Planning Next Year's Vacations

The kids have finally figured out that we won't be camping at all this Summer.  As much as we wanted to, financially, we just can't do it.  But, we are already planning next years family holiday, and it looks like we might be taking a few trips.  

I really want to visit an aquarium.  It has been too many years since I have been to one, and my kids have never been.  There is a big one in Atlanta, and I think that is where we are going to go.  Right now, we are planning a long weekend away in February, as long as it doesn't snow.  Brandi also wants to go to the beach, so we are trying to figure out the best time to go there, too.  I want to go in May, when it will be warm enough to swim, but too cold to be "in season", which means we should get a good deal on a hotel. 

We are also going to book a week at our favorite campsite for next Summer.  I figure if we book, and pay for, all of these trips in February when we get our tax refund, there will be no excuse not to go.  For the rest of this Summer, though, we will just continue to enjoy my mom's pool, and maybe squeeze in another mountain trip.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Just A Little Christmas Sign

Cute, right?

The Water Was Off. Again. With No Warning.

One of the things I hate the most about living where we do is that they continually have trouble with the water lines.  We don't pay a water bill, so I really shouldn't be complaining, but it seems like every other week they are turning off the water to fix some "problem", but they never give any warning. This happened the other day when I was sick, and it really ticked me off.  I will be so happy when we can finally afford to by our own place, and not have to deal with landlords and maintenance people.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I like where we live just fine.  Granted, I can not do any bathroom shower remodeling on my own, or paint the walls, but I have found other ways to make this place our home. I have hung lots and lots of pictures, and for the girls room, I bought some of those giant wall stickers, which they absolutely love.  I also have all my elephants and books on display, which always makes me feel at home.  Weird, I know, but that's me.

Of course, there are benefits of renting, like not having to worry about fixing anything major if it breaks, like the a/c or the water heater.  When we first moved in, one of the homes had the shower floor fall out, and the maintenance man had to fix it, not the tenant.  I'm not sure if he used a Spokane Bathroom Remodel contractor, but I know the job was done in less than a day.  I am sure that tenant is enjoying his or her new luxury bath, knowing it didn't cost them a thing.

I know I would be.  At least until they turn the water off again without warning. 

Elephant Wedding Cake Topper

How awesome is this?  I never had a wedding, and now I want one so I can have a cake with this one top.  (of course, my elephants will be two shades of purple)  I love the little name banner...it gives it such a personal touch!  I found it here. It can be completely customized, from the color of the flowers to the butterfly. 

While browsing the site, I also found this cake topper, which is even cuter than the last one!  I love that this one has the date on it.  

This shop has so many different unique cake toppers, from dolphins to hamsters, and each one is cuter than the next.  If you have a wedding coming up, and want something adorable to top your cake, check out this site. 

In Fact, It Is Brain Surgery

Tuesday night, my girls watched Deadliest Catch with me.  In that episode, the rest of the fleet found out about Captain Phil's death.  As usual, I had tears running down my cheeks by the time it was over.  It was especially hard for me to watch when Sig found out Phil had died.  When it ended, Brandi asked me why I was crying.  I told her it was because the show was so sad.  She just shrugged and walked away.

Yesterday, Junior asked about the show, and if I cried while watching.  I told him I did, and then Brandi again asked why it was so sad, and when I told her, she wanted to know why Phil died.  I told her, and we started talking about Phil's head in the last couple of episodes, because it was shaved, and kind of sunk in where they had removed his skull.  I told her the next time she saw my dad, to ask to his scar.

I was trying to figure it out, and I think it was in 1994 that my dad had a brain aneurysm and had to have brain surgery.  He didn't need gamma knife treatment; the doctors just went in and fixed the aneurysm.   Thankfully, and luckily, he didn't have any permanent damage.

I know that most people have some kind of negative side effects after brain surgery, whether it be from tradition surgery or acoustic neuroma gamma knife surgery.   Even brain tumors can cause all kinds of problems to a persons brain. There is memory loss, and loss of function to the body, just to name a couple.  I remember an episode of ER where Dr. Greene went to a brain tumor clinic and they operated on his brain while he was still awake, to make sure he didn't lose any functions.   I wonder if they do that in real life?

Brandi's 2010 Ornament

I don't know what was up with my camera last night, but these pictures came out horrible.  But, you get the idea.  Brandi's is pink, her favorite color.  I am going to hang it with a pink ribbon, too. 

Feeling Better

Monday and Tuesday were rough days for me this week.  I woke up feeling like I couldn't breathe on Monday, and it just got worse as the day went on.  I ended up with a touch of a stomach virus, I think, and spent most of yesterday in bed.  Thankfully, I am feeling better today.  I have no idea how people who get sick all the time handle it.  I know I am a baby when it comes to being sick, and I would hate to feel like that all the time.

I am hoping the kids and Junior don't get whatever it was that I had.  It would be especially bad if Junior got sick, because when he is sick, he finds it hard to sleep using his bi-pap.  He needs a new one, too, I think.  I need to check out some medical equipment manufacturers and see if I can find a new one for a reasonable price.  The one he has now cost about $2,000 about ten years ago, so I hate to think about how expensive new ones are now.  Back then we had insurance, and they paid for the machine.  We will have to pay full price for a replacement.

I don't know how other people pay for san diego medical equipment without the assistance of medical insurance.  I am sure that even used ekg machines cost a small fortune.   With a little luck, Junior may just need an adjustment to the settings on his machine, and not a new one.  That will cost a good bit of money, too, but not as much as replacing it.

Kasi's 2010 Ornament

I painted this one purple, because just like me, that is her favorite color.  I think I need to do her name and the date in white instead of black.  The black kind of blends in, and I want the name and date to stand out.  What do you think?

My Boys Work Well Together

My son is just like my husband.  They could both spend their days inside an Ace Hardware Superstore and never get bored.   They love power tools and cars, and fixing anything they can get their hands on.  In fact, my son will take something apart just to see how it fits backs together.

