Staycation 2012

Staycation 2012

St. Augustine, Florida

It's that time again, where we all want to have that special vacation, yet can't find the time or the money (or both) to have it.  Why not enjoy a Staycation instead?  Why bother with packing, then forgetting something important, wasting time with long drives or delays at airports, not to mention the security hassle, when you could stay at home, yet have a wonderfully fulfilling experience?

Here are just a few tips for a successful Staycation:

• Set up the rules in advance.  Are you taking time off from work?  Then do NOT go in to work, don't call them, don't get guilted into coming in for "just a few minutes" and then staying all day, etc.  If you were to leave town, they wouldn't be able to do that, so don't let them do it to you when you're home on leave.
• Don't be on the computer or cell phone constantly.  This is supposed to be good quality time with family, make it so.
• Plan ahead.  Would you want to do laundry or go grocery shopping if you were to fly 3000 miles away for vacation?  No, you wouldn't, so have things ready as if you were actually going to leave town.  
• Be sure to budget yourself accordingly.  Our Staycation blogs are to help you out and show you free or inexpensive places to go and things to do.  Try not to get too distracted and end up blowing a ton of money on a bunch of stuff, food, tours, etc. that you don't really need when the whole goal is to save while enjoying your family vacation.  There's always that one special item or tour that may jump out at you that you really feel would just "make" the vacation, well, if that's so, then go ahead and do it.  But remember, this is a "Staycation" for a reason.  Keep a watch on the wallet, but don't stress yourself out.
• Don't forget the camera!  Just because you aren't leaving town doesn't mean you aren't going to want to save the memories in picture form and add them to a scrapbook/Facebook/Tumblr/etc later.  

Of course, there are always exceptions to any rule, but the closer you stay to home, the closer you need to adhere to your vacation rules, in order to keep sane.  This is your time, after all, enjoy it!

If you're not from (or near enough to) St. Augustine, Florida to enjoy a Staycation here, check back tomorrow for a list of over 40 other destinations all over the US!

So, on with our Staycation 2012 in St. Augustine, Florida... 

(these are in no particular order)

Park Now Card

First things first, if you are a St. Johns County resident and are going to be doing a lot of stuff downtown and either parking at the parking meters or in the parking garage, you might want to purchase a ParkNow card.  You can get one at the Financial Services Office located behind the Lightner Museum.  You can get hourly parking for .50 cents vs. the $1.50 and only pay $1 for the parking garage vs. the usual $10 charge.  Call 904-825-1034 for details.  You can also check out the brochure here.

First Friday Artwalk

http://artgalleriesofstaugustine.com/firstfridayartwalks.html

This is a FREE event that is held on the first Friday of every month, starting in May 2012 and running through the end of the year.  It runs from 5pm until 9pm and you can start at any of the AGOSA participating galleries (see link for more details and a list of the galleries.) and receive a free map to help you on your way.  There is also transportation by the Old Town Trolley Tours available during the event.  Please visit the website or call 904-829-0065 for more information.

Uptown Saturday Night

Live street music, wine tasting, art and antiques, all available for yet another monthly event.  This time it takes place on the last Saturday of the month, from 5pm until 9pm along San Marco Avenue between Ripley’s Believe it or Not and the Mission of Nombre de Dios.  The Mission offers free parking as well. 

http://coastalcompanion.com/florida/st-augustine/uptown-saturday-night/

The Mission of Nombre de Dios

http://www.missionandshrine.org/

While you’re in the area, why not visit the Mission at 27 Ocean Avenue, with it’s large cross that stands 208 feet tall.  Take a walking tour, enjoy the grounds, check out the archeological excavation or visit the Shrine gift shop.  You can call (904) 824-2809 or (800) 342-6529 for more information or to book a group tour.

Fountain of Youth

http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/index.php

Come see where it all began.  This attraction is not expensive and if you’re a St. Johns County resident, you can get in for free with your ID.  The park is also pet friendly and they encourage you to feed the peacocks and squirrels who wander around the grounds freely.  Come visit, drink from the Fountain of Youth, and learn about our country’s beginnings.

Fishing

There’s always the relaxing sport of fishing to enjoy in St. Augustine.  Of course, you can always charter a boat, if you don’t have one of your own already, but if that’s a little more than you want to take on, there are two piers that are favorites to cast off of.  One in Vilano Beach, the other at the St. Augustine Beach pier.  Don’t forget to get your license, though!  Shoreline licenses are free to Florida residents, but be sure to check out http://www.sjctax.us/SaltwaterFish.aspx for details.

