can't remember the name

I've been trying to find a book for the, um, several YEARS.  I have been wanting to find this book for Ryanna to read but the only problem is:

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THIS BOOK!

I THINK I read it when I was 9 or 10 years old.  Since I have many friends that are so book savvy and are involved in "Bookland" I'm challenging this qwest. 

Here's what I know about it:
1) The main character's name is Shirley.
2) She's either in 5th grade or early Junior Highish.
3) She has a baseball clock in the book and when it sounds, she has to THROW it at the wall to turn it off. (I know it's a funky thing to remember, but I thought it was so COOL)
4) It was a scholastic book order book

Please, my fellow bookworms, please help me find this book! I haven't ever seen it at a library, I've never seen it in any book orders and haven't been able to locate it.  Help!

five hundreth post!

Quinientos. Cinquecento. Quinhentos. Cinq cent. D.

Whether you say it in Spanish, Italian, Porteguese or in Roman Numberals, it means the same thing! This is my 500th post.  I have had something to say, share, vent, rant and rave about 500 times! That's a lot of words.  That's a lot of AIR!

In honor of my 500th post, I'm going to put all the names that previously have left comments on my blog into a hat:

(there are more names that I didn't include in the picture, so if you don't see YOURS, fear not!!!)

My half-dressed helper picked three initially and then he dropped the other two in his hand...

I'm going to pull out ONE name and send a $10 giftcard from Walmart! I know not much, but it will help with Christmas!

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

.............................................................DRUMROLL PLEASE!............................................................

BROOKE ANDERSON!

Congratulations!

To everyone: THANK YOU for all your support and comments, I always love hearing from friends and you all make my heart warm.  THANK YOU for listening.  Here's to another 500 posts! (yikes, let's hope I don't run out of things to say!)

beautiful gift ideas

My mom has lots and lots of goodies that she is selling!! Really excellent quality and wonderful selection.  I can't wait to go shopping at her house.  If you need directions, CALL ME or EMAIL ME!

You have to see it to believe this, it's all genuine and REAL!

It's like what I imagine HEAVEN to look like, honestly.  I love it!

one pumpkin, two pies and a big mess

After church, I was resting.  I love my rests after church.  The kids and Ryan decided that they would make PUMPKIN PIE from scratch...

.....STILL IN THEIR CHURCH CLOTHES!!!

The cooked the pumpkin that they picked at the Pumpkin Patch a couple weeks ago, made the dough completely from scratch and then made two pies from it.  I was very impressed, go Ryan! They turned out very scruptious.  Who says that lawyers can't cook? Not me.

What does this mean? ONE HUGE MESS!! I had teeny, white footprints all over the kitchen and dining rooms.  Oh well, the house smelled yummy and I was rested.  I didn't care!

I love this picture.  How many faces do you know?

this is me bragging

Can I just brag a little bit? I haven't had a single piece of Halloween candy!

I have been trying to regulate and stabalize my blood sugars and my moods, so I decided that I would try a little experiment and go without sugar!

So far, I've been without sugar since 10/15/09 and haven't had a single piece of CANDY!

The weirdest part? I don't crave it.  I don't want it!

It's a very weird feeling for me, because I LOVE the stuff.  I haven't hidden it, I have it very accessible and within my reach.  I see it several times a day as I'm preparing meals and snacks for the kidlets, but I just breeze right past it. 

While I'm at it, I thought that I'd try living without processed bread too.  Yup, haven't had any of that since 10/15/09 either! Go ME!

christmas in a cup

There's nothing I love more than a nice cup of this! I love it when it's so chilly outside, but my hands are clutching a hot and toasty mug, warming my very soul.  I love the taste, the smell, the memories of winters past, all of it.  It's Happpiness.  It's Joy.  It's Christmas in a Cup.