When our water lines broke in the house we used to live it, Ryan was right up under Junior's skin, watching everything he did to fix the problem.  They even shopped for Discount Plumbing Supplies together. I love that Junior is patient enough (most of the time) to let Ryan watch him fix things, and ask questions.  It's a great way for him to learn.  There was a saying I learned while working my first job as a teenager, and it was, "Tell me, I'll forget.  Show me, I'll remember.  Let me try, I'll understand.".  Junior has no problem letting Ryan work right beside him, and help as much as he can.  In fact, Ryan can now change brake pads and do other minor repairs on cars, all because Junior took the time to let him learn from him.

Ryan has also helped Junior do a lot of work around my mom's house.  He has assisted in the cutting down of trees, the running of water lines and electrical outlets, and all kinds of other things.  Last weekend, he cut my mom's grass for her.  As a thank you, my mom is going to buy him the Wolverine Work Boots he has had his eye on.  

I know that this time spent with his dad means a lot to Ryan, and I hope someday, if and when he has a son of his own, they will have the same kind of relationship.

Ryan's 2010 Ornament

I hate the way this picture came out, but no matter how many times I tried to take it, it always came out the same.  Th ornament is blue (not black...even though it looks black) and it has his name and the year on it.  When the Holidays get here, I will take a picture of him to go in the middle.

I Miss Crafting

This is supposed to be my craft blog, but I have not been doing anything crafty lately.  The other night, the kids and I sat and painted some Christmas ornaments, but that has been about it.  I remember when I used to crochet all the time, and make my signs.  In fact, I still have to make room name signs for three of my nieces, and for the baby my sister has in January.  I just can not find the time lately to do any of it.

I think it was almost two years ago that I opened my etsy store.  I closed it a month or two later, because I never did get the hang of it.  I never needed product packaging services because I hardly sold anything.   My store was filled with my "welcome" and "name" signs, and they were really cute.  I just didn't know then that you shouldn't list everything at one time, and that you had to re-list every couple of days to stay current in the listings.  I know these things now, but I don't have the time now.  Or the product.  I sold every last sign at a yard sale last summer.  All of my signs were hand carved and painted, so making more would be very time consuming.  It's not like I can hire a vietnam manufacturing company to make them for me.  

I am hoping that once the kids go back to school, I will find the time to be crafty again.  I miss it.  It relaxes me.  And maybe once I get a few made, I can order custom plastic printing shipping supplies to ship my signs in.

That's assuming, of course, that I sell some this time.

Kasi Painted These

My Christmas tree is covered with home made ornaments.  The only store bought ones are ones people have given me as gifts.  Every year, I make a few more to add to my collection of ornaments.  This year, the girls wanted to help, and we had fun doing it together.

Purple Plaid?

I am trying to find a way to exercise that I will enjoy.  That is the key for me; if I don't enjoy doing something, I just flat out won't do it.   That is how exercise and I have gotten along for my entire life so far. That is also why I am overweight.

One of the best ways to get exercise, without actually exercising, is to play golf.  Or so I've been told.  All the walking and swinging of clubs is supposed to be a good workout. I like mini-golf, but it doesn't seem relaxing to me to try and get a little ball in a little hole from so far away.  But, I am thinking about giving it a try.

I am not going to invest in any ladies golf clothing just yet, though. I never understood the outfits some guys golf in.  Plaid from head to toe?  Why?  I mean, if there is a reason for it, then that's one thing.  But I don't think I would willingly wear plaid, unless maybe it was cute little golf skorts.  Or maybe, just maybe, I'd wear a pair of plaid ladies golf shorts.  But it would have to be purple plaid, and I wouldn't wear a matching shirt.  Or socks.  I mean, I have my limits.

Santa Mask

Kasi painted this one.  Apparently she was channeling a younger Santa, when his beard was gray, not yet white.  The girls are writing a play to act out with their masks, and I can not wait to see it.

If I Owned My Own Home, It Would Be Purple

I hate renting.  I really do.  There is so much I would do to make this house more "me" if I was allowed to paint the walls.   My husband is going to be in for a surprise if we are ever able to buy our own place someday.  I will start in one room, and make it my own.  Then I will move on to the next room.  I will do the entire house, even if I have to hire a San Diego Painting Contractor to help me.  

I love painting, but I am sure by the third or fourth room, I will be looking to San Diego Painting Companies for some assistance.   The first room I tackle would probably be the kitchen.  I can see it so clearly in my head, too.  I want white cabinets, with black handles.  The walls will be white, with some kind of black accent.  The counter top will be black marble, and the appliances will be black, too.  The floor will be a black and white checkerboard, and all the accents will be silver.  Sounds cool, right?

The second room would be the living room, and this is where Junior and I will disagree.  I want a purple color, and I know he is going to hate it.  But, I'm the girl, so I usually get my way.  He should just be happy that I'm not going to search for "House Painting San Diego" and then hire someone to paint the outside of the house purple.

Brandi Painted These

Didn't they come out great?  I have quite the talented little artist on my hands.

A Dog Litter Box? Why Not.

Look at that face!  I don't think there is anything cuter in the world than a puppy.  Okay, kittens are cuter, but puppies come in second.  We always had a dog growing up.  My favorite, and the one I remember best, was my dad's Golden Retriever names Sadie.  I was probably 12 or so when he got her, and I was married when she had to be put to sleep. 

My husband and I have tried a couple of times to have a dog, but I just don't have the patience for it.  Or I should say, I didn't have the patience required to housebreak a puppy.  I could not stand having pee and poop on my carpet.  We always found good homes for the dogs we had, and sometimes Junior talks about getting another dog.  Brandi is afraid of dogs, which makes it even more difficult now, but he seems to think that if she is around dogs enough, she'll get over her fear.  I'm not sure I agree, which means for now, we are not getting a dog.

But, for future reference, how did you go about housebreaking your puppy?  There is so much information on this subject out there, and sometimes it is hard to know what works and what doesn't.  I mean, I was reading about a dog litter box, and was a little skeptical, but then I realized that it probably works just like those training pads do.   It's just a matter of teaching the dog to use it.  I was reading Dog Toilet Testimonials, and people really seem to like this.  

