Works For Me Wednesday

I always forget until late tuesday night that I need to write a post for WFMW, and I have actually forgotten a few times. Bad bad me!! So I'm supposed to write about Kitchen organization. My kitchen is terribly un-organized and very messy right now. I've been sick the last few days and don't really give a rats a$$ as to what the state of my house is! You try to take care of 4 kids and have a fever and a hacking cough!

One thing that I do use to organize is Tupperware! Yep, I'm a Tupperware girl. I love it. I keep all my flour, sugar, brown sugar, etc in it. It is a bit pricey, so I haven't bought anything new lately, but I might soon. I always like to have lots of bowls to store stuff in in the fridge if we have left overs or something.

I've also organized my pantry so I have baked supplies on one side, and canned food on the other. Snack crackers, oatmeal, cereal bars etc are on the top shelf, and the big stuff like the dog's biscuits and fish crackers, and my Tupperware are on the bottom. It still looks a bit messy though. I find though, that having enough shelving and cupboards in your kitchen is the true way to organization!

In my old house, the one we sold in April, I had a dream kitchen. I LOVED it. I was very very organized there, and very spoiled, because the pantry had pull-out drawers! And I had 4 large lazy Susan's in two corner cupboards. How could you not be organized like that? Now I rent and I don't have much choice, so I do what I can.

Sorry if this post sounds a bit muddled, I am under the influence of cold medicine, and Motrin as well, so I might not make a lick of sense. And to sum it all up...my kitchen is organized with lots of shelving and Tupperware. Not very exciting, but it works!

Interesting Facts About "English"

Tonight I received a poem from my sister on face book. We like to write silly things to each other all the time. As I was writing her back, I need a word to rhyme with "fever", and googled it. Well, I found my word (cleaver), but also found this interesting website that I thought I would share. I just copied and pasted it, so please excuse the lack of neatness. I'm still sick and don't really care to put a lot of work into it.



Interesting Facts


The oldest words in the English language are around 14,000 years old, originating in a pre-Indo-European language group called Nostratic ("our language") by experts. Words from this language group that survive in modern English include apple (apal), bad (bad), gold (gol), and tin (tin). (source)

The word arctic is derived from the ancient Greek word for bear, arktos. The reason is that constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear, lies in the northern sky. [ The Universe | English Words ] (source)

In Old English, the word with meant "against". This meaning is still preserved in phrases such as "to fight with". (source)

No English words rhyme fully with orange, silver, or month (there are, however, some partial rhymes, or pararhymes, for these words, such as salver for silver and lozenge for orange). (source)

The longest English word that contains neither A, E, I, O, nor U is rhythms. (source)

In English, the days of the week are named after the Saxon gods (except for Saturday, which is named after the Roman god of agriculture). Sunday is named after the sun, Monday after the moon, Tuesday after Tiw, Wednesday after Woden, Thursday after Thor, Friday after Frige, and Saturday after Saturn. [ Calendars | English Words ] (source)

The word boycott comes from Charles C. Boycott. He was hired by an Irish earl to collect high rents from tenant farmers who completely ignored him. (source)


The word "mile" comes from the Roman milia, "thousands". The Romans measured distances in paces, which were about five feet. So, milia passum, 1,000 paces or about 5,000 feet, was the length of a mile. [ The Roman Empire | English Words | Numbers and Measurement ] (source)

Part of a Roman soldier's pay was called salarium argentium, "salt money", which was used to buy the then-precious commodity, and so pay today is called a "salary". (source)

The word typewriter is one of the longest that can be typed using only the top row of a standard QWERTY keyboard. Others are perpetuity, proprietor, and repertoire and, if you include obscure words, the longest is rupturewort. The longest word that can be typed using only the home row is alfalfas. No words can be typed using only the bottom row, because that row contains no vowels. (source)

The longest words that can be typed on a standard QWERTY keyboard using only the left hand are twelve letters long. There are six such words: aftereffects, desegregated, desegregates, reverberated, reverberates, and stewardesses. (source)

The word slave comes from Slav, the name of a group of Eastern European peoples. In antiquity, Germanic tribes captured Slavs and sold them to the Romans as slaves. The Latin word for slave, addict, has become the English word for someone dependent on something harmful. [ Slavery | English Words ] (source)

"Journal" does not have any letters in common with the Latin word from which it is derived: dies, "day." Intermediate steps in the word's development include the Latin diurnus, the Italian giorno, and the French jour. (source)

The quark, a building block of the proton, got its name from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, from the line "Three quarks for Muster Mark! Sure he hasn't got much of a bark". [ English Words | Books and Literature | Physics ] (source)


The word "uptown" was in use before the word "downtown" was. Both words were originally used to describe parts of Manhattan. [ Place Names | English Words ] (source)

A group of magpies is called a tiding, one of ravens an unkindness, one of turtledoves a pitying, one of starlings a murmuration, one of swans a lamentation, one of ponies a string, one of rattlesnakes a rhumba, one of crows a murder, one of cobras a quiver, one of foxes a skulk, one of emus a mob, one of elks a gang, one of cats a clowder, one of flamingoes a pat, and one of bears a sleuth. Groups of geese are named in a peculiar manner; when they are on the ground they are called a "gaggle", but in the air they are called a "skein". [ Animals | English Words ] (source)


Viking ships were steered by rudders on the right side, which the Vikings called styrbord, Old Norse for "steer side", from which the English word "starboard" comes. The Vikings docked their ships on the left side, which they called the ladebord, the "loading side". This eventually became the English "larboard", which sounded so much like "starboard" that it caused problems. Eventually, the British Admiralty ordered that the left side be known as the "port" side. [ Vikings | English Words ] (source)

The word "daisy" comes from the Old English "daeges eage", meaning "the eye of the day", as it reminded people of the sun.

Many European advances during the Middle Ages were made possible by the Moorish occupation of Spain. The most important was the use of Arabic numerals. The Moors also brought other discoveries to Europe, which is reflected by the fact that words such as "algebra", "lute", and "magazine" are of Arabic origin. The Moors also introduced to Europe the game of chess. [ The Middle Ages | English Words | Numbers and Measurement ]

The verb "cleave" has two opposite meanings. It can mean to adhere or to separate.


The words "beef" and "cow" come from the same Indo-European root.

