I'm Adorable, I Know

 I have been doing a lot of thinking the past couple of days, as I am sure you can imagine.  One of my main concerns is for my future, and finding a job as soon as possible.  I know there are a million possibilities out there, and I am hoping that it won't be too long until I am a working member of society again.

Another thought I have been having is that I should go back to school.  Bob has been encouraging me to do just that for years, but I was always so scared to take that leap.  Now that I have nothing but a bright future ahead of me, I may end up going.

I know my sister used to make a lot of money as a nurse, but I am not sure if I can handle blood.  There are very cute nursing uniforms these days, so I am not worried about not looking good.  I mean, I am totally convinced these days that I am adorable. There is something crazy about how my husband leaves me, and I have never felt more beautiful.  Crazy, right?  Having to wear nursing uniforms and scrubs wouldn't change that.  In fact, I bet I could find a uniform for nurses that has elephants on it.  I have seen nurses in the hospital and our doctor's office wearing scrub tops with all kinds of cute things on them.

If I could find a purple one with elephants on it, I might consider a nursing career simply so that I could wear it.

We Need To Get Away

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love food.  I really do.  In my family, every holiday, we are more excited about the menu than about the actual holiday.  This might be why I have a weight problem, but I just can't help myself.  Food is good.

I was reading online that the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing has a Valentine's special going on, and I really wish I had known about it before today.  (the special is good for the entire month of February, so if you like what you see, make sure you check it out for yourself)  I would have wanted to stay at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel and eaten at the Level 2 Steakhouse.  I mean, check out the menu:

A M U S E   B O U C H E

HAWAIIAN AHI TUNA TARTAR
Caramelized Pineapple Puree | Sesame Sweet Potato Crostini

F I R S T   C O U R S E

VALENTINE SALAD
Aged Balsamic Roasted Figs | Pancetta | Swiss Chard | Red Onion
Maytag Blue Cheese | Blood Orange Avocado Oil

I N T E R M E Z Z O

LEMON SORBET
Fresh Pomegranate Infused Champagne

M A I N   C O U R S E

CHATEAUBRIAND WAGYU BEEF TENDERLOIN
Seared Foie Gras | Tourne Yukon Gold Potatoes
Steamed Asparagus | Foyot Sauce

D E S S E R T

ASKINOSIE CHOCOLATE BUTTER CAKE
Grand Marnier Infused Whipped Cream | Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Warm Crème Anglaise

Thanks to Food Network, I know what a lot of those foods are, and I would love to try it all.  Especially the dessert.  I know my husband would love it, too.  And this is just one of the things we would enjoy.  The romance package also includes in room sparkling cider (or wine if you drink) and in room breakfast (where available.  If unavailable, breakfast will be served in the hotel's dining room).  We can request early check in and late check out, making sure we find time to enjoy the hotel's whirlpool spa and pool.  Or, maybe we just want a little more time in the room, for, well, it is a romance package.

I really think we need some time for ourselves, away from the kids and everyday life.  We have been dealing with a lot of stress this year, and I would love for us to find a way to relax and maybe let go a little bit.

I wonder who would watch the kids for us?

Of Mice And...Well, It's All About The Mice

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Victor Pest. All opinions are 100% mine.

I just found out about a really cool way to get rid of the rodents in your home.  I am excited about this because I have been fighting to get rid of a sneaky little mouse in my kitchen.  This guy found a way to get the peanut butter off the middle of a sticky trap.  I didn't think that was possible, but this guy figured out a way. 

Uploaded with Skitch!

I am at the point where I want to take a defensive stand, and prevent the rodents from coming into my house at all.  Victor, who are specialists in rodent control, have some great products to use for rodent control inside the home.  They have these electronic traps that kill mice in a pretty humane way.  Well, I guess it's as humane as you can get while killing something.  The thing I like best is that I won't have to see the dead mouse.  It enters the trap, is given a shock causing it's death, and a little green light lets you know that there is a dead mouse inside.  Then you simply empty the trap, never having to see or touch the dead mouse.

Victor also has these cool little gadgets that you can plug into any electrical socket and they give off high frequency sound waves which repel rodents, keeping them out of your home.  Both these and the traps can be purchased as part of the Victor® Protect Your Space Combo Kit, which sells for $99.99 with FREE shipping!! The kit includes the following: 
(1) Victor® Sonic PestChaser® Heavy Duty Sonic, (2) Victor® Sonic Mini PestChaser® Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent, and (2) Victor® Electronic Mouse Trap.  All of these products are safe for children and pets, which is a great thing. 

I really want these.  I like the idea of being proactive, and dealing with the mice before they become a problem.