I guess if a cat can use a litter box, so can a dog.

Snowman Mask

Brandi painted this snowman mask the other night.  I was going through my craft stuff, and found a bunch of stuff I bought last year, after the Holidays.  The girls and I then had a little "Christmas in July" painting party!  So much fun!

Grimace Pins

I used to work at McDonald's.  Twice.  Once in New York when I was a teenager, and then in South Carolina after I became a mom.  I have always said that it takes a special kind of person to work fast food, because you have to know how to deal with the public, which is not always an easy thing to do.  I must have been one of those special people, because I loved working there. 

One of my favorite things was earning the Lapel Pins they would give to the crew to promote the different promotions, such as Monopoly, and also for doing an extraordinary job.  I have a ton of Grimace pins, because he was my favorite character, and I was always in charge of his visits to the store. We considered these pins Trading Pins, too.   If someone else earned a Grimace pin, they knew I would trade for it.  It was kind of like baseball fans trading Baseball Pins.  

I am hoping that if I hold on to these pins, they might be worth something someday.  I have some that are over 20 years old already.  They are in pretty good shape, too.  I just can't believe that I can now start a story with, "when I was working at McDonald's twenty years ago".  When did I get so old?

Fashion

For her birthday, Kasi got a really cool book about fashion.  It came with lots of different patterned paper and accessories like pom poms and fur, and Kasi uses these to make her own "fashions".  She absolutely loves it!  (thanks Missy!)  This is one of her most recent creations, and I love it!  She is now asking for a sewing machine and real fabric to make it for real.  I think I might have a future fashion designer in my house.

Getting Married? Renewing Vows?

I am the worst when it comes to writing thank you cards.  I never know exactly what to say.  I mean, I say thank you, it was thoughtful of you to think of me, blah, blah, blah.  I just don't think they come off as sincere and personal.  Thankfully I didn't have to worry about wedding thank you notes wording, because I never had a wedding, so I never got any wedding gifts that I had to thank people for.   Maybe someday Junior and I will renew our vows, and I will get to wear the white gown.  But, knowing how shy I am, I am not sure I can handle having to stand up in front of all those people.  I seriously have a little panic attack thinking about it.  It was probably a good idea that Junior and I were married at the courthouse, in front of just a small group of family. 

Maybe I will just look forward to my daughters getting married.  I think I could handle being the mother of the bride better than being the bride. 

How Cool Is This?

We ate at a fish camp tonight (for all you non-southerners reading...it's a seafood restaurant...I didn't know what the heck a fish camp was when I first moved to SC) and they had the coolest ships decorating the place.  Ryan went around and took a bunch of pictures, and this one is my favorite.  I love all the sails and stuff.

I wonder if i could make one of these?

My Mini Flood

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of goviral. All opinions are 100% mine.

Last week, I had a flood in my kitchen.  The hose that runs the water to my dishwasher came loose, and hot water was pouring out from underneath.  Thankfully, the kids and I were home, and even though I had no idea how to turn the water off, I was able to throw down lots of towels to contain the water while Ryan ran and got the maintenance man.

I don't want to think about what would have happened if we were not home.  Our vents for heat and A/C are on the floor, so the water would have filled the entire system I'm sure.  then it would have ruined the bottoms of my couch and entertainment center.  I don't even want to think about what it could have done to my books.

I learned how to turn the water off in the house, too, in case it happens again.  I don't like how helpless I felt, and it was just for a few minutes.  I can not imagine how people feel who lose everything in floods.  It must be such a helpless feeling.  The good news is that you can carry flood insurance, so you will have someone on your side who understands.

The only problem I had was having to wash every towel I own.  I was lucky, and I know it.

I Made Myself An Office

I am finding it hard to work with the kids home.  There are so many distractions, and it's always so loud in my house.  I tried to fix this problem by turning my desk around, and creating a little "office" for myself.  See that little space right in front between the bookshelf and my desk?  That is the only way to get to my desk, so the kids can't bug me as much.  The only drawback is that I can now see the television, which is a distraction in and of itself.

Maybe I can convince Junior to put up some type of temporary wall between me and the rest of the house?  Or do you think that is too extreme?

Rings

Last month, I celebrated my 15th wedding anniversary.  When we got married, we didn't have much money.  We weren't one of those couple who saved their money for years before saying "I do".  In fact, we didn't know each other very long before we got married.  Our wedding took place exactly six months from the day we met.  I didn't dream of shopping in a San Diego Jewelry store for a ring.  In fact, Junior asked what kind of cut I liked, and the next day I had a ring on my finger.   Not just any ring, though.  It's the perfect ring, because he chose it for me.

I didn't have to pour through San Diego Diamond Rings.  I didn't have to hint for months about which ring I wanted. Like I said, we didn't have much money, so even getting a ring at all was special.  There were so many other things he could have spent that money on, considering I was a little pregnant at the time.  But, he wanted me to have a symbol of our love, and it still sits on my finger today.

I did have a say on my wedding band, though.  Again, I didn't want anything fancy.  In fact, it is a simple gold band, and it matches my ring perfectly.  We didn't buy it at a San Diego Wedding Bands store, we bought it at a local flea market.  I know, that sounds crazy,but back then, it was all we could afford.  And it was all I wanted.

It's still all I want.

Cabana

My mom has this little lean to shed in her backyard that was attached to the fence that goes around her pool.  I think it was probably built to protect a riding mower from the weather, because it didn't have any side, just a roof.  When she opened the pool, she needed somewhere to keep all the chemicals and pool floats, so she had Ryan and Junior enclosed the lean to, to build a cabana of sorts.  I took this picture while they were still closing in the sides...doesn't it look great?  She wanted lattice originally, but when she saw these fence slats, she fell in love.  The finished product looks awesome...I will have to remember to get a shot of it the next time I am over there swimming.