A billion in America is different from a billion in Great Britain. An American billion is a thousand million (1,000,000,000), but a British billion is a million million (1,000,000,000,000). Most of the other names for large numbers are also different between the U.S. and the U.K. The American names are now finding increasing usage in Great Britain, however. [ Mathematics and Mathematicians | English Words ] (source)

Until the seventeenth century the word "upset" meant to set up (i.e. erect) something. Now it means the opposite: "to capsize". (source)

According to the third edition of The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, there are 20 valid words containing no vowels. [ Sports and Games | English Words ] (source)

"Dreamt" is the only English word ending in "mt". (source)

The word "dunce", meaning a dull-witted or ignorant person, comes from the name of John Duns Scotus (1265-1308), one of the greatest minds of his time. Scotus, born in Scotland, wrote treatises on grammar, logic, metaphysics, and theology. He was educated at Cambridge and Oxford and pursued his master's degree in theology at the University of Paris where, in 1303, he became embroiled in one of the most heated disputes of the day. France's King Philip IV had moved to tax the Church in order to finance his war with England; in response, Pope Boniface VIII threatened to excommunicate him. For supporting the pope, Duns Scotus was banished from France. He later assumed a university professorship in Cologne. The term "dunce" was coined two centuries later by people who disagreed with Scotus' teachings and his defence of the papacy. To them, any of his followers (a "Duns man" or "Dunce") was dull-witted, "incapable of scholarship and stupid". (source)

The word "kindergarten" comes from the German for "children's garden". Friedrich Froebel, who coined the term, originally was planning to use the term "Kleinkinderbeschäftigungsanstalt" instead. (source)
The first use of the word "robot" to describe advanced humanlike machines was in 1920, in R.U.R., an early science fiction play. It comes from the Czech word robota, meaning "compulsory labour". (source)

The word "tragedy" is derived from two Greek words meaning "goat song".

The word "abracadabra" originated in Roman times as part of a prayer to the god Abraxas.

The largest number in the English language that with a word naming it is a googolplex, which is 1010^100, which would be written as 1 followed by 10100 zeroes. [ English Words | Numbers and Measurement ]

One of the possible etymologies for the word "lackey" is from the Arabic al-qadi, meaning "the judge".

A Little Update

Just wanted to check in and appologize for not posting the last few days. I got hit with the nastiest, most awful cold ever on sunday. I'm still not better. Didn't want anyone to think I abandoned them ;o)
I hope to be back soon!

Sunday Seven

Well, I admit it...I've run out of steam! I am not quite sure what 7 things to write about this week...

How do you find the energy and time to write about something when it feels like your whole life is falling apart at the seams? Maybe it has just been an emotional week, but I just haven't been able to hold it in all that well. I admit, my housework has been severely neglected, I've been too harsh with the kids, my diet has sucked and I'm at odds with my husband. I feel like curling up into a ball and staying in my own little world without any outside interference.

Could it be the changing of the seasons? Fall happened right on time this year, no Indian Summer here. As soon as September 22nd rolled around, the weather changed dramatically. Isn't it fascinating how nature just knows what to do? It just amazes me how quickly it happened this year.
I know it isn't time for "that", if you catch my drift, so I am not quite sure what is going on with me. I just need a "perk me up", not a "pick me up"...something needs to perk me up.

Let me know if you can think of anything that might help, I can't seem to crawl out of this funk. I need to though, because my husband is coming home in a week or so, and I have to plan my middle daughter's birthday party and prepare for that as well.

I need something to snap me out of it.

5.11 Tactical

511 tactical is a great source for all Police, Military, and every day gear. They sell items from clothing, to gear, even items such as knives and sunglasses, all in the 5.11 Tactical brand. If you order from them, you're guaranteed to find the best items out there to suit your needs.

Most orders are shipped within 24 hours, and will arrive to you via FedEx, UPS or USPS. You can even receive free shipping on certain items! To further sweeten the deal, they will ship to APO and FPO addresses, which is great news for all our service men and women overseas. So if you are looking for some hardcore gear, 511 tactical is the place for you!

We Made Our Decision

The Verdict is in...

There shall be no trip to Canada. But I am ok with it actually! The thing I was most sad about was missing out on a date with my husband, rather than missing the actual wedding. Plus, I am saving $500 by not going, right?

The silver lining though, is that my Mom has decided to come down the week after for my daughter's birthday party and will stay overnight. She lives 4 hours away, so we only see her every few months. This way the man and I can go out on a date still!! Not as fancy, but we haven't had a date in over a year, which was when we went to see Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix in the theater and out for dinner!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what we could do? We're kind of tired of the whole dinner and a movie thing.

HugaMonkey Baby Slings

Have you ever used a baby sling for your newborn? "Baby wearing" these days is so popular, it seems everyone and their mother has baby slings. When my first two were born in 2001, slings were just starting to become popular, and now everyone has baby slings and baby carriers. I have always wanted to use a baby sling, but never got around to it because I couldn't find the right one for me, and it was just too uncomfortable. Slings allow you to do everything with two hands again, so no excuse for not vacuuming, right?

I found a really cool website, HugaMonkey that sells some awesome baby slings. What I really like about them is that they are ONE piece of fabric, so you don't have to mess with any of those nasty, uncomfortable rings that used to be on slings, so they're very simple to use. The website has, according to them, a "smashing" selection of slings, starting at the low price of $25! I love the fact that these are so versatile too; you can hold a child up to 3 years of 30lbs, and can use it as a pouch, sling, front and back carrier, even on your hip!

If I had a child that fit into a sling, I would definitely order this one



Look at how easy she is wearing that baby, and can you tell how comfortable it looks? I honestly wish I had been able to have this when I had my last child.

If you are pregnant, or even have a newborn, I urge you to check out their site and order yourself a sling. The website is very user friendly, easy to navigate, and they have FREE SHIPPING, and FREE RETURNS!!! So if for some reason you are not happy with your sling, you can return it or exchange it for no additional cost.

If you still don't believe me, check out some of their testimonials

Happy Shopping!!

Works For Me Wednesday

Thanks to Shannon, over at Rocks in my Dryer, for hosting Works For Me Wednesday!

Yesterday I had to waste a couple hours while the brakes were being replaced in my van, so after I dropped the van off at Midas, I bundled the baby up in the stroller and off we went for a walk and a bit of shopping. I stopped into Dollar Tree, and I had forgotten how much I love that store! lol I found so much cute stuff there for Halloween and Christmas. I got the kids silicone skull and pumpkin ice cube trays, some fake foliage on a vine (that I wrapped around my candles on the entertainment center). I also found treat boxes, instead of treat bags, for my daughter's upcoming 6th birthday, and invitations as well. She was thrilled. And Colgate and Aquafresh toothpaste for the kids.

