It's official....I'm DONE with the cookbook! :o) I got the email yesterday that they recieved my packet of stuff. And then today at about 1:15pm I hit "SUBMIT" & sent my recipes to them! What a relief. Tonight was the first night that I didn't have anything to do...it was SO weird!
But today I did have school to do. School started for me yesterday. This is the first week of my LAST SEMESTER of school...yay!!!!!!!! Just 3 1/2 months from now & I'll have my BSN & be done with school forever. :o)
On another note, I got a letter back from Albertsons today. First off, I was shocked to even get a letter. But then...he put a gift card in there too. Just enough for a container of formula...how awesome. (Now let's just hope they have the formula when I go in next to get it!).....If you're wondering what this is about...check out the post titled: Dustin's Albertsons Experience.
I'll keep everyone posted on the cookbooks & when they'll be done. Next project: 1) planning the first Chicago trip & 2) working on the benefit dinner.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Dustin's Albertsons Experience
Well today I wrote a letter! Haha! Ok let me explain...we started running low on formula so I sent Dustin to the store to get some. He came home with a little tiny can of it, instead of the big one that we usually get. This is what happened:
He went to get just 1 container but there was a girl in the aisle who literally put 20 of the exact same kind that we use in her cart. Dustin went to grab just 1 but she'd taken every last one of them! She saw that Dustin wanted that particular kind but she just walked off with her cart-full of that formula. So he had to get a super small can of it that was way more per ounce.
I wasn't mad...because it's just life. People need formula. But I was VERY frusturated. NO ONE needs 20 containers of it! Yes, I can totally see stocking up on it...and having like 4, or even 6 maybe.....but 20?!?! I felt sooo strongly about this & I really feel like there should be a limit to how many things of formula a single person can buy. Is this just me?
So I felt so strongly about this that I wrote a letter...a very well written letter, I might add (Thanks to you...you know who you are!) I don't ever write letters. I may feel strongly about something but I'm not the kind that writes letters just to write letters! This, for some reason, just got to me. I'm not expecting to hear back, but we'll see. I'd just like it if there was a limit, that's all.
He went to get just 1 container but there was a girl in the aisle who literally put 20 of the exact same kind that we use in her cart. Dustin went to grab just 1 but she'd taken every last one of them! She saw that Dustin wanted that particular kind but she just walked off with her cart-full of that formula. So he had to get a super small can of it that was way more per ounce.
I wasn't mad...because it's just life. People need formula. But I was VERY frusturated. NO ONE needs 20 containers of it! Yes, I can totally see stocking up on it...and having like 4, or even 6 maybe.....but 20?!?! I felt sooo strongly about this & I really feel like there should be a limit to how many things of formula a single person can buy. Is this just me?
So I felt so strongly about this that I wrote a letter...a very well written letter, I might add (Thanks to you...you know who you are!) I don't ever write letters. I may feel strongly about something but I'm not the kind that writes letters just to write letters! This, for some reason, just got to me. I'm not expecting to hear back, but we'll see. I'd just like it if there was a limit, that's all.
Gotta put my trust in the USPS!
And it's off!!!!!!!!!!
Today I mailed the huge packet of stuff to the book publisher! Now it's in the hands of the USPS. Today is Saturday & it should be there Monday already! Tuesday is the last day to do recipes so today I'm just finishing up some last ones: putting some more in, taking a few out...and then I can submit that too...and THEN I'll be cookbook free....well for a while anyways!
My proof should be here in about 4 weeks. I'm sure I'll go through that with a fine-tooth-comb. Once I OK it then they'll make them & ship them to me!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today I mailed the huge packet of stuff to the book publisher! Now it's in the hands of the USPS. Today is Saturday & it should be there Monday already! Tuesday is the last day to do recipes so today I'm just finishing up some last ones: putting some more in, taking a few out...and then I can submit that too...and THEN I'll be cookbook free....well for a while anyways!
My proof should be here in about 4 weeks. I'm sure I'll go through that with a fine-tooth-comb. Once I OK it then they'll make them & ship them to me!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Secret Exciting News!!
Well I'm in the thick of typing recipes....STILL! The cookbook needs to be submitted by Tues, 8/31/10...which is just a week from tomorrow....AGH! I do have some exciting news...but I can't say anything yet!
I had a bit of a dilemma last night when I was typing in recipes. I was up to 557 recipes and I still had a HUGE stack to go...PLUS some in my email account. I counted up all that I had left to type & it was 365 more (NOT including the ones in my email)...that totals about 1000 recipes. I had 2 feelings: 1) overjoyed at how much love & support we have. I had so many people send me recipes that I just can't thank them all enough. But...2) I was sooo discouraged. That's too big of a cookbook. I called the cookbook company this morning & asked them if there was a limit. No, there's not...but a book of 1000 is not going to go over well, she said. I was told that I need to subtract at least 300 in order for it to be a "good" cookbook. She said that if there's 1000 recipes, it won't be easy to navigate through the book and people won't WANT to look through that big of a cookbook. So basically I have to lower the number of recipes to 700...at the absolute MOST. This is so sad for me because I promised everyone that gave me recipes...I said that if they gave me recipes, they'd go in the book. So now what? I could keep the book at 1000 recipes. But then I'd have to pay at least $3.00 more per book. Or cut it down to 700? What do I do?!