Rearranged

One morning last week, I decided to rearrange the furniture in my living room.  My desk is in the corner of the room, and when I sat at the computer, my back was to the rest of the room.  This made it hard to watch television or even talk to anyone else who happened to be in the room.  Ryan helped me turn my desk around, so I can now look beside my computer screen and see the rest of the room.

There are a couple of problems with this, and I think I may need to check out some furniture stores san diego to find a solution.   The first problem is lighting.  My desk is a hutch type piece of furniture, and it blocks out the light from the rest of the room.  I was looking at lamps san diego and found a pretty cool floor lamp, which would be perfect.  I liked a couple of their regular lamps, too, but I don't have enough room on my desk for one. In fact, there is barely enough room on my desk for my keyboard.

The second problem I have is that now that I am facing the television, I am watching way too much of it.  I am finding it hard to get my work done everyday.  When the kids were in school, I didn't even turn the television on during the day.  Now that the kids are home, the television is always on.  Most of the time I don't even like what is on, but I find it to be such a distraction.  Maybe I should look at some del mar furniture, and find a new desk.  I could get one that could sit sideways in this room, so that my back wasn't to the room, but I wouldn't be able to see the television.  
Or maybe I should just send the kids to their rooms to watch television when I have to get some work done.

Me And Kasi

We took this picture last weekend while we were waiting for the fireworks to start.  Kasi just told me I look "soooo tired".  It seems like I have been soooo tired all Summer.  I think it's the heat, and the swimming, and everything else going on.  Maybe once the kids go back to school, I can get more rest.

California, Here We Come. Or Not.

 I have been getting letters in the mail recently from the kids schools.  This year, they will each be in a different school, which is going to make registration day a little hectic.  Or at least that's what I thought.  Turns out Ryan registers a week before the girls do, on August 3rd.  That is less than a month away!

I don't know why Summer is going by so fast.  As of yet, we haven't been on vacation, and we don't have any plans to do so.  Junior was talking about booking a couple of nights at the Holiday Inn Palmdale CA, which would be great if we lived closer to California. Unfortunately, we live on the opposite coast, so booking any type of Palmdale Lodging would be crazy.  I do not fly, so we would have to drive there, and that would mean at least three days in the van.  The gas alone for the trip could bankrupt us! 

However, visiting California would be awesome.  There are so many places I would love to visit, and my kids would love to put their feet in the Pacific Ocean.  Brandi has been bugging me for year to take her to the beach, and I hear that California has some beautiful ones.  We could stay in lancaster ca hotels and relax for a week or two.

Or, we can stay home and plan some day trips to places a little closer to home.  I hear the South Carolina coast has some nice beaches, too.

Where Has My Creativity Gone?

This is supposed to be a blog about the things I create.  Lately, though, it has been neglected.  I am posting pictures of things I love, that other people have created.  What's up with that?  I blame Summer, and swimming, and kids being home....yeah, I have tons of excuses, but none of them are any good.  No one ever comments over here, but I can't blame them.  I think I need to do a little re-vamp, but I just don't have the time, or the motivation, right now.

Maybe once the kids go back to school next month....

A Teenaged Boys Dream

I have a fourteen year old son, Ryan.  Just like every other boy this age, he is dreaming of getting his license in a few years.  He is also determined to have his own vehicle before he gets his license, that way he is fully prepared for the road when the time comes.  I am not too happy about this, because I now have an old, ugly truck sitting in my driveway, waiting to be driven by newly licensed teenager.

The truck is in no way road ready, and it will probably take Junior and Ryan a while to fix it up.  They know what is wrong with it, but don't have the money to put into it right now.  They talked about sending it to a auto repair in san diego, but quickly realized that it would be a great bonding experience if they did the work themselves.  I suggested waiting until Ryan could pay for the parts himself before starting the repairs.  In a few months he will be fifteen, and he is already gathering applications for employment from local establishments.  He's too young to do brake repair san diego, even though he knows how to do that.   In fact, I think the last time Junior replaced the brakes on our van, Ryan did most of the work.  Someday he might be doing san diego bmw repair, but for now, he is going to concentrate on fixing up his truck, so that when he gets his license, it will be ready to go.  

Two More Cute Elephants

I found these little guys in FimoFlora's Fantastical & Featherbrained Whatnots etsy shop.  Aren't they adorable?  The little pink one is a patchwork elephant.  I love the expression on his little face!  The gray one is called nutty buddy, and I love the little peanut in his trunk.  In fact, this one comes with three other little peanuts, too.  Both of these elephants are beads, but I would not use them as that.  I would set the pink one on a shelf with all my other tiny elephants, and I would make the gray one into a magnet.  They would both make a cute addition to my collection.

Mission Menus Challenge

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.
A few years ago, I tried out the Atkins diet.  The worst part for me was giving up bread.  Luckily, I was allowed to eat tortillas, as long as they were whole wheat.  One of my favorite lunches was to take a tortilla, and fill it with bacon, broccoli, black olives, and ranch dressing.  I know it doesn't sound like those flavors would work well together, but they really did.  In fact, even though I am no longer following that diet, I still like to eat this wrap.  Yes, it's that good.  We also eat a lot of tacos in this house, and with five of us, the soft taco shells that come in the dinner kits are never big enough, and there are never enough.  I always end up buying extra tortillas. 

Right now, though, I want to hear some of your favorite recipes using Mission Flour Tortillas.  You can even enter your favorite recipe into the Mission Menus Challenge as long as it uses Mission Flour Tortillas, is original (like mine), and can feed a family of five for $10 or less.  The grand prize winner will win round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two to the Mission Menus Challenge Cook-off on September 10, 2010 at the Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles.  How cool is that? They are also giving away a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover, and a bunch of other weekly prizes.  This contest runs until August 9, 2010, and you can submit your recipe online at www.missionmenuschallenge.com.

I'm thinking about entering my recipe.  I mean, I don't think you can get anymore original than broccoli and black olives.

Top Droppers ~ June

The following blogs dropped here most often in June:

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.

My Gypsygoods ~  Life, creative moments, saving money, nature, eco-friendly tips. Supporting & promoting the handmade community. 