You can find so many items there, name brand and not, that are cheap and efficient. I love dollar tree, and plan to go back again when I have some time and more money. lol They have always had great Christmas items too, so I can't wait to go back there and see what they put out for Christmas.

I also stopped by Marshall's to browse, and came home with a Christmas gift for my son. It only cost $6.99 and is a "History of The World" Encyclopedia, made for kids. It is an awesome book, and what a great deal! Hardcover and a couple inches thick too. It covers everything from Ancient civilizations, to Wars, the Industrial Revolution etc etc. I think he'll love it. I love that store too because they always have new items. I found my current wallet there last month and only paid $5 for a green leather wallet, that I love. I found my son and one of my daughters Levi's jeans last month also for less than $10, and I found myself New Balance tennis shoes for $30.

And that's what works for me...shopping for bargains at Dollar Tree and Marshall's. I save money, and find awesome stuff!

So Long, Farwell....

To our trip, that is.

We just can't catch a break, can we? This morning my hubby called to tell me that one of his fillings partially fell out. So when he comes home we have to get that fixed. I seriously doubt that any trip to Canada is happening now. *sigh*

Maybe we'll get a miracle, but I don't hold much hope for that. Oh well, we'll make it another time I guess.

And to top it all off, today while I was on my way to the YMCA for my workout, the brakes started to act really funny, so I made an appointment with MIDAS for this afternoon and they're getting replaced. I knew it was coming, I was just hoping I could hold off until next week. I didn't even get to work out, I just went straight home, I was too scared to do anything else but go home.

Send some luck our way...we definitely need it.

edited PM:

Looks like "luck" isn't in our cards this time around. After I got the brakes fixed today, I found out that the transmission needs to be flushed, and that some lights are out. Not dire at least. I thought perhaps we could get those done when my hubby comes home, and still make it to the wedding. But we've still all but called it off right now. So unless his pay on friday is a large large sum, then I won't be going. That's ok though, I've kind of resigned myself to that already. Something just doesn't want us to go to Canada, does it?

Make It From Scratch Carnival

I haven't participated in this carnival in ages, so it is nice to be back. Thanks to Julie, over at Chez Artz for hosting this weeks edition of the Make It From Scratch Carnival.

And be sure to check out the tips I posted below for the Zucchini cake!

Exercise and Zucchini Cake Update

I wanted to update on the zucchini cake!

First tip I have is to use very very finely diced zucchini. You can't taste the zucchini in the cake, but if your kids are opposed to such veggies, then it helps to dice it in really small chunks (my kids have devoured their pieces, and even ate raw Zucchini, so they weren't bothered by it). Also, do not peel the Zucchini, just slice it and cut out the "pith" aka the middle of it. You'll get a lot of nutrients out of the peel too. Don't use grated, the cake will be too moist. Also, once it cools, it is helpful to leave it overnight in the pan, covered with cling/saran wrap. I wasn't sure of it yesterday because the top looked a little dry, but this morning, the cake looked and tasted fabulous! The cling wrap helps seal in the moisture that just adds that extra yumminess!

Also, I completed a 45 minute SPINNING class! That is one intense workout, and I feel awesome! But my butt hurts from the bike seat, lol, so I will need to get used to that. I plan to go back on Thursday. You aren't supposed to "spin" day after day, so they suggest two classes a week. That's why I will do Tuesday/Thursday. It will get better though, right? I'm not sore, just tired. Very, Very tired.

In other news, I am down 13lbs since mid august! No sizing down on the jeans yet, but that will be coming soon. Hooray!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake

This recipe was made by my mom all the time when I was growing up, and I finally decided to tackle it. It has a been a favorite of mine, so I am looking forward to eating it, lol! It is cooling right now as I type this, so I can't give you a review just yet.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake

1/2 stick softened butter
1/2c vegetable oil
1 3/4c white sugar
2 eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 c sour milk (if you don't have sour milk, just add a tsp of white vinegar to your milk)
2 1/2 cup flour
4 tbsp cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves

2 Cups finely diced Zucchini, not shredded
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Mix all the above ingredients, except the chocolate chips, in a large mixing bowl. Spoon the batter into a greased and floured 13x9" pan, and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly on top. Bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes. Let cool, and enjoy!

Be sure to follow the tips here, and it will turn out even better. The trick is to let it sit overnight, with the cake pan covered in cling wrap, which helps seal in the moisture. The cake will be a moist, Delicious, chocolaty goodness then.

This is what the cake looked like last night. This morning it was much darker and dense, and moist. Yummy!

Sunday Seven

This week's 7 Things/Sunday Seven is about me! 7 *hopefully* interesting things about me.

1. I met my hubby on the internet in a yahoo chat room! We've been married almost 9 years now, and met 10 years ago. He is the love of my life.

2. I have at one point in my life, been able to understand Dutch, but not speak it. Been able to understand German and speak it a little. In high school, I was practically fluent in French, but have since lost it, and can understand some of it still. I've also studied Russian, and known some Japanese, and Spanish. I like languages.

3. I have a *crush* on Edward from "Twilight". lol (I not so secretly wish to be Mrs. Cullen. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go read the books! lol)

4. My hubby and I spent our first year of marriage in Germany. Our twins were almost born there. We'd move back if we could! I prefer Europe to the US/Canada. *gasp*

5. At certain times in my life I have aspired to be a Nurse, Veterinarian, Archaeologist, and a Scientist at the CDC studying Ebola! I think being a mommy I could be classified as almost all of those, except the Ebola part and Archeology. I'm always a nurse to the kids, I take care of 3 pets and have nursed one of them back to health numerous times. And as for being a scientist, well I may not study Ebola, but I certainly have to study poop, boogers, pee, worms, leaves, sticks, pill bugs, bees, rocks, frogs etc etc often enough. lol.

6. My favorite books are the "Twilight" saga, "London", "Pillars of The Earth", Harry Potter series, "His Dark Materials" (first book is "The Golden Compass"), and "Earth's Children" series. I love to read and I can become so engrossed in a book that its like I am there myself. Books are one of my best friends.

7. I love photography and taking pictures. I have even won a Blue Ribbon first prize for one of my photos!

I'm So Sad

As many of you know, my hubby and I have a wedding to go to in two weeks. Well, since the brakes went out and we have to pay for that now, he doesn't want to go anymore. It isn't just the brakes though, it is also the fact that he has to take two weeks off for the wedding because our daughter's birthday is the week after the wedding. So two weeks of income lost for us is a lot of money! He is a long haul truck driver, so he can't go back to work for two days in between the wedding and the birthday, and then the party.