Well I've literally spent ALL day thinking it over and I DO have a plan. I can't say anything yet...but it's VERY exciting. Dustin actually said "YOU'RE A GENIOUS!" when I told him my plan. I'll "unveil" the plan soon....so stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!! ;o)
I had a bit of a dilemma last night when I was typing in recipes. I was up to 557 recipes and I still had a HUGE stack to go...PLUS some in my email account. I counted up all that I had left to type & it was 365 more (NOT including the ones in my email)...that totals about 1000 recipes. I had 2 feelings: 1) overjoyed at how much love & support we have. I had so many people send me recipes that I just can't thank them all enough. But...2) I was sooo discouraged. That's too big of a cookbook. I called the cookbook company this morning & asked them if there was a limit. No, there's not...but a book of 1000 is not going to go over well, she said. I was told that I need to subtract at least 300 in order for it to be a "good" cookbook. She said that if there's 1000 recipes, it won't be easy to navigate through the book and people won't WANT to look through that big of a cookbook. So basically I have to lower the number of recipes to 700...at the absolute MOST. This is so sad for me because I promised everyone that gave me recipes...I said that if they gave me recipes, they'd go in the book. So now what? I could keep the book at 1000 recipes. But then I'd have to pay at least $3.00 more per book. Or cut it down to 700? What do I do?!
Well I've literally spent ALL day thinking it over and I DO have a plan. I can't say anything yet...but it's VERY exciting. Dustin actually said "YOU'RE A GENIOUS!" when I told him my plan. I'll "unveil" the plan soon....so stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!! ;o)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
We're .com'mers now!
Well I decided to go "official" and we are now http://www.wonderfulworldofvance.com/!! Kind of exciting! I also have an email specifically for cookbook stuff, Brooklyn stuff, surgery stuff, Nevus stuff, etc etc! It's: merilee@wonderfulworldofvance.com. Of course I'm still using my other one, but I thought this would be a great way to keep stuff organized! Let me know if you have any questions.
Recipe inputting is coming along alright...tonight I just passed the 400 mark...and still SOOO many to go. I designed & organized the whole book yesterday & today, so it's pretty much ready to, except the recipes. I have 2 wonderful people proofing them while I type them all in. I have a feeling I'll be at the post office at 4:55pm on the 31st and I'll submit my recipes at 11:59pm that night!!! AGH!!! I need luck...and prayers too!! ;o)
Recipe inputting is coming along alright...tonight I just passed the 400 mark...and still SOOO many to go. I designed & organized the whole book yesterday & today, so it's pretty much ready to, except the recipes. I have 2 wonderful people proofing them while I type them all in. I have a feeling I'll be at the post office at 4:55pm on the 31st and I'll submit my recipes at 11:59pm that night!!! AGH!!! I need luck...and prayers too!! ;o)
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Hello - welcome to reality!
Today was a very hard day for me. I found out first hand what it's like when people point, stare, & whisper at my child.
We were out, just me and the girls, and there were 3 people not 3-4 feet away from us just standing there staring. I pretended not to notice them, but when I saw them pointing, looking at each other with their hands over their mouth so I couldn't see what they were saying, and whispering I couldn't pretend anymore. I looked right at them - square in the eyes and they all looked away. They said to each other "I'll tell you later" and then kept staring at Brooklyn. She didn't have a hat on...so it was obvious what they were looking at.
Talk about breaking a mom's heart! They couldn't have made it any more obvious!
So what to do?...I asked myself. I was seriously about 2 seconds away from educating them...but I just couldn't do it. I was too shocked at what had just happened. You just have to be in the right frame of mind to inform strangers about Brooklyn...and I definitely wasn't there today. So I did what I thought was the next best thing to do...I packed up the kids & left. (Nap time is a great excuse!!)
I cried the whole way home. How could they do that? A part of me wants to hate them...but another part of me thinks that they aren't at fault because they really had no idea. There's something different about Brooklyn and they shouldn't have made such a scene, but I should have educated them.
I've always said that when Brooklyn has her tissue expanders in that we're going to be hermits. We're going to stay home & not go out in public where perfect strangers can stare & laugh at her. Also, there's no way we'll fly to Chicago for her 2nd & 4th surgeries when she has them in her head either. I've said that it's cause I won't allow the stares & points that will be coming her way. I knew it would happen, just not this soon! This is a PRIME example of why we won't be leaving the house and of why we won't be flying. I've learned today what it's like and it's not fun. And I refuse to have that happen again, if I can help the situation.
I know this world can be cruel, but I'm doing everything I can to protect my daughter. Of course it hurts me more than it hurts her, but it's still hurt, one way or another.