Alterity Art ~  Specializing in No Harm antique and vintage button jewelry to preserve button's value and hierloom/museum quality of the jewery. Each piece is one of a kind :] 

Ask Ms Recipe ~  A food blog like no other where I will answer your recipe questions and include your website with the answers.

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.

Crazy Mom ~  I'm a mom of 4 boys. I have been married to the love of my life for over 20 years. We enjoy sports, cooking, gardening, crafts, painting, music, watching movies and I love to shop.

feeding my family of five ~  I write about the things I cook for, and with, my family.

Lovely Purses ~  this blog is all about creativity, my love of fabrics, bag design and construction, useful sewing advice, trends and current projects

Three Fates Design ~  A blog about a girl and her love of beadweaving and lampwork beads.

Ruth's Creations ~  This is my blog where I write, among other things, about my online business selling crocheted items I make. Part of my sales are donated to Demelza House Children's Hospice, the favored charity of British actor Daniel Radcliffe.

Thanks to all who dropped in June!

Do You Know Your Pupillary Distance?

The other day I had to have my glasses fixed.  I broke the little part that sits on my nose, and they were very uncomfortable to wear without it.  As I was waiting in line, I overheard the customer in front of me ask the receptionist lady if the eye doctor would be able to tell her what her Pupillary Distance (PD).  The receptionist told the customer that she would have to have a full exam done before that information could be given out.  This didn't sit well with the customer, and she stormed off.

While the receptionist was fixing my eyeglasses, I asked why the customer in front of me got so angry.  She said that a lot of people are coming in and asking for their PD, but they don't want to pay for the information.  She explained that they need to know their PD to order glasses online, from places like ZenniOptical.

I didn't comment to the receptionist, but after I left I was still thinking about it.  Why would people think they could get a service, even just a measurement, for free?  I may not agree with having to pay for a full exam, but if the eye doctor charged a small fee for this service, then maybe everyone would be happy.  The doctor would make a little money, and the customer can save money by buying glasses online.  Sure, the doctor will lose the sale of the customer buying his glasses, but if it's a choice between a little money for a simple service or no money at all, I would think he would lean towards making whatever money he can.

At least that is my opinion.

Green Hair

Kasi wanted highlight in her hair for her birthday, so I gave her some.  They looked great until we started swimming every day.  Now her blond highlights are green.  Even mine and Brandi's hair are showing a little green.  I blame the chlorine.  My mom bought something the other day to get the green out, but we haven't tried it yet.  She says that once we do get it out, that wetting our hair before getting in the pool will help keep it from turning green again.  I sure do hope that is true...

Purple Roses

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 1-800-Flowers. All opinions are 100% mine.

 I always tell people that my favorite flowers are pale yellow roses.  Junior got me some once, and they were so beautiful.  I was checking out the flowers at http://www.1800flowers.com and although I didn't find any pale yellow roses, I did find the purple ones in the picture above.  Aren't they beautiful?!  I have never seen purple roses before, and I think they may be my new favorite flower.

Junior doesn't give me flowers often, but when he does, I love it.  I especially love when I get a flower delivery for no reason, other than because he loves me.  I think that means more than him sending me some on Valentine's Day.  I mean, why wait until a holiday to show the person you love that you are thinking about them?

Although I do remember one Valentine's Day when Junior did send me flowers. It was my first week back at work after having Brandi, and I was so sick.  I didn't want to call out, because I had just gone back, but I was sent home after getting sick in the bathroom.  Little did I know that Junior was having flowers delivered to my work.  I was waiting for him to come pick me up when a delivery guy came in with a beautiful bouquet of roses.  All my co-workers were saying the flowers were for them, and when the guy said they were for me, I was so surprised.  It was a wonderful part of an otherwise awful Valentine's Day.

So tell me, who would you send flowers to, and why?

Random Questions I Stole From Someone Else's Blog

1. What time did you get up this morning? Around 9, I think
 
2. How do you like your steak? before my first pregnancy, I preferred rare, but now I like it well done
 
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? New Moon...can't wait until Eclipse next week!
 
4. What is your favorite TV show/s? I watch so many great shows, but right now, I'd say True Blood!
 
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? right where I am, only in a house I own, not rent
 
6. What did you have for breakfast? um, cereal, I think
 
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Chinese
 
8. What foods do you dislike? seafood...I just can't eat something that lives where it pees...I have issues, I know
 
9. Favorite place to eat? mom's house :)
 
10. Favorite dressing? For salad? ranch
 
11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? ha!  that's funny ;)
 
12. What are your favorite clothes? anything comfortable
 
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Hawaii
 
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? depends on my mood...
 
15. Where would you want to retire? um...right here?
 
16. Favorite time of day? nighttime, when I am the only one up, and I can get stuff done
 
17. Where were you born? Oklahoma
 
18. What is your favorite sport/s to watch? not a sports fan, at all.
 
19. Who do you think will not tag you back? I'm not tagging, so I have no idea
 
20. Person you expect to tag you back first? really?
 
21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? whoever steals this...
 
22. Birdwatcher? nope
 
23. Are you a morning person or a night person? night, without a doubt.
 
24. Do you have any pets? Brandi has three hamsters
 
25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? I am going to be an aunt again!
 
26. What did you want to be when you were little? day care worker
 
27. What is your best childhood memory? spending time at my aunts house
 
28. Are you a cat or dog person? cat

29. Are you married? Yes.

30. Always wear your seat belt? abso'freakin'lutely
 
31. Been in a car accident? when I was little...
 
32. Any pet peeves? too many to list...the biggest, though, is when people dog ear the pages in books they borrow from me...I hate that!
 
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? cheese & mushrooms
 
34. Favorite Flowers? pale yellow roses
 
35. Favorite ice cream? chocolate peanut butter
 
36. Favorite fast food restaurant? um, taco bell I guess

37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? none, never took it LOL..