I need to make a decision now. Do I stay home and not go at all? or do I go without him? He said I can go without him, but I was really looking forward to him coming with myself and the kids. We can afford for me to go with the kids, and if he stays working, then we will have that extra week of income which will really help us out.

At the risk of sounding pathetic, I have been crying about this this morning because I was really really excited about going on a date with my hubby. We haven't had a "fancy" date in 4.5 years, where we really got to dress up and go dancing and have a couple drinks. It breaks my heart that we have to make this decision. I don't want to go to a wedding by myself, but I hate to miss out on it.

What do you guys think? I need some advice.

edited Saturday @ 7:20 to add:

We have decided to wait until next Friday to make our decision. We'll see what his pay is like first, and then decide what to do. I forgot about an expense...my contacts. ugh! Why does stuff like this always come up when you don't want it to? I can't not order my contacts, I do need to see, right? lol And in all reality, this wedding is so expensive for us to go to! It is a $500 weekend (gas, a few meals, kennel the dog, my dress and "spanx", wedding gift, etc) just to go to a wedding, and I have to drive 4 hours, not including a lunch break and potty breaks for 4 young kids. We're the only ones in my family who have to travel so far. At least we can stay at my Mom's house. I love my cousin, but I just don't know. I guess we'll wait and see what happens on Friday. I can think of tons of things that $500 could be better spent on...So we'll see.

PayPerPost Blurb

As I am sure everyone has noticed, my PPP Opps have increased dramatically the last few days. This means that my normal posts are going to get "buried" a lot quicker than they used to. I decided to do more PPP because I want to earn some money to purchase my hubby a Christmas gift with money that I have earned. He always pays for everything, so it would be nice for him to receive something he didn't pay for.

Don't feel like you have to read the sponsored posts, they are completely optional. If you want to skip them, just scroll down the page. I have one regular post in between each PPP post.

Thanks!

Weigh Not, Want Not

Almost every home has a scale in their bathroom right? I know that I do, and despite the fact that I know I shouldn't do so, I still weigh myself almost every morning. It is a bad habit of mine.

If you need bathroom scales for your home, check out ScalesEtc as they have a wide variety of digital bathroom scales.

They come in many different colors, from black to pink to green, or you can splurge and treat yourself to a nice glass one. Or how about a digital one that talks to you? No, it doesn't say "get off the scale, fatty!", but it does tell you your body weight and fat percentage, and holds up to 440lbs. You can also store settings for up to 10 people with this scale, so it is perfect for the whole family. A bargain at $53.55

ScalesEtc has scales that are an "enhancement" to the rooms they are placed in. They're stylish, affordable, and come in many different shapes and sizes. Check out the site, I am sure you will find a digital bathroom scale that you love!

I Am So Proud!

I actually can't remember if I wrote about this, but last friday, my son had his Karate promotion. It was a nightmare, an absolute nightmare. They told us they would be done at 7:30, and they weren't done till 8:30...there was no bathroom for my daughters to use, and we had to sit in the van the whole time we were there (we came to pick him up at 7) and it was just awful!

Well yesterday we found out that he got promoted! He just got his blue belt and they had the ceremony last night at the DoJo. We're quite proud of him, and we'll be framing his "dipoloma".

I think he has been a little discouraged lately with Karate, so hopefully this will give him the incentive to keep going.

And I have to share, on friday night while I was watching him do his individual test/performance, I choked up! lol I was so proud to see him do that, he did so well!!

Time To Buy Halloween Costumes

Trick Or Treat! Have you noticed that most stores are starting to put out their Halloween costumes and decorations? Halloween is just a mere month and a half away!

I have 4 children, and the last two years they have all been able to re-use their costumes, so this year it is time to purchase some new ones because everyone grew like weeds this summer. I found some great Halloween Costumes this year and I can't wait to order them! My son wants to be the Grim Reaper this year, great costume for a 7.5 year old, right? lol This is a picture of the one we'll probably order him:



On their website, this costume retails for $24.99, not a bad price! Of course, we'll still have to purchase a Scythe for him, but I think we might skip the mask, and I'll just paint his face. We haven't quite decided on what our daughters will want to be this year, but it usually ranges between witches and princesses. You can find almost every type of costume on their site, as they offer everything from infants, kids, to couples costumes, as well as Halloween props and decorations. You can find even find Halloween makeup, wigs and other accessories to complete your costume. It is a one stop store!

InCostume has great customer service, and they even offer live help! If you place an order that is over $50, you will also get free UPS ground shipping! But don't fret, you don't have to live in the USA to purchase, because they offer shipping to over 200 Countries. They claim to be able to ship the same day, but I am guessing that is eastern time, so it would be smart to place your order early in the morning if possible.

Happy Halloween, and Happy Shopping!

Netflix Give-Away

I am a member of Netflix, and I just got an email from them offering one month free trials. Usually the free trials are only two weeks long, so this is much better!

If anyone is interested, let me know and I will forward the email to you. I have 5 to give away.

Works For Me Wednesday

Thank you to Shannon for hosting Works For Me Wednesday over at her blog Rocks In My Dryer

Sometimes I struggle trying to find something to write about, but I love having people come visit my blog, so I always find something so that I can participate in WFMW.

For years I have been disorganized, which is pretty strange because I was very organized when I was younger. Messy, yes, but still organized. My organizational skills have slowly been depleting over the years, until I finally went out and purchased a nice large dry erase board for myself.

I love it!

It is quite large, and has a calendar on it where I can write in the dates, and stuff needed to be done that day. And on the side, it has some blank writing areas and a "to do" section. Every time I have an appointment, or I need to get something done, etc etc, I write it down on there. And then when I am finished, I just erase it. Since it is right in the kitchen and beside the phone, I see it all the time too, so I am constantly reminded of what needs to be done.

Traditional calendars may be pretty to look at, but they don't work for me at all. I like that the dry erase board is re-usable too, and that I can use any color maker I want depending on my mood. Right now I use green!

My companion to the dry erase board is a little brown notebook that my middle daughter got me for my birthday. If I am going somewhere one day, all my lists go in there, appointment times etc. It is always in my purse, I don't think I could do without it now, it is so handy!

Family Vacation

Have you ever taken a family vacation? I don't mean just camping at the lake, like we did for years every summer, but an actual vacation where you go somewhere and fly? My husband and I have been wanting to do that, but we're putting it off until our youngest is old enough. So we have a few years at least before we go somewhere like Disneyland, or the beach.

