are great with minors!  When Justin was little they took such good care of him on the flights to and from his dad's house <3

2.  Prices.  If you plan ahead, and we all know I am an uber planner, you can find some good deals.

3.  TWO FREE CHECKED BAGS!!!!!!    I hate it when people try to carry on suitcases.  They tend to either put the suitcase up in the overhead compartment in the first spot they see and then go sit in the back of the plane.  This leaves no room in the compartment for the people sitting there!   I also hate it when there are so many suitcases in the overhead compartment that I can't even fit my coat up there.  So frustrating!  We try to only take bags that can fit under the seat.

I've started making the list of what will be in our checked bags.  I'm not done with it yet, but I figured I'd post what I had anyway.  I still haven't decided if we are taking 3 or 4 bags yet.  

Snack Suitcase  (souvenir suitcase on return trip) Checked bag 1 - nanette

ü  cereal

ü  spoons

ü  plates

ü  paper towels

ü  gallon size Ziploc bags/quart size Ziploc bags

ü  cup of soup

ü  peanut butter/jelly

ü  collapsible cooler

ü  beach towels

ü  laundry soap

Nanette Suitcase (checked bag 2)

ü  underwear

ü  bras

ü  socks

ü  t shirts

ü  shorts

ü  tank tops

ü  capris

ü  jeans (1 pair)

ü  light weight sweatshirt (you never know...)

ü  dress

ü  dress pants

ü  knee high stockings

ü  dress shirt

ü  pantyhose

ü  dress shoes

ü  sandals

ü  tennis shoes

ü  flip flops

ü  swim suit

ü  tooth brush/paste

ü  shampoo/soap

ü  make up

ü  sunscreen

ü  OTC meds (again you never know...)

ü  pj's

ü  hair dryer/curling iron

ü  hairbrush/bobby pins/rubberbands/hairspray

Justin checked bag 1

ü  underwear

ü  socks

ü  dress socks

ü  shorts

ü  jeans

ü  t-shirts

ü  light weight sweatshirt

ü  pj's

ü  dress pants

ü  undershirt

ü  dress shirt

ü  ties

ü  dress shoes

ü  flip flops

ü  swimsuit

ü  tennis shoes

ü  hairbrush

ü  tooth brush/paste

Carry-on's and new pig

I know you are all dying to know what we pack in our carry-on's for the plane!

Here's my list

ü  Cell/charger

ü  camera/charger/memory cards

ü  video camera/charger/memory cards

ü  drivers license/insurance card/AAA card/debit card/cash

ü  Binder (with all the confirmation numbers, etc in it)

ü  laptop/charger

ü  dvd's

ü  headphones

ü  nook/charger

ü  pen/paper

ü  guide books

ü  gum

ü  crystal light drink mix

ü  snack

ü  sunglasses

ü  change of clothes ( just in case we get stuck somewhere)

And Justin's list

ü  cell/charger

ü  laptop/charger

ü  gum

ü  snack

ü  game boy/charger/games

ü  yu-gi-oh cards 

ü  ID

ü  headphones

ü  medication

change of clothes (just in case we get stuck somewhere)

**Not really sure why, but apparently copy and past is not my friend tonight :(  It's not aligning right and not the same font and I can't fix it.  But on the bright side, two post in two days........Kadie will be so proud of me!   I really do want to be better at doing this more often, but I think I have ADD or something.  I have great intentions and then - something shiny catches my eye.  

Justin is getting a new guinea pig :)  We are pretty excited about it.  Her name is Ophelia and she looks the same as a pig of his (Pierre) that passed away this year.  AND she is going to have babies in 1-2 weeks!  I love baby piggies!!

I will post a picture of her when we get her and I'll post pictures of packing when it gets a little closer.

Nationals

Sorry, I know I said I would try to be better at blogging and blog once a week.  I think I need to just carve out  time each week to dedicate to blogging.  I would love to be able to do it more, I just take on more projects than I can do.  Really need to work on saying "No", but I don't want to let anyone down.  And I know that on some things if I don't step up and do it, nobody else will volunteer.

Lets get this show on the road.......Nationals!

My son, Justin, is a member of his schools FBLA (future business leaders of america) club.  He has been a member for 3 years and this year is also the club Secretary.  In this club they participate in different business related events on the local, regional, state and national level.  Justin has made it to state all three years, and this year qualified to go on to NATIONALS!!  *can you tell I'm excited??*  This year he did events in cyber security, something else (I really did listen when he told me, I just forgot what he said) and Microsoft Word.  As part of the word test he also did so good he is certified in word, he is also certified in power point but didn't make it to nationals in that.  He qualified in the microsoft word for Nationals.  In face he is one of 5 in the whole state of Washington that qualified!  See why I am so excited!!