38. From whom did you get your last email? izea
 
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? best buy
 
40. Do anything spontaneous lately? nope, I am pretty predictable
 
41. Like your job? love it!
 
42. Broccoli? yum.
 
43. What was your favorite vacation? camping with my family
 
44. Last person you went out to dinner with? my mom took us out tonight for our anniversary
 
45. What are you listening to right now? iCarly
 
46. What is your favorite color? purple and black
 
47. How many tattoos do you have? None.
 
48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? none.
 
49. What time did you finish this quiz? 7:37 pm
 
50. Coffee drinker? nope.

God Bless America

I was doing my normal stalking of Etsy for elephants, and check out this guy I found.  He's perfect for the 4th of July, and completely unique.  He's expensive ($50), so I won't be adding him to my collection right now. :( 

I found him here, in HUNBUN22 Holiday Folk Art For You's etsy shop.  She has quite a cute little collection of pieces, most of them are holiday themed; all of them unique.

I will be saving my pennies though, until he is mine....

I Was Looking For A Lamp, And Found This

 My bedroom has a ceiling light.  At night, I like to read in bed, but find the overhead light to be too much when Brandi is trying to sleep.  (yes, at 8, she still sleeps with me)  I was online looking for a nice lamp to go on my nightstand, and came across Himalayan Salt Lamps.  If you are like me, you probably have no idea what they are. I found this explanation online:

Salt lamps are naturally beautiful and ambient while generating an increased balance of airborne negative ions; which are scientifically proven to enhance human health, environment, and well-being; These are hygroscopic too, thereby reducing moisture content which airborne particulates/bacteria need to remain airborne and survive.

That sounds pretty interesting to me.  I want one of these lamps now.  Not for reading, obviously, but to see if it makes a difference in our health and well being.

Free Drinks All Summer

Want to win a great cool down prize?  A Caring Heart is giving away a $10 gift card to racetrack, which you can use to buy a refillable mug, that you can then refill all summer for free.  For FREE!  I entered here, and you should too.  Good luck!

Junior Would Wear A Watch

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Voctorinox Swiss Army. All opinions are 100% mine.
Junior got another three Homer awards at work, which means he is getting another $50 bonus.  No watch this time, which is a good thing.  He still hasn't worn the one they gave him for his last 9 Homer awards.  It's not that he doesn't like it; it's just that he doesn't like the strap.  He is a simple guy, and the metal links are too fancy for him.  He prefers a leather strap.

I thought getting him a watch he liked would be a great Father's Day gift.  I found this Victorinox Swiss Army Dive Master 500 Mechanical watch, and I really do think Junior will love it.  It doesn't have any fancy gadgets, just a simple face.  I am not sure how he will feel about the red strap, though, so I might have to see if I can get it with either a black or brown one. 

I also became a fan of Facebook IWAW sweepstakes page, where I can enter the I Wear a Watch sweepstakes.  They are giving away 30 Victorinox Swiss Army timepieces over 30 days.  I hope I will be one of the lucky winners.  You should become a fan, too, so you can be entered in the giveaway.

You KNOW You're A Redneck...

...when this is your truck:

Last weekend, we were walking into a local grocery store when we passed this truck.  Yes, that is chicken wire screwed over his window.  And yes, I got a picture of it.  Or I should say, Ryan grabbed my camera and took the pictures, because I was too chicken.  Turns out, there was a dog in the car, so I guess this was the owners way of letting it get some air.  Kind of a good idea, but I still wouldn't do that to my car.

It's All The Same

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.
When my kids were little, I was on WIC.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it is where you get assistance paying for formula for your baby.  I was lucky enough to qualify for enough to keep my kids fed every month, but there were a couple of times where Junior and I had to buy a can or two ourselves.  My youngest is eight, and even eight years ago formula was ridiculously expensive.  We always bought the store brand, because we didn't always have enough money for the name brands.

I recently read an article online where they discussed a law suit involving baby formula.  It seems the makers of Enfamil, Mead Johnson, were sued for false advertising when they claimed that their baby formula was better than the store brand.  Not everyone knows that all baby formulas have to meet strict FDA guidelines, and that they all contain the same nutrients for babies.  This should come as a relief to a lot of parents who buy the name brands, thinking they are giving their baby a better start.  They can now save money and still give their babies a great start in life.

Now if I could just convince my sister, because she always pays more for the name brands for my niece.  maybe I need to show her the article I read.

Check Her Out!

Brandi has no fear when it comes to my mom's pool.  She has been wearing her pink swimmies, and jumping into the deep end.  She has been bugging me about swimming without the swimmies, so yesterday I had her try and swim in the deep end on her own.  She did awesome!  She shocked me a little when she started treading water in eight feet of water!  Since she was swimming so well, I told her she could jump in without her swimmies if she wanted to, and she did.  Now, she doesn't want to wear the swimmies at all, but I am not there yet.  I still want her to have them on for a little while longer, if for nothing else than my own peace of mind.

Busy, Busy, Busy

 Junior has been working his butt off at my mom's new house.  The previous owner didn't keep up with the landscaping, so it has fallen into junior's lap.  He likes staying busy, so he isn't complaining too bad.  Today, though, when my mom started talking about building a deck around the pool, Junior gave me a "help me" look.  I think he might suggest my mom hire an oakland county contractor to build it. 

Or he might just try and talk me into helping him.

This Is My Summer

I may not be around too much this summer. My mom's new house came with a big 'ole pool, and we are really enjoying it.  I haven't been dropping ecards on this blog, and my posting has been pretty pathetic.  I know this, but there are more important things going on in my life right now, and I am sure you can all understand that.  When choosing between my computer or a day in the pool, I am happy to say the pool will win every time. :)

Where To Go On Vacation

How do you decide where to go on vacation?  Like most people, I have a destination in mind if I ever win a dream vacation contest.  I would want to go somewhere with crystal clear water at it's beaches, with temperatures in the low 90's all the time.  It would have to be somewhere I could drive to, because there is no way I would ever get on a plane, so Hawaii is out. 

Realistically, I could see loading up my family and driving north, then spending a few days in New York Hotels.  My kids have been bugging me about seeing The Statue Of Liberty, so we would check that out while we're up there.  I also want to take them to the top of the Empire State Building.  I remember the first time I went there as a child.  I was petrified to go up. Once we got to the top, though, my fears disappeared because it was so beautiful. 