I'd love to take the kids on a family beach vacation, because I know they would love to see the Atlantic Ocean. We live so close to the Pacific, so a change of scenery is nice.

In New Jersey, you can visit Morey's Resorts, otherwise known as wildwood hotels motels, for a fun filled family beach vacation. You also have the option to visit Wildwood Amusement Park, which is part of Morey's Resorts/Morey's Piers. Now, we've never been there before, but it looks like it would be a lot of fun. I actually think we'd like to head over there when we go visit my father in law in a couple years. He lives in Pennsylvania, so it isn't that long of a trip to NJ. I am almost positive the kids would have a blast there. They've never been to a real amusement park either, so we would definitely have a lot of fun I am sure.

If you are looking for a good deal, check out their Magical Monday Specials. You can get some great deals for each day of the week. Since today is Tuesday, you can get an "All you can ride" wristband for only $20, and get unlimited use of the rides. There are different deals for each day of the week. And with the hotels, you can get a budget room, or a more luxurious room if you are so inclined. The rooms have many different options, and at the Blue Palms resort, they include bunk beds for the kids! I also noticed they had flat screen TVs in some of the rooms, if that entices any of you. The rooms do not advertise a price, but they offer rooms from "family budget" up to "luxury".

Morey's Piers is a great place for a New Jersey family vacation, and the best resource to find motels and hotels in Wildwood, NJ. So next time you are trying to figure out where to take the kids, go to Morey's Piers in NJ, and have yourself a good time!

PayPerPost And Christmas Gifts

Well, someone likes me, right? After weeks and weeks of no PPP Opps, I am now on my 5th for the last two days!

I am happy to see even a bit of money coming to me again, because I really want to buy my husband a Christmas gift with my OWN money. All of our gifts are purchased with money that he earns, so I know he would like to get something I paid for.

What kind of ideas do you have for gifts for your husbands? I'm thinking of a cooling pad for his lap top, or else a silver chain. He wants both.

Give me some ideas!!

Debt Consolidation

Although it is embarrassing to admit this to everyone who reads my blog, my husband and I have suffered from financial difficulty in the past. We've even filed for bankruptcy because we had no other option (and just to clarify, so no one makes any assumptions, it was due to a cut in pay, not a lot of credit card debt). But then, who doesn't suffer from money issues sometime in their life? Unless you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth, chances are you're going to have money problems at some stage in your life.

Now that our bankruptcy is years behind us, we have been able to start building up our credit again. We bought a house, we've paid consistently on our credit cards (which have a very low limit on them per our request), and our credit is slowly but surely going up again. Do you know how good it feels to see that number rise over 50 points in just a few months?

Bankruptcy isn't the only option though, and for most people it is the absolute last resort. Another option is to consolidate debt. A great way to consolidate debt is to get a debt consolidation loan. Loans like this "typically have a minimal effect on your credit. In most cases, you apply for a home refinance or debt consolidation loan and use the proceeds to pay your other debts. Although you will now have a single larger debt on your credit report, several small debts will be eliminated, lowering the credit utilization of those accounts." You could also get another credit card, which I do not advocate, and transfer balances to the higher limit card. Then take your payment from the old card, and apply it to the newer credit card.

For my husband and I, the best option for debt consolidation would be to get a debt consolidation loan. I would much rather have one payment than have numerous ones, and get calls from creditors all the time. And I would think that a loan is probably the best option, because at least you get to avoid a bankruptcy on your credit report, right?

A debt consolidation loan can help you save money as well, which is really important with the way our economy is these days. You can lower your interest rates with a loan like this, which in turn can save you hundreds of dollars a month. And with that extra money, you could put it towards a 401K, or an IRA or something like that. Everyone needs to prepare for their future, because no one is going to take care of you but yourself. It is evident that Social Security won't be around for our generation, so we all need to save save save! You're also going to have to budget, so give up everything that you deem "not necessary". For some that might mean giving up their satellite service to save $80 a month, or to others; giving up their daily Starbucks habit. Regardless of how you save, just save as much as you can.

With Debt consolidation, and saving money, you should be well prepared for your future.

Good News For Me!

The scale today went down 5lbs!! I am quite happy about that. I'm going to keep plugging away at it until we leave for Canada, and hopefully I will lose more weight. I am sure I will, I think I have my diet under control finally. It is a daily struggle for me though, but it is getting better.

wish me luck!

Portable GPS Tracking

There is a neat little device out there called the PT-10 GPS tracker that allows you to track someone, or anything, in real time on your computer! I personally would love to use it with my kids. What a piece of mind that would give me to know I can track them anywhere they go, anywhere in the world. I love the fact that I can watch the "dot" live on my computer, no delay or anything.

Live View GPS, the company that is selling the GPS Tracking device, claims to

Put Your Mind At Ease...Protect Your Property...Locate, Monitor & Find Your Assets...Affordably Manage Your Mobile Work Force, Monitor Your Teen Driver or Family Members...We Guarantee To:

Give You Peace Of Mind
Provide You With A First Class Customer Service Experience
Provide You With A Cost Effective Reliable Solution That Works





Check them out!

3 Posts In One Day?

Is that even possible? I haven't had three PPP posts in one day, in months! Please be sure to scroll down to read other entries that are not sponsored.

Woof Woof

Do you have a family pet? What kind of pet do you have? Over the years, my husband and I have been "mommy and daddy" to 2 dogs, 7 cats, 1 fish, and 1 rabbit. Of course, not all of them are with us anymore, and we now have one dog, Braddock, and two cats, Zeus and Hades.

In 2006, US Statistics showed that in American homes, there were 72 million dogs and 82 million cats, not including all the other pets. Wow!

Do you think that Happiness is Pets? I certainly think that our lives are better off because we have pets. I love my dog and two cats, and they are considered members of our family. In K9 Magazine, a recent article stated that:

A recent MORI poll has revealed that dogs bring more happiness into people's lives than 'steady relationships' and 'job satisfaction'. Owning a dog came top of the happiness index, with 81% of the 2000 people surveyed stating that their happiness "significantly improved" upon getting a dog.

I think that our dog brings as much happiness as he does strife! He certainly has been a challenge for the 5.5 years that we have had him, but we wouldn't get rid of him for anything. We always miss him when he is gone at the Veterinarian for surgery, or at the kennel while we are on vacation. Happiness surely is Pets.

Hooray!