I mentioned this on Facebook and tears came to my eyes with the overwhelming response that I got. So much love and support is out there...all for us. It amazed me! I'm pretty much over the whole ordeal now. I'm more happy than anything...because of the wonderfully nice comments people left me about this. It's times like these that you really know you're blessed!
We were out, just me and the girls, and there were 3 people not 3-4 feet away from us just standing there staring. I pretended not to notice them, but when I saw them pointing, looking at each other with their hands over their mouth so I couldn't see what they were saying, and whispering I couldn't pretend anymore. I looked right at them - square in the eyes and they all looked away. They said to each other "I'll tell you later" and then kept staring at Brooklyn. She didn't have a hat on...so it was obvious what they were looking at.
Talk about breaking a mom's heart! They couldn't have made it any more obvious!
So what to do?...I asked myself. I was seriously about 2 seconds away from educating them...but I just couldn't do it. I was too shocked at what had just happened. You just have to be in the right frame of mind to inform strangers about Brooklyn...and I definitely wasn't there today. So I did what I thought was the next best thing to do...I packed up the kids & left. (Nap time is a great excuse!!)
I cried the whole way home. How could they do that? A part of me wants to hate them...but another part of me thinks that they aren't at fault because they really had no idea. There's something different about Brooklyn and they shouldn't have made such a scene, but I should have educated them.
I've always said that when Brooklyn has her tissue expanders in that we're going to be hermits. We're going to stay home & not go out in public where perfect strangers can stare & laugh at her. Also, there's no way we'll fly to Chicago for her 2nd & 4th surgeries when she has them in her head either. I've said that it's cause I won't allow the stares & points that will be coming her way. I knew it would happen, just not this soon! This is a PRIME example of why we won't be leaving the house and of why we won't be flying. I've learned today what it's like and it's not fun. And I refuse to have that happen again, if I can help the situation.
I know this world can be cruel, but I'm doing everything I can to protect my daughter. Of course it hurts me more than it hurts her, but it's still hurt, one way or another.
I mentioned this on Facebook and tears came to my eyes with the overwhelming response that I got. So much love and support is out there...all for us. It amazed me! I'm pretty much over the whole ordeal now. I'm more happy than anything...because of the wonderfully nice comments people left me about this. It's times like these that you really know you're blessed!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The Photo Shoot!
The cookbook making is in full swing. I'm like the Mad Scientist...except I'm the Mad Typer!! The deadline for submitting recipes is a week from tomorrow and to be quite honest I thought I only had about 200-250 recipes...well I counted them last night. The total that I have is 460!!!!!!!!! Holy recipes! :o) That's SO amazing, and they keep coming in. I MAY have to stop inputting at 500, but we'll see. I figured out how many I have to type per day in order to have a few days at the end of the month to spare....and that grand number is 23/day! Uh, yeah, talk about discouraged! I'm not sure if I'll be able to get that done. :( Pray for fast, non-tendonitis, typing hands!!!!!!!
Anyways I've been majorly stressing about this cookbook...so much that I'm not doing any school work (oh yeah that's right...I'm in school)! I totally forgot about a test that was due last Sunday...and I have another one due tomorrow...uh oh! Well the #1 stressor, besides getting these recipes typed in, is the front & back cover of the book. It just HAS to be good! We didn't want to spend hundreds on a professional person so we decided to do them ourselves. Last night my superb sister-in-law came over with her mac-daddy of a camera and we spent hours having our own little photo shoot with Brooklyn! She took just over 130 pictures! I certainly didn't spend hours looking them over, but there are 5 that immediately caught my eye. I've asked 3 specific people and we all agree on which one will be the famous cover shot! I'm also going to have a bunch of pictures on the back, too. Sorry for disappointing...but the pictures will stay hidden until the book comes out! I know, I know...so sorry..but I can't ruin the surprise! I'll definitely post picures that I'm not going to use though... :o)
So that's that. Photo shoot is done...one less thing to stress about. Yay! Here are some pictures that I can share...that will not be used in the book:
Anyways I've been majorly stressing about this cookbook...so much that I'm not doing any school work (oh yeah that's right...I'm in school)! I totally forgot about a test that was due last Sunday...and I have another one due tomorrow...uh oh! Well the #1 stressor, besides getting these recipes typed in, is the front & back cover of the book. It just HAS to be good! We didn't want to spend hundreds on a professional person so we decided to do them ourselves. Last night my superb sister-in-law came over with her mac-daddy of a camera and we spent hours having our own little photo shoot with Brooklyn! She took just over 130 pictures! I certainly didn't spend hours looking them over, but there are 5 that immediately caught my eye. I've asked 3 specific people and we all agree on which one will be the famous cover shot! I'm also going to have a bunch of pictures on the back, too. Sorry for disappointing...but the pictures will stay hidden until the book comes out! I know, I know...so sorry..but I can't ruin the surprise! I'll definitely post picures that I'm not going to use though... :o)
So that's that. Photo shoot is done...one less thing to stress about. Yay! Here are some pictures that I can share...that will not be used in the book:
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