Beaches

Certainly, don’t forget our beaches.  You can’t be in St. Augustine and not go to the beach.  (Well, you can, but why would you?!)  During the summer months, you will need a parking pass to drive on the beach, but the fee is nominal and you can always purchase a yearly pass or just a daily one at the toll booths at any of the on-ramps to the beach.  Of course, there are other alternatives that are free, with a little bit of walking.  Frank B. Butler Beach is a popular spot with picnic tables under pavilions, restrooms, and a walkway from the parking area to the beach, crossing over the dunes.  Check out the sea turtles below the walkway, as many times they can be spotted as you head to the shore.

Flagler College

http://www.augustine.com/exit/listing/Flaglers_Legacy_Tours

The college offers tours during the summer months for a nominal fee.  These tours run hourly starting in the main lobby and last about an hour.  St. Augustine residents receive a discount and children under 12 receive a coloring and activity book as well.  This is a beautiful college and is worth it to witness such interesting architectural design and history with a marble staircase and Tiffany windows.

St. George Street

One of our most famous landmarks is the pedestrian section of St. George Street from Cathedral Place to Orange Street, this walking street is home of many vendors, restaurants and bars.  Just like our beaches, you really can’t visit St. Augustine and not stroll down this coquina paved street and consider yourself as having seen St. Augustine.  Although some of the stores might seem a bit too touristy, many are very unique and enjoyable to shop in or just even window shop.  The restaurants serve good food with good service and some even have live music as well.  This particular zone can be as cheap (free if you’re just going window shopping) as you want or as expensive as you can afford, (impulse buyers beware!) depending on how much you buy, so be savvy, stay the course, and be sure that the souvenir(s) you purchase will be the one(s) you will enjoy for many years to come.  Personally, I can usually get away with walking the whole street with only hitting one or two of the candy and ice cream shops, but the temptations are many.

There are also attractions down this street that you may decide you would like to visit as well.

Oldest Wooden School House http://www.oldestwoodenschoolhouse.com/

Oldest House http://www.staugustinehistoricalsociety.org/

The Historic Pena-Peck House (http://www.staugustinewomans-exchange.com/ )

St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine (http://stphotios.com/ )

There are also quite a few Ghost Tour options available:

http://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/st-augustine/

http://www.staugustinecitywalks.com/hm3/index.html

http://www.aghostlyexperience.com/home.html

http://www.ghostaugustine.com/

Some tours are decently priced, and may have discounts for online purchasing, etc. but be careful, as some of the more fancy, private tours can get a little pricey. 

Music by the Sea

http://www.thecivicassociation.com/

Free concerts at the St. Augustine Pier Pavillion every Wednesday evenings starting in May and going through September go from 7pm until 9pm.  Different restaurants sell dinners at 6pm for $10 or less.  Be sure to bring lawn chairs or blankets for your own seat.

Music at the Plaza

http://www.staugustinegovernment.com/sites/concerts-plaza/index.cfm

Memorial Day through Labor Day, every Thursday evening at 7pm, enjoy yet another free concert series, this time downtown at the Plaza.  Remember, bring a chair or something to sit on and maybe a picnic, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited at the Plaza.

Dow Museum of Historic Houses

http://www.moas.org/dowmuseum.html

Nine historic houses in St. Augustine await your visit for a very small fee.  Tickets are free to St. Augustine residents on the first Monday of the month.  The houses are all contained in one city block starting at 149 Cordova Street, near the corner of Bridge Street.  See the website for more details.

British Night Watch Parade

http://www.britishnightwatch.org/

If you’ll be around on December 1^st, you won’t want to miss the British Night Watch Parade and bring a candle if you would like to participate!  It starts at 8pm at the Government house by the Plaza

The Lightner Museum

http://www.lightnermuseum.org/

Formerly the Hotel Alcazar, this museum showcases America’s Gilded Age, a period of rapid transformation that led to America being one of the strongest nations in the world.  “Gilding” refers to taking a cheaper metal and covering it with gold.  Located across the street from another former hotel, Flagler College, architects and builders were commissioned by Henry Flagler to build both hotels in the 1800’s.  Admission is fairly cheap at $10 or less.  You can also enjoy lunch at the Secret Café Alcazar at 25 Granada Street.  It’s located in the Lightner Museum, but entrance is on the side of the building.  http://www.thecafealcazar.com/

The Markets

If you enjoy visiting markets and roaming around local vendors, St. Augustine has many flavors for you.  The St. Augustine Amphitheater hosts a Farmer’s Market on Saturdays http://www.staugustinefm.com/  from 8:30am until 12:30pm.  