It looks like things might be looking up after all. Today my hubby got an unexpected bonus, which covers the cost of the brakes being replaced, as well as almost all the rest of the money we needed for our trip!

Needless to say, I am pretty excited that we will probably be going. We still have to see what the next couple weeks bring, but I think it should be OK!

I feel relieved.

Lap Band Surgery

If you live in the Conroe, Texas area, and are serious about losing weight for good, lapband woodlands is the place to go for your Lap Band surgery.

Richard E. Collier, MD has 30 years of surgical experience, and an excellent staff to assist with your after care.

Attending a seminar is probably the best way to get detailed information about the Lap Band procedure, and Dr. Collier's office offers free weekly seminars in several areas around Texas. It doesn't hurt to give them a call, right? It might be the best decision you have ever made!

Sunday Seven

OK, last week I promised to share 7 funny pictures from my cell phone. Here they are:




Our dog Braddock. Yep, we like to dress him up!



This creepy ass spider I found on our deck a couple months ago. It is some form of jumping spider.



A picture of the card I sent to my Father in Law for his birthday last March.




Just a funny picture I found online and sent to my hubby via mms/text messaging.




My Cat Zeus, Zeusy, Suez (all his nicknames)




Sorry I couldn't flip this one, but it was on the birthday card I sent to my Mom last June.




And last, but not least, the mural that is painted outside the women's locker room at my YMCA. Star Trek!! LOL


Enjoy! Next week I'll try to do something a little more insightful.

Now Comes The Torrential Downpour

If you read my post yesterday, you'll know that life has been a little difficult lately. When it rains, it pours. Today came the Torrential Downpour.

I went to Midas this morning to get my brakes checked like I mentioned last night, and find out they all need to be replaced, brake drums cleaned etc etc. It is going to cost upwards of $400.

Thank you fate! Thank you so much for ruining our trip to Canada.

I don't even know what to do at this point, but just hope that enough money comes in for us to pay for the brakes and go to Canada still. I'm feeling sick about it.

With my birthday money, money from my paypal account, and the money I made today at the yard sale, we had half of the trip money saved up. But not anymore.

I don't know what else to say. Please keep us in your thoughts.

When It Rains It Pours

It always happens right?

Tonight when I dropped my son off at his Karate Promotion, I was told that it would take 1.5 hours. Hmmm...more like 2.5. You try telling a 2.5 year old she can't use the bathroom in there, so we have to sit it out in the van and just entertain ourselves because otherwise the girls will be too "distracting". Finally at 8:30 they were done, and we were on our merry way home.

But wait...the brakes are being noisy, and groaning when I use them, so guess what? Off to Midas I go in the morning! Lovely. Except, tomorrow is my yard sale, right? so how am I supposed to set everything up and get to Midas? I will have to do it all when I get back, which means I miss out on a LOT of potential sales if things take too long at Midas. great!

So I sit here at 11:30 while I bake cookies for my daughter's lemonade stand, and I realized I burnt some by accident. Thankfully I have Rice Krispie squares and brownies that I made earlier today.

Preparing for this trip to Canada is stressful! It is costing us a fortune to go up there. We have $150 for the pets to be kenneled, because we have no one to watch them. A tank or two of gas. Money for a wedding gift. The cats need their shots and I have to buy an extra carrier so they can get to the kennel. And we need to cover two meals...one there and one back. That adds up to over $500 just for a weekend. That is a lot of money for a family of 6 on one income. Of course, the extra meal might not happen if we get home in time for lunch on the way back (we're aiming for that because otherwise we have to pay more for the kennels anyway). And I don't think we will need two tanks of gas-most likely 1.5 if that, but we need to budget just in case. So that could possibly bring us down about $60, which helps, but not a ton.

Can it get any worse?

I wish we could catch a break.

Please wish me luck for the yard sale, I really really need to make some money for the trip. Especially now with the brakes acting funny, that might really cut into our trip $$.

I ate a brownie today. *sigh*

If anyone feels generous enough to donate to our plight, please let me know and I will gladly give you my PayPal email.

For Those Times When Everything Irritates You...

Just have a bitch session!

Yesterday was one of those days for me. I dunno, maybe AF is coming to visit, maybe I'm just tempermental, but little things have been ticking me off all day, and the last couple days too.

* why would the YMCA people tell me Karate started this week, when in fact only the new classes did, and Karate actually went through the schedule break? thanks for letting my son miss two weeks of classes.

* why does my son have to attend a karate test tomorrow night, downtown, impossible to find parking and I can't take the other kids?

* why do I always have bad luck with landlords? why does my landlord feel the need to be a complete bitch to me because I call and tell her when something needs to be fixed? why does my landlord take three+ weeks to fix an air conditioner?

* why did I sign up to have a yard sale with my neighbours this weekend when I am NOT in the mood to do it and worried that people won't want to pay for my Gymboree clothes?

* why on earth did I promise the kids they could have a lemonade stand and cookies? now I have to make cookies tomorrow too, as well as go to a WIC appointment, pick up dixie cups, and go to the bank for extra change for said yard sale

* why does one of my neighbours tell the other neighbours she could hear me yelling at someone earlier today? who was I yelling at...the kids? yeah, we were in a hurry for Karate, or was she talking about me talking to the landlord? I wasn't yelling, I was using a firm voice and I was in my bedroom. I don't get it. Maybe if she wasn't such a cow, she wouldn't have such a pinched look on her face.

* why does my mother feel the need to ask me how my diet and exercise is going?

* and why is it so hard for me to lose weight when my hubby is losing like crazy? I haven't lost a pound and I'm dieting and exercising too. DAMMIT!!! sigh.

Please ignore my bitch fest. I could have shared more, but I don't want to be a downer. lol

100 Must Eat American Foods

I found this post about the top 100 American foods to eat. The site isn't part of a meme, but I linked back to them anyway. Please link back to me if you post this too. Please bold any you have tried. I'd tell you to cross out items you wouldn't consider trying, but I haven't the foggiest idea on how to do that!