So what does all this mean?????  It means Justin is going to Anaheim in June and I get to go with him!!  Justin is busy doing fundraising (speaking at different clubs - like the Kiwanis- in the county) and sending letters out asking for donations.  Meanwhile I am busy saving money so we can stay a few extra days and go to Disneyland.

Normally I plan our trips out a year, yes I know I'm crazy.  But for this trip we had two months! yikes!!

Here's what I have taken care of so far

• parking for while we are gone (it was only $10 more to stay in a hotel right by the airport the night before our flight - who had the bright idea to book a 6:45 flight???  oh yeah, that would be my fault)
• flights
• hotel for after the conference is booked
• medieval times dinner through conference is paid for (justin is very excited to go again
• Photopass + is paid for (thanks to a gift card I had)
• New summer dress clothes for justin
• disney shirt for each of us (can't go to disneyland without a disney shirt!)
• some snacks and breakfast for the room
• collapsible cooler (no fridge in the room)

Here's what we still need to take care of

• Shuttle to and from hotel
• Disneyland tickets (we can get discounted tickets through the conference)
• snacks, water once we check in to the hotel (there is a mini mart across the street from the hotel)

 here is the article that was in our local paper
here is the link to the facebook page I set up for anyone that wants to follow Justin there
and here is the link to donate toward Justin's FBLA conference expenses.


I am finalizing our packing list and will post that next time :)

2013

Wow I've been away for quite awhile!  I've decided to give blogging another try :)

Let'see, what have I been doing since we last talked?  I think the last time I blogged was May :-/  Since then I went on a trip to our nations capital and got to see a childhood friend while I was there.  I knew it was going to be hot there in June, but holy smokes who knew they were going to have a heat wave while we were there!  On our last night in the little cottage we stayed in there was a huge ind storm and we lost power, talk about one hot night.  I think my son was the only one who was able to sleep through it.  Mom and I were up most of the night.  When we went to leave the next morning there were tons of huge trees down all over the place.  Sad to see all those old trees broken all over the place :(

August - of course means county fair time.  Justin is one of the teen superintendents in his barn.  He did great at fair this year.  I believe he got a blue in all his competitions (I think there may have been one red ribbon on one of his posters he did) and Grand (1st place) in Showmanship, Judging, and knowledge bowl.

September - back to school and state fair.  Junior year for Justin.  Still can't believe he's almost done with high school!  For state fair he qualified to do showmanship, type, and judging contest.  He decided after last years fair to not take any of his animals.  He wasn't happy with the way they were running the barn and didn't want his animals in there.  I can't say I blame him.  He did go and do Judging contest and got 3rd place overall!  Those kids are tough to compete against.  You would be surprised with all the cavy knowledge they know.  September also marked the beginning of me getting sick.  I ended up with Guillian Barre.  It basically attacks the covering of your nerves.  My legs were numb from my toes half way up my thighs, and my hands and wrist were numb as well.  Thankfully I had a mild case.  The more severe cases usually end up on a ventilator in ICU!  Scary!  I did a week of IV therapy in the chemo unit, and now only have numbness in my fingertips and my feet.  My reflexes are starting to come back too :)  There was something great that happened to me in September though.   I got a job!!!!  Well actually two of them. I now work at a vascular surgery clinic doing surgery, and I'm selling lockets for Origami Owl (I'll post more about Origami Owl at the end of this blog).

October, November, December - Just your normal every day holiday stuff.  October and November were hard because I could barely walk.  My dad had to build a handicapped rail for me to get up and down the stairs :(  It's nice to have it there now - I don't need it to get up and down the stairs, but it's nice to have it to hang onto when it's icy outside.

January - I decided last week that I was going to start blogging again.  Hence why I am here :)  I'm going to try to do one post a week.  Maybe I'll do more as time goes on, but I need to learn to not put so many things on my plate.