We also have the option of going west, and visiting some Las Vegas Hotels.  I just worry that there won't be much for the kids to do, because none of them are old enough to gamble just yet.

I guess we could also go south, and stay in Orlando Hotels.  We could visit Disney, and Sea World.  I also have family in Florida I haven't seen in a while, so we might find a way to do a mini family reunion of some sort.  No matter what we decide, I think we'll have fun just being together.

Or at least that is what I am hoping.

Look What I Found On Etsy

A purple elephant!  I want it, too.  I found this cute little OOAK Polymer Clay Elephant in Alecia Edwards etsy shop.  Isn't it adorable?  She has other animals listed, too, like crocodiles and turtles.  I especially love the parrot sitting on an egg.  The prices are reasonable, too, which means this little guy will be mine.  Soon.

Taking Medications

 How do you make the decision to use a medicine that you know has some pretty awful side effects?

It's a tough choice, and one that, thankfully, I have never had to make.  I have had to decide which medications are right for my son, who has ADHD.  We tried a couple of different medicines before finding the right dosage/frequency of doses, and now that he is doing well, I don't want to change things.  One of the things my doctor suggested while we were trying to find the right medicine was the Ritalin patch.  At the time, this was a brand new thing, and I decided against it because no one knew what the side effects would be.

This happens more often than you think.  A new medicine comes out, doctors prescribe it, and then after a lot of people take it, the side effects become known, and most times, they are not pleasant.  Take this accutane class action suit.  Doctor's prescribed this medicine as an acne treatment, and now find out "Accutane has been linked to severe bowel problems, suicidal tendencies, and other painful illnesses in people who used the medication regularly".  I have seen commercials on television lately about this medicine, too.  It's scary to think people are having such problems simply because they wanted to clear up their acne.

This is why I am leery of taking any type of medicine.

Ryan's First Job Interview

...if you can even call it that.  Last week, Ryan went into our local Zaxby's and filled out an application (they hire at 14).  The manager told him to come back Monday for an interview. 

Well, Junior had him up there at the required time, and Ryan was all ready to be interviewed.  We had deiscussed the kinds of questions he might be asked, and he had great replies.  When the time came, the guy told him that they didn't have any positions available right now, but he would keep his application on file. 

I was kind of ticked, because the guy could have told him that last week when he handed in the application, instead of getting his hopes up.  Now we're all hoping that before the summer is over, Ryan will be called in for a job.

Business Cards

I still have not ordered business cards.  I think I am the world's biggest procrastinator.  This can be a good thing sometimes, and in this instance, it has allowed me to discover something that can help me to stand out.

I know the traditional use for Plastic Cards is for businesses and such, but why not use them as business cards?   Eye Catchers is a Plastic Card Manufacturer, and I have looked at some of their samples, and I really believe I could come up with a really cute business card for myself.

You all know I'm a little different, so why shouldn't my business card reflect that?

Will We Be Swimming?

Another busy day ahead.  We're heading to my mom's house to help get the pool ready.  I spent last night vacuuming, and am going to do the same today.  Mom found out the pool hasn't been used in two years, so there is a lot to get cleaned before it is swim-able.  Hopefully by tonight, we will be jumping in!

It's That Time Of Year

We have almost made it through our first week of Summer vacation.  The kids are staying up later, and then sleeping in later in the mornings.  This works well for me, because I like to stay up late and then sleep in, too.  In fact, last night, I stayed up until I got Junior up at 2:15, and then I went to be.  I was up before 9, which wasn't fun, but it was still about 7 hours of straight sleep, which was nice.

Junior and I have been talking about when he should take his vacation this year.  He gets three weeks now, but we will only use one week over the Summer.  We decided that because of money, or the lack thereof, we are going to do a local camping trip for a few days.  The kids will love it, and I will enjoy relaxing for a few days with no internet.  Junior will be in heaven because he will get to fish all day and night.

We also talked about what we would do if we didn't have to worry about money.  My first thought was Hawaii, but I am petrified to fly, so we would have to go somewhere we could get to by car.  Junior said we should head to the west coast, since neither of us has even been. I checked out some Mission Beach vacation rentals and  San Diego vacation rentals, and was able to find some pretty cute places to stay.   Having recently rented a house with my sister's for our weekend getaway in Tennessee, I can weigh the options between staying in a hotel or a cabin/house.  A hotel has room service, but a house has a full kitchen and more privacy.  That said, do I really want to be cooking while on vacation?  I don't think so.  Besides, money is no object, so why not stay in the nicest hotel I can find?  And if we like it nice enough in California, we could check out a San Diego property management company about finding somewhere to live permanently.

Who am I kidding.  I love it here in SC, and that's where my family is.  Vacationing is one thing, but I don't think I'd ever move away.

A Playdoh Masterpiece

Here is more of Brandi's creativeness.  She made this "angel cake" for a baby's 1st birthday.  I used to love playing with Playdoh.  I also used to like eating it.  Come on now, you all need to admit to this.  Remember how it tasted salty?  Today's playdoh doesn't.  Trust me.  :)

Wii's in Gym Class. Really?

I know I have written before about how horrible I think my school districts physical education program is.  I mean, the kids play the wii during gym.  Is that really considered physical education?  I don't think so.  They can, and do, do that at home.  I think the schools should use the Spark PE curriculum, or something similar, to get our kids moving.  I mean, they can apply for the PEP grant 2010 and use that money on things other than wii games.  I am not sure why it bothers me so much that the kids play video games at school, but it really does.  I mean, they are always talking about the school's budget, and where to make cuts.  I say start making the gym teachers work for their paychecks instead of putting the kids in front of a television screen.  Implement a coordinated school health program, getting parents and the community involved in helping our kids get healthier.  