1. New York pizza
2. Hoppin' John
3. New Mexico green chile
4. Homemade buttermilk biscuits
5. Tasso
6. Whole Maine lobster
7. Calabash-style shrimp and hushpuppies
8. Kansas City barbecue ribs
9. Hot glazed Krispy Kreme
10. San Diego fish tacos
11. Cheese curds
12. Key lime pie
13. Philly cheese steak
14. Memphis pork barbecue sandwich
15. Lowcountry boil
16. Huckleberry pie
17. New England clam chowder
18. Boiled peanuts
19. Buffalo burger
20. Eggs Benedict
21. Pastrami on rye, also known as a Reuben
22. Corned beef and cabbage
23. Pancakes with maple syrup
24. Everything bagel with cream cheese and tomato had the bagel, no tomato
25. Thin Mints (preferably frozen)
26. Frito pie
27. Potato knish with mustard
28. Silver Queen corn on the cob
29. Soft pretzel from a street cart
30. Fresh-picked blueberries
31. Sourwood honey
32. State fair funnel cake
33. Chesapeake crab cakes
34. Candied yams
35. Oyster dressing
36. Snow cone or snowball
37. Wild Alaskan salmon
38. Sautéed morels
39. Persimmon pudding
40. General Tso's Chicken
41. Frozen custard
42. Italian sausage with peppers and onions on a hoagie bun
43. Chili dog
44. Buffalo wings with blue cheese
45. Spam musubi
46. Saltwater taffy
47. Fluffernutter sandwich on Wonder Bread -not me but my hubby
48. Black and white cookie
49. Frybread
50. BLT with thick-cut applewood bacon
51. Baked beans
52. Pumpkin pie
53. Collards with vinegar and Tabasco - have not had the Tabasco or vinegar, but collards are pretty good!
54. Tex-Mex fajitas with skirt steak and sautéed peppers
55. Fried green tomatoes
56. Succotash
57. Shrimp and grits
58. Hot water cornbread
59. Barbecue chicken pizza with red onions -Delicious!!!
60. Chicken fried steak
61. Carnitas burrito
62. Apple butter
63. Geoduck -No, but it is pronouned "Goo-EE-duck" for those of you who don't know. I also lived 5 minutes up the road from where that Geoduck episode of Dirty Jobs was filmed, at the time it was being filmed.
64. Soft-serve ice cream cone dipped in chocolate shell (especially Dairy Queen)
65. Pecan pie
66. Catfish supper at a church or fire station
67. Oysters Rockefeller
68. Homemade cranberry sauce
69. Pimiento cheese
70. MoonPie washed down with R.C. Cola
71. Pickled watermelon rind
72. Cracker Jacks at the ball game
73. Smithfield ham
74. Meatloaf and mashed potato blue plate special at diner
75. Chicken and waffles
76. Po'Boy -This is a regional name for a sub/hoagie. So yes, I've had one.
77. Green bean casserole with French's fried onions
78. Stuffed sopaipillas
79. Turducken - no, but I want to.
80. Shad roe on toast
81. Sweet potato casserole with or without marshmallows
82. Cioppino
83. New York cheesecake
84. Pan-fried river trout
85. Jambalaya
86. North Carolina pig pickin'
87. California rolls
88. Burgoo
89. Penuche fudge
90. Fried peanut butter and banana sandwich (the Elvis)
91. Scrapple or livermush
92. Elk medallions in red wine reduction - No interest in Elk nuts, thank you!
93. Muscadine grapes
94. Cheeseburger at backyard barbecue
95. Open-face turkey sandwich
96. Chicago deep dish pizza
97. Cobb salad
98. Peach pie a la mode
99. Macaroni and cheese with Tillamook sharp cheddar
100. Root beer float

wow, I've eaten almost half of this! Being married to my hubby has definitely changed my dietary comfort zone...he brought me out of my Dutch Food rutt and introduced my taste buds to a whole new world of yumminess!

I'm A Purse Girl

I admit, I am a handbag, purse, tote, whatever you call it, addict. I LOVE purses. I change them frequently, and have about 10 in my stash. I bought this today at JC Penney, as a treat to myself.




However, mine isn't gold, it is a darker mauve color. JCP doesn't have any more of that color online. I'm in love with it! While looking for a picture of it, I also found this one by the same designer. I love this one almost as much, I think I will buy that one next.



I have always carried a purse, but just in the last few years really got into it. Perhaps it was because I was tired of lugging around a diaper bag? I still took a purse even when I had a diaper bag with me though. My mom and sister are the same way, we all love purses. I have red, black, green, purple, brown, blue and pink. And those are just purses, I have a few tote bags too that I use if we go on an over nighter, and those are a lot plainer and just cheaper ones (like freebies I have gotten at bath and body works as promotions etc). I am even thinking of asking my hubby to buy me a purse for Xmas...but knowing how he loves to shop, I would end up with a burlap sack! LOL

I thought it might be interesting to read up on the History of Handbags, so I found this article . Did you know that the first documented hand bags were used by MEN, in 14th Century Egypt, none-the-less. Hmmm...maybe now it is time to re-introduce the "man bag" to my husband, what do you think?

Works For Me Wednesday

Thanks to Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer for hosting Works For Me Wednesday.

I just got contacts last week and have been struggling with dryness, so I have been through about 4 different types of re-wetting drops trying to find the right type for me. Visine for contacts is no good, Bausch and Lomb is no good and Opti Free Renu isn't too bad! But my favorite is "Blink". It comes in a little green bottle, about 10ml worth (or .3 FLoz), and just works like a charm. It doesn't sting my eyes like the Visine and B&L do, it lasts a long time and just makes my life easier. I also put a drop in each lens before I put them on because it helps keep things moisturized.

Another trick I have for contacts is to dry my hands with paper towels when I am washing them (before I put them in). This ensures the easiest way to have lint free hands when you are putting your contacts in. Trust me, you DON'T want to have a piece of lint or hair or something fuzzy stuck inside or on the outside of your lens.

And don't be afraid to bug your eye doctor if your lenses aren't working for you. I stated below in my earlier post today, that I am on my 3d pair of trial lenses. That's what they are there for, to help you and give you free stuff! lol I asked for a new case today, and I landed up getting two bottles of solution as well-it is perfect for my purse!

I Can See!!!

After not having much success with the Acuvue Oasis lenses (awful awful), my eye Dr. gave me some new ones to try yesterday. They are the Air Optix, which are a completely new type of lenses. They're very very comfortable, and I can't even feel them in half the time. With Acuvue, I could always feel them on my eyes and could not combat the dryness. I still have a bit of dryness with these new ones, but since this is only my 2nd day of wearing the new ones, I know it will get a bit better.

It takes forever to find the right type of lenses though, I am on my 3d pair of trial lenses, with a 4th being ordered "just in case". I love having contacts though, it is so nice to be free of glasses! Especially after having worn them for 16 years now.