Valentines

 

I wish I could say that I came up with this idea all on my own, but I didn't.  My dad's wife made these for all the grandkids for Valentine's Day, and I thought they would be perfect for the kids in Brandi's class.  

The cups are the little cups that the Crystal Light mix comes in.  Inside is a mini muffin liner filled with m&m's.  The little baggies are the ones that go over lolipops that you can buy in the craft store, and then we tied them with heart ribbon and added a little message from Brandi.

I know the kids in her class are going to love them.

My Birthday And Super Bowl Recipes

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kenmore Live Studio. All opinions are 100% mine.

This weekend is my birthday.  Most years, just like this year, my birthday falls on Super Bowl weekend.  There are several times it has actually fallen on Super Bowl Sunday.  Though we are not football fans in my house, my extended family is, so they are usually occupied with Super Bowl parties, which means my birthday gets celebrated either early or late.  This has not bothered me in long time, so don't think I am complaining.  In fact, I enjoy spending my birthday with the hubs and the kids.  They spoil me. 

I know a lot of you are going to either be going to or hosting your own Super Bowl party this weekend.  If you are looking for some Super Bowl Recipes, check out the videos below.

The first one explains how to make bacon cheddar popcorn.  Why have I never tried bacon and popcorn together before?  It looks delicious!  I know my family would love it if I made this for our family game nights.

The second video shows how to make a shrimp dish.  My family would love this!  The recipes are easy to follow, and I always do better when I see someone make the dish first. 

We may be having a different kind of party at our house this weekend, but that does not mean we won't have good food.

Buying These Pet Supplies Can Help Save A Dogs Life

My dad has a boat, and two dogs.  When I saw these dog life jackets I couldn't help but think of how cute his dogs would look in them.  I mean, check out how cute these life jackets are:

My dads dogs are golden retrievers, so that is exactly how cute they would look.

The best thing about these life jackets is that 100% of the profits from selling them goes to a Canadian based charity that rescues dogs from California and finds them permanent, loving homes.  These dogs are in kill shelters, and without this charity, most of them would probably be put down.  The economy these days makes it hard for some families to keep food on the table.  It's even harder for them to feed their pets, which means more and more dogs are ending up in shelters.  You can help these dogs by buying some of your pet supplies through their website.  They have all different kinds of things besides the life jackets.

Please check it out the next time you need something for your dog.

I Love This!

I found the cutest elephant decals for laptops on etsy today.  The one in the picture is my favorite!  The laptop I plan on buying next week is black, so I bought this decal in a lavender gloss finish.  I'm not getting a MAC, so I don't know exactly how I will place the decals, but I do know it's going to look awesome!

I Want These!

I want a new purse.  The one I carry is a couple of years old and it's falling apart.  It's pretty small and doesn't hold everything that I normally carry with me, so I am looking for one that is just a bit bigger.

I am really loving this one:

It's a fendi bag, and the dimensions seem to be exactly what I am looking for.  I love the little tassel thing on the front, and the fact that it comes with two different straps.  The short one (seen in the picture) is the same length as the strap on the purse I carry now, and it works well for me.  This purse also comes with a longer strap so that you can carry the bag across your body.  I am not sure I would ever do that, but I know that is a popular feature these days.

I also love this bag:

I love the different colors in this one.  I can't remember a time when I carried a purse that wasn't black.  I always seem to gravitate towards that color. 

The only thing keeping me from buying one of these fendi handbags is the price.  They are unbelievably expensive.   One purse would be the same amount of money as two months rent.  But, if I ever win the lottery and money is no object, both of these purses will be mine.

Just For Fun...

...I typed "weird" into etsy.  Since finding those poo and toilet paper earrings, I have been curious about all the weird stuff on there.  Holy cow was there some strange things that showed up.  One thing was crocheted lungs...yes, lungs. 

My favorite thing was the toilet tank monster.  Is it odd that I want one?

Will We Be Dealing With Car Dealers Again?

We were driving home from running some errands today when Bob informed me that he is going to have to sink some money into the van to get it back to running right.  I asked him how much money, and he didn't commit to an actual number, which kind of freaks me out a bit.  I know it needs tires and plugs and wires and a bunch of other stuff, but I guess in the end it will be worth it.   I mean, we own it.  I don't want to have to deal with Car Dealers again while trying to find a new car, and I definitely don't want a car payment right now. 

Bob has become kind of addicted to online shopping, and I wouldn't put it past him to check out Net Car Dealers.  I mean, car shopping online has to be less stressful.   There are no pushy salespeople to deal with, and you can take your time while looking around.  The downside of online Car Dealers UK would be not being able to test drive the cars, but I guess when you find the right vehicle, you can always go and test drive it before making a final decision.  