On Wednesdays, there’s the Market at the St. Augustine Beach Pier.  http://www.thecivicassociation.com/  from 8am until 12:30pm. 

The St. Augustine Flea Market is located off SR 207, the entrance is beside the Racetrack gas station.  The flea market is open Saturdays and Sundays from 8am until 4pm.

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

http://www.pvconcerthall.com/

Located at 1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra, FL 32082, the pricing is a little more than most of the events we’ve listed, but for a concert, they’re rather reasonable. 

The St. Augustine Amphitheater 

http://www.staugamphitheatre.com/  

The St. Augustine Amphitheater also hosts many concerts and this summer, some of the great names will be ZZ Top, 3 Doors Down, Ringo Star and Boston.  Although, these tickets will cost you quite a bit, but sometimes you just have to see your favorite band in person, and if you’re doing a Staycation to save some money, maybe you can use some of the money you’ve saved for a fabulous concert full of great memories.

And of course, there’s the Winter Wonderland also located at the St. Augustine Amphitheater http://www.winterwonderlandflorida.com/  if you’re planning a Christmastime Staycation.  Check out the site once the fall hits for more details.

Castillo de San Marcos

http://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm

The only fort to not ever be taken in actual battle, but only handed over from one culture to another via treaty, this fort is rich in history and culture.  And at a fee of only $7 per adult (age 16+) that is good for seven consecutive days, (and 15 yrs and younger are free when accompanied by an adult) it’s one of the better priced attractions in St. Augustine.

Anastasia State Park

http://floridastateparks.org/anastasia/

Near the Castillo de San Marcos is Anastasia State Park.  For a small fee, you can enjoy the beach, nature trails, camping, bicycling, fishing, and much more.  Call 904-460-9111 for more information.

Bird Island Park

http://www.birdislandpark.com/

Enjoy nature trails, a sea turtle maze, a playground, sculptures, story telling time, and much more at this beautiful park in the Vilano Beach area, behind the library at 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

First Coast Opera

http://www.firstcoastopera.com/

For a bit more culture on a more refined side, yet still within a Staycation budget ($15 if purchased ahead of time, $20 at the door) try the opera.  See the website for specific dates and shows.

The Love Tree

http://www.see-staugustine.com/st-augustine/insider-guide/travel-ideas/recreation/129-st-augustines-love-tree

Definitely a must see for couples, it is said that kissing by this tree is supposed to ensure the couple stays together forever.  The Love Tree, a palm growing out of a live oak tree, is located on Cordova Street near the Tolomato cemetery.

Aviles Street

St. Augustine’s oldest new attraction… or is that the newest old attraction?  Said to be the oldest street in America, it has been remade back into it’s old world charm with sidewalk dining and vintage lampposts.  Even for those of us who have lived here for a long time, this is something new yet familiar to enjoy.

Ponte Vedra Beach Car Show

http://pontevedrachamber.org/events/2012-ponte-vedra-car-show/

For the car enthusiasts out there, admission is free for this event, see website closer to September for more details and info about actually registering if you wish to do more than observe and admire.

Bayfront Mini Golf

http://www.sightseeingtrains.com/bayfront-mini-golf/

For a very small fee, you and your family can enjoy a game of mini golf at the Florida’s oldest mini golf course.  It is located downtown on the bayfront overlooking the St. Johns River by the Bridge of Lions.

Fiesta Falls Mini Golf

http://www.lafiestainn.com/saint-augustine/fiesta-falls-mini-golf/

For another mini golf option with a pirate ship and waterfalls, for just a couple bucks more, you can enjoy Fiesta Falls Mini Golf located next to La Fiesta Ocean Inn and Suites at 818 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080.

July 4^th

One of this particular blogger’s favorites, July 4^th fireworks in St. Augustine are an amazing thing to watch.  There are two locations and admission is free to both locations.  The two places to see our fireworks are:

The bayfront where the fireworks are set off from a barge and go off over the Castillo de San Marcos.  There is also a soundtrack of patriotic music that is usually synced with the fireworks.  Bring your own seating.  Call 904-825-1004 for more details.

The second is at the World Golf Village.  Bring your own seating (no coolers please, at this location) and find a spot to sit around the Walk of Champions.  Call 904-940-4123 for details. 

Nights of Lights

http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/nights/

If you want something to do during the winter holidays, The Nights of Lights is one that you don’t want to miss.  From November 19^th to January 31^st, downtown St. Augustine is lit up with an amazing display of breathtaking white lights. 