In other news, life here has been crazy! I skipped the gym this morning just so I could stay home before my eye appointment this morning. I did work out at home though, so that makes up for it. I am amazed how much time I do NOT have. I was all set for friday, I had no plans whatsoever. Then I realized we have a WIC appointment friday morning, and my son has his Karate test that night. Plus we're having a yard sale with my neighbours saturday and sunday. *sigh* And in the next couple weeks I have to get ready for our trip to BC too. *sigh again*.

I hope things calm down soon!

On the PPP front, there has been nothing! I check every day for posts and I haven't had one OPP in weeks. I dont have the time to be on it like I was before, but I still check as often as I can and it is slim pickin's. Hopefully it will pick up soon.

Sunday Seven

In honor of my impending misery this week due to dieting, I am going to tell you about 7 things I like to eat! Junk food this week, which coincidentally has led to my downfall. In no particular order:


Twizzlers




Brownies...omg I LOVE Brownies!




Papa Murphy's Chicago Style Stuffed Pizza. The BEST Pizza ever made.




Lay's Salt and Vinegar chips...either the Lays Stax or regular S&V in the bag



Peanut M&Ms. I have a certain way of eating these, doesn't everyone? OK, maybe I'm just strange. I love to bite all the chocolate off and then eat the peanut.



Jelly Bellys. We went to the outlet mall last weekend for back to school shopping, and the candy shop had bulk Jelly Bellys! I tried a new one, Pomegranate, that was amazing! My favorites are pear, buttered popcorn, and raspberry.



And last, but not least, Cheesecake! Baked only though, and I adore it! This is a picture of Dutch Apple Streusel Cheesecake that I got for my birthday when I went out with some girl friends. It was soooo good! But oh so rich! (please pardon the bad lighting, it was taken with my cell phone)




Next week, look for 7 funny pictures from my cell phone!

I Am Such A Bum Today!

Here I sit, 10AM in my pajamas. The house is messy. I have errands to run, but obviously I have not gotten out of the house yet. My 2.5 year old is dressed and watching TV, and I have not done one thing today.

This is a lesson learned...I need to shower at night. If I did so, I would feel more motivated. I guess since I went to the gym yesterday and showered in the morning, I thought I could shower this morning. It isn't doing me a lick of good is it?

Another thing that has been on my mind today has been my diet. It's not going so well. I'm trying, and working out, but not to my full potential I guess. I'm really struggling, and I have a deadline too. My cousin's wedding is on Oct 3d and I am not anywhere near ready. I still have to buy a dress and all that awful shapewear to go with it. I feel panicky and anxious when I think about it, because who wants to be a fat girl and go dress shopping?

*sigh*

I really need to go shower now. I have to go to the Tea Shop, Children's Place to exchange a shirt for the boy, Target for a new toothbrush for the baby b/c she decided to give hers a toilet bath. Time to get off my ass!

Conversation With My Daughter

I had this conversation with my youngest this morning while I was helping her go potty. I dont like to post the kids names, so I will use something generic

Me: "Lucy, Do you wear diapers or panties ?"

Lucy: "diapers"

Me: "only babies wear diapers, are you a big girl or a baby?"

Lucy "I'm not a baby anymore, i wear panties. Babies wear diapers."

me, laughing

Lucy: "can I flush the potty?"

LOL I guess you had to be there, but she just cracks me up. Her vocabularly is so high for someone her age. I love her so much, she's my little sidekick!

And now she is stealing salt and vinegar pringles, so I'd better go stop her!

Back To The Real World #2

The man of the house left this morning after we got the three older kids off to school, so it is back to the real world for me! School started today, and I am HAPPY! Well, I do miss the laid back atmosphere of Summer vacation, but it will do me some good to get into a routine again. Our routine goes to shit during the summer!

No more sleeping in except for the weekends, I have to get up early m-f. My schedule that started today is the normal school day schedule for us...get up at 6:30 Am, the kids get on the bus at 8:22 and they're home at 3:49PM. During that time, I plan to go to the gym 4 days a week, m-thursday, and friday is my free day for whatever I want to do. We've also got Karate starting up next week, so that takes up 1 hour every tuesday and thursday afternoons. And every other thursday I have MOPS to attend. Plus I need to do my usual housework and cooking, and we can't forget...shopping!!

Last night we had the back to school orientation. Really fun. Do you know how much of a pain in the butt it is to fill out 10 or so odd forms for EACH child? lol Ok, maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but there were probably 5 each. So the man and I both worked on them together tonight after the kid went to bed.

Yesterday I also got all three older kids a hair cut. They look so cute!! The girls got their hair cut shoulder length with some layers, and we all LOVE it on them. My middle daughter has really wavy hair, lots of curl underneath, so this really helps bring out the curl, and it looks really cute. Of course the kids were happy, because they got a Hannah Montanna and Camp Rock poster there too! Last night after their showers, the girls were really excited to pick out their school clothes. I think the oldest has been pining for this day, as she knew EXACTLY what she wanted to wear. It is this combo:




She doesn't have the hat, or the mj shoes, but does have the knee highs. She'll wear it with plain black mjs.

Our middle daughter picked this out to wear, but without the shoes or hat, and plain jeans and some sort of shoe. She does like to wear skirts and dresses too, but not tomorrow. Both girls are outfitted in Gymboree. lol



I don't have pictures of the boy's outfit, but he is wearing baggy jeans, a guitar shirt form ON and his new skate shoes. lol

Wish me luck for tonight, that is when the real test comes. I'll have to get everyone bathed, fed, kitchen cleaned etc etc and go to bed on time, and start all over tomorrow. I have to keep telling myself that it will be good for me. I can handle it!

Wednesday Me For Works

This week, Works For Me Wednesday is BACKWARDS!!! I post a dilemma, and you, my dear readers, answer it for me! I know i don't get a lot of comments, can anyone help this week? Thanks!

I have a couple...

What are some good, tasty yet nutritious snacks I can send with my kids to school? They have to be "10 minute snacks", meaning they have to be able to be eaten in 10 minutes or less and healthy. I always struggle finding good snacks to send (kids eat lunch at school).

My face keeps breaking out like a teenage boy. I can attribute a lot of that to the summer weather, but are there any good acne meds/face washes? Proativ doesn't work for me, and I hate having zits!! ewww!!!

And thirdly...I have a wedding to go to in October. I am not a skinny lady, and I need to find a cute dress to wear, where are some places to shop at? Do Spanx really work?

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I am in no way a Beatles fan, but I love this video on YouTube, of a guy playing the song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on the Ukelele. He is amazing, and I love the music.