Future - March, Hot Chocolate 5k.  At the end of the race they give you goodies and warm melted chocolate to dip the goodies in. Hey any race that is going to give me chocolate I am all for!  I believe this one is to benefit the Ronald Mcdonald house (but I could be wrong).

http://www.hotchocolate15k.com/

Origami Owl
No I'm not making origami animals and selling them.  This is a direct selling company that was founded by a 14 year old to raise money to buy a car when she turned 16.  She is now 16 and has a very nice little jeep.  How it works is you choose the charms you want and choose the glass locket you like, you can add other things to it like little dangles and back plates or just let the charms float around in the locket.  It might be easier to show you.  Here is my facebook page www.facebook.com/origamiowlbynanetteseevers
and if you are interested in ordering you can go to my website http://nanette.origamiowl.com
my email is locketsbynanette@gmail.com if you have any questions.  If you are interested in joining please e-mail or fb message me.  It's a ton of fun and there aren't the high sales numbers to have to meet each month like some of the other direct sales companies.  There are less than 9000 Independent Designers (that's what they call us reps) nation wide, so you would be getting in on the ground floor.

See you next week!

Nanette

Mother's Day/The Color Run

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Today we woke up at 4am to go catch a ferry at 5:20 this morning.  No, we aren't crazy.  Well maybe just a little, but who isn't!

Why did we get up so early?  To catch a ferry, I already told you.  Weren't you paying attention?  Oh you want to know where we were going so early.

We went here

to do this

Why?

Because we knew it was going to be exciting!

Here we are before the 5k

Add a little color

And this is what you get!

Here's our video from today :)

Can't wait to do it again next year!!!

Farmer's Market, Color Run, DC, and Disney!

Oh wow, it's been awhile since I posted!  I think this post will just be an update on what has been going on in the Neurotic List Making house.

Farmer's Market

I had my first day at the Poulsbo Farmer's Market.  I did better than I expected to.  Actually made money after all my fees were deducted, which is always nice!  Here's a few pictures of my booth.  Sorry I took them with the cell phone right as the market was opening so they aren't the best quality, but it will give you an idea.

Here's my tutu chalkboards.  Yes you can really write on them.  And yes, they do come on the hanger so they are ready to hang on the back of a door or hook on a wall :)

Here's some of the tutu's I made.  Kind of makes me wish I had a little girl!

Here's a picture of the booth.   Along with my helper (not by his choice, but hey he got paid! lol).  The things you have to do for your parents when you are a teenager ;)

Here's an up close of some of the things in the baskets.

The color run

Justin and I also registered for the color run.  We're going to do the one in Seattle on Mother's Day.  It looks like a ton of fun!

DC

And we've started getting things together for our summer vacation in Washington, DC.  We are staying at the cutest little cottage.  The guy that owns it seems really nice.  All the reviews are great about the place too.  I think it will be a nice break from the craziness of DC to be able to come back to the cottage to rest.  My mom is going to come with us too.  She likes to travel, but she's not as much of a walker as Justin and I are.  And yes I've got list for this trip!  

I'd show you a copy of the spreadsheet, but my computer isn't wanting to copy the screen and my tech geek is at school.

If I could copy it, you would see that the spreadsheet has tabs for daily schedule (and I have several different schedules to choose from, depending on how the day is going), grocery list, stuff to do before the trip, tour info, dining, packing list, flight info, lodging info, and car rental.  I told you I was a little neurotic about lists.

Disney

 We won't discuss the spreadsheet I have started for our vacation in approximately 844 days.  Yes, that's two years from now!  No, I don't see a problem with planning that far in advance.  Where are we going in two years?  Well, I'll tell you.  Why non other than one of our favorite places on earth.  

Disney World

I know, shocking surprise.  We were going to go right after Justin graduates from High School, but have decided to wait until the end of August after graduation.  Disney World has historically offered FREE dining the end of August and most of September.  So after crunching the numbers for what it would have cost us to stay at my parent's condo in orlando, the condo is free but once you factor in car rental, parking fees for the condo and all the parks, food (let's face it I'll be on vacation, am I really going to cook).  It wasn't that much more to stay on disney property during the free dining period.  I asked Justin where he wanted to stay (mind you some of those resorts are pricey!) and he chose.........

here!

This is where we stayed when we went in 2007 for Christmas.  

He wants to stay in the 50's section again.  They have the coolest pool.

If anyone is planning a Disney Vacation you should really check out the disboards.  Even if you've been to Disney World or Disneyland before, there are so many great tips on this board.  And if you're a little lot Disney crazy like I am, it's a great place to go so you don't drive your family crazy with all your disney talk!  Thankfully I have a kid that loves Disney almost as much as I do :)

I think that's about it for now.  I'm supposed to be finishing up a hat order right now.  A shop in town ordered several of my viking hats to sell at their store.  And since Viking Fest is in a couple weeks I need to get my behind in gear!