St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum

http://www.thepiratemuseum.com/

If Pirates are your thing, then the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is just the thing.  This museum was voted Best Local Attraction in 2011.  For a small fee, you can enjoy learning about pirates, view pirate artifacts, visit exhibits that immerse you into a world of pirates long forgotten, such as 17^th century Port Royal, Jamaica, The Rogues Tavern, the Main Deck of a pirate ship, or even go below deck to experience some of the more seedy parts of being a pirate such as the Execution Dock and Shipwreck Island, and much more.  Annual and Family passes are also available as well as apps for Apple and Android devices.  Check out the website for more details, maps and videos.

Historic Churches & Cemeteries

There are many churches and cemeteries in St. Augustine, all rich in history and tourist-ready, even if you are a local, you can always “play” tourist, after all, isn’t that what the Staycation is all about?

The Cathedral Basilica http://www.thefirstparish.org/

Grace Methodist Church http://www.graceumcstaugustine.org/

Huguenot Cemetery 904-829-8272 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huguenot_Cemetery

Memorial Presbyterian Church http://www.memorialpcusa.org/

There is so much more to see and do than even on this list, in St. Augustine.  But hopefully this will give you some ideas for a fabulous Staycation this 2012.  Enjoy and be sure to let me know how your Staycation goes!

It's National Repeat Day!  

It's National Repeat Day!  

It's National Repeat Day!  

It's National Repeat Day!  

It's National Repeat Day!  

So, in honor of the "National Repeat Day," I'm repeating a post that many of you enjoyed before... 


Blog prompt from Mama Kat

4.) Many of us like to poke fun at some of the things that drive us crazy as parents…let’s flip the script, what are 10 things you love about motherhood?

1. Fishy kisses from my Buggaboo.  He loves to give kisses and uses any excuse, such as “I’m sorry”  “Hi”  “Bye bye”  or he’ll just climb up into my lap and give me three or four kisses and then get back down.  And when I’m upset/crying, he comes right to me and gives me fishy kisses until I start laughing.  It’s hard not to, because it’s so cute!
2. How my little man is turning into such a Mommy’s helper… or at least, he’s trying to.  He’s only 16 months old right now, but he’s already trying to “help” out now and then.
3. My hubby’s saying:  “If Momma’s not happy, no one’s happy!”  LOL  He and our oldest (who’s 17 going on 35) like to joke about that.
4. Having people understand why I’m so tired all the time.  All I say is that I have a teenager and a 16 month old and everyone gives me the sympathetic looks and sounds.
5. The power of “Because I said so!”
6. The ego boost that kids give you when they think you know everything.  (this is usually right before I have to burst that bubble, but for a brief moment, the exhilaration is intoxicating.)
7. The “Baby on Board” sign in the back window of the van.  Call me crazy, but I’ve always wanted one of those!
8. Rekindling imagination and the Legendary Characters of Santa, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, etc. 
9. Bringing out the Inner-Child again.  I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but It’s so fun to play with all the cool toys that are out there now, that they didn’t make when I was little.
10. Authority of Motherhood to clean anybody's face with spit.

Drawing Day 2012

Drop Everything & Draw!  

It's World Drawing Day today, June 2nd, 2012.  Take some time today and draw something either by hand or on the computer and visit the above link and upload it to share with the world.  It doesn't matter if you're an amazing artist, just a doodler, or somewhere in between.  All that matters is that you feed your imagination and draw today.  I'll post my drawing a little later... Below is my drawing.

Please share with me your creations as well.  I'd love to see them!

Here is where my drawing has been uploaded to www.DrawingDay.org

National "Go Barefoot" Day!

Happy June 1st, it's National Go Barefoot Day!  Enjoy wiggling your toes in the grass or the sand, wherever you are, this Friday June 1st!

If at first you don't succeed...

So, I'm going to try again (if at first you don't succeed...) with a daily blog posting, inspired by BlogHer

and hopefully, this time, I'll be able to keep up with it.  I've tried in the past with dismal results, but I figure it's about time that I try again.  I've been such a slacker on my blog lately, due to life getting in the way.  But now I'm ready to take on the challenge once again, starting in June.  Wish me luck and check back often to see what I've come up with.

If I were a Princess...

For this week's writing prompt, I'm choosing:

4.) If you had to choose a Disney princess to live the rest of your life as...which princess would you choose and why?