I am in no way saying that it is the sole responsibility of the school's teachers to get our kids moving.  I know I have to do my part as well.  My kids love to ride their bikes and play outside.  Sure, they are not on any type of sport team or structured activity, but I grew up using my imagination while playing, and my kids do the same.  I think it has made them extremely creative.  But when they are at school, they need guidance, not video games.

At least that's my opinion.

Free Chicken

Did you sign up for your free spicy chicken sandwich from Chic-fil-A through Facebook?  I did it for all of us, except Brandi.  You had to be over 13 to print out the coupon.  Luckily, I have a coupon for a free sandwich that Ryan got from school that I am going to use for her.  We have to go tomorrow, between 2-5pm to get our sandwiches.

I hope they're good. :)

I Have So Much to Learn

A weird thing happened today.  I was at my mom's house, and I got on her computer to check and see if I had any pending opps.  I write for a few different sites, and when I logged into one of them, I didn't qualify for as many opps as I had this morning.  I checked their stats page, and it has both of my blogs that I write paid posts on as having page ranks of 0.  I thought this was a little odd, because I didn't think we were due for a page rank update until July.  This led me to Google's page rank checker tool, and it said both blogs still have their rank, so I am guessing it's the paid site that is messed up, not my blogs.

I will admit, though, that I am no expert when it comes to Social Media Services and Site Search Software.  I know I should be networking my sites, letting people know about them, but I have no idea how.  I have read articles and to be honest, most of what they say goes right over my head.I am just a simple mommy blogger trying to make a little extra cash, and not lose my page rank in the process.  I have a Twitter account, because I read that Twitter is a great way to network yourself.  The problem is, I don't get it.  I really need to Learn More about the different platforms, and how they contribute to SEO.   Then I have to learn more about SEO.

Any suggestions?

The Lovely Bones

There is something you should know about me.  When I start to read a book or watch a movie, I have to finish it.  Even if it is horrible.  Even if I know what is going to happen, I have to finish.

Well, this movie broke me of that.  I couldn't make it more than 30 minutes. 

It sucked, which really sucked because I had heard such good things about it. 

Brandi has been bugging me for weeks to watch it, so yesterday we settled in to watch.  I think I actually fell asleep.  The last thing I remember watching was the police finding the girls hat. 

I am now wondering if the book is as bad as the movie.  Have you seen or read this story?  If so, which was better?

Jeans

 I used to hate shopping for clothes.  Before my breast reduction, nothing ever fit right.  I couldn't find bras that were big enough, so I tried to wear clothes baggy so people couldn't tell.  Doing so just made me look a whole lot bigger than I am.  Now, I am in no way saying I am not a big girl, because I am.  I am just saying that by wearing baggy clothes, I made myself look bigger.

I recently went clothes shopping, and was pleasantly surprised when I was trying on Miss Me Jeans three sizes smaller than I used to wear, and they fit. Did I forget to mention that I have recently lost almost 50 pounds?  That helps my clothes fit better, too. 

I am sure that you have heard that a finding a great pair of Joes Jeans means finding a pair that shows off your butt.   As much as I believe this, I don't think my butt will look good in anything, let alone a pair of jeans.  So I judge jeans by how they look on my legs.  I am short, so finding a pair that aren't too long is a challenge, and when I find a pair I love, I wear them until they fall apart.  So finding a Seven Jeans Sale is awesome, because I can stock up.  

How do you judge jeans?  Do you prefer comfort over your butt looking good?

Kasi's Going Blond

Kasi has been after me forever to put some highlights in her hair.  A lot of her friends have them, but I was still hesitant, because she is only, or was only, 12.  She turned 13 recently.

I was trying to remember how old I was when I first started coloring my hair, and I don't think I was much older than she is now.  So the other day we were in the store, and she asked again if I would highlight her hair.  This time, I agreed.

What we disagreed on was what color highlights.  She wanted purple, and I said no way.  Then she said red, and I was kind of okay with that, as long as it was a natural looking red and not a red red.  She wanted the red red.  We finally agreed that for now, I would do regular blond highlights, and maybe when she gets a little older, she can experiment with brighter colors.

It's nice to compromise.  I hope the rest of her teen aged years go this smoothly.

Avoidance

Junior's ex-father-in-law has been missing in action recently.  Junior worked really hard to get his old tiller running, so I bet he's been out in his field.  He hasn't been selling, but I think he has planted all his veggies, and is now waiting for them to produce.  Once his crops start coming in, I have a feeling he will be running the stand six days a week. (he doesn't work on Sundays)  He still has a bunch of flowers that he wants to sell, and I think I heard him talking to Junior about finding some palm trees for sale.  I believe his plan is to open a produce stand/mini nursery.  

Junior and I have talked about this, and we think he could make some really good money, if he would just be consistent.  He had me look up wholesale nursery phone numbers online so he could see about starting up an inventory.   He had a list of flowers and bushes that he needed prices for, and I did the best I could finding out what he needed to know.  But, because I am no expert on wholesale palm trees and flowers, I got a few things mixed up.

Maybe this is why he hasn't asked me to help him sell produce this year.

Top Droppers For May

A big Thank You to May's top droppers!

My Gypsygoods ~ Life, creative moments, saving money, nature, eco-friendly tips. Supporting & promoting the handmade community. 

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.

Ruth's Creations ~ This is my blog where I write, among other things, about my online business selling crocheted items I make. Part of my sales are donated to Demelza House Children's Hospice, the favored charity of British actor Daniel Radcliffe.

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.

Alterity Art ~ Specializing in No Harm antique and vintage button jewelry to preserve button's value and hierloom/museum quality of the jewery. Each piece is one of a kind :] 

feeding my family of five ~ I write about the things I cook for, and with, my family.

Crazy Mom ~ I'm a mom of 4 boys. I have been married to the love of my life for over 20 years. We enjoy sports, cooking, gardening, crafts, painting, music, watching movies and I love to shop.

Three Fates Design ~ A blog about a girl and her love of beadweaving and lampwork beads.

My Opinion Counts ~ I have opinions about just about everything.

Lovely Purses ~ this blog is all about creativity, my love of fabrics, bag design and construction, useful sewing advice, trends and current projects