For now, I guess I'll just have to let Bob spend the money to get our van running right.  It's got to be cheaper than investing in another vehicle.

I'm Going To Be, Um, Well, A Year Older

My birthday is in a couple of weeks.  I am going to be 39.  I seriously can not wrap my mind around that number.  Not because I am closing in on 40, but because I seriously do not feel that old.  Not that 39 is old.  I am just wondering why the years seem to be going by so much faster.  When I was in high school, time seemed to drag.  I couldn't wait to graduate, yet it seemed to take forever for that day to come. 

That day was 21 years ago. 

Now that I'm a mom, I like to focus on the kids' birthdays, and not mine.  We'll probably go out to eat, and have cake, but that's about it.  It's not like I am going to send out luau themed invitations.   Maybe next year, for the big 4-0, I'll have a party.  This year, I am going to let it slip on by quietly. 

But, that doesn't mean I don't want presents.  I love presents.  There are a couple of books I want, and I really need some silicone tipped tongs.  Oh, and you can never go wrong buying me an elephant.  I love those!

Super Bowl Sunday

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

We are not big sports fans in this house, but we do like a good party, especially if there is great food being served.  I know that Super Bowl Sunday is coming up, and a lot of people have company over to watch the game.  If you are hosting a party this year, you should check out TABASCO's Game-Day Party Menu.  You will find all sorts of recipes for finger foods and pizza.  I love all the tips they share about making frozen and delivery pizza taste better.  They call it their Pizza Perfected tips.   Basically, all you have to do is use your imagination and add whatever your favorite topping is, along with a dash of TABASCO® Original Red.  It not only adds a little heat, it also helps to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.  My favorite pizza would be one with mushrooms, garlic, and spinach, as well as a white sauce.  A little dash of TABASCO on top for some heat would make it perfect.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

You should think about making pizza with Tabasco Original Red a part of your game day traditions.  As they say, it is "So Much More Than Hot". 

The Family Tradition

Author: Joseph Sandoval

One of my favorite hobbies is definitely knitting. I've been knitting since I was about about five years old and I've gotten progressively better as the years pass. I knit just about anything, from hats and scarves to booties and socks. I recently tried knitting a sweater but I wasn't happy with the way it came out. I guess I'm not a knitted sweater type of girl. I use an assortment of different yarns to create my crafts. One of my favorite yarns to work with is that fuzzy type that really gives off a modern and retro appeal. Once in awhile, I'll even knit things for my family members.

It's actually become a tradition in my family to get together during the holiday season and sit and watch BestChoiceTV while knitting. My mother, grandmother, and I all gather around the living room and just begin knitting our hearts out. My grandmother is fantastic at the hobby. She has been doing it for over sixty years and you can really tell that she's good at it because of the crafts she comes up with. If you want something knitted, she can knit it. It doesn't matter what it is. Maybe someday in the future I can be just as good as her or maybe even better. It's amazing how relaxing knitting can really be.

I Think I Need A Massage

They canceled school for tomorrow.  That means another day of kids who are bored bugging me all day.  You would think the older kids would be able to entertain themselves, but no.  I am about to send them off to get some massage training so that they can work some of this stress out of my shoulders. In the past 27 days, the kids have had four days of school.  Bob was home 17 of those days as well.  That means I have had no time to myself in weeks.  I think I might be getting close to losing my mind.

Seriously.

At this point, getting a real massage may not be a bad idea.  I have never had one before, but I have heard good things from people who have.  We have a massage school right around the corner from where I live.  I wonder if a part of their massage program is practicing on actual people?   I wouldn't mind being someone's guinea pig if it means saving some money. 

The Simple Joys of Knitting

 Guest written by our friend Mason Abbott

When I was a younger girl, I used to sit on the sofa watching television and was amazed to see my grandma sitting beside me for hours knitting. She would knit stocking caps, socks, and adorable baby blankets for friends or relatives that were having newborn babies. I watched in amazement because I always noticed that as meticulous as my grandmother was with her knitting, she would be rocking and humming happily as she was knitting. She told me this was her peaceful time, a time that she just enjoyed relaxing and doing something fun for her and from that point on, I wanted to learn how to knit!

I sat down when I was 10 years old and began learning from my grandmother how to knit. I always enjoyed her taking me to the store and picking out my favorite colors from the large selection before me and I would dream of my finished product before I even started! My first project was a knitted stocking cap for my cousin's baby girl and I will never forget the soft pink yarn that I selected.

It didn't take very long before I was doing the same as my grandma was, sitting for hours and hours knitting anxiously watching my projects get closer to completion and anticipating what it would look like when I was done.