Well, let's see... who do we have to choose from?  Here are the Disney Princesses, in debut order:

Snow White

Cinderella

Aurora

Mulan

Belle

Pocahontas

Jasmine

Tiana

Ariel

Rapunzel

First of all, Sleeping Beauty was one of my favorite movies for years, but to be that princess?  Nah, not quite who I'd want to be.  Although I'd love to have that voice!

Mulan is a really cool chick... rough and tough... and I've always been the tom-boy.  But, would I want to be her?  Hmmm.... nope.

Rapunzel, the newest of the princesses, she's had a terrible life locked up in a tower, so no thanks.

Not exactly in the mood to be turned into a frog, so Tiana's out.

Belle's ok, but not tops on my list of lives I'd rather live.

Cinderella, waaaayyy too hard of a life.  I barely clean my own house, there's no way I'd cater to those wenches.

Snow White... I like her, but she's being totally over-done right now, with the tv show and two movies about her... I just don't think I'd want that kind of publicity.

Pocahontas... Well, being based on a real person kind of takes the magic out of it... even though, in the animated movie, she has shamanistic-like powers with being able to talk to animals and stuff.  Which, by the way, is very cool, but not what I'm looking for in a fantasy vision of my life.

Honestly, I think it's a real toss-up between Ariel and Jasmine.  Ariel is a mermaid and let's be honest, how cool would that be?!  Being able to live and swim around the ocean?  Very cool possibility.  But then she gives it all up to live on land as a mere human.... on second thought... meh.... moving on....

Then there's Jasmine.  Always rich, beautiful, servants to carry out her every whim, a very cool tiger for a pet, and then, in the end, she gets her "street rat" the dangerous, living-on-the-edge kind of guy (who turns out to be the man of our dreams,) that we all secretly want to get.  (Not to mention that she's got the really cool, sexy outfit like in the old classic tv show, I Dream of Jeannie, an old favorite of mine, but now I'm dating myself)  Jasmine gets to ride on a magic carpet, have a genie and a monkey for friends... What more could you ask for?  Well, I suppose the ability to breath under water like Ariel, but with that one exception, I think Jasmine wins hands down.  Besides, who wouldn't want to look amazing like her?!

Stay tuned for Staycation 2012

It's coming!  The St. Augustine, Florida Staycation 2012.  

Be sure to check back on June 4th for your Staycation information! 

Writing Prompt of the Day

Here's another writing prompt from Mama Kat.  The first list is from her workshop.  The second list is my own, inspired from the first.

List the top 10 things you miss about being alone.

1. Peace & Quiet  (I think I could just stop this list after this one and feel completely done!  LOL)
2. Not being interrupted when I’m trying to do…. Anything!
3. Not having to share my meal with a toddler who sees Mommy eating and thinks he has to have some of it (or most of it)
4. Being able to just get up and go… anywhere… without having to pack up the Little Man or wait for or find someone to watch him
5. Not having other people’s messes.  If it’s messy, it’s my own fault.  If I clean it up, I didn’t have to worry about someone coming right behind me to mess it up.
6. Being able to do what I want, when I want, without having to think about or worry about anyone else’s needs/wants.
7. Not having to worry about anyone else… did they get where they were supposed to be?  Will they get home ok?  What are the kids doing?  Don’t touch that!  Don’t do that!  Etc…
8. Being able to walk around naked in the house.
9. Being responsible for myself, my own bills, my own meals (If I skipped a meal, it wasn’t a big deal, but I can’t skip feeding my children)
10. Going out and hanging out with friends any time I wanted.

List the top 10 things I love having now that I’m not alone:

1. Unconditional love from my son.  I never thought I could feel so much love, especially from someone so small.
2. Having someone to take out the garbage and carry in groceries for me.  (Ok, so that one's a bit on the selfish side... it's still one of my favorite things of having a hubby!)
3. Having someone to share things with; how the day went, what happened, things to do, etc.
4. Having a partner (my hubby) for all eternity.
5. Being able to be a SAHM
6. Being the Mom for Mother’s Day!
7. Watching the miracle that is my son.
8. Being able to enjoy playing with toys without anyone thinking I’m weird
9. Being able to watch Disney movies without anyone thinking I’m weird
10. Learning lessons that only my baby boy can teach me.

Pinterest Addiction

Well, another "middle-of-the-night" Pinterest-fest... I've just found some of the most amazing things on there!  I'm just blown away by the creativity of some of these people.  I'm still in search of my muse.  I really don't know where she went, but she really needs to come back.  I'm just so jealous at the creativity of the people and their projects that I've been coming across.

Here's just a sample:

Sand Dollar Cookies

The Lorax Cake

Constellation Cheesecake (this one's just insane!  I couldn't imagine the patience needed!)

Chalkboard Eggs (found this a few weeks too late, but how fun do they look!?!)

Come check it out, join me and let's win!



(Just something I do when I'm bored with all my other distractions. LOL)

Stuffed Crocheted Frog

Went to a birthday party for a friend's beautiful little girl.  The theme was The Princess and the Frog, so I decided to crochet a stuffed frog.  It actually came out pretty well for my first time making one. 

The birthday girl seemed to like it... she didn't want to let go of it.  :o)  Hope it holds up for her and hope she enjoys it. 

It's so soft and smooshy, my hubby and our oldest both said they want one!  Guess I'll be making more!

Can't Connect Windows 7 Phone to Zune

So, Zune seems to be having an issue with the Windows 7 phone and certificates.

I found the answer for my particular issue below.  The first part didn't work, so I, like the person who wrote the entry, had to use the second part and it worked like a charm. 

First, I had to "show hidden files and folders" by going into the Control Panel and typing "folder" in the search bar.  This brought up a few options, one of which was "Folder Options" and under it, "Show hidden files and folders" which I clicked on.  Then click Apply and Ok, then close out of those windows.

Then follow the instructions that I found below....

http://forums.create.msdn.com/forums/p/88904/593709.aspx
The error occurs when you connect your Windows Phone 7 device to your computer with the USB cable. Zune opens and tries to connect to the device, but pops up an error message that says "Can't connect to your phone. Disconnect it, Restart it, then try connecting again".
The most common solution to this from reading the forums is as follows:
There is an issue with the Zune personal digital certificate.
To resolve this issue, create a new certificate:
    If it is running, close the Zune software and disconnect your phone.
    Open Certificate Manager. To do this, click Start, type certmgr.msc, and press Enter.
    Expand Personal, and then expand Certificates.
    Click the heading for the Issued By column to sort the column, and then look for one or more certificates that is issued to "zune-tuner://windowsphone/...".
    Right-click that certificate and then click Delete. Click Yes.
    From the File menu, click Exit.
    Start the Zune software and connect your phone to create a new certificate.
This seems to resolve the error for some people, but it didn't work in my case. Restarting Zune didn't create a new certificate. So after a lot of digging around with process monitor I found an additional step that worked for me and triggered the Zune certificate to be recreated.
    Delete the Zune certificates following the instructions above
    Before restarting the Zune software, locate the folder C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA
    Inside that folder there should be a directory named something like S-1-5-21-1234567890-1234567890-1234567890-1111
    Rename this folder e.g. adding .bak to the end of the folder name
    Restart the Zune software - the folder should be recreated and a new Zune certificate should be created in the certificate store
    I needed to restart Zune one more time in order for the error to clear and the phone to connect successfully
I hope this helps anyone else out there with the same problem.
ref:
http://www.governor.co.uk/blog/2011/3/29/zune-can't-connect-to-your-phone-disconnect-it,-restart-it,-then-try-connecting-again

 Hope this works for someone else.  I'd like to thank those in the links above who posted the great answers!

On a personal note...

Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I posted anything!  Life has gotten so ridiculously busy lately and I've not been feeling very well either.  This is definitely the LAST baby we have!  I forgot how exhausting pregnancy can be!  UGH.  And last time, I hardly had any nausea at all... this time around, however, is making up for all that.  And, of course, with "Baby Brain" I've been even more distracted than usual.  And don't even talk to me about St. Patrick's Day or Easter... holidays are just way overwhelming at the moment.  I'd love to decorate (omg I think we still have some random Christmas decorations up!) but it just takes too much energy.  Although, we might do Easter eggs.  I found some really cute ideas from one of my adventures on Pinterest!  And, just so you know, hard boiled cooked eggs come out better if you steam them!  Just ask Alton Brown of Good Eats.  (love his show!)  And check out his video here.

My laptop is still down and out, so I'm still using our son's laptop.  I can't wait to get mine up and running again.  Repair sessions have been sporadic.

I have been doing some more crocheting, though.  Hopefully I can get some pics up here soon.

 It's hard enough to try to get time to do anything these days, though, with an 18 month old running around like crazy!  He's so adorable, curious, smart, funny, and totally obstinate and exasperating!  LOL  He's definitely hit the "Terrible Twos" already.  He'll wake from a nap and just cry and scream like crazy and I have no idea why.  Usually he wants to eat immediately, so that might be part of it.  And the temper tantrums!  OMG! 