Little by little I grew to love my knitting projects just like my grandmother did. I can sit for hours rocking and totally enjoy watching satellite TV from www.cannonsatellite.com/ while knitting away at blankets, sweaters, and all sorts of projects for people I enjoy knitting for. I can now knit without even looking down at my project too often, catching a nice show or movie and moving right along as knitting has become an art for me.

People Actually Buy Stuff Like This?

 

Toilet paper and poop earrings....I don't even know what to say.  The weird thing is...this etsy seller has sold six pairs of these, and eight toilet paper and poop phone charms.  I guess people will buy anything.

A New Baby Blanket

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was at the store today looking for yarn to make a baby blanket for my new nephew.  I had a really hard time deciding what to get, so i didn't get anything.  I found a yarn I kind of liked, but I didn't love it, so I decided against it.  It was a blue/green/white multi-colored baby yarn, but it wasn't as soft as I wanted.  Plus, they only had one, and I am sure I will need more than that.

I wish my sister had found out before delivery what she was having, so I could have had the blanket made and ready for my new nephew to use.  This is her third child, and she already has one of each, so she was covered no matter what the sex of this baby was.  Of course, you can never have enough diapers and wipes, or baby formula.  All parent know to keep a stock of all of those things in the house.  The only drawback is that baby supplies can be really expensive.  I know you can buy on diapers.com most of the things you can get in your local store.  They even offer Bright Beginnings Formula, which is cheaper than the name brands but just as nutritious for your baby.  You can find out more about Bright Beginnings on Facebook. 

I guess tomorrow I need to check out a few more stores to try and find some yarn.  Any suggestions?  Where do you get yours?

Making The Smart Choice

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Baby formula is expensive.  Seriously expensive.  Not as expensive as feeding a teenaged boy, though.  That food bill every month is going to kill me. 

I remember the days of buying formula, and even nine years ago when my youngest was a baby, it was expensive.  We were on WIC back then, which was a huge blessing.  The months we did run out of formula, we always bought the store brand formula.  For us, the price difference was a big factor in that decision.  Back then, you could save several dollars by buying the store brands, and they were just as good as the name brands.  They had to be. 

These days, you could save up to $600 a year simply by making the switch to generic formula.  All infant formulas are regulated by the FDA, who makes sure that all formulas meet the same nutritional guidelines.  For instance, Similac Advance and Parent's Choice Advantage Infant Formulas both have:

- Prebiotics to help support baby’s immune system

- Milk-based nutrition containing all nutrients, vitamins and minerals for growth and development
DHA & ARA, which may support brain and eye development

- Available in 23.2 oz and 12.4 oz sizes

The only significant difference is the price.  I know all parents want what is best for their babies, but why pay more for a "name" when you don't have to?  My kids were raised on the store brands, and they turned out just fine.

Here Come The Bills

It's January.  Christmas and New Year's Day are behind us, and we are all facing a new year full of endless possibilities.   I am sure there are millions of you out there who will also be facing those credit cards bills from all the Christmas shopping you did last month.  Luckily, we did all our shopping with cash.  If you didn't, you may want to look into finding a way to make those credit card bills more manageable.  I would consider Consolidating my credit cards if I had any, but I don't.   I plan on keeping it that way, too. 

Top Droppers ~ December

Thanks to the following blogs for dropping the most this month!

 Bit Doze ~ Help your site to become No 1 in search engines, here you can find useful information about ways of making money online and other news related to internet world,Blogging Tips, SEO, Social Media

Comedy Plus ~ A place for a few laughs.

my kids are my world ~ This is a blog about my life as a wife and mother of three kids, who are, obviously, my world.

the way I see it ~ A collection of monologues on my thoughts and opinions. Personal observations on a wide variety of subjects including travel, politics, child sponsorship with Children International. News and views from my perspective.

Moonangelnay on Etsy ~ A contemporary handmade, fine art, photography, crafts, gifts, jewelry, fashion and Etsy focused blog, sharing weekly features, tutorials, original works and interviews of the new artists of Etsy.

Sparkle ~ Sparkle is the author of two cat-to-cat advice books (no humans!), has her own Muse Medallion-winning calendar and is one of the original cat bloggers - she has been blogging since January, 2003!

Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife ~ I am the Psychotic Housewife - a gothic Martha Stewart, SAHM, addicted to shopping and saving money while living in a Murphy's Law zone where everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. I love to give my opinion and share the deals I come across.

Technology News ~ All about Technology

Digital Rebel350 ~ Digital Rebel 350-Digital Memories Captured With Canon EOS 350 Digital Rebel

bethere2day ~ A personal blog about anything and everything, fun, humour, randomness and rants.