But then he does a complete 180 and is just so darned cute!  He asked the UPS guy yesterday, "How you doin'?"  Then told him "Bye" when he was walking away.  Now, how cute is that?!  And he loves to give fishy kisses and hugs all the time.  So, it makes all the temper tantrums and crying and screaming (mostly) worth it.  I'm amazed at how much I love that little guy.

And can you believe, we're doing it all over again?!?!  Yep, the little peanut is due Sept. 12th, 2012.  Hence, why I've not been feeling very well.  And that's also why I'm up in the middle of the night as well.  I've not been sleeping well at all. 

But something that I've noticed lately in the mornings are the sunrises.  They have been just beautiful lately.  And the birds singing in the morning.  For some reason, I've been noticing them more.  It's been a very nostalgic and very nature oriented pregnancy this time.  I think it was with the first baby, but this time around, my senses and emotions seem to be even more heightened.  It's definitely different this time around, that's for sure!

Anyway, I'm getting excited about Spring Cleaning that we're going to be doing next month.  We're hoping to have some yard sales as well, once we clear out a few ton of items.  Let's just say that we have a two-car garage and there's barely an open pathway from the door to the washer & dryer!  But I've got an idea for a system of getting stuff organized.  I'll let you know if it works or not.

As for all my projects, well.... they're still going, just going a lot slower than I'd like them to, due to the exhaustion from the pregnancy. 

Speaking of exhaustion......... Good night!

Blue!

Well, as you can see, I went all blue on my blog.  I know the pink was very pretty and uplifting, but blue is my favorite color.  We'll see how I like it.

I've been MIA for a bit because my laptop died.  I'm still trying to fix it, but until then, I've had to confiscate borrow our son's laptop indefinitely temporarily.

I've been overly busy and overly exhausted as well, so that doesn't help the issue.  I have come to the realitization that I was spending waaaaaay too much time on the computer and that my whole life was wrapped up in that thing.  There are so many documents saved on that hard drive that I was devastated to the point of tears.  I'm still not happy, but I'm trying to spend less time on the computer and a little more time with family.  (Although Castleville on Facebook has gotten a bit of a grip on me.)

Anyway, this was just a little note to keep up with my blog and my viewers.  Thank you for your patience. 

My current projects are:
Make a drop spindle (to be able to spin the plarn better)
To crochet a scarf (currently looking through my tons of yarn for colors)
Planning a Gatehouse Scrapbook

Stay tuned....



Gnomeo & Juliet is a constant in our house and I just love the color Blue!



10 things I love about motherhood

Blog prompt from Mama Kat

4.) Many of us like to poke fun at some of the things that drive us crazy as parents…let’s flip the script, what are 10 things you love about motherhood?

1. Fishy kisses from my Buggaboo.  He loves to give kisses and uses any excuse, such as “I’m sorry”  “Hi”  “Bye bye”  or he’ll just climb up into my lap and give me three or four kisses and then get back down.  And when I’m upset/crying, he comes right to me and gives me fishy kisses until I start laughing.  It’s hard not to, because it’s so cute!
2. How my little man is turning into such a Mommy’s helper… or at least, he’s trying to.  He’s only 16 months old right now, but he’s already trying to “help” out now and then.
3. My hubby’s saying:  “If Momma’s not happy, no one’s happy!”  LOL  He and our oldest (who’s 17 going on 35) like to joke about that.
4. Having people understand why I’m so tired all the time.  All I say is that I have a teenager and a 16 month old and everyone gives me the sympathetic looks and sounds.
5. The power of “Because I said so!”
6. The ego boost that kids give you when they think you know everything.  (this is usually right before I have to burst that bubble, but for a brief moment, the exhilaration is intoxicating.)
7. The “Baby on Board” sign in the back window of the van.  Call me crazy, but I’ve always wanted one of those!
8. Rekindling imagination and the Legendary Characters of Santa, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, etc. 
9. Bringing out the Inner-Child again.  I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but It’s so fun to play with all the cool toys that are out there now, that they didn’t make when I was little.
10. Authority of Motherhood to clean anybody's face with spit.

2012

40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge

Just in time for the new year, I came across a new challenge (yet another one!) that I desparately need. 
40 Bags in 40 Days
The idea is to get rid of 40 bags of stuff from your house (and my whole family are packrats) in 40 days in any way... out to the garbage, donate, yard sale, etc. and by the end of it, have a cleaner, less cluttered home. 

So, starting January 1st, 2012 I'm dedicating myself to getting a bag together each day.  The size of the bag doesn't matter.  If you need a big garbage bag, use it, if you only need/gather a small shopping bag's worth, then do that, but what matters is that you do "A Bag A Day" for 40 days. 

Apparently, it came from the idea of the 40 days of Lent.  I think this is a wonderful challenge and have been in the cleaning mood lately, so hopefully this should work out.  Having just cleaned up the living room and kitchen for Christmas, I've had a jumpstart, so I'm excited about it.  I also plan to blog about my progress as well.  Please post comments about your progress as well if you plan to join me and post a link to your site if you're going to show your successes as well.  I'd love to see your pregression through the challenge.

Mermaid On Crutches?

Well, I came across one of the most ridiculous outfits that I’ve ever seen:

While quite beautiful, it seems to be very obnoxiously inconvenient and problematic.  I mean, seriously, how do you get a mermaid to “walk” with crutches (when obviously the poor model can’t even move her skimpy chicken legs?!)?

But then, while trying to find the actual fashion show that show cased this particular dress, I came across the following video:

I’ve never liked Haute Couture or any of the weird styles that some of the more popular designers put out… until now.

Jean Paul Gaultier is wonderful.  Somewhere into the video I actually found myself enjoying the fun that is JPG.  I still don’t quite believe it, but I did and now I do.  There were even a couple outfits that I actually liked.  The gold stockings on the one model were, in fact, my favorite thing for the whole show, but there were a few outfits that looked quite lovely as well. 

I enjoyed the music and the quirkiness that JPG apparently is known for and it is a pleasant and enjoyable attribute for a designer.  I wonder what else I’ve been missing with other designers as well as with this one?

(Just great… yet another object of distraction!)

But, then again, watching the models has given me new motivation to lose weight in the upcoming new year.  Will I lose enough to look like them?  Of course not, nor would I want to.  They are way too skinny, in my opinion.  But I would like to be my old self again, and lose quite a bit.  It’s always nice to have motivation.  The movie Dirty Dancing did it for me years ago and that motivation worked.  So, if it takes a Jean Paul Gaultier model to do it for me this time, then so be it.  Maybe I’ll actually keep this New Year’s Resolution and lose some poundage. 

Not that I want to wear anything that I saw in the video (I certainly couldn’t afford it!) but I would like the option and those things don’t come in my size.  What size am I, you ask?  Well, I’m not that brave as to post it on here, but if you’ve seen any of my pictures, you know I’m roughly the size of a small house.  Well, maybe not that big, but I feel like it.  And I am quite large.  So, my goal for this year is to lose 115 pounds in a year.  That’s only 2.2 pounds a week, so it’s actually quite doable… in theory. 

To change the subject yet again, I apologize for not getting any crafts out here… but the new year is just around the corner and once the holidays are over with, I’ll be able to concentrate on more than cleaning, cooking and decorating!

You know you're a mother when...

1.      You use your spit to clean off someone’s face… and it’s not necessarily your child! (It might even be an adult!)

2.      Your purse spills over and out comes nothing but baby wipes, cheerios, toys from numerous kids meals and a miscellaneous sock that would only fit the foot of a toddler… wallet?  What wallet?  Ahh, crap!

3.      You dig deeper into your purse to find the above lost wallet only to find… eeewwww, gross!  Where are those wipes?!?!

4.      You realize that you have no idea how you survived before you had wipes.

5.      You follow the disastrous trail of toys and clothes in order to find a child.

6.      The kids are constantly losing the tv remotes and you dig into the couch to find them and… eeeeewwwwww, Honey, bring me a wipe!

7.      You realize your mother’s curse worked!  Thanks a lot, Mom!  :-P

8.      You automatically move everything away from the edges of tables, counters, etc., even when in the homes of people who don’t have kids.

9.      You see everything as a hazard… this’ll poke an eye out, that’s slippery and someone will fall, this can get knocked off, that’s too dangerous over there…. OMG my house is a death trap!!  How on earth has anyone survived this far?!?!

10.  You realize you can’t even pee in peace, so you find your iPod, lock yourself in the bathroom and pray that the house doesn’t catch fire and no one bleeds to death for the five minutes you desire of “Me time” only to take the headphones off out of guilt.

11.  You realize that you’re totally exhausted, it’s only 5 o’clock, you haven’t even started dinner and you haven’t accomplished anything other than running after a munchkin, cleaning up after a munchkin, and keeping said little mess-maker from killing himself by diving off of furniture!

12.  You realize it’s ONLY 5 o’clock and you’re ready for bed, even if the kids aren’t!

13.  Your little one comes up to you and gives you a huge hug and the cutest little fishy kiss and the whole day melts away with his giggle.

Inspired by Mama Kat